Chapter 22: Council

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

(Updated for errors & minor content - 11-Aug-2019)

Reviews are absolutely welcome!

Snow studied the small sleeping baby in her arms. She was at ease with the weight of the tiny bundle and the scent was musky and soothing. Everything about it felt oddly familiar, as if she'd been there before, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. There was a slight blush in his cheeks she didn't remember, and his perfect lips were pinker and fuller. It then dawned on her that she wasn't holding her son as she first thought, but a tiny, precious baby girl. At first she was surprised, wondering whose child she was holding, but something inside her knew they were connected. Snow traced her finger down her perfect nose and along her soft lips. The baby stirred softly and blinked open her eyes. Right there, staring back at Snow, were beautiful emerald green eyes, identical to her own.

Snow opened her eyes and immediately her hand moved to cover the swell of her stomach. It was dark in her bedchamber, and she could feel Eric's warm body and hear his steady breathing behind her. She wriggled closer to him, pressing her back against his chest. He stirred and pulled her closer in his sleep.

Snow settled into him, and her mind drifted back to her dream. She'd had one like it before, only she swore she'd been holding a boy. She would never forget looking into those beautiful blue eyes, which were so similar to Eric's. But now she wasn't so sure. Sighing, she pushed it from her mind… it was only a dream after all.

Snow woke again sometime later to the covers moving. This time the sun shone brightly through the open window and she blinked as her eyes adjusted. Eric sat on the edge of the bed, pulling on his boots.

Snow stretched out her stiff muscles. "Good morning," she yawed, sprawling out across the bed.

Eric leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Mornin'," he replied. He smelled of leather and soap.

"What are you doing?" Snow pouted as he pulled on a shirt. "Stay in bed with me for a little while longer."

Eric chuckled, but his eyes lingered on her exposed chest peeking out from under the covers. "Aye, I wish I could princess, but ye need to get up as well. Yer council is arrivin' today."

Snow bolted upright. "That's today?" She sprung out of bed and pulled on her robe. "Why didn't you remind me?"

It had been four weeks since Eric, Bane and the others had arrived at Stonehill. Word had arrived a couple of weeks ago that the Queen's council members were on their way to meet with them. According to William, they had fled south after the attack on the Royal Palace, and he'd received a bird from them saying they were already on the way to Stonehill. News of Snow and Eric's engagement had spread, but she didn't know how far. Having to tell her council they were to be married was not something she was looking forward to, and she expected Eric felt the same.

"I reminded ye yesterday," Eric said, amused at her panicked expression. "Several times," he added.

"You did not," Snow huffed. She was starting to forget things, she noticed, but out of sheer stubbornness she refused to admit it. Before Eric could retaliate, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Snow called.

Greta entered with her usual bright smile and a tray of breakfast. "Good morning, Your Majesty," she sang and curtsied quickly. She did the same to Eric. "Sir."

Eric greeted her with a stiff smile. Now that he was the Queen's betrothed, the servants had started acknowledging him with a bow of the head or curtsying to him in the hallway. He hated it, and had said as much to Snow the first time it happened. They weren't even married yet, he'd complained, he was still just a commoner. Snow had just shrugged. He was going to have to get used to it, she told him, it was only going to get worse once they were married.

"Has the council arrived yet?" Eric asked Greta. As calm as he looked on the outside, Snow sensed his nervousness. She knew he was worried about what the council would think of their engagement – it had always been an issue for him, and the reason he'd refused her proposal in Talin.

"No Sir, they haven't." Greta replied. "Lord William received a bird, they're due to arrive later this afternoon."

"Perfect," Snow exclaimed, and she turned to Eric, her eyes pleading.

"No," he said shaking his head. "I'm no' goin' over this again with ye'."

Snow had woken up two weeks ago feeling miserable. Her nausea was beginning to subside, but she was feeling more and more lethargic by the day. She was craving the fresh air, and desperate to feel her muscles again. She'd decided to put the idea of training again in Eric's head, but he'd shut her down immediately.

"Ye're outta yer mind!" he'd said. "I'm no' goin' to train ye with a babe in yer belly."

"Nothing strenuous," she'd complained. "A little running isn't going to hurt me."

Eric had refused, and considering he was still injured himself, Snow didn't push the matter.

