CHAPTER 12 – Ambush

Recommended for mature audiences only. Some content is not suitable for young readers.

(Updated for errors & minor content - 25-Mar-2018)

The Mountains of Tabor were seemingly unaware that it was the early days of spring. The sky was bleak, and clouds covered the sun, making the air bitterly cold. When Snow and Eric had left the cave in the very early hours of the morning, the sun was concealed beyond the horizon. Now, hours after dawn, it remained unseen; hiding behind the black storm clouds that had formed in the dark sky.

Eric stared up at the sky, estimating how long they had before it would start to rain. Snow looked up also, studying how the clouds moved, their colour and their shape.

She smiled at Eric when he turned on his horse to speak to her. "It won't be long now. It's a good thing; the rain will wash away our tracks."

"How much further do we have before we have to leave the horses?" Snow stroked the beast beneath her, the soft coat felt like velvet against her fingers.

"I'm no' sure," he replied. "We'll take them as far as we can."

Snow and Eric moved onward, trying to gain as much ground as they could before the first drops started to fall.

It wasn't long however – a couple of hours later the storm clouds broke, unleashing an enormous downpour. Thunder bellowed around them and lightning flashed, sending giant silver cracks through the dark sky. Snow and Eric were both soaked through to the bone in minutes. The coat Snow was wearing was thick enough to keep the wind out, but it was useless against the rain. The thick, waterlogged hide weighed her down and clung to her like a second skin.

Snow wiped the water from her eyes, but it was pointless. The rain was relentless, and the wind knocked her around as if she weighed nothing at all. She leant forwards, hunching over on her horse and hung on for dear life.

"Snow!" yelled Eric some distance in front of her. Snow looked up and saw the faint outline of Eric and his horse riding towards her. The rain was so heavy she could barely see a few feet in front of her. She hadn't even noticed she had fallen behind.

"Snow! What are ye doing?" he yelled through the rain when he reached her. "Keep up with me." Eric grabbed hold of her horse's bridle and pulled it along beside him.

They trudged through the rain for what seemed like the rest of the day. Snow was shivering from head to toe. Then, just as soon as the rain had started, it cleared away as if nothing had ever happened. The clouds began to disappear and soon the sun shone above them. Snow looked around, wondering how such a thing was possible.

"Just after midday," said Eric, taking note of the sun's position.

"Midday!" Snow exclaimed, looking up in the sky. "How can that be? We have travelled much longer, I'm sure!"

"We have a good half-day to go yet, I can assure ye," Eric chuckled and shook out his hair. Droplets of water sprayed all over Snow and her horse. Not that she cared – they were already soaked through. "Come, I can hear the river," he tied back his hair as he spoke. "We need water."

As if on cue, Snow's stomach growled loudly. "Sorry," she said. "I'm starving."

"Aye, let's get a move on then. We've run out of food too; I'll catch some fish while ye fill the water flasks."

It was easy enough to find the river and it wasn't very far away. Snow and the Eric tied up the horses and removed the saddles to let the horses dry off. Wanting to do the same, Eric peeled off everything but his trousers and placed it all in the sun to dry off. Snow looked at him in envy as she shivered in her wet dress and coat. Oh bugger it, she thought and she began doing the same, stripping off her sodden clothes. Snow turned her back to Eric and laid her clothes next to his. Feeling his wondering eyes on her, she quickly grabbed Eric's cotton shirt and slipped it on, figuring it was thin and baggy and would dry quickly even while she wore it.

Suddenly, Eric was behind her and his mouth was at her neck, startling her. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, "Ye look rather fetching in that." His lips grazed along her skin and his warm breath sent shivers through her, "But ye looked even better without it," he whispered.

Snow melted into him, tilting her head to the side so he had better access to her neck. His hands lingered over her breasts, kneading and teasing them to a point before they moved down her stomach, stroking and caressing her as he trailed kisses along her neck and shoulder. Her breathing hitched, and she pushed herself harder against him, but Eric loosened his iron grip and spun her around to face him.

