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_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. Chapter Two: Touch of Freedom._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._
"What are your thoughts..?" I blink a few times and try to gather my thoughts as I stare at the older man sitting in front of me. I have absolutely no idea what he's been talking about and that might have something to do with the fact that I'm just ridiculously tired. I had spent all morning and most of the afternoon in meetings with councilmen and environmentalists, as well as the heads of each of the villages of the kingdom who came to me with petitions.
It has been four months since my return from Eldred's forest, that's what I had decided to call it, and so much has happened. The kingdom was prospering wonderfully, the land healing quickly. Already I could see the grass was greener and flowers were blooming. The trees have regained life and were growing leaves, the animals had returned and the water had been cleansed. Life had become much better in as little as four months and we were all still striving for near perfection.
I myself had so much healing and work to do. In my personal issues I was coming along nicely, I could now be alone with William without having some kind of panic attack but we were still working on him touching me. As far as my duty as a ruler I had a lot of peace treaties and battles to carry out in the four months, although for some reason my men always fought for me not to go out to the battle fields, claiming they preferred to have me at home, unwilling to lose me in battle and while at first it bothered me I guess I understood what they were trying to do.
The huntsman and I hardly spoke or saw each other, I was too busy and I have no idea where he was but I missed him. At the current moment I know he's not within the walls of my Kingdom since he left for some reason three weeks ago. I wondered where he was and what he was doing…I wondered if he would ever come back. I heard Gus yawn at my feet and I looked down to the pup that was steadily growing. His fur had turned a beautiful shade of red mixed with browns and white around the paws. He was what I guesstimate to be around eight months and he was growing nicely. He was so gentle but could be so fierce and protective of me and I loved his companionship. Gus lazily looked up at me as I looked down at him and I smiled. My hand reached down for his head and he made the effort of meeting me half way so I could caress him tenderly. He really was so lovely.
"Your Majesty?" The older gentleman's voice said to me and I finally turned my attention to him…what was he talking about again? I blinked at him a few minutes trying to remember but nothing came to mind, sighing I closed my eyes and ran a hand through my long black hair.
"I'm sorry." I said opening my eyes to look into his hazel colored eyes. "I am just really tired; I don't know where my head is. Would it be alright if we continued this tomorrow?" the room that was filled with council members and elders was silent for a moment, each looking at one another before the man spoke.
"Of course my Queen," I smiled at him appreciatively and that seemed to lighten his mood since he smiled back brightly. My people, I learned over the last couple of months, really do love me. They treasured me and respected me and I was grateful to them for that. "There is however one last topic we would like to touch upon your grace." He said and I stopped myself as I had begun to stand from my throne. I stared at him and all the others whom waited anxiously.
"Alright…" I said slowly and settled back down to my chair.
"I'd like to once again place before the council and my Queen the proposition of the Queen's marriage."
"No." I said standing annoyed. Over the last month and a half the topic had been brought more than once to my attention. I looked over to the men who had not once seen this side of me that was filled with annoyance. Sooner or later they would have to learn I was not as weak as they thought me to be because I knew that the men in this room thought me more of a public figure than a ruler. I didn't understand their urgency with my needing a King but I was not going to have it.
I had barely been Queen for five months and in reality I had only been useful as a Queen for three out of the five months, there was no need to rush me into a marriage. I looked around to all of the men of my counsel. Older elderly men who had been on my father's counsel long ago, men whose advice was greatly revered and heard. The man who was standing in the center of the room looked at me displeased with my outburst.
"It is a topic we will need to discuss eventually." His tone was brisk and I felt inside of my something stir. I felt as if something inside of me had come alive, they way he looked at me as if I was a child who was out of place, I was his Queen and they should have some respect. I bit my tongue however, let whatever was awakening bubble.
"It's not a topic I am particularly interested in." I countered and I heard a soft murmur around the room as I stood up against him for the first time since my coronation. His hazel eyes narrowed at me.
"Well you will need to listen." His lips dripped in venom and I felt my body tremble. "The King of Caspia is sending his son the Crown Prince to visit." He informed me. I could feel the temperature in the room drop. Caspia was a Kingdom three weeks journey from my own. It was a rather large Kingdom although not larger or more powerful than my own, it was still held as one of the top Kingdoms in the lands. Caspia was known for its exotic fruits and animals, Ravenna had once attempted to overpower them with her dark army but Caspia had an even larger army and fought vigorously against Ravenna ultimately causing her to retreat. Our Kingdom's had been at war for fifteen years, if the King was sending his son, it meant talks of peace.
"What purpose would the Crown Prince of Caspia have for coming here?" A silence followed my question that charged the room. I watched all twenty five of the men that were seated in a half circle before my throne. The one with the Hazel eyes spoke again.
"Talks of peace have begun between our Kingdom and His-" He began and I cut him off feeling a little defiant.
"Talk? I don't remember talking about this, I was under the impression that before we can solve any problems outside the walls of our Kingdom we first needed to fix the problems within." I saw his eye twitch.
"He is coming because a treaty of Peace was proposed between our Kingdoms." He continued ignoring my words. So, I was to be continuously ignored. Inside of me I felt whatever had awoken begin to boil.
"Exactly what does the treaty of peace between Caspia and Tabor entitle?" I heard my own voice, filled with sarcasm and suspicion.
