Ugh! I felt this chapter was so difficult to write! I didn't want it to drag on but it felt like it was! I literally almost pulled out my hair, which I now see is not a great opening for the new chapter...
Well this is more of a filler anyway, I couldn't have them suddenly pop outta that forest now could I? I tried to make it interesting and not unbearable so please, take pity on little ol' me :)
The exhaustion from days of walking mixed with the heat of the fire at the end of each night took its toll on Snow White, and she found sleep quickly. Slumped against a tree or even just curled on the floor, her breathing would grow deep and even she looked like a small child instead of the spit fire that had knocked him in the jaw that first day.
The huntsman added another log to the flames, before settling himself down as well. It had been what; three days? He could see the girl in his line of vision, could see how deeply asleep she already was and thought each night how easily he could slip away. Leave her here and the trouble behind him, he would cover more ground without her besides. The thought lived in his mind and the temptation stayed with him.
Sleep would elude him and he was almost envious that she could drift off so easily. It was almost as if it were a sign, that he was not to sleep until he had left her far behind. Twisting his neck slightly he could see her fully; her dark hair framing the softness in her face, her lips red and full; the only part of her that did not appear stricken with hunger.
She was beautiful, he could not deny that. He recalled the moment when he pulled her free of the roots and was stunned by her that he needed a moment to stare at her, as if to determine if she was fantasy or not. And it was not just her beauty that had given him pause, there was something else to her that he could not quite pin. She had felt so slight when he had pulled her against him, blade at her throat, so small that he could break her with his own hands.
As he continued to watch her he knew with a sinking certainty that he would not leave her. She was too small, too afraid, too dependent on him and the guilt of it would plague him no doubt. If he were to leave she would be dead for certain. Also, he had been the one to go after her, drawn to her and needing to know if she was alright. Turning away he shut his eyes, determined to find sleep. Tomorrow would be another long day.
.,.,.,.,..,.,
Snow White's eyes sprang open and was met with the sight of dirt. Someone was shaking her awake and none too gently. It took her a moment to place where she was, and was reminded when she saw the huntsman looming over her, moving away now that she was awake.
"Come along, we have a ways to go still." he was stamping out the last bit of glowing ember with his boot as she looked about her.
Even with morning's light, the forest remained dark and eerie, void of any life but them as it had been every morning since they had been in here. But with the bleary light allowed her to see just how sickly the forest was, the trees were bare, the air was thick with an unnatural fog that lingered. There was a chill in the air that seeped through the cloth of her dress. The huntsman handed her a small bundle of hard bread, along with a few nuts. They ate in silence, the forest eerily quiet with no birds, no rustling leaves, it was as if everything was dead.
But something was different.
There was something that had changed and she was wary of it, glancing about her as if the answer would appear before her. It did not, which was not a surprise as she continued on eating, the meals that they had eaten these past days, thought basic, had been better than anything she had, had in years; fresh and filling. And the huntsman allowed her to eat as much as she wanted, hunting more when he needed to if nothing remained.
It was the pity again, she would catch him examining her and she knew it was due to the hungered look she had from years of eating scraps, how her collar bone jutted from her skin, the skin stretching over her face making it all feel so angular. She stopped then, the food forgotten in her hands as she stared straight ahead looking at nothing.
She did not know what she looked like.
It had been years since she looked in a looking glass, the last time she could recall was when her ladies maids were brushing her hair out before bed after her fathers wedding. She could remember the ladies cooing over her dark hair, admiring its silken tresses and promising that if she were to get to bed quietly they would bring her some warm milk with honey.
The memory was so vivid to her; the warmth from the fireplace, the thick, heavy quilt as it was pulled over her securing her in its safety. The terror of that night afterwards...
"Are you alright there lass?" his voice was surprisingly soft and it broke the memory from her. She caught his look of concern and nodded, no longer hungry.
Snow White wondered what she looked like for the first time in years. There had been more pressing thoughts living in her mind at the time of imprisonment; escape, her family, hunger, and cold. Obviously she was not the girl from all those years ago, her face must have changed along with the rest of her. Her hand found its way to her hair, matted and knotted, no longer silken as it had been all those years ago.
The huntsman appeared before her, offering his hand to help her up which she took with hesitation. His face still showed concern and it was the first time he had offered any show of charity or kindness. They walked in silence, now comfortable with each other from being in such close proximity for so many days that they had built a type of stressed companionship. Then again, with the circumstances that had brought them together this was to be expected.
He assisted her over the larger holes and chasms, over thickly knotted roots and even pulled back lower hanging branches to allow her to pass behind him. They walked for nearly an hour before the silence seemed to finally have gotten to the cantankerous huntsman since he initiated conversation.
"So what was on your mind earlier? You liked like you had swallowed a rock."
Snow White furrowed her brow at his odd references and shook her head as if to shake the very thought away. She gave a short, dark chuckle noticing that she was staring down at the tattered hem of her gown, before lifting her face to look ahead.
"I just had a thought."
"Must of been some thought."
They were at an impasse it seemed, they were on the same side yet both of them made little to no contact with the other. This was a turning point, he was offering some type of equality between them and she felt conflicted. But then, she needed him to get her to Duke Hammond's and it would be easier if they were able to be civil together.
