[A.N.] Hello again all! Thank you so much for joining me for another chapter of Pure As Snow! This story is flying right out of me despite it being my first attempt at a GW fairytale. I hope you all are enjoying it so far! Please review and let me know what you think! I aim to please! Enjoy!

Pure As Snow Ch. 2

Relena finished tightening the saddle strap gave the harness another look to makes sure that was secure. This ride wasn't going to be a long one but she needed to make sure nothing would go wrong. She couldn't afford any unwanted delays on the off chance that Une would find out that she was gone. She leaned forward and touched her forehead gently to her horse's. Starstrike had been a present from her father right before he died. She could vaguely remember her father lifting her up into the saddle and ride with her around the coral. She barely remembered his voice as he promised to teach her how to ride someday; a promise he sadly never fulfilled.

Milliardo and her foster father had been the ones that taught her everything she knew about being an equestrian from fixing the tack to grooming and caring for the horse. Starstrike was not just her horse, however. In the forced solitude of the castle her horse was now her only friend and semi-constant companion. Une had called an end to her riding sessions stating that it was too dangerous to have her out when her brother's alleged killer was on the loose. She had mourned the loss of her riding but still came to the stall every day to care for her horse, taking him around the coral to stretch his legs. Of course, sneaking out to find her brother had given them some time to really have a good gallop across the countryside but it always ended too soon and were too few and far between. Now, as she made the final preparation, she gave him one last affectionate pat before preparing to mount.

The sound of boots colliding against the cobbles of the courtyard, however, drew her attention away. Three of the queen's guards, fully armored and armed were closing in on her. She froze, unsure what to do. If she fled, the consequences could be dire, if she stayed they could be unbearable. The disturbed noises of her horse made up her mind for her. Grabbing onto the saddle she hoisted herself up and over; too little too late. Before she could even leave the paddock the men were on her, swords drawn. She could have dashed forward, could have made Starstrike charge into them but her horse would surely meet his end upon their blades. They reached forward and grabbed the reins.

"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded, already knowing the answer.

"The queen has commanded your presence in her chambers immediately." He roughly yanked on her horse's bridle causing Starstrike to cry out.

"Very well, but kindly unhand my horse."

"I'll let your pony go when you get down and come quietly like a good girl." She looked at each one of them. Their eyes were as cruel as their grasp. Feeling her horse's fear and not seeing any other option, she dismounted, shaking off their hands as they tried to seize her. She walked slowly, trying to think of any possible way out but the further she went the more guards made their presence known. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was it. This was the last straw. Une had gone too far. As they walked down the winding corridors of the castle to the royal suite, she found herself suddenly resolved to end this madness.

They burst through the doors without bothering to knock and she watched as Une turned around, shocked. She was standing in front of some sort of cabinet or wardrobe. Upon further inspection there were three perfect mirrors set carefully into the wood. The thing that alarmed her was what she saw in them: a face. Not Une's or hers or even the guards but a face of a man that was about her brother's age, maybe a little older. Before she could get a better look, however, Une closed the doors and walked toward her, her face plastered with a smile that was as sweet as arsenic-laced honey. It made Relena's skin crawl.

"What is the meaning of this, Une?"

"You had me worried Relena." She walked up and hugged her causing Relena to stiffen.

"Worried?" She pulled back cautiously. She knew any wrong move taken as an insult could possibly prove fatal.

"I had the guards go to your room to ask you if you were hungry but when you weren't there I panicked. Thank heavens you're alright!" Relena eyes the older woman. There was a darkness behind her eyes and an evil tint to her words that put Relena on alert.

"We found her in the stables ma'am, about to ride off."

"The stables?" She paused and turned away, walking toward the balcony a few steps. "Relena, how could you do this? I gave specific orders for you to stay in the castle at all times."

"Yes, you did, but I cannot."

"What?"

"My brother is alive. I don't know how I know but I can feel it. I had to look for him again."

"Again?" he turned around quick as lightening, her pleasant expression gone. "You have defied me before?"

"I saw no other option. You refused to let anyone search for him. You gave up on him too quickly. One would think you are the one responsible for…" She trailed off as realization hit her like a wave of cold water. "You did it." Whatever was left of Une's smile vanished utterly at her words.

