Grumpy opened his eyes as Doc called for him again. The curtain slid open and Doc started at the sight of Grumpy lying on the floor by Snow's bed.
"There you are," he said.
"Yep," Grumpy said, sitting up. He was sore, and his thoughts trailed back to Snow.
'Hope she's okay," he thought as he stood up and stretched.
'I am now. Thank you.'
Grumpy was startled by the reply, but he was very glad she was okay. He turned to look at her beautiful, serene face and fought back tears. Doc stepped over and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"It's okay."
"Naw. It ain't," Grumpy said. "Shouldn't've happened."
Doc didn't argue, but he swiped at his eyes. Bashful walked over and stared at Snow's still form.
"What're we gonna do?" he asked.
Grumpy hesitated, fear rushing through him. 'Gotta tell 'em. How? After ten years… will they hate me?'
"She's too perty ta just put in the ground," Sneezy said. He sounded far more congested than usual.
"She was hurt by witchin'," Grumpy muttered, looking at Snow again.
"She was?" Sleepy asked, rubbing at his eyes. Dopey looked up at Grumpy from behind his brothers and raised his hands, wiggling his fingers. Grumpy nodded once.
"She was a witch. Practiced black magic. She made Snow eat an apple. What kinda normal apple would kill anybody? There was magic in that apple, mark my words. Demed witch."
"How do you know?" Doc pressed.
"Go get the apple. It's on the counter. Careful touchin' it," Grumpy said.
Dopey jumped up and bolted down the stairs. He came back with the rosy apple, which hadn't started to brown, further proof of the potion. Dopey dropped the apple onto the floor, making a face as he quickly rubbed his hands over his clothes. His movements were frantic and he shook out his hands, shivering as he eyed the piece of fruit.
"What's wrong?" Bashful asked, leaning down to pick up the apple. He straightened then yelped and threw the apple back down. "What in tarnation is wrong with that?!" he yowled, scrubbing his hand on his trousers.
"I done told ya. Black magic," Grumpy said. "Ya can always feel black magic. Ya can hide it fer a while, but it'll seep through eventually."
'Is that why it didn't feel dark to me?' Snow thought to him. She was horrified, and the cold feeling made him want to shiver.
'Yep, You didn't know cuz she didn't want ya to,' he thought back. 'You ain't stupid. It was more tricks.'
The brothers were staring at the apple, and each of them reached out to touch it to see for themselves what had Bashful and Dopey so disturbed. Doc stood back, wiping his hands down his shirt with a shudder.
"That is not natural."
"Nope. Black magic," Grumpy said.
"So what does that mean?" Doc asked.
"Means Snow's body is frozen," he said. He braced himself, waiting for the questions about how he knew that.
"So… she ain't gonna… ya know, rot away?" Sneezy asked.
"No," Grumpy said.
Bashful's eyes lit up. "That's great!"
Grumpy blinked. "Huh?"
"Cuz I gots an idea, see," Bashful said excitedly. "She's still so awful perty, and I think she should have sommit just as perty as her to be with her forever."
"What's yer idea?" Sleepy asked.
"We can make her a coffin outta gold an' crystal. Since we never got ta do anythin' real special fer her when she was still…" He stopped and looked away.
Grumpy was stunned by the idea. But he loved it. And if they took it, he wouldn't have to tell them of his deception. He waited, anxiety making him want to squirm as he watched slow smiles spread over the brothers' faces.
"I like it!" Doc said. "It'll be a memorial for her!"
"Yeah. That's real nice," Sleepy said, his eyes gleaming. "They used ta bury Dwarf nobles in gold coffins. We just gotta figger out how ta mold it."
"Paper! Ink!" Doc exclaimed. "Let's get started!"
"Yeah. I need ta do sommit," Sneezy said. Dopey nodded, and the brothers hurried to the door, leaving Grumpy stunned. Not one question had been asked about how he knew about the black magic or anything. He felt strange inside, and he turned to look at Snow. Concern that wasn't his filled him.
'What's wrong?' Snow asked.
Grumpy stared at her fair face. 'They didn't ask. Not a thing. And they're gonna make ya a gold coffin.'
'Oh! That's not necessary!' Snow thought wildly.
