《Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Retold》 Chapter One; Im Wishing, One Song Once Upon a time There lived a lovely little Princess named Snow White. Her vain and wicked Stepmother, The Queen, feared that some day Snow White¡¯s beauty would surpass her own. So she dressed the little princess in rags and forced her to work as a scullery maid. Each Day, the vain Queen consulted her magic mirror. As long as the mirror answered, ¡°You are the fairest one of all¡± Snow White was safe from the Queen¡¯s Cruel Jealousy. In a palace of shining white stone, sitting atop a hill overlooking a lake surrounded by a forest. Inside a window overlooking the castle courtyard, in a dark stone cold room with the drapes tightly closed. The tiniest draft blew into the room as the Queen entered. Shutting the heavy oak door behind her. She turned and locked it with the golden key she kept around her neck. The room was dark, as she liked it. The only light came from the stone stage where an ornate golden mirror glowed and cast light down the steps. The Queen picked up her skirts and walked slowly toward the stage. Every single detail had been carved with her mirror in mind. It was her most prized possession. With a mural of the sun on the ground before the mirror and astrological signs bordering the mirror. A moon carved above the mirror and star patterned drapes tied around the stone pillars. Slowly, as the Queen stepped up, her reflection looked back at her in the mirror. Creamy porcelain skin with pink rosy cheeks. Her eyes lined in black and royal purple powders to show off the olive green of her eyes. Her lips were painted in a bright red. Her hair was tied back under a black wrap that hid her hair and wrapped down under her royal purple dress. Her dress had a white tall collar that framed the key sitting on her collarbone. Her dress was velvet with long draping sleeves that melded into her equally velvet black fur lined cape that shrouded her in mystery and elegance. The only hint to her figure was a satin red cord tied loosely just above her hips. Atop her brow was the simple golden crown adorned with freshwater pearls that were found in the lakes around the palace. She stopped atop the sunlight mural on the ground. Stood poised so she filled the mirror entirely from top to bottom. ¡°Slave within the mirror, come now from the farthest space.¡± The Queen spoke the incantation and the mirror responded instantly. A crack of lightning broke from the other side of the mirror. Though outside the skies were still clear. ¡°Now. Let me see thy face.¡± Fire sparked and burned within the mirror and white smoke obscured the view. The fire died down and the smoke swirled. Blown by an invisible wind. Taking shape into a pale white face. The face was missing eyes and angular as if chipped from marble. It saw all and saw nothing. Upon seeing the face the Queen felt at ease. AS if visiting a friend, though there was no indication the spellbound creature could feel familiarity for anyone. ¡°What wouldst thou know?¡± The mirror said. Speaking with a gravely echoing voice deep as the rumble of thunder. ¡°Magic Mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all?¡± The Queen said, pride swelling in her chest and a pink bubbly feeling tinging her cheeks. Waiting to hear her favorite words. ¡°Famed is thy beauty, your majesty. But hold. A lovely maid I see. Rags hide not her grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee.¡± The mirror said. The pink feeling faded from the Queen and a sneer curled her lips. ¡°Alas? Alas for her!¡± The Queen spat. ¡°Reveal her name.¡± ¡°Hair black as the night, lips red as blood, skin as white as snow before the spring.¡± The mirror answered dutifully. The Queen¡¯s hand flew to her chest as she gasped. Her corset creaking under her shock. ¡°Snow White!¡± She hissed. Suddenly remembering what the girl¡¯s job for the day was. The Queen lifted her skirts and stormed to the nearest window. ¡°What else wouldst thou know?¡± The mirror asked. ¡°I have no further use for you.¡± The Queen said, she opened the drapes and looked down into the courtyard. ¡°Release me, your majesty.¡± The mirror said. ¡°Fine. Magic mirror now be gone, Back again to the beyond.¡± The Queen said and with another crash of thunder, the face in the mirror vanished. Once again the mirror became mundane. But the Queen¡¯s attention was taken by the courtyard, and the single figure down below. In the courtyard, a young girl barely in her teens and lovely as the first thaw of spring sat on the long winding steps from the courtyard up into the palace. This was the princess Snow White. All around her the signs of spring were unfolding. The trees were filled with luscious green leaves and bright pink blossoms that were falling and dancing in the wind. A petal fell and landed onto her pale hand as she scrubbed the stone. She lifted her hand and blew the petal off and watched it fall. Smiling at the sight. She turned back to her work and hummed as she worked. Palace doves flew from their nests in the eaves and landed around her. Feeling completely at peace with her gentle company. Snow White scrubbed until her back began to ache. She sat up and looked at the rest of the stairs. She drew in a long sigh and then looked at the doves. Snow White smiled and stood up. Picking up her bucket and tossing the water over the steps. She hummed and swang the bucket walking through the falling petals to the old stone well. The well had been in the courtyard for longer than Snow White had been alive. Vines had grown up and around the stone and over the wooden structure that held the bucket and the mechanism for cranking it. Snow White stepped up the stone step to the well and put the bucket down next to the well and began drawing the full bucket from the bottom. The air was heavy with the scent of fresh blooming flowers and even the breeze was sweet smelling. Once the bucket was at the top, Snow White saw all the doves looking into the well and smiled at them. ¡°Do you want to know a secret?¡± She asked, leaning close. The doves nod, cooing. Snow White grinned. ¡°Do you promise not to tell?¡± The doves nodded again leaning as close as she had. ¡°We are standing by a wishing well.¡± Snow White whispered. The doves looked down into the well. ¡°Make a wish into the well, that¡¯s all you have to do. If you hear it echoing, your wish will soon come true.¡± Snow White leaned back she thought about what she would wish for before leaning back into the well. ¡°I¡¯m wishing,¡± She sang, listening to her voice echoing back to her. The sudden disembodied voice scared all the doves away. Her smile only got bigger as she watched her reflection. ¡°For the one I love, to find me!¡± To find me ¡°Today.¡± Snow White sang. The doves trying to return but continued to be startled by the echo but slowly they returned to listen to the way Snow White sang about her true love. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°I¡¯m hoping, and I¡¯m dreaming of¡­¡± Snow White leaned on the well, ¡°the nice things.¡± The nice things ¡°He¡¯ll say.¡± Her voice carried over the vine covered walls of the courtyard. Her singing reached the ears of a passing prince. Driven off track by the sound of her singing. ¡°I¡¯m hoping, and I¡¯m dreaming of.¡± Her voice continued wafting over the garden wall. Leading the prince closer. ¡°The nice things, he¡¯ll say.¡± He came to the wall and stood up in his stirrups to try and see over the wall. He could see much of the courtyard but not the singer. He dismounted and used the vines to scale the wall. Once atop he saw the sweet maiden at the well singing into it. ¡°I¡¯m wishing, for the one I love. To find me.¡± Snow White sang, not seeing at all the way the doves around her flew away. ¡°Today-¡± ¡°Today!¡± The prince sang over the sound of the well¡¯s echo. Snow White gasped, covering her mouth as she looked at the stranger. ¡°Hello,¡± he said. Sweeping his feathered hat off of his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to startle you. My name¡¯s Florian, what¡¯s yours?¡± Snow white shook her head before turning to run. ¡°Wait!¡± He called after her, but Snow White didn¡¯t stop, slowing only for a second to find an open door to run into. She spied one and ran for it, Slamming the door behind her hard enough for the latch to lock behind her. She ran up the stairs, peeking out the windows to see if the stranger was still following her. Prince Florian, for his part, did follow after the princess. Calling for her to wait but she¡¯d shut the door and he was on the other side of it. He looked around at the windows and saw glimpses of her. Seeing a glimpse of something moving behind the curtain on the second story balcony. He hoped he could make her reappear. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve found you, hear what I have to say.¡± He sang, hoping he could make her appear again. ¡°One song, I have but one song. One song only for you.¡± Snow White peeked out from behind the drapes to look at the prince. With the sunlight shining down on him, he looked truly dashing and Snow White found herself smiling despite herself. She stepped back behind the curtains and primped herself. Trying to push her curls into place and smooth out her dress. Pushing and pulling at her skirt to hide the patches or torn holes or rags. Once she felt she was presentable she stood straight and walked out onto the balcony to hear the serenade. ¡°One heart tenderly beating. Ever entreating, constant and true.¡± The prince sang, not seeing the Queen. Still watching from her window. She sneered and slammed the drapes closed. Not that either of the teens noticed. ¡°One love that has possessed me. One love, thrilling me through.¡± The prince sang. Snow White was completely enamored with the prince. She held out her hand and a dove landed daintily onto it. ¡°One song my heart keeps singing.¡± Prince Florian sang as Snow White kissed the dove and prompted it to fly down from her balcony. ¡°Of one love. Only for you.¡± Prince held out his hand and the dove landed on it. Shyly shifting from it. Then giving the prince a peck on the cheek before flying off. Prince Florian looked up to Snow White and blew her a kiss. Snow White¡¯s cheeks went pinker as she blushed. Turning back to the curtains and closing them as she took a last look at the prince she¡¯d fallen completely in love with. The Queen felt white hot rage in her veins. She needed to do something about that pest. She knew someday this would happen. Knew she needed to do something, but the girl was so beloved that any public attempt would threaten her own reign. She couldn¡¯t have that. The Queen raised a silent eyebrow as she considered something more quiet. Perhaps the girl could just disappear. Or even perhaps have a little accident? A plan formed, a perfect plan. The Queen smiled and left her private room. Locking the door behind her. She found her ladies in waiting clustered in the hall waiting with their heads down. ¡°Have my huntsman meet me in the throne room.