Bonus Chapter.
This story happened sometime between Aladdin and The Wizard of Oz...
Snow walks towards the music. She feels like she can't avoid it, the night is young, the moon is up in the sky and into the forest clearing the revelers are dancing in pairs, clapping their hand changing partners.
"Just one dance," she tells the wolf that is trailing her. "Just one..."
The wolf lets out a soft growl.
"Don't be bossy," Snow admonishes him. He hides his tail between his legs and walks to the side.
"Care to dance?" a smiling man offers Snow his hand.
Snow throws one last glance towards the wolf, to make sure he is not planning on interfering and she take the mans hand.
"Lead the way," she asks.
They walk together toward the middle of the dancers. Snow throws her head back and she dances fast, precise. Every step a celebration, every breath freedom, every smile, every word something she has earned, something she is not taking for granted.
The wolf watches her from the sidelines. He can't begrudge her the fun she is having. He can't be annoyed at her. It's her turn now, her turn. Snow's dancing partner watches her with hungry eyes that want more than a dance. Does she see that? Snow is completely oblivious, twirling around, her hands raised up in the air with complete abandon.
The man is smiling at her but it's not a benign smile.
The song is over and true to her word Snow bows and is now walking away.
Except the man doesn't want to let go. He grabs Snow's arm.
"What do you think you are doing?" Snow's voice is clear, full of warning. "Unhand me, I do not want to hurt you!"
"Hurt me?" the man asks incredulously pulling her harder.
Snow pulls her dagger and it's at the man's throat.
"Let. Me. Go!" her words are crisp. Clear. Without an opportunity for misunderstanding.
"Fine!" the man says pulling back his hand. "I didn't want you anyway, you ugly...-"
And then the wolf is there, growling in warning.
He doesn't bite, he just naps his jaw and then he just stands there, snarling, his fangs showing.
"Help!" the man's face blanches. "Help! Her wolf bit me! Help!"
"He did no such thing!" Snow yells, but the man must be important because several knights are walking towards them, their swords already unsheathed.
Snow evaluates the situation. She knows their type. They are going to kill the wolf first, ask questions later.
"Run!" she yells and then she ducks, under the arms of her dancing partner, away from the rest of the dancers who are looking at her questioningly.
She runs fast and she runs wide, through the cottages, through the old lady's garden who is checking her cabbages in the moonlight and through the forest trees.
At the edge of the stream about a mile away from the village and when she is certain she is no longer followed, she collapses.
The wolf is already there, panting, rubbing his head against her hand.
She wraps her arms around him.
"It's alright," she whispers, running her hands through his fur, "It's alright. I know you didn't do anything wrong, he was evil. Beyond evil, he lied..." she whispers and the she leans against the wolf's side, still panting "I'm so tired," she mumbles. They sit together watching the moonlight reflect of the surface of the stream, the angry knights and the dance partner already forgotten.
"It's beautiful here," she murmurs, her face leaning against him.
She falls asleep, her arm wrapped around his neck, her head nestled on his side. He stands perfectly still, he doesn't want to wake her.
The early rays of the morning sun find a handsome blond man laying by the water, fast asleep. There is a bluebird in a cage next to him, chirping, trying to wake him up.
He rises slowly wiping his eyes.
"Good morning!" he says to the small bird next to him. He opens the cage door and the bird flies around searching for morning worms. She splashes at the edge of the stream, giving herself a bird bath, then she looks at him impatiently.
"Give me a minute," he mumbles, "I just woke up..."
He takes off his tunic then he splashes water on his face and his bare chest.
The bluebird watches him closely. When he turns to her she pretends she is not looking at all.
"The water is so cold," he says, mainly to himself. "Well? Did you eat?"
The bluebird nods. He puts his tunic back on then the bird climbs on his shoulder.
"Alright," he says, let's see if we can get some work..."
He walks to the nearest town. At the mill he asks "Excuse me, I'm looking for work...Do you know if anyone is hiring?"
"Widow Lucas was asking around for a worker, maybe you can go to her house and ask," the miller helpfully points to the right direction. "Say, are you new here?"
"Thank you!" David replies.
"Wait," the miller's daughter stops him. "Is that you bird?"
Because the bluebird is still perched on his shoulder.
"Yes," he smiles.
The girl reaching for the bird, but really it's him she is smiling at. "Does she have a name?"
"Her name is Snow," he explains.
The girl laughs. "What a funny name for a blue bird..." she comments.
"Not that funny," he shrugs.
The bluebird makes it a point to turn her back on the girl.
"Oh, did I offend you little one?" the girl asks.
"She is just grumpy," David replies earning a well deserved peck on the shoulder.
He laughs. "Like I said, grumpy," he says walking away from the girl at the mill.
Snow is giving him an earful, but he barely speaks bird, so he keeps on laughing.
"No need to be bossy," he replies and that gets her to be quiet, temporarily.
Widow Lucas lives in a small cottage at the edge of the village.
She looks at David inquisitively.
"The miller said you might be looking to hire someone..."
"That's right," the woman replies. "The winter's been rough, and now that my granddaughter is in the big city I need someone to help me fix my roof before it rains again. Are you up for that?"
"Sure thing," David replies.
"Alright," the woman points to the barn. "Go grab yourself the ladder from the barn and get to work..."
David is up on the roof, replacing the broken roof tiles. He is almost done. The little bluebird is sunning herself at the edge of the roof, her eyes closed.
"It's time to go," he whispers to the sleepy bird. He lifts her up, placing her back on his shoulder.
David checks the last roof tile to make sure its firmly nailed in place t then he starts down the ladder.
"You are done so soon?" Granny asks.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"You better be certain boy, because if my roof leaks come first rains I'll come after you..."
"I'm certain," he laughs.
"Well, here you go," Granny hands him a couple of coins. "It'a kind of late, if you need a place to spend the night you are welcome to the barn...-"
"You are very generous Ma'am but I can't stay. Thank you so much," he says.
"Well, do you have any work tomorrow? Because Geppetto has been wanting his barn fixed forever. He has so many toy orders he's never getting around to it. I can put in a good word..."
"That's great, thank you! I could do it tomorrow even..."
"It's the third house after the fork on the road towards the south, you can't miss it it has a blue roof..."
David nods then he rushes to the village square as fast as he can. He needs to buy some food and be out of sight before sunset, before the change happens.
He glances at the sky. He probably has ten minutes left. He buys a loaf of bread, some dried meat, two of the kind of pears Snow likes, and he heads into the forest.
"We made it," he says plopping on the ground in a hurry. He cuts the bread in half and eats one of the pieces. The bird pecks at the large loaf.
"Hold on, in a minute you can have the whole thing..."
The bird turns her head to look at him, as if she is about to say something.
"Now, please, do not dance with any creepy men tonight..."
The sun sets coloring the sky red and orange and purple. But David doesn't notice. He is in all fours now, trying to stifle his groan as the transformation is happening. Snow is fluffing her feathers one minute, then the next she is standing up, her dress on.
