SNOW WHITE TWIST
“I guess this means you’re not really a duchess.”
“No, you’re Highness, I’m not.”
He raised his hands in surrender, “Well, I suppose this is it then. Mind if I ask who sent you? My uncle, I assume”
“Your stepmother actually.”
“Ah, they’re branching out I see,” His voice cracked on the last word, revealing his fear of the being so near to his imminent death, “Well take pride in this moment. I’m a bigger kill then even you realize. You sure you’re up for it?”
“I have no choice.”
“Being threatened? Doesn’t surprise me. So, I am only one of two victims here. My apologies for you being dragged into this.”
My expression stayed the same. Every muscle in my body was completely still. Every fiber in my being told me not to do this, save one, but that one survival instinct seemed to over power all the rest.
His face was desperate, “I beg you, do it quickly before I have to ponder on the prospect of my death for a moment longer.”
My hand began to shake. What kind of person was I? Could I possibly bring myself to kill him? I had a good incentive to be sure, but how noble was preserving my life really? If the queen had threatened a love one of a innocent friend, I could do the crime without the guilt of a weak motive. But, she was only threatening me. Could I really put my life so decidedly above some one else’s? His demise for my survival?
My muscles wouldn’t move and I began to be creeping into the dangerous possibility of him killing me. I had to cover up my hesitation, “Why does she want you dead?”
He thought I was taunting him. His voice was angry, “Why does she want any one dead? I’m a road block on the way to her idea of a perfect world.”
I stared at man standing before me. His blonde hair and blues eyes made him fit the royal family, but was he really one of them at heart? My perspective was rapidly changing and I began to want this man alive more then anyone else I ever knew.
“Please,” his voice was mournful agitation, “get it over with and leave me to die in peace.”
I didn’t move. The air between us was thicker then any tangible substance.
I let the arrow fly.
It whizzed past his ear, missing his skin by a fraction of an inch. It took only a second to recover; he began to charge me.
I quickly pulled out another arrow screaming, “That was not a mistake!”
He was forced to a stop five feet before my already cocked arrow. He poised to jump, but there was no way he could reach me before my arrow killed him. He was at my mercy once again.
“Believe me your highness, if I wished it, you would already be dead.”
He stared at my weapon breathing heavily. He stepped back, slowly nodding, “I believe you.”
I lowered my bow, practically dropping it to the ground, “There’s a cave behind those trees,” I pointed across the lake behind him, “It’s surrounded by berry bushes. if you’re smart you can stay there undetected for a good week.”
I walked over to my horse, still grazing, and pulled a water canteen out of it’s saddlebag, tossing it to the prince, “There is a clean river close by as well.”
He stayed still for a while, just looking at me perplexedly. I walked back over to him ready to push him towards his new directions.
“Who are you?” his question inquired after more then just my name.
I looked up at his handsome face. Everything about him was royal, “You already said it yourself. A victim, just like you,” I reached beneath my sleeve pulling out my cherished bracelet, “It’s a blessed charm. I swear it’s kept me form danger countless times. Take it. Perhaps it can make up for the crime I was selfish enough to almost commit.”
He took the gift, respectfully placing it on his wrist, “I believe that has already been done,” he looked at me with a level of gratitude I had never witnessed.
How rapidly our relationship had changed.
“Good luck,” and with that he ran away to where I had directed. I watched him till he disappeared into the trees.
I slowly moved back toward the bow, picking it off the ground.
I had a feeling I was going to need it.
