“And you will die here in the same place you were born. How do you like that,princess?”
The queen grasped her by her tunic and shoved her upward, ready to push her over the railing. Snow saw the ivy climbing the walls of the castle and the edge of the balcony. She flattened her hands on the railing, reaching out with her senses and used her nature magic to call to the plants.
In one last fit of fury, Seraphina shoved Snow over the railing.
As she did, though, Snow called to the ivy. It sprang to life and immediately moved to intercept her, weaving to form a net to keep her from tumbling to her death. Then pushed her upward, helping her to step over the railing and back onto the balcony.
Seraphina gaped.
“It seems, oh wonderous queen, you forgot about the ivy,” Snow said as she stepped down onto the balcony. “Now, shall we finish this?”
Another boulder crashed against the castle, as if punctuating her sentence. It bothered her a little they were destroying her castle, but she decided she didn’t care much since she could always rebuild once she disposed of the queen.
The queen’s momentary shock was replaced with her anger. She held her hands down, cupped them, and fire erupted inside her palms. She flung both fireballs at Snow. She ducked, crouching low on the ground as the fireballs flew over her head. She had to get inside and back to the mirror. It was the only way to remove Seraphina’s magic. She hoped the dark wizard was right about that.
Closing her eyes, she lifted her hands, palm up. “Oh, creatures great and small, forest creatures, noble and free, I call upon you to heed the call, to protect where shadows fall.”
“What are you doing?” Seraphina shrieked. “Stop! I command you to stop.”
All Snow needed was a breath of fresh air to allow nature to recharge her. She sensed the awakening of the land around the castle, of the creatures—big and small, nocturnal and diurnal—coming to life and coming to her aid. The ivy crawled over the balcony railing, creeping along the floor toward the queen.
“I will never stop fighting for myself or my people,” Snow said, her voice strong and sure. “Your reign, Seraphina, is over.”
The queen stumbled backward trying to get away from the now quickly moving ivy. She wasn’t fast enough and the ivy wound around her legs. She tumbled to the ground. Snow watched as the evergreen wrapped around her upper torso, pinning her arms against her sides.
Snow turned to face the onslaught and raised her arms to the sky.
“Cease your siege!” she called. “I am Snow White, crown princess and heir to the throne of the Mystic Vale. And I have come to reclaim my birthright.”
All movement on the ground stopped. She peered down, watching as one lone rider moved forward. Several joined him from the glowing circle of elves. The man on the horse glanced their way and then looked up at her. From the distance, she only made out he had a bearded face and wore full plate armor.
“We have come to aid you, princess,” he called. “The walls are breached and my men have entered the castle to apprehend the false queen.”
Snow gripped the railing, realizing she had left a smear of flood from her still oozing palm. “Who are you, sir?”
“I am King Alfred of the Feywood, your majesty.”
Suddenly, a fluttering of wings buzzed her face. She lifted her uninjured hand. Annilen alighted on her palm, collapsing in a heap. Her breath was labored.
“Annilen?”
“Snow…” she panted. “We came to help you. Roderick said…” She paused to catch her breath. “Roderick said you needed our help.”
“Roderick?” She glanced back at his still sleeping form on the floor. “You can explain later. Tell the king—”
“And the elves,” she interjected. “They helped him get here.”
Snow blinked surprise. So many questions fluttered through her mind but there wasn’t time to ask them all. “Tell the king to secure the castle while I deal with the queen.”
Annilen climbed to her feet again and then dipped a deep courtesy. “By your command, your majesty.”
She fluttered away.
Once she was gone, Snow took a deep breath and turned back toward the bedchamber. She had a mirror to destroy.
Chapter 39
Theivyhadtakenover the balcony, crawling along the stone floor and then inching into the bedchamber. Seraphina was still on the ground, wiggling to try to free herself but it was no use. Snow checked to make sure the ivy was snug around her struggling form and binding her hands.
