Post by Virginia Lewis on Jun 1, 2008 20:31:51 GMT -5
The History of the 9 Kingdoms
Perhaps the happiest time in all the Kingdoms was the Golden Age, which was about 200 years ago. Happy Ever After couldn't last forever though. Days of Happy Ever After are gone...these are dark times...
There were 5 great women who changed history. They were: Snow White, Cinderella, Queen Riding Hood, Gretal the Great and The Lady Rapunzel. Together, they formed the first 5 kingdoms which flourished. The sole one of them who is alive is rumored to be Cinderella, even though she would be nearly 200 years old. Their successors rule their kingdoms, and four additional kingdoms were formed.
One of the women who has left quite a legacy, and was the 'fairest in the land' was Snow White. Her mother was a princess who had always longed for a daughter. One day, she pricked her finger on a needle and as three drops of blood fell on to the snow, she knew then that she would die giving birth to her daughter. Her father was sad for a very long time, but he eventually remarried. Her stepmother brought nothing to the castle except for her magic mirrors. Every day, she would stand in front of them and say "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all". Mirrors can not lie, and so every day, it would say that she was. She was satisfied with this answer until one day, the response changed.
Snow White was 7 years old, and when her step-mother asked the mirror the same question she normally would, the mirror responded "My lady queen is fair to see, but Snow White is fairer than thee". This response angered the Queen a great deal and so she called for the huntsman and told him to take Snow White into the forest and kill her.
When in the forest, Snow White begged for her life and the huntsman sympathized and let her go. She was terrified, and ran as deep into Enchanted Forest as she could. She then came across a small cottage and that is where she met the seven dwarfs. They told her that they could live with her if she cleaned up after them, washed the dishes, did the laundry, and kept the place spotless. She told them of her step-mother and they became very protective of her.
Snow White lived a very sheltered life. She did not leave the cottage and was wary of any visitor who approached. Her step mother came to the cottage three times; once with a corset to crush her bones, another time with a comb to poison her. The third time she came, she had a basket of juicy apples and Snow White could not resist. She took a bite, and died in the Evil Queen's arms, choking on a poisoned apple.
The seven dwarfs took Snow White's body to Kissing Town and placed her in a glass coffin. She lay there, awaiting her charming prince to come and wake her from her slumber. Several handsome men came, but there was on in particular that she was waiting for. When he did arrive and woke her, everyone rejoiced. At Snow White's wedding, they made the Evil Queen dance, wearing the pair of red hot iron slippers. She danced for hours, until she managed to crawl outside, her feet were useless now as they were blistered and she was physically unable to walk. She went to the Deadly Swamp where she remained in isolation, plotting to take over, and kill Snow White. She obtained a new identity; living in the swamp, she became known as the Swamp Witch and travelers feared her wrath.
Though the evil step-mother had five castles, she could not travel to any of them. She was growing weaker, and when she was dying, she knew she would need a successor to take over when she was gone. Her work was unfinished; the house of Snow White survives. She could not die knowing that, and so she searched and found her successor, bestowing on her all of her power. This lead to a new Evil Queen, who is now plotting to take over all of the 9 kingdoms. The Evil Step-mother/Swamp Witch's body lies in the cellar of her old house in the Swamp, giving advice to her successor when needed.
Snow White's body lies in Dragon Mountain, in an ice tomb with an inscription. She gives advice to lost girls, and is able to grant them one wish. She is an adviser to them, and does have some power still, i.e. shielding people's images from the Evil Queen's Mirrors.
Prince (or King) Wendell is the grandson of Snow White and future king of the very large 4th kingdom. He will be a very young king, and for that reason, some question his capabilities, but he is still very respected throughout the nine kingdoms. Cinderella is still ruling her own kingdom as well; though she is old, she too is highly respected as she is the last great women from the Golden Age (that we know of). Red Riding Hood III rules the 2nd kingdom and other leaders reign throughout the 9 kingdoms.
While great leaders reign, so do threats to those leaders. Trolls still inhabit the lands, and the Evil Queen, said to be the most evil woman alive, still has unfinished business. The dark ages of the 9 kingdoms is still in existence. Will happy ever after ever come again?