Everyone understood the queen wanted Snow White dead because she was a threat to her throne and would always be as long as she lived. Snow thought of the cut on her palm, the blood oath she made, and how close she came to losing that throne.
King Alfred said, “As am I. As for how I got here, the elves had a hand in that.”
Snow gave Tasnia a questioning glance.
The Elder said, “I did what I had to do and used elven magic that has not been used in over a thousand years.”
“And what was that?” Roderick asked, curious.
“Why, I opened a portal, of course.” She said it as though she were speaking of nothing more than the fine weather. “And, now, Snow White, we elves will return to our forest to continue our efforts to rebuild what was lost.”
Snow reached for the Elder, taking her hand in hers. “I cannot express what it means to me that you came. Thank you. I hope we can continue to be friendly.”
Tasnia lifted her chin. “The elves will consider an amicable coexisting with the Mystic Vale, if your majesty agrees to it.”
Snow tried hard to hide her grin. “I do.”
She nodded and turned away, gathering her Elders and motioning them out of the great hall and into the night. But Elator hung back and approached Snow. He took her hands in his.
“I’m glad you have your throne back,” he said. “I’ll tell Yirrie.”
“Yes, and that I miss her.”
“Of course.”
He released one of her hands as his gaze lifted. He touched the circlet still on her head, which she had forgotten about. Amazement flitted through her that it had remained on her head during the entire ordeal with Seraphina.
“I was wrong. Not fit for a princess.” He paused, smiled, a twinkling of admiration and pride deep in his blue luminescent eyes. “Fit for aqueen.”
“I will wear it always.”
He kissed her cheek then bid her farewell and left with the others.
Alfred watched them go, clearly confused by the interaction. “I must say, I don’t understand why the elves came to our aid. When we started our trek through the Wyldwood Forest, they were more than happy to get us here through the portal. An odd experience, that.”
“How so?” Snow asked.
“Hard to describe, but I would say it was like walking through a hole in space. At any rate, now that everything is settled, we’ll round up Seraphina’s men and arrest them. It will be up to you to decide what to do with them. For now, I’ll leave a few men stationed inside and around the castle.”
“I appreciate that,” she said. “Thank you.”
“And, uh, if you don’t mind, we’d like to set up camp outside the castle walls for the night,” Alfred said.
“Please stay as long as you like,” she said.
“I thank you.” Then to Roderick, he said, “I knew the message was from you. It’s the reason I came. However, it would appear I’ve lost my best blacksmith to the Mystic Vale.”
He gave Snow a surreptitious wink, which made Snow blush to the roots of her hair. Then he and a few others headed out of the great hall through the destroyed door and into the night. Roderick moved to stand by her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“Now that you have your throne back, your majesty, what will you do first?”
“Try to get used to everyone calling meyour majestyfor starters.”
He chuckled at that. “And next?”
She took a deep breath, expelled it, then glanced up at him. “I don’t know, really.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out in no time.”
