Warning: Major character death, mild violence

Chapter 1: Capture

He had been traveling for days following his heart toward his True Love. As he approached the Northern edge of the Kingdom, it started snowing. But he did not notice. His heart ached at the thought of his love, subjected to the most cruel curse: endless slumber. Except it was not a peaceful slumber. The way she had described it, Snow was visited by horrible nightmares. The thought of his love suffering made him redouble his effort and he pushed his tired horse on.

He finally arrived upon a glass coffin, surrounded by seven children. No, not children, dwarves. His heart beated faster at the sight of his love. He made eye contact with one of the men and silently begged him to slide off the top. Upon seeing the distress in the man's blue eyes, the dwarves hurried to do so, as futile as the request appeared to be. The man bent and kissed his love tenderly. A sudden gust of air spread outward throughout the forest, sending shivers down his spine. His love opened her eyes and smiled at him: "You found me!" He grinned: "Always!"

They walked hand-in-hand along the shoreline, basking in each other's presence. She stopped and spinned him around: "I love you." He smiled at her: "Snow, will you marry me?"

"Yes". She leapt in his arm, letting her happiness take her in a warm embrace. He kissed her: "True Love's Kiss can break any curse". At the mention of the curse, Snow frowned. "David, we can't let Regina control the Kingdom. We need to retake it". David smiled at her: "We will do it. Together". He kissed her again, wishing he would never have to let her go.

ECECEC

The army they had assembled over the last eight months was slowly approaching toward the Queen's castle. Retaking the kingdom has been a trying experience, nerves were frayed and tensions high. David and Snow had hardly spent any time alone, and the lack of intimacy was taking its toll on the newly-engaged couple.

Snow and David had called for a tactical meeting with their most trusted companions: Red and her Granny, Grumpy (the dwarf who helped David in his strange request), Jiminy Cricket, acting as the group conscience, and the Blue Fairy. They were gathered in the "war tent", as they had started to call it. The subject of their meeting was the same as it had been over the past several weeks: Regina.

"We need a plan to capture her". Snow started.

"I'm not sure that we will be able to. Not without heavy casualties. Perhaps a skilled archer could …" Red started but was promptly interrupted by Snow: "We are capturing Regina alive". David sighed. It had been the same argument every night.

"I know she still has good in her. I want to see the beautiful, young woman that married my father all those years ago". Snow pleaded with her friends. They looked at each other, hoping that one of them would volunteer to say the words that the Princess did not want to hear.

"Your Highness, this woman that you speak of has be gone for the past decade. It may be too dangerous to attempt to capture her" Jiminy tried to reason with the Princess. Snow hung her head between her hands in defeat. David moved to rub her back soothingly.

"Snow, I know that you want to see the good in this woman. But she has magic and..."

"Magic, that's the answer!" Snow interrupted him.

"Magic has been the problem, sister". Grumpy mumbled more to himself than the rest of the group.

"No. If we can block her magic, we should be able to capture her." Snow was excited at the prospect of this new plan.

"And then what?" Granny was looking at her like she had lost her mind.

"Help the good in her crawls out of the dark place she has lost herself in" The Princess was almost crying now. They looked at each other, shaking their heads, wondering if Snow had truly lost all reason on the subject of Regina. But the Princess was not finished. "Blue, could you do a binding spell?"

The Blue Fairy looked uneasily toward the other members of the Council. "Your Highness, the war has left us with a limited amount of Pixie Dust. If I cast the spell, there will be no magic available to us."

"It does not matter. Once we have Regina, the war is over." The Princess said firmly. She then proceeded to explain her plan to the rest of the council members. They listened in silence at the desperate plan to capture the Queen alive.

ECECEC

Three days later, Snow was advancing toward an area of the forest where the few remaining dark knights were said to be hiding. She tightened her grip on her bow at the anticipation of the confrontation. However, once she reached the outskirt of the camp, she realized that it was not a refugee camp for the soldiers fleeing the war but a military zone. The men were going through tactical exercises, target practice, and hand-to-hand combat.

Walking in the middle of her men, Regina looked as regal as ever. Her head was held high and the murderous look in her eyes would have forced even the bravest to run away. Snow could not help the gasp that came out of her mouth. Regina's head snapped toward the sound and she smirked: "Snow White".

Snow ran toward the cover of the forest, her heart pounding in her chest in response to the physical effort and to the conflicting emotions from seeing her stepmother again. Her feet caught into a root and she fell on the forest floor. The black knights were on her in a matter of seconds, forcing her to sit on the damped forest floor.

Regina arrived moments later, sitting tall on her black stallion. She dismounted the horse and walked in long, purposeful strides toward the girl on the ground. "Snow White, I can finally have my revenge!".

Snow started to cry at the sight of the Evil Queen. Her teeth were bare as she hissed the threat, her eyes cold and dark. For the first time since the beginning of the war, the Princess started to doubt that the innocent girl that she wanted as her mother was still in there somewhere, waiting to be freed. "No, Regina. No one will die today."

The Queen straightened in response to Snow's assured tone and started scanning the forest. But it was too late. Snow's archers had taken down her knights as Blue was approaching the Queen from behind. Before she could summon her magic, the fairy cast her binding spell, exhausting their limited supply of Pixie Dust in the process. Regina gasped in surprise but recovered quickly. "The Princess wins after all. She can kill her Evil Stepmother."

"I'm here to help you." Snow was standing up now, brushing off the dirt and mud from her clothing. She advanced toward the Queen as David, Red, and Grumpy shouted out a warning.

The warning came too late as the Queen lunged toward her enemy, forcing her hidden dagger deep inside Snow's abdomen. The sound that came out of the Princess' mouth was one of surprise rather than pain as she collapsed on the forest floor. Responding to the attack, an archer shot an arrow into the Queen's left shoulder. She slipped to the ground a few paces away from her former step-daughter, a smile spreading across her face: "I finally win!" She managed a maniacal laugh before the darkness engulfed her.

David threw himself on the floor cradling his True Love, begging her not to leave him. "David, I love you." Her voice was weak. He caressed her face and kissed her. "I will always find you". She tried to smile at him but her body grew more tired and cold. With one last longing look at him, she closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms.

"Snow, please don't leave me." He was growing hysterical now. She looked so pale, yet so peaceful. Like she was under the sleeping curse. With all his hope, he kissed her, waiting for the familiar rush of magic. But nothing happened; her beautiful green eyes remained closed. His eyes started searching for the Blue Fairy frantically, begging her to save his love. But he already knew; magic, even if they had any, cannot bring back the dead.

Red and Grumpy stood over the slumped form of the Prince holding his love. They were openly crying now. Grumpy was the first one to recover and nudged his elbow onto Red's side. She wanted to snap at him until she followed his gaze to the other lying form on the floor. The Queen, with the arrow still buried deep into her left shoulder. They approached carefully to check whether she was alive (or dead, as they both silently hoped).

Grumpy crouched down next to her. Her features were more relaxed, innocent almost. If not for the blood drenching her beautiful coat, she could have been asleep. He placed his hand over her nose and mouth, where he could feel her shallow breaths. "She is still alive". With one swift motion, he stood up and walked toward the Prince. Grumpy grabbed his sword and walked toward the fallen Queen. He placed the sword against her neck.

"What are you doing?" The prince called to him.

"Finishing the job." Grumpy replied. "She has to die."

"NO!" David screamed but remained sitting on the forest floor. "No" he repeated more softly. "She would not have wanted that." He looked down at his beautiful Snow.

Grumpy and Red looked at each other in disbelief and Grumpy pressed the sword more firmly against the Queen's throat, drawing blood. Regina whimpered in pain.

The Blue Fairy was the first one to recover and diplomatically suggested: "I cannot heal her without Pixie Dust. We will have to carry her and call for a healer".

ECECEC

The trip back to the campsite was uneventful. The Blue Fairy went ahead to warn the others of their arrival. David carried Snow lovingly, tears silently falling down his cheeks. A guard was carrying the Queen; she looked deadly pale against her bloodstained clothes.

