In that one story they simply won't forget, at least they never knew my name This article is about a subject whose real name is unknown, and is known only by a title, nickname, alias or description |
“ | Mirror, mirror on the wall, who in this land is fairest of all? | „ |
~ The Queen to her magic looking glass in Fables #96 — "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Chapter Three of Rose Red" |
The Queen, whose name has yet to be revealed, was the ruler of the Silver Realm, and Snow White's and Rose Red's paternal aunt. She only appears in flashbacks from the Homelands, debuting in Fables #96 - "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Chapter Three of Rose Red." After her husband's death, she became the sole ruler of his kingdom and "adopted" Snow White when she was still a child. Jealous of her niece's beauty, she tried to assassinate Snow White twice, ultimately failing both times.
History
Early life
Very little is known about the Queen before her accession to the throne, aside from the fact that in the past, Lauda helped her to achieve the position of queen of the Silver Realm.[1] It was also revealed by the Cricket on the Hearth, that she killed her brother sometime after becoming queen; whether or not Lauda knew of her involvement or what her motivations for doing this were is unknown.[3]
At some point, she acquired a magic looking glass that spoke only the absolute truth.[1]
Reign as Queen
Eventually, the Queen's husband died from causes unknown. Sometime after this, Lauda, fearing for her daughter's safety, arranged for Snow to live with the Queen. While the Queen was reluctant to shelter her niece, she was convinced to do so by Lauda, who reminded her sister-in-law that it was she who helped her to achieve her high status. In exchange, the Queen conditioned all debts paid.[1]
Assassination attempts on Snow White
Every day the Queen would consult her magic looking glass, asking it who was the fairest in the land and always the looking glass replied that she was, until one fateful day when it said that Snow White was now even lovelier than her, and it was true, for Snow White had grown in both years and beauty. The Queen was enraged at this usurpation. The Queen called for her huntsman to drag Snow White away, into the deep, dark forest where many terrible deeds could be concealed. As proof of her niece's demise or as a prize of sorts, she ordered her huntsman to return with Snow White's heart in a box. Snow White pled for her life, and in time the huntsman's heart was moved. Sparing Snow White, the huntsman substituted the heart of a pig to present to the Queen, and she was none the wiser.[1]
In time, the dark and wicked Queen learned the truth about her adopted daughter's survival. The Queen could not abide this news. Cloaking herself in the guise of an old woman, she visited the seven dwarves' cottage and gave her niece a poisoned apple. Snow ate the poisoned apple and fell into a deep coma. Her captors on finding her so assumed the worst and dumped her body onto the edge of the forest, and had she been left there she would surely have died, food for scavengers. But Prince Charming found her first, and his love was enough to overcome the wicked Queen's poison, since all nobles of his lands had some degree of magic in them.[1]
Personality
The Queen is depicted as a vain and proud individual.[1] The Magic Mirror also described her as shrill and shrewish.[4] She was also a malevolent ruler and sinister enough to have no qualms about killing her brother[3] or niece.[1] The huntsman was also so fearful of the Queen, he fully intended to execute the innocent Snow White.[1]
Physical appearance
The Queen was a lovely, pale-skinned woman. She wears very regal, albeit menacing, attire. She also wore what seems to be an escoffion that covers her ears, neck, and hair and only leaves her face exposed. In her disguise, the Queen dons a blue, hooded robe with enormous hanging sleeves and blue slippers. Her physical appearance changes from that of a youthful queen to that of a decrepit, old peddler woman with long, tangled white hair.[1]
Powers and abilities
- Witchcraft: The Queen was a woman of the craft. She was skilled enough in magic to cast a convincing glamour upon herself, taking the guise of an old woman.[1]
- Knowledge of poison: The Queen seemed to have a knowledge of poison, seeing as she was able to create a powerful poison that rendered Snow White comatose with but a small dosage.[1]
Equipment
- Enchanted looking glass: The Queen, at one time, was the owner of a magical looking-glass. While mostly speaking in rhyme and demanding that others do the same, the mirror spoke the absolute truth and could show the Queen a glimpse of whatever she wanted to see, but nothing more.[1]
Gallery
Appearances
Fables
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Fairest
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Original source
She is based on the evil queen from the "Snow White" fairy tale.
Trivia
- When first introduced in Fables #96 — "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Chapter Three of Rose Red," Lauda addresses the Queen as "sister." In Fables #149 — "Generations: Chapter Nine of Happily Ever After," it is revealed that the Queen is Lauda's sister-in-law rather than her biological sister.
- Based on the magic mirror's comments to Baba Yaga in Fables #90 — "Witches, Chapter Four: Ozma," the Queen was implied to have done something horrible to him when given news she didn't want to hear.
- This could explain as to why it took the Queen so long to learn Snow White still lived, as when given the news that her "stepdaughter" was fairer than her, the Queen punished the mirror to such an extent it would have spent an undefined amount of time repairing itself. However, it could just as well be that the Magic Mirror is not all-knowing and doesn't have direct access to future information at any given moment.
- As the Queen wore an escoffion in all her appearances, this most likely places the events surrounding her flashbacks during her homeworld's version of the Late Middle Ages (1250–1500).
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Fables #96 — "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Chapter Three of Rose Red"
- ↑ Fables #16 — "Duel: Storybook Love Part Three"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Fables #149 — "Generations: Chapter Nine of Happily Ever After"
- ↑ Fairest: In All the Land
See also
Wolf family | |
---|---|
"Patmat" | Snow White • Bigby Wolf |
The cubs | Winter • Blossom • Therese • Darien • Conner • Ambrose • Ghost |
Allies | Beauty • Beast • Cinderella • Briar Rose • Boy Blue • King Cole • Prince Charming • Sam • Herne • Herne, son of Herne |
Enemies | Mister Dark • Leigh Duglas • Prince Brandish • Peter Pan |
Locations | Wolf Valley • The Hesse |
Other relatives | North Wind • Winter • Lauda • Lauda's husband • Queen of the Silver Realm • Rose Red • West Wind • East Wind • South Wind • Etan Wolf • Lake • Tannika Wynn • Sam's great-grandson • Hel |