54 Things arent always as they seem, part 2 (1/2)
When Snow and Nate arrived at their destination, she saw that they were Down Town again, but this time they were standing in front of an old gate, between two buildings. Snow could hear noise coming from the other side, and wondered what it was.
Nate saw her standing there, staring at the Gate. It was rusty, but had a beautiful pattern at the top, which consisted of metal vines and roses.
”Come on.” He beckoned, but when she didn't budge, he took her hand, intertwining their fingers. She looked down but didn't pull her hand away. He then led her through the gate and when they rounded the corner, Snow's eyes bulged out of her head.
Children was running about, chasing each other and laughing. Women were doing their laundry, and chatting with the person standing next to them. Snow looked at these people with wide eyes. The children wore clothes that was ragged and worn out. She wondered why they were so hidden from the world, then a thought dawned on her.
”They're refugees.” Snow whispered.
”Yes, they are. These are the people who lost their homes due to the Demon attacks.”
”Where are all the men?” Snow noticed that there wasn't any man in sight.
”Well, some of them are in the woods, cutting trees to get firewood for the night, and well, others died protecting their wife and children.” Nate explained, a solemn expression on his face.
”Oh.” Snow looked at the nearby children, so some of them lost their fathers or their mothers, or even both.
”How long have they been staying here?”
Nate shrugged, ”only a couple of years.”
”Only a couple of years?” Snow gaped at this image in front of her. ”How have you stayed hidden so long?”
”Well, the King doesn't care about this part of the city. No one ever comes here, and this place is well secluded, you'd have to know that it's here to find it.” Nate crossed his arms.
”How did you find this place then?”
”I live here.” Nate turned to her with a smile.
Snow furrowed her brow, ”but you're not a refugee.”
”No, and not all of them are. Some, like me, who is from this city, lost everything in a demon attack a few years ago.” Nate gazed at the children. Snow could see hurt and vulnerability in his eyes. Now she understands where it came from. He lost everything, along with these people, and nobody is doing anything about it.
”And you all just lived here since? How do you feed everyone?” Then Snow realised something. ”The robberies. That's it, isn't it. That's how you take care of everyone.”
Nate nodded, ''You're quick to catch on, princess.”
”Why didn't you tell me? I could have talked to the King, I could have helped you.” Nate shook his head.
”That's just the thing, I didn't want anyones pity. I didn't want you looking at me the way you're doing right now. If I was to show you, I wanted you to be proud of what I have done here, and besides, the king won't take care of us, so we have to take care of ourselves.” Snow nodded her head in understanding. She understands where he is coming from, even if she is a little upset that he didn't tell her sooner, but she won't hold it against him, because she wasn't exactly forthcoming either and he is showing her now.
”You know, you sound a lot like those bad guys that tried to stop the Summit, and almost blowing up the King in the process.” Snow laughed. Nate was watching her expression closely, and looked relieved when she made a joke.
”No, that was my boss and my partner.” Nate put his arm around Snow's shoulder, while they walked around.
”Wait. So that was you? You could've killed him!” Snow turned to glare at him.
”First, no. That was my partner, I wasn't involved with that. Second, that wasn't real bombs, it was smoke bombs, just enough to scare the king and delay the whole thing, but we didn't think there would be another magic-user.” Nate winked at Snow.
”So, you knew who I was when we first met at the market?”
”Yes, and no. I recognised you, but I couldn't quite figure out from where, until I saw you in action.”
”Why did you want to delay the summit?”
”My, my, so many questions today.”
Snow gave him a pointed look before he sighed at continued.
”We don't trust the Empire.”
”That's all? But they're going to sign a peace treaty.''
”That's just it. We have been at war with the Empire for fifty years. Why call the war off now?”
”Maybe because the know they are going to lose. We aren't the only ones with demon problems.”
”You're right, but I don't think that's the reason for calling cease fire.” Nate was quiet for a moment, all most as if he was choosing his next words. ”Do you remember that story of Troy?”
”Yeah, we learned about it in history. What about it?” Snow furrowed her brows together.
”Do you remember that horse statue they made which the King thought was a sign that they gave up?”
”Yeah, and then the youngest prince told them they should burn it, but they didn't listen to him. I always thought the King was a fool, because he didn't listen to his eldest son the first time around and that got the prince killed. One should think he ought to have learned his lesson, but when he didn't listen to his youngest son's words, the King paid with his life and the great city of Troy fell at the hands of the Greeks.”
Snow saw in Nate's eyes he was both impressed and proud.
