Evermore

by Child of Dreams

As all fairytales do, this story begins with the simplest of words: "Once upon a time..." But that is where our story, a different type of fairytale, takes a turn. For this is not another tale of fair maidens and foppish princes... No, this is the story of two people drawn together under the most interesting of circumstances, a tale both as old as time and as fresh as a rose...

8. Into The Woods, Part II

Chapter Eight: Into The Woods, Part II

Christine knew that her father had gone into the woods.
That much she was certain of, as it was the route that he always took.
But as Étoile left the familiar countryside of the village and cantered through the thickening forest, her hopes began to dim.
This part of the forest was huge.
Finding just one man, let alone the man's horse, among all of these trees seemed to be almost, if not completely impossible!
"Hurry, Étoile," she urged as the mare veered around a fallen tree that had been split in half.
"Lead me to them!"

The woods grew ever thicker, the sky ever darker, but Étoile plunged bravely ahead.
Christine scanned the ground on each side of the small path.
Suddenly, she spotted her father's cart, tipped over onto its side.
Her father's beautiful music boxes were strewn about, some broken beyond repair, others less damaged.
But there was no sign of her father, or of Alexandré.

Nudging Étoile forward with her heels, Christine was shocked when the mare refused to move, even going so far as to dig her hooves into the snow.
"Étoile, what in Heaven's name has gotten into you?" the redhead gasped in disbelief.
The mare whinnied loudly and reared, effectively dislodging Christine, who landed headfirst in a deep snowdrift.
Once she had managed to dig herself free, she looked around, and saw a tall pair of wrought-iron gates not too far away, and just beyond them, a large castle, looming ominously in the distance, its icy turrets and snowy towers dark and forbidding against the thick gray clouds that swirled threateningly overhead.
So this was the reason for Étoile's uncharacteristic bout of defiance, Christine realized with surprise.
Her father had to be in there, somewhere!

Leading a once-again cooperative-Étoile through the gates, Christine was grateful to see a stable nearby and guided the exhausted mare into one of the stalls, making sure she was comfortable, before moving toward the stone steps.
The door creaked loudly as she opened it.
"Hello?"

A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter Nine...