Chapters 111 through 120

Snow trudged back to her solemn chair sulking like a scolded puppy. Why did that woman have to be so mean? Mai sure did make it hard to try to make amends, thought Snow. So then why did Snow feel such an urge to be friends with a woman who obviously wanted nothing to do with her? Snow was still trying to figure this out…figure herself out for continually subjecting herself to Mai’s cruelty. True, she probably could’ve handled the situation better, but Mai is indeed impossible sometimes.
Mike noticed his gloomy wife and came to her side to comfort her, “Love, what’s wrong?”
Before Snow could say anything, she simply looked in Mai’s direction and Mike sighed as he took Snow’s hand, “Sweetie, forget her. She’s about as friendly as an AllDev anymore and perhaps not even half as fun to be around as of late. Don’t let her get to you, my darling. Tell you what…I’ll just get some more rounds from the storehouse out back and the natives won’t be so restless…their bellies will then be full of ale, and perhaps you and I could sneak out of here early?” Snow giggled as Mike winked his meaning at her.
More comments were starting to be thrown out regarding the lack of drink.
Mike hissed as he rolled his eyes. “I’m on my way! Keep your pants on…please!” He added that last bit for the sake of a few. He then looked back at Snow, “Ah yes…the natives are indeed getting restless. I’ll be right back.”

Mike shivered as the cold night air hit him. It was almost midnight and he knew the folks would want to ring in the New Year with spirits, and as of right now it was up to him to replenish the depleted supply. Mike stamped the snow off his feet before he entered. The storehouse was dark, but at least not as cold as the night outside. He just needed a barrel of ale and a case of bottles of wine. He scowled to think how much of the stuff the villagers had already plumaged through…a picture of Mai and Ville and their liberalness with the stuff came to mind. If this kept up, they could run out before Mardi Gras. Wouldn’t Jennifer have a fit! He was going to have to start cutting them off. Then perhaps next year, they could use more of the fruit for the wine and less for jams and jellies. You have to have your priorities, and obviously folks here would rather have liquor than most anything else, Mike thought. Well some of them, he corrected himself. Leave it to a few bad apples to spoil the bunch. Perhaps he was just angry at Mai for constantly treating Snow so badly. Still, they were going through the drink like water…yet who do they blame when they run out! Mike’s own grumblings to himself were interrupted when he heard a noise amidst the barrels. He stopped and listened…it was snoring! Who would come out here to crash rather than going to their own warm bed? It was definitely male. Perhaps they were so drunk they lost their way…very odd. Mike crept quietly over to the slumbering buzz saw only to be quite surprised at what he saw…it wasn’t a Willows resident! Yet, once again, it was a man with the same facial features and looks as the other Willows men. “Not again.” Mike whispered. He sighed heavily. He was going to have to bring this guy to Dinger for questioning as per the norm.
Gently he nudged the stranger, “Hey…hey buddy? Wake up! Let’s talk.” Heavy sleeper this guy. He nudged a little harder, “Excuse me?” The stranger awoke with a start, apparently going into ‘defense’ mode. He lunged at Mike, shoving him to the floor and pinning him down, “So you thought you’d get away from me eh?”
Was this guy crazy? Maybe he’d been dreaming or something. In any case, Mike wanted to get him to understand just what was going on, “Hey, take it easy! I’m not going to hurt you. You’re in our storehouse. I just want to help you.”
”You can help me by shutting your trap! Now…you’re under arrest! You have the right to remain silent. Anything you…” Just as the stranger was pulling out a set of handcuffs, suddenly there was a loud crash, and the man fell to the floor, covered in wine. Mike looked up to see Snow standing above them with a broken bottle in her hand,
”I came to check on you. They were about to start the countdown to midnight and I didn’t want you to miss it. What’s going on? Who is this man? Why was he hurting you?”
Mike stood and took the broken glass from Snow’s hand, “It’s alright love. He wasn’t going to hurt me…just arrest me. I think I caught him in the middle of the wrong dream. He was just snoring away when I came in here. Can you help me get him to the hut? He’ll have a nasty bump now…but I’m sure Dinger won’t mind questioning him in the surgery.”

The villagers were indeed in the middle of the countdown to midnight when Mike and Snow entered the hut dragging their wine covered stranger.
”3-2-1--Happy New Year!…What the hell?” Dinger’s attention was suddenly stolen.
Mai and Ville had been standing at the bar, which was near the kitchen door. Ville sniffed at the aroma of wine drifting from the unconscious man, “So THAT’s where all the booze went!”
”Mike geez…what did the cat drag in this time?” Dinger approached the scene, as Jennifer frowned, not taking too kindly at his choice of words.
”He was asleep in the storehouse. When I woke him up, he tried to arrest me!”
”Arrest you?” Dinger almost laughed at the thought. “Who does he think he is anyway, Barney Fife?”
”I don’t know. Snow knocked him out before he told me anything…but I doubt he would’ve offered any info freely, to be honest.”
Mai smirked. ”Gee Snow, I didn’t know you were into that sort of thing…knocking the guy out. You do any of that bondage stuff too?”
Snow looked at Mai without giving much of a reaction. Out of all the conversations she would like to have with Mai, this wasn’t one of them.
Mai shrugged then went into her ‘security mode’, “Well Dinger from what Mike says, when this guy wakes up, he may be a handful. Should we tie him up?….You could help if you want, Snow.” She added dryly.
Ville took a look at the guy, “Hmmm…hope he’s worth it since you decided to bring him in instead of bringing in more liquor. He’d better dance for that!” Mai flashed him a look, curtailing a smile.
Out of the guy’s coat pocket, Dinger pulled out his badge, “He’s a copper. D.S. Slater. Well, the D.S. stands for Detective Sergeant…so now we just have to get his first name. Guess we’ll just call him Slater for now.”
Karen looked at his head wound, “This doesn’t look all that bad, but you never know if he might have suffered a concussion. Let’s get him to the surgery.”

Snow in WW: Chapter 231 New Year s Newcomer (part 2)

It never ceased to amaze Mike just how cruel Mai could be to his wife as of late and unwarrantedly cruel at that. It was true, that he was eternally indebted to her for saving him from a lifetime of being a hideous creature, thanks to the Mistress. However, that didn t stop the fact that he often found himself biting his tongue to keep from telling her to sod off when she would mouth off nasty things to his wife. And her new little friend Ville calling him Mikey didn t do much for him either. Snow followed Mike back to the hut to help him clean up.

Well, I guess my plans for ducking out of here early got dashed real quick. I don t why I was kidding myself into thinking it could happen anyway! Mike chuckled.

Snow looked at him with a slight pout, knowing he truly was regretful. She gently rubbed his arm and then grinned, Hey, I m not tired are you?

He caught her meaning immediately, Not a bit! And then proceeded to begin to clean the kitchen at lightning speed. Snow giggled and began to help him. Just when things were looking good, a noise resounded in Mike s ears resembling that of nails on a chalkboard, Hey Mikey where s the rest of the booze you went to fetch earlier before Snow attempted to bathe that ol copper in it? We still got some left, right?

Mike cringed first at being called Mikey and second at having to add more to his to do list before heading home. There was only one thing he wanted on that to do list and Ville wasn t it, he thought as he glanced at his Princess decked in her special New Year s Eve dress. He hissed in frustration through his teeth, resisting the urge to tell Ville to sod off . Athough he could tell him to get it himself, but feared there wouldn t be any left after seeing the way he and Mai put it away that night. So, instead he all but threw down the dishcloth in his hand and started to head out to the storehouse.

Snow touched his arm, I ll go with you. And I promise not to hit anyone over the head with a bottle this time.

Mike snickered, As long as it s not me, I don t care. Then he looked back at the kitchen door, Of course, I wouldn t mind you putting those two out of MY misery! His meaning on which two people were quite clear.

Snow stopped him and smiled sweetly, By the way happy anniversary.

After a second, the realization hit him, It IS New Year s Day, isn t it?

Snow nodded, Mmhm three years ago today.

Happy Anniversary, darling. He pulled Snow into a deep kiss, then looked into her eyes. OK we gotta get outta here! Let s hurry and get that booze for those wankers!

Snow giggled as she followed him to the storehouse.

The dark storehouse was soon lit with a lantern near the doorway. As Mike carefully chose a small amount of liquor to appease certain people, Snow watched him thoughtfully. She finally inquired, Darling, I ve often wondered how did you come about winning the money to buy your coffee shop before you arrived in the Willows? I thought you said it was betting on a dog fight but I never took you as the type to bet on dog fights?

