~ Four ~
Princess Rose stumbled through the darkness, clutching Dimitri's blood-stained dagger tightly to make sure she didn't drop it. All around her, it seemed like eyes were watching her. Shrill cries and haunting sighs sounded from all directions, and the branches of the trees reached down to waylay her - scratching her face and snagging at her crimson dress.
Just follow the path, she tried to quell the panic in her chest, but with each step she took the way grew narrower and the leaves blanketing the ground grew thicker until eventually there was no path left to follow.
Snow White stopped, frantically spinning around to find any sign of the path she'd been taking, but it had vanished without a trace.
'Dimitri?' she whispered, turning back the way she thought she had come.
Maybe he was still in the forest and could help her find her way.
'Huntsman?' she called a little louder.
All she heard in reply was a dripping sound from somewhere off in the trees to her left, then a far-off howl carried across the greenish gloom and the princess decided that moving in any direction would have to be better than staying here.
She took off again, slipping on the decaying leaves that covered the forest floor as she wove between the ancient, clawing trees - unable to shake off the feeling that somebody or something was watching her.
At one point, Rose's stocking became ensnared by a dead branch, and as she bent to release it, a high-pitched scream sounded from the bushes behind her.
'Get off me!' the princess kicked desperately to free herself from the branch, and not a moment too soon.
Something swooped at her from behind, and Snow White shrieked as a searing pain ripped through her scalp; cowering in fear as a giant hawk swept away from her, with the princess' ruby-bow tiara and a clump of ebony strands clutched in its talons.
'Dimitri! Help me!' Rose screamed, running and swatting out with the huntsman's blade as the raptor swooped again - so close she could feel the rush of air on her face before it banked suddenly then soared upwards to prepare for another attack.
The hawk seemed like it wanted to play; diving at the human then veering out of reach before her blade could do any harm. Occasionally it raked the back of a talon across Snow White's bare shoulders - teasing her but not drawing blood - and in the end the princess could do nothing but hold her arms above her head and stagger in whatever direction her legs would take her. Finally, chased and mocked and harried until she could take it no more, Rose heard water up ahead and stumbled towards it; falling to her knees on the bank of a crystal stream with her dagger held limply at her side.
'I'm sorry, Dimitri,' she whispered to the water, a trickle of blood oozing from her temple where the hair had been ripped from her scalp. 'You tried to save me, but it was all in vain. At least if I die now, Tasha won't be able to punish you or your mother.'
A tear slid down Snow White's cheek and she covered her face with her hands; waiting for the giant hawk to swoop a final time.
'Who is Dimitri, and who are you?'
The princess froze, wondering if she had imagined the voice, then peeked up to see the strangest creature standing - no, floating - before her.
The hawk had gone. In its place was a small, child-like being. Completely naked, but shrouded in a swirling mist that obscured its true form beneath; something distinctly female, with queer translucent skin that shimmered blue and green and purple in the soft light that reflected off the water of the stream.
'Are you a ghost? Am I dead?' Rose whispered, wrapping her arms around herself as a cold chill began to seep into her skin until it felt as though her bones were made of ice.
The beautiful child laughed - a strange, bubbling sound like water - but the the expression on her face was far from friendly.
'You soon will be dead if you don't answer my questions, human,' she warned. 'Who are you and what is your purpose here? Who sent you? Tell me one good reason why you have the blood of an ancient beast on your blade, and I might spare your life.'
Snow White had been so transfixed by the face of the ethereal creature that she hadn't noticed she was getting colder, and when she looked down she realised that wisps of mist were streaming out from the being and surrounding her like an embrace.
'Answer me,' the icy voice demanded, and suddenly the child's form billowed and grew until a towering woman streamed above her - unnaturally tall and fierce despite her beauty.
The princess sneezed violently. She was so cold now that her whole body was trembling and when she felt the dagger slip from her fingers she knew this would be her final resting place.
'R-r-rose,' she stammered, her teeth chattering and her ruby lips turned blue from the cold.
'Thank you, Rose,' the swirling creature shrunk down to the height of the princess and enveloped her, her crystal eyes filled with contempt and bitterness. 'Now go to sleep forever and never bother me or my friends again.'
She breathed a frigid gust of air into the human's face, and as Snow White's mind descended into darkness she thought she heard a voice far off in the distance shouting 'Miameridwyth! Stop!'
...
'Warm her, underlander!'
