The Apple
"I will live," Snow White repeated in her mind for the umpteenth time. She felt the small vial in the pocket of her pants, electrifying her excitement yet again, and stimulating her mind. A plump, cushiony cot in the back of Anna's home held a restless Snow White who tossed until the late hours of the night. For once in a long time, she could sense the good fortune that was coming her way, and she dreamed of the peaceful Kingdom of Tabor she only knew in her memories. However, she knew it would not be long until the plummeting land of her Kingdom would return back to it's balance, and order would be restored. They would begin their journey to Duke Hammond's castle in the early hours of the morning, and anticipated to encounter their destination in only a matter of two days. Though she only slept a short amount that night, Snow White shot open her eyes at the first beam of sunlight which streaked through the glass of a dusty window in the room. She instantly felt revitalized.
After rising, Snow White awoke the dwarfs, followed by Eric, and everyone was greeted to a steaming breakfast that awaited them in Anna's kitchen. "I didn't want to let everyone leave hungry," she said, releasing a warm grin underneath her tired eyes. Snow White informed the dwarfs of Anna's gift and revealed the silvery elixir sustained within the small vial. Each of them observed it, in marvel, their eyes widening at it's sight. The liquid truly looked enchanting, with it's glassy, silvery glow, like nothing that came from earth, but from the fabrication of a sorcerer's hands. She placed the vial back into her pocket and finished her eggs and ham.
A warm, soapy bath waited for Snow White in the bathroom of Anna's home. She undressed her filthy garments and plopped her naked body into the relaxing waters. The grime on her skin began to unleash itself from her body, as she submerged herself completely into the water. She felt all of the pain and stress of the previous days wash away, leaving a fresh feeling behind, as though a new life was ahead of her. Her fingers combed through her soiled hair, and she scrubbed the remains of dirt from her face and body. What remained was pure, white skin, in the absence of any flaws or marks. There were no burns to remind her of her ashen home and the terrors of that night, nor any bruises from the days of aching travel. She felt that a new beginning was in her sight, as she emerged from the bath and dried up her body.
"I just want to thank you, once again, for everything that you've done for my friends and I," Snow White said to Anna. "I could not be any more grateful, and I feel indebted to you. If there is anything that you may need, please do not feel hesitant to ask." Anna accepted Snow White's gratitude, and gave the young girl a hug before she departed. Through the window, Snow White shot back a smile toward Anna, before turning her head forward, in sight of the journey she was about to embark. Anna turned to Lily's room where she remained asleep, and began to clean the mess left behind by her guests. She wished luck that Snow White would be successful in her endeavours, and let out a deep sigh before filling the sink with water.
William occupied Snow White's mind as they began walking to his father's castle. Knowing that Duke Hammond remained ruler of his kingdom, brought the expectation that William did in fact survive the Queen's Massacres. She pondered over what it would be like seeing him again, knowing that things would be entirely different. He would be a wholly changed person now, as was she. They wouldn't have the instinctive friendship of childhood to help them rekindle, but instead, she imagined herself feeling shy when first seeing him. As her thoughts remained with William, Eric took hold of her hand and squeezed it tightly. She smiled gently at him and squeezed back. His thick fingers fit perfectly in between her thin ones, as though they were made for the sole purpose of holding her hands.
There was something about Eric's ruggedness that unconditionally attracted her to him. He seemed to always be covered with a coat of dirt, and his hair constantly remained shaggy and greasy. Though these usual repellents were the very thing that Snow White appreciated about him. He didn't care about being clean, or conforming to a certain standard. His driving force was the will to fight and to hunt. And even after flaunting his virility, he wasn't afraid to show his softer side, at least not to her. He simply made her feel like herself and happy, and in the end, that was all she could ask for from him.
"You're a beautiful person," Snow White said, letting her thoughts escape her mouth. Her words caused Eric to chuckle as his face turned red.
"No one has ever referred to me as beautiful. That word and I don't really go together," Eric said, continuing to chuckle. "But you, on the other hand, are beautiful, Snow White."
