A portal opened just outside the shield, and Grumpy walked through first. He waited for the others then cut off his magic.
"Wow, you got real close!" Sneezy said.
"Can't get no closer with Bastian here," Grumpy said.
"Whyever not?" Doc asked.
Grumpy hesitated then turned and tapped the shield. It rippled into view, and there was stunned silence. Dopey skipped over and poked it, grinning. Out of the brothers, he alone knew that Grumpy had been shielding them like this.
"Give me a couple minutes. Need to recast it. Snow, help me. You're buzzin' anyhow."
Snow and Grumpy wove the spell together then cast it. The bubble flashed as it was strengthened and Snow began to check the spell. "You go on," she said, limping. "I would like a moment to myself. Then I want out of this binding."
Grumpy gestured them forward, and as they passed through, the bubble rippled, like disturbed water. The brothers peered at the shield, marveling at how much Grumpy cared for them. He had been showing it in so many ways they didn't even know about, and it touched them.
"You comin' or not?" Grumpy hollered.
Doc waved him away and continued to study the shield. Grumpy rolled his eyes then walked inside.
"Come on in, Bastian. You won't have to stoop once you're inside. Lucky for you, they growed up around humans and wanted to be welcoming to customers."
Bastian ducked inside then straightened and looked around. It was such a nice home, he thought at once. A large, spacious first story with a staircase leading up to another room. It was furnished simply but stuffed with what his mother had called love and his father had called character. Bastian turned to see Grumpy staring at him anxiously.
"I can see why you stayed," Bastian said, and he looked away and began walking around. "What's up there?"
"Bedroom."
"You don't mind sharing after having your own?"
"By the time it crossed my mind, I was already used to it," Grumpy said. He shrugged his pack off and stretched his aching back. "We'll have to make you somethin' to sleep on. Snow has her own bed upstairs."
"We could stuff a tick for him," Sleepy yawned, padding inside.
Dopey bounded over to Bastian and looked at him, throwing his arms out and wiggling his ears.
"He wants to know what you think," Grumpy translated.
"It's very nice," Bastian said softly. "Kind of like what I had before my folks died. A bit more rustic, but it's homey."
"What happened to your folks?" Sleepy asked.
"I don't know," Bastian said, picking up one of Sneezy's woodcarvings. "They never came home. I never knew where they were going. I stayed put until the new owners forced me out of the house and turned me onto the streets. As far as they were concerned, I could be somebody else's problem."
"I'm so sorry," Bashful said. "Gosh, we'd have raised you."
Grumpy snorted as he settled into his chair. "Make him into a human me?"
There was a pause then laughter as the reality of what Bashful had just proposed sank in. Bastian grinned. "If I'd turn out half as well as you did, I would have accepted in a heartbeat."
Grumpy scoffed then turned away to hide his pleased smile. Bashful saw it, though, and he giggled. Grumpy shot him a look. Snow walked inside, her face pale.
"Grumpy, please help me take this off," she begged. "I want to breathe."
"Can you make it upstairs?" Grumpy asked.
Snow shivered. "I think so."
"Come on then. Give me your pack. You can put on a dress and get comfortable. And tomorrow you can take a nice bath and rest while we get everything ready."
Snow and Grumpy disappeared upstairs. After a couple minutes, Grumpy came out and shut the door.
"She okay?" Bastian asked.
"She's worse than after we were chased by Emil," Grumpy said. He hesitated then knocked. "Doc's gonna look at it. See if he can help," he called.
Doc looked alarmed. "Is something song, erm, wrong?" he asked.
"Binding's hurt her," Bastian said. "She hasn't taken it off for almost three days. That's not good."
"I done told her to take it off last night," Grumpy said, coming down the stairs. "She didn't listen and now she knows why I told her to do that. Doc, take a look at her."
Doc hurried upstairs, knocked twice, then walked in and shut the door behind him. Bastian sighed.
"Every single one of your girls has done this."
"Yep," Grumpy said. "But only once."
"Once is enough."
Doc opened the door. "My kit?" he called.
"Is she okay?" Sneezy asked as Dopey grabbed the kit and hurried it up to Doc.
"She has very bad bruising," Doc said, taking the bag from his brother. "Nothing too terrible, but it's definitely painful."
"Tell her I'll pull out a restorative draught for her," Grumpy said, and he pulled his pack to him in a burst of magic.
"Thank you, Dopey," Doc said when he saw Dopey peering at him with concern. "She will be just fine."
He ducked back inside and shut the door. Dopey came back downstairs, and for awhile there was chatter as the Dwarfs made themselves comfortable and Bastian asked questions. By the time Snow and Doc came out, supper was cooking, a fire was roaring, and everybody was comfortable. They all looked over as Doc helped Snow down the stairs. She was pale with pain, and limped over to sink down on the hearth beside Grumpy, leaning her head in his lap and closing her eyes. Grumpy placed a hand on her head without thinking about it, stroking her hair.
"Want a chair?" Happy asked.
"Not right now," Snow whispered.
"I tried to tell you, Snow," Grumpy said gently.
"I know that now. And I'm very sorry I didn't listen."
"I pulled this out for you. Won't heal you all the way, but it's the best I can do." Grumpy handed over a bottle after popping the cork. "Two mouthfuls then give it back."
Snow nodded and took a deep breath before she sat up and took the bottle. She took two measured swallows then handed it back to Grumpy. A burst of golden light poured from her, and she looked relieved. "Oh, that's so much better," she sighed. "Thank you."
