Guys, I am SO sorry for the long time. I've been on holiday. Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

IV

Two months of being Queen and Snow White already has enough. The privacy has completely gone from her life and the difficult choices are killing her. And not only her royal choices. Her private choices are a lot harder.

Eric never gave up fighting. Not once. He and William clash regularly, on everything and nothing. Debating every decision taken by either one of them. And it's hard for her to admit, but she likes it. She likes how Eric and William are both fighting to claim her heart, but neither none is winning

But right now, she has to decide on a plan of defence. She leans her hands flat on the table in front of her, a chart spread out on it, her councillors plus William and Eric around her. "Where did you say the Rebels are positioned, Councillor Chapman?"

The bearded man steps forward and points to the village in the south. "Right here. They have positioned themselves throughout this village."

Snow bites her lip. "That's unfortunate. That village does not belong to my kingdom. I can't expect help from the villagers." She looks up at the company around me and she sees Eric grinning and playing with his axe. He's up to something."Is there something wrong, Huntsman?"

"Well, Your Highness, it may interest you to know that I am originally from that village."

"What?" asks she, a little angry. He could not tell her before she got the headache? "And you waited until now to tell me?"

He smirks. She hates it when he smirks. "You didn't ask me, Your Majesty."

William throws him a murderous look. "She doesn't have to ask to get answers, Huntsman. She is and always shall be your Queen. When there's something that concerns her, you will tell her, whether she asks it, or not."

"Ah, well. Then maybe you should, too. I haven't heard you all day." Eric throws back.

William opens his mouth furiously, but Snow has had enough. "Stop! Can you two stop fighting for one minute? Please, I have a headache as much as it is."

Eric is the first to recover. "I do apologize, milady. I was out of line." He puts his hand over his heart and he bows.

William turns red with fury, because Eric beat him to it, but his voice is controlled. "I too apologize, my Queen. It shall not happen again."

She turns her attention back to the chart. "Yes, well, I doubt it." mutters she under her breath. There's a soft chuckle from the councillors. "Back to business, gentlemen."

William's Father, Duke Hammond, traces a finger past a dark road through the Forest. "It is my understanding that the Huntsman and yourself have travelled through this Dark Forest before. It leads directly to the village. We can send soldiers through the Forest, while the everyone else circles around the Forest, to try and take village."

Snow White shakes her head. There's no way she is going to send soldiers through that Forest. "No. That Forest is dangerous. There's only one man that can go through that Forest..."

The Huntsman groans. "No. I am not going into that Forest again, with all due respect, milady."

"I wasn't finished, with your permission, Huntsman." says she icily.

William shoots Eric a hateful look, and she sees the Huntsman turning red. She smirks at herself. She likes that. "I – I'm sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean to..."

"I know, Huntsman. Just let me finish." He nods, blood rising to his cheeks. "I wanted to say that there's only one man who can go through that forest, AND seven Dwarfs."

"Of course!" shouts Eric, realization reaching his eyes. "I could take the Dwarfs in there, we could enter the village days before you. I could convince the villagers to help you." He plays with his axe thoughtfully, a sign that says he likes the plan.

The Queen nods. "That's the plan. With only one difference. I'm coming with you."

That statement releases a massive shouting of disagreement. "You can't go in that forest, milady!"; "That is way too dangerous!"

"I'm not going to let you go into that forest again, Snow." says Eric calmly. That's the first time he called her by her name in front of others. That means he means business. "It's way too dangerous, like the – man with the uh...beard...said." He looks apologetic at Chapman, who waves it off with his hand. "I'm sorry. But it is too dangerous, and it is very important that you are safe."

William takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "For once, I agree with the Huntsman. It's too dangerous."

Snow smiles serenely. "No matter how glad I am you two finally agree on something, I am still going. This is my kingdom, I have to be there. The Huntsman, the dwarves and I will be going to the village to talk about a treaty."

The Huntsman opens his mouth. "But..."

"Eric, I am going. Whether you like it or not."

The Huntsman shrugs defeated. "Fine. I give up." He sits down and rubs his forehead.

"What?" says William disbelieving. "You're just going to let her go through that forest?"

The Huntsman nods. "You may have known her since childhood, but I have gotten to know her the way she is now. You don't know her that way. When her mind is made up, she won't let you change it. The only thing I can do now is protect her as well as I can."

William shakes his head and rubs his face. "I cannot believe you are letting her do this!"

