by R. L. Weeks
‘No, of course not! Why would I?’ Lori asked. He bit his tongue and walked over to Snow.
‘How can I wake her?’ He asked.
Lori smiled sweetly. ‘You must use your powers to draw whatever evil, spell, curse, or poison that is inside of her, out.’
‘You sure seem to know a lot about this,’ James said suspiciously. Lori didn’t answer, just nodded. James concentrated until his powers showed. Lori clapped with delight as she saw it. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he could not wake Snow.
In Snow’s slumber she was in a world of perpetual darkness and called out for James, but no one came. The more she feared she was in purgatory, the more the sky changed. It was a dark night, yet stars shone against the canvass.
‘You will be here one day,’ a voice said from behind her.
She turned and saw a man, an odd looking man. ‘Am I in Hell?’
The man laughed and shook his head. ‘No.’ He looked around. ‘I am the future.’
‘Future?’ Snow arched an eyebrow.
‘Yes.’ He ran his hand through his slick back hair and looked at her with orb black eyes. ‘Everything that is to come is for a reason. I am here to warn you.’
‘About what?’ she asked. ‘How am I here?’
‘You are in a deep sleep.’ He sat on a rock and gestured her to sit on a rock opposite him. ‘Your path is already laid out for you, no matter what you do, your destination however can be changed depending on the decisions you make.’
Snow nodded. ‘What do I need to do?’
‘When the time comes, you will have to betray the people you love the most, and side with those you hate. There will come a time when you have no heart, when you will own something more valuable than you can imagine, and one where you will be the key to everyone’s happy endings, including yours.’
‘And James’s?’
The man smiled creepily. ‘Yes…’ he breathed. ‘I cannot tell you everything, but I will say that no one will understand why you will do the things you will do, they will all hate you, but in the end, they will realised that it was you that was there saviour.’
Snow took in a deep breath. ‘If I don’t?’
‘Their happily ever afters will be lost forever…’
******
James felt his powers grow stronger every day that Snow was in her slumber. He often sat by her side, feeling totally helpless. Even if he was the key to waking her up, he didn’t know how. His powers had just surfaced, and if he used them wrong, he was worried what damage he could do to her.
‘You can wake her up with a kiss,’ a man said, who appeared in the dimly lit room. ‘True loves kiss.’
James pulled out his sword and stood up slowly. ‘Who are you?’
The man stroked his beard, which James noticed, was tied in segments and sported a lot of purple beads. ‘I’m Merlin.’
‘The Merlin?’
‘So, you’ve heard of me,’ Merlin stated.
James looked at him questioningly. ‘Of course. Who hasn’t?’
Merlin sat down next to the bed. He crossed his legs under his long purple robe. ‘Thank you.’
James put his sword back into the scabbard and sat down by the lit fire. ‘Lori told me about you. You’re a legend.’
Merlin laughed throatily. ‘Was. I had that pointed out to me recently. Anyway, I am here on business.’
‘What do you want?’
Merlin sighed. ‘Some are making waves in the world of magic! Waves that have and will continue to destroy lives. I would like to put an end to powers that are outside of my domain.’ He looked down at his gold pocket watch. ‘I cannot control what I do not have access too.’
‘Stilt, Edward, and Lori?’ James asked, knowingly. ‘
Merlin nodded. ‘I need you to learn control of your powers.’
James scoffed. ‘I can’t use my powers to wake Snow up. Let alone to help anyone else.’
Merlin shook his head. ‘I want you to come with me. Let me help you with your powers, then take Stilt down with me. Along with Edward, and eventually Lori. Although, she will be the hardest to break.’
‘What will I get in return?’ James asked, arching an eyebrow. ‘Asides from you helping me to control my powers. I have much to do here, battles to fight alongside Lori. I promised Snow.’
‘Well, I have told you how to wake Snow up. True loves kiss-,’ he pointed out.
‘I don't-’ James started but stopped on seeing Merlins knowing look, he bent over and brushed his lips onto Snows. They were plumper than he thought they’d be. He stepped back and her eyes flung open.
