"Sometimes the questions are complicated
and the answers are simple."
-Dr. Seuss
Chapter One: A Little Cottage in the Woods
A small tingle at the edge of my conscious alerted me that the wards I had placed around the cottage had been triggered; closing my eyes briefly and concentrating on the tendrils of magic that were sustaining the warding spells I waited for details on my guest. To be able to pass through the wards one must posses a significant amount of magic, I kept the wards at an intermediate level as to not ruin the element of surprise when it came to my skill level in the magical arts.
Dark magic, the ward reported, strong Dark magic at that.
Taking a moment to recollect my thoughts to the present I started to evoke the power of the elements to my aid. The deals I had with the creatures of the forest and far older beings were rarely called upon, I did not enjoy relying on the strength and favors of others. However, if my vow was to be kept I needed a little more fire power to make this creature back down.
Earth answered first; the dryads had always been friends, our relationship the most interdependent. I ended the call abruptly before I could collect all the necessary power, my visitor was at the door and it wouldn't do to display this ability so openly to him.
Centering myself, I to continued chopping the herb and waited for the creature to make himself known. After many long moments where neither of us made a move, I decided to initiate this encounter.
"Let us not waste time, you may come in now."
I kept my voice as neutral as possible, polite but firm, without a hint of the fear that was slowly creeping into me. Dark magic was not something I had ever dabbled in, nor did I ever wish to.
"My, my, what a pretty little house you have here Enchantress."
Pausing momentarily in the rhythmic chopping, I debated the merits of turning my head to catch a glimpse of my visitor- deciding against it I continued my work.
"It is a humble home, but it suits my needs. To what do I own this visit?"
In a flurry of motion the man sat across from me, if a man is what you'd call him, he was a sight indeed. Leather clothing of a supple nature demonstrated that he had some vanity to him, his golden skin and wide eyes betrayed his inhuman nature. He was some kind of fey, a dark fey in my home, this could not bode well.
"Oh don't fret so dearie, just popping in for some tea and conversation."
His wide smile displayed an array of crooked teeth, it was a devious smile, and one might even call it impish.
"I am not in the habit of sharing either with fey creatures or changelings for that matter."
A flash of something vicious graced his sharp angled face for a moment, then was covered up quickly by that same smile, only with a touch more of the sinister in it.
"Clever, clever, found me out so quickly. But I wonder how far your knowledge stretches. Do you know why I am here?"
Putting down the knife, there was no use in wasting perfectly good ingredients with improper cutting; I took a moment to gaze at the man before me. It wasn't often that one found a changeling outside of the Glade. They were kept, usually under a nectar induced daze, by their fey owners under lock and key. It was against the Law to release a changeling or to abandon it.
"The only logical observation I can make is that you felt the pull of the bound."
"Oh goodie, goodie, good. A smart master I am to have then?"
"No, because you are here to kill me, are you not?"
"Indeed, dear-heart."
A/N: Short, but this is just to wet the appetite. I am working this story with the theory that Rumpelstilskin is a Changeling child and that once he stabbed the dark one his Imp nature was released. Traditionally Imps are bound to some object, such as a dagger, and are the familiars of Sorcerers.