Into the Woods (Hunter)

[Deleted]

The night was cold, dark and silent as Snow made her way through the near deserted streets on her way home. She had taken up residence on the east side of town, as near to the forest as she could. There was something comforting about the small cottage she had acquired for herself, something peaceful and humble about it compared to the immense and drafty castle she had spent the past ten years of her life in. There were no servants here under her feet, falling all over themselves to please her and cater to her every whim. Here she had to cook her own food, wash her own clothes and clean her own house. She was far from happy, but there was something in these simple pleasures that gave her peace.

If only she could shake that feeling she got whenever she left her house or the school. Ever since she had arrived here there had been this unsettling feeling that followed her wherever she went. At first she had passed it off as guilt for leaving her family, then as paranoia, but it wasn’t going away. Even now she swore she heard her footstep echo strangely every once in a while, more like another step out of time than her own reverberating back at her. Out of the corner of her eye she would often catch a shadow, and in the daylight a tall figure would often catch her eye but she never seemed to see his face.

The more time that passed here the more she became convinced that this wasn’t all in her mind. She had left her home, uncaring of the social ramifications it would have upon her husband. Had he been honest with his people, or had some story been fabricated about an illness, or some long lost family she had gone to visit? Whatever he had told them it would only buy so much time before she was certain he would send someone for her. Perhaps it had taken less time than expected.

Picking up her pace slightly she noted that the echo faltered before falling back into time. She had reached her house... but she kept walking past it.

[hunter]

Hunter was getting tired of following Snow White around - he felt it was a complete waste of his skill and profession - but he knew better than to disobey the Queen... again, and the orders kept on coming; follow the young woman and report back. Whenever the time came to relay his findings, Hunter couldn't shake the feeling that he was betraying the dark haired woman who had, inadvertently, ruined his life. He had seen that she was living an ordinary life, bothering no one, and he really didn't see why the Queen was still so interested in her.

Of course, Snow was still as beautiful as Hunter remembered, if a little older with a fuller figure and an almost worn out look around the eyes, and Hunter knew that the Queen's jealousy was enough to drive her to any lengths. Still, wasting time here in this backwards place just to stalk a woman who had left her husband seemed a little counterproductive in his opinion, which, of course, meant nothing whatsoever in the grand scheme of things.

Hunter had been lost in his own thoughts - something he did rather a lot since his only form of entertainment had become stalking Snow as though she were a deer he was supposed to hunt - and was preparing to duck behind the tree he usually used as a hiding place to watch Snow entering her house when he noticed that she hadn't turned up the path to the little cottage but had carried on walking instead. Frowning, Hunter stood still for a moment, just watching the back of her dark head as she disappeared further into the gathering twilight of the trees.

Keeping to the shadows, his heart rate picking up like it would have done if he really was out hunting a deer, Hunter slipped through the scattering of trees that lined the path she was following into the woods. Up ahead the trees would become thicker, providing greater cover but more risk of him making a noise that would alert her to his presence. Still, he couldn't resist speeding up a little to get closer to his quarry, wondering what had possessed her to change her normal routine.

[Deleted]

Had she given it much thought Snow might have realised that heading into a secluded forest to confront someone who was following her was probably not the best idea. Most people would have ran into their house, or gone to find some help or a crowded area, but this wasn’t some random person with nefarious intentions. Though her husband may send someone to watch her, he would never have her harmed. So while her heartbeat and breath had quickened, she knew she was in no real danger.

The trees were sparse at first and she moved slowly through them, careful not to catch her cloak or twist her ankle. For one terrifying instant it was as if she had been transported back in time that that night, ten years ago, when her father’s royal hunstman had bade her to flee. She had ran through the woods, terrified by every sound, ever stick and every creature she encountered. For a moment the urge to do this now swept over her and she had to stop and concentrate on her breathing until it passed. Regaining her composure she pushed onward until she reached the clearing she had discovered the week previous. The moonlight illuminated the very centre making the trees surrounding it look that much darker and more threatening. Stepping into the pale light she turned abruptly, her black velvet cloak billowing around her. Lowering her hood she stood tall and tried to appear strong and fearless.