'It'll take 'em ages ta carve the crystal an' make the gold good enough. They ain't gonna bury you yet.'
'So… that's a good thing?' Snow asked slowly.
'I guess…' Grumpy was still puzzled.'Not a single question…'
'They trust you, Grumpy.'
Flashes of memory passed through his mind before he could stop them. He saw the precious treasures changing hands, the brothers weeping, and his own explosion in the hideout. Snow was silent for a few moments afterward.
'Grumpy?'
'They shouldn't trust me,' he thought bitterly, anger flooding his veins.
'What happened?'
'I don't wanna talk about it. And don't you go pryin' neither.'
'Of course not.'
Grumpy carefully arranged the blanket then turned to go back downstairs. He watched the brothers go about their preparations, talking excitedly about the grand coffin they would make for their dear friend. But Grumpy didn't join in. His thoughts were focused on what he would have to do. He needed to get to Snow's castle without being seen. The castle was almost directly opposite Castell on the other side of the forest. He'd need to travel light, and old gears began turning in his head as he planned for what he'd need. He hadn't traveled alone for years, but he couldn't bring any of the brothers with him. They would only slow him down.
"What do you think, Grumpy?" Doc asked, and he looked up.
"Eh?"
"This design," Doc said, holding out a piece of parchment.
Grumpy took the paper in his hands and looked over it. His eyes took in the intricate coffin, and he swallowed. He needed to go very soon, or she would be buried alive. "It's real perty."
Doc beamed. "Excellent! Now, how much crystal do you think we'll need, Bashful?"
And the brothers were off again. Grumpy sat still and pondered what he would need then he got up and walked upstairs. He pulled out his old pack, the one he'd shown up with ten years before, and stared at it. Rough and frayed, it had lain forgotten for years in his trunk. But now he needed it. With a burst of magic, he repaired all the damage and checked the magical pockets he'd secretly made. They were all strong, but he strengthened them anyway then he began to pack.
When he was satisfied that he had everything but food, he hefted it on his shoulder and walked downstairs to place it by the door. The brothers were all chatting, but Sneezy caught sight of him.
"Hey! What're ya doin'?" he asked sharply.
Everybody turned and silence fell. Dopey looked alarmed and bolted over to grab him, shaking his head.
"I gots to go," Grumpy said firmly, grasping Dopey's shoulders.
"Do you?" Doc asked, a smidge of fear in his voice. "Well then we'll go with you. Do we need something in Castell?"
"Naw. I'm goin' alone," Grumpy said.
"You cain't!" Bashful burst out.
"I gots ta."
"Why?" Doc asked.
Grumpy's heart clenched at the brokenness in the usually confident Dwarf's voice.
"I jest need ta get away from here."
"Forever?" Sneezy asked.
"Naw. Jest a while. I'll be back."
"When?" Bashful asked.
Grumpy clicked his tongue. "Afore the winter solstice. Should be back by then."
"Are you leaving tonight?" Happy asked.
"I…" Grumpy trailed off, unsure. He was suddenly frightened of being alone. It had been years since he'd felt that way.
"Don't! We'll have a big ol' supper and I'll make ya some fresh bread," Happy said.
"But you'll let me go tamarra?" Grumpy asked suspiciously.
"If that's what ya need, yes,"Bashful replied, wrapping an arm around Doc.
Doc gave a strained smile, but he didn't argue. That evening, Happy made a feast, and they all ate their fill. After having not eaten since breakfast the day before, they enjoyed their dinner. Doc was unusually subdued, and Grumpy found himself the center of attention. They poured affection over him until he thought he'd suffocate, but eventually they headed to bed. Grumpy lay in his soft, warm bed, relishing his final night in the house for a while.
When he fell asleep, he appeared near Snow in the dream world, and he was pleased to see a small patch of grass with a single flower sitting directly under the ball of flame. He told her about his plan and she listened and explained about her castle.
"Are you sure you can get in?" Snow asked after she finished. "The guards are not to be trifled with."
"There'll be a back way inta her witchin' room," Grumpy replied. "It'll be easy ta detect the magic."
Snow sighed. "I'm sorry for all this fuss."
"Stop that," Grumpy snapped. "You ain't no fuss. Not fer us. And I'm sick of you apologizin'."