"Cutting it a little close, aren't we?" she asks looking at David who has completed his wolf transformation. Because if he hadn't run in the end, the sunset would have caught them in the village square. They both would have turned in the middle of gaping villagers.
She doesn't say more, she just eats the rest of her bread, her hand absentmindedly petting his back.
"Now, you didn't tell me...do you want me to stay put? Do you want me to keep going?"
The wolf doesn't reply of course. He can't reply.
Snow shrugs then she heads towards the village.
"Are you coming?" she asks.
The wolf hesitates, then he follows her.
Snow walks around the last market stalls still open, her eyes linger at some pretty scarves for sale. She doesn't have any money. No matter how many tricks they've tried when David turns into a wolf whatever money is in his money pouch, it disappears with him. Which is why he has to buy dinner before sunset. Because once he turns the money disappears along with his clothes and Snow can't buy anything. Snow is lost in her thoughts, still staring at a pretty white scarf when an old lady at the next stall who claims to sell magical potions smiles at her.
"What does the beautiful lady want? What can I get you?" she asks. Then she tugs on Snow's hand. The wolf lets out a warning growl. The witch looks at him.
"Alright, alright, I won't touch," she says pulling her hands back. "What would you like dear? Can I get you a love potion? Or a finding spell?"
Snow casts a quick glance towards the wolf next to her, shaking her head. "No, not a love potion," she replies. "I need to talk to a fairy. Do you know how I can get in touch with a fairy?"
The old lady glares at her. "What do I look like? Some kind of summoning service? You should know better than going to a witch asking them to summon a fairy for you girl..." she says.
Snow takes a step backwards.
"Sorry," she mumbles. "I didn't mean no offense..."
She walks away. This is how they spend their time. They travel from each village to the next, small villages where nothing ever happens except for an occasional forest dance. David spends most of his days working. He saves up their money and he buys enough food for both of them. Snow spends their nights trying to get information about magic. If she can meet someone, anyone, important enough, knowledgeable enough, then they can break the spell binding them to this half existence and the can have normal full lives. But they have yet to meet anyone that has useful information.
Snow sighs. The wolf walks closer to her, licking her hand.
"It's alright," he seems to be trying to say. "We'll figure this out..."
The miller's daughter is wearing her best dress, walking around the market looking around carefully.
"I bet she is looking for you," Snow tells the wolf. "Do you want me to ask her?"
The wolf looks at her incredulously. What is she going to ask? Hey, do you happen to like David who is a wolf at the moment?
"I can ask her to meet you at the bridge tomorrow morning, or meet you at the bakery..."
The wolf keeps staring at her. Snow looks down and she doesn't say a word when she walks past the girl. They are nearing towards the market' end. It doesn't look like Snow is going to get any more information on magic tonight.
Snow walks away from the village square, her wolf at her heels.
"This is it," she says sitting by the stream at the exact same spot as last night. "This is my life... I get to talk to an old lady then I go to bed..."
It's kind of chilly tonight though.
"Maybe I should build a fire," she mumbles, because just sitting here, complaining about her fate doesn't do anyone any good. The wolf gathers a few sticks, Snow does too. Pretty soon they have a large enough pile to build a fire.
Snow rubs the sticks together long enough until the first spark shows. She sits back and watches the tiny amber flame get bigger, engulfing her wood pile.
This is the same with love, she thinks staring at the wolf who is howling at the moon at the moment. A little spark at first, next thing you know your whole heart is engulfed in flames and you wonder, how this even happened...
"I'm fine," she says because the wolf has gotten closer to her looking at he questioningly. "I'm fine...no need to fuss..."
Snow lays down, covering herself with her cape. "It's a beautiful night, if you want to run around or hunt...or meet a wolf girlfriend..." she turns to him, but he's already laid next to her, his face in her curls.
"Goodnight," she whispers and she closes her eyes tight. She wonders if he even knows how much it means to her that he lays next to her every night. He could be running around or making wolf friends or joining a pack. But instead he stays here, next to her. Every night.
Snow's eyes open wide, in the middle of the night. She is in a clearing in the forest she doesn't recognize. There are lanterns hanging in the trees above them. David is there, laying next to her, his fingers laced through hers.
"You are here," she smiles almost shyly. "We are both here..."
He smiles back. "What is the first thing you are going to do if we break our curse?" he asks.
Snow feels her cheeks blush. I'm going to kiss you she thinks, but she can't really confess this out loud. "I don't know," she shrugs.
"Well," he replies. "I do...I'm going to take you dancing..."
Snow smiles, searching his face. Does he? Does he feel the same way as she does or is he just saying that, is he just saying that because he is a part of her dream?
"What's wrong with right now?" she whispers.
"Nothing wrong with right now," he replies sitting up offering his hand.
Snow reaches for him. His hand is right there. Human fingers, human muscles and tendons and skin. Same hands that have lifted her up hundred of times when she was a small ball of fluff and feathers.
"Wouldn't it be easier to run away if you weren't dragging me along?" she asks as he pulls her up to her feet.
He holds her in closer, his hand on her waist, his face so close she could kiss him if she were on the tip of her toes.
"No! You are the reason I ran away in the first place..." he explains. "Do we need music?" he asks.
Snow shakes her head, because the moment his hand touched her skin, her whole body started humming. And then he steps forward moving her along.
Snow watches him, eyes wide open.
"Cat got you tongue?" he smirks then he twirls her around.
Once she is back in his arms almost breathless she whispers "No, it's just that some times, when I dream about you, you say things that are too good to be true..."
"Wake up then!" he smiles then he dips her. Snow is holding her breath, her heart beating wildly. I don't want to wake up, she thinks.
Snow opens her eyes her heart beating faster. Next to her the wolf is half asleep, his ears listening to the sounds of the night.
She thinks of the first time she laid her eyes on him. How long has it been? Her stepmother was infuriated with her because she refused to marry the Woodsman's son.
"If you are not going to get married than you better get a trade," she'd said. "I have no use for a girl daydreaming, laying around the house all day..." even though Snow never really did that. There were several respected business men and women in the village that would be happy to have Snow as an apprentice. But her stepmother didn't pick one of them. She took Snow deep inside the woods and left her off at the witch's doorstep instead.
"What do we have here?" the witch had cackled, rubbing her hands.
"What we have here is defiance, herself," her stepmother had quipped. "She will either make an exceptional witch or you can terrify her into obedience...Either way..."
The witch had handed her stepmother three golden coins.
"I'll do my best..." she'd said.
Snow had tried hard not to look terrified but it was impossible really. Just looking around the witch's cottage was a horrifying experience. There were candles and sculls, dried up lizards and frogs in jars, eyeballs and fish eggs and all sort of hissing and moving ingredients that Snow didn't want to imagine what they might be.
There was a wolf sprawled in front of the witch's fireplace. Snow's heart beat faster at the first sight of him. She was grateful he was asleep. After all a wolf is not a tame animal. It took her a few days to figure out that even though he looked asleep he was actually listening, observing everything the witch ever did.
"Alright," the witch had said. "Let's see what you can do! I need to you to kiss all the frogs and stew them..."
