Minion bringing up some refreshments (4)
I believe the answer is:
serf
'minion' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'up some refreshments' is the wordplay.
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'some' indicates a hidden word (some parts of the word are used).
'fres' is hidden in the letters of 'refreshments'.
'fres' backwards is 'SERF'.
'bringing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for serf that I've seen before include "Worker bound" , "Peasant, agricultural labourer" , "Subservient labourer" , "labourer with no property of his own" , "Medieval person bound to a feudal lord" .)