Compensation: Part Ten

A/AN: I cannot believe I'm finally to the halfway point of this fic. I could be saying that and it be like twenty more chapters, but my goal is for it to have between twenty and thirty chapters. However, I still have a lot to cover. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter!

James rubbed his temples agitatedly as he sat in his study. It had been several weeks since he'd sent Solomon on his mission to murder his adviser's wife, and he'd heard nothing. The imbecile had probably gotten himself into trouble or killed. He supposed it was time to send out another officer to check up on his attendant. Rumpelstiltskin's quarterly rest would be coming to an end soon. He didn't have time to meddle in his royal adviser's affairs but something told him if he wanted the job done right, then he would have to do it himself. As he mulled over the appropriate way to approach his task, he felt two willowy arms snake around his neck. He could smell the queen's invigorating scent of jasmine with a hint of lavender.

"What's on your mind, husband? Is there anything I could do to help you relax?" she purred in her sultry voice. The king didn't consider himself a romantic or a giving man under any circumstances. He was a taker, and he usually would have been in the mood for a decent roll in the sack, but not today.

"Not now, Zelena," he said, standing to his feet, evading her unwanted advances.

"But, husband, you barely ever acknowledge I'm here. Don't you want to have a son? We wed so we could birth heirs. I know this isn't a union which entails romance, and as a royal, I never expected that. If you'd only allow me to share your bed until I become pregnant, I promise to leave you be," she supplied, clasping her hands at her waist demurely.

The king scoffed loudly, averting his gaze to the queen. "Heirs? Don't you know, I have enough bastards prancing around at court? A child with royal blood will make no difference to me. After women bear children, they become more greedy, always asking for this and that for their bairn. There's only one woman who I desire to sire an heir with and it isn't you. I only married you to secure an alliance and have your mother's armies at my disposal. A day will come when she will become mine, and I'll no longer have need of you. You've got a lovely face and an alluring figure, but I only desire you for my pleasure. That's your only purpose here, Zelena, to serve me. I'll call on you once I'm ready for a good time again. Get out of my sight, and don't approach me unless you've been summoned!" He bellowed threateningly, pointing his index finger at the door.

Tears streamed unbidden down her face as she darted out of his study. If only, Cora had accepted an alliance with him which didn't entail a proposal. The queen was gorgeous, but she was mouthy, which he didn't appreciate. He was filled with vexation as he thought of his loathsome brother and how he'd stolen the affections of the only woman he'd ever truly loved. Snow White was the fairest queen in all the realm and one who'd be coveted by any king. Procuring her as his wife would take much patience and time, but he would achieve his goal. His mind returned to his adviser who he still had yet to deal with. He would force him to come back to court.

"Maxwell! Travers!" he thundered as he called for his royal officers. Two lanky men clamored into his study. Maxwell had carrot orange hair which was neatly trimmed, while Travers sported a long beard which complimented his sandy blond locks.

"What is it, your highness?" Maxwell inquired, bowing reverently before the monarch. Travers mirrored the other officer's actions, keeping his head bent low respectfully before the king.

"I have a mission for you gentlemen. Solomon has yet to return to the castle, and I haven't heard a word from him since he first departed. I sent him to Lord Rumpelstiltskin's estate, to murder his wife because I don't approve of their union. Travel to Lord Madrick's estate and see if you can find out out about his disappearance. If my adviser is there, force him to turn over his wife. If he refuses then torch the place and arrest him. Make sure you bring along any servants who may be staying there back with you. After he returns, I'll give him the ultimatum of keeping his rank or being flogged again. A disobedient adviser just won't do," he commanded them.

"And what do we get if we succeed?" Travers chimed in.

"You get the satisfaction of knowing you served your king well," he remarked, his voice lowering dangerously as he clapped the officer on the shoulder. Travers gulped back the bile in his throat, giving the king a solemn nod.

"We'd be honored to carry out your honors, your royal highness," Maxwell, returned as he took Jame's hand, kissing it devoutly.

"Excellent! I'll have the servants saddle your horses and prepare your supplies. You'll leave at daybreak," he informed them.

"We will not fail you, your grace," Travers vowed.

A malicious smirk played upon his lips as he grabbed a handful of the officer's beard. "I expect nothing less of either of you. Just remember that you're both replaceable," he admonished, hoping they understood failure wasn't an option.

"NOW GET OUT!" he bellowed as he pushed the blond man backwards. Travers hit the flagstone with a resounding thud before clamoring to his feet. Taking his place beside his partner, he dusted off his uniform as they both scurried out of the throne room. James fell back into his armchair, pouring himself a glass of scotch to numb his agitation. He needed to relax, but he knew it would be impossible until his abhorrent brother was out of the way and his royal adviser was back in line. He threw back the glass of amber liquid, sighing satisfyingly as the alcohol burned his throat.