"As much as I'd love to devour every inch of yer body right now, we came here for a reason and this wasnae it." Eric left Snow standing where she was, still flustered and out of breath. Her moment of happiness was gone with the click of a finger and her entire body screamed in protest. Damn him, she thought. He was teasing her on purpose and Snow knew it.

It took a moment to get her head together, but Snow pushed on and went to fill up the water flasks. The river was gushing from the downpour and it was freezing. Her fingers protested as she dunked them in the water to fill the first flask. When both were full, she went and put them back in the sable bag. She rested against a rock near the horses while she waited. She stretched out, letting the sun dry the cotton shirt and closed her eyes. She jumped when Eric threw two heavy fish down beside her a moment later. They landed with a splat on the ground.

"If ye aren't too busy napping princess, would ye like to start the fire so I can gut these fish and feed yer hungry little belly?"

Snow blushed, but she started preparing a fire. Starting fires was one of the few things she was good at, so she had one roaring not long after. She watched him the entire time he cleaned and gutted the fish and found herself drooling with anticipation.

Eric sat beside her when the fish was cooking, and Snow warmed her fingers and toes and tried to keep her eyes on the flames. The smell of the cooking fish tormented her stomach and the sight of Eric resting shirtless beside her tormented everywhere else. The more Snow looked at him the more annoyed she got. She swore he was doing it on purpose.

Snow peeked over at him again. By now she'd memorised every bit of him, but she was still captivated. His tanned skin and tight chest rose and fell as he breathed. She found herself staring at the silver scars scattered across his torso. Most were barely noticeable, but others were hard to miss. The gash he'd received from Finn in the Dark forest had left a nasty red scar below his shoulder. It was still puckered and raw since it had been reopened in the fight with William. There was another thin scar running down the entire side of his rib-cage, and another; a thicker but smaller stab wound on his abdomen. She wondered who'd given him that and her mouth tightened. To Snow, his scars painted a picture of his past, each one had a story and Snow wanted to hear them all.

Eric stood suddenly, and Snow snapped her eyes away, hoping he hadn't caught her ogling him. He checked on the fish and sat back down beside her, his arm brushing hers as he moved. Snow felt her body becoming tense, as if something inside her was about to snap. The animal inside her was growing hungrier by the second, and it wasn't just hungry for food anymore. God, what is wrong with me? Snow folded her arms around herself, not trusting her hands.

"Are ye cold?" Eric asked sitting up, his taut stomach muscles screaming at her.

"No," Snow said, her voice dry and husky. Please touch me, she begged silently.

"Are ye sure? Ye're shaking." He moved closer and wrapped his arm around her.

Oh God. Snow flung herself at him and their mouths crashed together, taking Eric by surprise. "Don't do that to me ever again," she breathed in between kisses.

"Do what?" Eric asked with a smug grin.

"You know what! Teasing me like that, touching me, kissing me and then just walking away and acting like nothing happened."

Eric laughed. "How was I to know that would have such an effect on ye?"

Snow rolled her eyes. "You know exactly what kind of effect you have on me. You did it on purpose."

"I–"

Snow stole his response with a long kiss, setting every nerve inside her body ablaze. Wanting to feel his skin against hers, Snow ripped off the cotton shirt she was wearing and let his hands roam where they wanted. Eric rolled over, pinning her under him while he touched her, testing her with one then two fingers and stealing her moans with a deep kiss. She ran her hands over his chest, tracing his muscles all the way down to the top of his trousers. She expertly tore them open, freeing him.

"Wait!" Eric froze suddenly and pinned her hands to her sides.

Snow pouted. "Why-"

"Quiet," snapped the Huntsman.

Snow froze, her heart pounding and a lump rising in her throat. What had he heard?

Eric jumped up and tied up his trousers. "Get dressed. Be quick about it." He grabbed his axe and studied their surroundings.

