Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. It is an adaptation of the characters created and owned by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. This story is not associated with Disney’s adaptations, their added characters, or story elements.

Rafe pulled on his collar. They received new clothing and their hair had been cut into the latest style. Rafe jumped at the loud thwack, as Jacob smacked his hand on the top of the table. The contents on the table rattled from the vibration. A few nobles sitting at the table beside them looked over with interest.

“Stop fussing,” Jacob hissed.

“It’s stuffy,”  Rafe said and looked exasperated at Wilhelm.

Wilhelm shook his head. “Did you learn nothing from the wedding? We cannot insult our host.”

Rafe shuddered. Snow White had made her stepmother dance in burning shoes until she died. The collar scratched against his neck, and he refused to give it another tug. He didn’t want to insult the host.

Jacob looked around from his seat. It was only a few weeks prior that they had sat in this same courtyard to attend Snow White’s wedding. He could imagine the decorations and the open place for the dance floor. A shudder forced its way up his spine when he thought of the Queen’s stepmother dancing to death.

Bonfires kept the courtyard warm against the winter chill. From their seat, he could see everything. Guards lined the courtyard and doorways. Could they be waiting to ambush them? Aledia and the princess had yet to arrive.

The smell of food wafted from the side table. Servants were lined behind the steaming food, ready to serve the guests. Meats, cheese, fruits, and other delicacies were piled high in an opulent display. The nobles sitting around them hardly looked at the food. They were too absorbed in their political games.

Wilhelm ran a hand through his trimmed beard. Jacob noticed and swallowed. It would be fine. There was food laid in a large spread. It was too big and too elaborate for an ambush… even still, the traitorous thoughts continued to creep into his mind.

A guard cleared his throat beside them. Rafe looked over.

“Is it true that you all killed a witch in the village to the east?” he asked.

Jacob turned. “What witch?”

“What witch? Have you killed multiple?” the guard asked, flabbergasted.

“I wouldn’t say that. Although, I was there during the death of two witches. Which one do you want to know about?” Wilhelm asked.

The guard’s jaw slackened. “I heard a rumor that the Grimm brothers killed a witch that was after two children.”

“Oh, you mean Hansel and Gretel?” Rafe said. “Yeah, Sir Wilhelm killed the witch alright and saved those children.”

“That’s not how it went down, and you are well aware of it,” Wilhelm said.

Rafe shrugged and looked around for a moment. “When will the King and Queen arrive?”

The guard stood a bit straighter at the mention of the King and Queen. “Any moment now. Your friend should also arrive with them.”

“That’s good. I wonder how Aledia faired today,” Rafe said, looking toward the food. 

His stomach grumbled. They had been given snacks throughout the day, but having the food spread out was too much temptation.

“Princess Aledia. Please do not disrespect her by refusing her title,” the guard said. His voice was stern, but in such a way that it still remained respectful to the group. He didn’t want to offend the group of witch killers, after all.

“Of course, we apologize for the slip,” Jacob said and turned back to his brother.

His brother was looking past the tables where nobles sat gossiping and past the tempting food. Instead, he was staring at the table at the head of the courtyard. Jacob followed his stare, and he found himself gawking as well. Aledia arrived while they were talking to the guard. It was easy to forget she was a princess as they outran demons and guards along the journey. After a day of pampering, it was hard to mistake. She was dressed in a fine silver gown. It shimmered like stardust under the light of the torches. She looked polished and carried herself as a princess should.

Aledia looked up at the group. She made a face at their astonishment. Snow White and her husband stepped into the courtyard a few moments later. Snow White took a seat beside her friend and smiled at the gathering.

Aside from her friends, there was a crowd of all the nobles in the area. They always came when their Queen called. After all, who would deny a request from Snow White? Aledia glanced back to her friends. They sat stiff in their new tunics. Rafe’s collar was sagging in a way that suggested he had tugged at it several times. Jacob looked more composed. He had served as a tutor, she reasoned. Glancing at Wilhelm, he also appeared to be a bit stiff in the new clothing. Although, he ignored it better than Rafe. She would need to ask Snow for some traveling clothing. Silks would only get in their way.

“Do you miss this?” Snow asked and gestured to the courtyard. 

A few servants began to dish out food to the guests.

Aledia smiled. “Some days I do, but I don’t think I would give up my travels quite yet.”

“You have time to think it over. I have dispatched my messengers to all the surrounding kingdoms. No need to have you running all over the countryside looking for a needle in a haystack. That’s what we have servants for,” Snow White said. 

She picked up a goblet of wine and took a sip.

“I should inform my friends of my plan. They’ll want to know,” Aledia said, standing.

Snow White waved her away.

Aledia gathered her skirts and moved across the courtyard to her friends. The three stood as she approached. A smile tugged at her face as she contained her laughter.

“Sit down, you oafs. It’s just me,” she said and took a seat in an empty chair.

“We know it’s you. It’s just easy to forget that you’re royalty,” Rafe said and turned to look at the food. The servants would be at their table shortly.

“I have to get back to Snow in a few moments, but I wanted to tell you of our plan.”

“Our plan?” Jacob asked.

Aledia nodded and reached into a concealed pocket in her skirts. She withdrew a single piece of parchment. She waited as the three read it over.

“You are trying to bring him here?” Wilhelm said, reading it over a second time.

“We bring him here under the guise of marriage, a kingdom, and insane wealth. If he was greedy enough to go into hell to try and rob the devil, this should be a cakewalk,” she reasoned.

“But using yourself as bait? That seems a bit risky. It also calls attention to us here. Didn’t you think that she could be using this as a way to send out our location and collect the bounty on our heads?” Jacob asked.

Aledia shrugged. “We are looking for leads. Besides, Snow assured me that we are under her protection.”

“And how far is she willing to protect us?” Wilhelm asked.

“She has an army at her disposal and said she would use it if it came down to it. Just in case, I also sent a message to my father. If he knows I’m here, he will send reinforcements should anything happen.”

“Someone could intercept it…” Rafe trailed. “Or what if she didn’t send it at all?” 

He had seen this many times in his line of work. Messengers would often take an arrow for the letter they were carrying. It was the only method of communication, but it wasn’t a perfect system.

“I am not daft. I sent three letters. Snow only knows of one. I sent one via messenger hawk, one through the official castle messenger, and one I gave to a servant to take to the messengers’ guild. It will be delivered one way or another.”

Rafe nodded. “You’ve covered most of the scenarios. All the same, I’ll deliver one to the messenger guild myself. I know of a few trustworthy messengers.”

“Assuming we will be allowed to leave,” Wilhelm said as he shot a sideways glance at Snow White and her husband. 

The couple was eating and chatting amongst themselves.

“Of course we are. Just to be certain, I asked if we could explore the village this evening. We will be leaving after dinner,” Aledia said with a smile.

“So you’ll have the letter ready by then?” Rafe asked.

Aledia pulled out a folded letter from her pocket. “I knew that I wouldn’t think of everything. I wrote a few more, just in case you all had ideas.”

Jacob smiled. “One of these will reach your father. At least that will secure our safety in some capacity. Here we bathed and relaxed all day. All the while, you were scheming and setting a trap.”

“Someone has to do the work around here,” Aledia said with a smile. 

She stood and shot them a wink. They watched as she practically glided back to her seat.

“She makes a powerful ally,” Wilhelm commented.

“Indeed she does,” Jacob nodded and watched as the servants began to fill his plate. They would need to make sure all those letters got sent tonight. Even if that meant the king got multiple letters. It was better safe than sorry, as this plan would attract the good and bad kinds of attention. It was their best shot of finding a greedy ex-king.