Within seconds the dwarfs' true ident.i.ties were explained to her. Snow White had only to kiss the lips of any dwarf of her choosing to free him, if only temporarily, from the evil spell. How Snow White rejoiced to hear this! And yet, she once again wondered how she would be able to choose one over the other. In examining each of their faces, she could clearly see that they were all equally devoted to her.

"I cannot choose between you, my dearest princes," she said to the dwarfs. "How could I?"

The dwarfs glanced at each other. They had never denied her anything she wished, and they could not do so now.

"You may see all your princes again if that is what you wish, Snow White," Doc told her kindly. "It is entirely up to you."

Snow White approached Doc then and, closing her eyes, gently kissed his lips. She opened her eyes to see her beautiful blond gentle prince standing before her. Then she went to where Grumpy stood and kissed his lips. There stood her dark, rougher prince. A tingle went through her as she kissed one dwarf after another and discovered their true ident.i.ties. She led the princes to the bedroom and allowed them to slowly remove her clothing. She was shaking with desire as she stood naked before her seven princely lovers. She moved into the circle of princes and allowed herself to be drowned in pleasure.

Night after night Snow White spent with the seven princes, and time pa.s.sed quickly by. Now and then word would come to her from the castle of the queen, but this did not concern Snow White, for she was convinced that the dwarfs would keep all harm from her.

One day, a servant came to deliver a message from the queen, who now claimed to have much remorse and distress over the past injustices done to Snow White. The servant presented Snow White with a gift from the queen, to prove her change of heart. But this servant had been fooled by the queen, for she still wished for Snow White's death.

Snow White accepted the gift with misgivings. She did not question the dubious nature of the queen's offering, as she should have, but rather, was frightened by the prospect of leaving her handsome princes, should the queen demand that Snow White return to the castle.

Thoughtfully, Snow White opened the queen's gift. She started with delight when she saw the beautiful silk corset within. Thinking only of her princes and how they would react when they beheld her in the exotic little frippery, she rushed to try it on. But the moment it touched her skin, the corset, which was cursed by an evil spell, suddenly began to close in around her body, tightening of its own accord until Snow White could no longer draw a single breath. She fell to the floor in a swoon, and remained there, still as death.

When the seven dwarfs returned to the cottage later that day, they found Snow White where she had fallen, seemingly dead. Overcome with grief, the dwarfs laid Snow White upon one of the beds, and then set out to build her a beautiful coffin of carved mahogany. The coffin took many days to finish, but at last, when the time came to bury her, she still looked so beautiful and full of life that none of them could bear to close the lid. They made her another coffin of gla.s.s, and into this they placed Snow White. Every day without fail the dwarfs visited her to pay homage, gazing upon her rapturously and grieving miserably for their untimely loss.

Several months pa.s.sed until, one day, the queen truly did repent of her unkindness to Snow White. She sent another servant into the woods with instructions to cut the stays of Snow White's corset and set her free from the evil spell.

But this servant was unfamiliar with the forest and the cottage of the dwarfs and, after much meandering in and around the area, he became lost. Afraid to return to the queen without accomplishing his mission, he sat down under a tree to contemplate the matter. By and by, a handsome prince rode through on his white horse.

The servant flagged down the prince to beg his a.s.sistance in the errand of the queen and, as princes are known to ride through forests for opportunities just like this, the prince enthusiastically agreed to find and save the fair Snow White.

The handsome prince easily found the cottage of the dwarfs and within minutes discovered Snow White in her gla.s.s coffin. He lifted the cover and stared at her for a moment before reaching beneath her and breaking apart her stays. She immediately awoke, and stared at the handsome prince.

"I love you, Snow White," he said. "Marry me and be my princess."

Now Snow White was forever forgetting which dwarf became which prince, but she knew without a doubt that this prince was not one of hers. "I cannot marry you," she replied, looking around for her own princes.

The prince was shocked; he had been so certain that that was not how the story went, but, after much ado, he finally gave up and left Snow White at the cottage of the dwarfs. And, oh, what celebrating took place there when the dwarf-princes returned to discover Snow White alive and well!

