Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews!


Chapter 4: Found

Snow thought that she couldn't possibly sleep after hearing Eric's confession, but the next thing she knew after closing her eyes was him gently shaking her shoulder. It was early morning, and the huntsman had already put out the fire and packed their gear. He looked at her questioning, assessing her state, and bleary-eyed, she got up. Snow stretched her arms stiffly, groaning as a particularly painful knot unraveled in her neck.

"I'm –" She gave a big yawn, "fine. We can go."

He smiled. "Yeah, I can see. You're back to being your normal drowsy self in the mornings."

"And you probably stayed up all night, as usual," she muttered, pulling her boots on.

"I did not," he sounded disgustingly cheerful, his whole demeanor wakeful and ready for the new day, "but you know what they say about early birds."

"I'm not eating worms," she declared.

"Actually, they are not that bad," Eric said, straight-faced, "I'm sure we are going to have ample opportunities to try them in the future. But meanwhile –" He tossed her a packet wrapped with a piece of cloth, "eat your breakfast."

Curiously, she unfolded it, finding a chunk of previous night's roasted rabbit.

"I didn't know there was any left!" She exclaimed in delight.

"Well, I saved some, knowing what a bottomless pit you are."

"I am not!" Snow denied, indignant, but her growling belly chose rather unfortunately just that particular moment to announce its hunger.

He smirked, "You were saying?"

She pointedly ignored him and sat on the cot, cradling the precious bundle on her lap. But as she was about to eat, a troubling thought occurred to her, and she paused. "Have you eaten your share of this?"

"I already ate my breakfast," he answered.

The choice of words didn't escape her notice. "What did you eat?"

Eric sighed, "It's not your concern."

"I just made it my concern," she said, determined and a little angry.

"You need the fresh meat more than me," he snarled, and then continued more levelly, "I had a sufficient breakfast before you woke. Dried meat and lovely berries, if you must know."

Snow watched him, trying to ascertain if he was telling the truth, for she rather suspected his breakfast had been a lot meager than what he made it sound. He looked back unflinching and resolute. She looked at the meat longingly, then at him, and sighed, "Alright, but just this once. From now on, we share everything evenly."

"Don't worry," he flashed a bright and devastating smile, "If I get hungry, I'll find some worms." Unwilling to bicker over it further, Snow let his remark go without an answer, but silently she resolved to make sure he would eat his share of their food from then on.

It took her barely a minute to wolf down her breakfast. After that there was no reason to delay their departure from the cabin any longer. They picked up their gear, stepped outside and were ready to go. She wondered if it would always be like that; their stay fleeting and temporary, in abandoned and forgotten places, ready to move on at a moment's notice.

The morning was misty and cool, but it didn't rain. She knew now to be fervently grateful for that. The world seemed somehow new and mysterious, as if a few days inside a dim hut had made her forget the wilderness surrounding them. Snow laid her eyes around her, surprised once again by the vastness, by the possibility.

As they left the cabin behind them, she wondered if the place had felt so safe and familiar, because it had in some way reminded her of her cell. The thought was discouraging. But perhaps those feelings weren't tied to a particular place at all, but people. Those feelings hadn't really disappeared with the small hut; she kept pace with them, followed their every step.

Eric turned to look at her, "Alright?"

"Yes," She answered, the warmth in his eyes heating her up to the marrow.

-o-

The overcast morning turned into a sunny afternoon. Soon the misery of the endless rain and cold was just another memory in the corner of her mind, getting lost among all the dark images that dwelt there. Snow found herself enjoying their trek; the sun shone gently to warm her up, and the nature had woken and blatantly displayed all its charms. Moreover, even though the terrain was getting rougher with every step and they had to go up various hills and rocks more often than not, their going was still somehow easier than before. She realized that their pace was much slower than usual, and she knew he kept is so for her sake. Eric also kept a close eye on her, offering a hand to steady her, steering her clear of unsteady footholds and treacherous ground. Snow didn't know whether to be annoyed or glad.

