DISCLAIMER: I do not own OUAT or any of their characters. Simply my take on events xx
The Dark Castle
Chapter 1
Rumplestiltskin watched the scene play out before him. He was bored by it. For over 200 years he had seen it all. War, peace, peace, war. Mankind could not stay out of each other's affairs.
However, it certainly gave him more trade than he could ever want.
He sat on one of the beams of the great tower. The king below him was pacing, waiting for him. A beautiful princess was pleading with her father. Her delicate features wrought with worry. Meanwhile, a young strapping lad was petitioning the King, eager to take his men to the front.
He could have written the script to their story. King with a beautiful Princess as a daughter, auctioning off her virtue to the highest bidder. The arrogant man had clearly one that prize with his arrogance shown in every pompous stride he took. She, however, recoiled every time he touched her.
Interesting…
The ogre war had reached this kingdom, as it did his long ago. He had stopped it then, to protect Bae. But he didn't have Bae now. Plus he liked it when people got desperate. They made more deals.
He decided he had seen enough.
A large boom reverberated throughout the room. All the guards rushed to open it. They opened the door with trepidation. There was no one outside.
A laugh cut through the silence. Rumplestiltskin was sitting on the King's throne.
"Well that was a bit of a let down."
"You sent me a message. Something about "Help, Help, we're dying. Can you save us? Now the answer is yes, I can. Yes, I can protect your little town."
"For a price"
"We can give you gold" answered King Maurice.
"Well the thing is, I make gold. So, no thanks" said Rumplestiltskin.
He stalked away, already bored by the interaction. His eyes were drawn to the girl. Her features were lit by the setting sun. Her brown curls tumbled down her bare shoulders. Skin so peachy and innocent, that no man had touched. Blue eyes stared back at him with no trepidation. She seemed not to be scared by him, by the situation. The young man, no doubt her betrothed, was standing before her, arm stretched valiantly trying to protect her. She looked like she wanted to chop that offending arm off.
Hmmm.
She was probably the knife that could twist in King Maurice's gut. Rumplestiltskin remembered that his Bae was threatened by men very like King Maurice. They were the ones who had caused the war with the ogres. He had come back to his village a coward due to the decision making of men like Maurice, who didn't care whose lives it was when they played war maker.
"My price is her", pointing his blackened finger at the girl.
King Maurice blanched, "No!"
Gaston moved forward, "The young lady is engaged to me"
"I wasn't asking if she was engaged. I'm not looking for love. I'm looking for a caretaker, for my rather large estate. It's her or no deal."
Rumplestiltskin walked away. King Maurice reddened "Get out! I knew you were the Dark One but, this is low even for you!"
Rumplestiltskin whipped around to face King Maurice "Low?! You have no idea about that, my friend! You auction your daughter off like a prize cow for the highest bidder. Her only use being what is up under her skirts, and you dare to accuse me of being low!"
He brought his hands round, conjuring his magic. Thin purple wisps covered his clenched hands.
"Stop!" the girl screamed.
She ran forward to stand in front of her father.
"Take me! I will go with you!"
He smiled. He always got what he wanted. The purple wisps of magic swirled away as he extended his hand. The girl, trembling, took his hand and shook it.
"The deal is struck!" Rumplestiltskin crowed.
He looked over to King Maurice and smiled triumphantly. He simply loved to get one over these buffoon kings and their petty troubles. He stepped closer to the girl, breathing her scent in.
Roses…
She meanwhile had turned round, with tears in her eyes to face her father, for the last time.
"Papa, no one chooses my fate but me" she whispered.
Rumplestiltskin was getting tired of this emotional display. He couldn't understand why people were so hung up on them. He wanted to start the fun with his new play thing. He interrupted the touching display.
"The deal is for forever, dearie. Time to say your goodbyes"
"And they will be safe? My family, friends and the kingdom, will be safe?" the girl demanded.
"You have my word" he replied.
He didn't add that she was going to be far from that.
"Then let us go"
She held his hand once more, and they vanished in a cloud of purple smoke. They reappeared in a large, drafty entrance hall.
"Welcome to the Dark Castle, dearie!"