Disclaimer: Nothing is mine other than my take on it.
Author's Note: took me a little longer this time but school and sick has me so swamped but I am back once more.
You guys are all awesome sauce and koala tea and I want to hug each and every one of you. My muses this chapter are: ArianaRizCullen, nahbois68, JeNNiFeR07, hfce, Rachel452, quoththeraven5, Lady Elena Bella Petrova, TiaLuna, collective2220, red 81, Anon Reader, GoChlollie, HG3, Chrysantha Justine Addison, Shanna, MeBookHappiness, DNina, rEd RoSe-StArFiRe-RoSeFiRe, HarrylovesGinny09, Cindy (and thank you for your concrit and great view. Never ever apologize for length. Your review helped a lot), jacedesbff, whiterose001, and ChlollieRockz.
Thank you guys! I really appreciate the support and constructive criticism.
And now here's more story.
Snow White had always been an early riser. Her father used to say that she rose with the dawn and just as beautiful. But Snow didn't feel all that beautiful when she woke up that morning.
She felt sore, still tired and heavy. Heavy? She thought with confusion before the previous day and night came flooding back to her. Opening her eyes quickly, she was immediately greeted with the sleeping face of the handsome prince. Her first instinct was bolt straight up and away from the unexpected sight but she was stopped.
One arm was curled under her shoulders and the other was draped across her waist, effectively pinning her in bed. Now, it wasn't an unpleasant thing exactly, but it was so very close and intimate and it was just a lot to take in so early in the morning. She then looked around as she tried to figure out her next move. She tried a few test wriggles to see of she could loosen his grip without too much care but quickly learned that she would not be getting herself out of his grasp without shoving him off or taking twenty minutes to do so slowly, so she gave up for the time being.
After a moment she decided just let it be for the moment as she mused on what her next move would be after she finally made it out of bed. Her first instinct yelled at her to flee- to keep running and not stop 'til she was far away but another part of her told her that she couldn't do that with David. She almost thought that he would follow her to the ends of the world to keep her safe out of some strange sense of duty. But she didn't think it would be fair to him to ask, even though she really wanted to, what with his love still out there and all.
But what else would she do? Her thoughts questioned as they ran through her head in circles. Run with him from shelter to shelter until the guards left the forest? Could they even wait that long?
She stared up at the wood and rock ceiling when a third option occurred to her: she could leave now, run away before David woke up and protect him that way. The Kings and Queen were after her. It was she that they wanted dead, not David. She could save his life right then and there by slipping away through the forest she knew so well in the light of the early morning.
But could she even do that? Could she leave him without a word like that? He'd done so much already to take care of her, could she hurt him by leaving like that? Hating the idea of being on her own again, she looked over at Prince Charming as he slept and all thoughts of abandoning him were washed from her mind.
She couldn't leave him. He was a decent, kind, and honest guy who genuinely cared for her. Even though splitting up may save his life, Snow knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't want to be saved like that. And because of some promise he had made to Grumpy, he would follow her wherever she went even though it could lead him into more trouble. No; there was no separating now. She had a feeling they would be traveling together until they figured out some solution to the royals wanting to kill her problem. Looking at him long and hard, Snow honestly couldn't say she would mind running with him for awhile.
The thought made her shake her head, what was the matter with her? Why was she getting so sentimental over this guy? This was a dangerous line of thought and she knew it. This was more dangerous than anything she had ever done. How could she have dropped her guard so quickly? She had only known him for a day and now she was trusting and caring for him? That didn't sound like her or who she'd become. A shared bed and stories shouldn't be enough to make her act like an idiot. She knew she had grown too attached and that scared her.
She needed to set some boundaries if she was going to survive this. She had learned after what happened to her father that while love could complete her life, it could also lead her blindly to her doom. She knew it would be hard to, what with his smile and the way he was with her, but she had to put some distance between them in order to protect herself and her heart.
She knew that the first step to get him out of her head was to get out of his arms. She needed to be outside and let the morning air clear her thoughts.
Impatient to get away from the confusing feelings, she tried disentangling herself as gently as possible when her movements caused her bedmate to rouse slightly.
Stirring, David repositioned, feeling safe and warm and happy for the first time in a very long time while visions from the night filled his mind's eye. Sunlight and laughter of the dream he'd just left and Snow. He'd dreamt Snow had come to him and reassured him that it was going to be alright. That she was there as he held her tight. Shifting his arms, he felt something completely unexpected.
His eyes flew open as he realized that it hadn't been a dream, that Snow had comforted him and that he had fallen asleep with her in his arms. He was now extremely aware that she was still in his arms as he met her surprised green eyes mere inches away.
"Hello." She said, for lack of anything better to say, as if nothing were amiss despite the war that was waging in her head.
"Um, hi." He replied awkwardly, slightly embarrasses of the tight hold he held her in even if he, himself, found it so soothing.
"You comfy?" She asked with an expression which he was easily able to interpret as a request to let her go.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said immediately as though just realizing he was holding her as he let go even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. He found himself unable to look in her face just then, for fear of seeing judgment and instead contemplated the wall.
