Hey there, friends! Sorry for the delay. The holidays are hell on my free time. Hopefully ya'll like this chapter. It's not exactly everything I want it to be, but it'll have to do.

~~~Wer ist die Schönste im Ganzen Land?~~~

Brendan was nervous. Everything he had heard about the 'dwarves' suggested that they did not like strangers. Even Keil had intimated that anyone snooping around the mountain would be unwelcome. He had come anyway, but he did not really expect to run into anyone.

Nothing could have made him expect Snow.

The boy (young man, he reminded himself) seemed to have no clue as to his own allure. He jokingly called himself the Erlking, but he did not appear to know how bewitching his own face was. How badly he could make a man want to take him away.

If he had not declared himself to be in love, Brendan would have stolen him right then. Finnian would need a friend, he reasoned. And it had been so long since Brendan had found anyone worth keeping.

And the way he leaned into Brendan's touch, like he was starved for physical affection, sent Brendan's mind tripping down dangerous trails. Would he lean into a caress down his back? Would he arch into a tease of his nipples? What about broad fingers, stretching him open?

"Careful," Snow warned, gesturing toward a tree root attempting to trip him up.

"Sorry," Brendan mumbled, blinking to clear his mind. Donner's eyes were dark as he glared, and Brendan felt himself flush at the realization that his thoughts were so clearly writ across his face.

They made it to a cozy looking cabin in a clearing after an hour or so of walking.

"That was farther than I thought it would be," Brendan admitted.

Donner glared at Snow, who looked mildly sheepish. "A certain little bastard is supposed to stay within a closer distance to the fucking house, but he's dead set on being a mother fucking pain in my ass even on a good day. It's almost as if he's just fucking waiting to be killed in the goddamn wilderness."

"Sorry, Donner," Snow mumbled. "I didn't realize I'd gone so far."

The harsh glare softened to the point that even Brendan could tell the big man was just glaring out of principle. "Don't let it fucking happen again, dammit," he growled affectionately.

"Shit," Snow cursed suddenly. "Was it my turn to cook?"

"Yeah, you little fucker," Keil yelled from inside the cabin. "Lucky for you, I am kind and generous and did the work for you. Expect me to collect on the debt soon."

He flung open the door and threw a hardened potato at Snow's head. Then he noticed their visitor.

"Dan! I didn't know you were coming this way." He grinned, then he looked suspiciously at Donner. "Wait, why are you here? Donner, he's a nobleman. You can't kill him; it would only attract attention from the palace."

"That's your reasoning?" Brendan's voice was higher than was probably considered manly, but the cavalier way they talked about killing him was worrisome.

A broad-shouldered man with sensibly cut brown hair and patrician features suddenly stood just to Brendan's right, in exactly the right position to keep him from mounting quickly to get away.

"We don't like people who come snooping around our home, or around our little Snow." His accent was smooth, if slightly foreign, and he spoke with menacing promise. "Usually those who are stupid enough to do so don't live long."

"If he was last seen in the village, we can always make it look like he was mauled closer to the base of the mountain," Brenner said calmly from the side of the house. "There're lots of dangerous creatures down that way."

"Um, if me being here is a problem, I can just leave," Brendan offered. "Really, it's no trouble."

"Nonsense," a slim man who resembled Keil spoke from a path leading from the cabin into the forest. "It's no trouble at all. We just want to talk to you for a bit."

"Wait, what are all of you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the mine?" Snow stood in front of Brendan. He looked askance at the man standing too closely to Brendan, rolled his eyes, and began shoving him toward the cabin. The man did not budge. "Seriously, Adlar?"

"Brenner said he was asking about you in the village," the broad-shouldered man, Adlar, Brendan presumed, explained to Snow. "We need to know why."

A gentle-looking giant with wavy blond hair wrapped an arm around Snow's shoulders. "It's for your protection, little one. Please let us do this."

