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Chapter 4:

Trust

Rumpelstiltskin stood in front of me. He was quiet as he absorbed the news that I was carrying his child. Many thoughts raced through my mind about what had just happened. I didn't know if I could live here now. I couldn't trust him anymore and I did not want to subject my child to his temper.

"May I see the contract my parents' signed?" I asked him, wanting to know exactly what was promised to him. Still in shock, he nodded and the contract appeared in his hand. I took it from him and started to read the really long scroll. I couldn't believe my parents' signed this, but these words were written as clear as day:

"We agree our daughter, Gisela, will live with and comply with Rumpelstiltskin as his slave or any other role he see's fit. From the age of 20, Gisela shall be bound to Rumpelstiltskin until the end of time, unless he releases her from this binding contract."

"My parent's didn't read this, did they?" I asked him, turning back to him. He shook his head.

"No one ever does." He replied matter-of-factly. "Gisela, I'm so sorry I shouldn't have…." He started to say, as he reached a hand out for me when I stopped him.

"No you shouldn't have and I'm afraid 'I'm sorry' isn't going to cut it. I have seen your rants and raves. I have watched and tolerated your childish behavior as you throw things from the shelves, breaking or kicking anything in sight. I have tried my best to take care of you, your home, and I've tried to help you in any way I'm able. But, this…I can't tolerate this. I don't deserve to be treated this way. I'm not a piece of property you can smack, make love to, or disregard at will. I am a person; I have given you my life, my heart and my body. You claim it's too dangerous for me to be out there, but when you're going to be like this, how is it any safer in here? I will not live like this and I will not allow our child to live like this." I said to him angrily.

I think my words surprised him. He stayed quiet; he was looking at the floor obviously deciding on how he should respond.

"I deserve those words and you're right. You and our child deserve better. What can do to regain your trust?" he asked me, I could see deep sorrow in his eyes, but I knew it would take lots of time and work before I could ever consider trusting him again.

"Never do this again. Don't come home angry, knocking things everywhere and never hit me again. Listen so you'll know the whole story, try to be compassionate. I love you; I want to be with you, but not like this." I answered him, trying to emphasis that I would not tolerate this kind of behavior in anyway. His eyes finally left the floor and met mine. He nodded and slowly walked over to the bed and sat down.

This day had been pretty big and eventful for both of us, but being hungry and knowing I was with child, I knew I needed to get something to eat. I walked over to the kitchen and started making a salad for myself. I thought more about my circumstances, debating on what action I should take. Should I honor my parents' contract or should I leave? I looked back over at Rumpelstiltskin and my heart sank.

After I finished eating my salad I walked over to the bed and sat next to him. His head was in his hands, but he turned to me when I sat down. Our eyes met and I could tell he felt deep sorrow. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. I knew he was truly sorry, but for the safety of my child and myself I knew I needed to keep my distance.

…..

A month passed and things had calmed down a bit. I had seen a great effort on Rumpelstiltskin's part to change. I was grateful he took the initiative to clean the evidence of his rampage that night. He still went out to make deals and collect his payments, but he was quiet when he came home. He kept his distance from me, and would only start a conversation just to make sure I was feeling alright. I was grateful he was respectful, but I had to admit, I missed him and our friendship.

I was now 10-11 weeks pregnant and getting ready for another appointment with the midwife. I put on my shawl and headed out the door when Rumpelstiltskin got home from another night of collecting.

"Hi." He said to me, as he held the door for me to leave.

"Hi." I said back, "Thank you for holding that for me."

"No problem. Are you going somewhere?"

"I have a prenatal appointment with the midwife. Would you like to come?" I asked him, hoping to get him a bit more involved with the pregnancy. A smile formed on his lips and he nodded.

"I will walk with you." He said, excitedly.

We walked mostly in silence, with a few words exchanged here or there, nothing too exciting. After an hour we made it too the village.

"This is as far as I go. I hope everything will go well with the appointment. I shall wait for you here." He said as he stopped me from entering the village. I was surprised by his words, but nodded.

"If that's what you want. I will let you know how everything goes." I said, a bit sad he wasn't going to come with me. I made my way down the midwife's house for my appointment.

….

"How was the appointment?" Rumpelstiltskin asked me as I made my way over to him.

"Everything looks great; I'll come back in a month for another prenatal." I responded with a smile as I looked down at my stomach.

He looked pleased with my report; he walked over to me and went to put his hand over my stomach, but stopped himself. He looked up at me, moved his hand back to his side, and stood up straight.

"Shall we head home?" he asked me.

"Probably, I don't want to be out after dark, plus I need to start dinner." I said, almost dreading having to stand long enough to make a meal.

"Let me make dinner tonight, you've been on your feet so much and it's been a while since I've cooked for you." He offered without hesitation.

"That would be wonderful." I said to him as we continued our way to our home. "I worry about the journey to the midwife sometimes."

"Why is that?" he asked me protectively.

"Well, it's an hour's walk to and from our cottage. Sure, I can make the journey now, but what about when I start showing and I'm getting to be full term. It seems like a long ways for a pregnant woman to go to deliver." I expressed my concerns to him. He thought a moment.

"I agree. It is a ways and we don't want you delivering in the woods. Plus we don't want the midwife to come to the cottage." He said, thinking out loud.

"Why don't we want her coming to the cottage?" I asked him confused.

