I Hate When They Call Me Snow White

“Wh…what…what,” I choked out.

I began to sweat as I stared at the small opening between the trees that revealed a kingdom that had been a stranger to me for many years.

My kingdom. No, it wasn’t my kingdom. I have never done anything to deserve it. I didn’t want it.
I stared at Blaine with wide eyes and mouth agape.

He stared back calmly as I pathetically attempted to gain control of myself.

After a few heavy moments I was able to ask,

“So that’s it then?”

Now it was Blaine’s turn to look confused.

“What’s it then?” He repeated back.

His eyebrows were furrowed as he tried to decipher my meaning.

I felt tears pool into my eyes. I didn’t want to cry, but I felt a cracking pain inside of me. A horrible ache spread from my chest to the rest of body.

“You’re really going to hand me over to her,” I said. My voice quivering slightly.
Blaine’s eyes widened.

“Arabella, you can’t think…” He began before I cut him off.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” I began forcefully, wrapping my arms around myself “I thought maybe you…that I could have maybe…it doesn’t matter now,” I finished lamely.

“Arabella,” He tried again.

“No,” I practically yelled before continuing, causing him to jump slightly.

“I don’t want to hear it, Huntsman,” I said. Trying to disguise the mind-numbing despair rampaging through my body.

“Arabella, listen,” Blaine insisted.

“I’ve got it,” I said, “You were just doing your job. It was just business.”

My eyes watered a bit more at that and I turned away as they spilled down my cheeks. I wiped furiously at them. Angry that his actions could cause me this much pain.

“My god, you never stop, do you?” He cried out, clearly exasperated.

“Me,” I shouted. Whirling around to face him before continuing. “You are an absolute a…”

Blaine suddenly reached out and roughly grabbed my face between his hands bringing me to a halt. As the words faded from my lips, I looked up to find his tempestuous gaze on me.

His eyes scanned over my face, pausing at my lips before coming back up to my bewildered gaze. I realized now that my own hands had reached up to grip his wrist, and that in this position I could feel his heat enticing me, begging me to burrow further into him.

“You really need to learn to stop talking,” He said softly.

I opened my mouth to argue, but his sharp gaze made me force my lips back together begrudgingly.

“I have brought you to your kingdom,” He continued, feeling me tense up he continued, “But not for the reason you have wrongfully assumed.”

I opened my mouth once again to ask, but quickly shut it when he raised his eyebrows. He smiled widely at my attempts at patience, his right thumb stroking my cheek softly, as if to placate me. I worked hard not to shiver at the gentle caress.

“I have brought you to your kingdom for a purpose,” He admitted, “I am taking you to someone, but not to Annis.”

“Who,” I asked.

His smile faded slightly as he regarded me with great care.

“I cannot tell you, but you will find out soon,” He said, before pausing slightly, “If we can make it through your kingdom.”

I tried to not focus on the way he continued to say “your kingdom.”

“Why must we go through? Can we not just go around,” I asked.

He was shaking his head before I finished.

“That will double our trip, and that’s something we cannot afford to do. We must go through.”

“It’s risky,” I said.

“Incredibly so,” He responded.

“We could be killed,” I offered casually.

“Most likely.” Came his encouraging response.

I smiled slightly before looking down at the ground. I felt his rough palms on my cheeks, and my hands wrapped around his strong wrists. I wish we could have stayed that way forever.

“I’m…” I began, before suddenly stopping.

I was petrified. I was so scared to walk through the kingdom that had once been my home. What if someone recognized me? What if nobody did?

“I know,” Blaine said softly. He seemed to constantly reading my mind when words would not suffice.

“But I’ll be there,” He continued, “And I’ll be right next to you at every turn we take.”

I felt warmed by his promise. Reassured in a way that I had never known I could be.

I nodded. I would have spoken, but I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the emotions inside of me and could not produce comprehensible language.

“Okay,” I said. Feeling stronger and more encouraged than I had any right to be.

Blaine smiled again before slowly releasing my face. I wished he would take my hand, but he didn’t.

“Ready, Armie?” I said to the loyal hound at my side.

Armie leaned forward and nudged my hip. I couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Before we go,” Blaine said, catching my attention.

He began to untie his cloak, which caused my eyes to widen a bit. He smirked slightly at my reaction, but continued without any clarification. He leaned forward and draped the cloak around my shoulders.