¡± The Queen said. The ladies all chorused their yeses and curtsied. They all scattered, leaving the Queen to continue to her quarters with only one of her ladies following in case she had another request. The queen paused at her quarters to pick up something delightfully cruel before going to her throne and sitting upon it. The throne was something to behold. She had it commissioned after the death of her husband. His throne still sat beside hers. But it was bland compared to the opulence of hers. It was made of gold and in the shape of a peacock. Inlaid with jewels of every kind. The satin cushions and upholstery made her comfortable for sitting for long hours if she had to attend court. She hated being made to wait, and the time it took for her huntsman to show up had her very impatient and annoyed. ¡°You sent for me, your majesty?¡± The huntsman said. Bowing as he entered. ¡°Indeed. Next time I would appreciate more haste.¡± The Queen said. ¡°My apologies, your majesty.¡± The huntsman said. The man was heavyset with a common square haircut for hunters with dark facial hair. ¡°Now, to business.¡± The Queen sat back in her chair. Tapping her fingers on the arm of her throne. ¡°I want you to take Snow White up into the mountains. Somewhere secluded, less traveled. Have her pick wild flowers. Then. When you¡¯re alone. I want you to kill her.¡± Her voice was devoid of any emotion. ¡°What? Your majesty, the little princess?¡± The huntsman asked. ¡°Silence!¡± The Queen commanded, standing in her emphasis. ¡°You know the penalty if you refuse my command.¡± The huntsman sunk his shoulders in defeat. ¡°Yes. Your majesty.¡± He said. ¡°Good. Know that if you fail, there will be consequences.¡± The Queen said. ¡°Yes. Your majesty.¡± The huntsman said. ¡°Oh. And one more thing.¡± The Queen turned back to her chair. And brought something back up. ¡°I want you to bring back her heart. In this.¡± She held up a bright red box. Latched with a golden dagger going through a heart. The huntsman could only stare in horror. ¡°Take it.¡± The Queen said, the huntsman walked up the steps shakily. Taking the box in his rough leather gloved hands. ¡°Now go. Take her and be back before nightfall.¡± ¡°Yes, your majesty.¡± The huntsman said, bowing before leaving the throne room. Once alone in the halls he stared in horror at the box. He tried to think how he would convince the young princess to go with him. He found her in her meager room. Trying on a beautiful gown. Dark blue velvet corset with red trim. Beautiful blue satin sleeves and a satin sunshine yellow skirt. ¡°Your grace.¡± The huntsman bowed. ¡°Your step-mother has requested I take you to pick wildflowers in the mountains.¡± Snow White turned, her whole face lighting up. ¡°Really?¡± She said excitedly. ¡°Oh, wonderful! Let me get my shoes, oh and a bow!¡± ¡°I will prepare a horse and cart for you, your grace.¡± The huntsman said. Bowing again and leaving. He took the horse and a modest covered cart up the path. Keeping the pace quick, the huntsman couldn¡¯t bear to drag this out longer than he had to. It was just before noon when he got to a secluded part of the mountain. He tied the cart and opened the door. Snow White thanked him as she stepped out. Soaking in all the sunlight and the mountain top view. ¡°What beautiful flowers,¡± She said. Pausing to look at the huntsman. He nodded and she ran off to the nearest patch of wildflowers. The huntsman stepped back and let his horse graze freely. He kept a watch on the young teen trying to build his courage. Snow White hummed the serenade the prince had sung to her as she picked the most beautiful flowers. Bouncing from place to place as she saw another and another flower. Her arms were brimming with flowers, and her thoughts were filled with how beautiful the prince¡¯s eyes were. How lovely his smile was. She didn¡¯t feel like she was walking, she was floating. She moved closer to the mountaintop forest and her thoughts cleared as she heard sounds of something small in distress. Snow White looked around and put all the flowers down as she followed the sound into a little corner of boulders. Finding the tiny pop of blue and the crying of a baby bluebird. ¡°Hello there,¡± Snow White said, kneeling down before the baby bird. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± She cupped her hand and held them down for the bird to hop into. The bird hopped up and Snow White raised the little thing to her face. ¡°Are you lost? Where¡¯s your family?¡± Snow White looked up into the trees , looking for the bird¡¯s parents. ¡°They can¡¯t be far.¡± She looked back at the baby and smiled. ¡°Come on now, perk up for me. Perk up.¡± She said, ¡°Can you smile for me?¡± While she focused on the baby bird, the huntsman advanced. Stalking the girl as if she were prey to be slaughtered in the hunt. Snow White was none the wiser. She searched the trees for a sign of the bluebirds parents and caught sight of them between the trees. ¡°There they are!¡± She cried as she stood up. ¡°Go on, go see your family.¡± Still keeping her back to the huntsman, as he got closer and closer. Unsheathing his hunting knife and raising. Poised to strike as she called her goodbyes to the bluebird family. The shadow of the huntsman fell over her and she finally turned to see the man looming over her. She screamed as she threw her arms over her face. The knife was raised to strike. And then. It fell. Chapter Two; With a Smile and a Song The knife clattered along the rocks as it fell from the huntsman¡¯s hands ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡± He said, falling to his knees. Shaking his head as he fell to Snow White¡¯s feet. She looked down at him in confusion. ¡°Forgive me, please forgive me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± She said. The huntsman looked up, a crazed look in his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s mad. She¡¯s jealous! She¡¯ll stop at nothing!¡± He said Snow White could only shake her head. ¡°You¡¯re not making sense. Who¡¯ll stop at nothing? For what?¡± She asked. ¡°The Queen! She¡¯ll kill you. She¡¯ll never rest!¡± The Huntsman said. Snow White fell against the rocks weakly. ¡°The Queen?¡± Her voice wavered. ¡°Run. You have to run! Run as far as you can and never look back!¡± He yelled, pushing her toward the forest. She picked up her skirts and tried to find a place to run. The huntsman kept yelling. Commanding her to run and hide and never come back. Her mind started racing as fast as she was into the dense forest. It all tumbled as wild as she did as the trees grew so tightly together that it blocked out the sun. Shrouding the way forward in darkness. This forest was untraveled and left no room to move through between the trees. Vines and branches gripped each other, Snow White swatted the branches away from her face as she ran. She pushed through the dense branches and vines further into the darkness. Running into a tree that howled at her. Something with giant yellow eyes swooped down with sharp talons bared down at her. Snow White dove to the ground before clawing her way back to her feet and running aimlessly further into the forest. Coming to a stop at a wall of bright yellow eyes. Hundreds of black screaming creatures came rushing out at her. She screamed as she ran blindly in another random direction. Running right into a horde of gnarled sharpened claws and grabbed her skirt and red cape. Screaming again, Snow White ripped her clothes away from the hands. Stumbling backwards and into more grabbing claws. She threw them off and then ran down a steep hill. Rasping from lack of breath and heart pounding in her head as she entered a clearing. Fighting to breathe as she tried to get her bearings. Looking around and coming face to face with a monstrous face staring right at her. Snow White had no breath to scream. She ran back to get away only to fall through a false floor through the teeth of a wickedly big beast. She screamed while her hands grabbed wildly in the dark for anything to catch her. A vine went taunt and stopped her freefall. Her hands ached from holding her own weight. She dangled, kicking her legs purely from the adrenaline of not being able to see what was below her. It looked pitch black, like a fall into forever. Snow White was not strong enough to hold her own weight. Her trembling muscles suddenly dropped her and she plunged into icy cold water. Never had she needed to swim and her panic increased as she flailed. Kicking her knees against the ground of the body of water. There was a momentary flash of relief as she stood up in the water that vanished the second she saw the heads of dark hidden alligators bobbing up over the surface and bobbing toward her. She screamed and turned to run but fell in the water. Digging her nails into the mud and kicking up dirt and rocks as she scrambled through the water. Scrambling up, cold and shivering, onto the banks continuing to run only to hear the scream of some kind of giant witch reaching down to snatch her. The more Snow White ran, the more horror she saw at every turn. Every breath she took in came back out as a scream. Everywhere she turned there were claws or angry yellow eyes, gnashing teeth, and horrid monsters only conceivable through imagination. Snow White screamed as she became completely overwhelmed and simply collapsed into sobs. High above, the clouds moved away from the sun and light again streamed down into the forest. Revealing the princess had collapsed in a small clearing within a lush green forest. The gnashing teeth were nothing more than bushes. Snatching claws only branches. The watching eyes emerged from their shadows, proving to be only natural inhabitants of the forest. Harmless little critters that were just as frightened of Snow White as she was of them. Families of rabbits looked out from their burroughs, Squirrels and chipmunks climbed down their trees. Deer appeared from behind the trees. Watching the princess, they became more curious. Creeping closer and closer. A rabbit snuck the closest and sniffed at the unknown stranger who¡¯d made such a ruckus in their home. Feeling the small touch on their arm, Snow White looked up. Prepared to face her fate, only to be surprised by the harmless little rabbit. She sat up, her sudden movement had all the forest inhabitants diving for cover. ¡°Wait! Please don¡¯t run away!