"To bring everlasting peace, The King of Caspia has proposed that the two Kingdoms be united by Marriage." I knew it. I knew that they would pull this card on me. I couldn't say it surprised me, I couldn't expect them to see me, a young woman, who was imprisoned for fifteen years as much of a leader. I wouldn't see me much as a leader either, I would think me weak and useless…I would probably think like them but had I not proven my own worth to them? I escaped didn't I? I had survived the dark forest and went into battle and killed Ravenna…was I still not worthy in their eyes?
He kept on talking, saying how marriage of the two kingdoms would be profitable and wise for us. That I would be doing my Kingdom a service but the more he spoke the move whatever had awoken in me had begun to rise and gain strength. I would not be tied to a man I didn't know, I would not again be imprisoned and locked away. My life was mine, my Kingdom was mine. I was going to give them the Queen they deserved. A Good Queen, filled with understanding and Justice, I would not marry a narcissistic Prince who cared more for his own fame than for his people.
I knew the people of Caspia were not living a happy life, although Ravenna had not over thrown them, they were no better off than my people had been. In my time in the forest four months ago, while I spent that week with Eldred, he told me about the surrounding Kingdoms and their state. He was particularly displeased with Caspia and its Royals whom worked the people ruthlessly and gave nearly nothing in return. I would not have that, I will not continuously put my people through misery and I would be damned if I stood idly and let them suffer any further.
"Enough!" My voice was loud and overbearing. The power that had awoken in me unleashed itself on them like a raging lion and they sat rooted to their seats shocked by the weight of what was being poured on them. I stepped down from the throne and stared at the older man who quivered beneath my power. Never before had I unleashed the power inside of me, nor did I know that I could be so frightening but unlike Ravenna who planted fear in their hearts and used force to command, I used something else; An inner power that came from a long line of Royals, the power of a Queen that filled my very being, a sense of greatness that crushed all those around me.
I recognized the rush of adrenaline since I had once experienced it when I inspired the army to fight with me in battle but before today I had never stood up to the council and their topics. Usually I agreed with everything they suggested and occasionally I would hesitantly and shyly refuse to something only to be convinced otherwise. Today however something in me stirred and I was irritated with the idea that my words weren't being heard, for them to continuously bring up the topic of marriage was deliberately disregarding my words and I was not going to stand for it.
I took a step closer to the man with Hazel eyes, I saw him visibly quiver in his seat, and my eyes pierced his. With each step I felt a strength course through me I had never had before, each second the authority within me gained power. "Sir Powell." I said my voice calm but I saw fear in his eyes, it was overbearing and suffocating this power, I knew it was because I felt it and it was commanding.
"Y-yes my Queen." He looked like he shrunk, his voice stuttered as he spoke. I looked down at him before speaking again.
"You may not have the interest of my people in mind." I felt the venom come from my lips. "But I do, and I will not tie my Kingdom to Caspia. Tell the King of Caspia we have nothing to talk about." It was a whispered thing that was said but filled with power.
"I can't." he whispered and I felt anger surge in me, he must have seen it in my eyes because he began to stutter and speak. "He's already in Tabor!" he explained quickly. "The Crown Prince should be arriving any moment now my Queen." I turned away from him enraged, trying to calm myself so that I could think logically and not emotionally. I couldn't just kick The Prince of Caspia out, it would cause strife and more war and my people did not need this. I walked back to my throne and sat down, crossing my arms and exhaling. Trying to think of what my next move should be.
After a minute or so, where both the counsel men and I were silent, he doors to the Throne room opened and in walked William. I know he felt the energy in the room because he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me, his body instantly recognized my commanding presence, something he recognized from when we were children.
"Snow…" He began slowly and I looked up and stared at him, his back straightened and he licked his lips. "The Prince of Caspia has arrived." I closed my eyes feeling flustered. The Counsels eyes on me, I inhaled deeply clearing my mind and tried to think of another way, a better way to bring peace between Caspia and Tabor.
"Escort him to my Study, I will be there shortly." My voice was calm and soft, William took a bow before he turned and left me to the room of men whose eyes followed my every move. I stood from my throne and waited a moment before speaking. "I will be host to the Prince of Caspia, but under no circumstances am I agreeing to Marriage."
"Then what are you proposing to do my Queen?" Mr. Powell asked, I felt as if each man in that room shifted forward ever so slightly, their ears attentive to my following words.
"I'll figure something out." I looked out to all of them; I could see they were antsy and nervous. "That is all." I said as if telling them in those few words there was nothing else to discuss and that they were dismissed. I walked passed them and out of the throne room. Gus followed close behind. I walked quickly feeling as if the world was rapidly crashing around me and soon I found myself running, trying desperately to find a place to escape too. I found myself shortly after near the gardens, the sight of the trees had me stopping dead in my tracks crying so desperately hard. I was so hurt, so scared, so unbelievably alone. At that moment I would give to have someone who loved me, and cherished me and wanted to protect me to be beside me…
I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and heard Gus whine silently by my feet. I looked down at him and exhaled, kneeling down I touched his head gently before pulling him into a hug. My body began to tremble and I found myself silently crying as I held Gus. None of them could possibly understand my feelings; they couldn't understand how scared I had been locked away, alone for so long in that tower. They couldn't possibly understand that the idea of marrying someone I didn't love would mean to me a lifelong imprisonment. I couldn't live my life being prisoner to someone I didn't love just to please the elders and the kingdom. If that would be the only thing I could not give them, the only bit of my freedom I could not let go.
