"PHILLIP!" Aurora cried over the body of her beloved prince, the man who had helped her realize that her dreams could come true, that she didn't have to be lonely. But Maleficent had taken him away from her. With her damned spindle. Not even her father's banning of the concoction could save the life she loved. As she bent her head over the body of her, still breathing but unconscious love, Aurora felt her energy leave. She had no desire to go to the wedding of her dear friend Snow White. What use was it, when seeing the happiness of someone else would only remind her that such a fate was not in the cards. Not without the help of magic. Strong magic. Magic that even her wonderful aunt's did not fully possess.
They tried to comfort her, but being told that everything happened for a reason, or that she should move on with her life, or how little she knew Prince Phillip would not make her feel better. It only strengthened her resolve to find help. Help that would actually make the pain go away, or fix her Phillip, or heavens even bring him back to her.
"I heard there was a deal to be made," came an obnoxious voice behind her. Aurora barely tuned her head, and certainly didn't look at the evil man she knew stood behind her. Meriwether had warned her more the once about the slick tongued magician. But all that Aurora retained from those conversations was the knowledge that Rumpelstiltskin was actually capable of making Phillip better. And that was all that mattered to her.
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Aurora stood and turned to face him. "I hear you make deals."
"Indeed. But all good things must come with a price!" He did some sort of display with his fingers to illustrate his point, but Aurora didn't pay attention, didn't care. She waved his little production off.
"Can you fix him?" She demanded, not in the mood for any of his games, and none of his coy play on words.
Rumpelstiltskin ran his hand across his chin, "I can, my lady. But you will have to pay a price. All magic comes with a price."
"Anything. I will pay with my own life if that's what it takes! Switch our places and I will be happy with my lot in life." She reached a hand down to her scorched, sleeping prince, "anything for him to wake up and rule his country again. To be alive again." She gripped his hand so tight her knuckles turned white.
"You would trade places with him? When you could rule a kingdom in his name, and have no man to tell you no?" He was almost genuine in his interest. But Aurora paid no attention to him, or the glint of curiosity in his eyes.
"It's his kingdom, not mine. And it's my fault he lays here. I asked him to rescue me, and now I can rescue him. A debt is a debt."
Rumpelstiltskin nodded, "A debt is a debt, indeed."
But Aurora had not even turned to face him so he could see the quizzical look on her face. She was already fast asleep as her lover opened his eyes for the first time in weeks.