Set in between the last two chapters of Refining Fire, after they've had their adventure, but before they discover Grumpy is their brother.

Grumpy isn't the only one who has nightmares. Ever since their adventure, something Grumpy did in Riverra has been bothering Sneezy. After a distressing dream, the two Dwarfs finally talk about it.

Grumpy awoke to a soft gasp in the bed beside his. Nothing stirred in the dark room, so he settled back. He had almost fallen asleep again when a sniffling whimper came to him. Instantly, Grumpy was awake. He heard somebody get up and make his way to the doorway before slipping down the stairs, which creaked slightly. Grumpy lay there for several moments, debating on what to do. Then he got up and padded downstairs. Sneezy was kneeling in front of the fireplace, lit only by the dim glow of the embers.

Grumpy cleared his throat. "Here. Let me get that."

Sneezy started, and Grumpy tossed a ball of fire into the fireplace. Then he took stock of Sneezy. He looked awful, so tired and wary, and the way he stared at Grumpy made him feel like something was off.

"Want some tea?" Grumpy asked.

Sneezy nodded, not taking his eyes off of him. Grumpy went to the kitchen to make some tea. He found that Happy had made cookies while they'd been out hunting that day, and he gathered a plateful and carried them to Sneezy when the tea was ready. Sneezy was still seated on the floor in front of the fire, watching every move Grumpy made.

"Here," Grumpy said, handing over the treats. Then he retrieved his own tea and joined Sneezy on the floor. They lapsed into a tense silence. Grumpy slowly ate a cookie, staring into the fire. When he was done and Sneezy still hadn't moved, Grumpy spoke again. "Did I do somethin' wrong?"

Sneezy looked away at last. "You didn't mean it."

That was not the answer Grumpy had expected. "Okay. But what did I do?"

Stress appeared around Sneezy's eyes, and he turned away. Grumpy watched his hand come up to rub at his throat, and he understood.

"Was it when I pinned you with my knife?"

Sneezy shuddered but nodded, curling up in a tight little ball.

"Awful scary, I suppose," Grumpy continued. "I know it is when it happens to me."

Sneezy glanced over. "You've had it happen?"

"Oh, lots of times," Grumpy said.

Sneezy looked at him, his eyes large and teary. Out of all of the brothers, Sneezy was the rock. He stood stable in a way the others couldn't. But even he couldn't ignore this. Grumpy scooted closer and hugged him.

"Look at this," he said, tugging his nightshirt up to show his thigh. He traced a thin scar with his finger as he spoke. "Got stabbed right here. Clean in and out. Damn lucky it was so sharp. I seen men die in minutes if they get stabbed in the thigh wrong."

Sneezy touched the scar and leaned into Grumpy. "I'm sorry all that stuff happened to you."

"Yeah?" Grumpy asked. "Well, it led me to you all. I wouldn't change that." He paused the reached over and pushed aside Sneezy's beard. Leaning close, he could see a small scar from where his blade had nicked Sneezy's skin. He touched it.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't know it was you, Sneezy. I thought… I was in a bad place, and I'd just sent off that idiot Brock, and I thought you'd figured out that I was…" It took several attempts for Grumpy to actually get the words out. "That I was a thief."

"You're awful bothered about that," Sneezy said,

Grumpy shrugged and embraced him, tugging him against his side. "Thievin' is wrong."

"But you didn't want to do it. You had to," Sneezy argued.

"Well, I didn't mind much until I met you," Grumpy admitted. "It was just my lot in life, my job, and I never knew nothin' else. I knew it was wrong because you don't arrest people for doin' the right thing most of the time."

"But you feel different now?" Sneezy pressed.

"Yep," Grumpy said. "And guilty, too."

"Guilty?" Sneezy asked.

"I never saw what really happened to folks the next day," Grumpy said softly. "But sometimes I can still hear Doc's scream when he woke us up the mornin' after I sold the treasures." He paused, staring into the fire. "I understand now why thieves are punished. Treasures don't just mean money to some folks. Especially Dwarfs. And I'm sorry I stole them."

Sneezy gazed at him for a moment then sniffled. "It's okay."

"No it ain't, and I wish you would stop sayin' that," Grumpy said irritably.

"Well, if you mean it ain't okay that you stole them, yeah, that ain't okay," Sneezy said. "But that ain't what I meant."

"What did you mean then?" Grumpy asked, gazing intently at Sneezy.

Sneezy wrapped an arm around him. "I mean that we don't hold it against you. Gold sickness is real serious." He paused. "Our Grandpapa died because of gold sickness, you know. He got all tangled up in somethin'. Didn't tell nobody until it was too late."

"I'm sorry about that," Grumpy said. "Were you close?"

"Oh, I never knew him," Sneezy said quickly. "I think Doc was just learnin' to walk when Grandpapa died. The rest of us never met him."

"Oh," Grumpy said.

His mind was still mulling over the treasures, and a part of him longed to tell Sneezy that he was currently making up for his mistake. He'd been working with his magic to create a treasure for Dopey, sneaking out after dark on the days they'd lit the forges to keep it secret while the brothers were working hard on the treasures that would replace their own during the cold winter days. His solace was that his own project was easy enough for him to work on without much trouble, and he was grateful to the brothers' father for a simple design. But he wanted to surprise the brothers with their long-lost treasures, so he said nothing about them and leaned into Sneezy, who hugged him tight and sighed with contentment.

"Why don't you ever want to visit our family?" Sneezy asked into the quiet.

Grumpy flushed, recalling the threats from the brothers' Uncle Diligent and two of their cousins, Friendly and Clumsy. "I don't think they want to see me," Grumpy muttered.

