Chapter Nineteen
After stepping through the Door Between Realms Adam arrived in Apfel in the dead of night. The moon was high, the stars flickered overhead, and not a cloud in the sky to mar the beautiful scenery. Although the scenery was beautiful, it was very dark and much to Adam's dismay there was no lights to guide him back to the city. Although he knew the way very well he was not entirely sure that even he could make that trek through the dark. The last thing he needed to do was to actually go through the small villages in the dark and cause a stir or some sort of chaos. As he stood at the mouth of the Door Between Realms laughter echoed over the valleys and Adam spotted light in the distant house that belonged to the dwarves.
"Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to meet them." He sighed and began to make his way down the mountain when a flash of purple caught his eye. His hand immediately went to his sword, but before he drew his sword he saw one of the dwarves. It was the dwarf they called Dopey. He was waving his hands and doing odd hand motions as if he were trying to communicate with him.
"You should know better than to sneak up on people." Adam scolded as he removed his hand from his hilt. The dwarf did not say anything but continued to do the hand motions. As Adam watched him he remembered that this was the same way that he communicated with the other dwarves.
"Do you speak English? Or is it Apfel?" He asked politely and slowly tried to communicate with him. The dwarf seemed to grow more and more frustrated before he finally grabbed Adam's hand and began to drag him down the mountain. Not wanting to argue with the poor deaf dwarf he allowed the dwarf to guide him down the mountain until they finally reached the dwarf's house.
"Dopey!" a dwarf from inside the house then blew a horn that vibrated the ground. "Dopey!"
The deaf dwarf ran to the door and knocked loudly before the door flung open and six other dwarves waited inside.
"Dopey!" The one named Doc beamed and wrapped him up in a tight hug. "You scared me half to death! You know you're not supposed to be out at night!"
"Yay, he's back." A sleepy looking dwarf yawned. "Does this mean that we can go back to bed now?"
"Yes, Sleepy." Doc rolled his eyes then turned to Dopey. He released the deaf dwarf and continued to do hand motions and Dopey did not look scared or ashamed, merely responded and pointed to Adam who stood quietly behind him. Seven pairs of eyes turned back to him and blinked in curiosity.
"Great, not only did he go for a stroll at night he also brought somethin' home too,'' Grumpy spit outside and glared up at Adam. "Who the heck are you?"
"Grumpy, language!" Doc scolded.
"Yeah, Grumpy." An overly happy one chuckled. "Watch your mouth. But, who are you?"
"I am Adam." Adam introduced himself. "I am Adam Appoi."
"What are you doin' all the way out here, huh?" Grumpy spat again. "Pretty dark out and late out to be just going or a stroll."
"I went for a hike earlier today." He explained, "However, I took a rest up on the mountain, but I ended up sleeping longer than I meant to and when I tried to make the trek down the mountain, I ran into Dopey here." He pointed to Dopey. "I don't speak sign language, though, so I didn't know what he was saying. He just dragged me here. . ."
"That's Dopey all right." Doc sighed. "Well, come on in, we have a few leftovers if you're hungry. We at least have some warm ale left that will warm you right up."
"Thank you. . .'' Adam wanted to decline the invitation simply because he could tell that he was far too tall to try to enter the house. However, Dopey grabbed him by the hand and led him into the house. Adam had to stoop almost into a squat to get into the doorway of the house. The only place he could stand up completely straight was the foyer because he had a higher ceiling than the rest of the house. He had to sit down in a chair and crouch as he walked. He was brought to the kitchen or dining area, of which he could hardly tell because there were just piles and piles of filthy plates and cups and bowls and cutlery that were covered in grim remnants of old food. He clenched his jaw to keep himself from turning his nose up at the hospitality these dwarves had offered him.
Dopey led him to a high backed chair that he could actually rest his head on the very tip of the back of the chair. Still rather fumbling around, Dopey brought him a relatively clean pint cup and poured the ale in it. Just lie Doc had promised it was still warm and Adam had not realized how cold he was. The ale warmed him up just nicely and as he drank the other dwarves, with the exception of Sleepy who had crawled into his bed, joined him at the clean end of their table.
"So what brings you to our neck of the woods?" Doc asked as he eased himself into his chair.
"We don't get too many people out here." Happy giggled and propped his head in his hands.
"Y-y-y-yeah." Bashful burned a deep red and hid in his beard.
"I'm new in town." He spoke honestly as he set his mug down. "I'm on a mission of sorts to stop the Queen. . . Even though I am her nephew."
"What, ya trying ta overthrow her or somethin'?" Grumpy spat and crossed his arms and his legs.
"Not at all." He shook his head and held the handle of the pint cup. "She just hasn't given me any reason to help her."
"Well, though she is the Queen." Doc spoke kindly and pulled at the collar of his shirt as if it was too tight around his neck. "She is far from the kindest person I have ever met."
"She's a royal witchy bitch." Grumpy humped and looked at Adam. "If you got a bone to pick with her that's one thing, but don't you dare go draggin' us in it!"
"Grumpy!" Doc scolded.
"I had no intention of doing so." Adam sighed and took another swig of the ale.
"Don't mind him." Happy laughed, trying to laugh the whole situation off. "He's just grumpy, literally."
"And you're too damn happy, Happy!" Grumpy snapped before grabbing his ale and stalking off from the table.
"Oh if I could only pay with rubies and diamonds. . ." Doc groaned and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes.
"If it would make things better," Adam was ready to leave, "I can just leave -"
"No." Doc held his hand up. "If you leave now Dopey would just follow you and there is no telling when we'd find him again. HE brought you here, so you need to at least stay the night to at least keep him here."
"You make him sound like a lost puppy."
"Normally he isn't." Doc sighed, but gave Dopey a kind look. "But as of late he keeps hanging out towards the end of the line, he keeps wandering off, and this is the third night in a row that he's gone out at night."
"It has been rather problematic." Sneezy sniffled and rubbed his nose. "Usually he stays in front of me, but lately he . . He. . . He. . .!" He reared up to have s big sneeze, but Happy stuck his finger under his nose to keep him from sneezing. "Thank you." He chuckled. "But lately Dopey keeps walking at the back with Grumpy."
"Which has only made Grumpy more grumpy." Bashful agreed quietly.
"He's just curious." Doc sighed and placed a hand on Dopey's shoulder. Dopey was drinking his ale when he suddenly stopped, looked at Doc, and gave him a smile before chugging his ale. "But as of late there just seems to be stuff in the forest that keeps catching his attention."
Adam remained quiet because he felt somewhat at fault for that. Every morning when he came into the Apfel Realm he always saw the dwarves making their way to the mines, and every morning Dopey waved at him. Never once had Adam waved back, mostly to keep from drawing too much attention to himself, however if he was the cause of this dwarf causing such a disturbance in the everyday order maybe he needed to take another route. . .
Dopey looked up at Adam and began to move his hands. Dopey placed his fists together, thumbs up, tolling his hands forwards so the palms ended up facing up and the fingers slightly curled in and pointed to Adam. Adam could only blink at Dopey.
"He's asking 'how are you?'." Doc chuckled. "He's speaking sign you."
"And he does this by speaking with his hands?" He looked to Doc. Doc nodded with a smile.
"Do you want to respond to him?" Doc asked. "I can show you, or I can respond for you."
" I would like to respond. . ." He much preferred to speak for himself. "But I don't know how."
Happy chuckled, "Well, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Then copy this." Doc brought one open hand up to the middle of his chest with his thumb on his chest and tapped it on his chest a few times. Adam repeated the motion and Dopey clapped his hands excitedly and laughed. Adam looked to Doc to see what he needed to do next.
"He's excited you responded." Doc chuckled and rubbed his hand over Dopey's bald head. "Not many people know how to speak sign language. He gets excited whenever someone does speak back to him."
"It really is a shame." Happy sighed, not so happily. "There's a few kids in the orphanage that are deaf and they're the only ones he really gets to talk to outside of us. Then again, since he talks to the kids that probably keeps him younger." He chuckled happily.
"Well, I would like to learn." Adam cleared his throat and set his pint back on the table. "It would seem like a useful thing to learn."
"Well, we can talk about it more in the mornin'." Doc let out a huge yawn. "It's already really late and I'll gave Grumpy and Dopey show you the way back to town come daylight."
"Thank you." Adam nodded his head graciously.
"Just follow us, we'll do something so you can have a bed." Happy chuckled.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well, you're rather tall. . ." Doc cleared his throat. "And well, we're dwarves. . ."
"Ah, I see." The realization of the beds not being fit for his size finally hit him. "Well, you need not worry, I'm used to sleeping outside under the stars, so I will just sleep outside."