¡± Snow White called. ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you. I was afraid you¡¯d hurt me.¡± The critters peeked back out from their hiding places, waiting to see if she was being truthful. Snow White for her part, laced her hands together in her guilt. ¡°But, you don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve been through!¡± She tried to explain, but even to herself it sounded like an excuse. ¡°All because I was afraid. I¡¯m so ashamed of the fuss I¡¯ve made.¡± Snow White looked at the ground sheepishly. She looked around as more of the critters began to appear, she spied her new friend the little blue bird and his family. ¡°What do you do when you¡¯re afraid?¡± She asked. The blue bird family looked at each other before whistling a cheery tune. Snow White lit up instantly. ¡°Oh! You sing a song!¡± She clapped her hands happily. She sang to the bird, showing her full vocal range. The littlest bluebird flew down and landed again on her hand. ¡°With a smile and a song,¡± She began to sing, soothing herself. ¡°Life is just like a bright sunny day. Your cares fade away. And your heart is young.¡± All throughout the forest, the woodland critters looked up as her voice carried through the trees. ¡°With a tune and a song,¡± Snow White sat back and let the bluebird fly away. ¡°All the world is a bright sunny day, your cares fade away. And the world is young.¡± Her voice carried across a peaceful river where a young buck looked up and followed the noise. Little raccoons, and turtles emerging to find the source of the crooning. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°There¡¯s no use in grumbling, as raindrops come tumbling.¡± Snow White turned to the rabbit creeping closer to her. Reaching to pet her but being surprised when she ran off instead. ¡°Remember you''re the one, who can fill the world with sunshine.¡± Coming up behind her was a young doe who sniffed at her hair. Snow White turned and smiled. Touching her nose to the young doe¡¯s. ¡°When you smile and you sing.¡± Snow White sang, being surprised in the next second as the rabbit jumped into her lap and all the other woodland critters she¡¯d startled surrounded her peacefully. ¡°Everything is in tune and it¡¯s spring and life flows along. With a smile and a song.¡± Snow White let out a long contented sigh. ¡°I really am quite happy now.¡± Snow White said, looking at all her new friends. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll get along somehow.¡± Thinking clearly, she thought about what her next steps should be. ¡°Everything is going to be alright.¡± She asserted, but her thoughts turned to shelter. ¡°But I do need a place to stay, at night.¡± She looked around and spotted a little burrow of rabbits and smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep in the ground like you,¡± She laughed, looking up the tree she saw the knotholes occupied by the chipmunks and squirrels. ¡°Or in the trees, the way you do.¡± Looking up even further she saw a mother lark sitting on her eggs. ¡°And I¡¯m sure no nest could possibly be big enough for me.¡± She thought about her options, she had no idea how to build a shelter. Her only hope for surviving the night would be to find it. But how? She looked around at all her new friends. ¡°Maybe you know a place I can stay?¡± Snow White asked. ¡°In the woods somewhere?¡± The critters all looked at each other speaking in a quiet language that only the forest knew. They turned back to Snow White with a smile and nodded enthusiastically. ¡°You do?¡± She said, her spirits soaring. She stood up and brushed off her skirts. ¡°Will you take me there?¡± The bird took flight and rounded around her, taking hold of her cape to lead her into the trees. The family of deer led the way, with the smaller creatures like the rabbits and raccoons keeping a pace behind them. The chipmunks and squirrels jumped from tree to tree, keeping an eye on Snow White as she watched her where she walked to avoid stepping on the family of pheasants that were keeping pace. Birds of all colors flew around, leading her forward before doubling back to keep her from losing her way. Now that she could see the forest, Snow White found it wasn¡¯t scary. It was beautiful, everywhere she looked there was something new to see that left her breathless. Every breath she did take in was refreshing. Full of the smell of fresh bloomed flowers and there were berries on every bush. She walked down a hill and found herself beside a gloriously clear river. She stepped over a fallen log, pausing to see into the water. Looking at the rocks under the water, seeing all colors. With little small fish swimming between the rocks. Snow White felt her heart swell, she held her hands tightly together for a moment to just drink it in. Then she picked up her skirt and kept moving forward. Ducking underneath the low branches. But a sudden jerk had her stopping and leaning backwards. Her cape had gotten caught on a branch she hadn¡¯t seen. A pair of birds swooped down quickly and untangled her from the branches. ¡°Thank you,¡± Snow White said. The bird chirped back and they continued moving on. Finding the end of the forest and stumbling onto a mountain road. Snow White looked back and forth but couldn¡¯t see any landmarks that told her where she was or how far from home she was. She took that as a good sign and crossed onto the dirt road and climbed the mountain path. Hitting its peak and feeling like she could stretch out forever. She stretched her arms out as wide as they¡¯d go. She had never felt such freedom before. The woodland critters led her off the road and back into the forest where the canopy was so thick it shadowed the way forward. Snow White hesitated. Afraid of going back into the dark, but her friends assuage her fears by pulling the new trees to the sides and letting in the light. Snow White slowly approached. Holding the trees apart and looking through. In a beautiful little mountain valley sat a peaceful little wood cottage. The road they¡¯d just left, led right to the cottage¡¯s front door. A sweet crystal clear river wound through the clearing. Giant tree stumps were sitting around the cottage, showing that the clearing was man-made and not natural. Snow White looked at her friends and smiled excitedly. She picked up her skirts and stepped over the rotting log and through a little grassy clover to get back to the road. She hurried down it, barely able to contain her excitement. Looking back and waving her friends forward. All the critters jumped the rotten log to follow her down the road. The road led down and down, turning what once Snow White thought was a clearing into more of a valley. At the bottom of the hill¡¯s road there was a little wooden hand made bridge over the river. After she crossed the river she looked around and found the view breathtaking. The cottage was nestled in the valley with its back to a thick forest where the sunlight didn¡¯t permeate. Looking up through the thinner trees where she could, Snow White saw the towering mountain just behind the cottage. Every bush and tree bore fruits or nuts and a little garden for root vegetables were sheltered and fenced in just beside the cottage. Snow White paused and picked a berry and tasted it. Grinning wildly. ¡°Gooseberries!¡± She said gleefully. ¡°I like it here.¡± She continued down the road where the overturned dirt made a much bigger path around the cottage. All lined with large rocks and scattered with pebbles. Snow White walked up to the cottage and looked it over. Confused at how well kept the cottage was for how dark and abandoned the cottage looked. Out of curiosity, she tried to look in the mirror but found it impossible to see through. She used her hand to wipe away some of the dust though that didn¡¯t change anything. ¡°It¡¯s dark inside.¡± She said to all the critters staring at her in anticipation. She goes to the door, pausing to make herself look a bit more professional. Pushing her curls to look more full and brushing off her skirts. She lifted her skirt poised for a polite curtsy and knocked on the door. But there was no response. Snow White looked around before knocking again. But again there was no answer. She stood up and let her skirts drop. ¡°Hm. Maybe nobody''s home?¡± She said, shrugging her shoulders. She stared at the door for a second and looked around. Wondering what to do next. She reached out and tried the handle. Finding the door unlocked. ¡°Hello?¡± She called as she peeked into the door. The hinges creaked loudly as the door opened. Snow White looked in the dark space, the only light coming from the sun pouring in from the open door. ¡°May I come in?¡± There was a slight echo to her words as she called them into the empty space. Snow White opened the door fully and looked into the space. It was a lovely little place, if small. A single staircase led to a closed door on the second floor. A single room stretched and changed from a sitting room, a dining room and a kitchen. All in a single space. Snow White looked around the space, waiting with her heart in her throat for the owner of the house to appear and yell at her for walking right in. She couldn¡¯t even make her voice work to call out for the owner a second time. The woodland critters crept alongside her. Taking in the sights of the empty cottage. The whole place has a dusty smell like dirt after a fresh rain. Stuffy like the air was actively being sucked out of the home. Every window was covered and left the place in a permanent night. There also was a strange earthy almost decay sort of smell coming from the kitchen. A sort of sour smell coming from the door and the corners of the room. Floorboards creaked as Snow White took in everything around her. There was so much to look at and so much to see. She turned around and nearly tripped as she came across something in her path. She threw up her hands and cried out. The critters flew from the house in pure fear. Looking in for a second to see Snow White. Looking at a little chair. Chapter Three; Whistle While you Work Snow White looked at the little chair she nearly tripped over. Her face broke out into a bright smile. ¡°What a cute little chair!¡± She laughed, turning to sit on it. It was so small, even for her, but to its credit it was built very sturdy. As she looked around she saw more of them. Counting out how many there were, not around the dinner table but strewn around. ¡°There¡¯s seven little chairs.