"Take it off whenever you can," Grumpy said. "You gots no need to stay that hidden away. We'll protect you, Snow."
"I just didn't want for you to have to bother with it," Snow said.
"Binding you takes two minutes," Grumpy said.
"But painting my face takes fifteen," Snow said.
"Makes no difference to me, Snow. I got time for you."
Snow stared at him them smiled. "You always know what to say."
"By the thirteenth girl, it's easy," Bastian teased.
"Naw. Ain't easy. Easier, maybe. But not easy," Grumpy said.
Snow accepted a chair when asked a second time, and Bashful and Sneezy helped her into it. She looked back at Happy. "I'm afraid you'll finally have to cook without me. I'm simply too tired."
"Then I'll make these vittles extra good," Happy said, winking at her.
After dinner, Grumpy sat down at the desk and pulled out some paper. Thinking carefully, he began to write a letter to Heinrich with a summary of their adventures and what Snow wanted him to do. He had the others read it over then handed the pen to Snow so she could sign. Snow wrote a message at the bottom of the page then signed it and blew on the ink. She folded it and handed it to Grumpy.
"Who are you sending?"
"Stupid raven," Grumpy said.
He stood up and marched into the yard, looking around. He brought his fingers up to his head and ran them along his ears and across his mouth.
"Oy! Stupid! Where are you? Got something for you to do!"
"Grumpy!" Snow exclaimed. "That's not nice! She's such a sweet thing."
A large raven fluttered over, cawing at Grumpy. Snow burst out laughing as Grumpy frowned at it. "Are too stupid. Done sided with that bitch Grimhilde, didn't you? Should be flyin' around with other birds and livin' away from people. But no. You won't listen and leave. So you're gonna take this to Heinrich. You know who he is?"
The raven landed and clicked its beak.
"Good. And take this to him, too."
Grumpy handed the raven the rolled up scroll, which it took in its beak. Then he held out a sapphire, which it took into its claw.
"Go on. Get," Grumpy ordered.
The raven flapped away, and Grumpy watched it go. "She's a right pain in the rear, Snow."
"She likes you," Snow said.
"Ain't no reason for that," Grumpy said. "I don't want no companion."
"I have a feeling she doesn't care and you don't have a choice at this point," Snow giggled.
"Don't I knows it. Well, we better relax. Should hear from Heinrich by tomorrow."
"Who plays the piano?" Bastian asked.
Everybody grinned and pointed at Grumpy, who turned red. "I picked up a skill or two since I left," he muttered.
"Music! Music!" Snow cried.
They all scrambled inside and spent a wonderful evening together. That night they turned in early, but they still woke late. Their nonstop travels had taken a toll on them, so they spent the day doing nothing and resting as much as possible. Heinrich's reply came back that evening. Grumpy read it and scoffed.
"He's havin' trouble with them, Snow," he said. "But he got the stable boys on his side, so the mounts will be comin' with him."
"Excellent. When?"
"Says he'll be here tomorrow in the early afternoon."
"Then I'll have time to get ready," Snow said. "I believe I'll take my bath tonight, please. And I would be very happy if the rest of you bathed, too. And we must wash your clothes. It's very important that you are all presentable. That would make it easier to sway the court."
"Whatever you want, Snow," Grumpy said.
So that night, they all bathed. Snow got to bathe alone while they took a walk outside, then she went upstairs to sleep while the men scrubbed themselves. They didn't linger downstairs, and Bastian settled on the tick they'd stuffed for him while the Dwarfs trooped upstairs and went to bed.
The next morning found Snow waking them at dawn. They had a lot to do and limited time, so they got busy. By the time Heinrich rode into the clearing with a procession, they were nearly ready. Grumpy came out to meet him with Bastian. The two humans stared at each other.
"Who are you?" Heinrich asked.
"Bastian Thistlewhite," Bastian replied.
"He's an old friend, Heinrich," Grumpy said. "He's safe."
Heinrich relaxed. "The princess?"
"Gettin' ready," Grumpy said. "She's puttin' on her coronation dress."
"Is she certain she will be crowned?" a girl asked.
Grumpy turned his attention to the procession. None of them wore the expensive clothes of nobility. They were all dressed simply, but they were neat and clean. The question of who they were was answered as Snow came outside.
"Oh, Princess, you look beautiful!" the girl cried.
"Sarah!" Snow looked thrilled. "Oh, Sarah dear, you came!"
"We did, Princess," a young man said. "We know we are only servants, but you deserve to be escorted."
"Thomas, this is more than I'd hoped for," Snow said.
"We owe this to you," Thomas replied. "We could do nothing with that wicked queen ruling us. Now that she is dead, we will serve you gladly."
Snow beamed at them, and then she turned to Heinrich. "Hello, Heinrich."
Heinrich knelt at once. "My princess."
"You have proven your loyalty again," she said. "You will be rewarded."
"If that would please you, your highness," Heinrich said. "Now would you give us the honor of escorting you to your coronation?"
"I would. Have you ponies for the Dwarfs?"
"I do, your highness."
Grumpy walked over and swung into the saddle of a black pony. He took the reins and settled in then looked at the brothers. They were intimidated, but Doc walked over and managed to get in his saddle. The others followed. Bastian helped Snow onto her horse then took the last free one. Heinrich got on his horse then turned them toward Altenfeld.
"Lead the way, Heinrich," Snow said.
Heinrich inclined his head then clicked his reins, and the horse moved forward. The procession started off toward the palace. By the end of the day, Snow would either be queen, or they would have an even bigger problem on their hands.