Line Break

Jerome Clarke almost fell of his black beauty when he saw Mara gallop full speed out of the forest, right past him on a larger white horse. His mouth dropped open…how could…she was smarter than he thought. He kicked his horse using his legs and his horse surged forward.

Mara had seen him, he had a horse as well, she whispered into her horses ear, "Faster, oh please, faster…"

Her white horse did speed up, and Mara was griping the reigns tightly, afraid she would be thrown off. And part of her wondered, how long would this last? Eventually one of the horses would get tired, and she might be caught. She would die. Her hands still tied tightly together as she balanced awkwardly, getting into the rhythm of the horses strides.

An arrow whistled past her, missing her ear by half a millimetre, she heard it woosh past her. She turned as the horse galloped forward, to see Jerome aiming at her again. Her horse got tired, and slowed down, still running, and soon Jerome was parallel to her, taking aim.

"You shouldn't have run!" he called.

Mara said nothing, continuing to whisper into the horses ear. He took aim again, and this time it hit her, right in the side, between the ribs. Mara tried to cling on, but she removed her hands from the reigns to clutch her side, and fell off the horse, hitting her head as he sped along on the ground. Blacking out.

Jerome stopped his horse, hopping off, slinging his arrows back into his holder. As he neared the body, the white horse turned, and ran straight for him, showing no sign of stop, when he collided with the horse, and fell backwards. Blacking out.

Line Break

Jerome woke up parched, so as the sun beat down on his face, he drank from his pitcher, before sitting up. When everything came back to him, the two horses were asleep, and Mara…Mara looked half dead.

He stood up quickly, rushing to her side, the blood stained the red dress. He pulled the arrow out, head and all.

"Mara," he called in a low voice, shaking her shoulders "Mara…can you hear me?"

Her eyes opened a crack, and Jerome was…relieved? Relieved that she hadn't died of blood loss…wait…

"How are you not dead?" he asked.

"t….the…the…tight under coat of my dr…dress….holding in the blood…" she managed. Jerome nodded

"Alright, alright listen to me," he said firmly, looking into her eyes. Why was he saving her? The question ran through his mind, it was good she was dying…but he didn't think of it, he just tried to help. "I need to see the wound," he said, tears blurring his vision, he harshly blinked them away. His hands moved to the side of her dress, tied up tightly with dark strings, the fashion at the time. He got out his sword,

"D-don't touch me," she managed, chest heaving. Jerome clenched his teeth

"You're not helping," he stated. Mara tried to roll away, not wanting a killer like him to help her. Not wanting someone like him to touch her.

Jerome rolled her back, forcing her shoulders down forcefully, trying to ignore her wince of pain. "Hey princess, I'm trying to help you."

He put the sword down, deciding he'd just undo the strings, then he opened the under coat, and saw the wound. It wasn't large…but it looked deep, not deep enough to be fatal, he reached into his bag and took out some bandages, working awkwardly to wrap is around her. Then redoing the strings tightly, and giving her some water.

Mara didn't say anything, just grateful to be alive. He tied her feet together and sat her down on the ground.

Line Break

It had been three days of Mara lying there, eating what he brought her, drinking what he offered her, and she was able to sit up without making too much of a fuss.

"What are you doing?" Mara asked finally. He had been collecting wood, staying where he could see her.

"Making a fire," he answered distractedly, taking another piece. He set them in front of her and used his sword to reflect the sunlight to set it alight. Mara was immediately engulfed in the warmth, and that's when she realised just how cold she was, immediately she tried to get closer. "You're welcome," Jerome clapped his hands together. And sat opposite her.

"You're not going to let me go?"

Jerome didn't say anything, but looked right at her "I don't know what I'm gonna do with you. Can't kill you, can't take you back to her,"

"You could just let me live here, in the woods." Mara offered hopefully "Please, I…I…"

"I need to bring back your heart, I need the army," Jerome whispered sullenly. "You have to die," and with that his decision was made. He stood and went over to her, taking the sword out of his sheath.

"You don't need to do this," Mara whispered "You saved me!" that made Jerome waver for a moment "You did that for a reason! Please! All your work? Gone to waste?"

"Shhh," Jerome stroked her cheeks "It doesn't hurt."

"How would you know?" Mara spat venomously "Have you ever had your throat slashed?" Jerome's jaw hardened "No, you haven't, have you?" Mara whispered right into his face "But you've done it. You've seen it enough, haven't you? You're the huntsman? Aren't you? Aren't you!"

"Shut up." Jerome ordered

"No," Mara was still whispered "You crazy freak, killing all those innocent people-"

"You think they were innocent!" Jerome yelled suddenly , his voice echoing loudly "They were far from it!"

"The law wasn't to take into your hands!"

Jerome slapped her. She was listing everything he knew, everything he'd tried so hard to repress. Mara fell silent, tears brimming.

Jerome turned away from her, he couldn't look at her.

He walked away.

Line Break

It had been three days. Mara had been left there to bake in the hot days and freeze during the cold nights. She was lying on her side, the water he had given her…it wasn't just water she realised, she was sure her wound was almost completely healed. She had heard of that water, but it was rare…only a few people had it. Mara realised he had probably stolen it from the wealthy people he had killed. She had given up hope. She couldn't break the restraints and she was waiting, waiting to fall asleep…

"Mara," came a voice. A voice, she hadn't heard one in what seemed like forever. She opened her eyes a crack and saw the Huntsman. "Mara," and he was kneeling beside her, holding a water bottle in his hands "Mara I'm sorry, drink this," he helped her sit up. But Mara knocked her head forward, so she hit is, she grabbed the sword and held it tightly standing above him. Her hands ached, still tied together while they held the heavy sword, but she didn't care. "Bloody hell!" Jerome exclaimed, eyes widening at the sword "I was going to help you!"

Mara held the sword at his face, she was exhausted. She was so exhausted, she could feel her eye lids dropping. Jerome took his opportunity to grab the handle of the sword and turning it to face her.

"Water," she whispered. Jerome handed her the water, stilling aiming the sword at her. She drank it greedily, before falling asleep.

Jerome watched her for a moment. Three days he had left her there, three days. Maybe he was hoping she would die, so he could take her heart, but in the end he couldn't do it, he ran back to her and offered her water.

He watched the sleeping girl. And even he couldn't deny it.

She was beautiful.

A new thought entered his mind, maybe that was why Amber wanted her dead.

He reached out, and his fingers, which were normally so sure with a sword, so able with an arrow, trembled as he stroked her hair out of her face.

Jerome Clarke wasn't great at this type of thing.

But practise made perfect.

So yeah, it will all pick up soon, don't worry! If you're wondering about Jerome's moodswings, don't worry , all will be explained. And more of Amber and the rest of the HOA cast next time!

x

Mara-snowwhite

Amber- the evil queen

Jerome- the huntsman who falls in love with Mara

Alfie, Joy, Mick, Nina, Fabian, Patricia, Eddie, the seven dwarfs which Mara stays with at first.