Can I say right off the bat that I had no idea how difficult it was going to be to use Rose/Snow Whites's name? I'm constantly stuck for when I should use Rose or when to use Snow. So I've come up with the half ass plan to use "Rose" when ever Eric is thinking/speaking of her and Snow when its her POV. Oi vey.
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The huntsman could feel the tension in the room as soon as he entered it. It gave him pause as he surveyed the kitchen before him where everyone was silent. Magdon stood at the hearth stirring the contents of a large pot with her back to him, the sisters sat huddled together whispering, throwing him quick glances. But Rose was quietly setting the table and the hair at the back of his neck stood on end. Something was wrong.
Without a word from him he walked around the table, his usually heavy footsteps were dull thuds against the dirt floor as he moved into Rose's space, taking hold of her upper arms and forcing her to look up at him. She remained quiet as he had instructed her, her widened eyes and immediate tension in her arms let him know he had taken her by surprise.
The hushed whispers of the sisters stopped and he could see Magdon stand straight and turn from the edge of his vision. He remained quiet as he stared into her face, his thumbs slowly rubbing the fabric of her sleeves just above her elbows, trying to guess what was the matter while she continued to stare back clearly shocked by his invasion of her personal space. Her face gave nothing away though her lip caught between her teeth was what hinted at her nervousness, a habit of hers he had learned.
Eric let her go then and stepped back while her brow furrowed in confusion and she returned to setting the table, ending their silent conversation. He turned to the women who were all openly watching him, their faces identical blank stares.
"I trust all went well today?"
"Certainly." Magdon's reply was sarcastic as she turned back to the pot, cutting him off from further questions.
A short while later they were seated for the meal, Eric acutely aware of Rose beside him and the stiffness that was radiating from her while she sat next to him. There was no conversation tonight; and Eric found himself glancing over at Hale who had a preoccupied look on his face and seemed to be avoiding everyone's stares. The unsaid words left him uneasy and he found himself eating without really tasting the meal. His mind which had been previously occupied with thoughts of his exhausted and overworked body were now thinking of the small woman next to him and what had happened in his absence.
Snow White made sure to eat, realizing then that she would never be the type of person who pushed away a perfectly good meal when ever they felt distressed. She had gone too many years without proper food that to turn anything away now would be foolish. Throughout the dinner she could feel the huntsman watch her, was aware of how closely he had put his chair next to hers in some kind of declaration of protection.
Also, she couldn't help the dark thoughts that were playing out in her head. She had felt hate, knew it well as she had fantasized Finn's death, the revenge she would have on the queen when she freed herself. Of course she knew she never would act on it, she knew she would have run without hesitation just as she had actually done. There was no chance she would have put herself against the queen, especially with freedom so close at hand.
But at this moment she found herself wanting to hurt these women in front of her, to hit them, pull their hair, anything to cause them pain. She wanted to scream at them, use her fists as a child throwing a tantrum would. The idea made her stomach turn uncomfortably, these weren't good things to think about and this was not the type of person her mother had taught her to be. Guilt and shame settled within her but it did nothing to stop the want to hurt from leaving her. Why was she feeling like this?
Once again Hale left the table with a nod and a mumbled goodnight, disappearing into the hall while the women rose up and began cleaning. Eric rose as well, his eyes following each of the women as they flitted about not paying any attention to him. He would find out what the matter was but knew that until he and Rose were alone that he would learn nothing, so he removed himself to chop their portion of firewood for tonight.
Snow White could sense when Eric left the room, the telltale thud from outside confirmed this and it indicated his ax splitting wood. Magdon said nothing and neither did her daughters which was a relief since she could feel the tip of her tongue ache from literally having had to bite it constantly throughout the day. They left her without a word and in the semi darkness Snow White felt more than saw her way to the small alcove where their bed things were.
However, as she began making up their beds she came to realize something. They needed to be here, Eric would not of stayed here otherwise and if she were to ask him to leave they would and they would be ill provisioned like that time. It had been a burden on him, to find their meals day by day to find water suitable enough to actually drink.