"Do we all really need to hear this mush?" Gort asked, speaking for all of the other dwarfs. Snow White and Eric apologized, embarrassed. "I'm sure you lovebirds can wait until all of this is over to express each other's dying love for one another," Gort said, mocking their interactions.
The group of them continued to walk while Snow White listened to the dwarfs banter and complain the entire way. She wondered how that was any better to experience. After a day's travel, everyone could feel the air growing colder, as a windy chill moved through the air. The icy mountains before Duke Hammond's castle were finally in sight, as the dirt beneath their feet suddenly turned to freezing snow. No one was prepared for the low temperatures of the snow-covered mountains, not having brought warm clothes or blankets. They concluded that it would be best to travel through as quickly as possible, not stopping to set camp for the night where their bodies would merely freeze to death from the bitter temperatures. Fortunately, the sun remained hovering above them, releasing the slight relief of warmth. It soon became to cold for Snow White and Eric to clutch one another's hand, burying them deep within their pockets for extra warmth.
When the sun finally descended and the sound of an owl's call indicated the ominous hours of nightfall, the temperature became nearly unbearable. Everyone's body violently shivered, as they found themselves proceeding faster, their feet creating imprints in the snow that seemed to become further and further apart. As uncomfortable as Snow White was, she did not complain about their dire situation, but rather, looked forward in aim of their destination. It was enough that she had to hear the grumbles from each of the dwarfs already. That night was the longest Snow White would have to experience, but in the morning when the sun came from hiding, the horrific cold of the night made the cold of the day seem warm in comparison. And they felt lucky that no creatures or wolves came into proximity with them along the path.
After a few more hours of aching walking, Duke Hammond's castle appeared before them, standing tall before the white mountains in it's backdrop. Snow White managed to quicken her pace in excitement, dragging Eric along with her who was attached by her hand again. The dwarfs also began trotting faster behind them, waddling as they walked. They reached the bottom of a small hill that led to the castle's gates where tall evergreen trees stood, a vibrant green against the white of the snow. And just before Snow White began to climb the hill along with the others, a figure revealed itself to her from behind one of the trees, causing her to stop, dead in her tracks.
William revealed himself to her with a wide smile, and Snow White's face lifted in excitement. His looks were strikingly handsome, causing the image of the small boy she remembered him as to fall straight away from her mind. In an instant, she released her grip from Eric's hand and ran up to William, grasping his body in a tight hug. He was the last thing alive from her childhood and it made her feel warm, like she was transported back to when her parents remained alive. He responded by extending his arms around her, and breathlessly whispering, "you're alive." She released herself from his grip and stood back to examine his matured face. He had a masculine jaw-line coated in a short layer of facial hair, and his eyes were a deep green. "It's been so long," he said, endlessly smiling at Snow White. "Could we have a moment to speak alone?" He asked, eyeing the others who stood uncomfortably behind her.
"That shouldn't be a problem," Snow White said, as she turned to Eric and the dwarfs. "Tell Duke Hammond that we have arrived. I will meet you all up there shortly," Snow White said, though as she did so, she sensed a coldness arise from Eric as he disregarded her words and continued to walk up the hill followed by the other dwarfs. His expression had been a blankness that scolded her with it's stare, but that didn't let her destroy the feeling of reuniting with an old friend. She decided to worry about it later.
"You can't imagine how good it is to see your face again," Snow White said, admiring the sight of William before her.
"I'm sure that I can," William responded. "I've been waiting to see you again for far too long now, and it's nice knowing that you're right here, right in front of me." Snow White latched onto his body with another hug, seeing as the others had left her sight. This time, she held on for longer, embracing his body and feeling every part of him, right down to the thud of his heartbeat. She imagined that encountering him again would result in a shy and awkward experience, but she felt as though they had never been apart from one another. The very sight of him gave her a feeling of comfort and affection that she remembered feeling with him as a child. She let go of him to see the the smile had disappeared from his face and a look of anxiousness had taken over.
"We've come to ask for your father's help in putting an end to Ravenna's reign," Snow White informed him. "We finally have a way to finish her, and restore this land back to it's rightful ways."