"What did you say, my dear?"

"You really were behind it all. My brother's disappearance, the Dorlan's being framed for it. Sending Lucrezia and Pegan away. You did it all." Her voice was calm, cold from the realization.

"Oh dear… It looks like my little secret is out. I'm actually surprised you didn't figure it out sooner."

"I've known for a while. I just couldn't prove it."

"Well, aren't you smart?"

"Lady Une, I have stood back and watched long enough while you have abused your position. I had hoped that if I waited long enough Milliardo would come back but now I see that that may never happen. You have left me no choice."

"Oh? And what are you going to do?"

"What I should have done in the first place. I am taking my rightful place as queen until such time as my brother returns."

"Oh you are, are you?" Une snapped her fingers and her guards seized her by the arms roughly. Relena struggled in vain. "You, my little princess have just sealed your fate."

"What do you plan to do with me now?" Relena stared up at her defiantly. "You can't just kill me. It would look suspicious if the entire royal family disappeared under your rule."

"You are right, my dear. I cannot simply kill you but there are ways to do so without any blame. Perhaps you withered away refusing to eat from grief and depression. Or maybe you despaired so greatly that you went insane and threw yourself from the highest tower. Oh, believe me, princess there are many ways I can rid myself of you. In fact, I believe that the window in the south tower would be the perfect height for such a death."

"No one would ever believe that."

"Oh no?" She walked forward. "And why is that?"

"Because whatever you have done to this kingdom will not last forever. Sooner or later the people will grow as tired of your cruelty as I have and they will rise up against you and when that happens there will be no place in the kingdom where you can hide." The sound of Une's hand slamming against her face echoed through the room as her face was whipped to side from the force of the smack. She looked back up at her, her eyes shining with defiance.

"Perhaps, but you will not be here to see it! Guards! The princess is feeling feint. She has gone mad from her grief." Her eyes darkened with evil glee and she smirked in her triumph. "Take her to the South tower and see that she finds the window the hard way." The guards tightened their grip on her arms causing her to grimace in pain. They were going to kill her. She closed her eyes, trying to think. She couldn't die, not yet, not when her people were under the subjugation of this witch. Mustering all of her strength and courage she stomped her heel down as hard as she could on one of the guard's feet and when he let go she threw what as much force as she could into her arm as she elbowed the other in the stomach. She didn't wait for them to recover.

She made a dash for the door thanking whatever god ruled above that the armor of the guards weighed them down enough to slow them. She could hear the guard following her closer than she'd like as she navigated the corridors she had known her whole life. That was one of the advantages she had over her sister-in-law's mercenaries. This was her home. She had to escape, to survive so that one day, hopefully soon, she could return and set it free. As she made her way down the hall she heard the soldiers calling out orders that were muffled from echoing off the stone walls, however, she knew what they were yelling. She almost screamed as an arm snaked out and grabbed her. She raised her arm ready to fight free when her aqua eyes met the familiar lavender of Lucrezia Noin's.

"Quickly, this way!" The older woman grabbed her hand and led her through the halls down passages she had not explored since the three of them were children.

"Noin, how did you-?"

"The servants have been watching over you knowing the queen was up to no good. After your brother vanished we knew it was only a matter of time before she would come after you. They alerted me to the danger and I came back as fast as I could. We've been planning out this escape route for you but you must hurry." For all intents and purposes Noin had been a sister to her and the love the older woman had for her brother was stronger than anything Relena had ever seen before, feelings her brother had undeniable returned. Often times she wished that one day she would have such a love for herself. It was clear now that the only way Une had made her way to the throne was by sorcery. Such power was dangerous to cross yet Noin, and her many friends were risking everything for her. She hesitated.

"But I-"

"You must escape." They paused momentarily at a door where Noin knocked three times. The door opened and two of the kitchen staff waited, one armed with a rolling pin and one with a cleaver. They started running as soon as they walked through the door. "Hurry. We will escort you to the stables. Your horse is still saddled from earlier and is waiting for you."

They reached the stables using the servants' passages making excellent time. Starstrike was indeed ready to go, chomping at his bit and stamping the ground. One of the servants had a hold of his reigns, something he had never been comfortable with. He really was a one-person horse. She reached for him and stroked him gently to calm him but only for a moment as the servant grabbed her and hoisted her up onto the saddle. They undid the gate to the paddock.

