Prince Brandish (Fables)



Prince Brandish, aka Werian Holt, is a character in the Fables comic series. He is the main antagonist of the Snow White arc.

Much like the original fairy tale he originates from, he was transformed into a bear and released of the curse by Snow White and her sister, Rose Red. He then makes a vow with Snow White that the two would get married. However, the prince did not marry Snow White, as his father, the king, refused to let Brandish marry a common peasant girl. Centuries later, he assumed the name of Werian Holt, and was brought to the mundy world by Mister Dark to serve as a fencing instructor for Mrs. Spratt. After Mister Dark's death, he begins to teach the transformed Mrs. Spratt the art of assassination, and becomes her co-conspirator on an unknown dark plan for Fabletown. When the Fables come to claim Dark's castle as their own, both Spratt and Holt pretend to have been Mister Dark's prisoners.

He has recently revealed himself to Snow, much to Spratt's surprise and disdain (as she knew nothing of his past and was still very bitter to Snow). He forcefully tries to take claim on Snow as his legal wife, because they promised to marry each other back in the Homelands. Snow tries pushing away his advances, but he's very determined to have her and plans to kill Bigby and all of the children she had with him. And plans to make her replace the children with their human children. While Bigby is away, Brandish takes Snow captive and locks her up in one of the towers in Mr. Dark's castle. He bewitches himself so that any injury inflicted on him will also hurt Snow, making any attempt at rescue complicated. When Snow attacks him in an attempt to free herself, he breaks her arm to teach her a lesson and make her more docile. Snow vows to kill him herself. Bigby eventually arrives to free his wife, but Brandish transforms him into a statue made of glass. Snow eventually manages to escape, while Mrs. Green manages to break the spell that Brandish put on himself. Snow utilizes the fencing lessons once given to her by her ex-husband, Prince and engages Brandish in a sword duel. Even with a broken arm, and much to Brandish's surprise, Snow manages to gain the upper hand, an kills him by stabbing him through the heart - but not before Brandish shatters the statue of Bigby.

Because of his abuse towards Snow and his plans to kill her cubs and replace them with his own, Prince Brandish is regarded as one of the most detestable characters in the series, excluding Geppetto himself.