Eric and Snow followed the dwarves into cave; the entrance to it was covered by thick green vines and leaves. The Dwarves had stopped running, no longer afraid of being captured; as they walked farther into the cave, Snow could see a light at the end. Finally they walked out of the cave and into a lush green forest. Animals stared at them as they ventured farther into the woods, the animals were miraculous, and everything was so full of life. It was the only place that the queen's darkness had not reached. Snow could hear soft music all around them.

"Blasted fairie music" one of the dwarves grumbled. The little red haired one looked at Snow and smiled,

"they call it sanctuary, m'lady" he said, "the land of the fairies". They stopped in large clearing and the dwarves started a fire in the center. One of them had small fiddle and played upbeat songs on it, the rest of them talked and drank. Snow sat quietly by herself looking around. She looked over at Eric as he took a swig of Ale and laughed at something the blonde haired dwarf said. Snow was about to go over and say something to him when Gus, the red haired dwarf interrupted her,

"Would you like to dance"? He asked shyly. Snow smiled and nodded, taking his hand Gus led her to the other side of the fire where they danced. It was a strange dance that she had never seen before so she did her best to follow Gus. The song ended and Snow for some reason ended up sitting by Eric; they were listening to the blonde-haired dwarf, Gort.

"We didn't always used to be thieves" he said, "we used to be proud". He stopped talking and took a gulp of ale, shaking his head. Eventually the fire was reduced to a few glowing embers and the group fell asleep. When Snow was sure he was asleep she went and laid closer to Eric, Snow knew that he would wake up before her, but she could make up an excuse for moving in the morning.

Snow was awakened in the morning by a soft tapping on her head; she sat up quietly and looked around. Two birds were staring at her. They were white with black markings on their body and wings, Snow couldn't believe it. These were the birds who showed her the nail that let her escape the North Tower, and showed her the white horse which carried her to the dark forest. She stared at them a bit longer, and then to her amazement, two fairies crawled out of the birds stomachs. They smiled at Snow and motioned for her to follow them. She stood up and watched as the fairies turned into two small glowing balls that floated in front her. They swiftly flew off into the forest, and Snow raced after them, accidentally kicking some leaves onto Eric.

Eric was awoken by damp leaves landing on his face, he brushed them off then slowly sat up, still drunk from the all the ale. He looked around him and then noticed that Snows blanket was right next his, but she was not there. He quickly stood up and frantically looked around, a million things rushing through his mind. The dwarves were woken from the noise of him running off in the direction Snow had gone, they quickly got up and followed him. They found Snow slowly approaching a large white deer on a small island in the center of a pond. All the animals watched and fairies were watching her as she reached her hand out towards the deer. Its coat was a bright white and its antlers looked branches of tree and were as big the deer. Eric started to walk towards her, but Gort stopped him saying,

"Careful Huntsman, no one has ever seen this before". Eric looked at the little man then back Snow as she lightly touched the deer's muzzle. Gus whispered what was happening to the old blind dwarf, Muir.

"It is blessing her" Muir said, "She is life itself". Eric looked at Muir strangely then back Snow, who was petting the huge animal and smiling, completely unaware of what was happening around her. Then from out of now where an arrow hit the deer's chest, the animal stared at her and then broke into thousands of white butterflies that frantically flying away. The animals ran and hid, and for the first since Snow had got there the Fairies music ceased. Clouds began to darken the sky and the trees and plants withered; the sound of horses now filled the forest. Suddenly Finn, riding atop a black stallion burst into the clearing. Eric screamed for Snow to run and grabbed his huge, swinging it wildly as he ran towards a laughing Finn. Gus ran after Snow and then saw an archer, immediately fearing for Snow Whites life he sprinted in front of her knocking her to the ground.

William watched the dwarf race towards his Snow, he quickly released an arrow sinking it deep into the tiny man's back. William was horrified when Snow rolled him off her gently and removed the arrow comforting and calling him by his name. This wasn't an enemy, he realized, the dwarf was protecting Snow. His heart broke when he saw tears running Snows face, he quickly dismounted his horse and approached Snow. He put his arm around her, and she started to fight him, but when she looked up and saw who it was she stopped.

"William" she asked, "your working with the Queen"?.

William answered her "No, I was looking for you, I thought he was going to hurt you" William said sorrowfully. Snow shook her head and pushed herself away from William; the dwarves arrived and she began to explain what had happened.

Eric was still fighting Finn back at the clearing, he had seen an archer go the way Snow had, but Gus had gone with her. Eric couldn't really believe that he trusted her life with him, but then again he couldn't really believe anything that was happening. Finally he saw the way to kill Finn, or at least pin him down to give them enough time to escape. No matter what Eric did Finn would heal, almost instantly, Eric thought that it might be the queen. Eric hit Finn's hand knocking his cane away from him than back Finn up so he was close to a fallen tree trunk with thick sharp branches protruding from it. Finn waited a moment then attempted to turn and grab his weapon. But Eric reacted faster and shoved Finn onto the tree trunk, and watched as Finn took his last breath. Eric raced off in the direction he had seen Snow run praying nothing had happened to her. He found her kneeling on the ground over Gus another man behind her and the dwarves bowing their heads. After a few minutes the dwarves moved Gus to a place where they would cremate him and Eric decided he could ask what happened. Snow sorrowfully explained then introduced him to William.

"Nice to meet you" William said holding out his hand, waiting for Eric to shake it. Eric eyed him carefully before responding.

"Ya" he said gruffly as grabbed Williams hand and shook it roughly; one of the dwarves, Beith, appeared and said,

"We're saying our final goodbyes, if you would like to join us you are welcome to". Snow nodded and then left with little dwarf, William moved to follow her, but a strong arm pulled him back. It was the huntsman.

"Something the matter"? William asked casually.

"Explain it to me again" Eric said "Why were you traveling with the Queen"?. William was stunned, no one had ever not believed him before.

"To find Snow" he replied hastily attempting to free himself from Eric's grasp. "She trusts me" William added hoping to gain Eric's favor. Eric leaned a little closer to William so that he could hear him, then said,

"If you are lying, and harm so much as a hair on her head, I will hunt you down and kill you myself" Eric released William, waiting for him to do something.

William outraged, how could this man think he would ever harm Snow, "how dare you-" William began to say, but he was cut off by Gort yelling for them to join everyone else for Gus's funeral. Eric gestured for William to go, but William was not budging. Eric snarled when William did not move, he roughly grabbed his arm to push William forward. But before he could, William hooked his leg around Eric's knee and stepped back, causing Eric to fall. Eric jumped up and grabbed one of his knives as William fitted his bow with an arrow. They were at a stalemate now and they knew it, but neither of them backed down. Suddenly Snow walked into the clearing and they both lowered their weapons as quickly as possible, Snow gave them both disapproving looks like a mother scolding her children.

"They are waiting" She said politely, but sternly. She watched as neither moved, "William could you come here"? She asked. When William was finally by her she put her hand on his back and gently ushered him away then glancing at Eric, followed William. Eric waited a few more moments then slowly began to walk out of the clearing. He was still trying to shake the feeling that William was going to bring harm to Snow, intentionally or not, he somehow would.