Snow White (Enchanted Fairytales) (11 page)

Philip looked over her shoulder. “I don’t think so because I’ve never seen it before. Now I see it all.”

“Can you see anything outside of the water?” she asked.

Philip looked all around. “I can see everything,” he said, excitement lacing his voice. “At least, I think I’m seeing everything.”

“What do you see?” she asked.

“The water . . . it’s dark blue, like . . .”

“Sapphires?”

“Yes!” he exclaimed. “That’s exactly what it looks for, but it sparkles. The rocks are white and silver that the water falls over.” He looked toward the bank. “The trees are deep red instead of the green I imagined them to be. And the sky,” he looked up. “I’d forgotten how blue the sky can be.” His gaze came back to her. “You, Snow . . . the painting didn’t do you justice.”

Snow blushed and Philip grinned.

“You’re blushing,” he teased, which only made her face heat up more. He took a step closer to her, his grin falling as intensity overtook his face. “It’s you, Snow. You’re the reason I can see. If you weren’t
in the water with me, I don’t think I could see.”

Snow shook her head. “You give me too much credit, Philip.”

“No, I don’t think so. I think it was more than your beauty that Katarina was jealous of. I think she
knew
that you were the one who could break the curse. That’s why she wanted you dead.” A look of fear entered his eyes. “That also means that if she knows you’re alive, she’ll come after you. You’re in danger, Snow.”

Fear trilled up Snow’s spine. Somewhere inside she’d known that all along, once she began to believe Fableton was what Philip professed it to be. If Katarina could create a place like this, she could surely discover that she lived—if Hugo hadn’t already told her. She suspected the hunter would have lied to Katarina to protect himself, though.

Suddenly Philip pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “We have to protect you, Snow. Even
if the curse is
never broken, we have to make sure she can’t finish the job.”

Snow wrapped her arms around Philip’s waist. She was trembling, knowing what Katarina was capable of. And yet, she had no doubt that Phi
lip could protect her. She
knew that The Seven would do what they could to protect her as well. And she was no helpless victim. Hadn’t she escaped Hugo against all odds, and found her way here to Fableton? Her fear subsided and she relaxed in Philip’s arms.

She felt when his hold changed. The tenseness in his arms went from a clench of alarm to an embrace.
His hands began moving, ever so slightly, up and down her back in small motions. His heart beneath her ear began to pump harder—as did hers. His cheek resting on her head moved in a caress. She shivered again, this time having nothing to do with fear.

Philip leaned back and looked down at her. His eyes
were no longer cloudy white, but a pure sapphire blue like the water. She didn’t know if it was a trick of the water reflecting in his eyes, but he was looking so intently at her she knew he told the truth. He could see her. Those beautiful blue eyes dropped to her mouth, and she shivered again.

“Cold?” he murmured.

“No,” she whispered, tilting her face up.

It was all the invitation he needed as he placed his mouth softly on hers. His lips were warm and gentle, and Snow’s eyes drifted closed. She responded to his kiss and he deepened it, his mouth pressing against hers with more force. She slipped her arms up around his shoulders and his hold on her waist tightened, lifting her from her feet. Their kiss became urgent, desper
ate, full of feeling, heating
the water around them. As the water became uncomfortably warm, Philip pulled back and looked at her in surprise. Then they both grinned.

“Maybe we should get out of the water before we turn it into a boiling pot,” he said.

“Good idea,” she agreed. He took her hand and led her toward the shore. Before stepping out, he hesitated. “Everything okay?” she said.

He gazed down at her. “What if my sight goes away once I leave the water?” He tried
for flippancy, but she
hear
d
the tremor in his voice.

“What if it doesn’t?”

Philip nodded. “Right. Well, either way I can’t live in the water, so I suppose I’ll have to take my chances.”

They stepped from the water and Snow picked up the two bath sheets they’d brought out. Philip stepped forward and took them from her. He unfolded one, wrapping it around her, his eyes never leaving her face. Then he used the second to dry himself.

“Can you still see?” she finally asked.

He nodded. “I can, but not as clearly as before. You look a bit . . . blurred. I think it’s going away.”

“Then let’s hurry,” she said, taking his hand and walking quickly toward the castle.

