A/N – This wasn't going to be the first sequel I wrote but people requested it and so I made it a priority. Film fans may notice a theme I have going with the titles of the stories in this universe :)

Disclaimer – I don't own it. Never have done, seriously doubt I ever will…

Once upon a time there was a girl named Ashley and – well, dear reader, you know all this already. Her evil father gave her to the wicked witch Erin Blackheart, as payment for a debt he had racked up. Ashley worked for the witch and dreamed of escape every day, her plans always foiled at the last moment. That was until salvation came storming (quite literally) into the castle in the form of Princess Emily Ravenhair and her band of merry men. Ashley helped them destroy the witch and was allowed to return to the altogether nicer castle of King Jason, where she didn't have to look over her shoulder at every turn. And, as far as she knew, that was her happy-ever-after.

As far as she knew.

But one day, a hunting accident, a crotchety witch and a trip into the forest happened, and Ashley realised that her happy-ever-after had barely got itself out of bed, let alone got dressed up and presented itself in its Sunday best. And it all started on one very quiet afternoon…

Since Princess Emily moved to the Western Kingdom with her husband, Sir Aaron, and Princess Jennifer moved to the mountains with King David, King Jason's castle was a very calm place. Ashley preferred it that way, after the mayhem that Erin and her henchmen managed to make. All that fighting and evil laughter tended to give her a headache. With the king, all she had to do was tend to his few demands and then spend the rest of the time reading in the library. The other servants were kind – Kevin, the stable boy, taught her to ride – and Jason's advisor, Doctor Spencer Wordsmith taught her chess and told her all about things she had never heard of before. She liked Spencer very much – he didn't treat her like an inferior and he was eager to teach her. One day, when Ashley was in the kitchen the cook, Mrs Todd, asked her if she and Spencer were sweethearts.

"N-no," Ashley blushed, "He's my friend!"

"Mmm," Mrs Todd grinned, throwing the carrot she was chopping into the pot, "Just as long as you're sure."

The next time she saw him, Ashley blushed again and he asked her, with genuine concern, if she was hot. After that, she didn't really think on what Mrs Todd has said. There didn't seem to be much point.

On that quiet afternoon, King Jason and Spencer had gone out hunting. The king was determined that his young friend would learn how to fire a bow and arrow. Ashley had cleaned the king's chamber and scrubbed his shirts clean, and was just wondering what she would do with herself when the sound of horses galloping into the courtyard caught her attention. The hunting party wasn't due back for at least two more hours. She rushed to the entrance hall to King Jason, supported by Spencer and Emily's old bodyguard, Anderson, being carried through the main door. Jason was impossibly pale, sweating and mumbling incoherently.

His tunic was soaked with blood.

"We have to get him upstairs," Spencer said, startling Ashley into action. She moved and spotted Kevin hovering anxiously by the door.

"Kevin, take the fastest horse and fetch Madam Greentree!" she cried, already running for the kitchens. Mrs Todd was dozing in her rocking chair when Ashley ran in and she started comically.

"What's wrong?"

"King Jason's had an accident," Ashley said grimly, filling a large bowl from the cauldron of warm water kept permanently on the fire, "Keep the hot water topped up. We're going to need it."

She was gone so quickly that she didn't hear Mrs Todd's answer. Running up the stairs, careful not to spill a drop, she found Spencer and Anderson settling the king as best they could. Jason was still, incredibly, conscious and he looked straight at her. The pain was written all over his face and Ashley had to force herself to keep looking at him. She put the bowl on the side table, moving aside the book pile that had taken up residence there, and turned to the gaping wound in Jason's stomach.

"What happened?" she asked Spencer, gingerly peeling away the bloody material. The king groaned and she winced.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty."

"His horse slipped," Spencer said miserably, "He fell onto a downed tree branch. We didn't have anything to cut it away. Anderson tried to snap it off but he – he started screaming. We had to pull it out. It was the only way."

