A/N: Thank you to those who have stuck around and waited patiently for the updates. I appreciate all the reviews, alerts and encouraging words of support. There are a few more chapters left to the story. With that said...R&R. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

"Eric?"

He turned at the sound of the familiar voice behind him. His thoughts were miles away and it took him a moment longer than expected to realize that Snow White was speaking to him. He opened his mouth to reply, but no words would surface as he suddenly felt trapped in her compelling emerald eyes that have left him utterly speechless and frozen. She wore an elegant, casual long-sleeved mint green dress with lines of gold and pearl white that complemented her eyes and porcelain skin. Her dark brown hair fell loosely in curls, framing her face perfectly while her crown nestled on top of her head. She was gorgeous and immensely breath-taking, leaving him and the majority of men in the room captivated and awestruck by her alluring presence.

"Good morning, your majesty." He finally managed to respond after what appeared like an eternity of silence. Their eyes were met with so much intensity; the atmosphere in the room shifted.

He was in the middle of having breakfast with the dwarves in a small tavern located in a nearby village that was closest to the castle. To his surprise, she was here looking for him and must have asked others for his whereabouts in order to find him. The thought made him smile in delight as his mind then drifted to the night he shared a kiss with Snow White and he instantly felt his heart clenched at the memory.

"May I have a word?" She asked as she quickly glanced over to the dwarves who were all grinning mischievously at her. Snow White flushed scarlet as she gave them a quick nod in response before turning back to the Huntsman. He looked at her, waiting anxiously. "Alone?" She pressed, tentatively looking down at her feet to avoid eye contact as she felt her cheeks go warm.

"Aye," he mumbled, trying so hard to contain the excitement in his voice while successfully maintaining his strong and yet surly demeanor. He quickly looked over his shoulder, glancing at the dwarves as they stared at him expectantly with their eyebrows raised.

"What do you think the Queen wants with him?" Gort questioned curiously as the others shrugged their shoulders in bewilderment and soon returned to their unfinished breakfast.

He followed her outside, only to be greeted with the intense warmth of the morning sun that radiated luminously in the clear skies. All eyes were on them, their gazes filled with a mixture of fascination and mere curiosity. Snow White smiled warmly at passing strangers who would look their way and whisper a few words among themselves. He felt a sudden wave of discomfort clouding his features for he never received this much attention in his lifetime nor did he find himself to care of what others spoke or thought of him. But he soon realized he must adjust comfortably to the change if he intended to spend more time with her.

He peered at her from the corner of his eye, amazed by her gentle kindness she offered to her people as they approached them. He relaxed his muscles and smiled at one little girl in particular who hugged the Queen by her legs before catching up to her mother. Snow White lightly chuckled in awe as they watched her run off excitedly.

"You have a way of enchanting so many people, your majesty." She shifted her gaze up at him and saw the gleam in his eyes as he looked at her. She flushed and coyly smiled as they began walking further away from the village towards a path that led to a nearby forest. "So…what is it that you wanted to discuss with me?" He asked suddenly, forgetting for a brief moment the purpose of her visit. He knew it must be important for her to come all this way, though a part of him hoped that she simply came to see him. Meanwhile, Snow White slowly walked past him and stopped in front of a pond filled with fallen leaves and tiny living creatures. She looked on with fascination before turning around to face him. Their eyes met once more with intense concentration.

"I would like to offer you a position at court as head general and captain of my army." She spoke, causing him to raised an eyebrow in unexpected surprise. She smiled at him, noting the shock on his face. "I do hope you will accept my proposal."

He slightly parted his lips with renewed uncertainty plastered in his facial expression. "That is quite an offer, your majesty." She frowned once she sensed the doubt and graved tone in his steadied voice. "William among many others won't be pleased by this."

She studied him carefully as silence fell upon them with only the sounds of birds chirping in a nearby distance. "Have you forgotten whom you're speaking to?" She stated half-heartedly as a way to mask the inexplicable awkwardness and hurt she now felt in his presence. She was soon relieved by the thought as she watched the corners of his lips turn upward into a crooked smile.

"Very well." He nodded as he hooked his fingers into the straps of his leather vest, "But why me?"

"I trust you." She replied instantly as her eyes softened. "I need to be surrounded with people I can trust, and I trust you, Eric…with my life."