"Fine," Snow agreed grudgingly. "But please don't kill him? He seems really nice."

"He is really nice," Keil pointed out. "I'm with Snow on this one. Do what you have to, but avoid doing any physical damage, huh? I like him."

Brenner growled at that, and most of the men around rolled their eyes. Apparently the big redhead's attraction to Keil was common knowledge to everyone. Snow met Brendan's eyes and they shared a grin. Then Snow grimaced apologetically at him before opening his mouth.

"Yeah, you assholes. You know how hard it is for Keil to find people he likes outside of the mountain. Poor guy's lonely up here!" He directed the last part of that statement to an as-yet quiet man standing off to the side. The man looked crafty and strong, and he held a whittling knife in his left hand. At Snow's statement, he frowned, looking between Keil and Brendan.

"Enough," Donner growled. "We won't hurt him unless we have to. Bren, Adlar, Klinge, you bastards come inside with me to talk to him. Keil, you son of a bitch, you stay out here with Link. And Snow," he said to the youngest of them, who was trying very hard to look innocent. "You stick close to Herz and don't fucking do anything stupid, you hear me?"

"Yes, Donner," Snow said winningly.

With that, Adlar grabbed Brendan by the arm, hard, and dragged him into the cabin.

"Ow, damn," Brendan complained when the big man finally let him go. "Shit, I would've come with you without being pulled around like that."

Adlar's smile was not kind. "I know."

"We're a little protective of our own," Klinge explained. "Especially Snow, like Adlar said outside. All we want is to know why you're so interested in him."

"I'm looking for someone, like I already told Brenner and Keil. By the way the villagers described Snow, I thought it might be him." He shrugged. "That's the only reason I was asking. Truly."

"And do you think Snow is the person you were looking for?" Donner's expression, beyond his default of being vaguely pissed off, was impossible to discern.

"I don't think so," Brendan admitted. "He's close — if he were a little more," he stopped himself. Describing Finnian would alert them to who, exactly, he was looking for, and he did not want to put his friend in any danger. "Anyway, I don't think it's him."

"You seemed pretty fucking interested in him when the three of you walked up. Just like you seemed awful interested in Keil when we were in the village. Got a thing for younger guys, Lord Dan?" Brenner sneered.

At that, Brendan rolled his eyes. "If you'd make a move on your Keil, I would not have nearly as much fun flirting with him. As fine as he looks, I do not think I would mind being a means by which he attempted to forget about you." His grin was all teeth.

Klinge laughed. "He's certainly caught to your game, Brenner. I wish the pair of you'd stop teasing him, as well. He deserves better, you know."

"We're not here to talk about fucking Keil," Brenner hissed.

"I don't fucking want to think about anyone fucking Keil," Donner interrupted. "What I want is to figure out what this high-born asshole wants with our boy."

Brendan thought about informing them that he was not, in fact, high-born. When he fidgeted at the descriptor, he felt Donner's piercing eyes taking him apart. Maybe he already knew. His parentage was not exactly a secret, and there had been portraits of him spread around the kingdom after his adoption.

"He's just," Brendan ran a nervous hand through his hair, a habit he had never been able to break. "He's beautiful, you have to see that. Anyone would want him." He looked up at them, then met Donner's eyes. "But I'm busy looking for my Fi— my friend — and I could not devote the time to Snow that he truly deserves."

Donner exchanged a look with Adlar, whose dark eyes widened in realization. "What color are your eyes?"

Brendan looked over at him, puzzled. "Gray?"

"And your hair is reddish brown," Adlar commented, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Damn, Donner. You may be right."

"Shit," Klinge exclaimed, "Does Snow know?"

Donner chuckled. "Doesn't seem to. Dumbass kid, too blind and stupidly devoted to see what's in front of his fucking face."

Brenner just narrowed his eyes further at the nobleman. "If he's not good enough, he's not good enough."