“Hurry where?”

“So you can see your castle.”

Philip stopped, and since they were holding hands, Snow was forced to stop as well. She looked back at him and saw him shaking his head.

“If it’s going to go away, I want the last thing I see to be your face, not some building.”

Snow smiled and moved closer to him. She stretched up for a kiss, and Philip happily complied, though he kept his eyes open, watching her.

Ten minutes later his sight was gone again.

*****

Snow sat in her cottage, study
ing the paper before her. She’
d eaten dinner with The Seven and then come home. She’d made a list of what she knew about Katarina and the curse. And the prophecy that she still doubted had anything to do with her. But on the off chance it did, or that she could at least figure out what it all meant, she might be able to help the citizens of Fableton.

Every day now she’d get up early, hurry and clean the cottage next door, and then run to the castle to spend the day with Philip. His vision only returned if they swam together in the enchanted water. He’d gone alone and still been blind. It seemed to require both of them for his sight to return.

They spent a lot of time talking. And kissing. Snow smiled. Philip said he didn’t need his vision to kiss her, and he was right. His kisses made her heart thrum and her pulse speed, whether he could see her or not.

She pulled her attention back to the list. Beneath Katarina’s name, she’d written:

Jealous

Bitter

Vengeful

Beautiful

Vain

Manipulative

Hugo

Magic/Spells

Powerful

Dangerous

Married my father (because of his wealth or my name?)

Killed Philip’s family (?)

Killed my father (???)

It wasn’t a list she’d be proud of if it described her, but Katarina would
’ve
like
d
it. Beneath “Curse” she’d written:

Inescapable

Philip’s sight

Place of beauty

No one new for hundreds of years

Can’t be found

Created by Katarina

Magical

Waterfall (???)

Time meaningless

Things/Supplies magically appear

Beneath “Prophecy” the list was short.

Skin white as snow (could be my name?)

Pure heart

Find Fableton without being shown it

The key to breaking the curse

No matter how long she stared at the lists, nothing came to her. There wasn’t a single common thing between the three, not even Katarina because she wasn’t on the prophecy list. She rubbed her head and stood, pacing back and forth.

Would it be so bad to stay in Fableton? She’d never grow old, and she could be with Philip every day. There wasn’t anyone here who seemed especially miserable, other than Grouchy who’d be miserable no matter where he was. Fableton was more beautiful than anywhere she’d ever seen, in person or in pictures. She had more friends in The Seven alone than she’d ever had at home.

She thought of Channy. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing her best friend again, but she knew Channy would eventually move on and if not forget about her, at least not miss her.

She flopped down onto her couch. Maybe it would be better just to let things stay as they were. Then she thought about Katarina. Katarina would probably not just let things be as they were. She’d come after Snow if she suspected she were still alive, because she’d know Snow might have the key to break the enchantment. And even if she didn’t, she’d have to live with that threat, possibly forever.

Also, there was a chance that if the curse weren’t lifted, Katarina might think it wasn’t her, and that someone else was the key. What if she hurt or killed someone else? Snow scoffed. It wasn’t a matter of
if
but
when
. She was sure Katarina h
ad hurt others over the years, a
nd she would again. How could Snow let that happen if there was any chance to stop her?

She walked to the window and looked outside. Staring up at the stars, she thought about time and how meaningless it was here. She remembered Philips words, “I don’t even know where
here
is.” Snow stood up straight. Fableton was not anywhere near where his kingdom had been. Why? She doubted that even Katarina would have placed it in the middle of North America five-hundred years ago. Was it only here now because Katarina was here? Was it even still where Snow thought it was?

She looked up at the stars again. They looked the same as they’d looked her whole life from her bedroom window. She’d never studied astrology, so couldn’t name any of the constellations, except for the Big Dipper. It looked the same, in the same position.
Nothing was unfamiliar. She figured they were still in the Neru forest.

She thought about the day she’d tried to leave Fableton, her first day here. She’d run for hours trying to escape, only to return to The Seven’s cottage every time. Why was that? She thought about being unable to see anything without being shown and suddenly an idea came to her. She gasped. Could it be so simple?

