Twenty-Eight Years
Evening had fallen and the night sky was full of sparkling stars by the time that Rumpelstiltskin returned to the Moors.
He felt newly energized by the day's events and kept going over Cora's reactions to his curse in his head. It had been quite a curse, but worth it to see Cora punished for what she and her kind had done to him and to the Fair Folk of the Moors. Things couldn't have turned out better if Rumpelstiltskin had planned it. The Moors would be better protected now that a weakened queen meant a weakened kingdom and therefore less of a threat. Rumpelstiltskin's decision had been the only and best one to be done.
An unbreakable curse that was sure to drive Cora mad and the human kingdom into ruin! What could be more perfect than that? At last, Cora would pay the price for her actions. She would pay for years to come and Rumpelstiltskin would enjoy every single moment of it.
But despite Rumpelstiltskin's victory, he was not fool enough to think there would be no consequences. He knew that Cora would seek retribution, but he would be prepared for it. Already, he'd formulated a plan to forever protect the Moors from future aggression from the humans and to keep the humans out of the Moors forever.
Rumpelstiltskin stood on the very edge of the border where faerie land met human land and then he summoned forth the magic within himself and the surrounding flora. Magic pulsed and shimmered in the air as the most giant of dark branches rose from the ground and intertwined with each other, covering every inch of the forbidden border, and rising higher and higher until they seemed to touch the sky. Once the wall met the desired length and height, horns that were bigger and sharper than anyone could've imagined formed and stuck out in all directions on the wall, making it impenetrable.
When Rumpelstiltskin finished his spell, he took a step back and looked at his great wall of thorns in satisfaction. The wall was far from beautiful, but it would serve its purpose. Unlike the wall of thorns his mother had created, Rumpelstiltskin's magic was far stronger and with it, his thorn wall would last until the end of time. It would protect the Moors and the faerie kingdom would never again suffer the devastating touch of any human, especially Cora.
Desiring sleeping, Rumpelstiltskin returned to his old home in the rowan tree. But in spite of his tiredness, sleep did not easily. The Moors was beautiful again under Rumpelstiltskin's reign. It was also quiet, tranquil and peaceful which was in sheer contrast to the chaos that was in Cora's kingdom. More of the Fair Folk were becoming at ease with Rumpelstiltskin's status as an imp, few shuddered when they walked by him or flew away in a hurry when he neared. But there was still a bit of unease amongst some of the Fair Folk, some still could not bear to see the fate that had befallen Rumpelstiltskin and had chosen to stay away for the time being.
Rumpelstiltskin felt a twinge of hurt, but he did not find fault with those who'd chosen to keep their distance. He understood that when he'd become an imp and lost his sense of self, he'd also lost some of those he loved. It was painful but it was price that he was willing to pay to keep the Moors safe and prevent his fall of grace from occurring to anyone else. He had no shame in what he was or the choices he made, but he refused to let others take the same path.
But there was one's judgment who hurt most of all, even if Rumpelstiltskin was reluctant to admit it. Belle, who sat in her nest, kept her back to Rumpelstiltskin. She'd chosen to stay in bird form since the christening curse and refused to speak with Rumpelstiltskin until her anger had cooled off. She was furious, for while Rumpelstiltskin had kept his word and not killed Baelfire, he'd still cursed an innocent little child. In Belle's anger, she felt that Rumpelstiltskin had twisted his words to suit his thirst for revenge.
Rumpelstiltskin wanted to try and explain that he'd done as he'd promised her, that he had not gone to the christening with the intention of cursing Baelfire and how he wasn't being mean to the baby. He wanted to explain that part of him still hurt from Cora's betrayal and the curse was meant to be her suffering, not the child's. But Rumpelstiltskin knew that his words would fall on deaf ears and his excuses sounded pitiful, even to Rumpelstiltskin's own ears. Regardless of his intentions, Rumpelstiltskin had still done something terrible out of spiteful vengeance. Debt of gratitude or no, friendship or no, Rumpelstiltskin knew he'd be lucky if Belle continued to spy for him, never mind continue their friendship. It was a thought that brought an ache of sadness to Rumpelstiltskin's heart.
With a sigh, Rumpelstiltskin turned onto his side and eventually drifted off into a fitful sleep.
When the early light of dawn peaked through the branches of the rowan tree, Rumpelstiltskin found himself being shaken away.
Blearily, he blinked open his eyes to clear his vision and saw Belle kneeling next to him. "I thought you were angry and weren't speaking to me." It was more of a question than a statement. After yesterday, he'd half-expected Belle to have flown off and never return.
"I was and I wasn't," said Belle, softly. She sighed. "I took a long flight, cleared my head."
Rumpelstiltskin's heart leapt and he slowly sat up. "And?"
"And while I'm not happy with what you've done, I realized that you weren't thinking straight, that you were still lashing out from the pain Cora caused you," said Belle. "I also remembered that you did ensure there's a way to break your curse, for which I am relieved. It gives me hope that the friend who looked out for me all my life is still in you."
Rumpelstiltskin smiled at Belle's words. He wanted to take her into his arms and reassure her that what she believed was possible but he held back as he realized he couldn't. Even if Belle believed such things about him, Rumpelstiltskin did not believe it. He still felt the anger, the rage and the unquenchable thirst for anger and his desire to see Cora suffer. If that wasn't enough, his outward appearance hadn't changed, he was still an imp. So, rather than make false promises, Rumpelstiltskin took a different approach altogether.
"Thank you, Belle, for what you've done," said Rumpelstiltskin, softly. "But now you must leave."
Belle stared at Rumpelstiltskin in confused disbelief. "Leave? Why?"
"You must leave because despite what you hope, I'm still a monster," said Rumpelstiltskin, his voice thick with rare emotion. "And I cannot let you be taken down with me." Rumpelstiltskin still intended to pursue vengeance against Cora but there was no reason for Belle to be caught in the crossfire or worse, tainted by Rumpelstiltskin's darkness.
Instead of flying away as Rumpelstiltskin had expected, Belle smiled and placed her hands on Rumpelstiltskin's shoulders. "Don't you see? That's exactly why I have to stay."
Tears blurred Rumpelstiltskin's vision as Belle took him into her arms and held him in a tight embrace.
XXX
Back at the castle, the Royal Family was in an uproar.
Following Rumpelstiltskin's return to the Moors, Cora had ordered all the guests to leave immediately, a command they were only too happy to obey as they wished to get as far away as possible from the cursed family. While the guests departed, Cora spoke with the three pixies, who agreed to be Cora's servants in exchange for asylum until something better could be done. Once that bargain was made, Cora went to the castle library to further research the magic of imps and faeries and see if there was any truth in Rumpelstiltskin's curse. Cora was convinced that it was a lie, for to face the truth would mean admitting that she'd just been dealt a deadly hand she would need to counter and quickly if she wanted to survive.
When sunlight faded and was replaced with the shadows of night, Cora was still sitting at a table in the library, pouring over a book of faerie lore. Her researching was suddenly interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. Cora looked up to see Henry standing above her, looking quite serious.
"What're you doing in here?" asked Cora.
"Looking for you," replied Henry. He sighed. "Cora, we need to talk. What happened today? Who was that magic man and what's his business with you?"
"Never you mind. Now, leave me be," said Cora, briskly as she returned to her book. She'd never confessed the truth of her past to Henry and she didn't intend to start now. Having given the command, Cora expected Henry to simply obey, but for once this was not the case.
Henry, who was normally a very amiable, patient and submissive man, changed his tune altogether for one moment. He finally put his foot down, quite literally.
"Cora!" said Henry, sternly, startling her. "I may not be as high in rank as you but I am still your husband and the father of your child, and I deserve respect as well as answers! I want to know what is going on and I want to know now!" Upon seeing the startled look on his wife's face, Henry softened. "Cora, please. For the sake of our son, let there be no more secrets between us. Tell me the truth."
No more secrets. Cora would've laughed aloud if she could've. She would tell Henry part of the truth, but only part. Henry was a good man, but he could never know, no one could ever know the full extent of Cora's history with Rumpelstiltskin. If it ever came to light, Cora would be ruined and dethroned, forced back into life as a miller's daughter and that was something she could not allow.
"The 'magic man' as you called him, is not a man. His name is Rumpelstiltskin. He was a faerie but now he's an imp. But to be more precise, he was the winged creature your father wanted vanquished. His were the wings I presented," confessed Cora.
