Author's Notes: Thanks so much to LenaLove, X, Fire Element13, emmmz, crystalstars88, NUNICHAN, Hafthand, Horserider, bluegixie320, and Jenna for the reviews! Thanks also to PhoenixSIngs, BeeIncarnate, al5654, Perminatly Lost In Thought, angelgirl116, .xx, Lexxy n' the 100, LuffyMarra, tatertots4dinner, gategirl7, Untold Story, ElldenStorm, and LiesbetB for the alerts and favorites! I'm glad people are enjoying the story so far!

Way up in my tree I'm sitting by my fire

Wond'rin' where in this world might you be

And knowin' all the time you're still roamin' in the countryside

Do you still think about me?

- Gypsy Eyes, Jimi Hendrix

The girl's wound had stopped bleeding hours ago, but he still felt compelled to keep pressure on the spot just to make sure the wound had not reopened. It wasn't that deep, but he knew from cleaning game that a well-placed slice in a blood vessel in that area could drain a living animal of all its blood in just a few moments. The heart was efficient in pumping a living creature's life force inside the body...or out of it.

As he held her close in the darkness, he realized he didn't know anything about her except that she had no living family, the queen wanted her alive, and the head of the royal guard meant to have her before returning her to custody at the castle. He himself had endeavored to make it clear that he was not necessarily an honorable man with his less than playful banter earlier, but her reaction was so strong, so defiant, so final that it left him rattled. He knew from this experience that calling her bluff might be a very dangerous thing. Plus, even in sleep, she clung to him like a tree root in a raging river. She had a fist full of his shirt in both hands. Even though he had basically told her he meant to sell her out for a quick profit or force himself on her to extract some sort of payment, she still held onto him as though he stood between her life and her death. His back was in pain from the uncomfortable position, but he figured that if she could sleep soundly in the pitch black forest, maybe it would be a good bit of penance for what a horse's ass he had been to her before.

It had been so long since he had held someone in his arms like this, since someone had depended on him for anything besides causing trouble and getting drunk. The fact that the girl he was holding onto was little more than a child didn't dampen the memories that came to his mind of his wife when times were good. In the dark, it was easy to remember and easy to forget.

The queen had been bluffing, but just the thought of someone being able to return Sara to him struck a chord deep within him. There was a time where he thought he'd do anything to see her again, but the idea of sacrificing an innocent child for the opportunity to see her once more was something he knew she would not have abided. Plus, if she saw him in his current state, would she even love him anymore?

He sighed and tried not to think about how far he had fallen since her death. Given the option, he would have still been drinking, but he'd drained the wine skin nearest him some time ago and he couldn't reach the rucksack for another without rousing his charge in the process. He breathed in a deep, calming breath and tried to shift into a slightly more comfortable position without waking the girl. As he resettled, she sighed in her sleep, but did not wake up. He could feel her heart beating defiantly in her chest. She did have a strong will to live, but he knew that any attempt to keep her caged ever again would result in suicide, probably without the courtesy of the preamble he had received explaining her actions.

Beneath the grime coating her face, he had seen that her skin was very pale. She hadn't been in the sun in a long time. Coupled with the fact that she looked like she hadn't gotten a good meal in years, he wondered how long the queen had been keeping her locked up. Did she really not know how old she was? Had she been raised in captivity?

He suddenly thought back to Sara and the last of his birthdays she'd celebrated with him. He had been on a hunting expedition and she had waited up all night to greet him when he arrived early on the morning of his birthday. It had been a good day.

It startled him to realize that had been almost two years ago.

The figure creeped silently into his field of vision. It wasn't real, he was sure of that much. The visions of the forest were the only things one could make out in the dark, and if he stayed calm and didn't move, he knew he wouldn't end up hurting himself.

He closed his eyes to block out the onslaught of visions, but he couldn't sleep. He hadn't had anyone to protect in such a long time and it made him feel strange to have a purpose again. The small girl lying against him was wreaking havoc on his emotions. For some reason, he felt the irrational urge to protect her, to shelter her, to follow her. Then again, his cynical side told him to be weary and that she might be a criminal and this sort of thing was old hat for her.

He didn't really believe it, but he remained cautious just the same.

