She lay there in the glass coffin, her body perfectly preserved. Her red lips, pale skin and raven hair appeared exactly as they had in life. The only way to tell that life had fled her body was to observe closely and note the lack of pulse, the stillness of her chest. The dwarves that guarded her body had spent many hours watching their charge, making sure that she would not stir.

One day, a prince rode into the clearing where the woman was interred. He had heard the tales, and had set forth to find the pale-skinned woman in the glass coffin. He had travelled across the land for many weeks, questioning huntsmen and those who lived in the forest, searching for clues as to where the woman lay. Now, he had found her.

As the sunlight filtered down through the leafy canopy above, it illuminated the contents of the crystal casket. The prince stared, entranced by the beauty of the woman within. He spurred his horse on, but his mount balked and refused to leave the shelter of the trees. So, the prince was forced to dismount and approach on foot.

One of the dwarves, a stout creature dressed in a scarlet coat, barred his way. "You may not approach," he said.

The prince glared down at dwarf. "How dare you stand in my way! Do you know who I am? I am a prince of the royal blood, and I demand to see the woman."

The dwarf stood his ground. "Prince you may be, but a fool you definitely are. No man is allowed to approach Snow White. She lies here undisturbed, sealed within that glass coffin."

"I have journeyed long and from afar," the prince said, drawing his sword. "And no man - nor dwarf! - shall stand in my way. Let me pass or - !" And, for emphasis, the prince swung his sword through the air.

The rest of the dwarves gathered behind their leader. "Leave now," one of them said. "Leave now and you will thank us later. Advance and pay the consequences."

"Then I shall advance."

The dwarves fought long and hard, but they were miners, not trained warriors. Their numbers threatened to overwhelm the prince, but he was a fine swordsman and used their ineptness to his advantage. It was not long before the last of them fled, his spirit broken and his body wounded, but grateful to be alive, leaving the prince alone in the clearing.

Slowly, the prince approached the coffin. He fumbled at the catches that held the lid shut, then opened the casket. For the first time he saw the body of Snow White, unhindered by the glass of the coffin. As the light touched her, it seemed that it would only take a single touch to wake her. Entranced, the prince bent over the coffin.

A single drop of blood fell from a wound on the prince's shoulder. It fell onto Snow White's lips, almost invisible against her cupid's bow. Then, as if in response, her eyes opened and she stared into the prince's eyes.

"Snow White," the prince declared. "I have come to wake you."

The woman sat up to embrace him, holding him tight against her. There was only a brief moment of pain as her teeth pierced the prince's jugular, and then he felt no more.

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Inspired by the tale of Snow White.