~X~

The ride to Albannach hadn't been a delightful one. It had poured buckets of rain their first day, forcing them to set up camp early. Belle had spent most of her day lounging in her tent, engrossed in a novel, while her husband and Gaston gathered firewood. The rain had turned into a light drizzle as they gathered the wood from fallen trees. Rumpelstiltskin picked up a few sticks and handed them to Gaston to load onto the wagon. An uncomfortable silence had settled over them as they focused on their mundane task.

"You couldn't get Lord Cogsworth to join us?" Gaston asked, slicing through the awkward tension.

Rumpelstiltskin diverted his gaze to the younger man, snorting with laughter. "He's a lord and all he knows how to do is sit on his arse all day and bark out commands. He'd like for you to believe he's someone dignified, but he's lying to himself. His title is the only thing he's got going for him," he remarked.

"But your rank is far higher than his. You could command him to do all the work, and there's nothing he could do about it," Gaston countered.

"Aye...You're right. I could, but I won't. I'm used to getting my hands dirty, though I'm very much acquainted with court life; it never suited me. I hail from a poor little village along the outskirts of Astyn. King George recognized my heroism and made me who I am today. I wasn't born into nobility," he informed his squire, tossing him another handful of wood.

"I had no idea," he remarked, loading the logs onto the wagon.

"Well, now you do. What about yourself? You've been imprisoned for quite sometime. What was that like?" Rumple probed, casting the ebony haired man a quizzical glance.

"Terrible. It was mostly dark, and all we were given to eat was stale bread and water. The smell was pungent because we never got to wash and if someone died, they might not come and retrieve the body for days. I suppose they done it because they didn't believe being stuck there was punishment enough," he spat out bitterly as he stared at the cloudy gray sky.

"I cannot imagine what sort of hellish existence you faced all of those years, but I vow you'll never have to go back there as long as you're loyal to my service. I'll try my hardest to help you create a better life for yourself. You have my word," he pledged.

"Th-Thank you," he stammered, unable to process what the knight was proposing. No one had ever offered him anything before. He'd been made to slave for everything on his own. Rumpelstiltskin had taken his wife, and he wasn't too thrilled with their arrangement in the beginning, but then something changed in him. The commander had taken a beating for a lowly peasant woman whom he'd never met . He wasn't sure what had possessed a complete stranger to demonstrate such a chivalrous act, but he was thankful for it. Coming home and discovering Belle had died from a flogging would have been much more painful than finding out she'd remarried. It had been years since they'd last seen each other, and it was painful to let her go, but he could live with her decision because her husband was an honorable man.

"We should probably head back. That looks like an ample amount of firewood," Rumpelstiltskin added, pulling Gaston from his musings.

"Of course! Let's go back," the squire agreed, grabbing the cart's handle and yanking it forward. Rumpelstiltskin walked alongside him until their camp came into view. Gaston halted the wagon and loaded his arms with firewood. He dropped it in a massive heap and attempted to light it by rubbing a rough stone against a piece of flint. He sighed in relief as an orange glow emanated from the wood. Smoke from the fire filled his lungs, and he covered his mouth with his arm to muffle a cough.

"I take it the commander hasn't seen fit to kill you yet," Ruby quipped, gaining his attention. He turned around to see her smirking at him.

"Yes, he's much more compassionate than I thought he'd be," Gaston admitted, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"If you'd only been there to witness the day he'd spared Belle's life. He's a hero in every sense," Ruby gushed.

"That's what I gathered," he simply stated as he diverted his gaze towards his own tent. "I think I'm going to go explore a bit and guard the campsite," Gaston supplied as he sauntered off into the direction of the edge of the woods.

"Good day, Gaston," Ruby returned, wishing there could be more than meaningless small talk between them. She longed for him to open up to her, but how was that possible when she could barely get him to speak two words to her? Perhaps she should confide in Belle about her dilemma. It was apparent she no longer held any affections for him. They'd been married once, and if anyone knew how to get through to him, it was her. Ruby marched to her tent, opting to rest for awhile. They would all sit down for supper later that night and then she would broach the subject. She could only hope it didn't end in disaster.

~X~

Belle had fallen sound asleep when Rumpelstiltskin had returned. Her tome lay half open beside her. He chortled lightly at the scene, placing a feathered kiss against her brow. Gaston was keeping an eye out for bandits and wild animals. Rumpelstiltskin yawned, feeling utterly spent from the first day of their journey. A nap would refresh him since he'd be up half the night keeping watch. He picked up the book and closed it, tucking it securely away in her satchel. He settled down beside her on the pallet as he covered himself with the woolen blanket. She stirred softly in her sleep when he wrapped his arms around her waist. He soon drifted off, forgetting their woes for awhile, focusing solely on his love for her.

~X~

The rain had slacked up sometime before dusk. Mrs. Potts had prepared a simple meal of potato soup over the fire, and they'd chowed down on some of the day old bread they'd packed to go with housekeeper kept to herself, while the men guffawed obnoxiously over a joke Lord Cogsworth had made about Count Watley's horse faced daughter. Belle and Ruby sat in her tent away from the commotion. Belle rolled her eyes at the group of men as they hooped and hollered uncouthly.

