I should have combined this with the last chapter..
I felt this scene stood alone for a chapter..
Enjoy.
12 hours Later..
In the deepest part of the Enchanted Forest, as moonlight shone on a straw roofed hovel at a the base of a mountain side. Sitting near the open window side to gaze out into the moonlight as it shone on her and the potion bottle in her hand. Snow White was debating of taking it to remove her pain of tonight's events as it unfolded to her or wait another day to do so to her promise to Grumpy.
Taking a deep breath of sigh then letting it out. Was it the right move of her to let Charming go or defy King George. At the moment of King George told her he would not kill her but Charming if she didn't agree to let him go. She couldn't let the other half of heart die for her. Letting go seemed better so that he could live. Her heart which busted with joy only twelve hours ago now was broken into a million pieces of deep pain. Having to tell Charming the dream they had could not happen then telling him not once but twice she didn't love him was hard. As his tears flowed down his face in front of her she almost didn't finish. Yet she did.
Her words still haunt her. Fill your heart with someone else.. Someone who can love you .. Like I never have.. The way I never will...
Outside in an oak tree in front of the window, sat the white dove gazing at the woman in earnest to see what she would do. It had watched her all day as another carrier dove deliver her a message to her that had her face had glowed of strong love from a simple message from all the way to the scene of her stealing into King George's castle. Continuing to watch over her as one of King George's men killed the dwarf and would have killed the other one called Grumpy if this woman had not interfered. Bravery the bird respected and will be needed in the days ahead. It didn't know what was said in the castle after she entered due to the windows for it to view or hear any conversation of the events was blocked to see what happened.
Yet it knew when the woman, Snow, left the castle the face was so sad of her heart breaking. Flying over them in the darkness of the night. Gliding left and right to hear the conversation with the group of people. When they stopped in the trail to home. It landed onto a nearby branch listening to what happened. It still didn't like that bottle she had in her possession even after telling of what it would do. No magic can erase what she had in mind to do. Pain is to be endured, it gives us the lessons in life and should not be taken away or you live an empty life.
The time was now to reveal the message to this woman who can help assist with the delivery to assist his other friend. Hoping this action will help her overcome of what she is to do next. Taking a leap from the branch opening its wings it glided down in the air then changed it wings in flight to dive mode towards that bottle in the woman's hands.
As Snow White hand went to open the potion bottle to let her pain disappear of all that has happened. A white feather body crashed into her hand knocking the bottle from her grasp. Sound of the bottle was loud in the quite room as it hit the floor.
With a gasp and startled of what happened. It took a moment for Snow to see a white courier dove was the culprit stopping her plan. She watched as the bird rolled onto the floor than leaping onto its feet. Trotting so fast to the bottle that rolled near her feet.
As she went to pick up the bottle off the floor. The bird leaped with a flap of its wings towards her to startle her. Pulling her hand back. She watched as the bird landed in front of the bottle then using its talons going backwards to roll the potion bottle from her.
"Give that back to me," she shrieked getting on her feet walking to the bird.
Each time as she approached the green-eyed dove would jump forward and peck her feet. With a quick movement it would flap back to the bottle to stand guard over it watching her. After three attempts to get the bottle and being attacked.
"You infringing bird," yelling with menace in her voice, "I got something for you!"
Leaving the room to retrieve the broom sitting near the kitchen doorway. Picking it up and entered back into the bedroom. Gazing around the room onto the floor looking for the bird. A sound of a drop was heard. Looking up onto the window. She saw the dove on the windowsill struggling with the bottle in its talons. As she approached the bird it would chirp and shaking its head back and forth in a no no to her. She stopped as the bird started rolling the bottle out the window then look at her. Daring her to make a move.
Hands on her hips in a white long dress slip with her black hair down her back. She tried again with a step. Then another chirp exited the bird's mouth in the room with the bottle sound being moved once again towards the outside of the window.
Snow was going to make another step at the bird till she heard sounds from behind her. Turning around she saw all the dwarfs trying to enter the room all at the same time. She watched as Sneezy and Dopey fell onto the floor in a tangle of limbs. While Grumpy was pushing the rest of his brothers away from the doorway to get in. He tripped over his brothers legs landing on their backs. The only sounds could be heard was Humph.. get off me.. move your elbow.