For some reason in this moment I was suddenly overcome with a strange longing and wanting. The Huntsman's image came to my mind and I suddenly found myself wanting to be wrapped in his strong and broad arms, a place I knew I would be safe. I missed him, for some reason I missed him incredibly and had the strangest desire to have him with me. In the three weeks he had been gone sure I had missed him a bit and wondered where he had gone but I hadn't had this urge to race out of the castle, past the walls of the kingdom so I could find him. I wanted my huntsman…I want him now!
"Your Majesty?" The sound of Nana's voice had me standing slowly, though my back was still turned to her. Nana was an elderly woman and my oldest Maiden. Nana has been with me since I was a child, she was lucky enough to have been around during Ravenna's conquering, that week she had gone out to one of the villages where her family lived to see her daughter. I felt her soft and warm hands on my shoulder. Turning slowly I looked down at Nana, she was much shorter than me, her warm hands meet my face and she smiled. "Your mother and father would be so proud of you my child." She said with a smile and I felt the tears fall again.
"Really?" I asked feeling my voice break in its whispered moment, Nana nodded.
"You looked so much like your mother and held all the power of your father; I was so in awe with you just now." My hand came over Nana's and I chuckled. "You did well." Her baby blue eyes shone so brilliantly and I laughed, the tears still fell but I felt better. "Now come on, we need to freshen up there is a Prince waiting for you." I groaned and closed my eyes, momentarily I had forgotten about the Capricious Prince that waited for me in my study. Nodding I allowed Nana to guide me back towards my bed room so I could wash my face and quickly change into something much more appropriate.
I ended up wearing a soft golden dress that fitted my body perfectly. It was a bit casual but formal enough for the occasion, I must admit I liked my figure these days. I had gained a few pounds since I escaped the palace six months ago. I used to be so skinny, nearly skeletal and now I was much healthier, my body had become rounder and my breast fuller. My impossibly skinny stomach had expanded ever so slightly so that I looked fit and beautiful, if anything I was beginning to see a small bit of tummy but it was nothing to worry about my clothes still fit me perfectly.
When I entered my study thirty minutes later I was greeted with the impatient deep blue eyes of the Crown Prince of Caspia. He stood from his seat and straightened his clothes, eyes watching me with slight annoyance. Of course he would be annoyed I had made him wait a good thirty minutes but I smiled at him regardless, strangely enough the more I looked at him the more I noticed how beautiful he was. This Prince had every right to be conceited and narcissistic of his looks. This Prince was ridiculously attractive, born obviously with a gold spoon and with dashing good looks.
I learned that he towered well over me as I approached him and stood face to face with him, although I had to look up to see into his eyes. His mouth held a foolish little smirk upon his full and delicate lips. His nose was narrow but perfect, face structured to perfection. Oddly enough he looked like my huntsman, only he was more refined and groomed where as Eric was just gruff and rough. We were silent for a while; he was most probably inspecting me as I was him.
"Queen Snow White." He finally said after some time, his voice was smooth and deep and it carried the heavy sound of a Scottish accent, it actually made my heart skip a beat. "I am Edward James, Crown Prince of Caspia." I caught myself nearly swooning at the sound of him.
"I do apologize for making you wait Prince Edward James of Caspia." My response made him smirk at me and I had to control my breathing or else I would have hyperventilated. He was too mesmerizing. This was going to be a bit of a problem. On the one hand I was in love with Eric and nothing could ever convince me otherwise...on the other hand it had been six months since he and I really had a conversation, he was gone and I was human and all the pheromones this guy was giving off were working just fine. Self control was quickly leaving me. "I was mid council meeting when you arrived."
"Ah." He said stepping away from me and I sighed in relief, I felt that if I had stayed another second so close to him I might have just lost enough sense to kiss the man. "That explains that." I had to admit I had not expected to be so attracted to this man it's just that he looked so much like Eric only he was possibly a little younger. "I can't help but say Queen Snow, forgive me if I sound forward but…" he turned to look at me and I felt my heart jump into my throat. It really was like looking at a younger Eric. He took a step towards me and I felt the air escape my lips. He was so close and looked down at me and I felt as if I had been place in a trance because I was lost in those impossibly dark blue eyes. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting."
My mind was completely blown of any thoughts. All I could do was look up and stare into those eyes, those eyes that so much resembled the Huntsman. It was as if the sight of him had captured me because I could not speak, I could not think, I just wanted to reach out and kiss him. "Truly you are the fairest of them all." He needed to stop speaking because by god if this man said another word I might just let him take me away.
"That's what I've heard." I found myself saying as I forced myself to look away and take several steps away from him. Catching my breath and clearing my mind. "Although I'm sure there are fairer than me out there." I heard my voice quiver and it might have been my imagination but I think I saw him smile a bit triumphantly.
"I've yet to see someone fairer than you." I smiled at him and walked towards the door. Being in a small space (not that my study was small, but it suddenly felt very small) was not the best idea.
"Walk with me." I simply said as I opened the door and walked out of the study so we could together roam the halls of my Palace. He did join me but it wasn't long before his charm in my eyes disappeared. After at least five minutes with him I found that Eldred was right when he said the Prince of Caspia was materialistic and vain. All he talked about was my beauty and wealth, not once did he bring up the economy and problems within the Kingdoms. I found myself bored and a bit annoyed with him and as the day carried on I might say I became disillusioned and even disgusted with how vain this man was.
