|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 1, 2012 18:20:32 GMT -8
Granny and Red's Cottage Located in King George's Kingdom, the cottage sits isolated on the outskirts of a small village and is bordered by the forest. Its wolf-proofing system is ... ineffective.
Events occurring 5 years Before Dark Curse |
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 5, 2012 23:20:06 GMT -8
Red paced from one side of her bedroom to the other. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. It was tedious, but it was all she could do to get some of her restless energy out before she exploded. It just didn't make sense- Wolf's Time wasn't even for another fortnight but Granny still wouldn't allow her to leave the house after the wolf had managed to nab a few sheep the month before.
It didn't seem to matter how much Red argued that the wolf had only ever been seen during Wolf's Time or that it had never even gone after a human being before...that they knew of anyway, but she didn't add that. She was still stuck in the cottage, stuck wearing the red cloak. Actually, the latter was currently strewn across Red's bed. She had angrily flung it there when she went into her room to sulk after Granny said no - again- to her venturing down to the village.
Red loved her Granny with all her heart. Granny had basically raised her after her mother died and her father left. But Red had never done well with being cooped up in one place for too long. She needed the outside, needed air. So she was going to get it. Granny knew she was upset and would let her alone for a few hours. Just enough time for Red to sneak out and go to....where? Her first thought was to Peter's, but it would be too risky to go into the village. That was bound to get back to her grandmother. Rose lived in the woods but her aunts probably wouldn't be too keen about Red sneaking out. That is, if they found out...
Red swiftly pulled on her cloak and unlatched her inner shutters. She felt guilty about disobeying Granny, but the feeling of the chilly air on her face propelled her through the window and towards the woods....
*Red exits to Briar Rose's cabin*
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 18, 2012 21:43:54 GMT -8
The next evening...
It felt like Red's heart was pounding all the way in her throat rather than in her ribcage where it belonged. She was nervous. Nervous about what the coming night would bring. Was she really making the right decision with Peter? He was one of her dearest friends and if anything should happen between them...what if that ruined it? Red could not imagine a life without him in it. Or perhaps this would only make what they had even better. After all, what better than to share true love with your best friend?
Even more than her worries about what would happen when she reached Peter, Red found herself more and more leery of Granny discovering the whole plan before she could take her leave. Granny had seemed awfully suspicious during supper, most likely spurred by Red's uncommon quiet at the dinner table. She had followed Rose's suggestion and the letter to Peter was safely tucked away under her pillow just in case it needed to be delivered.
"All locked up." Red found herself jumping in surprise as Granny re-entered the cabin, the latter having been checking the outer shutters on the windows, "What is wrong with you, girl? You nearly jumped out of your skin."
"I'm alright, Granny...Really I am," she added at the doubtful look her grandmother sent her. "I'm just tired. I think I'll go to sleep early."
"Is this about that ne'er-do-well Peter?" Red froze. She couldn't know...could she? "I'll be damned if I see him following you all around town again like a love-sick pup." Red almost sighed in relief. Granny didn't know, it was just the same argument they have been having for months. Unfortunately, this evening Red didn't feel much like fighting when the very man in question was waiting for her.
"No Granny. I woke up earlier than usual this morning so now I'm feeling a little tired." Red couldn't believe how easily the lie came. It disturb her a bit but if the end was right it justified the means, right? Granny seemed to accept the excuse and Red soon found herself sitting in her room awaiting Rose's knock on her window. Their plan was in motion...
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 19, 2012 16:28:07 GMT -8
***Rose enters from Woods - Aurora/Briar Rose and her Aunts' Cabin***
ROSE
Rose waited in the darkness of the trees and watched as Red's Gran locked up the windows. It just now dawned on her how odd it was to have locks on the outside of one's house but was willing to bet if her aunts caught her sneaking out tonight, she'd have locks of her own on the outside of her window. She had no idea how her aunts would react as this was the first time she'd blatantly defied their rules but guessed that that would be the least of her worries.
