Did You Know the Name of Snow White’s Kingdom?

Me neither, but I’m making it up.

Let Me Tell You a Little Story

There was war once between the four kingdoms of the land. At first, it was violent, massive, and bloody. Neither crows nor wolves would go hungry during these years of bloodshed and screamletting.

Upon seeing how taxing this war was, the four kings changed tactics. They took this war from fields, to courts. The soldiers were now spies, traitors, and assassins. Swords were no longer used to fight this war. Round pieces of metal, coins, took their place.

There soon came a time when no one wanted to be king or queen, due to the high likelihood of an agonizing death thanks to poison. There was also the chance of being stabbed on the back while celebrating your nuptials with your husband or wife. Nothing you said was private. Everyone was privy to everything you did.

The names of these kingdoms changed frequently during these times. But the new king of one of them grew tired of this chaos and summoned the other three to a field. He sent the same letter to his counterparts, saying that he would be there alone with nothing but his side arm, and that he hoped the other three would attend.

The day of the meeting came. The king was there, alone, with nothing but his side arm. The other three monarchs came, each with a unit of 100 men behind them. When they saw the lone king they feared a trap, and mobilized for a fight.

But the lone king simply stood on top of a hill with his arms open, demonstrating his vulnerability. Eventually, the three other monarchs approached. The lone king moved slowly to unsheathe his sword, drive it tip-first into the ground, and spoke to the others.

“Plant your swords into me, if you will. Or plant them into the ground if you prefer.”

Queen Greenwood planted her sword into the ground. Because of this, her kingdom retains her name.

King Greyrein planted his sword into the ground. Because of this, his kingdom retains his name.

King Brownmountain planted his sword into the ground. Because of this, his kingdom retains his name.

The lone king, King Bluesea, sighed with relief and asked, “Who is the proudest among us?”

This was a time when words meant what they meant. A time when they were not played with. There was no doubt as to what he meant. After some deliberation and discussion, it was determined that Greyrein was the proudest of them.

King Bluesea, the one that had summoned the other three, then spoke four phrases. Each in a different language, that of the monarchs before him.

“We are not friends, and may never become so, but peace is not about friendship,” he said in his tongue, that of Bluesea

“Peace is about understanding. Words are meant to be understood. But my people do not speak the words of your kingdom,” he said in the language of Greenwood.

“I will teach my people the language of one of your kingdoms, that they may speak their mother tongue, and an adopted one. That there may be understanding within and without,” he said in the language of Brownmaountain.

“And I propose it be the language of the proudest among us, that he will be at peace, and so will the rest of us,” he said in the language of Greyrain.

“Suppose we disagree,” said queen Greenwood, but in the language of Greyrain.

The other three laguhed.

“Then uproot your sword and drive it into me,” said Bluesea.

But the swords remained planted. The first festival to celebrate the peace took place one year after the meeting. Peoples from all four kingdoms, those that had learned the language of Greyrain, were taken to celebrate.

Food, drink, games, songs, jokes, ideas, and even beds were shared during the five days of the festival. It was called “The Reminder of Peace”, and it was agreed that it would take place every five years.

Even though the swords were never touched, and not a one of them ever tumbled, they rusted. The kings saw this, deemed it improper, and hired seven dwarfs to forge a monument. A monument of four towering swords, thrust into the ground just like the original ones. One was green, the other blue, the other grey, the other brown. This symbol was dubbed “Pride’s Defeat”.

Many years will pass since this time, and the festival will still be celebrated centuries, if not millennia in the future. More than a golden era of peace, this could be called a silver era. No wolves, eagles, or crows shall feed on the flesh of soldiers, but there will always be tension among humans. No wars are fought, but feuds will endlessly take place among the peoples of the four kingdoms.

It is during this festival, however, that Snow White and her Prince shall one day meet. She hailing from Brownmountain, and he from Greenwood.

This is part of the Worldbuilding I came up with for my enhanced edition of Snow-white. More specifically, this is a little bit of background story that, now defined, will help me narrate things as someone who has actually lived through the history of this world. This in turn will make the narrative organic, and it will feel natural to you, reader.

There’s not much more to say, really. The following posts will show you more of this world I’m creating, as well as more instances in which I had to stop writing and “troubleshoot” a bit of “writer’s block.”

Until then, fellow, I hope the runes fall in your favor.

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