Limitations Chapter Two
Mr. Gold looked at the many items that were in his shop, but he approached a chest, that was hidden in the right corner of his shop, and opened it. Dusting off a very old book, he smiled down at the book. A History of Balancers graced the front cover. Turning to the first page, he quickly read her stories about the history.
He finished the book after many long nights up and approached her hesitantly. She was in her garden, as per usual, and nodded at him to approach. He put the book down on a bench and opened it up.
"Where is this man Duncan?" he asked quietly. She stopped tending the flowers, wiped her hands on her apron, and looked at him with a forced smile. Her eyebrows furrowed and she considered her answer carefully.
"He is asleep," she answered. He raised an eyebrow and she looked at the old willow, with an old swing attached to it, and glanced back at him. "There was corruption over a thousand years ago. We had a choice. Either we let the world crumble to the depths of darkness or establish an order of balance. The requirements of that order were for one to sleep and the other to balance. When the time comes, the one asleep will awaken and the balancers history will be done."
"Why do you just balance and why isn't Bryndis one as well?" he asked. She smiled and laughed at his question. She motioned for him to follow her into the open fields. She pointed to the huge castle being built into the mountain in front of him, and then at the one being built near a lake.
"These kingdoms are child's play to what there was in the past," Aminali stated firmly. She smiled at the castles. "Bryndis is not included in my work because she could not handle it. She is of too good heart to be considered for any of this work. This work is something a person with a code of ethics that does not mind going against the grain and being an outcast. There is always a choice, even if there is a reason behind the choice that will be led to actions that come to pass. That choice is never ours to tell the people we deal with, but rather suggest what occurs… and for every good act, there must be a bad until the time of balancers has come to an end."
"And when will that day be?" he asked. She smiled enigmatically at him. He blinked and backed a step away at the sight of her smile.
"When an evil queen rises and creates an alternative world," she said and looked directly at him. "Which is what your destiny is. you are to be the one to give the queen the means to do it."
"I will not go against the good!" he cried. She sighed and looked back at the manor with a regretful look. She started walking back to the manor and he did with her, but he noticed she was not as chipper as she was before. When she went to her garden, Aminali looked at him and smiled sadly.
"This type of peace never lasts, Rum, and with the ending comes change," Aminali stated sadly.
Later that night, he cuddled with Bryndis before the open fire. She sighed into his chest and cuddled closer to him.
"Who is Duncan?" he asked her quietly. Bryndis stiffened and raised herself out of his arms. She looked at him seriously and then at the fire. She was silent for many moments.
"The only man that Aminali ever loved," Bryndis said and she closed her eyes. "When we, and the world, were young, we were full of mischief. Especially myself. I would play with the mortals, and their fates, and become involved in something that I should not have. One day, I became involved with someone I thought was mortal. It turned out he was a wizard… he created a curse that inflicted the kingdoms, particularly the ones that Aminali was given to command. He almost succeeded in plunging the world into darkness.
"Aminali and Duncan combined their forces to stop him, but it came at a terrible price. Duncan used all of his energy to create a natural order, a balancing order, and stripped his kingdoms of everything in order to accomplish it. Duncan was dying, but Aminali put a sleeping spell on him and infused a part of her soul within him to save him and allow his energy to be regained.
"I never heard my sister cry as much on that night when she buried him. She abandoned her kingdoms to rule by themselves and did not talk to me for one thousand years. I stripped myself of my own power and influence, except in this kingdom, but Aminali watched events from the side. She became the first and only 'Balancer' for the kingdoms."
Rumpelstiltsken regarded this information heavily and smiled at the love of his life. she smiled in return and cuddled closer to him again.
Mr. Gold looked up as his shop door opened. He grinned at the visitor and clapped his hands together gleefully. "Well it is about time you showed up! She is going to be surprised!"
.
Emma watched Henry cross the street and come into the diner with a huge grin on his face. He came to their usual bench and slid in with his usual gracelessness. She smiled at him and slid the hot chocolate his way. He smiled in happiness and took a sip of the addicting brew.
Ruby approached them with a smile and a huge sigh. She looked at Emma. "I'm telling you, Emma, there was a man in here earlier that would have stopped you in your tracks. Too bad the mayor took him first."
"I'm kind of swearing off men for a while, Ruby," Emma said lightly. She smiled at Henry. "I'm only focused on one right now."
Henry nodded in response and Ruby shook her head disbelievingly. Emma smiled at Henry and he started talking about his day. "You won't believe who came to the classroom! Dr. Whale did! He gave Ms. Blanchard flowers! A whole bunch of them! do you know how much this will cut us back on progress?"
She is going to be the hardest curse to break, Emma thought silently, but nodded to Henry. He shook his head at his revelation. Emma smothered a laugh as he continued to lament about how things weren't going in their favor.
Henry was about fifteen minutes into his tirade when the door opened. Emma put a hand on his wrist and he instantly started talking about his day in class and general things that happened throughout the day. Regina walked over to the table and looked down at them. Regina smiled at Henry then glared at Emma. "It's time to go home, son."