A few more days she thought. A few more days and they would leave.
Eric came in, she could make out his figure and as he came closer she could see the details clearer. Once again he moved into her personal space and she was, she couldn't exactly describe it but she felt almost off-balance. He moved his hand to her neck, his thumb over her jaw and slightly on her left cheek as he peered into her face once again.
Snow White felt goose-flesh move from the spot her touched her and down her left arm all the way to her fingertips. She wasn't sure what she was to do, or what it was he wanted but like before it froze her in place and it was only after she realized she was holding her breath.
"Whats wrong?" he said lowly, his head ducked slightly so he could see her more on her level.
"Nothing." she made to move back but his fingers tightened making her stay in place.
"Something's wrong. Tell me Rose."
"Nothing is wrong. They were mostly annoyed by how little I knew. Nothing more, go to sleep, its been a long day." she should of been relieved to finally be able to speak but wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and be left alone.
The huntsman did not push the subject but knew there was more she wasn't telling him. But seeing her curled on the floor her blanket pulled to her chin and avoiding his gaze he decided to leave the subject for another time. Until then, he would need to find out on his own.
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The days moved slowly, and more often than not Eric found himself away from Rose. He knew that Magdon and her daughters were not treating her well and he wanted be close to keep her from them. Hale always had him working, there was always something else in need of repair that the older man could not fix. When he wasn't fixing something for the old man he was gathering supplies. He was going to make sure that they did not need to depend on any more charity and put the girl back into the position she was in now. Besides, the less people who knew of them the better.
He caught himself searching for her when he was close to the house or its windows. A quick glance to assure himself that she was alright. She hadn't said much, but he knew she was not telling him everything, that she was leaving out important pieces of information.
Every night she would quietly make up her bed, exhaustion easily evident on her face and he found himself longing to do something. Offer words to ease the worry lines from her brow, or even pull her to him and soothe away the aches from her body. The only thing that put his mind slightly at ease was the slight weight she had put on, along with a healthier colour in her face.
During these past few days he had noticed a change between them, well more so in him. She seemed to invade his thoughts more and he was constantly finding opportunities to touch her. A hand on her shoulder for no apparent reason, one by her ribs to gently ease her out of his way when a simple would of sufficed. This was something he should not be doing, but perhaps he reasoned with himself it was because he had not spent time in the company of a woman for such a long period of time?
He was trying to convince himself that his thoughts were brotherly but was having a hard time truly believing his words. He cared for the girl that was clear but there was some other lines that were beginning to blur. Besides he'd rather not dwell on it now and for the first time he was grateful for all the work Hale had for him that day.
Snow White on the other hand was going mad. It was she and Jhan shelling peas and Snow White was forced to yet again listen to the same string of insults, same dark looks and same hate. The room grew silent and Snow White felt the small hairs at the base of her neck rise. He was close, she knew it. It was as if her body knew before her mind did that he had moved within her space. Sure enough a moment later he was next to her, arms brushing against one another as he stood watching her work.
He said something about a herb he had found to help with the headache she had been experiencing for the past night and it had throbbed dully all throughout today. She had been forced to tell him about it no longer able to concentrate on anything and having Magdon go on about laziness in young women.
She nodded that she understood and he moved away, dropping the small pouch onto the table. Once he was back outside Jhan moved right next to her, hate so clear on her face that Snow White wondered how she never seemed to tire of being such a cold person. She grasped Snow White's arm, her fingers digging in painfully and she was sure had she been wearing a sleeveless dress her nails would of cut through her skin.
"You are a disgusting, vile creature that has absolutely no worth. Perhaps I should tell your brother that we caught you with Pyke out in his shed, the two of you going at it like savages?"
Snow White's face flushed when realization dawned on her but if anything it only fueled Jhan's hateful speech.
"Make him aware that you are not the little saint he things you are. And how could you stop me?" Jhan smiled a dark, twisted smile. This was pleasing her putting fear into another. "You cannot speak, you will not be able to tell him anything which is probably the only useful thing about you."