‘What happened?’ A breathless Snow asked, clutching her chest. James rushed to her aid and helped her sit up.
‘You went into a slumber,’ James informed her. ‘Like a coma. We don’t know how, but we will find out!’ he promised.
Snow looked around, puzzled. ‘So, I just randomly woke up?’
‘Uh, yes,’ James lied. She jumped off the bed and looked around, noticing Merlin for the first time.
‘Who are you?’
‘Merlin,’ he replied.
‘Why are you here and what do you want?’ she asked, cutting straight to the point.
‘James,’ he admitted. ‘I need his help to take down two men.’
‘Stilt, Edward, and Lori,’ James told Snow.
Snow grinned. ‘We already have a plan for that. And one to take down Lori!’
Merlin smiled. ‘Care to tell me this plan of yours, Snow?’
Snow looked at James. He nodded. ‘Fine, sit down.’
James jumped on his horse. A beautiful stallion gifted to him by Snow and rode to the gates. Snow was in the garden, as per usual, picking apples off a tree. She was wearing a white cloak, embroidered with black patterns down the side. And, as always, she wore a corset-style top with a skirt, black tights, and boots.
‘Hey there,’ James called out. A stable boy took the horse to the stables.
‘James,’ she said, smiling. She ran over to him, basket swinging from her arm, and hugged him. He hugged her back. She rested her head on his chest for a little longer than she should.
‘I missed you,’ he admitted.
‘It’s been twenty-four hours,’ she laughed but couldn’t help but smile.
‘Still…’ He started.
‘I missed you too,’ she admitted. He stood back and grinned. That was one of the few times when she showed him any affection at all.
‘Good,’ he said and grinned. He reached out and brushed off the snow that had landed on her jet-black hair. She looked longingly into his eyes; those honey-brown eyes melted her. She breathed in his scent and felt a little light-headed.
‘So, my mother has left to meet Merlin,’ he said. Which means that we have Lori alone. I’m worried she may try to hurt your grandfather.’
‘She wouldn’t dare,’ Snow said, pulling out her dagger.
James groaned. ‘Calm down! Stop grabbing your dagger every time her bloody name is mentioned. We are meant to be lying low. Where are the dwarves?’
‘They left,’ Snow said angrily.
‘What?’
‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ’They just disappeared. I have sent out people to find them,’ she admitted and sat on a bench. They looked out at the winter wonderland in front of them.
‘Looks like it’s just us then,’ James said.
‘And Merlin,’ Snow pointed out. ‘Your mother has gone to meet him. Why didn’t you just tell her…’
‘She’s too close to Lori!’ He ground his front teeth. ‘She would tell her; she trusts her. Then Lori would know that Merlin wants my help.’
‘Good point,’ Snow said and brushed her hair out of her face. The wind had crept over Northmanni and snow fell lightly. Soon enough, a blizzard started, forcing Snow and James inside the castle. They ran up to her chambers, and James sat in front of the fire.
‘Lovely room,’ he lied. Snow was just as bad as Lori with the gothic interior.
‘I know
it’s a bit dark, but I like it that way,’ Snow said. She took her cloak off and threw it onto her four-post bed.
‘A bit?’ He looked around. ‘Everything is either black or red.’
She laughed. ‘They’re the colours of my soul,’ she joked. He rolled his eyes, and she joined him on the sofa, in front of the crackling fire.
‘That kiss…’ James started.
Snow placed her finger over his lips. ‘Thought we were never to talk about it again. Plus, it didn’t mean anything, right?’
He pulled away. ‘It didn’t?’
‘I meant for you,’ Snow said, blushing.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Did it to you?’
Snow lowered her gaze. ‘I…’
James leaned in and gazed into her eyes, sliding his hand down her hair, then her neck, his gaze tracing over her as if he would never see her again and needed to take in every detail. ‘I will never let anything bad happen to you.’
Snow blushed. ‘I…’
‘Snow speechless,’ he laughed, ‘well, there’s a first for everything.’ He said with a playful smile. He slid his fingers down to her wrists and noticed the scratches. ‘You hurt yourself?’
