The swish of an arrow cut through the air and hit the deer standing in front of Snow.

-The Queen's men!- shouted Nion. Eric and the dwarves sprang from the grass ready to defend Snow White. The girl screamed as the deer fell into a sapling located near a tree from Valinor. He began to roar from the arrow that was lodged in his side. The girl wanted to pull out, but felt Eric grab it in half. The arrow hit the bark of the tree.

-We have to run away !" communicated Eric. Snow White nodded and started to run towards the trees and bushes giving a natural chance to confuse the pursuit.

Eric, meanwhile, observed his surroundings. He ran at a safe distance behind the princess. The dwarves had also left the Sanctuary and dispersed. Suddenly, the Hunter fell visibly undercut by someone. He hit his head heavily on the forest litter. He froze, and a moment later a blow from his fist broke his nose. Blood flooded his face, but he recognised Finn, who licked his lips and grinned derisively.

-And finally we meet

Snow White froze in place. Save herself or help Eric?

-Flee kid, now !" roared the Hunter spitting out blood.

-Flee, stupid girl. We're about to get you anyway," mocked Finn.

Out of the corner of her eye, Snow saw one of the mercenaries coming towards her. She dashed ahead.

William was scouring the area for his friend. He had no intention of hurting the dwarves or the hunter, but if they stood in his way, he would not hesitate to use force. He finally spotted her as she ran from one of the axemen. With a fluid motion, he aimed an arrow at his larynx. The man drenched himself in blood and fell in the foliage choking and spasmodically willowing.

-Snow! - shouted Will.

Suddenly he felt a tug on the leg of his trousers.

-Come here, human scum,‖ shouted one of the dwarves. William slapped him with an open palm.

-I have nothing against you, I just want to help the princess. However, the dwarf jumped on him and they both rolled down the slope.

Snow White ran ahead. The mercenary was left behind, probably hit by one of the dwarves. She tripped over her own feet and fell in the leaves.

-Put up silly- she urged herself. Strong arms grabbed her in half

-I've got you! -shouted a slimy voice. Snow White tried to get out of the iron grip, but the queen's rider was too strong.

-My reward will be magnificent. The Queen will make me a nobleman- he hissed.

By some miracle, the girl reached for her wand and pointed it at her tormentor's trousers.

-Firenzo- she exclaimed, and a flame leapt from the end of the wand, which set the soldier's trousers on fire. After a moment, he felt the heat and eased his grip. The princess seized the opportunity and slapped him across the face with her elbow. The flame began to cover the entire man, and he began to scream as the fire burned his body.

-You fucking witch!

He began to run around the clearing , and his scream was sure to cause everyone in the forest to move to the spot. The attacker collapsed after a while, and after a couple of willies he finally froze motionless while the flames continued to lick his body.

-My lady- shouted someone.

Gus ran breathlessly up to Snow White.

-Let's go. We still have time to get beyond the forest. We'll take the trail near the Green Eye Mountains.

-Lead the way, Gus- said Snow White.

Finn circled like a wild animal around Eric, who slowly got up from the ground.

-You're not giving up, are you?" growled Eric.

He swung his axe at the queen's brother, but the latter dodged the blow and hit the hunter's cheek with a straight right. Eric tried again, but his rival blocked the momentum of the throw with his palm. He grabbed it like a vice and moved Eric to the left. The hunter's body flew to the leaves and his wrist snapped.

Eric roared in pain, but Finn didn't stop. His sister had given him the strength to overcome the wayward hunter. He grabbed him from the ground and pushed him against the rising trunk of the fallen tree. Eric bounced off the spar and rested on the ground, rattled.

-You are pathetic. A drunk and a whore-" grinned Finn. He gloated about his strength. He felt his sister would let him do more. That his status would change.

-You won't catch her,‖ groaned Eric, -she'll fleece you again.

-But without you, she doesn't stand a chance in the long run,‖ sputtered Finn- -You know what you almost did. Run away from us. However, nothing will hide from my sister. In a few hours she will become immortal and her empire will be eternal. No one can stop this power. Some countries themselves will kneel in fear of her wrath.

He uprooted a sturdy branch and threw it behind him, showing the hunter his strength.

-I remember your wife. That resistance movement of yours from a few years ago. You were doing quite well. I remember them all, and your wife was funny.

Eric became visibly agitated and rose from the ground, wanting to bend on his own feet.

-Don't you dare mention her,' he growled.