It was too late now to go to Philip’s castle. He’d be asleep. She’d have to wait until morning, so she may as well get some sleep. She crawled onto her high bed, restless and excited by her idea. Sleep was an impossibility for the rest of the night.

*****

It was early, so early she
suspected
Philip
might not be up, but she couldn’t wait any longer. Snow jogged the path from her cottage to the castle. She’d left a note pinned to The Seven’s door, telling them she had something important to do and she’d tell them about it later.

At the castle she stopped. Should she go to the thicket of trees where she normally found him, or knock on the castle door since he might still be in bed? Without thought, she found herself crossing the bridge and coming into the red trees. She hurried to the cleari
ng, surprised
Philip
was
there, pacing and tense.

“Philip,” she said. He jumped as if startled. He’d never been unaware of her approach before.

“Snow?” he said, crossing quickly to her and pulling her into his arms. His entire body was taut with alarm.

“What’s going on?” she asked worriedly.

“I don’t know,” he said releasing her
. “But I think maybe you do
.”

“I do?” she questioned, forgetting in her worry for him what she’d come here for.

“I dreamt of you,” he said, and she smiled. Her smile dropped when he continued. “You were dead. I found you in the forest, and you lay dead on the ground.
Why is that, Snow? Why am I dreaming of your death?”

Snow reached out and placed a hand on his arm. “I’m not dead, Philip. I’m right here.”

He quickly pulled her into his arms again, almost desperately. “I know. And I’m grateful. It was horrible seeing you like that. I haven’t been able to sleep since the vision woke me in the middle of the night.”

That reminded Snow of her idea. “I didn’t sleep either,” she said, moving out of his arms. “I think I’ve figured it out, Philip. I think I know how to break the curse.”

His face changed at that, lighting with hope. Snow felt a twinge of guilt for entertaining the idea of staying here, keeping Philip trapped with her. “How?” he asked.

“I started thinking about how time is here, and how no one can see anything without it being shown them.”

“Except me,” he said wryly. “Show me all you want, I still can’t see it.”

Snow laughed. “Except in the water.”

“Except in the water,” he confirmed, then added, “with you.”

She smiled as she remembered their times in the water together.

“So tell me your idea,” he said.

“On the first day I was here, or I guess the second really since it was after I’d spent the night, I
tried to escape. The Seven
told me it was impossible, but I didn’t believe them. I ran for hours trying to get out.”

Philip smiled with amusement. “I know. Grouchy told me all about it. He found it quite entertaining.”

“Yeah, I know,” Snow grumbled. “But what I think now is that I couldn’t leave because they’d put the idea in my head.”

“What do you mean?” His expression reflected his confusion.

“I mean that my whole life I’ve believed everything I’ve been told, whether it was my dad, Katarina, my friends, whoever. I’m pretty gullible that way, always have been. So I think when they told me I couldn’t leave, I believed them and so it was true.”

“I don’t understand,” he said.

“If I’m the one, as you believe, then that must mean that I
can
leave, because how else can the curse be broken? I have to leave and I have to find Katarina.” Philip immediately began shaking his head. Before he could speak his denial,
Snow
swallowed over the lump of fear lodged in
her
throat and
said, “
I have to destroy her.”

“No, Snow, absolutely not.” He stepped forward urgently and took her arms in his hands. “It’s too dangerous. You have no idea what she’s capable of.”

Looking into Philip’s clouded eyes, Snow knew exactly what
Katarina
was capable of.

“I have some idea,” she said. “But if I’m the one spoken of in the prophecy, then I’m the only one who can destroy her.”

Philip continued to shake his head, but
it was clear
he knew she spoke the truth.

“I don’t know how much time has passed in the outside world, but I think we don’t have a lot of time for me to do this. If I leave and Fableton’s been moved then I may not ever find her.”

Philip released her arms and swung away from her, cursing beneath his breath. He continued to pace, muttering, and finally he dropped to his haunches, holding his head in his fisted hands. Snow had never seen anyone look so conflicted and wretched. She walked over and placed a hand on his back, squatting next to him.

“I have to do this,” she said.

Philip lifted his face, and in spite of the clouded eyes his torture was clear. He stared in her direction as if he could see he
r
, and finally he nodded.