¡± She stood back up and noticed for the first time how small much of the furniture was. ¡°There¡¯s little furniture everywhere. Must be for seven little children. This must be a children¡¯s house!¡± Snow White reasoned. Which explained perfectly why there was no one home. Children would be out playing, or in school, or wherever their mother was. Snow White¡¯s eyes adjusted to the dark and noticed how filthy the house was. ¡°Seven untidy little children.¡± She said, moving to the crowded table. Piled high with used dishes. ¡°Look at all of this!¡± She said, rounding the table her attention was taken straight to the large pickaxe embedded in the table. ¡°A pick.¡± She noted, ¡°A stocking,¡± She picked up the striped stocking that was hung on it. She could smell something foul in the soup pot. Snow White held her breath and opened the lid, only to be surprised. ¡°A shoe!¡± She said, picking up the small leather boot. She dropped it back in the stock pot and the bluebird family perched on the ax whistled in disbelief. She moved from the table to the fireplace on the wall, the main source of cooking in the house. As shown by the build up of ashes in the fireplace. A laundry line was hung on the mantle with random clothes haphazardly draped on it. The mantle itself was decorated in a chaotic clutter of carved statuettes and unused beer steins. ¡°Look at this fireplace.¡± Snow White said, taking in a breath and then blowing on the mantle just out of curiosity. A cloud of dust flew up into the air making the critters unfortunate enough to be on the mantle sneeze. ¡°And those cobwebs!¡± Snow White pointed up into the rafters, cobwebs so thick and heavy with dust they looked like lace decorations. ¡°That pile of dirty dishes, my, my, my.¡± She looked up at the dirty dishes stacked on every available surface. ¡°Oh!¡± She cried suddenly rounding the fireplace to look at a little broom that was caged in cobwebs. ¡°Just look at that broom, why they¡¯ve never swept this room!¡± Snow White could only hold out her arms in disbelief. ¡°You would think their mother-oh!¡± Snow White covered her mouth in sudden realization. It was so obvious she couldn¡¯t believe it was only dawning on her now. ¡°Maybe they have no mother.¡± Her heart filled with grief as she sympathized with the poor uncared for children. ¡°That¡¯s so sad.¡± She said. Placing her hand over her heart as she felt tears in her eyes. Remembering how lost she felt after the loss of her own mother. A baby deer leaned on her mother, who instantly comforted her. ¡°I know!¡± Snow White perked up excitedly. ¡°We¡¯ll clean the house for them! Then maybe they¡¯ll let me stay.¡± She unclipped her cape and went to hang it, only to be approached by a pair of song birds who took it from her and hung it up. She looked around as her new friends came, ready and willing to help her. She took stock of what needed doing and how many groups she had. ¡°Now, you wash the dishes.¡± She pointed to a crew near the dinner table. ¡°You tidy the roof.¡± She pointed to another crew in the rafters. ¡°You clean the fireplace.¡± She directed the last crew before taking three strides to the corner and swept the broom up from its forgotten place. ¡°And I¡¯ll use the broom!¡± She said lifting the broom into the air. On the table baby bluebird sounded a bugle call to get everyone started. The dishes were swept from the table and dust started falling from the rafters as the cleaning groups chose their starting places and began their work. ¡°Just whistle while you work,¡± Snow White sang, whistling her little tune as she picked a corner and began to sweep. ¡°And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place. So hum a merry tune.¡± The fireplace crew started sweeping the ashes and dust off so Snow White could sweep it up. The tidy crew started picking up the discarded clothes and making piles of things that needed to find a home. ¡°It won¡¯t take long when there¡¯s a song to help you set the pace.¡± Snow White swept the room like a dancer, the thought crossed her mind that she was rather like a dancer. ¡°And as you sweep the room, imagine that the broom. Is someone that you love and soon you¡¯ll find you¡¯re dancing to the tune.¡± The dishes were being cleaned by the dish crew. Raccoons handing dishes one by one to each other in a line that stopped at a fawn liking the dishes clean. ¡°Oh! No, no, no, no!¡± Snow White gasped as she turned around. The dish crew looked up at her confused. ¡°You wash them with the tub.¡± She directed. Miming how dishes were meant to be washed. After a minute the dish crew got the idea and pushed the supposedly clean dishes into the tub. The fawn running around and taking hold of the pump lever faucet and pumping hard to get the groundwater into the tub. ¡°If hearts are high, the time will fly. So whistle while you work.¡± Snow White continued her song. Getting back into the swing of her song. Sweeping her first pile out the door and seeing the piles of laundry getting bigger. ¡°Oh dear. We need another team for laundry!¡± She said. ¡°There¡¯s a river right there, why don¡¯t you get to work on this?¡± She directed a few more woodland critters that were still waiting outside. They came in and began picking up the dirty laundry to take it to the stream for washing. While Snow White swept the rug she turned and noticed a pair of squirrels using their tails to sweep. ¡°No, no. no.¡± She corrected as the squirrels started sweeping the dust under the rug. ¡°Not under the rug.¡± They looked at the dust and then around. Seeing a mouse hole, they gained an idea. Sweeping the dust straight into the mouse hole and looking at each other proudly. A second later all the dust they swept into the mouse hole came blowing back out, the two squirrels dove for cover under the rug. Out of the mouse hole came a mouse, chattering angrily at the squirrels for dirtying up his home. Kicking the last bit of dust into their face. The two critters looked up at Snow White who laughed. ¡°Serves you right,¡± She said. ¡°A job worth doing is worth doing right. The first time.¡± Snow White turned and vocalized her little song as she showed what to do with the dirt as she swept her own pile out the door. With most of the dust off the floor, Snow White rested the broom and took a rag. Beginning to dust every surface, starting with the strangely carved pipe organ. Looking at all the very well crafted details of the organ. It was made almost entirely of wood. She wanted to try it out when she got a chance and it was clean enough to play. Around her, the critters also swept the dirt onto the ground from rafters, shelves, and mantles. Snow White held her rag out ahead of her once it was absolutely filled with dust. Shaking it out the window, keeping her face away from the smell of the dusty rag. One of the squirrels that had been dusting saw her shaking out the dust, smiled and jumped to the windowsill and started shaking out his tail. Dust flew out of his fur, leading to him sneezing repeatedly and propelling himself out the window. More squirrels jumped around the rafters twirling their tails in the thick cobwebs to wind them up and clear them out. A little chipmunk watched the squirrels and decided it looked fun. She jumped up on a dusty cuckoo clock and stuck her tail into a cobweb and found it much more sturdy than she expected. She pulled and rounded her tail but found herself stuck tight. She pulled until the web snapped and she fell. Tumbling head first into a stocking that had been hanging from the coat hook.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. She wasn¡¯t deterred, the little chipmunk climbed back up to the rafters and took an end of the web. Winding it like a ball of yarn. She felt so proud of herself until a hairy house spider slid down the web to look her straight in the eye. After a second of staring at the spider. The chipmunk fled, leaving the cleaning of the rafters to bigger animals. ¡°Oh, excuse me!¡± Snow White called, seeing the spider in the rafter. ¡°I¡¯m awfully sorry, but I believe you¡¯ll be more comfortable outside in the garden.¡± She took a chair and stood up onto it. ¡°May I take you there?¡± The spider stared hard at her but her smile won him over and he stepped down onto her hand and let her take him out to the garden. Birds flew in the open windows, bringing fresh flowers into a vase. Cleaning up the fallen leaves and petals. Rearranging the bouquet and bringing a clothful of water to fill the face. The house was becoming clean, and every inch that was scrubbed clean revealed more clothes and things that needed to be put in their place. The clothes all were brought to Snow White who hung them on the antlers of a buck, putting as much as he could carry on and letting him head out of the cottage and to the laundry team in the river. Birds and the buck dropped the laundry into the river where the team of mostly raccoons were hard at work. Scrubbing the clothes on boulders. Among them was our plucky little chipmunk. Using the shell of a turtle to scrub a shirt. Scrubbing until a pair of birds swooped down and took the clean shirt up into the air. Squeezing the extra water out of it by twisting until the bulk of the water had fallen from it. Then they went to the laundry line and tied the sleeves into a loose knot. Leaving it to hang on the line. Snow White was busy herself in the garden. Rabbits and gophers helping her find the root vegetables that were ready for harvest. Deer and raccoons were out hunting for firewood for dinner. Bringing it back and piling it neatly on the side of the house. Snow White returned to the cleaned kitchen and began preparing dinner. Washing the roots and cutting them for a hearty vegetable stew. Imagining the poor children probably hadn¡¯t eaten properly in a while, she also got to work on making neat dinner rolls. Working hard to make sure the children¡¯s homecoming would be truly magical. As hard as she was working, across the mountains were the homes'' true owners. Carving out the inside of a mountainside were seven dwarven brothers. Inside what was beginning to take shape as an entry hall, were four of the brothers. Tools in hand and working hard. Carving the intricate details with just as much importance as the vaulted ceilings. Their work gave the mines a pulse. A low beating from the depths. Married with the heartbeats of the brothers. We dig Dig Dig Dig in the mine the whole day through A chant followed the pulse. Deep rumbling voices of the brothers harmonizing in their work. To dig Dig Dig Dig is what we¡¯re born to do. The mines were lit by a singular oil lamp near the front of the mines, as the dwarves worked best in the darkness. A house don¡¯t need a stick nor brick If you dig, dig, dig with a shovel