Henry's jaw dropped. "What?!" he exclaimed. He couldn't believe that Cora had blatantly lied and to a king of all people! "But you said—"
"I said that Xavier had been avenged and he was!" snapped Cora, slamming her hands down on the table as she stood up. "I said nothing of Rumpelstiltskin's death. I used my influence to get close enough to the imp to drug him and then I stole his wings and crippled him. If Xavier hadn't been such a fool as to question the lack of a body instead of blinding accepting the wings as proof of my claim, things would've turned out differently. It's not my fault your father was stupid enough not to ask questions."
Realizing what would happen if his wife's temper flared, Henry took a step back and took a deep breath to compose himself.
"Why lie? Why only take that imp's wings?" asked Henry, with amazing calmness. Inside, he was horrified at what his wife had done. It was one thing to take down an enemy in battle, but to do what Cora had done was cowardly and evil.
Cora sighed and looked away from her husband. "I had no choice. Xavier favored me, but had I not done what I did, he never would've sanctioned our marriage and I couldn't have that. I couldn't not have you." At the mention of Cora's 'love' for Henry, a small smile flickered across Henry's face and he lapped up the lie. "I had every intention of slaying that beast, believe me. But a moment's weakness at seeing him so pitiful and vulnerable prevented me from doing what had to be done. It was foolish and now Baelfire will pay the price for my weakness."
Henry's face softened as he gently placed a hand on Cora's shoulder, causing her to turn to look at him. "Love and desperation makes us do things we never know we're capable of." Henry was not condoning his wife's actions but he refused to let her think that good emotions such as love and compassion were things to be ashamed of. "Compassion is not weakness, Cora. You need to accept that."
Cora's eyes narrowed but she did not reproach her husband's words.
"The past is done. We can't change it," continued Henry. "All we can do now is move forward. We must take action to save our son and our future. Perhaps if you were to return Rumpelstiltskin's wings, the imp would be inclined to reverse his curse."
This time, Cora did laugh. Loudly and almost mockingly at Henry's naivety. "Return his wings? Out of the question!" she said, vehemently. "To grovel at the feet of that disgusting creature is to admit defeat, something I will never do. And I refuse to believe that Rumpelstiltskin wasn't lying. What good is the word of an imp, if its words are spoken through magic? No, we will wait for the right moment to strike and when it comes, we take down Rumpelstiltskin and claim the Moors once and for all!"
Seeing how set Cora was in her decision and not wishing to further arouse her anger, Henry silently complied with Cora's wishes and left her to spend time with his son.
XXX
One moon later, Cora summoned Henry to her private study one evening, and she commanded that he bring little Baelfire with him.
Henry was surprised, to say the least, as Cora had strictly forbidden entrance of her study to all, even the King. It was where Cora practiced casting her magic spells and brewing her magic potions, a place where she worked in private without being disturbed or her work interfered with. To have Cora permit entrance could only mean something grave had happened.
When Henry entered the Queen's study, he found the room in a mess of disarray. Spell books lay strewn across the floor, formally pristine cauldrons were coated with potion stains, and there were scorch marks of various sizes and shades of black on the wall and stone floors. What was even more pitiful was Cora's state. Since gaining Xavier's favor, she'd always kept herself neatly groomed and elegantly dressed, but now she looked anything but. Cora's hair was in tangles to her shoulders, her gown was torn and stained and the expression on her face was that of a defeated person. All in all, she looked an utter misery.
"Cora, my love," said Henry, hesitantly, as he placed Baelfire in a bassinet that Cora had conjured, "what's the matter?"
Angry tears glittered in Cora's eyes. "My time has come and gone. The physicians' and my own magical tests have confirmed the first half of Rumpelstiltskin's curse. I am barren," she said, her voice thick with rare emotion. "I can no longer bear children. Baelfire is and shall always be my only heir."
As this information sank in, Henry looked upset. Having grown up an only child, he'd wanted a large family and now that wish was denied to him. Henry would never know the joy of watching many children of his own blood grow, and worse still, Baelfire would know the same loneliness that Henry himself had.
"Oh, my love…" murmured Henry. He moved to take Cora into his arms and comfort her, but she pushed him away and looked even more serious.
"There is no time to grieve," said Cora. "Remember, there is more to the curse than this pain."
At once, Henry's heart sank and he became afraid as he recalled the rest of Rumpelstiltskin's curse. If the first half of Rumpelstiltskin's curse had come true, then the second half certainly would, which meant there was a grave danger to Baelfire as well as the future of the kingdom.
"Can you break the curse on our son?" asked Henry. Even as he asked, he knew it was a gamble but it was the only path Henry could see them taking.
Cora nodded and looked quite determined. "I've researched every possible spell and my magic is at its peak. I fully intend to break that monster's curse."
Without another word, Cora stepped over to the bassinet and began casting every revoking spell that she knew of, believing that she could undo Rumpelstiltskin's curse. But a surprise came Cora's way as despite her best efforts and even when she summoned the three pixies to add their own magic to the mix, all efforts were fruitless. The curse could not be revoked.
When the early rays of dawn made their presence known, Henry was weeping and holding Baelfire close. "I'm sorry, my son. Forgive us." If the curse could not be revoked, then there was truly no hope. Thanks to the curse, the royal line would end and the kingdom would fall into ruin. All was lost. "I wish we could have saved you, Baelfire."
"Don't give up quite yet, Henry," said Cora, startling Henry out of his thoughts. "There may yet be a way out of this mess."
Henry looked up in hopeful, disbelief. "You have a plan?" He could not keep the desperation out of his voice as he was willing to do anything to ensure the future of his son and the kingdom.
Cora nodded. "If I cannot break the curse, then I must defeat the curse and its caster."
Henry's heart sank at Cora's tone of voice and he had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that whatever Cora's plan was, he was not going to like it.
XXX
Henry's suspicions quickly proved to be correct.
Cora had decided extreme measures had to be taken to ensure the defeat of Rumpelstiltskin's curse. She ordered every spinning wheel in the kingdom to be rounded up, burned and locked away in the deepest dungeon of the castle. For how could Baelfire prick his finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel when there was none to be found? The next step to be taken was to ensure that Rumpelstiltskin could not find Baelfire and accelerate the curse, which meant sending the Baelfire away from the castle.
Henry strongly objected to sending Baelfire away, wanting to keep his son close and watch him grow, but Cora refused her husband's request and Henry ceased asking. Finally, Henry begged to be allowed to go with Baelfire into hiding, but again, Cora refused to leave Baelfire in her husband's care. Instead, Cora commanded the three pixies to take her son away to a small village on the farthest outskirts of Storybrooke, there Baelfire would remain for twenty-eight years and a day, protected by pixie magic and lack of spinning wheels until the curse was no more. Cora acted not out of maternal love for her son, but out of a spiteful desire to destroy Rumpelstiltskin.
Having defeated the curse, or so Cora was willing to believe, she turned her attention to defeating the curse's castor, which meant going after Rumpelstiltskin. She shut herself behind the walls of her castle and ordered her army to attack the Wall of Thorns, slay Rumpelstiltskin and claim the Moors for her kingdom once and for all.
When Cora's army arrived at the Wall of Thorns, they prepared to strike it down as per the orders of their Queen. Though the Wall's height was great, they believed they could succeed. After a day and a night of trying, it was clear that their sharpest and deadliest of blades could not penetrate the Wall of Thorns, but still they did not concede. The Wall of Thorns was part of nature and nature had a tendency to burn like straw when met with even the smallest of flames, which gave the Captain of the Guards a new idea. He ordered his men to arm the kingdom's strongest catapult. But instead of boulders, the soldiers lit giant, oil-soaked bundles which they lit on fire and upon their leader's command, cut the ropes of the catapults, sending the fiery balls straight into the Wall. After a dozen hits, the Wall of Thorns was quickly ablaze with the fire, causing the soldiers to cheer in victory.
But the soldiers quickly discovered that their victory was short-lived when the ground shook and the Wall of Thorns rumbled. Suddenly, the Wall of Thorns untangled itself and retaliated against the attacking soldiers. Rumpelstiltskin had expected Cora to send men to attack and knowing that he could not always be at the Wall of Thorns, had enchanted Wall of Thorns to defend itself from anyone who dared harm it. With its sharp barbs aflame, the Wall of Thorns smacked the soldiers.
"RETREAT!" yelled the Captain.
Quickly, the soldiers fled from the burning, thorny vines. Those who did not flee as swiftly as they should, were rendered unconscious from the Wall's blows, others were gravely injured with terrible burns and cuts. Some were even unfortunate enough to have been grabbed by a thorny vine and tossed against the kingdom like a stone across a stream.
