SNOW HUNTER-FF Chapter 1

SNOW HUNTER- CHAPTER 1

HIM

Arnav walked through the brambles, his sword in hand. The woods were getting thicker and it was already late afternoon, but there was still no sign of the princess. He used his sword to ward away the thick bushes trying to make way through the woods. The walking trail had ended a half hour ago. This side of the woods was wilder and even though there was a meadow of flowers close to the river, he didn't believe that the princess would have wandered so far into the wild.

He had lived in a hut, on the other side of the river, as long as he could remember. He had been brought up by an old hunter. He had called him old man and the hunter had called him young man in return, teaching him all there was to know about hunting, sword fighting and surviving in the wild. Even as a small boy he had known that the hunter wasn't his father and he had often questioned the old man. His only reply- "It will do you no good to know where you come from, young man."

The mystery behind Arnav's lineage, never really bothered him. However, the loss of the old man had bothered him greatly in the year when he himself had turned twenty five. More than anything, the old man had been a companion, a guide. His demise had meant a loss of direction and an emptiness that was too hard to handle at first. But he had slowly learnt to live with all of it. He had learnt to fend for himself by hook or by crook.

He stopped when he found a large broken branch blocking his path. He kept his sword on the ground and placing both his arms around it, he lifted it with ease and threw it over his shoulder. Firewood was always welcome.

Where the hell is this princess??? The queen had said that she was wandering alone somewhere in the woods close to the palace and he had scaled the entire area around the palace. He knew the woods like the back of his hand but she had still managed to evade him somehow. The queen had been clear in her demand as she had shown him the photograph. "Find her and kill her. Then bring the body back to me and you can name your price." It was an offer he couldn't refuse. The queen was the only person who could give him what he wanted. Thus, he had agreed for the first time in his life, to kill a person. How hard could it be? He had hunted ferocious animals and tamed wolves, killing a woman would a piece of cake. He had never had much human contact except for his old man and emotions or humanity were vague concepts to him. He was just another animal among animals.

He didn't understand the reason behind the queen's hatred but who was he to care. The princess was probably evil and deserved what she was getting. The queen was evil enough to order the killing of her own daughter, he thought with a wry smile. May be it runs in the family, he thought and kept moving, still looking for the princess. It would be twilight soon and he wondered if he should go back since he was very close to the meadow now and there was little chance that the princess would have come this far.

He stopped again as he came to the deep ditch that separated the meadow from the woods. It was dangerous to try and cross the ditch but he had placed a broad carved trunk near the fir trees on the east side, several years ago, for a safe crossing. He turned to his left and started to move along the edge of the ditch, towards his bridge, but soon stopped when he noticed someone lying in the ditch.

Oh shit! He bent down to look closely and was taken aback. In a yellow dress, now covered with dirt, he saw the princess unconscious in the ditch, with wild flowers strewn all over her from a toppled basket.

Is she dead? He wondered. I'd better check.

(if you want updates you can add me to your buddy list and I will pm you.

you can also follow me on my blogs-

www.timeless-fairytales.blogspot.in

www.alldromance.wordpress.com)