Mike stopped what he was doing and looked at her pointedly. Then he chuckled, No you re right about that sweetheart. Dog fights aren t my thing. Funny story about that though. At around that time, my dear sister was not running with the best crowd least of all this new guy she d met. I don t even think I caught his occupation if he even had one. Anyway, he had invited her to a dog fight. Sounds a lovely dream date doesn t it? He grinned at Snow s wrinkled nose of disapproval. Well, the guy wasn t even going to pick her up. Looking back, I see that was a good thing. But I told her there was no way she was going into that part of town alone. Of course she laughed, as here I was her kid brother trying to tell her what to do. Anyway, she humored me and let me take her. Frankly, I don t think she was all that comfortable going down there by herself either. As it happened, I was the only one there not placing bets. Her boyfriend and his buddies started razzing me about it then started in on her and her brother was a wuss . So for her sake, I placed a bet. Just for spite, I bet on the dog none of them bet on the underdog as it were. He grinned and looked at Snow, but she didn t catch the pun. So as it turned out, my dog won! Shocked everyone, especially her new beau . In fact, he was quite upset and made a scene about the whole thing pretty sore loser. He was just mad cause he lost quite a large sum of money. Luckily, the whole incident woke my sister up to the fact that this guy was a real loser and she dumped the guy and went home with me. I offered to split the winnings with her, but she said no said I earned it. But I bought her some nice stuff anyway and of course the money paid the down payment on my little coffee shop which was doing quite well until the day I popped into the Willows. He then turned to a slightly concerned Snow, Which of course I wouldn t change for the world. I d say it was the second happiest day of my life. He then kissed Snow, remembering just three years ago to the day, was THE happiest day of his life. OK let s get this stuff to the boozers and go home what ya say? Snow gave him her answer without the need for words.

Snow in WW: Chapter 232 Caught Unawares

Ophelia had not been her usually bright and happy self, not even to Snow which had Snow especially worried. And it did not go unnoticed how much chatty time Ritch had been spending with Ophelia, either. But who could blame him, with his supposed woman always with another man and an ex-lover at that. None of it set too well with Snow. So when she saw Ophelia sitting at the gazebo by herself staring into nothingness, Snow thought it the perfect opportunity to find what was ailing her friend.

Hey beautiful!

Ophelia was startled from her comatose state from at first the break in the silence, and second from this statement coming from a female voice. She turned to see Snow smiling at her and suddenly the statement fit, coming from Snow.

I haven t spoken to you much lately. You ve seemed kinda down. Are you alright?

Ophelia offered a slight smile and offered quietly, Yes. Then quickly her smile faded, followed by tears welling in her eyes, No! She then buried her face in her hands and began sobbing.

Snow moved closer to her and put her arm around the girl s shoulders. She didn t say a word before Ophelia began to spill her thoughts.

Oh Snow! I can t do this! The Mistress wishes it but I just can t. And how I used to think of her as a kind and nurturing mother now the only word that s ringing in my mind is theif !

Snow was completely lost at her meaning, but remained silent and continued to tenderly rub Ophelia s shoulder.

I have to do something something I don t want to do. But if I don t, I don t know what the repercussions would be. I m so afraid, Snow!

Snow could read the sincere fear in Ophelia s eyes and hugged her close to her. Once her crying had subsided some, she sniffed as she pulled back, Ville isn t just here to try to shag Mai although that s what it might look like. She halfway chuckled in a trembling voice.

Snow replied quite frankly, Yes it most certainly does.

He has another purpose a mission from the Mistress actually. Well, as you probably noticed, the Mistress and Mai don t get along too well.

I d never guessed. Snow offered sarcastically.

Well, the Mistress decided that she wants another guardian one whom would be loyal only to her and do her bidding without question. In order to do that, two immortals must unite and create a child. I probably never told you this Snow but I m immortal. Like Mai, any child of the Mistress is. That s why I never minded going over the cliff those times when you were in trouble I knew I d be OK but you wouldn t of course.

Snow squeezed her hand gently, anxious to hear the remainder of what Ophelia had to say.

So she wants me to mother the next guardian to have a child, and then take it away my child. She s going to take my baby, Snow!

Snow s eyes also now welled with tears as she took the sobbing Ophelia in her arms again, Oh God the father! You don t have to be with that Other creature, do you?

Ophelia sniffed and pulled back shaking her head, Heavens no .thank God!

Well, then what male in this world is immortal?

One of the deals Mai had with Ville was to make him immortal and she did. I m not sure what the deal was though the Mistress doesn t tell me everything. But he is to be the father.

Snow sighed, Oh great. Do you even like the guy?

Ophelia giggled somewhat, Well, he s not as bad as some, actually. But the other part is the Mistress wants to be in control of the whole affair. She wants to inhabit my body during the act. Sounds weird if you ask me maybe she has a thing for Ville I don t know, she said half kidding.

So who will inhabit Ville s body during this reunion?

Ville.

Snow had to laugh, For once, I feel sorry for the guy! Ophelia even chuckled.

Snow then brushed Ophelia s tear soaked hair from her cheek, My sweet friend, you know how badly I want a child and I don t know what I would do if I knew that someone would be taking it from me. Is there anything that can be done to spare you of this? Why can t Mai do this? She s pretty fond of Ville and she doesn t appear to be all that fond of children.

Mai can t have children.

But you can why?

Good question I m not sure. Ophelia had to ponder this herself. But, Mai is involved with it I just don t know how much.

Snow whispered in a desperate voice, Mai is the current guardian surely she would have a say in all of this?

Probably. But who here is even on good enough terms with her to even speak with her about it?

Again Snow pulled Ophelia into a hug. I think I know. Don t worry about it, sweetie. Everything s going to be alright.

Snow found Ritchie in the workshop. He apparently had been working on a project, but from the looks of things his thoughts now took priority. Trying not to startle him, Snow approached him where he could see her before she spoke. His distraught face softened when she entered his view, Hi Snow! I never expected to see you at the workshop.

Do you have a minute that we could talk?

Ritch wondered if he already knew what this was about, Sure. Have a seat.

It s about Ophelia.

Nope, thought Ritch it wasn t what he thought.

Well and Mai too.

Uh oh maybe it was worse. Ritch hid his thoughts and smiled at Snow as she continued.

Ophelia just told me about her well, her mission . She s very upset.

The frustration Ritch felt on this particular issue showed on his face, Yeah, I wish I could kill that bitch Mistress! He then remembered the company he was in, Oh, excuse me Snow.

I m not worried about it but I wouldn t let her hear you say that who knows where she lurks in this world , you know?

I m not afraid of that creature that s for sure.

Snow could read the tension in his body language this was a subject that angered him greatly. He must care a lot for Ophelia. He was a caring person but Snow wondered just how much he cared for the girl beyond normal friendship.

I wanted to ask you a favor if it s too much, just say so.

No problem.

No really I don t want to cause tension between you and Mai.

I doubt anything you could ask could make the tension any worse between she and I than it has been as of late. And besides, I would like to be able to do something for you after the way Mai has been treating you lately.

Well, the favor isn t really for me I m asking on Ophelia s behalf and she doesn t really know I m here, either. Snow looked about her, then continued, With Mai being the current Willows guardian, I wondered if she might have a say in what the Mistress is making Ophelia do. I thought maybe there was a way she could intervene and resolve the issue some other way than Ophelia having her baby stolen away from her.

Ritch could see Snow s eyes seemed a little mistier than a moment ago and realized how this subject hit home with her. For one, she wanted very badly to have a child of her own and second, her very sister was stolen from their family at birth a realization that enraged Ritch all the more, remembering what a strain the whole incident had been on Snow, Lily and Liz. Liz lost her baby for its entire childhood, and in turn Lily had ended up raped, like sweet Kahlua. Ritch had to put these thoughts out of his mind.

Humph, he replied in an obviously irritated tone. Good luck with that one. Sure Mai has the power to stop it. But Mai is dead set on this whole thing going down as a matter of fact, she is the one encouraging it.

Snow s eyes grew wide, Are you sure?

Positive. Already had this conversation with her in fact. My thoughts were very much like yours. I really feel for Ophelia that s why I ve spent more time with her lately. I kinda feel guilty that my own Mai is mostly responsible for the whole thing.

Snow stood and said in a surprisingly quiet voice, That s interesting to know Ritch. And thank you for the information.

As she stood, Ritch gently grasped her arm, Hey I just want you to know that I m sorry for Mai s behavior towards you lately.

