A/N: I appreciate those who sent in their reviews. They really keep me motivated, so thank you for taking in the time to share your thoughts. I don't think I've received so many story alerts after one chapter in a short amount of time before, so it means alot that this story potentially appeals to your interest. *grins* I love reading what you all have to say, so please don't forget to leave a review! Enjoy.

Chapter 2

"You did very well in there, your majesty. I'm quite impressed." William spoke fondly to his Queen as soon as their meeting with the Duke and the Lords has adjourned for the day. Snow White hid behind his gaze as she looked down and coyly blushes.

"I couldn't have done it without you." She smiled cheekily as they entered the courtyard of the castle where they were greeted by a few soldiers, commoners and servants passing by. The afternoon sun was shining luminously in the distant skies; leaving rays of sunlight in every part of the castle, giving it the spark of life that was nonexistent for the past fifteen years. William and Snow White made their way towards the garden where Snow White's mother used to grow different species of flowers; from daffodils, to lilies to roses that radiated in bright colors even during the long winter months. The garden remained untouched throughout Revenna's reign as it stood before them with so much life and endless beauty; even the darkest of powers can never destroy it.

"Do you remember our times here when we were children?" He asked, breaking the silence that mounted between them as Snow White looked down and smiled pleasantly.

"Yes, you couldn't stop picking on the leaves and throwing them at me." She laughed. "I remembered your father being so upset with you."

William chuckled lightly at the memory. "Thanks to your mother, I did not have to endure such punishments." He smirked as they continued walking along a narrowed path, embracing the gentle breeze, mixed with the fresh smell of roses and fruits growing nearby, and the glorious land that their Kingdom has to offer. William peered at Snow White from the corner of his eye, mesmerize by such beauty and elegance; it nearly took his breath away. It has been a joyous few days since Snow White's coronation; with most of his days spent with Snow White, guiding her through the reparations and discussions of politics while also sharing a few moments of laughter and reliving childhood memories.

They walked over to a small fountain built in the center of the garden and stood there in brief silence, enjoying each other's company with nature's beauty. "Your majesty?"

Snow White groaned despondently. "Oh please, William. You must not be so formal with me. I've known you for years. You can call me by my name."

He looked at her and smiled. It pleased him that despite all these years apart, nothing has changed between them. "My apologies, my lady," William teased as she shot him a look of annoyance that later softens in his gaze.

"What's troubling you, William?" She asked, noticing the distant look in his eyes as he stared at her.

"About what my father said…" William paused as his Queen listens intently, "you know, marriage…" Snow White averted from his nervous gaze as the subject of love and marriage began to linger in her thoughts. Though discussing it made her feel slightly uncomfortable-she felt a sense of calm in his presence. She was ready to discuss their possible future together without an audience of the Duke and Lords to interfere with her judgment. "I just want you to know that I won't force you into something you're not ready for." There was a moment of silence as Snow White meets his eyes; this time they were full of love and contentment, she knew that after all these years his intentions has always been pure and honest. "I will wait for you as long as you let me. I wouldn't want you to marry because of the politics that govern our Kingdom, but because it was out of love."

She smiled, pleased by his words as it weakened her knees and brighten her heart. "Thank you, William." He held a red rose between them and graciously offered it to his Queen as she lightly gasped in surprise. Snow White became lost in his eyes once again as she closed the gap between them and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

Meanwhile, the Huntsman stood in the middle of the courtyard, enjoying the afternoon sun wandering aimlessly and exploring the castle grounds while being greeted by strangers along the way when he was suddenly caught in mid-surprised as he glanced over at Snow White and William sharing a kiss from a distance. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked down solemnly for a brief moment before revealing a small smile that only evoked feelings of happiness for the Queen. This was what he wanted for her, but deep down he felt a sense of lost—as though a vital part of his life was missing and yearning to be fulfilled. Suddenly feelings of exuberance and joy he felt earlier was now replaced with sadness and regret for even looking at their way. He shook his head and dismissed any thoughts or feelings of sorrow as he continued walking in the opposite direction, only to be greeted by the dwarves that stood in his path.