He was so annoying and what bothered me the most was that he reminded me of Ravenna in some way. He talked of nothing more but the power, the money and the fashions. He talked about the parties and gossiped about the other Kings and Queens and Princesses and Princes, who was ugly and who was not. All he cared about were appearance and by dinner time I had reached my limit.
"Prince Edward…" I tried to control my anger, you would think our Kingdoms had been at war for fifteen years, he may want to discuss peace and union, maybe even how to improve each kingdom for the better but he thought of nothing more but himself. "Why have you come to Tabor?" He blinked at me as the serves placed our foods on the table. There was a great silence and from the corner of the room I could see Nana with a smile on her face.
"Am I not welcomed?" His question bothered me.
"I'm just curious as to why you are here?"
"I came to discuss the union of our Kingdoms" I nodded, silent a moment before speaking.
"Then why is it that all day all I have heard are talks of rumors and gossips and the social life of other royals that I am not interested in." He stared at me as I rose from my seat; to be honest I was too annoyed to be hungry.
"I thought you would like to be informed about what the others are into- I'm sorry have I done something wrong?" his voice sounded insulted and he too rose. Our eyes locked from across the table and the silence was filled with charged energy, both our Royal bloodlines poured from us. "I thought I was here to talk peace and marriage."
"Ha." I crossed my arms. "Edward James, Crown Prince of Caspia." The way the words left my lips was cold and calculating, it even sent a shiver down the Prince's spine. "I was imprisoned for fifteen years, I have watched my people suffer at the hands of a cruel and vain woman who cared about nothing more than her outer appearance and the power she possessed." I felt him shrink right before my eyes. "A woman who tortured my people for her own personal gain, do you really believe I would ever tie my life next to a man who is as vain as that woman." Somehow, the way my voice left my lips was overpowering because the sheer shock of my words caused him to sit back down.
"By my side I need a man who cares more for his subjects than he does himself; I need someone who will be just and righteous. I need a man who is more concerned with his Kingdom and his people and less interested in the social life of others!" Prince Edward James of Caspia turned into a child before my eyes, a child who was being disciplined as he looked down and away from me.
"Not once today have you given me reason to want to tie my kingdom to yours." He looked up and stared at me. "My Kingdom to me comes first; my people to me are the most important. If you want to talk peace between our kingdoms, then I urge you to stay for the month that you were originally intending to stay otherwise, the gates to my Kingdom are that way." My hand pointed towards the door. I turned without another word and left the dining hall. That was probably not the best idea, however; every time he opened his mouth I couldn't help but think of Ravenna.
However, perhaps I handled that a little too emotionally and less logically. I could have approached the topic in a more diplomatic manner and four hours later while as I lie here in my bed I am surely regretting my outburst. The elders will more than likely not be happy with me and I only proved to demonstrate how immature and impulsive I am. Understandably the man got on my nerves, but I acted too emotionally. Which, if I think about it, is not an uncommon thing for me these days. I must be sick or not getting enough rest because my emotions were all over the place.
"Gus…"I said turning to the pup that rested beside me, he lifted his head to look at me slightly "I messed up." I confessed and he yawned at me bored before resting his head back down to sleep. I exhaled and closed my eyes, one hand rested on my waist the other was above my head twirling a strand of my raven colored hair. The Prince of Caspia must already be well on his way home, I'm sure he must have left shortly after my abrupt speech. I'm sure he was the kind of man whose ego was easily hurt though in his eyes I might have seen a bit of kindness. I'm sure that if Edward was more concerned with his people than himself, his kingdom would prosper greatly and his people would live harmoniously and joyously.
The crazy part of it all was that as I lay there thinking about what I had said to the Prince I began to remember his every feature. I was actually letting myself admire the guy. He really did have an un-canning resemblance to the huntsman. Was it possible for two people of absolutely no relation what so ever to look so much alike? He has the same eyes well… maybe, Edward's eyes were a little bit bigger than Eric's but they had the same smile, the same expressions. Arguably Eric's eyebrows were much lighter and thinner than Edward's but they both had that annoying and adorable dimple on their left cheeks. Their noses were almost exactly the same except that Eric's nose was perhaps a tiny bit more refined. Other than those small differences the two could pass for clones.
"Or brothers." I said to myself, my fingers still twirled my hair. I turned to Gus. "Do you think they could pass for brothers?" He stared at me with a blank expression "But then that would make Eric a Prince…" I laughed. It was the funniest thing I could have ever said and I was the only one around to hear it. "Unlikely…" I let my laughter die down but the smile from the after math remained on my face.
I felt my body begin to relax and sleep found refuge in my eyes for I found they were closing and I was being whisked away into dream land. Now, due to all of my weird thinking and the comparisons I made between Eric and Edward, I began to dream that Edward was a Prince of Caspia. I dreamt that he was an amazing leader in his army who fought valiantly for his people. All of the people of Caspia adored him and he was ready to be king. He loved hunting since he was a child, in my dream his father had taught him to hunt and he hunted as a sport.
The vision in the dream changed and I found my six year old self hiding behind my father's large throne. My mother was still alive; it was the time shortly before her death sentencing illness struck. Someone was talking although I didn't know who, I was simply watching from behind my father's throne. I saw William peering out from behind his father's leg before sneakily making his way towards me. The two of us watched the adults speaking but our eyes were more on the two younger individuals standing alongside the older man who spoke to my father.
"I think it's a fine idea!" My father laughed and my mother smiled warmly. The man who spoke with my father had dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. He placed one of his large hands on top of his eldest son who looked up at his father a moment with dissatisfaction but said absolutely nothing.