Emma's back stiffened, but she made no move to confront Regina. She shot Henry a discreet wink and he smiled in response. She watched him leave the diner and sighed wearily. Ruby handed her another cup of hot chocolate and she nodded her thanks.
"You know, if you ever do win custody for him, it would be one of the greatest feats I'd ever see," Ruby commented. Emma laughed in response and Ruby left her alone. Emma twirled the cinnamon stick in her hot chocolate until David Nolan slid into the booth across from her. Emma looked up and saw his concerned expression.
"I need a job," he stated firmly. Emma raised an eyebrow at him in response. "I hear that you need a new deputy, especially since we lost Graham."
"I would need to run it past Madame Mayor," Emma stated slowly. David raised an eyebrow and she smiled at him. "How about you do it then? You two are chummy enough."
"Emma," David warned. She raised her eyebrow at him defiantly. "Very well. I'll ask her when we go over to her house next time."
"How are things in the marital department?" Emma asked innocently. David sent her a glare and shrugged. "I heard you two made up very well last weekend. I'm very happy to hear that. And tell your wife, before the mayor does, that I'm not going to steal you away from her because you're not my type."
"That's degrading," he muttered. "Not to mention disgusting." Emma laughed until tears ran down her face. He smiled in response and motioned Ruby to come over.
"Ruby, may I have a hot chocolate with a stick of cinnamon?" he asked kindly. Emma shook her head as all Ruby did was nod. He turned back to her and smirked. "Had to make sure everything was right in the world."
"You disgust me," Emma told him truthfully. He smiled in response. She shook her head and looked at the clock. "Shit. It's five. I gotta go. See you soon."
She shot out of the diner before she could pay for her check. David sighed and smiled at Ruby. "I'll pick up her bill this time."
.
He stood in the doorway when he heard them talking in quiet tones. He knew it was something bad because Aminali was speaking in a hushed tone.
"How long?" Bryndis asked calmly. He heard Aminali mutter something under her breath and she took a moment of silence.
"Fifty years maximum," Aminali stated. He heard her rustling papers on her desk and heard her sit down. He heard Bryndis take the seat across from the desk. "I don't know what it is that is doing this, Bryndis. Honestly, I haven't been able to figure it out."
"Do you have any idea of what to do?" Bryndis asked her with an edge to her voice. Aminali did not say anything for a long time and Rumpelstiltsken strained to hear a word of the conversation.
"I could put you into a coma, just like we did with Duncan, but for you have it be self-healing. It is a risky procedure, though," Aminali finally said. Rumpelstiltsken paused when he heard the door open. "But I need everyone's agreement on this subject. Would you like to give an opinion, Rum?"
"What is wrong with Bryndis?" he asked as he came into the room. Bryndis got up and greeted him with a light kiss while Aminali stayed at her desk and crossed her arms in her chair. He looked at both of them expectantly.
"I appear to be degenerating," Bryndis said lightly. Rumpelstiltsken's gaze flew to Aminali, who only nodded solemnly.
"I can't find what's wrong with her," Aminali said. Rumpelstiltsken approached her desk and put both hands on her desk.
"You were the one who created magic," he growled. She nodded in sadness and looked at him. "How are we supposed to solve this?"
"I don't know how," she said solemnly. She looked at him and smiled. He blinked and she went to her long maps. Motioning for them both to come over, Bryndis and Rumpelstiltsken cautiously approached the table. "This area to the south is where Bryndis used to rule. This area has come under the influence of evil more recently. It might have something to do with her condition."
"What are you talking about, Aminali?" Bryndis asked quietly. Aminali frowned and looked toward her bookshelf. She flicked her wrist toward her and a book came flying toward her. She flicked her finger and the book opened to a page written in an ancient language. Aminali skimmed down the page and grinned at the results she found.
"Even after a guardian gets rid of their status as a guardian, they are connected with their land," Aminali said. She looked at Bryndis. "You are good of heart and because the area is in the throws of evil right now, you are getting effected. So, there is a solution to all of this."
"And what is that?" Bryndis asked skeptically. Aminali smiled and looked down at the map again. Bryndis raised an eyebrow.
"There are four areas that are under our rule. One for the north, one for the south, one the east and the other the west," Aminali said. "I reign the one to the east, Duncan the one to the east, where he rests in the cave guarded by the dragon, and one to the North belongs to the fourth immortal."
"Who is that?" Rumpelstiltsken asked. Aminali smiled at him. "No, I'm not immortal. I have only lived here… one hundred years..." His face went blank as he realized how much time had truly passed.
"For one year here, five pass within the mortal realm," Aminali stated. She smiled at him as realization dawned on him. "We need to enact our plan, Bryndis."
"I guess we need to," Bryndis said and smiled sadly at Rumpelstiltsken. "We need to teach him the basics of the curse, then."
"That is your department," Aminali stated. "I only know the counter spell and will start working on it. Rum, this is where we all part. Bryndis will give you an exchange of thought, which means that you will be able to mentally speak with her even if she is in a coma. You will need to borrow certain abilities of hers as well."
"Thank the gods," Bryndis said. "How much?"