Snow had tried hard not to let her hands shake as she picked up the frogs once by one and kissed them and threw them in the witches' cauldron.
"Interesting," the witch had said, looking closely to the red smoke rising above the cauldron.
She'd asked Snow to sweep the cottage next and take some blue birds from the nest outside, pluck their feathers and add them to the stew.
Snow had swept the floor but then she refused to get anywhere near the bluebirds.
"Why ever not?" the witch laughed.
Snow looked down.
"I am talking to you girl!" the witch had yelled and lifted Snow's chin forcing her to face her.
Snow had desperately tried to get away but the old woman was deceptively strong for her age and had pinned Snow in place with her magic.
"You are one of them aren't you?" the old lady marveled. "One of them, bird talkers!"
Snow closed her eyes, wondering how her secret was so obvious to the witch.
"Alright then Snow," the old lady had smiled and her smile had looked anything but benevolent. "Tell you what. Until you learn to do what I ask without questions you are going to spend some time in a cage..." the woman had snapped her fingers and the next minute Snow felt her whole body stinging, and then she was a bluebird, fluttering her wings in her cage, and the witch was cackling, rubbing her hands again.
This is how everyday went from then on. The witch would ask Snow to do all the housework, and then she would ask her to do something that no kind compassionate person would ever agree to do.
"Go to the neighbors, pinch their sleeping baby and collect his tears..."
"Go cut the braids off, of a red haired little girl..."
"Pluck the heart of a boy in love..."
Snow would fist her hands, look down and shake her head. And the next minute her body would sting and she'd be a bluebird in her cage.
If Snow didn't spend half her existence as a bluebird she would have probably run away already. But there was no time. She was in a cage. Under the circumstances she should have felt desperate alone and confused. Except that on her first night as a bluebird a terrified Snow watched the witch fall asleep in her bed in the corner and then he watched the wolf turn into a handsome man, about her age. He stood up and walked up to her cage.
"Well, you are new," he'd stated then he poured water in a bowl for her and added corn and birdseed to he cage.
"Now listen" he'd said and if things weren't so desperate the'd look quite comical, a man having a serious conversation with a blue bird. " What I do here, after the witch is asleep is none of her business. You tell her nothing, you hear me? You tell her nothing!"
The bluebird had nodded twice and the man, satisfied that he got his message across, had sat by the fireplace pouring over the witches books and scrolls. He read the same books over an over, sometimes pacing up and down the room trying to figure out the missing words, the missing ingredients.
Because a witch's manuscripts are never straightforward, they always skip things, they always leave things out, incantations, and steps. When he got tired he'd put everything back on the self and then he'd fall asleep, laying on the ground, in front of the fireplace. When his spell took over, he looked like a wolf asleep in front of the fire, like nothing unusual going on. Like he'd been asleep in front of the fire all night long.
In the morning the witch turned Snow back into a woman and gave her a list of things to do. The wolf watched her closely the whole day, no doubt wondering if Snow would betray his secret. But Snow said nothing. Not only did she say nothing but she fed him scraps from the Witch's table when the witch wasn't looking.
When the Witch yelled at Snow the wolf licked her hand. And when the witch got mad at Snow White and turned her back into a bird in a cage the wolf watched her closely.
At night the Witch went to sleep. The wolf turned into a man again. He walked straight to her cage and opened the door.
"I knew I could trust you," he smiled. He placed her on the table, gave her bird seeds and fruit then he poured over the witch's books again.
"The witch owns me for three years," he explained, to the bird that was observing him closely. "I'm supposed to keep her safe. But if I can figure out how to break the spell that binds me..."
The bird had perched on his shoulder while he read over and over trying to memorize incantations that would turn things to their true form, spells for freedom and happiness, trying to crack the witch's code, trying to figure out what words were missing from the spells. Sometimes he'd pick her up and let her perch on his shoulder.
"I think I'm close, what do you think?" he'd ask.
The bluebird had no idea of course so she'd rub her head encouragingly against his chin. On the days when the Witch walked away from the cottage along with the wolf, after turning her into a bluebird, Snow felt incredibly lonely. She had this fear that maybe one of these days the witch would come back to her cottage alone without the wolf. And then what would Snow do all alone?
"For the record," he said one night, leaning towards the table where she was fluffing her wings, to make sure she was listening, "saying no to the witch when she threatens you like that...I think that's incredible brave on your part..."
Snow had blinked a couple of times, wondering if bluebirds could cry. Because after her stepmother viewing her as nothing more than a burden and and the witch letting her know how big a disappointment she was, having someone tell her she was brave, was overwhelming.
The days passed with him as a wolf and Snow being a disappointing witch's apprentice until one day the witch had enough. She glared at Snow and said with the softest sweetest voice that made Snow want to hide under the table "I'm going to give you one last chance. If you don't start cooperating girl I'm going to sell you in your cage at the market..."
Snow had trembled in her cage, looking at the wolf who was laying on the ground, wondering if he heard. Because there was no way for her to ask him for help. Not if she was trapped in there.
That night when the Witch went to sleep the wolf turned into a man again. Snow watched closely.
He rushed to her cage.
"Don't worry, I heard everything..." he whispered.
Then he spent the next thirty minutes drawing circles and lines and stars on the witch's floor using ashes from the fireplace. Then he dropped some wine at the corner of his design and spilled some dirt.
Snow watched him all confused.
Then he picked up her cage. "Every witch draws her own portals, using their special brand of magic. I'm trying to make this look like Maleficent's magic," he explained. "Are you ready to go?" he asked.
Snow nodded several times, fluttering her wings. She felt so relieved she could cry.
"I tried to make this look like Maleficent came here, and stole us away. If she falls for it, it will give us some time..."
Then he'd opened the front door quietly and snuck out into the night.
For the first few hours he'd run, then he'd stop to rest and he'd run some more.
When it was almost dawn he took her out of her cage, broke the cage and tossed it into a stream.
"Just in case," he said. He wanted to dispose of the cage somewhere were the Witch wouldn't find it.
In the morning around the time the sun rose Snow turned into a girl.
"You saved me!" was the first thing she said to him.
He'd smiled back. "I wasn't going to let her sell you in the market..." he'd shrugged.
"I don't even know your name..."
"I'm David..."
Snow had reached for his hand and she wondered if he had any idea how much she loved him. She didn't realize it either, not until that moment, when they were together in human form, her hand clasping his, and she felt like she owed him her life.
But before she got a chance to utter another word both Snow and David jumped and covered their ears. Somehow though they were so far far away they heard the witch screaming into their minds. She screamed and she screamed, in a language neither of them understood then she said words that sounded familiar yet they didn't recognize their meaning and then she laughed, she laughed so hard. And then they felt the familiar sting of her power branding them with her magic, altering his curse and binding Snow to a similar fate.
Snow had immediately turned into a bird, back in her small cage. David stood staring at her shocked, the cage in his hand.
