Chapter Two
"Who was that?" Belle asked, setting down a bucket and a rag so she could wipe down the table.
"That dearie, was Felix, known to most as the Pied Piper," Rumpel informed her as he walked back to the wheel.
"Why does he have rats all over him?" she asked wearily. Rumpel stopped for a moment, both of them listening to silence as the wheel ceased turning. He stared up in the air, thinking of an answer.
"For the same reason I spin this very wheel, my dear," he finally said. There was another silent moment, for Belle wasn't sure if she should say anything or if he was to fill in her confusion. He looked back to see her still standing there.
"It's what he does."
"Ah," Belle continued her work for that afternoon.
Rumpel became exceedingly nervous when the time came. He straightened his crocodile-skinned jacket in the glass before heading out. Belle caught sight of him.
"Going out?" she asked, a tray of teapots in her hands.
"Yes, I'll be back later tonight. Sorry, Dearie," he said, using magic to carry her into her room. She sighed, giving him a look.
"You know I would have just followed you!"
Rumpelstiltskin shut the door, feeling a little bad about having to lock her up all the time. Still, he could never be too careful.
Bae was even more nervous than a mouse in a lion's paw. Afraid to see what had become of his father since they last saw each other. He'd taken a trip, so to say, to the city, where he found a draft for the army against the ogre wars. However, he was usually on the run, just wandering lately, trying to figure things our before he went back to his father.
The last thing he'd said to his father that day was "All you care about is the power. It's never been me!" and he somewhat regretted those words. Baelfire hated arguing with his father as often as they had been. He'd been wandering for a long time, a few months perhaps, maybe more. Time wasn't important to him lately.
My father would never hurt me, Bae thought, and he knew that to be true, no matter what happened between them. He was a man to be feared, Bae couldn't deny that, but being the son of the Dark One he was probably the most valued kid in that little village back there. Thankfully, he'd been wandering, hearing a few things about his father here and there.
The last he'd heard, Rumpelstiltskin had built himself a castle, but he wasn't sure if he'd actually used it or moved into it. When he got word from the Pied Piper that his father confirmed the date they were to meet, Bae walked to the town the Piper gave him directions to.
When he reached the North side, past the runaway chickens, the laughing children that reminded him of himself once upon a time, and the bustling of the city life, he saw it in the distance. Far into the woods stood a castle tall and proud. It's figure dsitracted him for a moment from the reality he had to face.
Then, Baelfire had this eerie sense that someone was watching him. Slowly, he reached for the knife at his side. Abruptly, he turned a full semi-circle, pointing the knife directly at...
Rumpelstiltskin.
Rumpel held his hands up, staring at Baelfire with an expression filled with fascination and analysis. Bae stared back, almost in disbelief at the sight of his father.
"Papa?" he asked, hoping this was just an illusion. However, that hope was diminished as a delicate flame splashed with water.
"Bae," Rumpelstiltskin spoke slowly. "You've grown."
Baelfire retracted the knife.
"Sorry about that. I didn't know it was you...You've changed." Rumpel looked at his attire, remembering how long it really had been.
"Only slightly," he replied. "What have you been doing these days? I've been lookin' for you."
"Here and there," Bae replied. "Thinking mostly."
"So I see."
"Heh, it's funny really," Bae said with a smile as his father gazed at him, confound. "I used to write small letters about what I would do if I ever saw you again. I even intended to mail one of them out, but I never did."
Rumpelstiltskin remained silent, walking closer as Bae found a tree stump to sit on.
"Well, I did move," he said finally.
"Oh I knew how to find you...at least, people who know you. I was afraid I suppose."
"My son? Afraid?" Rumpel sat next to him on the large tree stump.
"I was worried that with how everything went last time...perhaps I should just stay away."
"Then you met the Pied Piper I see," Rumpel remarked. "How did he change your mind?"
"He didn't. I changed my own mind, though his words were convincing. I wanted to see you, Papa, because I didn't want to leave things like last time."
"Baelfire..." Rumpelstiltskin put a hand on his son's shoulder. "I am sorry for what I did. You either believe me or you don't, but...I am. If I knew the price, I may have thought otherwise."
"Papa, please," Bae stood up and helped his father up as well. "Let us not discuss these things now." They stared again, as if some force didn't want them to look away. There was still an attraction, a bond between family. It was not completely destroyed, and Bae saw it. Right there.
He embraced his father, which sent a new reaction through Rumpelstiltskin. Rather, a familiar reaction: a sensation of belonging. In return, Rumpel pulled Bae closer.
"I came to say I forgive you," Baelfire said right into Rumpel's ear. "You just did what you thought was right." When he faced his father again, he saw his face alter. Bae was always like this: the bigger man. He stepped up at times Rumpelstiltskin never could.
"You...you forgive me?" he asked his son.
"Yes. Yes, Father, I do," Bae replied. "I'm ready to come home. Can we go home now?"
"H-home?" Rumpelstiltskin faltered over that word only. "Actually, I have not been back to our home since a month after you disappeared without a word. But, I do have a place to take you..."
Bae knew he wasn't going to like this based on his father's hesitation.
"Walk with me."
They talked for a while as they made their way through the forest, refraining from topics like living and the weather. Instead, politics came up more than anything. Bae mentioned a girl he met on the road, thinking he may one day go back and see her. It was then Rumpelstiltskin mentioned his new caretaker, though he didn't tell Bae all the details, knowing it was something he wouldn't like to hear through and through.
"How-You really live here?" Bae gasped, his brown eyes wide, and his jaw nearly dropped to touch the tie on his stained light brown cloak.
Rumpel put his head down, somewhat ashamed.
"Yes," he told his son simply, and they proceeded to walk inside after Rumpel unlatched the locks. They walked right into the dinning room where Bae stared with awe at all the different things they lay out on the tables surrounding the room.
Vast, brown and red tinted curtains draped down over the windows, letting not a single droplet of light into the room. Only the crystal chandelier above lit by bunches of candles filled the room as well as a fireplace and candles in the midst of the long-length table. The carpet was also red, and Bae felt guilty he was dragging mud in the house. He took off his boots and set them near the fireplace, for they were a little wet and uncomfortable on his feet.
He eyed a sword on one of the tables, but something else caught his mind.
"You still have this?" he asked, seemingly fascinated and astounded that his father would keep such a thing. Bae was referring to the walking stick his father used what seemed like years ago when he had a limp on his right leg. It was leaning against the wall, and Bae had walked over to it. Now, Bae noticed that he didn't need it at all since becoming the Dark One.
"I kept it as a reminder of sorts," Rumpelstiltskin replied. "I have an extra room upstairs if you'd like to make yourself comfortable." He sat down at the wheel for a moment while Bae looked around the room some more. It wasn't until after a few more moments that he actually set eyes on his father again.
"You spin thread into gold?" Bae said, admiring the vast wheel at the same time.
"Yes. Thread, straw, anything that works along the wheel. Here," his father said, taking three pieces of golden thread and handing it to Bae.
"Papa, I don't know what to say..."
"Forgiveness was plenty enough." Bae took the strands, awing at their glisten in the firelight. "I'll let you come and go as you please, but if you find yourself in any kind of trouble, I want you to come to me. But only you, I'm not some kind of all-powering fairy who takes the wishes of everyone! Anyone else, warn them all magic comes-"
"Thank you, Papa!" Bae gave Rumpel another hug, not wanting to hear the slogan again. He didn't have to worry about his father as much he did. His magic was still being used for some good. His father made himself wealthy and perhaps overdid it a bit, but there was still a kindness inside of him.
That's what mattered to Baelfire.
