Chapter 1

The man was almost perfect in every way. That was what Isabella could not get over. Even his teeth looked like they were made from pearls, fresh from the sea. This was to be her betrothed. His name was Gaston and he was practically perfect in every way. She felt like she needed to quickly start singing opera. Not just start singing opera, but write the song and sing it while playing all of the instruments, just to keep up with him.

Her Dad beamed at her. She knew he was in a difficult position. The country was in war and they desperately needed money and support. He was an eternal optimist, and he was confident that they could win the war. However, cold, hard reality had begun to set in, and he knew that they could not win it alone. Isabelle knew that he wanted only the best for her, that he valued her freedom and independence more than anything, which is why he wanted her to fall in love with Gaston and have everything work out so that she could marry who she wanted while helping the kingdom. So Isabella, despite the butterflies in her stomach, stepped out into the ballroom and tried to prepare herself to fall in love.

It was not hard to fall in love with Gaston. He flirted effortlessly, and was constantly charming. Within a few minutes of sitting down Isabella was in awe of him. She danced with him, talked with him, and even shared a tender moment holding hands with him. By the end of the ball her Dad was overjoyed, Gaston was his perfect self and she felt what she had not felt since the ogre wars started. Hope.

Within two months the hope that she had was all but crushed. Gaston was still the perfect fiancé; the only problem was that even with the added support of her fiancé's kingdom they were still losing against the ogres. Isabella knew something bad had happened when her father called her and Gaston into the war room. She could hear her heart beating as she walked up the steps, and there did not seem to be enough air in the room. She paused outside the door and forced herself to take some deep breaths. "This is not the end of the world." She told herself. She could face whatever was about to be thrown at her.

When she walked into the double doors, to the well-lit war room she immediately looked to her Dad. He was the eternal optimist, but she could see him struggling to stay positive. Maps, battle plans and finances were strewn haphazardly on the floor. He tried to smile in reassurance to her, like he had for all 20 years of her life but she could pick up on it. This was bad. Immediately her stomach dropped and she felt dizzy. She wanted to go back into her room and let the adults handle the catastrophe and just not think of it. She just did not want to face it, did not want to know. However, she knew those days of hiding in her room had passed. She was the princess of the realm and it was her parents and her fiancée dealing with this and damned if she was not going to give in and hide in her room like a helpless little princess.

"Isabella" her father said, gravely. She tried to respond, but she was too nervous about what he was about to say. So she just looked at him. She glanced at Gaston who had quietly come in beside her. Her perfect fiancée who always had a smile on his face was unnaturally grim.

"Isabella" her father tried again. "The war is almost lost. There is nothing we can do."

Her stomach immediately dropped. Her mind seemed to slow to a snail speed so she could not comprehend what was being said.

Her father took a breath and continued. "We have to go for our last option. We must call HIM."

Isabella immediately denied it. She knew that many lives depended on them keeping the kingdom, and not losing it to the ogres. But she had heard tales about Rumplestilksin. No matter what the deal, he always got what he wanted, and those who struck the deal always suffered. Isabella could not let her father suffer like that.

"No." She said. "There MUST be another way."

Her father's eyes seemed to grow even more tired, and her fiancée tried to step in. "Isabella please, this is the only way. We need to call him."

"No" she repeated. "We still have reserves, correct? We can still call Prince George for help. Plus, wasn't there a plea sent throughout the land for help? Someone will come!"

"NO ONE WILL COME!" Roared her optimistic father, and Isabella's heart broke. She knew how difficult this was for him, but she could not agree to calling for help from a force they did not understand. But what was the alternative? Have the ogres rip through the land? See women and children tortured, murdered raped?

"Please" she whispered. She still had hope in Prince George and his armies. She had personally met him during a ball in happier times, and she knew he would come. "Just wait one more day. I know he will come." She pleaded. Looking at both her Father and her Fiancé.

They looked at her with identical torn expressions, not wanting to see them hurt, she walked over to the desk where the battle plans were. She still had hope that this could all work out. "Our message was sent out to King George less than a full moon ago. With the muddy tracks the messengers probably did not get there until two weeks ago. King George would need time to gather the army, and march here. In the mean time, we still have the reserves that have not been called into battle, as well as the people still trickling in, willing to help. We can stave off the ogres for at least another week."

The two men in her life still looked at her with sadness, but she could see they were considering her words. It both filled her with pride that they listened to her, and filled her with nerves that they would trust her. She knew if she convinced them to wait in calling on a force that they did not understand, then it would be on her if more people got injured than were necessary. At the same time she would not be able to take it if the Dark One, as Rumplestilkskin was called, took something from her Father or Fiancee that would break them. She could not take that risk.

So she played her trump card. "I could talk to the mermaids…"

"No" her Dad said immediately, his face instantly hardening.

She took a breath, stealing herself foe hurting her Dad, but knew it must be said. She knew her mother was a great swimmer, and spent most of her childhood swimming in the ocean. Isabella inherited that gene from her, and when she got older there were always rumors. Rumors that Isabella's Mom was actually half mermaid. Rumors that a male merman deceived her mom, and that Isabella herself was the one that was half mermaid. No matter what they said, Isabella was absolutely certain that her Mom and Dad both loved her beyond anything, no matter what. However, there was no denying that Isabella had a connection with the sea, and she could use this. Mermaids were known to be fearsome fighters, and seen as their kingdom was surrounded by water, and any ogres needed to ford the bay to get to their land, having the support of the mermaids would be crucial.

Isabella tried again. "please Papa, Gaston, consider it. If I talk to the mermaids, and we enlist the recruits we can wait another week for Prince George's army. Then we won't have to call on the Dark One."

At their still torn expressions she tried one more time. "Please, I have heard the stories, his price is always too great. It will be something that we cannot give up without losing ourselves. Please, let us try this."

As Isabella held her breath the two most important men in her life looked at each other. "Ok, her Papa said, "we will give it a week."