The sun's rays glazed upon her dazzling white skin as she dozed off in her bed chamber the morning after her grand coronation ball. Her feet ached from the dreadful pressure her shoes exerted upon her soles, her ribs yearned for comfort after spending hours confined in a corset and more than ever, her heart bled with sadness as she clenched under her comforter. Her huntsman-her beloved Eric had abandoned her again and she only had his vile last words to remember him. Her mind became wrapped in thoughts of him, thinking of his smile, his bravery, and his heart.
She woke up from her troubling thoughts and reached her faint hand out to the sunlight, craving dearly for Eric to be next to her. But only wrinkled sheets occupied the other side of the bed.
Her hand soon clenched up into a fist, as she wished she could forget him, to forget everything that occurred before she became Queen. He ruined her and she dared not to waste her time on him. She knew other concerns needed her attention. Like the Council's meeting two days from now. Pressing matters needed to be discussed, like the war in Ogre's Village and the flooding of Mermaid Cove. Not childish matters like love.
Her thoughts ceased when a knock on her door frightened her. "Snow...its William. Mind if I come in?" He asked.
"I don't know William, I'm not decent." Snow said as she dashed for her robe across the room.
"I'm sure you look fine, besides you can't possibly say you look worse than the time we chased each other through the kitchen when we were six..." He hinted.
"And Lucille got so mad when I knocked her raspberry pie off the counter and onto my head." Snow finished, smiling at the fun times she shared with William.
"Who says raspberry isn't your color?" William asked rhetorically. The two could hear each other's laugh through the thick oak doors.
"Fine, I'm decent. Come in." Snow said, sitting on her bed. William walked in, dressed casually, not like his usual fashion. His eyes gleamed in her presence and a slight grin was stretched across his face.
"Going casual today, William? Or did all the pastry cakes finally take their course in your suit size?" She teased, laughing at her joke.
"Oh how you slay me Snow." He said playfully. He walked over to her bed side, bent down to her level and sweetly grasped her hand before placing it in his, warming hers.
"I was actually planning on taking Greyland out for a ride across the shore and I was hoping you and Harlow could join us. I think the two of them have developed crushes on each other."
Snow smiled for a moment before letting her lips sink into a solemn frown, thinking of Eric and her riding horses into battle.
"Snow, you were quite quiet after you went out for some air last night. You seem distraught..." His tone saddened as he spoke this truth.
"William, I'm fine. Just the meetings, the laws I have to look over, just everything about being Queen...takes its toll eventually. It's just stress, but it will pass. Nothing like a ride with my dear William can't cure."
William smiled, satisfied and beguiled to see his Queen smile. "Alright, I understand, but just promise me that if something is bothering you, you'll tell me about it. I hate to see you so depressed."
"I promise William. And thank you. But I will still defeat you when I race you across the shore." She challenged.
"Oh I doubt it. Greyland is the fittest of them all." He said.
The two laughed as their horses dashed across the beachy shore. The sand wicked off their hooves from their sheer speed as they galloped through the wind. Snow's raven hair whirled through the air like the crystal blue waves crashing beside her. William's face grew red from the sun burning his fair face. But the two laughed like children again, as though not a single responsibility lied upon their shoulders. Harlow ran through the finish line they had made of small sea shells, and Snow knew she was the winner of the close call challenge.
"Brava, Harlow. That means extra carrots in your future." She said, patting her breathless mare's side and letting her feast upon a ruby red apple. William was behind them, halting his stallion and descending off it to congratulate the winner.
"Alright you were right, Greyland needs to stop eating sugar cookies and more carrots in order to beat your fierce champion." He proclaimed.
Snow smiled and just as she did, a single rain drop splattered onto her face and pouring rain descended from the sky at a rapid pace, and soon she and William were drenched in water.
"Come on." He said, taking her hand, and leading her to a cave at the end of the beach. They took shelter in there, watching the rain for a few moments before turning to each other.
"What a way to enjoy the beach, huh?" Snow asked sarcastically.
"We could be anywhere, a blazing desert or a frigid mountain, just being with you could make it perfect for me." William confessed.
She looked at him in surprise, but he was as calm and content as a joyful song bird.
"Snow, you're freezing." William exclaimed. "You look paler than usual."
"Oh no, William, I'm fine. Really." She said, but before she could protest further, he took off his cloak and wrapped it around her tense shoulders, letting it drape down her shivering skin.
He suddenly lost himself in her eyes, dazzled by the emerald jewels gazing at him. His hands took hers as they slid down the cloak that was resting upon her. She looked at him as well, surprised by the emotion lurking in his eyes. She had always thought of him as a friend, a brother even. She could feel her cheeks blush at her bashfulness and just before she could turn away, William's hand caressed her cheek and they were joint again in a passionate gaze.
"All those years, time spent without you Snow, just makes it bearable knowing you're here with me now." He whispered.
