Here's a special Thanksgiving present. Enjoy!

"A kiss?" Snow breathed, pleased and thrilled by the thought. "Really and truly? He has to kiss me?"

"That's what the book said," Grumpy replied, laying back in the fragrant grass. "Can only be broke by true love's first kiss." The Dwarf squinted. "You ain't ever kissed him afore? Or been kissed by anybody?"

Snow blushed and looked down to smooth her skirt. "No, Grumpy. I have never been kissed before. Father used to kiss me goodnight, but I know that's not what you mean."

"Dern right it ain't," Grumpy said. "Now we just gotta find him. Heinrich says he'll take me to the Finderlands where Ferdinand rules."

"That's so kind of him. He looks awful."

"He'll live," Grunpy said, his gruffness softening at bit at her concerned look. "Now, don't ya worry 'bout him. He'll get good and strong, and we have time ta get there. It'll just take a bit longer than it would have alone."

"I know you're right. But still, he gave up so much for me. I wish I could thank him."

"One day ya will, Snow." He felt his body shift and began to fade. "See ya tonight."

"Bye," she said sadly. "Good luck with Heinrich."

Grumpy certainly needed it. Heinrich was not a fan of Grumpy's attitude and sourness. As the days passed, he stopped trying to be nice, and he simply adopted a professional, respectful tone that grated on Grumpy's nerves. He didn't understand the Dwarf and he didn't really bother trying. His one goal was to atone for his mistake, and Grumpy was simply the means for him to do so. Grumpy had a sneaking suspicion that Heinrich didn't like Dwarfs, but he didn't say so.

After a couple weeks of travel and camping, they finally came to a town. Heinrich wanted to sleep in a bed, and Grumpy obliged by paying for two separate rooms. When they went downstairs to pay for dinner, Heinrich joined in with some human men in a card game, leaving Grumpy alone. Despite trying not to be wounded, it still stung when his traveling companion chose others over him. He sat and ate alone in a corner, chewing on the stew, which was far too salty. Happy could cook far better, Grumpy thought.

He caught a movement in the shadows and saw a boy sneaking his hand into a purse. The thief glanced around and saw Grumpy staring at him. He froze. Grumpy made a surreptitious sign, and the boy snatched his hand out of the purse, holding both up to show he took nothing. Grumpy gestured for him to come over, and the boy did so.

"Hungry?" Grumpy asked.

"Yes," the boy said cautiously.

Grumpy dug out a coin. "Getcha a good helpin' and come back over here."

The boy did so, and he came back with quite a bit of food. He began to eat quickly, tearing off big chunks of bread and hardly chewing.

"Slow down," Grumpy said quietly. "Enjoy it. I ain't gonna take it from ya."

The boy stared at him with frightened eyes and bulging cheeks before he nodded and chewed much more slowly. He finally swallowed and took a drink of water then spooned up a much smaller mouthful.

"There ya go," Grumpy encouraged. "Now tell me what's been goin' on. I've been away fer a while."

The boy stared at him. "Are you Ivan?"

Grumpy scowled. "That's what Calida called me. But I go's by Grumpy now. Call me that."

The boy brightened. "Okay Grumpy. What are you doing here? Are you going into Findersland?"

"Goin' ta talk ta the king and queen. I needs ta find the prince."

"Oh." The boy took a bite of bread as he considered this. "Florian isn't in the capital, if that's where you're headed."

Grumpy perked up. "He ain't?"

"He's on a quest to slay a great wolf that's been terrorizing the southern part of his kingdom. He set out a week ago."

Grumpy nodded. "Good ta know." He set down his own spoon and leaned back. "What's yer name?"

"Colin," the boy said.

"Orphan?"

The boy grew solemn. "Yes. My parents died three years ago. They got very sick very quickly. I was run out of my home by my uncle and his family. I was left on the streets."

Grumpy nodded, swigging from his pint. Then he pulled out two more coins and handed them over. "Make sure you and yer friends can eat fer a couple days."

