David didn't know what to do. The past few weeks, things had been uncomfortable every time he and Snow were together. It had been like this ever since that one lesson.

What was she thinking? What he wouldn't give to see into her mind. She suspected him. She had to. Why else would she be so distant these past few weeks?

During their lessons, she was very silent. They no longer talked afterward like they had before. She would always stay, sometimes for over an hour before, just talking. Sometimes about the kingdom and her responsibilities, and sometimes about little unimportant things that only they found interesting. Now, although she never seemed to avoid him, he always felt a barrier between them.

He looked at the wooden knife in his hands. It was the one James had given her when they were children, and that she had given him the day of her birthday.

How he wished he had really been a part of her life before. Without all the deceit, the constant lying to make her believe that he was his brother.

He was too much of a coward to tell her. Every time he thought he had the courage to do it, he couldn't find the words. He knew she would be angry, and she would have every right to be so.

Coward.

Why couldn't he just get it over with and tell her? The longer he waited, the greater the shock would be, and the harder it would be for her to forgive him.

Noticing the time, he put the knife aside and got up. They were having another lesson in an hour. Maybe he'd tell her then.

Maybe.

He tried to deny it, but was in love with Snow, and couldn't bear the prospect of her being angry at him. But the longer he let it go by, the more angry she would be that he hadn't told her. There was no easy way out. He should have told her from the beginning.

He arrived earlier than usual, and waited in the empty room for her. Sitting down against the wall, he let the silence overtake him. It gave him time to think, but he didn't want to think right now.

Still, the memories accosted him. He thought of the day when he had killed the dragon. The other knights told him to stay back, and let them do it.

He had waited outside the cave for them, but when he started hearing their screams and cries of terror, he hadn't been able to stand there idly. By the time he got to the mouth of the cave, the beast had rushed out and nearly incinerated him.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

"You didn't see that coming, did you?" he said when he cut the dragon's head off.

King George congratulated him on his success, and immediately afterword Midas offered David his daughter as if she was nothing more than a prize for a deed well done.

"If you say anything but yes, you will be responsible for the destruction of everything and everyone in our kingdom. You will marry this girl, or I will kill you. I will kill your mother. I will turn that farm to ash. Do you understand me?" King George said.

David never understood how the man could have been so heartless.

"James?" Snow interrupted him from his thoughts. Opening his eyes, he saw her standing by the door.

"Snow," he greeted, getting up. "Are you wearing that for the lesson?" he gestured to her dress.

"I don't have time for a lesson today," she said, looking at her hands.

"Oh," he said, confused. Why didn't she send him a message not to come?

She began fiddling with her necklace and looked at him pointedly.

"Is. . . everything alright?" he asked.

"Do you recognize this?" she asked, holding the necklace so he could see it.

"No," he said slowly.

"You don't?" she said more like a statement. "It was your mother's. You gave it to me when I turned ten."

He didn't say anything, so she continued. "You never seem to remember anything when I talk about your childhood. Like the knife, or when you put the salt in Rila's soup. And you never broke any mirror. I made that one up."

She stepped closer. "James, I don't know what is going on with you, but I need you to be honest with me. What is going on?"

David sighed. "It's a long story Snow."

"I have time. I've told you just about everything about my pathetic struggles and I've trusted you with them. Why can't you do the same with me?" she asked.

Snow was right. Most of the time, she came to him first. Why, he had no idea, but he felt honored that she trusted him enough.

And she had also saved his life. She had been willing to sacrifice her own life for his, and had been brave enough to see it through. Then, when she was let go, she rode him to safety and had him healed. Surely someone who had done all of that for him could be trusted with his past, even if she would be angry at him for lying and deceiving her all this time.

When he looked into her eyes, though, he knew he had to trust her no matter what her reaction would be.

"I know," he said finally. "This might take a while."

Four years earlier

James stood over the dead body of a giant. He laughed and spit on the body, and turned to his father and King Midas.

"Well done," King Midas applauded.

"Well done? There's an understatement. See what my son did to that brute? He just killed the unkillable!" King George countered, giving James a rough pat on the back.

"A valiant feat for sure, but he was still just a man. Can you do the same to a dragon?"