"Of fucking course," Donner replied, rolling his eyes. "Get your fucking brother in here, Klinge. I want to eat my damn dinner sometime before midnight."

Klinge chuckled and left the building, presumably to get Keil.

"I don't suppose you gentlemen will tell me what in the world you're talking about," Brendan mused aloud.

"You suppose correctly," Adlar informed him. "Now tell me of the state of the palace. The villagers we trade with have decent information, but I am sure yours will be more accurate."

"Why do you want to know? You're nearly outside the King's sphere of influence." At Adlar's frown, Brendan was quick to add, "But I would love to tell you anything you need to know. Or want to know!" Damn, but the man was scary. He looked like he knew how to use the sabre he wore at his side, and as good as Brendan was with his own sword, he recognized the grace of a skilled fencer in the way Adlar moved. That was a fight he would not win.

Brendan sat with Adlar at the long table while Keil and Snow puttered around the stove. Snow snuck glances at him periodically, which only served to make Brendan want to snatch up the boy (young man, dammit) and press him into the nearest flat surface.

Once Adlar had gotten all the information he wanted from Brendan, which included some very thoughtful questions that belied time spent in some sort of court, the prince gratefully stood and explored the small cabin. The bedroom was the most interesting part — three large beds took up most of the space, while two single beds stood at the end.

"I hope they didn't scare you too badly," Snow ventured, walking cautiously toward him. "It's like having seven fathers, but somehow worse."

"They obviously love you very much," Brendan allowed. "Does your lover meet with their approval?"

Snow's face flushed a remarkable shade of red. Brendan could see his neck turn pink as well, and he had to stop himself from thinking about how far down that lovely shade went.

"He's not my, my lover," the young man mumbled. "That implies that we've actually," he stumbled. For someone who spoke so vulgarly to his 'dwarves,' Snow was having a lot of trouble.

"Made love," Brendan suggested, feeling a wolfish grin overtake his face when Snow nodded and refused to meet his eyes. "I'm going to have to reiterate that he does not sound terribly bright."

"I haven't seen him in ten years!" Snow looked wide-eyed and flustered. It was a good look on him.

"Ten...how old are you?"

"Seventeen," he admitted, staring off to the side. "And so the dwarves have never met him. But I'm sure they'd love him. He's wonderful."

Brendan stepped closer to Snow than he knew he should. "Snow, if you were only seven when you saw him last, how do you know you really love him? Ten years is a long time to build someone up in your mind. It's not exactly fair to either of you."

"I know you think it's silly," Snow finally met his gaze. "But I know what I feel. And I know him."

The fierce look on Snow's face made Brendan's heart speed up. Heavens above, but this kid was beautiful. Brendan could not stop himself from running two fingers along his flushed cheek.

"And I don't suppose anyone else has a chance?" His palm cupped the side of Snow's face without consulting his brain first. The pale skin flushed once again, and Brendan felt something fierce zing through him when Snow's eyes went dark and heavy-lidded.

"I, uh—" Snow swallowed, but didn't pull away. "N-no, just, um, just him." He still didn't pull away.

Brendan leaned slightly closer. "So you do not want me to kiss you right now?" Snow didn't reply as Brendan continued to bring his face down until their lips were inches apart.

"Well?" Brendan whispered.

Snow blinked slowly. "Well what?"

"Do you want me to kiss you?" Snow's breath hitched just a little at that. "I really want to kiss you," Brendan admitted.

"I want," Snow parted his lips, then pulled away. "No." He shook his head and ran his hands over his arms. "I only want him to kiss me," he insisted, sounding like he was trying to convince himself.

"Let me know if you change your mind," Brendan told him, trying to hide his disappointment. Damn.

A gruff voice spoke from the doorway, "If you're fucking finished…" It was Donner.

"Shit," Brendan said under his breath.

Snow left the room, still unsettled by the near-miss, but Donner stopped Brendan before he could leave.

"The fuck did you think you were doing?" He didn't sound too angry. Odd.

