Snow White and the Seven Friends

Snow White was seventeen years old when her world changed forever.

She had always been considered beautiful, with skin as white as fresh snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as a winter night.

But beauty, she would soon learn, could be both a gift and a curse.

Her father, King William, had remarried three years after Snow White's mother died.

Margaret, her stepmother, was an elegant woman who seemed to love Snow White at first.

However, as Snow White grew older and more beautiful, Margaret's attitude began to change.

"You're becoming quite lovely," Margaret said one morning, watching Snow White brush her long black hair.

There was something cold in her voice that made Snow White uncomfortable.

The castle had a famous magic mirror that had belonged to Snow White's grandmother.

Every morning, Margaret would stand before it and ask, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"

The mirror would always answer, "You are, my queen, the fairest in the land."

But on Snow White's seventeenth birthday, something changed.

When Margaret asked her usual question, the mirror replied, "You are fair, my queen, it's true. But Snow White is now more beautiful than you."

Margaret's face turned pale, then red with anger.

She stared at the mirror in disbelief, then turned to look at Snow White, who was arranging flowers nearby.

From that day forward, Margaret could not bear to look at her stepdaughter.

She began giving Snow White more and more difficult tasks, hoping to make her tired and less attractive.

Snow White had to clean the entire castle, cook all the meals, and tend to the gardens.

"Why is Mother treating me this way?" Snow White asked her father one evening.

King William sighed deeply. "She's not your real mother, dear. Sometimes people become jealous when they feel threatened. I'll speak to her."

But the king's words had no effect. Margaret's jealousy grew stronger each day.

She began to plan something terrible.

One morning, Margaret called for Thomas, the royal huntsman.

"I have a special task for you," she said, her eyes cold as ice.

"Take Snow White deep into the forest and make sure she never returns to trouble me again."

Thomas was horrified. He had known Snow White since she was a child and loved her like his own daughter.

"My queen, I cannot do such a thing. The princess is innocent."

"If you refuse, I will have you executed for treason," Margaret threatened. "Choose wisely."

With a heavy heart, Thomas agreed, but he had no intention of harming Snow White.

The next morning, he told her they were going hunting in the deep forest.

As they walked further and further from the castle, Snow White noticed that Thomas seemed sad and worried.

"Is something wrong?" she asked kindly.

Thomas could not hold back his tears any longer.

"Princess, you must run away and never return to the castle. Your stepmother wants to... she wants you gone forever. I was supposed to harm you, but I could never do such a thing."

Snow White was shocked but not entirely surprised.

She had noticed the hatred in Margaret's eyes. "Where can I go? I have nowhere else to live."

"Go deep into the forest," Thomas advised. "Find somewhere safe to hide. I will tell the queen that you are gone, and perhaps in time, she will forget about you."

Thomas gave Snow White a small bag of food and his hunting knife for protection.

"Be brave, Princess. You are stronger than you know."

Snow White hugged the kind huntsman and began walking deeper into the dark forest.

She had never been so far from home before, and every sound frightened her.

The trees seemed to reach toward her with twisted branches, and strange animals watched her from the shadows.

As night fell, Snow White was exhausted and scared.

She had been walking for hours and had no idea where she was.

Just when she thought she couldn't go any further, she saw a warm light glowing between the trees.

Following the light, she discovered the most charming little house she had ever seen.

It was made of stone and wood, with a red roof and flowers growing in window boxes.

Smoke was rising from the chimney, and everything looked clean and welcoming.

Snow White knocked gently on the door, but no one answered.

She was so tired and cold that she decided to go inside and rest.

When she opened the door, she gasped in wonder.

The house was perfectly arranged, but everything was much smaller than normal size.

There were seven tiny beds in a row, each with clean white sheets and colorful blankets.

Seven small plates and cups were set on a wooden table, and seven little chairs were placed around it.

"What a lovely little house," Snow White whispered to herself. "I wonder who lives here."

She was so exhausted that she lay down across several of the small beds and fell into a deep sleep.

She slept so soundly that she didn't hear the owners of the house return home late that evening.

The seven friends who lived in the house were miners who worked in the mountains searching for precious stones and metals.

Their names were Happy, Doc, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, and Dopey.

They had lived together for many years and were like brothers to each other.

When they opened their door and saw Snow White sleeping on their beds, they were amazed.

They had never seen such a beautiful young woman before.

"Who is she?" whispered Bashful, his cheeks turning red.

"She must be lost," said Doc, who was the wisest of the seven.

"Well, she can't stay here," grumbled Grumpy, though his voice was not as harsh as usual.

"Look how peaceful she seems," said Happy. "She must have been very tired to sleep so deeply."

Snow White woke up slowly and was surprised to see seven men standing around her.

At first, she was frightened, but their kind faces made her feel safe.

