Snow
Eric and I returned to the kingdom a day later, our skin had marks of black all over. Our bodies were tired of the long journey, and my mind was trying to rest of what it still had left. Eric hadn't left my side since our kiss. Which, I had completely forgotten after my small war with the tree since my body was exhausted physically I had no time for emotions. We were greeted by the dwarves at the gate, they cheered for us while we rode in. "Cheers for the mighty queen and her huntsman!"
This made me ponder for a moment, was he only my huntsman or was he really my huntsman? "Tell Gretchen to run a bath. I reek of death." I told one of the guards outside. I dismounted Wanderlust; Eric joined me at my side while the guards escorted us back into the kingdom. I kept my body straight but I felt my eyes slipping, "Thank you."
I said to the guards who backed out of order and went outside. I climbed the stairs with Eric and silenced descended onto us. I was afraid if I spoke that he'd have an excuse to leave me by myself and I couldn't have him leave me now. Not when I'm so weak like this, I cannot afford him to leave me. The bedroom guards opened the doors to my chambers for Eric and I.
"You are released." I said to them. Their bodies relaxed, bowing to me they quickly left to the stairs. I closed the door, Gretchen put down an empty can down. "Your bath is almost finished, your Majesty." She smiled at me, I nodded to her and watched her pick up the last bucket. "Are you alright, Snow?" Eric whispered to me, I gave a small nod to him and watched Gretchen curtsey and excuse herself from my bed chamber.
I went to the door and locked it after she had disappeared. "Since you seem to be in good shape, I shall go-" I grasped his hand tightly, which made him turn his eyes trailing up from our connected hands to my face. "Do not leave me, please don't. I beg of you, do not leave me again." I whispered and went into his chest. He gripped my body tightly, "I won't ever." He whispered into my hair, we were silent for a moment and I pulled back.
"Please, help me out of this." I turned and moved my hair from my back, after a minute or two of pulling Eric took his blade out and cut the corset. It fell to the floor in a jagged heap; I slid out of the rest of my outfits, only one small clothing article remaining. I turned to Eric who's eyes kept down, "Don't be shy, my love." I helped him get undressed and removed the dirtied clothing from him. He was stripped down nearly bare, I kept that small clothing on him as well.
I touched his face and turned going into the bathroom. I took a deep breath seeing my bath steam of the hot water, I let the last article of clothing fall and step into the bath, the warm water greeting me and my sore muscles. Eric stood at the door, motionless his face was red with blush. I lifted my arm out of the water and signaled him to come join me.
He took a deep breath, I watched him remove his last clothing. My breath caught, he was truly magnificent. He looked like he was sculpted only from the Gods, his clear skin, oceanic blue eyes, long silky blonde hair. He was beyond muscled, he looked like a man that could take many arrows before falling. He was the most beautiful man I had ever met and I had the pleasure of being his divine love. He slid into the water, I stood facing him my arm slowly going down his muscled one; "You're so beautiful, Eric" I murmured into his skin, "Not me, Snow. I'm nothing compared to your divine beauty."
This caused a set of chills to go down my spine. I leaned back into the water, pulling Eric with me into the water. I grasped soap and lathered it over his skin. Eric put his hand over mine, I looked down at him and he caught my face. His lips came up to mine, searching for something and when I kissed him back. I knew he had found what he was searching for.
The fire crackled with intensity and the heat wafted into the cold room. Eric grasped me against him, drying my hair for me. His fingers going through it, it was a quiet tender moment between him and I. His hands fell from my hair and up my arms; I closed my eyes relaxing against his warm skin. "My body is exhausted." I whispered moving my head into the crook of his neck I felt the vibration of his chest while he gave a small laugh. "Just wait until you and I are alone again, I shall show you the real word for exhausted."
I smiled and stood up, "Join me to bed?" He hesitated for a moment and then stood, I was nearly about to climb into bed when someone banged on my chamber door. Eric and I looked confused at each other, I put my robe on seeing Eric not even bothering to put on a shirt. He unlocked the door and opened it. "Snow- Oh my god."
My heart froze hearing William at the door. "What do you need from Snow?" Eric said leaning against the door blocking his view. I played with my hair, this was not good, not good at all. "I must talk to Snow." William said through gritted teeth. "What makes you so righteous to think that she wants to speak to you?" "You know damn well." Eric leaned up off the door and came up close to William. "I'm sure I do not, why don't you try to fix my memory?"
"That is ENOUGH." I said, Eric turned and William poked his head over Eric's broad shoulders. "Let him in, Eric will you excuse us?" He nodded, "I shall be outside the door, if you need me." He gave a slight nod and left the room. I stood facing the fire for a moment deep in my thoughts, I gripped my robe tightly wondering what I should say first but William is the one that brought me out of my thoughts.
"With a commoner? What makes you think that he is suited enough for you?" I felt my blood boil and I turned around. "He saved my life, twice; do not forget the kind generosity he has given me." "He was sent to kill you," "and he ended up saving me instead and leading me to your kingdom." "This is completely madness! You should not be seen with a man of no royal blood."
"What are you implying?" "That you should not speak to him," My eyes went wide and I strode towards him. "How dare you, tell me who I am to love and who am I to speak to." "I saved you once as well." "That is nothing compared to what you've done to Eric. He led me to safety while you led me to my death." "I tried to save you." "YOU BROUGHT RAVENNA'S GUARDS EVERYWHERE." I shouted at him. "I killed off HALF of them." "While Eric killed the leader,"
"ENOUGH TALK ABOUT HIM I AM DONE HEARING ABOUT HIM. I risked my life for you, I loved you, and help you take care of your kingdom and this is how you repay me?" "There were no debts to be paid, William. You've changed since you've come to help me, and I'm very tired of your constant hovering over me. Questioning every move I make or pondering everything I do. You have crossed the line when you chose to tell me who I am to love." "He doesn't deserve you."
"Then who does?" "I DO, I DO SNOW, I DESERVE YOU, I worship you, and I love you and you don't look at me the same way." "I grew up with you, and I only loved you like a brother." "I WON'T ACCEPT THAT." "That is what you are GIVEN. If you cannot take what I give you then you may go." "I SHALL, I do hope that Eric does not plan on leaving you again."
William stormed out, leaving my hands shaking and my face red with such anger. Eric entered the room and looked at me, "Are you alright, Snow?" I shook my head. "Just leave me be." He nodded at me, I wrung my wrist around and around trying to calm my blood. "I won't go." I heard him, I turned to him with hateful eyes. "You are a fool, I asked you to leave," "and I chose to stay."
"As your queen I command you to leave," "as a huntsman to the queen I command you to not order me around." I came up to him, "What is with men today and making me infuriated?" I turned around and rubbed my temples. "Just leave me be," "I shall not, not until you are completely alright."
I felt myself breaking, I felt my throat close up and feel the tears begin to fall from my face. Eric came up to me and grasped my hands, I tried to move away from him but he caught me again and this time I pushed him back but he just pushed back with much more force.
Knocking over a small table, I felt the wall hit my back. "You aren't alone in that tower any more, you cannot run and hide in a different place anymore. I will not, ever, leave you." I looked up at him. "Prove it to me, Eric." He let my hands go and I let them drop to the side. Eric grasped the back of my neck and brought his lips to mine.