She leaned in close, her mouth by Snow White's ear.
"He doesn't even glance at me when you're in the same room, his attention solely on his poor mute sister. You will no longer matter to him, a wild sister he cannot control and he will hate you. He'll have no one to turn to then I will marry your brother and leave this god forsaken place. And you will be forgotten, known as nothing better than a common whore."
Snow White had not even been aware that Jhan had wanted anything with Eric. She had ignored him every time he entered the room, thinking upon it now she was sure they hadn't even spoken to one another. Before she could continue to think over this new revelation the fingers on her arm shifted quicker than she knew Jhane had pinched her so hard, so forcefully that Snow White almost cried out.
Instead tears pricked her eyes and she shoved the girl away from her, a satisfied smile on her lips. She was convinced she wouldn't be able to tell Eric, that with only suspicion on his part there was no way to learn the truth.
But Snow White was filled with such rage, such hate towards this girl that she acted without thought. She lunged forward her fists landing on Jhan who had been taken off guard, days without any form of retaliation had made her accustomed with Snow White's timid demeanor.
In an instant Jhan had her own hands going for Snow White and the two found themselves trying to hurt the other as much as they could. They knocked painfully into the center table, causing a glass jar to fall and shatter which was not heard above Jhan's wild and angry yells. Her fingers found themselves wound in the others hair pulling and wanting to rip the strands out.
They kicked, clawed at one another tried to cause as much damage to the other as they could and it wasn't until Snow White felt herself being pulled away that she saw the room filled with people.
Eric had heard the yells and commotion from the open kitchen window and had run to investigate. He had been temporarily stunned to find the two women locked on each other and trying to claw the other's eyes out. As he had made his way in so had Magdon, her husband and other daughter.
His arms were locked around her chest, pinning her arms to her sides and her back pressed up tightly against his chest. She was so closr to him he could feel her ragged breathing and her heart drumming madly. He moved his mouth by her ear, unaware the same action being performed moments ago by Jhan and whispered for her to stop.
"What in the hell is going on?" he questioned Jhan who was wild eyed and seemed ready to get her hands back on Rose.
"I think we should be asking you that question!" Magdon stepped next to her daughter, a comforting arm put about her shoulders, her loose skin shaking in time with her anger. "This is clearly that animal's doing, putting her hands on my daughter after we open our home to you from the goodness of our hearts?"
Snow White became livid once more. Goodness! What goodness! These people would not know the first thing about being good. Eric's arms tightened around her and she was unaware of when her hands had gone up and wrapped around his forearm, unsure of whether in search of comfort or to try and pull free.
"See! She is as wild, nasty thing."
"I would watch what I saw were I you. What happened." he question Jhan but Magdon stepped forward instead.
"Now, I'm sure this comes as a shock to you." Magdon ignored his words, her lips taking on their own ugly version of a smile. "That your sister was able to hide this ugly side of her but we have seen it ourselves these days past, we merely did not want to burden you further as I'm sure you have more pressing matters at hand."
Magdon moved forward, hands clasped in front of her as she stared coldly at Snow White.
"I am convinced she is a changeling."
"What?"
"Look at her, unnatural looks and she is a mute. She is a changeling, I'm sure of it. And you thought it keep it hidden from us and let her filth free in our home but I want you both to leave my now."
Snow White strained her memory, before the definition of changeling came through. It was a bad thing to be called, children and people were killed if they were suspected of being one and the signs usually included abnormalities at birth. They believed her to be mute which would be the main factor in the assumption and they threw the offensive and dangerous word at them.
"You lot are mad." Eric merely said. "We will take our leave then, and gladly. " He let go of Snow White and told her to get herself ready.
"Be careful of the company you keep, changelings are the work of the devil." Magdon pulled her daughters away leaving the room with the remaining people looking after them as they went.
"I truly am sorry." Hale began but stopped short on the look on Eric's face. He shut his mouth before he too strode out of the room behind his wife and daughters.