Defeated, the soldiers retreated and reported back to Cora of what had occurred. Naturally, the Queen was not the least bit pleased with the news.
"You have failed me," she hissed. "You've allowed that twisted imp to have victory over us! How dare you show your face? You're all a disgrace!"
The soldiers exchanged nervous looks while the Captain humbly bowed before the Queen, attempting to appeal to her understanding.
"Your Majesty, several of my men died trying to take down the Wall, but I fear it cannot be done," said the Captain. "Neither the sharpest blades nor the hottest of flames worked against it. I take no pleasure in saying so, but the Wall of Thorns is indestructible!"
Cora's eyes flared with anger as she backhanded the Captain. "Nothing is indestructible!" she screeched. "Not Rumpelstiltskin! Not his blasted Wall! Not even his curse!" She unsheathed her iron dagger and tossed it at a sketch of Rumpelstiltskin, which hung on the wall behind her. Judging from the number of puncture marks on the parchment, it was clear that Cora had used this as stress relief more than once.
No one spoke or even breathed too loudly as Cora suddenly gazed at her iron dagger with a new interest. She took out of the wall and examined it. A memory stirred in her mind of an innocent remark that had been made. Iron burns faeries. Suddenly, Cora grinned in satisfaction. She now had the perfect weapon to use against Rumpelstiltskin.
"Send me the iron workers."
XXX
Meanwhile, Blue and her two companions made their way to what would be their home for twenty-eight years and a day.
In order to remain inconspicuous, they traveled by a horse and covered wagon instead of flying. It was a trip that took several days and given their size and being unaccustomed to travel in such a manner, it was quite a journey and somewhat of an ordeal for the trio. But they did not complain as their exile forced them to rely only on each other and if they ever hope to reverse Rumpelstiltskin's edict or being sentenced to a worse fate, they had to fulfill their duty in ensuring that Baelfire grew up safe from Rumpelstiltskin's dreadful curse.
When they at last reached the cottage on the edge of the village where they would reside, it was almost a relief until they got a good look at the place.
It was a small cottage with a thatched roof and white sides crisscrossed with brown beams. A closer inspection revealed a number of holes in the thatch and the walls. The windows were covered with grime and filth and the inside of the cottage was coated with dust and dirt. Weeds and rotten produce grew tall among what had once been a grand garden of fruits, herbs and vegetables. The wooden gate which surrounded the cottage was also in state of disrepair. It was clear that the cottage had been abandoned for quite some time and was in need of a good clean and repair.
"Is this it?" asked Tinker Bell, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "It's so...revolting."
"It's not that bad," said Nova. But even as she spoke, she looked unconvinced. "It just needs a pixie's touch to make it home."
"And so it shall," said Blue, briskly. "Come on, ladies. We must get to work." If they were going to live in the humble cottage, they needed to make their new residence livable.
From then until noon, the three pixies used their magic to clean and repair every inch of the cottage. The holes in the roof and walls were patched up and the gate was fixed. The windows and floors were magically scrubbed clean until they shined. The garden was cleared of its weeds and the garden's produce were restored to ripeness. Finally, the pixies unloaded the doll-sized furniture and utensils that Henry had been generous enough to bequeath them from the wagon.
When at last the work was done, the three pixies turned their attention to Baelfire, who'd been sleeping in the back of the wagon. Together, they carried him into the garden, where they placed him under the shade of a great rowan tree.
"Now, what do we do?" asked Nova.
Blue, as usual, took charge. "Now, we need to be big enough to look after this baby. If we're going to make people believe that we belong here, we must look the part. And that means, we cannot be pixies. Understand?"
Tinker Bell and Nova nodded and at Blue's command, spun around then changed from their tiny pixie forms to that of three, full-grown human peasant womenfolk.
"Oh, good gracious!" exclaimed Tinker Bell. "Look at us!"
Tinker Bell was right to exclaim as she did, for all three of them looked quite different now they were no longer three little pixies.
Blue's hair was rid of its curls and was smoothed into a practical bun. Her once sky-blue dress with jewels was now a plain but flowing, long-sleeved dark blue peasant's dress that fell to her ankles. It was complete with a darker blue cape that wrapped around her shoulders and offered protection from the harsher elements. All in all, Blue looked very practical and almost matronly.
Nova's hair was also smoothed down and in a bun, but her dress was the opposite of Blue's. It was now a darker shade of pink, like blushing cheeks. The fabric was patterned with little stars and flowers, the sleeves capped her shoulders and the skirt twirled and spun whenever she turned. Judging from the look on Nova's face, she was simply delighted with the change.
And last, but certainly not least was Tinker Bell's change, which was the most dramatic. Her ponytail was replaced with a messier bun on her head and she did not wear a gown. Instead, she wore a moss green tunic that reached her knees and sleeves that touched her forearms. Black leggings and an equally dark colored neckerchief complete the look.
"It's a change, but we'll have to get used to it," said Blue, matter-of-factly. They didn't have much choice in the matter if they intended to survive the next twenty-eight years. "Now, what're we to say if anyone asks about us?"
"That we're three peasant sisters, raising our orphaned nephew," said Nova, promptly.
"And for the next twenty-eight years, there's to be no magic or flying," added Tinker Bell, with a grimace.
All three of them shared a groan of distance and exchanged unhappy looks but they all agreed that it had to be done, so there was no use complaining about it.
"Now, let's get on with the day. Come along, ladies," said Blue, as she led them into the house. "Time for lunch and then we must set up house."
For once, Tinker Bell and Nova happily followed Blue's orders without complaint as they were eager to get settled into their new lodgings and have lunch as they were quite hungry. Unfortunately, in their eagerness to start their new lives, they forgot Baelfire completely.
Unused to being alone and unaccustomed to his new surroundings, Baelfire felt quite scared and began to cry loudly, begging for someone to hold him.
It was most fortuitous that Belle had continued with her reconnaissance flights to spy on Cora, for her spying had enabled her to learn of Cora's plans to hide the infant. Belle had followed the pixies to their cottage and spotted Baelfire left alone outside.
The baby's cries tugged at Belle's heart and she flew to the wicker basket where Baelfire lay, perching herself on the rim. She then gently nuzzled Baelfire's soft cheek, causing the baby to cease its wails. Baelfire touched Belle's feathered hail and squealed in delight, clearly adoring his new friend and the feeling was mutual. But the happy moment ended when Tinker Bell emerged from the cottage and went straight for the baby prince, forcing Belle to fly off in a hurry.
"There you are, sweet thing," cooed Tinker Bell. "Why're you always hiding? Let's get you inside. You're going to love your new bedroom. It's delightful."
Belle waited until Tinker Bell had taken Baelfire inside the cottage before making the return flight to Rumpelstiltskin. He was not going to believe this.
XXX
When Rumpelstiltskin was informed of what Cora had done with Baelfire, he'd actually been rendered speechless, which was a first. Then he'd laughed, a good proper laugh for the first time in many moons at the idea of the three pixies raising a human child alone with little to no help.
"I can't believe it. Those three idiotic gnats raising a baby?" said Rumpelstiltskin, incredulously. "Now that is a tragic disaster." The three pixies were good at a lot of things but raising a baby, especially a human baby, was not one of them.
Belle also laughed a little as she nodded in agreement. "They mean well but I'm not convinced they know what they're doing."
His curiosity piqued, Rumpelstiltskin rose up from where he'd been sitting. "Well then, feel up for a walk? I want to see what those gnats are up to."
Belle nodded and shifted into bird form, flying close beside Rumpelstiltskin as they made the journey to the Wall of Thorns.
As a way of ensuring that the Wall would keep out unwanted visitors and keep those it protected inside it walls, Rumpelstiltskin had enchanted a drop of his blood and placed it on the roots of the thorny vines, making it impossible for anyone not of Rumpelstiltskin's blood to get in or out. With one little touch, the thorns untwisted and pulled back, allowing Rumpelstiltskin to leave the sanctuary of the Moors.
When Rumpelstiltskin arrived at the cottage, he found Baelfire lying in a basket by the kitchen window, once again alone without his guardian pixies. But this time, Baelfire did not seem discontent as he tried to catch some stray, fluffy dandelion seeds that the wind had blown into the house.
Rumpelstiltskin gazed at the infant. Baelfire was a little bigger now than when Rumpelstiltskin had last laid eyes on him, a little plumper even, but still no less adorable—not that Rumpelstiltskin was willing to admit that aloud.