They changed a few words sporadically; mainly it was her exclaiming about some new wondrous thing she saw or asking him about the plants around them. He answered with a wordless grunt or few sparse words. It didn't bother her, anything but; it was companionable, familiar, easy. It was as if they had known each other for years instead of a few weeks. It was as if they were friends. She hadn't had a friend in so long; she almost had forgotten what it felt like to have one. One to trust in, to laugh with, to share with. It felt good.

She didn't try to curb her smile, when next he looked at her to make certain she still followed him without difficulty. She knew she was grinning like a loon, but his inquiring look only made her grin more.

"You're in a good mood," he remarked.

"It's a good day," she said. Eric shrugged his shoulders, as if to tell it was all the same to him. Suddenly, Snow wanted him to understand.

"The sun is shining, everything is looking so beautiful, this space…" She explained, fumbling for right words. "I am here, free, and you are – you are with me, and I…I feel happy." They had stopped, and he was looking at her, his eyes inscrutable as always. She laughed, "Despite everything, this is the happiest I have been in a very long time."

Eric swallowed and confessed, "Me too." It seemed the words were dragged out of him almost against his will; his face clouded over, and he quickly resumed walking, not looking back at her. She was left to wonder at the way he could make her heart speed up, stir her thoughts to uncomfortable frenzy.

Her smile dimmed the further they walked as her abused body made known its displeasure. The aches and pains intensified, reminding Snow that strength was taking its time to fully return. She tried to quell her frustration and disappointment in her limitations; she would do better in the future.

Once again, a steep slope rose to meet them. As they started to climb, some of the rocks came loose, rolling down. Eric slowed down, cautiously finding steady footholds, advising her to follow his footsteps precisely. Snow watched his every move, stepping into spots he had just vacated. With painful slowness, they went forward, but this time she was definitely glad about their leisurely pace, for the slope was much steeper than it had first looked. Behind them was a sheer, horrifying drop.

Suddenly a cloud of black ravens came out of nowhere, flying low over them, cackling and calling loudly. They startled her, and losing her concentration, she stepped on to the wrong rock. It came loose under her weight, and she quickly lost her balance. Terrified, Snow teetered backwards, desperately trying to remain upright, to get some purchase. It was a losing battle; she was going to fall.

Then a strong hand took hold of her arm firmly, halting her body's involuntary momentum backwards. Eric steadied her, and then pulled her to him, onto more secure ground.

She was shaking; he continued to hold her by the arm, his grip almost bruising.

"I've got you," he said, and she noticed her fingers had somehow come to cling to his shirt. "I've got you," he repeated, and then slowly, almost reluctantly, let go of her. As ever, she followed his lead, and forced herself to release her hold of him. She turned her eyes to the sky, but it was empty. The ravens had disappeared to the horizon, but she still felt uneasy, exposed.

As if reading her mind, the huntsman assured, "They're just birds, nothing more." But his face was solemn, his eyes worried, and she knew he didn't believe his own words.

-o-

After getting down the slope, they quickened their pace. The terrain was once again flatter, the surrounding knolls presenting an easy slight rise that they climbed with haste. The mountains were much closer now, and Snow thought they would surely reach them in the next few days. How they would fare there, she didn't want to think about; the mountain range rose impenetrable and inhospitable, the peaks looking severe and merciless. But Eric would undoubtedly know how to navigate them, how to survive in the harsh mountains. She realized she hadn't thought what they would do once reaching their target. Where would they go from there? Was there a place for them somewhere, far enough from the queen?

In mutual unspoken understanding they didn't stop, although the grassy hills looked enticing, inviting them for a brief rest. They drank from the half-empty water bottle without slowing, and skipped their meal altogether. Snow's eyes were constantly drawn to the sky; searching the ominous black shapes, but finding only wispy clouds. Maybe the ravens had been just ordinary birds, she told herself. Not all the ravens of the land could be in her service. She was only being paranoid.

