XXIV

Snow lies on her back, breathing heavily in the afterglow of their passion, absentmindedly stroking Eric's long blond hair. She stares up at the ceiling while Eric presses soft kisses on her bare stomach. She has never felt more at peace. His fingers skim her chest and stomach, tickling her softly and making her laugh. "Eric, please stop!" she squeals, squirming away from him, but his grip on her tightens lightly as he continues to tickle her. She wraps her legs around his hips and forces him on his back. "I said, stop." she says fiercely, but with a smirk on her face.

"That you did, m'lady." He chuckles, and pulls her down to him to kiss her. Then he bucks up his hips, making her gasp and loose her grip on him, and he turns her on her back again, before kissing every inch of her bare skin. "I hope you are pregnant."

"Eric!" she scolds, but laughs as he kisses her again.

"It would quicken our wedding day, for you cannot have a child when you are not married. Which is, I think, ridiculous, but that is tradition." He bites her skin softly. "And I want you to be my wife, and the mother of my child, as soon as possible. I want to give you all of me."

Snow buries her fingers in his hair and massages his scalp softly. "I love you, Eric."

Eric looks up, looking at her through half-closed eyelids. "I still cannot believe you are saying those words to me." he whispers, smiling like a fool. He pushes himself up to face her directly, and his lips land on hers, making her stomach turn and her head and heart feel light. "I cannot even express my love for you, Snow. I need you in every single way."

"You just had me." Snow whispers, chuckling when Eric presses an open-mouthed kiss on the skin of her neck.

"That is not what I mean. Not mainly at least. I want to be your husband, your King as you rule this land. I want to be the father of your child. I want you...all of you...in every single way." Snow wraps her arms around him, keeping him as close to her as possible. She wants him like that as well, for the rest of her life.

"I love you, Eric."

Then someone knocks on her door loudly, and Snow dives under the blankets, pulling Eric under as well. Nobody has to see that they are naked. Nobody is allowed to see. "I am not decent!" Snow yells, as the door opens. At her words, the door stays open, but only a little.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty, but Sir William seeks an audience." One of her maids.

Eric groans under his breath, causing Snow to slap his arm hard. "Tell him I will be with him in 15 minutes. I slept in today."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am sorry to disturb you."

Snow smiles as she points at Eric's clothes, ushering him to dress himself. "No, it is not your fault. I should have shared my intent to sleep in, with my staff." Eric slips out of bed, distracting her with his glorious nakedness, and she bites her lip hard to stop herself from chuckling. "You may go now." The door is closed and Snow lets out a breath she did not know she was holding in. "By God, we were almost caught." she whispers.

"So? I am your fiancé. I can spend the night with you if you allow me to." Eric says, shrugging as he pulls his pants on, covering the biggest distraction.

"You know as well as I do that it is not decent to be spending nights together as long as we are not married."

"Oh, who cares about decent?" Eric says, shrugging her words off as he slipped into his white shirt. He stares at her for a moment. "Snow, I have to talk to you about something." He sits down on the bed, and Snow sits up, concerned. "I miss the woods. I am going stir crazy in this castle. I need to go out, just for a while."

"Do you not like it here?"

Eric shakes his head. "No, Snow, that is not it. I love it here, I love sharing a bed with you, I love wandering these halls with you...I just need a day in the woods. I was born a Huntsman, born and raised in the woods. I am homesick, that is all."

"Eric, you know I am not stopping you. I am your fiancée, and maybe your Queen, but I do not want to restrict you in your life. I know you gave up a lot to be with me." She takes his hand in hers, pressing a soft kiss on his calloused knuckles. "I want you to feel at home and safe, and I want you to feel happy. If happiness for you is going to the woods every once in a while, who am I to stop you?"

He surprises her by grabbing her and dragging her in his arms for a fiery kiss. "I should have known you would be like this about it. I have much to learn about you. I am looking forward to those days, when you teach me something new about you."

"Well, I want to know more about you as well. And I will. We will learn all there is about each other. Now go. Go to your woods. And give it my regards." Snow smiles and strokes Eric's face gently, before he dashes into action, grabbing his huntsman gear and dressing like he used to, all leather and cotton's. "Oh, I have missed this." Snow says, grinning widely as he stands before her in all his Huntsman clothing.