"This is my son Aric John, Crown Prince of Caspia." He laughed and patted Aric on the back gently. The boy stood with this back straight, eyes staring off into nothing. He didn't seem to want to be there. He turned to the younger boy who seemed around the same age as I did in the dream, six. "And my youngest Edward James."
"Snow White, I know you're standing behind my throne, come out child." My father called for me and I felt myself stumble forward embarrassed. I found I couldn't take my eyes off of Aric as I slowly emerged from my hiding place and into view. His blue eyes crashed with my own and I felt my small six year old heart skip a beat. "This is my daughter." My father said as he rose, taking me by the hand and towards Aric and his father. "Snow White, Princess of Tabor." I felt nervous for some reason.
My father knelt down before me and made me look him in the eyes. "Snow." His voice was gentle as he placed his warm hand on my small cheek. "This is Aric." He turned to the boy who was clearly much older and taller than me, I looked up at Aric and he looked down. "When you are old enough, He will take care of you and protect you and you will marry this boy." I blinked and stared at Aric who held back a scowl, I cocked my head to the side.
"I'm going to marry him?" I asked as I turned to my father who nodded at me. I took a step away from my father and towards Aric. Grabbing his sleeve I pulled him down so that I could look into his eyes more comfortably. "How old are you Aric John?" I asked curiously and he arched a blond eyebrow high.
"Thirteen." He replied, I could see his annoyance slowly leaving him and curiosity and a tenderness fill him. "How old are you Snow White?"
"I am six." He grinned at me, "Do you want to marry me?" He snickered playfully at me as he pat my head.
"We don't really have a choice, Princess." his accent was thick and Scottish just like his father's and I found it funny, crossing my arms I looked at him. Our father began to talk then and I stole away both Prince Aric John and Prince Edward James. Along with William, I spent the whole day playing games with the boys. We played hide and seek and Aric always found me. "I bet I could always find you, Princess." Aric said to me as we lay on the grass with William and Edward, gasping for air after so much running.
I sat up and looked down at him, my eyes watched him curiously. "You promise?" he sat up and looked me in the eyes.
"Promise what?" he asked, the other two boys sat up. I reached out and grabbed Aric's face. My small fingers gently warmed his teenage cheeks.
"Do you promise to always find me and take care of me? Do you Promise to always protect me?" Aric chuckled and when my eyebrows furrowed he nodded.
"Aye, I promise Princess." He finally smiled at me and I felt my heart soar. It flew high into the clouds and something strange filled my body. We continued to play the four of us, giggling and running around. The gardens of the Palace filled with childish laughter. As I ran however I tripped and fell forward preparing myself for the fall.
I awoke startled as if I had felt the hit from the fall in my present state. I had been asleep for no more than an hour before I awoke so abruptly from my dream. Looking around I felt my heart race. What a strange dream, a memory perhaps? One that I had not thought of in many years; Maybe the whole talks of marriage and seeing the prince of Caspia brought along memories I had long since forgotten. I didn't want to think of marriages and narcissistic princes. I just wanted to fall right back to sleep. Closing my eyes I prepared to do just that but in that moment something peculiar happened.
As I closed my eyes and let my mind be free of anything so that I could fall back into slumber I felt something hit me in the stomach. Opening my eyes, I looked down towards my stomach and saw nothing which was strange because I was positive something had just hit me. I brought my hands to my stomach to see if I could feel the object that hit me, maybe it was something small that I had missed, when suddenly…something moved.
I felt my heart stop and my hands froze over my stomach. Whatever had hit me earlier wasn't a hit…it was a movement and the moment was coming from inside of me. I felt it again and I gasped completely terrified…what in the world was going on?! I sat up quickly and took a deep breath; maybe it was all in my head…maybe it wasn't real. I mean I was having a hard time and with my history of depression, and emotional outbursts, I'm thinking it must be all in my head.
"Or not…" I said out loud as I felt the movement again. I felt my heart just stop beating, what was happening. My hand rushed to my mouth to keep me from screaming out. I was seriously starting to enter into a state of sheer panic. I got up from the bed and quickly made my way towards the door, when I pulled the doors open I found two night guard. "Go find Nana…quickly!" They looked at each other worried but did as I told them.
I had to wait five long and miserably torturous minutes for Nana to come to my room. All the while all sorts of thoughts were running through my head. Had Ravenna done something to me before her death and only now were the symptoms of her curse surfacing. What was I going to do? Was I dying? What could Ravenna have possibly done to me? What did she do? By the time Nana walked into my room I had thought myself into a furious frenzy.
"Snow!" she rushed to me as I was sitting down in a corner of my room, hands in my hair, head down and going quietly insane. "Child what is it?" she cooed as she came down to my level and wrapped her warm meaty arms around me. I clung unto the older woman for dear life.
"I'm dying" I said softly but my voice quivered. I held onto Nana tighter. "Nana I'm dying." I felt the tears falls from my eyes.
"Calm down child, I don't understand." She pulled away from me and put her gentle hands on my face. "What's the matter?" My blue eyes stared into her green ones. Worry and love were seen in her green eyes and my tears just spilled faster.
"Ravenna did something to me Nana." I saw the fear in Nana's eyes as I said this. "She has to have done something. Something to kill me I just know it."