Then, after a week of sulking, Snow had woken up and snuck out to the training yard at dawn. As much as she hated running, she had relished in the feel of putting her muscles to proper use again. The cold morning air had stung her lungs, but she'd pushed on, embracing the burn in her thighs. That was, until Eric had found her and dragged her back inside. It had been a week since then, and she'd been asking every morning.

"Please!" Snow begged him now. "I can't sit in here all day again; I need to get out and do something. I'm not asking you to brawl with me! You're still not in the best shape yourself, anyway."

Eric looked offended at her comment. He had been under strict orders by Catriona to not do any training either, and it had pained him even more than it had Snow. He'd been pacing the halls, agitated and stressed for weeks. He couldn't even go out to the training yard because it annoyed him to watch the others training without him. He studied Snow now, his eyes hesitant. He could see how much she wanted to train, but the thought of her injuring herself, or harming the babe, it made him feel physically ill. "It's no' a good idea," he said reluctantly.

Snow crossed her arms, fed up with his worrying. She knew her limits, and she trusted her body. "If you don't train me, then I'll find someone else who will."

"Ye willnae find anyone," Eric countered.

"Bane will do it."

Eric's jaw tightened. He knew she was right. Bane would do it if she asked. He sighed, frustrated. "Fine."

"Thank you!" Snow grinned and kissed him.

Eric shook his head, looking at her sternly. "If ye hurt yer'self, or ye spill yer guts up, I'll never do this again, ye hear?"

Snow just laughed and kissed him again.

An hour later, Snow was jogging around the training yard, with Eric by her side. His wound was healing well thanks to Catriona, but he still had to take it slow. Snow was surprised when he jumped down from the fence to join her after her first lap, but she didn't scold him. They both had to take it easy and understand when enough was enough.

The training yard at Stonehill Castle rivaled the one at the palace. Stonehill was a fortress, designed and built for the sole purpose of defence, and the soldiers that it created were second to none. There was an area for blade training, swordplay, and another for hand-to-hand fighting. One side of the yard was lined with archery targets, which a few soldiers were utilising. Snow wasn't surprised that William was such a good archer, when he'd spent ten years here. While she was locked in a tower and growing weaker by the day, William was learning how to fight and defend her people against Ravenna. Snow felt a flicker of admiration for him in that moment. It was easy to confuse him as the pompous son of a Duke, but he was so much more than that, and he deserved her respect.

Snow wiped the sweat off her forehead. Her lungs were burning from the cold mountain air, but she managed to keep up with Eric. His strides were longer than hers, but she didn't find it too hard matching his pace.

They continued for an hour, making their way through the various obstacles that scattered the training yard. There were a few things Eric wouldn't let her do, like climbing a fifteen-foot rope, or scaling various training structures and platforms, but Snow wasn't overly upset. At least he was letting her do something. Her legs were screaming by the time they were finished, and she sunk to the ground.

"Are ye alright?" Eric asked, standing over her.

"I'm fine," she breathed. It was the truth. She was exhausted, but she felt fresh and alive.

"Come on lass," Eric offered her his hand and pulled her to her feet. "Let's get ye cleaned up."

The council arrived via carriages just after sunset. There was to be no formal meeting until the morning, but a small banquet dinner was being put on for their arrival.

It was a bittersweet greeting, for not everyone on the Queen's Council was present. The whole council had been at Snow's birthday celebration when the palace was attacked, and not everyone had made it out. Snow learned that Lady Wiltshire had perished in the attack with Duke Hammond. Lady Ashman was still too injured to make the journey north, and Anna, Snow's friend from the floating village had also not come due to her commitments in her settlement. That left four. Bane's younger brother Jonathon, Lord Oliver Eccles, Lady Regina Harrison and Lady Victoria Farewell.

Snow kept a watchful eye on Eric as everyone greeted each other and while the council offered their condolences to William for his lost father. Snow could tell Eric was tense. He hovered in between her and Bane, and all she wanted to do was take his hand an tell him it was going to be okay.

Everyone took their seats, and servants appeared, filling the table full of food. No one noticed when Eric sat at the table beside the Queen. The council had barely noticed him at all in fact, and Snow realised they mustn't have heard of the engagement. The council had become accustomed to Eric's presence over the past few months at the palace and no longer really acknowledged him. They were used to him standing close to her, hovering behind her chair and following her through the palace. To the council, Eric was her guard, her protector, and they had come to accept that he was always just there, and never thought anything more of it. Snow glanced at him as everyone talked amongst themselves and she saw the corner of his mouth twitch, trying to hide a smile.

