Chapter III

Some twenty years passed and nobody in the village saw the slightest trace of their forest guardian. Though it arguably worried them they dared not enter the eastern woods in search of him until the year when Nartji fell deathly ill. She had taken on the role of Herald shortly after Sanya had left. She had proved to be a capable and wise leader and had swiftly earned the respect of all the villagers. Omri convinced her to let him take his fellow hunters out into the eastern woods in search of Rumplestiltskin and ask for his help. After a while she acquiesced and allowed them to search for him.

They set of at dawn a cool and crisp Thursday in the beginning of November. The wind blew from the west, pushing them into the forest, which seemed even more unwelcoming than usually. The trees looked dead and were covered in lichen, ivy and hanging moss. There was a sickly feel to the air breathed by the trees and when the hunting party entered, it felt as if the very forest tensed up and began to shiver with trepidation.

They followed a narrow path worn by animals, not humans. Branches pulled at their hair and clothes as if trying to stop them from going further. Above them the last remaining autumn leaves rattled and whispered amongst themselves. There was magic there. He had brought it with him a long time ago. Omri shivered and tightened his grip on the crossbow. He glanced back at Morlt who walked closely behind him and shot him a look he couldn't interpret. Omri though that after knowing someone for forty-eight years you should be able to do just that: know them; but Morlt's mind had remained a mystery.

The walk through the woods felt endless and slow. They saw no animals but heard birds moving above them and the sound of water dripping. The sickly, green light which surrounded them was shattered when they entered a clearing. They all blinked in the harsh grey winter light and when their eyes adjusted they saw before them a vast metal circle. They knew from stories that it must be the Stargate through which Sanya and her people had passed twenty-one years ago. It had over the years taken on the same look as the rest of the forest. It stood rusting and covered in lichen and ivy before a cliff. The symbols along the brim were almost indiscernible by age and wear.

On its ramp sat Rumplestiltskin carving a small flute out of what looked like bone from some animal. He didn't look up, but was clearly aware of their presence. He frowned and looked tired when he finally decided to acknowledge them with a swift glance in their direction and a barely noticeable nod of his head when they approached. They found it very strange seeing him just sit there being… so real. Omri remembered the stories from his childhood and standing there he saw nothing of the monster he had found so fascinating.

Rumplestiltskin suddenly fastened him with a ferocious glare as if he somehow knew exactly what he had been thinking. Rumplestiltskin's eyes were cold and acerbic and a humorless smile lingered on his lips and Omri suddenly knew where the stories had come from. How someone could turn from looking playful and almost childlike to someone so terrifying and grim was beyond him. Morlt suddenly pressed past Omri and sat down next to Rumplestiltskin before he could stop him. Morlt met his cold eyes with an equally cold stare. Omri reflexively reached out a hand towards Morlt but pulled it back when the other did the same in an averting gesture. Rumplestiltskin watched the man who he could remember only recently being a child sitting about a campfire with his friends. He giggled at the memory and received a rare smile in return from Morlt.

"So, it really was you we heard all those years ago. You scared the crap out of us!"

Rumplestiltskin smirked and then giggled again while looking at their familiar faces. He hadn't seen or missed them much for twenty-one years. He had never known them, only watched them from afar. Just like in my old world, he reflected. He sometimes wondered if he'd made the right decision in staying away from them. But he knew that the longer he was with them the harder it would be to let go. The darkness inside him was undying and could only be stilled, not destroyed by any means other than that of a magical dagger which lay hidden in another realm.

From a distance people were like dolls. He used to be the puppeteer, but no longer. He felt safe and at ease simply watching them. Being the audience to a rather boring little puppet show suited him just fine. He had never wanted to live amongst them or even know them; but when Sanya left so did his only connection to the living. People had visited him but rarely in the old days and they had always wanted something for themselves. Everyone but Belle. He didn't blame them since he himself never visited anyone without good reason. He had never cared about the outcomes of any of his lesser deals and sometimes even took pleasure in his clients mishaps. He wouldn't say he was beyond that even now, but still he cared about the destiny of these people. It felt as though they somehow belonged to him. That they were his and he had to look out for them. He had felt like this since the moment they'd stepped through the gate some forty years ago. And he protects what belongs to him.

xxxoooxxx

When they returned to the village it was already late afternoon. The four huntsmen exited the woods led by a dark, hooded figure. After Omri and Rumplestiltskin had talked about the recent events in the village the later had decided to come with them. He had suddenly risen from his seated position on the gate ramp and declared that if they didn't hurry they would have made their journey in vain. While Rumplestiltskin spoke he produced a cloak out of thin air making them all jump and some of them reach for their weapons instinctively. The cloak looked suspiciously like being made out of the skin and feathers of dead crows or ravens. When he put it on and threw the hood over his head Omri wouldn't have been surprised to see him take off to the skies, but he merely turned and walked down the same attrition in the undergrowth that had led them there.

While they walked through the forest on their way back to the village in Rumplestiltskin wake, no branches pulled at their clothes or ripped their hair. The trees seemed to hold their breaths and a thin droning could be heard from above their heads.

