A/N: I have brought in another tale by the Grimm Brothers...I'm sure it's obvious but I just wanted people to know. Written before The Return and obviously wrong according to plot details after analysis but oh well! My fanfic, my way, so eat that reality.
Fragility and Flutes
Bae sat alone in the forest, a small fire lit just outside the camp. The fire was barely burning; he hadn't the strength to relight it. Hot tears instead burned his soft cheeks as he cried. The guard was probably looking for him around the site, but he didn't care. His father certainly hadn't made things any better. He wept, afraid he'd lost his father forever. He seemed consumed by the power of the dagger...
"Father!" he randomly shouted into the echoing night. A cough escaped awkwardly from his lips. He'd choked on his own tears. The salty taste covered his tongue and drops hit the ground with violence.
"Why did you do this?... Why did you leave me?" he whispered to himself the second question.
"He did it because he loves you," another voice split through the thin air candidly. Bae's head jerked up, tears covering his face still.
"Who-who is-"
"Not that it was the best choice," the voice interrupted. By the deep vibrance, Baelfire confirmed that the voice belonged to a man.
"Show yourself!" Bae stood, drawing a knife from his belt, and in his own voice he was threatening. Spinning around and around, the boy couldn't tell where the man exactly was. His head began to hurt a little.
A rat appeared from the shadows, briefly distracting Bae. Still, to calm his nerves he stabbed the creature, swiftly, and with an unknown vengeance, the rat suffocated to its death. With the knife, he flung the rat into the small fire, wishing the blaze was just a tad brighter.
"Now now!" From the shadows emerged someone from his left. He eyed the man at once, the knife pointing in front.
A small, thin flute in his hand, the man spun the intrument around in his palm, flinging it to his mouth, letting out a high-pitched note not even a girl could sing.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked Bae.
"What? It's just a rat," Bae replied, looking to the fire. He felt oddly ashamed for what he'd just done. "Besides, I get nervous, the rat took the blame that's all."
"My my, there is a little of your father in you," the man said.
His pointed hat reminded Bae of a boat with no stern. It was black as night, as was the rest of his clothing, consisting of a tunic, tights, and boots. The pipe, however, was silver, glistening at his side as the moon's light struck it with flare. The man's eyes were green, and his hair was dark brown.
"My father...perhaps...how do you know him?" Bae demanded, starting to question why he still held the knife out. This man's aroma alone was intimidating, already making him feel like he was outmatched. As they each stared into the other's eyes, both were firm.
The man walked around the fire, sending more sticks to join the blaze. He then piled a large log. Bae watched as he put the pipe to his lips, played a soft tune and then a fire exploded from the log, a proud source of light for anyone! So he had magic too...
"I haven't seen Rumpelstiltskin in some time," the man confessed, sitting down and looking at the child. "But stabbing the Dark One...he must've been desperate."
"Who are you?" the boy asked, relaxing his arm but not the knife.
"I'm Felix, known to most as the Pied Piper," he introduced, a rat perching atop his hat at that exact moment. Bae stared blankly.
"Rumpel never mentioned me?" the Pied Piper continued, trying to conjure a memory that may be in the boy's mind. Without any luck, Bae shook his head, a little confused now.
"Hmm...I am hurt. He talked about you quite a bit. Baelfire, right?"
"Yes." The boy sat down next to the Pied Piper, realizing he was a friend, and that was more than what he could ask for at the moment.
More tears came down from his face.
"I've known Rumpel for a long time, and he would never abandon you. He wanted to be with you. Your mother-"
"You knew my mother?" Bae asked sharply.
"Knew her? I watched as Rumpel propsed to her! Oh it was romantic! Nonetheless, he probably didn't want you to be put in danger. He shouldn't have killed the Dark One though."
"Now, he has all that power-he'll never be himself again."
"Power does that to people, just don't leave him. At the very least, remember him. I'd march up to him and confront him. Then, I'd try and move past it...but that's just me," the Pied Piper suggested. "He's been lonely for a long time...kinda."
"Kinda?" Bae questioned.
"Well, uh, ya know, not having you around. You've left a scar on him, so to speak. Sure, he screwed up and if you want him out of your life, fine. But, at the very least, know he still loves you...you and your mother."
Bae started at the ground...thinking...
There was a knock at the large doors of the vast castle. Without being let in, the castle's door opened the next moment, and the sound of a high-pitched pipe rang through Belle's ears. The Pied Piper's eyebrows rose at the sight of the new girl. She stared at him for a few moments.
"Is Rumpelstiltskin around?" he asked. She set the tea tray down she was about to take away.
"Oh! Um, yes. Yes he is. Would you like me to fetch him?" Belle replied, forgetting her manners for a second. What an eccentric man, she thought.
"If you please...on second thought..." The Pied Piper pondered. After playing a tune of slides and scales, he saw Belle's eyes widen in fright. He recognized that look all too well.
"Don't!" he scolded, stopping her from advancing towards him, trying to be brave about it all. "Already lost one a few days back. They won't hurt you." The rat climbed to his arm, but Belle turned away, disgusted. She took a deep breath.
"Ah, Piper...What brings you all the way out to see little ol' me?" Rumpel asked, making Belle jump after she opened her eyes. She had no idea how long he'd been walking towards her.
Rumpelstiltskin eyed her, amused by her reactions. She cleared her throat, attempting to pull herself together. Rumpel stopped, still staring at her and waving his hand. Belle knew what that meant.
"I'll just take this to the kitchen..." she walked off, sighing in slight confusion. The gold spinner turned his attention back to his guest.
"I'm here to tell you that your son-" the Pied Piper began, but when his friend heard that word, son, he raised his flute and played a few notes, calming him instantly...for the moment.
"Yes, Baelfire...he's coming to visit you before he has to leave again," the Pied Piper concluded. "Unless...you wish to make other arrangements."
For a long moment, Rumpelstiltskin stared at the ground. Baelfire had run away after they had a large argument over his power as the Dark One. Rumpel figured he'd return to the old house when he was over it and wanted to come back. But, he didn't come for many months. In fact, he never really showed up at all.
"My son...tell him I'll be just outside town on the North side," Rumpel replied, turning away from the Pied Piper.
A rat had found its way to his leather pant leg. As it was climbing up to be friendly, the Dark One summoned his magic, striking it dead to the floor. The Pied Piper gave him a look of disapproval and annoyance.
"Really? You want to play it that way?" the Pied Piper told him, raising the pipe to his lips. This could get messy-
"I just got the girl a week ago," Rumpel justified quickly, looking behind him. "She's...she's all right when she's not swarmed with rodents in the castle."
"Still, you know me Rumpelstiltskin. You know me quite well..." he held out his hand to his friend, revealing a note. Rumpel eyed it, swiping it from him.
"It seems you're called by others." The signature was quite obvious to him and he scoffed.
"Well?" the Pied Piper asked, still holding out his hands.
"Well what?" Rumpel asked bitterly.
"Postage Rumpel, by the gods! Did you expect her to pay me?"
The Dark One took a golden thread from the pile and wrapped it around a wooden cylinder, handing it to him.
"There. Should be more than enough."
The Pied Piper bowed his head, picking up the dead rat with his bare hands, almost cradling it in his arms.
"It's just a rat! You have plenty more."
"That's what Bae said. Now, don't you forget about this. Two days time, North side of town." Rumpel nodded once. Coming back to his tall stance, the Pied Piper knew he had the correct information, and without a look back of any kind, the castle doors latched shut as he took his leave.