"Hello, mate!" The eldest dwarf Muir was the first to greet the Huntsman as he slightly stumbled before them. "I hope we didn't startle you." The dwarf chuckled as it left the Huntsman feeling disgruntled by their company.

"I'm well, thank you." He muttered out of sarcasm as he stepped aside to pass, only to be blocked by another. "If you can excuse me-"

"And where do you think you're going, Huntsman?" Gort smirked, who many would consider ill-tempered among the dwarves.

Eric groaned impatiently as he stood still in defeat and looked briefly over his shoulder where he spotted Snow White and William now emerging from the garden hand in hand for everyone else to see. "Well, isn't that delightful." One muttered as the dwarves all stared at their direction in awe before turning back to the Huntsman, whose gaze remains fixated on the Queen. A distant sigh escaped from his lips, which did not go unnoticed, as he finally looked away and faced the dwarves who mirrored the same curious expressions on their faces. He raised a brow, "what?"

The dwarves exchanged questioning looks. "You're in love with the Queen, aren't you?" Muir exclaimed as the others mumbled among themselves in agreement. "How could I not see this before?"

The Huntsman could only part his lips in disbelief. "Have you gone mad?"

"Oh, Huntsman," the eldest laughed a little. "You can't fool us dwarves. We may be small, but we have eyes that can see through the heart."

There was a moment of silence as the Huntsman averted from their curious gazes. The dwarves noticed the sadness in the depths of his blue eyes as they share looks of sympathy for their male companion. "You must tell her how you feel." Muir's son Quert inquired as the Huntsman grunted in dismay.

"No," he retorted. "She has other matters to worry about. Besides," the Huntsman paused in mid-sentenced before continuing on dejectedly, "her heart belongs to William."

"How can you be so sure, mate?" Muir asked curiously as it only aggravated the Huntsman some more. He refused to discuss his feelings with anyone; let alone discuss matters of the heart that would only leave him in despair. But before he could respond and politely excuse himself from the dwarves, Snow White suddenly makes her way towards them without him noticing.

"Your majesty," the dwarves bowed delightedly to their Queen in unison as the Huntsman quickly turned around, taken aback by her presence as he too bowed before her.

"My Queen…" he spoke rather nervously as he slowly looks up to meet her gaze. She smiled.

"I hope all is well, Huntsman."

He briefly paused to contain his composure, "Why yes, your majesty."

"We were just talking about you, my Queen." Muir spoke up as the Huntsman shot him a look. The eldest dwarf ignored him as his gaze remained locked on Snow White. "We are forever grateful to you, your majesty, and I know you will bring nothing but happiness to this world."

Snow White exchanged a warm smile in gratitude. "Thank you, and I will do my best to not fail you, wise dwarf."

A moment of silence lingered in the air as the dwarves exchanged awkward looks. "Well, we will let you two be. I'm sure there are matters that must be discussed among yourselves." Muir smiled as he turned to the Huntsman and winked mischievously at his way. The Huntsman only glared at him as he watched the others follow swiftly behind.

"What did he mean by matters to discuss?" Snow White asked curiously as soon as they were left alone.

"I'm not sure." He uttered nervously. The Huntsman could feel his heart beating rapidly as silence hung over them once more. There was something about Snow White that gave him a magical effect that no other woman besides his deceased wife possessed. He lost his strength, let alone his ability to compose himself in her presence. He needed a distraction; something that would prevent him from acting foolishly and out of character before she starts to notice and questions him.

"I have something to give you. Will you come with me?"

The Huntsman simply nodded as he willingly followed the Queen inside the castle, up the grand staircase made of marble floors that led to a long corridor, lit with rows of candles. Two guards stood in front of two tall wooden doors as they bowed before Snow White before opening the doors to her chambers. The Huntsman entered the room slowly as the doors shut securely behind them.