"Quite a scrawny, pitiful little thing, isn't it? It's so ugly, one could almost feel sorry for it," remarked Rumpelstiltskin, disdainfully.
At the sound of Rumpelstiltskin's voice, Baelfire ceased playing with the dandelion seeds and turned to look at Rumpelstiltskin. At once, the baby's face brightened and he smiled and squealed in the delight, once again Baelfire showed only affection for Rumpelstiltskin instead of fear or scorn.
Rumpelstiltskin's lip curled in disgust. "I hate you, Beasty," he said, bluntly. Refusing to leave without leaving a mark, Rumpelstiltskin made a scary face and let out a loud hiss.
But much to Rumpelstiltskin's annoyance, Baelfire just waved his chubby hands and made happy little baby noises, thinking it was all part of some game.
From Belle's throat emitted a birdy laugh that Rumpelstiltskin ignored. Scowling, he attempted to try again but instead pulled back at the sound of approaching footsteps from the upper rooms. Quickly, he and Belle departed from the cottage before they could be seen.
XXX
Over the next few days, Belle continued with her work in spying.
When it became clear that she could glean no further information from Cora, as the mad queen had shut up the castle walls and boarded the windows, making it impossible for Belle to spy on her, Belle's attention was turned to Baelfire and his guardians. Belle hoped that her earlier concerns about the care the pixies could provide for Baelfire were wrong, but what she saw did not allay these worries. She knew something had to be done and soon. Not wanting to act without Rumpelstiltskin's consent, Belle dragged him along with her one warm day.
Rumpelstiltskin had not wanted to go, thinking it would be a colossal waste of time, but what he saw certainly proved to be the opposite. From his hiding place, Rumpelstiltskin could see Nova and Tinker Bell tending to the garden while Blue sat under the shade of a tree, nursing a headache. Baelfire lay in his cradle, wailing loud enough to wake the dead.
"Hush, Baelfire," said Nova, attempting to quiet the infant. When Baelfire continued crying, Nova bit her lip in concern and turned to Blue. "I can't find anything wrong with him, but he won't stop crying. What should I do?"
Blue sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes. "Baelfire is hungry, obviously. So, feed him." Blue then closed her eyes and relaxed, signaling that she wished to be left in peace.
"Feed him? Oh, all right. Tinker Bell, can you hand me that basket?" asked Nova.
Without looking up from her gardening work, Tinker Bell handed Nova the basket of vegetables they'd picked from the garden just half an hour ago.
Nova picked out the nicest carrots and radishes from the basket and waved them in Baelfire's face. "Here you are, sweetie." She plopped them in Baelfire's lap. "Help yourself, there's plenty to spare." She then resumed her gardening, leaving Baelfire to continue to wail in hunger.
Belle shook her head and gestured with her wing, as if to say, "Look? Do you see what I've been saying?"
Rumpelstiltskin rubbed his temple, feeling his own headache starting from Baelfire's wailing. "It's going to starve with those brainless imbeciles looking after it." When Baelfire's wailing grew louder, the noise made the imp wince. "Fine. Fine. I know what needs to happen here."
Rumpelstiltskin was not acting out of kindness, or at least that's what he told himself. He simply refused to listen to another moment of that unholy screeching and nor did he want his curse to be undone before it had a chance to begin.
Rumpelstiltskin walked off just enough to speak to Belle freely without risking being overheard. "Belle, in my aunts' garden, there's scores of honeymilk flowers. Bring one here each day to silence that screeching beasty so we can have some peace and quiet!"
Belle happily nodded and took off in search of the flowers. Honeymilk flowers were a treasure of the Moors. Their milky white and honey-colored freckled petals could not be found anywhere else and their pistils produced the sweetest of milk with a taste of honey instead of the traditional nectar or pollen. Just one could leave anyone, be it a faerie or a human, filled for an entire day and as such, they were loved by all the Fair Folk.
As soon as Belle picked a honeymilk flower, she brought it straight back to the cottage. Rumpelstiltskin watched, not out of curiosity, but rather to ensure that Baelfire wouldn't perish from starvation and ruin the imp's plans and peace of mind.
While the pixies were napping, Belle snuck in through an open window and perched on the edge of Baelfire's cradle. She chirped to get the baby's attention, causing Baelfire to fall silent in curiosity. Belle then placed the dripping flower in Baelfire's hands and he immediately held it to his mouth and began to suckle the sweet milk. Belle grasped the bottom of the cradle with her talons and gently rocked Baelfire while he consumed his meal and soon enough, Baelfire fell asleep, full and content.
Rumpelstiltskin sighed in relief. The child would survive. Satisfied, Rumpelstiltskin returned to the Moors and didn't look back.
And from that day forward, Belle made at least one daily trip to feed Baelfire. With the baby able to drink the honeymilk, his tummy was satisfied and his cries quieted, ensuring the curse would continue and giving his caretakers some peace and quiet.
XXX
Rumpelstiltskin was very, no, exceedingly loathe to admit it, but over the next few years, Belle was not the only one curious about Baelfire.
More than once, Rumpelstiltskin found himself bored with the daily goings-on of the Moorlands, and instead of sitting on his throne at the Faerie Mound, listening to chattering of faeries gossiping or going about their business; Rumpelstiltskin journeyed with Belle to the Thorn Wall. Whereupon, he parted the protective barrier and made his way to the cottage where Baelfire and the pixies dwelled.
On one occasion, Rumpelstiltskin hid himself in the forest near the cottage, watching the occupants go about their daily business. From the windows, he could see Nova making an unholy racket while attempting to cook in the kitchen. Blue was making a terrible mess of the dress she was attempting to sew, clearly unused to the tedious task. Tinker Bell was the only one not making a mess while she picked fruits and vegetables from the garden for a salad.
Baelfire was nowhere in sight, which led Rumpelstiltskin to think the child was either asleep in its bedroom or off somewhere on its own. It didn't surprise Rumpelstiltskin one bit as it was clear that while the pixies meant well, they often more concerned with getting through the timespan of the curse rather than properly caring for their charge. While they were always loving to Baelfire and never unkind, they were quite out of their depth and for the most part, Baelfire fended for himself. Rumpelstiltskin shook his head, mentally cursing Cora for being stupid enough to place her child in the pixies' care.
But then again, what do I care who looks after the brat? thought Rumpelstiltskin, as he prepared to leave. I cursed Cora's son. Why should his fate matter to me? It shouldn't.
But for some reason, it did. It nagged at Rumpelstiltskin in the back of his mind like a sore tooth. But as always, Rumpelstiltskin pushed it to the back of his mind, burying it deep down. Just because the boy had been blessed with faerie magic did not mean that Rumpelstiltskin would fall for the charms of Cora's spawn. He'd doomed Cora child and he had no love in his heart for Baelfire. That was how it had begun and that was how it would remain, forever.
Seeing nothing of interest happening at the cottage, Rumpelstiltskin prepared to leave, only to see some of the forest's trees damaged from the recent thunderstorms. Unable to help himself, Rumpelstiltskin began healing the trees, restoring them to what they'd once been.
"Hello."
Rumpelstiltskin's ears perked at the sound of the voice and looked down to see the backdoor of the cottage opened and three-year-old Baelfire standing in front of him. The little princeling had grown a great deal since Rumpelstiltskin had seen him last. He was no longer a tiny baby, but a three-foot toddler with curly dark hair, brown eyes and rosy cheeks. Evidently, Baelfire had snuck out of the cottage and come to see the cottage's visitor. The child was smiling at Rumpelstiltskin, but the smile was not returned.
Belle, who was sitting on a tree branch up above Rumpelstiltskin's head, watched with piqued interest.
"Go away," said Rumpelstiltskin, not unkindly. "Shoo, be off with you!"
But instead of leaving as Rumpelstiltskin asked, Baelfire surprised the imp by wrapping his arms around Rumpelstiltskin's legs, burying his face in the fabric of Rumpelstiltskin's suit.
Rumpelstiltskin cringed, unaccustomed to the innocent and trusting affection of younglings. "Go away," he repeated, trying to shake Baelfire off. "I don't like children!"
Baelfire looked at Rumpelstiltskin and stretched out his arms. "Up. Up?"
Rumpelstiltskin inwardly groaned but complied with the child's request. He leaned his cane against the trunk of a tree and ignored the pain in his leg as he scooped Baelfire into his arms.
