Snow watched from her bedroom window as the visitors entered the castle. She knew why they were here. She just didn't know how to get rid of them. At the head of the line was the prince. As he dismounted she looked him over carefully. Tall, blonde, and dressed in silks and satins. She was willing to bet he was perfumed a well. He was the third prince this summer. There had also been a Duke and another knight.

"He is quite handsome," Greta giggled as she held out Snow's slippers.

Snow shot her friend an exasperated look. "Then you marry him."

Greta had grown used to the Queen's quirks and had come to realize she could speak a bit more freely to Snow than other maids could speak to their Ladies. "I would not worry too much, milady. If you do not favor the Prince, he will be gone soon."

Snow stood and adjusted her skirts. "Oh? What makes you think that?"

Greta giggled and began braiding the Queen's hair. "Everyone knows, milady. If you do not want the man who seeks your hand, the dwarves and the huntsman will run them off. They always do."

Snow's eyes went wide as she looked at Greta. "What?"

Greta's humor faded and nervousness took it's place. "Surely you know, my Queen," she said carefully. "Once it becomes obvious that you have no romantic interest in a suitor, they hurry the man out of the kingdom."

Snow stared at her for a couple more seconds before spinning and rushing out of her chamber. Greta wondered if she had just made a big mistake.


Eric and Beith were just heading toward the training grounds when Snow caught up to them. "Is it true?' she demanded fiercely. "Have you been running off suitors?"

Eric sighed heavily and Beith shrugged unrepentantly. "It's not like that," Eric said gently. "We do not run anyone off. We merely suggest they return home once you have rejected them."

Snow's tiny hands clenched angrily. "I am not a child to be coddled!" Snow yelled.

"Milady," Beith began soothingly.

Snow shook her head hard. "No! Is it not enough that I have the council treating me as if I do not know my own mind? They constantly remind me that I am too young. They argue every day that my father would do things their way. I do not need the people I trust most trying to rule my life also!"

Eric's eyes turned cold as ice and he bowed low, the first time he had ever done so. It shocked her to see the anger in him. "Very well, my Queen." He spun on his heel and walked stiffly toward the stables.

Snow felt as cold as her name as she walked him walk away. Beith sighed softly and touched her arm, drawing her attention to him. "My dear, we are not trying to rule your life. We do not interfere with your suitors until you have turned them away yourself. We are simply easing the way for the next man. Once you have decided that you do not wish to be courted by a man, we send them away so that another may try. We want you to be happy. To fall in love. To meet and marry a man who would bring you bliss."

Beith gave her a tender smile. "You are our queen. We want only what you think is best for you. If we wanted what we thought best, there would never be another man to ride through that castle gate."

Snow looked at him with confusion. "You think I should never marry?"

The dwarf shook his head. "I think your True Love already resides here in these walls."

Snow snorted. "William? We were friends as children. Now we are… well not exactly friends but I am fond of him a bit."

Beith shook his head, his wild hair flying slightly in the wind. "Not that young man. Another. One who looks at you like you hung the stars. One who will never tell you how he feels because he believes he can never be who you need. A man who would gladly give his last breath to see you happy, even if it is in another's arms."

Snow was silent for several seconds while she thought carefully about what Beith was saying. Slowly she turned and watched as Eric rode out of the castle. "You think he loves me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"I know he does," Beith assured her. "Just as I am sure that you love him."

Snow shook her head timidly. "He grieves for his wife, still. She holds his heart, even from heaven."

Beith clasped her hands between his. "He does still carry his wife in his heart, but do not be fooled into thinking his heart is not big enough and strong enough for you, as well. He loves you, Snow White. He loves you enough to let you go free, even though it kills him a little more each day to do so. He has given you his life, his axe, his heart. He asks nothing in return."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked sadly.

"Do you know why you awoke in the Duke's stronghold?" he asked.

"Ravenna was weakened. Her spell did not hold," Snow told him.

"I was there, in the shadows," he told her. "I had come to bid you goodbye in private. Only you were not alone. The Huntsman was standing over you, tears falling from his eyes to your cheeks. He kissed you. He breathed life back into you. That was the power that returned you to us. His True Love for you in the form of a kiss broke the witch's spell."

Snow sank to the ground beside him in shock. "You'll be a Queen in heaven and sit among the angels." Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked at Beith. "I thought I had dreamed those words," she admitted. "I thought it was because I love him so much that I only imagined he would ever say such things to me."

Beith paced a calloused hand on her cheek. "Now you know the truth. What will you do with this knowledge?"

Snow looked over as Duke Hammond approached, a disgruntled William on his left and a smiling prince on his right. She stood and brushed off her skirts. "I have a visitor to meet," she mumbled softly.

Beith watched Snow walk to where the men stood. He hoped Muir was right. The happiness of not just Snow White, but their hunter friend teetered on the edge of a blade.