Chapter Thirty-nine

ADAM

The morning came with the excited shouts from the Dwarves and Snow White in her dress from last night cooking breakfast. They cheered and bantered and argued as they waited patiently for Snow White to cook the meal. It was only Dopey that went to check on Adam when he was awake to bring him to the breakfast table. He hit his head on the ceiling beams at least twice before being shoved in a seat closest to Snow White. She stood at their tiny stove humming along making eggs.

"I forget you're an early bird." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. She jumped and looked over her shoulder, as if she had forgotten he had been in the house at all.

"A-Adam!" She squeaked and her ears turned pink. "I-I didn't hear you get up!"

"Hard to miss the loud thuddin' of his head hittin' the ceiling beams." Grumpy chortled as he sipped his tankard.

"That's not nice, Grumpy." Doc scolded with a glare that Grumpy completely ignored. "When you're that tall in such a small house it's hard to walk!"

"Still funny, though." Grumpy snickered into his tankard.

"Grumpy. . ." Doc rolled his eyes with a huff before throwing on a smile to Adam. "Mornin' fr-friend. Sleep swell – I mean, er, did you sleep well, Adam?"

"As well as one can while sitting up." Adam rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh, well that problem won't be – er, I mean that won't be a problem for much longer." Doc smiled.

"Yeah, we're go into make you and the princess a nice little house." Happy chirped up. "Make it with nice high, high ceilings so you don't keep hittin' your noggin."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Snow White gasped as she put food onto plates. "That's so exciting!"

"When do you start working on it?" Adam asked.

"Today." Doc reassured. "The sooner the better, I think."

"I agree." Grumpy spat in a spittoon. "The sooner we get our beds back, the better."

"I thank you for letting me use your beds, Mr. Grumpy." Snow White hummed as she put the eggs onto his plate. "It was ever so kind of you to allow me to do that."

The Grumpy Dwarf turned redder than his shirt from the rip of his chin all the way to his balding head.

"It wasn't a problem. . ." He spoke a little gentler into his tankard and avoided the gazes of everyone there at the table.

"He is right, princess." Happy chimed in. "It was no problem at all. Princesses need to stay pretty, after all! Beauty sleep is the most important part of that."

"Thank you." She threw on a quick smile before turning back to the stove.

"Well, friend, I drew up some blueprints this morning." Doc continued on business affairs and pulled out the paper he had drawn the blueprints for their cottage on. "It'll be more on the simple side, which I hope will be all right since I'm sure the two of you are used to more extrag- extrgagvant- extravagant things."

"Simple and practical is extravagant enough, Doc." Adam tried to reassure him.

"It'll be a two story," He pointed to the paper. "Top floor will have the two separate bedrooms, and the bottom floor will have the bathroom, the kitchen, and the sitting room."

"Sounds good to me." Adam nodded approvingly.

"There will also be plenty of windows to go around!" He beamed.

"How many windows?" Adam couldn't help frown at that.

"One in each of the bedrooms, one in the kitchen, the bathroom, and at least three, maybe four in the sitting room." He ticked off the blueprints to show him where.

"Do we really need that many windows?" He asked politely.

"Oh, yes." He nodded his head vigorously. "Because we're all the way out here on the other side of the Dark Forest you want to let in as much light as possible so the cottage doesn't get musky."

"I just feel like that's a lot of windows. . ." Adam had been used to having no windows at all in his life, so having so many left him feeling exposed.

"Er, would you like less?" Doc raised his eyebrow in surprise.

"Well – "

"Is this what the cottage will look like?" Snow White asked as she appeared at Adam's side. She leaned over to look at the blueprints.

"Yes ma'am." Doc beamed with pride.

"Oh, I think it's lovely!" She clasped her hands together. "I love all of the windows!"

Doc cast a nervous glance at Adam and Adam bit his tongue.

"Are we all right with this many windows, princess?" Doc glanced back at Snow White.

"Oh, yes." She nodded her head and turned to Adam "Don't you agree, Adam?"

His throat felt tight and he merely nodded his head.

"Y-Yes." He said. "Yes, it's perfect."

"Great." Doc was trying to hide a knowing smile. "The men and I will get to it!"

He shoveled the eggs into his mouth then pushed himself to a stand.

"All right, men!" He raised his voice. "Shovel it in and let's get moving out! We've got a cottage to build!"

