Hello there! Tried to publish this as soon as I could but the site didn't have the catergory yet. TT-TT So I sent an e-mail REQUESTING THE CATERGORY OF "Snow White and the Huntsman" and waited and now I FINALLY submited it. Really proud of this and I hope you guys like it too! 3
P.S. I have NOT abandoned the other stories I got here, in fac I even finished writing on my notebook the one of "¡¿Que tú QUÉ?" and just gotta pass it to my computer. The one of "El pasado (no) se queda en el pasado"... I've been having problems in how to continue it. But I'm gonna work hard this summer in giving you enough chapters for you to enjoy from all of them. 3 I PROMISE!
May She rot in Hell
Tranquility rushed through the village that day of war, like a gust of soft wind flowing through all the people there, the castle and the rest of the kingdom. Those very people literally stepped out of their houses, shops, and their usual activities to look around themselves for just a few moments, then having smiles and tears for some form and fall on their faces, knowing the cause of this feeling. A feeling they had longed for and hopelessly waited after so many years of oppression.
They did not need for someone to come and note them of the most recent happening and cause for this change, for they already knew that the very bringer of their pain, hunger, and suffering had gone just moments after the wind blew.
The Queen was dead, and people everywhere rejoiced at this sudden but highly wanted notion.
Soon there would be peace again. Soon there would be no more hunger or injustice or unnecessary pain for all the people of the kingdom. Soon, they all hoped, it would be like during the time of King Magnus's rule, for it had been the long lost and thought to be dead princess, though this had actually been informed by messengers from the castle, which had been the one to take the Queen's life through the help of Duke Hammond's army.
With the remaining soldiers of Ravenna's army also locked in the dungeons of the castle, awaiting their sentence, everyone rejoiced at the news that their dearest princess was in fact not dead, having been trapped by the dead Queen in one of the towers of the castle, right under, or in this case above, their noses. And most, if not all, considered her fit to be the next and rightful ruler of their kingdom.
Yet not everyone was in the same high sprits as the rest of the population. The very Princess Snow White, soon to be the next obvious heir to the throne, was in fact troubled, though for reasons even she did not know why.
The day after the castle had been overrun by the duke's army, it was quickly decided that Ravenna's body, as they now not even dared to call her queen out of displeasure and respect for their princess, was to be taken and buried outside the borders of the kingdom, in a plain grave that had only her name and a warning to those who dared to let beauty or power overcome them, making her story an example of this. Snow White had immediately planned the burial after the battle, deciding to accomplish this task the very next day. For it was not safe for such a former powerful being to be left alone like that in any room simply out of fear.
For this though, Muir, since Snow White's dwarf friends had been invited to stay in the castle after the battle for as long as they wished, advised the princess to wrap the casket in which the decayed body would be inside, in chains made with fairy magic, one of the purest and most powerful kinds of magic in existence, and enough to beat any kind of dark magic it was to be used against. Quickly two of the seven dwarves, Coll and Duir specifically, went to the one place where they could easily find and ask fairies to create the chains needed for the burial: the Sanctuary. By the morning of the next day they were back with proud smiles on their faces for their quick work. Though Coll did admit that the fairies were very willing to help as fast as they could in making these chains, with a lock and key included, for the one who had been blessed by the Great White Spirit of the forest. Snow White kept in mind to visit the Spirit for his kindness and thank him and the fairies for the rush job.
And so on that day, though it was a bright and clear one, people gawked in fear at the at the black coffin being willingly but grudgingly carried through the village by four of the soldiers of the duke's army, soon to be part of the castle's army. A few more rode in horses slowly behind them while others walked, some of these being the brave dwarves and the huntsman, Erick, who quietly walked by Snow White's white horse, watching as the dreaded coffin moved in front of him but also watching over Snow White, like he had been doing since he first met her.
He too had been invited to stay at the castle. But as much as the huntsman very much appreciated the (his) princesses' kindness, he felt rather out of place in such a grand and fancy place, its court and knights in shining armor constantly reminding him of his lower status. But his princess, Snow White, was of high nobility also, making him wonder if it was ever possible to conceal the true love the two felt for one another, and had been rather glum when just yesterday, the battle in the castle finished, the village people cheered for their princess, happy to have her back.
