Tangled Love: Part One
A/AN: Here is the second story in my Rumbelle fairytale series...I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks again to Charlotte Ashmore for being an amazing beta!
Rumplestiltskin gazed at the burnt orange sky in the distance, a reminder of all the bloodshed caused by the ogre wars. He sighed despondently as he made his way into the heart of the forest. In two short days his boy would be fourteen, and the proper age to be drafted as a soldier in the desperate conflict, a battle which had been raging since before his son was conceived. The grand duke of the Frontlands had taken to conscripting children now since most of his well abled fighting men had been slain. They needed to increase their troops even if it crossed the thin line of morality.
He'd met an old beggar on the road he'd given a few copper coins to the day before, and they had chatted a bit. The beggar noticed the trepidation in his eyes and inquired about his dilemma, and he couldn't help but spill his heart out because someone had actually taken the time to listen to him. The man had told him of a sacred place in the woods which was enchanted with dark magic. He told him of an ancient being called the Dark One who would meet desperate souls in this place who were desperate enough to make a deal. He would solve their problems for a price, but what worried Rumplestiltskin was that he had no money to give in exchange for his boy's well being. He was a penniless spinner who barely made ends meet.
He limped through the foliage, bearing all of his weight against his walking stick, and praying he'd found this place of enchantment. A strong wind rippled through the trees, pushing him forward. He closed his eyes to keep the dust out of them while clumsily tripping over a rock. He winced in pain after slicing his knee open on the sharp piece of granite. He held his knee for a moment when he realized the stones around him were in a distinct pattern. Clutching his walking staff firmly, he attempted to stand. It took him a few moments to compose himself, but eventually his knee stopped throbbing, and he was able to regain his balance.
He investigated the stones, becoming intrigued by the pattern. The sun had completely descended behind the trees now, the ominous burnt sunset fading with it. It would be dark soon, and he dearly hoped he didn't attract any wild beasts. They would make a meal of him for sure. He closed his eyes tightly, taking a deep breath as he recounted what the old man told him to say to summon the mystical being. Was he even in the right place? All he could do was hope this venture hadn't been for naught, and he wasn't wasting precious hours which he could be spending with his boy before they took him.
Rumplestiltskin wasn't one to trifle with magic because it had caused him more pain and suffering than he cared to remember. The first plight he'd had with it was when he'd been gifted with a magic bean as a child to take he and his papa to a new land, but Malcolm had abandoned him in exchange for eternal youth to stay in this new realm, leaving him all alone. The thought of his own child being ripped to shreds by ogres fueled his courage to complete his task. He respired deeply before saying the words.
"Dark One, I'm here to make a deal! Show yourself!" he called into the darkness, his bones quivering with every syllable. For a few moments it seemed as if nothing would happen, and he was about to turn away when the stones began to shake violently. A strong wind blew eerily through the trees, chilling him to the marrow of his bones, and then a shadowy figure emerged.
Rumplestiltskin gasped, tumbling backwards in consternation and terror as the figure dispelled from the darkness. The being of nightmares was wearing a cloaked hood and his face was wreathed in shadow, all except for a distinct pair of amber orbs peering maliciously at him.
"You summoned me, spinner?" His voice was little more than an ominous whisper as he glided purposefully towards him. Rumpelstiltskin cowered back, but then he felt a dark energy engulf him and pull him to his feet.
"Pl-ple-please don't hurt me!" he pleaded, shielding his eyes from the hideous creature.
"You came here seeking a deal, didn't you?" he probed in his grating tone, studying the scrawny spinner with distaste.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I don't have any gold to pay you, sir," he said in a quivering voice.
"Gold is something I have plenty of … I need something much more valuable to officiate this deal," he smirked with the flourish of his hand.
"Please sir! I'll do anything! I just need a way to protect my boy! In two days, Hordor and his men will come for him to fight in the ogres war. My Bae is barely more than a child … only fourteen, and he's all I've got left! I can't lose him to this bloody war!" he lamented, and the Dark One smiled ominously at him with his jagged teeth.
"Oh, how I love a desperate soul!" he mocked in his high pitched voice, the sound piercing in the still evening air. He circled the spinner like a ravenous wolf having caught the scent of its prey. Rumplestiltskin felt his heart, a tattoo against his chest as it tightened with dread and despair.
