Castle of Onthemarginsland, 27 October, 2005
Dear Prince Charming
You shouldn’t have given me that kiss! Or if you really wanted to, you could have given it and then run off right away. I was happy with the dwarves. It’s true I had seven beds to make, but they were tiny. Now I have to make a king-size bed with all those dust-gathering draperies hanging from the canopy. And then, the silk sheets are really hard to iron. I don’t think it’s fair that you didn’t let me know from the start about the servant problem in Onthemarginsland. I know that times have changed, but I didn’t think that charmed families would have this sort of problem. It’s all very boring here in the castle, and the high walls make it really hard to get into the woods. At the dwarves’ there was always something new going on, maybe not always to be wished-for, like the witch’s arrival, but when I think back I realize how exciting it was to know that the pace of the days could change from one moment to the next. And by the way, Charming, I adore apples. The witch brought them round quite often. Every pleasure has its price, and I’ve never regretted biting the poisoned apple. The dwarves cried, but I fell into a deep sleep and to tell the truth it had been years since I’d slept so well. Unfortunately, I awoke with your kiss, and that’s when the trouble started. I miss my dwarves. I don’t understand why you didn’t want them with us in the castle. In the woods we all used to sing and dance together. Here there is only you, Charming, and at times, if you will pardon my saying so, you really are a bit of a bore. You’re always talking about the hunt and I love the animals of the forest, you go off on long trips and its tiring staying here all by myself, when we go riding you always ride a hundred yards in front of me and it’s as though I were galloping by myself, you read loads of strange books and have visitors who are no fun at all. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m considering going back to my dwarves’ house. Fairy tales can be brought up to date, don’t you think, Charming?
Snow White* * *
Onthemarginsland Castle, 28 December, 2005
Dear Madam Witch,
I am Charming, the Prince who woke Snow White from the enchantment of the apple. I am not writing to blame you in any way. On the contrary, I’d like to ask you for a new magic charm to use to make my wife stay with me. Snow and I are at that difficult moment of “they lived happily ever after" when things begin to go wrong. Snow seems to have a streak of independence in her character that seriously disturbs me. She is a woods-person, a world completely different from Onthemarginsland. Accustomed as she was to living with the dwarves, who were out to work all day long, Snow did everything her own way at home.
Dear Madam Witch, can we meet up so that you can give me a charm with instructions use? With heartfelt thanks,
Prince Charming
* * *
Onthemarginsland, 2 January, 2006
Dear Prince,
I had to try the poisoned apple several times over before the enchantment worked. It may be because she lived such a long time in the woods, but your wife has an iron constitution, and she must have eaten, more or less, five or six kilos of enchanted apples before falling into a cataleptic state. If you are willing to take on the expense involved – I’m sure you know that the price of fruit is not to be believed nowadays -- I’ll be pleased to prepare a new charm. You can come by to pick it up tomorrow evening at dusk.
Very truly yours,
Your subject,
The Witch
* * *
Onthemarginsland, 8 March, 2006
My Dear Charming,
How wonderful life on the margins of Onthemarginsland is! Our days go by in perfect harmony, my darling Charming, and you can’t imagine how much I enjoy standing at the stove cooking up new dishes for you. It moves me to see you gobble up in only five minutes everything I’ve been preparing in hours and hours of work. I thank the kiss that made me your own! How blessed are women who have been awoken like me! I am so active that I sing merrily as I wax the pavements on every floor of our castle. The mere thought that I might have remained asleep forever in that one-story crystal box makes me shudder. Since you have started bringing me those delicious apple pies every day – how sweet you are, my love! – my happiness knows no boundaries. The only thing is that I have to be careful not to get fat. It’s fine for you to get fat, Charming, but I want to be in perfect shape when I serve you. I’ll never tire of admiring your muscles! The seven dwarves really were a bit misshapen, weren’t they? Not tall and handsome like you. When we’re out riding I love watching from far behind how well you gallop. You’re an important man, you’re often away on trips and it’s wonderful waiting for you to come back home. And when you arrive, how sweet it is to know we are alone in the castle, without any servants to bother us, isn’t it, Charming?
Kiss me always, my love, wake me always to make you your breakfast! Whatever time of day or night, I’ll always be ready to do whatever pleases you. I love you, my Charming.
Yours forever,
your little Snowflake