The sun was just about to set, as Ravenna's men surveyed the castle wall. Fifty or so guards were perched along the stone walls surrounding the castle. Snow could see them through the window in the tower, her heart racing as she watched the nightfall come. Snow could hear the silence sinking in, knowing Ravenna had still kept her alive, but for how much longer?
Resting beside the fire in her room, she laid upon the cold floor, staring at the ceiling above her, taking a moment to rest as her eyelids began to weigh upon her. She fell asleep, hoping she would live to see another morning.
Eric was just below her, staring behind the trees in front of the wooden entrance to the inside of the castle wall. The dwarves and Oliver looked with him, counting the number of guards at their posts.
"What is the plan?" Gort asked, his husky voice exposing his slight fear.
"We take the guards, sneak in through the sewage and attack. Huntsman and Oliver, you will invade the castle and find Snow. Get her safely out." Beith said.
"We can't." Oliver said, noting the guards and the sounds of animals coming from behind the gates.
"How so?" Coll inquired.
"There are fifty guards and Dark Spirits to add to that. We are incredibly out numbered."
"What is your suggestion then?" Duir asked antagonistically.
"I stay on the front lines. I will take down the spirits. You men must take down the guards. Eric, you find Snow."
"And you really think you can take all of them on?" Gort asked.
Eric looked at Oliver with a smile, knowing of his true skills. "Why yes, yes he can."
Moments later, Oliver was walking towards the castle wall doors, dressed in a long fur cape, with a hood to shield his face.
A guard saw him approach and quickly intervened, unhinging the dwarves as they watched behind the trees.
"Who are you sir?" He asked, Oliver feeling him tense, only relaxing his own muscles as he confidently answered.
"George Donahue, from Tabor. A messenger from Duke Richard. I am here to speak with the Queen." He said.
"The Queen has retired to her bed chamber. Leave now." The guard answered fiercely.
"I would believe that if there were no light coming from her bedroom window." Oliver noted, pointing at the grand balcony above them.
"She is occupied." The guard said.
"Ay, then. I shall tell her of your orders to leave the castle grounds. After all, we know how reasonable of a woman she is. Especially with such pressing matters."
The guard stood there frozen, knowing full well of her might. He merely nodded to the guards above him and with a call down below, two guards opened the wooden doors and Oliver was escorted in. He noticed four animals of fierce skill behind, and he let his fingers drop behind him, noting to the dwarves and the Huntsman of four animals. They then fled to enter the sewage tunnel.
Oliver watched the doors of the wall close behind him and the animals scatter to take refuge on the top of the walls. One griffin, one warthog, one bear, and one ox, all in large size.
"The Queen is in her chamber. What is of such precedence that you need to speak with her?"
"The Huntsman is coming for her. Snow. And an army, from the King of Gyles. He has given them an army and they are proceeding to attack tonight. I left just after Tabor received word, so they will be arriving shortly."
"And why should I believe you?" The guard asked.
"Because the Huntsman swore he would come for her and let Ravenna meet Thaddeus Stone once and for all in hell." Oliver assured, his eyes staring into the guard to prove his legitimacy.
The guard knew of such a bloke, and ordered the guards to ready the fireballs and the arrows for them. Oliver smiled, while nearby, the dwarves hoisted themselves up out of the sewage, carefully evading the guards.
Beith turned to Eric as he got out of the tunnel. "Go now, find her."
"Not until the signal is given. She would never forgive me or herself if you all died without a fair fight." Eric said, knowing of her love for those brave men.
Oliver looked over and saw the dwarves hide in another tower, scurrying up the stairs to lead the attack.
"The fireballs are quite fancy. Good for war?" Oliver asked the guard, who ignored him.
Oliver followed the guard to the top of the wall, watching downward towards the trees where he had concocted the plan. The fireballs were lit as he looked forward, giving the impression he was seeing something.
"How many fireballs did the Duke suggest we have?"
"Only enough to kill fifty men. Mind if I show you?" Oliver asked, his hand lighting beneath his cloak and as soon as the guard caught on to that last statement, Oliver whirled his hand out and pulled the lit fireball towards him, lighting the guards on fire. Their screams were the signal, and as Oliver whirled the fireballs at the armored men, the dwarves appeared and charged at the survivors of the initial fire. They fought with incredible agility and strength, killing every man in their sight. The Dark Spirits, in their animal form, turned to the Huntsman, who was wielding his axe alongside the valiant dwarves.
As the Huntsman threw with full force the sharp blade, the warthog grunted using is head as a weapon. Eric was knocked off his feet, feeling the warthog charge back and forth with all its might. He grabbed its horns though and proceeded to throw the beast off of him, sending him downwards off the top of the gate.