Snow cleared her throat, and the chatter ceased. All eyes turned to her and she swallowed hard. "Thank you for making the long journey here," she said, speaking to no one in particular, but her council members smiled and accepted her thanks. "I know we are to be meeting in the morning, but there was something I wanted to announce before you hear people talking about it in the castle." Snow paused and looked at Eric. She reached out her hand under the table and he took it. Its warmth soothed her. "Eric and I are to be married."

Silence engulfed the table, and eyes darted to Eric. A few people blinked, as if seeing him for the first time at the table.

William and Bane seemed just as tense as Eric, and they too waited for the reaction of the council.

It was Lady Harrison who spoke first. "Your personal guard?" The woman seemed confused as she studied Eric, her eyes darting over his appearance. "The hunter?"

Eric's hand tightened around Snow's, and she squeezed it back, reassuringly.

"Well," Lord Eccles said, clearing his throat. "I can't say I'm not surprised. I always thought you and William would wed one day, as your parents had intended."

Eric's jaw set, but William was quick to speak, brushing off the comment with a laugh. "I'm afraid it hasn't turned out that way, Oliver, but rightly so." William glanced at Eric, offering him a small smile to ease the tension. "Eric is a fine man. They don't need it, but they have my support."

"How?" Lady Harrison spoke again, her eyes still full of confusion. "When did this happen? How long has this been going on?"

Snow looked at Eric, her eyes full of concern. This wasn't going the way she had hoped.

Eric seemed irritated by the question, and he glared at Lady Harrison. "We were engaged four weeks ago." He didn't answer her other questions. It was none of her concern.

"I think it's marvellous," Lady Farewell said, smiling at Snow. Her soft eyes crinkled a little at the corners.

"Aye," chimed Bane's brother, Jonathon. He held up his goblet of wine and nodded in Snow and Eric's direction. "Congratulations, both of ye."

"Thank you," Snow flushed as relief flooded through her.

"Well," Lady Harrison huffed. "A wedding would be lovely, I suppose," she said, her tone warming. "I think we could all do with a bit of fun."

The rest of the evening progressed quickly, with Lady Harrison almost talking Snow's ear off. Once she had gotten over the idea the Queen was marrying "one of the help", the woman seemed to switch very quickly from confusion to excitement and spoke eagerly with Snow about her upcoming nuptials. Snow had never conversed much with Lady Harrison at previous council meetings, not because she had ill feelings towards her, but because Snow could hardly get a word in. Lady Harrison talked so much that her fat little face turned bright red, so much so that Snow often wondered how the little lady didn't faint.

Lady Farewell was a little more reserved and had the graciousness to let Snow answer whenever she was asked a question. "Do you have a date in mind, Your Majesty?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," Snow hesitated. "Soon, I think." She cupped her stomach discreetly. "Within the next couple of months."

Just as she suspected, both ladies' eyes widened, and Lady Harrison began to rattle off everything there was to be done in such a short amount of time. Snow just smiled politely and listened, nodding her head every now and again.

It was when dinner was finishing and everyone was full, that Lady Harrison's constant chatter began to dwindle, and Snow was able to listen in on Eric's quiet conversation with Lord Eccles and Bane.

"Most of us took shelter with merchants along the coast," the Lord was saying. He was a short plump man, and his white hair had disappeared even more from his shiny scalp since the last time she saw him, but it wasn't his appearance that caught her attention. It was his words. Her heart began to race – how had she not thought to ask earlier!

"Excuse me," Snow interrupted and the three men turned their heads to face her. "You fled to the south with a group of people from the palace, yes?"

Oliver nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty. About forty of us."

"Do you recall a woman named Mary? My Lady-in-Waiting?"

Oliver squinted and rubbed his forehead while he thought. "Mary?" Suddenly his eyes widened. "Oh yes, Mary!" he exclaimed. "My goodness I'm a forgetful old fool these days. Fear not, my dear, your old maid is alive."

Relief filled Snow to the brim. She couldn't wait to tell Greta that her aunt was alive. "Please, tell me what you know."

"She was with us when we fled south. She hurt her leg quite badly, I'm afraid, but she is healing."