Eric slipped away as well and Snow White sunk into a chair very tired and confused at what had just transpired. She had not been alone more than a few minutes before Hale came next to her, his hands holding a small bundle.
"I meant what I said earlier. I am sorry. My family shames me and I cannot do anything about how they have treated you my dear."
Snow White looked up and saw the familiar sadness Hale carried, it tightened around her chest and she felt truly sorry for this man.
"As I said there is nothing I can do for what has passed, but I can do something else. It is small and not close to what is owed to you after your stay here, but it is all I can give that would be of any use to you."
His ruined hands found the folds of fabric he had brought and held it up. It was a simple gown, deep forest green with hints of cream and brown. There was not any form of detailing, no pretty trim but it was clean and new. She looked down at her own gown the one she still wore from the tower; dirty, stained and tattered. It had been given to her a few years back, never fitting her properly and never having the chance of being washed.
"I give this to you for your journey. I could not help but notice that your own clothing had seen better days." Snow White gave him a small smile and fingered the material of the dress before her.
He handed it off to her before going to the other piece of fabric revealing an even more plain looking cloak, but he had pointed out the material was strong and would keep her warm.
"As I said, it is not much but should provide a bit of comfort for your journey." Snow White had risen, the dress clutched against her breast. "Now my dear girl, you get yourself as far away from this place as you can. Find yourself a good man, one who is kind to you and loves you. Marry him and live your life. God has a plan for you yet."
Hale patted her cheek and Snow White felt terrible for lying to him, wanted to actually say her thanks to him. Instead she wrapped an arm around him and placed a kiss on his cheek. She hoped life would be kinder to him, or at least give him some kind of peace. He gave back his own smile handing her a small satchel and helping her put the clothing into lest Magdon come down and see.
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There was an odd noise. Snow White stood back and listened intently, it sounded like far off thunder. It was a windier evening so there was the possibility that it was storming further out. However it came closer and sounded oddly rhythmic. It wasn't until she heard horses whinnying that she moved out the side door where she had been waiting for Eric.
There were a few horsemen and she assumed that it was Pyke with the others come back from some type of hunt or other, until a familiar cry rang out.
Finn.
He was alive. He was here and he had found her.
He had sent out an order that had half of his men off their horses and rushing into the nearest houses while the rest remained on their mounts spurring them forward. Panic set in and she was not sure if she should wait here for Eric or run out and try to find him.
However her feet were moving before her mind had made itself up. She recalled that Eric usually went into the crude shed where they had kept most equipment and a few of the animals.
"Eric!" Snow White saw him hatchets in hand and looking around wildly possibly in search for her as well. "Eric!"
People were screaming around them, orders were being yelled and just general confusion was in the air. Finally spotting her he made his way in her direction, still far from her. Snow White was whirled around and face to face with Jhan, seething and angry.
"I knew it!" she was once again wild eyed and looked crazed. "You little snake! You can speak! These people are here because of you! They're looking for you! You-," but before she could continue her eyes widened then rolled back before she slumped down, her face in the ground a handle sticking out of the middle of her back.
Snow White recoiled back, confused that just a moment ago Jhan had been speaking, had been alive and now...Looking up she saw Finn's face, his eyes cold and hard as they locked onto her. He started to move towards her, his eyes intent on their target and never leaving her face. Stumbling back, she managed to look around for Eric but found him fending off attacks from another, his face turned away from her as he concentrated on his attacker.
By the time she went to see where Finn was he was much closer than he should of been, stepping over the body of Magdon her face staring up at the sky, unseeing. His hand came to her throat and he squeezed. Squeezed so tightly it felt as if it was being crushed. Her hands clawed at his own, trying desperately for air. Her lungs were screaming to breath and the world began swimming before her eyes.
Finally his fingers loosened but never let go and his other reached around her waist bringing her body closer to his.
"You should have known that you couldn't run from me." his voice sounded as if he was speaking to a lover, his fingers brushing against her cheek.
