Snow White | Princess Snow White Runs into the Forest Alone | Bedtime Stories For Kids

Long ago, in a kingdom surrounded by high mountains and deep forests, lived Queen Ellara. History books would later call her the Evil Queen. But history is often written by people who only see the outside. Inside, Ellara was not evil. She was terrified. Ellara had married the king when she was young. She was beautiful, yes, but she was shy. The king loved her, but his heart still belonged to his first wife who had passed away. Ellara felt like a replacement, a second choice. She walked the long marble hallways of the castle, feeling like a ghost in her own home. When the king died in a hunting accident, Ellara was left alone to rule. She had no friends in the court. The nobles whispered She is not like the old queen, they muttered. Ellara's only companion was a gift from her mother, an ancient magic mirror. But this mirror was flawed. It didn't reflect reality. It reflected the viewer's deepest insecurities. It was the voice of anxiety. Every morning, Ellara would stand before it, gripping the edges of her gown. Mirror, mirror on the wall, she would whisper. Do I matter to them at all? The mirror would swirl with gray smoke and reply in a voice that sounded like her own worst thoughts. You are the queen, Ellara. But look at the wrinkles by your eyes. Look at how the people cheer for the princess, not for you. You are fading. You are becoming invisible. Ellara would touch her face, panic rising in her chest. I must stay beautiful, she thought. If I am beautiful, they will have to look at me. They won't forget me. Snow White was the king's daughter. She was everything Ellara was not. Effortless, loud, joyful, and radiant. As Snow White grew older, she became the heart of the castle. The servants smiled when she walked by. The birds sang when she opened her window. Ellara watched from her tower. She didn't hate Snow White. In fact, she loved the girl. But she loved her with a painful, jealous ache. On the week of Snow White's 18th birthday, the preparations were grand. The princess is coming of age, the town crier shouted. Soon she will be queen. Ellara ran to her mirror. Mirror, she cried. What will happen to me when she is queen? The mirror laughed, a cruel, scratching sound. What do you think, you foolish woman? You are the stepmother, the old furniture. She will marry a prince, and they will send you to a convent, or perhaps a drafty tower in the north. You will die alone, and no one will remember your name. The fear gripped Ellara's heart like a cold hand. She couldn't breathe. The thought of being cast aside, unloved and unwanted, drove her to madness. I cannot let that happen, Ellara sobbed. I need to stop time. I need to keep her away. Ellara summoned the royal huntsman. He was a kind man who had served the king for years. Your majesty, he bowed. Ellara turned her back to him so he wouldn't see her crying. Take the princess, Ellara ordered, her voice trembling. Take her into the great forest, to the north cabin. A hunting trip, your majesty? No, Ellara whispered. A permanent stay. Leave her there. Lose her. If she, if she doesn't come back, then I will remain the queen. I will. Still be important. The huntsman was horrified. You want me to kill her? No, Ellara screamed spinning around. I could never hurt her. Just hide her. Make her disappear from the court. Tell me she is gone so I can stop worrying. The huntsman saw the panic in the queen's eyes. He nodded slowly. As you wish. He took Snow White into the woods under the pretense of picking wildflowers. When they reached the dark part of the forest, the huntsman stopped. He looked at the innocent princess. Princess? He said sadly. I cannot take you further. And you cannot go back. Why? Snow White asked, holding a bouquet of daisies. The queen, he said. She is unwell. Her mind is clouded with fear. She wants to banish you to keep her throne. Snow White dropped the flowers. My mother hates me? She is afraid of you, the huntsman corrected. Run, child. Find shelter. Do not return until it is safe. Snow White, terrified and heartbroken, ran into the shadows of the trees. She felt the branches tearing at her dress, but the pain in her heart was worse. The only mother she had ever known wanted her gone. Snow White ran until her legs gave out. She collapsed in a clearing. When she woke up, she was lying on a small wooden bed. She looked around. The house was tiny but clean. It smelled of pine needles and herbal tea. Seven small men stood around the bed. But these weren't the dwarves from the storybooks who mined for diamonds. These were forest dwellers who dedicated their lives to healing injured animals and lost souls. She is awake, said one with glasses. This was Doc. She looks sad, said another with a frown. This was Grumpy. Who are you? Snow White whispered. We are the keepers of the woods, Doc explained. I am Doc. This is Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Dopey, Bashful, and Grumpy. You were crying in your sleep, my dear. Snow White sat up. My stepmother, she chased me away. She thinks I am her enemy. Ah, Grumpy crossed his arms. Insecurity. It's a nasty monster. Makes people do stupid things. Snow White stayed with them. It was a time of healing. Happy taught her to find joy in small things like baking bread. Grumpy taught her that it is okay to be angry sometimes, as long as you talk about it. Doc listened to her stories about the castle. You know, Doc said one evening, by the fire. The queen never smiled in the portraits. A person who cannot smile is usually in great pain. Snow White began to understand. She stopped seeing Allara as a villain and started seeing her as a woman drowning in loneliness. Back at the castle, the silence was deafening. Allara sat on her