”You know quite a bit of your history, don't you.” Snow shrugged, but a blush began to spread over her cheeks at the intensity of his gaze.
”But what does that have to do with...” Comprehension dawned on Snow when she figured out what he was trying to say. ”You think that the peace treaty is their way of getting into the city?” Nate nodded.
”It makes sense when you think about it.” Nate said, Snow could feel the colour draining from her face.
”We have to warn the king, surely he must know it's a trap!”
”I agree, but the empire will arrive here in two weeks when that prince is going on his fancy road trip. There isn't much time left, if any.”
Snow rolled her eyes at the bite Nate took toward the prince, but chose to ignore it. She didn't want to think about him after last night. It still hurts to know that he thinks of her that way. They started out as friends, although they both had feelings for each other, but with his duties and her training they grew apart.
”We still need to warn him, though.” Nate nodded, deep in thought. Snow hook her arm with Nate's, earning a grin from him.
”Nate?”
”Hmm?”
”You told me you had a boss and a partner?”
”Yes?” Nate answered, watching her from the corner of his eye.
”So you're not the boss of this little operation?” Snow laughed, ”and here I thought we had our own little Robin Hood.”
”Ha ha. Very funny.” Nate rolled his eyes, ”I am the leader of my own group. We are the ones who get the resources to feed this place. My friend, who is also my partner, and his group, were the ones to bring protection and to make this place feel safe, but since that dumb fool got captured, we don't get those things anymore.”
”What about your boss? What does he do?”
”He's the one who orchestrated this whole system and keeps it in check. His got his own group who guards this place, and makes all the plans to advance us, and to make us better.”
”I didn't see any guards when we came here.” Snow furrowed her brow, looking around to see if she could spot them.
”That's the whole point. If you can't see them, then outsiders can't get suspicious and come snooping around where they're not suppose to.”
”This whole thing is like a big secret organisation and your boss is the brains behind it.”
”Exactly.”
”Wow. I never would have imagined that you, Nate, the bad boy, would have such a big heart.” Snow kissed his cheek, laughing.
”And you are queen of it.” Nate picked her up and spun around, making Snow laugh.
”Nate!” A voice yelled, ”stop making out with that girl and come put your muscles to use.”
When both of them turned it was an old lady who called him.
Nate sighed, ”I'm coming, Mrs Potterson.” He walked away, giving Snow a quick peck on the lips. She watched him move toward the the lady who called him. The woman looked tired and worn out, physically. She had on an apron, wiping her hands on it. She looked on with a scowl, and when Nate finally reached her, she looked like she was going off about something. Nate was over all tall, but with the old lady standing next to him, it looked like he was towering over her. Snow laughed at the image.
”Ohhhh, you're pretty.” Snow turned around, and looked down to see a girl standing in front of her, with glossy eyes and red hair, braided into two braids.
”Aww, that's so sweet of you.” Snow crouched down to look the girl in the eye, ”but you know, you are just as pretty, maybe even more so.”
The girl gave a big smile. ''Really?”
”Really.” Snow laughed, ”now tell me, what is your name?”
”Annabeth.”
”It's nice to meet you Annabeth, my name is Snow.”
”Snow? Oh, you're the girl who Nate can't stop talking about. He said you were very pretty.”
Snow blushed, but she decided to laugh it off.”Did he now?”
The girl nodded her head. ”Yeah, and he said that he's going to save you from the evil prince.”
Snow laughed again, I wonder what else he said to this child.
”Hey, Annabeth, who is your new friend.” An older boy came walking toward them, he didn't look older than 8.
”Brother, it's Snow, the one Nate's always talking about.” The girl told him. He looked at Snow with a sceptical gaze, before turning his focus back to his sister.
”Yes, I see, but mother is calling us, so come on.” He took her hand and led her away, but she turned around and waved at Snow.
”Bye Snowflake” She yelled. Snow gaped at the girl, and spun around when she heard a voice behind her
”Snowflake? I should remember that one.” Snow turned around and saw Nate walking towards her.
”Yeah, well I hear I'm quite popular, since you can't stop talking about me.” Snow smirked, making him blush.
”Where did you hear that?” Nate cleared his throat, his eyes darting everywhere.
”From Annebeth.” She smiled at his awkwardness.
”She's a child, she must've heard wrong.”
Snow laughed, ”You're right, that must be it.” She shook her head at him.
”Come on, before anyone else wants my help.” Nate quickly took her hand and led her toward one of the rooftops.
”Who was that lady, anyway?” Snow asked when they reached the top. The roof had two walls, the rest of the sides had no walls.They sat on the edge with their legs dangling over the rooftop.