Hey guys,
I tend to get many many writers blocks, but not this time, I played with this idea for a while, Rumplestiltskin was always a favorite of mine. And so here it is my dearies, don't be afraid to Review. I love constructive criticism. :)
-L.E.A.L.S
A very disgruntled man sat before a very worn table, ale in hand. This very disgruntled man of a very guilty conscience sat silently, pondering the days mistakes. He had done something very bad. Very very bad.
Like any other normal gambling man he had had a bad day. His luck was low and the stakes high. Extremely high, and in any other circumstance he wouldn't have agreed to said stakes, but something pulled him. A strange urge in his navel, holding him still in a warm mothers embrace. A strange sensation of the strings of a puppeteer, pulling his fingers to the cards. And a unique voice in his head persuading him against his instinct to leave.
So he had stayed. And he had made a bet with things he did not posses. Nor did he ever wish to posses.
Another sip was taken as he brooded over that last bet. He had lost, of course. His ring, his necklace and the coins he was to use for room and supper. Now all he had was the clothing on his back and thoughts in his head, along with a stale ale and a bruised pride.
But those things were irrelevant, they meant nothing compared to the last thing he lost, his first daughter. He did not wish for a child, and definitely not a girl child.
Girls were of little use to him. But he still was at unease, something was not right with that last bet. But it wouldn't happen right? He wouldn't have a child. He didn't have the money for a child nor a wife. He wanted only a ship to trade and the means to do it. No. He did not need a child, therefore none was endangered.
With that last thought, the man gulped down the rest of the flat ale. Leaving his only coin on the worn table and walking out the tavern doors, and towards his future.
Three Years and nine months later, a woman of golden hair and clear blue eyes relaxed on the Wyishter shore. The woman gazed upon the calm ocean, smiling softly, laying a hand to rest upon her protruding abdomen. Her toes idly played with the sand as she glanced back towards the growing crowd of women. At the moment there were five brightly colored girls prancing around in the white sand. Their excited giggles could be heard from were she stood, several feet away.
The woman's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter as she turned back to the calming sea. Her hand unconsciously began to rub her swollen stomach. A bright contagious smile broke out on her face. Life was enjoyable in moments such as these. Cares far and few.
"Bellaria!" The woman turned towards the giggling girls.
"Yes?" She laughed, looking at the sandy mischievous women beckoning her over to their presence.
"Oh, must I?" She whined looking hesitantly over there then down to her swollen feet.
"Yes!" Their voices harmoniously chorused.
"Fine." Bellaria began her hasty wobble over to the others. Her arms opened wide to receive the many hugs of her fellow girls.
"You miladies, are a sight to see." Her blonde hair swayed as she shook her head in mock horror.
Another round of giggles began as the girls left her embrace.
A petite blonde looked up to her, blue eyes shining.
"We may be a sight to see milady, but you are a sight to behold." The girl emphasized Bellaria's round belly before breaking into a fit of laughter. The others joined in.
"Ha Ha Aria, I'm so pleased, you find my current state to be amusing." Bellaria broke into a broad grin.
The tiny blonde made a mocking bow before tackling a taller orange hair girl.
The hilarity continued, and so did the bouts of laughter.
If only they had paid more attention, they would have seen a dark figure cloaked in burgundy, further back, watching intently upon the pregnant woman. Watching with patience and precision. For today he would have his child. Today he would collect his debts.
Late into the night, the golden haired beauty sat up, watching the remaining embers of the fire burn. The child within her was restless, which meant she was as well. And so she sat there, staring into the fire in her lavish room in the prestigious Forbidden Seas, a meeting place for the beautiful and the wealthy.
She scoffed in bitter spite, it wasn't a meeting place. It was a brothel. A way for wealthy chauvinistic pigs to meet beautiful inviting women without the added refinery. And now, she carried one of their offspring. But it was all for not, for she had determined that if she was to raise the child, then the child was hers and only hers. The father forgotten.
A small thump, against her hand drew her away from her unbearable thoughts and back to a serene peace. And the woman studied the fire once more.
After a few minutes passed, a sudden wetness began to spread, as if she had soiled herself. Bellaria looked down to notice a puddle accumulating on her chair.
"Katlyn!" She hollered, not taking her eyes off the disgusting puddle. "Katlyn! Dasia! Someone hurry up!" Panic took a place in her chest and began to expand, slowly numbing her whole body. Her vision began to wane, dark figures moving in and out of clarity, as she was moved to her bed.
A pain so deep, it's never ending. A throbbing, a scream...