She couldn't help but laugh at his sense of modesty, "It's alright. You had a bad dream. I get it."
Of course as soon as the words were out of her mouth she wanted to slap herself. So much for her resolve. All of the lines she'd drawn a few minutes ago had seemed to wash away as soon as he opened his baby blues at her.
"Well thank you." He said earnestly and vulnerably all at once, looking at her so kindly.
Feeling her resolution quake, she said a quick, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Mentally shaking herself, Snow realized that she had to get away from his gaze. Without any warning, she threw the blankets off of herself and stood up before stepping over him to stand on solid ground.
"Are you alright?" David asked in his concerned manner, sitting up.
"Hungry." She answered curtly going over to where their proper clothes hung; mostly dry now from the fire, "The storm's passed, I'm going to hunting."
He took the blankets off of as well, and stood declaring, "I'll join you."
She immediately panicked, "No! No, I'm fine."
Yes, she wanted real cooked food but the real reason for her hunting expedition was to get away from Prince Charming and to figure out how to act around him with her new rules. Him tagging along would just ruin it.
"Snow, we can't afford to split up right now. It's too dangerous." He said very seriously. "If someone came, we would better be able to defend ourselves together. Also, we'd be able to run in a moment if we needed to."
Hanging her head in disappointment she realized he was right and there would be no getting away from him now.
"Alright. Fine." She seceded, trying to hide her moodiness at her escape plan being botched.
"Fine." He said as well, joining her by the door.
Trying to let her disappointment go, she focused instead on her clothes. They dressed in mostly silence excepting when she assisted with his jerkin again. Once fully dressed, she felt far less vulnerable like her forest hunting gear had doubled for armor against emotional weakness.
Determined to hunt and eat quickly, they next removed the bark and the boulders that had guarded the opening to their hideout. Once the door was clear, Charming carefully edged the door open with his sword drawn in case an ambush lay in wait beyond their shelter. Easing out of the shack warily, he motioned for her to wait. She did as directed, waiting with bated breath as he made his way out, ready for an attack. After of intense scanning, he ascertained that, while the ground was wet from the rain, there was no armada preparing to strike and that it was safe.
Stopping only to retrieve a spear from its hiding place in one of the fallen trees of the shelter, Snow left the shelter to join him. They moved swiftly but quietly through the woods as they hunted with Snow on the lookout for game and David on guard for enemies. After some time with no attacks and Snow having caught two rabbits, they returned to the hide-out and prepared breakfast, eager for cooked meat.
With the animals skinned and roasting over their fire, Snow and Charming realized that they weren't quite sure where to go next.
"Do you have any other shelters in the woods?" David asked, wracking his mind for a solution. He knew they couldn't stay here, they had to keep moving; too many people were after them.
"A few more." Snow replied, "But I wouldn't stay at any of them more than a night. They aren't meant for long term use and we can't afford to linger anywhere as long as we are still in the forest."
Her words gave him an idea he had never considered before, "Then we leave the woods."
Snow straightened her back, skeptical, "Where would we go?"
"My mother's farm." He answered, having contemplated on it very carefully before suggesting it.
"No." Snow said, shooting down that plan in an instant, "No way. There's no way that King George wouldn't think to post some guards there or at least check in on her with you on the run."
"We wouldn't be going to the farmhouse or any of the outbuildings. Listen, I know that land better than anyone. At the boundary there is an old hidden wine cellar below where another house used to be before it burned to the ground. I found it as a boy and I never told anyone." He assured her slow and convincing as he looked deep in her eyes, "We would be safe there."
She averted her gaze to the cooking meat as she tried to think of any other option. It was risky but it might be their only shot.
As if he was reading her mind, he continued, "Is there any other option you can think of?"
"No." She admitted bitterly as she gave in, "There's nothing else that wouldn't endanger others. We need to find a place to plan our next move and that seems to be our only chance. How far is your farm from here?"
Being a gentleman and not holding his victory above her head he simply thought on her question before answering, "Probably a few days to the southeast if we're going on foot."
"Then we should leave soon." She decided, adding, "There might be another shelter or two between here and there but we'll have to see."
"Good. The rabbits are probably done." He agreed, reaching forward to check on their breakfast.
They didn't speak again until after they finished eating and were preparing to leave. After making sure they had everything and had repacked and buried the drawstring pouch they had had dinner from the night before, they concealed the door once more before leaving.
The two had developed a rhythm while traveling the forest. The one with the destination would lead and warn the other of any treacherous obstacles in the path while on the look out for enemies and other dangers. The other would keep close but scanned behind them in case they were being followed. They'd pause for breaks and to relieve themselves but other than that they carried on quickly, streaming through the forest like water. After the first day and the close call with Midas' men, they didn't talk and laugh and carry on, instead focused on speed and stealth as opposed to camaraderie. But there was comfort in each others' presence and though Snow tried to forget it and get past it, she trusted him with her life and was glad to have him by her side.
