“Your horse will know its way back home,” Nan said. “But I must ask that once you return you will not tell people where you have been. Snow is safe here and I would not want any harm to come to her. She is innocent in the ways of the world and knows no other way of life.”
“You have my word,” Bastian promised.
“What is this?” he asked one morning after I’d returned from bathing down at the river. Drying my hair, I’d left my bracelet on the table. He picked it up and studied the jewel.
“It is the only memento I have of my family. When my father left me with Nan Flora, he gave her this to keep and said when I become a responsible girl she should give it to me.” I laughed, taking the handmade jewel and slipping it on my wrist. “It is my prized possession, and I will hand it down to my children and they to theirs.”
“It is a beautiful design,” he said, looking at the piece again.
As luck would have it, Bastian did not wish to return to his family so soon and I found myself happy that he was staying. In the time he spent with me, he taught me many things.
“You have taken my heart, Snow and for that I would like to gift you this.” He unclipped the necklace he wore around his neck and clipped it around my neck. When held against the light, the dazzling diamond pendant looked like the moon lived inside it and when held against the darkness, looked like sun lived inside it. “With this, I declare that I will love you and only you forever.” He kissed my forehead.
I was startled by the feverish response of my skin. I didn’t understand what that meant. But, I looked upon his gift with a fond adoration and called it Snow. He liked that.
Then he taught me to love, and I did. I loved him my most valued jewel.
My heart.
Then he taught me to trust, and I did. I trusted him with my most sacred possession.
My virtue.
Then he asked me for my hand in marriage and I agreed. I gave him my most precious commodity
My life.
Then he taught me the cruellest lesson all. Betrayal.
He took me from my paradise to his castle promising that as his queen I would live forever, rule by his side, with his love and as the mother of his children.
Then he taught me the most important lesson of all. Strength.
When a man loves, he loves with his head. When a woman loves, she loves with her heart.
My name is Snow, and I was an innocent girl until I found love.
Then I became what I was raised to be. A witch.
A curse need only to survive on the strength of a woman’s love for a man she trusted with all her heart.
