First Breath
It was just another cold winter day, another long dreary day that somehow I would get through. Since William had left to find Snow the days had become almost unbearable.
News that my dear one, my sweet cousin lived made my heart leap with joy. A dark sadness filled my heart thinking of her in Ravenna's prison, locked away for ten long years. My body shakes as the thought chills me to the bone.
Seeing William ride in from the raid on Ravenna's supplies, I knew this news would bring him much joy. I pick up the hem of my dress and run to greet him.
I watch the tortured look on his face as his father tells him that Snow lives and she has escaped. Hearing Williams words of how he would not abandon her a second time, I knew he'd face every creature of Hell to save her. The Dark Forest was her refuge but at what cost.
William's eyes were full of determination. He had spent the last ten years in agony thinking Snow dead. I would often find him walking the halls of the castle, mumbling to himself.
"William, it is late. Please do not do this again. She is gone and there is nothing either of us can do." I hear the words come from my mouth, not truly believing them myself.
"Lily, what would you have me do? We should have saved her that night. We should have tried harder." His words trail off into tears.
"I would have you do as Snow would William. Live." He takes my hands in his, smiling at me. This smile was one that warmed my heart but I so rarely saw it.
Now William was gone, off to safe our dear sweet Snow. Perhaps he will bring her back, if the Dark Forest allows it.
As I watch William ride off, the last glimpses of him gone I feel a hand upon my shoulder. "Lily, you should go back in. All we can do now is wait."
Duke Hammond looks at me with such care in his eyes. He had taken me in after my mother had been slain. My beautiful mother, the Kings own sister, lay dead. Her perfect face pale, her beautiful white dress soaked with her blood.
The Duke tried to be the father to me that the Great War had stolen. King Magnus was more than my King, he was a doting Uncle. I was in my seventh year when Snow was born. On that day I vowed to my Uncle to keep her and watch over her.
I did just that till the night Ravenna open the gates and let in Hell itself. That night is almost a blur to me now. Duke Hammond grabs me up in his arms, yelling at William to run. We get to the courtyard with the carnage all around us. He puts me on a horse with one of the King's guards and we ride off. He follows behind us with William screaming for Snow.
For neigh ten years now I have woke up from that nightmare, screaming for Snow myself. Tonight, I think my dreams will be different. The nightmares will come; they will consume me as I watch William walk into the Dark Forest.
Pacing the halls yet again, I find myself wondering when William will return. The thought most prevalent is will he return. William is strong, he has to return, I tell myself over and over.
Having spent long nights talking with William, I knew of his affections for her. Their playful days as children where long behind them, now love grew in his heart for a woman he thought dead.
I would watch them play, William teasing Snow on every occasion. Even then I could see that his heart was hers. But now, William was like a lost child, holding on to memories.
Whilst the memory of Snow burned the flames of love in his heart, it was he that burned in mine. These long hard years had thrown us together, made us confidants.
Now, I pace the halls, hoping to see him again. I close my eyes, praying for his safe return, praying for Snow's. My heart sinks with the revelation that if William finds Snow, his heart will never be mine.
I open my eyes slowly, turning my head towards the shouts of Duke Hammond's page. "William has returned!"
I hurry to the window to see a small party marching towards the castle. It looked as if William had made the acquaintances of some dwarfs and a rather large rough looking man. I take a second look, my eyes stinging with tears. Upon a pallet was a small girl being carried in by four dwarfs.
I help dress her in the finest white linen dress. Her raven hair is lying around her. The beauty that had graced her mother graced her now. I remembered her perfect skin that glowed like snow in the sunlight, her blood red lips that reminded me of a persistent rose and her long flowing midnight black hair but all of it looked hauntingly beautiful now. Her lips were no longer red but a pale purple and so very cold.
I cover my hands over hers, hoping to warm her. My tears flow freely as I ask the other hand maidens to leave me with her. My sweet dear cousin, given back to us to only be taken again.
I could feel my heart break, seeing the vision of William's face as they delivered Snow's body to the castle. I see only the ghost of William's soul in his eyes, lost dripping from him.
Out of all the sorrow, I felt it most from the Huntsman that traveled with them. He had been with Snow the longest, had vowed to see her to the Duke's castle. His face handsome face was drawn, his demeanor full of grieve.
With my goodbyes said, the last of my tears falling, I kiss my sweet Snow on the forehead, praying her safe passage to her mother's arms.
I make it to one of the alcoves when I hear the door open. The Huntsman walks in with a flagon of ale in his hand. He perches upon one of the alcoves stone slates. Drinking his sorrows, he sits watching Snow. I set three or four rows down, tucking my body in.
Curious, what business did this Huntsman have here, watching over her? The longer I watched him, the more my curiosity burned. He takes another swallow of ale, as he climbs from his perch. He walks around Snow's body, a tortured look across his face.
I slowly poke my head out, watching him closely. If I didn't know better, I would swear this man cared for her, even loved her. I shake my head; the nonsense of it was just too much.
The Huntsman begins to speak, his words directed to Snow. "Well, here you are, all dressed up like you're about to wake up and give me more grief. Am I right? You deserved better. I once had a wife, princess. Sara was her name. When I came back from the war I carried with me the stench of death and the anger of the lost. I wasn't worth saving, that's for sure, but she did so anyway. And I loved her so much. I loved her more than anyone and anything, and then I let her out of my sight and she was gone. And I became myself again, a self I never cared for."
His words bring tears flooding back to my eyes as I watch him bend over her, his hand caressing her dark hair. His own tears fill his eyes, his words spilling from his heart.
"Until you, cause you remind me of her. Her heart, her spirit. But now, you too have gone. You both deserved better and I'm so sorry I failed you. I'm so sorry. But you'll be a queen in heaven now and sit among the angels."
I watch as he kisses her on the lips, softly and sweetly. His tears fall onto her alabaster face, as he slowly pulls his lips form her. He turns and walks out of the chapel, my heart broken in my chest.
My trembling hand reaches for a column, as the tears run hot down my cheeks. He loves her, truly and deeply loves her, my thoughts ramble through my mind. Not even William could love Snow with the pureness that the Huntsman had for her.
I walk toward Snow as I hear the sound of her taking a breath. A deep breath as if it was her first breath. I stand behind her watching her hands begin to move. She rises up, the Huntsman's tears still fresh on her face. I walk back into the darkness of the alcove, not sure if she is real or illusion.
With one more deep breath she places her feet on the stone floor and walks out the chapel.
I stand there with my mouth gaped open, rubbing my eyes. Snow lives, she was merely under a spell. Death had beckoned at her door and with one kiss it was drove away. I must find this Huntsman, tell him it was he who brought her back. If not for him, for his declaration of love for Snow, she would not be back in the land of the living.
As much as I love William and William loves her, it was not he would gave her life. The veil of death has been lifted and I watched as this man with his broken heart gave all he had, all that was left of him.
Snow stands in the courtyard, vowing to kill Ravenna. I scan the crowd, seeing the Huntsman's face. He looks disbelieving at her, a smile creeping upon his lips.
I walk to one of the dwarfs, looking down at him. "Pray tell me, do you know what name the Huntsman goes by?"
The small man looks back at me, his eyes gleaming. "They call him Eric."