She smiled gently, I know it s not your fault, obviously. And I m glad to see that in spite of Mai, you are being a friend to Ophelia.

Ritch squeezed her hand, I m glad you are too.

As Snow turned to leave, she said in a barely audible voice, At least I ve got Ophelia as a friend.

Her stomach was tied up in knots and she had a lump in her throat as though she could burst out crying any moment. She felt so fooled. True, Mai hadn t been all that nice to her as of late in fact she d been down right rude. But Snow never thought Mai was capable of something like this to encourage, even instigate such a horrible thing. To be such an integral part in taking away someone s child no matter how much she doesn t like them. Snow wondered, was she so cold that she would do this to anyone here in this village? Perhaps it wasn t just Ophelia, perhaps if the Mistress had wished it, it could very well have been Snow or even Rebecca that Mai wouldn t have batted an eye at stealing their baby. Mai was just as bad as that Mistress creature after all, thought Snow as the tears now began to stream down her face. And here Mai was so adamantly against the Mistress, when she was no better no better at all. Snow s timing must have been right on that day or perhaps it was just luck, either good or bad that put Mai in her direct line of sight at that moment. Her vision was blurred from the tears, but she could never mistake the dark haired woman and dark-hearted for that matter. She was sitting staring away blankly near the hut her face not giving anything away regarding her thoughts not that Snow cared at the moment.

I was so wrong about you!

Startled, Mai looked up without jumping, her reflexes almost flawless that way.

I don t know about the others, but you really had me fooled, Mai. I really thought you were a true friend at one time but THIS! This is just inhumane! Of course, you always like to point out how you aren t human anyway.

Mai was stunned, not even knowing what to say or how to react. Snow stood before her, her face was dripping with tears, her voice was shrill she was barely able to choke out her words. Something had upset this poor girl upset her severely. Mai could only wish she d been let in on the whole gig.

Snow spewed her anger at Mai her sobbing was such that you could barely understand the girl, So is it only Ophelia you hate SO much that you would take part in even encourage that her child her ONLY child be ripped away from her? Never mind the fact that she ll be forced into a union with a man she doesn t love! But I guess you wouldn t care about that. You said so yourself you re part wolf, right? Pack animals will just bed whoever is ready and fertile to have babies I suppose. But even I know that the maternal instincts of wolves are very strong and you re even willing to take THAT away from her! Don t you even care? You ve seen it first hand and still you don t care! You ve seen what it did to MY family to have my sister ripped away from my mother at birth it liked to have killed Lily! And my mother missed an entire childhood of being able to spend with her something she can never get back!

Mike had just stepped outside to shake the flour out of his towels when he heard his wife screaming. It was then he saw her screaming at Mai not a good idea, he thought.

Mai stood, trying to speak calmly trying to calm the girl down, Snow, this is all wrong

Snow didn t let her finish, You re telling me! You know how much I want a baby Mai so tell me would you be willing to steal mine too? Huh? Or is it just Ophelia your own kin I might add that you hate so much that you would scheme with that Mistress creature to take away her first born child forever? Are you a respecter of persons that way Mai? Snow now screamed at Mai through her sobbing, TELL ME! Because I will be the first one out of this village if that s the case that no one matters to you than that Mistresses and her bidding! I hope Ophelia runs far away from here and far away from YOU! You d have to KILL me to get my baby, Mai! You d have to KILL ME!

Suddenly, Mike grabbed Snow around the waist and quickly drug her away still screaming at Mai at the top of her lungs.

Snow in WW: Chapter 233 Caught Unawares (part 2)

Mike finally set the sobbing Snow down at the edge of the village nearby their cabin.

Why did you do that? Snow was livid.

Sweetheart, do you really think it a good idea to go off on Mai like that especially the way things have been between you two as of late?

I don t care not one bit! Do you have any idea what she s doing? She s instigated a plan with the Mistress to force Ophelia into a union with Ville to create a new guardian and then plans to just sit back and let that horrible Mistress creature steal Ophelia s baby right out of her arms! How can I just ignore that? I can t!

Stunned, Mike held her furious gaze, then offered, Well, what did Mai say about it?

Nothing! You dragged me away before I could hear what possible explanation she would muster up for such an awful thing!

Mike sighed, Oh dear then you only got one side of the story. What if it isn t as bad as you think? Mai may be less than saintly lately, but this just doesn t sound like something she would do. After all, she did save me. That just doesn t sound like the actions of a kidnapper.

I can t believe you re going to take her side! As much as we ve talked about wanting a baby what if it were ours she wanted to steal?

Yes, I heard your response to that as I drug you away before the woman hauled off and slugged you. See, then I would have to hurt her.

Well, Mai has never hit me.

More than I can say for your sister. Once he said that, Mike regretted it as he saw the fire shown in his wife s eyes.

You see you see! She s a monster! You know Lily isn t violent like that and look what Mai did to her! She chased off my own mother and sister! Snow began to feel queasy.

Try to convince Yvonne that Lily isn t violent unfortunately I m afraid she s a witness to Lily beating the tar out of her just before they left. Mike chuckled, Not that Yvonne didn t deserve it but that s beside the point.

Suddenly, Snow quickly leaned over into the bushes and vomited.

Mike s amused look at the thought of Lily beating on Yvonne now turned to one of concern, Darling, are you alright?

Snow shook her head, No I think that stupid ulcer is acting up at least that s what it feels like. Snow spat into the bushes once more, then her knees went weak and Mike caught her in his arms and picked her up.

Snow looked at him sadly, I m sorry.

Don t worry about the bushes I m just worried about you. Ulcers can get serious. I m taking you back to the cabin to rest. Then I ll go and fetch you some milk and bread.

After some food, Snow felt better. Mike went on ahead to make dinner for the others and left Snow to rest. She couldn t possibly sleep too many things were going through her head. Ophelia, Mai, Lily, her Mum. She began to feel stuffy, like she was suffocating. She had to get some air. Quickly, she stepped outside into the open air and took a deep breath much better. Actually, a walk would do her some good, she thought. Perhaps the fresh air would help to settle her stomach. The air was fresh and crisp, that is until she approached the lakeside. There was still a layer of fog atop of the lake spreading into the nearby area, giving it an ominous feel. It was beautiful, although a little eerie although not as eerie as what then moved from the fog and onto the path in front of her. Her breath stopped for a second. Maybe she was dreaming? The fog, the illness, resting in bed at the cabin she had to be dreaming! Then this figure from her past spoke, Is that my little baby? The figure s face then suddenly morphed back into yet another familiar image from her past. Snow then whimpered in a tiny little girl s voice, Mama?

Snow in WW: Chapter 234 – “White Wedding (part 1)”

“Is that my baby?” the familiar voice in front of Snow asked.
As much as Snow wanted to run into her mother’s arms, she wondered if this were perhaps a trick from the Mistress. She stood frozen, not knowing how to react, although her face spoke volumes. The gentle smile of her dearest mum understood Snow’s dilemma. Quietly she began to sing as she slowly approached her daughter, “I'm wishing on a star…to follow where you are. I'm wishing on a dream…to follow what it means. And I wish on all the rainbows that I see. I wish on all the people who really dream. I'm wishing on a star…to follow where you are.”
Liz stood before her daughter now. Tears filled Snow’s eyes as this song from her past clearly hit its mark. She collapsed sobbing onto her mother’s shoulder, “Mama!”
”I thought you might remember that song. I used to sing it to you when you were just a little girl.”
Snow’s voice was muffled, “How could I forget.” She then pulled back with teary eyes and a concerned look, “What are you doing here? Is everything alright? Is Lily alright?”
Liz was in part relieved to hear Snow’s concern for Lily after all that had happened with Mike. She shook her head and took Snow’s hand as she pulled her to a nearby tree stump to sit down. The fog was lifting and it was easier to see now. Snow looked at her mother…her face usually calming and confident, now shown fear and uncertainty. She lowered her eyes, her lips threatened to quiver as she spoke,
“I’m here because I had nowhere else to turn.” She looked at Snow, then shook her head in shame, “And I shouldn’t have come here either. It is not my desire to put you in any danger, Snow.”
Snow was really scared. She’d never seen her mother like this…she’d never seen her mother ever afraid of anything…actually in fear. Snow took her mother’s hands in hers, “Mother, what is it? What’s wrong?”
Liz sniffled quietly and paused as though reminiscing briefly back to whence she’d just come, “Everything was so beautiful. The guests were arriving in style…in caravans and coaches. It was all going just as planned…”

