Here it is, next chapter. I don't know why, but it's getting harder and harder to write this story. I could use some help. Please, leave any ideas or questions in the reviews, so that I have a fresh look on my story. I need it, because I have a feeling that I can't finish my story otherwise. Please!
Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. And enjoy!
XI
It feels like she is dying all over again. Her heart is fighting for survival, her breath is stuck in her throat and searing hot pain goes through her entire body. It hurts! It hurts so much! She tries to reach around her, to search for Eric, for William…for somebody. But she can't even open her eyes. Let it stop! Please, let it stop! She can almost see the battle waged inside her. The mysterious illness against her own body. Her body is losing this really fast.
"What is happening?!"
"I do not know, I am not touching her!"
Voices. Weird voices in her head. She cannot understand them! Someone, help me! She tries to scream, but only the sound comes out. No words. Leave me alone! Please, don't hurt me!
Snow, calm down. I am here with you.
Now, who is that? She tries to say something, yet her voice still doesn't work.
I am your friend. I am here to guide you through this process. I know you are in pain, but if you just think the words, I will hear them.
What in the name of the Lord is going on here?
You are passing on.
No. "NOOOOO!" A piercing scream fills her ears, and it hurts her to the depths of her bones.
"Snow! Snow, it is alright, I am here!" Rough hands grab her shoulders and start to shake her. "Come on, Snow, just open your eyes! It is alright, you are fine!"
Eric! Now she can remember his name! The screaming still fills her ears, and now she hears that it is her own scream. Her scream of fear and terror. She closes her mouth to stop the screaming and then she opens her eyes. Eric is bowed over her, and he looks terrible. "Eric!"
"Snow, thank the Lord, you are back! You have been screaming for hours!"
Hours? Is that possible? "What is happening?"
"Will you explain it?" Eric asks a strange-looking woman. She has long, black hair, dark eyes and a dark skin colour. Snow has not seen a woman like this before. "Or shall I?"
"Who is this?" Snow asks, looking from Eric to the woman and back. She feels confused. "Where am I? What is happening?"
"You explain it to her." the woman says, sitting down, looking exhausted. "It is not fully succeeded. She will be falling back to her previous state. I just cannot go any further without doing severe damage to myself."
Eric sits down next to Snow and takes her hand softly in his. "How are you feeling?" he asks looking intently at her.
"Confused. Why will you not answer my questions?"
"Patience, sweetheart. Lay down first. Please." he adds when she looks at him defiantly. She sighs and lays down, turning her body fully towards him. The pain has diminished to a barely-there presence in the back of her mind. Right now, she cannot bring herself to feel it. She needs answers first. "That woman is my aunt Sahila and a practitioner of White Magic."
"White Magic?"
"Yes. Ravenna used Black Magic. You were saved by White Magic when you took a bite of the apple." Snow nods. The woman is his aunt. Understand. She has to place everything very securely in her brain, or else she is going to lose it. "You are in her house, we brought you here after your condition worsened in the forest. She figured out what is wrong with you."
Snow looks at him, excitedly. If they know what is wrong with her, she would like to know as well. "Well? What is wrong with me?"
"It is Black Magic. It is disturbing your chakras."
"There you lost me. What are chakras?" Her head is starting to hurt.
"Puddles of energy in seven distinct parts of your body. They all represent different emotions. Black Magic is closing all your chakras, starting at your strongest one. Your heart chakra. That is what made you ill." He pinches her hand and leans his lips against the back of her hand. "I was so worried, Snow."
Snow White indulges him for a moment, but then shakes him. She wants to know more. "Give me more."
"Alright." He sits up and nods. "Sahila is trying to reopen your chakras, she is half-succeeding. It is really hard."
"What happened to me? I felt so in pain."
"You were. We do not know what happened. You suddenly started screaming."
He takes both of her hands and looks in her eyes. She feels sick. She had been in so much pain, how can they not know what happened? "I don't feel so good." she says, closing her eyes and letting the headache overwhelm her.
