Author's Note: This is my first ever delve into the world of writing Fanfiction, but I love Snow White & the Huntsman so much and really wanted to tell the story of Eric and Sara, before he ever meets the lovely Snow White. The story will be told from the point of view of both Sara and our wonderful Huntsman. I plan to update frequently as some escapism from my revision for my final year exams at University. Hope you enjoy it and I would love to hear what you think! -Stardust
Prologue: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
It was a cold winter's day, she remembered, when she saw him for the first time. A frost had covered the fields and the paths between the houses were icy, the weather once again unrelenting. The men of the town were returning from a long and relentless battle on behalf of The Black Queen, Ravenna; none had wanted war, yet people seldom do and no-one dared risk the wrath of Tabor's ruler. She thought to join the throngs of women, children and the older townsfolk that had been left behind so long, as they turned out to welcome home their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. As the women donned their best dresses and fairest smiles to greet their loved ones, she was reminded how there was no-one returning to her. News of her dear brother's death on the fields of battle had reached her some months ago and her father was long dead. There was no sweetheart to speak of, after all the men had been gone some time and she was not one to provide company to those passing through.
Still, she turned out to pay her respects to the haggard parade that were lucky enough to return, although the sight shook her to her core. Faces were drawn, dried blood congealed on battered bodies, clothes ripped and muddied. Some mustered smiles for familiar faces among the crowds; some limped or carried injured comrades on makeshift stretchers. Most had the look of death in their eyes, those who had seen too much.
He intrigued her; he seemed different. Bringing up the rear of the procession of men, he caught her eye as he neared. Tall and well built, his piercing blue eyes stood out against weathered skin and brown hair, dirtied by battle, was scraped back. The axe he carried, coupled with his stance and build gave an air of strength and confidence, yet as his eyes met hers, his emotionless expression seemed to harden and he looked away once more. The coldness of his gaze muddled her usually logical mind and she wondered if it was directed purely at her or if, and perhaps more likely, as he had never met her before, it was just another look of a man burdened by war and unkind memories. Whichever it was, she noted that he would have been through more than she could care to imagine and gave a slight smile when he passed by.
When the crowd dispersed and as reunited couples paired off and families were partly whole once more, she noticed how the blue-eyed man with the axe stood alone and directionless at the edge of the town square, as if he knew not where to go after so long away.
Yes, thought Sara; he intrigued her.