Snow was ecstatic. She had to find Greta right away. "Please forgive me Sir," she said, standing, and all the men followed suit. "I must say goodnight."

William nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think we will continue this tomorrow." He turned his attention to the rest of the table. "Thank you everyone for joining us here. I'm sure everyone is tired from their journey, so we can discuss the matters of more importance tomorrow in my Cabinet."

Everyone agreed and bid each other goodnight. Soon the room had cleared and Snow rushed back to her bedchamber, with Eric hot on her heels. Just as they reached the door, Greta emerged carrying dirty linen.

"Greta!" Snow exclaimed, thankful she caught her. "I have news about your aunt."

Greta paled and stood frozen in the doorway. She swallowed hard, her eyes wide with fear.

Snow grabbed the girl's shoulders. "She's okay, Greta. You were right, she fled south. She's alive!"

Greta exhaled something between a sigh and a whimper. She closed her eyes and a small tear fell down her cheek. A relieved smile appeared on her face. "How do you know this?" she asked when she opened her eyes.

"Lord Eccles told me. You must find him, he will tell you more."

Greta thanked Snow and ran off down the corridor, pieces of dirty linen spilling from the bundle in her arms as she went. Snow smiled after her, and she was still smiling when she finally fell asleep.

Snow screamed in agony. Pain ripped through her as her body clenched and tightened violently. She sucked in air but it left her lungs too quickly. She clenched her teeth as another spasm tore through her and she cried out. She felt someone pat her burning forehead with a damp cloth. She then felt the need to push, but the pain was unbearable. It consumed her, suffocated her, and she couldn't escape. "I can't do it," she sobbed. "I can't do it…"

Snow was jolted awake. The dull light of the morning flooded her bed chamber, but she still blinked several times trying to adjust to the faint glow. She instantly felt too hot, and she could feel droplets of sweat beading on her forehead and her hair was damp and sticking to her neck. Eric was still asleep and was wrapped around her. His arm draped over her waist, pinning her close to him. She felt like she was melting from the inside out. Snow carefully lifted his arm and unstuck herself from him. He stirred, but his breathing quickly returned to its steady pace. Snow slid off the bed, ripped her damp nightgown from her clammy body and tied her hair in a knot above her head. The cool morning air kissed her naked skin and she felt like she could breathe again.

Her hands moved to her stomach and she caressed her bump as she thought about her horrible, vivid dream. She hadn't told anyone, especially Eric, but the thought of birth was beginning to worry her. Her dream had only made her nerves worse.

She went and stood in front of the large polished silver mirror in the corner of her chamber and took in her naked body. Her breasts seemed to be getting more swollen and tender with each passing day. Her eyes travelled down her chest, along the gentle curve of her hips to the small curve of her belly. She'd always been particularly thin, and she even remembered how prominent her hip bones and ribs used to be when she was Ravenna's prisoner. Even now that she had more meat on her bones, the swell of her abdomen was beginning to be quite noticeable. She turned and studied herself from the side. Very soon she'd have to do away with her body-hugging corsets and people would become suspicious.

Snow knew Eric would want to get married before her pregnancy became common knowledge. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of finally marrying him and she smiled. She wouldn't mind in the slightest if he wanted to wed the next day. All that mattered was that they would be together, and soon they would have their own little family.

Despite all that, she was still afraid. Mary wasn't here, and Greta could only tell her so much. It was times like this when she wished her mother was alive to help her. She needed that maternal support and she wished she had more knowledge of what she was to expect.

Large, warm arms wrapped around her then, and Eric appeared behind her. She felt his warm, naked skin press into her back, and she smiled at him in the mirror. "What are ye doin'?" He kissed her bare shoulder, and Snow heard the concern in his voice.

"Just thinking," she replied, looking at their reflection. She wasn't bothered at all by her own nakedness and didn't shy away from his gaze as she once had.

Eric's eyes turned curious. "Ye look worried. Are ye alright?"

Snow bit her lip. She didn't want to burden him with her worries, but she knew he wouldn't let it go. "I was just thinking about the babe, and the birth. I wish my mother was here to talk to about it."

"Ye cannae to talk to ye midwives?"

"I don't have any yet," Snow reminded him. "We haven't exactly announced it."