The queen, of course, made repeated attempts to bring Snow White back to the castle but, to everyone's astonishment, Snow White adamantly refused. Every manner of enticement and coercion was employed, but nothing could persuade Snow White to return. Eventually, the queen was forced to relent, and Snow White was permitted to remain in the little cottage with the dwarfs.

The strange behavior of Snow White caused many a rumor to spring up, but the queen and those in her service most tirelessly maintain that Snow White did, in fact, marry the prince who saved her in the woods, riding off with him to his kingdom far away. Perhaps that is even the story that you heard.

But I can a.s.sure you that Snow White stayed in the little cottage of the dwarfs, hidden deep in the forest. No doubt she is still there today.

The Empress' New Clothes

This is a story about an empress. During the mystical era of her reign, there were many empresses and queens in power throughout the world. It is said that these legendary women ruled judiciously, and that they brought about a most remarkable amity between their kingdoms and the nations that surrounded them. And as for their subjects, well, you've never heard a single instance of revolt, have you? Indeed not, for these women were supreme leaders, and one of the greatest mysteries in history is that they lost their power. I suspect it had something to do with a male heir, somewhere or other, who, bored by such a peaceful existence, thought it might be more interesting if the question of authority were decided by brute force. But, alas, that theory will have to be taken up another time, for I am quickly wandering away from the original story I had intended to tell.

The empress about whom this story is written ruled over her kingdom with wisdom and kindness as has already been indicated, and she was respected and admired by all who knew her. She had the utmost loyalty from her subjects, and all of the kingdoms that bordered hers were allies. Her husband and worthy a.s.sistant, the emperor, helped turn all of her inclinations into law, trusting her sense and reason without the slightest hesitation.

There was only one discernible eccentricity in the empress's character, and perhaps it was to be expected in one as worthy and remarkable as she. You see, this empress craved attention, and she was never happier than when she was in the spotlight, with all eyes upon her.

As the years pa.s.sed, the empress's desire for attention grew, and she sometimes did things that would draw even more of it to her. Her dresses became bolder, made from cloth that was dyed in the brightest colors imaginable, and cut in such a way as to reveal the maximum amount of flesh. Too, she was apt to leave doors open where privacy was generally expected.

Her husband the emperor was well aware of this growing peculiarity in his wife's character, but as with everything else that pertained to her, he found it to be utterly charming and delightful.

Things went along quite happily for everyone in this way until the occurrence of one very singular event that took place during a great feast that had been arranged to celebrate the empress's birthday.

There was more than the usual amount of intrigue surrounding this birthday celebration, for it had been rumored that the empress had discovered a most exceptional new tailor whose designs had never before been seen in the region. The empress's clothing attracted interest even under ordinary circ.u.mstances, and so on this occasion, with the added mystery of the exciting new tailor, everyone's curiosity was especially piqued to see the empress's new clothes.

When the night of the great feast finally arrived, people were lined up early outside the castle, anxious for a glance at their beloved empress. The servants rushed to and fro in a flurry of excitement, speculating on what their mistress would be wearing. Even the emperor eagerly awaited his wife's grand entrance.

In due time the emperor and his guests gathered around the elegant dining table, while the servants stood alert at all points around the room, ready to jump at the slightest whim of any in the party.

Suddenly there was a hush throughout the room. The emperor looked up and beheld the empress.

She was as naked as the day she was born!

There were some sharp intakes of breath but, on the whole, everyone recovered quite admirably. A worldly d.u.c.h.ess from a more populated city within the kingdom spoke up first.

"Your Highness," she said, with the most sincere inflection of respect, "you must give me the name of your new tailor. I have never before seen anything quite like it!"

Immediately the room became flooded with voices echoing the uniqueness and splendor of the empress's costume. Only the emperor remained silent, with a small smile of private amus.e.m.e.nt on his lips. He knew that the empress could do no wrong in the eyes of her subjects and that they would never dare to admit, even to themselves, that she wore no clothes. And yet he felt that she had gone too far. He realized that, as emperor, it was his duty to advise his wife on this matter. But how could he support her constantly growing need for attention, which was quickly becoming exhibitionism, without hindering her authority as ruler?