"Good day, my love. I will see you tonight."

"I should hope so." she says, teasing, kissing him one final time before ushering him out the door. At this rate, he will never even reach the castle walls before sundown. She watches him go from her window, smiling broadly. She wishes he could feel at home here, but she understands why this needs to be done.

She dresses into her comfortable dress, nice enough to rule the country, but comfortable enough to live in her own castle with ease. She met William in the throne room, where he told her about the mistake he made yesterday with Greta.

"Oh William..." Snow said, shaking her head.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to, but she angered me."

"No. Do not make this her fault. This is not her fault. You lost your temper. Just because she knows things about us." Snow clasps her hands together in front of her, looking sternly at him. He blushes, shame evident in his face. "Your anger is justified, people should not gossip about you or, for God's sake, their Queen, but that is not her fault. She did not start those rumours. Your anger at her was unjustified."

William sits down on the steps in front of the throne, burying his face in his hands. "What have I done?"

"Nothing that cannot be fixed. But you need to apologize. And severely, too."

"I have made a terrible mistake."

"Yes. Yes, you have." Deep down, this amuses Snow greatly. Seeing William infatuated with Greta like that, feeling so much guilt of hurting her. He would never have felt that if it concerned a girl he did not care about. "Now go. Apologize."

William looks up at her, gratefulness in his eyes. "Thank you, Snow. Last night I thought I would go to her straight away, and then I lost my nerve, but you...my dearest, oldest friend...you always know exactly what to say." Snow walks down the steps, standing beside him while he stands back up. "Thank you." He wraps his arms around her, hugging her tight. It is like their friendship was never gone. Like their love has never gone beyond sibling love.

"Go, now."

William nods and walks to the door. "Hang on. Where is our King?"

"Hunting."

He smiles. "You really love him, do you not?"

Snow smiles, a blush coming onto her cheeks. "Yes. Yes, I do."

"Good. You deserve happiness, Snow, and I am glad you found it."

"Thank you, William. Now for God's sake, go after her! You have some apologizing to do!" She shoos him out with a smile on her face, before turning to her throne and taking a seat. She stares at her finger, where the simple yet so beautiful ring is glimmering. She is so happy. So happy.

William POV

He is standing in front of her doors, and he knows Greta is behind them, but he cannot bring himself to knock. He is nervous, more nervous than he has ever been, and he searches his brain for the right words. What can he say? What can he say that will make it up to her?

What he did yesterday was inexcusable, yet he wished she would forgive him. He wants to be friends with her, wants to get to know her, wants to be with her. For the first time in a very long time, he can be around a woman who does not make him uncomfortable. She is sweet, and kind and funny, and he can really laugh with her. Why did he have to screw it up so badly?

He pictures her grey eyes and her beautiful blond hair framing that delicate, yet beautiful face, and cannot help but smile. She is pretty as a picture, yet he is sure she could take him down with a good blow. She is strong and fierce, accustomed to hardship unlike any he has ever known. No doubt she has had to fight off unwanted courtships from shady men, and William can just picture that too. One of those drunk bastards from the inns, approaching a young, beautiful woman with nothing but dark intentions. She would rebuke his advances, first politely, then with fierce words. He would try to put his hands on her. She would punch him in the face so hard he would bleed for a very long time.

William does not know Greta all that well, but can be fairly sure she has done things like that before. When she gripped his hand yesterday, her grip was strong and steady. Not trembling at all, although she had been slightly nervous.

He lifts his hand, and he notices that he is trembling. Oh for God's sake! He is a knight, someone used to tense situations. How could he be trembling with the prospect of talking to a woman?

No, but it is not just a woman. It is a woman who makes his heart beat faster than usual. A woman who kept him up last night, wide awake with worry that she might not forgive him. He does not know what he would do if she indeed would not forgive him. He would feel so awful.

Biting his lip, he raises his hand again and this time knocks two times. No answer. There is not even a sound on the other sound of the door. Does she know it is him and is she refusing to see him? He knocks again.

But she at home, there is smoke coming from the chimney. He knocks again, four times now, louder. "Greta? Greta, please open up! It is William. I will not hurt you, I swear." Still no answer.

Worried now, William tries the door. To his surprise, it is unbolted. That is strange. Villagers always bolt their doors. Always, no exceptions. So he pushes it open, sneaking a look inside. What if she is simply asleep and forgot to bolt the door?