“Show yourself!” she commanded to the darkness.

[hunter]

Hunter stopped still when she turned around after reaching the clearing. He knew he was safely out of sight - he'd learned how to stalk quarry when he could still barely walk and if he could follow a deer or boar without them seeing him, he was sure that the woman stood no chance of spotting him if he didn't want to be seen. It was how he'd managed to follow her for so long already. Still, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to stay out of sight. He hadn't wanted to scare the woman, and she was obviously worried now, and it had been nowhere in the Queen's orders that he had to make the woman feel uncomfortable. Follow and report back; that was what he'd been told to do and, within the confines of those instructions, he supposed he was free to do as he wished. The truth was, he was tired of feeling like a cowardly, creepy stalker. That wasn't him at all and, now that he had the chance to dispel that feeling, he had decided pretty quickly to take the opportunity.

Pushing his hands into his pockets, Hunter stepped out of the shadows and took a few steps forward into the moonlit clearing. He felt nervous but he tried to keep his face calm. He wasn't going to hurt her, so she had nothing to worry about, and he could deal with any anger that she had over him following her, although most of it was probably deserved.

His tongue flicking out to wet his lip, Hunter stopped beside a large tree near the edge of the clearing and leaned to the side slightly so that his weight was resting against the trunk as he watched her with tired, dark eyes. "Your Majesty..."

[Deleted]

Snow hadn’t known what to expect. Would her pursuer flee once he realised she had discovered him, or would he step forward and state his business. She wasn’t sure which she preferred, to be honest; there was a small part of her that wished she had been wrong and that it was truly paranoia.

Then he stepped into the light.

He was tall and dark, and she was sure she had seen him before on the streets or in the shops. Always nearby but never noticeable. Lifting her chin, she stared at him coldly.

“You have been following me and I wish to know why,” she stated, sounding every bit the Queen she would one day become if she returned to her home. For his part, while he had greeted her respectfully his stance showed nothing of the sort. No bowing, no lowering of the eyes; he met her gaze as if an equal and leaned so heavily against the tree she had a moment of worry that he may collapse before her. “Speak!”

[hunter]

Hunter let out a short, mirthless laugh, shaking his head as his eyes lowered to the forest floor. She didn't remember him. He wouldn't have believed that she'd forget the man who'd spared her life, ruining his own in the process, but apparently he just wasn't that memorable. Although he was sorry for having to follow her around for weeks, he couldn't help but feel a stab of anger at the woman for her haughty attitude. She may be a queen at home, but here she was just a Cooking teacher.

Hunter pushed himself away from the tree and stepped towards her, his natural height giving him advantage over her so that he had to dip his chin to look into her green eyes. "I'm under orders to follow you," he told her. "I learned a long time ago that disobeying orders is a very bad idea... your Majesty." His wide, brown eyes were steady on hers under his dark furrowed brows, seaching for even a flicker of recognition on her face. Surely she couldn't have completely forgotten him. If she could just remember, she'd know who he was working for and he wouldn't have to break any rules in telling her.

[Deleted]

Her eyes widening as he approached, Snow took a half step back from him. There was something familiar about him, something in those dark eyes that she recognised as he loomed over her but she couldn’t quite place it. She wasn’t quite sure she wanted to. Despite her best efforts to keep up appearances, she dropped her eyes, unable to hold his gaze.

“What...” she began but a note of fear had crept into her voice and she paused to dispel it. “What benefit could there be to following me? If my husband has a message then relay it and be gone.”

