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"I know exactly where we are," Jerome murmured as the darkness grew around them. Mara clutched the make shift reign on her horse, not liking the fact that when she looked up at the sky she saw no stars, only the moon, but it didn't look big and round and silver like in all those romantic tales, it looked like the moons that were described in horror stories, and she wouldn't be surprised if she heard a howling any minute.

"Oh? And where would that be, Huntsman?"

"I have a name you know." He ground out in a low voice, steering his horse sideways to block Mara's path. Mara just cocked a shapely black eye brow at him. "Fine," he shrugged "Anyway, shouldn't you know the way, Princess? You have lived here all your life,"

"I haven't lived in the forest all my life." She huffed "Now come on," she motioned with her head for him to move his horse. He watched her, before a knowing smile spread across his face. And a loud laugh escaped.

"You're afraid of the dark? Aren't you? Oh this is brilliant! The little princess is afraid of the dark!"

"Told you," Fabian whispered as all of them hid behind the thick bushes. "I knew she was a Princess, and the one on the black horse. He's the Huntsman! I knew it! All rumours come from some truth!"

"That's great, Fabian." Eddie hissed "But shouldn't we wonder why the Princess is out with the Huntsman?"

"Aww! Maybe it's like a forbidden romance," Joy whispered. Mick rolled his eyes

"They don't look like they're having a lot of fun."

"We should ask them to stay with us," Alfie spoke up, "Just for the night."

"No!" Nina cried, shaking her head "They're trouble! We don't need more problems, right Fabian?" she turned to the brunette for back up, but he took a deep breath through his teeth.

"It's going to rain, Nina. Maybe….just for the night?" they all turned to look at her, eyes large and pleading.

Nina looked at them all for a moment, before nodding "Fine, but one night."

Line Break

"We should lay down for the night," Mara sighed, leaning forward, resting her cheek on the soft white fur of her horse. Jerome nodded, they'd spent another fifteen minutes walking and landed in the exact same place as they were before. Jerome looked up at the sky.

"It looks like it's going to rain,"

"Brilliant." Mara murmured. Before she and Jerome sat upright, turning their heads slightly. "Did you hear that?" she whispered. Jerome nodded, bringing a finger to his lips. He took out his sword, holding it in one hands, reign in the other. "What about me? Why don't I get weapon?"

"You're joking right? You wouldn't know the first thing about fighting!" Jerome instantly knew that was the wrong thing to say and took of his sling shot of arrows, throwing them to her along with the crossbow. "Will you even know how to use it?"

Mara aimed it, making sure the tail of the arrow brushed her bottom lip "Give me somewhere to aim."

"Uh…that leaf. The last leaf on that tree, right there." Mara saw it, thankful he had given her a hard one, so that she could show off her skills, and she hit it perfectly, the arrow sailed through the centre of the dry leaf before hitting the bark on the tree. Jerome raised his eye brows "Impressive."

And then again, they heard a sound.

"I can see something," Jerome murmured, when suddenly a boy appeared, his hands held up in surrender, with floppy brown hair. Jerome rose his sword high into the air. "State your name!" Jerome cried. And Mara was surprised at how stern and brave he sounded. When seven more people came out from behind the trees. Mara aimed her arrows.

"It's Fabian! Relax! We're not here to hurt you!"

Jerome and Mara turned to face each other, looking for whether they should believe him or not. They all could be hired from Amber, to come and find them. To turn them into her.

"We know who you are!" The dark skinned boy spoke up "The Huntsman and the Princess! We don't want to turn you in! We want to help!"

"It's gonna rain soon!" the blond added "Come on,"

"You can leave your horses outside for the night, we have some rope we could lend you!"

Line Break

"Your dress is beautiful," Joy said, taking Mara into her room to lend her some clothes "But I would recommend changing them, I imagine you're pretty cold?"

"Yeah, thanks," Mara smiled kindly. Joy picked out a deep blue dress that would skim Mara's ankles.

"It's nothing compared to yours, but the material is much thicker,"

"Are all villagers as kind as you?" Mara asked, as Joy helped her to change.

"We stick by each other. Now tell me, is it true? Does the Queen really want you dead?" Mara turned to look at the small girl, and sadness flickered in her eyes as for the first time, she truly came to terms with what was happening. Everything was going to change.

"Yes…my sister wants to kill me,"

Line Break

"So…you're the Huntsman?" Fabian asked timidly. As they five boys sat around the small table. Jerome had taken off his armour, so he was in a blue very common shirt with thick brown trousers, he leaned back in his chair.

"Why ask what you already know?"

"You've killed so many people," Eddie whispered, shaking his head "Why would you do that? Man that is just sick."

"You wouldn't understand. I'm not all bad, okay? I kill the people who have done something wrong, who deserve to die! I don't go around killing those innocent just for that fun of it, I'm not that messed up," Jerome's blue eyes changed colour as he spoke, to a darker blue, that of the ocean, no longer the bright blue of the skies. But he would lie and say it was because of the lighting.

"And why are you in the forest then, Huntsman?" Mick asked rather rudely. He didn't trust this guy. But then again, not many of the others did either. Apart from Joy and Fabian, who were far to engrossed about the romance and the history of the situation rather than the people themselves.

"I have a name you know." Jerome ground out "I'm Jerome,"

"Hey, Jerome!" Alfie called happily. "I'm Alfie, this is Fabian, Eddie, and Mick."

"Come on guys, gather round the fire!" Joy called "Then our guests can tell us why they're actually here!"

All the boys stood to see Nina, Joy, Patricia and Mara stood in the front room. Jerome's eyes widened…even when dressed in villagers clothing she was still heart achingly beautiful.

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