A/N: Thanks again for the reviews, guys! I do appreciate constructive criticism, and will do my best to approach them. R&R. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

"She is merely a child. You can't expect her to marry so soon after all that she has endured for so many years locked up in that tower."

"He is right, my Lord. She had witnessed so much evil and darkness. It may take some time for our majesty to heal."

"William is the perfect match for her. Together they can rule this Kingdom!" Duke Hammond argued back as the council continued to go back and forth with the subject. "He grew up with her as a child. He could protect her. With his knowledge, he can provide her the means with everything and anything. Why not marry now when we all know they will be married in the near future? Our Kingdom needs a King and Queen!"

She lowered her eyes in deep thought, trying to drown out the words that only rang unpleasantly in her ears. It turned out her people were more forgiving about the wedding that never happened, but the council and members of her court, on the other hand, were displeased by her actions that may have cost her any credibility as Queen. And now the Duke himself believed that the Kingdom is in need of a King. She never felt so alone in the room, lost and helpless, and although she had all the power to leave and end the meeting, she stood back and allowed the men to speak their minds, to fight it out among themselves. They spoke as if she wasn't there, and truthfully, she didn't care.

Her mind lingered elsewhere; her thoughts miles away. Their voices were distant—barely audible as she looked back at the night of her failed wedding and felt her heart contract at the recent memory.

"You came back." She whispered as the sound of her soothing voice brought him back to his reverie, causing him to turn around in surprise. They stood in the garden alone as the celebrations of the grand feast that followed the ceremony drew to a close and guests scattered to their own homes or retired to their chambers. Their eyes met in an intense stare, his eyes unreadable beneath the moonlight. She heaved a distant sigh. "Why did you?"

He broke his gaze from her for a brief moment before looking back up, captivated by her beauty, but at the same time hurt by the Queen's unwelcome tone in her voice."I wanted things to end right between us. I could not bear the thought of you despising me after all that we've been through together." He spoke earnestly and felt her cheeks suddenly go warm as she recalled sharing a kiss with her Huntsman about a week ago at the same spot. She shook her head to dismiss the memory. Her expression soon altered, clouded by a mixture of anger and frustration.

"You ruined what we had when you kissed me, Huntsman." She spoke carefully."I told you to go. I never said to come back."

He winced hurtfully at her response, but soon recovered. "Aye, but you looked pleased to see me at the wedding." He smirked as she slightly parted her lips in surprise. Her eyes hardened.

"You should go, Eric." Her heart suddenly clenched at the thought of him leaving her again. But she had to keep a straight face, keep herself from falling under his spell. It was for the best if she had any chance of happiness with William.

"Why did you not marry William?" He asked, seriousness now clouding his sharp blue eyes. She felt her throat trying to escape her mouth as he stepped closer, his gaze intently concentrating on her.

"I wasn't ready." She replied and later frowned at the thought of William as the guilt played across her face. "I thought I was."

There was a moment of silence.

"Was that all?" He searched her eyes carefully as she looked up at him nervously, fighting the internal struggle of keeping her composure.

"Yes." She replied, unable to muster the strength she masked as she felt her knees weakened and her voice quivered. All her efforts in suppressing any hint of emotion failed as she let her guard down. He motioned towards her, close enough to feel her uneven breaths brushed warmly against his cool skin.

"Are you sure?" He whispered, reaching over as he lightly brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. His gentle touch sent a surged of electricity through her bloodstream, affecting every part of her body and nerve endings. She hesitantly nodded her head in response, blinking at him behind her lashes as his hand remained on one side of her face with his thumb gently caressing her cheek. His eyes were so gentle and full of tenderness.

"I don't believe you." He muttered breathlessly.

"Enough." William spoke as all eyes turn to him. It was the first time he had said anything since the start of the session as she nervously met his intense gaze and felt a sudden discomfort lurk in the pit of her stomach. He looked at her, sharp at first with the pain still lingering in his heart. But the longer he looked at her, the less hurt he felt as his gaze gradually softened in her eyes. He could never remain angry with her. "She is our Queen..."he began softly, trying so hard to not let his voice be clouded with emotion, "I respect her decision as should all of you."

The meeting soon ended as the members of the Queen's council scattered to go about their business. Snow White and William remained in the room, awkward silence reigning over them with only the sounds of distinct whispers coming from behind the marbled walls. Snow White lifted her eyes as William rose up from his chair and motioned towards the two wooden doors that were left open.