"Snow, calm down." She wiped the tears from my eyes and the sweat from my face "Explain yourself, what do you mean Ravenna did something to you? She is dead child." I inhaled and tried to gather me scattered and frightened thoughts.
"She must have placed a curse one me before her death Nana." I said as she helped me up from the ground. "I was lying on my bed earlier and from within me something moved." I looked at Nana completely terrified and yet in Nana's eyes I saw the fear slowly disappear and that fear was replaced by understanding and tenderness.
"Something moved?" She questioned me and I huffed, did she not believe me!?
"Yes something inside of me moved Nana." I threw my hands in the air and began to pace. "As if something kicked me from the inside out, it scared me completely out of my mind." Strangely at that moment I felt the movement from within me once more and I froze. "Nana…come…" I said softly and the older woman came closer.
I took hold of her hand and placed it over my stomach and after a moment when the movement came again I saw a smile spread widely over the older woman's face. "Why are you smiling. . . this is serious!"
"This is wonderful." She said with delight and I stared at the woman as if she had gone mad. "This is not Ravenna's doing and you are not dying my Queen."
"Am I not?" she shook her head and guided me back to the bed where we both sat. "Then if I am not dying, what is happening to me?"
"I will admit I was a bit concerned since I had not seen a very massive change in your physic, although I had been informed about what has been happening to your body since a month after your coronation." I stared at her completely confused.
"What?"
"I didn't know how to tell you this earlier my Queen" She began, he fingers twirled nervously but she continued "what with your mental condition and need to focus on Tabor I didn't know how to tell you or even bring it up my Queen."
"Tell me what?" I felt like Nana was going around in circles but she sighed and smiled at me, gently holding my hand.
"My dear Snow White." She looked at me with such love and tenderness. "Do not be afraid my Queen, for the movement you felt was not death it was a touch of life." I stared at Nana blinking several times unsure I understood what she meant.
"Life?" she nodded. A touch of life, to say there was a life within me meant that I was carrying a life and if I was carrying a life it meant. . .I froze, my heart skipping several beats and I stopped breathing, my mind going blank. "Life. . ." I repeated and suddenly looked towards Nana completely amazed. "Life, Nana? A lif- a child?" I questioned and she nodded.
This made absolutely no sense, it wasn't really possible. In order for me to have a child inside of me I would have had to have slept with a man, and I had not slept with a ma- well I mean I dreamt I slept with a man but then how-why-what? I sat unsure of what reality even was anymore.
"Are you sure Nana?"
"Yes. The Doctor is the one who told me." I looked at Nana. I felt the tears fall. If the Doctor had told her then it must be real. Inside of me, growing all of this time, had been a child I had not been aware of which meant that night five months ago had been real. I had made love with Eric, he and I had been together because together we created life. My hands raced to my face and covered my mouth as a sob escaped me and the tears fell quickly. A life, Eric and I had created life, a child. . .it had been real.
A sudden rush of emotions hit me in that moment, I particularly recognized anger and hurt towards Eric, betrayal and not surprisingly a hell of a lot of love for the man that was currently missing from my life and whose child was in my womb. Nana continued to talk and explain my condition to me. I asked why I wasn't showing since I was clearly so far along in my pregnancy and she explain that being that when I fell pregnant I was for one nearly skeletal from malnourishment and my being so young, it wasn't uncommon that I wasn't showing but that I had no need to worry before the end of my fifth month and beginning of my sixth, I would surely grow a belly.
She was surprisingly right, because in three weeks time my stomach had grown to a beautiful shape. I felt absolutely stunning. I did absolutely nothing to hide my state and everyone in the Kingdom was soon aware that the Queen of Tabor was going to have a child. Also surprisingly, I found the day after I learned of my pregnancy that Edward James Crown Prince of Caspia had not left back home as I had originally thought and had stayed. He had told me of how he had never had anyone call him out like that and how I had been right in what I said. That Caspia did need a King who was more focused on the Kingdom's interest than his own vain needs. He asked me to let him stay in Tabor and teach him and, to form a bond with him and become friends.
I accepted.
Of course I informed him that no wedding was to be had not just because of what I said but also because I was with child, the news surprised him and I told him it took me very much by surprise as well. Perhaps what surprised me even more was that three week after I had told Edward of my pregnancy, I found myself in my garden with the Handsome prince who so strangely resembled Eric, telling me that he had fallen in love with me despite my state.
"What?" I said as he took my hand and gently pulled me closer. My heart racing in my chest as I looked up into those sea blue eyes, his smile so alluring.
"I have fallen truly and honestly in love with you Snow White." He kissed my hand and I felt my heart flutter. "Even if you are carrying the child of another man, I can come to love and cherish that child as my own." He sounded so sincere and so perfect. I would be a fool not to accept this, and perhaps a fool I was.
"Edward." I said as my hand reached out to his handsome face. "We can't."
"Why!" pain and desperation mixed in those beautiful eyes. "Tell me why."
"Because this child will always be the Heir to the throne," he furrowed his eyebrows confused "Even if we unite Tabor and Caspia through marriage no child you and I conceive can ever become ruler. It would not be fair."
"I do not care about that." He said suddenly and I was taken back. "I honestly do not, I know that if that child is raised in the way you figure to rule Tabor and how you have been teaching me to Rule Caspia, I know he will be a fine ruler to both our Kingdoms…I just love you Snow White…I…ever since I was a boy to be honest, I have loved you." I blinked and stared at him.
"A boy?" he nodded.
