When the Dwarfs agreed to bathe before their quick trip into Castell to drop off the jewelry, Snow laughed and teased them that they did know how to wash.
"Course we do!" Sneezy said, puzzled. "We gots a reason to, now."
Once again, Grumpy volunteered to stay with Snow, but she wheedled him until he agreed to wash with the brothers while she sat up in the bedroom. Fresh and clean, the seven Dwarfs dumped the water outside then headed back inside. Only Grumpy understood Snow's wistful expression when they came back upstairs, and he determined at once to give her what she wanted. The next morning, the brothers headed out with the promise to be back in three days. Before they left, Doc gave a lecture to Grumpy to not drive Snow up a wall with his obstinate behavior. As soon as they were out of sight, Snow smiled at Grumpy.
"What's fer today?" Grumpy asked.
"Dishes, dusting, and straightening up the bedroom," Snow replied.
"Let's get to it then," Grumpy said.
Snow shut the door and went over to sit on the bench. Almost at once, pink sparkles began to surround the breakfast dishes, and they all obediently leapt up and floated to the sink. Grumpy was pleased by how quickly and easily she could summon her magic now. The week of practice had greatly strengthened her awareness and control. Precision was what she was working on now, and she was even getting faster at it. She still needed to concentrate on the task very intently, but she was far more relaxed about it.
They finished the chores by dinner time, and they ate a simple meal of bread and cheese before Snow went up to rest. Grumpy set to work after he was sure she wouldn't come back down. After pumping out gallons of water, he filled the iron pot with it then set it over the fire to heat. Then he went over to get the washtub. He was determined that Snow should have a proper bath. The girl certainly was obsessed over washing, and she hadn't had a wash since she'd gotten there three weeks before. So he hefted up the tub and placed it in the center of the room before weaving a spell.
An hour later, the magically expanded tub was full of hot water, and he was pleased by his efforts. Just in time, too. The door to the bedroom opened, and Snow appeared at the top of the stairs, freezing at the odd sight.
"What's all this?" she asked, taking the steps cautiously.
Grumpy waved his hand and the shutters closed. "Figgered ya wanted a bath."
The look of shock morphed to one of joy and she jumped the rest of the way to the floor and ran over to embrace the Dwarf. Grumpy flushed, but he patted her back.
"'Tain't much like the palace," he said awkwardly. "But you'll be able to go under if'n ya want."
"It's so much better than the palace," Snow said, pulling back and wiping her eyes.
Grumpy couldn't see how that would be possible. Whenever he thought of the palace, he thought of marble and gold and velvet and other things he'd heard of but never seen. How could an old, dingy washtub compare to polished brass and servants waiting on you?
"Well, come and knock when yer done and we'll straighten up."
Grumpy walked up the stairs and shut the bedroom door then lay down in his bed to stare at the ceiling. He was still puzzled by her admission that what he'd set up was better than the palace. He just couldn't see it. Not at all. What kind of princess would think such a thing?
A princess who's not treated like a princess.
The thought made him pause. He considered Snow's habits and Grimhilde's treatment of her. The queen had been ruthless and cruel. Would she really treat Snow as a princess? Then something else came to him. When Rowan had been there and they'd been hiding in the bedroom, Snow had said that the other servants ignored her.
Other servants?
Grumpy's stomach tightened and he resolved to ask her what was going on before his imagination ran away with him. With nothing else to do, he shut his eyes and fell into a light doze. A knock startled him awake, and he sat up and looked at the door where Snow stood, her skin flushed red from the hot water. Her eyes were bright with pleasure, and he stood up and stretched.
"Good bath?" he asked absently.
"Oh, it was delightful," Snow said. "Have a good nap?"
Grumpy grunted and they headed downstairs. His mind was racing as he tried to think of a good way to bring up his questions. He must have been too quiet as he began to work magic and drain the tub, maneuvering the used water out the door, because Snow spoke.
"Are you well?"
Grumpy paused and looked at her. "I gots a question fer ya."
"Anything," she said sweetly.
"Did Grimhilde make ya her servant after yer pa died?"
Snow froze and suddenly looked as skittish as a rabbit. "I… I don't…" She trailed off, frightened.
That was answer enough, and Grumpy grunted. "Thought so. 'S'okay, Snow. So that's why ya get up so early."
Snow shifted and sat down on her bench, her face pale. "I'm not supposed to tell anybody," she whispered. "When I had to go out in public, she'd have the tailors make me a new, beautiful dress."
"Like the blue and yeller one," Grumpy said.
"She told me that I was to make an appearance, that she had to prepare so she sent me out with the huntsman. I had no reason to assume she wanted me dead."
"Course not," Grumpy said sympathetically.
Tears tracked down her cheeks, and she looked away. "I hate her. I shouldn't, but I do."