She watched the scene now without pain on her face but a small smile creeping onto her face. Watching as they tried to get up then fall back down when someone else would trip them by accident. Taking a step to help them she then heard loud chirps from the window. She stopped and turned her head over her shoulder. She never forgot what she saw. The bird was chirping with its wings wide flapping with its head going up and down like in laughter of the scene.
Turning back to her brothers. She walked forward to give Grumpy a hand off his brothers then they helped Dopey and Sneezy up from the floor.
"Everyone alright," she asked as they straightened their long night-clothes to be presentable to her in her room.
"Were fine now sister," Dopey answered after he looked over his brothers, "What was with yelling in the room?"
Her face turned red of being heard. She turned pointing to the dove in the window who was finally stopped chirping but was actually studying them.
"That bird," she stated, " Knocked the potion out of my hands and won't let me have it back."
"Really, a bird!" Grumpy with a startled look on his face.
"I'm afraid so," she answered.
Grumpy turned to look at the bird. All he saw was a normal white courier bird with a piece of clothe tied to its leg. Yet as he took a step closer to the bird. It chirped with wings open wide daring him to come closer. He stopped looking into the green eyes of the dove. He blinked then blinked once again. There it is..A glow of magic... This is not a normal dove.. What he saw was intelligence in the gaze of the bird watching him of every move he made.
"Snow," he said quietly.
"What?"
Turning his head to her as he said, "This is not a normal dove but an enchanted one."
She gazed from his face to the bird who when hearing the words out of Grumpy mouth it put its wings down chirping loudly to say he was . She didn't know what to say... Disbelief on her to the wooden stool near the bed she sat down dropping the broom from her right hand as it fell onto the floor.
Seeing the broom landing on the floor. The bird calmed down waiting with a stare at her. Gathering herself together she glanced at the bird as it continued to stare. Always a little leery of magic.
With a dry mouth. She asked, "You have a message for me."
A loud chirp as the bird stood proud on its talons on the ledge of the window after letting go of the bottle as it rattled near the window edges.
"May I have it?" she requested lifting her left arm with her left hand palms up to the bird. A gesture of peace. The dove jumped off the ledge with a leap gliding to the arm before it. Landing on the arm. The green eye of the dove nodded its head to the right studying her. A smile came onto her face at the gesture. She glanced on the leg of the dove. A frown creased her forehead as she fingered the cloth with dried blood on it. Her gaze went back to the bird.
"What is it, Snow?" Grumpy asked seeing her frown on her face.
Looking up at him quickly."The clothe here has blood on it," she responded to his question.
Reaching down she proceeded with her right hand to untie the clothe from the leg of the dove. As she removed it from its leg. The bird jump from her arm to land on the bed to settle down of relaxation.
Snow unrolled the clothe. Written in blood was three word.
"What does it say?" Doc asked behind her.
She looked at her brothers around her then at the dove. It says, "Help Me Belle."
"Who's Belle?" asked by one of the dwarfs in the back.
"I don't know.." she whispered looking at the bird..."But you do..Don't you?" The only answer she received was a chirp sound from the bird as it peered at her.
"Well how we going to help the bird or this Belle," Grumpy grumbled, "If it can't speak." Standing at her back now looking over her shoulder seeing the words written in blood.
The dove jumped on its feet seeing Grumpy right hand on the bed started pecking at his hand.
"Owe you dang bird," he yelled, " Why you... " Reaching over to snatch the bird who leaped back from him chirping angrily.
"Don't you dare Grumpy," Snow grabbing his arm as he tried to reach the bird.
"Since we have been speaking the bird has understood every word we have said. Am I right?" As she spoke the words to the bird in return she received a chirp with a nodded head up and down as a yes to her answer. With a sigh. "We have to ask the right questions then."
She got distracted as her gaze went from the bird to the window of the bottle after stating the words. Feeling something tugging at the sleeve her nightgown. Looking back down to see the bird had moved to her side tugging at her sleeve then shaking her head back and forth in a no motion.
"Ok, I won't drink it for now." For some reason it seem to satisfy the bird for the time being. Yet she watched as the bird eyes inspected the area of the room then it trotted to her with a chirp tugging her sleeve of her gown to follow.
