Fractured Fairytale: Ch 2 Snow White

A MESSAGE TO READERS:
People this story is a massive over the top completely random mess, that's its purpose to be purely unrealistic

To make up for my absence here's a whole chapter.

Response to comments:
Eliana: Thanks very much

Chapter two: Snow white
Arthur and Gwen stumbled after Rapunzel. It was sunset; they were cold, wet and exhausted. Finally they just collapsed on a pile of leaves under a large oak. The next morning they woke when a pair of squirrels had a disagreement in the tree above them. It ended when Arthur threw a rock at the squirrels. Most of the mud had dried and they break it off just by brushing their clothes; but their hair was in need of serious attention. Arthur kept running his hand over the remains of his hair. They started walking along the path again.

At noon they came across a familiar figure lying by a tree in the middle of the path. Arthur ran to his horse while Gwen picked up a stick and approached the figure. It was Rapunzel. "She must have hit that branch and given herself a concussion" Gwen said when Arthur returned with Duke.
"Serves her right" Arthur said stroking Duke fondly. He flung Rapunzel roughly over his shoulder and dropped her on the ground next to the path. He climbed onto Duke's saddle. "Shall we go on?" he asked. Gwen climbed into Artemis' saddle and they rode on down the path. "Where are we going now?" Gwen asked.

"I'm not sure, but I'm sure we'll come across a settlement soon and we can decide where to head from there." he fidgeted uncomfortably. "At the next stream we're cleaning ourselves up. This mud is starting to-"
"Hello" Arthur and Gwen turned startled and saw a beautiful woman standing before them. She had hair the color of night, skin like snow and lips the red of roses. "You both look simply dreadful" Her voice was high with a childish ring to it. "Come back to my house, you can get cleaned up" She turned to Arthur and placed a hand on his leg. "I can help you if you have any problems, cleaning yourself." She giggled. For the first time Gwen saw a look of uncertainty in Arthur's eyes.

The woman grabbed Duke's reins and begun leading them along a path. "My name is Snow White. And good news handsome, I'm not married, yet" She chatted flirtatiously as she led them through the forest. Arthur kept looking at Gwen for help, but she was too busy finding mud to remove from her clothing. Snow white led them to a cottage deep in the woods. It was picturesque, the small cottage set before a background of trees and covered in white flowers.

The house was rather small and appeared to be made for seven very small people. "Do you live alone?" Gwen asked.
"Oh no" Snow white replied. "I live with my seven uncles. But don't worry they won't be back from the mines for a fair time yet." She flashed a smile to Arthur "I offered you the chance to clean up" she said looking to Gwen. Gwen nodded. "The stream out the back should be perfect for you. Take your time. We'll just get better acquainted."

Snow White grabbed Arthur's arm and pulled him to her. Arthur mouthed 'Please hurry'. Gwen walked outside and after looking around begun removing her clothing. She seemed to be alone so she stepped into the water and shivered. It was ice-cold.

Gwen quickly washed off all the mud on her skin and spent a bit of time on her hair. When she was sure she'd gotten all the mud off her she was freezing cold. She stood up and glanced around again. There was movement from the corner of the house. She ducked behind a shrub her feet in the water. But it was just Artemis. She walked slowly over to Gwen and started eating the bush.

Gwen pulled fresh clothes out of her saddlebags and put the dirty ones away. She'd wash them later. Inside the cottage Arthur was sitting in a corner; he had a look of abject fear and terror on his face as Snow White ran a hand up his leg. Gwen considered letting him suffer. But she cleared her throat and said "Arthur" He jumped up and ran outside. Snow White licked her lips and went to the window.

Gwen closed the curtains in front of Snow White's face. "My lord needs his privacy." Snow White glared at her, but she knew the cold look Gwen was giving her. Gwen did not like Snow White. They sat at the table opposite each other. Gwen watched Snow White carefully. Snow white kept looking at the window. "So are you two like together?" Snow white asked.
"In a way" Gwen replied. Snow White raised an eyebrow.

"But you're not lovers" She said. Gwen shook her head. Snow White got an evil look. "I think I'll go see if he needs any help" Gwen stood up at the same time Snow White did.
"Sit" Gwen said towering over Snow white. Snow White sank back into her seat. Gwen stood by the door and window watching Snow White until Arthur returned.

He was blue with cold but clean. Snow White jumped to her feet. "Oh dear, I shall have you warm in a moment." Arthur looked pleadingly at Gwen as Snow White dragged him to the stove and lit a fire. Then she hugged him close, too close for Arthur's comfort. Gwen separated them with difficulty, Snow White may have been small but she had a very tight grip on poor Arthur.

"We thank you for your hospitality but we must go." Gwen said. Snow White flung herself at Arthur again. "But you must stay the night. I get so cold and lonely here when my Uncles are away, all day."
"No thank you, we must be going" Arthur backed away from Snow White.

"Oh please, I'll d anything you want. Even three-" The door burst open and seven dwarves walked in. They looked from Snow White to Arthur to Gwen. Snow White burst into tears. "I'm so glad you're back. She was just so mean. And he, he" she took a deep shuddering breath "Was suggesting I do, I won't say" The dwarves turned on Arthur and Gwen. They backed up as far as they could in the tiny cottage. "How dare you insult our dear innocent Snow White" said one of the dwarves.

"Innocent" Gwen scoffed and fumbled behind her for the lock. She turned the key at the same time Snow White threw a knife at Arthur. He raised his arm to protect himself and the knife stuck in it. One of the dwarves swung his hammer and hit Arthur in the stomach. Arthur doubled over and another dwarf punched him in the head. Gwen pulled him through the door. They ran to the horses and leapt onto them. The horses raced off. They didn't slow down until they were sure the dwarves hadn't followed them.

An old woman stopped them and asked "Do you know where I may find Snow White?" Gwen and Arthur glanced at each other. "Do you wish her harm?" Gwen asked.
"Y-no." Gwen and Arthur smiled.
"What kind of harm?" Arthur asked. The old woman shook her head.
"I'm guessing poison" Gwen said Arthur nodded.
"Okay fine, it's a poison apple" The old woman said grumpily picking out an apple.
"In that case, just follow the track south and you should come upon a fork in the path. Go right and follow it until you see the dwarfs' cottage." Arthur said pointing. The old woman seemed a little surprised."Good luck with the poisoning." Gwen said as they rode past the old woman. They waved to her as they went around a bend in the track.

They stopped by a creek and Arthur examined the knife wound on his arm. Gwen pulled out a few strips of cloth. "Sit still" she ordered as she began to clean the cut. Arthur winced a few times but he sat still. "I'm sorry" he said suddenly.
"For what?" Gwen asked wrapping the other piece of cloth around his arm. "For all the trouble you get in because of me." Gwen tied the end of the cloth.

"Arthur; I chose this, no one forced me. Sure I've been kidnapped by a dragon attacked by dwarves and ruined a dress; but I rarely ever got a chance to get out from under the eyes of a dozen guards. Thanks to Guinevere's little quest I've been given the opportunity I always dreamed of." Arthur looked at her over his shoulder. "I suppose we're both getting something we want out of this little trip. We should thank Guinevere for that."
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Apologies for any typos or sentences that make no sense, my editing on this wasn't very.... well there's almost no editing.
Hope you enjoyed it. Comments appreciated.