The Tremor

A ravishing woman gazed at Snow White. She had lustrous, brown hair and gleaming eyes that gazed with love. Snow White had seen this mystical women before many times in her dreams. And now, she knew who it was - her mother. Snow White attempted to move closer to her, but she was transfixed in her spot. Her mother's gleaming eyes soon turned to those of woe, blood spilling from her mouth. Her mother dropped dead to the ground and Ravenna appeared in her place. The Queen motioned closer to Snow White, placing her hand on the young girl's face. "You and I are bound," Ravenna whispered. "Forever." The word echoed inside her head.

Snow White began to cough, water disgorging from her lungs. She opened her eyes as the clouds in the sky began to part behind Eric's face. The storm was slowly passing. The Huntsman kneeled over Snow White's body, holding her head up. "You're OK," he said, smiling. "But we must move quick, before the guards realize we've left the grounds." Snow White nodded in correspondence as the gate beside them began to ascend. "Come on!" Eric shouted as he led Snow White to a crevice in the rocks alongside the castle. He took her hand which gave her comfort. The dry, roughness of it came to be like home. They made there way through the cave, manifested from the hard waves of the ocean, until finally reaching the other side.

"This is likely the fastest way," The Huntsman said. "And probably the safest."

"Where do we go now?" Snow White asked, fatigued.

The Huntsman smiled at her and said, "Back into the dark forest."

Queen Ravenna entered the chamber built on the highest tower of the castle where her brother, Finn, sat plumped, unconscious. She put her hand on his face until his eyes began to flutter, ultimately opening wide. He jerked back in confusion and looked around the room, then at his sister's face. "Brother," she said calmly and he looked intently at her face. Before she continued, she stretched her hand out and slapped her brother in the face, leaving the red of a hand print etched into his skin. "Sometimes I question why I've even let you live this long," she began. He knew the outcome would not be good. "Snow White and the Huntsman are gone!" She screamed. "And the only person to blame is you."

"Sister," Finn said, troubled, but he knew that nothing could get him out of this mess. His sister placed her hand on his chest, right above his heart. Suddenly, he began to feel a surge go through his body, tugging at his heart. The Queen's hand began to tremble as did Finn's heart. "Please," he begged, pleading for his sister not to kill him. Before he felt the final beat of his heart, Ravenna pulled her hand back, preserving her brother's life. He gasped for air, and looked into his sister's angry eyes. "Thank you," he cried, his lips trembling. The Queen made her way to the door, followed by Finn, but before he could leave, the door promptly shut behind her, locking Finn in the dungeon.

"No!" He screamed as his sister made her way down the stairs. "You can't do this!" But the Queen had already gone before she could hear another word.

The dark forest hadn't changed from what Snow White had remembered. It was still the same amount of creepy as it was despairing. Weariness fell upon Snow White's body, but she wasn't going to complain, she was happy to even be alive. She looked down at her wrist where the Queen had cut into her skin, which was now magically healed. "Do you want to play a game?" Snow White asked Eric, who peered at her in confusion. "I just need something to distract me from all this anguish."

"What kind of game?" The Huntsman asked.

"The dwarfs and I had played it many times before" she said, thinking back on the memories. "We just form a limerick. You start." The Huntsman looked at her with amusement before he began.

"I've heard of a princess and prince," he started.

"Who lived on the top of Mount Quince."

"The prince lost his breath and tumbled to death..."

"She's tumbled with twenty men since," Snow White concluded, as the two of them chuckled.

"Clever," Eric said. "Now it's your turn." Snow White contemplated before she continued.

"There once was a wicked old queen."

"Who had an abundance of spleen"

"Her skin seemed so fair, but peel back layer..."

"And you'd find it was scaly and green." Snow White giggled at the Huntsman's retort and he smiled at her, happy he could make her feel better. Instantaneously, Snow White tripped over the edge of a rocky path, and observed a bridge that they were about to set foot on.

"Should we go around?" She asked, as the Huntsman looked around him.

"I can't see how a bridge can do much harm," he said and guided her along the pathway. As they walked, Snow White felt warm air touch her body which brought discomfort. "See," Eric said as they were nearly halfway across. "Nothing to be afraid of." The jinx of his words caused the earth below them to shake as a towering troll ascended from beneath and smashed into the bridge. Eric and Snow plummeted to the ground as the troll charged towards them. "Run!" Eric bellowed grabbing Snow White's hand, but the troll took hold of the Huntsman in it's large paw before he could get very far. Snow White stumbled to the ground.

The troll observed the creature in it's hand, smelling Eric from top to bottom. Blood rushed to the Huntsman's head as he hung upside down ahead of the creatures watering mouth. "Run," he screamed to Snow White, but she stood put, searching for a way to save her friend. Nothing appeared in front of her that could be put to good use, so she did the only thing that she could. A loud scream withdrew from Snow White's mouth causing the troll to drop the Huntsman to the earth. The troll gaped at Snow White in wonder until producing a screech from its own mouth, but Snow White maintained still. The creature appeared to ponder before leaving Snow White and the Huntsman be.

"I told you to run!" Eric shouted as he lifted his bruised body up from the ground.

"If I had, you'd be dead," Snow White retorted causing the Huntsman to hold his tongue. "I think it's best that we go to the dwarfs next," Snow White informed. "They know how to fight, they can help us." He deliberated before agreeing and they continued through the misfortunes of the dark forest.

Muir and Beith hunted for that night's dinner not too far away from their home on the other side of the cavern. Snow White had been gone for days, her absence causing a great disruption within the household of the dwarfs. It was as if time had gone back to before Snow White had arrived. She was their balance, their light. Now it was dark and all of the bunch were lost amidst it. Gus and the others had gone out to search for Snow White in the following days of her departure, without any luck. They presumed that the Huntsman had killed her. Vengeance filled their souls.

"We've got two rabbits," Beith said. "That should be enough for the night. It's been awfully slow." Muir nodded in agreement. "We should make our way back." The two, small dwarfs began to make their way back home, but halted once a cloaked figure disrupted their path. He stood motionless on the earth, a fog surrounding him. Beith was filled with alarm. "Who do you suppose that is?" He asked Muir, who looked ahead of him in content.

"There's no need to worry," Muir informed. "He's a warlock, some may call him a sorcerer." Beith looked at the man in wonder.

"What do you think he wants?" Beith asked as they approached the concealed man.

"I have something to advise you," a deep voice spoke from beneath the cloak, as if answering Beith's question. Muir and Beith listened intently, agonized as the man spoke of Snow White's fate.