The woman awoke to the sound of her own scream. It had begun, the most painful experience known to man. He head swerved from side to side as she let out another howl of pain.
"It's okay BellBell. Just breath." An orange haired girl soothed, grasping her clammy hand.
"Noooo! Itttt'ssss No- Ahhhh!" The woman screamed again, another ripple of pain moving through her thin body.
"Bellaria!" A gray haired older lady shouted. Over her endless screams.
"WHAT?!"
"You have to push!"
The pained woman, nodded, the matted yellow hair slapping against her back.
"Breath. Bella breath." The orange haired girl repeated.
"Push!" The old woman yelled.
And she screamed over and over.
"It's going to be okay." The orange haired girl reassured her.
And Bellaria nodded, giving one last push before giving in to the darkness.
Someone lightly shook the exhausted beauty, slowly awakening her from a fitful sleep. A tiny package was deposited into her arms. One that was squirming...
Bellaria opened her eyes, to be greeted with the most vibrant green eyes she had ever seen. She looked up to see the smiling faces of six beautiful women staring back at her.
"Milady, glad to see you could join us." Aria grinned.
"Thanks." she whispered horsely, looking down at the tiny figure in her arms.
"Well, are you going to name her?" The orange haired girl questioned, voicing the question on everyones mind.
"Not yet, I haven't been able to think of a suitable name."
"How about Aria? Hmm?" The blonde woman winked inconspicuously.
"Or Annabeth." Another jumped in.
"No, Clarissa."
The beside erupted into chaos, as the girls began to shout enthusiastically.
"Ladies!" An authoritative voice rang above the others, "Leave Bellaria alone, she must rest!" The old woman from before came forward, watching like a hawk as the others slunk off.
"Here," The elderly woman took the baby girl, setting her in a crib next to the bed, "Sleep. It's late." Bellaria nodded dumbly to the mid wife, before closing her half lidded eyes, and dozing.
Something was wrong. When Bellaria woke up that morning, something was missing. She opened her eyes to the words she never wanted to hear;
"The baby's gone."
Long gone was the child of a drunk gambler and beautiful harlot. Replaced was the daughter of mystery himself, said to be the lord of the forest, the master of disguise and trickery, a wizard. Though his presence was only rumored of. No one had ever seen the man, or known it was him.
Still here he sat, upon a tree stump, cloaked by darkness, waiting in the shadows. His long tapered fingers idly playing with a gilded dagger, a tiny infant on his thigh asleep. The child was of fair skin, ruddy cheeks, and piercing emerald eyes. Wisps of dark blond hair flew around the quiet infant, causing her to curl into the man.
In return, the man adjusted the child's silk blanket before looking out into the horizon of trees once more. He had one more debt to take, one more gamble to finish, one more life to end. It was how he operated, those who disobeyed, mistreated, fought, or ignored his influence and power were dealt with accordingly. Taking things that were of most value from them, leaving the person vulnerable, that was his way. And this was yet another person who had attempted to flee from him. He would take the traitor's most precious possession with ease, for it was himself that he treasured the most.
The hooded man smirked staring at a dark shadow in the distance.
Sitting upon his white steed, the rounding lord continued through the woods, admiring his ring riddle hand occasionally. The olive skinned lord was oblivious to his surroundings. Oblivious to the cloaked figure slowly advancing on his person. Oblivious to the gilded dagger that gleamed in the grayish moonlight, and oblivious to the bundle in the cloaked persons arms.
It was not until the lord was off his horse, tumbling to the ground that he realized anyone had been there at all. Looking up, the fattened lord looked into eyes of coal. The cloaked figure removed his hood, placing the dagger firmly against the other man's jugular.
"P-p-please, d-don't-t-t" The conceited man stuttered, attempting to flee from the sliver blade.
"You understand why you are here, do not plead."
"I-I-I have m-m-money..."
"I do not need your measly funds. You made an oath. You broke that oath. You pay." The man explained putting pressure upon the blades, omitting a slow trickle of red water.
"B-B-But-t-t-t..."
"Death is your punishment."
"I-I-I..." The man sliced the blade upon the other's neck, blood spurting from the severed head.
Lifeless eyes looked back into the coal ones, the man straightened, still holding the small infant, carelessly wiping the soiled blade on the deceased lord's petticoats.
"Antío." The cloaked man bid farewell, pulling the hood over his head, and captureing the reins of the dead mans horse. Muttering in Latin, he watched the lords body slowly sink into the ground, before mounting the spooked steed, and riding off into the darkness, the bundle still clutched in his arms.
Sooo, how was it? :)
R&R Thanks :3