Grumpy snorted. "Why shouldn't ya hate her? I hate Calida. Crazy witch nearly destroyed my life. And Grimhilde did the same fer you."
"I just feel so helpless around her, Grumpy," Snow exclaimed, swiping at her cheeks. "She's a horror, but I can't do anything about her."
"Not yet," Grumpy said. "But one day, ya will."
"Not if she kills me first," Snow sighed.
"She'll have ta get past me 'n' the others," Grumpy said fiercely.
Snow let out a hiccuping laugh through her tears. "You're all far too kind to a servant."
"Yer a princess, not a servant," Grumpy replied. "Now, help me put the tub ta rights again."
Snow wiped away her tears then stood and joined Grumpy. His familiar magic bumped hers and she allowed him to guide her in shrinking the tub without damaging it. Once that was done, they put the house back in order then began to cook supper. After a hearty meal of meat and potatoes, Grumpy played the whistling piano for half an hour, and Snow danced around the room, laughing and singing to the songs he played. Then Snow settled down to do some sewing and Grumpy sat and stared at the fire, thinking of this and that. After dark, they finally went up to bed.
Grumpy changed into his nightshirt while Snow ducked behind her curtain and changed into a nightgown that Sleepy had made for her. Then she opened the curtain and lay down. Grumpy snuffed the candle and turned over, falling asleep easily. He awoke an unknown amount of time later but was unsure why he was awake. He lay there, trying to figure it out, when a noise reached him. He sat up and looked toward Snow's bed, but he couldn't see anything. Another muffled sob reached him, and he got up and padded over cautiously, feeling around in the dark so he didn't run into anything.
"Snow?" he asked quietly. "Are ya okay?"
Snow couldn't seem to speak, sobbing again. He grunted and felt around in the dark for the stool then tugged it over beside her bed and sat down. Reaching out, he found her hand pressed into the pillow and grabbed it. She flinched but grasped his hand. He sat there as she cried, wondering what had brought this on. But he patiently waited as she fell apart. When the crying had eased, he squeezed her hand.
"Now what's all this about?" he asked, not unkindly.
"I was thinking of Father," Snow whispered. "I miss him so."
Grumpy grunted. "I heard good things about him."
"Do you ever miss your parents?"
Grumpy thought about this. "I never knew 'em. Cain't miss what I never had. But I wish I'da growed up with Doc an' them. Their folks sound like good people."
"Have you never met them?" Snow asked.
"They died after Dopey was born. Cursed or sommit."
"Oh, how sad," she murmured.
"Another good reason they hate magic," Grumpy sighed.
They both were silent for a few moments, and Grumpy squeezed her hand. "Ya okay now?"
"I don't know," Snow replied.
"Mm."
Snow shifted in her bed but didn't let go of Grumpy's hand. "Do your scars ever hurt?"
"The brand more often than the lashes," Grumpy answered.
"Brand?" Snow asked in alarm. "You were branded? As a slave?"
Grumpy snorted. "Naw. Nothin' like that."
"Well, what happened?"
The Dwarf took a deep breath. "Was a bunch a boys. Thought I was too high-'n'-mighty or sommit. Thought I needed ta knows that I was nothin' but a Dwarf an' ta know my place. They chased me down, pinned me, and branded my left shoulder. Hurt like nothin' else I'd known up ta that point in my life. The lashin' was worse. Got one less than the death strike. Almost died from that."
Snow contemplated that for several minutes. "I'm sorry that happened to you."
Grumpy harrumphed. "Never woulda met Bastian if that hadn't happened. Glad I did meet him."
"Who's Bastian?"
"Human friend a mine. One a the only humans I can call friend from my former life."
"Do the others know anything about that life?"
"Not much," Grumpy said.
"Do you not like them to ask?"
"'T'ain't that. They ask sometimes, but I don't think they like the answers, so's they don't ask all that often. I ain't never told 'em that they cain't. An' they don't seem ta care that they don't know."
Snow squeezed his hand then released it. "Thank you for telling me," she said softly. Then she yawned.
"Best get back ta sleep," Grumpy said. "An' feel free ta sleep in as late as ya want. I'll make breakfast."
There was a pause. Then Snow spoke in an emotional voice. "Thank you."
She sounded like a child who had just been given an amazing gift. Had she truly thought she had to get up at the crack of dawn every day? One thought of Grimhilde, and Grumpy pushed aside that question. No doubt Snow had been punished severely if she didn't get up at that time. It was a hard habit to break, and it had been reinforced with brutal means.
"G'night," Grumpy said after a moment.
"Sweet dreams," she murmured.
Grumpy got up and pushed the stool against the wall again then climbed into his bed. He had a lot to mull over, but he decided he'd better do that the next day. That settled, he fell into a dreamless sleep.