Snowflake tightened her grasp around her dagger. 

"Easy now, Princess. If I were you, I wouldn't try to take on such a large number of armed people alone." said Goldilocks, "Drop your weapon and make your friends do it too."

Snowflake let go of her dagger. The others did the same.

"Good girl." Goldilocks said, "Jess, Jim, collect them. Fast."

"We have nothing that could be of use to you, no prized possession." Hazel said.

"You are wrong, sweetie. Your weapons alone are worth a fortune and then, I believe that your friends at the Royal Palace have been looking for you."

Goldilocks held up a notice by the Council promising a handsome reward to anyone who provided information on the rebels.

"Now imagine what reward we would get if we caught the rebels and produced them to the Council." she said.

"Do you not remember that you are fugitives too? Burglars, bandits, plunderers; whatever you are, you are criminals. Would you really risk your own safety for a reward?" Snowflake said.

Goldilocks laughed. "Nice try, princess but I think that you yourself know that the Council wants nothing as much as you and your pals right now. All our deeds will be forgotten when we'll help in your capture. We'll amiably shake hands with the Council, as all the blood is washed off them."

"How can you be so blind? When the darkness will fall, it will engulf all of you, destroy you and everything you have. The Snow Queen is back and you very well know that no one else rules in her reign. You will come to an end, Goldilocks." Hazel said.

"Darling, look at us. We are like hunters or parasites, if you will. We lurk in the shadows in wait of a prey and live off what we steal. We live in the now, because we don't have no future." Goldilocks said, "So, long story short, we don't care."

The bandits approached them. Snowflake's wrists were held back and tied.

"Where are you taking us?" Ced asked.

"To the den." The brigand leader turned, leading the way.

"Come on! Walk fast." Snowflake was pushed ahead by one of the bandits. She was joined by Elijah. Good, at least the boy had not been left alone to fend for himself.

"Elijah," she whispered to him, "keep talking to the bandit. Divert his attention from me."

Hopefully, Elijah had understood what she had said.

"Did you not hear? Walk fast!" The bandit sneered at them.

She followed after him. The bandit took a turn and they were separated from the other rebels. He led them through a dark, narrow pathway.

"Where are you taking us?" Elijah asked.

"Away from your friends." the bandit replied.

"Is this a shortcut?"

"No, just a special place for the rebel leader." the bandit mocked him.

Meanwhile, Snowflake tried to free her hands from the ropes by loosening the knot.

"Look, I am not the rebel leader. She is." Elijah said, feigning anxiety, "I am her errand boy, nothing more. You will get no reward of me. I am a non-entity."

The bandit laughed, amused.

"The Council doesn't even know of me. I hail from a small village in a corner of the land."

"Then perhaps, we should kill you."

"No, please, don't do that. I have a sister, a little sister and an old mother. They will have no one to care for, if I die. Please, spare me. Don't you have a family too?"

"No. I never married." the bandit said.

Snowflake felt the ropes loosen. Now, it was only a matter of time.

"But surely, you have a heart." Elijah said, "Please, let me go."

"Not another word from you, lad or I swear I'll slice your throat right here."

Elijah continued persistently, "N...No. I will reward you handsomely."

"You take me for a fool, eh? You ain't rich, that much is clear."

"Yes, yes. But I know things. I could help you."

"Shut up." said the bandit.

"I know of the treasure, I know where the rebels have hidden it."

The bandit stopped walking. He turned to Elijah. "What treasure?"

The rope slid off Snowflake's hands. She kicked the bandit's leg. Losing balance, he tumbled onto the ground.

He grunted, getting up immediately. His hand were curled into fists. He stretched an arm toward Snowflake. She blocked the attack.

She tried to attack but he caught hold of her hand midway. Their hands were locked together and he pushed his weight on her. She struggled to not succumb to it.

All of a sudden, he let go of her hands. He let out a piercing cry, taking his head in his hands. He fell onto the ground, tears rolling down his cheeks, uncontrollably. His watery eyes looked at her helplessly. Guilt and fear were reflected in them.

"No, no. Stop!" he wailed, "I am...I am sorry. I can't bear it. Please, stop." He shut his eyes. Soon, he dropped down onto the floor, unconscious.

Snowflake turned to Elijah who was staring at the bandit. He looked shaken.

"Did you do that?" Snowflake asked.

Elijah never stopped looking at the bandit. "Y...Yes. I...I made him feel."

Snowflake took hold of his hand. "Well errand boy, we've got to run."

****

Hazel looked outside the prison in which she was kept.

There were two or three guards stationed outside. She was sure there were more in the vicinity.

She groaned dejectedly.

"I guess we have no means but to escape." she said to Ced, "Oh, I wish..."

"And here I am!" said Ced, "Now, what were your other two wishes?"

Hazel stared at him blankly. "Ced, seriously? Don't you realise the gravity of the situation."

"The gravity?" he said, "No wonder I feel this attraction..."

Hazel cringed at him. "Wanna know my second wish? Shut up. What is up with you? Since when have you become a fan of cheesy one liners?"

"Why ,what's wrong with them?" said Ced, disappointedly, "I came up with them myself."

No wonder.

"Why are you using them on me?" Hazel asked.

"Don't you know why, Hazel?"

"Well, here's a piece of advice." she said, "Those trashy pick-up lines won't impress any girl, unless you want an airhead. You don't know how to flirt at all."