Rose surfaced briefly to see a sullen, grey face bent over her. The ears were too big. The eyes were too close together. And what were those things sticking out of its head? To Snow White's horror, the creature's pale eyes suddenly turned blood-red. Pain like a thousand needles pierced her skin and she fainted dead away.
It was quiet when the princess awoke. She lay with her eyes closed for a few moments - half convinced it had all been a terrible dream - but then she felt a sharp, throbbing sensation on the top of her head, and when she put a hand to her hair she knew it had all been true. Her skin was still raw where a small tuft of hair had been pulled out, and her ruby tiara was gone.
Opening her eyes in a flash, Snow White sat up and saw that she was in the loft of a tiny cottage, lying on a stranger's bed. To one side of her were a further five beds; two large and three small. On the other side of her stood an ornately-carved washstand with a basin of water resting atop it, and beside that, a tall, shrouded figure stood at the open cottage window - gazing intently into the depths of the Night Forest as though they were searching for something.
'Who are you, and why are you holding me prisoner?' the princess demanded at once, sounding much braver than she felt. 'If you mean to harm me, you should know I am friends with the huntsman and he has vowed to protect me.'
The figure at the window turned, and Snow White's breath caught as a strange, yet astonishingly beautiful woman approached the bedside.
'So you're awake at last, Rose,' the angel murmured, the scent of honey filling the room as she dropped the pale, gossamer veil back from her head.
The young woman's features were soft and elegant. Her skin glowed golden, as if lit from within, and her eyes were two clear pools of jade; calm and untroubled on the surface, but delving and discerning as she studied her guest upon the bed. A sheet of silver-blonde hair swept down her back - with fine braids weaving in and around an intricate silver crown that put Snow White's ruby tiara to shame - and the ears that peeked out through the long strands were oddly angled and pointed at the tips.
'My name is Lady Vasilisa Dragomir - of the high elves from across the Eastern Sea - and you were not brought here as our prisoner, but as our guest. I believe you've already met my friend Miameridwyth - the water spirit.... Mia?' she turned slightly as if talking to somebody but no one was there. 'Perhaps now would be a good time to apologise for the way you greeted our new guest?'
Snow White jumped up from the bed and nearly rushed for the door as a child-sized, swirling form appeared above the water bowl on the washstand - the very creature that had attacked her by the stream.
'Sorry, I guess...,' the water spirit conceded snippily. '...But you were carrying a dagger stained with the blood of an ancient boarhaan, and it is my sacred duty as a naiad to protect all beings native to this forest. How was I supposed to know you weren't the one who...'
Mia was stopped mid-tirade by a violent sneeze from Rose - followed by a second, then a third - and Lady Vasilisa's calm face instantly flooded with concern.
'It's the water magic,' the elf murmured uneasily, pressing the back of her hand against the human's forehead and feeling that it was ice-cold.
'Underlander!' she called in the direction of the doorway. 'Come at once!'
Only moments later, the door opened and Snow White unconsciously recoiled at the sight of the strange, yet familiar, man that entered the room. He was the one she had glimpsed earlier. The one with the eyes that had turned to red.
He was similar to female elf - but in the way that a shadow is alike yet not alike to the thing that cast it. Where Vasilisa radiated light, this elf-man seemed to absorb it. His grey skin gave him a dour air - his pale blue eyes almost white against his dark complexion - and even though his hair fell in a thick, shaggy mop about his face, there was no hiding the two wildly-elongated ears that stood out from the sides of his head - or the two small protrusions sprouting out from his forehead that could only be described as a pair of horns.
'What do you need, Lady Vasilisa?' the newcomer asked, his face losing a little of its sullenness as he addressed the slender, blonde-haired elf.
'The human,' she instructed him urgently. 'Are you certain you warmed her thoroughly? Help her. Please.'
'I don't want his help,' Snow White took a step backwards, remembering the stabbing pains that had seized her the last time this grey elf touched her.
There was a bubbly kind of laugh from Mia in the background, and the elf-man narrowed his strange, pale eyes.
'Does my race disgust you so much?' he said it like an accusation.
Rose frowned uncertainly.
'Of course not. I don't even know what you are. I just don't want you to hurt me again.'
The man's lips twitched into a smirk.
'Poor, ignorant human. Of course you do not know what I am. Well, allow me to educate you... I am a half-breed underlander - product of the unholy union between my human mother and my underlander father.'
'The blood of the dark elves runs in my veins, and I have inherited their powers over earth and fire. The pain you felt earlier was not harming you. It was saving you. When Lady Vasilisa and I arrived on the scene, old sneezy, here, had chilled your body until you were only moments from death,' the elf threw a disdainful glance at the water spirit. 'My fire magic brought you back. Now do you want me to check that you are properly restored, or are you too afraid to let me touch you?'
