Swanheart ~
A wintry eve
Once upon a tale
An Ugly Duckling
Lost in a verse
Of a sparrow's carol
Dreaming the stars
Be my heart a well of love
Flowing free so far above…
Nightwish – Swanheart
It's gonna be okay Swan, it's gonna be okay, Emma reassured herself.
This is a mistake, Baelfire Gold thought ruefully when he dismounted his horse and approached his father and their new 'guest'. She was a pretty girl with long golden blond hair and blue eyes yet that fair façade housed a heart of stone. One had to be made of stone to run with the likes of Killian Jones and his crew.
He immediately thought of Gideon, another young thief his father had taken in, believing the boy's lies that he wanted to change his life and pursue a career in law as Rumple had. Oh, Gid had been a clever one, latching onto all of them like a parasite, feeding on their love and devotion to him while he plotted his greatest robbery, attempting to swindle Rumple out of his fortune and relieve the merchants he'd been travelling with of their monies. One of his companions had been killed in the ambush and a note forged by Gideon with Rumple's name on it had been discovered by the bank president. The entire family had been heartbroken to discover such a monster in their midst but none more so than Bae. That day he lost the brother he'd longed to have and a short time later Gideon lost his life on the gallows.
If you're determined to go to hell in a handbasket that's your choice but you're not dragging my family down with you.
"Bae, I'd like you to meet Emma Swan. Emma, this is my son, Baelfire."
Emma held out a trembling hand to the boy. "Hello, Bae."
"Hello," he greeted coldly, shaking her hand briefly and releasing it as if it were contaminated. He was tall and slender, though his arms and shoulders were well defined, his hair was thick and dark, curling over his ears. He was tanned from being outdoors, wearing a sleeveless tunic, leather vest, and black breeches tucked into serviceable riding boots, and his eyes were a deep chocolate brown, the kind that made girls swoon. But they fixed her with a cold gaze.
"Hi!" she heard the little girl say cheerfully. "I'm Aurelia!"
Emma kneeled down and shook her hand. "I'm Emma."
"Are you a swan princess or something? My papa likes to tell me stories about this pretty girl who thinks she's an ugly duckling but she grows up to be a swan princess." The girl's blue eyes sparkled. Aurelia had soft light brown hair that she wore in a braid down her back, wound with colorful ribbons of green and pink. Her matching dress was a soft spring green skirt with a bodice of pink printed roses accented with more ribbons. It was simple, yet stylish, and Emma felt her heat leap with envy. She would have given her eyeteeth for such a dress when she was ten. Aurelia wore matching green kidskin shoes with rose buckles.
"Doubtful!" Bae muttered under his breath thinking no one heard him but Emma had, his comment stinging.
"No, no…I'm not a princess…or a swan….I'm just a girl."
"Yeah but you can be a swan princess, right Papa?"
Rumple beamed. "A girl can be anything she wants to, dearie."
"Emma, welcome to our home," Belle shook her hand. "We're happy that you'll be spending Yuletide with us. Come, let's get you settled in."
Emma followed, thinking that Belle Gold was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Her dark hair was pinned up on her head, the same color as her son's, and like her daughter possessed brilliant deep blue eyes. She wore a lovely rose colored gown with a magenta cloak over it, for the wind was nippy that day. The wind brought roses to her cheeks, but Belle didn't seem to mind, beckoning her guest gaily through the courtyard and through the door held open by Ian Cogsworth, their butler.
To Emma the interior of the manor felt more like a palace and she couldn't help staring at the beautiful décor. Bae's eyes never left her for a moment, in his mind she was already selecting the items she planned to steal.
"Aurelia, would you be a sweetie and show Emma to the guest room please?" Belle asked her daughter.
"Sure, Mama. C'mon, Emma!" Aurelia grabbed the older girl's arm, practically dragging her up the stairs in her excitement. "You're gonna stay in the room right beside mine!"
"I am?"
"Uh-huh." She opened the door and stood back, smiling. "Isn't it pretty?"
"Yes….yes it is…" she whispered.
The guest room had a feather bed with a soft blue, red, and green quilt, plump pillows, a mahogany vanity, hooks to hang cloaks and a fancy armoire. There was even a china pitcher and basin with towels to wash up, along with a cake of sweet smelling lemon-verbena soap. There were lace curtains at the window, which overlooked the pasture and stables.