or a pick In a mine The echo made their four voices sound like hundreds. In a mine The rumble of a minecart on tracks rumbled from the piles of debris where a fifth brother was parking the cart, pulled by a stag. He shoveled the unwanted rock and dirt into the empty cart. Where a million diamonds Shine Once the cart was full he pulled the cart forward to the turn around and led it back out the entrance of the mines. We dig Dig Dig Dig from early morn to night The fifth brother shielded his eyes as he left the dark mines and was flooded with sunlight. A fly flew in and landed on his nose, making him shake his head and swat at it. But the fly easily flew out of reach. We dig Dig Dig Dig Dig up everything in sight. The brother dug around in the back of the cart until he found a root branch. Watching the fly carefully, the brother brought the switch down hard. He missed the fly but hit the stag, who did not take kindly to the sudden slap. Kicking the cart hard enough to throw the fifth brother into the dirt. We dig up diamonds by the score Thousands maybe sometimes more On a makeshift table to the left of the mines was the eldest and the youngest brothers together. The jewels were shoveled into a secure contraption that resembled a water wheel. The jewels were lifted from their place on the wheel and dropped into a sturdy silo that had a chute that dropped onto a box where the eldest brother was inspecting the jewels for authenticity and purity. We dig them up to build the horde We dig Dig Dig Dig He adjusted his glasses and picked up a beautiful diamond and held it up to the light. Watching it glisten. He narrowed his eyes and picked up a jeweler¡¯s hammer and gave it a couple of hits. Hearing it ring like a bell. Pleased, the eldest brother separated the diamond into the diamond sack. He then picked up a ruby and looked at it in the light, before giving it a few taps. His face souring at the horrid clanging noise the ruby made. He tossed the ruby over his shoulder. Turning his nose up at the imperfect gem. The ruby bounced along the ground and fell to the youngest¡¯s feet. He swept it up with the rest of the gems that were imperfect. Sauntering off to the edge of the mountain side and threw it off. He came back to his eldest brother¡¯s side as he picked up a brilliant spring green emerald. The eldest brother took a small jeweler¡¯s glass and looked deeply into the emerald, hunting for imperfections. The youngest watched but his eyes traveled down to a pair of diamonds sitting on the desk. He got an idea and picked them up. Grinning from ear to ear. The youngest brother was the only one of the seven who didn¡¯t seem able to grow a beard. So though he had the same round rosy cheeks, his chin seemed nearly non-existent. The eldest felt a tug on his sleeve and he turned around and was startled by the scene. The youngest had put the diamonds in his eyes so that his blue eyes were reflected in every face of the gems. When his brother looked at him, he made a silly face and wiggled his ears. His brother bit back a smile. ¡°Stop that.¡± He said and playfully knocked the gems out of his brother¡¯s face. He shook his head as his brother giggled, wiggling his ears. A mechanical click got their attention. Carved into the nearest tree was a large clockwork clock. Its face showed five and its insides opened up and revealed a pair of wooden dwarves that came out and struck the anvil. Ringing out five strikes for the hour. The boys grinned. The eldest turned and called out over the humming from the mines. ¡°Heigh-Ho!¡± His voice rang and echoed through the walls. The remaining five brothers paused their work and looked up to the mouth of the mines. ¡°Heigh-Ho!¡± They called back. Snuffing out the lantern and falling into step one behind another. Marching out of the mine with their axes on their shoulders. Meanwhile, the eldest and the youngest cinched up the bags of jewels and threw them into the hastily made vault. The youngest tripped and rolled into the vault with his bag. Rushing out a minute later and locking the vault up tight. He ran to follow his brothers only to realize he was still holding the key. He ran back and looked around. Confused about where he was supposed to place the key before hanging it on a peg beside the vault door. ¡°Heigh-ho, heigh-ho. It¡¯s home from work we go,¡± The chant rang out through the mountain road. The eldest leading with a lantern and the youngest bringing up the rear with another lantern. ¡°This walk kills me.¡± One of the brothers huffed. ¡°Well, it uh, it won¡¯t be long now, men. Our new home is coming along ricely, eh no, ticely, ah. Nicely!¡± He cleared his throat to clear his stammer. ¡°Feels like it¡¯s been forever since we seen our girls.¡± Yawned one near the back. ¡°Yeah, and our little cousins.¡± Said another next to him. ¡°They¡¯d be getting big enough to raise their own little axes, about now.¡± ¡°Soon we¡¯ll have our girls and littles runnin¡¯ round this mountain like rabbits!¡± Laughed the third in line. ¡°Hope so. Starting to even miss the sound of ¡®em colicky ones.¡± Said the second eldest. ¡°Buck up men, look at that sunset!¡± Said the eldest. Pointing over the edge of the mountain cliff and to the swirling colors of the sun setting. Leading them all to sigh and continue their march along the fallen trees used as a bridge and toward their home. Chapter Four; Heigh-Ho Sunset had come and gone, leaving the little cottage in the woods the only source of light. Lit by a few candles and the fireplace. Snow White carried a candle as she checked on her dinner. It was simmering along and smelled lovely. But as Snow White looked about she noticed the stairs again. She¡¯d been so preoccupied with cleaning and cooking and gardening and berry picking, she¡¯d forgotten the second story altogether. She took up the candle holder and went to the stairs. Staring up to the second story, she took a few more steps up and held the candle aloft. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s upstairs.¡± She whispered to her friends. Holding up her skirts, Snow White began ascending the stairs. Behind her, the critters followed her up, hesitant to know what was up the stairs. A solid wooden door stood closed at the top of the stairs. Snow White slowly opened the door and let in the light of the candle. ¡°Oh!¡± She said, wandering into the middle of the room where small beds surrounded her. ¡°What adorable little beds! And¡­ They have their names carved on them.¡± She held up the candle to look at the intricately carved beds. ¡°Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Dopey.¡± Snow White read and shook her head. ¡°What funny names for children.¡± She switched the candle to her other hand and looked at the remaining three beds. ¡°Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy.¡± She said, the strain of her eyes reading in the low light reminded her how tired she was. ¡°I¡¯m a little sleepy myself.¡± Snow White yawned and stretched despite herself. She put the candle down on the shelf. ¡°I suppose a little rest wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± She said, sitting on the nearest bed. It was so comfortable, whether it was because of the materials or how tired she was didn¡¯t matter. Snow White fell back, only to stretch, but it didn¡¯t matter her intent. For once her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep. The baby bluebird flew over and snuffed out the candle. A team of song birds took up the covers and tucked in Snow White. Every critter finding their place in the beds and corners. A thrumming sound hummed into the windows. Alerting all the critters. Their ears perked and quickly they rushed to the open window. They saw the light and heard the voices singing and quickly ran down the stairs in a stampede. Running for the cover of the woods. Marching down the road in a single line, chanting their tune.. The eldest first in the line and holding the lantern and the youngest at the back, carrying one as well. They whistled along until the eldest jumped. ¡°LOOK!¡± He shouted. Stopping the line and causing all his brothers to crash into them. ¡°Our lit¡¯s light! Eh. The Light¡¯s lit!¡± They jumped into the cover of the woods and looked out at the clearing. Its windows were lit and the chimney was smoking. ¡°The door is open!¡± ¡°The chimney¡¯s smoking!¡± ¡°Something¡¯s in there!¡± ¡°A ghost?¡± ¡°Or a goblin!¡± ¡°Or a dragon!¡± The dwarves all crowded together again, the second eldest turned. ¡°There¡¯s trouble a-brewin. Been feeling it all day!¡± He said, he looked down to his feet before stomping his boot. ¡°See? My joints hurt.¡± A hushed gasp fell over the younger brothers, the eldest looked at the instigator disappointedly. ¡°It¡¯s a real bad sign.¡± Said one with a whimper. ¡°What did we do? What DO we do?¡± ¡°We sneak up on it!¡± Said one of the youngest. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll uh, squeak up, ah. Sneak up! C¡¯mon hen, er, men.¡± The eldest flinched before creeping to the edge of the trees. ¡°Follow me.¡± The dwarves took up their tools and started sneaking up toward their cottage. Creeping up to the windows and looking in, rounding into the door and looking into the living space. ¡°Psst.¡± The eldest said and gestured to the open door. He pushed it open with a haunting creak. Big enough all the brothers could peek in. ¡°Shh,¡± the eldest said before slowly tip-toeing in. Everyone falling into step behind him. Tools raised for whatever danger was waiting. The youngest came in with a skip, grabbing the door and tossing it shut behind him. The door shut and the rest of the brothers panicked. Rallying around each other with their tools, now weapons, raised to strike. But quickly they realized it was just their brother. ¡°SHHH!¡± They chastised as a single voice. The youngest brother nodded and hushed the door as if it shut itself. Shaking his head, the eldest brought the rest in. ¡°Spread out men,¡± He whispered. ¡°Search every cook and nanny, eh,. Crook and fan.¡± He grit his teeth and clenched his fists. ¡°Search everywhere!¡± The group split to investigate every nook and cranny. As the birds who didn¡¯t get out in time watched from the rafters. The forest critters looked in from the windows. Waiting to see what happened next, but quickly hiding again when anyone came near the window. ¡°Look!¡± The eldest finally said breathlessly. All the brothers looked at the eldest, pointing at the floor. ¡°The floor¡¯s been swept!¡± ¡°And the chair¡¯s been dusted!¡± said the second eldest, inspecting the chairs. Another pointed at the windows. ¡°Our windows been washed!¡± He said. ¡°All our cobwebs are missing.