Crown by Reality

Snow White: Anticipation

Admiration showed through her eyes, growing with pure innocence and curiosity, the way he spoke the words of raw admiration through their family nobility, the fore. Oh, the fire. That was the one who caught her utmost attention, honesty and true to the heart all the more speaks the truth adding to the genuine powerful, absolute opinion. Was it truly an opinion when he spoke and won the acknowledgements of her Father the King, he says it with fluid force behind the words yet a respectable, honorable simplicity he holds unto his belief.

Before her Father’s back where she shyly hides behind in front of the strangers, her Father chuckled heartily, the audience’s attention now reverted from the young Bridigutte boy to His Majesty the King. The happiness drawn from his chest lifted the spirit of the room, be merry and go merry as what her Mother would say to herself. She can tell by the sleigh of his eyebrows, the grin ear to ear spread that he was most definitely pleased, more than pleased.

Taking her eyes away from the form of her Father, she did not expect to see that boy curiously stares at her with what she can describe as a young woman to be bewildered. He blinked and she stands like a deer in front of a hunter at bay pointing his archer towards her. While she was accustomed to the attention of her parents as well as the maids and servants showering her with immense love, adoring her with flowing adoration sending a calm, warmth across her chest. From a stranger, she cannot well act like her status as the Princess, most princesses, the daughter of royalty, privilege young nobilities would love to be the subject of interest, of absolute admiration. Spoiled brats really, some of the servants in the palace she will hear in their mutterings. Good for nothing, says her Father haughtily before Snow’s Mother can scold him like a child misbehaving.

Snow White faced a stranger, a boy she have not met before in the Palace grounds nor the Castle grounds. Her breath came to a halt, in a hitch before she sees him wave a hand towards her with a cheeky smile, needlessly to say she never felt embarrassed for some, quite unknown reason. Now that she reminded of herself why, Snow White just assumed that as a young girl, when it comes to new people, she did not want to acquaint herself with new faces, preferring to take her time before gathering up the courage to approach them with full introduction. All she needs was time, patience. That was all she needs.

Until Snow White overhears her Mother and Father talking about her situation.

 “Agron shows promising potential, as expected of the boy. Everyone has high opinion of him. The whole squadron speaks of his fiery determination. It reminds myself of where I used to court you, my love.” Rudolf lovingly, with soft soothing words exchanged with his wife.

“Dearest, there is a time for flattering me with flowery words. The boy is quite young to be placed in the ranks as a young Knight, well,” The Queen contemplated for a moment before shrugging off the forgotten notion of the rules and the ways of the Knighthood of the Schneewhitten Kingdom. “I do not think that is the case, the Kingdom tends to train their younglings from a young age. That aside, Snow seems to take an interest towards the boy.”

It took her a week before approaching Agron after hearing her Father and Mother conversed with each other, one of them their leisurely times to spare after attending to their important duties as King and Queen in their bedroom chambers. So she does, the day after that early in the morning she set food in the training grounds accompanied by the Queen.

With a gulp, Snow White ran across the fields to find Agron, huffing whenever she cannot find where he was, the knight-in-training did help her one at a time, with a bow after then did Agron sneaks in to see the young Princess in front of her.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Agron smiled, genuine and a rough, ruffled hair and complexion, but Snow paid no attention to whatsoever. “How may I help you?”

Thus, it was a start of a beautiful friendship nonetheless. Snow White can sigh in every moment he reminisced about their first encounter, the way they bonded overtime, she can endlessly talk hundreds of thousand words out of their numerous meddling, trouble stirring up in their spare times. They were childhood friends, close friends to be exact.

Where could he be, Agron, where is he now?

Snow White felt Hunter’s hand gripped her head closed to his chest, she curiously looked up. She hasn’t realize it however, the way how he furrowed his eyes then tensed at the slightest movement someone makes from whatever he senses outside of their hiding place. Broad shoulders tightened upwards causing him to appear more intimidating, taller and well-built, Snow tried to ignore the details she picks, forcing her or more rather confiding in herself to revert into the critical, crucial moment at hand.

Their lives may be at stake, a definite possibility the two of them weren’t willing to throw their lives in the slightest bit if distraction. For the Princess, painfully she admits that she was failing miserably.

“They reek of spoiled milk,” Hunter muttered under his breath, words that she heard quite perfectly well. “it smells awful.”

“That, they do. Verhandeln likes milk, it would explain a lot.” Snow then remained still, silently peeking over his shoulder, to his side curiously to see what sort of anomalies would unexpectedly show up. She would have to bring a leisurely conversation between them. Yet, the situation demands their mouth shut more than anything then from that reason simply implied leads to nothing but an ever growing untimely tension yet again. It was growing too tiring if she say so herself.

From the darkness rang a call, the same tight-knitted place in between of their temporary haven. Snow White froze before snapping her head to the very depths of the darkest seas in front of them, Hunter no longer has his head turn outside expecting a soldier nor a knight, as soon the small mew, another scuttling penetrated the air sending a new comers arrival, a clang of something—hard and metallic. Judging from that vibrating deep bass, the sounds reaching her ears cannot ignore it mimics the bellowing bell of a church bell. A throw-away perhaps? 

Quickly, her hands reached underneath her coat covering her whole body, swiftly reaching up the grips of her knife. Hunter stopped, a breath hitched, she notices this then afterwards her heart started to beat steadily faster and faster, not out of fear she expected like in the dreams where she comes face to face with a Monster. No, this time she was anticipating with hot, excitement coursing through her hands, like fire heating up the cogs of some machinery. Her every finger all but has a tight gripped, Hunter let go of his arm around her before placing himself in front of her for her sight to look upon his wide back.    

Another cry again, this time it sounded similar to a shrill. A shrill. Scratches…scuffling through the cold pavements, a small black outline? Hunter keeps a close attention, his sole shoes ready to pounce at any moment, given the perfect timing he would lunged with his sword tucked in his belt underneath the white coat. Calm, lightly, wait for it… he assures himself, almost a conceding arrogance washing over his head.