The bear charged for the dwarves, who had run out of men to fight. His roar carried across the castle, alerting Snow as she awoke in her chamber.
Beith took his sword first and slashed the bear across its face, not able to stop it from crashing into him. The bear lunged at him, swiping its sharp claws at him, but Beith killed the beast with just a sword to the heart. The animal fell to its knees, collapsing, and dying in front of them.
Coll and Gurt took on the griffin, as it flew above them, being held up by its massive wings. Gurt through up his sword, wielding it around to pierce the bird, but to no avail. Coll protected them with his shield, as the creature charged letting its claws sink into the wood of the shield. It was stuck, but with one thrust, it threw the shield aside, leaving the men unprotected. Suddenly, Oliver shot fire out of his fingers, engulfing the monster in its amber flames. Its cry echoed throughout the castle as it tumbled down into the ocean.
Eric raced down the stairs to the castle, charging for dear life to find Snow. But before he could reach the doors, the ox charged and threw him across the ground, sending him sliding on his stomach. Eric could feel the pain quickly, and something breaking inside him, but his adrenaline kicked in and he stared the beast down as it stroked its hoof upon the ground, ready for another go. He grabbed his axe and ran for the beast as it too charged for him. The ox was fierce, but he was fiercer. He slid beneath it and whirled upwards to stab the creature along its back, pulling it out to watch it bleed to death.
The spirit left the creature and whirled into the sky rapidly and into the forest, to its fateful origin.
Eric could see more soldiers coming for the wall, but he continued on, racing up the stairs and into the dark castle, desperate to find his love before his good luck would soon run out.
He wanted to call for her, as loud as he could, so he could echo no matter which crack in the floor she was kept. But he knew he could not be detected, for fear they would kill her immediately if they knew he was here, ready for a fight.
He saw the first floor entrance to his right on the first flight of stairs, to which he proceeded first. Walking quietly along the marble floors, he held his axe tightly in his hand, stopping before every corner to survey the hallway and prepare for any guards awaiting him.
As he made it down the next few hallways, he opened every door, entered every room, searching for her. But there was no sign. He began to realize Snow was probably in the tower, a place where Ravenna could keep her captive and not be able to scream because she was too high up to be heard.
He continued up the stairs, reaching the top floor, and stopping just short as he heard voices coming along an intersecting hall. The voices of guards, one shouting for assistance for an attack was occurring. The other guard reminded him Snow was just upstairs, and he would cover the tower.
Not if I have my way. The Huntsman thought as he heard them around the corner. Footsteps came around the corner and he immediately took his axe and bashed it into the guard's head, sending him to the ground. The other followed and lunged his sword right past Eric's head, slicing him just above the eyebrow as he looked up. Eric was quick though, knocking his axe handle into his stomach, staking him enough to puncture his spleen and send him to the ground.
Eric could see the stairs down the hall, to which he carefully ran towards them, quickly stepping up every stair, feeling Snow closer and closer the farther he got. Reaching the top, he could see the entrance to the prisons, calling out to Snow, desperately wanting to hear her voice. A whimper came down the hall, piercing his ears in immense sadness.
"Snow!" He called desperately. He ran down the hall, searching through every cell as he passed, seeing nothing. As he reached the end, he saw a locked wooden cell door and a small window inside. He looked in, seeing her, her ebony hair fallen over her back as she laid there, whimpering in shallow pain.
"Snow!" He cried, but she was too weak to see him, her eyes clenching from the pain, her hand clasping onto her stomach.
"Snow! Please, hold on!" He said, standing back to slice the door handle off with his axe. As he kicked the door open, he crouched beside her, relieved to have found her but also pained to see her this way. She was weak, paler than could be for a living human, and her skin was cold as though she had the life sucked out of her.
He pulled her head up in his hand, caressing her cheek softly to soothe her, feeling her heart race as he let his other hand flow down her body. He was no doctor, but she was not well. Her breath was rapid and she was in pain, more than he had ever seen her face.
"Snow, Snow. I'm right here. I'm right here." He said in a whisper, his eyes welting at her demeanor, as she was becoming weaker in his hands.
She sighed, smiling at him. "I knew you would. There's nothing I wouldn't do to find you, I had to believe the same was true for you."
He smiled, a tear falling down his rugged face. "Yes, nothing could stop me from being by your side. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, the woman I love. Nothing in this world."
She smiled, her breath growing weaker. Her hand went to his face, gently letting her fingers rub his cheeks, his hand covering hers and closing his eyes to feel her loving touch. "I love you." She said.