¡± Another said, looking around at the rafters. ¡°And the spiders too.¡± ¡°Why, wh-wh-wh,¡± the eldest stuttered. ¡°The whole place is clean!¡± ¡°There¡¯s dirty work afoot.¡± His brother stated and the two nodded. ¡°Our sink¡¯s empty!¡± Said another from the kitchen. ¡°Someone stole our dishes!¡± ¡°They ain¡¯t stole, they¡¯re hid in the cupboard.¡± Said one of the youngest pointing up at the cupboard where all the dishes were washed and neatly stacked. Shyly, one of the younger boys walked over to the cupboard and reached up bringing down his favorite mug. ¡°Someone washed my cup.¡± He said sadly, ¡°All the sugar¡¯s gone.¡± He looked sadly in the mug. ¡°Aww. Don¡¯t be sad,¡± his brother came over and took a deep breath. Then straightened. ¡°Hey. I can breathe! Listen!¡± He took a deep breath, then smiled at his brother who smiled but still had the sadness of his loss in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Said another, creeping toward the fireplace with his youngest brother. The cauldron lid trembled, letting out bits of steam. ¡°Mm. Something¡¯s cooking, smells good.¡± The two sniffed at the pot. ¡°Should we?¡± He asked the youngest who grinned and nodded reaching for a stirring spoon hanging above the fireplace. ¡°Hey!¡± The second eldest snapped. Rushing over to stop them. ¡°Don¡¯t you fools! Could be poison!¡± The cauldron lid opened and hissed angrily, causing the brothers to jump back. ¡°See. Witches brew.¡± The elder brother said. The two youngest nodded. ¡°Well, then, wh-wh-why¡¯s the table set?¡± The eldest asked. ¡°Just look at the stable, er. Table.¡± The two brothers by the cupboard wandered over. The shyest put his cup down and lit up at the sight of fresh flowers on the table. ¡°Look! Flowers!¡± He said, plucking them from the vase to smell them. ¡°Goldenrod!¡± He thrust them to his brother¡¯s face who shoved them away. ¡°No! Don¡¯t! My nose! Hay fever! I can¡¯t stnad. I ca-ahn. I¡± He gasped and stuttered as a sneeze started to build. ¡°No!¡± His brothers hissed before pouncing on him. Holding his nose until he let a loud sigh out. ¡°Thanks.¡± He said, still very stuffy. Everyone started going back to their investigation when all of a sudden the sneeze came hard and fast. Sounding like the blast of gunpowder. ¡°SHHH!¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Fine time to sneeze.¡± Said the second eldest, shaking his head. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. When you gotta, you gotta!¡± The dwarf said. ¡°You know how bad my allergies can get.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s in here, you wanna get us all killed?¡± His brother asked. Up in the rafters the bluebirds watched all the madness. They looked up at the staircase and wondered how long it was going to take for the dwarves to go up there on their own. They looked at eachother and came to the same conclusion. They started pecking at the rafters making a thudding sound that echoed through the room. The dwarven brothers huddled together and looked up into the rafters but saw nothing but the shadows cast by their own candles. ¡°Wh-wh-wh-what was that?¡± Asked one of the brothers.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°That¡¯s it¡± Whispered the eldest. ¡°It¡¯s close.¡± ¡°It¡¯s in this very room.¡± The bluebirds grinned at each other. Then altogether they let out an ear piercing shriek that sent the dwarves scrambling for whatever hiding place they could find. They hid until the silence lured them back out. The eldest lit a candle and crept to the base of the stairs. Looking up to the second story. ¡°I-I-I think it¡¯s up there.¡± The eldest said pointing up to the bedroom. ¡°Yeah in the bedroom,¡± Nodded one of his brothers. The clan crowded together for safety. ¡°Uh, right. Uh. One of us has to go down and chase it up. Er, uh.¡± The eldest grit his teeth and shook his head, ¡°Ah, Up and then down.¡± The men looked from one another and then all their eyes settled on the youngest. The youngest nodded and looked behind him to see who was standing behind him, only to find there was no one behind him. The realization made him double take before turning to run. ¡°Now wait a minute!¡± The eldest said before his other brothers caught him. They held him and carried him to the bottom step. Where the eldest came again to offer him the candle. ¡°Here, take it.¡± The eldest held out the candle but his hand was shaking so badly it was hard for the youngest to take it. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Finally the eldest grabbed his brother¡¯s hand and put the candle holder into it. Then he was pushed up the stairs. He found himself trembling as he started up the stairs. Halfway up the stairs, a step creaked and he nearly jumped off the staircase altogether. He turned to the bottom floor where his brothers were waiting. ¡°Go on, we¡¯re right behind you.¡± his oldest brother said. The rest nodded and echoed the sentiment. The youngest nodded but still trembled as he climbed the rest of the stairs. At the top, he found the door already open. He thrust the candle in first, looking into the dark bedroom. He pushed the door open all the way and his light illuminated the beds, where a giant monster hissed and drew up from the bed covers. Its gnarly shadow extended up over the ceiling. The dwarven brother let out a terrified wail and flung the candle. Fleeing down the stairs and colliding with his brothers. Turning them all into a tangled, chaotic mess of fright. As each dwarf detangled themselves, they flew out of the cottage door. But in the hustle and bustle their youngest brother was left behind. He heard a creak in the floorboards and in his panic he was sure that it was the monster that was coming down the stairs to get him. He grabbed the door handle and pulled with all the strength he had. Finding it stuck tight. He had no way of knowing that it was stuck tight due to the combined strength of his six brothers, equally terrified, holding it shut. It was a tug of war that could have gone on for who knows how long, but the door itself couldn¡¯t withstand the forces exerted. The handle broke, splintering a hole in the door and sending the youngest brother tumbling backward. He stumbled up, having hit the wall and knocking a pile of coats onto his head, and he ran out the door and into the trees. Not realizing his brothers were ready to ambush the monster they believed to be chasing them. Once in sight, the dwarves pounced onto the mess of coats. Beating it senseless. ¡°Hold it men!¡± The eldest popped up. He ripped the strange cloak off and revealed their youngest brother. ¡°It-it-it¡¯s only Dopey!¡± ¡°Did you see it?¡± ¡°How big was it?¡± ¡°Was it a dragon??¡± ¡°Has it got horns?¡± ¡°Was it breathing fire?¡± ¡°Was it drooling?¡± The rapid fire questions from every side had the youngest brother, Dopey, turning his head and nodding and trying to keep up and answer every question. ¡°What was it doing?¡± The eldest spun him around to face him. Dopey nodded before putting his hands together and resting on them. Miming sleep. ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ a monster! Asleep in our beds!¡± The eldest said, astonished. ¡°Let¡¯s attack!¡± ¡°While it¡¯s sleeping!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± The dwarven brothers turned to a dwarven mob. Cheering for the destruction of the monster. They took up their weapons and crept back to the cottage. All was silent inside, just as it had been, though now with a broken door. They filtered in one by one and up the stairs. The bedroom door was still ajar, they pushed it open enough for them all to see into the gloom. The bed covered rumbled and drew up. Every dwarf held their breath until the blankets stilled again. ¡°Jiminy Cricket,¡± ¡°What a monster!¡± ¡°Covering three beds!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get it before it wakes up.¡± ¡°Which end?¡± ¡°Both!¡± The eldest led his brothers to the occupied beds. Fanning them out to cover every side. The eldest held up his hand, lifting it to prepare his brothers to strike. Weapons lifted into the air and with a swift swipe, the blankets were flipped back. The dwarves didn¡¯t strike. Instead they were struck. Underneath the blanket was no monster, but a young girl. A collective sigh came from every brother as they lowered their weapons. ¡°Well.¡± The eldest whispered, tapping his fingertips together relieved. ¡°I-i-i-it¡¯s a girl.¡± ¡°She¡¯s mighty pretty.¡± Whispered another. ¡°Like a little angel.¡± ¡°An angel!? Do angels break into peoples¡¯ houses?¡± The second eldest snapped. ¡°She could still be wicked!¡± ¡°Shush! Not so loud, you¡¯ll wake her up!¡± The eldest hissed, ¡°Good! Let her wake up!¡± His brother snapped, voice only getting louder. ¡°She don¡¯t belong here anyhow!¡± ¡°SHH!¡± The noise had the young Snow White stirring. ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°She¡¯s moving!¡± ¡°She¡¯s waking up!¡± ¡°Hide!¡± The dwarves hit the ground just out of sight as Snow White sits up and stretches, ¡°Oh, I must¡¯uve dozed off.¡± Snow White yawned. The dwarves slowly started to rise, looking at her to see what she would do. ¡°I wonder if the children are¡­¡± Snow White noticed the movement and looked at the eyes staring at her. She cried out and pulled up the blankets to protect her but when the dwarves dove back to the ground Snow White slowly started to relax. The men rose again and Snow White got a good look at them all. ¡°Why¡­ you¡¯re not children. You¡¯re men.¡± She said astounded. They all looked at each other in confusion. ¡°Well. How do you do?¡± The dwarven brothers only stared at Snow White, she looked around again. ¡°I said. How do you do?¡± She said again a bit more forcefully. ¡°How do you do what?¡± The second eldest brother crossed his arms, Snow White let out a chuckle. ¡°Oh good, for a second there, I thought you didn¡¯t understand me!¡± She laughed. She looked at them all. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me who you are. I want to guess.¡± She looked at them all. Settling on the eldest, looking at his nervous fidgeting and glasses. ¡°Let¡¯s see, you¡¯re Doc! Right?¡± She pointed and he laughed. ¡°Wh-wh-why yes! Yes I am!¡± he grinned. Snow White continued looking around. Finding one who¡¯s cheeks got redder and redder the longer she looked at him. ¡°And you. You¡¯re Bashful.¡± She smiled and he giggled and tried to hide behind his beard before hiding on the ground again. She kept looking around and found one yawning so hard his eyes were filling with tears. ¡°You must be Sleepy.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The yawning dwarf said, opening an eye. He grinned. ¡°Oh, how¡¯d you guess?