"Please don't be afraid," said Doc gently. "We won't hurt you. I'm Doc, and these are my friends. What's your name, and how did you come to be in our house?"

Snow White sat up and told them her whole story.

She explained about her stepmother's jealousy, the huntsman's warning, and her journey through the dangerous forest.

The seven friends listened carefully, and their hearts filled with sympathy for the young princess.

They had all experienced difficult times in their own lives and understood what it felt like to be alone and afraid.

"You can stay with us for as long as you need," offered Happy. "We have plenty of room, and it gets lonely here sometimes."

"But you must earn your place," added Grumpy, though he didn't sound mean. "We all work hard, and everyone must contribute."

"I would be happy to help," Snow White replied gratefully. "I can cook, clean, and take care of the house while you work in the mines."

And so Snow White began her new life with the seven friends.

Each morning, they would leave for the mines, and she would spend the day cleaning their house, preparing meals, and tending to a small garden she created behind the house.

In the evenings, they would sit around the fire and share stories.

Snow White told them about life in the castle, and they told her about their adventures in the mines and the beautiful crystals they found deep in the mountains.

Doc taught Snow White about herbs and medicines.

Happy shared jokes and songs that made everyone laugh.

Even Grumpy began to smile more often, though he pretended not to enjoy Snow White's presence.

Sleepy would often fall asleep while Snow White told stories, and Sneezy's sneezes became less frequent when Snow White cleaned the house thoroughly each day, removing all the dust that bothered him.

Bashful slowly became more comfortable talking to Snow White, and Dopey, who never spoke, showed his affection by bringing her pretty stones and flowers he found during their work.

For several months, Snow White was happier than she had ever been.

She felt truly loved and valued for the first time since her mother had died.

The seven friends became like the family she had always wanted.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Margaret was pleased to believe that Snow White was gone forever.

Each morning, she asked her mirror the same question, and each morning, it told her she was the fairest in the land.

But one day, the mirror's answer changed again.

"You are fair, my queen, but Snow White still lives, and she remains more beautiful than you. In the forest deep, where seven friends dwell, she is alive and well."

Margaret's rage was terrible to see.

She screamed and threw things around her room.

She had thought Snow White was dead, but now she learned that the girl was not only alive but living happily with seven protectors.

"I will not be defeated by a child," Margaret declared. "If I want something done properly, I must do it myself."

Margaret was skilled in dark magic, something few people knew about her.

She began to plan a way to find Snow White and eliminate her rival once and for all.

First, she disguised herself as an old woman selling beautiful ribbons and laces.

She traveled to the forest and found the little house where Snow White lived with the seven friends.

Snow White was alone, as the seven friends were working in the mines.

When she saw the old woman at the door, she felt sorry for her and invited her inside.

"What beautiful ribbons you have," Snow White said, admiring the colorful laces.

"This one would look perfect on a lovely young lady like you," said Margaret in a disguised voice. "Let me help you put it on."

But when Margaret tied the ribbon around Snow White's waist, she pulled it so tight that Snow White couldn't breathe.

The poor girl fell to the floor, gasping for air.

Fortunately, the seven friends came home early that day.

They found Snow White on the floor and quickly cut the ribbon.

As soon as they did, Snow White could breathe again.

"You must never let strangers into the house when you're alone," Doc warned her. "That was no ordinary old woman. Someone is trying to hurt you."

A few weeks later, Margaret tried again.

This time, she disguised herself as a different old woman selling beautiful combs for hair.

Again, Snow White felt sorry for the woman and let her inside.

"Your hair is so beautiful," said Margaret. "This special comb will make it even more lovely."

But the comb was poisoned with dark magic.

As soon as Margaret placed it in Snow White's hair, the girl fell unconscious.

Once again, the seven friends returned home just in time.

They found Snow White lying motionless and immediately saw the strange comb in her hair.

As soon as they removed it, Snow White woke up.

"Someone is definitely trying to harm you," said Grumpy angrily. "You must promise never to let anyone into this house again when you're alone."

Snow White promised, but she was confused about who would want to hurt her.

She thought her stepmother believed she was dead.

Margaret was furious that her plans had failed twice.

She decided to use her most powerful magic for a final attempt.

She created a beautiful red apple that looked perfect and delicious, but one side was filled with a deadly sleeping poison.

This time, she disguised herself as a friendly farmer's wife.

When she arrived at the house, Snow White remembered her promise and spoke to the woman through the window.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot let you inside," Snow White explained politely.

"That's quite alright, dear," said Margaret sweetly. "I just wanted to give you this beautiful apple as a gift. I grew it myself, and it's the finest apple in all the land."

The apple looked so perfect and smelled so sweet that Snow White's mouth watered.

But she was still cautious. "How do I know it's safe to eat?"

Margaret had prepared for this question.

She cut the apple in half and ate the unpoisoned side.

"See? It's perfectly safe and delicious."