Snow White's hands pushed at his chest but he was surprisingly solid and he stood his ground, seeming almost amused by her futile attempts.
"My poor, poor princess." he breathed, his breath tickling against her face and her chest beginning to tighten.
They would take her back to Ravenna, she would be killed. She would die. All this time running, all this time worrying and sleeping on the cold ground would of been for nothing. She wanted to call out for Eric, have him save her but she knew he wouldn't be able to. Finn was going to take her and that would be it. She felt his fingers tangle into her hair and his nose press against her temple. He was mumbling something, she could feel his lips forming the words, the brush of them against her skin. Her mind was screaming at her, telling her to move but it was if her entire body was frozen
It was only when the arm around her waist tightened and he tried to move her that her brain finally kicked in. She let out a scream as she began to squirm violently, twisting her body and trying to free herself. Finn just continued to pull her towards his horse, allowing her to move as she was none of it hindering him in any way.
The entire way she continued to scream and just when she stopped to take in more breath she could hear Eric yelling out 'Rose'. And it was if his voice triggered something. The knife he had given to her all those weeks ago, the one he insisted she have was on her person. She knew it was hidden in her dress, but it was taking her longer than usual to think where she had it.
Remembering, she stopped fighting knowing dead weight was heavier and as soon as she did Finn grunted and she felt him stumble slightly. Swiftly he turned her in his arms, linking them around her waist and lifting her off the ground. It was what she needed. Finding the handle she managed to pull it free and without a moments thought or hesitation slammed it into his side.
Instantly dropping her she met with the ground, her fingers digging into the dirt as she scrambled on all fours to get away the handle of the knife still tightly clasped in her hand. A hand grabbed onto her ankle and pulled her back, halfway to him she flipped onto her back as he managed to straddle her, his face contorted with anger. He brought his hands back to her throat and she heard Eric call out to her again, closer this time.
Again, without a thought only the feeling of panic and fear coursing throughout her body she held the knife with both hands and brought it to his chest.
Again and again and again.
It was as if she was out of her body, as if someone else had taken over and she was so scared, so terrified of being taken back that her body felt frigid. Only when Finn's body fell over hers, limp, heavy and knocking the breath from her did she realize what she had done. Desperately she pushed at him, trying to roll him off her but her arms were suddenly shaky and weak. Tears were stinging her eyes, the sobs stuck and choking her.
He was pulled off and the pressure was eased from her chest, the air welcome. Eric kneeled over her, his face a mask of worry as he looked her over a moment as if to make sure she was alive. She pushed herself up and put her arms around his neck, pulling him tightly to her as his own arms went around her back. Sobs escaped her mouth as she pressed her face tighter into the crook of his neck and shoulder, grasping him tighter as if he would somehow manage to take away everything she was feeling. There were too many emotions jostling about inside of her and right now relief was trying hard to be the prevailing one but losing.
"Come. We need to go now." he didn't wait for her to speak, just brought her up with him and started to drag her along.
There were still men fighting around them, bodies littering the floor. Hale's own limp form was bent in an unnatural way the look of pain still frozen onto his face. A noise between a cry and sob escaped her and Eric urged her on.
"Don't look Rose, keep moving."
They were dead, all because of her and one by her own hand. Something she never wanted to do, believed she could not do. Finn's life was on her hands and there was nothing she could do to reverse it. But Hale, poor, kind Hale to have him suffer that way in death just as he had in life was a cruel injustice. He deserved to die peacefully in his sleep on a warm bed in his elderly age. Not this.
But she was still alive, still breathing but who knew for how long.
Alright finito. I hit some writers block but sank my teeth into this, this morning so hopefully you enjoy it. I tried to capture a darker more realistic side of Snow White, I'm kind of sick of sweet and serene women - they can be just as ugly when things out of your control are thrust in front of you. Hopefully that came across. I'm pretty happy with the ending of this chapter, I've already started a good chunk of the next one.
Reviews make me happy!