The emperor looked around the room and observed the unconditional adoration on the faces of the servants, as they graciously served their empress. His smile widened as an idea came to him. He remained quiet and thoughtful throughout the evening as he developed his plan. No one noticed the emperor's preoccupation for, as always, the empress commanded the lion's share of the attention.

A few weeks later the emperor smiled again as he dressed for the affair that he had so carefully planned. It had come together very nicely, indeed, and the empress had been more delighted than anyone by the idea. A theatrical production, right here in the castle! Why, it had been centuries since such things were done. She pleaded to know the details, but, of course, the emperor refused to tell her anything that might spoil the surprise. Even the servants, whom she supposed must be the performers in the feature, spoke not a word about it. Furthermore, the empress hadn't a clue about what talents they possessed, outside of their ordinary duties, and not once had she seen any of them practice!

Extensive renovations were made to convert one of the rooms in the castle into a magnificent theater. The room, which was located near the center of the castle, was chosen because it was completely round. All along the seamless walls, painters worked day and night to create exotic designs to awaken that portion of the brain that most appreciated those things theatrical. Theater seats were arranged on one side of the room, in rows that descended from the wall inward. But most peculiar was the theater box that was created for the empress and her husband, which was placed opposite the theater seats, and jutted out in all directions toward the small stage.

The little theater box was, in fact, a small room, constructed of panels that spanned out across the front. The panels were made from the finest crystal and were most exceptional, for each one offered a different viewpoint from which to see the event. So when looking through one panel, everything appeared precisely as it would through regular gla.s.s, but then, in looking through another, the same image would appear slightly more magnified and, in looking through yet another panel, there would be an even more magnified effect. Opera gla.s.ses were completely unnecessary, as, to see the event more closely, one would merely have to view it through a different panel.

For the final detail in these preparations, the emperor asked his wife to wear the same gown to the theater opening that she had worn to her birthday feast.

When the night of the big event finally came, the emperor walked into the castle theater a few moments after the empress arrived. He stopped for a moment when he saw her, standing alone in the little gla.s.s theater box. He wondered if she had any idea of what was to come. Would she enjoy the encounter that he had planned for her this evening? If he had read her correctly on the night of the great feast, and he felt certain that he had, she would indeed be intrigued by what he had so carefully arranged for her, no matter how frightening or unimaginable it might at first seem.

As he watched her through the gla.s.s, the emperor could clearly see every detail of his wife's body through the imaginary clothing she wore. She stood perfectly straight as she stared out through the crystal, looking this way and that, fascinated by the effect of the unusual panels.

The emperor casually joined the empress in the theater box. The servants, right on cue, were entering the theater and taking their places around the crystal room. The empress gasped when she saw her husband.

"How do you like my new clothes?" he asked, bowing slightly, as was his custom whenever he approached her.

Just as he expected, she covered her shock quickly and, raising her chin a little, she chided him lightly with, "So, you have discovered the ident.i.ty of my new tailor!"

"Indeed I have," he replied, glancing nonchalantly through a crystal panel to see how the servants were faring, and mentally calculating how much longer before it was time for the show to begin. He pretended not to be aware of the fact that he was fully aroused. The empress, too, struggled to ignore his condition and maintain an outward appearance that was both dignified and aloof. But the accelerated rise and fall of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s gave evidence of an increased need for oxygen that only becomes necessary when accommodating a racing heart. The emperor noticed this and held back a smile. He had been hoping to achieve that response by the second part of Act One. This was going better than he had antic.i.p.ated.

And it was time, indeed, to begin the presentation.

Very slowly, the emperor reached out his hand to touch the empress's breast. Shocked, the empress instinctively glanced out through the gla.s.s panels. At that moment, the lighting over her head seemed to get brighter, while the lights outside the theater box appeared to get dimmer. Even so, she could still see the servants clearly. They were looking expectantly at her and the emperor. She turned back to her husband questioningly, but he merely stared back at her, slowly moving his hand over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, then down her belly and around the curve of her hips. A little shiver vibrated over her. One way or the other, the event had begun.