The Dwarves all shoveled food into their mouths and followed their fearless leader outside so they could begin work. With all the Dwarves gone the room became quiet with just Adam and Snow White in the kitchen and dining room. This was the first time they'd really been alone.

She returned to her stove and hummed a happy little song as she began to cook again. Adam sat at the table, not really knowing what to do with himself, and just looked at her. He really liked that dress on her, he was surprised to see that there wasn't a stain on it after being in the swamp yesterday. The yellow was sweet and pretty on her, but that blue was so gorgeous on her. He really liked that shade of blue, it was his blue that she was wearing.

"I think that dress is very lovely on you, Snow White." He found it hard to speak for some reason.

"Really?" She turned around with the biggest smile on her face.

"Yes." He smiled at her. "It suits you so well."

"I-I made it." She turned back to the stove and finished with the eggs.

"I assumed so." He chuckled. "Your handiwork is so detailed and refined; I'd know it anywhere."

"T-Thank you." Her cheeks burned a pretty rose color as she brought the cast iron skillet over to the table. She served the eggs onto their plates and they quietly began to nibble on them. They were sunny side up eggs and possibly the best things he has ever had.

"These are good." He commented, his face grew warm.

"I'm glad." She smiled between bites.

"These are really, really delicious." He swallowed and found himself staring at her.

"They're just eggs." She giggled. "But, I'm glad that you like them."

"I've never had them like this before." He explained. "In fact, there's plenty of things I've never had before until I came here to Apfel."

She blinked in surprise, "Really?"

"I had my first tart here." He nodded and placed his hands on his knees. His hands felt sweaty, and his heart beat fast in his chest. What were these strange bundles of nerves he was feeling?

"Well, while we're here you'll get to try many new things then." She beamed and was brighter than the sun. Oh, how he loved that smile, those red lips.

"I look forward to it." He continued to eat and allowed his eyes to linger on her dress. The deep blue complimented her skin tone greatly, it made her skin even more porcelain than before. Even the red accents in the sleeves were complimenting those lips. He bit his tongue and though the pain was sharp he was glad for the quick sobering up.

"Are you excited about the new cottage?" She asked as she put a forkful of egg into her mouth.

"Excited is quite the word." He huffed. More like positively terrifying. He had had her in close proximity before in his own house in the village, but that was a completely different time in his life. Now things were more complicated. They were away from the castle, they were away from a lot of the rules he was required to follow, they were going to be sharing a cottage together with only the Dwarves as an interference at best.

He had been so strong up until this point, but after the other day. . . Too much had been said.

"I think it will be really nice." She only shined brighter in her excitement; those doe brown eyes so full of life.

"I . . . think so too." He nodded his head in agreement and quickly shoveled the rest of his eggs into his mouth. She merely giggled at him and continued to eat, and a small silence fell between them. He wasn't aware how . . . tense things seemed to be between them. He had no idea where he stood with her now. It was much easier when he hid his feelings, she knew too much of them now.

"Adam?" She set her fork down and placed her hands in her lap.

"Yes?" He set his own fork down and hid his hands under the table. They gripped his knees tightly. What was this lack of composure that he felt?

"D-Do you . . . " She chewed her lip and looked him in the eyes. "Do you remember last night?"

"What about last night?" He had been a feverish mess and had no control of what he said. He could hardly remember what he said, but there was something very distinct that she had said that plucked the very strings of his heart and bounced around there.

"D-Do you remember w-what I said?" Her cheeks become rosy all the way to her ears. His heart couldn't handle it.

"W-Which part?" He cleared his throat, try to compose himself. His heart was already drumming in his ears, the room was far too hot, and he wasn't even sure what he would do if she said those three words again; he may very well burst from so much happiness!

"What I said to you was really important. . ." Her face just kept getting redder. "Please. . . please tell me you remember them. . ."

"Those were the most important words ever to be spoken into existence, my darling." He spoke seriously and tried to keep his voice from shaking. Her face was the reddest it had ever been, he was greatly worried she would start to turn purple if she deepened another shade.

"G-G-Good." She looked down into her lap, a far too late attempt to hide her face from him now. "I-I was really worried about that . . . because I really meant it a-a-a-nd it was the most difficult thing I've told you . . ."

"Your words have touched me deeply and have cut me to my core." He admitted and oh how she squeezed his heart. "I want greatly to return those words to you. . . but the timing isn't right yet."