"Oh, is that so?" William said. "And I thought that you had returned simply to see me," he added with a playful tone. Snow White shook her head with a chuckle and jokingly apologized for disappointing him. "You know, I have always held this guilt for not coming back and saving you while Ravenna infiltrated your castle, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry." Snow White shook her head in confusion at William's words.
"We were children, William. I wouldn't expect you to save me from that dreadful time, when it would only result in your own death. What matters now is that I'm here and that you're here. We have everything to look forward to now, our entire lives are ahead of us. It's silly to feel guilty over something that wasn't in your control," She responded.
"Well it would make me feel much better if you gave me the opportunity to give you something to bring peace to my mind," William said, sliding his hand deep into his pocket. Snow White was curious as to the gift William prepared for her, but she wasn't in the slightest surprised when he revealed a succulent, red apple that caused her stomach to grumble in it's sight.
Eric and the Seven dwarfs were greeted at the castle's gates by guards dressed in mail and heavy helmets. They wore stern expressions on their faces, incapable of laughter or cheer, with only the task of security squandering their minds. "Have you any weapons?" One guard asked, eyeing over the unlikely crowd of people. The axe that hung against the back of Eric's leg suddenly became known to him, as he detached it from his pants, and gave it forward to the guard. He felt naked without the collateral of a weapon by his side. The guard turned to the dwarfs along Eric and was returned with blank stares and uncertainty. After a moment's pause the guard advised them to move forward, eyeing their motions with every step, in search of hidden weaponry. When none was detected, the guard finally asked, "What brings you to Duke Hammond's castle?"
"We have come to speak with him about a private matter," Eric informed. The guards whispered among one another following Eric's words, as he stood hunched in agitation. He wasn't pleased knowing that Snow White wasn't with him, as though there was a greater threat to her when he wasn't there. If anything were to happen, he wasn't there to protect her. In the end, he knew that he could not smother her, but the jealousy he felt while she stood in William's arms could not be ignored.
"Follow me," one of the guards finally said, directing the bunch of them through a busy courtyard. The land they stood on remained unaffected by the Queen's darkness. Flowers sprouted from the ground, and the grass was a lively green. It was a nice change from the ashen grey that had slowly been taking over the land. Chattering filled the walls of the courtyard while people dined in the crisp, outside air, sitting at wooden tables sided with benches for seating. Eric envied their normal daily routines, that he once wished upon having with his wife. To spend time with one another, to eat, to celebrate, and most importantly, not to fret every second of the day. In contrast to the previous days he had experienced, what he was witnessing was a party. However, the party quickly ended once they entered through the vast doors of the castle, and came to face with the cold, stone walls of the interior. They walked down a corridor lit by fiery lamps, until one of the guards knocked on a wooden door.
"Come in," a muffled voice said, and Eric along with the dwarfs were greeted to Duke Hammond. "What brings you all forth this afternoon?" The Duke asked. He was trying to act formal, but Eric could tell that something was eating away at his soul. His eyes were adorned with dark circles and frowning wrinkles, and his hair was cluttered in a disarray. The Duke motionlessly sat behind the desk of his study, waiting for a reply.
Eric did not know how to begin. It was Snow White's idea all along to convince the Duke's army to fight with them, but now she was absent from his presence. "We have come here with someone from your past, in hopes of receiving a favour," Eric said. "Do you happen to remember Snow White?" Duke Hammond's eyes instantly became alert at the princess's name. His eyes motioned back and forth in confusion before he finally spoke.
"Of course I remember Snow White," the Duke responded. Eric could make out a hint of anger in his tone. "She was the King's daughter, no one has forgotten her, and for years we all thought that she had died. That is, until word came out that Ravenna was holding her prisoner to finally kill the girl." His voice had grown louder in tone the more he spoke, growing angrier, but for a reason still unknown to Eric. "You say that the girl is with you," Duke Hammond said, "so where is she now?"
"She ran into your son, William, just below the castle's gates," Eric said. "She should be here any minute now."
