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Chapter 3:

Something more

Days like this made my stomach turn, I really didn't like being sick. I hated being stuck in bed and not being able to accomplish my projects for the day. I rarely got sick but when I did, it seemed to hit like me like a blizzard hits the mountains: strong and persistent. Rumpelstiltskin had been gone since the night before, and I was actually kind of glad he couldn't see me like this.

I looked around the cottage trying to decide if there's was something I could do without putting too much strain on my sickly body. I remembered a couple of days ago Rumpelstiltskin had asked me to mend some of his clothes. I quickly pulled out my needle and thread, grabbed the clothes in need of mending and got to work.

After working on the clothes for a few hours I decided I needed to get up and get something to eat. I knew I wouldn't get better if I didn't eat anything, I grabbed a few pieces of bread I had made a few days earlier. I poured some silky cool water into a cup and walked over to the table. I set down my food and drink on the table and remembered there was some cheese in one of the cupboards.

I started to make my way back across the kitchen floor when I started to feel light headed. I went to reach for the counter but couldn't find it. My head was getting dizzy and I felt myself fall onto the floor, soon I could see nothing but darkness.

….

I felt my eyes slowly open as my head ached as if it had been hit with a large stone. I heard some movement coming from the kitchen; I opened my eyes and tried to see what was going on. A few moments later, Rumpelstiltskin appeared holding a cup. He saw I was awake and smiled as he walked over to me.

I went to sit up a bit more to get a better view of him, but he gently pushed me back down on the bed. He sat down next to me on the bed and said,

"Don't strain yourself too much; you need your rest to get better. Here's drink this, it should help."

He handed me the cup and I looked at it wondering what it was.

"Is it a potion?" I asked, before taking a sip of the drink. He smiled and shook his head.

"Its just an herbal tea. I'm not willing to use magic on you. Magic always comes at a price and I'm not willing to let you pay that price." He said to me. I nodded to him and thanked him. The tea tasted sweet and I actually wished he had made more. I laid back down on the bed and looked at him.

"I have something else for you. I'll be right back." He said to me and with that he got up and went back over to the kitchen. I heard some clanking and a moment later, Rumpestiltskin walked back in with a tray of soup, some bread and a cup of water.

He smiled at me as he set down the tray on the table next to the bed. He handed me a piece of bread and sat back down on the bed.

"So, what happened to me?" I asked him as I slowly tore the bread into little pieces and ate it. He watched me intently as he seemed to always do and said,

"I found you passed out on the kitchen floor, so naturally I brought you to the bed. You had a fever, but that seems to be gone now. All you need now is some rest and time; you'll be back running around the cottage before you know it. "

I smiled at his statement and finished the bread. He helped me eat the soup he had prepared. I finished the soup and the water and I gently leaned back against the pillow and bed. After taking the tray back to the kitchen, Rumpelstiltskin surprised me by lying down on the bed next to me. It was a small bed so we were pretty close together. His arm wrapped around me and I leaned into him. It actually felt nice and comforting to be so close to him. I turned on my side so I could see him better and to make more room for him.

"Why are you doing all this for me? I'm just a slave." I asked him as our eyes met.

"As I've said a few times before, you'll never be just a slave you are something more. I don't mind doing these things for you. I want to take care of you. You're the first and only true friend I've ever had." He said to me rather truthfully. I looked at him a bit surprised by his words. I was beginning to understand how lonely a life he must have had. This must have been why he had bartered for me, even if I was just a slave, he wouldn't completely be alone.

I put one of my arms around him and pulled myself closer to him. I think my actions surprised him a bit, but he wrapped his other arm around me protectively. I could feel my eyes starting droop a bit. I knew I was getting tired again. I snuggled a bit more into Rumpelstiltskin, closed my eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.

...

Some time passed and nothing too eventful happened; it became we enjoyed being in the other's company and our friendship grew. I enjoyed the time when Rumpelstiltskin was home and was busy enough to entertain myself when I was gone. He was my friend, not my world after all. I was my own person after all, but after really getting to know him I knew he was going to play an important role in my life.

I had just finished making myself a sandwich for lunch, when the door few open. I turned to the doorway to see a very angry Rumpelstiltskin. I stood up from my chair and asked him what was wrong. He turned to me and I could see a deep hatred in his eyes. He waved his hand at me, but didn't say anything as he made his way over to the bed, kicking and knocking over anything in his path. I watched him as he kicked off his shoes and sat down on the bed. I almost preferred when he came in with his chaotic screaming, at least then I knew what was wrong.

I stood there for a moment wondering if I should approach him. I didn't want to make him angrier, but I didn't want to leave him without comfort either. Making up my mind I waked through the now messy cottage and over to the bed. Rumpelstiltskin sat on the bed with his head in his hands. I stood there for a moment as my brain froze. I had no idea on what to do or how to comfort him.

I breathed in and sat on the bed next to him. I watched him for a second until he turned to me. His hand closest to me reached out and grabbed my hand as his other hand reached back and started to massage the back of his head.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked him.

He shook his head and said,"No, this is my battle. You don't belong in it."

