Hopefully the fact that this is a really long chapter will make up for the fact that it has been ages since I updated. I would be a lot happier if real life didn't take up so much of my time and I could spend more time in my fantasy world.
I only claim ownership of the word on this page and have no delusions of anything more.
Chapter 12
James stared at the faces of 7 very unhappy dwarfs.
"We are homeless because your stepmother decided to torch our home." Grumpy crossed his arms in defiance.
"I am so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen." James stated in an apologetic fashion.
"Never the less, it did happen because we were helping someone under your protection." Doc scolded.
"We were protecting two people supposedly under your protection." Grumpy reminded.
"I want to make it up to you. Come live in the castle until I can rebuild your house." He suggested.
"You want us to live under the same roof as the woman who tried to kill us and burned our home?" Grumpy asked as he snorted a sarcastic laugh.
"You have a point." James admitted reluctantly.
He thought for a couple of minutes.
"The Summer Palace is vacant right now. You can stay there." He said, his face brightening.
"You want us to stay at King George's Summer Palace?" Sleepy asked.
"Since My father's death, King George has had to return to his main castle. The Summer Place should be nearly empty. A few servants will be there." He shrugged.
"King Leopold is dead? Several of the Dwarfs asked at the same time in shocked voices.
James swallowed a lump that was forming in his throat. He had been unable to process what his father's death really meant, but every time he had to talk about it, the situation became more real.
"Yes and I am sure that King George and Regina are responsible. I need to find proof though. King George has also placed a bounty on Snow's beautiful head. "He stated angrily.
"What is the charge?" Doc asked.
"He is accusing her of killing my father in order to advance my ascension to the throne. It is a lie of course, but I have to find Snow before King George."
Each of the Dwarf's in turn offered words of sympathy to the Prince.
"If I can prove that King George is responsible for my father's death, it would be an act of war and I would have no choice but to retaliate." James said sadly.
"You can count on our support!" The brothers chorused together.
"Will the servants let us stay at the Summer Palace? They don't know us from Jack!" Grumpy huffed.
"My kingdom is allied with that of King George and we have reciprocal access to each other's lands." James informed them.
"Say that again?" Dopey asked.
"I can use his Summer Palace and I can make sure that the servants allow you to stay." He promised.
"You need to find Snow," They reminded him.
"I will find her, but I will go with you as far as the Summer Palace first. Then I will find Snow, clear her name by proving that she did not kill my father, take my rightful place on the throne and make Snow White my Queen! " He stated wearily.
Ella was busy overseeing the kitchen, but her mind was not on the task. Many visitors had been in and out of the castle the last two days to view the body of King Leopold and her kitchen was expected to feed them all. However the most important person, the dead son of the dead king had yet to make an appearance. She was worried about James because she knew that he was worried about Snow White. Love was admirable, but at the moment his kingdom needed his attention.
"Roast the potatoes and then place them by the fire on the grate to keep them warm. We need to get the meat roasting for tonight. We have no way of knowing how many we will need to feed." She directed her team of cooks. Ella brushed a lock of hair out of her face.
Thomas stood in the doorway and watched her work. To some she was only a kitchen maid. He saw so much more, she commanded the kitchen of one of the largest castles in all of the kingdoms and she did it with poise, command and good humor. Her staff adored her, his best friend loved her and the more time he spent with her the more he found to admire. He found himself falling head over boots in love with her. The sight of her brought a smile to his face.
"If you would only let me, I could take you away from all of this." He called out.
Ella looked up and smiled when she saw the handsome prince standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with his legs crossed at his ankles.
"What makes you think I want to be swept off my feet?" She asked shyly.
"I think that is your problem, you like it here." He laughed.
"It has been hard since Leopold died. I have barely had time to think about what his passing means. If James does not return and Regina claims the crown…" That idea was to horrible to comprehend.
Thomas sighed, "You need a break. Take a walk with me?" He asked.
She looked around the kitchen. There was so much to be done and her cooks had not had a break. Why should she be allowed the luxury?
"There is too much to be done before this evening meal." She protested.
"Ella, you are exhausted. I am not asking you to run away with me. Come for a walk and when we get back I'll help out in the kitchen." He promised.
She eyed him suspiciously. "A prince is going to help in the kitchen?" She asked wearily.
He grinned, "As a prince I have spent a lot of time in camps. When we get back I am going to teach you and your cooks how to make the field camp delicacy known as Shepherd's Pie." He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen.
