Bashful didn't get to speak with them that night, and the next morning they headed into the streets of Raverra to explore. He noticed it first. He was watching Grumpy carefully as they spent time in the city, hoping to glean more information about why he felt so guilty. The first few times he saw the hand sign, Bashful shrugged it off. But by the seventh time, Bashful knew he wasn't crazy. Grumpy was signaling to people. Very unsavory people. The kind that you didn't want to be associated with. None of them ever approached—in fact, most turned and hurried away, glancing back with wary curiosity—but the fact was that Grumpy was communicating with them. He didn't know what Grumpy was saying, but it clearly kept the humans away. Until three days after they'd arrived, at least.
Bashful saw Grumpy make the hand signal at a burly man, who blinked at him. Grumpy's face went white as the man approached them. Doc pulled his brothers close when he noticed him approaching, but Grumpy tugged away and hurried over. Bashful squinted.
"He knows him," he said softly. "That human knows Grumpy."
Surprised, they all walked forward only to catch a quiet argument.
"—don't give a damn," Grumpy was saying. "Back off."
"Why won't you tell me?" the man insisted.
"Hello there," Doc said slowly and carefully.
Grumpy turned and gave them a warning look. The man peered between Grumpy and the brothers. "They kept you around? After what you did?"
Immediately, Grumpy jerked a knife out of his belt and began to twirl it as his face went blank. Doc and the others jumped back, startled by the abrupt change in their friend.
"Leave," Grumpy said softly.
"Did I hit a sore spot?" the man asked, and a gleam of mischief was in his eyes.
"How's your left knee?"
The man went pale and winced, stepping back. Grumpy continued to glare at him, slowly turning the blade.
"She wants to kill you for leaving," he finally managed.
"Let the bitch try," Grumpy snapped. "Now get."
"Or what?"
Grumpy threw the knife, and it stuck quivering in the counter behind the man. It came so close to him that the brothers were astounded it hadn't hit him. They watched fearfully as the man jumped away with a cry.
"You're mad!" he yelped. "I hope she does kill you, tunnel rat!"
"Maybe I'll make your knees match," Grumpy said thoughtfully, a dead look in his eyes that none of the brothers had seen before. It was scary how expressionless he was. Grumpy stared at the man before them as if he wasn't even a person, just an irritation that he wanted to go away.
The man seemed to see it, too, because he turned and hurried away. Grumpy snorted and reached over to jerk the knife out of the counter. The shopkeep was glaring at him, and Grumpy tossed a few coins onto the counter.
"Sorry," he said. Then he walked in the opposite direction from where the stranger had gone.
The brothers stood stock still for a moment then Bashful turned and shared all of his observations with his brothers.
Grumpy continued walking, not caring that he was alone. He wished he had been alone with that idiot Brock. He didn't want the brothers mixed up with him. Brock was the only thief stupid enough to walk right up and talk with him after he flashed him a severe warning to back off. He never was that bright.
Grumpy finally stopped to wait for the brothers, taking several deep breaths. How much had they heard? Did they suspect? He felt like he was going to be sick. Why was everything so difficult? Why couldn't he just relax? He looked around the streets and saw them in two ways. On the one hand, he saw a city that was bustling and bright, and the appeal to explore as a visitor was strong. On the other, he saw the underbelly working, saw the thieves and their gestures, the symbols the average citizen wouldn't even know meant anything. He screwed his eyes shut and rubbed at them. He didn't like being here. He wanted to go home.
A hand touched him, and Grumpy spun and pinned whoever it was by the throat, his knife in his hand before he could even think. He had reacted so fast that he didn't even realize who he was attacking until he saw Sneezy's terrified eyes staring at him. Grumpy jumped back and gazed at his knife, frightened by what he'd done. Sneezy reached up to touch his throat where a line of blood trickled from a thin cut, and the brothers stared at him in a new way. They looked leery, as if they didn't know if they could trust him.
'Not them! Not them! Oh, God, not them too!' Grumpy thought frantically. They had to know. They knew and they weren't happy. This was it.
He lowered his eyes and put his blade away, unable to say a word. Doc talked quietly to Sneezy, who swallowed and shivered but nodded. Bashful came over to Grumpy, his gentle eyes fearful.
"What happened?"
Grumpy shrugged and pressed his lips together. Bashful huffed but wrapped an arm around him. "You can tell us anythin'. You know that, right?"
Grumpy scoffed before he could stop himself. Bashful blinked at him and looked hurt.
"You can!" he insisted. Grumpy didn't look at him. "Oh! Why are you so difficult!" Bashful exclaimed, jerking Grumpy's hat over his eyes.
Doc came over. "Grumpy? What happened?" he asked.
Grumpy was too ashamed to answer. They wouldn't understand anyway.
"Grumpy, don't be like this," Happy said. "We just wanna help."