"They are worried I might not return." Rumplestiltskin answered their unspoken question, making them startle at the sound of his jangling voice, which in turn made him chuckle mischievously.

Racvel was the first to ask, "How can trees be worried?"

Rumplestiltskin glanced back over his shoulder, and even though his face was obscured by his hood, they could tell he was smiling.

"You can be anything if you just try hard enough. If you live long enough you'll have the time to be everything at least once. You don't have to be anything or anyone forever."

He fell silent again and stared into the heart of the forest, wondering if what he'd just said would one day prove to be true. To become someone else entirely would certainly be a nice change.

His thoughts were shattered when he found himself at the edge of the forest facing the bucolic little village. With some forbearance Rumplestiltskin stepped onto the grass and began to walk swiftly towards the Herald's house. People were watching from their windows and doors, not daring to leave the relative safety of their homes. Rumplestiltskin gazed at them from beneath his hood and smirked.

The Herald's home was a large timber house, bigger by far than the others buildings. The doorframe was engraved with carvings in Athosian and ornamental ivy patterns. Rumplestiltskin stopped at the door and gestured towards Omri and Morlt to enter before him. When they opened the door they were met by the buzz of agitated voices coming from the antechamber. Several village Elders and hunters as well as Nartji's husband Leyt had gathered there. They were arguing about what to do but fell silent at the sudden appearance of Omri and Morlt in their midst. Leyt pushed through the crowd and grabbed Omri's elbow and asked if they had found him.

"That they did."

The answer came not from Omri, but from Rumplestiltskin who had appeared sitting on the staircase bannister, quite with the air of a bird of prey spying on its quarry. Two of the huntsmen who had not joined them in the forest pulled out their swords at the sound of his shrill voice and advanced on him before Omri could stop them. With a sharp movement of his hand Rumplestiltskin sent the swords flying up through the air and nail themselves to the ceiling. The thunk of the two swords piercing the woods was pierced by a loud shriek and the sound of running feet.

Rumplestiltskin grinned at their shocked expressions and then continued to giggled at the angry face that appeared at the top of the stairs. A young woman with a face like thunder and wild red hair glared down at them and shouted. "What the hell do you think you're doing? You almost cut my foot off!"

Her voice died when she spotted Rumplestiltskin smiling serenely at her from the bannister. Her face went from anger to fear to relief and then back to fear in the span of about three seconds making her look mildly demented. She pulled herself up and straightened her face into a more dignified expression.

"I am Lasaí daughter of Nartji and Leyt Andar. As I trust you know, my mother has fallen ill and that is why we have called you here. We appreciate any help you may provide and…"

She stopped abruptly with another shriek when he suddenly appeared next to her leaning against the wall. He pointed absently in the direction of her mother's room with an impatient look in his eyes. She nodded uncertainly and led him towards Nartji's room, but stopped at the door to await her father who was walking up the stairs. When he reached them he cast a suspicious look at the little man, who in turn was absently studying at his dark fingernails and looking quite surreptitious.

xxxoooxxx

Nartji could hear people talking down in the antechamber. She'd been bedridden for months; since the weakness in her loins turned into paralysis. They had been talking for hours about what to do if no help came. It had been Lasaí's suggestion to call on the watcher like Sanya had when she'd needed help. They'd been gone for six hours when she was woken by a loud thump and her daughter's scream, followed by running and yelling. Then silence.

A moment passed and her door opened and her daughter entered closely followed by her husband. Lasaí smiled at her encouragingly and then her eyes drifted somewhat fearfully to the space betwixt the headboard and the wall. Nartji glanced to the right and let out a small scream at the sight of Rumplestiltskin staring down at her with a mischievous grin on his lips. He shrugged off his crowskin cloak before sitting down unceremoniously next to her on the bed. His skin had an eerie shimmer in the afternoon light and his golden-grey eyes glimmered like old coins in candlelight. His wild hair reached past his shoulders and had streaks of grey in it. He clasped his hands over his crossed knees and studied her with narrowed eyes. His serious expression broke into an honest mile and he asked, "What ails you child?"

At the sincerity of his tone Lasaí and Leyt let out a collective breath they didn't known they had been holding. Lasaí sat down on the other side of her mother's bed and took her hand. Nartji felt a heavy sensation in her chest and the same sickly tiredness that had stolen too many of her days and nights. She nodded weakly at Lasaí to answer in her stead.

While Lasaí spoke it felt like Rumplestiltskin's eyes bored into her soul. She told him about the insidious infliction that had befallen her mother many years ago and that none of their doctors knew what to do. It had come upon her slowly, starting with headaches and nausea and then moved on to horrible back pains and paralysis. While she spoke Rumplestiltskin place his claw-like hand over Nartji's heart and closed his eyes. It looked like he was listening, not to her, but to whatever was killing her mother. He opened his eyes again and removed his hand from her heart and then extracted a gossamer thin golden thread from his jacket pocket. He proceeded to twirl the thread through his lissome fingers while asking Lasaí to fetch some water from the river.