"My price is quite simple really … You see, there's a princess who's being held hostage in this tower high in the mountains. The tower has no doors, and is being closely guarded by a witch. I've tried to procure this princess for myself, but the witch placed a special enchantment on the tower which keeps me from getting in. The enchantment is made of fairy dust, and highly repellant against my dark magic. Only someone with the purest of hearts can hope to break through the barrier, and fortunately your heart is the purest I've ever seen in my life," he giggled impishly, poking him in the chest tauntingly.
"How would I get to her if there are no doors?" he inquired, nervously swallowing back the bile in his throat.
"The princess has long luxurious chestnut locks which she can let down through the window. She is desperate for company, and will let down her hair if you call out her name," he smirked with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"What's her name?" he inquired, his voice continuing to quake with fear, yet now his spine stiffened with determination.
"Belle is her name, and her tresses are enchanted. They have the power to keep someone young forever. I only need a single lock of her hair because the Snow Queen needs me to make a potion for her. The witch imprisoned her so she could hoard all of that power for herself and live forever," he explained, putting some distance between them. "Do we have a deal or not? You'll have two days to bring me the hair. If you fail, then I'll make sure your boy is the first to die on the battlefield," he threatened in his menacing tone.
"Fine! I'll do it! I'll lose my boy if I don't do something!" he consented desperately, and the demon grinned sinisterly at the spinner's helplessness.
"Very well then … The journey into the mountains is perilous, so I'll jump start your venture by transporting you to the tower with my magic. You'll be useless with your injured leg, so I'll heal it for you. There's no point in sending you if you can't make the trip back should you succeed," he cackled at his own wit. "I'll let you keep that as part of our deal!" he proclaimed with a gleeful clap.
Before the peasant spinner could make a retort, the Dark One snapped his fingers, and he felt sinew and bone begin to sew itself back together. Rumplestiltskin wiggled his leg back and forth, his walking staff falling from numb fingers as he realized he could walk on his own.
"See! Good as new!" the Dark One announced proudly, cracking his knuckles as magic crackled through the air.
"Th-Th-ank you!" Rumplestiltskin responded appreciatively, forgetting what it was like to have a strong ligament after being crippled for so many years.
"Don't thank me yet … You need to bring me what's mine before this deal is settled! You have two days to return[b]! The journey from the mountains takes exactly that long, so don't waste any time lollygagging," he warned, and the spinner nodded obediently. The Dark One snapped his fingers and a crimson haze enshrouded him, whisking him away to the tower where the princess dwelt.
~X~
Rumplestiltskin paused to look at himself in astonishment, for his rags had turned to a noble knight's uniform. He stood up a little straighter, feeling a little pride swell in his chest. He may never have earned the right to wear this attire, but he could still pretend. He drank in his surroundings, amazed to find they'd morphed into a new setting. He gasped when he looked up to see a tall tower looming in the distance. There was a single light penetrating the gloom, emanating from a solitary window, guiding him towards his destination.
"This must be the place where the princess is being held captive," he said to himself as he approached the tower. The Dark One had told him the princess was lonely and desperate for company. Perhaps if he called her name, she would let down her hair and permit him to climb up. All he needed was a single lock[c], so if she let down her hair, all he would have to do is shear off a curl or two with his dagger. He would never have to enter the tower, and he could be back home in time to seal the deal he'd made. This was going to be easier than he'd first thought.
He placed his hands over his mouth before calling out her name, "Belle, Belle, Let down your hair to me!" he felt his cheeks flush, feeling foolish for making such a request. A few moments passed, goosebumps erupting on his flesh as the night shadows seemed to loom menacingly closer. His eyes darted through the darkness, and he pulled the collar of his fine linen shirt more closely against his neck to ward off the chill. Finally, when he was on the verge of giving up and rendering another beseeching call, the princess appeared at the window.
"Who are you, stranger?" she called down to him in the most melodically sweet voice he'd ever heard.
"My name is Rumpelstiltskin, and I was sent here to rescue you! Please let down your hair so that I may come up to you!" he beckoned.