"What do you mean?" Her head shot up and two things he never wanted to instill into those doe brown eyes reflected back at him. Fear and anxiety. He stood and kneeled before her, making sure to be very slow so as not to alarm her. What he had to say was not easy, not easy at all.

"Please don't worry, my dear, Snow White." He looked her in the eyes. "The words that I want to say to you are the same as yours."

"Then . . . why won't you say it?" Her brow furrowed and confusion clouded the fear.

"It's – I'm –" He closed his mouth and took a hard swallow. "I'm not good for you, Snow White. I'm really not good at all. . . I'm trying to be, and there is something that I must do before I am good for you."

"What do you mean?" Her voice sounded frantic. "What do you mean you're not good? Adam, I know that you had a different purpose when you met me, b-b-but you've already shown you're a good person! You've taught me how to read, to write, a-a-and you've even protected me!"

He could see frantic tears threatening to breach the dams.

"Not like that, Snow White." He shushed and took her hands. "I will not leave your side, and I plan to be by your side until the day I die."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"However, there are things that I have to do before that."

"I don't understand. . ."

"Have you. . ." He gulped again. "Have you ever noticed why I hardly touch you, why I always wear gloves and multiple layers of clothes?"

Her brow furrowed as she was further confused, but she nodded her head.

"You see." His heart shook and his nerves made his tongue swell. "I was raised under terrible conditions in which my body was trained to absorb and emit toxic poison since my birth." He made sure to choose his words carefully since his origins were not by natural means. "And because of that by touching anyone or anything with my bare skin it can be lethal. . ."

He didn't know why this was so difficult for him to explain to her. It was the truth, it was a part of who he was, it was what made up his chemical makeup; yet why was it so hard to tell her this? Why did it feel as though it just confirmed that they were to be star-crossed lovers for all eternity? Those doe brown eyes merely stared back in wonder at his as she soaked up all of this information.

"So, until I get a cure for this, I'm no good for you." There, he said it. He finally got it out.

"That's why . . ." She smiled ever so happily then suddenly threw her arms around his neck.

"S-Snow White –" He made sure to catch her but had no idea why she was hugging him like this.

"Oh, you are ridiculous!" She half laughed and half cried. "I thought you didn't like me!"

"What?" He pulled her off to look down at her face. She immediately covered her nose and mouth with her hands and sniffled. "How could you think that?"

"All this time. . ." She hiccupped as she sat on the floor. "I thought that you didn't like me because other than being an escort, you never touched me. I thought. . . I thought I repulsed you . . ."

"Never." He held her wrists and removed them from her face. "You could never repulse me, Snow White."

"Oh, I'm so happy." She laughed despite her tears and hung her head. "I really really thought it was something entirely different. But it explains so much! Now I know why you panicked that day I held your hand in the library. . ."

"You're taking this . . ." He was waiting for some other sort of reaction. "Surprisingly well. You're not disturbed by me?"

"Why would I be?" Her smile faded and now she held his gloved hands on her own. "I'm supposed to be a princess and have lived my life as a scullery maid up until you came into my life. I was a stupid little girl who knew absolutely nothing until you came into my life. Now I know why you wouldn't touch me or hold me, why would I be disturbed by this? Besides, I've already held your hand once and it hasn't affected me!"

"Because it isn't, well, normal. . ." He had no idea what to make of this. His heart jumped up and down happily while his brain tried desperately to process this. She should be disturbed or repulsed by this, not. . . relieved and excited. "And that was a very rare circumstance. I can't even begin to tell you how terrified I was when you did that. I couldn't bear to live with myself if I ever hurt you."

"Nothing in my life is normal, Adam." She sniffled with a hiccup and a smile. "You know every terrible thing about me. . . And you've still remained by my side while knowing everything. You have no idea how many people have turned me away or called me terrible names once they knew that I was no longer –"

"Please don't." He winced and held her hands tightly in his own. He hated to think how she was scarred for life in one of the worst ways imaginable. Even if he did kill the men who scarred her so deeply, he could never return what she lost.

"Please do not speak ill of yourself or denote yourself in any way, Snow White." He practically begged. "I would give up my life if it meant I could turn back time and undo what has been done to you."

"Please don't say that." She shook her head and pressed his gloved hand to her cheek. "I would never be happy had you never come into my life."