"Oh, no..." is all he said, trying to stifle his disappointment. "We'll figure this out, alright?" he'd said sticking his hand in the cage pulling her out of it. He'd dropped the cage on the ground and smashed it to pieces with his boot. "We just need some help from someone who knows magic but isn't evil..."
They didn't quite understand what the witch had done to them yet, but they did understand it that night.
As the sun set, Snow became a woman again and she'd turned all excited to talk to him except she'd come face to face with the wolf. She'd gasped and tried hard not to cry. Because in that moment they both understood how the Witch had punished them both. They could run away together, as far and as wide as their feet could take them, but they could never talk, they could never be friends. They could never be together. The'd have to take turns being human.
"Whatever happens," she'd whispered, "we can't go back to the Witch, alright?"
"Alright!" was the first word he said when he was a man again and Snow was a bird in a cage. He'd taken her out of the cage and in his hands. "Alright. No matter what happens..."
Snow sits up. It's going to be morning soon. She will turn into a bird. She stands up and walks towards the water. She really wants to jump in but it's just so cold.
The wolf looks at her his mouth turning up, he lets out a soft howl.
"Are you daring me?" she asks. He howls again.
"Fine, then," she says taking her dress off, tossing it on the ground. She stands there shivering in her undergarments.
"I'm going to do it!" she states again even though she doesn't sound so certain this time. She takes a deep breath then she jumps onto the cold water.
For a brief moment the world is so quiet, there is nothing but the beat of her own heart and the cold water against her skin.
Her head pops up from the water.
"Come on in," she says it's nice and frozen..."
He doesn't need to be told twice, he jumps into the cold water, and then he lets out a soft whimper.
Too cold, too cold, too cold.
Snow is walking out now wiping the water from her face. Their fire from last night is nothing but a few hot embers. Snow squats next to it.
"Come here!" she says so he rushes next to her. She places her arm around him. He is trying hard not to look at her breasts because now that her underclothes are wet they are not leaving much to the imagination.
"We are doing the right thing, aren't we?" she says quietly. "Staying away from the witch and trying to solve this on our own is the right thing to do, right?" she asks and her voice sounds so small, so uncertain.
And the next minute the first ray of the sun hits them and she is a bluebird on a white cage and he is a man sitting by a long extinguished fire.
"Of course we are doing the right thing," he replies. "Snow! If we were to go back now, there is no telling what the witch would do to both of us...she'd probably kill us or turn us into worms..."
He opens her cage and she flies out.
"Speaking of worms," he laughs.
Snow is busy flying around looking for breakfast. He is sitting there looking at her.
Does she have the faintest idea of how much he likes her, he wonders. No, not true. How much he loves her. How there isn't much he wouldn't do to set her free? From the first moment he laid eyes on her, when she entered the witch's cottage he fell for her. He expected her to become a heartless witch. He expected her to be strong and cruel a willing participant in the witch's crimes. But she had a different kind of strength. She had so much compassion, and she was so brave. She told the witch no, again and again, no matter how angry the witch got.
One of these days he is going to have to tell her how much he loves her, and its' going to be excruciating, because he is going to have to wait for her to be a woman before she can reply, but still, she deserves to know.
"Are you done?" he asks quietly when the bluebird comes back and perches on his shoulder. "Come on..."
David heads back into town. The miller's daughter is at the market buying grapes. She rushes up to him.
"You are back..." she blurts out without thinking, fluttering her long eyelashes at him, her cheeks blushing. "I was...I wondered where you went..."
"Still here," he smiles.
"Busy day?" she asks. Because I thought that maybe we could go for a walk later?"
"Maybe," he replies non noncommittally because he can't very well tell her that he is not going to be human tonight, or that he is in love with the bluebird who is watching him closely at the moment, so really she is wasting her time. "Do you know how I can get to Geppetto's?"
"I can take you there if you like!" the girl perks up.
"That won't be necessary, just point me to the right direction?"
"If you follow the road on the right you can't miss it. It's the third house with the blue roof."
"Thank you!" he smiles as he walks away leaving the girl to look after him longingly.
The blue bird is looking down. Maybe that's the solution to their problem. If they never find a way to break free they go their separate ways. He can meet a girl that doesn't mind too much having a husband that turns into a wolf at sundown, she can meet a boy that doesn't mind having a wife only at nights. It could work, she thinks even as her heart burns with the thought of it.
Geppetto turns out to be an older man who is very busy building toys.
"The order isn't ready yet!" he tells David as soon as he opens the door to his house. "You are going to have to wait..."
"No, I'm not here for the order," David replies. "I was told you might have work for me, you needed someone to fix your barn?"
"Oh,yes, yes, my barn. Forget the barn for now, these toy bears need polishing.."
And just like that David is sitting inside Geppetto's store polishing little wooden bears next to a sweet looking boy who is helping too. The boy keeps glancing at David.
"Hi!" David smiles at him.
The boy keeps glancing at the bluebird perched on David's shoulder.
David is quite fast, Geppetto looks at him appraisingly.
"If you keep this up, we might get the order done on time," he says. "What's your name boy?"
"I'm David. Widow Lucas said you needed help with some repairs in the barn..."
"That's what you do? You fix things?"
"For now," David evades the question. He can't very well tell the toy maker that he used to be a shepherd once, before Rumpelstiltskin tricked him into servitude to the Witch of the woods. He also can tell him that he can't be a shepherd now that he turns into a wolf every night.
"Well David, you can fix my burn, if you help me finish my order. And if we finish my order in time I will pay you three golden coins in addition to your wages...because those toys were ordered by king Midas himself...You can spend the night in the barn if you like..."
David shakes his head.
"I'll get my own lodging, thank you..."
"But we are going to be working well into the night," the toy maker frowns. "It will be much faster if you just sleep here..."
"I can only work till sundown," David replies. "We'll get it done on time..."
Geppetto doesn't look convinced.
But David works hard. The toys get polished by noon and then David and Pinocchio load them into crates and stack them by the door ready to be loaded when the king's man comes to pick them up.
"Good job!" Geppetto is looking so happy. "Will you be joining us for dinner?"
"No, sir, I must go," David replies.
"What's the rush,my boy?" the old man asks but David is already gone, running as fast as he can away from Geppetto's house. He is late. He is so late. He doesn't have time to buy dinner, which means he is going to have to feed as a wolf, and what is Snow going to eat when she turns? He rushes to the edge of the forest.
"I'm sorry Snow," he mumbles "I'm so sorry. Here, maybe if I leave the money out you can go buy dinner..." He empties the money from his money pouch, even though he doesn't think this will work, because no matter how many times they've done this trying to get different results, the pouch and the money always disappears in the transformation. Just like Snow is always is in a cage when she turns into a bird, no matter how many times David breaks it.
The suns sets. David is a wolf, Snow is a woman, the money he just placed on the ground is gone.
Snow sits on the ground. "It's alright," she mumbles just as her stomach grumbles. "If he pays you three golden coins we can spend more time looking for fairies, less time working..."
She doesn't notice the little boy staring at her from behind the tree.
