Rumplestiltskin: The Father
A pale, translucent figure drifted mindlessly through an old, crumbled church-yard. A gruesome phantom of his former self, Rumplestiltskin's lucid body was halved from his right hip to the left side of his ribcage. Moaning and wailing, he let loose cries of unbearable agony, trying to drown the memories forever fresh in his mind.
Why am I here? He thought. I am not religious. What do I owe a God who never held any compassion for a creature as wretched as myself? Perhaps it fit his mood. Screams pierce the night. Why had life been so cruel? His wails fade as he remembers those last few days before his death. It felt so recent, yet he knew must have been nearly a century ago.
The wind whistled through his hair, as he flew atop his faithful flying soup ladle. He flew to claim his prize. It was more than a prize; it was to be his child. The castle came into view. Hours after the birth, he glided into the open window of the tallest tower, startling the young woman lying in bed. He almost felt a sliver of remorse for what he was about to do, but it was what it was.
"You knew this day would come," he whispered. "I'm here for th-"
"No!" she screeched, cutting him off. She crawled from bed as best she could, but she was still weak from the birth. Cradling the newborn, she backed into the corner. She pleaded and begged. Despite it being no ones fault but her own. Still, he pitied her. The internal struggle didn't show upon his face. The deal was struck, the child is mine. Disgust flitted across his features. But her promise was made in ignorance. She didn't understand the price. The moments passed as he debated his desire for the child against the long torn shreds of his conscience. The ghost of his humanity won out. He felt merciful. For the first time in a century, he felt weakness. Does she deserve the chance?
"A game then," he thought aloud.
"A game?"
"Dumb and deaf?"
"You'd have me gamble with my child?" she scoffed.
"A child you already foolishly lost," he howled, quickly losing his composure. "I offer you opportunity, a chance to win back the precious life that you carelessly threw away."
Her presence aggravated him. He viewed her in less favorable light with every passing second. Hadn't it been her fault anyway? She was the one who'd bragged. She was the one who dug herself deeper and deeper. As if the little cunt could really spin straw into gold. Did I not come to her rescue? I used my limited resources. What power I had I used. And what a task, it left me nearly dead to weave such treasures from such trash. That was no small deed. I paid with my flesh. I told her the price and she accepted. He realized he was ranting. He had to stop before he built up a head of steam. He glared at the girl. He hadn't even noticed that she had continued pleading.
"ENOUGH!" he bellowed. "I will give you three chances on three days to… to…"
He paused for a second to consider what the stakes should be.
"guess my name," he said with a malicious grin. He silently congratulated himself for such ingenious. The days had long since passed when anyone that walked this Earth had known his name.
"Expect my visit tomorrow, your highness," he spat. With that he flew from the room atop his spoon.
He camped not far from the castle. He went about finding something to eat. He was anxious. He had expected to have the child already. It mattered little in the end, but What if she somehow discovered my name? The premonition was gone before he could realize the significance. He dismissed his misgivings, and drifted to sleep.