"Snow White. . ." His heart thudded in his chest and his face was far too warm for his liking.

"Terrible things happened to me, yes." She sighed in acknowledgment. "B-But if those terrible things had never happened, then maybe I wouldn't have met you."

"Snow White." His hands held her face. She was just a few inches away and oh how those red lips tempted him greatly. "It does not matter if it were this Realm or another or even a different timeline, I would have found you, one way or another."

Whether it was because of fate or because of the Recruit Program he somehow just knew that he would have ended up meeting her; one way or another.

"I would hope so." She chuckled softly and held his hands with her own on her face. That smile was too beautiful! He pulled her into his chest and held her tightly. He just wanted to keep her there and never let her go. He would do anything to keep her safe.

"But what happens now?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around him.

"What do you mean?" He pressed his cheek on the hand that rested on top of her pretty head of curls.

"How long will we have to remain here?"

"Until it's safe." He sighed. "How long that'll be is a different story. I won't know until I meet with Frederick and receive news of the fool's departure."

"Will it really be safe when Prince Florian is gone?" Her voice was a whisper.

"It will be safer, but not entirely safe." He played with one of her curls with the tip of his finger. "I don't think it'll be truly safe until the Queen leaves. . ."

She didn't say anything in response.

"But no matter what happens, I promise to keep you safe." He promised and hugged her tighter.

"Why do you go through so much trouble for me?" She asked weakly, her entire body was limp.

"Because you are the most important person to me in all of the Realms." He pet her hair. "No one else compares to you."

"I don't deserve that. . ." She sat up and looked at him. "I haven't done anything worthy of being that valued to you."

"That is where you are wrong, my darling." He smiled gently at her. "You saved me from the monster I was bound to become had I listened to the Queen. You have no idea what your very existence has done to me, not to mention the kindness you showed me. Your kindness alone was the main attribute that saved me. Please, don't ever doubt yourself. You are stronger and braver than you know."

Her eyes seemed to glitter with happiness as she looked at Adam. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips were upturned in the prettiest of smiles. She tilted her head, "How long will it take to find the cure?"

"I don't know." His brow furrowed at the abruptness of her question.

"Please find it soon." Those red lips were so tempting. "Because I would really like to kiss you."

He was very sure his heart stopped because his face burned so deeply that Snow White broke out into a fit of laughter. He had to cover his face with his hand and her laughter only continued to bubble out from her. Adam was so relieved when Grumpy harrumphed into the cottage, cursing when he stubbed his toe. Adam was able to regain some of his composure and assisted the still laughing Snow White to her feet. She rubbed the tears from her eyes with her dainty little fingers and Grumpy had a suspicous look on his face. Snow White had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing, but she could not seem to stop her shoulders from shaking.

"Don't tell me I'm gonna have to have someone babysit ya." Grumpy groused as he looked Adam up and down.

Adam glared, "Absolutely not."

"Sure." He scoffed and looked at the laughing Snow White and relaxed his face a touch.

"Did you need something?"

"Yeah." He snapped. "Are ya still going into town?"

Adam nodded his head, "Yes, I have too."

"What?" Snow White immediately stopped laughing and her head snapped around to look at him.

"I have to meet up with Frederick." He explained to her. "I have to let him know that I've got you hidden away in a safe place. I also need to get your things."

"Oh." She sounded very disappointed.

"I will be back." He promised her. "I'll be back this evening."

She put her hands together, almost in a pleading manner. "Could I come with you?"

"I don't think that'd be wise, princess." Grumpy spoke up gently. "He just took you out of the fire, I don't think it'd be such a good idea to send you right back."

"Y-You're right." She threw on a smile, trying to mask her disappointment.

"Don't look like that." He turned and tipped her chin up to have her look at him. "I'll be back. There's nothing to worry about."

"I know." A more genuine smile flickered, but faded just as fast. He let his thumb run across her bottom lip before tracing her chin and tucking a stray curl behind her ear. Her cheeks and ears turned red as those doe brown eyes widened at him. He didn't hide his smile before turning to leave.

"We'll keep her safe here." Grumpy promised as he walked Adam out.

"I know you will." Adam said affirmatively. "I would not have brought her here otherwise."

"Yeah, yeah." Grumpy huffed as he closed the door behind them. "Now before you go, I'm just goin' to tell ya one thing."

"And what's that?"