"All of it," Aminali stated and left the room. They heard her run up the stairs and Bryndis smiled at Rumpelstiltsken.
"My gifts will only enhance your own and make them come to term with themselves," Bryndis said. "With the foresight, you will know what choices to make, but please realize that the people you will make deals possess choice. They can choose to deny your deal with them, and you cannot disrespect their choice."
"What do you mean about deals?" he asked. She smiled and put both of her hands on the sides of his head. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"You will find out soon," Bryndis stated. He gasped as he felt her mind within his own. He felt the energy going from her to him and the memories and knowledge along with that energy. He saw an image of a tall man with black hair and silver eyes, smiling down at Aminali, and she smiling at him. He saw a kingdom deep within the mountains that possessed a castle built into one of the mountains. He saw a deep lake in the east, and forests in the west. He saw icy terrain of the north and saw the different peoples of the nations, all possessing different appearances, and many mystical races that were once extinct when he walked within the mortal realm.
"What is all of this?" he asked with a general curiosity. She smiled at him when the exchange was complete. "There were races I never thought existed."
"They are all in hiding," Aminali's voice echoed from the hallway. They both walked out and found her changed into trousers, boots, a tunic and she had a traveling pack on her. Bryndis smiled at her sadly. Aminali nodded in response. "Which bedroom would you like to sleep in?"
"Mine, of course," Bryndis said and marched down the hallway into her room. Aminali smiled and shook her head. Rumpelstiltsken followed solemnly and watched Bryndis get into the bed without a protest. He came up to her and held her hand tightly within his. she smiled in response and squeezed back. "Do not worry, love, we will see each other soon enough."
Aminali took his place and touched Bryndis' forehead. Bryndis let a tear fall down her cheek and Aminali shook her head. "It was never your fault, dear one. It was never your fault at all. sleep well."
Touching Bryndis' forehead, she muttered a couple of words and Bryndis' eyelids fluttered closed. Aminali took a moment to gaze down at her sister and nodded in satisfaction. She motioned for Rumpelstiltsken to follow, and even though he did so reluctantly, they left the room and the manor.
Outside by the main gate, Aminali touched the large gate. "Guard and sleep, my old friend. Let the mortal world forget you and become one with the environment around you. I will come back one day, my old friend."
"Will we ever see her again?" Rumpelstiltsken said sadly. Aminali smiled at him and looked at the world around them. He saw a long road and looked at Aminali silently. Aminali smiled at the road ahead of them and rubbed her hands together.
"Yes, we will," Aminali stated firmly. She looked back at the manor and gave a small sad smile. "You will need to prepare for things to go into the consequential events while I find a way to get a counter curse. There is always a way to battle at something, except the final battle for the light.
"You will find that there are events that you will not be able to get your conscious around, but they will have to be done. We cannot afford any mistakes, and if by chance you slip into the darker side of the heart, then you can be assured that I will rescue you in the end.
"Remember, Rum, there is always a reason for things to happen. I know you do not believe in that now, but you will soon."
He did not doubt that he would always be on the side of the light. But, as Aminali predicted, he would be tempted by the power and become a creature his self then would not approve of the self he transformed into. His love was forgotten after two hundred years, but the work he did, that was both good and evil, was one that helped Aminali continue her plan.
Emma hurried along to the apartment. She opened the door and called out to Mary Margaret. Not hearing an answer, she looked around the apartment and found Mary Margaret's shoes in their normal place. Frowning, Emma put her things on the counter and made her way to Mary Margaret's room. She went into the room without knocking.
"Oh my god! I am so sorry!" she cried out when she saw something she never thought she would see. She raced out of the room before either of the two people in the room could move. Gasping, and almost laughing, she braced herself on the counter. She looked at the room and shook her head in dismay. The curse will be very hard to break, especially after that image.
Mary Margaret came out two minutes later with a robe on and a chastising look at Emma. Emma looked down at the countertop and Mary Margaret crossed her arms. "What made you come into my room?"
"I saw your shoes in your normal spot, but I didn't see anyone else's shoes," Emma explained. She shrugged. "I thought we had a dinner date tonight."
"Well, unfortunately, nothing like that has occurred yet," Dr. Whale said from the bedroom. Emma looked down at the counter again guiltily and blushed slightly. Mary Margaret laughed at the picture the cynical woman was making of herself at that moment.
"Can we take a rain check?" Emma abruptly asked. She looked at Mary Margaret and shook her head. "I think I'm going to go eat at the station. I'll be back by ten." She nodded to the both of them and scurried out the door before either of them could say a word.
She rushed down the street and went into the station. She went to her desk and sat down with a thud. She breathed out a long sigh and gave a silent word of thanks that what she witnessed hadn't been that bad. She fiddled with the objects on her desk as she considered what would happen in different circumstances. A thought made her freeze.
I just walked in on my mother. She shuddered for a solid five minutes.
A/N: Chapter Two is done! Thanks to everyone who put this story on their alert list. I cannot thank you enough.
KayleeThePete: Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad you liked the backstory that I created for the story and hope that this one turned out good too.
Until Next Time!