Eric saw the slight look of fear on her face when she spoke. He turned her around to face him. "Ye're right, I'm sorry." A small strand of hair had escaped her messy knot and he gently tucked it behind her ear. "If ye want to tell everyone, ye can."

"You don't want to wait until after the wedding?"

Eric shrugged. "Aye, I did. But I dinnae want ye to be worried. If ye need yer midwives, then get a dozen. I dinnae care, as long as ye're happy." His hand traced the gentle curve of her jaw and his thumb lightly brushed her soft red lips.

"I don't know any of the midwives in Stonehill. And if we return to the palace… I don't know what to do."

"Maybe ye can talk to Catriona in the meantime? She might come back with us, if ye decide to return home before the babe comes."

Snow nodded. It was a good idea, and one that should have crossed her mind earlier. She liked Catriona and had gotten to know the woman over the last four weeks when she came to check on Eric's wound. "What about you? Are you worried?" Snow asked, turning the attention to Eric.

Eric didn't reply. He knew childbirth was complicated, and it wasn't uncommon for women to die during the process. Even the babes didn't make it some of the time. The thought of losing Snow, or the child, or both – it just about crippled him.

Snow touched his face, the stubble on his cheeks tickling her hand. "You can tell me. We have to talk to each other."

Eric sighed into her touch. If she was worried, then he had to be strong for her. Admitting his fears to her was the last thing he wanted to do, especially when she needed to be comforted. He brought his face close to hers. "I dinnae want to talk," he whispered against her lips, and then kissed her softly.

Snow returned his kiss and felt her feet leave the floor as Eric swept her up and carried her back to the bed. He placed her on the furs and climbed over her, admiring her not only with his eyes, but with his hands and mouth as well.

Snow sat up on her elbows. "Eric, we have to meet the council today." She held in a moan as his tongue flicked over one of her nipples. "I want to get in some training before the meeting."

He made a noise of acknowledgement. "Aye, ye'll get yer trainin' right here," he promised and kissed her deeply. He managed to break through her barrier, and she succumbed to him, falling back into the blankets. His kiss left her breathless and her legs locked around him. He trailed kisses down her neck and gave her breasts equal amounts of toe-curling attention. Continuing down her stomach, he only stopped long enough to give her bump a quick kiss. He then licked and sucked his way up her quivering thighs, and finally came to rest on her throbbing middle.

Snow's fingers tangled in the soft fabric of the bed beneath her and she sucked in a sharp breath. The energy in her core climbed with alarming speed and his name left her lips in a strangled whisper. Her nerves were singing, and her blood was rushing, and she felt herself begin to yield to the wave about to wash over her.

Her eyes flung open, and she pushed him away. "Stop," she breathed heavily. She didn't want it like this. She wanted him properly. "Please, stop. I need all of you."

The Huntsman wasted no more time. He was already naked, so he grabbed her legs and pulled her down the bed towards him, entering her hungrily.

She relished at the feeling of him filling her. She moaned and arched her back, trying to push him in deeper. His eyes were wild and glittering as he ran his tongue over her lips, making them tingle. He buried his face in between her breasts as he pushed in farther.

The force wracked her body as they slid further up the bed with each movement. When her head hit the headboard, she gripped the frame and cried out. Her breathing was fast and ragged and she couldn't speak, but she never wanted it to end. He continued to push, deeper and deeper until she cried out his name, and her vision blurred. It was so powerful it almost hurt, but she didn't want it to end there. She wanted more. She needed more. She sat up and pushed him backwards, instantly feeling powerful. She loved sitting on him like this, she loved looking down at him as his hands traced her breasts, waist and thighs. She especially loved the control – and the Huntsman didn't always give that up so easily. She fell onto his chest and kissed him. The fire inside her was hardly sated, and built up again like a ball of energy, waiting to explode and engulf everything around her. A small cry escaped her lips as she felt herself begin to unravel around him.

His hands traced her breasts as she moved above him. Often he would clutch her waist and pull her hard against him, pushing deeper than before, fast and hard. She moved her hips in sync with his feverish breaths. Pushing, thrusting, until blinding white heat spiralled through her body like lightening. She sobbed his name as the fire consumed her, and the huntsman pinned her hips to him with one final thrust, coming undone beneath her.

"Christ," he exclaimed as Snow collapsed onto his chest.

Snow couldn't respond even if she wanted to. She flopped onto the bed beside him, breathless.

"I love you," she said after a long while.