Snow White honestly would have preferred that the devilish being didn't touch her, but the look on Vasilisa's face convinced her she should trust the man - even if he was a grumpy, arrogant sort of creature.
'I am not afraid of you Mr Underlander,' she looked him straight in the eye to show that his strange appearance did not concern her. 'Do whatever you have to do.'
The elf was surprised and secretly impressed by the human's bravery - not that he would ever admit it to her.
'My name is Kristyan,' he said stiffly.
Stepping closer to the human, he laid a hand high on her chest and a flame ignited within him - tainting his eyes red and heating the surface of his palm. This time, instead of stabbing pins and needles, Rose felt only warmth and energy flowing through her skin and seeping into the deepest fibres of her muscles.
After a minute or so, the dark elf pulled his hand away - satisfied with whatever he had done.
'You're fine,' he declared, already turning his attention to Vasilisa. 'Is there anything else, my Lady?'
Vasilisa looked to him gratefully.
'Can you tell the little ones we'll be down to tea soon, please? And to set an extra plate for our guest,' she gave him an encouraging smile.
'What do you mean by little ones?' Snow White spoke up warily.
Before today she'd had no idea that elves or water spirits or underlanders even existed, and if there were to be any more surprises she wanted to be prepared.
'Do you mean to say that you and Kristyan have children?'
Their shocked silence was immediately followed by a burst of deep, uproarious laughter.
Rose spun her head towards the sound and saw a set of three faces pop up from behind the furthest bed. The faces belonged to three 'little' men - little in the sense that the only stood as tall as Snow White's chest, but larger than life in every other respect. Broad shoulders and barrelly chests, thighs like tree trunks, and thickly muscled arms that were barely contained by the banded-leather clothing they wore. Each had a longer, wilder beard than the last and they all sported scars and tattoos on their arms and necks that came with all manner of tall tales whenever the beer was flowing.
'Kristyan and Vasilisa? He wishes!' the dwarf with the blonde hair exclaimed, doubling over in mirth, while the oldest of the three beamed inanely from behind his massive grey beard (which was so long he'd tucked it into his belt down to avoid tripping up on it).
'Knock it off, Eddie!' the third dwarf hissed, combing a hand self-consciously over his luxurious red mane as he snatched a worshipful glance up at their human guest. 'Yuri, wipe that smirk off your face. Show some respect. There's a lady present.'
Eddie stared at his companion in disbelief then a new suge of delight flooded his rugged features.
'You've come over all bashful, Mason! I never thought I'd see the day!' he spluttered with laughter, and Mason glared in response, jabbing the taller dwarf hard in the ribs.
The force of his blow knocked Eddie sideways into the grey-haired dwarf beside him, and without warning, old Yuri spun around and planted a fist so solidly into Eddie's guts that the blonde dwarf fell flat on his backside. Winded for a moment, he looked up in surprise then let out a huge bellow of laughter - grabbing Yuri by the legs and toppling him to the ground. There was a momentary scuffle as the two hulking dwarfs rolled over one another, each fighting to dominate the other until Yuri clonked his head on a nearby bedpost and dazed himself.
'Why are there stars in the daytime?' he asked nobody in particular, which only made Eddie laugh even harder.
Mason covered his face with one hand - mortified at the other dwarfs' loutish behaviour - and while the commotion was settling down, Kristyan stepped up to Snow White's elbow.
'So now you've met Happy, Dopey, and Bashful,' he said sarcastically.
Rose thought the nicknames suited the three dwarfs very well, but there was something she didn't like about the haughty tone to Kristyan's words.
'And I suppose that makes you Grumpy, then?' she asked innocently.
The underlander's eyes flashed with annoyance, but a movement on the far the side of the room caught his attention, giving him the excuse he needed to withdraw from the conversation.
'Heads-up, everybody,' Kristyan observed in a louder voice. 'Sleepy's awake.'
Snow White hadn't even noticed that there was another man in the room. He had been sitting perfectly still and silent - almost blending into the wall behind him - but now he threw back the deep hood of his cloak and immediately locked eyes on the only human in the room.
'What news, cousin?' Lady Vasilisa glided across the floor to greet him. 'You were gone so long this time I was beginning to worry.'
But the young man - a high elf like his cousin - ignored her question and made a path directly for Rose.