Once all the lights in the cabin had gone out, Rose waited for what felt like an eternity before quietly making her way to Red's window. Rose lightly tapped and quickly ducked down, waiting for Red's return all-clear tap.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 19, 2012 20:31:39 GMT -8
As Red sat beside her bed, she felt like a toy whose springs had been wound too tightly. Under her covers she had stuffed her spare quilt and two small pillows to form an almost body-like image. Red hoped that in the darkness, it would be enough if Granny decided to check on her. She briefly considered wrapping it all in her red cloak, for added realism, but the idea was quickly deemed impractical as it was cold outside and Granny would definitely wonder how she had caught cold in her cozy room.
She had been so focused on waiting for it that when the soft rap on her window finally came, it made Red start with surprise. She quickly tried to recover her wits about her and crept towards the window, gently knocking twice to give Rose the all-clear before pulling open the inner shutters.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 20, 2012 21:47:41 GMT -8
ROSE
Rose stood back up and unlatched the hook, swinging open the outer shutters. "Quickly, hand me the just-in-case letter," she whispered, "then I'll help you down." Rose kept an eye on the bottom of Red's door for any signs of candlelight.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 21, 2012 21:26:20 GMT -8
Red slipped her hand under her pillow and felt around under the rough edges of the note brushed against her fingers. A slight smile flitted across her face as her fingers curled around the paper and freed it from it's hiding place. As she backed away, the edge of her cloak caught on a small hairbrush sitting on her bedside table. The object fell to the floor with a clatter and she froze, eyes wide. The silence of the room was now deafening as she waited to hear any stirring coming from the hall. But the noise never came. She hastily crossed the short distance separating her bed and the window.
"Here," she whispered passing the note to Rose, "I think we're safe." She hoisted herself onto the window ledge, taking care not to bump into anything else that could give them away. After Rose helped her down to the ground outside her window, she turned and carefully closed the outer shutters to conceal the darkened room from the bright light of the not-yet-full moon. Red pressed a finger to her lips, signaling that she thought they should stay quiet so near to the cottage, and pointed in the direction of the chicken house. Just beyond it would be the well, on the edge of the forest. When they had made it a good distance, Red felt safe to speak. Her previous nerves had turned to almost a giddy type of excitement. Though she was quite adept at sneaking from her cottage during the day, she had never broken Granny's rule about going out on her own after dark before and the whole thing was very thrilling.
"I can't believe that we made it!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 21, 2012 22:52:12 GMT -8
ROSE
They'd had a close call when Red had knocked over her brush and Rose's adrenaline remained higher than usual as she took in her new surroundings. The woods may look the same here as by her cabin to an outsider but having learned the placing of every tree, bush, and animal nests and covens from spend her entire life restricted to the same small area, this was like a whole new world.
"I can't believe I'm this far out of my set boundaries," she said with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. "How far to the well?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 22, 2012 0:22:44 GMT -8
"Doesn't it feel wonderful?" Red was never really much of a rule breaker. Certainly she and Peter had gotten in mischief as children- playing practical jokes on the other villagers had been Peter's favorite pastime and Red happily worked as his partner in crime. It was only recently that she had begun outright defying Granny's wishes on her own and even then, Red assured herself, it was because of the unfair rules that kept her trapped in the cottage all day long. She had never even considered going outside at night.
But now as the moon shone down on her and her heart raced in time with the chirping crickets and her hair lifted from her shoulders to mingle with the gentle force of the wind, she felt so alive. So strong. More so than in the daytime doing her chores or in the evenings spent sitting by the fire. Even more than she felt the few times that Granny had taken her to town meetings that lasted until the daylight dwindled. This was powerful.
"It's not much farther. Not even a quarter of a league." Red let the cool evening air flow into her lungs, "The well is a stone's throw from the chicken house. That should provide plenty of coverage for you, if you want to stay."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 23, 2012 16:38:09 GMT -8
ROSE
"Doesn't it feel wonderful?"
"Yes!" she said at the exhilarating feeling of adrenaline running through her. Then she thought of her aunts and their disappointment if they ever found out. 'And no...' she mentally added, not wanting to spoil Red's moment.