She glanced into the other girl's bedroom, feeling slightly jealous. Here was a child that had everything she could possibly want, a beautiful home with a beautiful room, parents, and a brother that loved her. The unfairness of it all made the bile rise in her throat.
Stop it, Emma! It's not her fault!
She'll never know what it's like to live the way I did. Spoiled little princess.
STOP IT!
"Are you all right, Emma?"
"What? Oh..yes…yes I'm fine!" she said quickly.
Rumple, Belle, and Bae adjourned to the library.
"Papa, you oughta take that girl back to town right now!" Bae announced once he closed the door behind them.
"Why?"
"You oughta know why without my having to remind you!"
"Bae, please. Trust your father," Belle pleaded.
"I trust him, it's HER that I don't!"
"I'm sorry, Bae, but she stays," Rumple said firmly.
"It's a mistake!" Bae insisted.
"It's my decision. I am still head of this household, Baelfire Gold, and you will obey me until the day you become a man. Do I make myself clear?"
"Won't have to if you're going senile!" Bae muttered.
"What was that I just heard?" Belle glared at her son. "If you continue to be disrespectful you're going to find yourself with a long list of chores to do, young man, including mucking out the stables and weeding the gardens."
He made a face.
"And," his father added, "you are not too old for me to turn you over my knee and spend the rest of the day with a sore backside."
Bae gave in then, knowing full well neither of his parents made idle threats. "I'm sorry, Papa."
"That's better."
You've won this round, Papa, but that girl's not gonna pull the wool over my eyes. I'm gonna be watching.
Emma and Aurelia were waiting for them in the hallway when they emerged from the library.
"Emma, may I speak to you in here?" Rumple said gesturing to the open door. She nodded and followed him inside. He stood in front of his desk, leaning on his cane. "Now then dearie, put all thoughts of trying to make a quick escape out of your head." Her mouth dropped open. "There's no sense in denying it. You would be found and apprehended if you tried…and it would not earn you a sympathetic ear with the court. Do not squander this second chance you're being given."
She lowered her head. "Mr. Gold….I'm afraid…and that's not really easy for me to say…"
"Nor is it for anyone but we all have our fears and our faults. How we conquer them is what makes us who we are." He held out his hand. "Now, if you give me your word that you won't escape you have to honor it. No one breaks deals with me."
"I won't break our deal," she vowed and shook it.
Belle opened the door. "Rumple, dinner will be ready in an hour but Emma, you'll need a bath first and I'll give you some of my clothes to wear for the time being."
"Now why didn't I think of that?" Rumple asked sheepishly.
"That's why you have me around to remind you of these things, darling," Belle said sweetly.
"A…a bath!?" Emma's eyes widened with horror.
"Yes…Emma, what's wrong?"
"But..but…it's winter! You're not supposed to bathe in the winter. You'll get sick…and die!"
Aurelia giggled. "That's not gonna work with Mama. Bae's already tried to use that a few times, huh Bae?"
"Yeah," he grumbled. "Didn't work for me either."
"And you don't wanna spread lice, do you?"
"Aurelia! Now go get ready for dinner. Shoo!"
"Sorry, Mama."
"Go on. You too, Bae!"
"Yes, Mama." She scurried off, her brother at her heels.
Belle shook her head. "Now Emma, regardless of how inappropriate my daughter's statement was, you will need to bathe before dinner and I would rather have your cooperation than needing to summon Mrs. Potts as I've had to do with my son on a few occasions and have you held down while we washed you."
"Y…You'd do that?"
"I'm sorry but yes," Belle confessed sadly. "Cleanliness is a serious issue in this house as filth spreads disease."
"All right, Mrs. Gold….I'll take a bath…"
"Wonderful. I'll put some of my clothes in your room for you."
If those old tales rang true she wouldn't need to think about escaping. She'd be dead soon enough from the dreaded bath.
She learned quickly that rich folks tended to turn everything into a ritual, including a bath. She was taken to a room at the end of the hall that contained a large porcelain tub she was made to sit in while an elderly woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Potts poured large buckets of warm water in and Belle added a few drops of crimson liquid from a bottle she took out of one of the cabinets, the aroma of freshly cut roses lingering in the air. Even the bar of soap she used carried the scent.
This isn't taking a quick dip in the river, she thought.
Belle exchanged glances with Mrs. Potts, then took a container of a rather strong smelling herbal essence and said to Emma, "I need you to close your eyes, Emma, while I wash your hair with this herbal essence. It will . . . err . . .clean your hair of any pests you happened to pick up in that jail cell," she informed her charge.
