Summary : A retelling of the story of Snow White. "Even now, she hoped the one day she would bear a little girl with waves the colour of dark ebony wood." Prologue- 09.04.05

Author's note : This is my first fairy tale fic. I've been a longtime member under the musicals/plays category, and I thought it time to give something else a try. It will be a retelling of Snow White, with allusions to a few other fairy tales.

Enjoy, and please review.

Disclaimer : I didn't come up with the concept of Snow White – the Grimm Brothers did. The title comes from the Ben Folds song Golden Slumbers.

The Woman's eyes fluttered open and she winced as the moonlight flooded her bedroom. She sat up and peeked over at her husband who was sleeping soundly beside her. Rubbing her eyes, she sneaked out of bed, her bare feet touching the cold wooden floor. She tip-toed to the rich ebony cradle in a corner of the bedroom by the window where a baby boy lay sleeping inside, only one year old. A smile graced the Woman's face as she ran her fingers through the boy's curly blonde locks. They were identical to her own tendrils, and the boy looked unmistakably like his father. She loved her son with all her heart, but had secretly yearned for a daughter as she carried the child. Even now, she hoped the one day she would bear a little girl – a little girl with waves the colour of the dark ebony wood of the cradle.

She sat down on the cushioned bench just below the window, resting a hand on the cradle and gazing out of the pane. The snow has just begun to fall upon the lush green hills of Ireland, creating a glow as the moonlight shone upon them. The snow always had a calming effect of the Woman, easing her out of any pain and suffering and letting her finally feel tranquil. Deep in the hills, though, there seemed to be a glow of another kind. The Woman's eyes transfixed on what she thought to be no more than an apparition in her groggy state, but even after rubbing her ice blue eyes again, the glow not only remained, but grew brighter and brighter as she stared. A sudden chill ran through her body as she watched the warm glow shine across the fallen snow. She froze, unable to do anything but stare out her window. It became almost as bright as daylight outside, just a few steps away from her home. As she watched the light shine on the hills, the Woman made a decision. Her daughter's skin would be porcelain and delicate – as pale as snow.

She blinked. The glow retreated back into the hills, as if pulled back by its reigns. The Woman edged away from the window, slightly frightened, and quickly drew the light curtains shut. Shakily, she sat down on the edge of the bed. She watched the cool breeze blow in and out of the window pane, twisting and floating in the air, almost as if they were performing an intricate ballet for her, inviting her. This only made her feel more uncomfortable though, and she turned her back to the window, glancing over at her sleeping husband. She watched his chest rise and fall in it's own pattern. He was completely oblivious to the eerie glow and the beckoning dance.

The Woman jumped up from the bed as a violent coughing fit wracked through her body. Covering her mouth with the sleeve of her white night gown, she hoped to muffle the sound so as not to wake the others in the room. The coughing lasted for what felt like hours, and the woman collapsed to the floor, exhausted, once it had passed. As she desperately tried to catch her breath, she noticed the red blood that she had coughed up staining her sleeve. Yes, her daughter would have lips as red as blood.