"I guess they've all had too much to drink," Ruby snorted as she took a bite out of her roll.

"Rumple always makes any excuse he can to drink. They won't be fit to travel in the morning if they all have hangovers," Belle scoffed, rolling her eyes in displeasure. Ruby averted her gaze to the setting sun as her issue with Gaston came to her mind.

"Belle, there's something I need to tell you, and I need you to promise you won't get mad when I do," she blurted out.

Belle furrowed her brow quizzically at her comrade. "Hmm? What is it, Ruby?" she inquired, giving the other woman her undivided attention.

Ruby respired deeply as she revealed her pressing secret. "You always told me after Gaston died, well we thought he was dead," Ruby paused momentarily to gather her bearings. Belle stared intently at her closest friend as she continued. "You said you didn't love him anymore, and I fully realize you don't now because you and Lord Rumple have wed and are both very happy together. What I'm trying to say is that I'm in love with Gaston. I always have been since we were children. I buried my feelings for him when he married you and completely extinguished any remaining desires I held for him after his passing. I feel like I've been given another opportunity to profess my love for him since he's returned, but I don't want to overwhelm him after all he's endured. Losing you must have been heartbreaking for him, and I don't want to overstep my bounds, but it's driving me mad, Belle. I vow to not say a word to him unless you approve of it. I'm forever in your service, milady," Ruby confided in her, bowing her head low to the ground.

"Get up, Ruby. There's no need for formality," Belle commanded her. The barmaid rose to her feet as she fixated her gaze on the noblewoman.

"I wish for Gaston to be happy and you as well. I would never forbid your union under any circumstances. You have my blessing, Ruby," Belle consented with s confirming nod.

"Thank you, milady. You're too kind!" Ruby gushed, beaming brilliantly at her friend. The anxious knot budding in her chest dissipated at Belle's approval.

"The way to Gaston's heart is through his stomach. Prepare him a small meal tomorrow while he's standing watch, and he'll be in your debt forever," Belle supplied with a mischievous gleam in her eye.

"You think it will work?" Ruby asked hopefully.

"Certainty. All things take time, but there's no way Gaston won't appreciate a home cooked meal from a stunning lady," Belle stated, grinning sweetly at her. Ruby felt her cheeks redden at Belle's compliment.

"What should I make for him?" she continued.

"How about a raisin cake? Rumple packed some because the man can't go a day without a sweet. There should be some flour stored in with our food supplies," Belle informed her.

"I truly appreciate your advice, Belle," she told her.

"All I want is for you to be happy, Ruby. I also want the same thing for Gaston. It would make it even better if he found that happiness with you," the beauty remarked as she covered her hand over the woman's she'd known since she was four. Warmth spread from her hand and radiated to her heart, for she was so fortunate to have a friend like Belle.

~X~

Night had already fallen by the time the knights had reached Count Madrick's estate. Maxwell had gone inside to confront the king's attendant and his wife, but no one was home. He knew the king would be sorely dissatisfied to know his commander had vanished, but he would still follow through with the rest of his orders. The estate must burn.

"Is there anyone in the manor!?" Travers inquired to the other knight who'd recently emerged from the chateau.

"No. It looks as if they've all packed up and moved on," Maxwell responded as he shook his head.

"So are we really going to burn it down? This place is astonishing and it seems like such a travesty for it to go up in flames," Travers remarked with a sigh.

"You heard the king. If we don't follow his orders, then we'll be the ones who are roasting," he reminded him.

"All right...Have you got a match?" Travers obliged with a begrudging sigh.

"I have an entire pack," Maxwell answered as he flashed the assortment of fire sticks at him.

"You do the honors. I don't think I could live with myself if I destroyed Count Madrick's lovely estate," Travers continued as he stood back. Maxwell lit several matches and threw them at the manor. The flames ignited and licked at the entire left side of the manor until it was mere ashes. It swiftly moved to the right side as smoke billowed from the former estate. The two official's rode back in the direction of Astyn as flames engulfed the rest of the property, reducing it to ashes. The only thing which spared the rest of the countryside from the fire's fury was a another rainstorm passing through.

"What of the commander? Do you think we should go look for him?" Travers inquired as they rode on horseback down the king's road.

"We have no idea where he's gone to or where to look. We should just return to court and see what the next step in his plan is. We'll follow orders from there," Maxwell suggested as they rode on into the night.

Several miles away, Rumpelstiltskin gazed at the smoke which floated over the treetops. He averted his gaze back to foliage, giving it no thought, unaware that his only home had been burned to the ground.

A/AN: I'm going on a bit of a FF hiatus because I'm working on an original piece for a publisher. It doesn't mean I'll never update this or anything, but it'll be sporadic until I'm finished with my original work.