The Dark Queen of White 1.32

32.

Doc felt that last swing of the pike had moved with a shallow impact on the cave wall. It signaled his advanced age; a few hundred over seasons, and the times he had to work like an ordinary dwarf dampen his feelings. He was once the heroes of Mirg; the elites few with the skills to study the crafts and create newer ones. They were the formidable foe of many others, rivaled by the Elves but since the other three left, they had given up on the crafts.

Then the bell rang by Dopey to signal the end of their day’s work. The others stopped their picking and lined up to walk back to the house. Their suit reeked of days of dirt and dust from the mining, and marched out. On their way out, Dopey passed them the lantern with the magical fire lighted inside. It was the few crafts that they retained, but the major ones were kept away in the cases.

It was Happy who started off the tone of the march.

We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig in our mine the whole day through
To dig dig dig dig dig dig dig is what we really like to do
It ain't no trick to get rich quick
If you dig dig dig with a shovel or a pick In a mine! In a mine! In a mine! In a mine!
Where a million diamonds shine!

The mines was a short distance from the house, but both of it was hidden by magic from the unwary ones. It was their only sanctum after the Council asked them to hide. Since the dwarfs only knew two things, besides magic and crafts, that was fight and mining. So they settled for the later and had stayed hidden. Each day, they dig at the caves wall, for the precious gems and once that was done, they passed it to the other miners to sell while they are given food.

“Stop!’ Doc called out. They were at the house and Doc had sensed the intrusion into the house. Grumpy stepped up and asked.

“What is the issue? I am in need to get change my suit.” Grumpy voiced his dissatisfaction.

“It’s the house. It had been invaded. I could tell.” Doc replied. Grumpy looked over the shoulder of Doc and grumped his reply.

“So what? We stand out here and wait for the reinforcement.” Grump spoke out. “Doc, there are no more Mirg Clan.”

“Hold on, Grumpy. I am sure Doc had a plan.” Happy offered the reconciliation extension. Doc nodded and then gave the instructions.

“Sneezy, Grumpy, move to the rear. Happy, Dopey, the windows. The rest with me through the front door.” Doc charged in with the pike ready. He was with Bashful, and Sleepy. They ended up on the flooring which was cleared of the dust and the furniture had moved. Happy and Dopey jumped through the windows and fell onto the flooring.

“Ha! Who moved the table from the window?” Happy asked while he rubbed his head, and Dopey shook his head in reply.

Sneezy and Grumpy had it worse; they ran into the wet laundry hung there.

“Grumpy, I knew no matter how many times we washed your clothes, they would still stink.” Sneezy expressed his opinion with the sneeze. The other just shrugged the shoulders and pulled at the wet clothes. They all met up in the living area with Doc holding audience on the matter.

“The intruder is not here.” Doc then placed his finger on his lips, and then motioned to the sleeping chamber. They all creep to the chamber and saw the figure lying there.

“Oh no!” Grumpy sighed out loudly. “She had her feet on my pillow”

That woke up the Princess and she was in a fright to see seven dwarfs standing before her. She had tales of these short creatures, as they were known by their height. She was told of their grunting manners and their bravado in the war which was more like suicidal charges. The motto of the dwarfs were bravado over death.

“Who are you?” Snow White asked.

“Snow White, I presume. I am Doc. I had heard of your name.” Doc introduced himself. He had heard of her from Merlin. “We are part of your quest, and ours had just intersected with yours.”

Snow White smiled and then asked

“Who is Merlin?” Snow White asked. She had never met Merlin.

“So we are going to have a long night. I hope you like rabbit stew. We caught some on the way back.” Doc replied.

“I am off meat. I only eat greens.” Snow White told him. Doc laughed and looked to Dopey.

“Dopey, she is like you.” Doc point to the side of his head, and twirl his index finger. Dopey smiled with his lips smacking together for a kiss. Snow White sighed in her thoughts.