He looked down and thought about the endless possibilities. He would gladly serve the Queen; protect her in any way he could. But not like this; not when the darkness of war still lingered in the back of his mind. It wasn't fair to him, nor was it fair to her. She deserved someone better; someone who was free from the dark world he came from. Being among the ranks of her people was never his intention nor a desire he welcomed whole-heartedly. He simply wanted to be with her; to protect her and did not need a title to do so. "I am grateful to you, Snow White. But I'm afraid I cannot accept the position." She furrowed her eyebrows in bewilderment as he began walking idly around the small pond in deep thought. Her eyes followed him. "I have lived most of my life at war. What you are offering me is a reminder of what I've lost."

She averted from his saddened gaze, guilt filling her emerald eyes...replacing the excitement she felt moments ago. "I am so sorry, Eric."

He shook his head and reassured her with a warm smile. "Please don't be troubled by me." He said, followed by a brief pause as he motioned towards her, "for I have great reason to be happy."

She looked up at him as the rush of blood suddenly warmed her cheeks. He tend to have a magical affect on her that no one else could produce; not even William could match the passion and chemistry Eric has given her. He closed the space between them and raised his hand, one finger gently tracing her jaw line. Snow White had shut her eyes, reveling in the slight touch that sent shivers down her spine. He then tilts his forehead down to rest against Snow White's, pulling her closer to him.

"If you wish for me to stay, your majesty… all you have to do is ask and I will never leave your side again unless told to." He whispered in his strong Irish accent, reassuring the Queen with her troubled thoughts as though he could read through her mind. His voice was so enthralling, she felt her knees and heart weakened at the sound of it.

"Last time I told you to leave, Huntsman you came back." She said with a mischievous grin that went up to her eyes. It was almost teasing even, she didn't know where the sudden courage came from. This was so unlike her, but the more time they spent together, the more comfortable she felt around him. "How can I be so sure I have your word this time?" He didn't have to think about the answer to her question; did not hesitate for a second as he inhaled a deep breath.

"Because I have fallen in love you," he uttered breathlessly as she felt her breath slightly hitched at his declaring words. He roamed her eyes carefully, waiting for some kind of response or hint of emotion though he didn't expect her to love him in return. But she said nothing as the atmosphere between them changed, charged with an electric, exhilarating anticipation. Closing the remaining gap between them, he leaned forward and kissed her as she felt her insides clenched at the softness of his hand against her cheek and the thrilling, unexpected touch of his lips. Their lips pulled together for the third time and it was like the kiss from before, only better...much better and powerful. He pulled away from her and saw the glint of emotion in her eyes, filled with unexpected want and desire. Her eyes darted from his watchful gaze to his slightly parted lips before she whispered, "I love you too." And then she kissed him. His arms wrapped around her waist, and hers locked around his neck, her mouth pressing hard against his. He hesitated for a brief moment before returning the ambush by deepening the kiss some more and slowly parting her lips with his tongue. Her eyes sprung open at the odd, unfamiliar contact, but soon adjusted to the feel of his tongue with her own as a light moan escaped from her trembling lips. Her heart was going rampant, her head spinning into oblivion. It was one of those kisses where one loses oneself entirely, where the world ceases to exist. As their kiss turned more passionate, his arms tightened around her as she clutched him closer, hands fisting wildly into his hair. She never felt this way before—never wanted something so badly till now.

"Your majesty," he suddenly pulled back, his eyes darker than Snow White had ever seen them. They were burning just as her own. "Forgive me, but we must not do this here." His breathing was ragged, his chest moving up and down rapidly. "We could be seen."

She nodded, unable to speak. As he held her, Snow White could hear his quick breathing and feel his heart pounding in the confines of his chest. He cared for her and respected her enough to stop before things went even further. He knew if someone was to catch them in the heat of the moment, they would have had quite a shock. It would be very easy to get the wrong idea about what they were doing...what they were about to do.

"I'll escort you back to the castle." He offered, reverting to his formality as he finally released his hold on her. They emerged from the forest in silence, her arm looped around his as they followed the dirt-path to the village. Once they made their return, Snow White lifted her eyes from the ground and stopped, forcing the Huntsman to also come to a sudden halt. He looked at her, puzzled before following her sharp, horrified gaze where there stood Duke Hammond and William before them.

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