"It's not much farther. Not even a quarter of a league." "The well is a stone's throw from the chicken house. That should provide plenty of coverage for you, if you want to stay."
Rose considered her surroundings, weighing her options. "I'm not familiar with these parts of the woods so I shall wait patiently for you by the chicken house. I promise not to peek... more than a couple times," she said with a teasing smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 23, 2012 18:53:26 GMT -8
"I'm not familiar with these parts of the woods so I shall wait patiently for you by the chicken house. I promise not to peek... more than a couple times,"
Red grinned and gave her friend a playful nudge, "Right...I promise I won't be long. The sooner we return, the less chance there is of anyone noticing that we ever left." Red stopped as the well came into view. There, in the dim glow of the moon, stood Peter. His back was to them and he had his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Suddenly Red's heart seemed to beat a bit quicker, "Well...I guess this is it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 23, 2012 23:16:03 GMT -8
ROSE
"Good luck!" Rose said with a grin. She picked up her skirts and ran across the small clearing, hiding behind the chicken house. Once there, Rose gave Red a wave, signaling that she was settled and that Red was free to approach Peter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 27, 2012 21:55:09 GMT -8
Once Rose had disappeared behind the chicken house, Red turned back towards the well. Peter still hadn't noticed her presence, something that Red was thankful for. Between the rush of adrenaline from sneaking out well past night fall and her nerves over Peter, she was surprised to find a calmness had fallen on her. She took a few strides in the direction of the well before calling out, "Peter?"
He turned, his dark features even more striking under the silvery light of the moon. Relief now flooded those features and his mouth quirked upwards into a grin as their eyes met. "You came."
By now Red had reached him and he immediately reached his hands out, almost as if he needed to feel her in front of him before he could believe his own eyes that she was there. "I did." Red smiled, "Did you think I wouldn't?"
Peter shook his head, "I was beginning to worry. But here you are...does this mean-" The kiss caught him by surprise and silenced him. It was a quick kiss- chaste and innocent. Red could scarcely believe she had been so bold as to do it at all, silently laying the blame on the euphoric energy coursing through her veins. When they separated, Red couldn't help but laugh at the perfect mask of elation and confusion that Peter wore, "I think you know what it means. I don't have much time. If Granny discovers that I'm gone, I'll most likely never see you- or the light of day- again. But...I had to see you."
Peter nodded, reluctant to end the rendezvous so soon but knowing that Red was right. "Write me? Leave it in the chicken house and I'll come retrieve it. And I will write you back." His hand, roughened from working in the blacksmith shop, cupped her chin. "Everyday," Red agreed, "We'll find a way to meet." He pulled her closer for one last kiss, this one slower than the first, "We will." They stood there, enjoying the moment before they knew it had to end.
All too soon, Red found herself rounding the corner of the chicken house with her mind a million miles away.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 29, 2012 21:00:44 GMT -8
ROSE
The distance and darkness hadn't allowed Rose to see much of what had transpired but the dreamy look on Red's face made Rose grin. "I take it things went well?" she teased.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 30, 2012 19:58:02 GMT -8
Red couldn't help the blissful grin that overtook her face, "You could say that." The moon was sitting high in the sky and she could see that it was getting very late. "We should get home before they notice we're gone." So many thoughts were running through her head. She didn't know where to start as they began their trek back towards the cabin. "Rose," the words were just barely audible, "do you believe in true love?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 7, 2012 19:47:40 GMT -8
ROSE
"Of course I do!" she said, her eyes wide in surprise that the question had to even be ask. "Doesn't everybody?"
Even she didn't question it, though she'd spent her life secluded from the rest of the world and didn't foresee that changing. No matter what the situation, she believed true love would find a way.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 8, 2012 9:56:34 GMT -8
"I suppose most do." Red agreed as her window came into view. It was common knowledge that true love and true love's kiss held powerful magic. Even so, there were others who spurned the idea as old-fashioned or impossible- mostly out of bitterness of true love tragically lost or never found. As much as she longed to, Red herself had never seen a love that true and pure before...but as she bid farewell to her companion and silently climbed back into her bedroom she wondered if that was all about to change...