"I'm telling you Papa the bird turned into a girl, David turned into a wolf! I am not lying!" Pinocchio tells Geppetto. "He said I'm sorry I didn't have time to buy food, and he emptied his wallet on the ground, but when they transformed the money was gone..."
"That is quite a story, my boy," Geppetto ruffles the boys hair. "You have quite an imagination..."
"I'm telling the truth Papa!"
"Are you now?"
"Can I take her some food?"
"Why not? It's good to help people when they are in need," the old man replies. "There is bread in the cupboard..."
"Can I use the good honey Papa?"
"Why not?" the old man laughs. "Don't take too long..."
Snow is still sitting by the water when Pinocchio shows up.
"You are a bluebird and the wolf is David, I saw what happened..." he says without a preamble. "I got you some food!"
Snow looks at him. "You are Pinocchio, right? You are Geppetto's son?"
Pinocchio smiles and hands her slices of bread dripping with honey. "Thank you," Snow mumbles taking a bite, the honey making her fingers stick. "How do you know? Did you follow us?"
"I did," the boy smiles. "What sort of magic is this?"
"The bad kind," Snow replies. "And I don't want to ask a witch for help, I want help from a good fairy..."
"I have a fairy godmother..."
"You do?" Snow asks, her hand excitedly reaching for the wolf. "Can you call her?"
The boy shake his head. "I call her all the time. But she only comes once a year, on my real boy birthday..."
Snow feels her eyes welling up. She takes a deep breath. For a moment she thought this boy held an answer to all her problems. "When is your birthday?" she asks and she can't help it, her voice cracks.
The wolf turns to look at her. Snow is crying. All this time, with everything they've been through together, Snow has never once cried. Until today. And he doesn't know how to fix it, he feels so helpless.
"First day of winter," the boy smiles.
Snow nods. First day of winter is ways away.
"We'll wait," Snow replies."Or maybe we'll come back for your birthday...
"Where do you sleep at night?" the boy asks.
Snow shrugs. "Wherever we can find..."
"Come stay with us," the boy replies. "Papa won't tell anyone..."
Snow is looking doubtful. Can she trust Pinocchio?
"What do you think?" she asks the wolf, who whimpers softly. "I don't know..."
Sleeping in a bed for change would be wonderful. Maybe even having water for a warm bath. But she can't take any chances.
"Oh, come on!" the boy pleads.
'Maybe if David says yes too..."
"When can you ask him?"
"I can't ask him," she replies sadly. "You can ask him in the morning..."
"Why don''t you write him a note?"
"I don't have any money for parchment or ink," Snow replies quietly. She is usually on her own. And now when she is being honest and truthful to Pinocchio...And admitting things out loud is so overwhelming. It's like she hadn't notice how dire their situation was before.
"That's easy," the boy smiles. "I can get you some ink and some paper.
"Would you?" Snow feels so grateful she could cry.
"I'll be right back."
True to his word Pinocchio comes back with a jar of ink, a quill an parchment.
"Are you sure I can have this?" Snow asks. "Your Papa won't mind?"
The boy nods.
"Thank you," she smiles. "Now go home, it will get dark..."
The boy runs home and snow dips her quill in ink and she hesitates.
"Dear David," she starts. "Pinocchio thinks we can stay with him. He has a fairy godmother who will visit him in two months maybe she can help us. I think we should stay."
She bites her quill thinking. How do you say all that's in your heart, when all you have is a jar of ink and a sheet of parchment? She glances at the wolf who is staring back at her, perhaps realizing the magnitude of the moment.
"Sometimes I feel so sad, so overwhelmed, but then I remember you are still here. I'm not alone. And I want to say I can never thank you enough for saving me. You didn't have to do this, but you did. And I will never forget it."
That is all she is brave enough to say at the moment. And she feels better having said at least that. The moon is rising, she lays down under a large oak and closes her eyes.
The wolf howls a the moon. Several wolves howl in response, and she thinks maybe he will run, maybe he will meet with some friends. But he doesn't. He lays next to her instead. Snow's eyes well up. What has gotten into her today, she wonders. She is crying again. She needs to get it together. But, no matter how hard she tries she can't stifle her sobs. And then he is there, and she buries her face in his fur, crying, and he licks her face a couple of times.
At last she stops and runs her fingers through his fur.
This isn't working he thinks. Snow is not okay. He needs to do more, he needs to step up, he needs to do better. But what can he do? He needs to wait until morning, he needs to think. It will be easier to think this through when he is a human again.
David wakes up next to a caged bluebird. There is a note next to him. He opens it and he holds his breath. She means it too, she is extremely grateful, but she is still exhausted, this is all too much.
"Dearest Snow," he replies, "please, hold on, just a little bit longer. We are going to get through this. I'm doing the best I can..."
I love you, he wants to add. I love you more than I thought it was possible to love a person. You are in my thoughts day and night, and I will never stop fighting for us...but he doesn't write that. Not yet. Instead he washes up in the nearest stream, he takes the bluebird out of her cage and he heads straight back to Geppetto's house.
Geppetto, deep in thought, designing his next toy, looks confused at first.
"It's David, the guy who helped you yesterday, the guy who turns into a wolf at night," Pinocchio says brightly.
The old man expects David to contradict the boy and his wild imagination. And he is partially right. Ordinarily David would not be admitting the truth to anyone. But after listening to Snow cry last night, he is done being cautious.
"He is right," he replies quietly. "I am cursed, I turn every night and I need your help."
Geppetto scratches his head. "Then my boy was telling the truth..." he says ruffling through Pinocchio's hair.
Pinocchio beams at him."I told you Papa!"
"Yes you did. And I of all people should have believed in a little magical mystery," the old man smiles.
"Pinocchio told Snow that you know the Blue Fairy," David holds his breath looking at the old man. He still feels Snow's hot tears on his fur, he needs this to work.
"Snow..." the old man hesitates, looking at the bluebird perched on David's shoulder. "The bird?"
David nods."Yes. She is a bird in the morning a woman at night," he replies. "Do you know the Blue Fairy?"
"I do, I do. I can see that this is an emergency," the old man replies. "She has given me a silver bell. I am to ring it if there is ever an emergency..." the old man replies.
"Really?" David feels so relieved. He raises his hand and uses his fingers to caress the bluebird. "Do you hear that Snow?" he says quietly."We are going to talk to the fairy, soon..."
"Yes, yes soon," the old man nods. Turns out that Geppetto put the small silver bell somewhere for safekeeping and it takes hims a couple of hours to search all his hiding spots. He has a hiding spot behind a painting on the wall, he has hiding spots in a couple of hollow wooden toy bunnies. So many creative spots.
David does his best not to appear impatient. He sits on Geppetto's workbench instead and polishes wooden toys.
"It's going to be fine," he mumbles to himself or to the blue bird, he really can't tell the difference anymore. She is such a big part of him now. He doesn't know whether he is thinking out loud or whether he wants to comfort Snow White.
And then the old man walks, in holding a tiny silver bell in is hand. The bell is so small it is a wonder he even found it.
"It was in the cuckoo clock of course," the man exclaims as if David was already in the know of all of the man's hiding spots.