James pulled a cloak over his head and shoulders and slipped into the castle. He did not want to be seen by anyone, but he was desperate to search Regina's room in the hopes of finding some proof that she was responsible for the death of King Leopold. He easily slipped into Regina's room and started looking through drawers and trunks. Buried in a trunk he found an ornate box. Within it was a book. When he opened it, he knew at once what it was. He had found a book of spells, which could only mean one thing. Regina was practicing black magic. He flipped through the pages and was transfixed by spells for everything from making the crops of a neighboring kingdom fail to a spell to make a person believe they were in love with you.
That was particularly ugly because it required the heart of a rival and it made the heart of the person on whom the spell was cast grow empty over time. He wondered if maybe Regina had cast the spell on King George. If that was true he was beyond salvation. He had been under the spell for too long and his heart now belonged to Regina.
He flipped to another page and read about the sleeping curse. One under the curse appeared to be dead, but was really only in a deep sleep. The evil part of the curse was that many under it were buried alive because their loved ones believed them to be dead. A kiss from the curse victims True Love would awaken the victim. So, that curse was not without hope.
James shuddered and closed the book.
"What a wicked thing." He stated out loud. He stood transfixed by the book for several minutes. Just holding it made him feel cold and helpless. There was so much evil in their lives and he was tired of evil winning. But how were they supposed to win if Regina had black magic on her side.
The spell the book had over him was broken when he saw movement in the garden outside.
James looked out the window and saw Ella and Thomas walking hand in hand. They seemed happy ad he was glad for them. They stopped to sit on a bench and he watched as Thomas bent over and picked a flower and gave it to Ella. He leaned over to kiss her and suddenly James felt like he was intruding on a private moment.
He turned back to the task of searching through Regina's drawers. He found a folded sheet of paper that looked familiar. He unfolded it and realized that it was the letter he had first written Snow telling her of his love for her. He felt anger grip his heart. Regina had gone through his things and taken something special and private. It was the ultimate form of intrusion.
Snow stretched her back and tried to get comfortable on the tree limb on which she was perched. She was wearing brown leather pants and a brown leather vest over a rough woven tunic. Over it all she wore a green hooded cape that hid most of her features. She had seen the wanted posters nailed to trees all over the kingdom. She had been there for a day, hiding out in the forest waiting for a chance to slip into king Leopold's castle and kill Regina. However, there were too many people coming and going through the castle courtyard for her to risk entering the fortress. She wondered what had happened to bring that many people to the castle. She had not seen James, so she figured that it was not something serious. Snow had no way of knowing that people were assembling from all over the Kingdom and neighboring kingdoms for a funeral.
She saw movement in side Regina's chamber. A figure wearing a cloak of some kind and even though she could not see a face she realized it was then or never. She took aim with the bow and as the arrow flew through the air and out of her control the cloaked figure turned and she was able to see a face. It was not Regina.
"James!" She screamed and reflexively she reached out as trying to call the deadly weapon back into her hand.
She heard the thud as the arrow collided with his body and he hit the ground. She was out of the tree in an instant and no longer concerned with who might see her entering the castle. She ran to Regina's room and found him lying on the floor.
"James!" She exclaimed urgently, kneeling by his side.
"Snow", He said weakly, "I found you." He smiled and then winched with pain.
"Yes you did. You're bleeding!" She whispered.
"An arrow to the shoulder will do that to a guy." He replied weakly.
"I have to get help." She started to stand up, but he stopped her.
"No, someone will see you. Help me back to my room. I have something to bind the wound."
She helped him to sit up and he groaned. Blood was flowing out of his wound.
She looked for something to hold against the injury in order to slow the loss of blood. She grabbed a cloak from the bed and pressed it against his shoulder and then half carried and half dragged him to his room.
She laid him on the bed and looked for supplies to clean him up and stop his wound from bleeding. She found a whole drawer full of bandages and salve.
"Do you get injured often?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Until I met you, I was never injured." He tried to laugh, but it caused him too much pain.
"I am so sorry." She whispered, "I thought you were Regina. I was trying to kill Regina! She knows that I know that she killed our mothers and now she wants to kill me!" She shuddered with fear.
"I know." He stated simply. "Snow, I do not want you going after Regina alone. We are a team, we do things together. Do you understand?" He asked with authority in his voice.
"Yes, but James you were right, there was a Rose Red. It is Emma, she is my sister. Regina attacked us and she burnt the house to the ground. She wanted to kill us both. I am afraid that it has come down to me having to kill her before she wrecks any more havoc on our lives."