'Your highness. Thank Vlad you are safe,' he reached for her hand and bowed gracefully over it. 'Lord Adrian Ivashkov, at your service.'
As princess of the Northern Kingdom, Rose had met many lords and princes over the years - even a few kings and a sultan - but not one of them carried themselves with even half the grace and self-confidence of this elf lord. And if his manner was not enough to catch her attention, then his appearance certainly was.
Adrian's skin was golden like Vasilisa's, though his hair was brown, not blonde. The sides were drawn back and braided through the delicate crown that wrapped around the centre of his forehead, while the rest of his hair hung loose - and somewhat haphazardly - about his shoulders. Beneath his mottled cloak, the man wore tight trousers and a fitted robe - made of a material so fine that Snow White could see each soft shadow as it brushed against lightly muscled planes of his chest - and his emerald eyes were so entrancing that Rose had the strangest feeling she might fall headlong into them.
'It is an honour to meet you, Lord Ivashkov,' she answered formally, her human senses slightly overwhelmed by his presence. 'And I am Princess Rose Hathaway - though most people call me Snow White.'
'Snow White?' Adrian held her hand a moment longer, running an approving eye over the princess' flushed cheeks and crimson dress. 'I should think Rose Red suits you much better.'
The colour in Rose's cheeks deepened and she looked away. It was flattering that the elf was taking such an interest in her, but of all the names and titles that had been given to her, Roza was still her favourite.
Lord Ivashkov gauged a change in the princess' mood and his own face grew serious.
'In any case, princess, it is a great relief to see that you've made it safely here,' he squeezed her hand gently then released it.
'When I first saw your carriage stop on the path into the Night Forest I sensed that something was wrong, and sadly it turned out that I was correct. You have no idea how much I wanted to fly to your aid when the huntsman drew his blade against you, but my cousin and I are strangers here and it is the law of the Elfish High Council that we must not intervene in the matters of other races when we are visiting their lands. Fortunately, the boarhaan was bound by no such convention and chose to intercede on your behalf.'
'Sorry... I don't understand,' Rose felt confused.
'This forest is place enshrined with deep magic,' Adrian explained in a measured voice. 'Many of the ancient beasts that once called the Night Forest home have died out over the last thousand years, but a few still remain - like the boarhaan your huntsman friend killed,' the elf's tone was faintly accusing.
'Now, wait on a minute,' Snow White instantly defended her champion. 'Dimitri only killed that thing because it attacked us.'
Lord Ivashkov shook his head.
'But it wasn't attacking you, princess,' he corrected her. 'It was attacking the huntsman. The boarhaan saw that you were under threat and it came to your aid of its own accord. You must be a truly remarkable woman, Rose Red, to win the favour of an ancient, and then convince the man who was going to murder you to help you instead.'
The princess' frown deepened.
'But how do you know all this?' she demanded. 'How could you have possibly seen what happened? Up until a few minutes ago you were fast asleep in the corner over there.'
'Asleep?' Adrian raised an eyebrow in surprise, then walked purposefully across to the window and blew a low whistle.
'Contrary to appearances, your majesty, I was not sleeping,' the elf said over his shoulder, as a faint rustling noise sounded from outside the window.
'My concentration was simply... engaged elsewhere.'
Adrian turned slowly and Snow White's eyelashes sprang wide open at the sight of a hawk perched on his arm.
'The hawk?! You sent it to attack me?!' Rose's voice came out several pitches higher than usual.
'Well, technically, she sent me,' Adrian smiled faintly. 'Allow me to introduce you to Jill. My animal bondmate,' he scratched the raptor's feathers and it closed its eyes in enjoyment. 'When we are connected in spirit, I can fly with her and see through her eyes. I'm sorry if we frightened you, Rose Red, but you were hopelessly lost, and it was imperative that you made it to safety before nightfall or you would have certainly perished in the forest. Chasing you seemed the quickest way to get you here.'
The princess shot a dark glance at the bird on Lord Ivashkov's arm.
'Chasing me?' Rose hissed in disbelief. 'You and your little bird friend did a bit more than that, Lord Ivashkov! You stole my tiara from my head, if you remember, and ripped out half my hair while you were at it!' she smoothed over the tender spot with a wince.
Adrian looked mortified.
'I apologise a thousand times, princess,' he hurried to explain himself. 'Animal bonding is a new discipline to me. It is a strong magic, but Jill and I are still learning how to negotiate the bond. Please allow me to make amends.'