"Please," he says quietly, his eyes on the bell.
"Of course," Geppetto nods understandingly.
The bell sounds magical, the mere sound of it makes David feel better already, it's like the sound of fresh snow, falling on the ground or like the sound of a baby's first laughter.
He reaches for Snow and once she is in the palm of his hand he waits. Because he has done all he can do.
A beautiful woman in an incredible blue dress shows up, her hair falling in ringlets, her smile bright yet cautious.
"Blue!" Pinocchio yells and runs into her arms.
The fairy kisses him on the head.
"Have you been good?" she asks the boy.
"He has been a perfect boy," Geppetto replies, the pride in his voice palpable.
"What am I here for then?" the Fairy smiles then her gaze stops at the blue bird in David's hand and her smile looks incredibly sad.
"It's you!" she whispers, taking a step closer, reaching for the bluebird.
The bird flies into the fairy's hand and David feels a strange sensation that makes no sense. And yet the feeling is there. A premonition. Like he is about to lose her.
"What can I do for you?" Blue's voice is merely a whisper.
"We are cursed." David explains. "We run away from the With of the Eastern Forest. Snow is herself only at night, I turn into a wolf at sunset. Please..." he doesn't finish his sentence.
"I'm afraid things are a bit more complicated than you think," the fairy replies."There are several curses at work here. And I can only help you with one thing. Tell me, David, what do you want me to do?"
He doesn't notice that the fairy already knows his name, without him ever introducing himself.
"We need to be human all day everyday," he replies instantly. There is no doubt in his mind this is the thing to ask for.
"That's easy," Blue replies and she look almost pensive. "The only reason the witch's curse affects you is because you are together. If you go your separate ways, you should be in your true form within hours," she explains.
And if his heart broke last night, when Snow sobbed, there is no description to the pain he feels now. He feels dizzy as if the fairy punched him in the stomach, or slapped him in the face. His breath catches. He must have misheard her.
"What?" he whispers.
"Walk your separate ways," the fairy replies softly. "Then you will be a man and she will be a woman... Get back together again and shortly you will be a wolf or she will be a bird again..."
And David wants to yell, he wants to scream. He wants to shake the fairy. This isn't a solution, this isn't an option. This, this is just a cruel joke.
"There has to be another way," he replies quietly. "Please..."
"I'm afraid this is the only answer I can give you," the fairy replies, then she slowly fades away, blowing a kiss to Pinocchio.
Geppetto places his hand on David'a arm. As absentminded as he is, he sees a lot more things than he lets on.
"Somethings are easier said than done," he observes quietly, then he heads back to his workbench, living David alone with his thoughts.
An hour before sunset, David buys the pears Snow likes, and a sweet pastry, then he heads into the forest.
"The Blue Fairy says the moment we go our separate ways the curse will break," he writes on the parchment. "Geppetto says you are welcome to stay with him as long as you want. I think you should stay with him. If you turn into a bird again he will know to set you free...If you ever need anything, place a note on this tree and I will take care of it I promise..."
What else can he add? Telling her he loves her now that for sure they cannot be together would be just cruel, wouldn't it...
So he doesn't say anything.
He pulls out his knife, pins the note to the tree trunk next to him, so she can see it right away, then he arranges the food on a cloth napkin, placing a wild white violet next to it.
I love you, his heart screams but it's no use. He should be eating but he has no appetite. So he sits on the ground, leans against the tree trunk and closes his eyes, doing his best to hold back his tears.
When Snow sees the note she doesn't make a sound. She heard the whole conversation as a bluebird, but the gravity of the situation doesn't really hit her until now. She sits at the bottom of the tree trunk and wraps her arms around her knees. She doesn't want to go. Does he care if they get separated, she wonders. Does he mind? Does he have any idea how much he means to her?
She stays like that all night, sitting next to him, and in the morning, an hour before sunrise she writes "I am going to Geppetto's. Do you have somewhere to stay? I will miss you. If there is anything I can do for you, ever..."
She doesn't finish the thought. She walks away instead and she doesn't bother holding back her tears. Geppetto welcomes her warmly. He pretends not to notice her red eyes and her puffy cheeks drenched in tears.
"What can I do for you?" he asks after he shows her to the spare room in the back, the room she is welcome to stay in.
Snow shakes her head. She doesn't know what she needs. What she needs is to spend time with David, and he is the one person she cannot be with. It is so strange being herself again without the wolf trailing her.
"I think I'd like to work," she replies quietly, because she needs something, anything to keep her mind off of things.
"I have a new toy order, I could use your help," the man smiles.
Snow sits at the workbench and she assembles the wooden puppets that Geppetto is making. She paints their faces. Thinking of David, she gives all of them blue eyes, fair skin, sandy gold hair. Geppetto explains that perhaps some of them could have darker hair, green eyes, golden or darker skin tones.
Snow nods, wiping her eyes. Is David free of his curse yet? Is he a man again? Where is he? He's had no problem finding work and surviving before. There is no need for her to worry and yet she does. At times when she is focused on the toys she is painting, she turns around looking for him. Then she remembers he is not there. The wolf is gone.
At the end of the day, Geppetto pays Snow a couple of coins.
"Will you be joining us for dinner?" he asks.
Snow nods and Pinocchio claps his hands.
"I saw David at the mill," the boy says. "He is working there now..."
Snow tries not to think of the miller's daughter, and how lucky she is to have David at the mill all day long. She should wish him happy, she thinks, moving the food around in her plate.
Once dinner is over, Snow excuses herself and heads to the forest. A small note already folded, in her hand. She goes to the great oak where she turned into a woman yesterday. Where she read David's note with the information on how to break the curse.
There is a fresh note pinned on the tree trunk with David's dagger.
Snow opens it in a hurry and three golden coins fall out.
"Snow," the note reads. "The fairy was right. I turned a few minutes after you left this morning. I got a job at the mill and a place to stay. I keep looking for you, every time I hear birds singing. I forget you are not there. Now that I have a regular job, I don't need the golden coins Perhaps you can use them, especially if you don't like working at Geppetto's... Take care. Drop me a note if you get a chance, so I don't worry too much about you. David"
Snow looks around. If he got a job at the mill he must have just gotten off for the night. What if he was just there? But there is no sign of David anywhere. She sighs. She pins her note on the tree, then she walks slowly home.
David walks by the tree first thing in the morning. It's quite out of his way but he doesn't mind. There is a fresh note on the great oak. David opens it and reads
"Dearest David. It worked. I didn't turn into a bird at all today. I like working at the toy store. Geppetto is very kind and generous. I suppose this is goodbye. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I miss you. Snow."
I miss you, he reads and his heart beats faster. He folds the note, hides it inside his doublet and heads to work.
"Good morning David!" the miller's daughter greets him at the door of the mill. She is wearing her good pink dress, her hair is braided with a shiny ribbon.
"Good morning," he smiles back and he doesn't notice her new dress or her beautiful ribbon or her eyes full of hope. Because Snow's letter is folded, tucked next to his heart, and that is all he can think about the rest of the day.