They were making good time when a few miles into their journey Charming stopped very suddenly.
"Snow, come look at this." He said, warily, which immediately had Snow on high alert.
Joining him where he'd paused, Snow White bent to get a closer look at the ground that David was staring at with such a concerned expression.
"Tracks." David said even though she could clearly see for herself. They went from the south directly in the direction they were heading. There were heavy men's prints as a woman's pointed heels. Snow knelt, trying to confirm the rising fear in the pit of her stomach. Her fears were confirmed when there, against the bark of a tree was the sparkling purple residue of magic.
"The Queen." Snow hissed, bolting up, "She's been through here."
"Are you sure?" he asked, brow furrowed with worry.
"Positive." She confirmed, scanning the woods, "We can't go this way."
"How else can we go?" He asked, trying to figure it out.
"Well we can go north east and double back to the south when we're clear of this region." She suggested, her mental map of the forest spread out before her when she thought of a problem, letting her voice trail, "Except…"
"Except what?" Charming questioned, trying to keep up with the mile-a-minute train her thoughts were traveling on.
"Except if we go that way, we'll end up in the land of the Three Bears." She responded; worry lining her face as she tried to formulate another option.
"The Three Bears? They're real?" David asked with disbelief. He'd heard the stories as a kid but never knew they actually existed.
"Oh yeah. They're real and have a real grudge against humans." Snow told him, "My friend Goldilocks has had dealings with them in the past. Of course she didn't exactly help things by stealing from them but that's beside the point. They're dangerous and don't think that they are just dumb creatures just because they are animals. That mistake would cost you your life. But it's either we brave them or the Queen."
Having said her piece, Snow fell silent for a moment, allowing Charming the chance to decide which way to go without her bias.
"We have to try the bears." He finally concluded, "At least they aren't trying to kill you specifically."
Snow couldn't help but joke, "No, just generally."
He rewarded her wit with a wide grin that made her heart melt a little in a way that wasn't helping her think straight at all.
"The Three Bears it is." She said, clearing her throat and looking towards the path they must now take, before continuing, "But I must warn you, they are brutes and would have no qualms with killing you no matter who you are. Hopefully we can slip through without their notice, but I wouldn't count on it. So what I need you to do is listen to me very carefully and do whatever I say and we just might make it out."
He nodded gravely, determined to obey her very carefully, trusting her knowledge of the woods and the inner workings of the creatures that lived there.
While still maintaining a decent speed, the two made their way more cautiously towards their new heading. The transition into the territory of the Bears was palpable as the rest and shrubbery seemed more overgrown and the light shifted. Claw marks and damage was evidenced across the trees but the most notable difference was, in this part of the woods, there were no bird songs or animals noises. It was eerily quiet.
They walked closer together now; Charming felt a really bad chill run up his spine that made having Snow close mandatory. And Snow, of course, would never admit it but it made her feel so much better to be next to him.
They walked in complete silence for twenty minutes and Snow wasn't sure she breathed the entire time. She'd heard horror stories from this part of the woods that made her skin crawl and if she had any other choice besides the Evil Queen she would gladly take it over walking in this part of the forest.
Though he was sure it was his own warped imagination, the forest seemed to grow darker the farther they walked and he began to wonder how long the land of the Three Bears stretched on for but he dare not ask Snow in the utter silence.
It was then, when the quiet seemed to be deafening and the forest the darkest that they heard it, a deep low growl that made the hairs raise on the back of Snow's neck.
"Someone's been walking through my forest." It said behind them and to the left, causing the pair stop in their tracks.
"Someone's been trespassing on my land." Another, only slightly softer voice said from the right.
"And someone's been in my woods," The final of the three bears grumbled from directly behind them, "and they're still here."
Panic rising within them, Snow and Charming spared a fearful glance at each other before turning around slowly in the face of the three hungry bears.
"And they're just in time for dinner." The first and the deepest voiced bear rumbled, rearing up on his hind legs, preparing to strike.
David was in front of Snow White in an instant, ready to take the blow to defend the only woman he loved.
And it was in that moment that, despite all of her best efforts, Snow knew she was in love with Prince Charming and that she always would be.
Author's Note: AND MORE CLIFFHANGERS! Yay!
(And whoops the chapter title ended up being another alter DW reference. I just couldn't help it.)
-peeks out sheepishly- so…. Do you guys like it?
I am actually incredibly self-conscious about this chapter.
I tried something new and I like it and I'm actually kind of excited about it, I am also really nervous.
You guys still like it despite being a little out there?
P.S. I would also like to add that another contributing factor to my quick updates, other than you guys and your wonderful reviews, is that I am trying to get this story out here and/or finished before the next Snowing episode. Because, while I am really looking forward to it, I know that this story will become irrelevant and wrong and that you guys won't want to read it anymore so I'm trying/aiming to finish it by then but who knows. I may not. But I can try.
Blagh. If not, I just hope you guys won't abandon ship because I have enjoyed going on this adventure with you guys and helping you with your fix.