It was a sight to behold…the White kingdom wedding…one that had been awaited with great anticipation. The Princess Snow was finally to be wed to her betrothed, the Prince Raymond. Indeed it was a wedding fit for a prince and princess. The banquet tables were dressed in the castle’s finest china. There was pheasant and boar glazed with honey-cinnamon and pineapple…goose and venison braised with a basil and herb cream gravy…and the most wonderful quail puff pastries and first dinner course soups. There were arrangements of the finest fruits and cheeses and vegetables in the land…plus only the freshest of breads and muffins. Many of the guests had brought fine delicacies from the farthest reaches of the lands…rarely caught fishes and oysters. One foreign king brought a roast peacock displayed with the most beautiful tail feathers. For dessert there was custard pie, fruit tarts, bread pudding, and of course the wedding cakes. As in traditional fashion, each guest would bring a flat small round cake. The royal baker would stack the cakes and then add icing to them all when all of the guests had arrived, to make a tall and magnificent multi-tiered wedding cake. Of course, there was also a dark fruit cake available, as the legend stated that if you put a piece of the new wedded couple’s dark fruit cake under your pillow, you would soon find a mate for yourself. There was also plenty of fresh brewed honey mead. The tradition was that the couple should drink honey mead for a moon or month after the wedding to be ensured that they have a male child as heir to the throne. Some had started calling this tradition the “honeymoon”. In addition, the ceremonial hall was dressed in white silks and bows with fine crystal candelabras and sparkling jeweled carpets. And never in one place in the White kingdom had there been so many flowers. Every color of the rainbow was represented and beyond.

Liz stood in the castle bedroom turned ‘bride ready room’ admiring her daughter in her wedding gown. It was her very own gown from her wedding long ago. Then it was also Snow’s gown for her wedding to Mike. Since then, she had the royal tailors add many ribbons to the back of the gown, as the tradition stated that the bride’s gown was good luck, and it was known that well wishers would try to tear a piece of the dress as a keepsake. Nowadays, the groom had begun throwing any part of the bride’s clothing into the crowd just to deter them that they wouldn’t spoil his bride’s lovely dress…he would even throw her garter. But being that this was a royal kingdom wedding, there was no fear of this. Still the ribbons were added in respect for the tradition.
“Lily, you look absolutely beautiful!”
”Mother, you shouldn’t call me Lily…someone may hear.”
”Right…right. Snow…you look stunning!”
Thank you mother…but I still think you looked even more beautiful in the gown in the painting of you and father.”
”Rubbish…you are much lovelier…trust me. So are you nervous…or excited? Which is it?” Liz beamed a proud smile as she plopped onto the bed, her eyes never leaving her daughter.
”Neither really.” Lily said casually. “I’ll just be glad when it’s all over I guess.”
Liz frowned. Every girl is excited on her wedding day…that is, when they are marrying a man they love.   She knew why Lily wasn’t excited. Gently she grasped Lily’s hand as Lily continued to model in front of the mirror. She looked at her mother as Liz spoke, “Lily, just say the word…and you don’t have to go through with this. I know you feel it’s your duty.”
”Nonsense Mum…it will be fun…all eyes on me and all…just like when I’m dancing. Oh! That reminds me…” Lily then went over to the armoire and began searching. Liz watched for a moment before inquiring, “Sweetheart, what are you looking for?”
”My tambourine! I have to have it.” Lily then began to seem panicked. She dropped to the floor and began throwing things out of the closet, “Where is it?!”
Quickly Liz ran to her, “Honey, stand up…you’re wrinkling your gown. The ceremony is about to start.”
”No! I can’t dance without my tambourine! I can’t I can’t I can’t!
Liz became immensely concerned. She gently touched Lily’s shoulder, “You won’t have to dance, honey…it’s your wedding! There will be people there to do that for you.” She didn’t notice the castle servant enter the room to let them know the groom was ready.
”No! I must have it! It must be my best dance ever! Thomas loves the way I dance! I must have my tambourine! I must have the most beautiful performance ever!”
Liz grabbed Lily’s arms, now flailing, “Lily, calm down! Thomas isn’t here! You’re marrying Prince Raymond! You must get a hold of yourself! Lily, you’re scaring me!”
”No no! Thomas! Where is Thomas? Anna! Where is Gypsy Anne?” Quickly, Lily jumped up, followed by Liz. Lily was sobbing uncontrollably. Liz put her hands gently aside Lily’s cheeks and whispered, “Please don’t lose it on me baby. I need you…I need my little girl. Forget the wedding…we’ll go back to the Willows…back to Thomas. Just please stay with me. Look at me and focus…you know who am I, right?”
Suddenly, Lily collapsed in Liz’s arms. She spotted the servant in the doorway gawking, “Well don’t just stand there…help me!” The servant helped Liz get the unconscious Lily on the bed.
Liz gave orders to the servant to watch Lily while she went to speak to the Prince.

Prince Raymond’s demeanor was most accurately described as ‘bored’. He yawned, again looking at the decorations he’d already seen many times over that day. Just as he glanced at the doorway for perhaps the hundredth time wondering where his bride’s processional was, he saw a hurried Liz approaching.
”Your Highness, pardon the abnormality…but we have a problem. It’s Snow…she’s fainted. We’re going to have to delay the ceremony.”
”Delay?” The Prince’s eyes shone fire. This did not set well with him at all. “We will NOT delay! If I have to drag her from that chamber…we will not delay! Where is she?”
Liz was taken aback. This man was certainly not acting like the Prince Raymond she always knew as the polite young man that would play with her daughter…not to mention the one that was betrothed to her daughter now.
”I apologize for the inconvenience, Your Highness…but perhaps it would just be a few minutes.”
The Prince stood…not accepting the delay, “Take me to her.”
”But Your Highness, she is unconscious in her chambers. She just needs a few moments…”
The Prince grabbed the queen by her gown and thrust her against the side of the wall, “I said take me to her NOW!”
Liz was terrified at the unusual behavior of this man that she certainly did not know. She simply nodded, whilst also trembling. As she approached the bridal chamber where Lily rested, she asked for a moment and turned to her most trusted servant Marie, “Please come in with me to be sure she is decent.” She then smiled nervously at the Prince and entered the room. Still in the chamber with Lily was the other awkward servant. Liz sent her out of the room then quietly said to Marie,
“I need you to take Lily away from here. I feel something very wrong is going on and I’m scared for Lily. She isn’t well…she isn’t well at all. She’s beginning to speak of things Snow would not speak about and I fear for her safety. If the kingdom thinks she is not Snow…I don’t know what will happen…they would never understand. I need you to secretly take her back to the gypsies…you know her teacher Anne and the dancers we invited here last week?”
Marie nodded.
“This is very dangerous, and it’s imperative that no one recognize Lily, understand? You will have to disguise her. And please tell Anne that no one is to come and get Lily except myself…OK?”
Again Marie nodded.
“Oh…one more thing. I need you to send another servant to rush up to me in front of the Prince and tell me a messenger arrived with news that my dear uncle is dying. I will need to go to him. She stopped and touched Marie’s hand, “Can you do this OK?”
The servant nodded. The women then gathered Lily up, and Liz helped Marie get her out the other door.
Liz then stepped back out to see the Prince, “She’s just finishing getting dressed. She said she would see you in a moment. She’s feeling better now.”
Liz spoke with a frightened quiver in her voice that she tried desperately to hide. The Prince was too annoyed of the delay to notice or care.
Suddenly a servant rushed up to the two of them, “Your Majesty?”
Relieved that Marie had relayed the task so quickly, Liz feigned a concerned tone, “What is it…what’s wrong?”
The servant looked at the Prince then back at Elizabeth , “It’s your uncle, Your Majesty. He’s very ill…he’s dying! The messenger said he has requested your presence.”
Liz looked over at the Prince who allowed for little time for second thoughts on her part. He grabbed her arm, “Don’t even think about it!” He thought quickly of a satisfactory reason, “What kind of mother would abandon her daughter on her wedding day!”
Angrily, Liz pulled her arm back…she was getting quite tired of this behavior from him. Over her dead body would her daughter be marrying the likes of this bastard, she thought.
”Yes…it is my daughter’s wedding day, and so if you don’t mind, I’ll be tending to my daughter now!”
With that, she stormed into the chamber and slammed the door in the Prince’s face.   Quickly, he began pounding on the door, “ Elizabeth ! I want to see Snow…NOW!” He tried the door…it was locked.
Quickly Liz grabbed he old ring of the witch Margurite from the vanity…and prayed as she morphed into the image of her daughter.