Ced laughed. "I obviously don't but I am trying. You see, there is this girl I really like. She's pretty smart so I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of her. So, I am practising my lines on you. You know, like target practice, hit and trial."

Hazel raised an eyebrow. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You are the only girl who is so close to me. You are my friend and know me quite well. So I figured that you would understand and not take it the wrong way."

Hazel beamed at him. "I can't say that I am not flattered. You just called me your best friend!"

"Err...well."

"So who is this girl you like?" Hazel asked.

"What?!" said Ced.

"As your best friend, I am entitled to know. Is she in the rebellion?"

"Yes and that's all you are getting out of me." Ced said.

"No matter, I will get to know eventually."

"Because you are so smart, Miss Know-it-all?"

Hazel smiled. "Actually I am, naïve guy."

All of a sudden, Hazel heard a noise. She turned to see the guards run away in the direction of the sound.

"Ced, they are gone." Hazel whispered to him, "Let's get out."

"We need to open the lock." Ced said.

Hazel took out a pin from her hair and gave it to him.

"Why would you assume that I know how to pick a lock?" he said.

Hazel shrugged. "Because I don't."

"Well then, it is your lucky day." Ced got to work.

"Fast!" Hazel urged him.

"Patience, young lady." Ced said, "There, I am almost done."

There was a click. The lock opened. Ced pushed the door open and they ran out.

But Hazel stopped. "What now?" Ced asked.

"Footsteps." Hazel replied, "Someone is coming. We need to hide."

"Where?" Ced asked. Hazel pulled him behind a tree.

A group of people walked into their view. Snowflake, Elijah, Amber and Hansel. 

Hazel heaved a sigh of relief and stepped out of the shadows. Snowflake spotted her.

"Good, you both are out already." she said.

"How did you find us?" Ced asked.

"I saw the direction in which you guys went." Elijah replied.

"We don't have much time. Now, let's go and find the bears."

******

Ursula sat behind the bars with her head in her hands. She could not stop wailing. Her mind was plagued by bitter memories of the past that were no less than a nightmare.

There was a gunshot. Followed by another. Both perfectly aimed at his chest. Two gunshots and her son was dead.

"Stop grieving, Ursula." Adalbern said, kindly.

"Why? As a member of the pack, me has to obey you but what right does you have to stop a mother from crying for her child?"

"He was me child too." Adalbern said.

"Then how is you so calm? Bear kind is peaceful. You proudly says we don't take no sides but why not? Because we have become cowards."

"Ursula..."

"That is the harsh truth, Bern. We must be peaceful but not when it comes to me kin and me family's protection. Thy calm is a sin, a refusal to meet the past and thy duty as a father and leader. You feels it is easier to move on but for how long? And how many times?

Even too much tolerance is cowardice and forgiveness without limit, stupidity."

"Methinks Ursula is right." Beowulf said.

Adalbern remained silent.

"Now, now, don't you two be so hard on good old Bernie. He is all you both have now." Ursula turned to see Goldilocks.

"Go away. Me has nothing more to give thee. Leave me wife at peace." Adalbern said.

"Alas! Your peace is the only thing I couldn't take from you. To be frank, I don't wish to steal it away either. For your peace allowed you to turn your back while I took your wealth, destroyed your kin, bear by bear. Now, with a war at the horizon, you still refuse to pick up your weapons. I wonder what you will do when the war begins. Go into hibernation?"

Beowulf growled at her.

"I wonder what might actually provoke you and I come to the conclusion that nothing, nothing can."

Goldilocks opened the door to the prison. "Ursula, come out." Ursula cast a glance at Adalbern and then proceeded to do the same.

"Kneel down." Ursula obeyed. Goldilocks placed her dagger near her neck.

"Will you look on helplessly as I murder your wife?" Goldilocks said.

Adalbern did not stir.

Goldilocks laughed. "You amuse me. Still not ready to bend your principles."

Adalbern looked at Ursula. "Me is sorry."

He got up, walking up to the cage door. He gripped the bars tightly. He grunted, using all the strength he had. Beowulf joined in. The door came out and fell onto the ground.

Beowulf grinned at his brother and pounced on Goldilocks just as Ursula wrestled out of her grip.

Adalbern stepped forward to attack the bandit.

"Wait." Ursula stopped him. She walked up to Goldilocks and looked down at her. For the first time, there was fear in those malicious grey eyes.

"Ursula, forgive me. For old time's sake?"

"No. Me is done forgiving." said Ursula. She brought down her paw to Goldilocks' chest and her claws pierced through her skin, right into her heart.

Ursula pulled her claws out, now glistening red. There were tears in her eyes. The bandit had ceased to breathe.

She looked up to the sky. In the north, the stars had arranged themselves in the shape of a tiny bear.

"Sleep well, me son."

*****

Snowflake halted as she came face to face with what remained of the brigand. There was no way out. They had been surrounded. They were helpless and armless.

A bandit walked up to them. All of a sudden, he dropped to the ground, an arrow sticking out of his back.

Arrows flew from behind and above, killing the bandits one by one.

"Looks like someone's come to rescue us." Ced said hopefully.

"Do you reckon it is Hansel and Gretel?" said Hazel.

"Or Cindy?"

Snowflake pulled an arrow out of one of the bodies lying on the ground. Recognition came over her.

"Such kind of arrows are only used by the royal guard." she said.

She heard a familiar voice. "Princess Snowflake."

Snowflake looked up to see a group of soldiers from the royal palace. They were led by Princess Fiona, who smiled.

"So long."