Snow White shook, as the woodsman unsheathed his knife, like a lion waiting to pounce on its prey.
She tried to stand, but her legs wouldn't hold her, the arrow still embedded in her chest.
"W..why?" She whispered, her breath coming in short gasps. "I..I thought...?"
"You thought wrong. Now let me finish you for good." The woodsman leapt over the small bush separating him from Snow. He clutched his knife like a demon, bloodthirsty and bitter. "This is for all those times you and your Step Mother pushed me around, 'Your Majesty." He snarled, as tore the arrow out.
Snow lurched forward screaming, blood gushing from her heart. The woodsman raised his knife.
Time froze again.
Snows life flashed before her with a fiery glow, everything looking pale and gaunt. Her sister, Violet Lily laughing as she scattered rose petals over her head from the garden. Snow laughing with her, and as she fell forward, she seemed to fall into a chasm of blackness, her arms flailing, and her heart pounding in her ears, until deafening sorrow screamed into her heart, as it tried to pull away any joy she once beheld, pulling her life away, pushing back into her heart the she was alone. Alone with no-one who really cared. Her journey through darkness pulled back into her vision. There was a cry, and theneverything stopped.
Her feet tingled in warmth, a veil creping over her; a sheet of warmth. Something stirred next to her.
Snow's legs curled in the tingling warmth. She tried to sit up, and open her eye's. She felt her lids open, and prepared to see light. But nothing came. Her chest pounded. She tried again, straining to see something. But she simply stared into darkness, like an empty pit.
She blinked, tears streaming down her sodden face.
Snow White was blind.
The fire flickered with warmth, as the flames danced with the stars. Amias watched the girl, as she sat up, and then suddenly start to sob. Like a dark Ranger he watched from a distance, the flames from the fire licking up across his vision.
The girl, seeming to sense his presence, swivelled her head. Her eyes flickered, before rolling down. She babbled for a moment, and then whispered, tears streaking down her face.
"I-I cannot see." She whispered
Suddenly she clutched her heart. Her fingers felt the wound through her gown-but there was nothing.
"Be still." Amias leant forward, taking her hand, he whispered, "it is gone now, you are healed."
He looked at the girls blank eyes, and in rush of sorrow and pity that washed over him, he whispered before he even knew what he was saying,
"I will take care of you forever. You are safe now." As he cradled her hand in his.