Ravenna had been defeated, destroyed by the hand of the fairest. A great pyre was built on the beach beyond the castle. For a day and a night her body burned until it turned to ashes scattered by the wind and blown out over the water. Four bearers loaded her mirror onto a ship and far at sea, they filled it with rocks and let it sink to depths unfathomable. Her reign of terror had come to an end and a new queen, the rightful queen, restored to the throne. Snow White, fairest of the fairest, daughter of King Magnus and Queen Eleanor, accepted the weight of the crown and a new dawn began for Tabor.

Torches lit the room she had had made up as her study. She could not bring herself to enter the one her father had once used and she had played in as a child. It was in the wing with his chambers, and she had not entered the wing since the night she found him murdered. Instead, she occupied the room her mother had used to write letters and manage the castle. Ravenna had not touched this room, and Snow White had found several letters that her mother had never finished in the desk's drawer.

A knock sounded at the door, and she set down the old census reports she was studying.

"Enter," she called.

One of her guards, Vincent, opened the door. He bowed. "The Huntsman, Your Majesty."

"Show him in, please."

The Huntsman stepped into the room, and Vincent closed the door behind him. Except for his clean face and fully pulled back hair, he looked exactly as he had in the forest. He wore his leather greatcoat with his axe strapped to his back. She was sure he had at least ten knives hidden on his person.

"Has our hospitality not pleased you?" Her tone was teasing but it did not reach her eyes.

"I've done my service." His face was unreadable.

"Of course, but I thought you would make this your home now. Unless you have somewhere else to go."

"I don't need much space. All I own is on my back."

Snow White went to the dark window, which overlooked the sea. Everything beyond was blackness and she could only see her reflection and his behind her. "I had thought you would at least stay longer."

"For what purpose?"

She turned to look at him. His piercing blue gaze revealed nothing, and Snow White swallowed. Would she ever be more than a burden he had stumbled across in the forest?

Her mind rebelled at that thought. A memory hovered just beyond her grasp and struggled to break free like a word at the tip of her tongue. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate, tried to bring it forward. But the effort only started to bring on a headache.

"Your Majesty? Are you ill?"

She opened her eyes, and he was standing over her. Snow White shook her head and stepped back. "It's the light. That's all." He was so close that she could smell his freshly oiled leather and the scent of earth that clung to him.

The Huntsman gripped her shoulder, and she froze as her heart fluttered in her chest. "You haven't slept in days."

"No one has," she reminded him. Since her coronation, they had all been working endlessly to save the people from further starvation. Besides, her sleep was plagued by nightmares of dark creatures, Ravenna, and William, waxy and cold in death as he lay atop a pile of mutilated bodies. Her hand wrapped around the Huntsman's and squeezed.

He haunted her dreams too. Each time, she discovered him gone from the castle. Riding out in search of him, she found him in the forest, encased in glass box. His face was contorted as he struggled for air while she did everything to break the glass, using branches and rocks to batter it. Nothing worked, and she watched as his face turned white then blue as she threw herself against the walls, pounding it with her fists and screaming his name. Even after he slumped to the ground, unconscious, the glass would not give, and she sobbed as Ravenna's laughter filled her ears.

She shivered.

"Are you sure you don't need anything?" he pressed, peering closely at her.

"I'm fine," she insisted, shaking off the chill and his hand. She folded her arms over her chest. "This isn't why I called you here."

"You want to stop me from leaving."

"I won't prevent you from doing anything, Huntsman." He crossed his arms too and stared at her expectantly. Snow White's hands tightened over her upper arms. She was unsure of herself. "I was hoping you would stay, though. A few weeks ago, I was an escaped captive, running for my life. And, now, suddenly, I'm queen of a kingdom. Most of my father's court was murdered the night Ravenna took over, and I barely know those who remain. Even Duke Hammond is vaguely a stranger. Huntsman, you spared my life until you could trust the truth of my plea. You defended me against countless dangers with great risk to your own life. It was the block and thrust that you taught me that spared my heart from Ravenna's grasp. You're the only one I can fully trust. Hope has been restored to our kingdom, that is the message I send to my people and what many choose to believe. But I am no fool. We are weak and so we are vulnerable. Stay here until I have fortified our land. Help me rebuild the kingdom." She wanted to ask him to be there to keep her safe, to watch over her, but this could not be a plea for herself, as much as she wanted to tell him how much she had come to rely on his steadiness, his strength, on him.

"You have received the payment I promised. But if you wish to go," she continued, "I will grant you whatever lands you desire. I will make sure you are housed and given whatever you need to build a home. Only, don't leave without saying goodbye." It was the one concession she allowed herself in her entreaty. She couldn't bare it if he disappeared without a word as he did in her nightmare.

For moments, he said nothing, only stared at her until she let her gaze fall. "I stay on one condition," he said finally. She looked up again. "You appoint me to your personal guard."

Snow White smiled as relief washed over her. "I think that can be arranged, if it's what you want."

"Someone has to keep you alive."

"I suppose you've had enough practice." She laughed, feeling lightheaded now that she was confident he wouldn't be leaving her soon. And that's when she realized, "You knew you were staying before I said anything!"

"You make pretty speeches." He was teasing her now. His eyes softened though he did not smile.

"We can't all replace words with grunts and scowls. But I am very happy that you choose to stay."

"You may change your tune."

Snow White raised an eyebrow. He had been her constant companion over the past few weeks. What reason could she have for changing her mind now? Seeing her confusion, he slid one of his hip knives from its sheath.

"No woman should be without tools to defend herself, and you are quite inept, though you did well enough for yourself against the queen," he added, cutting off her protest. "If I'm to keep you alive, I'm going to have to teach you all I know and then some."

"I'm not that hopeless," she grumbled.

The intensity of a solemn oath darkened his face. He swelled beyond his full height until he cast his presence into every cranny of the room and the air around him quivered. "I won't waste my second chance. Your Majesty."

He was gone before she had enough presence of mind to point out that the incident with the apple was not his fault.

True to his word, he was stationed outside her study door when she emerged in the wee hours of the morning. He must have sent the other guard off because they were the only two on her return to her chambers.

"I don't even know your name," she said as he walked at her side.

"I am called Huntsman."

"But you once had a name."

"I have forgotten how to answer to it."

"Or rather, is it that you wish to forget it?" She wondered what made her so sure that was the case, but he nodded.

"I was another man then."

"A better one?"

"A different one."

Silence fell between them during which Snow White tried to recall all that she knew about him. It was next to nothing. Only what he had used to keep her alive. Not once had he mentioned a family or who he had been before their paths crossed. To be fair, she had not said much about herself. But then again, she'd been locked in a tower for most of her life. She had a feeling that he had seen a lot more of the world than she.

"Will I ever learn it?" she asked.

"Perhaps. If I become the man I was."

Snow White was quiet until they reached her chambers. She paused on her way in and turned to him.

"The man you are searching for, I don't think he's gone or if he's even as far as you think." Hesitantly, she placed her hand over his heart. She could feel it beat steadily beneath her palm. He wrapped his fingers around hers, but he did not push her away. "I've seen him, but you have to choose to see him too."

She chastely kissed his hand and freed hers before bidding him goodnight. Too tired to undress, she fell across her bed still clothed. But her last thought, as she crossed her chamber, was the warmth she felt knowing he watched over her as she slept. Tonight, she felt safe again.