"I know," replied the Huntsman with a smirk.

Snow sat in William's Cabinet, surrounded once again by her council. She picked at the tray of fruit on the table and after exchanging brief pleasantries, William cleared his throat, "Let's begin, shall we? There is much to discuss."

"I believe we should start by discussing the Royal Wedding," Lady Harrison proposed. Her round face was already red with excitement. She turned to Snow and Eric. "You must set a date right away. The Kingdom will want to know as soon as possible. When will you be returning to the Palace? Do you think you'll have the wedding there? Or are you planning on staying at Stonehill?

Snow cast a sideways glance at Eric, trying to deflect some of the questions. He just smiled and took her hand.

"Regina," grumbled Bane to Lady Harrison. "Show a little restraint," he warned.

"I suppose we don't have to set a date right now," William started. "But we should discuss what will happen to Eric after the wedding, none the less."

Everyone nodded and murmured their agreement, but Snow felt left behind already.

"What do you mean?" She asked William.

Before he could reply, Lady Harrison spoke again. "Your future husband's duties of course."

Snow felt Eric's hand stiffen and his whole body visibly tensed. "Duties?" he asked.

"Well ye're goin' to be the King, ye mongrel," Bane laughed at Eric. "It's a little more complicated than sitting in a big chair with a crown on your head."

"Well he willnae exactly be the King," Jonathon specified. "He'll be the Queen's Consort. He may be awarded with the title of Prince, but only if the Queen allows it."

"They're purely details!" Lady Harrison spoke again. "Details, details. Let's not get into titles now. Whatever it is, you'll be consort to your Queen and you will support your wife in her duties. You'll need your own servants, a robes master, an equerry, a tutor to help you learn the royal customs, and you'll have to study the laws of Tabor, although your advisers, namely us, will guide you through those when needed."

Snow tried to determine how Eric was feeling. His face was unreadable and he looked a little pale, so she squeezed his hand for reassurance.

"Are you skilled in fighting?" Lady Farewell spoke up.

Bane laughed and smacked his knee. "I wouldnae call him skilled," he joked.

Eric shot him a stern glance. "Aye. I can hold my own in a fight," he said through clenched teeth.

"We aren't talking about tavern brawls, boy," Lady Farewell sang. "Are you trained for battle?"

"Yes ma'am. Bane and I served together."

"You're from Stonebury, yes? As are Bane and Jonathon?" Inquired Sir Oliver.

"Aye, Sir. I still have a home there."

"Did you fight in the war as well, Jonathon?" asked Lady Farewell.

"I didn't," Jonathon cleared his throat. "I was too young," he added and Snow heard the disappointment in his voice.

"What of your parents, Eric?" asked Sir Oliver.

Eric shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Snow felt terrible for him. She knew he didn't like talking about his family and the way the council was probing him annoyed her. "Is this really necessary?" she asked.

"It's alright," Eric said. "My father was a blacksmith," he answered.

"But not you, of course?"

"I learned some of the trade, but I prefer to hunt," and he left it there.

Snow of course, knew there was more to the story. Eric had hunted while his father worked. His father had died after Eric and Bane went off to fight, and Eric never continued his father's trade.

"Well," Lady Harrison clapped her hands together. Snow was actually surprised she'd stayed quiet for so long. "Fancy that, the son of a blacksmith is to marry our beloved Queen. Isn't this an exciting time we live in?"

Eric pulled his hand out from Snow's and quickly left the Cabinet, muttering something about needing some air.

Snow was about to follow him when Bane raised a hand to stop her. "Leave him, Your Majesty. He won't go far."

Lady Harrison, who had turned an even darker shade of pink, looked extremely embarrassed. "Was it something I said?"

Snow didn't see Eric for the rest of the day. She had cut the meeting short after he'd left, and the council had decided to meet again the following day. Snow knew there was more they wanted to discuss, namely Argus. She was dreading the meeting, because she knew she'd be the only one against his execution.

For tonight though, she could only concentrate on Eric. She sat in her chamber waiting for him all night. By the time he returned, Snow had fallen asleep at the table with her head in her hands. She woke up just enough to realize he was carrying her to bed. He smelt of horses and she guessed he must have been out riding. Eric placed her under the covers, undressed and was soon sliding in beside her. Snow only managed to stay awake long enough to feel the soft kiss on her forehead.