Erick glanced towards Snow White atop her horse, thinking of this, and looked at her soft face that a few times he had been fortunate to touch with his hands. But this soft face seemed different; her expression was not that of calmness or valiant like before, or like the rest of the soldiers in their presence had in that moment.
Instead she looked disturbed, uncomfortable, and, as hard as it was for him to believe, he could see a slight fear in her bright green eyes which kept staring forward but almost with self force, her brow twitching slightly down and her pale red lips quivered but just so, trying to maintain a straight line with them.
'This isn't good', he thought. 'Something is bothering her.'
Erick stepped a foot closer to the white horse, his chin able to reach half her thigh because of his height and spoke but only loud enough for her to hear. "Something the matter, Princess?" he spoke with a slight sarcasm in his voice, normal of him and with the intention of distracting her from her troubles. "One would think you'd be the one most glad for this little walk. Instead you look half terrified, worried even, for what's in that casket."
The princess was startled from her hypnotic daze, jerking her head down to look at the huntsman's curious but smiling face with wide eyes and blood rushing to her pale cheeks at hearing the low timber of his accent. She closed her mouth before she would start to gape at him and quickly thinking to avoid any more worry for the man who helped her throughout all of her quest, managed to form a small smile at him, but it was not enough for him to think that all was well with her.
"I-it's nothing…," she lied, "It is just… still hard for me to believe she's gone and yet…," she stopped mid sentence as her gaze traveled back to the coffin in front of her, feeling an uneasiness envelop her.
Erick noticed this. "And yet what? Snow White what's wrong?" it was rare for him to call her by her first name, though "Your Highness" he believed he soon had to call her and "Princess" he said often to annoy her or give her slight compliments. But when he said her first name, it felt almost natural, enjoyable, like the most beautiful thing in the world to ever say besides "love". And she was the fairest of the land, and she was indeed his love.
To hear him call her by her first name was wonderful, like she was lifted up by air and fallen back down on a soft cloud in the sky. But since it was uncommon, it meant to her that he was being kind, protective, or very concerned for her. Snow White gripped her horse's reins, feeling a bit of nervousness in her heart, remembering how the court had insisted on her riding in a carriage, being the princess of their castle and figuring she was obviously exhausted from the past battle. And though she was indeed tired, she had wanted to walk along side her friends, so she wouldn't be out of place with them and demonstrating they had done as much and more than she in taking back her castle. But in the end, she had to opt for her horse, which miraculously survived yesterday and had been taken to the stables to be taken care off, since they would not hear of her walking in the wet mud just to be with her friends.
But oh, how she wished she could get her boots and battle armor just as dirty as them to feel a better sense of security over the dreading feeling she couldn't seem to get rid of by the strange closeness of the black coffin.
She bit her bottom lip for a moment, looking at her gloved hands on the reins. "I just feel insecure about this. Though I know she is gone, she has left a permanent scar in my life and everyone else's, and it's been hard to cope with."
For this, he believed her and answered. "Her death was only yesterday so obviously it will take time before you, me, the dwarves and everyone in the kingdom can stop the fear she created to cloud their lives. But the time when we all can breathe calmly, feel no fear for our ruler and instead feel peace wherever we go will soon come. I can guarantee you that, Princess, because your kindness and leadership will bring this."
The princess was staring at him now, amazed and grateful for his every word and for once in that morning, felt the uneasiness lift away from her shoulders just a bit, allowing her to breath just a bit more calmly. Her smile was now gentle and finally her face seemed a slight bit glad, making Erick feel less worried over her.
"Thank you… Erick. For everything," she spoke.
He gave her a side cocky grin, "'Twas my pleasure ma'am. Though I only spoke the truth, and nothing more Snow White," his voice had turned more serious when he finished, but a smile still remained on his bearded and handsome face.
She nodded, her cheeks growing pinker, and looked back to the horizon left by the sea, hoping to reach their destination quickly and wishing for the dread to leave her as soon as the last shovel of dirt was patted on the ground from the tombstone.
"… And may God have mercy upon your soul. Amen," the priest spoke and finished, making the Holy Cross sign over Ravenna's coffin. Slowly, two guards let it drop onto the open ground, using thick rope as help, till one of them climbed inside the tomb, being extremely cautious with the coffin inside, and yanked on the lock holding the enchanted chains wrapped tightly around it, making sure it was secure. After it was sure to never break, the rest of the guards made quick work to fill the hole with the removed dirt, shoveling quietly along with the rest around them.