"I can't help it. Everything has always been my fault," Snow said. "Ever since Father died. She said I was the reason he died, too."
Grumpy pressed his lips together. "Codswallop. He died in battle."
Snow looked away. "I know. But she said…"
"Ignore that bitch!" Grumpy barked out. "How is it yer fault, Snow? He died a warrior's death fightin' fer yer kingdom! His sacrifice allowed the army ta come back and win! We're all safe cuz of yer pa! And you should be proud of him, Snow! Not guilty, not ashamed, not frettin' that it was yer fault, but proud!"
Snow was startled by Grumpy's tone, but she sat still and thought about it. Then she nodded.
"You're right, of course. But I was a child when he died. And Grimhilde said if I hadn't been born, my mother and father would both be alive, and I was a wicked little girl for having…"
"Magic," Grumpy huffed. "It always comes back ta that, don't it?"
Snow shrugged half-heartedly. "Sure seems like it."
For the rest of the night, Grumpy helped Snow to explore her magic, and the patch of grass expanded another foot, and a few more pink flowers bloomed before their eyes. Grumpy told Snow he was pleased with her progress, and her eyes shone with glee as she kissed the top of his head. He ducked away as his face burned, then he waved and woke up.
Breakfast was rather solemn, but Happy was as good as his word and had spent the night preparing an array of foods that would keep for a while. Grumpy appreciated it, but a hollow seemed to be in the pit of his stomach. He was leaving the brothers for the first time in ten years, and it scared him. He embraced each of them tightly when breakfast was finished, and Doc didn't want to let go.
"Doc, I needs ta go," Grumpy said gently.
"What if you don't come back?" Doc asked, his voice small and frightened.
"I will. I always will," Grumpy said.
Doc pulled away with a hiccup and wiped at his eyes. Grumpy understood why he was so upset. He'd confided in him that ever since he'd lost his brother to the river, he was afraid to lose family. And Doc well and truly considered Grumpy to be family. It touched him, and he smiled reassuringly as he pulled on his pack. The weight was familiar and yet so strange after so many years, and he hesitated before he opened the door.
"Guess I'll see ya around winter solstice," Grumpy said.
"Be safe," Doc begged.
"Take care," Bashful said.
"Make sure ya eat enough," Happy ordered. "I don't want ya ta come back as skinny as you were ten years ago."
Sneezy sniffled then sneezed. "Don't take nothin' from no one."
"Try and get some more stories," Sleepy yawned. "I want sommit new ta talk about."
Dopey hugged Grumpy again, and his eyes pleaded for him to come back to him. Grumpy tugged his hat over his eyes, and Dopey laughed and stepped back. They followed Grumpy out the door but stopped by the bridge. Before he left, Grumpy turned to them.
"Promise me ya won't bury her afore I get back," he said sincerely.
"We promise," Doc said. The others nodded.
Grumpy turned and strolled across the bridge to the edge of the trees and looked back one more time. The brothers all stood there, watching him with the cottage behind them, welcoming and homey. It was this picture he held in his mind as he took a deep breath and plunged into the forest. He pretended to head to Castell then turned around to face the cottage. He flexed his magic and saw a thin sheet of silver appear. The view flashed across the forest, and he judged about ten miles before stopping in a small clearing. He hiked his pack higher on his shoulders, steeled himself then took a step forward into the sheet of silver.
At once, a burst of magic erupted from inside of him, and he was in the clearing. The brothers would never think to look this far to find him, ten miles from the cottage in a different direction than he'd set out in. He was alone and away from home for the first time in ten whole years. Grumpy swallowed and a shiver of fear worked it's way up his spine.
"Grumpy? Is everything okay?"
Snow's voice startled him, and he blinked. "Yeah. Jest a lot. Ain't been on my own fer years."
"I'm here," she pointed out.
That thought comforted Grumpy, and he grinned. "Try and figger out how to see what I'm seein'. That way ya don't feel so trapped."
As Snow's magic flexed, he began to walk toward her castle through the treacherous forest. Snow was right. He wasn't alone. And there was a difference between his present and his past. Before, he'd had nowhere to go, nowhere to feel safe. But now? He knew that he had a home to come back to.