"What if you're lying, and I let down my hair, and you try to steal it? You must know it's enchanted or you wouldn't be here!" she accused miserably, and he felt a pang of guilt ripple through his chest, for she was right. He was only here to deceive her, but he couldn't now that he'd gazed upon her marvelous beauty. Oh, how fair she must be under the candlelight, he mused.
"I promise I'm not a thief, nor lacking honor, m'lady! Don't you want to be free of this tower!? I can take you back to whence you came if you'll just trust me!" he bargained, and she laughed musically at his declaration.
"We'll see about that! Luckily for you my mistress is away, but she'll turn you into a corpse if she catches you ,,, and so will I if you betray me!" she threatened before letting down her long chestnut braid.
Rumpelstiltskin took a deep breath as he latched onto her long cascading braid. He braced himself against the wall and began to climb steadily up the mouldering stone facade. He took a relieving breath once he reached the windowsill, and hoisted himself over the side, his heart pounding and his lungs starved for oxygen from the tedious climb.
He looked up to meet the enchanting blue eyes of the princess with long flowing chestnut hair. She stood boldly before him, her slim form encased in a golden gown which showed off her beautiful figure to perfection. Her cerulean eyes met his in challenge, the fingers of her right hand tapping impatiently at her hip while the other held firmly to a frying pan threateningly.
"That's a rather odd choice of weapon, dearie," he offered, his thin lips quirking up into a half-moon grin. She was enchanting and he was quickly caught under her spell.
"I just want to make sure you're not here to harm me..." the princess warned holding the frying pan over her shoulder cautiously.
Rumplestiltskin held his hands up in defense, "My name is Rumpelstiltskin, and I'm not going to hurt you. I came to rescue you from the witch holding you captive," he explained. The young woman brought the pan down to her side, staring sheepishly at the stone floor.
"I apologize for my suspicious nature, but I thought you came to steal my locks. The witch holding me captive does it because my hair is magical. It has the ability to stop the aging process, and really … who wouldn't want access to such magic?" the young woman explained, ringing her hands on her skirts nervously.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here to protect you," he reassured her while reaching for her hand apprehensively. She took it warily, still wondering if she should trust him, and he gently pulled her forward. He placed his hands on her shoulders, gazing deeply into her brilliant azure eyes.
She averted her gaze shyly, her cheeks flushing from their close proximity, "I'm sorry for doubting you, but I've been in this tower for so long I've nearly given up on being free," she admitted, her serene voice lowering an octave.
"Well, I'm here to get you out of here, and we'd better leave before your mistress returns. Are you ready to be free, princess?" he inquired, gesturing towards the window.
She nibbled thoughtfully at her lower lip, shaking her head sadly. "There is no way to be free of this tower, Rumpelstiltskin, not for me."
He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder to prevent her from turning away from him. "Stop that! You can't give up before we've even begun," he murmured encouragingly. He couldn't fail in his quest; Baelfire's fate hung upon his success. His eyes searched her opulent room, taking in the baubles and trinkets filling several shelves. There were more books than anything, and he realized she must have a passion for reading, something to fill the endless days of being locked away, a prisoner free from the ravages of time, but lonely and devoid of a life she longed for.
His dark eyes settled on the bed, but he knew the tower was far too tall for her lone bedding to scale. "Princess, are you confined to this room, or just to the tower itself?" he asked, a cunning smile curving his lips.
"To the tower," she answered. "I believe I would go mad if I were stuck here in my room forever."
The spinner's smile widened as he took her hand and dragged her over to the door. "Come, I have an idea."
Belle followed him down the winding staircase to the next floor of rooms, this one - as well as all those below - devoid of windows and doors. "There is no other way out, Rumpelstiltskin. Don't you think I've looked over the years for some way to escape?" she asked in exasperation. "No! Don't go in there! That's my mistress's room. She'd be furious with me if she knew I were rummaging through her things."
Rumpelstiltskin hurried into the room, steadily pulling her along behind him as he searched. "Then we just won't let her find you, dearie," he whispered conspiratorially. His heart pounded fiercely with excitement as she blushed and squeezed his hand. After searching through more rooms the further they descended into the tower, he was beginning to lose hope. "There's got to be a linen closet somewhere in this heap."
