The Pirate: Chapter 7 "A Deal Has Been Struck"


Mr. Gold rapidly plummeted toward the bottom of the sea. There was an unusual sense of calm about him that was almost haunting. There was a form of strangeness about this man to the mermen that followed after him as he fell. Mr. Gold's magic had worked like a charm; the potion allowed him to breathe, speak, and move magically underwater but he would keep the latter two abilities to himself for the moment. He subtly maneuvered himself to come to rest on some coral. The mermen that had followed him down, slowly spiraled around him and approached him menacingly and spoke to each other.

"How long do you think it'll take for this one to drown?"

"He's lasted a while. Perhaps the weight of the sea will crush his skull first."

Mr. Gold stared back at them with a stone cold gaze and they were taken aback by his demeanor. They realized that he could survive underwater, and a cold sensation of fear trickled down their spines.

"Something's wrong, he doesn't seem…normal."

"What could he be?"

The mermen looked back at each other, terrified of Mr. Gold. Even though he was enchained, they sensed a danger emanating out from him.

"The surface dwellers, they've cast a demon onto Atlantis! He must have caused so much wretchedness that they've banished him and cursed this monster on to us!"

"What should we do with him?!"

"We shall take him before King Triton! The power of his trident is great, he will be able to rid us of this...creature."

The mermen carefully reached for the chains around Mr. Gold, looking up at him, and tried to notice any reaction. Mr. Gold looked down at their hands as they reached, and then inched his eyes up at them, sending a tremble through his captors. The nervousness shared between the two was perfect for him. They were scared enough to take him to Triton but believed themselves safe enough to escort him enchained. The two mermen swam off, carrying Mr. Gold by his chains. The Atlantean palace was only a short distance away; it truly was a sight as it glowed a bright shade of gold under the water.

Triton sat high on his throne, looking down at the two mermen who approached with Mr. Gold in tow. Mr. Gold hung his head, hiding his face from the king. Triton's voice had a presence all its own; it boomed in the sea powerfully as he spoke.

"What is this. . .thing you've brought before me?"

The two mermen threw Mr. Gold down before the feet of Triton, and cowered back timidly. Mr. Gold knew his moment was at hand. Depending on his actions now, he would would leave with the trident, or he would die here under the sea.

"Your Majesty, the humans have cast. . .this demon down upon us. He is able to live in our waters — he cannot drown! He does not succumb to the sea!"

Triton looked skeptically at Mr. Gold, the king's eyes appeared to be deep in thought. After several moments, a chill went through his system, and Triton's face ran white with dread.

"There's only been one surface dweller that has been able to enter the kingdom of Atlantis and that's—"

Mr. Gold broke the chains around him with a powerful blast of magic, sending his captors flying back. He looked up confidently at Triton and exclaimed proudly, "So glad you remember me, and, guess what, Your Majesty? I'm here to collect."

When Regina had come to Mr. Gold with this mission to Atlantis, she was not aware of the history he had shared with the Atlantean people. Unbeknownst to Regina, she was not the only one to seek control of the trident before. Years ago, the sea witch, Ursula, also sought to gain power over the sea. When Triton's youngest daughter, Ariel, fell in love with a human, Ursula seized her opportunity. In the princess's desperation, she turned to the sea witch for a means to become human. The consequences from her deal with Ursula left Ariel a prisoner of the sea witch with the stipulation that she be set free in exchange for the trident. Rather than give in to the Ursula's demands, Triton turned to the Dark One for assistance. Foreseeing that there would come a time when he would require something of Triton, Rumpelstiltskin agreed to assist him in his plight. Rumpelstiltskin's power proved too great for the sea witch; he was able to defeat and imprison her. As for Ariel, Rumpelstiltskin restored her to human form, allowing her to return to her prince. The price for his deeds was one unnamed favor from Triton.

Triton looked back down at Mr. Gold, his face still pale and his body still full of uneasiness as he tried to regain his composure and some semblance of opulence.

"What do you want?"

Mr. Gold approached the throne closer, leaned in and said quickly, "Your trident."

Triton's expression quickly turned to one of abhorrence, but before he could speak, Mr. Gold interjected, "Need I remind you, Triton, that a deal has been struck. Now, if you decide to break it; I shall set the sea-witch free and strip away your daughter's human form." Mr. Gold closed in, and continued, threateningly—his words piercing like knives in Triton's ears. "I wouldn't care to imagine poor Ariel's fate, should she be forced to face the wrath of the sea-witch."

Triton fixed his eyes on his trident as he held it in his hand by his side. Pure defeat and anguish engulfed the Atlantean King. He glared back at Mr. Gold, then held the trident out to him, and very crestfallenly said,

"Take it."