Snow in WW: Chapter 235 – “White Wedding (part 2)”

As the Prince became more and more impatient on the outside of the locked chamber, the awkward servant approached him. The Prince seemed relieved to see her as he pulled a small bag of gold from his belt. “It’s about time. What did you find out?” Timidly the servant spoke as she quickly took the bag of gold, “First of all the queen kept calling the princess ‘Lily’...not once did she call her Snow that I was there. And then the princess started to panic and was talking of gypsies and dancing and tambourines and someone named Thomas. Then the queen told her they could return to the Willows…whatever that is…and she could forget the wedding and go back to Thomas.”
The Prince found the news most interesting…not seeming the least bit concerned that his bride-to-be was talking of leaving him for another man. “Thank you Celeste. You’ve been most helpful. Your secret is safe with me as long as you agree to help me, understand?” The servant nodded and left.
Quietly, the chamber door opened, “Raymond?” a quiet voice spoke.
”Snow? May I come in?” The Prince seemed to have calmed down considerably.
As soon as the door was shut, the tone of the Prince became agitated once again as he did not see Liz in the room, “Where’s your mother?”
Sweetly, ‘Snow’ approached him in despair and put her hands on his shoulders in an attempt to calm him, “Oh Raymond, it’s awful! My dear great uncle is dying! His dying wish was to see my mother one last time. I told her to go on. She told me you knew of the terrible news.”
Raymond pulled from ‘Snow’, “You told her she could go…on your wedding day?”
”Yes.” Liz was concerned at just how calm Raymond seemed at this point. She was expecting him to be more upset.
”So how did you feel about the uncle…Lily?” The way he emphasized the name ‘Lily’ made Liz cringe. How did he know?
“What did you call me?”
”You heard me.”
She smiled, attempting to make nothing out of it, “I always thought you liked my name, ‘Snow’. But if you wish to give me an additional nick name, I suppose that will be alright.”
The Prince then seemed to fly into a rage and grabbed Liz now morphed into Snow by the arm and threw her into the armoire, “What I WISH is to know who the hell are YOU? And where is Snow?” Again, he shoved her hard into the large piece of cherry wood furniture causing her to hit her head, “And don’t lie to me! I have ways of finding the truth and I want to know why your mother was calling you Lily…and where is Snow?”
Liz was flabbergasted, rubbing her now aching head. She then trembled in a quiet voice, “You have spies in my castle?”
With both hands, the Prince ripped her from the armoire and then slugged her across the face, sending her onto the floor, her head slamming against the bedpost, ”Don’t question my business…I want an answer to my questions…Lily…whoever you are!”
Liz’s head was now spinning as well as throbbing and she felt a warm liquid oozing from her mouth. Quickly, she thought of the answer that she thought would best protect all involved, “I don’t know where Snow is. Only my mother knows.”
”Don’t lie to me, you little whore!” He then picked Liz from the floor and threw her onto the bed, pinning her down with his body. He displayed a coy smile as he slid his hand up her leg under her wedding gown, “You know, you look just like Snow…we could just forego the wedding and start the wedding night right now.”
Liz swallowed hard. She was appalled. This man that she was just about to let marry her daughter was nothing more than an abuser and now a rapist. Nonetheless, she’d rather this happen to herself rather than Lily, who’d already been through too much in her life…including a rape.
The Prince then removed his hand from her leg and stood up, “But seeing as how sex is not what I’m after, I would advise that you go and find your mother before she gets too far on her quest to visit her dead uncle.” He noticed the blood on her mouth, “And you’d better clean up that blood too.” He then threw her a cloth and left the chamber.

Snow squeezed her mother’s hand as Liz told her story in tears, “And so I immediately came back here to the Willows...I didn’t know what else to do. But I don’t want to put you in any danger. I don’t know who that was…he certainly wasn’t the Prince Raymond I knew. I’m glad it all happened before the wedding…but I’m worried about Lily. She really wasn’t herself. She was acting…insane!”
Snow looked at the ground, “I think she may be suffering from what the moderns call a ‘nervous breakdown’. That’s what I’ve heard them call something with those symptoms.”
Liz shook her head confused, “What does that mean?”
”With all Lily has gone through, she just snapped…went temporarily mad perhaps. At least we hope it’s temporary.”
”And I can’t even tend to her. She’s with the gypsies. I hope they know what to do. I don’t know them very well.”
Snow smiled, “She was raised with them…I think she’ll be alright.”
Liz suddenly shone horror on her face, “Oh my God! He’ll find her! He has spies in the castle…he’ll find her and torture her to find YOU!”
”Mama, do you have any idea why he wants to find me so badly?”
”No...I have no idea. The real Prince Raymond loves you…well he think it’s you. It’s really Lily he loves now. But Lily’s heart always belonged to Thomas. I told her we could return to the Willows and she wouldn’t have to go through with this wedding. I know that’s what she would really want. I have to go back, Snow. I have to find her…bring her back! Do you think the other villagers would help?”
Snow chuckled thinking of her relationship with Mai lately, “No way! They’d never let us go back into the mirror for Lily…Mai especially. Lily wasn’t her favorite person.”
Liz frowned, “Well, Mai wasn’t my especially favorite person here either.”
”Let me talk to Mike. He’ll help us I’m sure. Stay at the mine. I’ll be back before sunset.”
Liz nodded.

Snow returned to the mine with a very concerned Mike, “I just want to state for the record, that I don’t like this idea at all. Sinister princes, sneaking around, Lily gone mad…I don’t like it.”
Liz added matter-of-factly, “Which is why it’s imperative that we get Lily out of there!”
Mike nodded reluctantly.
As they approached the mirror in the lower mine chamber, Liz stopped them, “Wait. You need to be servants.” She then looked at Snow, “And you need a disguise.”
”I have a better idea, “ Mike spoke up. “Snow, I think you should stay here and wait for us…they’ll recognize you.” “Mike, no! I want to go!”
Liz looked at he thoughtfully, “Actually, Mike is right. You’re supposed to be getting married. If you’re recognized, it’s all over. You’ll be safer here.”
Snow pouted while Liz went on to find a servant’s outfit for Mike. Snow’s sad face suddenly brightened with laughter as Liz returned back through the mirror with Mike’s ‘servant’s clothing’, “It’s for a court lyre player.”
Mike took it in his hands, “I am NOT wearing this!”
Liz cooed apologetically, “I’m sorry, hon…but it’s the only thing I could find for a male.”
”A male!” Mike spouted in disgust as he held up what looked like a jester’s outfit complete with tights. “You call this a get up for a male? Maybe for Edward’s kind of male!”
Snow tried not to giggle as she spoke, “It’s alright sweetie…you won’t be seeing anyone you know.”
Liz added slyly, “Well, it’s either that or have Snow go instead. There were plenty of female outfits.”
”No, no, no, “ Mike waved his hand in surrender. “I’ll wear it...I guess.”
Liz turned her back while Snow helped him with the tights, “You know sweetie…” she giggled, “…perhaps we should keep this outfit around.”
Mike looked over at Liz with her back turned as she let out a chuckle, then looked back at Snow, “Let’s not.”

Liz removed the wedding gown, putting on a more suitable servant’s outfit. Mike was adjusting his tunic when he heard the horrifying and familiar sound of a camera behind him. He whirled around to see Ben standing in the doorway holding a camera…his tiny frame quivering from laughter, “I think this is what you moderns call a ‘Kodak moment’, eh?”
It was a camera Snow had given to Ben for Christmas after the ‘Willows fairy’ left them some more goodies in the woods last year. The camera spit out an instant photo that Mike immediately lunged for, “Why you little…”
”Ah, ah, ah…” Snow then grabbed the photo and put it safely in her pocket. “I think it’s about time you and mum were to go and rescue my sister, right?”

