Into the Woods (Hunter)

[hunter]

Hunter usually had a very level temper, however, the way she was talking to him, as though he was just another servant for her to order around, annoyed him in a way that he was unable to suppress. He put out his hands and caught her by the arms as she tried to push past him. He knew he was overstepping the boundries of propriety but he doubted that the Queen would care all that much and Snow White didn't have guards and servants to watch over her all the time here. It was just the two of them out here in this clearing and he wasn't about to let her leave the situation as it was.

"I risked everything to spare your life once," he said to his, his face close to hers with an injured look in his eyes. "The least you could do show me some respect." His breaths were coming quickly and shallowly but they slowed and calmed as he stood looking at her. Eventually he let go of her arms and swallowed hard against his dry throat. "Don't underestimate her," he told her, quietly, the concern clear in his voice. "Whatever you choose to believe, whatever you think of me, don't let her catch you off guard again. I... heard she tried to poison you."

[Deleted]

Snow was startled when he grabbed her arms to stop her - up to this point he had never dared lay a hand on her save to help her from her horse as a child - but she managed not to cry out. She glared back at him defiantly for a moment, but while she had grown cold and bitter over the years she was not completely heartless. The look on his face was enough to dull her anger slightly, though she was not about to let her guard down completely. If anyone had reason to wish her harm, it was him.

He had risked everything to spare her life, and she had given him little thought for it; little waking thought at least. If the Queen had been willing to have her so brutally killed then she probably would have given no thought to killing him for betraying her if she didn’t think he would be of some further use to her later. Obviously, since he was alive and here, he had not been disposed of.

Lowering her eyes, Snow didn’t respond nor did she struggle, but she let out a deep breath she hadn’t even realised she had been holding when he finally let her go. Her brow furrowing at the concern in his voice, she slowly raised her eyes back to him, calmer now, the fight gone out of her.

“Yes, she did, though she didn’t just try. She succeeded,” the young woman replied, her tone matter-of-fact, but just below the surface lurked that long covered hurt. “It wasn’t just a disguise, she transformed everything about herself into an ugly old woman. How could I have known?”

[hunter]

Hunter nodded. He had heard the story from people around the Queen's castle; the other servants liked to gossip, although, for a long time, they avoided Hunter. He was tainted. Not only was he the Queen's man, which immediately made him unpopular, but he wasn't even in favour. He had been lonely and cut off for a long time, but he'd always listened out for news of the young girl whose life he'd saved.

"I'm sorry about that," he said, his head dropping forward as he looked down at the leaf-covered ground. "I thought you'd be... Well, I thought you'd have a better chance of getting away if I just let you go. I'm sorry it didn't work out that way.


(Sorry it's short. I wanted to get it done before I put it off any longer. XD)

[Deleted]

Following his apology, Snow awkwardly shifted her weight and adjusted the cloak around her shoulders. Part of her still wanted to rage at him, to find any excuse to to accuse him or brush him off for she felt herself softening toward him and she couldn’t afford to be so weak. She had been so naive, so blind and trusting once and it had almost been the death of her. He was stalking her under orders and while he had fully admitted it she couldn’t trust that this wasn’t some type of ploy.

“You allowed me a few more days that I would not have had, and for that I suppose I should thank you,” she said, though she didn’t further express any gratitude. “She was determined, though, and I doubt anyone could have stopped her.”

Brushing her ebony hair back behind her ear, she gave her shoulders a slight shrug. “But I supposed a poisoned apple is much more forgiving than a sharp blade.” To this day she could not bring herself to eat anything containing apples.

((Thanks, hon. I know you’re crazy busy so even a short post is much appreciated. *squidges* ))