Chapter 12

3 days later

In the morning, bruises still present, but swelling down, I tend to the garden out front.

Now that the sun is shining and the green is growing all around, I don't even need a fire. Although… one other reason I can't make a fire is the lack of logs for fuel.

My abusers made sure I was left with no firewood when they left for their vacation.

I am just glad I don't have to freeze through the cold nights or freak blizzards anymore.

Now, I sow the soil with fresh seeds, and water them from a bucket, gathering the water from the small well we have at the back of the property.

Even though I am concerned about Snow's prolonged absence, I am also relieved to know I have my freedom back. That gave me some form of security.

However, I am also aware the Queen may still be out for blood. I just hope she doesn't make my face a priority. Surely other matters in the Kingdom came first. And she didn't seem to leave her castle anyway.

She sent letters and ravens.

So, indeed, I feel at ease for now.

I stand from my garden work, to see a friendly neighbour stroll up the hill, with a basket of food.

"Oh, Barney! You didn't have to!" I hobble forward, now able to walk without a stick assisting me now.

"Blair wanted you to have some extra food – hoping for a weave of yours, or maybe even a tale," Barney winks and drops the basket at my feet, "My, my, girl, you've grown strong from your injuries so quick! Good on you!"

"It's just the overalls," I'm wearing a pair for a young boy, but they fit well enough, "I feel more confident in them. They make me look strong."

Barney smiles, hands in old patched pockets, slowly rising his brows.

"So, Ellie… you um… you really faced Snowred?" as Barney asks the question, a cloud passes over us in synch, foreboding something, or at least making me feel strange about the prying question.

We both glance up at the sky and I grin with my teeth gritted together, feeling a little awkward.

"…I don't want to talk about it… but… I might make your family some jam? I don't have any cotton balls to weave from… I think the house was raided when I was… gone…" I bite my lip.

The house had lost some valuable items. Not many, but enough to make me a little upset.

"No stress, Ellie, you rest and work and come over if you need anything," Barney nods. I smile and I hold out my arms, jumping forward to clasp him in a tight hug – well I try to – but before I can even grasp him, I hear a god awful slam from inside the house.

BANG!

The back door? I think!

"You have someone helping around here?" Barney asks, a bit confused as I wince back after the noise interrupts me.

"Yes – um, yeah," I nod, "Thanks for the food."

"Be lookin' forward to that jam," Barney nods and walks backwards, smiling and turning.

He always was extra kind, and I wasn't altogether sure Blair ever approved. I had never seen her. But maybe she just liked staying indoors.

Oh, well, my mind was just getting away with me now...

I hold the basket to my chest as I hobble back to the log cabin, I gaze in through the side window and I see Snow rummaging through the kitchen, looking rather angry.

Oh, geez.

I open the door and hurry in.

"Oh, Barney! You didn't have to!" Snow mimics me as he unscrews a jar of pickled eggs and starts eating them with his unwashed hands. He watches me enter, looking worn and tired.

"Stop making a mess!" I drop the basket, "What are you doing here, Snow?"

"What are you doing here, Ellie?" Snow speaks with egg in his teeth, smiling but it's not a smile – more a sneer.

"Felton –"

"I know," Snow snarls.

"The court –"

"I know," another cruel snarl.

"So, you know why I'm here?" I throw my hands into the air.

Snow slams the lid down on the jar, screwing it on roughly, he stares at it, as a growl rumbles in his throat, "…I was happy to hear you receive… no punishment…" I'm not sure if I believe that sincerity.

"What is the problem then?" I ask, confused.

"You seem rather at home, here, Ellie," Snow starts off, slowly, pushing the eggs aside, he grabs up a carrot in front of him on the bench – that I'm going to use for my lunch, and he pops it into his mouth and chews rather loudly while glaring at me.

"It's – it's – it's my home," I nod far too many times, slowly blushing as I realise what I don't want to put into words. Snow keeps growling, refusing to say it either, "Uh," I slowly put a hand in my hair, scratching my skull and biting my bottom lip, "…I've been resting to heal my abrasions…" I blink too many times, "Um."