Snow in WW: Chapter 236 – “White Wedding (part 3)”

”How does anyone manage to wear these things?” Mike tugged at his tights. “They’re crawling up…you know where.”
With a grin, Liz reprimanded him, “If you don’t stop doing that, you’re going to draw attention to us.”
”I don’t think this outfit needs any help in drawing attention!” Mike gritted through his teeth.
”Now…” Liz added, “…just in case we need a diversion, I’ll need you to start playing that thing.” She motioned to the lyre Mike was carrying with his outfit.
”This! You’ve got to be kidding! I can’t even carry a tune, much less plan an instrument!”
”Many people who can’t sing play instruments…that’s how they enjoy music.”
”You know how I enjoy music? I play a CD…that’s how I enjoy music!”
Liz cleared her throat, “Well just in case you haven’t noticed, we are fresh out of CD’s here in the castle! Although I may be able to get you a piece of flat peasant bread…stick THAT in your CD player and see what happens. Anyway, we have to get out of the castle as quickly and as indiscreetly as possible.”
Again Mike looked down at his outfit, “Fat chance of that!”
Nevertheless, the odd pair made it out of the castle without being recognized amongst the many out-of-town guests for the wedding.
Liz kept snickering as they made their way into town where Lily’s gypsy band wagon could be found. Mike couldn’t stand it any longer, “Dare I ask why you’re giggling?”
”I’m sorry. It’s just the comment that the Duke of Montague made when he stopped you to request a song.”
Mike huffed, “Well, I would think you’d have been insulted. After all, he said ‘the queen must have been pretty desperate to hire you!’”
She smiled and patted Mike softly on the cheek, “Yes, well it’s a good thing Snow wasn’t looking to marry a musician, Mike….otherwise I’d have to say the same thing about her!”
After which, Mike refused all song requests by the townspeople from that moment forward.

After what seemed like an eternity to Mike, they approached the gypsy band wagon. Liz was searching over every girl with her eyes…but still no Lily. Then she spotted Anne, the gypsy band leader. Anne recognized Liz immediately, approached her and bowed as to royalty. Liz smiled nervously, regardless of her rank, “Is my baby here? Lily, is she alright.”
Anne returned her smile with sympathy…almost pity, “Yes, she’s alright. But we couldn’t use her as a dancer. Your majesty, Lily’s…um…” Anne sputtered. She too was nervous not quite knowing how to tell Liz about Lily’s condition. “I think it would be best if you could get Lily some ‘special care’.”
Liz nodded immediately, “Yes, I agree. Her life could be in danger and I’m taking her with me now.”
Anne averted her eyes to the ground, “That wasn’t exactly what I meant…let me just take you to Lily.”
Anne led Liz into the wagon where she and the girls lived. There in the corner, sat a dazed and unkempt Lily. She stared straight ahead and was pretending to sew…but nothing was in her hands. Her hair was a mess and she was covered in dried mud on some of her clothes and on her face and hands.
”I apologize for Lily’s appearance. We had just taken her to wash up and she was fine…then for no reason she was screaming and crying and got away from us and fell into the mud. She was so unruly for the next little while, we let her be and just kept an eye on her. Finally, we led her in here and she’s been in here ever since. We were going to take her back to wash up later…but then you arrived. Again, I’m so sorry your Majesty. I’m very embarrassed.”
Liz waved her hand, somewhat distracted by Lily’s distant look, “You have nothing to be sorry for…you did your best. And I thank you for keeping her safe. We’ll be taking her with us now, if you don’t mind.”
”Of course, ma’am. But who was with you? He disappeared.”
”Disappeared?” The tone in Liz’s voice was quite annoyed, “Mike? MIKE!”
”What!” I’m over here.” Out from behind the bushes he stepped…his lyre outfit now snagged in places from the brush. Liz gave a frustrated sigh, then turned to Anne, “Do you happen to have something in his size? This outfit was all I had and, really he’d prefer a more…masculine outfit.”
Anne smiled as she tried to keep from chuckling, “I think I can handle that.” She returned with a pair of brown gypsy pants and a white shirt to replace the ‘tights’ and brown leather boots to replace the curled toe shoes. “Is this better?” Mike grabbed the clothes before Liz could say a word, “MUCH! Thank you!” He then dashed behind some bushes to change.
In the meantime, Liz went to her daughter. She slowly knelt down beside her, “Lily, you know who I am? It’s your mother…it’s Elizabeth.”
The child looked up at her with the same blank stare.
”Come on…let’s go home…back to the Willows.”
As Liz tried to pull Lily up, she resisted, trying to sit back down, “No! I’m sewing! And I’m not done yet!”
”You can finish when we get home.”
”I AM home!”
”We’re going back to the Willows…I know you want to go back there.”
”No, no! Leave me alone!”
Liz got her to stand up, but Lily then began flailing her hands in protest. Liz turned her head away to keep from getting slapped by the out-of-control girl. Then suddenly, she was pulled from Liz and went completely still. Liz turned to see Mike had Lily’s arms grasped in his hands. She was staring up at him, her eyes wide…but completely calm.
Mike then looked at Liz, “Shall we go?”
Liz nodded and they took Lily with them. They would have bathed her first, however they didn’t want to run the risk of her having another “tantrum”. So instead, Anne gave them a cloak to put over her in order to get her through the castle unnoticed. Liz gave Anne some gold for her trouble. They both knew it could be a challenge getting Lily into the castle and through the mirror unnoticed.

They were able to enter through the servant’s entrance, as there were many new servants hired for the wedding…three more wouldn’t be noticed. They snuck up to Liz’s bedroom where the mirror was and quickly stepped through it. They then found themselves back in the mine cavern. “Lily!” Snow squealed, happy to see her sister alright.
”Shhh! Just leave her alone, Snow. She’s really not herself. I’m sure she’ll be fine in time.”
Snow was disturbed by the wild look in her sister’s eyes…not to mention she didn’t seem to recognize Snow for more than merely a mirror image of herself. It also didn’t escape Snow how tightly Lily seemed to be holding Mike’s arm.

Snow wasn’t looking forward to their re-entrance to the Willows. Here she and Mike had been gone all day without explanation and now returning with two of Mai’s most unfavorite people…and of course it would probably no doubt be Mai who would be the first to welcome them home. Snow then gave a heavy sigh as she saw the woman standing in their path at the edge of the village…tapping her foot.

Snow in WW: Chapter 237 – “A Less Than Warm Welcome”

Snow's pace slowed at the sight of Mai, looking much like an irritated hornet. Her steps slowed such that the absent-minded Lily ran into her, not noticing where she was going. Snow was too distracted at the sight of Mai to notice, "Oh no...she's waiting for us like a wolf to her prey."
Mike rubbed her back, "Come on...it's not that bad. I'll explain what happened." He then looked at Liz, "Better leave most of the talking to me."
Liz, never taking her eyes from Mai, gave a resounding "humph".
Mai spouted with disgust in her voice and giving a hostile glance over at Snow, "Oh great...look what the cat dragged in."
Not heeding Mike's advice Liz replied coldly, "It's hardly a pleasure to meet your acquaintance again too, Mai." "Pleasure or not I'm who you have to face...before bringing that 'thing' back in" motioning to Lily.
Liz snapped, as though it should be apparent to this stupid woman about Lily's obvious condition, "She's sick, Mai!" Indignantly, Mai didn’t miss a beat, "...and twisted…and she's also not a resident. Look on me as border control…or vermin control…either fits. Got your papers in order?"
That was all Snow could take, "Don't presume to tell us who is or is not a resident, Mai! She was a resident here times before and for quite a while! And what's more, I've been here longer than you, and thus she's my sister...so don't even give us that crud!"
"Crud? My, what language Snow...you've been hanging around this 'thing' too long." Giving a pointed glance towards Lily who was now staring down at the ground in horror.
"Someone make the ants stop screaming at me!" Liz quickly rushed to Lily’s side and took her daughter's arm, "They won't hurt you, dear."
Mai leaned in closer to the neurotic child, as if concerned, "That's right, even the ants hate you... mind you, I didn't know you could speak 'ant'." Mai smirked over at Liz and then looked at Lily, "Do tell what are they plotting now?"
Lily didn't even notice Mai was speaking to her...she was only aware of her fear of the hostile ants. She began to back away from the ants and into a conifer bush. The branches grabbed and wouldn't let go. The girl began screaming, struggling to get free. Snow and Mike rushed to help her. In the midst of it, Mike was trying to explain the situation while Mai stood watching the show, quite amused.
"Mai, there was some trouble at the castle." He tugged Lily's gypsy scarf free from the bush as it fell to the ground." The prince that Lily was supposed to marry..." he then yanked Lily's sleeves free, "...somehow went mad and we had to bring the ladies back for their own safety."
Mai gave a studious look at Lily as she flailed her arms, crying, "Apparently, the prince isn't the only one who's gone mad."
Lily's arm caught Snow's dress and a small flat square object fell out of her pocket and onto the ground. Mia picked it up as Mike realized in horror what it was...the Poloroid picture Ben had taken of him in that ridiculous lyre player getup.
Mai smirked, "Yes indeed...perhaps there's an epidemic of madness going around." Mai then gave a cat whistle, "Nice tights, Mike."
Angrily, Mike grabbed the photo from her hand, "It was the only outfit available to sneak through the castle. And our 'friend' Ben..." his tone resounded indignation "...saw fit to make it a Kodak moment!"
"That it was, Mike...that it was. Well, to the matter at hand..." as the trio managed to pull the crazy gypsy free from the bush, "Oh look, she's out of her tree...”
Liz practically cut her off, "If you don't mind, we need to get this child cleaned up...or are you so "barbaric" that you would force someone to stay in mud cake and bleeding from conifer bush scars? She could get infections. So if you want to argue some more, I would be MORE than happy to have it out with you anytime you like, Mai." She then pointed to her now black eye and swollen lip given to her by the prince back at the castle, "Because as you can tell, I'm obviously not afraid of a fight."
"Well, it's good that you don't have a glass jaw like your daughter here." Mai then looked at Lily who was now shaking imaginary ants off of her skirt and clutching at the scrapes on her arms,
"Get them off! They hurt! The ants are biting me!"
Snow tried to reassure her, "It's just the scrapes from the bushes...there are no ants, Lily."
Liz snapped back at Mai, "There you see? We've got to get this child cleaned up, else I will hold you personally responsible for allowing her insanity to intensify!"
“Shall I get the straight jacket...the special one that ties her arms behind her back…and keeps her legs together?"
Mai said with a smirk.
Ignoring the woman, Liz turned to Mike, "Will you escort us to the creek, please?"
Mike looked at Mai, who rolled her eyes. He took that as 'permission' and led the ladies to the creek.