A look of horror appeared on Duke Hammond's face that Eric did not wish to decipher. It had made his features appear even more weary than they already were, and it had caused an electric chill to run down Eric's spine. "My son, William," The Duke spoke, "has been imprisoned by Queen Ravenna." It took a moment for Eric to comprehend the words which came out of Duke Hammond's mouth before he was finally able to make sense of what he said. "By now he is likely dead," Duke Hammond added, bringing light to his current state of despair. One question remained in Eric's mind: If that had not been William, then who was it? Before Duke Hammond was able to declare another word, Eric was out the door, leaving only the breeze of his departure behind.
Snow White seized the apple from William's hands and playfully tossed it in the air. It felt perfectly ripe against her skin as she imagined it's crisp taste gush into her mouth. Having hardly eaten the previous day only escalated her hunger. "I still remember that day we planted the apple tree together as though it just happened yesterday," Snow White said, thinking back to a simpler time. "I still remember what you whispered in my ear the moment after we dug up the tiny seed," Snow White said, before she took a big bite from the enticing apple, and savoured the taste that extracted from it's juices. They juiced over the whole of her mouth, though the flavour was not one she had expected.
"And what is it that I whispered into you ear, Snow White?" William asked, as she began to gag from the taste of the apple. It was a poisonous bitter as opposed to the fresh succulence she had anticipated, causing her to convulse her chest in attempt to vomit, despite the fact that her stomach was completely empty. She looked at the apple in her hands, in wonder of how something so ripe could taste so terrible, and watched as the shiny colour of red slowly manifested into a deadly black. Suddenly, a white mould began to take over the apple, as she dropped it to the snowy ground below. When she looked back up, she stared into William's pleasure-filled eyes as he revealed a beaming grin on his face.
"How does it feel, knowing that you have finally lost?" he asked, as Snow White dropped to the ground and attempted to scurry away from him with her elbows. He gracefully walked closer and closer to her, until he was right over her body and looked down upon her. William's neck suddenly twisted to the side, as though he had no control in the matter. His handsome face began to distort itself, and instead, wrinkles began to appear as grey hairs sprouted over his brown ones. Snow White wildly quavered on the ground beneath, trying with all her might to restrain her body. She had lost all control.
Where William seemingly stood only seconds ago, Ravenna now took his place, cackling with her achievement. She slowly released a dagger from her garments, so sharp that it brightly beamed along the edges. "You're heart is mine, Snow White," Ravenna slithered through her lips, as Snow White felt the force of the vial in her pockets. Her salvation was only a hand away, yet her body failed to comply with her mind, as it continued to thrash against the icy snow. A numbing began to take over Snow White's body, as Ravenna raised the dagger high up above her. The point of the blade was directed precisely above her heart where Ravenna would finally achieve her longing desire. Snow White closed her eyes, incapable to accept that she had been defeated. Before she knew it, Snow White's mind was finally gone.
Eric's heart raced in his chest, along with his body, as he sprinted to the bottom of the hill, where Snow White had remained. In the distance ahead, he could see Snow White on the ground, while a woman stood over her shuddering body; Ravenna. He reached for the axe that hung against his leg, but only grabbed the wintry air. His axe remained with the guards who confiscated it upon his arrival. He grumbled in utter annoyance, as he charged for Ravenna's body, who held a dagger high above Snow White.
Eric leaped his feet from the ground just after Ravenna turned her head in his acknowledgement. Instead of his body colliding with another, he simply flew through the air where Ravenna's body had been. In her place, hundreds of crows flew in the sky, as he toppled into a mound of snow as hard as solid rock. Ravenna was gone, while Snow White laid paralyzed on the ground, her body now as cold as the snow beneath it. Eric managed his body up, the entire side of it ached in pain. He staggered to Snow White's side, simply muttering the word, "no", over and over again until his lips began to tremble and tears dropped from his eyes. They instantly turned to ice once they reached the frozen ground beneath. Eric tightly held Snow White's barren body while the dwarfs waddled down the hill, only to witness the dreadful sight below.
"This cannot be," Muir said, as every one of the dwarfs faces fell in dread. Snow White was dead.