The emperor waited silently for the empress to comprehend the situation, thoroughly intrigued by the mixture of confusion and reluctant arousal that were evident in her expression.

"I thought there was to be a play, or...some...entertainment." Even as she said the words a slow dawning seemed to be creeping over her.

"There is," the emperor replied. He moved behind her then and, taking her shoulders in his hands, carefully turned her so that she was facing the crystal panels directly in front of the audience of eager faces. The empress stood frozen in place, looking at the faces of the men and women who were impatiently awaiting the entertainment that she was about to provide. In their expressions she saw a variety of reactions, ranging from intrigue, shock, amazement, excitement, amus.e.m.e.nt and even arousal. There were lascivious smiles on the faces of some of the younger male servants as they stared at her openly. She looked back in horror, even as a surge of excitement gushed through her loins.

The empress remained motionless, torn between a strong desire to stay and an anxiousness to leave. In that moment she was made aware of her darkest wish, and she feared it as vigorously as she wanted it. She responded to this dilemma much as a deer does, when its gaze is caught by a bright light in the dark night, and it becomes paralyzed with uncertainty.

The Emperor's lips were warm on the back of her neck as his hands moved deliberately downward, stroking her back and hips. Hypnotized, the empress silently watched the servants' eyes as they followed the motions of her husband's hands with rapt attention, especially as he brought them slowly around her waist and then upward, cupping her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He caressed her with a knowing touch, brazenly fondling her. All the while he kept kissing her along her neck and back as she mutely stared at the audience's faces. Even when he suddenly and brutally squeezed the tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, forcing a small gasp from her lips, she still did not take her eyes from those of the spectators, who stared, enthralled by the exhibition before them.

Frozen thus, the empress could only breathlessly antic.i.p.ate the emperor's next move as his hands traveled slowly downward, ever so slowly, until at last they lightly grazed the tender flesh between her legs. Her audience's eyes followed his hands, as they circled round and round, just brushing her lightly, teasing her.

But the emperor was growing impatient to know if the empress was really willing to accept the part he had created for her in this drama and so, as the servants stared on, spellbound, he touched her more intimately, pushing his finger deep inside her, searching for her response to his unspoken question. He groaned with pleasure when he felt her soft, wet answer.

With the screen test so successfully concluded, the emperor could think of no reason to further delay the performance. He gently guided the empress's upper body forward so that she was bent at the waist. Instinctively, her hands reached out to lean on the crystal panel in front of her, in an attempt to gain leverage in her new position. Meanwhile the emperor spread her legs apart with his foot, keeping one hand on the small of her back to hold her in place.

"You are the scheduled performance, empress," he said, as he pushed himself into her.

The empress stood there, dazed, leaning weakly against the cool wall of gla.s.s, unable to think of anything but the roomful of servants who were silently watching while the emperor took her right before their eyes. She stared at the floor, still uncertain in the midst of the conflicting sensations that were flooding through her. But at length she felt herself being enticed out of her trance and succ.u.mbing to the exquisite pleasure building up within her. She slowly began to respond to her husband, self-consciously at first, with awkward little motions and thrusts, and meanwhile stifling her moans into tiny gasps and shrieks. But as the dreamlike quality of the event started to ebb away into the reality of what was happening, she became increasingly more excited, and her movements became more uninhibited and frantic, until at last she was pumping her hips against the emperor's in a frenzy of pleasure.

Though she kept her eyes glued to the floor, the empress was acutely aware that there were bystanders all around her, observing her every movement with keen interest. Even so, she slipped her hand between her legs to touch herself, shutting her own eyes tightly as she did so. That those staring eyes saw her hand and watched her please herself she doubted not and, as a matter of fact, this heightened her excitement. But still she could not bear to look at them directly. She was too self-conscious of the awkward movements and sounds she was making while thus engaged with the emperor in so intimate an act.

But what was the audience's response to the exhibition? she wondered. What were they thinking as they sat there, silently watching her and the emperor thrash about against each other with such wild abandon? She could feel the exquisite pleasure her husband was giving her, but what did it look like from their point of view?

These ruminations only increased her excitement, and suddenly she wanted more than anything to see the faces of the persons who had a.s.sembled around the gla.s.s room to watch. She turned her head sideways and tentatively looked up. Her whole body convulsed as she looked into the eyes of the mult.i.tude who silently stared at her in astonishment. Some were looking at the place where she and her husband were joined. Others watched her dangling b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Still others examined her face. Those gaping eyes watched in all different sizes, from normal to extra large, as they peered at her through the various panels for the desired effect. The empress shuddered as she tried to imagine the vision that presented itself from each vantage point. Wave after wave of pleasure seared through her, as she searched one face after the other, watching them watching her.

The empress's response increased her husband's excitement, and he became more aggressive, using her savagely as his pa.s.sion continued to build. And throughout the event, those watchful eyes missed nothing. They caught all: from the crushing grip the emperor maintained on the empress's hips, to the small cries forced from her lips by his violent thrusts, to the poor lady's loss of footing under her husband's grueling pace. And even then, to the onlookers' amazement, the emperor did not relent; even when the empress's hands slipped from the wall onto the floor while she struggled frantically to right herself, he still continued mercilessly, seemingly unmindful of her plight. It was indeed shocking to see the empress in such a position, bent at the waist, with hands and feet grasping at the floor desperately while the emperor persisted in taking her so determinedly from behind.

But most remarkable of all was how the empress, throughout her extraordinary struggles and regardless of everything else, kept continually arching her neck in the direction of the servants, straining to keep sight of them, desperately scanning their faces, and frantically searching their eyes!

And in the midst of this, her entire body shuddered, time and again, exposing her pleasure in the performance.

Finally the emperor's excitement reached its peak, and the empress felt his warm wetness dripping down her legs. Even then, he still did not immediately release her, but remained inside her body, languid and self-possessed. A blush crept into her cheeks at the humiliating position she was obliged to maintain, for she had not been able to right herself since the loss of her balance, and still stood with her hands and feet on the floor, and her body bent awkwardly at the waist. Thus situated, all she could do was wait for the emperor's direction with a burning face, but even so, she still could not look away from the men and women who continued to stare at her. And in spite of her embarra.s.sment, she could feel the tantalizing sensations building up inside of her all over again!

But at last the emperor waved the servants away. They, too, were reluctant to look away and, as they slowly walked out of the theater, they repeatedly turned their heads back for one last look.

Alone with his wife, the emperor at long last relieved her of her post and gently took her into his warm embrace. "You liked that, didn't you?" he asked, after watching her face for a moment. She a.s.sented with a shy blush, still too embarra.s.sed to admit just how much she had liked it.

"I am glad, for you are scheduled to repeat the performance next week- this time for an audience of royals."

The empress pulled away from her husband and stared at him incredulously. She was still too overcome to speak, but it was beginning to dawn on her that, if what they had done ever got out, it would mean her certain ruin. It was, of course, reasonably possible that she could persuade the servants to keep quiet, but royals...?

The emperor knew her thoughts and laughed teasingly.

"Did I forget to tell you, my love? The crystal panels in our little theater box are magical. All who look into the theater box come under a spell which causes them to forget everything they see. Only those peering out through the panels from the inside maintain their memory." He gave her a big smile of self-satisfaction. "So you see, my dear, each and every time anyone comes to this theater, they will be as shocked and amazed and delighted by your performance as if it were the first time they were seeing it!"

"Do you mean to say that the servants will not remember what they just saw?" she cried. She could not contain her joy and began clapping her hands together excitedly.

"Do you like your new theater, empress?" her husband asked her, laughing.

"Oh, yes!" she replied happily.

Imagine, from now on she could have all the attention she could ever wish for (and then some), while never having to worry about the effect it would have on her position as ruler!