No. Villagers do not do that. Not since the Evil Queen and her nightly raids every now and then. "Greta?" He walks through the cottage with his hand on his sword. Something does not feel right. There is something awfully wrong. He suddenly hears a weak groan, and he spins on his heels. There she is – but she is on the ground, unconscious, with a large scrape on her forehead. He runs over to her. "Greta!" He drops to his knees, checking her pulse. It feels steady enough. "Greta, are you alright? Greta, wake up, please." Desperation surges through him. What did this? Who did this? Is Finn back? Could he have done this?

Not possible. Finn is gone. He moved on.

So the next obvious question is, who did do this?

"Greta, wake up, come on. Please, Greta." William whispers.

"William..." Greta moans, and she opens her eyes. Relief sweeps over him and he leans his forehead against hers in a stupid reflex. "What happened?"

"I do not know. I came here to apologize, and you were lying here. Did someone strike you?" William inquires, and he knows that if he ever finds out who did this, he will turn absolutely monstrous.

"I do not know...there is something...something I should remember." She clenches her eyes closed. "Wait...you came to apologize?"

William smiles softly. "I did. I feel awful about what I said to you yesterday. I was way out of line. I am sorry."

Greta lifts her hand to his face, and the touch makes a bolt of fire go through him. "Apology accepted, dear William. I was not really kind either."

"You are the kindest person I have ever met. And you had every right to ask such a thing. You were merely curious." William kisses her forehead gently. Guilt is nagging at his brain, however. Are you really going to forget Snow that easily? You have loved her for years. And suddenly, this girl comes along...

Yes. He is going to forget about Snow. At least his feelings for her. If she does not love him, then that means it was not meant to be. He has to move on.

"William!" Greta suddenly exclaims and she tries to sit up. He grip tightens, for he is not certain she is fit to sit already. "No, you have to let me sit up! There is danger...! William!"

Danger.

A single word. A single word, that is all that it takes for him to go completely rigid. "What kind of danger?"

"They are burning down the village!" she exclaims, and that is when he smells it. A piercing, burning scent, making his eyes tear up, and his throat constrict. He jumps up immediately, and curses loudly. The roof above them is on fire. So is the doorway. Greta scrambles to her feet and takes a firm hold of his arm. "Oh God..." she moans. "What are we going to do? William...?"

William's eyes are wide, his breath is stuck in his throat, and he stares at the burning door, the fire spreading to the vulnerable walls. They are trapped. He unknowingly wraps his arms around Greta, seeking comfort.

There is no way out.

Snow POV

Snow is calmly reading a book, not planning on doing any Queen-business today, when quite suddenly, the doors are thrown open, and a bewildered looking guard comes rushing in. Snow immediately straightens herself, poising herself as the Queen she is. "Guard!"

"My apologies, my Lady, but we have an emergency." he says panting, and he bows quickly. "My Lady, my Lord Eric's horse has returned."

"So soon?" Snow asks, bewildered, but a bit excited as well. "I thought he would be gone for the entirety of the day?"

"Yes, my Queen. That is what he told us as well. But it is worse." The guard takes a deep breath. "The horse is back, Your Highness, but without Eric."

It is like Snow's entire world stops moving right then and there. Eric would never leave his horse unrestrained when he would not need it; and he would not need it in the woods. But why is the horse back, then? There can only be one conclusion.

Something terrible happened.

Her Eric is in danger.

"Gather the dwarves. Right now, all of them. And ready horses for all of us." she says, surprised at the steadiness of her own voice, while inside she is falling apart and screaming. "Do it, do it now!"

"But, my Lady, you cannot possibly go to the woods!" the guard protests, and Snow, who had just turned her back on him, whirls back around.

"You heard me, guard!" she snaps. "Call the dwarves to the throne room and ready horses. As fast as you can!"

"At least..."

"Do it now!" she screams and her voice cracks, worry overtaking her. The guard nods and runs out. Almost immediately, bells start tolling, which can only mean one thing: immediate danger. Snow runs towards the window and looks out. The village. The village, where William is, and Greta...it is burning. Screams come from beneath her, and she sees the village people pouring through the gates, blackened with ash and scared for their lives.

Something terrible is happening.

And Snow feels utterly useless.