¡± Snow White shared a laugh with the brothers before a sniffling caught her attention. ¡°Sneezy?¡± She asked before his brothers covered his nose and stopped the sneeze short. ¡°Whew, Y-¡± But before Sneezy could answer he immediately sneezed like the firing of a cannon. It made Snow White jump. Laughter rang out and Snow White spied where the majority of the laughter came from. His laughter was infectious. ¡°You must be-¡± ¡°The Happy man! That¡¯s me!¡± He laughed. He then pointed to the youngest brother. ¡°This is Dopey, he don¡¯t speak none.¡± ¡°You mean he can¡¯t?¡± Snow White asked. ¡°He don¡¯t know, he never tried.¡± Happy laughed while Dopey smiled and nodded along. ¡°Oh no, that¡¯s too bad.¡± She shook her head, unable to help laughing as Happy burst into laughter again. She looked at all the brothers, wondering who she missed when she looked at the second eldest. Arms crossed and glaring at her. ¡°Oh.¡± She said knowingly. Deepening her voice and mimicking his pose. ¡°You must be Grumpy.¡± The dwarven brothers burst out into laughter again. ¡°Yeah! You got it!¡± Happy laughed. Sneezy hit Grumpy on the back in an attempt to get him to join the merriment. But it didn¡¯t work, instead he turned to Doc. ¡°We know who we are!¡± He snapped, ending the laughter. ¡°Ask her who she is and what¡¯s she thinks she¡¯s doing here!¡± ¡°Oh yes of course. What are you and who are you- ah no.¡± Doc shook his head. ¡°What wh-wh. Ah. Who. Who are you, my dear?¡± ¡°Oh how silly of me.¡± Snow White said, ¡°I¡¯m Snow White.¡± ¡°SNOW WHITE!¡± The men said. ¡°The Princess?¡± Snow White looked about in shock. ¡°Y-yes!¡± She said, pleasantly surprised. ¡°Is my kingdom well known around here?¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s heard of the good king,¡± Bashful said. ¡°It¡¯s why we came out this way.¡± Sleepy said. ¡°This kingdom¡¯s rich in mountains and riches. Perfect for dwarves.¡± ¡°Dwarves?¡± Snow White said. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard of those kingdoms.¡± ¡°Y-y-yes and my dead quincess-eh no. Princess. We¡¯re uh. We¡¯re honored¡± Doc said. Bowing as he said so. ¡°We¡¯re, we¡¯re¡± ¡°Mad as hornets!¡± Grumpy interjected. ¡°We¡¯re mad as hornets.¡± Doc said before realizing what he said. ¡°No. No we¡¯re not. We¡¯re bad no, we, we. What was I saying!?¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± Grumpy snapped, pushing his older brother. ¡°You¡¯re just standing there sputtering!¡± ¡°Sp-sp-sputtering!¡± Doc said pushing his younger brother. ¡°Who¡¯s buttering, rutter, tutter¡± ¡°YOU!¡± Grumpy stomped. ¡°Now shut up and warn her to get out!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t send me away!¡± Snow White finally interjected. Clasping her hands together. ¡°If she finds me, she¡¯ll hurt me!¡± ¡°What? Hurt you?¡± Bashful asked in alarm. ¡°Who¡¯d want to do a thing like that?¡± Happy asked. ¡°My stepmother, the Queen.¡± Snow White said sadly. ¡°She tried to kill me, that¡¯s how I ended up here.¡± ¡°The Queen!?¡± The dwarves then began shaking their heads. ¡°Evil.¡± ¡°Wicked¡± ¡°Mighty mean!¡± ¡°An old witch!¡± Grumpy said, interrupting the chorus. ¡°If the Queen finds her here, she¡¯ll swoop down and wreak her vengeance on every one of us!¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know where I am.¡± Snow White smiled. Grumpy looked at her closely. ¡°No? She knows everything.¡± Grumpy said. ¡°She¡¯s filled with black magics. She can even make herself invisible! She could be with us in this very room.¡± Snow White looked around before giggling. ¡°I think that¡¯s nothing but a bunch of rumors.¡± She said. ¡°Besides, if you let me stay, I¡¯ll keep house for you. I¡¯ll wash and sew and sweep and cook-¡± ¡°COOK!¡± ¡°C-can you make dapple lumkins? Lumple dapplins?¡± Doc tried to speak but was too excited to speak right. ¡°APPLE DUMPLINGS!¡± His brothers all corrected. ¡°Yes! Crapple dumpkins!¡± Doc asked, stars in his eyes. ¡°Yes! And plum puddings and gooseberry pies-¡± Snow White was interrupted by the cheer. ¡°Hooray, She stays!¡± The dwarves all shouted. ¡°Yes, and when our new home is done, you can keep the cottage.¡± Doc said. Chapter Five; Washing Snow White smile faded and alarm drew over her face. She threw off the covers with a cry and ran out of the bedroom. Running downstairs to where the soup cauldron was now boiling over. She flew across the room to the fireplace. Taking the potholder from the mantle and pulling the kettle out of the fire. Lifting the lid off and letting the smell of slow simmering soup permeate the air. Snow White took the spoon and stirred the pot and brought up a spoonful of broth and blew on it to cool it for tasting. The dwarven brothers looked over the railing of the second floor. Seeing the supposed witches brew and realizing what it was with a deep smell. ¡°Soup!¡± They cried, the prospect of a delicious dinner they didn¡¯t have to cook themselves had them all in a tizzy. They stampeded down the stairs and launched at the table. Roaring into seats and fighting over the dinner rolls and roaring with laughter. ¡°AHEM!¡± The dwarves turned to Snow White at the fireplace. ¡°Supper¡¯s not quite ready yet.¡± She said, ¡°You¡¯ll just have time to wash.¡± The dwarves looked at each other in confusion. ¡°Wash?¡± Happy asked. ¡°Like a dust bath? We did that this morning.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s what the princess means?¡± Doc said, confused. ¡°I think above ground dwellers wash with water.¡± ¡°With what?¡± Sleepy jolted awake at the idea. ¡°That cold stuff?¡± ¡°Something the matter?¡± Snow White asked. ¡°Whu- ah.¡± Doc tried to think of what to say. ¡°We-we¡± ¡°Perhaps, you have washed?¡± Snow White suggested. ¡°Perhaps we have¡­¡± Doc said but nodded. ¡°Well, perhaps we have.¡± ¡°When?¡± Snow White asked. Placing her hands on her hips. ¡°This morning.¡± Doc answered. He was being honest. ¡°You see, we primarily live underground, princess. Where it¡¯s hot and humid all the time. So we take dust baths and are almost always covered in dirt.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Snow White said. Nodding contemplatively. ¡°But the food will get dirty.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with eating dirt?¡± Grumpy snapped. Snow White looked at the ground and around, realizing more about why the cottage had been in the state it had been. ¡°Well. I would appreciate it if you washed.¡± She said diplomatically. The dwarves looked at each other but consented. ¡°Very well, uh princess. We will wash when, eh then.¡± Doc nodded, he led the rest of the boys out the door. All except Grumpy who watched them go with a roll of his eyes. He turned and saw Snow White smiling at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going too?¡± She asked. Her eyes big with innocence. Grumpy couldn¡¯t look into them without feeling his resolve melting. So he crossed his arms and huffed looking away. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Snow White smiled, ¡°cat got your tongue?¡± Grumpy turned and stuck out his tongue at her. She stood back, wondering if her joke had gone too far. He turned back and stormed to the door. Hitting the door¡¯s edge face first. Snow White betrayed herself with a laugh but stopped when she realized he might be actually hurt. ¡°Did you hurt yourself?¡± She asked but Grumpy huffed, turning up his nose again and storming out of the house and slamming the door behind him. ¡°Pah, what a child.¡± He huffed, sitting up on an empty barrel and sticking a bit of straw in his mouth to chew on. He looked at his brother who drew water from the well and into a trough. They looked into the water nervously. ¡°Courage, courage.¡± Doc said. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s wet,¡± Happy said with a disgusted look. ¡°It¡¯s cold!¡± Sneezy shivered. ¡°We won¡¯t do it, right?¡± Bashful asked. ¡°We¡¯ll smell like mildew for weeks!¡± ¡°But, it¡¯ll please the princess.¡± Doc said ¡°It¡¯s only until our new home is ready for us to move in.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯d take the chance for her.¡± Happy said. ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Ugh, all of you. Beguiled by the naivety of a young girl.¡± Grumpy rolled his eyes and scoffed at the lot of them. ¡°I¡¯m warning you! You give the girl an inch and she¡¯ll walk all over you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to that old warthog.¡± Doc rolled his eyes. ¡°We all remember when he met his girl. He¡¯s nothing but hot air. Grumpy glared and Doc glared back but quickly took command of his brothers again and stepped up to the head of the trough. ¡°All right now.¡± He said. ¡°C¡¯mon men.¡± ¡°How hard do you scrub?¡± Sneezy asked, bringing the boar''s hair brush with him. ¡°Will it make our whiskers shrink?¡± Sleepy ran his hand through his impressive beard. ¡°Do you have to get in the tub?¡± Happy asked, leaning over the water. Looking at his reflection. ¡°Do you have to wash¡­. Y¡¯know¡­ where it doesn¡¯t show?¡± Bashful whispered nervously. His cheeks went red at the idea. ¡°Now, now, now. Don¡¯t get all emotional. Here we go.¡± Doc rolled up his sleeves and looked into the water. He was nervous but as the eldest he knew his brothers would only follow if he led them. As Grumpy liked to constantly remind him. ¡°Step up to the tub. It¡¯s no disgrace. Just pull up your sleeves and roll them in place.¡± Doc said, his younger brothers all rolled up their sleeves. Doc took a stiff breath. ¡°Now stick ¡®em in the water and rub your face!¡± He scooped up the water and scrubbed at his face while blowing a lot of bubbles. ¡°Pick up the soap. Don¡¯t try to bluff. Work up a lather and pass it along.¡± Doc took up a bar of soap and worked it until his hands were covered in bubbles then he handed it to Happy on his left. Who began copying Doc¡¯s motion. ¡°Dip your hands in the water, close your eyes and then-¡± He held his breath as he felt his glasses drop into the water right before he lathered up his face with the soap. ¡°Douse and souse, rub and scrub. Sputter and splash all over the tub.¡± Doc said, spitting soap blindly before taking up more water and rinsing away the soap on his face. ¡°You may be cold and wet when you¡¯re done but you gotta admit it¡¯s good clean fun.¡± Doc dried his hands and face on a towel and looked around at his brood. The soap bar passing around the tub and each one working up a lather and washing their hands and face. ¡°Splash all you like, it ain¡¯t any trick, as soon as you through you¡¯ll feel mighty slick.¡± Doc said as he passed the towel along. ¡°Buncha old nanny goats. Makes me sick.