Did he just want to know what she was doing here? What life she could possibly have here that was better than what he provided her? He had given her everything a girl could want, but it hadn’t been enough. What of love and happiness? Those first few months she thought they had had that, but it had been a naive, childish love; there had been no depth to it. Now what was she left with? A husband she did not love and who barely looked at her anymore, three children she barely knew, spoiled brats raised by the governess, and a kingdom she cared little for and felt only burdened by.

“If it is my goings on he wished to know about then allow me to write him a letter. Having me followed is beneath him.”

[hunter]

Hunter sighed, his stance drooping slightly as he slouched. He lifted his hand, running his fingers over his closed eyelids. "I don't work for your husband," he said after a moment, looking back up at her. He wasn't sure whether he should just come out and tell her who he was or not, but his pride was stopping him. He had risked everything for her - he was lucky he hadn't been put to death - and she didn't remember him at all. He hadn't thought he'd feel hurt by something like that, but he did. Besides, she had very little right to actually feel annoyed if it actually was her husband having her followed. She had left her family and, as far as he'd seen, hadn't been in contact with them since she'd been here. Meanwhile, Hunter hadn't had time to write to his family, the family he'd hardly seen for years through service to the Queen he was endebted to, because he'd been following Snow everywhere, every hour of the day and night. She didn't realise just how lucky she really was.

"Look," he said, frankly. "I was told to follow you so I have been. You're lucky I wasn't ordered to do anything more drastic." He knew the queen wouldn't let him off so lightly again.

[Deleted]

Snow involuntarily flinched when he raised his hand, half expecting him to strike her despite her earlier assuredness that she would not be harmed. Her husband had never laid a hand upon her in anger, even she she spoke harshly to him, and he would not allow any of his servants to do so either.

Then this man spoke and she was as stunned as if he had struck her. It wasn’t her husband he worked for. Someone else was having her followed, but who? She had been much adored by her subjects, mostly for her beauty, but being the wife of a prince meant there would always be enemies, and not just her own. Enemies of her husband would wish ill upon her as well.

And this man... he apparently had no qualms with hurting her if he was ordered to do so. For now she was lucky, but the threat was clear. Slowly she began to step away from him. “Who sent you?” she tried to demand an answer, but the words came out barely a whisper. “Whatever they have offered you I can match it, and more.”

Technically true, but if the price was high it would leave her with very little to her name. She could always return home, though. As much as she loathed the option it was always there.

[hunter]

Hunter sighed, not making any move to follow her as she backed away. Honestly, he didn't care if she ran from him or not. He'd pick up her trail again and just keep following her like he'd been instructed. He'd have to make more effort to keep out of sight, but he didn't suppose it would be too difficult. Still, now he was here, face to face with her, it seemed a bit pointless leaving the conversation as it was; half-baked.

He fixed his eyes on hers, still imploring her to remember. "I don't want your money, your Majesty," he said, a frown creasing his brow. He wasn't in it for the money at all. Of course, the packages he sent home to his family were welcomed readily, but the main reason for working for the queen was because he didn't want to give her any reason to kill him, leaving his son an orphan. His wife had died far too young and, despite the rareness and briefness of the contact he had with his son, Hunter believed that having one parent who loved you was better than none, whatever the circumstances.

"I work for the same person as I did the last time we met..."

[Deleted]

He didn’t move, but his dark eyes still followed her, never leaving her own. It was like he was trying to look into the depths of her very soul and that, perhaps, scared her more than anything.

If he didn’t want her money then what could he want? Revenge? She had done nothing to anyone that she could remember, but her husband was a powerful man with many responsibilities. Try as he might he could not make all of his subjects happy.

But not, there was something about this that felt more... personal. Snow wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t think this had anything to do with her husband; this was about her and her alone.

Then he spoke again and she thought her heart might stop. So he was familiar, and with good reason. They had met before, and he had been working for the person who wanted her followed back then. The pieces had begun to fall into place, but Snow refused to see them. It wasn’t making any sense, none of it. She did not remember him, she could not; not his dark eyes nor that imploring look.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t...” she began to say, taking another step back from him when her foot caught on a root and she fell back against a large stone. A memory flashed through her mind, a shadow looming over her, the glint of something silver in the sunlight, a sharp blade aimed for her heart...