As soon as her daughter had gone Nartji let out a sigh which turned into a series of coughs. Rumplestiltskin glanced over at Leyt who was standing by her feet looking worried and tired. Rumplestiltskin tilted his head back to Nartji and fastened her with a steady gaze, his hands clenching and unclenching around the thread.

"So, I ask you again, dearie: what ails you?" His voice was quiet, too quiet for Leyt to hear but loud enough for Nartji who broke down in silent tears. Her body shook with the force of her sobbing and she reached out and grabbed Rumplestiltskin's hand. He startled and began to pull away before thinking better of it and allowed her to hold onto him. He could feel her husband's almost jealous eyes on him as he moved to sit down next to his wife. Rumplestiltskin smiled sheepishly to himself as he couldn't remember the last time anyone had looked upon him with envy. He could feel Nartji tug on his hand and he looked back into her sad eyes. Those eyes spoke volumes to him and he knew what she would say beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"Please, please… let me die." Her voice was weaker than a mouse's breath and so desolate and sad. He knew he didn't possess magic strong enough to fix her completely. The few that did were elusive at best and tended to avoid the realms of mortals. No magic available to him could repair the broken soul of someone who had lived through too much and given up. To heal a body is easy, but if the mind can't let go of the wounds it can never truly be restored. "I am so tired. There's nothing left of me. Please don't make me stay. Let me rest…"

Leyt grabbed her shoulder and tears fell from his eyes as he rested his forehead against hers.

"Don't say that, Tji… Don't say that. You've made it so far and the journey is almost over. We'll make you well again. It's not too late." He whispered pleadingly against her hair while he stroked her cold cheek. She was turning white already and her eyes were growing dim. The breaths that had rattled through her chest had stilled and the room had grown very quiet. The same kind of quiet that had taken hold of Rumplestiltskin's home after the news of Belle's death. A stillness unbreakable by laughter, music or even screaming for it was just too heavy and painful to pierce.

When Leyt finally stopped crying and looked up, Rumplestiltskin in turn realized that his eyes were wet. He and Leyt locked eyes for a moment and the other nodded, accepting that nothing could have been done. Rumplestiltskin frowned and looked away, feeling slightly guilty as well as relieved. At that moment the door slammed open and Lasaí rushed in carrying a slashing bucket of water.

"The ice was too thick and I had to…" She fell silent at the sight of her mother's still body. The bucket crashed to the floor as she brought her hands to her mouth and let out a strangled cry. She stared at both men, her eyes going from distress to anger as she decided who to blame. Her father rose on unsteady feet and walked over to her side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and was about to speak when she tore out of his grasp and moved towards Rumplestiltskin.

"You did this! You killed her! You are a monster!" She pulled out from her sleeve a short knife and advanced on him. Rumplestiltskin's frown deepened and the hint of a smile crept up on his mournful face as he dislodged his hand from the dead woman's grasp, leaving the gold thread wrapped around her fingers. He rose in one fluent motion and tilted his head slightly at Lasaí. He interlaced his fingers and his eyes betrayed a hint of regret.

"I didn't kill her, dearie. I merely allowed her to die. There's a difference." He narrowed his eyes and his smile grew harsher. "Now, why don't you put that blade down before you hurt yourself?"

"Don't you come near me! I will kill you."

"You'll kill me, will you?" Rumplestiltskin's smile turned vicious as he raised his hand towards her. She flinched and brandished the knife, stabbing at him in fear and anger. But before she got a chance to inflict any damage he grabbed her wrist. "You think you can hurt me?"

While he spoke he lowered his other hand unto the knife until it pierced straight through coming out the back. Lasaí let go of the knife-handle with a yelp and stared at Rumplestiltskin with disbelief. He looked back at her with a malicious glint in his overlarge eyes and let out a demonic crackle. Leyt moved forward and once again wrapped his arms around his daughter, trying in vain to lead her out of the room but she refused to move, holding her perceived mother's killer locked in her gaze.

Rumplestiltskin's smile turned steely as he pulled out the blade and let it drop to the floor. He lifted his wounded hand in to the air and she and Leyt gasped when they witnessed the wound heal. Lasaí shook off her father's arm and spat, "This doesn't change anything. I will kill you if it's the last thing I do. I'll find a way even if I have to search all the worlds."

"Many have tried, dearie. If you feel that is what you must do, then so be it. Go, search for your revenge, but I promise you, you will not find it. You may search all the realms and all the worlds if you so please." His smile vanished and was replaced by a snarl shoving pointed teeth."But know this, my dear: that by sending your hunters into my forest you broke our deal. And now you blame me for nature's doing. I'm done with all of you. Humans. All the same, you never change. I'm sent across realms and what do I find? The same shortsighted, ignorant children. Use the gate and trample my home, but know this: you are not welcome."

"I will find a way." Lasaí's voice shook and she tried desperately to deny the sinking feeling that by starting a war with this creature she might be damming her people. Her people, yes. With Nartji gone the role as leader passed on to her and her heart grew cold.

As if he could read her thoughts Rumplestiltskin smiled again and turned to leave. He stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder, saying: "Have fun with the Wraith."

And he was gone.