Snow pulled her sleeve down. ‘It’s not what you think.’
James sighed. ‘Snow, if you ever feel in pain, come to me. Promise?’
She leaned in. ‘If I do, do you promise to always make it better?’
He nodded. ‘Always.’ He lifted her wrist to his lips and kissed it softly. ‘Always my Snow.’
Her heart skipped a beat. ‘Will you stay with me tonight?’
His eyes widened. ‘I – Yes. I would love that.’
She smiled coyly. ‘I’ve never felt so vulnerable,’ she admitted.
‘It’s not a bad thing.’
‘I could get hurt.’
He shook his head. ‘I could never hurt you.’
She took his hand and led him to her bed. ‘If I must marry someone I do not love, then I’d rather spend just one night with a man that-’
‘Yes?’
‘Nothing,’ she breathed. Slowly, she slipped off her dress. His face reddened as she bared herself, laying herself on the silk sheets, illuminated only by the candle light. She looked down at his breeches and smiled.
He climbed on top of her and kissed her, his lips demanding. ‘Always my Snow,’ he whispered.
The sudden death of the King shocked the kingdom, more so Snow. She had been awoken in the early hours in the morning and had to hide James in her closet. James stepped out of the closet and quickly pulled his shirt and breeches on, then tousled his hair. ‘Snow.’
‘Don’t.’
He held her hand. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’
She walked away from him and grabbed a pipe from her draw. She stomped around the room. her breath rattling as she puffed on a pipe. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Asked James as he snatched the pipe from her mouth.
‘It relaxes me!’ she shouted.
‘It’s unhealthy,’ he replied and walked over to her bed. ‘She killed him, James. She killed him! I know it. I’m going to kill her.’
‘No,’ he walked over and placed his arms on her shoulders, knowing that she was talking about Lori. ‘We will get revenge, but if you go up there now and attempt to kill her, you will be charged with treason. Princess or not. Lori is in charge now. We must play it safe.’
Snow knew what he was saying made sense, but she was livid. She couldn’t see anything but the image of Lori being stabbed to death. Snow screamed and threw her dagger at the wall, which stabbed into a painting. ‘I will prove she killed him then.’
James bit down on his bottom lip. ‘If she did it with magic, which I imagine she did, then you couldn’t prove it. Lori mentioned killing him, but my mother and I said no, and she said she was joking.’
‘And you kept that to yourself?’ Snow screamed. ‘Whose side are you on?’
He pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair. ‘Yours, Snow. Always yours.’
He pulled her down onto the sofa. She nuzzled into his chest. He hugged her in front of the fire while she wept into his jacket. Hours passed like minutes. The crackling of the fire and howling from the wind outside the window was all that could be heard above Snow’s sobs. She eventually cried herself to sleep. James didn’t want to move, in case he woke her, so just laid there. He smiled as he looked down at her tear stained face. She was pouting slightly as she slept and the crease on her forehead from anger disappeared. Her fingers linked with his and a realisation swept over him; this was all he would ever need.
James took Snow’s hand and looked into her eyes. ‘I will be back soon, okay?’
She sighed. ‘I don’t want you to go.’ He smiled at that. They were growing closer every day, yet he still didn’t have guts to admit to her how he felt. She was just as stubborn.
He looked at her darkly. ‘’It’s only one day. Keep yourself safe. Don’t do anything reckless!’
‘I can’t make any promises,’ she said and winked. ‘I’m kidding,’ she added on seeing his concern. ‘I’m just going to try and find out what happened to the dwarves and Red. I know something is up.’
‘Don’t get caught,’ he replied. Henry entered the room.
‘Snow,’ Henry said. ‘It is time.’
‘Wish you could stay for the funeral,’ a teary Snow said.
‘We made a deal with Merlin. I have no choice. Look, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you.’
‘Yes?’ she said.
‘I…’ he stopped himself. ‘I’ll tell you when I get back,’ and with that, disappeared.
Henry cleared his throat. ‘Ready?’
Snow gathered herself and brushed down her black top and trousers. ‘Coming.’
‘How are you? We haven’t spent much time together,’ Henry said.