"Well you ain't!" Grumpy snapped. "I don't wanna talk about it."
"I don't really stare, um, care that you don't," Doc said. "You just weld, er, held Sneezy at knifepoint. What happened?"
Grumpy turned away, swallowing. 'Not now. Not like this…' he thought desperately. He couldn't worm his way out of this. He had to tell them. But how could he? Over twenty-five years of his life had been spent as a thief, stealing from others, and his fight-or-flight reflexes could be triggered by something as simple as an unexpected touch at the wrong moment. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back terror. Then Doc spoke.
"I don't see why you bother braying, ah, staying around if you don't even bust, erm, trust us after twelve years." There was a pause. "Let's go."
Grumpy opened his eyes to see them leaving. Even Dopey didn't look back. Grumpy stood there surrounded by people and wondered why they were all still smiling.
After a moment, he decided that he should probably get back to it. The twelve-year sabbatical had been nice, but it was time to work again. He walked down an alley until he was alone then threw out a sheet of silver magic. Stepping through, he was in their rooms. He waved his hand and his pack was repacked in a burst of magic. When everything had settled into place, he picked it up and threw out another sheet. He angled his magic to search for symbols, and when he finally found one, he stepped through and was suddenly behind an inn.
It was familiar to walk inside and flash a sign to the barkeep, who appeared puzzled by the Dwarf. Grumpy wasn't surprised. He was the only Dwarf in the thieves guild. Always had been. He went downstairs and saw everybody look at him. He flashed a sign and a rude hand gesture and made his way back to an unused bed. Nobody dared approach for thirty minutes. Then a boy did. It was always the younger ones. Like Dopey…
"Who are you?" he asked.
Grumpy looked up and answered without hesitation. "Name's Ivan."
"You're Ivan?" the boy exclaimed. "Hey guys! He really is Ivan!"
Interest appeared on all of the faces, and there was a rush as everybody hurried over to him. They all talked over each other, asking about various adventures, asking about his magic, asking if he'd come back for good.
As he started answering their questions, Grumpy realized that he'd never left. Not really. Calida's voice whispered to him, familiar and low, speaking a message that he knew now had been inevitable from the moment he'd stolen from the brothers.
'Welcome home, Ivan.'
'No need to say it,' Grumpy thought back. It was already like he'd never left. Once a thief, always a thief. He knew that now. It had just taken twelve years to figure it out.
'Good boy, Ivan. Good boy.'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Snow tapped on the door, peering around for anybody who could be watching. She knew Isabela wouldn't like for her to be alone with the Dwarfs, and that despite the fact that she'd stayed with them for months. She couldn't be too careful; if one of the queen's servants saw her, there'd be hell to pay. The door cracked open and Snow was startled to see a very upset Sneezy. His eyes were red, as if he'd been crying, and he scrubbed at his face.
"Snow!" he gasped.
There was a yelp and a soft curse as the other Dwarfs scrambled around in the room. Doc pulled Sneezy back and peered around, looking for something. He wilted.
"Oh. It's just you."
"Can I come in?" she asked cautiously.
"Of course," Doc said, feigning cheer.
Snow walked inside and the door shut behind her. She looked around the room to see the brothers.
"Where's Grumpy?" she asked.
"We'd hoped he was with you," Sneezy said. Snow noticed him rub his throat and swallow, a fearful look in his eyes.
"No. I haven't seen him since breakfast this morning." Snow pressed her lips together and went to the window, peering out at the garden. She caught the bird's eye and it fluttered over, twittering and tilting its head. She held out her hand for it to land and began to stroke its feathers as she paced. The Dwarfs didn't look surprised at all. She'd always had a special touch with animals. But she caught Dopey's eyes and raised her eyebrows. He blushed and looked away, tracing a circle with his foot. He made a few gestures.
"Dopey says he's sorry," Bashful said. "For what he said yesterday."
"I'm not the one you should apologize to," Snow said.
Dopey looked angry and stomped his foot, gesturing wildly. Snow glanced over to the fireplace and focused for a moment. The wood popped and splintered, spreading embers across the stone floor, and the brothers turned in alarm to tend to it. While they were distracted, Snow waved her hand and pink sparkles burst out of her fingertips. Dopey gaped at her. Grumpy was never so open and bold about his magic use. By the time the brothers had tended to the fire, all signs of magic were gone, and she smiled at Doc.
"Thank you. Now where were we?"
"Dopey was paying, uh, saying something. What was it?" Doc turned to his youngest brother.
Dopey squinted at Snow and made a few quizzical gestures, wondering if she'd cast a spell to understand him. Snow smiled and nodded.
"Go on," she said, winking.
Dopey frowned at her and began to explain how he very well did have the right to be mad at Grumpy after what he'd done.
"You have no idea what he's done," Snow said, her expression grim.
The brothers all stiffened and stared at her. That sounded eerily like what that stranger had said.
