A/N: Thanks again for the reviews and alerts, guys! I had so many versions with this chapter and finally came up with this one. This is slightly short, but a difficult chapter to write, so I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter 4

"I don't understand, mate." Muir and the rest of the dwarves stood in the middle of the Huntsman's quarters, confused as they watch their male companion hastily shove his belongings into a ragged old bag and place his sharpened weapons securely in his belt strapped to his worn coat. Frustration consumed him, though he tried to hide it, as he thought of Snow White and felt his heart shatter into a million pieces, knowing that the memory of her will forever haunt him for as long as he lived. He sighed deeply as the overwhelming stench of alcohol lingered in the air.

"The Queen no longer needs my company." He muttered frankly, suppressing any sadness that may play across his features as he took another swig of wine from a nearly empty bottle he later disposed to the ground and shattered. His abrupt behavior took the dwarves by surprise as a wave of concern and fear washed over them. "I'm only respecting the Queen's wishes as should all of you." There was a short pause as he turned around to face the dwarves, masking the same confused and forlorn expressions on their faces. He groaned in response, reluctantly shifting his eyes towards them. "It's best this way, my friends." He later added to their dismay.

The room fell silent with only the crackle from the fire serving as the only sound between them. The dwarves watched on painfully as the Huntsman stumbled back and forth across the room, packing what's left of his belongings for a long journey ahead.

"W-what happened?" One asked cautiously, noting the sadness that lurked in the depths of his blue eyes no matter how hard he tried to conceal it with his cold and daunting demeanor. It was as though darkness once again filled his heart with anger and despair. "Surely there must be an explanation, Huntsman." He could feel the alcohol seep deep into his veins as the questions and the constant bickering left him in utter annoyance.

"There's nothing to explain, do you understand! She wants nothing to do with me!" The Huntsman cried out, his temper flaring as the dwarves slightly jump and stare at him wide-eyed. He averted from their startled gazes as he ran a hand over his golden locks, trying to contain the emotions that suddenly took over him. "You were all wrong." He spoke bitterly, his quivering voice growing quieter, causing the dwarves to feel an overwhelming amount of guilt and discomfort. He then motioned towards the fireplace, his gaze flickering among the flames as he thought of none other than Snow White.

The touch of her delicate lips brought him back to life from a world of darkness as his heart began to beat erratically against his chest in an untimely rhythm. He kissed her just as he did the first time, only to feel her lips warm to the touch and move timidly against his. It was one simple kiss, and it was all that he needed to show his true affections.

The Huntsman slowly moved his head back, almost cautiously as he stared at her emerald eyes, waiting anxiously for a sign of disapproval and resentment from the Queen. Snow White, instead just looked at him—her eyes full of confusion and disbelief as she placed her shaky hand over her lips, fear now playing across her face. He smiled nervously, noticing how rigid and uncomfortable the Queen appeared, and soon felt a wave of doubt clouding his heart.

"Your majesty?"

She immediately averted from his tentative gaze, overwhelmed with mixed thoughts that were now racing in all sorts of directions. She couldn't believe what was happening as she could feel discomfort coil up in the pit of her stomach. Her thoughts went from William, who would have died if he had seen what just occurred, and then back to the kiss that felt so familiar, it was as though it was from a distant memory or dream she could not recall.

"Snow…"

It was the first time the Huntsman spoke of her name as it brought the Queen back from her reverie, slightly touched by the sound of his voice that provided some comfort. She didn't mind it at all. In fact, she preferred being called her real name for the title as Queen may take some time getting used to.

Snow White met his intense blue gaze, searching deeply into her emerald ones as she felt her face grew warmer. "If you wish to not discuss about what just—"

"Are you in love with me, Huntsman?" The thought slipped from her lips as he held her gaze and kept himself from faltering in her presence. He lowered his eyes, carefully choosing his words as silence lingered between them.

"Yes." He whispered, his eyes slowly traveling up to meet hers in search for comfort.

