Through the Mirror and Into Snow by Ann T. Bugg

Danielle asked. She looked back but she didn’t answer whoever was calling her.
    “Do you need to go?”
    “No. They can do without me for five minutes.”
    “Who?”
    “No one that’s important. Please, tell me your story. I’ve never met anyone else with my name before.”
    “Well, you know. When your mother really means business and uses your middle name to make her point. I was around three years old, I got upset because my mother wasn’t coming over to me fast enough. I stomped my foot and said, ‘Mommy Danielle!’”
    Daniele laughed. “You remember that from when you were three?”
    Sam spoke up. “I think it’s more likely Val keeps overhearing it. Her mom loves to embarrass us with stories about when we were younger.”
    “I didn’t even get your names. I’m sorry. She’s Val and you are?”
    “Samantha but you can call me Sam. This is Snow.”
    “Where are you, girl? Come here immediately!” a different voice boomed this time. It sounded much more forceful than the one that called her earlier.
    “I’m very pleased to meet you all, but I guess I really must go before I get in trouble. Will you come visit me again tomorrow? I’ll be alone and I’ll have more time.”
    “I hope we can,” Val said, “but I don’t know how long we will be staying here.”
    “Please try to come back if it works out, at least to say goodbye. I’d really like to see you all again.” She ran off toward the house then stopped after a few steps and pointed off to the distance. “Keep going straight that way. You can’t miss the berry bushes.”
    “Thank you!” they hollered back. They decided to gather a few berries since they were so close, but they were eager to get back to Wilhelm. It was time for them to fill him in and ask for help. When they returned to the cart it was obvious he was quite distraught.
    “What’s wrong?” Samantha asked him.
    “I’m afraid one of my horses has thrown a shoe on the way. I didn’t notice it until a few minutes ago. She was limping so I walked her over to the blacksmith. He cannot fit her until tomorrow. I’m afraid we’re going to have to stay the night. I’ve made arrangements with the blacksmith to stay in a small room off to the side of the barn.” He led the girls there as he explained the situation.
    “There is a grand ball going on tomorrow for the prince. Word around town is that he has to find a wife. The king wants him to take the throne soon and insists he be married. This room is not much, but it’s dry and warm and the owner has given us clean blankets. You girls do need to stay here tonight, don’t you? Or did you find who you are looking for and have other arrangements?”
    “Yes and no.” Snow hung her head low.
    He looked over to the other girls. They weren’t quite sure what to say either.
    “I’ll get dinner set up for us. After that we need to have a long talk. Dorothea always prepares too much food in case an emergency comes up. In this case, it’s a good thing she did.”

    After they got settled around the blanket of food, Wilhelm broke the silence. “Okay, who is going to go first?”
    Valerie told the story as far back as when she and Samantha snuck out of their house to hunt after the possum. Wilhelm stayed focused on their story, fully believing them. He did not question the magic their land held. He had witnessed its wonders on more than one occasion himself. He did remember seeing the possum when he watered the horses, but he didn’t interrupt the story’s momentum with his recollection. When he heard what the Queen tried to do to Snow, he was furious. A part of his heart broke for the little girl when he learned of her father’s death. He went over to give her a comforting hug.
    “Well, then, it’s settled. We will leave here tomorrow as soon as my horse is ready. I will see you two back to the place where the mirror let you in,” he said to Valerie and Samantha. “Your mothers will be frantic with worry over you. And