"If you break the princess's heart, I'm going to break your skull." He glared up at Adam. "I can tell that the likelihood of that happening is very slim, but if something happens, you do anythin' stupid, you're gonna get the biggest whoppin' taste of Dwarf magic there ever was, got it?"

"I will hold you to that." He smirked and turned on his heel and started the long trek down the mountain.


FREDERICK

The night hadn't been long enough for Frederick to get a proper sleep by the time the sun arose. The sun peeked through the curtains and burned his eyes until he finally sat up. His body begged for more sleep, and if he didn't have so much to do maybe he would since he had nothing to really do now. That thought alone shook him hard. He had nothing to do for once in his life, other than his obligation to Adam, he had nothing to do. It was too unfamiliar for him to not have anything to do; he would have to change that and make some sort of schedule for himself once he mapped out a new destination to start from scratch. That was quite the thought, after living in Apfel for almost fifteen years he being right at thirty, having to start from scratch in everything was a grueling thought.

"No use thinkin' about it." He yawned and threw his feet off the bed. "You got too much crap to get done to be moping about that right now."

"Are you really moping?" That irritating voice droned from the small vanity mirror in the corner of the room. "That's so unbecoming of you, even as an Ex-Knight."

"What the hell do you want?" Frederick roared as he stomped over to the Mirror.

"Good morning to you too." The Mirror blinked unabashedly at him.

"Why the hell are you here?" He slammed his hands down on the surface of the vanity.

"Gracious, are you this angry in the mornings?"

"What do you want?" He snapped.

"I'm only here to check up on you."

"Oh, what, so you can report to the Queen that I haven't left yet?"

"Ooooohhh, you're referring to her as the Queen instead of my Queen." The Mirror chuckled. "My, my, isn't this a surprise?"

Knowing better than to smash the mirror, though he desperately wanted to, Frederick quickly rummaged around in the drawers for something to cover the Mirror. He could still talk, but at least this way he couldn't see. He found a green shirt that he draped over the Mirror.

"Really?" The Mirror snorted. "You're stooping this low? I thought what we had was special, Hunter."

"You broke our deal!" Frederick yelled. "We agreed that you were to turn her away from the Dark Arts, not draw her in further!"

"You can draw a horse to water, Hunter, but you cannot make it drink." The Mirror said firmly. "And despite what you think, I have not broken our agreement. On the contrary, it would seem as though things have sped up a little."

"What are you lying about?"

"Temper, temper, Hunter." The Mirror tutted. "Haven't you learned what your temper does to you?"

"Shut up!" Frederick barked.

"No, I will not." The Mirror yelled right back. "I am here to tell you that our agreement has not changed, and I have vital information for you!"

"And what's that?" He scoffed, his hands clenched into fists, ready to break the glass.

"The Prince of Franca is dead!"

A chill ran through the room.

"What?" Frederick snatched the shirt from the Mirror. He had to see the soulless sockets to make sure it truly wasn't lying to him.

"Prince Florian is dead." The Mirror restated.

"How do you -?" He shook his head in disbelief.

"Prince Florian failed to bring the Queen Snow White's heart and instead gave her a pig's heart." The Mirror explained.

"He what?"

"The spell that she has been concocting to create a body for me failed yet again." He glared. "And in place of one for me to obtain, a doppelganger of Adam with green eyes was born."

"What?"

"It was the creation that went out and killed the Prince, by the Queen's command, of course." The Mirror frowned deeply. "She had him take the heart of the Prince."

"The creation has been dubbed Grünes, for his green eyes." The Mirror continued. "He is as powerful as Adam, but not as toxic."

The man on the bridge in the rainstorm.

"What are you saying?"

"That Grünes stands no chance against Adam, and that Adam is the only one that can stop him." The Mirror confirmed. "And that things are finally rolling into place for everyone."

"What do you mean Adam is the only one that can stop him?"

"He is similar to Dr. Frankenstein's experiment." The Mirror explained. "Wait, that's a bit ahead of your time. . . The Great Prometheus, no, now that's dating too far back."

"Get to the point, Mirror."

"The point is that Grünes is a powerful creature that can only be defeated by one of equal or greater value." The Mirror frowned. "And Adam is the only one that can defeat him."

"But why?"

"Because Adam's toxins are the only thing strong enough to stomp the mindless beast."

"He just can't catch a break." Frederick ran his hand through his matted bedhead. "This isn't good. . ." he immediately tried to formulate a plan. "But why are you telling me this?"

"Because whether you believe me or not, I am on your side."

"And what side is that?"

"The one that leads to the path of a Happy Ending for everyone." The Mirror smirked at Frederick's confused face.

"What is that even supposed to mean?"

"More than you know." The Mirror chuckled. "That is all that I can say on that matter, though. But once you meet with Adam you must tell him of the things that have happened. You must tell him that Prince Florian is dead and that the Evil Queen has a new minion in which she is going to try to kill Snow White."

He winced, "Please don't say that."

"What? That the Evil Queen is – "

"That." Frederick closed his eyes in a grimace. "Please don't call her that. . . I know she's made several mistakes but –"

"Frederick." The Mirror said carefully. "I am aware of your emotions towards the Queen, but even you cannot deny that everything she has done up to this point is evil. She has merely taken on the role as the Evil Queen."

"I just don't want to hear that." Frederick shook his head. "I just – I can't."

"Humans are far too emotional." The Mirror rolled his eyes. "But so be it, I shall refrain from calling her that in your presence. But it is a fact that you cannot deny, Frederick."

"Is there anything else that you need to tell me?"

"Yes. . ." The Mirror hesitated. "That you should not leave this city."

"But I've been banished."

"Yes, I know, I was there to listen to that interesting little scene." The Mirror rolled his eye sockets. "However, if you want to still be able to save your beloved Queen later on once her creation has failed her, you're going to need to be at the ready for when I tell you to leave."

"What are you even saying?"

"Must you humans be so daft?" His nose crinkled in disgust. "I can't reveal the future, Frederick, you know this. I am bound by a vastly different set of rules by Fate than you humans are. I can only provide the smallest of hints and smallest of guidance to you if you at all want to have the slightest chance in regaining the woman you once loved."

Frederick merely stared at the Mirror. He was being far too serious to truly lie to him, not to mention he was always deathly serious when it came to things dealing with the future. As much as he truly loathed the idea of having to continue to listen and work for the magic glass, he was going to have to take his chances and actually follow the Magic Mirror if he really wanted to get his Hilde back. He huffed and dragged his hand down his face, "What do I have to do?"

"Other than inform Adam of the most recent events, nothing." The Mirror shrugged.

"What?"

"There's nothing you can do except wait and abide by your time while you wait for things to finally take its course."

"That's impossible!"

"No, it's entirely possible." The Mirror argued. "You're just too emotional and devoted to a woman who doesn't even recognize her own reflection because of the Shadow that has consumed her. Not even she sees that there is still the slimmest chance of redemption for a new life."

"What would she have to do?"

"For her to truly return to who she was, she would have to be able to let go of the crown entirely."

"What?"

"She would have to accept the fact that she is not a suitable ruler and needs to leave the throne in Snow White's hands."

"She'll never do that."

"Never say never, human." The Mirror chuckled. "There's always a chance for someone to change, no matter how tiny it is. It is just a matter of self-reflection and the boldness that goes with the willingness to step up to the challenge of change."

"How do you. . ." His heart was restricted with hope. Oh, God, how he hoped and prayed that she would accept the change! "How do you know that things are all going to work out? I mean, without telling me specifics of the future?"

"I shouldn't say." The Mirror had a smug smile. "But this story has gone on long enough and I'm calling in for a little help from a unique business partner of mine. . ."

"Business partner?"

"He's a friend of mine that lives on the other side of the Realms of smoke and glass." The Mirror chuckled. "He's owed me a favor for quite a long time and I'm finally calling it in."

"How can someone simply owe you a favor?" Frederick scoffed. "The only favors I know you to share are the ones that cost an entire life of servitude."

"Please, Hunter." The Mirror rolled his eye sockets again. "You may hold your grudges against me because of your Queen, but you have no idea of the challenges I have faced and the life of atonement I have been cursed to be behind the glass of humans who want to play in the Dark Arts."

With the droning tone of the Mirror, it was very hard to feel any sort of sympathy towards him.

"Well, that's enough talking." The Mirror decided. "If I have news for you or require your services I shall get in touch. In the meantime, you should really get to climbing that mountain."


ADAM

It was so much easier to maneuver in the Dark Forest when there was actual daylight and an actual knowledge of where to move. He was able to follow the Dwarves' already premade paths. Though they were little they were wide and helped give Adam the space he needed for his feet, though he had to either duck under things or climb over them to stay on the paths. In a few short hours and a relatively painless trek down the mountain, Adam came to that terrible crossroad between the Flower Fields and the Mountain. As he emerged from the Dark Forest right between the fork in the road, he saw Frederick approaching. He had never before been so glad to see him. He even met him halfway as though they were lifelong friends.

Frederick smirked as he met Adam, "Well you look terrible."

"You're one to talk." Adam smirked at the jest. "You are pretty haggard looking yourself."

"I feel pretty haggard." He let out a long and deep yawn before they shuffled to the shade of the trees at the edge of the Dark Forest.

"I'm surprised to see you all the way out here." Adam noted. "It's pretty far out."

"Oh, I'm aware." He yawned again. "Not an easy hike. How did you do that every day?"

"You build up the stamina." Adam gave a shrug.

"Stamina my ass." He huffed and shuffled his sack off his back.

"That's not the language a Knight of the Queen should be speaking." Adam snorted.

"Well, I'm not a Knight of the Queen any longer," a dark look crossed Frederick's face. "So I'll talk however I damn please."

"What?" Adam gaped.

"She fired me." He shrugged as he leaned back on his hands. "She also banished me from the kingdom."

"That's terrible!"

"I'm staying at your old place." He said blankly, as though it didn't bother him. Despite the brave face he had, Adam could tell that this deeply cut him.

"She'll never look there." Adam wasn't entirely sure how he needed to respond.

"I know." There was something stirring in his eyes. "That's why I'm there."

Adam tilted his head as he tried to read into his intentions, "Then why are you here?"

"to give you your crap." He handed over the sack to Adam. "It's all of Snow White's things she had packed and that pillow that was on your bed."

"How did you -?"

"I double checked the rooms before I left." He sat back up and propped his elbows on his knees and interlaced his fingers together.

"That was very kind of you." Adam noted, not entirely sure how to approach him in conversation.

"I've got news for you." He stared straight ahead.

"What else –?"

"Prince Florian is dead." Frederick's voice was flat, and it came out rushed. Both shock and relief eased into Adam.

"Was it the Queen?" He looked at Frederick.

Frederick avoided his gaze before he heaved a heavy sigh, "In a roundabout way, yes."

"She wouldn't get her hands that dirty." Adam surmised.

"No, but she'll let your twin brother do it."

"My what?" A chill ran through him. Adam had no siblings of any kind.

"She made something, a creature, a monster, and it looks just like you, but with green eyes." Frederick explained as he plucked up pieces of grass and tossed them aside. "He could pass as your twin. She's named him Grünes."

"She created another version of me?" Dread instantly stomped out the relief that was momentarily there. "H-How is that even possible?"

"I don't know, but whatever she and Florian were working on created another you, but with my green eyes." He dragged a hand down his face and exhaustion only seeped deeper into his features. "I know she is trying to create a body for the Mirror, but it failed because Florian gave her a pig's heart instead of Snow White's heart."

"It would have seriously failed if she would have had the pig's brain." Adam held his head with the tips of his fingers. "Even the heart of a pig will allow some success. . ."

Frederick's head snapped to Adam. "So you've seen this before?"

"It's how I was made, Frederick." Adam avoided his gaze now. "Not a fun process. Painful even. But I do know after me she tried to create a few more and they all failed terribly. . . The fact she was doing this at such a young age is terrifying. . ."

"She's been in the Dark Arts for a while now." Frederick glared.

"Still." Adam bit the inside of his cheek. "Things are getting serious. Things are getting dangerous."

"What, you're telling me things weren't serious before?"

"Not really." He huffed. "I was sent here to kill Snow White."

"But you fell in love with her instead." Frederick snorted. "Classic."

"I never said that!" The sun suddenly shone too brightly and burned Adam's face.

"You can't lie to me, Adam." Frederick smirked in pride. "I've seen the way you act around her. It's okay to accept your feelings."

"No, it's not." He shook his head. "Not while I'm the way I am . . . Until I can get rid of the poison laced in my body, I can't. It puts her at too much risk."

"Not a risk taker, are you?"

He shook his head, "Not with her life, never."

"Makes it hard to not root for you, man." He patted Adam on his shoulder.

Adam glanced at him, "You were against me?"

