They had walked about half a day's journey from Marva village when Eric finally ordered a stop. They sat down on the slope of a small hill and drank greedily from a beaker filled with water. Eric had topped it up before his escape and this theme returned now.

-You left us,‖ said Snow.

Eric sighed and nodded

- Sorry- he added in a strong accent- Sorry

-You shouldn't be‖ replied Snow White feeling tears pouring into her eyes -You shouldn't be‖ she added again through a tight throat.

-Hey- said Eric leaning over to her and grabbing her hands- I'll take you to Duke. I promise. Even if I have to die.

Snow White nodded

-You didn't tell me you knew witchcraft.

The princess swallowed her saliva.

-We're even, Eric. But if you want to know then yes. I have magic. it just didn't work in the Dark Forest.

Eric was about to reply to her that it might be useful, but suddenly out of the corner of his eye he noticed an unexpected movement. Seconds later he felt a bump on the back of his head, a stifled scream from the girl and a cloth on his face.

A sudden jerk roused him from sleep. He squinted due to the light of day. He quickly realised that he was hanging upside down and Snow White was right next to him. Several figures were staring at him, wearing masks on their faces. He sighed heavily as he realised who he was dealing with.

-Well, no. Dwarfs.

A punch in the stomach from one of them made him come completely to his senses.

- 'But we've been hit, haven't we boys?- laughed a voice from under the mask, the most forward. The bunch responded with laughter.

-Two men, one of whom is eminently annoying to us.

- Oh I know who you are," replied Eric, shaking his head, "Hi Beith.

-Hello, Hunter- added the dwarf called Beith before removing his mask and nodding to the others as a sign that they could do the same. All but one did so.

-Well, you're not going to be angry with me are you? We are friends.

Beith snorted, and the dwarf to his left spat hissily on the ground beneath Eric.

-Money. Where is my money ? You've been in debt for several months, Eric. - Beith howled.

-I'll give it back when I have it, I promise - said Eric solemnly.

-That's not enough!- shouted Beith- You're too far in arrears, you drunkard. But I see you've got a new whore...

-Beith!- rebuked him in a voice from under the mask, the only dwarf hiding under the mask.

-Sorry, I shouldn't. But what is this one, Huh?

Silence fell over the clearing where they were. Snow White looked at the dwarves with curiosity. She had never seen any of them in person, and now she counted at least seven.

-Not any of your business,‖ Eric added.

- You're the one hanging under the spruce tree- laughed a dwarf with a reddish beard and a deep voice.

-This one is quite pretty- added one of them, probably the youngest because he looked younger than Snow.

-Dopey , sit quietly kid.

The princess decided it was time to join the conversation.

-Hello. I think you managed to capture us.

-But perceptive! - roared with laughter the one with the snarling voice. Snow White swallowed her saliva and tried to adopt the most serious tone she could.

-We ran from the queen's snare. We have been on the run for days, but the pursuit of her horsemen still does not let up.

Beith shook his head

-No one escapes the queen. And that means all the more that we want nothing to do with you.

-Do you love the queen?" asked Snow White stupidly.

The dwarves looked at her with their eyes

-No. Where have you been living for the last ten years?

-I am the daughter of King Magnus- said Snow White. Everyone including Beith froze. They began to look more intensely at the princess.

- What nonsense - spat one of them, the only one apart from Gus who did not have a beard - Let's kill them and get out of here

-Stop!- pronounced a strong, calm voice. The dwarf with the mask took it off and handed it to the one standing closest to him.

-Father -said that one.

-I can see her. She has a light. He emanates it. At last, after several years, I see a ray of light in the darkness. She is the only one.

-Muir, what are you saying? -Beith asked calmly. Eric remembered that when the old man spoke, the others listened to him.

-That she is the light that penetrates my faded vision, my friend.

Eric suddenly picked up some distant voices. Finn was already here.

-Listen, help us go to Hammond. To Carmathown. I have the gold I'll give you. The Queen's men are already rushing here-he groaned, trying to get out of his bonds.

After a moment, Beith and Muir's son also caught the sound of horses' hooves.

-No time, please!- moaned Snow White

-Only the girl !" growled Beith.

-No,‖ refused Snow White- -either two of us, or none at all. Our fate is tied, and the reward at the Duke's will not pass you by .

Beith struggled with himself for a moment then quickly cut the bonds. The duo fell to the forest ground and rubbed their knuckles and feet.

-Come on- rushed them Gus.

