The day was bright and clear when a bird tapped on the window with its beak. Grumpy glanced around. Snow met his eyes and gestured for him to see what it wanted. He walked outside and away from the house then ducked behind a tree and wove the spell.
"Well?" Grumpy asked.
The bird fluttered and twittered excitedly Grumpy nodded. "Thanks." He turned and hurried into the cottage. "I think they're comin'!" Grumpy exclaimed.
There was a flurry of action. Snow ran upstairs to put on her only royal dress and brush her hair. The Dwarfs hurried to get her things, and as they did, they each hid a present they'd made for her in different spots for her to find when she got to her new home. Grinning at each other, they waited for Snow to come down. She came out of the room and stood up, carefully brushing at her dress before picking up her skirts and hurrying downstairs. They gathered the other presents they'd made to present to her as she was leaving.
"Here ya go," Happy said, holding out a basket of food he'd made the day before. "In case ya get peckish."
"Ooh, thank you!" she exclaimed, and she picked his hat up and kissed his head. He went red and laughed along with the rest of the Dwarfs.
"I made ya one more dress," Sleepy said, holding up a carefully wrapped square. "It's real special. Used gold and silver threads and gems ta make it up. Promise you'll wear it once?"
Snow looked absolutely delighted. "Of course! I'll wear it often! Thank you so much!" Again, she plucked up his hat and gave him a kiss. Another round of laughter started up as Sleepy turned scarlet. He scuffed his foot and gave a shy smile.
Sneezy was next, and he held out a clumsily wrapped package. "Here. You liked ours so much I made ya one."
Snow grinned as she unwrapped a wooden flute. It was beautiful and sounded perfect. "Thank you, Sneezy." And a kiss later, he went as red as the other two as they all laughed again.
By now, they could hear the sounds of the approaching procession, and Bashful didn't even think to hesitate as he shoved a yellow pouch at her. She pulled it open and peered in.
"Some seeds fer a garden, if ya wanted ta plant one. And this one's flower seeds, the ones ya like." He handed her a blue drawstring pouch and blushed even before she lifted his hat off. It was somehow even funnier as he reddened even further.
Dopey pulled his hands from behind his back to reveal a clumsily stitched cat to match the one from his mother. She took it, and he gestured at Grumpy then shrugged.
"Thank you, Dopey. And Grumpy, too."
Dopey waggled his ears as he got a kiss and blushed as Snow giggled. They were coming into the clearing now, and Doc hurried to press something into her palms. It was the most extravagant gift of all. It was a golden tiara fitted with seven different stones. Doc flushed as he tugged at his collar.
"When I thought you were dead, I wanted to make this so that you would be buried with a start, ah, part of each of us, and I was going to surprise the others. I, ah, I didn't really know what to do with it once you spoke up, erm, woke up."
Snow gazed in wonder at the tiara, and she looked at each of the seven stones. In the middle was a diamond, symbolizing Doc. To its right was a black opal, to its left a white opal, Snow knew they were for Grumpy and Bashful respectively. Beside the black opal was a ruby and a garnet, beside the white was a sapphire and an aquamarine. Sneezy, Happy, Sleepy, and Dopey. Tears filled her eyes, and she pressed a loving kiss on Doc's cheek.
"Thank you. Thank you so much," she whispered.
Doc blushed even more and he grinned and looked away. Grumpy plucked the tiara out of her hands and studied it. It was perfection, the best work Doc had ever done. He admired the stones and paused on the black opal.
"Don't see these too often," he commented.
"Oh, they're rare but we gots some," Sleepy said, waving his hand. "Papa was so lucky with a mineshaft."
Grumpy nodded then held up the tiara. Snow knelt down and bowed her head. Grumpy paused then gently placed the tiara on her head. She looked up and smiled at him, and he smiled back. Then she plucked up his hat and kissed him. He yelped.
"Dagnabbit, woman!" he howled.