She hears Eric kick his chair back and she feels him leaning over her. "Snow? Sweetheart, can you still hear me?"
"Yes." she murmurs and she forces her eyes open. He is leaning over her, his face mere inches from hers, his eyes filled with worry. Her heart swells when she sees it, it almost hurts. But the headache is worse. "Just tell me…am I dying?"
His sigh is really enough of an answer, and she closes her eyes again to force back tears. After all she has been through, to let it end by stupid Black Magic? Again? "Yes, for the moment, you are. I am so sorry, and I am going to do everything in my power to stop that from happening. I lost you once, I am not going to lose you again, Snow, do you understand me?"
One tear escapes no matter what. "I do not want to die." she whispers.
"I am not letting you. I forbid you to. Alright? Just do not die on me." he whispers, and then his lips slowly presses on hers and she practically melts.
"What the hell are you doing?!" yells someone, whose voice is quickly connected to William's. Eric is yanked away from her and she hears two bodies crash into the floor. "You promised you would not force a decision on her!"
Hearing muffled grunts and fists connecting to bodies, Snow sits up in distress, that way worsening the headaches and she almost screams at the pain. "Please! Please, stop, both of you!" she yells, pain in her voice. Both guys stop immediately, looking up at her. "I cannot handle this right now! I just found out that I'm dying and you two are fighting over me? You two exchanging harsh words, fine, I can handle that. You two fighting over me, I cannot handle! Just stop!" She feels her energy leave her body during her tirade and she slumps back in lying position afterwards, tears streaking down her cheeks uncontrollably. Both men stand up and sit down on either side of her, with guilty looks on their faces.
"I am sorry, milady." Eric says softly, taking her hand, while William takes the other. "We shouldn't have done that."
William's warm hand pinches hers and he smiles at her. "I apologise as well, Snow. I should not have gone so far."
The Queen just smiles. She is just too tired to go over this. "I just cannot have you fighting while I'm too weak to even think about my options. I might not get better. That means that I will not be able to make a choice. That I refuse to make a choice. I will not have you quarrelling over me after I'm…gone."
William's grip tightens around her hand and when she looks at him, she sees a fierce and determined look in his eyes. "I will not let you be gone. You are going to live long and prosperous, and you will grow old and rule this Kingdom in your pure and innocent and unique way. I – " He stops for a moment, looking at the Huntsman across from him. " – we will not let that happen. I am with Eric on this one."
His words make her heart feel ten pounds lighter. She smiles tiredly, but happily and both men kiss her hands. "Thank you. Both of you. Now, I just want to sleep."
"Can she?" Eric asks, turning around to his aunt, who is half-asleep in the corner.
Sahila lifts her head and nods sleepily. "Yes. I will continue working on her when I wake up."
"Then go to sleep, milady." William whispers softly, looking at her as if she is already on the precipice of dying. Which she presumably is. She closes her eyes, and with both men still holding her hands, she drifts into a state of dreaming that is peaceful and disturbing at the same time.
You are passing on. You are passing on. You will join me soon. You will be mine. I promise you that, my dear, dear Snow White.
That is where it gets really disturbing. The voice is back. Taunting her, scaring her. "No! I don't want to go! Leave me alone! Please!"
I can't. It has already been set in motion. Only the most powerful of White Magic can save you now, White Magic that hasn't been shown in your lands for over three centuries. That Magic-woman will not do the trick. She will not be able to save you. Give in. Join me. We can be together forever.
So, now there is a third person seeking her heart? Marvellous. Just what she needs actually. She tries to push the voice away, but it doesn't seem to want to go. Please, just leave me alone.
I can't. I have gotten this far. I will not lose you now. Too long have I waited for you to notice me. Too long have I lived in other people's shadows. No more! I will take what I want from now on.
Who are you?
You know me. Think back. I am your past, your present and future.