throne, staring at the empty hall. She went to the mirror. Is it done? Is she gone? The mirror sneered. She is gone from here, yes, but she is happier than ever. She lives in a cottage with seven friends. They adore her. She has forgotten you. You are truly alone now, Allara, just as I predicted. No, Allara shrieked. She cannot forget me. I am her mother. Allara ran to her laboratory. Her mind was fractured by grief and anxiety. She didn't want to kill Snow White. She wanted to reset her. She opened an ancient spell book. She found a recipe, the draft of eternal childhood. If she eats this, Allara muttered, stirring a red liquid, she will fall into a sleep. And when she wakes, her memories of being an adult will be gone. She will think she is five years old again. She will need me to tie her shoes. She will need me to read her stories. She will love me again. She dipped a beautiful red apple into the potion. It hissed and turned a glossy, perfect crimson. I will save us, Allara whispered deludedly. I will bring back the past. Allara disguised herself. She put on a ragged cloak and painted wrinkles on her face. She couldn't bear for Snow White to see her as the queen. She felt too much shame. She trekked through the dangerous woods, clutching the basket. She reached the cottage just as the seven dwarves left to gather herbs. Snow White was sitting on the porch, reading a book. Good morning, my dear, Allara croaked, trying to mask her voice. Snow White looked up. She saw an old woman with shaking hands. But then she looked closer. She saw the familiar emerald ring on the woman's finger, the ring the king had given the queen. Snow White's heart pounded. She didn't scream. She didn't run. Hello, Snow White said softly. You look tired. Would you like some water, mother? Allara froze. The basket slipped from her arm. Apples rolled across the porch. I, I am not, Allara stammered, pulling her hood down. I know it is you, Snow White stood up. She looked tall and strong. Why are you here? Did you come to finish what the huntsman couldn't do? Allara broke down. She fell to her knees, weeping into her dirty hands. I came to make you forget, Allara confessed. She picked up the red apple. This isn't poison, Snow. It's magic. If you eat it, you will be a little girl again. We can start over. I can be a better mother. I won't be jealous. I won't be scared. Please just eat it. Snow White looked at the apple. Then she looked at the sobbing queen. You want to erase my life? Snow White asked. Because you are lonely? I am terrified, Allara screamed. You are the sun, and I am the shadow. When you rise, I disappear. I don't want to disappear. Snow White walked over to Allara. She took the apple from the queen's hand. Allara held her breath, hope and fear warring in her eyes. Snow White raised her arm and threw the apple as hard as she could into the woods. Thump. No, Allara gasped. We cannot go back, Mother, Snow White said firmly. I am not a child anymore. I am a woman. Allara hid her face. Then you will hate me. You will send me away. Look at me, Snow White commanded gently. Allara looked up. She didn't see hatred. She saw pity and love. Snow White knelt down and wrapped her arms around the trembling queen. I don't want to send you away, Snow White whispered. I have missed you. I missed the way you used to sing in the garden. I missed how you organized the library. You are part of me, Allara stiffened. But I tried to hurt you. You tried to hold on to me, Snow White said. You just did it the wrong way. You don't need magic to keep me. You just need to be my family. Allara realized then that the mirror had lied. Snow White hadn't forgotten her. Snow White's heart was big enough for both of them. The queen hugged her daughter back, crying the first tears of relief she had felt in 20 years. Just then, the seven dwarfs returned, marching with their walking sticks. They saw the queen and rushed forward to protect Snow White. Back away, witch, Grumpy shouted, raising a shovel. Stop, Snow White shielded Allara. She is not a witch. She is my mother, and we are going home. Snow White and Allara returned to the castle. The servants were shocked to see them holding hands. They walked straight to the queen's chambers. The magic mirror was waiting. As soon as they entered, the room grew dark. The face in the mirror swirled with smoke. You fool, the mirror boomed. She is tricking you. She will lock you in the dungeon tonight. Strike her now while you have the chance. Allara let go of Snow White's hand. She walked up to the mirror. She looked at her reflection. She saw her wrinkles, her graying hair, and her tired eyes. But she also saw peace. I am the queen, Allara said clearly, and I am enough. You are nothing, the mirror shrieked. You are old. You are ugly. And you, Allara said, picking up a heavy iron fireplace poker, you are just a piece of glass. With a scream of rage, Allara swung the iron bar. Smash! The glass exploded. Shards flew across the room. The dark smoke vanished with a wail. The room instantly felt lighter, warmer, and quieter. The voice of anxiety was silenced forever. A year later, Snow White was crowned. But at the coronation, there were two thrones on the dais. People of the kingdom, Queen Snow White announced. I introduce you to my high advisor, the Queen Mother, Allara. Allara stood up. She wasn't wearing a mask of heavy makeup anymore. She looked her age, and she looked beautiful. The crowd cheered, not just for Snow White, but for her too. Allara learned that she didn't need to be the only star in the sky. The sky was big enough for the sun and the moon to shine together. She spent the rest of her days not asking who was the fairest of them all, but asking, how can I help? And that made her the most beloved queen the kingdom had ever known.