A/N: Some what of a taster or prologue chapter.. Please don't hesitate to tell me what you think. All feedback welcome.
The sound of a spinning wheel trundled on, echoing around the somewhat empty, yet small village, or collective homestead. There could have been no more than 5 or 6 families living in that small gathering of wood and thatch housing.
"Papa, Papa!" The spinster looked up before grabbing the wooden staff on the side of his spinning wheel, hoisting himself into a standing position and supporting his otherwise crippled leg. A young boy no older than 12 came rushing out the near by tree's a mass of black fur held tightly in his arms.
"Bae? What is it boy?" The spinster hobbled lightly towards his son not getting all to far as his son, Baelfire, caught up to him gesturing to the mass or fur in his arms.
"She's hurt Papa!" The boys father, Rumpelstiltskin, looked down at the mass of black, shifting some of the matter fur.
"A pup? Bae, where did you find her?" Rumpelstiltskin adjusted his hold on his staff.
"In the woods, she's hurt Papa!" Baelfire looked to his father, then back down at the puppy in his arms."
"Oh Bae, it's probably already dead-" As soon as the word left his lips the pup stirred, whimpering. "Bring her inside quickly" Baelfire ran passed his father, who hobbled into the house behind him. "On the table lad. Put her down" Baelfire gently placed the black puppy down upon the table.
"She'll be alright wont she Papa?" Baelfire gave his father a pleading look.
"I don't know Bae, I'll try my best. Fetch the medicines from the cupboard." Rumpelstiltskin waved his son away as he lifted the puppy's right front leg, where most the blood was coming from, the leg was wrapped in scarring and deep gashes. "I'm not the only one with a busted leg around here aye girl?" Baelfire ran back to his father's side handing him various types of antiseptic and bandages. "Fetch the sheers boy, we need to trim away some of this matting."
"Yes Papa!" Baelfire shot off once again leaving his father with the injured puppy, who murred softly towards the man showing her kindness.
"Now you be still, I have no idea how effective this'll be for dogs... But we'll hope it works..." Rumpelstiltskin looked up towards the door. "Swiftly boy!" seconds after his call, his son came running back into the small house handing his father some metal sheers. Swiftly, Rumpelstiltskin cut away the excess matted fur, allowing him to see the damage better, trimming her down properly, he took a rag smothered in some form of antiseptic, holding the puppy down with one arm as he dabbed away at the heavy wounds on the pups front legs.
"Oh Papa... She's crying something awful" Rumpelstiltskin glanced towards his worried looking son.
"I know boy, it's stinging her, like it would you. She can handle it I'm sure" Taking the damp rag away, he looked over the wounds once more before wrapping the leg up tightly in bandages. "That should do for her wounds, but she needs nourishment. It's a good thing you found her boy... She would have probably died without you" Rumpelstiltskin placed an arm around his son hugging him tightly. "Go fetch some fresh water for her, I'll see what I can do about food" Baelfire shot out the house once more as Rumpelstiltskin lifted the dog from the table, dragging a blanket onto the floor and placing her upon it before staggering towards the hearth. Keeping one eye focused on the puppy, he ladled some tepid oatmeal into a small bowl. "From this morning, Shouldn't think you'll complain about the temperature." Carefully he moved down towards the floor nudging the bowl towards the dog. Gripping his walking staff tightly, Rumpelstiltskin smiled down at the pup that very carefully edged upwards and forwards towards the food, giving it a light sniff before lapping it up. "That a girl..." Petting the puppy lightly Rumpelstiltskin looked towards the door as Baelfire hauled a bucket of water into the house. "Jeez boy, she's a small dog not a horse..." with a light laugh, Rumpelstiltskin raised back up his staff, hobbling towards them.
"I just thought I should get plenty.." Baelfire looked towards the floor somewhat disappointed.
"Alright lad, alright" Rumpelstiltskin laid a firm, comforting hand on his son's shoulder. "Fill a bowl for her and put it next to her food." Rumpelstiltskin lowered himself down onto the nearest chair. Baelfire dipped a bowl into the bucket of water, moving towards the puppy. "That's it gently now..." He leant down gently placing the bowl in front of the puppy before moving his hand forward, gently and softly petting her.