"Do you know?" Doc asked quietly.
Snow didn't answer, turning back to Dopey. "Did you ever consider it might have been a request that he was honoring?"
Dopey blinked then shook his head sheepishly. He waved his hand and made several tired gestures.
"I assure you, he has far more on his mind than just you," Snow said. "He's jumpy here. I don't think he likes being back in the city. I can't blame him, but I can't agree either."
Bashful stared at her. "What did he do, Snow?" he begged. "It's tearin' us apart."
"What do you mean?"
"He pulled a knife on me," Sneezy said hoarsely, rubbing his neck. A thin cut could be seen before he lowered his chin again.
Snow didn't look surprised, but understanding. "I told you he's jumpy. He probably thought you'd hurt him," she said gently.
Sneezy shivered and rubbed his throat again. "But why would he react like that anyhow?"
"What do you know of his past?" Snow asked.
The brothers stared at her. "What do you know?" Doc asked.
"And when did you find out?" Bashful added.
Snow stared at them. "That's not my story to tell, I'm afraid." She went to the window and set the bird on the sill. "We need to find Grumpy. I don't like that he hasn't come back." Turning to the brothers, she stared seriously at them. "What happened? And please be honest."
The brothers explained the hand signals, the conversation with the strange man, and then Grumpy's violent reaction when they'd found him to question him.
"And we did mask, erm, ask questions," Doc said earnestly.
"But they weren't the ones we was meanin' to ask," Bashful said.
"So you are going to ask?" Snow asked.
They hesitated. "I don't knows if he'd like that," Sleepy said.
"Really? How interesting."
"Why?" Happy asked.
Snow tilted her head. "Because when he told me why he was whipped, he said you never ask about his past and that's why he never talks about it."
There was silence as the brothers went slack-jawed.
"You're kiddin', right?" Bashful asked.
"No."
"Why would he tell you about something like that?" Sleepy asked.
"Because I was surprised when I saw his scars and told him that Grimhilde whipped me, too. It was something we had in common." She scanned their faces. "I find starting with what you have in common to be a good way to get to know somebody." She paused. "May I tell you something that might upset you?"
Doc nodded.
"You've stayed in your safe little Dwarf world for many years," Snow said. "The cottage is where you spend most of your time. That's where Grumpy met you, and that is where he feels at home. But you are now in his territory. He grew up in cities. He knows the dangers. His reaction to what he perceived as an unknown threat is not an overreaction. I will tell you he's had a very hard life. Please, when he comes back, talk to him. Ask him your questions and keep prodding at him until he gives you an answer. He wants to tell you."
"But he's afraid," Bashful said, slumping. "And we done backed him into a corner. No wonder he didn't come back with us."
"What do you mean?"
Doc shrugged. "I wanted to continue the discussion at the malice, erm, palace and not in a public mace, ah, space, but when we looked back, he was gone."
"I'll send people out to look for him."
Dopey saw the bird nod and flutter away, and Snow turned back. "While we wait for news, how about a bite of supper?"
"Food sounds good," Happy said, rubbing his hands together. "I ain't never had vittles like I've had here!"
Snow smiled. "I'm very glad you like it. Ring for a servant, please."
Dopey hurried over to yank the bell pull. A couple minutes later, there was a polite knock and Rafael came in.
"Oh! Princess!" he exclaimed.
"Shh!" Snow hissed, flapping her hands. "Shut the door!"
"So sorry, miss!" Rafael whisper-shouted. "I didn't expect you here." He shut the door and walked over. "I wondered why they rang."
"You don't?" Snow asked in amusement.
"We ain't needed nothin'," Happy said hurriedly.
"Well, now we need supper. We will not be dining with the queen tonight."
"Why not?" Sleepy asked, more out of politeness than anything.
"If I see her, I shall slap her across the face," Snow said primly.
"What?" Doc asked. "Why?"
"Diego told me today what she did to Grumpy yesterday," she said. "I'm surprised that none of you told me."
"We didn't want to bother you," Bashful said, turning scarlet. "It's supposed to be a happy time. You're gonna get married and should be enjoyin' yourself."
"As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I care far more for you all and your well-being than myself. Please be honest. I have plenty of time to be happy once I'm married. But I won't get to see you often. And I want to be sure you're all still together by the end of this."
There was silence as that last sentence sunk in. Doc sucked in a breath and began to shake his head, tiny, frantic movements. His eyes hardened and his fists clenched."No. No, he won't," he said, his voice sounding childlike and petulant. "Grumpy won't leave. Not forever. I won't let him."
There was an odd note to Doc's tone, a sliver of panicked hysteria, and Snow knew that even if Grumpy did leave, they'd find him no matter what. Doc would not let Grumpy go. They were brothers in all but blood, and that reassured her. She turned the conversation to other topics as Rafael fetched dinner and they waited for Grumpy to come back.