Snow kept her head held high. She felt as if she was losing her mind recently. Since waking from that slumber, she hadn’t felt okay at all. ‘I’m fine. My dwarves disappeared, and so did mine and James’s friend, Red. I want to find out what happened to them.’
‘Oh, well, to be honest…’ Henry started.
‘Do you know something?’ she asked him, stopping in the hallway.
‘I will do anything to keep you safe; you know that,’ he said. ‘Lori found out about your plan, to take her down.’ Snow gasped and put her hands over her mouth.
‘You’re kidding? She’ll kill me.’
‘She won’t,’ he said. ‘I made a deal with her.’
‘You did what?’
‘In exchange for telling her who was a part of the plan, she promised never to harm you,’ he admitted.
‘Where are they?’ Snow asked through clenched teeth.
He hung his head. ‘I’m sorry.’
She shook her head with disbelief. ‘No,’ she cried. ‘I promised to protect them.’ She ran away from Henry and into the gardens. The church bells sounded as she sat on the bench. The snow was melting, now leaving a horrible slush on the ground.
Her head was spinning. James told her not to do anything reckless, and he was right. Lori was in charge, and anything could happen now. But, she needed justice.
‘Red,’ Snow exclaimed and ran to the stable, grabbing James’s stallion.
In a panic, she galloped down the winding road to the town, then over to the Dead Forest, until she reached a familiar shack. It was Red’s. A wolf shot out of the door on hearing the commotion. Snow put her hands in the air and tried to turn the horse. The Wolf, however, did not attack. Instead, it rested its head on a log and whimpered.
‘Red!’ Snow shouted. ‘Red, where are you?’ The wolf howled loudly. ‘You know something? You’re Red’s pet, aren’t you?’ The wolf howled. ‘What happened to her?’
After an hour of listening to the wolf howl, the wolf and Red gave up trying to communicate in any way. ‘I’ll be back,’ Snow promised and road over to Lori’s shack. She knew Lori wouldn’t be home as she was at the Ki
ng’s funeral. The King that she had murdered.
Snow jumped of off the horse and tied him to the apple tree. In a manic state, she ripped all the apples from the tree and threw them at the shack before finally falling to the ground. I promised to keep them safe, and now they’re dead. Lori is in power and Edward is still alive. James is gone. I am alone, and Henry betrayed me. She repeated those words in her head until they were deafening. She put her hands over her ears and screamed. The church bells sounded to pronounce the end of the funeral.
Grandfather, I’m so sorry. I will avenge you. All of you, Grumpy, Sneezy, Doc, Sleepy, Happy. Her thoughts were distracted as she saw the wolf again. It was near the shack but appeared like it couldn't go any further.
‘Oh, James. I need you right now,’ Snow said aloud and jumped back onto her horse.
*****
Lori drank her wine and put it on the table. ‘We will see,’ she said and polished her nails. ‘I have always been one for balls. Arrange for my carriage and luggage to be prepared. We are going to Milborn. Also, fetch me Snow, will you?’
He bowed his head and left the room, leaving Lori alone at the long table. Before long, Snow stormed through the door.
‘What do you want?’ she asked. Lori noticed that Snow was looking a little crazed. Her eye was twitching, she looked tired, her hair was a mess, and she was breathing fast.
‘Snow, take a seat.’
Begrudgingly Snow sat down and looked at Lori stonily. ‘What do you want?’ Snow repeated, impatiently.
‘Belle is involved with Edward again,’ Lori said simply. ‘One of my spies saw them together.’
‘No,’ Snow said, feeling betrayed. ‘And James, have you heard from him?’
‘Yes. Apparently, he has been making deals with Merlin,’ Lori said and gave Snow a knowing look. ‘I know about everything. I can no longer trust anyone, so I want to offer you to be my ally. I know you hate me, but, I can bring justice to your mother. Edward, I promise, will die. Along with Stilt. And I promise to keep James safe. I need to you to accompany me to a ball being held in a kingdom far away. We will find Edward and Belle there. We will arrest him, and Stilt, for their crimes and bring them here.’