"Aye, and that way we won't haveta shave ye bald, right, Mistress?" Mrs. Potts said with a wink.
"Shave!" Emma screeched. "But...but I'll be...bald!"
She'd been threatened it with a few times over the years by the unpleasant sister, saying her hair was an unruly mare's nest of tangles because she refused to brush it.
Emma nearly jumped out of the tub. "No!" she yelped. "Nobody's gonna make me bald!"
"Mrs. Potts was jesting, dear," Belle soothed. "Now relax, lean your head back, and think of something pleasant and this will be over soon."
Emma did as she was told, and as Belle's hands massaged her scalp, she thought dreamily of living like this everyday, in a big house, with servants, and the hands massaging her hair were large and masculine . . .
Curiously, they did not bear the rings that Killian did on his good hand, but they were strong and lean and callused. They were the hands of . . . of the boy she had so recently met. Baelfire.
Horrified at the turn her fancy had taken, envisioning her attorney's son in such an intimate position, especially when she had gotten the distinct impression that he didn't like her, Emma opened her eyes. "There now, dearie, ye're all done," Mrs. Potts said cheerily as she poured the last ewer full of water over Emma's head.
As the water cascaded over her, Emma shivered and thought, You have no idea how right you are. I'd be done staying here if you or Missus Belle ever knew what I'd been dreaming about! You'd throw me right out on my ear for having designs on the master's heir!
To her astonishment, Belle called in a younger maid, Melinda, to assist and Emma found herself the recipient of a manicure and pedicure and Melinda rubbed sweet scented cream that smelled of roses all over her, while Mrs. Potts toweled her hair dry and combed it.
"We'll launder your old clothes, Emma, but in the meantime you can wear one of my day dresses," Belle said, and Melinda held up a watered green silk and velvet gown, with long tapered sleeves and a high waist and skirts that swished to her ankles. It was the most gorgeous gown Emma had ever seen. "For ME?" she squeaked.
"Yes. You are a guest here, and we want you to look presentable," Belle said calmly, thinking, Rumple, you sly old fox! I know perfectly well what you're up to! You want to turn this ugly duckling into a swan for real! And I'm going to do my best to help you. This time . . . this time we won't fail, she thought determinedly.
She thought of Gideon, the boy she'd grown to love as a second son, wishing that they'd been able to do more to save him but he'd chosen his own fate.
Accompanying the dress was a chemise, stockings, a light corset, and matching emerald slippers with pretty golden bows. Emma found herself dressed before she could blink as the efficient Melinda accomplished this task as she did every other one, with gentle firmness. Then she had a section of her hair braided, tied with a silk ribbon and looped around her forehead. "There! Mrs. Potts, what do you think?" Belle asked her old nurse, who was now her head housekeeper.
"Well, she cleans up nice, there's no mistaking that," Mrs Potts giggled. "Rumple will be needing his cane to beat the boys off her."
"And he would too! I'm already dreading the response when they come to court our Aurelia."
Rumple and the children were already seated at the table when Belle and Emma entered the dining room. Aurelia smiled at the older girl. "See, Papa! She looks just like the swan princess from your stories!"
"She does indeed," he murmured, nodding at his wife.
"You can sit beside me, Emma," Aurelia offered. The young woman slid into her seat, glancing down at the utensils on the table, more of them than she'd ever seen in her lifetime. What were they for? She was terrified to ask, not wanting to look like more of a fool than she already did.
"What's wrong?"
"Ummm…ummm…why do you have so many umm….forks….?"
"We use them for different things…here, I'll show you."
After their meal was served, Aurelia picked up each piece of silverware, patiently explaining to the older girl when it was used. Across the table Bae rolled his eyes, surprised that the little thief even knew how to use a fork. He felt his father kick his foot and glanced over to see the look both children dreaded, one that ensured a sore backside for the rest of the evening unless they did as they were told.
Emma lifted one of the smaller forks to her lips, a piece of tomato sliding off and falling into the napkin on her lap. She snatched it up and ate it as her hosts gaped at her.
"Ummm, Emma, you ummm, you can't do that." Aurelia chided gently.
"Why not?"
"Umm, well it's ahh…" The child struggled for the right word. "Mama?"
"It can have dirt on it once it falls off the plate," Belle supplied.
"Oh…sorry." She set her fork down and picked up the spoon to eat her soup, her hand shaking.
Slurrrp.