Crying out and throwing her arms up to shield herself it took a moment for reality to settle back in again. Her heart beating quickly, her breaths coming in short gasps, she slowly lowered her arms just enough to peer over them with wide eyes. “No... it can’t be...”

It was impossible...

[hunter]

Hunter lerched forward out of reflex as the young woman stumbled backwards. He wasn't a bad man, despite agreeing to follow an innocent woman around, and he wasn't going to stand by and let her hurt herself if he could help it.

Slipping one large hand under her upper arm, he gently helped her to her feet, finally seeing the recognition dawning in her eyes. Running the tip of his tongue over his lower lip, Hunter stepped back, letting his hands fall to his sides.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice gruff although his tone was soft. "I wouldn't hurt you then and I'm not going to now, no matter what she says."

[Deleted]

Snow didn’t know what to do. His hand on her arm startled her but she was too terrified to pull away. She couldn’t scream, couldn’t run, she could only stand there and stare at him.

How had she not known him? He looked the same. Older, yes, but still mysterious, still handsome, still intimidating. Maybe she had just never noticed him before that day, her father’s hunstman had hardly been of any interest to her. In fact, there had been a part of her who had disliked him on principle since she counted the animals among her friends. They were the only ones she could talk to after her father had passed, and it was his job to slaughter them. She could not truly hate him, though, because it was just that, his job, and she knew he did not kill them for sport but for food.

Still, she should have known him if only because of that day, but she had been so terrified, so hurt, so confused that she had wanted to forget it had ever even happened. Even ten years later she didn’t like to think of that day, even going so far as blocking it from her mind as best she could. It was no longer important, it didn’t matter anymore because the plan had failed, the Queen was dead and she was alive.

Except... he was telling her this isn’t so.

“I don’t understand, you can’t be him,” she said, her voice sounding small, scared, much like the girl he had known so long ago. “My hunstman.” He had been meant to kill her. She was alive because of him. “It can’t be.” It was too much to take, she couldn’t believe any of it, because if she did, then that would mean... “No, the Queen is dead!”

The dwarfs, her princes, they had all told her this! It had to be true!

[hunter]

Hunter raised one dark eyebrow. Her huntsman? He decided that now wasn't the time to argue over possessive adjectives. However much she seemed to not want to recognise him, it didn't change the fact that he was there, following her on orders from the very woman who had ordered him to kill her ten years ago.

"Believe what you want," he told her after a moment, his look of mild shock becomming a scowl. He wanted to tell her that she'd be a fool for trying to ignore the Queen - ignore the threat she posed - but he forced himself to bite back his irritation. "...your Majesty," he added onto the end of his sentence instead.

[Deleted]

He didn’t confirm nor deny her claim, instead leaving it to her to decide, for her to wonder if those she cared for most had lied to her, if the peace she had had was only temporary. But even if it was true, then why now? What could the queen possibly gain from having her followed? Had he been following her these ten years past, or only now that she had left all her guards and protection at home.

None of this was making any sense to her, and he didn’t seem like he would be of any help just standing there with a scowl on his face, saying her title in a way as if to specifically point out their difference in class, or his distaste for it or some other way that made it highly irritating. It was all too much.

“Stop saying that!” Snow burst out. Straightening up again, she titled her chin up high and clenched her hands into fists at her sides. “I do not believe you. The Queen is dead, and even if she isn’t, what could she possibly want with me now?”

Now it was her turn to advance on him, taking a few steps closer as she spoke. “I don’t care why you are here or why you are following me, but I command you to stop. If you do not desist, if I get even an inkling that you are still watching me, then I will have you arrested at once!” Gathering up her cloak, she tried to push roughly past him.