"Well, we wish you would come visit with us," Sneezy said. "We're goin' for the holiday soon, and you never come."

Grumpy shrugged and toyed with his beard. "Why go when I know I ain't gonna be welcome?"

"You don't know that," Sneezy chided.

"Neither do you," Grumpy replied.

Sneezy laughed, hugging Grumpy to his side. "I think I knows better than you on this. Cuz I actually know them, so there."

Grumpy had to agree. He didn't know them at all, other than what he'd gleaned from stories they told. "Still. They don't like me. I don't want to ruin the holiday."

"You won't ruin it," Sneezy argued. "The whole holiday is for family, don't you know that?"

Grumpy looked up at him and spoke plainly. "No. I don't. I ain't never celebrated it. You always go to your kinfolk, and I stay here alone."

Sneezy paused then sighed. "Sometimes I forget you didn't grow up with Dwarfs."

Grumpy smiled. "Glad someone can. I still get spooked by them."

Sneezy glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "Spooked by what?"

Grumpy's face reddened and he kept his eyes on the fire. "Dwarfs," he said gruffly.

Sneezy faced him, but Grumpy didn't move. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, those ones we meet in Castell sometimes," Grumpy muttered.

"The Diamondbecks?" he asked incredulously. "Aw, c'mon, they're harmless! They're not even miners, so they don't even got the strength from that. They're minstrels, the whole lot of them. There ain't nothing to be scared of."

Grumpy didn't speak for several moments then waved his hand at the fire. Green sparkles burst out and a haze came over the fire. A woman's voice came through, cold and clear.

"Listen, brat, you don't want to get near them. Dwarfs cast spells with music. Then they'll make you their slave. You don't want to be a slave, do you?"

A chill went up Sneezy's spine as he realized that it was Calida. Then a small, young voice spoke through the haze.

"But they're like me. Them boys was just my size. They seemed friendly enough."

"Oh, you are stupid, aren't you? Fine. Go and talk to them. But talk too much and they'll cut out your tongue then make you eat it. Would serve you right."

The magic faded and Grumpy swallowed hard, turning away as tears slipped down his cheeks. He shivered and tried to pull away. Sneezy didn't let him. He knew then that even though Calida was dead, a part of her poison was still alive in Grumpy. Without a word, Sneezy hugged Grumpy as tightly as he could. Grumpy relaxed a little and Sneezy relaxed too then just held him and patted his back.

"'S'okay, Grumpy," Sneezy murmured.

"You sound like Bashful," Grumpy muttered, but he wasn't upset.

"Yeah? He won't believe that," Sneezy chuckled. Then he turned his face away and sneezed. "Ugh, we need to sweep."

Grumpy eyed him then leaned forward. "Don't expect me to do this every time, you hear?"

"Do what?" Sneezy asked.

Grumpy grinned and snapped his fingers. Dust seemed to leap from every surface before Grumpy pushed open a window and threw it out into the snow. He looked around, the house noticeably cleaner and fresher. Sneezy took a deep breath then sighed with satisfaction.

"Thanks," he said, rubbing his nose.

"You're welcome," Grumpy replied, a satisfied smile on his face. "Now, you wanna stay down here for awhile longer?"

"Yeah. I don't wanna sleep yet," Sneezy muttered, rubbing his neck again. Grumpy gently placed his hand over Sneezy's.

"'S'okay, Sneezy," Grumpy said sincerely.

"Now who sounds like Bashful?" Sneezy challenged.

"I've lived with you for years," Grumpy said. "It's about time somethin' rubbed off on me."

Sneezy snorted and picked up a cookie. "You fit in fine." He took a bite then nodded. "Even if it took me a bit to see it. And just so you know? I'd chase you down again."

Grumpy took a cookie and ate it, relishing the sweet treat. "Well, I'm glad to hear it."

"What are you two doing hown deer, um, down here?"

They both jumped and turned to see Doc padding over. "Havin' a snack," Sneezy said. He grinned and held out the last cookie. "Don't tell and you can have it," he teased.

Doc snorted and took the cookie, sitting down beside them. "Is that all?"

"No, but we talked it out," Sneezy said, gesturing at Grumpy.

Doc relaxed and nodded, taking a bite. "Good. You haven't been steeping, ah, sleeping well. I was beginning to hurry, er, worry."

Sneezy blushed and turned away. Grumpy peered between them. "Did I miss somethin'?"

"I know better than to approach you until you're ready," Doc said to Sneezy. "I was about to swallow, erm, follow you myself. But Grumpy beat me to it. I'm glad it worked out."

Sneezy rubbed his neck without realizing what he was doing before he snatched his hand down and curled his arms around his knees. Doc didn't say a word about it. He simply finished his cookie then brushed the crumbs out of his beard.

"Ready to sleep?"

"Yeah. I guess," Sneezy said. He nudged Grumpy. "You?"

"Yep."

"Okay." They stood up and Grumpy pulled the fire out of the fireplace with his magic. It shrunk into a glowing ball hovering above his hand that cast eerie shadows across the room.

"Hey," Sneezy said as they padded to the bottom of the stairs.

Grumpy dimmed the light, absorbing the magic with every step. "Eh?"

"I mean it. You should think of comin' to Folkheim with us for the holiday."

Doc's face suddenly lit up, but he didn't say a word. Grumpy shrugged as they headed upstairs to bed. He would need a really good reason to go and meet their kinfolk. But he just couldn't quite say no yet. He'd wait and see if they could convince him. They might. He loved them dearly, almost like the brothers he'd never had. It was a nice thought, he decided as he slid into his blankets. Ridiculous, but nice.