The bird trotted to the other edge of the bed to look back to see if she was following. Upon seeing she was watching. It leaped up with a flap to fly over the heads of the dwarfs exiting the bedroom going into deeper into the house. Snow got up quickly following the dove. As she entered the dining room area it landed on the long table. It turned to chirp then surveyed its surroundings. She could hear her brothers following her as they gathered around the table.
Gaining all of their attention. The bird spied a brown bag of seeds hanging on the wall. Leaping up into the air once again it pecked at the bag then circling to peck it once again. Doc walked over to the bag hanging holding the bag in his hand. The bird flew back to the table after landing it started to tap the table. All you could hear in the room as Doc came with the bag was. Tap.. Tap.. Tap.. Tap..
Doc placed the bag in front of the dove.
"What is in the bag Doc?" Snow asked as she watched the dove tried to open the bag.
"Just sunflower seeds."
The bird got frustrated and started tapping on the table again while looking at her when it could not open the bag. Reaching over she opened the bag for the bird.
"Great the bird just wants to eat," grumbled Grumpy.
"I don't think the dove brought us out here for that Grumpy," she interjected turning to him while talking.
"Look!" yelled Sneezy as he started sneezing after saying the word while pointing to the dove.
As everyone stopped turning to the scene on the table. The bird gracefully started trotting back and forth from the bag each time with a sunflower seed in its beak. As they watched words started to form on the table.
The words spelled, "Need help deliver message"
"To who?" Snow asked the bird once it was finished. The next word that was spelled below the other message shocked not only her but the dwarfs as well in the room..
Rumpelstiltskin was the name spelled with sunflower seeds laid on the table.
"Why?" Snow whispered out loud in the shocked room.
The dove walked over to Snow where the clothe was still in her fingertips. Tapping on the name Belle then proceeded to go above to move the seeds from top of Rumpelstiltskin's name. Doc reached up to help the bird pushing the seeds aside. He received a chirp as if gratitude as it continued to take the seeds from the pile of the next words on the table.
It spelled, "Friend Of."
"No way does Rumpelstiltskin have any friends," Grumpy spoke up as the bird finished.
He received an angry chirp from the bird as it tapped continuously on the table.
"Well apparently he does," Snow answered loudly in the room, "But why me?"
The dove looked to Doc once again then at the seeds. No answer needed as Doc reached over to move the seeds into a pile once again. The next two words spelled out, "Brave and Honest."
"Why can't you deliver it?" Grumpy sternly inquired.
The next words spelled, "Missed 3 times."
"Well Damn!" Grumpy whispered surprised.
Watching the dove making the messages, she had sat down in wonder as the words appeared. Feeling the clothe in her fingertips. Her finger rubbed at the dried blood on the dirty clothe knew whoever did this took a great risk entrusting this little bird of hope for assistance. This was a sign of hope reaching out to guide them but at what cost...
Finally she asked the last question in the room to be sure, "Are you sure that Rumpelstiltskin will go to save her and not a deal to be made?" The question was to ensure it was not for a desperate soul knowing the Dark One legends it was what he did getting his deals.
The dove did not hesitate but made the word out "yes" with the remaining seeds then standing above it proud like it was ready to be knighted like a king.
"I will help you deliver your message," she finally said, "We leave at dawn."
The only response she got was a happy chirp from the dove as it finally sat in a pile of sunflowers seeds and started eating them in front of the group.
"Mission accomplished," said the bird in its mind.
In the early dawn light of the new day, as it continued over the mountains shining onto the hovel, as the light emerged at the window from a reflection of a bottle. The lone potion bottle lay sitting by the window sill unopened.
Within moments of the light shining in the sky, two individuals exited the hovel taking the trail to the docks to make their journey to the Dark One's home. As they left in the sky, a white courier dove flew around them then finally landing onto the shoulders of the woman to take the trip with them.
In another kingdom miles away, a lone figure on a white horse was traveling at a fast pace towards the land in the mountains. Behind him was a group of knights with King George's symbol chasing him...
Now the story changes people..
The characters are now taking over going further.
LOL
Stay Tuned...