"We should bath her soon Papa... She's a bit dirty" Baelfire smiled stroking the pup and looking to his father.
"She's a dog Bae, it's her job to get dirty, tough you're probably right. We'll give her a few days to heal up first." Baelfire stepped back from the puppy taking a seat at the table. "Thought of a name for her yet Bae?"
"You mean we can keep her!?" Baelfire's expression shot up into happiness
"Well we can't rightly throw her back in the woods can we? Consider her a birthday present." Rumpelstiltskin smiled towards his son who almost leapt over the table to hug him. "You'll have to look after her properly though Baelfire."
"Of course Papa! I'll take her with me everywhere and feed her and look after her good and proper!" Baelfire's grip tightened as his father returned the tight hug, ruffling the boy's hair.
"I trust you will boy. Happy birthday Bae." Rumpelstiltskin smiled lovingly towards his son and their new addition to the family.
"Can she sleep with me tonight Papa?" His son looked up at him hopefully.
"If she's well enough boy, don't force her to move. Her leg's hurt pretty bad" Rumpelstiltskin, shifted from of the hair out of his boys face.
"Like you Papa?" Baelfire asked innocently. Rumpelstiltskin's expression changed somewhat as he contemplated his answer.
"A bit like me yes. Now go on, go finish your chores. I can look after her." He nudged his son off his lap and towards the door.
"Yes Papa." Baelfire once again shot out the door of their small house. Rumpelstiltskin sat a while watching the door where he left before a small yiff caught his attention. He looked towards the corner where the small black pup had risen, waddling forwards awkwardly due to the bandages her small tail flickering away a mile a minute. Rumpelstiltskin gave a small chuckle smiling down at the puppy.
"You even walk like me, pup." Reaching down he pet the small puppy who seemed rather happy about it, jumping up his legs until he picked the puppy up into his lap, curling up there allowing Rumpelstiltskin to pet her, her small tail thumping regularly against his thigh. "But you'll soon get stronger, and walk better than I. Then you can help me look after Baelfire..." Rumpelstiltskin talked idly whilst he pet her. "Well... At least you can't get arrested for biting someone's shins" He cracked a small smile as the puppy drifted into sleep upon him. Scooping the puppy up, Rumpelstiltskin moved her onto Baelfire's bed before leaving the house going back to his spinning wheel. He was only alone for a moment before the wooden door to his house shook, the small dog squeezing her way through a crack in the corner. "You don't seem to want to be alone do you pup?" Rumpelstiltskin smiled down at the dog that sat by his feet.
"Papa, papa!" Rumpelstiltskin looked away from the pup looking up to his son who came running from the woods.
"Looks like Bae hurried his chores for you." The pup gave a small series of happy barks before awkwardly running out to meet Baelfire her tail wagging a mile a minute as she jumped around his legs.
"Looking better already girlie!" Baelfire dropped to his knee's rolling on the floor playing with the pup that attacked and chewed at his hair.
"Have you thought of a name for her yet Baelfire?" Rumpelstiltskin looked up from his spinning wheel focusing his boy with a small look.
"I was talking to Mildrith, and uhm. She said it should be something special" Baelfire picked the puppy up, trying to shield his chin from the onslaught of licks.
"She's right it should be... I take it you have one then?" He watched his sons slightly nervous behaviour.
"I want to call her Arsealen.." Baelfire pushed his bottom lip out into a small pout as he uttered the name of his long since passed grandmother. Rumpelstiltskin's spinning wheel came to a small halt as he watched his boy.
"Arsealen... I think that's a fine name. What of you pup?" The pup within Baelfire's arms gave a small bark followed by a small howl. "I think she likes it too Bae. C'mon, take Arsealen inside and let's get started on making dinner."
"Yes papa!" The family enjoyed their newest addition. Every night Rumpelstiltskin sat with Arsealen telling her, her duty.
"You must protect Baelfire Arsealen. I'm injured, and I know you can tell. I need you to help me look after him girl." and Every night Rumpelstiltskin received the same answer, a small whine and her nose pressed to his hand.