The Encounter
"Your arm," Snow White said, breathless from the incessant fight for her survival. That's all war really was, she figured, as she took hold of Eric's arm, a little too tightly. He bellowed at her grip, the blood trickling even faster than before. Beneath his sleeve was the deep gash of an open wound, glowing with fresh blood. Snow White felt her breath begin to tremble, but forced herself to stop. She couldn't allow herself to be weak. There was too much depending on her – the lives of dozens of men, the suffering of mutilated bodies. They could still hear the faint sound of chaos from behind the heavy doors of Ravenna's castle.
"It's mendable," Eric said, as he winced at the sight of his gash. Ignoring him, Snow White ripped a piece of fabric from her undergarment and wrapped it around Eric's arm. She tightened it with a knot causing Eric too flinch. It looked like a bloody ribbon.
"That should help the bleeding for the moment," Snow White said. "It surely won't come to much use now, but as long as your other arm is fine, you can still fight. That's all that matters right now." Eric sensed a different tone to Snow White's voice. No longer was it gentle and concerned, but violated by the savagery of war. Her words came out flat and pragmatic, a coldness vanquishing the warmth. "Come on. We have to find William," She said, pulling Eric by his capable arm.
Cawing crows echoed through the castle as Snow White led Eric through a maze of hallways. He was entirely lost, coming to face the identical walls, covered in a black mould and grime. There was no sign of colour or disparity, yet Snow White marched through the hallways without fumbling or uncertainty. It had completely fallen from Eric's mind that Snow White spent nearly ten years of her life in the castle that they walked through now. Only then, it was a place of beauty and vibrance, embellished with art and light. They reached the grimy dungeons of the castle in an instant, Snow White keeping an eye out for William. Her eyes searched all around until she saw him, lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood. She shrieked his name and opened the unlocked door of his cell, while Eric remained frozen in his spot.
The sight was gruesome. William's body had ebbed away to almost nothing, and his blood stained the entirety of his waste, nearly drained out of him completely. Snow White placed a trembling hand over her mouth as she knelt next to his body. She couldn't accept that she was too late, nor that her friend had died trying to save her. Eric, watching from outside of the cell, couldn't bear to look any longer. He turned his body to stare at the soiled walls, and felt the faint taste of vomit creep up his throat.
It was only yesterday that Snow White had seen a healthy William, full of life and colour. Then, his eyes still brightened his face and his voice still eased Snow White. He was handsome, young, but now he was marred by the tortures of Ravenna, and she would never share another happy moment with her friend again. Gently, Snow White stroked William's gaunt face, expressed with horror and pain. Gently, she felt the coolness of his skin against her own. An irrepressible tear found it's way down Snow White's cheek, clearing a path through the blood on her face. And then, when her finger traced his still neck, she felt it. The faint pulse of a heartbeat, following by another one dangerously apart. Her mouth opened in surprise, as the realization that William was still alive hit her. Alive, but suffering.
It was a hard decision to come to, but Snow White knew that it was the right one. She ended his suffering and felt a peace exude from his body. Blood now stained her pants as she rose to her feet, and thought back to what all of the pain went back to.
Ravenna.
"We have to end this now," Snow White said, as she left behind William's cell and began walking to Ravenna's chamber. As they walked, Snow White felt a hollow feeling at the back of her throat that brought a sickness to her stomach. It felt like her insides squirmed within her body. She found Eric's hand and latched onto it tightly, squeezing it for relief. It was cold and clammy against her palm, but it didn't change the comfort that it gave her. Finally, they reached the endless spiral staircase that led to Ravenna's chamber and Snow White stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to face Eric, and he could see her pale, sickly face staring at him. He furrowed his eyebrows and gave her a hug, enclosing her with his colossal body.
"I love you," she said to him, her voice muffled in his shoulder. "Whatever happens, I just want you to know that, okay?" Her breath was short and her words came out bleakly.
"I love you too," he said, pulling her apart from him. "And I already know what will happen. You're going to triumph. You're going to kill Ravenna and save this Kingdom because there isn't anything that you want more." Snow White nodded in understanding. "I'll be by your side the entire time."
"Right to the end?" she asked.
"Right to the end," he assured her, and they began to walk up the spiral staircase.
Snow White zoned out the stinging blows of battle outside, of clashing metal, and cries of anguish. Instead, she focused on the simple beat of her heart and every breath that she inhaled. The world outside no longer existed. It couldn't if she were to face Ravenna alone and succeed. She could not bare to have the lives of so many men pressured into her skin. To feel the great consequence of losing against Ravenna and letting down the entire Kingdom. So instead, she focused on the simple things like every step up the staircase and the tingling feeling of Eric's hand in her own. She had all she needed to succeed, and one thought brought her to the final step: it would all be over soon.