"How dare you!" a booming voice shouted from across the room. Grumpy jumped to his feet. "Shadows," he spat to the boy, who stood up with his bowl and bolted behind some barrels.

Grumpy turned and was dismayed to see that Heinrich was backed into a corner. Alarm spread through him, and Snow's worried thoughts came to him.

'What's wrong?'

Grumpy didn't answer as he edged closer to listen to what the townsfolk were saying.

"You cheated us. Give us the gold, or else."

"I don't have any."

The men narrowed their eyes then grinned. "Really? But you're wearing palace garb, and the Queen's men always have extra gold. I think you're lying. If you won't give us the money, we'll have to get a little… invasive."

Heinrich looked panicked and Grumpy had heard enough. "Nice con," he growled loudly.

The men turned to see who spoke and sneered.

"What are you talking about?" one of them asked.

"Only reason you got him at your table is cuz of his clothes," Grumpy said. "You thought you'd get a good payout cuz he works in the palace. But I ain't gonna let you touch him. Now get back ta yer game and let us go ta bed."

"Shut it, Dwarf. Or you're next," one of the men said. "Stay out of it."

Heinrich stared at Grumpy, fearful and yet hopeful. Would the Dwarf actually help him? He'd thought that the Dwarf hated him. But if Grumpy was willing to fight for him, perhaps he was mistaken. He certainly hoped so. And he knew Grumpy had magic, so if the Dwarf was on his side he had a chance.

Grumpy crossed his arms and squinted. "Back off."

The tallest man walked over and towered over Grumpy. "Make me, shortstuff," he said.

'Grumpy!' Snow exclaimed, panicked. She was looking up at the man through Grumpy's eyes. But the Dwarf felt no fear. Instead, there was a stirring of excitement, and he smirked.

"You asked fer it," he said, shrugging. Then he darted forward.

Grumpy slid between his attacker's legs and slammed his elbows into the back of his knees. Heinrich saw sparks erupt where Grumpy made contact, but nobody else seemed to notice the magic. The man went down and cried out, grasping his knees. He tried to stagger to his feet, but he went down hard.

"I can't…" the man gasped, sweat appearing on his forehead.

Grumpy bounded up on the table and got in another man's face. "Your turn. Give it up."

The man gave him a rather graphic description of what he wanted to do to the Dwarf, and Grumpy heard Snow gasp in shock. He reacted at once, grabbing the man's cloak and wrapping it around his face. With a grunt, he slammed the man's head into the table, and he went down. Grumpy was surprised by the third man, who grinned triumphantly as he raised a fire poker up to strike the Dwarf. Before he could react, Heinrich grabbed him around the middle and threw him across the room.

"What in blue blazes is going on in here?!" a woman suddenly yelled.

The wife of the innkeeper stood in the doorway, and every man went silent. Her dark eyes looked around the room then landed on Grumpy.

"Ah, you're the cause of all the trouble!"

Grumpy stood and scowled at her, but he didn't respond. It would do no good.

"Should have known! I told the daft idiot not to let you stay here. But here you are, causing a fight with some of our regulars!"

Her eyes burned with loathing as she marched over to him. "Your kind don't belong here. Get out!"

'She can't do that!' Snow thought wildly.

Grumpy glared at the woman. "Don't need ta be here nohow!"

Without a word he turned, his eyes meeting Heinrich's for a single moment. In that instant, words flooded into the man's mind. 'Sleep good. Bring my stuff when you leave.' Then Grumpy was storming out the door. Heinrich couldn't believe it. He knew he'd just heard somebody's thoughts, but that wasn't the only shocking thing. Heinrich stood rooted to the spot, haunted by the fair face he'd seen behind Grumpy's as their minds had connected.

"You going to make trouble?" the innkeeper's wife demanded.