"Do fairies sprinkle dust?" George asked, insulted. "Do trolls live under bridges?"

"Come, father," James chided. "I can face whatever beast you set after me," he said with a haughty air.

"My kingdom has been plagued with a dragon like nothing you've ever faced before. He has slayed every soldier we've tried to send after him."

"He has yet to face me," he smirked.

"My kingdom needs this threat vanquished," Midas said seriously.

"And my kingdom needs gold," George stated pointedly.

"I'm sure we can work something out," Midas said.

With that, he had his glove removed carefully and touched James' sword, turning it to gold.

James felt the sword grow heavier and heavier in his hand as it turned to gold, but he didn't let it sag so as not to show weakness.

"Consider this a down payment."

"Forgive me if I refuse to shake on it," James said arrogantly.

King Midas took his leave, and the men started cheering for James, who raised his arms to silence them. "This is but one victory. We have another one to face. Just because I so easily killed this brute—"

A spear head pierced his entire body when the giant stabbed him. All the soldiers rushed over to help him, but it was too late. He was dead.

One month later

David rode in the carriage with Abigail on their way to the Glades. He'd taken the longer way to try to put it off as long as he could, but he knew that sooner or later he was going to have to marry her. Either that or have his mother killed, which he would never allow. He would go to the ends of all the realms to keep her safe, and if that mean marrying this young girl, so be it.

"Why couldn't we have gone the other way?" she complained. "This is taking far too long and I am tired of this stupid carriage."

"I thought it would be nice taking the scenic route. If I'd known you preferred the other, I wouldn't have."

She smiled a very fake smile, and looked out the window.

David sighed and looked out his own window. He didn't want to marry Abigail either, but at least he wasn't acting childish about it. What had he ever done to make her hate him so?

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" he asked.

"Nineteen. You?"

"Eighteen."

Her brows rose. "I had no idea you were so young. . ."

"One year isn't that much of a difference."

"You're a child."

"No I'm not."

"Yes, you are. I can't believe my father thought you were suitable."

"What is so wrong with me that you hate me so much?"

"I don't like you," she said simply.

"Do you think in any arranged marriage, the bride and groom like each other in the beginning?"

"Oh, so you don't like me either," she said in an offended tone.

"I didn't say that—"

"Yes you did."

"What did I ever do to you to make you act like this?" he raised his voice. "Stop the carriage," he ordered.

He got out and strode into the forest. He needed to get away from her.

"James come back inside," he heard her call.

"Why should I?" he called back angrily. And I have to marry this woman, he thought to himself. He was going to have to spend his entire life listening to her complaining. He suspected she was going to drive him crazy before the end.

He turned around to see her walking toward him. Her arms were folded tightly in front of her, as though she was bracing herself. "Look, I'm sorry. It's not that I have anything against you. I just have something against marriage in general."

"You don't want to get married?"

He could tell from the look on her face what was really going on. "There's someone else, isn't there?"

"Yes," she said, biting her lip. "His name is Frederick."

"Well, why don't you marry him?" he asked in exasperation.

"I can't!" she cried.

"Is he dead?"

"No, but he might as well be."

"Why, your father doesn't approve?"

"On the contrary. My father adored him. He was born a commoner but made his way to the top. He was one of the kingdom's finest soldiers and had proven himself in battle countless times." There was a catch in her voice, and he could tell she was trying very hard to hold herself together.

"But?"

"My father was attacked. It wasn't the first time, nor will it be the last. A man who can turn anything into gold is valuable indeed." Her eyes filled. "Frederick tried to save him. . . but in doing so, he touched him."

"He turned into gold," he finished.

"Yes," she whispered. "I've tried everything. True love's kiss, counter spells, everything."

David had been intent on marrying her to save his mother, but this changed things. If he married her, he knew she would be unhappy for many years, if not her whole life, because her heart belonged to another. He couldn't do that with a clear conscience, especially since they would eventually have to produce an heir together. . . But if he didn't marry her, he condemned his mother to death. There was no right or easy choice in this matter. Then again, there hadn't been a right choice ever since Rumpelstiltskin first visited his mother eighteen years ago.