They walked to Ravenna's chamber and opened the door to reveal absolute darkness. Suddenly, in the deep abyss ahead of them, Ravenna's cackle resonated, echoing through the the walls of the pitch-black room, encompassing them with its wicked sound. Snow White latched tighter onto Eric's hand, but it wasn't enough. An unforeseen force flung him back, prompting a shout from his mouth. Snow White found her hand empty and cold, where Eric's fingers had just been. Another painful shout was released from Eric's mouth, somewhere in the distance, until finally the sound of his voice grew further until it was no more. And all the while, all Snow White could do was stand still while the darkness submerged her in fear.
Immediately after the sound of Eric's voice vanished, a fire brewed in the centre of Ravenna's chamber. The flames burned bright and tall, lightly illuminating the room, though a darkness still crept at the edges. Still, Ravenna was nowhere in sight, until Snow White finally noticed them. The glistening, hungry eyes from behind the fire. Her body was camouflaged with the darkness of the chamber and only the slight outline of her pale face could be distinguished. Though her infernal eyes now popped out even more than the fire did. Ravenna was trying to intimidate her, Snow White thought. To scare her, weaken her. Snow White dismissed the fear and managed to make herself stand taller than before.
"You think that using tricks and deception make you look stronger?" Snow White asked, allowing a smirk to run across her face. "It only shows me how scared you really are." Ravenna merely laughed, the same, evil cackle as she had before. Snow White stood still as Ravenna moved forward and immersed her body in the flames. They burned with a zealous heat, searing Ravenna's skin and blistering her body. Though the sight looked painful, Ravenna was unflinching. All the while, a smile never fell from her face.
"You cannot defeat me!" Ravenna screamed, as the blisters and boils disappeared from her skin. It was as if they were never there to begin with. She stepped away from the flames, exhibiting the non-existent harm that they posed to her. "I have lived too many lives. Ravaged entire kingdoms. I will never stop," she continued, as she began to move towards Snow White. Her black dress shined against the light of the fire, and Snow White could see that it was made up of hundreds of crows' feathers. Crows as bleak and vicious as she was. Snow White was ready with her sword when Ravenna hungrily approached her.
Each swing Snow White took, Ravenna dodged, casually moving her body away from the direction Snow White attacked. She was never good at striking, even when training with Beith, but she thought against Ravenna her strength would reveal itself. Yet every attack she made was predictable, as Ravenna effortlessly eluded the blade of the sword. Finally, as Snow White aimed for Ravenna's stomach, her sword was stopped utterly still by Ravenna's hand. As much as Snow White tried to diverge the blade of the sword and pry it from her grip, it stayed transfixed like a statue of solid rock. Blood dripped from Ravenna's palm, yet again, she revealed no signs of pain. Instead, Ravenna pulled on Snow White's sword with such a force, that Snow White's entire body flung with it. The gash on her hand quickly healed afterwards, and Ravenna revealed once again, her power over Snow White.
The hard ground felt all but nice against Snow White's face, as she struggled to stand up, spitting blood from her mouth. Before she could get her feet planted onto the ground, Ravenna shoved her foot into Snow White's stomach, striking her in the exact spot the soldier had done in battle. Her body spun through the air, and all of her breath abandoned her lungs. She was met with the hard ground once again, now pain echoing through the whole of her body; she could feel it stabbing her with every motion. There was no time to recuperate. Ravenna was at her side by the time her body hit the ground. This time, she didn't strike Snow White, but latched her fingers around a cluster of her hair and dragged her to the centre of the chamber where the fire radiated. All the while, Snow White wished she could see Eric one more time, as she was dragged to her imminent death.
In the darkness that had subdued Eric and Snow White, he felt the tight grasp of a hand on his arm, compressing his fresh wound. The pain had already been harsh, but now it was nearly unbearable. The force propelled his body backwards, terminating his attachment to Snow White, while continuing to push down on his bleeding wound. In the confusion of darkness, Eric suddenly found himself falling until hitting the solid ground. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the bright room, but he didn't have long. Beside him, Finn pushed himself to his feet and pointed the tip of his sword against Eric's pulsating throat, ready for the blade to impale his skin, and for his blood to leave him in death.
"How does it feel knowing that you've finally lost?" Finn asked, eyeing Eric with complete satisfaction.
"You'd be surprised," Eric managed to groan between his short breaths. "Failure isn't something new to me. But by the end, something always manages to save me," he said, as Finn dug the blade deeper into his neck.
"Yeah, and what is it going to be now?" Finn asked, piercing the tip of the blade into Eric's throat.
"Your arrogance," Eric said, as he pushed the flat of the blade with his hand, and Finn's sword went flying. The repercussion of Eric's action was a long gash against the side of his neck, but he figured that it was better than being stabbed. As Finn ran back for his sword, Eric hoisted his body with his reliable arm, and grasped the axe that was latched onto his belt. It would be an even fight. One of Eric's arms was deemed useless, while one of Finn's hands was simply non-existent. He still remembered the exact moment, ten years ago, that he had severed his arm while saving Snow White, and the fulfillment of seeing all the pain rush into Finn's face when it had happened.