They ran into the scrub, with the youngest of the cransoluds as their guide. They descended the steep slope headed towards the waterfall that roared in the area. Gus and Nion, for that was the rapturous dwarf's name, jumped over the stones and plunged into the wall of water. After a while, the rest did the same. The Snowman shuddered as a result of coming into contact with the icy water, but after a while they found themselves in a cave hidden on the other side. Here it was so dry, however, the dwarves urged them to go on. The cave disappeared after a while, and the granite walls began to change into vines of plants and flowers. Snow White smelled the scent of flowers, so long since experienced by her. And the fresh air.

They emerged from behind a break and a vast garden appeared to their eyes. The space was filled with trees, flowers and tall grass. The sky was blue here.

The girl marvelled at the view

-What is this place? -she asked excitedly

-This is my lady, the Santuarium, the home of the forest fairies - Gus announced proudly.

And indeed, after a while, Snow White saw that the garden was home to amazing creatures. The little goblins flew in to look at the guests who had come here. Turtles lounged on the edge of the pond, and colourful birds flitted past the people and dwarves chirping merrily. Encouraged by Gus, Snow White began to run between the trees rejoicing in the moment.

Eric squatted under a stone and sighed

-True. It is beautiful here.

-You have eyes, Huntsman- said Muir after a while- But you can't see it. The light that this girl is. She has escaped after so many years from the darkness of the queen. Perhaps there is still a chance to defeat the forces of the old Maog.

Snow White caught the name ,,Maog" and immediately grimaced.

-Maog? What does he have to do with this place.

Muir looked with white eyes at the princess and smiled.

-He's nothing anymore. He fell in a great battle centuries ago. His spirit escaped to the east. However, the queen is the heir to his power.

-Maog was destroyed, Muir- said Snow White- Mother ..I mean Ravenna destroyed him many years ago and took these lands you speak of in the east. Now it is the Land of Shadow and the place where her weapons are made. Ships or orcs.

-You have survived a lot, child,‖ Muir said, -and there is still a lot ahead of you. Your father was a good man. The kingdom prospered then. Everyone benefited from it. Elves, humans, my race. Until the day the darkness came.

-Where are you from? -Snow White asked.

-North of here near the Misty Mountains are the mines of Gilamod. We were inside when it happened. When we came to the surface, we found the ground burned. We had hoped to defend the mine, but the Queen's evil had awakened the devils living in the underground. Our mine was lost to Balrog, the demon Maog, who slaughtered a host of dwarves. We now live by robbery and have no home. The sanctuary is a refuge. See- he pointed to a tree standing in the middle of the garden. It had white petals on it that glistened in the sunlight creating an unusual light.

- It is a tree sown from Valinor. It is the ancient land of the elves. There is pure life in this tree. It gives protection from evil in this place.

Snow White stood up and walked over to the tree to get a better look at it. It was majestic, and as silence fell around her, Snow White seemed to hear whispers from the petals in a strange language. However, she felt a sense of safety when she plucked one of the petals. It was velvety. Suddenly a deer as white as milk crossed her path. It approached Snow White calmly and bowed its head, inviting the girl to pet it . She smiled and touched him, stroking his skin.

-I feel like I know you

-Muir, you will not believe what we are seeing now,‖ said Nion.

-I know it. I have sensed the presence of Koerghe.

-Who? - asked Eric

-The Spirit of the Force. Often appearing in the form of a deer or a pigeon. She is the only one. Gold or no gold, I will follow her wherever she goes- whispered the blind dwarf adoringly. The rest of the dwarves nodded their heads in concentration, and Snow White gently stroked the deer Koerghe's muzzle.


Ravenna watched from the terrace as Vorgath and Aegon clashed in a duel. The boy was growing in the Force, and his darkness was continually fueled. He parried Vorgath's blows with greater ease. He was proud, angry and eager for power. Soon he would be ready to stand at her side. Snow White had disappointed her, and in the process had become a threat to her power. In just a few moments Finn will catch up with her in the Sanctuary, secretly hidden from her influence. He will destroy it by getting rid of the power of the elves and the light protecting the place. She stepped off the terrace onto the small square where Vorgath had pushed Aegon away with the Force. The boy reached out a hand and held his ground.

-Sorry, Lord.

-Don't be confident, boy. too much pride will lead you to the brink of defeat.

They measured each other with their eyes and maintained contact of the Force. Aegon felt he was about to break the deadlock and knock Lord Vorgath down. He dreamt of it. To become a lord standing by his mother's side and commander of her army. Someday the crown would be his. He might have to reach for it.

The impasse, however, was broken by something else. Ravenna groaned loudly and fell to the floor of the square. She began to wriggle in convulsions. Vorgath and Aegon rushed to the queen.

-Mummy! - shouted Aegon

Finn was in pain. And she with him.