Eric jumps on his feet, his face flooded with anger. "You think I want to let her go? But as you have – so subtly – pointed out, she is my Queen, and I cannot force her to do anything she doesn't want! And if you care so much what happens to her, then come with us!".

"I will!"

Snow White groans. They fight even when they agree! "Could the both of you please, please, please stop arguing? I have had it with this fighting between the both of you! I'm going to go with the Dwarves and neither of you are coming."

At that the two men starts arguing her loudly. "There is no way I'm going to let you go into that forest without any protection other than Seven Dwarves!" shouts Eric, hot-headed.

"I am going with you, whether you like it or not!" yells William, even louder.

That's what she wants. Both of them agreeing again. "Good. Both of you are coming then. Saddle my horse. I will be leaving at dawn." With that, she turns her back on everyone and leaves for her Chambers. Her head's spinning with tiredness, she needs to rest. Two months and she's no closer to a decision about whom she loves. William and Eric both have her heart right now, and she knows she can't keep doing this to the both of them. They are tearing her apart from the inside with guilt. She really, truly wants to choose, but she can't. She doesn't know whom she loves. Both are wildly attractive, and both care so much for her that they'd die for her. And both make her head spin, albeit in a different way. She changes into her night robes, lays down on her bed and closes her eyes. Her whole body is aching with tire and she feels her mind slip into unconsciousness.

She wakes up when she feels another presence in her room. She sits up straight and her hand wanders to her sword at the side of her bed.

"Don't bother." The voice soothes her and shakes her to the core. The Huntsman. What is he doing here? "I took it. I knew you would reach for it. It's right over here."

She looks straight into his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

He sits casually in the chair across of the bed, his head leaning on his hand. "I was watching you sleep. I couldn't sleep. I was too nervous."

Goose bumps shoot all over her arms and back and she shivers. She does not like the idea of him watching her while she was defenceless against any kind of attack, physical as well mental. "Get out of my room."

He shakes his head and pulls a hand through his hair. "I have to talk to you. Can I, in some way, convince you not to go?"

She shakes her head, trying very hard to control her breathing and heartbeat. She barely has a thing on and she is alone with him in one room. Knowing him, it can't go right for a very long time. "No, you can't. I'm going."

He stands up and walks over to her bed, sitting down on the edge. "I don't want you to be in danger, Snow." whispers he, smoothing her hair. "I couldn't stand losing you. I couldn't stand losing anyone. Not again. Please."

She almost succumbs to his pleads, his desperate look in his eyes. But she shakes her head to clear it and stays resolute. "No. You won't lose me. I have a lot to do before I die. I'm going to die as an old woman, while my child is ruling this country in a fair, just way. Not before that. I promise you that."

All the sarcasm is gone and all that remains is desperation and love, which makes her feel weak. "Please. Please, Snow. I have to know that you are safe."

"I am safe." She places her hand on his and smiles. "You'll be with me. I trust you with my life."

He hangs his head and takes a deep breath. "Don't die on me. Just don't." He lifts her head, and presses his lips against hers. She wouldn't normally let him, for she's still uncertain of her feelings, but she can't deny him right now. She's seen his expression, how desperate he is. His muscled arms wrap around her waist and he pulls her flush against him, turning the kiss more passionate. God help him, she thinks, Help him find his peace with Sarah's death. Help him move on. Please, God, help him. His tongue traces her lower lip and she shivers. He suddenly goes rigid and he moves away. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to...I promised to wait...I'm so stupid...I shouldn't have come...I'm sorry." He rises and leaves quickly. She falls back on the bed, completely confused, overwhelmed and angry with herself. Why in the world can't she make a choice? She hurls her pillow through the room and buries her face in her hands. It shouldn't be that difficult. Just pick one, William or Eric. Both will be good to her. Maybe it's that easy for her, but she'll no doubt hurt the other by choosing one. And she doesn't want that.

And even then, she doesn't know if she'll be happy with the one she chooses. What if she chooses one and then ends up being unhappy? She doesn't want to be unhappy. She has had her share of unhappiness. For two lifetimes. She falls back on the bed and stares at the ceiling. She has no idea what to do.

Eric POV

He leaves her room with a stone in his stomach. What has he done? He broke his promise to her, only because he felt desperate! Truth be told, he had hoped that she'd reconsider when he kissed her, but that still does not make it right.