Snow's heart pounded even louder as she searched for her damp dress and threw it on, ignoring the chill it sent through her. Suddenly a twig snapped in the distance and Snow stood quickly, abandoning her coat, stockings and boots and crept back towards Eric.

"Get behind me," whispered Eric urgently and Snow did as she was told. Snow followed Eric's glare and her heart sunk. Standing before them was the ugliest man Snow had ever seen. A large scar ran across his face, sealing one of his eyes shut. She knew at once he was one of the rebels that attacked the palace. She stared at him, hating him immediately. She wondered if he'd killed anyone she knew and clenched her fists. He looked very proud of himself.

"Well, well, well," the man croaked. Snow called him Scar in her head. "Look what I found."

Eric stepped forward, readying his axe. "Come any closer and it'll be the last thing ye ever do."

Scar laughed, revealing black, rotten teeth. "That won't be necessary. We don't mean you any harm. We're looking for a young woman," he peered around Eric's arm to look at Snow and she tried to keep her face hidden. "She's travelling with a guard," he looked back at Eric. "Clearly, you both fit that description."

"Ye must have the wrong people," Eric said calmly. "I'm just a huntsman, travelling with my wife to visit her ill sister."

Scar glanced at them both, observing Eric's axe and Snow's simple cotton dress. They certainly didn't look like a queen and a royal guard.

Suddenly Snow screamed as a second man crept up and grabbed her from behind. He was large and strong and had Snow pinned against him in a second. In his hand was a sharp blade, which he held against her neck.

"Drop the axe, hunter," commanded Scar, still in the same position. "Get on your knees."

Eric stood helpless in the middle of the ambush. He thought about how easy it would be to remove the rebel's head from his shoulders. Then he looked at Snow being held with a blade to her throat and thought again. He couldn't risk it. He gritted his teeth and dropped his axe to the ground, then sunk slowly to his knees.

"Good lad," said Scar. "Now if you don't mind, I'll take a better look at the lady."

"I told ye," Eric spat, "she's my wife."

Scar laughed, walking over to where Snow was being held. "Makes no difference to me," he said with a menacing smile.

Snow stiffened as he leaned towards her, glancing at her distinguishing features. Her dark hair, green eyes; most people knew her on sight since her coronation, but not everyone. She just hoped Scar was the latter, not the former.

Scar frowned, evidently not sure. He shrugged. "Wife or Queen, I think we'll take her either way. And if she isn't the Queen, I'm sure she'll make a great little play thing."

"Over my dead body," Eric growled.

"I'm sure we can arrange that," replied Scar, turning back to the hunter.

The man holding Snow sniffed her hair making her squirm against him, but he just seemed to like that. "Pretty little thing isn't she," he said and smacked her hard on the bottom as he laughed in her ear.

Snow whimpered and stared at Eric, she could feel the cold blade pushing into her neck. She felt useless. All that training and she couldn't think of a single thing to do that could help them. Eric was fuming, she could tell in a second. His mouth was pressed into a hard line and his eyes locked in on the man holding her. She became worried for him. She knew he wanted to fight but she didn't want him to get hurt. "Sweetheart don't!" Snow begged, trying her best to play the worried wife. It wasn't hard. "Just do what they say. I'll be alright."

"I'd listen to her if I were you," said Scar. He kicked the axe away from Eric, pulled a leather strap out of his back pocket and proceeded to tie Eric's hands behind his back.

Snow took the free second to frantically look around, searching for anything that might help them. Her eyes stopped on the pile of clothes next to her. Poking out from under the coat was the end of her belt and her heart skipped a beat. The dagger!

"There's no need for the knife," Eric said to the rebel holding Snow, trying to keep his temper under control. "Let my wife go. She's just a girl, she won't cause any harm."

The rebel just laughed. "This ain't no girl. She's got a woman's body, by the feel of it," he grinned and fondled Snow again. Snow wriggled and pushed his hand away, the movement making her neck rub against the blade. She felt her skin split and she forced her eyes closed. The sting made her cry out.