"Not entirely." He shrugged. "Just wasn't sure of your reasons for getting so close with the princess. But she's the happiest when she's with you. So, hurry it up and get rid of the poison."

"That's a challenge and a half. . ." His mind slipped back to that transfer spell.

"I do have a little hint for you from the Mirror." Frederick offered.

"From the Mirror?" He raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to have anything with it if it involves a hint from him."

"Ouch, here I thought my grudge was bad against him." Frederick blinked in surprise. "I can't stand the guy either, but allegedly he's routing for some kind of Happy Ending nonsense."

Adam glared ahead of him, "Of course he is."

"He said that you're going to be the only one that's going to be able to defeat Grünes."

"Defeat him?" Adam's brow furrowed. "He's that big of a threat?"

"He's got to be if the Queen is relying on him to come after Snow White since both you, me, and the dead prince failed to."

"He'll never make it through the Dark Forest." Adam said firmly. "I will make sure of that. Even if I have to make nightly visits to make sure this Grünes doesn't make it through, I will not allow him to come into contact with Snow White."

"If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word." Frederick clapped him on the back. "You've got a spy on the inside for a little while."

"I will." Adam felt as though yet another burden had been placed on his shoulders to bear. It was almost cruel, but he would do it, he would overcome it if it meant keeping Snow White safe. He would die for her if it meant that she would be safe.

"How is the princess?" Frederick went back to plucking the grass.

"She's well, though I regret to say that I almost didn't make it to her in time with her encounter with that fool."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me." Suddenly, Frederick reached over and punched Adam's arm. Hard. "That's for not being there to get her that morning."

"What the –"

He punched his arm again, harder this time. "That's for not getting her fast enough."

"Knock it off!" Adam growled and held Frederick's wrist. "I have suffered enough in punishment for being late!"

"Good." Frederick sighed. "You have no idea how worried I was for both of you. I thought you died that night in the storm. . ."

"I would never be taken out by a storm." Adam declared almost defiantly.

"I'm just glad you two are both okay." Frederick hid his face in his hands. "I could hardly do anything to help. I was terrified of anything happening to either of you. . . I thought I lost you both. . ."

Adam got a good look at Frederick and could see how the past few days had taken a heavy toll on him. He'd gone far too long without sleep, he'd been terribly stressed with the responsibility of keeping Snow White safe, he lost his job to the woman he, for some odd reason, loved, and had literally risked everything to make sure they received their things and was willing to be a spy on the inside for Adam. Frederick was far too kind for this world. He deserved so much better than what he received. Adam wished he could give him something, do something to repay him somehow; not that Frederick would likely accept it under that sort of reasoning.

Frederick was the truest man Adam had met yet, and he wanted to call him a friend, more than a companion. He was almost like a brother, which only indebted Adam more to Frederick's service to him in both his young and old age. As he sat quietly, observing Frederick, he could see tears streaming down Frederick's face. He was silent, of course, no sniffling, no shuddering of the shoulders, he just sat there in silence and wept. Whether it was from work, or sadness, or relief, or even pain, or even just the passing few days' events he just sat there and let the tears fall from his eyes. Adam did his best to respect him and remain silent. Frederick wasn't a prideful man, but he was still a man with pride and shedding tears in front of another man was a great act of strength.

For as many burdens as Adam had endured in his lifetime he could clearly see that Frederick had double, perhaps triple, the amount that Adam ever had. Adam wanted to take those burdens away somehow. He would do it. He would find a way to remove the burdens from Frederick's strong shoulders. Frederick was a strong man, the strongest Adam had ever met in any Realm. But even the strong had limits; everyone has a breaking point. As Adam sat quietly beside Frederick listening to his soft cries and the birds and nature being as soothing as it could all around them, Adam determined that he would finish things. He had to be successful in accomplishing the Happy Ending. It wasn't just for him, or even Snow White anymore. It was for Frederick, and as much as he hated to admit it, it would be for the Queen too because the only way Frederick would truly be happy without regrets would be to have the Queen he knew and loved so dearly back again. Whatever happened from here on out, Adam had to succeed. There was no room for failure, the cost would be too great and there were too many people's happiness at stake. He would succeed, he had too. As the creation of the Evil Queen who was never in his entire existence allowed to fail, he would continue to live up to that standard and find a way for the Happy ending for everyone.


Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you've been enjoying this so far!

Please continue to leave me reviews!

Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more, and hang on tight!

Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter