Sophia's Story
A Disney crossover by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any recognizable Disney characters. All original characters are my own creations.
CHAPTER 19. Maid Duty
"You're certain that you don't want to come?" Flewddur asked. "Absolutely positive?" There was the faintest hint of hope in his voice, like he hadn't quite given up on the idea that they were going separate ways.
"Yes, I'm sure, Flewddur," Sophia said. "I'm sorry, but the barding life just isn't for me. I need some stability. I've spent years running from enchantresses and witches and living as a broom. I just want to stop running for a while. I want to stay somewhere safe for more than five minutes."
Flewddur's shoulders slumped, but he nodded. "I understand."
Sophia gave him a small sad smile. "I'll miss you a lot Flewddur. You've been a good friend to me. I can never thank you enough for helping me out of the castle and letting me travel with you. I hope that you find what you are looking for in the city."
Flewddur brightened a bit. "You could come visit me. I mean, I'll probably become fabulously famous and wealthy after performing, but I could make time for an old friend." Flewddur shot a look at his lyre suspiciously, waiting for one of the strings to snap.
Sophia laughed. "I would like that, Flewddur. Hopefully, I will be able to see you perform again someday. Otherwise, you could come visit me in the Queen's kingdom once you start traveling again?"
"The pleasure would be all mine," Flewddur beamed. He took Sophia's hand and kissed it as if she were some grand lady and not some poor girl about to accept a maid position. "I wish you all the luck in the world, my dear."
"You too," Sophia said. "I'll miss you Flewddur." Sophia hugged the shaggy old man one last time. He offered her a grin, removed his hat, and gave her one last sweeping bow before he turned and disappeared down the road. Sophia could hear the slightly off-key tune of his lyre and his enthusiastic caterwauling as he faded into the distance.
Sophia shook her head and wrapped her shawl a bit tighter around her shoulders. She turned her attention back towards the cottage. Flewddur had already bid farewell to the fairies and Briar Rose. She glanced up at the second story window and caught sight of the girl waving a handkerchief at Flewddur as he made his way down the road. Sophia let out a heavy sigh. Poor girl had no idea what was headed her way. Sophia was almost relieved that she wouldn't be here to witness it in person.
The door to the cottage opened and Flora approached her. She handed Sophia a small bundle. "There's enough food in here to last you a few days," she said. "More than enough for you to reach the dwarves' cottage."
"Thank you," Sophia said. "I really appreciate your kindness."
"Of course, my dear," Flora said. She also handed Sophia a piece of parchment. "This letter of introduction should convince Snow White to give you the job. You're not too far from the border of the Queen's Kingdom. Just follow the road until you come across the cottage. There's not too many around here. You can't miss it."
"Right, got it," Sophia nodded.
Flora looked around, making sure that Briar Rose wasn't in the window before she whispered conspiratorially. "You haven't mentioned anything to her?"
"I didn't say a word," Sophia said. "As promised."
Flora nodded. "Good. I wish you the best of luck my dear."
"You too," Sophia said. With one final wave to Flora, as well as Fauna and Merryweather who had appeared in the kitchen windows of the cottage, Sophia once again began her journey.
-888-
For the first time in months, Sophia was completely alone. It was a strange, oddly unsettling feeling. She had gotten so accustomed to being surrounded by the other servants in the castle and Flewddur and the tavern patrons. It was oddly quiet in the forest with only her thoughts and the faint sound of birdsong to keep her company.
She followed the path, just as Flora had told her. The sun was warm and bright and normally Sophia would find the walk relaxing, but any time she had a spare moment to herself, the same questions would return to her. Where was Giselle? What had happened to her? Was Narissa still searching for her? Where had Edmund vanished to? Had Rosamund discovered her error and gone back to look for her? Did she care enough to try? Sophia shook her head and struggled to think of something else.
The hours passed peacefully. She paused at lunch to snack on an apple and a hunk of cheese that Flora had given her at midday before resuming her trek through the forest. The forest animals seemed to be observing her progress and following her as she walked. They didn't seem to be able to speak to her, but they seemed friendly enough and they reminded her of the animal friends she had left behind in Andalasia.
By the late afternoon, the forest was beginning to thin. She approached a small clearing with a quaint cottage. "This must be the place," Sophia said to the silent animals. She made her way up the path to the cottage. She knocked on the door and waited. For several minutes she heard nothing. Sophia knocked again, beginning to feel a twinge of anxiety. She really didn't have a backup plan if no one was home. Sure, she had spent nights sleeping on the side of the road, but she had always had Flewddur with her to help keep watch.
Suddenly, the door opened. Sophia was a bit confused when she didn't see anyone standing in the doorway.
"Hey!" A voice barked out.
Sophia looked down to see a little man. He scowled up at her. He only rose up to Sophia's knees and had a big nose and a long white beard. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Oh, hello," Sophia said. It felt terribly awkward looking down at him. "Are you one of the seven dwarves?"