Much to Rumpelstiltskin's surprise, Baelfire reached up and grabbed Rumpelstiltskin's horns and looked at them in awe, like they were something beautiful instead repulsive as Cora had. When Baelfire was done playing with Rumpelstiltskin's horns, Baelfire rested his head against Rumpelstiltskin's shoulder and wrapped his little arms around the imp's neck, sighing in contentment.
Belle made an adoring little squawk that Rumpelstiltskin ignored before shooting a warning look. He turned back to Baelfire and without thinking, stroked the child's back soothingly. Rumpelstiltskin stopped after a moment and tried to ignore the warm feeling spreading through his body. He tried to ignore the fresh scent of Baelfire's hair and the fluttering heartbeat against Rumpelstiltskin's own, and the way it made him instinctively want to tighten his hold on Baelfire and keep the child safe. Rumpelstiltskin pushed all of that back and buried it down deep.
This is Cora's spawn. My enemy and the enemy of the Moors, thought Rumpelstiltskin. I can't afford to succumb to weakness. It was too much, just too much. Rumpelstiltskin needed to leave and rest his leg before the pain was unbearable or worse, he succumbed to Baelfire's charms.
Fortunately, Baelfire was done being held and babbled to be put down, something Rumpelstiltskin was all too happy to do. He put Baelfire down and walked back to the Moors without looking back, ignoring Baelfire's babbles of farewell and his waving good-bye.
But Rumpelstiltskin hadn't gone far when he felt a familiar tug. An idea sparked in his mind, a rather tempting mischievous idea for something that he'd hadn't done in years. It would be a welcome break from his serious thoughts and darker life that he led now and a brief reminder of the happier times in his life when he'd played innocent, harmless pranks on other faeries. That thought alone brought a rare, genuine happy smile to Rumpelstiltskin's face.
XXX
After lunch that very same day, Baelfire was left upstairs in his room to take a nap and his guardian pixies sat downstairs.
Nova was attempting to knit a scarf for Baelfire and failing miserably as she kept dropping stitches. Blue and Tinker Bell played a game of checkers at the kitchen table. While Nova was happily humming to herself, focusing on her work, the checkers game was not going smoothly as Tinker Bell and Blue kept bickering like children about the game as well as whatever popped into their heads. It had become routine for them ever since their exile from the Moors. If they weren't arguing about what to do each day, they were arguing about Blue's decision that got them exiled, if not that then they were arguing over their forced lives as humans living in the middle of nowhere and being unable do anything faerie-like. It was all quite tiring.
When Tinker Bell left the table to get a drink of water, Blue gave into temptation and moved another checkers piece. But no sooner had she moved the piece, Tinker Bell swooped in like a hawk and grabbed Blue's hand, looking furious.
"I saw that!" said Tinker Bell, angrily. "Little Miss Honest, cheating at the checkers game. Again!"
Blue rolled her eyes as she yanked her hand free of Tinker Bell's tight grip. "You're imagining things, Tinker Bell. I didn't cheat. I'm a pixie of integrity, something you clearly need to brush up on."
Tinker Bell's face turned bright red and she was about to add more fuel to the fire when Nova decided to intervene.
"Actually, Blue, you did cheat. I saw you move that piece," said Nova.
Tinker Bell's coloring returned and she looked smug as she took her seat. "Ha! You see? Nova never lies."
Blue sighed in irritation and was forced to admit defeat. "Fine. We'll start again. Happy?"
"Very," said Tinker Bell.
They put the checker pieces back in their original places and began the game again. But they hadn't taken more than a single turn each when drops of water fell from the ceiling onto Blue's head.
Plink! Plink! Plink!
Alarmed, Blue looked at the ceiling but saw no leaks and she even looked out the window but the sun was shining and the sky was clear. There wasn't even a hint of rain. Blue's alarm turned to irritation as she realized the droplets were being caused by magic and she shot Tinker Bell a dirty look.
"I know you're unhappy with me, but that's no reason to use magic when we swore we wouldn't!" said Blue, angrily.
Tinker Bell stared, baffled. "What're you talking about? I haven't done anything!"
Blue scoffed. "You expected me to believe neither one of you is doing that?" She pointed up above and as if for proof, more droplets of water fell directly onto Blue's head.
Nova immediately held up her hands in a surrender position. "It's not me!"
Plink! Plink! Plink! Plink!
Blue finally lost her temper and slammed her hands down onto the table, making the other two jump a foot in fright. "Knock it off, Tink!"
"I told you, it's not me!" protested Tinker Bell, indignantly. "Why do you have to blame me for everything? You're the one who causes trouble!"
Blue's eyes narrowed but she was silent. She glanced up at the ceiling, her shoulders tense and pensive as she anxiously waited for the next wave of water to hit. When no more droplets of rain came down, Blue relaxed and the game resumed its pace.
And then a torrent of water, a great thunderstorm complete with the booming thunder and lightning, appeared out of nowhere inside the house. Within moments, Blue was completely drenched and screaming as she tried to keep dry by using the checkerboard as a hat. Tinker Bell and Nova laughed loudly until the same happened to them and soon enough, they were soaked to the bone and screeching blames at one another while the thunderstorm extended itself to every room in the small cottage except for Baelfire's own bedroom upstairs.
In fact, the boy had awoken from his nap and was happily playing with his toys, while being contentedly oblivious to the chaos that was happening downstairs.
XXX
Outside the cottage, hidden in the bushes, sat Rumpelstiltskin and Belle, both of whom were laughing so hard that their stomachs hurt and they found it hard to breathe.
It was so amusing to rattle the pixies and watch them run around the house like chickens with their heads cut off. And in all honesty, they made it far too easy.
Belle wiped tears from her eyes as she slowly ceased laughing. "All right, I'll admit it. That was quite funny." When Rumpelstiltskin had told Belle of the prank he planned to pull, Belle had been skeptical and hesitant that it would be enjoyable. But Rumpelstiltskin had quickly proved her wrong.
Rumpelstiltskin grinned. "Yes. Quite amusing to watch the gnats act like helpless idiots, isn't it?" It had been quite an enjoyable afternoon, watching the pixies succumb to the chaos Rumpelstiltskin had created. If he could've, Rumpelstiltskin would've made it last all day. It was a happy, carefree moment, one of the few that he could indulge in.
But all things must come to an end and Rumpelstiltskin's brief moment was one of them. He was tired and his leg was bothering him more than ever. With a tired sigh, Rumpelstiltskin picked up his cane and began making the return journey home to the Moors.
When Rumpelstiltskin return to the rowan tree, he groaned as he stretched out his crippled leg as best he could. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the smug look on Belle's face. She'd been unusually chipper and smug all day.
"Don't you say a word, Belle. Not one word," warned Rumpelstiltskin. It was bad enough that he'd had a moment's weakness with Cora's child, he did not need Belle rubbing it in.
Belle shifted into human form and giggled. "Fine, I won't. Can I get you anything for your leg? You're limping more than usual today."
Relieved with the change of subject, Rumpelstiltskin nodded. "Some rosemary and clover would be nice if you can find some. No poppies." Rumpelstiltskin had had an aversion to poppies ever since Cora had spiked his drink with it.
Belle nodded. "I'll get right on it. Maybe I'll visit Baelfire while I'm out and see if he'd like to play in the rain today."
Belle laughed as she shifted into bird form and flew off to escape Rumpelstiltskin's half-hearted swat at her head.
"It was one time," muttered Rumpelstiltskin, to himself. "Just one time. And it will be the last."
XXX
As the old saying goes, the best-laid plans often go awry.
Though Belle continued her daily flights to spy on Cora, there still wasn't much to report as Belle could not gain access to the castle. But she did report of whispered rumors from the castle maids and even the guards who talked of the Queen going mad after the christening. Cora had, by all accounts, completely lost her mind in the wake of Rumpelstiltskin's curse. Paranoid and convinced that Rumpelstiltskin would come back any day to wreak further revenge, she'd been shut up in the castle for several years. The windows of the castle were boarded up, the drawbridge raised and all the guards at the entrances had been doubled. Cora was not taking any chances.
As expected, Rumpelstiltskin reveled in the pain that his curse was causing Cora. Now she knew how he and his kind felt. Now Cora knew how it felt to be helpless, to be a victim, to lose everything that made life worth living. Now, she knew what it was like to live in fear and always looking over your shoulder with no way of knowing what terrible thing was going to happen next. It was a small fraction of the pain Cora and her kind had caused Rumpelstiltskin and all other faeries and it was going to get worse before it got better, if it did at all. Soon enough, the war that she'd begun would end and Rumpelstiltskin would be the victor. Once that was done, the Moors would never again fear the touch of Cora's accursed family.
But still, with Cora being more or less out of the picture and life in the Moors settled down to a peaceful existence, Rumpelstiltskin's days became dull except on the days when he gave into Belle's pestering and followed her to watch Baelfire from the shadows.
Privately, Rumpelstiltskin was pleased that the thunderstorm in their cottage had made them change their way. After they'd been soaked to the bone and nearly struck by the lightning, they'd realized that they hadn't thought to check on their charge and after making sure Baelfire was safe, decided enough was enough. It was unianimously decided between the three of them that Baelfire was to have one of them watching him at all times so that he would be kept safe. So far, their plan worked as they were no longer as unintentionally neglectful of Baelfire as they'd once been and they took greater care of them than they had in years.
Four days a week, for two hours after breakfast, Blue taught Baelfire of things a little prince needed to know, such as reading, writing, etiquette and the like, all to the best of her ability, wanting him to return to the castle an educated gentleman. On Fridays and Saturdays, Tinker Belle took Baelfire into the garden or to the village to learn of flora and fauna, helping him identify plants and teaching him to treat animals with respect. And on Sundays, Nova would spend time with Baelfire in the kitchen, having fun learning to cook and bake and even sew on occasion. Baelfire took well to all his lessons and excelled, and he always obeyed his guardians, whom he called his "aunts," without any complaint or backtalk.
Thankfully, life for Baelfire was not all work and no play. Twice a month, Baelfire and his aunts went out on little trips, usually for a picnic or a long walk into the forests and valley to see nature changing with the seasons as they came.
One bright fall afternoon, when Baelfire was ten years old, he was out on a picnic with his aunts. They were on a grassy Cliffside that overlooked the village and had a beautiful view of the valley below as well as Cora's castle in the horizon. They were all completely unaware that Rumpelstiltskin was lying lazily in a tree on the other side of the cliff while Belle kept a bird's eye on the situation at hand.
The pixies had laid out a brightly colored blue quilt, patterned with pink flowers and emerald green leaves. There was an abundance of fresh apple cider in a pitcher, a bowl of freshly-picked berries, nut bread still warm from the oven and a large wedge of yellow cheese. It was quiet a delicious banquet of food, but Baelfire paid little attention to it. His lack of hunger made him uninterested in food and instead, he was more focused on playing with the large, brown leather ball he'd gotten for his birthday. While his aunts delved into their meal, Baelfire was rolling and kicking his ball everywhere he could, getting stronger and faster and having more fun with each step he took.
"Energetic little thing, isn't he?" remarked Rumpelstiltskin, as he tossed Belle a nut. "He doesn't have the foggiest about what's going on. Not a single inkling."
Belle, who could not talk with her mouth full of the nut, just nodded in agreement.
Rumpelstiltskin was struck, not for the first time by Baelfire's innocence. The child believed he was an orphaned boy that was being raised by his loving aunts. He had no idea of the truth. He didn't know of his true bloodline, that his father was a fool who'd married a viper or what terrible acts his mother had committed. He didn't know what the future held for him at all. Baelfire just knew that it was a beautiful fall day and there was fun to be had. It was almost pitiful. Still, Rumpelstiltskin felt a wave of anger inside. The imp had been that trusting and innocent once and look where it had gotten him.
Shaking his head, Rumpelstiltskin popped a blackberry into his mouth and tried to clear his head of those negative thoughts. He needed something else to focus on for a little while, something other than his anger, just for a moment. And what better way to do that than to mess with the pixies yet again?
Rumpelstiltskin's eye twinkled as he waved his fingers, giving Tinker Bell's hair a hard pull. As expected, Tinker Bell yelped, looked to her side and immediately thought Blue had done it and pulled Blue's hair even harder in retaliation. Angry, Blue smacked Tinker Bell's hand and then felt her hair pulled on her opposite side where Nova was sitting. Moments later, there was an all-out hair pulling, slapping war between the three pixies.
Belle shifted into human form and laughed. Rumpelstiltskin even chuckled and closed his eyes as he reveled in the shrieking of the pesky gnats. Once again, they were all too easy to trick and prank. But Rumpelstiltskin liked it that way, it made it all the more fun.
Suddenly, Rumpelstiltskin's relaxing moment was interrupted when Belle unexpectedly grabbed Rumpelstiltskin's hand and pointed to Baelfire.
"Rumpel, look!" she cried. "Baelfire—"
Rumpelstiltskin groaned in annoyance. "What, Belle? What's—oh." Rumpelstiltskin's voice wandered off when he saw what Belle was so frantic about. Baelfire had kicked his ball too hard and was running to catch up with it. In the boy's haste, he was running straight into a field of very tall reeds that blocked his line of sight, preventing him from seeing the cliff's edge. "The little beasty's about to fall off the cliff. How deliciously charming."
Belle gave Rumpelstiltskin a scathing look. "Rumpel!"
Refusing to let Baelfire perish in such a manner, Belle turned back into her bird form and attempted to alert the pixies of what was happening, but the pixies were so caught up in their squabble that they didn't even notice Belle's frantic calls. Out of desperation, Belle even tried to get Baelfire's attention, but the wind picked up and blew Belle back into Rumpelstiltskin's tree before she even got the chance.
Rumpelstiltskin grabbed Belle when she flew his direction and gently stroked her while healing her body of the bruises she'd sustained when she'd crashed. Belle was grateful, but wouldn't stop making frantic cries, gesturing with her wings of the danger Baelfire was in. All the while, Rumpelstiltskin kept his gaze on Baelfire who kept getting closer and closer to the cliff's edge. First Baelfire was forty feet, then thirty, twenty and then…
Instead of falling to his demise, Baelfire and his ball were picked up by the branches and vine that littered the cliff's wall. Gently and carefully, as though they were fragile as a bird's egg, Baelfire and his ball were carried to safety. Once safe, Baelfire picked up his ball and went back to his aunts, who were complete and utterly oblivious to what had almost happened.
Rumpelstiltskin lowered his hand, stopping the spell he'd just cast. When Belle heaved a sigh of relief and gave Rumpelstiltskin a strange look, Rumpelstiltskin stared back and said, "What?"
So, he'd saved Baelfire's life. What of it? It didn't mean that Rumpelstiltskin actually liked Cora's spawn. That was ludicrous. There was just no sense in the boy perishing before the curse could be fulfilled. Nothing more, nothing less.
XXX
More years went by.
With each passing day, Cora grew more and more paranoid and slowly, her kingdom as well as her life in general, fell into ruin. Her kingdom was in a perpetual state of mourning for the prince they would never get to see grow into an heir worthy of the throne. In contrast, Baelfire continued to grow into a fine young man and despite his young age of just fourteen years, he was good-looking as well as kind and responsible. In his ignorance of the curse, Baelfire's life was a joyous one and he lived each day to the fullest.
Normally, Rumpelstiltskin would've reacted in some way to all that was occurring but for once, Cora and Baelfire were the least of Rumpelstiltskin's concerns. On the night of Baelfire's fourteenth birthday, the imp was on edge, more so than usual and no one could blame him. For tonight was the night of the Lunar Eclipse, an event that took place once every ten thousand years, a night that all, both human and faerie dreaded and it was no wonder. For it was on this night that the flaw in the spell that banished the Black Fairy and others like her, shined through. On the night of the Lunar Eclipse, a night of pure darkness, all manner of dark creature temporarily broke free of their prison and would wreak their havoc upon innocents.
Normally, the creatures would just come through and for the brief span of the eclipse and the magic that caused their banishment would force them back as soon as the eclipse was over, but Rumpelstiltskin planned to change all that. Tonight, he planned to fix the flaw in the banishment spell and seal the darkness away forever, ensuring that such wicked things would never again threaten the Fair Folk or anyone else. Doing it would be difficult, very physically taxing, but it would be worth it. One less threat against the Moors and the rest of faerie kind.
Rumpelstiltskin had prepared the necessary spell and he stood at the Thorn Wall where the veil was at its thinnest and the incident would take place. Rumpelstiltskin was fully prepared for whatever came his way. Or so he believed, but events rarely unfold as one plans, especially for an imp.
The full moon glowed brightly as everyone, be them a human or a faerie, hid in their respective homes. The faeries that had previously fought in wars, stood guard over the smaller faeries as per Rumpelstiltskin's orders, ready to attack should the imp's plan fail. And then, before anyone could even blink the eclipse began and a dark shadow fell upon the realm. The ground rumbled and split and from the darkness emerged one of the most dangerous dark creatures of all: ogres.
An ogre was a creature that was neither faerie nor human. They were tall, almost fifty feet in height, with large muscles the size of oak trees, sharp teeth and fingernails, and quite hideous to look at. Their physical strength was beyond comparison. It was said their ferocious war was strong enough to blow one's hair back. They did not communicate with words, only roars and grunts and nor did they do what they did for a reason, for they could not be reasoned with. What havoc and destruction they wreaked, they did simply because they could, nothing more. And that made them far too dangerous to be permitted to remain in Rumpelstiltskin's realm
Thankfully, just the one ogre emerged, which made things a little easier. The beast was armed with a great axe and wore spiked armor and judging from the look in its eyes, it was in a foul mood, which made it a formidable foe, but it was still no match for Rumpelstiltskin.
Quickly, Rumpelstiltskin dodged the swing of the ogre's axe and then quickly cast a spell that sent the ogre flying into a nearby boulder, rending the monster unconscious. With his prey down, Rumpelstiltskin raised his cane and plunged it into the ground, setting off a shower of sparks and causing vines to emerge from the ground, which wrapped around the ogre, binding him. Then Rumpelstiltskin chanted the incantation under his breath, summoning forth every ounce of magic in him and in the surrounding nature, begging for their assistance in stopping the darkness while there was still time.
Moments later, Rumpelstiltskin's prayers were heard and the magic heeded his command. There was a great flash of light and then the ground opened up once again and slimy black liquid reached up and dragged the ogre back into the depths. Once again, Rumpelstiltskin raised his cane and plunged it into the ground and with that final blow, sealed the darkness away forever.
His mission accomplished, Rumpelstiltskin's knees buckled with exhaustion and he would've collapsed had Belle not come and grabbed him. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and allowed him to lean on her as she led him to a rock, where she helped him to sit.
"Is it over?" she asked, quietly.
Rumpelstiltskin nodded. "It's over." It had taken nearly all his energy, but it was over. The Moors were safe again and this time, the threat would never return.
Belle sighed in relief and then smiled. "You should be proud of yourself. You've—did you hear that?" Belle's ears perked up at the sound of a scream coming from the other side of the Thorn Wall. "Who was that? Was that—?"
"Baelfire," muttered Rumpelstiltskin, as he shakily rose to his feet. His heart skipped a beat when he heard the sound an ogre's growl.
"Was that—? But how—?!" gasped Belle, horrified.
"Darkness often tricks," growled Rumpelstiltskin, as he parted the Thorn Wall. "A second beast must've escaped when I had my back turned and slinked off through the shadows, it's the only explanation for it being on the other side."
"And Baelfire's caught in it," said Belle. "If it catches up with him, he'll die and go after anything that moves. We have to stop it!" Without waiting for a reply, she shifted into her bird form and took off, not wanting to waste a single moment in stopping the ogre.
Rumpelstiltskin hurried as best he could through the pathway and to Baelfire's location, angrily hissing and muttering to himself as he did so. He cursed himself for not realizing there would be a great price to his victory over the darkness and mostly, he cursed the pixies for not taking better care of their charge.
"What the devil are those idiotic gnats thinking, letting Baelfire out tonight?" hissed Rumpelstiltskin. Of all the harebrained things that could've happened! He knew the pixies could be stupid, but allowing Baelfire out of the cottage on tonight of all nights was beyond foolish as well as reckless. The darkness was sealed away forever, but that wouldn't matter if the ogre had its way. "How could he have left the cottage at this forsaken hour, never mind this night? Doesn't he know what's at stake? What am I saying? Of course he doesn't! How could he know when those fools probably never told him what to expect?"
But Rumpelstiltskin didn't have time to dwell on that. The ogre was nearly upon Baelfire and when it caught up, it would surely kill him, brutally and painfully.
Quickly, Rumpelstiltskin parted the Thorn Wall and hurried to Baelfire's location. It did not take long to find the boy. He was running for his life and carrying something underneath his shawl, clutching it to his chest for dear life. Suddenly, Baelfire tripped over a root, injuring his ankle as he fell onto his back. Unable to flee his pursuer, Baelfire closed his eyes and braced himself for what was surely to come.
Like magic, Belle swooped in and attacked the ogre, going straight for its face, attempting to weaken it. She'd managed to injure the beast enough to prevent it from harming Baelfire when the ogre's body suddenly became glowed with bright red light before turning into dust. The beast was dead, which was a far kinder mercy than his disgusting companion had been.
Baelfire was breathing hard and shaking like a leaf as he slowly sat up, unable to believe what had just happened.
"Who's there?" he called out.
Rumpelstiltskin, who hid in the shadows, did not reply. He did not desire to make his presence known to the boy just yet, if ever. Belle, however, took a different approach. She flew down onto Baelfire's shoulder and gently nuzzled his cheek as she made soft bird noises.
Within moments, Baelfire was calming down. "Pretty bird," he murmured. "Thank you."
Belle chirped, making him smile, and then she tilted her head in questioning.
Guessing Belle's thoughts, Baelfire sighed. "I know I shouldn't be out right now. My aunts did warn me, but I was afraid my friend would get hurt." He lifted his shawl to reveal a little fawn that was sporting a white bandage on leg. "She got lost from her mother and hurt in a hunter's trap. I was taking her home to help her get better before I returned her to her mother. Does that make sense?"
Belle chirped as she nodded. She understood all too well.
From his hiding place, Rumpelstiltskin bit back the urge to scoff and shake his head. Baelfire's acts had not been that of a rebellious child, but that of a merciful person. Rumpelstiltskin didn't know whether to praise the boy for being so brave and selfless or scold him for being so incredibly reckless and going out alone without some form of help. Eventually, Rumpelstiltskin chose to do neither one, reasoning the boy had been terrorized enough for one night.
Knowing that Baelfire could not stay there all night and wanting to make sure Baelfire and his little friend were safely returned, Rumpelstiltskin flicked his hand and wisps of golden magic emerged from his fingertips. Within moments, both Baelfire's and the fawn's injuries were healed completely.
Baelfire gasped in amazement and then looked in Rumpelstiltskin's direction. Though he could not see Rumpelstiltskin in the darkness, he had seen the wisps of magic.
"Thank you," said Baelfire, gratefully. "Thank you so much."
Rumpelstiltskin was still silent. If you knew who I was, boy, you wouldn't be thanking me. Baelfire was grateful now, but if he knew the truth, that would not be the case. And privately, Rumpelstiltskin doubted that Baelfire would even remember anything of the accursed night.
Rumpelstiltskin was snapped out of his thoughts when the fawn's mother appeared, having been lured in by Rumpelstiltskin's magic. Once she was reunited with her child, the two of them took off for home with Baelfire waving farewell. When his friend departed, Baelfire turned to Belle, who was still on his shoulder. "I should be getting home now, Pretty Bird, and so should you. Thank you and good-night."
Belle chirped and nuzzled Baelfire's cheek once more before taking off into the darkness.
Unbeknownst to Baelfire, Belle and Rumpelstiltskin followed close behind him to make sure he got home safely. Once he was snug in his bed, sound asleep with his guardian pixies none the wiser, Belle and Rumpelstiltskin went home, quite exhausted and ready for some much needed sleep.
It had been quite a night. And although if asked, Rumpelstiltskin would insist that he'd only done what he'd done to protect the Moors, not out of any affection for Cora's child, he was beginning to wonder if he was deceiving himself. If something had changed within him, something that he dare not speak of, lest it become real.
XXX
As the days grew longer, then shorter and the longer again, the seasons changed from one to the next and then in the blink of an eye, more than a decade had passed following the night of the eclipse.
The Thorn Wall continued to grow stronger with the help of the seasons and Rumpelstiltskin's magic with each passing day. Life in the Moors continued to be peaceful and prosperous under Rumpelstiltskin's reign while life in Storybrooke under Cora's continued to be dismal and uneventful. But neither one meant much to Baelfire, who was unaware of it all as he continued to grow into the young man he was prophesied to become.
Though he'd been blessed with faerie magic at birth, their gifts did not bear fruit until Baelfire himself made the choice to follow them. For that is the price of a christening blessing. One can be blessed in many ways, but unless certain choices are made, no one could truly foresee what would come of them. And in regards to Baelfire, he was everything that was promised and more.
Baelfire's once pudgy, rosy cheeks thinned out and became fair. His spindly legs grew long and lean, so much so that he easily towered over his aunts and he was often relied upon for reaching high places that they could not. His thick, dark curls became smooth as a bird's wing and he kept his locks neatly trimmed. He was also quite strong and his muscles were very well-toned, which only added to his good looks. Where there had once been a scrawny young boy, there now stood a handsome young man who often caught the eye of the girls in his village.