“If you’re going to do this, we need to do everything we can to make sure you’re protected.”

“Okay,” Snow agreed. “Whatever you think is best.”

*****

It turned out that Philip thought
the
best
protection
for Snow
was
to be taught how to fight. He enlisted the help of The Seven, who were none too happy at the idea of her tracking Katarina down
once they heard her story
. Still, they agreed she needed to be prepared as possible, so they helped.

In spite of his blindness, Philip was an expert marksman with a bow and arrow. He taught her how to hold it, how to breathe when shooting, and how to aim. It wasn’t long until she was hitting the
bulls-
eye nearly as often as Philip.

Grouchy, not surprisingly, was an expert in hand-to-hand combat. These lessons were Snow’s least favorite. The idea of laying her hands on someone with intent to harm them turned her stomach. Still, she paid attention when he showed her how to hit, where to hit, and how to use body parts other than her fists to cause damage.

Dim
taught her
to defend against all the moves Grouchy taught her. It made her heart ache
at
what must have happened to him for him to learn to defend himself so well. Coy was a swordsman of the highest caliber, though Snow wasn’t sure when she’d ever have use for a sword. She didn’t plan to
stab
Katarina. Coy had a sword made for her that wasn’t too heavy and that she became quite proficient with.

Dozy and Sneezer taught her how to track, how to climb trees for the best lookout, and how to run stealthily without making noise. Medic taught her which plants could be used medicinally and how to bind up any wounds she might receive. Blithe was the one who rubbed the soreness out of her muscles at the end of each day, and told her jokes until she was laughing and her spirit was lifted.

Finally the day came when she felt like there wasn’t anything more they could teach her. She stood facing all of them.

“I’m ready,” she announced.

Seven pairs of eyes turned to her in alarm. She looked at Philip. He was staring down at the ground, tense anger in his body. She knew why. He thought it should be him who went to destroy Katarina since he was the reason for the curse in the first place. It infuriated him that he coul
dn’t leave, and that even if he
could he wouldn’t have much chance to defeat her without his sight.
He hated the idea of Snow being put into danger.

“No!” Grouchy exploded, striding toward her. “We’re not done here. You still need to—”

Snow placed a hand on his arm, “No, Grouchy, you know I’m right. We’re only going to waste more time that we may not have. It’s time.”

He stared at
her, and she was shocked
how much he was worried for her. He didn’t want her to go any more than Philip did.
Finally he nodded and
return
ed
to where the others stood.

“I’ll need to gather some supplies, so I’ll go the day after tomorrow,” she said. Philip suddenly swung around and strode away from them, disappearing in the direction of the waterfall. She watched him go, as did the others. She swallowed and addressed The Seven. “Can you guys help me gather what I need?”

“Of course
we will,” Blithe said,
sad for the first time since Snow had met him. He took a deep breath and put his shoulders back. “We’ll get everything you need.” He glanced in the direction Philip had gone. “You should go after him. He’s worried for you.”

Snow nodded. “I know.”

Blithe shook his head. “I don’t think you have any idea. Go to him. We’ll take care of everything.”

“Thank you,” Snow said sincerely before hurrying in the direction that Philip had gone.

He stood by the waterfall, arms crossed tightly across his chest, feet planted wide apart. Snow walked up next to him and stood silently.

“I hate this,” he said.

“I know.” She looked up at him. “But if it works, then the curse will be gone, and you can live a real life.”

He turned his face toward her. “What kind of life will it be without you in it?”

Snow took his hand and he desperately clenched her hand between both of his. “I’m going to come back when it’s all over,” she said.

Philip’s jaw clenched. “What if you can’t?” he said. “What if breaking the curse puts me back in my time? You won’t be there. What if she manages to finish what she started? I can’t stand the thought of you dead, Snow. I can’t stand the thought of living, here or anywhere, without you by my side.”

Snow stepped in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew his fears were valid. They had no idea what would happen if she succeeded.
If Philip returned to his own time, he’d be long dead in
her
time. “I don’t want to live without you, either.”

He bound his arms around her, holding her tightly. “Stay here,” he whispered harshly. “Stay here with me, forever.”