"Its been so long since I've looked at myself, that I realized that I do not know what I look like."she sounded vain but shrugged it off, let him think what he wished.
"What d'you mean you don't know what you look like."
"When you're a prisoner they do not exactly give you silk sheets and silver framed mirrors."
"Well you could use a brush that's for certain, and a bath would be preferable but its nothing less than what you would expect of someone whose been travelling for days in a forest."
She was not sure if he was jesting or being honest with her, his tone did not sound serious but he also did not smile. He grasped her hand to help her over another gap when he locked eyes with her and asked unexpectedly what her name was.
Snow White held the gaze, her eyes determined and hard trying to see where the hidden threat was. There had been a reason the queen had kept her hidden along with the fact that she was still alive from people, and she still did not trust him fully. Who was to say that he would not go about telling everyone the princess was still breathing when they parted?
"Rose." she said remembering the old stories her mother had told her, of her wish for a child and how she had seen that rose. She held her breath, waiting for him to question her, her stomach in knots with the knowledge of her lie.
He did not, only stared at her a moment longer before nodding and letting go of her hand to walk once more.
"And you? I cannot call you huntsman the entire time."
"I suppose not."
She waited a beat. "Well?" she prompted.
"Eric." he held out his hand and when she fit her smaller one in his he grinned.
"A mite late for introductions, is it not?"
"Better late than never I suppose." Eric replied almost lightheartedly and the grin turned into a full smile.
Snow White was struck then by the fact that he was handsome when he smiled. She did not have much experience with men and their looks, but his face was pleasant when it was not lined with anger or annoyance. He should smile more, she thought.
He held her gaze once more and she felt an odd discomfort rise in her, filling her with the need to look away. She did, moving under a low branch and not stopping when its tips pulled at her hair. Eric followed, continuing the conversation.
"So what did you do to end up on the queens bad side?" he moved to walk beside her, no longer needing to lead as the forest seemed to be thinning out.
Again she hesitated but he did not press her and she wondered at this change in him.
"Nothing. She took me because she could."
"You did nothing?" she nodded in affirmation, her face forward. "How long were you held prisoner?"
Snow White shrugged her shoulders, concentrating as her feet sunk slightly in the dirt. "Its been so long, I cannot be sure. Eleven, twelve years perhaps?"
"What?" The huntsman's voice was rough and sharp and he gripped her upper arm pulling her back to look at him. She turned to him beginning to recognize what she saw as anger in his features. "You're telling me that she kept you as a prisoner for twelve years?"
"Yes. I and others, though I'm not how many others are still there."
"And they were all kept there for the same amount of time?"
Snow White shrugged, "I suppose, though many would be taken after a short while."
"Why would an innocent person spend twelve years in a prison?" he did not believe her, his tone showed it, he could see her face change into a blank mask, void of any emotion and for a moment he felt that he had over stepped some invisible line.
"And what could a ten year old child have done that warranted twelve years locked in a dirty cell?"
The huntsman became quiet in thought before deciding to stop there for rest and she settled herself on a log, reaching down to rub her sore ankles. He felt like an idiot for not having thought before speaking and he felt properly chastised. Eric did not allow her to rest long before asking her to get back up and walked to her .
"Let me show you something."
He removed a small dagger from his belt putting it in her hand, then grabbing her wrist, brought it up to his neck the blade tucked under his chin. He held her close to him with his free arm and she pulled away from him unaccustomed to the weapon in her hand and his nearness.
"If we are caught and I cannot help you, you need to know how to defend yourself. You drag the blade across the throat," he moved her hand to the side making sure the blade did not touch skin. "this is a guaranteed kill."
He adjusted her hand and pointed the blade to his heart, then different parts of his abdomen listing off each part and how to attack it simply yet effectively.
"Do not swipe away madly, you will just exhaust yourself. If all else fails you run and you do not stop. Your legs have gotten stronger with the walking we have been doing, if a bit tired, but once you're blood begins pumping fear, you will have the energy to run."
"And if I cannot kill?"
"If you do not want to go back in that cell I suggest you remember as much as you can." he glanced at the blade in her hand. "Keep that with you."
The remainder of the time they did not speak of the queen or her time spent captive. Snow White was beginning to see the huntsman in a different light. He seemed to trust her to give her a weapon and not fear that she would use it on him. He must know he was her line to staying alive and also that she did not even know how to wield it properly, posing no real threat to him.
Unfortunately for the huntsman he was seeing Rose differently as well, there would be times when he saw her he would see Sara and would associate the two. Sara had been taken, just as this girl had been although her fate had been kinder than Sara's. However sparing another look at the smaller woman, taking in her gaunt face and tired eyes he was not so sure, at least his Sara was at peace and the turmoil seemed to still exist for Rose.
H'okay, so there it is. Again, I'm trying to make this as realistic and believable as possible while still trying to follow the basic story line of SWATH. Is it too cheesey? Becoming Mary-Sue ( please Lord no!) So if you're into it lemme know and please tell me if there's anything about it that's bothering you. Especially if theres too much talking, or even not enough detail throughout the chapter as I have a annoying feeling that, that is the case.