Distraught, he wanders through the hallways, looking for nothing in particular, just his solitude, for a place where he can be miserable on his own. Please, God, help her survive this, don't take her away from me, please, he thought, looking up to the sky, hoping that if anyone heard him, they would relay the message to Him.

"What where you doing in her room?" An ice-cold voice shakes him from his thoughts. He turns quickly, his hand on his axe. William approaches him. Something in his stride has changed. No longer does it display nobility. No longer has it the patience it usually has. No, this is the stride of a man readying himself for a fight.

That is the reason that Eric doesn't take his hand off his axe. "What are you talking about, William?"

His eyes are flaming with anger, his face contorted. He's a bit scary this way. Eric has never seen him this angry. "Don't you pretend I haven't seen you leave her bedroom! What were you doing in there?"

"I was just trying to make her reconsider. William, don't be so..." But Eric never gets the chance to finish his sentence. William shoves him against the wall, one hand on Eric's throat, the other on his sword.

"Listen, Huntsman, Snow White is mine! She belongs to me, always has, always will be, just like I belong to her! You will not come in between us, just because your kiss woke her!"

Eric did think about letting William reign in this case, but that doesn't sit well with him. With one flick of his arm, he pushes William off with so much force, that the Duke's son trips and falls. He's back on his feet and draws his sword. Eric steadies his grip on his axe. "I never intended to come between you two! Trust me, I will never counter her choices! Problem is, she hasn't made her choice yet! She doesn't know what – whom – she wants! And I promised her that I would wait! And I will!" William lashes out furiously, but Eric spins away and draws his axe. He doesn't want to hurt William, but he won't let William defeat him. Eric's pride is too big for that.

"Then why did you come out of her bedroom? Well?"

"I didn't lie to you when I said I wanted to change her mind!" Eric shouts, furiously, still blocking Williams blows.

"Why did you go there in the first place? Don't you understand that she's mine?"

Eric has had enough. He punches William square in the face, tackles him and holds his axe to the Duke's son's throat. "I will not force a choice on her." he growls lowly. William doesn't move a muscle, afraid that the axe will bury itself in his throat if he does. This is normally not how the Huntsman works, but his anger has taken over. "But know this. She is nobody's possession. She is a free, independent woman, and, for all intents and purposes, your Queen. You will treat her that way. Don't ever dare to say that she is yours. She isn't anyone's. The sooner you realize that, the better." He rises and puts his axe away. William starts to sit up, but Eric pushes him down with his foot. "Don't stand up until I'm out of sight. And don't ever draw your sword on me again. Because I can, and I will destroy you if you do that again." He walks away, anger soaring through his veins. How dares he? Saying that Snow is his? Eric feels the urge to turn around and throw his axe in a place where William will sure feel it, and will be able to join the church choir as a soprano afterwards. But he resists that urge. He will fight for her, but not kill - or mutilate - her best, oldest friend. That's not how this game works. He has to be kind, gentle towards her. Making the choice easier for her, not impossible. He runs to his room, where he can sit in peace and think, to calm down. Because where he's headed now, he won't be able to return from if he lets it get out of hand. The blood pumps in through his body, his heartbeat drumming in his ears; he's outraged and he knows it. He knows the signs, he knows that it happens, he just doesn't know how to stop it.

He slams the door behind him and throws himself on the bed, burying his face in his pillow, nearly smothering himself. What, in the name of everything that is holy, is wrong with him? Why would he get so angry? There's no reason at all.

He loves her. Yes, that's one thing that is certain. He loves her with all his heart. He doesn't want to hurt her, but he wants her. He wants to be by her side for as long as she wants him. He wants to support her, to love her forever. And he wants her in ways he hasn't wanted anyone for a very long time.
But why does it make him so angry? Why did he just almost kill William?

Well, he was disrespectful towards her. She isn't anyone's possession. But that's not a reason to shoot into an outrage like that. No, there is something else at work her. Something dark, something driving William and himself into a crazy frenzy to kill each other.

Or he can just really hate him.

The Huntsman buries his face deeper into his pillow and moans. His thoughts are driving him crazy. Sarah was right. Thinking can be very dangerous. Thinking about anything but protecting his Queen right now is dangerous. So he just shuts it off. Enough practice in that area, no doubt about it. Protect his Queen. That's all that matters.
He rises, a eerie calm coming over him. He knows his purpose, he knows his path. Into the Woods once again. With Snow. With his Queen.
Danger is coming.