Brendan coughed. "I figured I had to try. Like I said before, Donner. He's beautiful. One of the most beautiful people I've ever seen, and I see Queen Ingrid almost every day."

"Nothing beautiful about evil," Donner said darkly.

With a humorless chuckle, Brendan replied, "Yes, but until she does something unforgivable, and actually gets caught, she will still be known as the Beauty of the West." When he realized what he'd just said — and what it implied about his feelings for the queen — Brendan backpedaled. "I, uh, I mean, whatever are you talking about? Um…"

Donner threw his head back and laughed, drawing the attention of the other seven men in the room. "You are fucking hilarious, Lord Dan," he informed him, clapping him on the back hard enough to make him wince.

"Just Dan, please," he said weakly.

Throughout dinner, he felt all of them watching him, and he was painfully aware of every bit of iron the men carried. Adlar kept a steady hand near his sword. Klinge had seemingly endless knives that he used for various tasks, up to and including bored fiddling. Link threw around hand axes like they were skipping stones. Even gentle Herz kept a very pretty dagger strapped to his thigh.

The eyes he felt the heaviest were Snow's. The young man watched him warily, but with just enough hunger to make Brendan's blood sing. It would be so easy, too easy, to convince the young man to let Brendan take him to bed. He was obviously untouched, unspoilt, and Brendan knew just how he wanted to make Snow yell.

But Snow wanted to keep himself for his childhood love. How could Brendan take that away from him?

That night, Snow chose to bunk with Donner and Herz while everyone pretended not to notice how disappointed Brenner, Link, and Keil were that Keil didn't have to share. Brendan wasn't sure what dynamics were going on there, but he felt bad for Keil just the same.

Just before Brendan fell to sleep, he heard Keil whisper to him, "If you're really him, you should say something. He's been waiting for so long." But before he could puzzle the statement out, sleep took him.

The next morning, for some reason the dwarves asked him to stay and rest for a while. As much as he wanted to spend more time with Snow, he had to find Finnian (and he was terrified of the seven dwarves). So he said his farewells and headed back down the mountain, already planning on which towns to check next.

"Dan!" Snow ran after him, well out of sight of the cabin.

Dan turned, then dismounted when he saw how desperate he looked.

Snow threw himself into Brendan's arms, and the prince held him tightly. Pulling back just a little bit, Snow pressed a soft kiss right where his mouth met his cheek.

"If I didn't already have him," he said, strangled.

Brendan swallowed heavily. "I don't think I've ever been so jealous of a man I've never met," he admitted. "Will you ever give up on him? If he doesn't come for you in five years? Or it ten? Can I come back here and have you for myself? I would give you anything of myself. Everything." Even as he admitted it, he was shocked at the truth of the statement. He only met Snow briefly, but he'd seen enough of his beauty, both of his body and his soul, that he knew he was worth everything Brendan had to give.

Snow seemed to consider it, before shaking his head sadly. "I'm so sorry, Dan. You seem wonderful, but…" he trailed off. "I won't settle for anyone but him."

"Then I hope he finds you soon, Snow. You deserve all the happiness you can get."

And Brendan choked back his disappointment, mounted up again, and rode away. He did not allow himself to turn around to watch for Snow. If he did, he may never leave.

He had to find Finnian. That was his goal. He had a promise to keep, after all.

~o~o~o~

At the palace, a repaired mirror was being unpacked and sent up to the queen.

A/N:

If anyone's interested in beta'ing for me, I'd be eternally grateful. I've read over it a couple of times, but there are probably a few things I missed. As ever, if you see something wrong/bad (and not in a good way), please let me know.

Also! I'm posting another chapter of my "Tales of the Dwarves" today, both as a sort of penance for keeping ya'll waiting and because I wanted to write more about the Brenner/Link/Keil romance. If you're interested in reading about Brenner and Link getting off by fantasizing about Keil, you should check it out!