When Geppetto wakes up, he sees Snow White already at the work bench painting toys. She got up in the middle of the night after tossing and turning for hours. She has been painting non stop ever since. Geppetto picks up a whale she painted gray and blue. There is something about the way she's mixed the colors, he can see the sadness and the longing. It is quite beautiful.
"You are working too hard my dear," he smiles. "Please! Go get some rest!"
"I can't sleep," Snow shrugs.
"Never mind sleep, won't you get out of the house, go for a walk, you need to rest, dear...Please! No more painting today. You've worked enough!"
Snow is looking quite lost.
"Tell you what, won't you go to the market, buy some apples..."
"Pears," she replies, because under no circumstance will she ever buy an apple.
"Pears," the old man consents. "Would you like my boy to come with you?"
Snow nods. "I'd be happy to have company..."
Pinocchio is excitedly walking next to Snow White.
"What is it like being a bird?" he asks.
"It's like, you are in a dream. You see everything, you understand almost everything, but it's not the same. It's not as real as now..."she struggles to explain.
"I'm real now," he replies thoughtfully.
Snow looks at him carefully.
"I was a puppet before," the boy explains. "The Blue Fairy turned me into a real boy..."
Snow sighs. "The Blue Fairy really knows her stuff," she exclaims, not without some bitterness in her voice.
"Are you sad, Snow White?" Pinocchio asks.
Snow shrugs, thinking before answering. "I don't know," she says softly. "I'm not quite sure I'm real right now..."
Once a t the market Snow picks her pears carefully. She is about to buy turnips too when she hears the two girls behind the vegetable stall whispering to each other.
"I don't know, Rose says she claimed him first," the blond girl squeals.
"That's not how it works Margaret. He is a guy. It's not like you can claim a human..."
"But Rose claims she is already in love with him!"
"He hasn't been here more than three days! How did she fall in love with him already? I'm going to ask him to the dance!"
Snow opens her purse about to pay for her fruit when both girls squeal and begin fanning themselves. Snow turns to see who it is that is causing such an intense reaction. Her heart about leaps out of her chest, because there is David, on a small horse drawn cart, delivering sacks of flour.
Snow shifts uncomfortably at her feet. How does the curse work? Is she going to turn into a bird right this moment? Will he turn into a wolf? Will the girl scream in terror once that happens? Snow reaches for her dagger, because if he turns into a wolf she is not going to let no one hurt him. No one. But the cart passes and nothing happens.
Snow lets out a small sigh of relief. The girls are now smiling at each other excitedly.
"He is looking so good today!"
"Did you see his cart?"
Snow offers a coin at the giddy girls and walks away in a hurry.
Turns out they can be in the same area and neither of them turns into anything. How close can they get though? Close enough to talk? Close enough to touch? How close is too close? How long before one of them turns?
Snow walks to the corner asks for more parchment and ink.
"What is it with you newcomers" the store owner exclaims. "If you keep this up, I'm going to be all out!"
"What? Why?" Snow frowns.
"That new boy came in earlier. He bought ink and parchment too..." the man replies.
Snow smiles brightly. She knows who the new boy is, she knows what David wants the paper for. "You better order some more then," she smiles. "Because I'm going to need more soon!"
"Dearest David," she writes carefully."I saw you at the market today. I didn't turn. You didn't either. Made me wonder, how close could we get before we turn? Should we try..." Snow rushes to hang the note on the usual spot. She doesn't have much more to do today, so he heads to Geppetto's and she offers to cook dinner.
"You are supposed to be resting dear!" the old man replies, but in the end he relents. He lets Sow White cook for them. After dinner, Snow excuses herself. She knows that she just left the note this morning. David must have worked all day, there is no way there will be another note, not until tomorrow. Imagine her surprise when she sees David sitting down under the great oak, holding a note in his hand.
Snow's heart beats faster.
He sees her and he stands up, watching her approach.
"Snow!" he says, and he looks so happy.
Snow walks towards him hesitantly. She doesn't want to get too close. She doesn't want either of them to turn, she wants this moment to last.
"It's so good to see you," she says, a bit louder than normal, her voice carrying over the distance. "How close do you think I can get?" she asks.
"Just a little bit closer," he suggests.
Snow walks takes a few steps and leans on the birch tree right across from him.
"How are you?" he asks softly.
"Still human," she shrugs. "How are you holding up?"
And then they both start talking at the same time.
"Its just that...-" he says.
"It's weird...-" she says.
"You first," he laughs, almost shyly.
"This being apart all the time, it's so weird," Snow offers,
He nods. "I know," he replies. "If I knew this was the cost of breaking the curse...I wouldn't...Snow I care about you and I..._"
"I care about you too," she interrupts. "You've been my only friend..."
"Yes, but I mean...more than that. I'm in love with you...and I don't know how to do this, I don't want to do this...-" and for a moment he is at a loss for words. Here it is, his heart exposed for her to see. He holds his breath, because he didn't plan for this. He didn't mean to tell her. It's just when she stands there, bright green eyes and inquisitive smile he seems to forget what he planned to say and his heart comes pouring through.
Snow nods, tearing up. "Not just me then," she replies quietly. "I wasn't sure you felt the same way," she explains because he is looking at her not quite sure he dares believe what he is hearing.
And even though Snow's answer feels his heart with joy, she is crying, and he can't handle that, Snow crying, not on his watch. He takes a step forward, without thinking, his hand reaching for her.
"Hey," he whispers, "don't cry Snow White..."
Snow smiles through her tears because he is standing right there, and then her hands slip into his, and it feels so good to be close together again.
And then she is a bird in a cage, feeling dizzy, not quite knowing what happened, except David is standing there, looking devastated.
"I am so sorry," he says as if this is his fault. "I am really sorry." He opens the cage door, lets her perch on his hand. He rushes to Geppetto's house.
"I messed up," he tells Pinocchio, because the old man is asleep on the large armchair in front of his fireplace. "Hopefully once I leave she will turn back to normal..."
Pinocchio places the bluebird on the table. David walks out, his shoulder sloped, looking so sad. She watches him leave and she wants to scream and cry.
"Not yet," she wants to yell, "not yet, please!"
But David doesn't speak hardly any bird and he is too upset to hear her thoughts.
"It's alright," the little boy says. "It's alright...You will be yourself in no time..."And she does. A few minutes after David is gone Snow is a woman again. She wants to run after him. She opens the door, but it's already dark and she has no idea which way he went. She needs to write him a note, she needs to tell him this wasn't his fault she needs... If she is not careful she is going to be the reason he turns into a wolf in the middle of the village, and then no doubt someone will kill him or attack him and try to drive him away. And that is the only reason that Snow doesn't run out in the dark calling out his name.
Snow leaves a note on the oak tree first thing in the morning.
"Dear David, I turned right after you left. I'm alright. This wasn't your fault..." She walks by there in the evening and when she sees her note still there, she eaves a second note.
"David, don't do this! Please! This isn't your fault. None of this was your fault. Let's talk about this..."