He sighed, shaking his head.

"Well as long as we're sharing tales, I might as well tell mine."

He told her the truth about who he was, and how King George had threatened his mother. Other than being somewhat shocked, she took it well.

"Then it appears we have no choice, do we?" she said finally.

"There has to be a way," he said, hopefully.

"Well if there is, I don't see it," she said with tears in her eyes and walked back in the direction of the carriage.

David remained, not wanting to be in the same carriage with her quite yet.

"I don't blame you dearie," David spun around at the strange voice. "Doesn't seem like your type," he said with a hand at the side of his mouth as if he was telling a secret.

"Rumplestiltskin," he greeted warily. "I didn't expect to see you so soon again."

"And yet, here I am," he said with a deep bow. Still bowed low, he lifted his head. "And I'm here to make a deal with you."

David flinched at the word. "What kind of deal?"

"I can make it to where your mama is safe from King George so you don't have to marry Abigail," he said with a flourish.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, dearie, that they can't touch her. So," he said gesturing with his hand, "You don't have to marry the pwincess anymore."

"What's in it for you?" he asked cautiously.

"You'll owe me a favor," he said with a giggle.

James thought for a moment. "I'll have to think it over," he said.

"Uh-uh dearie!" Rumpelstiltskin shook his finger. "It's either now or never."

David rubbed the back of his neck. Now or never. One word and his mother was safe, and he didn't have to marry Abigail. "I'd like to ask for something else. That you heal Frederick. He turned into gold when he tried to save King Midas."

Rumpelstilskin snapped his fingers. "Done!"

"Just like that?"

"Your mama is safe, and the young Frederick is human again."

"And what do I owe you?"

"That, dearie, is yet to be decided!" he said. With that, he vanished.

Three hours later

"There he is! Frederick!" Abigail cried, seeing the man she loved on the ground.

David was surprised to see him in this state, but gathered that the transition from gold to human was hard on the body. The man began to rouse, and Abigail cried out in joy.

"Abigail. . ." he started, disoriented.

"It's me, Frederick," she said, tears running down her face.

"How?" he sat up. "How did you change me?"

"We owe it all to this man here," she said, looking at David.

David felt uncomfortable and didn't know what to say. They didn't owe it to him, not really. All he had done was make a deal with someone.

"You defeated the siren of Lake Nostos?"

"No," David frowned. "I just made a deal with someone who could heal you."

"Either way. . ." Frederick began. "I don't know how to thank you. . ."

David opened his mouth to say that they owed him no thanks, but Abigail spoke first.

"I do."

"How?"

"Your father—King George needs money. He was hoping to get that through our marriage, and since we aren't anymore. . ." she looked slightly uncomfortable. "I'll tell my father everything you have done for me, and how selfless you were in letting me break the agreement for my own happiness. He might be angry with me, but he'll admire you all the more. Especially for saving Frederick. I'll convince him to help King George. Perhaps then he'll be content with his money and leave you alone," she said hopefully.

David smiled sadly and looked down. "Money will keep him content for a while, but he doesn't love me and never will."

"Then don't stay here. Go to King Ivan's kingdom and stay there until your father—King George calms down. Maybe he'll eventually see everything you've done for him and he'll be grateful."

David still had his doubts, but nodded. "Thank you."

"No, thank you," she smiled and looked at Frederick, who looked entirely confused.

Nodding one last time, he turned around and left them. Taking one of the horses, he rode off in the direction of the Enchanted Forest. What kind of a name was that anyway?


Just as a side note, I had already had about twenty chapters written before I put this story up here. I just finished chapter 29 yesterday. I just wanted to wait until I was sure I had a story going before I published it here. So, I have a plan as to where this is all going :)

And one of the reviewers (guest, so I don't know their name) asked me a lot of questions in their review, most of which I can't answer because I don't want to spoil it! However, I will say that yes, she will eventually start calling him "Charming," and Snow isn't quite sure about her feelings yet, since she has so much on her plate, but there is definitely a spark.

And don't worry, romance is coming soon enough! Am I the only one who loved the bow and arrow scene in the last episode? I replayed that like five times because it was so darn cute.