The Poisoned Princess: A Snow White Retelling (The Skazka Fairy Tales)

We head back to the cottage immediately. We don’t even discuss it, we just go. I can tell Arseniy is heartbroken, and I want to give him some words of comfort, but I can’t find any. I also want to travel without stopping, but I know that’s not fair to him.

An idea starts to form in my mind as we walk, and when we finally make camp for the night, I speak up.

“We’re wasting too much time. I have to see her.”

“We’ll be back at the cottage in a day’s journey.”

“And then another day to get to wherever Kostya put her? No, I need to see her now.”

“What are you going to do?” Arseniy stares at me with worry shining in his eyes. I can’t even fault him for that. I’m worried about me too.

“I’m going to find out if any of those old tales are true.”

I don’t wait for a response, but walk off into the trees, just to put some distance between us. Ivanka has—had a connection to the land. After watching her with Kroshka and even Sokolko, there’s no denying Skazka herself was meddling in Ivanka’s affairs. Now I need the land to meddle in mine.

I take a deep breath and glance up at the sun. Ivanka said that I can ask it questions if my heart is right. Well, I don’t know if it is, because how can it be right when it’s broken? But I have to try.

It feels foolish, but I owe this to Ivanka—and to myself. She spoke of magic, but she wasn’t the only one. My father has always been good at sharing the stories of the land. I think that’s why I’ve had such a difficult time believing that Skazka could be good, because she never helped me before. Not even when I was abandoned, shivering in the dark night.

But Ivanka has restored bits and pieces of the boy who once believed that magic was accessible to all people, if we only believed in it. So now, I’m hoping that’s enough.

I need it to be enough.

“Sun, dear Sun! So glorious and bright. Won’t you help me, out of the goodness of who you are?” I call out, keeping my voice firm. Not shouting but trusting that the land is listening. “I’ve heard the stories that you come to aid those with pure hearts. Please do tell, in all your wandering through the sky, from winter to spring to summer to autumn, you’ve seen it all. Will you help me now to find my beloved? The princess I love has been hidden away. Could you please tell me if you’ve seen her and show me the way?”

I look up at the sky, shielding my eyes, and it feels like I’m talking to no one. A tear slips down my cheek and once again, I don’t even realize I’m crying. I seem to do this every time I think of her. I can’t help it.

The stories of the Sun guiding travelers on their way were some of my favorites. I didn’t even remember them until Ivanka reminded me.

I stand there for I don’t know how long—long enough that my skin feels hot and sweat runs down the sides of my neck. I guess only Ivanka found the favor of Skazka, because nothing seems to be happening for me.

I finally turn to go, but then a voice speaks directly in my mind, scaring me half to death.

“Dear boy, I haven’t seen your princess.

I’m afraid that she’s no longer living.

Yet, unless my friend the Moon is willing,

To speak up and tell you if he’s seen her on his travels,

Or seen clues that may help unravel.

Ask him once he comes by in the sky,

And until then, child, don’t cry.”

I gasp as the voice stops speaking, and I turn to look at the sky, having no doubt that the magic has spoken to me.

“Thank you, dear Sun,” I whisper, overcome with more emotion than I know what to do with. “Thank you, Skazka, for not abandoning me.”

Ivanka believed in the magic so deeply, even though she’d never seen it. She just knew it was real, in the way one knows the snow melts once the spring comes. If I can just be brave a little longer, if I can believe a little harder, then maybe I can see the world the way Ivanka did. Beautiful and magical. But also a little darker without her in it.

I close my eyes and try to keep my emotions from surfacing again as I head back to Arseniy. We’ll camp and wait for the moon to come out. And then I’ll try my luck with Skazka again.

I don’t have to explain myself to Arseniy. He seems to understand my need to do this. And he doesn’t look at me like I’ve lost my mind when I tell him the Sun that spoken to me. Maybe my men are a bit more believing then I am.

But waiting makes me restless. I need to be doing something, but all I can do is force myself to eat dinner and then wait for the moon to show up. When it finally does, I nearly jump out of my seat.

“I’ll be back,” I say and then head over to the little spot I had found earlier when I was speaking to the Sun. There’s no need for a fire, because the moon is bright enough to show the way. So I take a deep breath, and turn my attention to the sky once more.

“Moon, dear Moon! Gloriously shining bright, won’t you help me out of the goodness of who you are?” I call out. “I have heard your stories, and I ask that you aid my broken heart. Please do tell, in all your wandering through the sky, from winter to spring to summer to autumn, you’ve seen it all. Will you help me now to find my beloved? The princess I love has been hidden away. Could you please tell me if you’ve seen her and show me the way?”

I keep my voice low and then I plop myself right down on the ground and wait. I have no idea how long it’ll take but the Moon is much quicker with its response than the Sun was.

“Dear boy, I haven’t seen your princess.

As you know, I only make my rounds

When it’s my turn and night abounds.

It would seem that I was resting,

When she passed, that’s quite perplexing.

Oh, but wait, may I suggest,

Have the Wind come to the rescue.

Call him now, he’s traveled far and wide,

And cheer up a bit! Goodbye!”

My heart feels like it’ll beat out of my chest, but I don’t hesitate. I take a deep breath, studying myself.

“Wind, dear Wind! Ruler of the sky, setting things into motion. Please do tell, in all your wandering through the sky, from winter to spring to summer to autumn, you’ve seen it all. Will you help me now to find my beloved? The princess I love has been hidden away. Could you please tell me if you’ve seen her and show me the way?”

I don’t have to wait for a response. The Wind answers immediately.

“Oh dear boy, I’ve seen your princess,

Where a quiet stream is flowing,

There’s a cavern deep within,

And within that cavern lies a coffin,

With her still.

She awaits for your return,

Hasten on, my boy. Goodbye!”

A part of me was hoping the Wind would tell me she’s alive. But of course, that’s wishful thinking. I need to see her, and now, thanks to the Wind, I will be able to say a proper goodbye. It still feels like too much, but I refuse to give in to the pain.

“Spasibo, Skazka,” I say, before I turn and head back to Arseniy. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We need our rest.