“It’s a bit big, but it will have to do,” He said, tying it around my neck.

His hands brushed my collarbone and I couldn’t help but shiver this time.

“You’ll have to keep the hood up,” He said gruffly. Not commenting on my previous reaction to his touch.

“So I won’t be recognized?” I said, a bit stupidly.

He nodded as he lifted the hood up, shielding my face from the sun and from prying eyes.

“I doubt the people would be expecting their long-forgotten princess casually running about through the local village,” I said, before continuing, “Especially not a mud-crusted, ruffian looking one.”

“Regardless of what you may think,” He began, holding the edges of the hood lightly, “You do look like a princess.”

Neither of us spoke as we stared at each other. The words, as plain as they were, struck a chord in me. I could feel the vibration over the alarms in my mind, and the nervous tickles in my stomach. It was a soft earthquake urging myself towards him, without any precautions or worry.

Blaine suddenly let go of the hood and walked towards the small opening.

“Off we go,” He said, looking beyond us.

As I followed him towards the kingdom, the sounds I heard earlier became increasingly distinct. I was beginning to sweat profusely, but I’m sure that was a result of the cloak over my head, as opposed to the impending doom that seemed to be glaring down on us.

Blaine, who was walking silently next to me, spoke for the first time.
“Stay close to me, Arabella,” He said quietly.

“I will,” I responded just as softly.

“Keep your head down,” He warned.

With that we turned past the final curve and suddenly we were in the middle of a throng of villagers. I felt a jolt of uncensored fear course through my body.
Without worry of how it may look, I reached forward to grasp the back of Blaine’s shirt. He faltered slightly at the touch, but did not respond.

I held out my other hand to Armie, which she gladly took to and pressed her body next to mine. I feared slightly for my hound, but people seemed to fear her size and move from the path.

Although I was supposed to keep my head down, I couldn’t help but look up to see the village. I could hardly fathom the sight before me.

I immediately recognized the area. Dunmoor. A small trading village, near the ports. The village was once at the height of success during my father’s rule. I remembered coming down here as a young girl. I was enthralled by the brightly painted houses, the exciting stands, and the interesting people. Most of the merchants had travelled from another land, many years ago, and maintained strong aspects of their own cultures. The people were always as brightly dressed as their houses. Woman had their heads wrapped in bright silk scarves and painted their faces with colors that told stories and tales. Men wore beautiful garments, rivaling the women, always exquisitely beaded and embroidered. Although there was a particular rigor to the bustle, there had always been laughs and smiles littered generously among them. There had never been a particularly bland spot in Dunmoor.

The sight that greeted me now was a ghastly one. The houses that had once been painted so beautifully were faded and chipped. Roofs were dilapidated and missing shingles. Doors were scratched and crumbling. The roads were pitted and almost gone from sight. Even worse than that was the people…
Gone were the beautiful colors. Every man, woman, and child were once again dressed to match their homes. I stared a woman a few feet away from me. She wore a scarf with multiple holes in it. The silk had long ago lost its sheen and was mottled. Her dress, similar, in its echo of previous splendor. Her face showed remnants of the paintings that once colored her face, but only to be replaced by the bitter look of hardship and betrayal.

As if she could feel my gaze, her sharp eyes turned at me. I felt entrapped by her pain and misery. Her face did not change in recognition of any kind. We stared at each other until someone walked between us breaking the contact. When I looked back, she was no longer there.

I couldn’t help as my eyes watered at the sight. These beautiful, bright people had been demolished. The air had been thinned to nothing but a vague remembrance. The manners still held all of the rigor of the trade business, but the air was different. Gone were the bright smiles and laughs. In their place was a brutality and desperation that colored the dark and gave way to a choking smog that I felt in deepest corners of my soul.

“What’s happened here,” I whispered. Mostly to myself.

“Annis has stripped them of everything. Their individual wealth and communal success. They trade now, but all of the proceeds go directly to the Royal Taxes,” Blaine said hardly.

“Why don’t they stop,” I asked.

“If they don’t make a certain quota, the guard…”He paused for a moment, “The guards are sent to kill them and their families.”

I felt the internal gasp at the harshness of the situation.

“These poor people,” I said softly.

My vision became blurred and I tripped a bit. Blaine immediately reached back and took my hand in his. Keeping me safe from the turbulent regret and pain that rocketed through me.