"The same reason I can't go to the appointments, I'm afraid if she find out I'm the father, she'll refuse to help you."

"I don't understand."

"I am well-known throughout the kingdom, Gisela, I can't trust anyone with certain information. I have many enemies and I will not have them using you or our child against me. You two don't deserve that."

"You really think that would happen?" I asked him surprised, it would even be an issue.

"I know it would." He responded quickly. I looked over at him and could tell he was completely serious. I wondered what it was he did that pissed so many people off. Why did he have so many enemies?

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked him. He shook his head.

"Take care of yourself and our child. I'll handle the rest." He said, before turning to me and stopping me from walking.

"I know I don't deserve you or our child. I have behaved despicably and I know I don't deserve your forgiveness or trust. I promise you, I will take care of you and our child. I won't allow anything to happen to either of you." He declared to me. I could tell in his eyes he meant every word of it. Unsure of what to say I nodded and we continued our journey back.

Once back at the cottage, Rumpelstiltskin insisted that I lay on the bed while he made me dinner. I enjoyed the time off my feet, and was happy when he brought me over a bowl of fresh fruit and some meat. We sat quietly on the bed as we ate our dinner.

"This is wonderful. Thank you." I said to him as I finished my food.

"You're welcome." He said, pleased he had been able to make me happy. I smiled and put the bowl on the table next to the bed. I laid back down and let out a bit of a sigh.

"Are you feeling alright? Was the walking too much for you?" he asked me, concerned. I shook my head.

"I'm alright, just a little tired." I told him. He nodded, understandingly. He set down his bowl and moved up closer to me. I smiled and took his hand. It was the first physical contact we had, had for a little over a month. I think my action surprised me, but he took it and seemed pleased.

"I think we can do this." I said to him. He looked at me a bit confused so I continued, "I think we can raise this baby. You've done really well this last month. I mean we still have some trust issues, and it's not going to be easy. I do think we can do this though."

"I hope so. I am sorry for what happened. I should have trusted you enough to allow you to do what you needed. I should have known there was a reason you'd leave the area. You have only been loyal and good to me. You deserve better." He said, as he looked away from me. I could tell he was disgusted by his actions. I knew I still couldn't trust him completely, but I was glad he admitted he was in the wrong and never tried to defend his actions. I felt like he was serious about wanting what's best for the baby, and that was a comfort.

…

A few months passed and I was now 18 weeks pregnant, things between Rumpelstiltskin and I had gotten better. I felt like our friendship was returning to the way it was before. He hadn't had a single rant since that day.

We were walking back home from another prenatal appointment. It was fun to tell him the news that the midwife had been able to hear the baby's heartbeat and the baby and I looked perfect. He was ecstatic that everything was going so well.

We walked back to the cottage hand-in-hand, all seemed to be perfect.

….

Rumpelstiltskin and I were outside. I was hanging up some laundry, while he was chopping some firewood. I took a quick glance over at him he seemed focus on his work so I turned back and finished hanging clothes up. I had finished my chore, picked up the now empty laundry basket and headed back to the cottage when suddenly I felt something. I gasped, dropped the basket and put my hand on my stomach. Rumpelstiltskin head the noise and turned to me. He came running over to me, put an arm around me and asked,

"What's wrong? Are you alright? Is it the baby?"

I grabbed his hand and put it on my stomach.

"Feel, the baby is kicking." I said to him as I felt another strong kick. I looked up at his face to see a smile form as he felt the baby kick. Our eyes met as we both laughed excitedly. We stayed like that for a few minutes until the baby seemed to calm down and we could no longer feel movement.

"That was amazing." I said to him.

"It was. It's incredible a child that isn't even born could bring us so much happiness." He replied just as thrilled as I was about the movement.

I walked over to he cottage and I put the laundry basket down in its spot. I got some lunch started and wandered back outside, where Rumpelstilskin was piling the wood he had just chopped up. I went back inside grabbed a cup and filled it with water and walked back outside.

"Do you want any help?" I asked him, as I came over to him. He stopped, turned to me and smiled.

"No, I'm alright. Go inside, relax. You deserve it." He said to me as I approached him. I handed him the cup of cool water. He thanked me, as he gladly took the cup from my hands. He drank it and handed it back. I took it, nodded and went to go back inside.

"Gisela." I heard Rumpeltistskin say. I turned back to him. He walked up to me, with a smile on his face. He grabbed my free hand and continued, "I appreciate you, so much. You are an incredible person. I love you."

I was surprised by his words. I quickly thanked him and went back inside the cottage. I closed the door behind me and walked into the kitchen. I set the cup on the counter. I went back to preparing lunch. My mind wandered. I knew I loved him, but I didn't know if I was ready to completely trust him again.

...

I walked down the rocky pathway to the creek. I had felt off all day and was very tired. I dropped the heavy buckets as I made it to the creek. I knelt down, cupped some water in my hand and drank some of the cool water. I stayed on the ground for a few minutes as I caught my breath.

"I should have had Rumpelstiltskin do this." I said to myself as I was tempted to just lay down and sleep. After a few more moments I filled the buckets with water. I then proceeded to stand up and start my journey back to the cottage. I had only taken a couple of steps when I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. I screamed, dropped the buckets and fell to the ground, grabbing my stomach. Something was terribly wrong.