A/N: So I hope you guys like this! Let me know if you are interested and if I should continue! Reviews are awesome! Before anyone asks, yes I did get an idea for this idea from "The Huntsman" Anyway read and enjoy! Let me know what you think when you've finished! ;)

Chapter 2: The Fairest of Them All

Enchanted Forest

The small camp was surrounded by snow-covered hills, isolating the travelers from the eyes of the world. The camp consisted of a few crude tents and the cold families that were huddled inside of them. Like the snow on the ground, fear blanketed the camp. Like a vice, fear gripped the hearts of the people in hiding. Their fear was entirely justified. They had been lucky, avoiding both the ogres that ran rampant in the land and the soldiers that hunted them.

This was the age of the First Ogres War, in which some children were being sent with the adults as soldiers. For this reason, were these people hiding out in the snowy hills of the kingdom. To protect their children. Many tried to run from the soldiers that collected the children. Some were successful.

But most were not.

There was a sudden commotion outside the tent. She could hear the crunching of snow as many people ran about the camp frantically, their panicked voices calling their families together.

In confusion and fear, she opened the tent flap and stuck her blonde head out to see everyone her family had been fleeing with, frantically moving about the camp, picking up essential items and gathering their families.

"They're coming!" came a crying voice, followed by many more. Her eyes widened at the news, and her heart began beating like a galloping horse's.

"Annora," came an eerily calm voice. Annora quickly drew back into the tent, whirling to face her mother's eyes. She had expected to see fear in those brown eyes, but she was deeply concerned to see emptiness. Nothing but a contemplating look.

"Mother, where are Giselle and Henric?!" Annora asked, opening the tent flap again and searching for the familiar dark-haired heads of her siblings. Suddenly, a young boy carrying a small girl on his back sprinted into sight, barreling towards the tent.

"Mama, the soldiers are coming!" the boy yelled as he ran into the tent. "You need to do something. Use your magic!"

Annora looked up at her mother expectantly, but once again saw the distracted look in her eyes. Annora frowned and raised her brows as she recognized a look in her mother's eyes. Was she giving up?

"Mother!" she called, tugging on her mother's dress. That got the woman's attention, and she seemed to snap out of her daze.

"Henric," her mother finally said, looking at the boy. "Leave your sister. Get a cup, and get some snow to melt."

Henric nodded dutifully and set his little sister down at Annora's feet. The little girl babbled barely coherent words, being only 2 years of age. Annora quickly bent down to pick up the young, talkative Giselle, but her mother's voice stopped her.

"No. Come here," her mother ordered, making Annora look up from her babbling little sister in confusion. "You must help me if anyone is to be saved, Annora, my child."

Annora approached her mother, a frown on her pretty lips. As she got closer to her mother, she saw that she was digging through the burlap sack they had packed their few belongings in. Her mother pulled out a worn, rusting hand-held mirror.

Anorra frowned, an anger rising in her chest. This was no time for her mother's obsession.

"Come look in the mirror, my fair child," Annora's mother told her softly. Despite the ridiculousness, Annora obeyed and peered into the dusty mirror. Even the dust and grime could not cloud her beautiful reflection. Even at thirteen years of age, Annora was an extraordinarily beautiful girl. And her mother made sure she knew it. She seemed to take pride in it, calling her 'the fairest of them all.'

With a sad look, Annora stared into her vivid green eyes, observed her light golden hair, and studied her flawless, fair face. She was beautiful, but she didn't look anything like her family. She was the only blonde. Not even her deceased father was blonde, and he had dark eyes not emerald green.

Annora simply accepted her appearance. She was not vain or selfish.

But her mother's obsession worried her. This was not the first time she had told Annora to gaze into the mirror.

"Mother, this is foolish-"

"Hush! Only your beauty can save you, my fair Annora," her mother interrupted her, pushing the mirror closer. "You may think I am crazy, child, but I am not."

Annora looked helplessly up at her mother, unsure what to say.

Just then Henric came running into the tent, a cup of melting snow in his hand.

"I've got it!" he announced, pushing it into his mother's hands. Annora sought her younger brother's gaze, and he looked to her with an assuring smile. He was one year younger, but acted so much older than he was. He was so brave.

"Good, it's nearly finished," their mother muttered to herself, as she threw in herbs from a pouch that she kept in her skirt pocket. Annora looked up in time to see her mother pull a knife from the flour sack, and her eyes widened as her heart clenched. Something wasn't right.

Without a word, the sorceress mother grabbed Annora's wrist.

"Mother!" both Annora and Henric exclaimed in worry. A loud yell from outside made all three of them turn towards the tent flap.

"They're nearly here, Annora," her mother hissed under her breath. "You must do this. I told you once. It is only your beauty that can save you. I promise it will be quick, just a scratch. Be brave. Be brave for your family."

Annora looked up at her mother in fear, but nodded without thinking of it. She grimaced and let out a gasp as her mother sliced a thin cut in her palm, moving the injured hand over the cup of melted snow and magical mixture. Three drops dripped into the liquid, and a white smoke wafted into the air. Annora watched it with wide eyes.

"The fairest blood, from the fairest of them all," her mother whispered, looking down at the cup with a smile. She then looked up and into her daughter's eyes. "Drink it."

Annora frowned, looking up with furrowed brows and a worried look in her eyes. Suddenly, the sound of hooves sounded from outside and more yells filled the air, these ones intimidating and murderous.

"Hurr-"

Her mother stopped when Annora quickly grabbed the cup and brought it to her lips, gulping it down.

"Ann!" she heard Henric call in protest.

Annora looked at her brother with furrowed brows and worried eyes. Suddenly a blast of warm air pulsed through in the tent, passing right through Annora and flashing a white light. It was too late.

Looking around in alarm, Annora set the cup down and looked at her mother. She was giving her an odd look. A truly motherly look that made Annora's heart melt.

"It is done...by the fairest blood. My children," her mother whispered, tears forming in her eyes as she reached her arms out. With only a moments hesitation, Henric quickly scooped Giselle into his arms and stepped into his mother's embrace. Frozen in confusion and numbness, Annora stared at her family. She could now feel the pounding of the hooves. And hear the screams of people.

With an empty, sad look in her eyes, Annora stepped forward and embraced her mother and siblings. If only for a moment, did it feel normal. A loving family.

As the mother of the family, the sorceress embraced all of her children, clutching them tightly to her chest. She had done all she could. The rest was up to her eldest, her fairest.

Suddenly, the family was being ripped from each other by strong, harsh hands. The children screamed for their mother, clawing to get out of the hold of the soldiers dragging them from the tent. All the sorceress could do was watch, sobbing and tears streaming down her face, as her children were taken from her. Then another soldier entered the tent as her children disappeared and their screams sounded muffled from outside. She was left alone with the soldier, a long deadly sword in his hand. She knew she was at her end, but her children would survive.

The spell she cast on her eldest daughter...

It would bring out all of her magical tendencies that lay dormant in her. Her beauty would save her for now, and she would save her brother and sister. But once she matured...

She would be a powerful, beautiful Enchantress.