Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

41 - Snow's Run

The school bell rang and the children began to leave the class. Graham walked into Mary Margaret's classroom.
"Mary Margaret? Can I talk to you?" he asked looking at her.
She looked towards him. "Graham? What's the matter? Are you okay?"
"I think we know each other."
"Of course we do."
"No, no, no, not from here. Not From Storybrook."
"From where, then?"
"Another life."
The expression on Mary Margaret's face changed as she stared at Graham.

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A soldier led the huntsman towards the evil queen through the castle.
The queen looked up at the huntsman. "Do you have a name? Or shall I just call you the huntsman?"
He said nothing, just stared at the queen.
She got to her feet. "You're a tortured one, aren't you, Huntsman? Is this because your parents abandoned you to the wolves?" she stood in front of him.
"Those weren't my parents. All they did was give birth to me. The wolves are my family."
She looked him up and down. "Wolves, indeed...... I always felt there were two kinds of people....... Wolves and sheep....... Those who kill and those who get killed...... And you, Huntsman, you are most certainly a wolf."
"Why am I here?"
"I'd like you to kill someone for me. Can you do that?"
"I kill for me. Why would I do anything for you?"
"Because I have so much to offer. A place at my court. You will become my official huntsman."
"I am not interested in being a pet. This place is a cage."
"You'd be awash in luxury, wanting for nothing."
"You have an army at your disposal. What do you need from me?"
"My prey is beloved by all the kingdom. I need someone who won't be blinded by that....... Someone without compassion, someone who will have no qualms carving a heart out and bringing it back for my collection." she touched his chest.
The huntsman moved back. "That's me."
"As I suspected....... Now, tell me, what will it take?........ What do you want? There must be something."
"Outlaw the hunting of wolves. They are to be left alone. They are ti be protected."
She smiled. "Simple enough."
"So who do you want me to kill?"

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"Mary Margaret, how long ha e known each other?" Graham asked Mary Margaret.
"..........." she thought for a moment. "I don't know, a while."
He sat down at one of the desks. "Do you remember when we met?"
She opened her mouth but said nothing and thought hard. "..........No."
"Me neither. I can't remember when I met you or when I met anyone. Isn't that odd?"
"I don't know. I mean, I suppose....... But I think that's just life. Things get hazy."
"Have I ever hurt you?"
"Graham, no, of course not. What is going on?"
"Do you believe in other lives?"
"Like heaven?"
"I mean like past lifes."
She smiled and lookeddown for a moment. "You've been talking to Henry."
"Henry?"
"He has this book of stories..... He's been going on about how he thinks we're all characters from them, from another land, and we've forgotten who we really are."
Graham looked down, his mind drifting away.
"Which, of course makes no sense."
"Right, no, of course.''
"Graham." she felt his head with her hand. "You are burning up. Go home and get some rest. I think you'll feel much better after you've had some sleep."
"Right." he said his mind still drifting away. "You're absolutely right. I'm sorry to disturb you." he stood up. "And thank you."
"Of course." she watched him go, worry in her eyes.

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"You know, when I was a little girl, the summer palace was my favourite place." said Snow to the gaurd that guided her through the forest. "The mountains surrounding it felt like..... a cradle. They always made me feel safe."
From behind the helmet the huntsman looked at Snow.
"I look forward to returning to it now."
The huntsman inched his armour below hos neck.
"Stuffy in there?" asked Snow looking at him.
They stopped.
He pulled his helmet off.
Snow took two red apples from her satchel. "Here." she handed him an apple.
"No." he said.
Snow stared at the huntsman. She took bite from her apple, still staring at him.
"You're not a knight, are you?" she asked after she finished chewing.
"What makes you say that?"
"Without fail, every one of my father's men has offered me condolences........ Except you........"
"Please accept my condolences."
".........And they all know how's wear armour...... She picked you to take me...... Why?"
"I think you know."
"You're going to kill me."
"You have good instincts."
"And you have too much armour."
He looked down at his armour.
Then Snow quickly picked up stick and hit him below his stomach. She turned and ran quickly.
The huntsman soon stood up and ran after her, through the forest.

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Emma walked into the sherifs office and threw some files down on a desk. She picked up a dart and threw it on the dart board. She missed and hit the notice board and it fell to the ground. She groaned and bent down to pick it up.
"Our tax dollars hard at work, I see." said Regina as she walked into the room.
"Graham isn't here........ I assumed he took a sick day....... with you." she smiled as she stuck the dart in the notice board.
"So you're aware of us. Good. That's why I'm here. Because I'm also aware of your relationship with him."
"I don't have a relationship with him."
"Oh? So nothing's ever happened between the two of you?"
"You forget, Miss. Swan, I have eyes everywhere."
"Nothing that meant anything."
"Well, of course not. Because you're incapable of feeling anything for anyone. There's a reason you're alone, isn't there?"
"All due respect, the way I live my life is my business."
"It is until it infringes on my life." she walked closer to her. "Stay away from Graham.........You matching you're doing nothing, but you're putting thoughts in his head, thoughts that are not in his best interest......... You are leading his on a path to self-destrution."
She raised her eyebrows.
"Stay away." she turned and walked away.

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Graham rang the doorbell of the Mayor's house.
The door opened. "Hey, sherif." said Henry. "My mom's not here."
"Actually, I'm here to see you, Henry." said Graham. "I was hoping you could help me."
"Help you with what?"
"It's about your book. Am I in it?"

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The huntsman approached Snow who sat by a pond in the forest writing quickly on a sheet of parchment. The huntsman wore no helmet or metal sheilds anymore.
"I hunt you, yet you stop to compose a letter? I will never understand your kind." he said.
"I don't know these woods." she stopped writing for a moment. "You're obviously a skilled hunter, you'll find me. No matter what I do, I know how this ends." she continued writing quickly.
"Yes."
"There's one thing that I ask that at you do after you kill me." she folded up the parchment and held it up. "Please deliver this to the queen."
"Your tricks won't work on me."
"It's not a trick. Please give it to her........ Tell her I mean every word."
He took the parchment and unfolded it. He read it carefully and then suddenly tears rowled down his face.
Snow looked up athim tears also running down her face.
The huntsman drew his dagger from his belt and stepped closer. Snow closed her eyes and breathed heavily.
The huntsman drew the dagger over his head, ready to attack but then instead of the blade going through her chest he cut some of the thick grass next to her. He pearced some holes into the grass like roots and Snow looked at him, perplexed.
"Sound this when you need help." he handed her the the grass he had formed into a whistle.
"What?"
"It's a whistle. It will bring you aid. You'll be led to safety. Now go, run."
"I don't understand. You're not going to kill me?"
"Run!" he shouted.
Snow stood up quickly and began to run away. The huntsman watched her run through the forest then a deer in the distance caught his eye.

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Graham ~ The Huntsman