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section began to erupt. Buttons flew from the purple suit. Somewhere amongst the guests an idiot girl shrieked and another fainted. From within the giant came several exclamations before the body finally collapsed into a small pile of moving pieces.
    For a moment there was silence and then Snow White burst into warm laughter. ‘I knew they couldn’t balance for long, but I was hoping for a first dance at least.’ She turned to the assembled guests. ‘A giant from the Far Mountains? Oh, come, come. You really fell for that? Anyway, my companions are far more impressive than any giant.’
    The bundle of dwarves slowly pulled themselves to their feet. Lilith stepped backwards, icy cold anger running through her pumping heart. She had curtseyed to them, these strange rough mining men. She had addressed them as royals, and worse than all of that was that they had tricked her.
    The little men lined up alongside Snow White and bowed. The gathered guests laughed and applauded as did Snow herself. They blushed and muttered to each other, but their bashful joy at being part of this humiliating game was obvious. Snow White leaned down and kissed their heads and two of the little faces turned almost the colour of their princess’s jewels.
    Snow stood alongside the queen and faced the guests. ‘It is so lovely to see so many visitors from other kingdoms here,’ she nodded and smiled at several of the princes. ‘Some of you I have not seen since childhood when I would beat you all to the top of the trees.’ Again, there was a round of laughter. Black crept into the corner of Lilith’s vision as she raged inside. This was uncalled for. Women did not make speeches at balls. Even she hadn’t and the purpose of the occasion was her birthday. Kings and princes made speeches. That was the protocol in all the allied kingdoms. What was Snow White doing? Why were all the guests so enamoured of her that they didn’t care? Why was it all so easy for her?
    ‘I am so very fond of you all,’ Snow White continued, apparently unaware of the waves of hatred coming from the slim figure in red beside her. ‘But if you have come here to seek my hand in marriage, then let me put you at ease so we can all just enjoy this wonderful party. I have no desire to be betrothed to any of you. You will not find marriage with me.’ She raised a dark eyebrow. ‘Although perhaps you might with some of the lovely ladies you’re already dancing with.’ Around the room couples blushed and moved closer together. Lilith felt sick, the few morsels of food she’d eaten curdling in her stomach. The princess was making a fool of her. Was she supposed to just smile through this embarrassment? Was she doing it on purpose… some act of revenge in front of princes from all the kingdoms?
    ‘You are all handsome and charming men,’ Snow White continued. ‘But I will only ever surrender myself to true love.’ She glanced at the queen and smiled, and from behind her own smile all Lilith wanted to do was choke the triumphant expression from the girl’s face.
    ‘Until then,’ Snow finished, ‘I shall make do with the company of my friends.’ She looked down once again at the dwarves who bowed in unison, first to Snow White, then to the queen and then to the guests, who gave another round of spontaneous applause.
    The musicians returned their bows to their instruments and the air was filled with music. The party began again, but this time there was a belle for their ball; the wonderful, unique Snow White. She led the dancing with the princes and the dwarves, so unlike the icy queen who oversaw the revelry from her throne. Within fifteen minutes Lilith, for all her great beauty, had been forgotten and she gladly slipped away, forcing herself to maintain a steady pace instead of bursting into a run as soon as she was through the doors.
    The corridor echoed with laughter that chased her until she was sure she was the cause of it. They were all laughing at her. Of