Eventually the sun began to rise and he tried to rouse the girl from her sleep.

"Oy, girl," he said more softly than the words conveyed. "Time to get up."

She turned over and burrowed her face deeper into his arm, trying to block out the light of the sun.

He grinned despite himself and shook her firmly. "Girl. Get up."

She began to move slowly and pushed herself up into a sitting position before her eyes went wide in fear. He thought he was going to have to do something drastic to keep her from hurting herself again, but just as soon as the look in her eyes surfaced, it melted away. She rubbed her face for a moment and then stretched like a kitten, letting out a big yawn. She moved out from under the rocky overhang and looked around. This slightly alarmed him.

"Hey, girl! What are you meaning to do?" demanded the huntsman.

She blushed. "I have...to relieve myself. I'll be right back."

He sighed, a little more worried than he'd have liked to admit. "Just watch out for those spores. They're not good for you."

She ran off and he went about the task of pulling out food for a quick breakfast meal before they were off again. Moments later, she reappeared and plopped herself down where she had been. He offered her food and this time she accepted it quickly. She ate less delicately on this occasion, and he thought it suited her better. She surprised him when she spoke, though.

"What is your name, huntsman?" she asked as she continued to chew on the crust of the bread.

He looked at her suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"

"Just because," she retorted with a look of juvenile incredulity on her face.

He took a deep, audible breath through his nose and let it out slowly as he considered the situation. He didn't want a charge. He didn't want to play savior anymore. He didn't want to get attached. He just wanted to get to a town where he could deposit this girl with a nice family and be on his way. "You don't need to know," he replied gruffly.

At that, he saw her visibly deflate. She continued eating, but more slowly, more mechanically. Her expression changed from one of childlike curiosity to grim austerity. He suddenly wanted to apologize, but he couldn't find the words. For all he knew, he was the first person she had encountered since being imprisoned for whatever it was she was imprisoned for. The words still remained out of his reach, however, so all he could do was slice another slab of cheese and hand it to her in silence.

When she noticed he was holding out food to her, she looked at him with a question in her eyes.

"Come on, girl. Just eat it. You're too skinny to be healthy," he pressed.

He was relieved when a bit of the childlike expression flowed back onto her face. She took the cheese and thought for a moment. "Alright, if I am to call you Huntsman, then you may call me Girl. I think it's only fair that we call each other something if we are to be compatriots." She proceeded to munch on the cheese.

"Compatriots?" he asked, surprised.

"Of course," she said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "My father had a friend: Duke Hammond. Do you know if he still rules?"

The huntsman was a little confused now, but he answered. "Yes...he still rules in a small stronghold. He leads the resistance against the Black Queen. Why would you-"

"Excellent! And do you know if his son William is still alive?" she asked breathlessly.

"Well...I haven't heard of him dying," he replied honestly.

She thought about it, and a mischievous glint that hadn't been there before shone in her eyes. "You know, Huntsman, there may be a reward in this for you yet!"

He was suspicious. "Why would they be interested in you, Girl?"

She rolled her eyes at his tone of voice. "Let's just say I'm a friend of the family. I used to play with William when I was younger, and Duke Hammond is the closest I have to a living relative." Her voice trailed off. "I often hoped he and William would come save me, but it never happened. I spent years wondering if William was even alive. Now that I know he is, I wonder if he ever spares me a thought..."

"Probably not," the huntsman said curtly as he packed up the remaining supplies in the rucksack.

The girl squeezed her fists tightly in anger. "Huntsman, that was uncalled for!" He looked over at her and he had to keep from laughing.

"Alright, Girl. I apologize. Just don't be surprised when you find the duke's son has a bevy of young maids who are also vying for his affections."

He was confused when she wrinkled her nose in a bit of disgust. "That's not my goal, Huntsman." She sighed. "Never mind. Do you know how to get to his keep?"

He nodded. "Yes...it will take some doing, but we can get there in a few days."

The girl smiled. "Alright! And when we get there, you will most definitely receive your reward!"

He shook his head as he continued packing. Maybe imprisonment had left her a bit touched in the head. Honestly, though, being a fugitive now himself, it did seem like the most logical place for the two of them to go.