"There has to be another way to stop Regina and we will find it together. For now, et me worry about protecting Emma. I had my suspicions about Emma being your sister, but I knew for sure when I met her." He admitted.
"You met Emma?" She asked in a quizzed manner.
"Yes and did and she and William are safe. I sent them to a Northern Outpost of the Kingdom. I trust the men there with my life." He assured her.
She gave him a weary look, "We trusted the Dwarfs. They were not the problem. Regina found us through magic or some other means. We cannot underestimate her."
James nodded, "I will not let her find them this time. A couple of fairies owed me a favor. They cast a protection spell over the Outpost. No one will find them until they are ready to be found." He promised.
"You are going to have to take the arrowhead out of my shoulder." He informed her.
A look of sheer terror crossed her face.
"I don't want to cause you anymore pain." She said with tears in her eyes. She looked down at the arrow sticking out of his upper arm and all she could think about was the fact that she had caused him pain.
He saw her turning whiter than normal and he knew that he was about to lose her and she is the only one who can help him now.
"James, I can't do it. Let me go find someone else to take the arrow out!" She pleaded. Her eyes were still transfixed the arrow.
He reached over with his free hand and placed a hand directly under her chin. He tilted her head up until her eyes met his.
"You can do anything and more to the point together we can do anything." He gave her a loving look.
She shook her head and tears rolled down her face.
"I can't." She repeated with trembling hands.
He gave her a serious look. "Snow someday I will have to cause you pain. It may be on our wedding night or it may be sooner and it will kill me to do so, but alas it will have to be done. I hope when the time comes I will be able to distract you so that you will not notice." He managed a seductive smile.
She blushed. She could not believe that he was thinking about sex at that particular moment and what embarrassed her most was that he had suggested it might happen before they were legally married. Surely things like that were not done? Of course there had been some heated moments between them lately, but they had always been interrupted. She wanted to be a close to him as possible and she longed for their relationship to be intimate. But for the first time she realized that she was scared.
At the moment, she needed to get the arrow out of him and in order to do that she needed to distract him.
She grabbed him and held his face in her hands and focused on his eyes. In his eyes she saw trust and love and faith. Still focusing on his eyes she drew his face closer to hers. She kissed his lips as lightly as the drops of a summer rain kissed the petals of a flower. She deepened the kiss and one of her hands dropped down to caress the nape of his neck. He gave into the kiss, drawing strength from her love.
He had missed her so much while they were apart. As Snow continued to kiss him deeply and passionately she reached over with one hand and pulled the arrow out. She was surprised that it came out easily. She kissed him again lightly on the lips and then she pulled back and gave him a satisfied smile.
"How was that for distraction?" She asked shyly.
He found it hard to speak.
"Pretty good, except that I am still bleeding." He said weakly.
She realized he was indeed bleeding and looked around for water and bandages.
Snow brought some water to wash his wounds and began to unlace his doublet. Her fingers against his skin burned more than the wound in his shoulder, but in an entirely different way.
"You are pretty good at undressing a guy." James teased.
She blushed, "Thank you." She stated simply.
"You have beautiful hands. They are so soft." He continued.
"I wear gloves whenever possible."
He looked down at her hand and saw that she was wearing the ring on her left hand where one would place a betrothal ring. He thought of her in those terms, but she had always worn the ring on a chain around her neck.
"When did this happen?" He asked as he ran his thumb across the ring.
"I thought it was time." She said softly. "If you would prefer that I not wear it on my hand I will get a new chain and put it back around my neck." She stated.
In short she was asking him if he wanted her to hide the ring. Hide their relationship. That was the last thing that he wanted.
"No, of course not, it belongs on your finger. I just wish I had been the one to place it there." He replied wistfully.
She smiled as she helped him ease off his doublet and tunic.
She had found water and clean cloths. She dipped the cloth in water and dabbed at his wound. He placed one of his hands on the wrist of the hand she was using to clean the wound and stroked her wrist. She smiled at him again.
"You are not making this easy." She sighed.
"I missed you Snow, I don't like us being apart." He said with feeling in his voice.
He picked up her other hand and raised it to his lips and kissed it. The kiss was searing and it made her feel weak.
"The wound is not deep. The arrow barely scratched the surface." She informed him.
He wondered if that were true than why it hurt so much and there had been so much blood?
She cleaned him and bandaged him as best she could by binding the scratches. Then she helped him change into a clean tunic. As soon as the he was redressed he pulled her into his arms before kissing her long and hard. He put all of his energy, sadness and fear into the kiss and soon he felt his worries melt away. As long as he held her in his arms all was right with the world.
