B1. Snow White: Part 3

Chapter 6: A Happy Family

When Snow White finally woke up, the dwarfs were circled around her. They looked at her with curiosity.

Snow White screamed in fright! The dwarfs screamed too.

“I’m sorry for coming into your house,” she said. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

There was fear in her voice, and scratches on her legs.

“What happened to you?” asked the first dwarf, concerned.

She told them her tragic story while they gave her breakfast and warm milk.

“Please, can I stay here?” she asked. “I’ll cook and clean. I haven’t done these things before, but I’ll learn quickly.”

Moved by her story, the dwarfs all agreed.

“You can stay, princess,” they said. “But be careful. There is a witch in these forests. She has many disguises. Do not let anyone into the house when we’re not here.”

Every day, Snow White cooked and cleaned while the dwarfs worked in the mountains. As time passed, they became more like a family.

Every morning, she gave them all pretty lunchboxes and hugged them as they left for work. Often, the dwarfs left her gifts and flowers.

Snow White’s love transformed not just the cottage, but the dwarfs themselves. Soon, she felt more at home there than she ever did at the castle.

Chapter 7: The Queen Finds Out

Back at the castle, the queen asked the mirror her favourite question:

“Mirror, mirror, tell me true,

Who’s the prettiest of all, who?”

Once again, the mirror answered:

“You are pretty, my queen, it’s true.

But Snow White, beyond the mountains, with the seven dwarfs,

Is still prettier than you.”

The queen’s face turned purple with anger. She threw her crown across the room, breaking a window. Her guards were too scared to move or speak.

“The huntsman tricked me!” she shouted. “Bring me his head! Now!”

The guards ran out of the room and searched for the huntsman. But he’d already left the kingdom, never to be seen again.

“I’ll destroy Snow White myself!” said the queen.

Then, she went to her secret laboratory, in the deepest part of the castle. It was time to put an end to Snow White, once and for all.

Chapter 8: The Queen’s Disguise

In her secret laboratory were bubbling potions and jars with creepy things inside: eyes, teeth, and colourful powders.

The queen spoke spells and threw ingredients into a big pot.

She worked late into the night, her eyes red and wild.

Finally, her potion was ready.

“This will change how I look,” she whispered.

She drank the potion. It was thick and bitter. She felt sick and her bones hurt. Her hands became old and wrinkly.

She looked in the mirror, and an old woman stared back at her. Her black hair was now gray. Her smooth skin was now rough. She smiled, showing crooked teeth.

The queen had disguised herself as an old woman. “How clever I am!” she said.

She put on an old dress and a big hood to hide her face.

“Tomorrow,” she said, “Snow White will be gone forever.”

Chapter 9: A Dangerous Visitor

The queen made a beautiful corset. She brought it to the dwarfs’ house, in her disguise.

The dwarfs were at work, and Snow White was all alone. This was the queen’s chance!

The old woman knocked on the door and said, “Pretty things for sale.”

Snow White looked out the window. The old woman showed her the corset.

“You can try it on,” she said.

For a moment, Snow White remembered the dwarfs’ warning. However, she really wanted to try the corset. She opened the door.

The old woman walked in. “It will fit you perfectly!” she said.

“Your voice… it sounds familiar,” said Snow White.

“No, no,” laughed the old woman. “Us elderly all sound the same to the young.”

She went behind Snow White and put the corset on her. As she tightened it, Snow White felt uncomfortable. It got tighter and tighter!

Snow White’s chest hurt. She tried to speak, but no words came out. She couldn’t breathe!

The room started to spin. Help, Snow White thought, but couldn’t say it. She fainted onto the floor.

The old woman quickly left.

The dwarfs came home and found Snow White unconscious. Her face was blue.

They cut the corset to help her breathe again.

“Thank goodness we found you in time. Be more careful!” they begged. “From now on, nobody is allowed in the house while we’re gone!”