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 8, 2012 10:51:16 GMT -8
SOME TIME LATER... It was cold, Red noticed as she began to awaken. Groggily, she reached to pull her cloak tighter around her underneath of her quilt. Only the cloak was not there. She must have removed it before bed. Red suddenly regretted disobeying Granny's orders to wear the red hooded cloak to bed during Wolf's Time. It would have provided much needed extra warmth. Though they were well into the winter months, the freezing chill in her bedroom was odd so Red forwent her desire to cling to the last remnants of sleep in order to investigate the source of the icy breeze. The sleepy daze her mind was in immediately vanished and was replaced with dread as she sat up. The window was open and a thin dusting of snow covered the window sill and floor before it. But how had it happened? She was sure that she had bolted the inner shutters after Peter's visit the night before. Or...she thought she did. Perhaps she had forgotten and a strong wind blew it in. Red quickly closed the window. The wolf hadn't taken the opportunity to enter the house and Granny hadn't seen the open window. That was all that mattered. She would just be more careful in the future. As Red dressed for the day, she daydreamed about Peter's idea to run away together. No more worrying about wolves stalking the village or feeling caged by her own grandmother...a future together. These thoughts were still very much in her mind as she entered the kitchen. Granny was still sitting in the chair she had left her in, crossbow tightly in hand as she guarded the front door. "Did you get any sleep at all last night?" Red asked, though she already knew the answer to the question. "I'll sleep with the trolls in the afterlife," Granny stood from her chair, satisfied that the immediate danger was over with the rising of the sun. "I'll get the shutters. You go check if that wolf left the chickens alone."It was normal morning procedure during Wolf's Time. After a quick chastising from Granny to wear her hood, Red began her walk through the snow to the chicken house. |
|
|
|
Post by Mary Margaret on Sept 9, 2012 20:00:40 GMT -8
The hay and feathers and constant clucking may have been a problem for anyone else, but for Snow the small hen house was like a castle. It was warm-ish and dry. And inside. She did not want to meet whatever was making that awful howl in the woods and knowing full well what sort of dangers lurked in the forest, she wanted to be far away from it. She had put much time and distance between herself and her old life as the winter progressed, but she felt no closer to safety. She wondered if Robin and his men even missed her. But she knew her stepmother still wanted her dead. So she would make a meager breakfast from this villager's eggs and try to come up with her next step.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 10, 2012 7:02:17 GMT -8
Red pushed open the hen house door, hoping to find a message from Peter waiting on the other side. She was disappointed but not surprised when there was no small piece of parchment wedged between the wooden slats of the hut. They had long moved past written notes and much preferred trying to see each other as much as possible. Carefully she began to remove eggs from beneath some of the roosting chickens, there physically but her mind a million miles away. They attempted to meet as often as possible but it was becoming ever so much more difficult as Granny pulled the reigns tighter and tighter. It was becoming frustrating and no matter how she tried, Granny would not change her opinion of Peter. Unfortunately, being caught would definitely make things worse.
The last egg removed, Red started to the door. There had been some very close calls recently, the past eve included. Perhaps Granny was beginning too- She froze as a loud thump sounded from behind her. Someone else was there. The wolf? But it was broad daylight...shafts of light streamed in from the windows and the small holes in the roof. Her curiosity was stronger than her fear so slowly, Red turned to face the rear of the coop and took a few cautious steps forward.
Well, this was strange. A girl, probably not much older than herself, was crouched behind the fence and clutching something in her hands. Red didn't recognize her from the village...possibly just a traveller passing through. Her cape, though obviously once very fine, seemed dirty and worn like she had been on a long journey.
"Are you stealing our eggs?" Red asked, more baffled by the situation than anything else as she caught a glimpse of what the girl grasped in each hand. Of all the things she expected to find, this was not high on her list.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mary Margaret on Sept 11, 2012 12:43:47 GMT -8
"Are you stealing our eggs?"