At a movement from the elf, the hawk launched into the air and disappeared out of the window, leaving Adrian's hands free to procure Snow White's ruby tiara from within his robes. As he placed the bow-shaped crown upon her head, he brushed his fingers lightly over the place where Rose's skin had been broken, and a soft, golden light filled the room.
The princess stumbled backwards, her hand flying to her head. The stinging feeling had gone. It was as if there had never been a wound there at all.
'But how did you...-?' Rose shouldn't really have been surprised by now, but after all the shocks of her day, this last thing was just too much.
Adrian looked pleased with himself.
'All elves possess healing abilities, though I admit I never mastered the finer healing arts,' he informed her. 'Simple scrapes and bruises I can handle, but if you need anything more serious taken care of, Vasilisa is the real Doc of the family.'
Rose glanced curiously at Lady Vasilisa then back to Adrian.
'So if you aren't very good with your animal bond, and you aren't very good at healing... then what are you good at?'
There was a snigger from Kristyan in the background, and Lord Ivashkov's suave demeanour faltered momentarily, but he recovered himself almost at once.
'Why don't you stay here with us for a while and you can find out for yourself?!' his eyes twinkled with intrigue. 'I, for one would be delighted to have your company, and I'm sure the others would be pleased to have you too... wouldn't we ladies and gentlemen?'
There was a general chorus of support from around the room, though Kristyan and Mia were markedly less enthusiastic in their responses.
Snow White wavered for a few moments but eventually shook her head.
'I'm sorry, but I can't stay. As long as I remain within reach of the Northern Kingdom I am in danger. Queen Tasha sent the huntsman to kill me because she wants to steal my throne, but Dimitri chose to be help me instead. He said there's a druidess in the Eastern Kingdom who can keep me safe. I must go to her.'
'Oksana?' Vasilisa spoke softly, and everybody quietened down to listen. 'I fear you would not be safe with her, Princess Rose. The druidess is a good woman, but she lives close to the edge of the forest and trades regularly with the townsfolk in the nearby village. If Queen Tasha sends spies across the border into the Eastern Kingdom in search of you, they will surely find you there.'
Rose's face fell.
'Please, you mustn't fret, princess,' the dwarf called Mason implored her gruffly, summoning the courage to look her in the eye. 'You can remain here with us for as long as you'd like to. My brothers and I are miners, but we are warriors too. Mia and the elves aren't fighters like us but their magic is strong. Stay here and let us protect you from the wicked queen and anyone else who would do you harm. '
'Well, princess?' Lord Ivashkov tilted his head slightly and fixed the young princess with a soul-searing, emerald gaze. 'Will you stay?'
Snow White looked around at the odd group of companions that were assembled together in the loft of the dwarfs' cottage. Up until a few hours ago, the princess had been expecting to spend this evening at the Zeklos Manor; enjoying dinner and dancing with Prince Jesse - maybe even receiving a proposal of marriage. But fate had set her on a different path, and even though Rose felt a sense of sorrow at the life she had left behind, a tiny glimmer of excitement began to take light inside of her as she thought about what tomorrow might bring.
'If a message can be gotten to Dimitri to tell him I'm safe, the yes - I'll stay,' she agreed, a smile spreading across her face as all three dwarfs swarmed closer to welcome her warmly.
So, she'd be spending the next however long in a mysterious cottage in the middle of the Night Forest with three dwarfs, two high elves, an underlander and a water spirit. What could possibly go wrong?!
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Author's Note:
So... Rose's protectors aren't the traditional Seven Dwarfs. (A decision I came to as soon as I tried imagining Lissa as a dwarf XD)
Adrian is way better as a hawk-warging elf than Snow White's prince, right?! (Hopefully now you see why I gave the other role to Jesse, as much as he is universally hated!)
Any Star Trek fans in? I thought it would be cool if Adrian/the elves followed the Prime Directive!
There is no pre-existing fantasy creature called a boarhaan. I just know a guy called Burhan, so now he's famous :)
Chapter 5 - I'm not sure when I'll be posting the next chapter. Five days left until I leave for my crazy family relocation drive/holiday. If you don't hear from me for a few weeks I'll be camping my way across Australia; sleeping in a tent, pooping in the wilderness, looking over lonely cliffs towards Antarctica, listening to children's movies on repeat in the car & hopefully stopping off at a winery or two. Fun times!
Remember to check out my Pinterest page (Llaria6) if you'd like to see some cool visuals for my character ideas in this chapter. I also have a FB page (also Llaria6) which I will use to let you know when the next chapter is ready to come out.