Granny and Doc rushed toward Snow, distress in their eyes. Granny started to reach for the Princess but David stepped back, tightening his grip on his love. He wanted to be the last one to feel her warmth, to kiss her softly, to hold her as she was sleeping. A sleep from which she would never wake up. A soft sob escaped his lips. The confused look on the woman's face snapped him back to the present. He tried to compose himself to deal with the current emergencies. Pointing with his chin toward the guards behind him, he whispered: "She needs medical attention". Looking around the Prince's shoulders, Granny and Doc both gasped in shock at the sight of the Queen.

Granny recovered quickly: "Let's get her to the medical tent. We are going to need warm water, blankets, a needle, and some sutures". She moved toward the guard to get a closer look at the Queen. "The arrow went deep into her shoulder. We will have to push it out through the back." Turning toward her granddaughter, "We will need your help". Red nodded and followed her Granny, Doc, and the guard carrying the limp Queen toward the medical tent.

The Blue Fairy and Jiminy flew toward the Prince, who was still holding on to Snow tightly. "Your Highness, you need to let her go…" Jiminy started. David knew he did not mean of her body. He remained unmoving for several minutes, fresh tears pooling in his eyes. A pained scream brought him back to the present. He glanced toward the medical tent, silently reveling in the Queen's pain. He turned around and started walking toward the tent he had shared with his beloved Snow.

The Queen awoke in a pained scream while they were removing her coat and her once-white shirt. Granny gently pushed the woman down on the bed and started comforting her: "We are going to take care of you". The Queen moved away from the touch: "How dare you touching me!?" Her eyes were murderous. Granny smirked and touched Regina's shoulder, prompting a whimper from the Queen. "As I see it, you do not have much of choice. Now lay still and let's try to get the arrow out of your shoulder." The old lady handed a piece of wood to Regina. "Bite down on this, it will help". Regina looked at her in contempt and turned her head away. Granny moved Regina in a sitting position: "As you wish." And she started pushing the arrow through the Queen's shoulder. Regina stiffened as the pain coursed through her body but, to the astonishment of all the people present in the tent, she did not make a sound.

Jiminy and the Blue Fairy waited for the Prince to enter his tent before flying back toward the center of the camp: "How long will the spell last?" At the confused expression on the fairy's face, Jiminy pressed on: "The one that binds the Queen's magic?" The fairy hesitated before answering: "I don't know. It will depend on how fast she can recover from her injury and fight against the spell". At the realization that the Queen may yet still present a certain danger, they hurried back toward the Prince's tent.

Regina was laying on her stomach as Granny finished suturing her shoulder. Her eyes were glazed over in pain and she lost all willingness to fight. Red handed her grandmother a washcloth that had been dipped in warm water. "I am going to clean your shoulder and bandage you up. Doc is preparing an herb remedy to prevent infection". Regina nodded slowly. "I'm also going to get you out of these damned leather pants and corset". She then sent Red in search of new clothes for the Queen.

Jiminy and the Blue Fairy entered the Prince's tent and started to talk simultaneously: "Your Highness, it is imperative/we need to/that we talk/talk about the Queen/situation with the Queen". David was sitting on his bed, embracing his love. He looked at the two hovering beings, confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean the situation with the Queen?"

Granny was finishing dressing Regina in a large, clean shirt when David, Blue, and Jiminy bursted into the tent. "We need to get her to the Palace now!" The Prince yelled as he moved to scoop up the Queen. Regina shrunk into herself, as her fearful eyes searched the room for an escape. Granny caught the Queen's reaction and stood between her and the Prince. "She is not going anywhere today. She would not survive being moved. Even if she did, she would be in a great deal of pain". Granny's tone caught the Prince by surprise: "A week ago you were fighting with Snow to have her killed." His voice faltered when he mentioned his dead love. Granny moved aside to sit by the Queen. "No one deserves to be tortured".

David took a long look at his enemy. She seemed smaller without her Evil Queen's outfit, as if lost in the oversized grey shirt that covered her down to her knees. She was pale, all the blood drained out of her face. Her eyes were sunken and bloodshot. Granny had removed her makeup and she looked not much older than Snow. He felt a tinge of guilt as he glared at the wounded woman: "We are leaving at first light". He turned around abruptly and exited the tent wordlessly, quickly followed by the fairy and the cricket.