Snow in WW: Chapter 238 – “The Returning”

Once Lily awoke in the surgery from being knocked out from Mai’s blow, she became panicked, once again chanting her mantra loudly, “Hell is coming for me!”
Karen had to give the child a mild sedative to calm her down. She cleaned and medicated her scratches and handed Liz a small bundle, “This is some herbal tea. It will help calm her down. If she gets really unruly, add some of the white powder to it…it won’t hurt anything…just relax her.”
Liz nodded and smiled, “Thank you so much for your help, Karen.”
”How long will you be in the village?”
To Karen’s question, Liz looked to Mike, who took it upon himself to answer, “Until we can figure out how to rid her kingdom of quite an abusive pestilence.”
Karen nodded, as she’d already seen the bruising on Liz’s face and now knew what, or in this case, who the cause was.
”Well, there is one empty cabin, luckily. But it will need some fixing up.” Karen then gave a chuckle, “With so many newcomers lately, all of the renovated ones are taken.”
”Not to worry,” Mike then smiled over at Liz, “I’ll round up some of the fellas and we’ll get it all fixed up.”
Liz’s smile was quickly replaced with concern as she looked back at Karen, “How long will Lily have to stay here?”
”As long as she can walk out of here, there’s really nothing keeping her here. She’s fine…at least her scars, anyway.” Karen then turned back to cleaning up her surgical area, not knowing what additional advice to give for Lily’s apparent mental plight.

Thomas saw Ville shining up Mai’s bike for her outside the surgery, “What’s the occasion?”
”Oh nothing…thought it the least I could do after riding it.”
Thomas looked surprised, “YOU rode MAI’S bike? And you’re still alive?”
Ville looked up at Thomas and grinned, “Killion! Do you give me no credit?” Thomas missed his meaning…Ville shook it off, “No, I was just making sure the band returned safely from the woods. She and I had to go on another AllDev killing spree.”
Thomas winced at the mention of the ugly creatures, “So who were they after this time?”
”Mike and Snow…and their new guests Liz and Lily.”
From Thomas’ sudden shocked expression, Ville sussed that he didn’t hear the news.
”You’re joking…aren’t you?”
”Wished I were…for Mai’s sake anyway. She and Lily weren’t like best friends or anything…nor Liz for that matter.”
Just then the surgery door opened and Ville took that as his cue, “Well, it’s all shined up…ready to go. I’ll be seeing you later.” He gave a quick glance at the band that had now stopped at the sight of Thomas and then added under his breath as he left, “Much later.”
Lily’s eyes locked with Thomas’…her limp frame straightened a bit, as did her distant look come back to earth for a moment. For a moment she seemed…normal.
”Lily!” Thomas rushed up to Lily to hug her and then stopped dead in front of her as if all of the memories he’d forgotten came back…Neville and of course what happened with Mike…not to mention that when Lily left, she was betrothed to be married to some prince back in her kingdom as Snow. He had been so hurt over these things, yet he still loved her so much. Her face was calm as she looked up at him…their bodies only inches apart. He stopped breathing just for a second to see if she would utter something so softly, that he wouldn’t have heard it over his own breathing. Two seconds seemed like years…but she said nothing.
Those few quiet seconds seemed like centuries for Liz who finally broke the silence, “I’d like to get her into bed…she’s been through a lot and needs her rest.”
She looked at Thomas and smiled sympathetically. She knew if anything could cure her daughter, it was probably this man. However, it was best to take things slowly. It was obvious that he had a positive effect on Lily…at least it appeared to be positive…but they needed to take things one step at a time.
Thomas nodded and smiled regretfully. Liz took Lily by the arm and they started for Mike and Snow’s cabin, where they’d stay till the other cabin could be renovated.
”Wait!” Thomas couldn’t stand it. He rushed over to them quickly, then said to Liz apologetically, “Please forgive me, but I just need to do this one thing.” He looked to Liz for her permission and she nodded. He then stood in front of Lily who again had her eyes locked upon his.
”You’ve haunted my dreams for months, and I just need to know that you’re real, Lily…that you’re not just a dream this time.” He then gently touched her cheek with his fingers…with them, he caught a tear that suddenly fell from her eye. He smiled as he whispered, “That’s my Lily.”

Snow in WW: Chapter 239 – “A Sorcerer’s Witch”

Snow casually walked into Ophelia’s new ‘store’ to give it a once-over. She was impressed at how quickly the woman had transformed her cabin into the Willows new ‘merchant’ type establishment. Around the place were varieties of clothes and shoes, and materials to make your own clothes as well. Also blankets and trinkets could be found in plenty, including baskets, tools…even toiletry items like soap and toothpaste lined her shelves. “Very nice, Ophelia. You did all this so quickly! So where do you sleep now?”
”In the back.” She motioned to the back room. “Don’t need a storeroom. If anything runs out…I’ll just conjure it up and pop it back onto the shelf.”
Snow shook her head in amazement, “So what’s the trade for goods here?”
”Trade?” Ophelia stopped setting out the items and looked at her friend quizzically, “Oh! You mean like money! Well, as you know, money is no good to us here in the Willows…so pretty basically it’s a ’free for all’, as one might call it. Just take what you need. Although, it always helps if you’re nice to the shopkeeper!” With that, she gave Snow a wink.
“So how is Lily doing? I see the guys are almost done renovating that old cabin…doing a nice job, too. It’s only been like a week, right? Well, not even that long. Is Lily showing any signs of improvement?”
Cheerfully she started, ”Oh yes…” Snow then changed her outlook. “Well sometimes. Sometimes she seems quite normal…while other times, she’s really out there. I do worry about her, Ophelia.”
Ophelia and Snow sat down in two nearby chairs and Ophelia took on a serious tone, “I wasn’t around when she was here, but I know of she and Thomas’ history. What do you think might happen there?”
Snow peered over at the shelves as she thought, “I don’t know. Mum is hoping he will be good for her. He seemed to be when he saw her. But Mum has thought it best to keep her away from the others most of the time…at least for these past few days so she could calm down. But I think now she may start coming around...at least I hope.”
Ophelia put her hand on Snow’s, “Well, you know you have my full support, right? Unlike some other people I know!”
Snow knew she meant Mai and she smiled back at her, “Thank you, Ophelia. That means a lot. We could use a friend here…Lily and Mum and myself. I appreciate that.”