"I don't really think that is very hospitable of us-"
"And I refuse to allow you to give up your bed just for me." Adam stood and hit his head on the ceiling. He grimaced, but made no noise letting the dwarves know how much it hurt. "I will be excusing myself now -" He turned to leave, but the little green sleeve of Dopey reached out and held his hand and gave him pleading blue eyes. Adam sighed as he gently removed his hand and went to the foyer where he could stand at his full height before escaping to the front yard. "I'm just going outside . . ."
The cool night air was refreshing and very welcoming to Adam as he stood and breathed it all in. He could feel the eyes of the dwarves on him, and to make sure to keep his word he merely went over to the tree that provided shade during the day over the house, propped himself up to make himself comfortable and closed his eyes to appease the dwarves. He could hear their hushed whispers of trying to come up with a plan to bring him back inside, however, they eventually quieted. As soon as they quieted, an odd warmth was draped over Adam's shoulders and something snuggled up on his right side. Adam peeked his eyes open to see that Dopey had brought a blanket and draped it over him and decided to sleep outside with him. He internally groaned, but said nothing as he tried to actually go to sleep and not be bothered by the innocent dwarf that showed him a great kindness that could challenge Snow White.
Much to his luck the deaf dwarf went to sleep almost immediately. The little dwarf must have tired himself out from exploring the mountain at night. Adam looked to the doorway and could see Doc watching them carefully. Although he did not want to re enter that house, it would be better to make sure that Dopey was in the care of his brethren rather than a stranger. Being careful as he moved, Adam draped the blanket over Dopey, bundled him up, scooped him up, and carried him inside. Much to Doc's surprise and instant relief that he was being returned, he held the door open for Adam to enter. Making sure not to complain nor to hit his head Adam carefully followed Doc upstairs where the bedroom was. Each bed had a name at the foot labeling who the owner of the beds were. Much to his chagrin, Dopey's bed was the farthest from the door, which meant that Adam had to squat as he walked to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling and beams. He tucked Dopey back into his bed and returned downstairs where Doc politely showed him the door.
"Thank you for that, friend." He smiled and resisted a yawn. "I'll explain to Dopey that you just brought him inside because you woke up early."
"Thank you." Adam nodded his head and returned to his spot. He gathered his things and was not surprised to see that the dwarves had locked up shop for the night and all the lights were off. Not wanting to actually sleep outside when he had two choices of a bed and room to sleep in Adam continued on his way through the woods.
Adam found the forest to be much darker than the mountain. Perhaps it was the swamps, or perhaps it was because the forest was in the valley, but even though he was used to skulking around in the dark of night regularly in the Anti-Realm, there was an undefinable darkness that left him feeling cold. It was possibly the most familiar thing he has felt between the two Realms and that disturbed him to the utmost degree. The darkness wanted to eat him, however, there was a small fire up ahead that provided enough light to bring hope. Adam approached and saw the young Frederick cooking fish over a fire and talking to a small hand mirror.
Adam stopped dead in his tracks as he watched Frederick talk to the hand mirror. That irritating sense of betrayal tried to gnaw at Adam's mind, but he would not allow it. He never once considered Frederick to be one to like the Mirror, especially after he went through great detail of telling Adam how much he hated the Mirror.
"Surely there must be a way of reversing all of this." Frederick sighed as he continued his conversation. "You and I both know that if she continues down this path I'll lose her forever."
"I will never understand your loyalty to her." The Mirror groaned. "She is far from anything special and the more dark magic she dwells in the farther she gets from being the fairest of them all."
"Do tell me, Mirror." Frederick snapped back. "Did you actually ever believe that she was the fairest of them all, or did you make that up simply for her own good?"
"There are certain things within all the Realms that require forces to move the plot forward." The Mirror droned. "However, the fairest of them all is something that does exist. It has to do with the purity of mind, body, and heart, the innocence of emotions and mind, and a spirit of kindness."
"And you dare to say that she is still the fairest of them all." Frederick snorted. "As of this point you are just lying to her."
"No, I'm not lying to her." The Mirror shook its head. "She has lost her purity and she has acted out more of naivety than innocence since she lost that the moment she first touched the dark arts."
"And this spirit of kindness ?" He snorted. "Hilde has not been kind since her father passed."
"That spirit is somewhat rekindling." The Mirror responded. "Though her plans for Snow White are for her own gain, because she is forced to do things in a way to be kind to Snow White she is more or less learning how to be kind."
