Disclaimers: See Episode VI for more information.

The events in this chapter coincide with the episode "Murder Most Foul", from Season 6 of the ABC television show "Once Upon a Time".

Chapter Ten:

The Gardener's Jewels

Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, the Shire, Middle-earth – The Past

The earth shook that night. Thunder and rain pelted the ground with little control. And yet, a middle-aged hobbit with brown hair moved inside his house, removing his hood to reveal a gentle-hobbit who had seen years of his life move by. He kissed his wife and greeted his infant son.

"How is my family?"

"We're good, Hamfast, but…" his wife was stunned to see him wander off. "Where are you going in this storm?"

Hamfast revealed a jeweled turnip. "This is what some of the farmers found. It's a special turnip that when cast in the moonlight will reveal what we want most in the world. The moon is about to show up. I'm going off to see where it leads."

"Good luck," his wife told him, "Gaffer."

"I will," Gaffer said, heading outside, wearing the hood over his head again. The jeweled turnip glowed a brilliant flash of red. The moon was full and bright. The storm was over. Now to find what he was looking for. "Well, let's see where you glow most."

Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Sam/Curtis stared at the jeweled turnip in his hands. He couldn't help it. There was something about the jewel that just felt like it belonged to him. But that didn't stop him from looking up from the dinner table. He was still inside Frodo's blue walled house, enjoying his welcome back party.

"Welcome back, Frodo and Mindy," Merry/Donovan said, clanking his wine glass against theirs. "This time, maybe we can all celebrate in peace."

"Yes, so it would seem," Frodo said, wrapping an arm around Mindy's shoulders.

"Eh… should I know what was going on in the Wish Realm?" Pippin/Edric asked, curious and concerned.

"Excuse me," Sam said, standing up only to witness the jewel glow in his hand.

"What is that?" Mindy asked, alarmed.

"I don't…" Sam was cut off. The jewel glowed too fiercely, showing off an image of Rumplestiltskin, when he looked gold-speckled.

"This is a message to all the Dark Ones. Remember what your price is, for when you make a deal, know that it was worth it," Rumplestiltskin's hologram said, his image vanishing into the jewel.

"Sam, what is that?" Frodo asked, also confused.

"That is the answer I need," Sam said, facing his best friend. "I think it's time I speak to Rumplestiltskin about this."

The Mill, Hobbiton, the Shire, Middle-earth – The Past

Gaffer Gamgee journeyed inside the mill. The wood wheels turned inside, making a lot of noise. He could hear the sounds of rushing water outside, where the mill wheel lay. The jeweled turnip glowed more brightly here. If only there wasn't a giggly voice intruding on the landscape.

"Who are you?" Gaffer said, reading his apple pick.

"That's not going to work on me, dearie," said a gold-speckled man, who politely introduced himself. "Rumplestiltskin at your service."

"What do you want?" Gaffer asked, confused.

"It's not what I want. It's what you need," Rumplestiltskin said, giggling. He admitted, his voice changing an octave, "You see, I need that jeweled turnip for a… special task. You and your family get your life back, everything goes on track. Your son becomes a hero. You win your freedom, becoming the greatest gardener that ever lived in all the Shire. Do we have a deal?"

"What do you get out of it?" Gaffer asked, concerned.

He shrugged. "Oh. Just to watch your life unfold." He smiled afterwards. "The turnip please? I don't break deals."

"Do you ever?" Gaffer asked, curious.

"There was a moment, but that's another story," Rumplestiltskin said, serious. "Now, about that deal." Gaffer, with some reluctance, passed the jeweled turnip to the gold-speckled man. His eyes widened the second the turnip stopped glowing.

"You," the Gaffer said, stunned. "The turnip was leading to you. How? Why?"

"It doesn't matter now. I got what I want. You got what you want." Rumplestiltskin smiled. "So long, dearie. I do hope we meet again." He chuckled, vanishing in a red smoke. Gaffer looked around, unsure what had just happened. Was he family truly safe? Were they? He hardly knew, but he knew one thing was certain…

"I need to get home," Gaffer said, taking off out of the mill with a new quest.

Mr. Gold's Pawnshop, Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Sam plopped the jeweled turnip on the glass cased desk. His eyes met that of Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin's whose hair was cropped and greying. Already, it looked as though Mr. Gold didn't have any answers.

"I'm sorry. I can't help you," Mr. Gold said, slightly annoyed. "I have my own business to attend to."

"You helped me out," Frodo said, determined to get the right answer from him.

"And yet, our deals are done," Mr. Gold said, turning his gaze to Sam/Curtis, "But this is between you and me. I have nothing to offer you."

"My father had this turnip. Surely you can give me some answers," Sam said, frustrated. "Maybe you knew what my father told you. The reason why he gave this to you."

"Didn't he come with the curse? No, he didn't. Which means you're running out of time and patience." Mr. Gold said, but not before asking, "But why did you come? Truly? This jeweled turnip means a lot to you. What is that you want that you are willing to sacrifice?"

"Information," Sam said, making a guess. He admitted, calmly, "What would you do for family, Rumplestiltskin? What would you do?"

"Now we're talking," Mr. Gold said, opening a photo album. "Ah yes. Here it is." He pulled out a picture of a windmill. "I believe you recognize this. The turnip was guiding your father, Samwise, to me. I promised to give your family everything you wish, including make you a hero. But that was one piece of the puzzle. I granted it through a deal, but it did not make you a hero all on its own. You did that."

"My life was given to me by a deal," Sam said, shocked.

"Don't be too proud. Your father got what he desired, what he asked for. Any parent would want their child to have a better life than they themselves have already. Putting our children first counts," Mr. Gold explained, keeping his voice even.