His words surprised me a bit. I wondered what kind of battle he felt like he had to fight alone. I wondered what had happened earlier that day to make him like this. I had never seen him this vulnerable before and it worried me.

"Do you want me to do that?" I asked him, nodding towards the hand he was using to massage his neck with. He nodded and turned his back towards me. I hoped up further on the bed and sat on my knees as I started to massage his neck.

"I know I have no business in your affairs, and I don't know the full story. For what its worth though, you don't have to fight all your battles alone. I want to help you anyway I can." I said to him before giving kissing the back of his head quickly.

We sat in silent for a few minutes before Rumpelstiltskin said,

"Why do you trust me so much? I have taken away your freedom, your right to choose your life; you are a true mystery to me."

I thought for a moment as I debated on what I should say. I had only been with him for a few months, but the more I spent time with him, the more I cared for him. From the time I met him, I felt as though I could trust him, like a long lost friend. I enjoyed the conversations we shared together. I loved to have his company

"I guess I've just always felt a bond with you. I want you to be happy. I…" I paused for a moment not sure how to word this next part, "I care for you. I guess in a way, I love you."

Rumpelstiltskin grabbed my one hand as he turned to me. I looked at him wondering if I had said something wrong. His brown eyes met mine as he watched me intently for a moment. Suddenly he leaped onto me, like a leopard catching its prey. I felt myself being pushed back, his body rested on top of mine as our lips met in a kiss.

One of his hands rested on my face while the other hand wandered throughout my body.

"Gisela, you are the greatest treasure, I could ask for." Rumeplstiltskin said, breathing heavily before pulling me into another heated kiss. The next thing I knew, we were making love.

…

Later that evening I was outside, collecting the now dry laundry I had put out that morning. I thought back to the events of that afternoon, I couldn't believe my relationship with Rumpelstiltskin had escalated in just one afternoon. I wondered though if it really meant anything to him. If it didn't, I would still bound to him and that seemed almost unbearable to me.

I almost finished gathering the laundry when I felt like I was being watched. I turned towards the cottage and there was Rumpelstiltskin leaning against the doorframe. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him before turning back to my latest chore. I felt my heart jump hurtles within my chest as I turned back to see him still watching with a smile on his face. I smiled back again and quickly turned back around.

I wondered if I should have said the things I did to him. It made sense at the time and I meant every word of it, but I didn't know what it would lead too. I enjoyed him, his friendship and I couldn't deny he was an amazing lover. I just didn't want us to have an awkward relationship.

I felt a hand on my back and I turned to see that Rumpelstiltskin was behind me. Our eyes met and I felt my knees grow week. I hadn't met anyone who had this affect on me before. Without thinking I put my hand up and cupped his cheek. Our lips met in another kiss and soon we drew apart.

Our eyes locked on each other and Rumpelstiltskin said,

"Are you happy here…with me?"

I nodded.

"The happiest I've ever been." I said to him. He nodded as his smile widened as he pulled me into another kiss.

…..

I walked back to the cottage slowly. My suspicions had been confirmed. I didn't know how to tell Rumpelstiltskin the news or if I even should tell him. My mind wondered back to earlier that day:

…..

Rumpelstiltskin gave me a kiss and left the cottage. I knew he would be gone for a while and I prayed I could make the trip to the nearest village and back before he realized I had left the area surrounding the cottage.

It was an hour's walk to the nearest village, but I made the journey quickly. I asked around for a doctor but there were none in the village, but the next village over. I didn't want to make the extra journey, so when I was told there was a midwife in the village I quickly went to meet her.

"You suspisions are correct Miss Gisela. I suspect you are around 5-6 weeks along. Congratulations, I'm sure your husband will be excited." The midwife told me as she finished her examination. I nodded and thanked her for her services.

I quickly made my way out of the village with thoughts racing through my mind.

…

Before I could really gather my thoughts I realized I could see the cottage. I hoped I had enough time to fix dinner before Rumpelstiltskin would be home. I needed more time to think about how to tell him. I opened the door to the cottage and I couldn't believe what I saw. Everything that was once on the shelves were now on the floor, the mess inside was horrid; someone had obviously gone on a rampage. I stepped inside and saw Rumpelstilstkin throwing a glass goblet against the wall.

"What are you doing? What happened?" I asked him. He turned to me, his normal brown eyes, were bloodshot and filled with anger, hurt and mistrust.

"Where the hell were you? I get home to spend time with you and you're no where to be found. You know the rules you are not to leave the area." He shrieked at me as he ran up to me. He sharply pinned me against the wall as I said,

"I had to go to the village."

"Anything you need from the village you are to ask me to get. I can't have you wondering around out there. It's not safe." He snapped back at me, he unpinned me from the wall, took a step back and slapped me hard across the face. The force of the slap pushed me back against the wall, and then I collided with the hard stone floor. I felt warm tears starting to submerge from my eyes as my hand went up to the spot he had slapped me at. I couldn't believe what had just happened. He had never acted like this towards me.

"I saw the midwife." I said in a small whisper.

"What?" he asked, unsure of what I had said. I stood up and faced him.

"I saw the midwife. I'm pregnant."