And that is when Snow knows she has to wake up. This person, or spirit, is a threat to her life and her sanity, she needs to return to her life. To Eric. Her stomach flutters at the thought of Eric. It is worse than with William. What does that mean? Eric…what is Eric to her? What does he mean to her? He certainly is more than her protector, more than her best friend. She would trust him with her life. She would do God knows what for him if he asked. What does that make him? A lover? Or just a good friend whom she thoroughly trusted? She does not know, she cannot know. Eric...Eric...
Eric POV
The Queen lies restlessly on the table, and Eric wishes so for her to have a comfortable bed, and a good night's sleep, but nothing so much happens. Sahila keeps circling the table, keeping him away from his Queen at all costs. Except when the Queen in question starts talking in her sleep.
"Eric? You might want to come over here." mutters Sahila.
Eric practically flies towards the table, eager to be with his Queen. To support her. "What is it? Is there something the matter?"
"She keeps uttering your name."
Eric sits down next to his Lady and stares down at her. "Eric...Eric..." she whispers, rolling her head from one side to the other. She looks disturbed and worried.
"What is it, sweetheart? I am here."
"I think you should wake her. I do not think she is alright." In Sahilas eyes grows worry. If Sahila is worried, then Eric knows there is something wrong.
Eric grabs her hand. "Snow. Snow, my love, wake up." His stomach twists. The first time he has ever called her 'love' and she isn't even conscious. "Wake up!" He shakes her, a little bit frustrated.
"Eric..." She opens her eyes and looks at him. "Eric!"
Eric smiles relieved. "Yes. Are you alright?"
"No." she murmurs. "Eric, there is someone after me! You have to help me, please!" She wraps his arms around his neck and sobs in his neck.
He holds her tightly and smoothes her hair over her shoulders. "I will help you. I will always be here for you."
Snow slides her hands in his neck and takes a deep breath. "Thank you."
"Who is after you, Snow? Tell me." When he finds out, Eric will kill him or her, personally, slowly, torturously, for hurting Snow. "Tell me."
Her hands tremble in his neck and she takes a shaky breath. "I – I don't know. He sounded so familiar, but I do not know who. I am so scared of him. He can do whatever he want, because he has this power over me, and I cannot do anything about it. Please, Eric, you have to do something! You can't let him take me!" She is really panicked because of this. Eric knows that she is serious about this. She is really scared.
"I will not. I am going to protect you, alright?" He pushes her back a little bit, forcing her to look at him. "You are safe."
She looks at him, her eyes filled with gratefulness. The tension is almost tangible. "I feel safe with you. With all of you. I wish I could do something in return." she whispers.
"You can." says William, his soft voice piercing the tension between the Queen and the Huntsman. "Fight it. Do not die. That is how you can repay us."
Tears form in her eyes and she takes William's hand, nodding as she does. "I will. I promise." Her voice breaks again, and Eric feels like she is already taking her last breath. His heart is breaking at the thought alone, making him want to weep as well. He chokes his back for her sake. She lays back down and closes her eyes. "I will fight." she murmurs, slipping back in the world that is between the conscious and the unconscious state. Probably even between life and death.
"Sahila, for God's sake, save her!" shouts Eric, momentarily overcome with desperation and grief.
"I cannot!" she yells back, frustrated. Her hands land hard on the wall, and the silent mumbling of the dwarves stop immediately. "I am doing everything I possibly can, but I cannot seem to open her chakras. I am so sorry."
It is like a knife to the heart. If Sahila cannot help, who can? Eric drops his head and now has to fight to hold back the tears. Suddenly, he has the ridiculous urge to call for his mother. Snow cannot die. Not her, too. Not again. "Do you know who can?" he asks, his voice rough with sorrow and anger. The silence that follows is deafening. The air between Eric and Sahila is practically touchable with electricity.