"Oh!" Belle gasped. "Mistress keeps the linens locked away in the cellar. I'm not allowed to go down there either." Her brow wrinkled as she followed him down to the very last level and came upon a door set into the polished stone floor. "I wonder why she'd want to lock the linens away," she mused.
Her new friend's eyes narrowed cunningly. "So you wouldn't be able to tie them together and escape, that's why," he said, pulling the dagger free from his belt to pick the lock.
Belle felt like a fool twenty minutes later as she helped him tie the last of the bed linens together. She should have thought of this herself, but even if she had, her mistress made sure there were no knives in the kitchen. She was far too leery of her charge to allow her sharp pointy objects. And if she had thought to make herself a rope, who was to say she'd be strong enough to support her own weight for the long climb down?
Rumpelstiltskin turned to her with a satisfied gleam in his sable eyes. "There, that should do it." He moved closer to her, the last sheet held loosely in his hand. "Only one thing left, princess."
Belle's heart fluttered madly as he wrapped the sheet around her and drew her in close to his body. She trembled, a nervous giggle bursting forth from her parted lips. "I apologize, but this is completely overwhelming for me and I-"
The spinner halted her flow of nervous enthusiasm by placing a single finger to her petal soft lips that he longed to kiss. He quickly pushed that thought aside realizing that was never going to happen. "There's no need to explain yourself princess. I understand." he replied, realizing that in certain ways they were the same. He'd been imprisoned mentally for years. He was the village coward and the only choice he'd had was which corner he was going to hide in next. He was an outcast, and he was certain if this princess knew what kind of man he truly was, she would oust him too.
She trembled, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and excitement as he pulled into his arms. "Are you certain this is going to work?"
He fastened the trailing end of the sheet around his neck and waist, binding her to him, her head tucked beneath his chin. "I used to carry my son like this when he was much smaller," he teased her, bearing her weight easily to the window. It took effort, but he was able to ignore his body's reaction to her soft curves pressed so intimately to him.
"What if you can't bear our combined weight for that long and we fall? You've done so much to set me free … " She averted her eyes shyly, her fingers toying with the ends of his hair. "I don't want to see you hurt, Rumpel."
He perched on the windowsill and grasped the linen rope tightly in his hands. He couldn't meet her gaze, afraid she'd see the fear of impending failure in his eyes. Let her see him as her hero for just a bit longer, he thought. "Have faith, m'lady."
Belle whimpered as she felt the full weight of gravity pulling at her limbs. She buried her face in the neck of her dashing rescuer and wrapped her arms and legs about him tightly, hanging on for dear life. He moved slowly, carefully down the face of the tower, all the while whispering soothing words of comfort into the shell of her ear until she relaxed enough to let him breathe comfortably. Her eyes remained closed. She couldn't bear to see them eventually fall, but she wouldn't voice her fears. It wouldn't be right to have doubts as to his courage.
"Almost there, princess," he crooned to her, hoping she couldn't hear the tremor in his voice or feel the quaking of his limbs. "Just a little further."
Rumpelstiltskin breathed a little easier as he realized they were going to make it. Just another ten or so feet and their feet would once more meet solid ground. He could feel the girl relaxing, her soft curves nigh melting against his lean lines. It was selfish of him to yearn for more, to wish he could bring her home with him and keep her forever. Why would she ever want to stay with someone like him?
He was brought swiftly out of his musings five feet from the ground, the last knot giving way and sending them hurtling towards the grassy slope. The height wasn't enough to harm them, but the spinner lost his balance, fell over and began to roll down the hill, Belle groaning as she went rolling with him. "Ow!"
A moan made its way past his thin lips as she came to rest atop him, their descent leaving him aching deep in his bones. He forgot about his pain, however; as he became lost in her gaze. "Thank you, Rumpel," she whispered reverently, her lips lowering ever closer to his. He closed his eyes, already anticipating the feeling of her mouth slanting over his …
"Belle, I'm back dearest, and I brought you some of those books you adore so much!" a voice bellowed from the opposite side of the tower, and Belle felt her heart begin to thrum heavily in her chest of trepidation as she jerked her head up and quickly began to fight her way free from his makeshift harness. She grabbed his arm, and dashed into the woods with all of her might. He desperately tried to keep up as they dodged tree branches and tripped over stumps.