"Please!" she whispers. "Please don't walk away..."
In the morning when both of her notes are still pinned to the tree Snow does her best to hold back her tears. She doesn't bother to place a third note on the oak tree. She sends Pinocchio instead.
The boy walks into the mill.
"I need to talk to you," he tells David who is loading his kart.
David follows the boy outside the mill.
"What is it?" he asks. "Is Snow alright?"
"She gave me this," the boy responds handing him Snow's third note.
"David," the note reads "please...this wasn't your fault...let's try again..."
"Tell her I have a plan," he says quietly. "I have a plan." And then he turns around and gets back to his sacks of flour and his cart.
"What sort of plan?" Snow asks, trying to stay calm.
"He didn't say," the boy shrugs.
"Can you go back there and ask him, please?"
Pinocchio nods and runs back to the mill.
"I'm going to ask for help," is all the David replies and that makes Snow panic even more. Because they already asked the fairies for help, so who is left there to ask?
In the evening Geppetto noting how distracted Snow's been all day, he smiles. "Did you know there is a dance on the village square tonight?" he asks. "Go on, it will be fun! You've been working way too hard."
Snow nods and she does leave the house. She doesn't go to the town square though. She walks to the great oak instead. She sits underneath the tree, her cape tightly wrapped around her shoulders and she waits. It's a cold night, her hands are freezing cold, but she doesn't notice.
David has been invited to the dance by the miller's daughter, by the girl that sells eggs at the market and several other girls. He doesn't go to the dance though. He knows he owes Snow an explanation. He slowly walks to the great oak, his heart beating faster when he sees there waiting.
"What are you doing here?" he asks quietly, even though he knew she'd be here.
She smiles. "Waiting for you! David what happened the other night wasn't your fault!"
David shakes his head. He doesn't really want to talk about the other night.
"What is the plan?" she asks. "Please tell me you are not considering talking to the Dark One!"
"What else is there to do?" he asks. "There is no other way!"
"David last time you talked to the Dark One you ended up enslaved to the witch of the woods!" she exclaims trying so hard to stay calm.
"I know," he says quietly."I know but...-"
"But what?" she whispers.
And when he doesn't reply she tries again.
"What if we stopped trying?" she asks.
"What?" he looks so confused.
"What if we stopped trying to break the curse. You are here. I am here. Maybe that's enough..."
David looks at the distance between them. It's only a few feet and yet it feels so far away. There might as well be a cliff or a castle wall between them. It's too far. And yet there is a comfort in being here, talking to her. It's better than nothing.
"For how long?" he rasps.
Snow shrugs. "What if at the end of the day we meet here and we talk...-"
It's not enough, it' not nearly enough, his heart screams inside his chest and yet it's better than nothing. It's better than staying away from her altogether.
"Alright," he concedes, his voice barely audible.
"You have to promise..." she insists.
"Promise what?" he is looking confused.
"Promise you won't do something reckless, like try to contact the Dark One. Not unless we both agree that we are ready!"
David look down. He doesn't want to promise that of course. But Snow is sitting right there and she is looking at him with those eyes, the eyes that make him want to agree with whatever she asks, promise her anything she wishes for.
"Alright," he sighs. "I promise..."
Snow gives him a sad smile. "And you won't disappear again," she says pointing to her notes still hanging on the tree.
"I didn't disappear," he protests but Snow is tearing up. "I won't I promise..."
"I love you," she says quietly and the sadness in her voice breaks his heart.
"I love you too...-" he starts to say and then they both turn. He is a wolf and she is a bird in a cage. He howls loudly, running in circles all panicked, because this hasn't happened since they've been at the witch's house. And he doesn't know what to do, she is so small, a caged bird in the middle of the dark forest, so many predators around and she can't even fly away. He knows if he runs far away she will probably turn, but how can he know for sure? He is a wolf, he can't pick up her cage and take her to Pinocchio's, he can't take her to a safe place.
He shouldn't have come here, his mere presence placing her in so much danger. He howls at the moon and he runs around then he runs away towards the forest, leaving Snow alone. He runs and he runs, the transformation still holding and he's never felt more terror in his life. Snow is in a cage, Snow is alone in the forest. Snow. She says it's not his fault, and maybe it isn't but he needs to stay away from her, he needs to...
How do you stay away from the woman you love, the woman who makes the world better, just by opening her eyes and smiling at the new day? He can't, he can't stay away and now he is a wolf and it's hard to think straight.
He howls again and then he is a man, standing upright, his hands shaking. Snow. He needs to get back to Snow, make sure she turned too, but what if her presence turns into him into a wolf again?
He runs to Geppetto's house.
Geppetto opens his door wearing his nightcap holding a candle. "David?" he frowns."Is something wrong?"
"Snow is in trouble," David manages still panting.
The man pulls on his boots and his coat over his nightgown. Pinocchio follows them, rubbing his eyes all sleepy.
David leads them to the forest clearing, and under the great oak Snow is still there, fluttering her wings in her cage.
"There she is!" David says all relieved.
"We got it from here, you better go," Geppetto says placing his hand on David's back. David hesitates.
"You can't help her," the old man adds.
David looks down and he heads away not paying attention to where he is going. The path leads him to the village square, where people are dancing under the light of lanterns. The girls smile as he appears and try to pull him into the dance but he walks away, barely acknowledging their presence.
"I knew you'd come!" the miller's daughter offers her best smile and grabs him by the hand. But he can't, he can't process what is happening. He pulls his hand back, looking at the couples dancing. Snow likes to dance, he thinks and he finds it hard to breathe. He promised her he wouldn't contact the dark one, but that was before. When they thought it was safe to sit cross from each other and talk. When they could take solace in each other's company. Now he knows better.
David stumbles away from the happy revelers and back in a forgotten path.
"Rumpelstiltskin!" he cries out. "Rumpelstiltskin!"
And then a soft voice behind him says "David, you promised!"
He turns to see Snow White standing behind him.
"How did you even find me?" he marvels, ignoring the accusation he reads in her eyes.
Every road leads me to you, she wants to say but she doesn't. She doesn't have time. Snow doesn't reply she doesn't talk, she just runs to cross the gap between them, then she wraps her arms around him and kisses him.
The world stands still, as still as two beating hearts reaching for each other. She is in his arms and he can't believe his luck, Snow is right there, still a woman.
"How?" he rasps when she pulls back.
"It' not about proximity, it's about time," she rushes to explain. It doesn't matter if they are touching or if they keep their distance. After a couple of minutes they will turn anyway. And he does get it mostly, but he doesn't care because if she is right that means there is time for one more kiss before either of them turns. Their lips crush together and the world shakes, a bright light flashes and they are Snow and Charming again, holding each other tightly.
"Snow," David whispers leaning his forehead on hers, running his fingers through her hair.
"I love you," is all she says before she disappears.
"One, two three," he counts.
Hi! Hope you liked the Bonus Chapter. Your thoughts, reviews and comments are very appreciated as always.
Working on a new story but I'm not quite ready to post yet.
:)