All Snow could do was be shocked. He was her friend, her confidant, now a lover? She never pondered the thought much, but when she did it was mostly when her father's friends or guests at parties mentioned how adorable they would look together. Or how they saw the next royal couple in front of them. William was charming, sweet, fun, and of royal blood. He was perfect, he was everything she could ask for a truly concrete happily ever after. Her prince was there, sitting right in front of her, confessing his heart and soul.
"I know the feeling." She said. "I'm here now though and that's all that matters."
William just smiled, slowly leaning in to sweetly kiss her. As he did, his shadow came over her eyes and she finally gave in and let her eyes close and let him kiss her. The kiss was nice, sweet and warm, like a kiss every girl dreams of.
She exhaled as they separated, overcome with shock at what had just happened, considering only hours ago she was thinking of Eric and how she yearned for his presence. But he had left her and William was there, wanting to comfort her. Had she overlooked William's romantic value? Had she missed her chance before giving her heart to another man?
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this." He said. She smiled, still flustered but content with the kiss, knowing it gave her something to utilize her analytical mind.
The rain grew stronger by the minute until it raged into a fierce and powerful storm. Rain pounded against everything it fell upon, harsh winds ravaged through the town, rattling the roofs of the villagers' homes and the branches of even the thickest trees. But still he worked, still the Huntsman hiked through the forest to return to his secluded abode. His feet pushed through the sheer force of the cold, bustling gusts and the sharp burn piercing his face as a result. But he figured nothing could hurt him as much as her face did when he left her again.
Her body language was tense and firm when they last spoke, but he knew her well enough to know she was hurt. He could see past her unphased eyes as he saw the tears forming, though he tried to not think of it when he made his grand exit. I never wanted it to come down to that, He thought, I just wanted to protect her, I wanted her to have the life she always wanted.
Maybe she could have it all, if she were with you, a part of him thought. His heart instantly raced as he thought of the possibility. The thought of holding her in his arms, keeping her warm at night, and kissing her sweet lips good night elated him for a moment. But doubt still loomed inside his head and he pressed on, wishing all this confusion would cease to exist any further.
An hour had passed and the rain had stopped, leaving only the sounds of Mother Nature's tear drops to display any noise to the quiet forest. The Huntsman had only half way to go, half way to rest and relaxation. He trudged through the misty terrain and made his way on, when suddenly, a crow's caw called for his attention. His head darted back to the bird. The bird hollered over and over again to the point of irritation.
"Ah shut up you twit!" Eric scowled in his husky tone. He took a few more steps when suddenly the ground started chattering. The chattering quickly intensified and Eric immediately fell to his feet. The earth surrounding him shook more and more as the rocky terrain ruptured to expose a mystical and textured being ascending from the ground. Eric gazed at it in shock as the creature molded into a large black hawk. The giant beast spread its massive wings and belted an echoing call, shaking the trees and bushes surrounding it. Giving into his instinct, Eric's hand darted for his axe, and unfortunately, drew the hawk's eyes to him.
He stumbled to his feet as the hawk launched for an attack. Eric raced through the forest, trying to give himself enough time to whirl around and strike the bird. The hawk was fierce though, soaring through the air and approaching him rapidly. But he stopped and swung at the bird, slicing its cheek. The hawk wailed and swatted its wing across the dirt, sending the Huntsman to his feet and knocking him 50 feet away.
Then the hawk, with blood dripping down its face, lunged for the Huntsman, who was struggling to get to his feet. Just as he looked up and swung for the bird again, the beast swooped him up in his claws and flew into the sky. Eric dangled a few hundred feet in the air and though it was a long shot he would survive, he let his arm swing at the bird again. With that strike, he cut the bird's leg off at the thigh. The hawk cried again and Eric immediately descended, trapped inside the bird's clenched claw as the animal flew out of sight.
Falling through thin air, Eric could feel his blood race as fear and adrenaline began to sink in. He soon crashed through the forest, clashing with the spiky branches and the rigid trunks of the trees as they pounded his entire body. He fell into Grover's Lake and he sank rapidly under the water's surface, with the bird's claw simply acting as a shackle in his attempt to survive. His ears had begun to pop and he was losing air and the ability to see any light above him. He struggled against the thick flesh of the claw and he had only made a little progress by the time he was starting to deflate. His mind then went to her, his true love. He thought of her smile and he suddenly found the urge to fight harder, to fight to live.
He fought and fought until finally, he was free from the chamber. He started to swim up, but he was losing speed and he had already lost all the air in him. But he pushed and he propelled himself up and took a fresh breath of air, a fresh breath of life.
He was hyperventilating by that point and he swam to the shore, and ultimately collapsed from the searing aching of his body and the burning in his lungs from the salty water of the lake. He fell unconscious to the point where he couldn't even remember the traveling villagers who had stopped by the lake, found him in the water, and took him to the village to get him some medical help.