My mum was driving the carriage; our two horses, Spring and Bloom, were trotting away on the muddy path leading towards our new home. I had my head on my mother's knees while she hummed a lullaby to me.
"Mama, where are we going?" I asked her.
"To our new home, Nena," She smiled down at me before looking forward again.
"Oh, and where's that?" I asked sitting up and looking at my mum.
"Oh Nena, it's a surprise for your birthday," My mum told me with a wink.
"Really? Mama please tell me!" I pleaded to my mother and starting jumping in my seat.
"No Iris, it's a surprise. Now go to sleep Nena, we still have a long way to go," My mother laughed at my childish pleading.
"Okay," I pouted and laid on my mother's lap again and went to sleep.
Suddenly the horses let out a loud shriek and got on their back legs causing the carriage to topple over. I heard my mum scream and I let out a scream of my own when I hit the ground. I screamed for my mum but I couldn't hear nor see her; black smoke was all around me and when I tried to go through it my eyes burned as did my throat. Blood started dripping out of my eyes and mouth but I continued to run, looking for my mother.
"MAMA! MAMI!" I kept screaming for her, but nothing. I was suddenly overtaken with exhaustion and collapsed onto the ground. But not before I let out one last scream for my mother.
….….
I woke up with a start, the memory still clear in my mind. I felt cold sweat dripping down my face, my clothes sticking to my clammy body. Ugh. Disgusting. I definitely need to go and get some new clothes for myself, maybe some for Snow too.
I looked around me to find Snow and the dwarves still sound asleep, all except Butcher.
I stood up in the small cottage, which to be fair was not hard to do since I am only 5'1. I walked towards the window, noticing that it was snowing again. It always seems to snow here; it's like a forever lasting ice age.
Suddenly, I heard grunting and some wood being chopped. I turned my head towards the sound and saw Butcher with an axe cutting some wood. Oh boy…his muscles rippled when he raised the axe and I only just collected myself before my knees gave way.
Why did he have to be so damn hot?! He is such an ass, yet I can't help but feel so attracted to him. I kept staring at him while he chopped; I could feel the drool building up but was too entranced to notice.
"You have drool all over your chin," a voice suddenly said, making me give a strangled screech. Said screech happened to catch Butchers attention and he sent an annoyed glare my way before continuing with his chopping.
"No I don't Grimm!" I whispered/yelled while quite blatantly whipping my chin. Oh, okay maybe I do.
"You like Butcher?" He asked amused, raising his eyebrow.
"No I don't" HA, even I could distinguish the lie in my voice.
"YOU DO!" He pointed at me laughing. I couldn't help but to laugh along with him, Grimm seemed like the uncle I never had.
"Okay maybe I do, but please don't tell anyone," I pleaded to him. I can't say I actually like Butcher but I can't say I'm not insanely attracted to him.
"I won't, on one condition. You become queen and let us fight alongside you," Grimm requested with hopeful eyes, his brown eyes wide with excitement.
"It seems I have no choice in the matter anyways. After I heard what she did to you guys, I want to take down that witch bitch," Grimm laughed and patted my hand.
"You're a great woman Iris, just like your mother," He smiled and limped away. I just noticed he had a limp, but I am not one to pry so I ignored it and looked down at myself.
Shit. That's the only thing I can think of when I look at myself in the mirror. My hair is now down and up to my bum in its usual bushiness; my dress has become extremely wrinkles and has left marks on my exposed arms and shoulders. This is what I get for wearing the same dress two days in a row. Sighing, I went over to the pump and started wiping the makeup of my face.
Suddenly two small muddy hands shot out of nowhere and grabbed the cloth I was using. I looked down and saw Butcher wiping them on the cloth and he threw them back at me with a smirk.
"What's your problem?!" I demanded, wondering why he did that. I have done nothing wrong to him.
"You're my problem, because you and your sister are here! We are in danger! You are going to get us all killed!" Butcher yelled, waking up everyone in the cabin.
"BUTCHER!" Grimm and Napoleon yelled.
"You're acting as if I want this, as if I asked for my dad to be a king! I can't believe I'm still here!" I glared at him harshly and turned to walk out the door.
"Why are you here then?" He asked, taking a few steps closer to me.
"I don't know! Maybe I want to finally have a family again, maybe I want to live my life and maybe I want a family of my own. I guess I just have to deal with the truth that it's never going to happen!" I ranted once more and stormed out of there and towards the castle.
I can't believe this. Why am I still here? I could be with Jay and my orphans, being a mother to them. I could be finding them families, never mind about my hopes and dreams.
I continued my trek through the snow, once again reminded that I'm still in my ball dress. Suddenly the wind picked up and I was blinded by the snow. My eyes burned and my tanned skin was now rosy red from the cold. I kept it up until I reached the back door of the kitchen, slamming it hard as soon as I got in.
"Iris! Where have you been?" was the first thing I was greeted with, my uncles arms wrapped around my shivering person. So…cold…so…tired. My vision became blurred and I felt my body float; someone was holding me and taking me to my room.
I was too tired to open my eyes once I hit my bed, the warmth making me even more fatigued.
"Iris! Iris wake up! It's Prince Alcott!" a deep voice rumbled and two large warm hands shook me. I groaned loudly, mumbling a 'shut up' before I felt a hand travel a little too near my southern region. That resulted in my bolting up and slapping the offender.
"OW! What was that for!?" Prince Alcott exclaimed while rubbing the mark I left.
"Keep your hands to yourself boy!" I scolded.
"Sorry, so did you find her? Snow White?" he asked.
You'd think he was a lost puppy whose owner had died or abandoned him.
'But should I tell him?' I thought to myself, trying to make a decision,' He might tell the queen though; god knows how far her magic reached. No. He can find out for himself'.
"No, I'm sorry," I said, putting on my poker face.
"Oh, but where were you these past few days?"
"I was doing my own thing, which is none of your concern. If that is it then will you kindly leave my room?" I have to admit I was being somewhat rude but I'm cold, I'm tired and I just want to get out of this damn dress!
"Ok, I'm sorry to have bothered you." He left my room quietly and I got out of my bed and headed towards my bathroom.
I quickly had a hot bath and got changed into my nightgown which was made of red silk and white cotton. I hopped into my bed and fell back onto my fluffy mattress, staring up at the ceiling my mind went back to that argument with Butcher.
Why did he have to be so cruel? I don't even know him well enough for him to judge. I know I'll have to go back soon, I have finally found my sister and I don't intend to leave her any time soon. Sigh. Why did life have to be so difficult? God really is punishing me.
Tomorrow I'll head back to the woods and apologise to the dwarves for running away. I should also give Snow a few of my clothes that are too big for me. Yep, tomorrow is a new day and I'll just have to take it in stride, and ignore Butcher.