The brothers laughed so hard that they had to lean against something to stay upright. Then there was the startling blast of a trumpet and somebody announced Florián's presence. Snow stood up, smoothed her dress, and Dopey opened the door for her. She walked out, head up, back straight, the picture of royalty. The procession that had accompanied Florián looked absolutely stunned as they stared at the radiant girl clad in blue and yellow, wearing the most beautiful tiara on her brow. After a moment, they dropped to their knees and bowed. Florián couldn't take his eyes off of Snow as he dismounted his horse. He walked over to her and took her hand.
"Snow," he sighed, longing and wonder in his voice. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, my love," Snow said. "To our happily ever after."
Grumpy snorted. "It ain't ever that easy, Snow," he said.
Doc swatted him, and Sneezy snickered as Dopey shook with laughter. The procession looked scandalized by Grumpy's comment, and Florián turned to stare at him, his lips quirking in amusement. Snow just laughed, shaking her head.
"Thank you for watching over her," Florián said. "What can I do to reward you?"
"Oh, we want no reward," Doc said, waving his hand. He spoke slowly and carefully, determined not to make a fool of himself. "It was our pleasure and honor to host the princess."
The other Dwarfs all nodded, and again the procession stared at the Dwarfs, aghast that they had no requests. Florián looked bemused.
"Well, if there is ever anything I can do for you, let me know."
"Invite us ta the wedding," Grumpy said.
Florián suddenly looked flustered as Snow grinned. "Oh, there is no wedding."
"There will be," Grumpy retorted and Doc swatted him again. Bashful had to bite down on a laugh, and he and Sleepy glanced at each other. Doc would never forgive them if they laughed in front of the royal procession.
Florián quickly turned his eyes to meet Snow's and his cheeks turned pink. "Are you ready to go?"
"Here's this," Doc said, holding up the pack they had given her.
Florián took it then bowed to them. "Thank you. I owe you everything."
"We'll start with the invitation," Grumpy said.
Snow couldn't help it. She burst out laughing as Florián fumbled with the pack. Snow's laugh was infectious, and Happy broke. Then the seven Dwarfs were laughing with the princess as the prince gazed at them with amusement and embarrassment. The procession watched disapprovingly.
"Goodbye!" Snow called, and Florián took her arm and led her to a beautiful white horse. He helped her into the saddle then mounted his own steed and grabbed the reigns.
"Fare thee well," Florián said.
"I'll see you for the wedding!" Snow sang, and Florián looked askance at her as the Dwarfs burst out laughing again. She simply smiled at him, turned her horse around, and disappeared into the forest. Florián grinned after her then followed, leaving the procession scrambling into their saddles.
The Dwarfs continued to laugh for a minute then settled down and stared after her. She was gone. And they were alone. It had been a year since they'd met her, yet it had gone by so quickly. A bit subdued, the Dwarfs went about the rest of their day.
The next morning, Grumpy awoke with a blazing fire in his heart. He tried to tamp it down as he made breakfast and coffee, but it only fanned the flames. Doc and Bashful came down next, and Bashful glanced at him. Then he grinned.
"It ain't jest us, Doc," he teased.
Doc looked pleased. "Want to get back do it, ah, to it then?"
Grumpy nodded. "I want ta get back ta minin'."
Happy came out of the bedroom and walked down the stairs. He grinned when he saw them. "I see more than one fire blazing," he said.
"Guess we done it then," Sleepy said, yawning as he came down the stairs. "Guess we had our adventure."
"That jest means we get ta mine again," Sneezy said, his eyes gleaming.
"And we can look fer the perfect stones fer Snow's wedding presents," Grumpy pointed out.
"So we're agreed?" Doc asked, and Dopey grinned and nodded.
"Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go," Grumpy said, and the brothers all laughed. Grumpy laughed with them.
And that's it for the second story. Please let me know what you think. The third part may take awhile to write, but I hope to get it done when I can. Thanks so much for reading.
God bless. :)