Just as Snow had herself almost convinced that they had overreacted to the birds, Eric stopped suddenly. He tilted his head as if to listen carefully, and her eyes automatically rose to the sky. It was still empty. But then she heard it too; a steady pounding, a distant thunder that was coming closer. With alarm, she recognized the sound of hooves. At that very moment, a group of riders emerged from behind a hill.

"Run!" Eric shouted and took hold of her arm, dragging her along. They had certainly been seen; they were in the open, there was no cover, no places to hide.

Snow ran, heart beating wildly, painfully. Leaping over rocks, almost stumbling, she forced her legs to go faster. Still, the sound of hooves got louder, the riders gaining ground.

It was hard to draw air, her lungs burned. She tripped, but Eric didn't let her fall. He had a grip on her arm still, and forced her forward. But even as they ran, she knew it to be futile. They couldn't win this race. If only the mountains had been closer, they could have vanished where the horses could not follow.

It seemed that the huntsman had come to the same hopeless conclusion, for all of a sudden he let go of her arm, and wheeled around to face their pursuers. Surprised, she had already rushed well past him, before she got her legs to come to a halt.

"Eric!" He had drawn his weapons; the riders were coming closer. There were seven of them, all on horseback. They were too many.

"You run!" He yelled, without looking at her, his eyes trained on the approaching men.

"No!" She couldn't run, not with him making a mad, suicidal stance.

"Dammit!" He was furious, "I have a better chance if you draw some of them after you – now, run!"

For one horrible moment she wavered between the two options, until she broke into a run, hoping against all hope that she could really give him a chance to survive. It was true that they wanted her badly; maybe they would all just follow her, leaving him behind.

She darted forward, the heavy rush of fear giving her more strength. Behind her, horses screamed in pain and the familiar clang of steel rang like the loudest of shouts. Snow was already regretting her decision. She risked a quick look behind her, and seeing two riders getting nearer, she continued her mad dash, disappointed. Only two! That left five with Eric. Her heart couldn't clutch at the feeble hope anymore. They were too many.

Hearing the riders approaching, she waited until they were almost alongside of her. Then she wheeled quickly around, and desperately grabbed at any purchase she could find, her hands getting a grip of a belt. The momentum of the running horse almost yanked her arm out of its socket, the pain was blinding and terrible, but she hung on, tugging and pulling. Then the pressure suddenly eased and the rider tumbled to the ground with a curse.

The time of running was over; she drew her knife, terrified.

The rider was still on the ground, dazed. Snow forced herself to step up to him, despair and dread spreading to engulf her. She already knew she couldn't kill him.

Then someone yanked her by the arm, twisting painfully until she was forced to drop her knife. She had forgotten the other rider; he had dismounted and had taken her completely by surprise. Snow wriggled and kicked, trying to free herself from his rough hold. His other arm locked around her throat, almost cutting of her air.

"Now, now, be a good girl," a hoarse voice said right next to her ear. Furious, she sank her teeth into his arm. He howled, and she repeated her action, adding a hard kick to his ankles for good measure. The man cursed and his hold on her slackened. Snow pulled herself free, the urgent need to flee suppressing all else.

She only got a few feet away, and then the man was on her again, grabbing her hair, pulling her back. Next, she was on the ground, and the man was looming over her, grinning.

"You're not going to run from me again," he said, eyes full of malice. "The queen wants you alive, but she didn't say anything about all your pretty pieces being intact." He drew a sharp knife from his belt and put it against her cheek. The metal was cold on her skin.

Suddenly the man stiffened, and his eyes glazed over. A most curious sound emerged from his lips, like a soft sigh, a small breath. It was the life abandoning him, escaping into nothingness, leaving the man's body to topple to the side, empty.

The rider she had pulled from the horse drew a sword from the man's back. The blade was red. She scrambled backwards, still on the ground, trying to get away from him, away from the dead man.

"It's alright!" The rider exclaimed, holding out his free hand to her. "I'm William!"

She stared at him, the sight so inconceivable, she was struck dumb.

"It's me," he swore, "I'm William."