AN: I've added many new characters, because it's a story about Rumple's childhood and we hardly know anything about that.
Fishing for Fame
The Attack
Rumple is strolling around the village. It's a small village, nothing more than a bunch of houses, more like huts really, near a river. He sees the town bully with his admirers in the distance and isn't in the mood for yet another confrontation. Adair will have to pick on someone else today. His brother, Aidan, always eager to please and desperate for a chance to outshine his older brother, has chosen a victim in Talieshin, a very shy and musical boy. Aidan takes his wooden flute and breaks it on his knee. At this Talieshin begins to cry, causing the group to bellow and laugh at him. The boy picks up the pieces of his flute and runs away as fast as his legs can carry him.
A few hours later, Rumple returns home. He has caught a trout and hopes this will make Miss Locke a little less angry than she was this morning when he had, accidently, spilled some of his breakfast. He had slipped and his bowl had fallen on the floor. Fortunately, it was not broken. Rumple doesn't know what would have happened otherwise. He had lived with Miss Locke the last three years, ever since Miss Rania had died. Rania was her first name, but he had been allowed to use it even if he was just a little boy. His father had given him in her care some years before and had left. Never to return. Only a few months ago, the news of his father's death had reached him.
Not a soul in the world cared for him, not really. His mother had died in childbirth and with both his father and Miss Rania gone, he was all alone. Miss Locke only took him in because she owed Miss Rania and because there had been some money, not much but enough to persuade her. Ever since the money had run out, she was distant and mean. Always snapping at his failings or his mere existence. The chances of her marrying had long gone, but with a child to rear, her last hopes of marriage had gone as well. She blamed him for that, for taking her dreams, unrealistic as they may have been.
The next day he is not so lucky. As he leaves the forest, he had been gathering wood for the fire, the group of boys stops him. They laugh, call him a coward, make a joke about his father, and take his wood. Just another day in his miserable life. He watches the group disappear and starts collecting wood again. When he is about to depart for a second time, he almost bumps into, Aengus, one of the culprits. "What do you want?" Rumple asks angrily yet slightly intimidated. Aengus may be slow and dimwitted, he is also very heavy and strong. Rumple is afraid his wood will be stolen again. "I lost my hat and came back for it," Aengus answers. Rumple doesn't reply. He will definitely not help him find it. "I didn't see anything," he finally says. "I'll carry the wood for you if you help me," the boy offers. That he cannot refuse. The bundle of wood is heavy and he is already late. "Ok," he gives in. "It's my brother's old hat and my dad will be so angry if I lose it; he won't get me another one, especially since I lost my shawl last week." Aengus looks a bit worried.
Everybody knows Aengus's dad. He is the town drunk who is always indebted to others, gets into fights regularly, and slaps his wife and children around. Rumple can see why Aengus is not eager to go home without his hat. They start a search, but stop when they see a group of men arrive, carrying a body and looking very grave. "You shouldn't be out here," one of them shouts to the boys. "Come with us," another one says. "But, my hat?" "It's dangerous to linger. We need to head to the village quickly." The men travel at quite a speed and the two boys have to run to keep up.
That evening, the village council has gathered. All the inhabitants are waiting for the council to appear from the meeting house and announce the decisions they have made. The villagers are afraid. The dead man was attacked by a mysterious creature and even the most stout-hearted men seem restless. The women and children are all standing close to each other and the mothers keep their youngest children in tight embraces.
The door of the meeting house opens. The village council, consisting of the richest, wisest and most powerful men, appears; they are just as shocked as everyone else. Adair's father, also called Adair, begins to speak. "Our friend and fellow villager, John Woode, has been attacked by an unknown creature. He has succumbed to his wounds in a matter of minutes. His gut was ripped open by something sharp, perhaps talons or claws. John was out on the water to check on his fish traps, so we cannot rule out a dangerous water beast either. These brave men," he gestures at the group that brought the body, "have found John in the water and took him to shore, at great risk to themselves. Until we know what we are up against, it is vital that we take measures for everyone's safety."
Another member of the village council, a man trained in magic, continues, "This may not be merely a beast, but could be a creature of a higher order. We've decided that all children under the age of ten should not leave the village under any circumstance. The older children and women should be accompanied by a man carrying arms whenever they leave the village. If that is not possible for various reasons, they should travel in larger groups, preferably more than four. To ease your minds, I have here," he opens his bag, "many amulets to protect you from danger. If you're interested, meet me after the announcements." His eyes are shining. This is a glorious day for his business.