"Then let's make another deal," Sam said, desperate.

"Sam!" Frodo cried, grabbing his arm.

"You'd better listen to your friend, Samwise." Mr. Gold said, looking up at Sam. "I'm done making deals with hobbits. Now, unless there was a really good reason, Sam, I'm afraid we're done here."

"Sam. Sam!" Frodo said, trying to help his best friend along. Only Sam moved out of the shop before he had the chance to say anything further. Frodo faced Mr. Gold again, asking him, "Why did you do that? Make a deal so Sam could have happiness? Who does that?"

"A man, or in this case a hobbit, willing to sacrifice everything for their loved ones." Mr. Gold said, staring at him now. "If you're wondering why I don't make deals that often with hobbits, it's because those deals have to have very good reasons behind them. Good day." He got Mindy's attention next. "If you think you're doing the hobbits good by sticking with them, even as far as falling in love with one, just be warned: it won't end well unless something changes. That's the fate of authors, even fanfiction ones."

Mindy stared wide-eyed. Could Rumplestiltskin be serious? What he was saying… what if it was true? But then, maybe there was a good reason for her happiness. She hoped it would end well, even as Frodo helped her outside Mr. Gold's pawnshop.

But then, Frodo's attention turned to Sam, who stared out at downtown Storybrooke. "Sam, what is it? You got the information you wanted."

"My whole life has been based around a deal," Sam said, facing Frodo for a moment. "I need time." He walked away, unsure where he was going… Granny's Diner. That was the one place he would go to sulk and get his thoughts out. That seemed like the right place to go to in this situation.

Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, the Shire, Middle-earth – The Past

Gaffer returned home not so wise as he had been. Giving up the jeweled turnip… what was he thinking? He knew better than to trust any imp that crossed his path. But Rumplestiltskin was too convincing. It felt wrong. He heaved a sigh. There was his wife with their infant son, carrying him in her arms and rocking him to sleep in a wooden rocking chair. Gaffer approached her, knowing what was right in front of him was good.

"Sam will grow up to be a good hobbit. Won't he, Gaffer?" his wife asked, kissing their son's forehead.

"Yes. Here's to Samwise Gamgee, honorary hero and world-renowned gentle-hobbit this side of the Shire has ever seen," Gaffer said, grinning at their baby, even as infant Samwise slept on without a care in the world.

Granny's Diner, Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Sam drank down his fourth shot of ale. Already, even as he sat in the red cushioned booth, complete with its white table, thoughts of what had happened to him that day came to pass. His whole life had been based around a deal. Was he truly a hero? He couldn't make another deal just to undo it. What could he do now? If only… oh, Mr. Frodo sat across from him. Him and his girlfriend. He should be delighted, but then, why wasn't he?

"Mr. Frodo, what brings you here?" Sam asked Mr. Frodo, curtly.

"Sam, what happened to you…" Mindy was cut off by Sam, who was still angry.

"I don't need your advice. Thank you, but please leave," Sam said, annoyed.

"Sam," Frodo said, grabbing Mindy's arm. "Sam, you can tell me anything."

"What? That my whole life has been because of a deal," Sam said, frustrated. "I won't be a hero. I'm not like Emma. Emma and I have something in common now. Our life is predicted."

"But it's not who you are," Frodo told him, calmly. "Sam, just because a deal is made, it didn't make you a hero. You did that on your own."

"Well, it doesn't matter now," Sam said, looking up at him. "Because I have no idea how to stop this darkness from spreading."

"Then we find out together," Mindy said, being optimistic. "Isn't that what's important?"

Frodo grinned. At least his girlfriend had that optimism that he didn't miss. If only Sam could see it, too. "Sam, do you really think you could have helped me destroy the One Ring due to a deal? Sam, it was more than that. You helped me out in more ways than one. Why won't you accept that?"

"Because then I'd know what I was getting into." Sam realized something. "Maybe I'm not a hero as the deal proclaimed. It said, and I went back to Rumplestiltskin, that it brought my family happiness and make me a hero. I'm already a hero. That came true, but your Darkness escaped, Mr. Frodo."

"What?" Frodo asked, alarmed. "Then where is he? Where would he go?"

"I hardly know," Sam said, serious. "I just hope he hasn't caused too much damage."

…

Sauron's House, Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Sauron looked about his house. The weapons were still lined on the grey and wood-paneled walls, exactly as he had them. So far, so good. He had everything he desired… if only that whoosh behind him hadn't prevented him from taking his double-bladed axe off the wall.

"Who are you? What are you doing here, mate?" Sauron said, thrashing a sword at the figure. Only the figure came up behind him, stopping him from overpowering the figure. No way. The figure was Frodo's Darkness.

"Miss me?" Frodo's Darkness asked, grinning.

"What are you doing here? How did you get so powerful?" Sauron asked, tossing his weapon off to the side.

"That's not important. Although strength solution stamina potions work wonders on dopplegangers," Frodo's Darkness said, collapsing on the grey sofa. "Now, let's talk, shall we?" He smiled that wicked smile. He knew he had Sauron right where he wanted him. So, why stop there? By this time, he had Sauron in his grasp.

"All right." Sauron said, sitting in a chair across from him. "What do you want?"

Frodo's Darkness smiled again, determination in his eyes. "Oh. Don't you trust me? But I do have a plan." He took a sip from his wine glass, filled with grey liquid. "It's time to stop my lighter half from succeeding, and I know just how to do it." He smiled, resting his legs against the couch in a relaxed fashion. "So, let's begin."

It took me a few weeks to write this because I had to figure out whether or not I would write one for this Once's episode. But because of Sam's jeweled turnip, it gave me a few ideas. So this chapter came about. I hope everyone enjoyed reading it. :)