Regina looked up at the kind woman. "Why are you helping me?" Her tone had lost some of its sharpness.

"Because everyone needs a second chance" Granny was reminded of Snow's last argument before she went on this foolish mission. The mission that cost her her life. Granny felt the Queen's body relax as she lost consciousness.

Granny tuck some loose hair behind Regina's ear. Her mask was gone, she looked so vulnerable. She murmured to the Queen: "Someone took a chance on the woman behind the wolf. I will take a chance on the lost girl behind the Queen".

ECECEC

The Blue Fairy left the campsite late in the night toward the mountain, in search of additional Pixie Dust to prepare the Queen's prison. Last night's council meeting was heavy with grief but decisions regarding Regina had to be made quickly. Blue hoped that the fairies helping on the Northern front still possessed some of the precious substance. They also decided that David should be acting as the King. Leopold did not have any other living relatives and they could not afford a fight for the throne with other kingdoms.

The dwarves left the camp shortly after the fairy, heading toward the mines. Soldiers were quickly dispatched to spread the news of the Queen's capture and the end of the war. The camp settled for the night as no one was able to celebrate the bittersweet victory. David retired to his tent and settled himself on the bed next to Snow. She was getting cold to the touch, but he could not let her go.

ECECEC

A tired David entered the medical tent at first light, ready to escort his prisoner to the castle. He found her sitting on the bed, her body slumped over Granny's, who was trying to get the Queen to eat some oats. "We need to go." He said in a tone that left no room for discussion. "Could you at least wait until she finishes her breakfast and I find something to wrap her arm in a sling?" The Prince mumbled a few words and left the tent to return a few minutes later handing Granny a scarf. She snapped it from his hand and carefully wrapped the Queen's injured shoulder. "She will be riding with me." Granny frowned at the suggestion: "She would be more comfortable in a wagon".

"Our last remaining wagon is used to carry the last of our supplies and…" He hesitated, could not bring himself to say it aloud as it made his loss more real "... Snow's body" He finished in a whisper. Addressing the Queen, "Can you stand up and walk?"

"Of course, I can". She stood up shakily and walked toward the edge of the tent, her demeanor as regal as she could manage in this horrid shirt. He followed after her and directed her to his white horse. "Your Majesty, would you need help to get on the horse?" He smirked. He wanted her to ask for his help, take her down a notch.

She glared at him but she knew she did not have the strength to lift herself up onto the horse's back. "If you would be so kind" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Smirking, he grabbed her around her waist and lifted her up over his head. She weighed almost nothing. Once she was settled on the horse, he jumped up behind her.

They had been traveling through the forest for the past six hours. Regina's shoulder was throbbing and she could not help the pained whimper that escaped from her tight lips. David's heart went to her. He had to give her credit; she handled the situation like the Queen she was. "You can relax against me, it will help settle your shoulder".

She glared at him. "Do not forget your place, Shepherd!"

"As her majesty wishes."

They rode in silence for another hour. Her teeth were clenched, sweat was pearling around her brow, and she was tightly gripping the horse's mane. David did not ask this time, and forced her to lean into him. She tried to fight him but the warmth and relief he was providing won her over. She relaxed in his embrace as she lost consciousness once again.

She woke up in a cell in her castle. David was sitting on a chair across the room. "Welcome back, Your Majesty!". She looked at him with questioning eyes.

"The Blue Fairy enchanted the cell. You will not be able to use your magic in its confine. I suggest you keep your strength and heal."

"What are you going to do with me? Keep me in this golden cage of yours for the rest of my happy life?"

"This is not for me to decide alone, you will be tried for your crimes."

Regina looked around the room. It was small, maybe eight by eight feet with a wooden table and a chair in one corner, opposite the bed. The wall opposite the metal bars had a small window to allow some light into the cell.

"Granny will deliver your meals and provide you with other necessities. You will make your requests through her. I will grant any reasonable demands."

He stood up and left her cell. She watched his back as he walked toward the staircase.

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!