“Watch that board there! It was loose…hadn’t had a chance to tighten it down yet.” Travis yelled down to Thomas as he saw Thomas move the board in place to hammer it down.
”Got it! Thanks!”
The cabin’s progress was coming along nicely thanks to Thomas, Mike, Travis and Prasut. Just as Thomas was finishing the south wall, Liz followed by Lily came to check out the progress. Again, Thomas and Lily’s eyes locked while Liz looked over the improvements,
”Very nice! I’m so impressed at how fast you gentlemen have fixed this place up…doesn’t even look like the same building! Thank you all so much!”
Travis smiled, “Well, it may not have plumbing for a while, but at least you’ll have a place to live. We’ll have to solve the plumbing problem at a later date…once we get some more piping.”
”I’ll make it a point to ask Ophelia about that.” Snow said casually as she walked up. Mike winked at her as she then smiled at her sister and mother. She couldn’t help but notice Lily’s ill attempt to not avert her eyes in Thomas’ direction…something he couldn’t help but notice as well.
”So, what kind of time estimate do you give it? When do you think Mum and Lily could move in?”
It couldn’t be too soon for Mike. Although he loved Liz, living with his mother-in-law wasn’t exactly something he relished. Luckily for him, it was Travis who spoke up…as he knew that Mike didn’t want it to appear that he was trying to shoo them out of his house.
”I’d give it say…oh two more days.”
”Great!” Liz’s tone was cheerful as ever. Did you hear that, Lily? Lily?” She turned to her daughter to find she was no longer standing next to her.   Unbeknownst to the others, the girl had wandered around to the back of the cabin to look around. Prasut didn’t see her till he’d already thrown down some unused lumber from where he was on the roof, “Lily, look out!”
Thomas had already spotted her. Moving quickly, he lunged to grab her and pull her out of the path of the falling wood. Her momentum landed her in his arms, their faces only inches apart. Quickly, he managed to gain his composure, “Lily, are you alright?”
She tried to speak, but now lost in his eyes, her mouth wouldn’t form the words. The exchange didn’t go unnoticed by Snow or Liz, who gently grabbed her daughter’s arm, “Lily, come on…let’s get away from the danger zone.” She turned back to Thomas, “I’m terribly sorry. We’ll get out of your way now.”
”You’re never in the way Ms. White, either of you.”
She smiled back at Thomas and took Lily with her back to Snow’s. As they got to the cabin door Snow turned to her mother, “You know what I think might be wonderful for Lily right now might be some lemonade.”
”That sounds perfect! You two wait right here! I’ll get us some.”
Snow felt terribly guilty for manipulating her mother in that way, for she knew Liz would jump at the chance to do something nice for her daughters, but she really wanted a moment with Lily. She shut the door and sat Lily down on the bed.
”OK…I can see it in your eyes Lily. You can talk to me. It’s me…we’re twins. I know you…remember? You can’t fool me.” Snow spoke the words with kindness but also with truth. Suddenly Lily broke down in front of her, “Oh God Snow!”
She collapsed onto Snow’s shoulder crying. After a moment she could finally speak and raised her head, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. One minute everything’s fine and the next it’s like I’m in a body I can’t control…someone who’s doing things and I can only watch, helpless. And then other times, it’s like I blackout…but still I do things, as I’ll be standing in the middle of somewhere and have no idea how I got there!   I feel like I’ve gone insane, Snow! I don’t even remember how I got into the Willows till I was in the surgery…then there’s Thomas. How can I even say anything? I know everyone must think I’m crazy…even I think I am!”
Snow nodded and smiled in understanding. She took Lily’s hand, “Kahlua told me she thought it was something called a nervous breakdown. But then in watching how sometimes things were normal and other times they weren’t, she thought you might have what she called a ‘split personality’. Then she gave me a book on it.” She then pulled the book out from under her bed. “I just didn’t want to say anything around Mum till I could talk to you and find out for sure. But what you’ve just described to me sounds exactly like what Kahlua described.
Lily rubbed the book in her hands as though she was willing it to heal her like medicine…then she smiled at Snow, “Thank you, my dear sister. Thank you for taking the initiative to help me.”
”If I may…” Snow then came and sat beside her on the bed. “…I think you should talk to Thomas, alone.”
Lily looked at her with horror on her face, “Oh no! I couldn’t! I’m sure he already thinks I’m crazy…and besides, I’ve hurt him so badly in the past…and I surely didn’t mean to.”
”But you heard what he said to you last week…at the surgery?”
Lily’s voice quieted, “Yes.”
”See? He still loves you Lily. You need to talk to him.”
”But what if I go into another one of those ‘spells’ where I’m that other person…or whatever. That crazy girl! I can’t control what she does!”
”But Lily, it’s always YOU when you see Thomas. Even Mum thinks he above anyone else can cure you. I think HE is your medicine, Lily.”
Lily looked at Snow as she pondered her words…pondering Thomas as medicine and how that sounded just too good to be true. She shook her head and looked away, “I don’t know.”
”Do you still love him, Lily?”
She answered without looking, “With all of my heart, Snow.”
”Then…”
”But I can’t even speak when he’s around. You saw me today! I acted like a blubbering idiot! I’d rather he think I was sick than a fool! I’d rather get better before I try to talk to him.”
”But I think he WILL make you better!”
”I don’t know…I’m just not ready, Snow. I need more time!”
Just then Liz entered the cabin with a tray of lemonade and three glasses with ice. Her voice was so cheery, it made Lily cringe, “Here we go! Sweets for my sweets! Snow…” She poured a glass and handed it to Snow. “…and my Lily. How is my Lily?” Liz stroked her daughter’s hair as Lily drank the lemonade, attempting to wash down her nausea.

He stepped out of the mine…wondering just where in the hell he was.   He had found the curious mirror that his servant had reported seeing the band of three go through and sure enough it led to here. But where was here? The prince wondered if this was where his sister had disappeared to over a year ago. The mirror after all had belonged to her. “Margurite? Margurite!” Futile, he almost laughed to himself…she could be anywhere even if she was here.
”Is that you, Victor?”
He was startled to hear what he thought was her voice.
”Margurite? Yes, it’s me!” The voice that echoed was hers, but she was nowhere to be found.
”You’re not Victor!”
Still looking about, he could see no one. “Where are you? I hear you?”
”Show me Victor!!” The voice demanded.
He’d forgotten he’d taken the form of the prince Snow was to be married to back in the kingdom and quickly changed back to Victor…sorcerer and also brother to Margurite, the witch.
”Ah Victor my dear brother! It IS you! How did you find this place?”
”I followed that queen here…and Snow. Where are you?”
”HA! She is not Snow. Snow lives here…with her current husband.”
”That’s impossible. She was to be married to me…as that Prince Raymond fellow…just like we’d talked about before. Now WHERE are you???”
Suddenly the image of a woman appeared before him. It was Margurite…she was almost transparent.
”Gee, sis! What happened to you? You look pale…almost dead.”
”I AM dead, you fool! It was the work of that little pest and her meddling husband! The Snow you saw in the Kingdom is her twin sister Lily. Quite a long story, but take my word for it…she’s NOT Snow!”
Victor was enraged, ”Snow did this to you? Snow has taken the life of my sister!!!”
”Cut the drama, Victor…it doesn’t suit you at all.” The figure went and sat on a nearby log.
Victor joined her, “Sorry…I try.”
”But I’m glad you’re here. It gets lonely here in the woods…and I dare not go back to the kingdom and watch THAT queen take over what should have been my kingdom!”
”So you’d rather wander these woods?”
”Well, it beats the other options…I don’t have much of a choice.”
”Can you ‘haunt’ things?”
”Well, no…but I haven’t tried really. I don’t want to step foot in the Willows…I’m still too furious over it all. Just the sight of that little pest I’m afraid would reduce me to dust again.”
”Sis, if you’re already dead…you’re already dust!”
”True, true.” The ghost sighed.
”So, Snow and this hubby of hers live in the Willows? So where is that?”
”Not far from here…just down this path a ways.”
Victor stood, “Then I say we charge in there and off with her head!”
Again the ghost image of the witch sighed, “There you go being dramatic again. It’s not that simple Victor. Must have been that Prince Raymond you killed to take his identity…was he this dramatic?”
”Well, no…not really.”
”Oh.”
”So what would you suggest then, SIS?” He emphasized with sarcasm.
”Don’t push me Victor. I may be dead, but I can still haunt you!”
”Right, right.” He rolled his eyes. “So then what…”
”Shhhhh!”
”What?”
”Wait here…” Suddenly she was gone.
”Margurite?” He whispered. Then he heard a rustling then felt a rushing of air past him to then see a man slammed up against a tree, then fall to the ground with a thud. As the man shook off his dizziness from his head hitting the tree trunk, Margurite re-appeared.
”He was spying! One from their village they call ‘Ritchie’. No telling how much he heard!”
The sorcerer drew the sword from his hip, one that had once belonged to the prince whom he’d killed, “We can’t have any witnesses…”
”Wait! The floating image stopped him with her pale hand. “I have a better idea!”

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