Seven booming voices echoed throughout the vastness of the cold and isolated forest. They were a choral of noise, singing lores of old as seven pairs of marching feet clamouring along. From the deep shadow of a short cave that served as an overpass, seven little men appeared, bearing tools from their trade on each of their shoulders.
Mining ores and silver from early morn until the late afternoon was a routine that now bored them. Going home, as they marched and sang merry songs, was leisure for the seven little men as they passed by the wonders of the forest.
After marching and finishing their song, the seven little men finally reached their little cottage, but something felt amiss. They felt strange about their home, like something was out of place…
And when they slowly entered, something was indeed out of its place.
Their home was spotless. Not a dust in sight, not a single cobweb hanging on the ceiling, and the breakfast they hastily discarded was all kept away. The dirty dishes were also cleaned and neatly placed back on the cupboards. The seven little men were flabbergasted by the pristine condition their home had become.
"Do you think it could be a burglar?" One speculated. But a burglar does not clean a place. So, they rebutted the notion.
"Or it could be some fairy?" They pondered. Yet, they wondered if such could be possible, knowing these creatures were jesters—can only be seen by those who were blessed with such wandering sight. Then, the seven little men abandoned the notion again.
"Or a phantom, perhaps?" As one suggested, a moan echoed from upstairs, sending chills down their spines.
"What was that?" One of the little men asked, trying to conceal the shiver of his knees.
Grabbing his tool, Geola, the head of the bunch, slowly stepped forward and whispered to the others, "We must go up and find out what it was." His courage sparked, though fear still flowed in his veins. "It might be a trespasser!"
Reluctantly agreeing, the others grabbed their tools and followed Geola as they ascended upstairs.
On tippy-toes, they slowly treaded the steps, hearing the little movements and faint moans growing louder and louder in their bedroom. The seven little men braced themselves, trying to grasp a little courage they could reach in their core. As they all gathered by the door, Geola carefully opened it and noticed an unclear bundle lying in the centre of the floor. As it moved, the seven little men then launched like ancient Saxon warriors at war.
However, midway through their attack, they stopped…
Seven short launching feet ceased when they noticed the woodland creatures and saw who was lying on the floor, using their pillows and blankets.
"A girl!" One exclaimed, clearly enchanted by the surreal beauty of their guest.
"Why is she with these creatures?" Another asked.
From their resonating inquiries, Maria Blanca slowly opened her eyes, fluttered her eyelashes, and wondered about the strange blobs that surrounded her as her vision adjusted.
"What are these shapes?" Maria Blanca thought as she rubbed her eyes until the cloudiness faded. She gasped and rose from her position when she realised the blobs were no shapeless form at all, "Little grandfathers!" She murmured.
"Oh, we are little men, my child," Geola said, warmly smiling at her.
"We are dwarves!" Another jovially added.
"Dwarves?" Maria Blanca pondered. "Like elves?"
The seven little men laughed. "No, my dear. Elves are magical creatures. We are just regular men, but smaller." One little man explained.
"I am sorry, I mean not to insult you. It is my first time seeing little men like you." The pale princess felt ashamed and shared, "Well, with all honesty, it is my first time meeting people outside the palace walls. I have never explored the outside world. I thought you were elves because you look like the ones painted on my storybooks."
"No need to worry, my child. May I know how a beautiful creature like you finds our quaint place?" Geola asked.
"A big elk has taken me here, along with these sweet creatures." Maria Blanca then pointed at the woodland creatures who accompanied her, gently brushing their fur and bumping their noses. "My aunt gave me her permission to finally explore the outside world, especially in the ice forest. When her maid and I were playing, I got lost and could no longer remember how to return to the palace. I also fell into a stream, washed up, and was taken to a bank before these creatures found me. A great big elk then suddenly appeared and took me here to your place. I am sorry, I do not mean to intrude on your home. I just do not know where I could stay for the night."
A halt came upon them as the seven little men noted the hint of fear and sadness when she told them what happened. Then the leader of the group inquired, "Wait, did you say you are from the palace?"
Maria Blanca confirmed, nodding her head and said, "Oh, yes, I am! I am King Arnulf and Queen Isadora's daughter. My name is Maria Blanca."
The seven dwarves were startled by what she told them. A princess? They never knew the Kingdom of Erdestea had a princess? The little men looked at each other and wondered if what they heard was indeed the truth or just farce words from a confused child.
"A princess? We never knew we had a princess?" A younger dwarf asked, scratching his head.
"But I am!" Maria Blanca softly insisted. "I guess I am not known. I have never been outside, and my father, bless his soul, was probably too busy to introduce me to the whole kingdom." The pale princess went on telling the seven dwarves more about her. From her narrative, they learned that she was related to the new queen, Queen Gertrude, whom they despised, as they were aware of the hearsay about her.
Those grapevines told the majority she was never a good queen, for she plunged the whole kingdom into a deep catastrophe. She was also the reason why the seven dwarves lost their family farm and were forced to mine ores and silver for her.
Looking at the young lady before them, they noticed the innocence and sincerity she had while sitting still before them. She was like a white dove, pale and pure—the opposite of Queen Gertrude, who was dark, conniving, and the epitome of the evil spirit of Lilith. Staring deeply into the golden eyes of the pale and unknown princess, they all pitied her and wanted to protect her, especially away from the influences of the queen, whom she said was her aunt.
As they huddled up, the seven dwarves decided to take the young princess under their wing and vowed to quietly keep her away from the reach of Erdestea's evil queen. With that settled, they gathered around the animals and the pale princess, and joyfully said that she was welcome to stay whenever she wanted in their little cottage. Even the animals were welcomed too!
With her smile curving from ear to ear, Maria Blanca was moved to tears with the little men's warmth as they opened their arms to her without any hesitation. "Tha—thank you!" She stuttered, giving all her might to fight the beading tears. "I—I am tru—truly grateful! I promise I won't be a burden. I—I will clean the house for you. I will keep the cottage squeaky clean and prepare food by the time you arrive from your labours. You will hear no complaint from me."
"There is no need to fret about it, my child. Oh, but before anything else, let me introduce myself—My name is Geola and these are my brothers…" He chuckled as he presented his brothers to Maria Blanca.
"My name is Hornung, princess. I am the second brother." Hornung bowed and smiled.
"I am Lenzmonat or Lenzy for short, Princess Maria Blanca." Lenzy blushed as he took the princess's hand to his lips.
"Ostarmanoth, at your service. You can call me, Osti, my dear lady." Osti did a little dance that made Maria Blanca laugh before he took her hand and kissed it lightly.
"My name is Wonnemonat, Princess. But Wonnie is fine. I am the fifth brother!" Wonnie shyly bowed.
"Brachmonat, princess! But my brothers called me Brach." Brach's loud voice rang into the pale princess's ears, which indeed stunned her. Maria Blanca giggled and reciprocated the sixth dwarf's flying kiss.
"Greetings, princess! My name is Heumonat… but Heu is fine." The youngest of them all, Heu bowed and kissed Maria Blanca's hand before returning to his place in line.
Beaming the sweetest smile, the seven dwarves ever seen, Maria Blanca expressed her deepest gratitude towards them and was joyful in learning the names of her little grandfathers. "Such lovely names. I am truly grateful for welcoming me and the animals to your lovely home! Your kindness will soon be returned tenfold."