- She shouted- continued Finn- she called your name. And you didn't move to her aid. You could have helped her, yet you hid like a coward. And then you became a drunkard. Soon, however, you will be able to rest. Give my regards to your wife. Maybe she remembers me and my ward.

Finn swung his sword as Eric threw himself at him and together they fell on a protruding trunk. He grabbed Finn's head and started hitting it against the protruding inside of the trunk.

-Don't talk about my wife!

Finn's face flooded with blood. Every part of his face was destroyed by the splinters driving into his cheeks, forehead or eyes.

-Sister!" cried Finn.

Ravenna was writhing on the terrace trying to catch her breath. Finn was in pain, and through this connection she felt her brother's pain too.

-Mama!- shouted Aegon once again.

-Nooo- roared the queen- I can handle it ! Every bit of her skin was burning, but she had to give strength to her brother. She intensified her strength to send him her energy one last time.

Finn tried to rise, but Eric once again slammed his face against the trunk. The hunter was panting heavily.

-If I had been kind, I would have killed you now. However, it would be much more fun for me to leave you here, rotter. Either you will bleed out and die , or you will live on with your face looking like troll shit. Maybe one day we will meet again. You killed my wife. I will not kill you.

He held Finn's chin and tugged at his hair. Much of it broke free and Finn screamed once more. His body fell inertly to the grass, and the hunter got up and set off in search of Snow White.

Snow White and Gus rushed through the forest slopes, but the Ravenclaws were right behind them. Nowhere could Eric or the other dwarves be seen. It looked like it was over.

-Come here you stupid bitch

Snow White stumbled over the mulch and collapsed like a long man.

-Miss! - shouted Gus. He spread out his arms, wanting to somehow protect Snow White from the Ravenclaw's bow shot. The arrow hit exactly in his larynx.

-No!- roared Snow White. She pulled out her wand and involuntarily whispered the one spell she never wanted to utter. A green light flashed and Gus's murderer dropped dead, his body thrown against a tree standing a short distance away. Snow White wailed in helplessness and ran over to Gus's body. The dwarf was still breathing, however, he was choking on blood.

-Gus, please !

Suddenly his eyes widened and his finger pointed at something behind the girl's back. Before she could turn around, a strong grasp took her in half.

-I've got you ! - laughed a husky voice. The wand fell out of her hands, and her attacker did not let go. Suddenly, a swish pierced the air.

The arrow hit centimetres above Snow White's face, right where her pursuer's eye had been. Blood oozed onto her clothes and the man gasped then fell dead. The girl reached for her wand and pointed it at the hooded archer who had saved her.

-I'll kill you! Get away from me!

The hood fell and a young man with a warm expression appeared before her eyes.

-I did not expect such a welcome after so many years. It's me. William. William.

Snow White suddenly saw this. His wry gaze, curly hair and the features of his father, Lord Hammond.

-Gods. It is you.

-Princess!- shouted Nion, who ran out with the rest of the dwarves and Eric from behind the trees.

-What is this one?" snarled Beith

-That's a childhood friend. Lord Hammond's son.-announced Snow White.

Eric measured him with his eyes, but quickly shifted them to Gus lying in the grass.

His companions gathered around him and wept together over the fate of the heroic dwarf. William, Snow White and Eric lowered their gazes.

Finn lay half-dead in the midst of the grass. He had lost his ward. He had lost half his face and his hair. He was covered in blood all over. He had never been so beaten as in his duel with the Hunter. And yet he still had a chance to beat him.

-Sister- he broke down- Please help me.

Silence answered him.

They would go to Hammond. Ravenna must send an army there. The man who has been hiding from her for ten years must be punished. And the little bitch must fall into their hands. He tried to rise. Humiliated and wounded, he started walking towards the pass of the Misty Mountains.

Ravenna slowly rose with her own strength from the terrace. Vorgath stood with his back turned, but Aegon ran up to his mother.

- 'Finn has failed,' Ravenna finally announced.

-Is he dead? - asked Vorgath indifferently.

-No, but he is injured. I must heal him. But he has lost his chance. Take the army. As many forces as you need with General Morgan. Fly to Carmathown. Enough of breeding them to ourselves like pigs to the slaughter. It's time for Hammond to die like a dog along with his ridiculous people.

-Your word is my command, my lady,‖ replied Vorgath and bowed low before her.

-And you my son- whispered Ravenna touching Aegon's cheek- fly with Lord Vorgath. And bring me your sister. Alive. I want to skin her personally.