She thought of how exciting it had been to have all of those eyes upon her. What had they been thinking as they watched? She wondered what other things the emperor would do to her while servants and royals alike gazed on with interest.

The emperor laughed again as he watched the empress's expression change with her rushing thoughts.

"I have invited dukes and d.u.c.h.esses from all over our kingdom to attend our next production," he said. "Perhaps we should begin rehearsing for it now!"

And indeed they spent the rest of the evening doing just that.

The Goose Girl

There once lived a princess who had, since the day of her birth, been promised in marriage to a prince in a faraway kingdom. When the time at last came for the princess to go to her prince, there was great sorrow throughout her kingdom, for she was a kind and gentle princess who was loved by all. Her mother, the queen, was the most saddened by the event, and gathered for her daughter many rare treasures for her to take away with her.

Preparations took many months, and when they were completed there was such a procession of trunks that you could not see the beginning from the end. Stuffed within the ma.s.sive trunks were a.s.sorted jewels of the rarest quality and brilliance, gold and silver accessories for the princess's every convenience, yards upon yards of the finest fabrics obtainable in every color of the rainbow, and too many other items to mention here- all of the very best quality and in great abundance. No small detail had been overlooked, so that there was included everything befitting a princess; indeed, many a queen would approve such a legacy.

These br.i.m.m.i.n.g trunks were carefully loaded onto long carts, which were then furnished with guards that had been selected from among the most devoted servants throughout the kingdom. In addition to this extravagant cargo, the princess was given, for her personal maid and companion, the beautiful daughter of the king's most trusted servant, a man who had himself descended from a long line of servants to the throne. This maid was a most agreeable selection to the princess, for she had been a cherished companion of hers since her childhood.

For her journey, the princess was given an enchanted horse that could speak, called Falada. Last of all, the princess was presented with a golden necklace from which hung a royal ring belonging to her betrothed prince. She was to return the ring to the prince upon their marriage.

When all was ready for departure, the entire castle turned out to wish the princess well and, at length, the journey was begun.

There was much excitement as the travelers set out, and the princess and her maid pa.s.sed the first hours of their journey merrily. But soon they grew weary of the pace that was kept by the others, preferring to travel in a much more leisurely manner. In truth, the princess did not look forward to being married, and more particularly to marrying a prince whom she had never even met. That is not to say that she entertained hopes of somehow avoiding the marriage, for she was obedient and loyal, with that intractable conformity to duty that is characteristic of those with royal blood flowing through their veins. Still, it was her intention to enjoy her last moments of freedom for as long as possible.

Determined, therefore, not to be hurried into her inevitable destiny, she convinced her entourage to ride on ahead, allowing her and her maid to follow at their own pace. It was only a few days' ride on the princess's own royal lands, after all, and besides, no one in the procession was of the mind to deny the princess anything that she wished.

That first day of their journey was especially warm and, having taken many stops to rest, the princess and her companion soon fell far behind the rest of the group. Just as it was reaching late afternoon, the two came upon a clear stream and, delighting in the prospect of having a bath after such a long and tedious ride, agreed it was a perfect place to set up camp for the night.

Eagerly the ladies dismounted their horses, stripped off their dusty clothes and rushed headlong into the water. It felt wonderful to wash away the dust from the road.

But the princess was not used to attending to herself and in no time her hair was tangled in knots all around her. Seeing the princess's difficulty, her maid rushed to her side to lend a.s.sistance.

The luxuriously cool water caressed their weary limbs, and as the maid tenderly washed the princess's hair, the gentle rocking of the current brought their flesh repeatedly into contact. Before long, the subtle coercion of the waves had its effect, and the women were becoming increasingly enchanted by each other.

Once the princess's hair was washed and rinsed, she immediately set out to return the favor, so that the same process was repeated with the princess washing the hair of her maid. Meanwhile, both women became bolder, allowing their bodies to linger when the water brought them together, as if by accident, but really growing more and more aroused by the exquisite touch of the other's soft, womanly flesh. Their clean hair sparkled in the late afternoon sun.