"Wow," the Huntsman breathed as he observes their surroundings in utter amazement. The room was vibrantly lit by chandeliers that hung exquisitely above the ceiling, with velvet-colored walls lined in paints of gold to match the covers of Snow's bed and drapes that hung freely on the windows. A painting of Snow White's father and mother stood against one side of the wall as it left a lingering smile on his face. It was no surprise that Snow White got her natural beauty from her mother.

"I apologize for the delay." His attention was then brought back to Snow White who was on the other side of the room, fidgeting over some of her belongings until she found what she was looking for clasped in her hand. He watched admiringly as she motioned gracefully towards him. "Here, this should be enough to last you for awhile." The Huntsman reluctantly took the small black pouch and untied the gold strings to reveal gold coins that filled up to the top. His eyes widened in disbelief as she smiled at the Huntsman's reaction, "just as promised. If you need more, you only ask."

He immediately closed the pouch, overwhelmed with such rewards-it felt unsettling with the weight in his hand. "Forgive me, your majesty but I cannot accept this." He took her hand and returned the pouch of gold as he enclosed it with her fingers.

She frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

"It was never about the gold, my Queen." He spoke earnestly as Snow White lingered in his sincere gaze. "I've done everything in my power to protect you and bring you here because it was the right thing to do. I don't need anything in return. You've given me something I never thought I could ever feel again." The Huntsman stopped before realizing what he was about to stay. He hoped the Queen would not make him elaborate any further, and luckily for him, she didn't.

Her lips slightly parted as she sensed the change in the young Huntsman she grew to admire and respect. He has become the man she knew he could be. Surely, she wanted to show him her gratitude for all that he has done. "There must be something that I can offer you; something that you want?"

The Huntsman's soft gaze fell on her as he studied her features carefully; from her compelling blue green eyes displayed of compassion and beauty to her rosy lips he yearned to touch with his own. But as he began to move a few inches towards the Queen, the image of Snow White and William in the garden suddenly invaded his thoughts as he stopped and looked down to his dismay. "You have given me everything, your majesty. Because of you, I've become whole again." There was a moment of brief silence as Snow White genuinely smiled at his kind words. "But I have done everything you've asked. There is nothing left for me here, or any other reason for me to stay." She slightly parted her lips as he slowly meets her sharp gaze once more. "With your permission, my Queen, I wish to leave and return to my village."

Snow White looked at him in surprised as it left her feeling distress at the thought of losing someone she had grown fond with over the past few days. She never thought her Huntsman would leave her side; at least not during her early days as Queen. She needed him; needed his guidance; his protection, but most importantly—she needed his companionship. "Leave?" The Queen uttered in disbelief. "Are you unhappy here, Eric?"

"No," he retorted, followed by a warm smile. "You have shown me a great deal of happiness, my Queen. I have nothing to be unhappy about." The Huntsman paused, even though he knew it was not entirely true. "But I must move on with my life, and so do you as Queen."

She looked away from his fixed gaze, trying to make sense of it all, but does not fight against his wishes. "If that's what you desire, Eric I will not stand in your way."

He nodded.

"But before you go, can you do me one last task?" She asked with pleading eyes that were so persuasive and hard to resist; it made the Huntsman let out a defeating sigh.

"Anything for the Queen," he smirked mischievously, followed by a bow to lighten the mood.

She smiled at the gesture. "Would you stay a bit longer then?" She asked as the Huntsman wrinkled his forehead, wondering why Snow White wishes for him to stay. But he tossed the thought aside and listened tentatively to the Queen. He would do anything for her, even if it meant risking his life all over again. "You've become a valuable person in my life, Eric," she began, "and it would mean the world to me if you attend my wedding." She smiled as he felt his heart drop underneath him. 'Wedding?' he thought in mere disbelief as the news caught him off guard. He knew Snow White would marry William someday, but never did he thought it would happen so soon.

His lips parted, unable to utter a word of congratulations, let alone breathe as he felt his world crumble before him. Although, the Queen mean no harm—he felt emotionally tormented by such a simple request. How can he endure a couple more days watching his newfound love give her heart to someone else? But he contained his composure, bit his tongue from refusing as he let out a forced smile and nodded, yes.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Don't forget to send in your reviews! =)