Red Shoes & the 7 Dwarfs

Chapter 19: Another Quest, But First Broomsticks

Prince Merlin was studying in his library one day when Jack, Arthur, and Hans came bursting in.

"Hey guys, what can I help you with?" Prince Merlin raised a brow.

"We need those three magical broomsticks!" Arthur shouted.

"Which ones?" Prince Merlin looked puzzled.

"The ones Regina would use." Hans added in.

"So they'd be at King White's castle."

"We need you to ask Snow White if it's ok to use them so we can find our 'most beautiful woman in the world!'" Jack pleaded.
"Sure, ok." Prince Merlin shrugged. Thus they set off to King White's castle.

* * *

"Yes?" An attendant answered the door.

"Hello, is Snow White at home?" Prince Merlin asked.

"She's having her singing lessons. I can let you in, but she'll be a bit." The attendant let them inside as Prince Merlin looked around. He had noticed the paintings on the wall had Snow White in them. He smiled as he watched her grow, blossoming into a beautiful young woman. He chuckled when he saw her dressed as a knight riding on a horse.

"Of course she would want to be a white knight." Prince Merlin smiled to himself when he heard a beautiful voice calling him. It sang his name over and over as he followed it, finding it belonged to Snow White. She was not having a singing lesson; she was simply singing. She had the voice of a mermaid, entrancing him as he felt completely weak in the knees.

"Very good Snow White. I honestly don't think you'll be needing any more lessons." The singing instructor bowed his head as Snow White smiled.

"Really?"
"Yes, you've progressed nicely. You should join the choir."

"That sounds really fun." She smiled as she noticed Prince Merlin in the doorway.

"Merlin, hey. When did you get here?"

"Oh, well I was just going to ask if you'd like to have tea."
"Sure. Tea sounds great." She smiled as he gulped. They went into the garden as Snow White served them their tea.

"My dad bought me this tea, it's supposed to be soothing, but it won't put you to sleep. This honey is also really tasty too." She smiled as she happily ate a freshly baked cookie.

"This is great." Prince Merlin smiled.

"So, did you need to ask me something?" Snow White licked her fingers as she sipped gracefully on her tea.

"Oh, well, yes. Arthur, Jack, and Hans wanted to know if they could use three broomsticks in order to search for someone to break their curse."

"Oh, uh sure. I'm not really sure where to find them. But those three children should know."

"Great, thanks." Prince Merlin held her hand.

"Was that the only reason you came?"
"No, I did really want to see you." Prince Merlin smiled bashfully as Snow White smirked.

"Merlin, I thought you were kidding when you said you were a full time romantic, but that actually may have been a spot on description on your part." Snow White giggled as Prince Merlin chuckled softly.

"Well, honestly, the romantic flirting I used to do wasn't always honest. I mean, I've never felt this way about anyone before." He looked deeply into her brown eyes as her face turned bright pink.

"That's, that's so sweet. I've never felt this way about anyone before either. I really can't wait until we can be together all of the time." She whispered the latter, but Prince Merlin heard her.

"Would you like to go on a date with me? Perhaps we could go to Golden Goose Avenue, or for a walk in the forest like good old times. Or I could show you some of my spell books."

"Ok, sure, I'd love to see your spell books." Snow White said so enthusiastically.

"Great!"

"I just have to ask my Papa."
"Oh, right. Good idea." Prince Merlin rubbed the back of his head as Snow White got up, and asked one of the maids if they knew where the broomsticks were.

"Ok, so here are the broomsticks." Snow White handed them to Hans, Jack, and Arthur.

"Great! Thank you." Hans smiled.

"We're off!" Jack winked.

"Wish us luck!" Arthur nodded as the three left.

"You know, I never thought he'd leave." Prince Merlin smirked as Snow White giggled.

"Let me go ask Papa if we can go for a walk, but we'll need a chaperone." Snow White turned to see the three children who were turned into wooden bears.

"Would you like to go for a walk with us?" Snow White asked as they nodded.

"Great, now it'll just be a stroll in the woods." She smiled as she asked King White, who agreed.

Meanwhile, Jack, Hans and Arthur had no luck finding their "most beautiful woman in the world" and returned home. Pino, Nocci, and Cchio were working on new inventions as Arthur grumbled.

"Don't you ever get tired of working on inventions all day?"

"Not really." Pino shook his head.

"It passes time." Nocci shrugged.

"I like it!" Cchio said cheerfully as Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Hans, I'm starving." Arthur grumbled as Hans headed to the kitchen, he was nearly six feet tall as he moved around the kitchen with ease as he made homemade lasagna.

"I'm going to put on a face mask." Jack went to his room as Arthur nearly began pulling his hair out.

"How on earth could Snow White be the most beautiful woman in the world!?" Arthur shouted.

"Maybe it's a personal preference?" Pino shrugged.

"She's a nice person." Nocci nodded.

"She's so cute and sweet!" Cchio blushed.

"She is nice. And I guess she's cute. But I don't see myself with someone like that. Hmm, maybe when her and Merlin get married, there will be a better chance for me to meet someone." Arthur nodded as Jack came back with a mask on and Hans eventually came out with dinner.

"This will be our new mission gentledwarfs! We're going to find our future brides!" Arthur cheered as everyone looked at him rather shocked.