"Depends," he said peering up at her suspiciously. "Who's asking?"
"My name is Sophia," she said with a curtsey. "I'm looking for Princess Snow White. I was told by the Good Fairies that she comes to visit you here. I was hoping to offer my services as a maid."
"A maid?" another dwarf appeared at the door.
"Grumpy who is it? Is it a visitor?" A cheerful voice asked as another dwarf appeared.
"Bah, she's just a solicitor," Grumpy grumbled, he was about to close the door when the second dwarf hurriedly grabbed his arm.
"Hold on, now," the second dwarf insisted. He was equally small with a pair of spectacles perched on his nose. "She said that she's a maid." He smiled up at her. "Please, please come in."
"Thanks," Sophia said. She stepped inside and her eyes widened one she caught sight of the cottage. The smell of dirty socks and dishes assailed her nose as soon as he stepped inside. Piles of laundry were littered all over the floor and a tower of dirty dishes was precariously stacked in a sink. Seated at a long table were four other dwarves. They looked up at her curiously. More dishes had been stacked haphazardly around the tabletop.
"What did you say your name was again?" the second dwarf asked.
"I… I'm Sophia," she said distractedly. "Oh my goodness, what happened here?"
"Pardon the mess," the dwarf said sheepishly. "We've let the place go a bit since Snow White married the prince. We aren't the neatest folks by nature by nature you understand. My name is Doc, and…what are you doing?"
Sophia halted her actions. She was using the edge of her apron to frantically dust a nearby end table. A cloud of dust arose from the surface causing a nearby dwarf to let out a mighty sneeze that sent another beardless dwarf's hat flying across the room, revealing his bald head.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Sophia stammered. "I… eh… couldn't help myself."
"Pah," the dwarf grumbled. "Women!"
"Excuse me?" Sophia snapped.
"So you're looking for employment?" the other dwarf interrupted. "How wonderful. Happy's the name," he shook her hand enthusiastically. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," Sophia said, mildly distracted. "So is Snow White around? I was hoping to speak to her."
"She stops by every now and again," Doc explained. "In fact, she's supposed to stop by tomorrow morning."
"I see," Sophia said. Her eyes riveted on a cockroach that skittered across the floorboards and a horrified shiver passed through her body. She turned to Doc, who appeared to be the leader of these strange men. "I have a proposition for you," she said. "I'm hoping to speak with your Snow White. I really have nowhere else to go. Would it be possible for me to spend the night?"
"Oh great, a freeloader," the first dwarf grumbled.
"Grumpy," Happy chided.
"In exchange," Sophia said, shooting Grumpy a glare, "I would clean your entire house."
"The whole house?" Doc repeated in amazement.
"Top to bottom," Sophia said. "I'll make every room shine."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Grumpy demanded.
Sophia removed the letter and handed it to Grumpy. "This letter is from the three good fairies vouching for my character and cleaning abilities." Grumpy scanned the letter as she crossed her arms. "Good enough for you?"
"Hmmph," Grumpy scowled as he passed the letter to Doc.
Doc adjusted his glasses and read the letter. "Well, what do you think, Doc?" Happy asked. "It would be nice to have a clean home again?"
"And to sleep in a freshly made bed," a very tired looking dwarf said.
"Yeah, and cleaning up the place might help with my al-al-al-ACHOOO!" the dwarf sneezed loudly. He sniffed before concluding, "allergies."
"Plus, she seems awful pretty," another dwarf added before turning beet red and hiding his face in his beard. Sophia wasn't so sure about that, but if it helped build her case she wouldn't deny it.
"Well, what do you say?" Sophia asked.
"That seems fair to me," Doc said, handing her back the letter. "How about this, you clean the house, we'll let you spend the night and introduce you to Snow White when she arrives in the morning."
"And it better be real clean," Grumpy added. "I mean spotless. No cutting corners." Sophia turned towards him and raised an eyebrow. The house was a veritable pig sty. He really had no business lecturing her about her cleaning techniques.
"So what do you say?" Doc said, jumping in front of Grumpy. "Deal?" He offered Sophia his hand.
"Deal," Sophia said clasping his.
"Splendid," Doc smiled. "Let me introduce you to everyone. You've already met Happy and Grumpy. This is Sneezy."
Sneezy sniffed loudly before responding. "Hello."
"Bashful." The blushing dwarf turned a deeper shade of red and ducked beneath the table. "Sleepy." This dwarf did not respond, he was snoring and appeared to have nodded off at the table.
"And dopey." Dopey the youngest one waved at her enthusiastically.
"It's very nice to meet all of you," Sophia said with a smile.
"We'll wash up and let you get started," Doc said. One of the dwarves shook Sleepy awake and they stacked up their dishes before heading outside to the pump.
Sophia stood there in the cottage. She looked around at the squalor surrounding her and let out a heavy sigh. Where was she going to start?