But though Baelfire was considered very handsome and the envy of most of the menfolk, Baelfire was also something an odd one as far as the villagers were concerned. No one knew quite what to make of the kind but strange young man who lived with his spinster aunts. Baelfire always helped out anyone who needed it, always had a kind word to say and treated everyone that he knew with courtesy and respect, and never complained when he worked hard to support his aunts. But still, Baelfire was considered unique. He had very few, if any, friends his own age in the village. If that wasn't enough, while most of the menfolk in the village went about hunting and drinking in the tavern once the day's work was finished, Baelfire took a different path entirely.
Raised far away from the lofty palace and the world of human temptations that he remembered naught, Baelfire was content to spend his days out in the forest where he connected easily with the animals who resided there. Unlike his mother, Baelfire treated every animal he met with gentle kindness, patiently working to gain their trust and then extending the hand of friendship. No matter if they had wings, hooves or talons, the result was the same. In fact, there was not an animal that Baelfire didn't love and the feeling was reciprocated by all accounts. But Baelfire's favorite animal of all was Belle, whom he called, "Pretty Bird,' and whom he spent most of his time with, either reading or simply playing together.
Rumpelstiltskin, who'd continued to watch Baelfire throughout the young man's life, always acting as a guardian shadow, never ceased to be amazed at just how attuned Baelfire with nature. Aside from his dark hair, Baelfire seemed to bear very little of Cora's qualities. Baelfire was her opposite in every way that one could've imagined. What surprised Rumpelstiltskin even more was Baelfire's fascination with the Wall of Thorns.
Baelfire had happened upon it by chance one afternoon when he'd slipped out of the cottage for a little peace and quiet, away from his aunts. Captivated by the great barricade, Baelfire found himself returning on more than one occasion, trying to peek through the thick, thorn-covered branches in hopes of seeing the forbidden realm that lay behind it. He'd been told tales of the Moors but it did not satisfy Baelfire's curiosity and he longed to see it for himself. From the time he was small child, Baelfire had always wondered at the world around him, but it was the faerie world that interested him the most, a fact that both interested and unnerved Rumpelstiltskin.
One chilly, snow-covered winter's day, Rumpelstiltskin was watching Baelfire, who was, as always, trying to catch a glimpse of the Moors. The moment was interrupted by the clattering sound of unwanted guests making their arrival.
Rumpelstiltskin peered down from his hiding place and his anger aroused at the sight of Cora's armed soldiers, who were not only protecting a shipment to the castle but were stopping for supper in front of Wall of Thorns. Rumpelstiltskin couldn't believe the audacity of the soldiers. Hadn't their last beating taught them a lesson? Clearly not. Rumpelstiltskin would just have to teach them a new one.
One of the soldiers spotted Baelfire and tapped the Captain on the shoulder.
"Captain, look! That man. Is that him?" asked the soldier, sounding scared. "Is that Rumpelstiltskin?" Being new to his job, the solider didn't know what the infamous imp looked like and was on edge.
The Captain, who'd been chopping wood for the campfire, stopped what he was doing and stood up to get a better look at the man the solider was referring to. Having been at the christening when the imp had cast his curse, the soldier knew what to look for and the one standing before the Wall of Thorns did not possess any of the qualities necessary.
"No. It's not him," said the Captain. "It's just some peasant boy."
The soldier sighed in relief and then looked puzzled. "What's a peasant boy doing out here?"
The Captain rolled his eyes. "Do I look like I know? I don't know what that peasant's business is and frankly, I don't care!" he barked. "I just want to get out of here as quickly as possible. If that imp finds us here before we deliver this to the Queen, we'll be lucky to leave with our heads! Now, shut your mouth and get back to work!"
The soldier looked alarmed and quickly obeyed his leader.
Having heard enough, Rumpelstiltskin quickly formed a plan in his mind and then turned to Belle. "Bring them to me."
Belle nodded and then with the aid of Rumpelstiltskin's new spell, shifted not into a bird, but a great black wolf. She was the size of a small elephant with thick, black fur, deadly fangs extended to her chin and long sharp talons extended from her giant paws. She looked like a very terrifying creature. The only thing that wasn't scary was her eyes, which still retained Belle's gentle personality. She bounded off.
As soon as Belle's howls echoed throughout the forest, the soldiers and their leader froze in their tracks and frantically searched for the source of the voice. They braced themselves for an attack while their enemy took advantage of their distraction and went straight for Baelfire. Not wanting the young man to be caught in the crossfire, Rumpelstiltskin blew a handful of enchanted sleeping dust onto Baelfire, rendering him unconscious and making him float several feet in the air out of harm's way.
With Cora's son taken care of, Rumpelstiltskin turned his attention to the soldiers, who were backing away in fear of Belle. She'd made her presence known by growling loudly and snapping her dripping fangs at the men. When she bounded towards them, intending to pounce, the soldiers fled in fear of their lives, only to stop in their tracks once again when they discovered that they were being driven into a trap. For there stood Rumpelstiltskin in all his glory, looking dangerously calm.
"My, my, what do we have here?" said Rumpelstiltskin. "Guests! But where are my manners? Allow me to show you some of my famous hospitality."
As they were boxed in with nowhere to run, the scared soldiers huddled together in an attempt to protect each other, but it was of no use.
Rumpelstiltskin raised his arms and made a swirling gesture with his hands. At once, the winds picked up speed and the soldiers were swept into a powerful tornado. The force of the tornado caused their armor and weapons to drop onto the ground like raindrops hitting the forest floor. When the soldiers were no longer armed and armored, Rumpelstiltskin gave one final flick of his wrists and the soldiers were bumped into one another, rendering them unconscious before they were deposited on the other side of the human kingdom.
Pleased with the result of his work, Rumpelstiltskin smiled but his smile quickly faded as he looked upon a helmet that lay on the ground. His curiosity piqued, Rumpelstiltskin knelt down and held his hand just close enough for the metal to heat and burn.
"Iron!" hissed Rumpelstiltskin, as he pulled his hand back. He quickly cast a spell that rendered the iron weapons into dust, but it did little to calm him down. "Cora, you cowardly little worm!"
Rumpelstiltskin was angry. Cora had remembered the innocent remark of iron burning faeries and had decided to ensure she had a weapon against Rumpelstiltskin. No doubt she was planning to use the iron against Rumpelstiltskin after the curse was fulfilled. It was clever, but no less infuriating. Instead of facing Rumpelstiltskin herself, Cora was taking the coward's way out. It shouldn't have surprised him but it did. It was also another, possibly much bigger, problem for Rumpelstiltskin to deal with. He'd been lucky this time and he knew that the next battle might not be the same. If there were more soldiers with more iron weapons, the odds of him making it out alive were quite slim. And if he died, who would protect the Moors?
Rumpelstiltskin was snapped out his thoughts when Belle tapped him on the shoulder. She was in her human form again and leading the still slumbering Baelfire around by his ankle.
"What do you intend to do now?" asked Belle, gesturing to Baelfire.
Rumpelstiltskin did not reply at first as he considered this. "I wonder…" he mused. An idea came to him. An insane, potentially deadly idea. "What if we were take Baelfire to the other side of the Wall?"
Belle's eyes widened in surprise. That was the last suggestion Belle had expected Rumpelstiltskin to make. "Take him to the Moors? Are you sure?"
"Do you object?"
Belle shook her head. "No, I don't object. But I do wonder what you're thinking, Rumpel."
"You're not the only one, Belle," admitted Rumpelstiltskin. He didn't know what he was thinking, other than his curiosity was piqued. Logically, it made sense for Baelfire to go to the Moors as it was safe there from Cora's soldiers who might mistake Baelfire for a peasant and not care if he were caught in the crossfire. And Rumpelstiltskin wanted to know what the young man would think of the Moors. "I can't help but wonder what Bae would think of the Moors."
If I do this, if I take this risk, there's no telling what Baelfire will do, thought Rumpelstiltskin. Would he see the beauty of the Moors or be frightened of it? Or worse, would he be like every other human before him and try to destroy it? Am I being foolish to even consider this? Or is the best decision, given the circumstances?
Belle raised an eyebrow at the unintentional nickname of Cora's son but said nothing on the subject. "Do what you think is best, Rumpel. I'll stand by you, whatever you choose."
Rumpelstiltskin shot Belle a grateful look before making his decision.