The land surrounding her home was mostly flat with a few scattered trees. They were locked in by a stone wall towering over many of the trees. A gravel path led from the gates to the stone steps where she sat. Heavy, black clouds rolled across the skies in anticipation for the approaching storm.
Suddenly a man approached the gates, his hair a light brown and fell to his chin in simple curling waves. He seemed an older fellow, dressed in brown leather pants that hugged his thighs, boots that went to his knees and a fancy top and coat. Sighing, Grace stood, interested in the guest standing outside the gates.
Her steps were soft, but the stone and sole of her shoes still scuffed against each other creating a crunching noise. The two guards that stood at the gates were already speaking with the man but stopped once she had approached. Phoenix looked him over once more, his smile was welcoming and mysterious, his stance confident and his hands were clasped together.
"Ah, Grace." He greeted, a knowing look in his eyes. "I have heard of you."
Grace raised one of her eyebrows, a bit surprised that he had heard her name. Most have only heard of her brother and know not of his younger sister. "You know of me?"
He chuckled slightly. "I know very much about you, deary."
Grace looked to one of the guards. "Open the gate."
"Ah, no need." Her head whipped around to see the man was standing beside her. At first fear shot through her, but then all that faded away and was replaced with curiosity.
"Who are you?" She questioned.
He took a step back and bowed dramatically, rolling the 'R' in his name. "Rumpelstiltskin." He stood upright once again and offered her his arm. "Shall we walk?"
Grace hesitated for a moment before nodding and taking his arm, walking off the gravel path and out into the field of her home.
"So how have you come to know me? Most-if not all-know only of my older brother, William Frazier."
He chuckled lightly to himself. "I know of many, deary. And I go to those who are in need of something," he stopped and turned so he could face her, placing a hand on his chest. "And I in need of something they can offer." A smile crept onto his face and they continued walking. "It just so happens, deary, that we both have something the other wants."
Grace's mind ran with possibilities of what he could offer. Magic was clearly something he had, but what is it exactly he could offer? Maybe knowledge? Or maybe objects that could be of use to her?...Or maybe he could teach her...
"What is it you are willing to offer me exactly, Rumpelstiltskin?"
Lightning flashed across the sky and the thunder came shortly after, blocking out any sound. Rumpel waited until the atmosphere had quietened before he turned to her once again, and by now they were quite a distance from the castle.
"Why, I can conjure anything you desire, deary..." He leaned in, their faces inches apart. "Just remember. All magic...comes at a price."