I sniffled my thanks, and he squeezed my hand in response.

We made our way through the village for some time. I looked at as many things as I could. Eventually we passed through Dunmoor and made our ways to neighboring villages.

“Are we going all of the way to the castle?” I asked after some time.

“No, but we will get close to it,” Blaine said regretfully.

I nodded, even though he could not see me.

We continued our rigorous pace until the sun was beginning to set.

“We’ll be noticed, if we try to walk through the night,” Blaine said, slowing down.

I turned my head up to look at him.

“You can’t possibly mean for us to stay here for the night?” I said in shock.

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Blaine said, still looking around.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said hardly.

“I agree, but you’re tired, Armie’s tired, I’m tired. And we need to eat if we plan to make it into tomorrow,” He said reasonably.

“We need to live, if we are to make it into tomorrow,” I hissed as I tugged his hand.

He looked down and his face softened at my obvious anxiety.

“Don’t worry so much,” He mumbled.

“How can I not,” I asked. Waving my hand around.

“I’ll take care of it,” He assured.

I snorted.

“Of course you will, gallant sir,” I said sarcastically, “And I’ll just sit here and do what? Panic for the both of us?”

Blaine smiled at me.

“Well you are infinitely more talented at panicking. So it’s very fitting,” He said easily. Obviously trying to rile me up.

I looked up to glare at him.

“Well you’re obviously too dense to think of everything that can go wrong with staying at an inn in the Kingdom in which we will both be murdered, should be we discovered,” I said angrily.

“I prefer to think of it as optimistic,” Blaine responded.

Before I could snap back, he tugged my hand forward.

“This place,” He said.

I looked up at the small inn where Blaine had decided for us to meet our obvious doom.

“Blaine,” I said warningly.

“Breathe, Arabella,” He said calmly.

I was irritated by his manner so I kicked him in the ankle before catching up next to him. He smiled at my slightly violent reaction, but said nothing.

We walked into the inn and I desperately kept my head down, keeping my hand on Armie’s head. As if sensing my anxiety, she nuzzled closer to me. We walked in time with Blaine.

“How can I help you, love?” Came an inviting voice.

“I require a room for me and my…sister,” Blaine finished lamely.

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. His sister? I would have kicked him, if I could have done so without making a scene.

“Don’t be embarrassed, love,” The woman began, “You aren’t the first man to come in with a “sister.”

I almost choked even though I wasn’t drinking anything. I don’t what was worse. Being Blaine’s sister or his prostitute.

“Err…right,” Blaine said awkwardly.

“I charge extra for animals,” The woman responded.

“That’s fine,” Blaine said.

“I only have single bedrooms available. You don’t mind sharing with your sister?” The woman said, clearly amused.

“We’ll be fine,” Blaine insisted.

“Follow me,” The woman said as she led us up the stairs into a long corridor.

We were almost to the room when the woman spoke again.
“Does your sister speak?”

“No,” Blaine responded.

“Does she always wear that hood,” She pried further.

“Yes,” Blaine said harshly.

“Well you’ve got a temper,” Came her flirtatious response.

We finally made it to the door, which the woman opened. All I could see was a wooden floor, similar to the hallway, and the edge of a bed.
“I’ll light the fire for you quickly,” She said.

“Not necessary,” Blaine said, before continuing, “But we will require bathwater and food.”

“Very well,” The woman said. Clearly annoyed by Blaine’s stoic attitude.

I cautioned a glance up, to see she was very lovely indeed. Her face was fair enough and she possessed an ample bosom. Good lord. Where those real?
Regardless of their authenticity, the woman seemed very aware of her…endowments. Blaine led her to the door, and held it open.

I watched as she crossed her arms, elevating her chest invitingly and staring doe-eyed at the oblivious man in front of her.

“Should you require another…sister, I can personally look into that for you,” She said seductively.

Blaine didn’t move, but continuing to stare the woman down.

She huffed.

“She must be quite the relative,” She snapped, gesturing to me as she left the room.

When Blaine shut the door, I lifted off my hood for the first time today.
“You’re sister?” I asked. Clearly annoyed.

Blaine sighed and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands.

“And some terrifying Huntsman you turned out to be,” I continued, “She clearly wasn’t intimidated by your demeanor in the slightest.”

