The seconds passed like hours as she continued gazing into the crackling flames, the light from which licked at her face as if it too wanted to touch her beauty. What was she thinking? Her expression was as unreadable as it had been while she was frozen. He was rushing her, he knew, but what else could he do? If he took her back unmarried his father would probably try and put a stop to it. He wanted to arrange his son’s marriage himself. He’d seen some of the women his father would choose and they weren’t for him. But to return already married, to a royal princess, was something he wouldn’t be able to put aside. And once he’d calmed down, he’d realise that the warring could end and a new alliance could be made. Snow White’s kingdom had mines and metal. His father would want both.

‘Yes,’ she said. The first time she said the word so quietly it was almost lost in the crackle of the fire.

‘What?’

‘Yes.’ She looked up at him. ‘Yes, I will marry you. Why not?’

The dwarves were on their feet and hugging the breath from Snow White before her answer had sunk in, and then his hand was being shaken so hard by Grouchy that he could barely speak.

‘Enough, enough!’ She broke away, laughing. ‘Let’s do it straight away. Tomorrow. Why wait?’ Her face was shining with a wild excitement and he leaned forward to kiss her again. Her lips brushed his and then she pulled back. ‘Not until our wedding night,’ she said. ‘I’m a princess, after all.’

The prince’s heart almost burst. Beautiful, kind and demure. Exactly what he’d always wanted. A perfect princess. After everything that had happened before his injury he’d lost faith that such a creature existed, but after all his trials, the loss of his companion and the days of nightmarish delirium, here she was.

‘Tomorrow,’ he said, grinning like a child. ‘We’ll wed tomorrow!’

9

‘Let’s get married’

Dreamy and Grouchy had mended the cart and reloaded it as the young couple slept. The dwarves hadn’t slept much, guarding the fire and their precious human company throughout the night, but they were both happy in their work. ‘Sometimes things happen for a reason,’ Grouchy said. ‘If the crone hadn’t given her the apple, who knows if these two would have found each other.’

‘Have you been reading one of my story books?’ Dreamy teased as they harnessed the pony. ‘You’re sounding almost romantic.’

‘Fuck off with you,’ Grouchy said, but a small blush crept across his gnarly face. Dreamy smiled. It was a happy ending. They’d be able to leave tonight knowing she was finally safe. The weight of their guilt had been lifted. There would be no awful fate awaiting them for not being able to keep their word.