Frederick was silent for a moment as he took this in and cursed. "Is this what has happened, is happening, or is going to happen?"
"I am mostly speaking the past tense, Frederick." The Mirror snickered. "Though I take pride and enjoyment out of being cruel and having the possibility of altering the future, I know what the future lies ahead for all of us, and to be frank, I'd rather avoid it all."
"And why is that?"
"Because the Queen will have lost all sense of reason, you are disposed of and wither away as nothing more as a butler, while I am the one that gets sent here to fix things." Adam spoke up and glared at the handheld mirror. "He would know of this very well."
"And the key finally arrives." The Mirror chuckled.
"He's the key?" Frederick blinked as he looked at Adam.
"Have a pleasant conversation." The Mirror tapped out of the conversation and the face of the mirror returned to its shining silver self.
"The bastard." Frederick hissed.
"For as much as you've told me you hate that Mirror, you certainly seemed to have a deep conversation with it."
"The saying goes, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, boy." Frederick rolled his eyes as he chucked the mirror into his messenger bag. "What the hell are you doing out here in the Dark Forest in the dead of night?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I live here." Frederick pointed to a hut that was leaning on a wide oak tree. "So what are you doing here, boy?"
"As we are the same age I will ask you once to not call me boy." Adam could feel his nostrils flaring at the title. "My name is Adam Apple Poison, and I am here to in a sense stop the current future that I know from happening."
"The Mirror keeps calling you the key." Frederick plucked up one of his fish on a stick and handed it our to Adam. "You don't look like much, but I know you're much more dangerous to the touch than you like to let on."
"So you're the one who's been watching over me." Adam narrowed his eyes and took the fish on a stick, but remained standing. "I felt an odd presence that day."
"Though I don't necessarily approve of you getting rid of the goons in broad daylight, I can't blame you." Frederick gave a shrug and pulled out the second fish on a stick. "I had planned on doing it before you went and did it. I suppose I should be mad at you for taking away my prize, but you've been making the little lady happy, so I won't complain."
"Little lady?" Adam had no idea what to do or how to handle Frederick's informal way of speaking to him. Frederick was always polite and respectful.
"Snow White." He snorted. "You don't seem all that bright for someone who is supposed to be the key to everything around here."
"If I knew what I was the key too, perhaps I wouldn't feel as though I was in the dark so much."
"How'd you even find this place?" Frederick dug into his fish and talked between bites.
"I came from the mountains."
"In the middle of the night?" He raised a suspicious eyebrow at him.
"This is getting real old." Adam murmured under his breath. "I went for a hike up the mountain - "
"Before you start spewing horse shit at me." Frederick raised his hand and stopped Adam. "I'm already aware that you're not Hilde's nephew, I'm also blatantly aware that you're not necessarily from Apfel, though you do look as though you're already more fit to rule here than Hilde. That said, I know you also go between Realms of sorts. . . I don't know how you do it, but I've watched you go through that Door." Adam could only blink at him as he listened to Frederick. "And before you seriously start questioning my stealth skills, yes they are very good, however, where my hut is located I can see a good portion of the mountains."
Adam bit into his own fish. It was surprisingly well cooked and well seasoned. He would have to add fish to the things he liked to eat. "Then do you have any questions you need answers to?"
"Just one." He flicked a fishbone into the fire and rested his elbows on his knees as he looked at Adam. "How are you going to actually change the future?"
"Definitely by not killing Snow White." His hand clenched over his stick. "It is a matter of outwitting the Mirror and outplaying the Queen."
"Outplaying?"
"Right now with the fancy prince that is coming in to seek Snow White's hand this is all a game to her." Adam stated. "She could care less about the prince so long as she gets rid of Snow White. As of right now it is only a matter of getting rid of Snow White, how she does it doesn't matter."
"I can see that." Frederick nodded and rubbed his chin. "I'm assuming you have a plan?"
"Always, my good sir." Adam chuckled. "However, I cannot and will not reveal any of it when a mirror is near. Even when it is shut off it listens."
"Fair enough." Frederick shrugged and went back to his fish. "Well, if you need help with anything, just let me know. Just don't ask often."
"I shouldn't require too much of you." Adam too continued to eat his fish. "Only that you not harm Snow White."
"Of that, my friend, I can promise you."
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story so far.
Please leave me a review with your thoughts on the story so far.
Thank you so much for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned!
Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter
