Debbie Banna - Shattered Dreams, New Beginnings
Wendell sat in a comfortable, overstuffed chair by the mirror anxiously waiting and hoping for some news on the fate of his friends. Suddenly, movement drew his attention as the form of Wolf became visible in the glass. He jumped to his feet, trying to anticipate what this might mean, when he noticed that Wolf was carrying someone. Virginia! It was Virginia. They were returning. Wendell called out to his servant Lord Rupert to alert the other attendants. Wolf and Virginia were coming. With a flurry of movement, Rupert disappeared and Wendell relaxed, knowing that all would be ready. Within a moment, Wolf had approached the mirror and was now crossing into the Fourth Kingdom.
“Wolf! I’m here!” Wendell spoke to make his presence immediately known in the darkened room.
“Oh, Wendell. You’ve got to get help,” Wolf spoke as he entered the room with Virginia’s lifeless body in his arms. Wendell stared at the form Wolf carried so gently and a wave of sadness swept over him.
“Oh, Wolf. Is it?…can we?…what do we do, my friend?” he stuttered uncharacteristically. He looked into the pain-filled eyes of his friend and felt his throat grow tight and his eyes begin to fill. He wanted to reach out to put his arm around the man but realized that would be awkward as Wolf’s arms were filled with Virginia. Instead, he turned away, ran a hand over his now moist eyes and cleared his throat.
“Wendell. If there’s help for her anywhere, it’s here,” Wolf spoke. “I’ve been thinking. I need to speak to Snow White. There must be something she can do. We also need to speak with Matilde. Between the two of them, they must have a way to bring Virginia back to life. She’s not supposed to die. I feel it in my bones. Not yet. Not like this. This is a mistake. Something went wrong. They’ll know what it was and how to fix it.”
“Yes. That’s what we’ll do,” Wendell said with conviction. For now, take her to your room and we’ll send for them immediately.” And in a flash of movement and purpose, he left the room to summon Lord Rupert. Wolf turned to look into the mirror, glancing at the advancing trio on the other side. Then, knowing they’d be along in a moment, he carried Virginia from Tony’s bedroom to their own room in the castle.
For the next hour, the castle was a flurry of movement and voices but by the end of the time, everyone was assembled in the king’s war room for a meeting of the minds. Eranthis, king of the Dwarves, had arrived with the mirror used to contact Snow White, Matilde had come swiftly in her chariot and the rulers of several of the other kingdoms had come as well. Cinderella had felt her presence necessary in such an important matter and Queen Riding Hood came out of duty to those who had saved her kingdom and life. Leaf Fall, from the kingdom of the elves determined that she not be left out and arrived only moments after her mother. Now, with the assemblage of royalty around a large table in the war room, Wolf, Rose and Wendell entered and the meeting began.
After motioning for silence, Wendell rose from his chair at the head of the table and opened the meeting with thanks to those who chose to travel so far to come to their aid. Then he turned to Wolf, asking him to explain what had befallen him and what he hoped they could do about it.
Wolf rose and began. “I have asked King Wendell to bring you here on behalf of my wife, Princess Virginia. She has suffered a terrible tragedy while we were away and her life and that of our child has been lost. I believe however that her death is a mistake…something has happened that should not have occurred. I do not believe it was time for her to die. And I believe that those who can help us correct this mistake are here today. Within these walls, there is the power to give her back her life. One of you knows or will know the way. I beg you…as one who has served you all well…please bring the love of my life back to me.” He stopped and smothered a whimper as he tried to continue on but was unable. Wendell stood and picked up where Wolf ended as Wolf sat back down in his seat.
“As you can see, this is very serious and our friend and prince is in need of our help. I open the floor to you for ideas and suggestions, “ stated Wendell as he stood behind his chair, gripping the back tightly. For what seemed like an eternity, the room was silent. Each person present in the room looked around, searching the faces of others for an answer. When no one spoke, Wendell said, “Do we have ideas? Matilde? Eranthis? Cinderella?” For a moment no one spoke, then, feeling it her duty to do so, Cinderella cleared her throat.
“Wendell. This is…ah…most unusual. We’ve never thought it possible to bring someone back from the dead before. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I’m not sure that it can be done.”
Matilde spoke up next, tapping the top of her cane as she did. “I have healing powers and traveling powers but this…I don’t know.”
Eranthis rose to his feet and began to pace, fingering his beard as he spoke. “If anyone knows the answer to this mystery, it’s Snow White herself. Though she has been dead for many years, still she speaks. If there is a way back to life from beyond the grave, she is the one who would be able to tell us. I suggest that we talk with her. I’ve brought the mirror as Prince Wolf suggested. Why don’t we uncover it and see if she will speak?” He looked to Wendell, who nodded, and then moved to the mirror and tugged at the covering that protected it from damage while travelling. All heads in the room turned hopefully to the mirror and as they gazed, it began to swirl and change. Wolf jumped anxiously to his feet and rushed up to the mirror.
“Please Snow White, “ he begged. “Speak to us. We need to see you. My Virginia needs you.” As he spoke, the image of Snow White became visible in the mirror and she began to speak.
“There are too many here today. Only one needs to stay to speak with me. She and I will speak about what is to come. The rest of you may go. Matilde. Stay please.” Wolf looked as if he’d been slapped by the announcement but he backed away from the mirror in deference to the queen. The others vacated their seats quickly, with exception of Cinderella whom Wendell and Eranthis helped up, and they filed out of the room, whispering among themselves. Matilde arose and walked to the mirror.
“I’m here Snow. What is it that I need to know?"
“This is for you only to hear, “ Snow White spoke. “You are to tell no one what I share with you. You and I have the power to bring Virginia back…but we will not.”
“We will not? Why not?”, Matilde exclaimed.
“Wolf is right. His heart has sensed that a great wrong has been committed. In fact many grievous choices have been made and must be undone for the sake of the future of the Nine Kingdoms. But not yet. There are two more things that must be accomplished first, and we must not interfere, no matter what it costs us and those we love. All I can tell you now is that we cannot interfere.”
“I see. What shall I tell Wolf?”, she questioned. “His heart is broken and he’s depending on us to help him. I don’t know what he might do. And what about my Tony? The hollow look I see in his eyes scares me,” Matilde spoke thoughtfully.
“Tell them what you must but do not try to help them. If you do, it will cause the destruction of all that we are in the Nine Kingdoms,” Snow White said as her image began to fade in the mirror. “Trust in me and in time, all will be well,” she said as the mirror returned to a reflection of Matilde.
The seriousness of what had been revealed remained with Matilde after Snow White had gone. Could she live with the knowledge that they could help Tony and Wolf, and not be able to share this with them? She tensed her back and clenched her hands as she searched for the strength deep within herself to do this thing that was required of her. And, as a queen, she found the resources she had drawn upon frequently in the many years of her reign to do what she knew she must. She strode across the room purposefully and opened the door, asking the others waiting outside to rejoin her. She waved them to their seats and positioned herself near Wolf as he sat down. Taking a deep breath, she began.
“Snow White has spoken. She has looked at every aspect of this situation and her decision is that we can do nothing.” A gasp went up from all of those present as the enormity of this pronouncement hit them. There was no hope, then. They had all wanted to believe that Snow White would find an answer. But now the conclusion was negative and all of their hopes were futile. Matilde turned her gaze to Wolf, who sat still, unmoving with a blank stare on his face. Tony, who had begun to look as if he might still be alive, had now returned to his frozen state.
“No!!!” screamed Wolf as he shot out of his seat and ran across the room. “No! This can’t be! I can’t go on without her.” His cry could be heard as he ran from the room and out of the doors of the castle. “I won’t live without her!” Wendell jumped to his feet and followed after him but Wolf was gone before he could reach the door. Matilde’s shoulders slumped heavily as she looked at Tony. He was now gazing at her with angry eyes.
“You can’t do anything for my daughter? With all of your magic and power you can’t do a thing? Or is it that you won’t do anything,” he spoke accusingly. Matilde reddened as she realized that Tony could see more in her face than she had intended. In the short time they’d been together, he had come to know her well, almost too well, it seemed. She lowered her head, afraid to look into his eyes lest she reveal more than she could share. “What a fool I was to think that we were in love. I don’t know what your plan was for me but you couldn’t have ever loved me. If you did, you’d help my daughter. To think that we were going to be married next month. What was I thinking?” he shouted angrily at her. Then, for the first time since finding Virginia dead, Tony stood on his own and stalked out the door.
Matilde lowered her head even further and her shoulders began to shake. Covering her mouth with her hand, she looked to her stepdaughter for help. Leaf Fall looked questioningly at her stepmother, then arose and went to her. Uncharacteristically, she put her arm around Matilde’s shoulder and led her out of the room, and away from the questions in the eyes of those still seated around the table.
After Matilde and Leaf Fall had gone, Eranthis left his seat to prepare the magic mirror for traveling. Wendell sat back down in a chair near Rose and took her hand in his. He gently rubbed her fingers trying to comfort both her and himself, though neither found any comfort in the gesture. Across the table, Riding Hood glanced uncomfortably at Cinderella, who sat deeply in thought. “What could they possibly be up to?” Cinderella asked quietly under her breath as she sat gazing off into the distance and rubbing her chin with her hand.