When Snow woke in the middle of the night, she reached for him in the darkness but couldn't feel him beside her. She got out of bed and searched for him, eventually finding him in the kitchen.

Eric sat by himself clutching a leather flask of rum, unaware that Snow was watching him through the crack of the door.

The day's meeting had rattled him.

Keep it together, he told himself.

He loved Snow, and wanted to marry her and be a father to their child more than anything, but the weight of the responsibility it all came with was all beginning to sink in. He didn't want to be the king, or consort, or whatever the council had called it. There would always be something people wanted or needed from him, and it scared him. He wasn't a leader. He couldn't look after people.

He quickly drained what was left in the flask and threw it across the kitchen. It hit the contents of a shelf and knocked over a jar before dropping to the floor. It landed beside another empty flask he had finished not long before. He put his head in his hands and groaned. His thoughts were blurring together and his body was warm and numb from the rum… It was just what he'd wanted.

Snow watched him from the doorway. Her heart ached for him. She knew he loved her, but he was paying a high price to be with her. He was giving up a lot; his home, a simple future, a simple life. She slowly pushed the door open and he looked up at her with heavy, clouded eyes. He looked worn out. She walked over to him. Instead of speaking, she bent down and put her lips on his, trying to settle his worries with a soft kiss. His mouth was warm and tasted of alcohol.

The Huntsman looked at her in the dim candlelight when she pulled back gently. She looked so beautiful; her long dark hair cascaded down her back and around her full breasts. Her pale skin glowed even in the candlelight and her lips were plump and red. But even with his cloudy vision he could see that her sparkling eyes were full of concern. She was worried about him, and the thought bothered him. He didn't want her pity.

"What do ye want?" he asked, averting his eyes from her torturous stare. He quickly stood and began searching for something.

"You weren't in bed. I… I was worried about you." Snow watched him as he pulled open cupboards and fumbled through baskets. Pots, pans, jars and almost anything else in his way fell to the floor with a crash.

"Dinnae be," he said over the loud ruckus he was making. He finally found what he was looking for and slumped back in his seat, pulling out the cork of another flask. He lifted it to his lips and emptied it in several big mouthfuls. He then tossed it on the floor with the others.

Snow faltered. She hadn't seen him drink like this in a long time. She knew he was struggling but he was too proud and stubborn to admit it. "Okay," she said quietly, realizing she should just leave him be. "Goodnight."

She turned to walk away but Eric stopped her. He took her hand and pulled her into his lap. He closed his eyes and buried his face in her neck; the sweet smell of her skin and hair soothed him immediately. Her skin was so soft and warm against his lips as he trailed kisses up her neck.

"Eric," Snow started.

"What?"

"You're drunk," she sighed.

"That was the plan," he whispered hoarsely into her neck. He ran his hands all over her silky skin. She felt so good in his lap – he wanted her right then and there. He began to fumble with her nightgown but Snow quickly stopped him.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"Oh, I want to," he murmured hungrily in between kisses.

Snow stopped his hands from venturing up her nightgown. "I mean you don't have to marry me," she said slowly, as if she was still convincing herself as well. "It's not fair. You shouldn't have to live like this if you don't want it."

She felt Eric tense, and he pulled back and stared at her with questioning eyes. His eyebrows knitted together and he clutched his forehead. The rum had made him groggy and tired, this conversation was too much for him to handle right now. He just wanted to hold her and forget about everything. He kissed her again, hoping she'd drop it, but she pulled away.

"Eric."

"What?" he groaned.

Snow tried to focus on what she wanted to say instead of Eric's hot lips and hard hands against her skin. "I'm going to tell the council the wedding is off," she forced out.

Eric pulled away from her, trying to understand what she'd just said. What was she talking about? Cancel the wedding? "Why?"

Snow swallowed. "Because it's not fair. You shouldn't-"

"Snow," he cut her off. "I want to be yer husband. I want to be a father to our child." He put his hand against her stomach.

"But-"

"There are no buts. I thought I made that clear when I asked ye to marry me?" he went on. He rubbed his temple. The conversation was far too serious for his current drunken state. "Can we no' talk about this right now?"

Snow sighed and rested her forehead against his. "Okay," she whispered and kissed him gently. She then climbed off of his lap and took his hand. Thankfully, he followed her back to bed without argument and he was asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

...