Bae chuckled behind his hand earning himself another fierce kick under the table. Emma dropped her spoon, splashing soup onto the table.
"I can't do this! I can't! I can't be all fancy like you!" she cried and ran from the dining room.
"I'll go to her," Belle said softly.
"Papa, is Emma gonna be okay?" Aurelia asked worriedly.
"Your mama will talk to her."
Emma jumped onto her bed, glaring up at the ceiling. "They're all right. I'm no lady, I'm never gonna BE a lady so why bother to try? I should just get the hell outta here and go find Killian!"
"That would be a mistake," Belle said from the doorway. "There's more to being a lady than deciding what fork to use at the dinner table." She sat down on the edge of the bed. "But you don't have to just be a lady."
"You sound like your husband."
"That's because we think alike. And I understand how hard it is to want a better life but having to struggle to find it."
Emma eyed her suspiciously. "You didn't have it that bad."
"Maybe not but I don't like to see anyone struggle, especially someone as young as you and it could just as easily have been me living your life and I would want someone to care enough to want to help me when I was unable to do it myself."
"Not many people out there like that, Mrs. Gold. They'd sooner spit on ya than help ya."
"Not in this house."
Emma had her doubts, not about Mrs. Gold, her husband, or Aurelia. Their son however, was another matter but she really couldn't blame him. She wouldn't trust him either were their roles reversed.
"Before I met Mr. Gold, my father wanted me to marry a man named Gaston. He too was a nobleman and my father thought he would be able to give me all the fine things I could ever want in life. He could certainly do that but all the material possessions in the world would not have made me happy and do you know why?"
"No."
"I didn't love him. We had nothing in common and he made me feel like I was just another material possession rather than a woman. Or let a man tell you that you owe him when he does you a favor, to make you beholden to him, and do what he wishes. Never let any man make you feel this way!"
"I don't…"
"A real gentleman takes the time to understand a lady, learns her interests, respects her opinions and her ideas even when he doesn't agree with them. That is the kind of man my husband is."
And can you honestly say Killian is one of those?
It was a question she was afraid to answer.
"There is so much I intend to teach you this Yuletide, Emma, and when we're finished you will never again think of yourself as the Ugly Duckling. You will become the swan."
Page~*~*~*~Break
"…I am very disappointed in you, Baelfire Gold. Do you not remember when you were a young lad having to learn your place settings and your manners, which you seem to have forgotten this evening?" Rumple frowned at his son.
"I…"
"Your mother and I taught you better than to be insensitive to a guest."
"Yeah!" Aurelia piped up, shaking her finger at him. "You better behave or you're not getting dessert!"
"Honestly Your Honor, you drive me insane!" Bae exclaimed, eyeing his sister.
She smirked. "That's what little sisters are for."
He groaned. "Lucky me."
"Enough. When Emma comes back into this dining room you will treat her with respect or not only will you go to bed without dessert, you'll also be paying a visit to the stables in the morning."
"Yes, Papa."
Page~*~*~*~Break
There was a tense silence in the bedroom as Emma gave Belle's words some thought. She wanted respect and knew from experience that it was only given when it was earned and by golly she would earn it. She stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt and smiled.
"I'm ready to go back downstairs now."
"Wonderful!"
Mr. Gold, Mrs. Gold, and Aurelia respect me but come hell or high water, I'm gonna make HIM respect me!
Her nemesis sat in his chair, his eyes on his plate.
"Emma, my son has something to say to you," Rumple announced.
"Ummm, I'm sorry for being so rude," he mumbled.
"It's okay." She laughed nervously. "It's just gonna take me a long time to get used to all this."
"Uh-huh. I used to use the wrong stuff all the time and dropped things all over my clothes," Aurelia told her. "And one day I said a bad word I heard in town while my grandpa's friend was here for dinner."
Kid, the words I've heard around this town would make you blush.
She made it through dinner without any more embarrassing incidents or cutting remarks from her nemesis yet she could still feel the resentment he bore her, making her more determined to earn his respect.
"Mama, we should give Emma a Yule present!" Aurelia said to her parents that night after they tucked her in.
"That's a wonderful idea, dearie. Now why didn't I think of that?"
She giggled. "That's why you have us around, Papa…to remind you!"
"And I think I know just what to give her!" Belle exclaimed. "I saw it in Mr. Hopper's shop yesterday afternoon thinking I would buy it for Aurelia but it would be perfect for Emma!"