"I love you." He said. He could tell there wasn't much time, so he proceeded to rise, and get her out. But she resisted, pulling down his leather vest. "Wait." She said.
"There's no time. You're hurt, Snow."
"I know, but I want one thing first. In case I don't make it." She said sadly.
He was resistant, but he knew he couldn't deny her. Her demeanor was frail so he knew the idea of her dying was not so unimaginable.
"Kiss me." She pleaded in a whisper.
And so he did, leaning down he kissed her ruby lips. So tenderly, yet passionately. She reciprocated as weak as she was.
"I love you." She whispered as they rested their foreheads against one another. He sighed, feeling the love in her words, as warm and light as they were. "And that is why you must die." She said, just as the Huntsman gasped, simultaneously grunting in pain. His stomach began to bleed, as she stabbed him fiercely in the abdomen. She pushed the dagger in further inwards, smiling sinisterly as she did.
Snow could see this unraveling in her eyes, Eric above her, looking at her with the same familiar eyes she had always known. It was like a dream, just as in the tower, feeling him as though he were real. She could see him looking at her, enamored by her, the way she always imagined he could one day look at her.
But the next minute, he was growing pale, his mouth opening as he tried to find air, his eyes signaling his pain. She gasped, her face filling with fear and dismay, not sure what was happening.
She saw a hand extended to his stomach, shoving a dagger through his skin. A hand that looked like hers, but was not, as she was holding her hand in her other.
A light laugh bellowed around her and she could see Darius, the King of the Dark Spirits, cackling by her in the grand ballroom. "See Princess, even Ravenna could take down your little Huntsman."
Eric rolled off the Queen, still donning her Snow White appearance, gasping for air as he pulled the dagger out of him. Ravenna instead laughed and rolled upwards and dangled herself over the dying Huntsman, relishing every minute of her victory.
"You foolish Huntsman. Letting your guard down... for a poor and pathetic excuse for a Queen."
"She's twice the woman you ever were." Eric croaked, fighting the pain enough to stay conscious in Ravenna's presence. He knew it was the Evil Queen, but he could not escape the fact that she still resembled Snow. And that unfortunately was all he could see.
"Some might say you are romantic, noble and caring. To put your life on the line for her. But even you can understand, love is our most powerful weakness." She said, grabbing her dagger as she lifted it above the squalling huntsman, as she did all those years ago with her husband. "So you must die to escape it!"
She was above him, ready to plunge the bloody dagger into his heart, her eyes signaling a vicious confidence within her. Those black eyes, piercing into his weakened soul. He could see it was the end, until he blocked the dagger with his forearm.
Weak as he was, he fought her off, throwing her off of him. Her back crunched against the wall by the door and he sucked in and arose to finish her off. He grabbed her as she lied painfully against the ground and threw her against the wall.
"Where is she?" Eric demanded, giving the Queen one last chance to do good before he smashed her skull against these stone walls. His fingers gripped heavily around her neck.
Ravenna merely cackled, feeling the anger seethe beneath the Huntsman's strong grip. "As if I would tell you." She mused, her lips extending to reveal a conniving smile.
"Maybe the Lord would spare you if ye do something good."
"Is that what your dear Snow inspires in you? Hope? Goodness? Salvation? You Huntsman are very weak to follow in her influence."
Eric's hand tightened around her neck, pressing gently against her pale skin. Ravenna only laughed, feeling slight hesitance in him.
"You think yourself to be strong, Eric. But you could never kill me, not when I look like her."
His lips turned into a foul frown, full of anger and ruthlessness, but also a hint of defense at her observation.
"Oh Huntsman, please spare me. Be the man I know you are...inside." Ravenna pleaded mockingly, her voice returning to same voice Snow possessed.
"You're not Snow." Eric said, just as he tightened his grip, choking her until she couldn't breathe. Her brown eyes, turning whiter and whiter as her skin became a deep blue hue. Her heart began to cease, her air fading.
"If you were her, you'd know how truly fierce I can be." He hissed, his hands dropping as Ravenna fell to the ground, still as can be.
Eric could feel his adrenaline running out and the pain in his stomach returning and he was losing a lot of blood. His breath grew quicker and he realized he was running out of air. Snow. I have to get to Snow.
He dashed for the doorway, trying to keep a fast pace, although he was growing weak. He ran for the entrance to the prisons and darted out as fast as he could. His hand clenching his bleeding side ached and he did his best to beat the loss of blood beginning to take over.
Where would she be? He wondered, glancing at the intersecting hallways he passed in his mad dash. Stopping to take a breath, he heard a roar. A mighty roar like one from a mighty warrior. Snow. He dashed for a staircase nearby, following the echo of the beast into another tower.