"Finally, she is gone," spoke William, standing on one side of Snow White and his father, Duke Hammond, "Peace can finally be returned to this land," he continued a steady glare at the almost fully closed tomb, wanting his own hate to go along with it.
"Aye," spoke Gort, having the strong urge to spit upon the tomb, "finally the witch can leave us all in peace! And rot in 'er own l'il corner of hell where she belongs."
"Gort it ain't right to speak ill of the dead, you bugger," scolded Nion beside him, sending him a look but then finishing with his own remark. "Even if she does deserve to burn on a log in one of those fiery pits."
"Just shut your holes already," Beith interrupted them with success. "It isn't neither of you who decides her souls fate."
"Beith is right," it was Muir who spoke now, his blind gaze seeming to concentrate on something close by, "it is the Almighty who makes this decision, and the right one. All we know for sure now is that she will repent for her sins in this world, and receive what she truly deserves for them in the next."
The rest of them nodded in agreement, and chose to not continue on with their comments.
"Aye," Erick spoke softly as his hardened gaze went from the grave to Snow White, whom had not spoken a word since their arrival.
Her expression had not changed from the first he noticed it, still showing fear in those bright eyes. He had managed to move protectively beside her in that time, prepared if any spirit dared to harm her. He would be armed and ready for it. William had noticed their closeness from the corner of his eye and felt the familiar pang in his chest, but knew he could do nothing in the matter of getting back the princesses' heart. For it had been taken away by another, taken away by the huntsman who had first helped her and taken care of her in her time of need. This fact had been proven when he was told by the blind dwarf that the reason she had been revived again because of the breaking of the spell was because Snow White had received a kiss from her true love at his father's castle, a kiss from Erick, the huntsman, not his.
Slowly the huntsman placed his hand gently on the small of Snow White's back, diverting her attention yet again to him. "Princess, you still looked frightened," he spoke just loud enough for her to hear. "You're braver than that. A dead hand is not going to burst out of the ground if you keep imagining it."
Her face had turned pink, and it embarrassed her especially while looking straight at his face. But the feeling of his hand lightly on her caped and armored back felt safe, yet exhilarating to her body. Snow White slowly gulped the tightness in her throat and looked at the dry ground under their feet, bringing her eyebrows together.
"I know it is impossible for that," she whispered and Erick had to strain his ear to hear her voice, "but I can't seem to rid this… haunting feeling in me, especially when I am this close to her grave," she lifted her head up to see the guards finish their work when they pated the refilled ground with their shovels. Her worry only seemed to grow instead of wane.
The huntsman furrowed his brow in confusion and he too, looked at the freshly marked grave. "Well I don't feel anything besides the usual hate for her and this gloomy atmosphere. But perhaps it is just you who feels it, since the qu- Ravenna had wanted your heart more than anything. Her spirit could still be lingering around her grave, but it will do you no harm since her powers are gone and she should have already left this world. She has no hold over you Snow White, not anymore," his voice never wavered as he spoke into her ear.
"She can never have my heart," she spoke to both assure Erick, and herself that the danger was indeed gone. She looked up at his face and managed to give him a small smile of her assurance.
He grinned. "Exactly. Now let's go back. I heard the cook is making a feast in honor of your return."
Snow White chuckled lightly, following his pace of footsteps along with the others. "All right, let's go."
And so they did, Coll and Druir joining her side and speaking of other things in order to distract the young princess, while the huntsman was left with his thoughts, thinking if perhaps what she told him could imply something more. If perhaps the damn witch's soul could indeed be lurking around and with an obvious grudge against Snow White.
He shook his head. 'No, it can't be like that. The witch must be halfway to hell right now… serves her right,' he thought, and rid himself of the notion.
Yet he wondered if he could still protect her from harm, if she still needed it, even now. She would have knights and guards galore protecting her and watching over her every waking moment. They would not let their princess and soon to be queen get lost again or hurt in any way. So why would Snow White still need him around? Well the dwarves were staying with her, which meant even more protection now.
His job was done, but he did not want to leave her, not ever. Yet their ranks were so much separated, prohibiting them from being together. And as he saw her, talking in a much high mood with her friends, William noticeably paying close attention to her, and with a guard at every angle around her, it hurt him.
Snow White did not need him no more.