Eric blocked Finn's initial attack with his axe, and their blades skimmed against each other with an unsettling, shrill sound. Repeatedly, Finn battered with his sword, not allowing an opportunity for Eric to attack, himself. He continued to block Finn's sword with his axe, their blades clashing in the air with a loud bang. Finn's assaults were neither clever, nor calculated. Instead, he powered against Eric with any chance that he got.
Finally, Finn's sword slid down to the ground against Eric's forceful retaliation. In the second that was given to Eric, he swung his axe down to Finn's reaching hand, and the blade sliced his wrist, leaving his good arm in the same state as his other one. Blood sprouted out from the opening of Finn's arm, where his hand had been only seconds ago. He released a deafening shriek from his thin, slimy lips, as he tried to reach for the sword on the ground, realizing his attempts were futile. His knees hit the ground in failure as he spewed out in hate and pain.
Unlike Finn, Eric didn't enjoy to watch the suffering. He swung his axe, plunging it deep into Finn's chest, instantly terminating his cries. After retrieving his axe from Finn's body, Eric watched as he took his final breath. And just before his body hit the ground, he managed to give Eric one last look. A look filled with nothing but hate and fury. A look that made Eric almost pity the man's hapless life – life without any true love or happiness. Eric didn't waste another second with Finn, as he lurched out of the strange room, and ran towards Ravenna's chamber.
The moment Finn died, Ravenna felt his soul pass through her body. A cold chill ran through her nerves and stirred her heart. The sensation caused Ravenna to neglect Snow White, who she dragged to the fiery pit in the centre of her chamber. Her grip loosened on Snow White's hair, as Snow White found the strength within herself to pull free from Ravenna. At the last moment, Ravenna regained her senses and attempted to latch back onto her hair, but instead she was left with a few black strands, as Snow White ran for her sword.
Every step that Snow White took was filled with a painful burst that exploded through her body. She didn't know where the strength came from, but she wasn't going to complain. Then, it dawned upon her, and she wondered why she had never realized it before. Her body moved with the spirit of her mother and her father, who died protecting her against Ravenna. It moved with Gus's brilliant life that brightened Snow White's in the dimmest of times. It's strength was powered by her horse's energy and the courage of all of the men who charged alongside her in battle. And she realized that she was wrong before, in neglecting all of the people that made her who she was. It made her weaker, for she could never defeat Ravenna on her own, but with the force and love of all who had died for her and all who fought for her, she realized that she was invincible.
She took hold of the sword and launched herself towards Ravenna who held tight onto a keen dagger. Their weapons collided and continued to clash with one another in piercing bellows. But Snow White found herself moving faster, her attacks becoming more forceful and fatal. Still, Ravenna managed to counter each of Snow White's attempts. Her strength, summoned from magic and death, was still stronger than Snow White's who relied on the best of her abilities. And in that moment Snow White knew exactly what would need to be done to end Ravenna. It was never about weapons and power, or strength and ability. It could never be. Ravenna trumped her in every aspect except only one.
Snow White's sword flung from her hand, as Ravenna disarmed her with her dagger. With an effortless thrust, Ravenna propelled Snow White's body to the ground and gracefully walked beside her. A mad laugh escaped her mouth, as she readied the dagger for Snow White's body.
"How does it feel knowing you've led an entire army to their deaths?" She asked, though Snow White remained silent on the ground. "Finally, I will give this wretched world the Queen it deserves," Ravenna said, as she knelt over Snow White's body, and positioned the dagger over Snow White's heart. She closed her eyes to take in the joy, and when she opened them, Snow White plunged her dagger into Ravenna's stomach. Her blood fell in three tiny drops against Snow White's armour, passing the words, Purus Sanguinem, engraved into the dagger's handle.
Ravenna let out a defeated whimper from her mouth, as Snow White released the blade from her stomach. She pulled back from Snow White and edged away with the palm of her hands.
"You can't have my heart," Snow White said, as she watched Ravenna realize that death came for her, while her invincibility would never arrive. Ravenna trembled and shook while her power left her body in death, and Snow White felt nothing but pity for her. A tear fell down Snow White's face, and she realized that death would be coming for her too. She felt the bulge of the vial in her pocket, but made no effort to seize it.
In that moment, Eric entered the chamber, and took in the sight with relief. Ravenna's beautiful, flawless skin was quickly turning wrinkly and spotted. It wouldn't be much longer until her evil was finally gone from the world.
"Did you take it?" Eric asked Snow White. "The elixir, did you take it?"
"No," Snow White said, her face expressionless, as another melancholic tear descended from her eye.
"Well, come on then," he said, agitated. "You don't have much time." Snow White simply ignored him and sat still on the ground. Footsteps behind them echoed through the chamber, and when Eric turned around, he couldn't believe it when he saw William walking, the life back in his face as though he wasn't just dead. "How could that-" his words cut short once the realization dawned upon him. "No,"he said in doubt. "No!" he shouted again with a tremble in his voice.
Snow White looked up at Eric's face, the tears streaming from her eyes, and all she could say to him was, "I'm sorry," as she dropped to the ground.