"Mmmhmm," Snow finishes the carrot and picks up an apple I got this morning. I was looking forward to that –

"Stop eating all my food!" I yell, cracking it.

A light of amusement mixed with satisfaction lights his blue eye, and I can't look at him much longer.

I storm forward and I attempt to pick my last remaining fresh food source for today. A piece of bread I baked for myself.

Snow swipes it up out of reach, however, sniffing it, looking disgusted.

He throws it back on the bench, so it bounces into my hands.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"Are you asking the bread, Ellie?" Snow chuckles low, and indeed, I'm staring at the bread.

Speak up.

Look up.

Be louder.

Walk faster.

Always wanting more from me. Expecting more. Always more.

I glare up at Snow, accusing him, "You know what, you're just jealous!"

Snow shakes his head.

"I'm inconsolable, you're acting like nothing happened," Snow murmurs fast with a royal strain, "Near death. My pack's death. My humble attitude. My home; your shelter. Then you get permission to stay in someone else's property… and you fuck off… to remain here. You haven't even set a foot into the forest. Ellie. Do I scare you?"

"I – well I – I grew up here, I had nowhere else to go, I didn't know… that I could stay until now… so…" I trail off, "I don't know what you want me to say."

"I do scare you," Snow concludes, half shrugging.

"No – " a lie.

Snow rounds the bench and I flinch backwards, so far back I knock into a cupboard behind me.

And Snow is simply walking by, he is not even coming near.

Snow scoffs at my reaction and continues to look through the house. He heads straight into my bedroom, scoffs louder, then checks the other bedrooms of the deceased – and scoffs again.

I watch, frozen from my spot, as Snow keeps sneaking.

Snow walks into the washroom last of all, and he doesn't scoff now.

Eventually he turns around and he holds out both hands.

"I see now," Snow yells at me, dramatically, "You stay here because you have a bath!"

"No! Yes! What?!" I yell back, his blue eye is piercing, so I glare at the floor, at my feet, "What are you doing here?"

"Are you asking the wooden planks?"

"No," I glance up, staring at the wall behind Snow. A bit closer to his gaze, but not quite.

"…are you asking the shelf?" Snow knows how to push my damn buttons.

"I'm asking you," I finally meet his eye and my lip trembles when I properly look him over now. I really look. I realise he is well dressed. Bare torso, yes, but nice clean leather pants. His hair is washed. His eyepatch is properly made now. His bare feet are even clean; enough.

Did Snow make an effort for me?

I wonder.

"I shall ask you again," I gulp and I hold his eye this time, "Why are you here?"

"I still need my second eye," Snow nods, content with my bravery, even if it took a while, "And I also need something else," I nervously glance down to my legs, between my legs – and I glance up to see him smirk, "A place to stay; my den is overrun by insects. Fleas. Termites. Earwigs. It's disturbing."

"Oh, okay," I nod, "You're welcome," I hold out a hand to indicate the house, even though it's unnecessary, "Make yourself… comfortable…" I turn and I quickly walk out the front door.

"Ellie," Snow snaps my name, so I stop half way out, looking over my shoulder, "Why is there no fire?" he raises a brow, glancing at me.

"Why do you think?" I hiss it, feeling rather defensive.

Snow blinks slow and mischievous, "You need a man t–"

"I don't want to talk right now, Snow, I'm busy," I step out and slam the door.

I huff at the wood and I turn around.

I would not talk of this now.

But I can't deny the fluttering in my stomach.

Butterflies knocking the even breaths from my lungs and making me salivate just a little.

I think…

…I think Snow wanted more.

In – in a… r-relationship.

He seems ready to court me.

And even though I – I like him.

I am not so ready for that level of intimacy. Why?

I do not know.

Maybe because I am scarred of him.

But even that I don't fully understand anymore.