“Such cruel people,” whispered Tabula to the butler. “Why don’t they ever eat with their child?”
“Shut your mouth, woman.” the butler hissed, keeping his pretentious pose and chin up. “We’re not allowed to talk about this.”
“Such a strange king and a queen to abandon their child at meal times,” Tabula mumbled.
Snow White didn’t hear them, playing with her fork and nudging an impenetrable olive on her plate.
“Not yummy enough, eh,” Loki commented. “Not like Prince Charming.”
“My dear princess!” a broad voice called happily for Snow White from outside the room.
Heavy boots thumped on the floor before the man with the voice entered the room. He was wearing an expensive warrior outfit, had shoulder-length black hair, a notable double chin, and a strong jaw. It was Snow White’s father, a very masculine king. The man’s presence was unavoidable, shining with heroism.
“Where were you in the Brother Grimm’s fairy tales,” Loki mumbled. “No stepmother could have hurt the child in your presence.”
Snow White jumped out of her chair and ran to her father, covering him with hugs and kisses. The resemblance between father and child was uncanny. She’d inherited that strong, silky, black hair from him. Even his lips were unusually red, filled with life. All but her pale skin; the king was tanned, almost burned by the sun, which made Loki wonder where he had been.
Snow White’s father lifted her up with his strong hands. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and leaned against the armor he was wearing on his chest.
“I missed you, father,” Snow White said, brushing her cheek against his scruffy beard. Loki felt a tear arguing its way out of his eyes. He didn’t know if it was because he was missing his father whom he had never met, but he knew that he’d like to remember a moment like that with him.
“I only came back for you my little cherry snowflake,” the king squeezed his daughter harder.
Snow White giggled. “Are you going to eat with me?” she asked.
The king’s face knotted as he helped her down. “You know the castle’s etiquettes,” he said, kneeling down for her. The butler and Tabula seemed taken by the scene of such a powerful man on his knees. “The king and the queen have to eat together without their lovely daughter in order to discuss important matters regarding the kingdom.”
“You said I would be able to eat with you when I turn sixteen. I want to be sixteen now. Do something about it,” she demanded.
“That’s true,” he laughed. His laugh was majestic, echoing as if his chest was hollow. “Why would you want to grow up that fast, princess? You have the time of your life ahead of you.”
Snow White tiptoed and chopped through the air with her arms as if she was a fearless warrior. “I want to grow up soon so I can fight the enemy with you.”
The king laughed again. “By the time you’re sixteen, I promise you, my fairest, that I will have chopped their heads off one by one so you can rule the kingdom in peace and with prosperity.”
“Chop their heads one by one?” Loki mumbled. “No wonder your daughter went nuts later.”
“I have to go and rest now,” the king told Snow White. “Your mother and I will summon you after we finish our nightly discussions.”
“I’m finished eating,” Snow white shrugged her shoulders.
“Then go to your chamber,” the king ordered her. “I will call for you soon.”
Loki watched the servants ushering Snow White out of the dining room after her father had left. Hiding behind the armor, he hesitated, wishing for another time shift. He didn’t know if he should follow Snow White or her father, or if he should go back to the closet. He scratched his head, thinking it was funny that scratching one’s head only pulled the hair out and never brought new ideas—or hair—to it.
“Time to go,” a female voice said behind him.
Loki whirled around, thinking he was caught by one of the servants. To his surprise it was Snow White again; the sixteen year old, beautiful, fangless version of her. Loki had to scratch his head this time.
“Have I told you lately that I missed you?” Loki smiled, pretending to be calm.
Snow White laughed. It was the first time he’d ever seen her laugh, and he was sure she didn’t have any idea how magnificent and mesmerizing her laugh was.
“Too much wit will kill you, Loki,” she said. “And don’t look back for the younger version of me. There are two Snow Whites in this dream.”
“Are there other manifestations of you I should know of, my princess?” Loki bowed his head playfully. He felt safe with her after that laugh.
“No, and it’s only me and my younger self who can see you in this Dreamory,” she said.