She frowned slightly. "Is that why you've been avoiding me all this time?" The Huntsman simply nodded as he felt his muscles relax as though the weight on his shoulders has finally been lifted. But the tension was so thick, the relief he felt was only short-lived, he wondered how long the agony was going to last. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked suddenly, her voice slightly rose up as frustration filled her eyes. "Why wait all this time?"

The Huntsman shifted his eyes nervously. "I couldn't bear to see you the way you're looking at me right now, your majesty." He spoke softly as confusion and anguish played across her face. "Please forgive me…"

Snow White expelled a breath. "I wished you hadn't kissed me, Huntsman." She said carefully as his eyes flew open in surprise and later softened in sadness."What if someone saw us? What if William saw us? Then what?" She retorted as the thought left her feeling ill at ease. "Do you have any idea the trouble that you have caused by falling in love with me?"

His lips slightly parted in disbelief. "You think I wanted to fall in love with you?" The Huntsman retorted followed by a scoff that made Snow White visibly flinch. "No, my Queen…I had to fight it. Believe me, the last thing I wanted was to fall in love, but you and our little adventure in the Dark Forest happened." He spat out in sarcasm as the Queen narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oh so this is my fault?"

"Yes!" He shot back, and later shook his head and dismissed his previous comment. "I mean no!" He heaved a distant sigh as he averted from her puzzled gaze, forgetting for a brief moment who he was speaking to. "No, my Queen…" his voice softens, almost to a whisper, "the fault was all mine." Her eyes traveled to the ground with an unsettling feeling of guilt clouding her thoughts. For a moment her heart seemed to stop when she sensed the Huntsman closing the gap between them as they stood a few inches apart with their eyes securely locked onto each other. "I'm sorry for everything," he spoke genuinely as she could see the pain behind his sharp blue gaze that made her whole body go weak, "but I would rather die than live another day not telling you…," he suddenly stopped and felt the corners of his lips move upward as fear no longer compelled him, "h-how much I love you. I loved you the very moment I thought I lost you and it took losing you to finally realize where my heart truly lies." She broke away from his intense gaze as though his words struck her deep within her soul.

"Eric,-"

"Please understand that I mean no harm to you or to William. You two are great together." He weakly smiled as Snow White slowly looked up at him."You both deserve each other; deserve to be happy and I mean that with all my heart."

Snow White stood on the balcony of her chambers, overlooking the castle with the moonlight shining radiantly in the night sky. The air was cool and soothing to the touch as it brushed gently against her skin, sending shivers down her spine and in every bone in her body. She instantly folded her arms across her chest as it temporarily provided some protection from the cold. A distant sigh escaped her as she looked out into the garden where she stood with the Huntsman not too long ago. Snow White then instinctively touched her lips, still feeling the warmth behind the kiss that left her pondering and wide awake.

"You must go." The Huntsman shot her a look of surprise; his heart stopping for a brief moment, hoping this was all a dream. But when he shut his eyes and opened them again, he knew he was far from dreaming."Take everything you need, Eric but you must go. I'm marrying William, and you being here—" she trailed off in mid-sentenced, choosing her words carefully as it pained her to say it, "I know too much already and it will only make matters worse."

Her words left him speechless as he felt his heart aching in agony. He could not bear to look at her any longer as he immediately averted from her fixed gaze and simply nodded. "If you wish for me to leave, my Queen then I will go."

The sound of hooves thumping against the pavement floor alerted her senses as Snow White shifted her gaze from the garden to a familiar figure that suddenly appeared from the stables. She felt her heart lifted as the figure pulled on the reins and stopped in the middle of the courtyard. The Huntsman revealed himself under the moonlight as he lifted his hood from his coat and looked up at his Queen, his eyes filled with a sense of hopelessness that weakened her heart. A small smile played across his face as he gave her one last nod of respect and lightly nudged the horse to take off into the night. Snow White watched on sadly, his figure slowly disappearing in the distance, as a tear came streaming down her face.

A/N: Texts in italics represent a flashback/past events, in case you were all wondering. Hehe...please don't forget to leave a review. Thanks!