"You might not remember very much but when we were young you and I meet." I had a strange feeling I knew where he was headed with this. "In fact it was no coincidence the elders chose Caspia as the Kingdom to marry with; your father, before his death, so planned it that way."
"My father?" I flashed back to the dream I had three weeks ago…that had not been a dream. "Hold on…Yes…I remember." I smiled and I found him smiling too. "You were hiding behind you father and…"I stopped before looking into his eyes. "Your brother." Edward nodded and sighed.
"Yes, it's true. Originally you were betrothed to my elder brother Aric, but Aric disappeared years ago after the death of his wife." I blinked at him, and cocked my head to the side.
"Wife?" Edward nodded; he took me by the hand and sat me down on the stone bench near a pond.
"Aric was surprisingly affected when we had thought you died nearly fifteen years ago, he had been thirteen at the time but blamed himself for not being able to protect you." He began, his strong hand still held my hand as he told me the story. "He trained vigorously after that, He had been filled with so much sadness and hatred toward Ravenna that when we set out in battle towards her, he was in the front line battling."
"How long after Ravenna's take over had she attacked?" I asked and he made a grim face.
"No later than two years afterward. Aric had been fifteen but he made his way out into the battle grounds. I had not seen my brother in three years and when he returned he was eighteen years old."
"Eighteen" I whispered.
"Yes, and he carried with him the stench of the dead and anger of the lost. He had changed so much." Edward paused for a moment to think before he continued. "He lost himself in everything he had seen. My sweet and caring older brother turned into an angry drunk who seemed lost not only to the world but to himself. A part of him had been taken away from him in those fields and I feared nothing could save my brother."
"Until he meet his wife?" I asked and Edward nodded.
"Until he met his wife," Edward smiled at the memory "Aric was in no way worth saving or so he said but she did so anyways."
"I heard a story like this once before." I was thinking of what Eric had once told me, of how his wife Sarah had saved him.
"I called her Ella, it wasn't her first name, her middle name was Elaine and I called her Ella" he explained and I nodded "Aric hated that I called her that but I did so anyways." I laughed as he said this and he laughed too. "She made him forget his anger and his hate, made him forget you. My brother fell so absolutely in love with Ella. She wasn't a royal, a commoner as you would say but a good woman and my brother loved her more than anyone or anything."
"Sounds nice." Edward nodded.
"It was, Eric married her three months after his return he was still eighteen at the time." He shook his head at the memory. "My father had been furious but later accepted the marriage and though Aric refused to live in the palace and preferred a much simpler life with his wife, but he knew eventually he would have to take throne, so Ella had to become accustomed to life in the Palace and everything was peaceful for a while in the Kingdom."
"Did he ever think of not becoming king?" Edward nodded at this and turned to me.
"Many times he mentioned to me how me might give the crown prince position over to me but ultimately Aric did love his Kingdom very much . . . it wasn't until Ella's death three and half years later that the idea of him refusing the throne became more than just an idea." I remembered Aric, who indeed seemed like he would do anything for his country.
"On a hunting trip Aric went on with my father one afternoon, Aric was Twenty Two at the time, our age. He was a particularly fantastic hunter by the way" He smiled as he said this and then sighed. "Ravenna's men attacked the kingdom again, although we managed to fight them off in their wake they took many lives and one of them was Ella's." I could feel the pain in Edward's voice vibrating through my whole being.
"As hard as your death had initially been of Aric, Ella's death was a far more powerful blow. He spiraled back into depression and despair, anger and hate. The booze had become Aric's only comfort and friend and no matter how we tried as a family to console him none of us could reach him."
"It must have been difficult for him…And you. You loved Ella didn't you?" Edward nodded.
"She was like an angel, beautiful but don't misunderstand. I loved Ella like a sister, losing her was as if I had lost Aric and in a way I had lost both, because one morning three months later Aric was gone. He left everyone and everything behind. Cared for nothing more."
"I get the feeling Aric wasn't the only one who changed." Edward smiled at me knowingly.
"You don't miss a thing do you Snow?" he laughed and nodded. "You are correct. Prior to Ella's death the Kingdom was in order, united even." He looked away from me then. "After Ella's death it felt as if everything fell apart. When Aric left he didn't just renounce the throne, he renounced us as a family and that did things to us. My father didn't know how to handle Aric's disappearance, fear that he would end up killing himself nearly drove him mad and he began to lose control of the kingdom. My mother fell in to depression and I retreated into myself."
"You wanted to forget it all?"
"Yes." He replied. "I wanted to forget everything, so much so that I became obsessed with myself and the lives of others so I didn't have to think about how mine was falling apart." I gave his hand a squeeze.
"I never imagined I would lose myself to such an extent. You brought me out of that though, brought life back into me…you're a breath of life Snow. It why I want you to marry me, because I love you, besides with my brother gone I become the Crown Prince and your father betrothed you to the Crown Prince of Caspia, and that is me so…" he trailed off and I laughed.
I found myself however, thinking about my Huntsman at that moment. Thinking of where my breath of life was. I had come to peace with what had happened with Eric, his departure, and his deceit. I figured he had his reasons and at the end of the day I still loved the man and being angry wasn't going to change what was.
Inside of me was the child of the Huntsman was still growing and I would be a liar if I said I didn't want it or didn't love it. Of course there was still so much I didn't understand and so much Eric would need to explain to me when and if he ever came back but for now, I forgave him and just missed him so much. No matter what I did or what he did, I was still in love with him.