"No," Heinrich said then hurried up to the room. Without a word, he gathered up all of their belongings then left. He didn't even stop to try and get their money back. He didn't care. He had to talk to the Dwarf.

"Mister! Hey, mister! Wait!"

Heinrich spun to see a boy of about ten hurrying over. "I have no coin. Go away."

The boy stopped and frowned at him. "You're Heinrich?" he asked distrustfully.

"Yes."

"The one with Grumpy?"

Heinrich's heart leaped in his chest. "Yes. Do you know where he is?"

"Yeah. He's staying with us tonight. Sent me to give you a message. But you're leaving the inn."

"Can you take me to him?"

"Don't know if I should, mister. You're nothing like him."

Heinrich paused. The way the boy said it, it was bad that he wasn't like Grumpy, like a Dwarf. But maybe that's not what the boy meant. He recalled glancing over to see Grumpy giving away a coin to a boy, this boy. He also had seen the steely stubbornness in the Dwarf's eyes when he'd come to his rescue. The Dwarf he'd thought nothing positive about had done nothing but surprise him.

The man slumped and rubbed his eyes. "Guess you're right," he said tiredly. "Tell him I'll be out on the west side when he wakes up."

The boy studied him. "Come on. But don't you go saying a single word about anything you see. The Missus would beat me black and blue."

Heinrich followed the boy through alleyways then into an old building. They went down a set of stairs into a wide basement where beds lined the walls. Heinrich was suddenly very aware that there were half a dozen young men staring at him. They moved to get up, then a familiar voice spoke up.

"Thought you'd stay at the inn."

Heinrich saw the young men relax and turn away, and he turned to see Grumpy sitting on a bed. His boots were off and he looked ready to relax.

"I…" he looked at the boy, who narrowed his eyes at him.

"Relax, Colin. Go ta bed. We'll need ta get up early ta cross the border."

"Cross it? We're not near the gates," Heinrich said as Colin nodded and hurried to his own bed.

Grumpy met his gaze fearlessly. "Ain't goin' through the gates. Too far north. Would be a waste a time. I gots ta help Snow."

"Will it truly help her sooner to do this?" Heinrich asked.

"Yep."

"Then I follow your lead. But I do have a question about her."

Grumpy grunted. "What's that?"

"How is she… in there?" Heinrich asked gesturing at Grumpy's head.

Grumpy blinked then swore. "Forgot about the residuals." He looked up. "You wanna know? You don't talk ta nobody about what I tell ya. And she will order ya not ta if'n she has to!"

"If the Princess so wishes," Heinrich replied.

Grumpy sighed and began to explain. He outlined the Dwarfs protection of Snow, her poisoning, and his intervention. Heinrich listened with rapt attention then nodded when he was done.

"I see. Magic is much stranger than I thought."

Grumpy clicked his tongue. "I couldn't just leave her all alone. T'others cain't talk ta her, and they don't't knows about it…"

Heinrich shrugged and stood. "Which bed is mine?"

Grumpy pointed to one. "That one ain't bein' used." Heinrich moved to go then paused. Without looking back, he spoke. "Thank you. For stepping in."

Grumpy grunted. "What makes ya think I wouldn't?"

"Because I thought you to be different than you are."

Grumpy relaxed. "I growed up hearin' all them stories 'bout Dwarfs, too. Turns out, most of 'em ain't true. Jest gotta give 'em a chance."

Heinrich looked back and stared into Grumpy's bright eyes. He knew, and he understood? Heinrich smiled.

"You just keep surprising me."

Grumpy finally looked away. "Get some sleep. Gotta leave early."

Heinrich walked over to the bed and lay down. Colin was sitting in the bed beside his. The boy studied him.

"I was right," he said. "You aren't like him."

"No. I'm not," Heinrich replied honestly.

Colin smiled. "But you sure could be."

With that odd compliment, Heinrich pulled off his boots and lay down. Even though they weren't in an inn, he still got to sleep in a bed. He was asleep in seconds.