Chapter Text
Silence… Dianna had awoken in the hospital in almost total silence. The birth of her daughter was exhausting and both physically and emotionally taxing.Her husband Jason had left to make the announcement to the kingdom, so Dianna had decided to get some beauty rest after the doctor said they would clean and monitor the baby before returning her to the room. The labor had taken hours and had been just as grueling as the rest of her pregnancy. Despite the image Dianna had tried to portray to the people of the white kingdom of the beautiful graceful young queen, whose pregnancy was just as much of a blessing as she was, it had been hellish. Unstoppable morning sickness, debilitating cramps, and dramatic hormone shifts.
The royal physician had informed her that it was an extremely high risk pregnancy and had ordered her to bed rest for the entirety of her pregnancy, even moving to a room next to hers during the later months of her pregnancy to monitor and care for her.This had all led Dianna to give birth at a hospital rather than at her castle like most other Snow White’s, but she was willing to suffer through mingling with the, ugh.. common folk, if it meant that her heir had the best chance of survival. What's worse is that the Evil Queen, ugh Mariana , had gone into labor on the same day, and had given birth to TWINS. Twin girls from all of the whooping and hollering she had heard from King Liam. Dianna scoffed, ‘she’s always trying to upstage me, it'd be cute if it wasn’t so annoying . Due to the risk of giving birth to twins carries, Mariana also gave birth in the hospital and was even placed in the room across the hall from Dianna.
Dianna still felt a bit weak but tried to shake it off a bit, she had to be rushed into emergency surgery immediately after the birth due to the blood loss, but she was happy that she finally had her child. A beautiful baby girl to carry on the Snow White legacy. However, she was a bit nervous, the doctor’s had informed her that her little snowflake was having breathing problems and required some extra medical support, but was doing well. They had also broken the news that the birth had been so traumatic to her body that she physically couldn’t have any more children, and that even if she managed to get pregnant that her and or the baby would most likely perish.
Dianna shook off her nerves and brushed back her long ebony hair, she had her heir so she wouldn’t need to have anymore children, although having a spare or two would do well to boost her and the white kingdom’s image, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about her figure getting destroyed with another pregnancy. Straightening up Dianna slowly began to stand and got ready to see the fruit of her labor, then she peered into the crib.
The baby was beautiful, just as beautiful as her mother, she didn’t have any hair yet but she was sure that it would be just as ebony as hers, and she was so pale… a little too pale. Dianna looked closer, no movement. Worried she reached out and touched the baby, her baby, and they were cold. Horror, grief, panic, and cold, that was all Dianna was able to feel in that moment. She picked up her baby and tried to warm her up, get them to cry, cough, breath, anything. But it was no use. Her daughter, her one and only daughter was gone, and she hadn’t even gotten to properly meet or even see her.
Dianna broke down into silent tears. Seconds, minutes, hours; any amount of time could have passed and Dianna wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. All she could do was mourn what she had lost and what she never got to have. Then came the emptiness, Dianna had cried, and cried, and cried until there was nothing left. She had revealed herself in her most vulnerable state possible, bearing her heart to her baby and an empty room, and afterwards…she just felt nothing. After the emptiness, the panic returned. What was she going to do, what was she going to tell Jason, tell the kingdom?! The heir to the kingdom had died less than 3 ft away from her and she had been asleep! The kingdom would become a laughing stock, SHE would become a laughing stock,a pariah! Although the White kingdom was already the butt of many jokes if the rumors she heard were to be believed. Some distant cousin or other would get the crown, could even become the next Snow White. Next came the anger, it would be shameful! Some obscure ill-bred member from a branch family swooping in to drive the kingdom into the ground, steal the Snow White legacy, HER legacy, it was unthinkable!
Then Dianna heard noise, the sound of a baby, the sound of hope. Dianna looked down at her dear baby, her snowflake, her rosebud; but she was still as silent and unmoving as the room around her. Confused, Dianna looked around and realized that the sound was coming from Mariana’s room. Immediately her last sliver of hope died, and was replaced by anger, indignant rage to be more appropriate. It just wasn’t fair, how DARE SHE! Dianna suffers through NINE excruciating months of pregnancy, 18 hours of torturous labor, only to have her rosebud die on her. While Mariana goes through her pregnancy and labor like a swan through water and gets to have not one but TWO perfectly healthy baby girls!