Convinced that the apple was harmless, Snow White took the poisoned half and bit into it.

Immediately, she fell into a deep, magical sleep that was almost like death.

When the seven friends returned home that evening, they found Snow White lying on the floor with the half-eaten apple beside her.

They tried everything they could think of to wake her up, but nothing worked.

"She's not dead," said Doc, checking her breathing and heartbeat. "But she's in a sleep so deep that we cannot wake her."

The seven friends were heartbroken.

They loved Snow White like a sister and couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

They built a beautiful glass case and placed her inside it, hoping that someday she would wake up.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months.

The seven friends took turns watching over Snow White, keeping her glass case clean and surrounding it with fresh flowers.

They refused to give up hope that she would someday return to them.

One day, a young man came riding through the forest.

His name was Prince Alexander, and he was traveling from a neighboring kingdom.

When he saw the glass case and the beautiful young woman inside, he was amazed.

"Who is this?" he asked the seven friends.

They told him Snow White's whole story, and Prince Alexander's heart filled with sympathy and admiration for the brave young woman who had endured so much.

"May I pay my respects?" he asked gently.

The seven friends agreed, and Prince Alexander approached the glass case.

He had heard old stories about magical curses that could sometimes be broken by true love's kiss, though he thought they were just fairy tales.

But as he looked at Snow White's peaceful face, he felt a strange connection to her, as if he had been searching for her all his life without knowing it.

Acting on impulse, he gently opened the glass case and kissed Snow White's forehead.

To everyone's amazement, Snow White's eyes slowly opened.

The magical sleep was broken, and she was finally awake.

"Where am I?" she asked, sitting up slowly.

The seven friends cheered and danced with joy, and Prince Alexander stepped back, hardly believing what had happened.

Snow White was confused at first, but as her memories returned, she hugged each of the seven friends gratefully.

They explained about the poisoned apple and how Prince Alexander had awakened her.

"How long have I been asleep?" Snow White asked.

"Three months," replied Doc sadly. "We thought we had lost you forever."

Snow White turned to Prince Alexander and thanked him for breaking the curse.

As they talked, they found that they had much in common and felt a strong connection to each other.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Margaret asked her mirror the usual question and received the answer she had been dreading: "Snow White still lives and remains more beautiful than you."

Margaret realized that all her evil plans had failed.

In her rage and frustration, she accidentally knocked over the magic mirror, and it shattered into a thousand pieces.

As the mirror broke, all of Margaret's magical power disappeared, and she suddenly saw herself as she really was: a bitter, jealous woman who had wasted years of her life hating someone who had never done anything wrong.

King William, who had been searching for Snow White ever since she disappeared, finally found her in the forest cottage.

When he saw how happy and healthy she looked, and how much the seven friends cared for her, he understood that she had found something at the castle she had never had: true friendship and love.

"My dear daughter," he said, embracing Snow White, "I have been so worried about you. Margaret told me that you had run away, but I suspected there was more to the story."

Snow White told her father everything that had happened.

King William was horrified to learn about Margaret's evil actions and immediately banished her from the kingdom.

"I want you to come home," he told Snow White. "The castle is not the same without you."

Snow White looked at the seven friends who had become her family, then at Prince Alexander, who had shown her such kindness.

"Father, I love you, and I want to spend time with you again," she said. "But I also want to keep the friendships I've made here. These seven men saved my life and taught me what it means to be truly happy."

King William looked at the seven friends and saw the love and loyalty in their eyes.

"Then you are all welcome at the castle," he declared. "Any friends of Snow White are friends of mine."

And so Snow White returned to the castle, but not alone.

The seven friends came with her and were given positions as the royal advisors and protectors.

Doc became the royal physician, Happy became the court entertainer, and the others each found roles that suited their talents.

Prince Alexander asked King William for permission to court Snow White, and after getting to know him, the king agreed.

The prince was kind, intelligent, and truly loved Snow White for who she was, not just for her beauty.

A year later, Snow White and Prince Alexander were married in a beautiful ceremony attended by people from both kingdoms.

The seven friends were honored guests, and their little cottage in the forest became a special retreat where Snow White and Alexander would go when they wanted to remember the simple happiness they had found there.

As for Margaret, she wandered the land alone, finally understanding that beauty and happiness cannot be stolen from others but must come from within.

Some say that she eventually found peace and learned to be kind to others, though Snow White never saw her again.

Snow White had learned that true beauty comes not from physical appearance but from the love we share with others and the kindness we show to the world.

She ruled wisely alongside Prince Alexander, and they were known throughout the land for their fairness and compassion.

The seven friends remained Snow White's closest advisors and dearest friends for the rest of their lives.

They had taught her that family is not always determined by blood, but by the people who choose to love and support each other through good times and bad.

And they all lived happily ever after, knowing that the greatest magic in the world is the power of true friendship and love.