"James, what you said about us being together before our marriage. That can't happen." She stated firmly.
He nodded in agreement, even though he did not understand.
"I thought you wanted me as much as I want you?" He asked bewildered.
She smiled sadly. "I do want you. Sometimes I am afraid I will go crazy being apart from you. But, James you are to be King. What if we make love and then you are forced to take another woman as your queen. That would unfair to her." She said sadly as she cast her eyes down at the floor.
He took both her hands in his and gave her a serious look.
"Snow, you are the only woman I want by my side."
"What about the coronation and the fact that there is a price on my head. James, my father is offering a reward for my capture." She stated excitedly. "I have been pulling down reward posters for days." She pointed out.
"I have been doing the same thing. I left the dwarfs at the Summer Palace and every tree we passed on the way there seemed to have one of those damned posters pined to it. One night we stopped to camp and we built a bonfire with the blasted things!" He sighed. "It still does not change the fact that it is not safe for you to be out in the open right now."
Absentmindedly Snow picked up his doublet to place it on a chair. A piece of paper fell out fluttered to the floor. It was the piece of paper He had found in Regina's room. The letter Ella had convinced him to write before he had been reunited with Snow.
She picked it up, "What is this?" She asked curiously.
It was the love letter that Ella had encouraged him to write to Snow. He had never meant for her to see it. Rather it had been a way for him to sort through 12 years of feelings he had for his lady love.
"It is nothing!" He lied and he tried to grab to from her, but he was at a disadvantage because of his bandaged arm.
She opened it and read it out loud.
My dearest Snow,
12 years ago I gave you my mother's ring and hope I have brought you the protection and happiness I wished for you that day and every day since. You may not know this, but 12 years ago I also gave you my heart. I fell deeply in love with you that day and not a moment has passed since then that I have not thought of you and yearned have you by my side. I have spent every waking hour since that day working to become a man that you can love and respect. Every dragon that I have killed, and there have been many, I have done so in order to make the world a safer place for you, my love. I do not know if you are free to return my feelings or if you have any desire to do so. But know this to be true, wherever I am and for as long as I draw breath, my heart will ache to be with you, my soul will yearn to be united with you, my body will burn for your touch. If you feel the same, come to me at my father's castle and we will be together.
Yours always and forever,
Prince James
A look of pure adoration crossed her face as she read the words and tears sprang to her eyes. When she was finished she refolded it and held it against her heart.
"I wrote that before I found you in the forest. You were never meant to read it." He admitted.
"Why not, it is beautiful." She smiled.
"It no longer does justice to the way I feel about you. I wrote that to a girl a met 12 years ago. Now that I have gotten to know the woman you have become, I love you more and deeper than those words express." He admitted with feeling.
"May I keep it?" She asked hesitantly, "Or is it to personal."
He did not hesitate at all, "Of course you may keep it. Everything I way is yours now."
She stuffed the letter in her vest.
"I found it in Regina's chamber. She must have found it in my room. I hate the idea that Regina read something so personal." He stated with fury in his voice.
She gave him a loving look to let him know that she understood his anger.
"James why were you in Regina's chamber? And why were you wearing a cloak?" She asked puzzled.
He was reluctant to tell her about his father's death.
"I know that something is going on here. I have been sitting in the forest watching the palace for over a day trying to sneak in, but there have been too many people coming and going." She informed him.
"Nice outfit, by the way." He gave her an appreciative look.
"Thank you," She blushed, "But you are avoiding my question." Snow challenged.
"Snow, my father is dead. He was killed in a supposed hunting accident. I know that Regina and your father had a hand in his death. I was looking for anything to link her to the accident." He sighed wearily.
"King Leopold is dead? That cannot be, he was such and benevolent and noble man." She sobbed, "He was always so kind to me. I will miss him a great deal. Regina has taken both of our parents from each of us. She must be stopped!"
"She will be stopped, but you have to promise me that you will not go after her alone. At the end of the month I am inviting alias to the castle for a war counsel. At that time I hope to have evidence against Regina and King George concerning the murder of my father." He informed her.
"Why wait until the end of the month?" She asked and then she answered her own question. "Of course, that is when you will be crowned King." She exclaimed.
"Yes, my coronation is scheduled by the end of the month. That is why I did not want anyone to know that I was back. I didn't even tell Ella. Snow as soon as the other nobles realize that I have returned they will insist that I start preparations for my Coronation." He sighed.