¡± Grumpy scoffed. Shaking his head, ¡°Next thing you know she¡¯ll get your beards all tied up in pretty pink ribbons and smelling you up with that¡­. That par-fum!¡± Happy sat up and shook like a dog, splashing water all over Doc who glared at him. Happy looked up and was startled by the angry stare. He smiled broadly and wiped some water off of Doc¡¯s glasses, leaving smudges. Doc sighed and rolled his eyes. Taking off his glasses and dipping them in the water to clean them.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Dopey was the last one with both the soap and towel. He looked back and forth at them both before putting them down on the edge of the tub. He rinsed his hands and face before using the soap to wash then rinse before he dried off with the towel. Knocking the soap off the tub and who knows where. ¡°What a fine buncha water lilies you lot turned out to be.¡± Grumpy continued his heckling but this time it caught Doc¡¯s attention and ire. He put his glasses on and looked at his brother. ¡°I¡¯d like to see anybody make me wash if¡¯n I didn¡¯t wanna.¡± Doc gave a whistle and brought the rest of his brothers in. Huddling together and whispering. Chuckling and occasionally throwing sneaky looks toward Grumpy. Doc cleared his throat and straightened out his shirt. He led his brothers whistling in an aimless amble back toward the house. They made for the back door but right at the door they took a turn and wandered around the barrel that Grumpy was sitting on. He watched them all with indifference until all his brothers stopped moving and stood around him. Surrounding him. ¡°Get him.¡± Doc said lightly. The epiphany hit Grumpy a second before his brothers dogpiled him. The fight was one sided. Grumpy thrashed as much as he could but he was easily overwhelmed by his brothers. Grabbing every limb and half carrying, half dragging him away. Doc kept a hold of his shoulders. Directing them all towards the tub in a frenzy of yelling over the noise of Grumpy¡¯s own yells. With a combined effort, Grumpy was heaved over head and face first into the tub. The brothers quickly circled the tub to keep Grumpy from escaping. A wayward kick sent Dopey tumbling into Doc. Knocking them both to the ground. Doc looked up surprised then down at Dopey who smiled. ¡°Get the soap.¡± Doc said before throwing the youngest out of his lap and running to help wash Grumpy who still protested. Dopey ran after the soap which had slid a few feet away. He ran but didn¡¯t stop before sliding in the mud and getting filthy. He lunged for the soap, the soap slid and so did he. Face first through the mud, he looked up and wiped off the mud from his face. ¡°Now scrub good and hard, it can¡¯t be denied. He¡¯ll look mighty cute as soon as he¡¯s dried.¡± Doc said, grabbed the boar¡¯s hair brush and tossed it to Sneezy who began scrubbing at Grumpy¡¯s face. Bashful took the brush and scrubbed a little more gently. ¡°It¡¯s good for the soul and it¡¯s good for the hide!¡± The dwarves cried before rinsing him in the soapy water. The picked up the bubbles and washed his face and hands. Meanwhile Dopey was chasing the soap bar which was just as filthy as he was. He ran and grabbed the soap and it slipped out of his hands with a pop and a rush of bubbles. Dopey slipped in the mud to catch it but it slipped again with another pop and more bubbles. ¡°Ain¡¯t he sweet?¡± Bashful said as he finished scrubbing Grumpy¡¯s teeth. ¡°Sure is cute!¡± Happy laughed as he threw a haphazard bouquet of wildflowers over him. ¡°He smells like a petunia!¡± Sneezy laughed before turning and sneezing into his elbow. ¡°W-well I-¡± Doc paused as he felt a tug on his shirt. He turned to see Dopey covered in mud from head to toe, holding a bar of soap. The flurry of movement stopped. Grumpy pulled himself up but even his protests stopped at the sight of Dopey. ¡°Thank you.¡± Doc said as Dopey placed the dirty soap into his hand. ¡°What happened to you?!¡± Happy said finally, unable to hold back his laughter. Leading to the rest of the brothers to start laughing. Grumpy got out of the tub. Trying to not laugh, his cheeks turned red with the effort. ¡°You lot wasted good time on me when we shoulda been washing him!¡± He said, betraying a braying laugh as he pointed to Dopey. Dopey smiled goodnaturedly and went to the tub to wash off. ¡°Supper!¡± They heard Snow White call. Following by the clanging of the cauldron. (*)¡°Supper? Food! Hooray!¡± Yelled all the men and they hustled back inside. All but Dopey and Grumpy. Dopey still washing and Grumpy still drying. Dopey looked up and Grumpy scoffed. ¡°C¡¯mon then, let¡¯s getcha clean.¡± Grumpy said, walking around the tub. By the time they got inside, Snow White had filled a small serving bowl with the stew and was ladeling it into the bowls at every table setting. ¡°There you two are,¡± she greeted them joyfully. ¡°I was beginning to worry.¡± Dopey skips up in to his seat and Grumpy hopped into his at the end of the table. Snow White came around and filled their bowls with the hot vegetable stew. ¡°This is a real treat!¡± Doc said. Rubbing his hands together before grabbing a few dinner rolls. All the brothers, minus Grumpy, all chorused their agreement. Snow White laughed. ¡°I¡¯m happy to hear it!¡± She said as she filled her own bowl. Then she looked at the full dining room table. She looked about before lifting her skirt out of her way as she sat on the floor. The dwarves watched her then looked around at their own seats. Bashful moved first. Picking up his bowl and spoon and moving to the ground with her. ¡°Oh, you needn''t do that, I¡¯m fine here.¡± Snow White said. ¡°A-and so are we, my dear.¡± Doc said as he and Happy both came to sit with her. Followed by Sneezy and Sleepy. Dopey ran over, spilling his broth a bit as he did. ¡°Besides, we¡¯re mountain dwellers. We live surrounded by stone. This wood¡¯s all soft for us.¡± Happy said, jovial as always. ¡°Is that so?¡± Snow White said. ¡°May I ask what brought you to this kingdom?¡± ¡°Yes you hay, eh, say, er¡± ¡°It got crowded.¡± Sleepy interrupted Doc¡¯s stutter. ¡°Couldn¡¯t cover your nose.¡± Sneezy said before sneezing into his elbow. ¡°Couldn¡¯t swing a pick.¡± Bashful agreed. ¡°It was packed tighter than a tin¡¯o sardines!¡± Grumpy snapped. Still sitting at the table. ¡°I see,¡± Snow White nodded. ¡°A-a-and so we found your lovely. Eh, mountain range and got to work making our new home.¡± Doc said, pausing to make sure his words came out right. ¡°And when it¡¯s finished, we¡¯ll send for our girls to come join us.¡± Bashful said. His face growing red. ¡°Your girls?¡± Snow White said then realized what they meant. ¡°Oh that sounds so wonderful. You must be awfully lonely without them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s never lonely with family.¡± Happy laughed, the brothers all scooting together. ¡°We¡¯re all brothers.¡± ¡°What a family!¡± Snow White said. They all laughed. The dwarves set about eating their supper. Taking large bites and slurping their soup loudly. Snow White¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Oh.¡± She said appalled by the table manners. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Doc asked. ¡°Your manners are-¡± ¡°Manner¡¯s nothing!¡± Grumpy snapped. ¡°We¡¯re dwarves. We ain¡¯t hoity-toity humans. With your pinkies out and your slow and steady.¡± ¡°Wha-what he means, my dear.¡± Doc said. ¡°Is that we slurp because in our custom, it is a compliment. The less you talk and more you slurp and stuff your gob, the bigger the compliments to the cook.¡± ¡°You should try it!¡± Happy said. ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°We washed up!¡± ¡°Now your turn!¡± Snow White looked at all the dwarves and then her soup. She felt it was against everything she¡¯d ever learned but as a princess she knew it was her duty to accept and participate in foreign custom and tradition. ¡°All right.¡± She said and raised her spoon to her rose red lips. She slurped her soup and immediately covered her mouth in surprise that she¡¯d gone through with it. But she quickly let out a giggle. The dwarves all cheered before handing her a roll. ¡°Now take the biggest bite you can manage!¡± Sneezy said, ¡°Use your teeth to tear,¡± ¡°Firmly hold it.¡± Happy directed. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to use your neck for leverage.¡± Sleepy reminded. Snow White held the roll but feeling much more at home. Did her best. Cramming the buttered roll into her mouth and ripping it in half. ¡°Don¡¯t choke!¡± Doc warned. ¡°Chew thoroughly!¡± ¡°Should we have cut it in half?¡± ¡°Does anyone know how to help choking?¡± ¡°How do you revive someone not breathing!?¡± ¡°Careful!¡± Snow White swallowed the roll with a cough. She wasn¡¯t used to eating this way. ¡°I¡¯m all right,¡± Snow White said. She smiled and felt her eyes water. Looking at all the faces, worried, weather worn. It all reminded her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Happy asked. ¡°Was it the roll?¡± ¡°We should have cut it in half.¡± ¡°We should have buttered it better.¡± ¡°Maybe she don¡¯t like rolls.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Snow White quieted them all. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just reminded of my father is all. He was so good to me. To the kingdom. I know he¡¯d love you all too.¡± ¡°Well- well.¡± Doc said. ¡°We.. we. uh.¡± ¡°We¡¯re happy!¡± Bashful interrupted. ¡°You¡¯re like one of our own.¡± ¡°Yeah, and we love ya like it too!¡± Sneezy agreed, ¡°We hope we can. Not not not replace, never.¡± Doc said sternly. ¡°But be a suitable family too.¡± Snow White felt a few tears fall down her cheeks. It was tension off her shoulders suddenly. The cottage was barley the size of one room in the smallest broom closet of the castle. But it was much warmer, much lighter, much happier. ¡°Thank you all.¡± She said, more tears beginning to fall. ¡°It¡¯s been a lot harder than I thought it had,¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay now.¡± Happy said. He put his bowl down and went to hold her. ¡°Yeah Snow White. You¡¯re safe here.¡± Bashful moved to hold her hand. ¡°We won''t hurtcha.¡± Sneezy sat nearby, close enough to pat her knee but far enough away to sneeze away from her when he had to. ¡°And no one else will while yer here neither.¡± Grumpy said. ¡°Thank you all. I¡¯m happy. Really I am.¡± Snow White said drying her eyes with a napkin. ¡°We¡¯re here and it¡¯s all tight-sight-flight- Okay.¡± Doc stuttered, standing so he could brush her ebony curls soothingly. Snow White smiled and dried her eyes. Feeling well and truly loved for the first time in quite a while.