"Now go, Relena. Ride to the neighboring kingdom and ask them for help. Explain to them the situation. Be safe."

"Noin, I-" with those words she slapped Starstrike on the rump sending the horse dashing out of the paddock and out into the courtyard. She couldn't look back. She couldn't watch her friends, her makeshift family, fade into the darkness behind her. It wasn't long before the sound of her horse's hooves were joined by the stallions of the soldiers. They were gaining on her. She reached the castle gate and managed to get under it before it closed but sadly so had several of the guards. Nudging her horse a little harder she spurred his gallop into a faster pace.

As she made it into the village her path became less and less clear. Though she had been out in the village on many occasions to interact with her subjects she still did not know it well enough to make her way through without aid. She tried not to panic; panicking would scare her horse and that was the last thing she needed. As she rounded the next bend, however she found herself pulling her horse to a halt as four men on horseback and three on foot charged at her. She screamed in alarm as they threw a spear at the horse which nearly hit him. The alley was too small to turn around and she dared not charged for fear that next time their spear would not miss.. She saw no other option. With tears in her eyes she uttered a soft goodbye and a brief apology to her equine friend and jumped off of his back and dashed into the shadows of the alley.

She heard their heavy footfalls clanging behind her but dared not look back. She continued to run. She had to keep moving; had to escape. Her friends at the castle had risked everything to get her out safely and there was no telling what sort of horrible things Une would do to them for their defiance. Her mind went the Noin. Une had already taken away her love. There was no way to know what else Une would do to her now that all pretenses had been dropped. Out of respect for their sacrifice she pressed harder taking up strength from their courage.

As she rounded the final corner, however, her heart sank. It was a dead end. She looked around frantically for a ladder, crates, anything she might climb on to get out of the alley but found nothing but a pile of various broken items. Her eyes fell on a pole sticking out of the junk and had barely enough time to snatch it up before the gaurds rounded the corner. The leader, most likely a captain, held up his hand halting their advance. He smirked at her, The look in his eyes chilling her. He laughed.

"Well done, princess. I'll admit you put up more of a fight than I had expected, but now this little goose chase is over."

"I'll not come quietly just because you have me cornered."

"I would have it no other way, my dear. In fact, I love it when they struggle, it makes it more enjoyable." The other soldiers smirked. "The queen said to bring you back. She never said we couldn't have a little fun first." He moved toward her, his men following suit.

She knew what he intended but had no intention herself of letting do so. Mustering up the last reserves of her energy she dodged him, lashing out with the pole. She felt it connect with the armor of his back and spun around. Her brother had let her sit in on training sessions with the guards and the two of them had done a few mock fights where he had taught her the basics of certain fighting styles, the staff being one of them. She punched one of the other men while swinging her staff yet three against one was a far cry from sparring with just her brother.

It didn't take long for them to outnumber and overpower her grabbing her by the arms and holding her in place. The captain laughed as he reached for his belt. She felt herself begin to panic. When suddenly she heard someone run up from behind the guards. She looked up and saw him standing there, his thick, unruly brown hair concealed most of her face but his eyes reached from beneath the shadows and pierced the darkness, orbs of the deepest blue she had ever seen challenging the darkness around her. The captain turned around and motioned for the two reserve men to block his path.

"This doesn't concern you, boy. Be gone." The captain growled. She watched, waiting to see if the man would listen to him. His eyes met hers and she felt a shiver run down her spine. In that moment she knew he would not abandon her. Before she could blink, the man moved with the speed and grace of a jungle cat taking out one guard after another with a skill she had never seen. As he finished off her captors she felt an overwhelming sense of relief flow through her. All of her exertion finally took its toll as her adrenalin rush came to an end. At that moment all of her strength left her and she felt her knees give out. He descent, however, was cut short as she felt his strong arms wrap around her, catching her before she met the cobbled ground. She hardly noticed her hood fall as her eyes met his once more. His handsome face strong and chiseled like the marble statues of Greek gods, showed concern for her as she felt her consciousness slipping. She smiled gently.

"You're safe." He said softly. She met his eyes once more as her vision began to blur.

"Thank you." Was all she could utter as her world finally went black.