Ebony White (A Snow White Tale)

Run

Ebony was unhappy that her birthday was almost over. Though she worried about her health as well. Twice today someone had tried to end her life. First the old woman that had gifted her a with a beautiful gown and then the little girl that had given her a beautiful comb. She thought about how they had tried to kill her as she waited for her mother and the hunter at the castles large wooden doors.

After a moment, trying to understand why someone would want to harm her, she saw her mother and the hunter coming up the cobblestone road. When her mother stood in front of her she held out her hand and touched Ebony's shoulder.
   "Ebony darling, the hunter has a gift for you, for your birthday. It's out in the forest and the hunter would like to take you there to get it." Her mother's voice was sweet and Ebony knew that if she was with the hunter she'd be alright.

   "Really, oh thank you." Ebony didn't know the hunter very well, but have her a hug anyway. And she was secretly happy to spend more time outside of the castle.

Her mother didn't say anything else and disappeared inside the castle. The hunter held her hand out for Ebony to take and they made their way into the forest by the castle.

This part of the forest was darker and thicker than the nice part of it by the village. But Ebony wasn't scared. She skipped along with the hunter by her side.

Ebony hadn't taken any noticed to how far she and the hunter had gone and when she looked up she noticed the sun was almost gone and a cold chill was creeping through the trees.
   "It's getting very late and mother might worry if I'm out for too long. Is your gift close by?" She asked.

   "Yes it is, it's just a little further ahead." The hunter than pushed her gently deeper into the forest. When they came across a little pond with wild flowers blooming around it Ebony smiled.
   "This is your gift." The hunter held out her hand towards the pond.

Ebony quickly hugged the hunter and keeled down to start picking flowers for her mother. She too should see them. Ebony was too enthralled by the flowers to notice when the hunter come up behind her. "I have another gift for you as well." Ebony spun around, waiting for the hunter to give her another gift. Instead the hunter pulled out her slim knife and grabbed Ebony, holding tight so she couldn't run.

With tears in her wide eyes, Ebony watched as the knife started for her beating heart. She didn't scream as she closed her eyes and waited for the blade to cut her. When the knife never pierced her body she looked up. The hunter held the blade in shaking hands and tears were running down her tan cheeks. The knife wavered in her hand for a moment longer than the hunter dropped it and grabbed Ebony by her shoulders and shook her.
   "Run. You must run into the forest and hide and never come back to this place!" The hunter screaming at her.

   "But why?" She asked, scared and shocked. "Won't my mother worry about me if I run away?"

   "Your mother is the reason why you must run away. She wants you dead. She cannot bear the thought that you are fairer than she. She wishes you dead and your heart in a box. She is an evil witch. Now run! Run deep into the forest and DON'T COME BACK!"

Ebony was shaking and her mind was numb, but she knew the hunters words were true. She now realised the hunter was meant to cut out her heart but instead wished for Ebony to flee. She thanked the hunter and in return for saving her she pulled out a piece of fine silk from her pocket that had been neatly braided into a thin rope. She handed the necklace to the hunter and again the hunter told her to run.

Without another word Ebony turned from the hunter and ran. She faced the forest before her and ran deeper than she had ever imagined and left her home behind her.