"No!" Snow insisted, as she stood to face the girl in the red cloak. Then she remembered the two eggs in her gloved hands. "Well, not a lot." She lowered her eyes and held the eggs out to the girl.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 11, 2012 15:15:57 GMT -8
Red's expression softened at the girl's distress. She could tell just by looking at her that this girl was not a dangerous or malicious type. It almost seemed as if she hadn't really wanted to take the eggs either, so she wasn't a seasoned thief. The state of her clothing suggested that she must have been journeying for quite some time. It wasn't hard to see that the girl needed some help and Red was more than happy to provide it. Two eggs would not put them out of house and home. "Hey, hey! It's alright." Red smiled, trying to put the girl at ease.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mary Margaret on Sept 11, 2012 15:32:31 GMT -8
"Hey, hey! It's alright."
"Thank you," Snow exhaled with sincere relief. "It was just last night there was something out there. It was howling," she tried to explain, though 'howling' was hardly strong enough a word for that sound that sent shivers up her spine. "And it was so cold so...."
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 11, 2012 16:03:52 GMT -8
"It was just last night there was something out there. It was howling,"
The wolf. It had to be. So it was nearby last night. Chills ran down her spine as she thought about the open window. It looked like both this girl and herself were very lucky.
"And it was so cold so...."
Her heart went out to the girl. Whatever had led her here, it must have taken a toll. It didn't take long for Red to make up her mind. "Hey. Come on...come with me," she offered softly. She turned to go out the door but she hadn't made it far when her manners caught up with her. She faced the girl again to introduce herself, "Everyone calls me Red."
|
|
|
|
Post by Mary Margaret on Sept 11, 2012 16:09:50 GMT -8
"Hey. Come on...come with me. Everyone calls me Red."
Snow was taken aback by the young woman's kindness and acceptance. Not just the fact that she wasn't angry about the eggs but that she seemed to welcome a thief to stay. "I'm Sn--" She stopped herself, unsure whether the queen's posters had made it this far out in the countryside. "Frosty," she corrected.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 11, 2012 16:17:47 GMT -8
"Frosty,"
The name caught her off guard. "Frosty? Really?" She had never heard of Frosty as a given name before. Then again, most parents didn't call their daughters Red either.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mary Margaret on Sept 11, 2012 16:29:21 GMT -8
"Frosty? Really?"
"No, not really," she admitted with a wince of embarrassment. "It's just that...someone's looking for me, so..." Which was the truth, even if it did leave out the part about her murderous stepmother who wielded dark magic when she didn't get her way.
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 11, 2012 16:41:16 GMT -8
"It's just that...someone's looking for me, so..."
Suddenly it all made sense. She was on the run. "You don't know or trust me yet," Red finished for her. "Hey, I get it. I just need something to call you." She smiled encouragingly, hoping that it would be enough to assure the girl that she wouldn't press her on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mary Margaret on Sept 11, 2012 16:52:24 GMT -8
"Hey, I get it. I just need something to call you."
It was a comfort that Red anticipated her uncertainty. She didn't want to give this seemingly cheerful, open-hearted girl a reason to distrust her. But living as an outlaw had taught her to trust only a few select people. It was easier that way. Also, they didn't usually exchange pleasantries with those they robbed so she was out of practice with alternate identities.
"Margaret," she offered hesitantly. "Oh, no." Far too stuffy and old-fashioned. "Mary..." Snow tried out the name in her head and on her tongue, finally nodding with a smile. "Mary."
|
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Sept 11, 2012 17:32:35 GMT -8
"Mary."
"Well, then, Mary- come on." Red sent another smile at Mary before she led the way out of the chicken coop. She carefully chose her next words, wanting to offer aid without giving Mary cause to think that she was trying to pry for information. "You know, if you need a place to stay for a few days, you are welcome in our cottage. I'm sure that Granny wouldn't mind." Red wasn't sure how true that statement was but she did know that Granny would never turn Mary away with the looming threat of Wolf's Time hanging over the village. "We don't have a lot of room, but it's warm and Granny is an excellent cook."
|
|