"Princess! I can't go any further!" he protested, begging her to stop. She pulled him into the darkened hollow of a tree, placing her hand over his mouth to keep him from speaking. She held him firmly against her, and he groaned inwardly from her close proximity.
"Unless you want to face the wrath of the woman who put me there, then I suggest you listen up," she whispered harshly into his ear.
"What do you want me to do?" he queried back softly into the darkness. The earthy smell of the forest floor filled his nostrils as she spoke.
"My mistress has probably already discovered that I've fled the tower, so I need you to do something I can't do..." she paused, tears threatening to spill over her lashes, terror evident in her eyes.
"I want you to cut off all my hair. She placed an enchantment on it to track me if I ever tried to escape, but it loses its power once it's cut. Please do it … She placed a spell on me which prevents me from cutting it," she cried, and he sighed as he reached for the hunting knife he used to skin rabbits Bae killed, concealed in his boot. He reached for the origin of the braid and pulled back his knife to carefully slice it off. Rumplestilskin watched in astonishment as the braid turned to ash in his hands before falling through his fingertips like wisps of smoke. He turned back to look at the young woman with shoulder length hair, an onslaught of tears cascading down her cheeks.
He pulled her into his arms as she wept bitterly over the loss of her beautiful locks, rubbing her back consolingly, "You may have lost a bit of your hair, princess, but you've gained your freedom, and that's what should matter the most," he whispered reassuringly into her ear.
She nodded furiously as she clung to him for dear life, and he wondered how he was ever going to live without her from that moment on. What could a poor spinner offer a beautiful princess? After a while of consoling her, he shook her gently realizing that she'd fallen asleep in his arms.
"We need to get a move on, princess. I have a son waiting for me back home," he revealed, and she gazed at him sweetly with her doe eyes.
"What's his name?" she inquired, and he averted his gaze shyly, becoming mesmerized by her spellbinding irises.
"His name is Baelfire, and he'll be fourteen in a couple of days," he supplied as she traced the outline of his face gently with her nimble fingertips.
"What a brave name you've given your son, Rumpelstiltskin." She half smiled.
"What about you? Do you have any family?" he asked, quickly changing the subject before he did something foolish like kiss her.
"I did, but my kingdom was overrun by ogres shortly after I was kidnapped by that evil enchantress. I'm afraid I'm all alone in this world now. What good is being a princess if you have no kingdom in which to return?" she queried, her face contorting into grief as she recounted the tale.
"I'm very sorry for your loss. My boy is all I've got as well," he sighed, running his fingers through his hair timorously.
"You must love him very much then. Tell me something, Rumple...I hope it's okay if I call you that because the rest of your name is quite a mouthful," she blushed before continuing. "I have a feeling you didn't come all of this way just to rescue a stranger," she investigated, wetting her lips.
He sighed. "You're right, princess. I didn't come all this way just to rescue you. I actually came to retrieve a lock of your hair, but I couldn't leave you up in that tower all alone. I knew from the moment I saw you. I just had to do all within my power to help you. I made a deal with this entity called the Dark One for a single lock of your hair in exchange for sparing my son from having to fight in the ogre wars. The fact is, I'm a coward and it took a lot of courage for me to do this because my boy is all I've got, and if I lose him, then I'll become dust," he illuminated, fearful of what she'd say from his confession.
"Are you a knight in the king's guard? Your uniform makes me believe you are. I don't believe you would keep your son from serving his duty to the king," she observed with avid interest.
"Not exactly … The uniform is all for show I'm afraid," he sighed believing she must think him an imbecile for dressing in such a way.
"It's no matter, because I think it was very noble of you to risk your life for your son the way you did. You've more than earned a lock of my hair for your bravery. How about we return to your village and give that dastardly Dark One what he wants?" she suggested with a smirk, and he couldn't help but chortle in relief at her declaration.
"Thank you, princess," he smiled, tucking an erratic curl behind her ear endearingly.
"One more thing..." she said, pointing her right index finger in the air.
"Yes, princess?" he inquired as he awaited her answer.
"Stop calling me princess. My name is Belle. We're way past the formalities since we just spent most of the night in a tree hollow together," she insisted, and he couldn't help but smile at her request.
"It would be my pleasure, Belle." he replied, enjoying the way her name tasted on his lips.