"Wait," she immediately stood up from her chair, his back turned to her as he reluctantly looked over his shoulder to face her. She stepped forward, searching his eyes carefully. "I know you're unhappy with me, William. But you can't avoid me forever." She paused briefly to gather her troubled thoughts. "Please let me explain." He frowned, silent for a moment to process everything.

"Do you love him?"

The question escaped his lips as though he has kept the thought for quite some time now. Her heart contracted, stunned by the words that left her in bewilderment. She slightly parted her lips with renewed fear and uncertainty playing across her face. "W-what?"

"The Huntsman," He muttered carefully, "Do you love him?"

She sighed deeply. "I love you, William."

"But you also love him, don't you?" She furrowed her eyebrows and saw for the first time a different side of William. He was no longer the young boy she once knew, but a grown loving man with so much strength, courage and ambition. She had missed out on the person she knew he could be. "I saw you looking at him at the church. You spoke of his name and looked at him," he trailed off in mid-sentenced as though the thought pained him, "the same way I would look at you."

"William, I—"

"Do you love him or not?" His voice grew impatient, frustration now evident in his abrupt tone. Tears began to pool in her eyes as she automatically shuts them and allowed her mind to drift.

"Why are you being so persistent?" She uttered in exasperation as it made the Huntsman released his hand from her face. Snow White visibly flinched at the gesture and soon felt a wave of guilt.

He raised his eyebrows, astonished for a moment as his eyes gradually darkened. He then shook his head in disbelief. "I should go. I wish you well, my Queen and I promise I won't come back."

"What?" She retorted, making him stop and look over his shoulder, unable to hide the hurt and disappointment that suddenly clouded her features. "That's it? You come here to make amends and then you just go?"

He sighed. "I shouldn't have come here. I should have done what I was told and I'm so sorry for disobeying your wishes." He said in a rather mocking tone as it made Snow White narrow her eyes at him.

"So why did you come, Eric? Surely, you didn't come here to make things right between us." She replied accusingly."You're only making things worse!"

"You seem to know more than I do, your majesty. Enlighten me." He smirked, leaning back against a statue of a young angel with his arms crossed over his chest. "Why did you think I came back?" She parted her lips as he momentarily made his way towards her, challenging her the way he knew how. His facial expression changed, his eyes softened as he searched deep into her emerald eyes. She gulped down nervously, unable to move as the spell he has over her took full effect.

"I'm scared…" she stammered, taking the Huntsman by surprised as he furrowed his eyebrows. She let out a deep breath, careful to keep her tears at bay.

"Of what?" He whispered, his voice nearly audible.

"The truth."

She shook her head and faced William. Though the question still hung in the air, she thought about telling him the truth, describing the guilty feelings that cursed through her veins and heart. But she had feared that he would leave her, condemn her. And why on Earth would he stay after what she has done? He deserved to be with someone who will love him, support him, and help him live a good and healthy life. Surely, she didn't deserve him.

"Do you love him?"

She snapped back to reality with the internal battle raging between what she wanted and what her heart yearned, only to become more confused and conflicted with her feelings. William looked at her, waiting as she closed her eyes to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall once again.

He stepped closer, his eyes studying her with such intense concentration. He said nothing as they stood there in silence for what seemed like an eternity. And then he finally parted his lips. "I think you know the truth." She saw hope in his eyes. She could say whatever she liked, push him away and deny what has always been there; this unexplainable force between them. It was impossible to believe she did not feel anything towards him.

"It was your kiss that broke Ravenna's spell, wasn't it?" And she knew. From the constant dreams and the kiss that continued to haunt her. All this time, she denied it and believed it was William's true love's kiss that freed her when all along it was the Huntsman, her Huntsman that saved her. Oh how it made things much more complicated; her heart now torn between her childhood love and what could be her true love.

He searched her eyes for a moment, trying to read her thoughts; waiting for some kind of response that may elicit disapproval and resistance. But instead her gaze softened and felt his throat suddenly go dry as she stepped towards him, so close even he felt their bodies slightly touched. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with unexpected want and curiosity, as he gently cupped one side of her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb and slowly drew her towards him in a sweet kiss. She returned it lightly and withdrew, her heart pounding irrationally against her chest as she parted her lips in surprise and smiled up at him.

Snow White blinked behind her lashes and found herself in the same room with William; uncomfortable tension and silence mounting between them. He looked at her, his gaze saddened by the truth behind her eyes. "Nevermind." He muttered sadly as her facial expression instantly gave it away. "I already know."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please don't forget to leave review.