"Still Edward…I love another."
"I'm always losing to someone aren't I?" He pouted and I felt a wave of tenderness surge through me and I pulled him into a hug.
"In the three weeks you and I have had together Ed, I have come to love you too." I pulled away and looked into his eyes. "Although it's not the kind of love you would hope for, it's the best I can offer you Edward. To love you like family, like a brother."
"You can't kiss your brother you know." He complained and I laughed. Eventually he was laughing too. "I'm not giving up." I pulled him into another hug because I knew I could never return his love but hoped to have him near because in these three weeks he had become so precious to me. I closed my eyes and just let myself become comfortable in that hug.
I settled into that embrace, my body relaxed and feeling safe. My mind was clear of everything and as I sat there in Edward's arms, the wind picked up and with it, it carried the scent of earth and musk but there was something else mixed in that scent, a familiar smell. Something in me stirred and it was as if there was a strong pull in my heart because I was urged to open my eyes and look ahead. What I found had my heart stopping in my chest. My blue eyes crashed with deep blue orbs and I slowly pulled away from Edward as I took in the full image of the man who stood a few feet away from me.
Edward seemed confused as I pulled away from me and turned to follow what my eyes were looking at though at that moment I felt like I could focus on nothing more than the man I was seeing. Tears fell unwillingly from my eyes and I stood. He looked so worn and tired, his hand held onto a small bag that he carried over his shoulder. He stared at me with guilt, and sorrow, but I saw in his eyes relief and perhaps acceptance as I stood to greet him. He took in my full image and I could see something else spring to life in his eyes.
"Ar'ye never going to stop causing me trouble Princess?" he asked and I saw a grin cross his features as a chuckle left my lips. Oh I didn't think I would ever stop causing him trouble, in fact I think I was going to cause him many, many, many troubles. "You look beautiful Princess."
"I am a Queen." I replied like a pouting child but taking several steps towards him. I found myself a feet or two away from him and he just stared into my eyes and I felt my body heat up.
"Oh aye." I watched as he put the bag down on the ground. "I know that." The tears would not cease and his hand was suddenly on my cheek gently wiping the tears away. His touch only produced more tears and I found both his hands on my cheek.
"Did you know I was with child?"
"I thought you might be" his accent was still thick and Scottish, though his voice was soft "though I wasn't entirely sure." He said. "It was not until I saw you just now that I was certain of it."
"Where did you go Eric?" I asked him feeling a little angry. "Why did you leave us?"
"There was something that was preventing me from staying." He said slowly. "Someone I had not let go." He looked at me.
"Did you let her go?" I asked and he smiled at me.
"Aye, I sent her off properly." The sheer sound of his voice brought such comfort to me and I found there was a different sense of tenderness in his voice, a new brand of gentleness that had not been there before. Surely, Eric seemed as if the burden he carried around was lighter.
"Why?"I needed to hear it. I didn't want references or little clues. I wanted it to be made clear to me; I needed it to be made more than clear to me. Eric pulled me closer and looked me straight in the eyes; I had forgotten the world around me and could focus on nothing else but him.
"Because for some reason that is far beyond my understanding." He was quite for a moment as he looked at me so deeply. "Be it fate or destiny." He gently touched my face "I fell in love with you." The words left his lips and I felt my heart soar. "I knew that if I carried Sarah around with me though, I could never make you happy Princess."
"I love you too…and I am a Queen." I cried but I was elated, I didn't care anymore that I was a Queen or a Princess. At that moment I was a woman who was being told by the man she loved that she was loved too. Eric laughed and pulled by body into his arms and held me tightly. I could not have been happier than where I was at that moment.
"That's right, you're a Queen." He said gently. "But you'll always be My Princess." I understood what he meant. See no matter what was going to happen from here on out between me and Eric, if he became King by marriage to me Eric would always be My Huntsman. We would always be to one another, the Princess and the Huntsman, the people we were when we meet in the dark forest.
Eric pulled away only just slightly so that his lips could find mine. I recognized the taste and it was wonderful. Different than how I remembered it in its drunken taste; now it tasted a bit sweeter, less bitter, like an apple freshly picked from a tree but still familiar. He tasted wonderful. And yes there were still so many things that needed to be said, many things that needed to be cleared but the most important thing of all had been said and cleared. Eric, the man I had thought could never love me did in fact love me and I could not be happier.
Later, we could get around to the explanations of what happened and the plans that what our future would be, but right now I can think of nothing else than the taste of Eric's lips and the touch of his skin against mine. Just the power and calmness it brought to me was liberating.
I guess you could say that being in Eric's arms, being entrapped in the feel of him was to me the very feel and Touch of Freedom.
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YAY! Chapter is out, and ladies and gents it's LOOOONG. Let me tell you this chapter took me forever to write! I think I deleted and rewrote this chapter like four times. Between where I wanted to take this chapter and how I wanted it to unravel I was going nuts. I hated everything I wrote but I finally I have something I am happy with.
Let's see if you guys can figure out where I am taking this~
If any of you figure it out, which it's really very obvious then I know you're all sitting there like ERMERGERD!
And if you haven't figured out where this is going, well never fear the last chapter will answer all your pretty little questions~
OH also if you need a visual idea of what Edward James looks like…go look up Liam Hensworth, he can me your visual picture of Edward :P
Either way Review. Tell me what you think and keep on the lookout for the Final chapter in this installment, entitled The Sound of Freedom.
ButaTokki.