"Of course it is you duty." She replied.
"Snow, when I am King I can properly protect Emma." He vowed.
"Snow, they will expect me to choose a queen before the Coronation."
"Oh! Do what you must to become king and protect my sister. That is the most important thing right now. I will love you forever regardless of who you take as your queen" She exclaimed sadly. Her resignation scared him.
He looked at her with a mix of bewilderment and disappointment "You would actually stand by and while I married another woman?" He tried to hide the shock he was feeling.
"I would be perpetual unhappy," She admitted, "It is more important now than ever that I protect William and Emma until she can claim her crown and that will not happen for a year." She reminded him.
"Snow, I cannot wait a year. Why must we always put the needs of others before our own needs?" He asked sadly.
"That is who we are." She stated. "Have you seen your father?" She asked.
"Not yet. His body will be on view in the main audience chamber. Will you go with me?" He pleaded.
"Of course," She replied lovingly. "Are you strong enough?" She gave him a worried look.
"Physically I am fine, but I am not sure if I am up to it emotionally." He admitted.
She gave him a loving look, "We will do it together." She promised as she gave him a reassuring kiss.
"Hand me those cloaks," He indicated two garments hung over a chair, "We cannot afford for you to be seen and I do not want anyone to recognize me either. I am not ready to become the Crown Prince just yet." He gave her a quick smile.
She helped him put on the cloak and then threw the other one over her head and shoulders. She helped him to the grand chamber where the King's body was on view. They were surprised to find that no guard was on duty outside the chamber door. Similarly, the grand chamber was empty except for two guards keeping watch over the body. Snow felt James tense up.
"I hoped that there would be more mourners and we would be able to blend in with the crowd." He whispered to her.
They cautiously approached the body and then she felt James relax at her side. He pulled down his hood and a grin spread across his face.
"James!" One of the guards replied in a surprised manner.
Snow gave him a worried look.
"These are Charles and Robert. I would trust them with my life." He informed her. "I would thrust them with your life as well." He added.
"Your majesty is too kind." Robert replied rather formally and then broke into a grin and extended his hand to James.
Snow lowered her hood.
"We expected to find more mourners." James informed his friends.
"The chamber tends to empty out at dinner time." Charles replied wearily.
Snow White suddenly became aware of how hungry she was. She could not remember the last time she had eaten a proper meal.
"I wonder how much that is costing the Crown." James wondered out loud.
"It is costing a pretty penny to feed them all to be sure. The way the mourners from the surrounding kingdoms show up around meal time you would think they were all starving?" Robert shrugged.
"Many of them probably are starving!" Snow pointed out with more anger in her voice than she had intended.
It was an honor to view the body of a royal and many people traveled to the neighboring kingdom to do so. However, since the body would only be on view for a short period of time, most people did not have time to properly prepare for the journey. The inns quickly filled with the more wealthy travelers. Those with less means camped in groups along the road and relied on handouts to fill their bellies while they traveled. Snow felt guilty for thinking about her own hunger when so many others were probably feeling just as hungry.
"Forgive me your majesty. You are correct." Robert replied humbly.
Snow was taken aback by the respect in his voice. She wondered if it was because she was a princess and they knew her by reputation or if it was because she was with James. She suspected that it was because she was with James. She was just starting to realize how much respect he held with so many people. James squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner.
"What can you tell us about my father's death?" He asked his two friends.
Robert and Charles exchanged looks.
"We have been told very little. As you must have heard, your father was out with a hunting party on King George's estate. Something frightened the horse your father was ridding and your father was thrown. It was a particularly treacherous path and the King rolled down a rocky embankment. He was killed instantly." Charles winched as he reported the details.
James was visibly shaken by the details.
"Is there anything else I should know?" He asked them both.
"A may not be important." Robert started.
"Everything is important." James encouraged.
"I did not witness this myself, but I trust the word of the man who did. Regina ordered a legion of men to the south. When she was reminded that only the King can issue such orders, she informed the guard that the King was dead. This was before any word had reached the palace of your father's death.; Is was almost as if she was expecting it." He dropped his eyes to the floor.
Snow gasped in surprise and held on to James tightly.
"I suspected no less." James sighed, "How much longer are the two of you on duty?" He asked his friends.
"For 3 hours more." Charles informed him.
"Good, this evening I want you both to depart for the Northern Outpost and guard those there with your life." James informed them.
"Emma." Snow whispered under her breath.
