Prompt: Snowing getting lost in the forest during a free day from the castle
She is completely, positively, one hundred percent certain she has seen that tree with the low hanging branch six times now.
And she has mentioned said tree to Charming four times already, to the same response.
"We're not lost."
Men.
"Charming…"
He huffs impatiently, pulls his sword from its holder, and uses it to dig the smallest of notches into the tree's trunk. Plucking a wildflower from the base of the tree, he stuffs the stem into the opening he'd created.
"There. If we pass this tree again - which we won't, because we're not lost - we'll know it."
Gods, he delights her.
She lets the laugh escape her, warm and content. "Not bad, Charming. If only you were that bright at navigating."
He only just manages to rearrange his face into a scowl, though the laughter shining in his eyes pretty much renders it moot. "I will have you know, my dear, I am a brilliant tracker."
She tilts her head in acknowledgement of that. "Indeed. You're never once failed to find me. Perhaps you should track the castle now?"
He pushes her away, a teasing shove, light and easy and careful in a way that's completely obvious - he'd never actually hurt her - and so playful it thrills her.
No one else would ever approve, but she's never wanted to be treated like a porcelain doll. And he knows that, gets that, understands that he can push her boundaries further than is generally considered acceptable.
(Makes things fun in bed, too.)
They have fun together, mostly because things have always been so comfortable, so easy between them. They can laugh, they can tease, they can banter - so much banter. And it's all just so good.
So when twenty minutes later, they walk past a tree with a low-hanging branch and a flower sticking out of its trunk, and Charming's jaw drops in horror, she can't help but grin.
"We're lost!" she announces with misplaced giddiness, because really, this is way funnier than it should be.
"This is absurd," he splutters.
She nods, solemn, or as solemn as she can be while trying to keep straight faced. "I have heard that spending hours walking around in circles is absurd."
He looks like he's trying really hard to be offended, but can't quite manage it. It's one of his best qualities, his ability to find the humour in any situation, and he can certainly see it here.
"Okay, oh wise one," he intones. "You lead us now, since you could do it so much better."
She laughs. "You do remember we're in your kingdom this week? What do I know about your side of the Enchanted Forest?"
He shakes his head sadly. "So now your confidence wanes."
Her eyebrow raises practically of its own accord. "Is that a challenge?"
"My dear, if it'll get us back to the castle, it's whatever you want it to be."
Teasingly, she preens, does a couple of stretches, shakes out her curls, and tries very, very hard to ignore the sound of his low chuckle, and the things it does to her. "Well then, follow me. I think our first step shall be to go in the opposite direction you kept going in."
It's going well. The scenery isn't exactly familiar, but that's a good thing, because it's not the same thing over and over again. They both think they're progressing, and relax enough to discuss certain kingdom matters, a tax cut they've been pondering, a few applications by land owners for expansion of their land. The kingdom is doing well since they took over, a point of pride for them both.
When they finally emerge into a clearing, it only takes two steps before they both freeze in place.
There, right there in front of them, is a tree with a low hanging branch and a flower sticking out of its trunk.
The sheer variety of curses she exclaims to the forest is highly impressive.
Charming is trying very, very hard not to smile. It's not going well for him. Again, finding the humour.
"You shush!" she tells him.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it. Loudly."
"Well, it's funny, isn't it? After all that, you've just managed to get us back exactly where I got us. Pity. I had such high hopes for you, woman of the woods. Aren't you supposed to know this forest like the back of your hand?"
"I know my kingdom's side of the forest."
"Ah. Allow me to ask, what is that difference?"
She mock glares at him. "It's a secret. Come here, let me tell you. Closer, closer." She waits until he's right up next to her, bending down slightly, so she can angle her head to place her mouth against his ear, damn near caressing it with her lips - perfect for secret whispering - before yelling right into it, "MY SIDE MAKES SENSE!"
He falls back, startled by the scream when he'd expected a whisper, takes one look at her face, and promptly doubles over and howls with laughter.
"Stop," she tries, but it comes out wheezy with the effort of holding back giggles herself. "Stop laughing…"
It's just not happening. And his laugh gets her, always, so she's laughing, which just makes it worse for him, and before very long they're both hysterical with it.
"Oh how I love you," he finally says, once he's got his breath back. "You make me so happy Snow."
"Love you too. So, so, so much. Now give me a boost."
"Come again?"
"If we can't avoid this tree, then we might as well use it. I'm going to climb up, see if I can see anything to tell us where we are."
He looks impressed in spite of himself. "You always were the smart one."
"Nah, just the one used to using the tools the woods give me."
She climbs without too much difficulty, the tree tall but with many branches to grip. The height of the tree turns out to be an advantage, for with it being just taller than the average, it gives her a sightline above the tree line, and once she reaches the top, she finds she can just see the castle's turrets.
She yells down to Charming, points out the direction they need to go in, and at his nod, makes her way down. She's a branch away, just needs to reach for the low-hanging one, when she notices that the branch is in real danger of falling right off. It's possible it could take her weight, but not all that likely, and though her fall would not be very long, she can't - cannot - bring herself to let that branch fall.
It's their tree. Their stupid, pain in the ass, wonderful tree.
"The branch can't take my weight," she calls down to Charming. "I'm gonna jump from here. You'll catch me?"
"Always."
Trusting him, always, always trusting him, she lets go, lets her body go into freefall just for a few seconds, before she lands smoothly, carefully, in Charming's outstretched arms.
He cradles her like something precious.
"Hi," she murmurs.
"Hi."
For a few long moments, they simply stare at each other.
"We don't have to go back yet," he announces, before kissing her passionately.
"No," she sighs happily, winding her arms around his neck, winding her fingers into his fine hair. "No, definitely not."
They are very, very, very late back to the castle that night.