"It's the swan, isn't it Mama?"
"Yes it is, sweetheart. Oh, I hope they didn't sell it!"
"What is it?" Rumple inquired curiously.
"It's a beautiful silver necklace with a diamond pendant in the shape of a swan with a sapphire eye and a citrine beak. Also there is a place on the back of the pendant where it can be engraved. I think Geppetto can do that for us."
Rumple nodded his head in approval. "Go there tomorrow and see if they have it. If they do, ask if they can engrave it and have it ready by Yuletide. I know it's a bit of a rush but…."
"Oh I don't think they'll mind. What do you want on it?"
He smiled. "I leave that up to you."
Bae was in his room, which despite its fine furniture, was as shipshape as any military barracks. He was sprawled on his sitting room couch, reading through a tactical manual, and one of the battles detailed therein was the one his papa had fought in.
He felt a sudden flush crawl up his cheekbones as he recalled his papa scolding him. He hadn't earned himself a reprimand like that since he had put the rebellious wild days of his boyhood behind him at fourteen. Resentment coiled in his belly, for he hated making his father upset, especially now, when he was trying so hard to prepare for the entrance into the Royal Academy next fall as a cadet. He adored Rumple, and disliked being at odds with him, but the matter of Emma Swan gnawed at him.
He continued reading, determined to put all thoughts of his unwanted houseguest from his mind, when there was a tap on his door, and then his mother entered. "Bae, I just wanted to say good night."
He looked up and smiled at her. "I'm almost done with this chapter, Mama."
"Go to sleep after, son," she ordered, brushing his wayward hair back from his forehead.
"I will, Mama," he agreed, accepting her kiss on his cheek. "Sweet dreams."
"Scamp!" she mock-scolded, tweaking his nose. "Bae, don't worry. it will all work out."
Like it did with Gideon? he bit back the sharp words that rose to his lips, instead turning back to his book.
"Good night, Bae," Belle murmured, then departed, leaving him to his reading.
Soon after, Rumple came in to bid his son goodnight too. "What are you reading, son?" he asked curiously.
Bae showed him.
"Ah, I remember this. I had to study this from cover to cover back when I attended the Academy," Rumple recalled.
"This edition's new," his son informed him, sliding over so Rumple could sit down on the couch. "See? It has the Battle of Tyree's Ridge in it." That was the battle which had cost Rumple his leg.
Rumple studied the account, and as he did so, Bae muttered, "I'm sorry I behaved like an idiot today at dinner, sir. I'd have earned myself extra drill duty at the Academy for it."
"Aye, you would've," agreed his father. "And perhaps a few licks with the Commandant's stick."
Bae sighed. "I'm lucky my commander is so merciful," he acknowledged.
"You're lucky, boy, that this commanding officer knows you often get better results from talking with a cadet rather than beating them," Rumple informed him. "Bae, I want you to try and do a rather difficult thing. I want you to give Miss Swan the benefit of the doubt."
"Papa, she's another thief just like-" Bae began.
Rumple held up a hand. "Hear me out, Baelfire. I know what you're going to say. But you can't prejudge a situation or a person by what has occurred in the past. Just like I can't presume to know the outcome of a case before I hear all the evidence and the facts, no matter if I've tried a dozen similar ones before that. If you become an officer, like you wish, you're going to need to deal with people of all kinds of backgrounds. Not everyone who joins the army is from a decent family, son. Plenty of recruits come from the prisons and the dregs of society, and you're going to need to learn how to treat them all fairly. It's vital for an officer to do so. Some of the best men I served with started out as conscripts for thievery and graft or breaking the terms of their indenture. Now, I want you to consider that. I know I made a mistake six years ago. But not this time."
"How do you know, Papa?"
"Because I learned from last time," he replied, while inwardly his conscience whispered, have you, Rumplestiltskin? Have you? "Trust me, Bae. Not everyone is of a piece. And I think Miss Swan may well surprise you."
"I hope you're right, Papa."
"Good night, son," Rumple rose. "Don't forget to blow out the lamp."
"I won't, sir. Night." Bae watched his father limp from the room, resolving to temper his natural suspicion. I hope you're right, Papa. I really really do. Then he shut his book and blew out the lamp seeking solace from his worries in slumber.
A/N: so how did you all like Emma's first meeting with the Golds? Will Bae be able to learn to view Emma differently? Find out next chapter! Thanks for reading and please review if you'd be so kind, or at least favorite this story.