He reached across and took the bowl of water, cradling it between his trembling hands whilst Ashley slowly began to sponge away the blood. Her efforts seemed to make little difference, and the panic she had been quelling began to rise as a fresh amount of blood oozed between her fingers.

"You have to press down," Spencer explained, losing the bowl of water and taking a piece of cloth. He pushed it down firmly on the wound. Jason gasped one last time and then, thankfully, he lost consciousness.

"Is there anything you can do?"

"Not much more. I've studied medicine but I've never practiced it. We'll have to wait for Madam Greentree and hope she can work a miracle."

They stood like that, Spencer's hand pressing down on the wound, for what seemed entirely too long. Ashley wiped a cool cloth over Jason's burning forehead and wished silently that he would recover. With no stars to make the wish on, she knew it wouldn't work so well but desperate times called for desperate measures, and she promised herself that if the king was still alive by the time darkness fell she would make the wish properly.

Eventually there was a commotion outside and Kevin burst into the room with Madam Greentree on his heels. He collapsed into the chair, gasping, but the witch strode towards the bed with a grim look on her face.

"You!" she pointed at Spencer, "Tell me what happened and make it quick."

As Spencer talked, Elle moved his hands away from Jason's stomach and lowered her head, peering into the wound and examining it with fingers that betrayed the gentleness she tried so hard to conceal.

"Well, I think he'll live," she nodded, wiping her hand on a cloth Ashley offered her, and reaching for the leather bag she had brought with her, "But we must work quickly."

A large number of glass jars and phials appeared from the bag and stacked up on the king's reading table.

"Here is what I need," Elle said sharply, pointing at Ashley, "I need a constant supply of warm water and as many clean cloths as you can find. And you," she pointed at Spencer, "Need to go into the forest and find me a sample of the wood that did the damage and I need you to go to the hidden pool behind the Starfall Waterfall and bring me a phial of the water. Can you do that?"

Spencer looked stricken, "I'm sorry, Madam Greentree but I have never actually come across that waterfall."

"I thought you were a genius!" Elle said incredulously, "What's the point of-"

"I know where it is, Madam Greentree," Ashley interjected, "Mrs Todd can handle the water. I'll go as well."

"Fine, fine, I don't care," Elle threw her hands up, turning to her jars and removing lids. After a moment she looked up to find them both still standing there.

"Well go then! Be as quick as you can," she looked pityingly at Jason as he moaned in his sleep, "He's strong but I don't know how long I can keep him alive waiting for you."

Something inside Ashley clicked and she nodded fiercely, grabbing Spencer's hand and pulling him from the room. They ran through the castle, hand in hand, and leapt onto the abandoned horses wandering aimlessly around the courtyard.

"How far is the waterfall, Ashley?"

"Two hours ride to the east."

"That's the direction we were headed," Spencer wheeled his horse around and spurred the bay stallion onwards, "If we push the horses we can be back in three hours."

"How long can Madam Greentree keep him alive?"

"I don't want to think about it," Spencer implored, and not for the first time Ashley considered how much of a burden he carried, with a mind as extraordinary as his. Whereas a normal person would only be concerned for their closest friend, Spencer had everything he had ever read about medicine weighing on his mind. Ashley caught his arm before he could push his horse into a gallop.

"He'll be alright, Spencer. Don't worry."

T.B.C

A/N 2 – A message from our sponsors…

~*~ Profiler's Choice 2011 Fanfic Awards for the Criminal Minds Community ~*~

Hosted by ilovetvalot and tonnie2001969

It is our pleasure to announce the Second Annual Profiler's Choice Fanfic Awards for the Criminal Minds community!

The nomination ballot is now available, and all rules are posted on Chit Chat on Author's Corner forum! Nomination ballots must be received by October 15, 2011 and must be sent to this PM at Profiler's Choice CM Awards. Fics for consideration must have appeared on the CM section of between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011 (see rules for full details.)

Please read all rules prior to submitting ballots! Please PM at Profiler's Choice CM Awards with any questions.