Dianna was moving forward without even thinking about it and entered Mariana’s room. She looked over at Mariana, fast asleep, then Dianna turned and looked down to the cribs. Two cribs labeled Queen 1 and Queen 2, two beautiful, healthy baby girls who had woken up and were moving within their cribs. Both babies were pale as snow but looking at the second one Dianna noticed a strong natural blush on the babies cheeks. ‘It’s typically the first born that takes over their parents' role’ Dianna thought. Then out of nowhere a wicked thought entered Dianna’s head, ‘you can make this right! Mariana doesn’t need nor would she care about her spare, and you’ll be able to keep the White kingdom and Snow White legacy pure and strong! Especially considering that, despite their wickedness, the Queen lines had a higher standard of breeding than any branch family would have. You’ll get to have your baby!’ Dianna paused, could she do this? Dianna looked down at her baby, then to the second crib. ‘I’d be saving a child from a wicked mother and they get to be heir to the Snow White legacy. It'd correct destiny’s mistake of taking my baby,’ her decision was made.
Dianna looked down to her baby, her rosebud, her Rosalind. Dianna paused and once again shed a few tears, she hadn’t decided what she was going to name her baby and now that she was looking at her, really looking at her, she looked like a Rosalind. Dianna straightened up and allowed herself one last moment of weakness and vulnerability and gave her Rosalind one last hug, placed one tender kiss on her forehead. ‘Good-bye… I’ll always love you, and I’ll make sure that your Snow White role is carried out just as you would have done it,’ this was the last thought Dianna sent to her baby before she steeled herself and straightened up once again. Dianna took the few necessary steps forward and reached into the second crib… and placed Rosalind inside, then Dianna took the second Queen baby into her arms and gave her a once over, ‘She’ll make a fitting Snow White, and with my love and guidance I can help her grow into the perfect princess,’ she thought then nodded as if to reassure herself that she made the correct choice.
Dianna quickly looked over to Mariana then scoffed ‘still asleep,’ Dianna slowly began to back out of the room keeping her eyes on the evil queen as if to assure that she wouldn’t wake up. Dianna came to the doorway, looked into the hall and saw that no one was passing through, she sent one last longing glance to her daughter, her Rosalind, then quickly retreated back into her room. Dianna sat in her bed rocking her new child in her arms to settle her down, then the girl began to cry. A young kind looking nurse quickly came to the room and paused at the entryway, then called out to Dianna happily, “Hello your majesty, sounds like it’s time to feed your baby! Would you like any assistance?”
Dianna nodded and the nurse strode over and instructed Dianna through the motions. After the baby began feeding Dianna looked up at the nurse and asked her “The umbilical cord and placenta were stored, correct?” the nurse, Marie her name tag read, nodded her head and replied “Yes, the royal physician informed us that the cord and placenta were to be saved as part of tradition for a royal birth,” “Good, you’ve done your job well, you may take your leave,” “I’m honored to serve your majesty, good night.” Marie curtsied then left the room. After Marie’s departure Dianna let out a relieved sigh, she’d have a proper memento for her dear Rosalind, then turned her thoughts back to the child in her arms “Now, what am I to call you little one?” Dianna watched the baby’s face and couldn’t help but focusing on her chubby flushed cheeks. “It’s like you have apples for cheeks little one,” Dianna spoke fondly to her new daughter, and drifted off into thought for her and the child’s future, her legacy, her Rosalind.”
In the morning, all news channels across the realms reported the elation of Queen Dianna White and King Jason Valiant-White, and announced the name of their new bouncing baby girl, Apple Rosella White, and the Kingdom rejoiced at the birth of the next Snow White. At the same time the Kingdom of Benecel, home of the Good King Liam and Queen Mariana reported the birth of Raven Morticia Queen and the unfortunate passing of Owlette Vampira Queen, announcing a day of celebration and a day of mourning to honor the two princesses. Although the Evil Queen was feared by all for her wickedness, the members of the realm, especially the mothers, couldn’t help but feel sympathy and grief for Queen Mariana, and the young princess whose life had been cut so short. Watching the news and rocking her Apple, Dianna couldn’t help but feel a small twinge of remorse and grief, especially when hearing the name of “Mariana’s” deceased child. Dianna looked down at Apple then spoke, “I’ll give you as much love as I would have given her,” she whispered, “...and I’m going to make sure that you are the perfect Snow White.”