“I told you,” Blaine said, going to the fire, “Woman love a challenge.”

He quickly struck the fire up and turned to look at me.

His face changed from annoyed to slightly less so as he stared at me.

“It’s good to finally see you,” He said, smiling.

I pursed my lips, as I rolled my eyes and quickly turned around to hide the happy blush rising to my cheeks. I walked over the window on the opposite wall and looked out.

“We’re in Gloswell?” I said. Recognizing the area.

“Yes, we’ll be out of the kingdom by tomorrow,” Blaine said.

“And you won’t tell me where we’re going?” I asked, still staring outside.

Blaine was quiet for a few moments.

“I can’t,” He said apologetically.

I turned to face him. His face was cautious and his eyes were guarded.

“Why not?” I insisted.

“Because, Arabella, things are not always so simple,” He said. Crossing his arms in annoyance.

“Well make them simple,” I said. Crossing my arms to match his.

“I can’t,” He said sharply.

“Why not?” I yelled loudly.

I hadn’t realized we had been moving closer to each other because he was suddenly close enough to touch me.

“Because I can’t,” He yelled, grabbing my shoulders.

We were both breathing harder as we stared at each other. His grip wasn’t painful at my shoulder, but it was firm. He seemed to be trying to translate a message to me through his touch.

“Can you trust me,” He suddely asked.

His voice was calm, but his eyes were rampant with emotion. Several emotions passed through. Fear, desperation, vulnerability, and worry.

As I stared into my eyes, I didn’t hesitate giving my honest answer.

“Yes,” I whispered.

His face changed at my confirmation. Watching his face was like quickly flipping through a book. Each image melting together to create a harmonious story of expression.

“Then trust me,” He said huskily.

Once again an overwhelming feel coursed through my chest. Filling me to the brim with sensitivity. I felt his hands in an almost visceral way. Each one of his fingers, individually imprinting themselves on my skin. My lips felt swollen, begging for the slightest release. Anything. I felt a strange sensation in the pit of my stomach. We seemed frozen, right on the edge of this moment. Too scared to move forward, but refusing to go back.

A harsh knock at the door had us leaping away from each other.

“Hood,” Blaine said succulently.

I lifted up my hood just as he opened the door for two men carrying a wide basin of water and two women setting up a small table and tray of food.

“Will that be all, sir?” One of the men spoke to Blaine.

None of them bothered to look at me.

“That will be all, “Blaine said, as he tipped each of them.

We were quiet when we were once again left alone.

“You should bathe now, while you can,” Blaine said softly.

I nodded as I walked towards the partition where they had placed the tub.

“Don’t eat all of the food,” I threatened.

Blaine smiled, seemingly grateful at the suddenly light atmosphere.

“I’m going to scope the area,” He said, “Talk to the locals.”

“Oh, okay,” I said lightly. Although a heavy feeling came over me.

“Put the latch on the door,” Blaine warned me as he headed out.

“Blaine,” I called out as he put his hand on the knob.

I quickly untied his cloak and walked over to him. I came up beside him as he was still faced towards the door.

I held out his cloak and looked up at him.

“Be careful,” I said.

He looked down at the cloak in my hand, before looking in my eyes. His gaze became fierce as he battled something strong inside of him.

He nodded sharply and took the cloak out of my hand. He was gone before I could blink, and suddenly I was alone.

I sighed as the lifted the latch to the door, locking it. I eventually made my way to the basin and washed my body. Feeling incredibly happy at my cleanliness.

I put on the nightgown that was also left. It was obviously worn-through, but it was soft and served its purpose. They had also left a brush, which I immediately took advantage of.

I walked to the small table and began to brush through my tangled hair. Armie came and put her head on my leg. I had washed her the other day, and could now see her fur wasn’t black as I previously believed, but a very dark brown with a distinct shade of burgundy scattered throughout. Her fur was similar to my own hair. I pet my beloved hound before I continued to brush through my hair.

I ate quickly, almost devouring the food before me. I left a good portion for Blaine, and after a lukewarm cup of tea, I crawled into bed. Armie went to go rest by the fire, as I laid down.

I wanted to wait for Blaine, but my eyes began to slowly close. The exhaustion of today was overcoming my body. I stared at the fire, as I slowly blinked into a peaceful and satisfying oblivion.