"I want you to take the Princess with you." He indicated Snow. "I will keep her hidden until you can depart."
Snow's eyes grew wide in disbelieve.
"What?" She cried out. "I am not leaving you!" She protested with defiance.
"Snow, you have to. Regina is even more dangerous than we thought. She is using Black Magic. I found a book in her room. That is how she has been controlling your father all of these years. She used the Curse of the Empty Hearted on your father! "James cried out in desperation.
Snow's face turned pale.
"If Regina used magic on my father can he be saved?" She gasped the question.
James shook his head sadly, "He has been under the curse for too many years. She has drained his heart of any true affection. I am sorry Snow." Tears formed in his eyes. "You must understand why I want you to leave. I have lost so much. Snow, I can't lose you too."
She looked towards the dais on which rested the body of King Leopold.
"She has taken all of our parents from us." She stated in a detached voice as she approached the body of the King.
James looked over at the two guards, "Can you give us a moment?" He asked.
They nodded in agreement and stepped right outside the door.
James walked up behind her and placed a hand lovingly and supportively on her back. It was the first time he had seen his father since his death and he found himself overcome with emotion. His father had always been his biggest supporter and he had relied on him for so much. He noticed that Snow was shaking and weeping as well.
"He was so good." She sobbed.
"I know," James smiled as he put a protective arm around her shoulder. She leaned into him.
She turned to him; a sudden idea had come into her head.
"James do you think that maybe Regina cast a spell on King Leopold?" She asked with hope in her voice.
He remembered the Sleeping Curse from the book in Regina's room. It was the only Curse that fit. That Curse could be broken with the kiss of a powerful love.
"Any Curse can be broken with powerful love. Kiss my father and we will see if he is indeed under a curse." James encouraged.
She looked at him surprised.
"Your kiss would be more likely to break a curse. You are his son." She stated in a matter of fact manner.
"My father loved you like the daughter he never had." James told her with feeling in his voice.
He could tell that she was truly touched by his statement. She bent over and lightly, but lovingly kissed the king on the cheek. James bent over and kissed his father on the other cheek. They both held their breaths and waited to see if the king would wake up. They waited several minutes and nothing happen. They had known in their hearts that it would not work, but they felt that they had to try anyway.
"He is truly gone." Snow stated sadly.
"Yes, he is truly gone." James admitted.
"I will miss him terribly." Snow admitted.
James nodded his head. He was too overcome with emotion.
"And you will be King." She added with finality.
He looked up at her and overcame his sadness.
"You will be my Queen, Snow. I will not have it other way." He stated with a forcefulness that startled her.
"James!" She replied reluctantly.
"The last thing my father said to me when we parted ways before his death was to follow my heart." He stated firmly. "Snow, you are my heart. He knew how much I loved you. He even told me that he wanted us to get married." He gave her a heartfelt smile.
"When did he tell you that?" She asked his an earnest look on her face.
"He mentioned that he had always held out hope that the two of us would marry the night your father announced your engagement to William. I think you broke my father's heart nearly as badly as you broke mine." He smiled sadly.
Snow looked towards the body of the King.
"Did he know the truth before he died? Did he know how much I love you?" She asked.
"Yes he did and that was when he told me to follow my heart." James informed her. "So, what do you say? Will you marry me, be my queen and become the mother of my many children?"
He asked with a hopeful look on his face.
She gave him a skeptical look, "How many children?" She asked.
"That is open to negotiation." He grinned.
"Well, in that case I accept." She smiled shyly.
"I love you so much." He said with adoration in his voice as he moved closer to kiss her. They both their eyes and leaned into the kiss. Suddenly they were pulled apart. When they opened their eyes they saw that four guards were holding onto James and another two had Snow by the shoulders. They wore hoods and helmets that masked their faces.
"Take her to Regina, the Queen wishes to deal with her personally." One of the guards holding onto James commanded. He was clearly the head guard.
"What about the reward?" The guard holding Snow asked.
"Consider your life your reward." The head guard replied.
Snow addressed the head of the guards, "I am the one that you want. Let him go." She demanded with authority.
"No!" James yelled. Then he noticed the way one of Snow's guards was holding his hands. It made James want to laugh.
"You are going to be all right!" He yelled to Snow.
The two guards started to pull her out of the room.
"James!" She called out desperately. "I love you. I will find you."
"I love you too. No matter what, I want you safe!" He yelled back as her guards dragged her out of the room.
"Where are you taking me?" James asked.
"There is a cell with your name written on it." The guard sneered.