Eric stood quickly, a look of pure fury on his face. "I'll kill ye-" Scar stopped him by landing a fist square in Eric's stomach, sending the hunter back onto his knees as Snow watched on in shock.

"Cut it out, Callum!" Scar snapped at the second rebel. "Now," he put his hand on Eric's shoulder, keeping him on the ground. "What are we going to do with you?" he asked Eric, who was trying to get his breath back. Snow watched in horror as Scar took out a dagger and placed the point on Eric's bare chest, running it slowly down and leaving behind a trail of blood.

Eric's face tightened into a menacing scowl, but he didn't utter a sound. Snow, on the other hand, screamed. "Stop!" she exclaimed. "It's me you want isn't it? He's done nothing wrong, let him go."

"Well, well," Scar smirked at her. "The Queen finally reveals herself. Pity; you made such a pretty husband and wife." He glanced between Snow and Eric. "And yet, I still get the feeling he's more than just a guard to you, is that right Majesty?" He laughed when Snow didn't answer. "Why don't you come over here so you can get a better view while I slit your lover's throat. Here Callum, tie her up with this," and he pulled another leather strap from his pocket and threw it to his companion.

Snow didn't waste any more time. It was now or never. As soon as Callum let go of her to catch the strap and bind her hands together, she took the opportunity to act. She dove on the pile of clothes before he even realised what had happened. Snow fumbled through her clothes and snatched up the dagger just as the rebel lunged towards her. She thrust the dagger up and into him as hard as she could. She fell with him to the ground, making sure he didn't try and pull out the dagger and use it on her.

As her struggle with Callum was taking place, Scar stood in a state of shock. Eric, who had been working on his restraints the entire time, kicked Scar's feet out from under him and he fell on his back. The two men scuffled for a moment, but Eric overpowered him and broke his neck within seconds.

"What on earth were ye thinking?" he growled as he stood up.

"I.. I'm sorry," Snow replied, puzzled at his anger. She ripped the dagger out of Callum's lifeless body and sat back on her heels.

"Ye damn well nearly gave me a heart attack! Next time ye pull something like that, give me a little warning!"

"I'm sorry," she said again, this time a little annoyed. "I saw an opportunity, so I took it. He was going to kill you!"

Eric stared at her almost as if she had told a joke. "No, he thought he was going to kill me."

"Well how was I supposed to know?" Snow scowled at him. "Why did you bother training me then? Why did you give me this dagger in the first place if I'm not allowed to use it! Here! You can have the stupid thing back," she threw it at his feet and stomped over to the fire. She sat there for a moment before she realised the fish were well and truly burning. She eagerly tried to save them, flinching as the hot meat burned her fingers.

Eric came and sat beside her silently and put the dagger by her side. She ignored him while she wrapped one of the fish in cloth and peeled off a piece of meat from the other and put it in her mouth. Burned or not, she was too hungry to throw them away.

"Snow," he began.

"If you came to apologise for yelling at me, then I don't want to hear it," she said bluntly.

"I'm sorry," he said gruffly, reaching out for her hand. He squeezed it and put it to his mouth. "That was," he paused to swallow. "That was hard for me. I was so worried I couldnae help ye. I didnae know what to do, and that's never happened to me before. I'm supposed to be protectin' ye." He squeezed her hand a little tighter.

Snow's expression softened. She climbed into his lap and held his face in her hands. "I felt exactly the same way. I couldn't remember anything you taught me. I saw you in trouble and everything I knew vanished."

Eric kissed her forehead. "Ye did well. I'm sorry for how I reacted."

"We're each other's weakness," Snow muttered into his chest. "I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing."

When he didn't reply, Snow peered up at him and he had bothered look on his face. "I'm no' all that sure it's a good thing." He kissed her again. "Get up" he continued, "We have to leave; get yer things and I'll pack up."

She ran to the river, collecting her boots, stockings and dagger as she went. She dunked the blade, wiping it clean, and dressed as quickly as she could before cleaning the cut on her neck. Eric had the horses saddled and ready when she returned.