Sahila turns away, breaking the tension and the silence. "So far, I have only one alternative. The Queen herself. She is strong, Eric. She has fought so hard against the one who is trying to take her, it is quite extraordinary. Normally, people would've given up by now. Not her. She has been lost twice since she came here, but always came back, because she didn't want to leave you, William and your little friends over there! The only one holding her back is her."
Eric leans his head in his hands. There is nothing to do now. But wait. Wait and see if she survives. If she has enough willpower to return. "Hang on, my Queen. Fight him."
"Huntsman, we have to stop fighting. I know we have said this before, but this time I mean it. Snow is dying. We cannot afford to waste her time by quarrelling."
Eric looks up into Williams warm eyes and nods. Of course he is right. They have said it about two times now, but both times they broke that promise. This time they have to mean it. "For Snow." he agrees.
"For Snow." William nods. They both shake hands and Eric turns his back on the table for a moment, for someone is pulling on his arm.
Muir stands before him, his empty eyes gazing into nothingness, yet they seem all-knowing. "Eric, I do not wish to be grim, but if Snow dies, these lands will be cursed."
As if he does not know that. "Thank you, Muir." Eric says coldly. "Just what I needed, thank you."
Muir sighs heavily and sits down on the ground. "I know this is hard, Eric. You have to hold on. Nothing is certain as of yet."
"If she dies..." Eric cannot even say it. He would break. Living without her would be...like living in hell. If he had the choice between that life and Hell, he would choose Hell without thinking.
"She will not. You and William will not allow her to. I am confident that she will recover. She is so unbelievably strong." Muir looks up to the Queen and Eric sees admiration in his eyes. He is right, of course, Snow is strong. Stronger than any woman he ever knew.
"Eric, you can sleep in your room." says Sahila. "I am going to work all night on her. Your friends have to find an inn, though. I cannot accommodate them."
William stands up. "I am not leaving."
Sahila turns to him, a murderous look in her eyes. Eric is tempted to laugh, but he doesn't. "You will leave. Because this is my house, my space. Be glad I am even helping you. I am helping you because I care about William. I care about this Kingdom, but I would not have helped if Eric was not familiar with the Queen."
William looks horrified, and turns to Eric, urging him to say something. Amused, Eric shrugs. He knows he cannot oppose to Sahila. "Just go." he advises. "I will stay here. Nothing will happen to her."
The Duke resigns and slowly walks towards the door. "If anything happens to her during the night..."
"Then I will be right ahead of you. You will not get the chance to kill me, because I will do it for you."
William seems a little reassured and smiles. "I trust you with this, Huntsman."
"Thank you. She will be alright." assures Eric. The dwarves follow William out, only Muir stays.
"Do you need help, Lady Sahila?"
Sahila smiles tiredly. "Yes, please. Thank you. Go to bed, Eric. She does not need you to be tired all the time."
Eric knows she is right. Tiredness is not wanted in situations like this. "Thank you, Sahila." He kisses her cheek gratefully, and then turns to the woman on the table. "I am here for you, Snow. Just yell my name and I will be right here. I promise." She does not respond. Of course not. She is unconscious.
"If something happens, I will call you." says Sahila.
Eric nods and walks up the stairs towards his old room. It looks exactly like it had when he left it so many years ago. Dark, one small window, dark blankets. He lays down on his back and stares at the worn out ceiling. Today ended worse than it began. There has been only deterioration in Snow's condition, contrary to what he hoped for. So, what does he have to do now? Who does he have to kill to save Snow? Because he will kill if it means saving her. He does not give a rat's ass for anyone else but Snow. He turns on his side and closes his eyes. He has to sleep, he cannot go on without so much as a few hours sleep. It is near impossible, but he does fall asleep. Eventually. He falls into wary dreams of death, and a man taking Snow out of his arms. While she screams his name, she is taken away from him, and there is absolutely nothing he can do.
When he wakes, he feels even more exhausted than when he went to sleep. This can turn very bad in a very short time.