He inspected the cut on her neck and sighed, "dinnae move." He took the dagger from Snow's belt and cut a strip from the bottom of Sara's dress. He tore it in half and wrapped it around Snow's neck. "Try to keep the dirt out or it'll get infected."

Snow felt ridiculous, but she didn't complain. The pressure eased the throbbing a little. "You're hurt too," she said, nodding towards the cut on his chest.

"Just a scratch," he said, waving off her concern.

"Here," she took the other half of the makeshift bandage and used it as a sponge, rinsing the cut with the water flask first. It looked shallow enough to clot on its own, so she wasn't worried. "Should we hide the bodies?" she asked as she worked.

Eric shook his head. "There's no point. They were probably scouts trying to pick up our tracks after the rain washed them away. My guess is they tried to take us on their own instead of reporting to the others. When they dinnae return, the rebels will know which way to go."

"There will be more?"

"Aye, there will be more, so let's get going; we've wasted enough time already." He pulled on his shirt and helped Snow mount her horse.

Eric and Snow managed to gain some good ground in the following hours because they didn't stop to rest or eat for the rest of the day. Instead they ate on the move, and Snow was so happy to finally eat something other than dried meat, even if the fish was burnt.

Not long before sunset, somewhere in the far distance, the whinny of several horses forced them to a halt. Both Snow's horse and Eric's flicked their ears back and stomped uneasily on the ground, sensing they weren't alone. For a moment all Snow could hear was her own heartbeat as they both listened carefully. Eric faced Snow, a stern look on his face. "Keep up with me and stay close, ye here?"

Snow nodded, worry etched on her face. "You don't think they've caught up already, do you?"

"I dinnae know but be quiet." Eric kicked his horse on and Snow's eagerly followed. They moved up the side of a rocky slope slowly and carefully, not wanting to give their position away. When they reached the top, Snow exclaimed at the sight. A large valley stood below them surrounded by snow-capped mountains, bigger and more beautiful than anything she had ever seen in her life.

Forgetting completely that danger was possibly near-by, Snow admired the scenery until Eric called to her, snapping her back to reality. "Snow, see down there," he pointed into the valley and Snow followed his gaze to a large herd of wild horses. They both stared at the herd for a moment as it dawned on them there was no immediate danger after all. Snow and Eric glanced at each other and Snow couldn't help but laugh.

"Well that explains the sound," she grinned at Eric, who was relieved but tried not to show it.

"Stop yer giggling woman," he frowned. "We are no' out of danger yet." Snow returned Eric's frown. "We can make it into the valley before dark if we hurry but we'll have to go around. It's too steep here." He looked around for the best route into the large valley. When he seemed to find what he was looking for, he kicked his horse on. "Follow me."

Snow rolled her eyes. "Yes, Sir," she replied, mockingly.

By the time Snow and Eric had made it into the valley, the sun and disappeared and the moon was shining brightly above them. They continued until they found a cave in the side of the cliff face big enough for them to make camp in. It was deep enough into the mountain that they were able to start a fire without the glow being seen. Eric even lured the horses inside out of the freezing wind.

"Do you think it will rain tonight?" Snow looked towards the opening as she huddled in Eric's arms by the fire.

"I dinnea think so, but it'll be cold like usual."

"Do you think we'll meet up with anyone from the palace?"

"I dinnae know," he replied. "It might be best if we avoid them. A large group will be easier to spot, I think we'll be safer by ourselves."

Snow bit her lip. "I know that makes sense, but I need to know who's… alive. If we find anybody, I have to help. I can't leave them, Eric."

Eric sighed. "Aye, I knew ye'd feel that way. I can only try." He ran his finger over Snow's cheek as she yawned. "Stop talking and go to sleep."

"I'm sorry," she said after a few moments had passed.

He sighed, "Sorry for what?"

"For everything. You try so hard to protect me, it hasn't been an easy task," she yawned a second time.

"Apology accepted," he chuckled. "Now go to sleep," and he held her tighter as they drifted off together.