Chapter Twelve: New Deals
Maria took the darkest horse, a nice night-shaded horse ready to stretch his legs and run like the wind for her. She never told Red what was up because she didn't trust anyone but Merlin. He was, after all, the only person who knew about her and Rumpelstiltskin still. As far as everyone else was concerned, they were long broken up.
She left the horse to drink outside, keeping him tided to a rope against a tree, but she carried in the equipment. Rumpel hadn't arrived yet. In anticipation, Maria sat by the small creek, waiting for him.
Moments later, a horse came slowing down to their secret spot.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. His skin glistened with a gold-dusted color and he just seemed different, yet so familiar. Maria remembered a slight physical appearance alteration in him from when he'd lost his magic, but this...this was far more noticeable.
"Rumpelstiltskin..." she breathed as he dismounted the horse. She touched the golden thread upon her neck, knowing it was him but still not fully able to process his appearance. "Whoa..."
"Maria," he said, sounding frightened himself. "I've left Bae with a family, but I don't know how long I have. Please...just say-"
She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him at once; she let tears fall from her face.
"Thank you...for protecting Baelfire and doing what you thought was right," she said.
"But Maria, I don't think this is what I should've done. Bae is afraid of me..." he informed her, his eyes giving her all the information she needed.
"It's all right, it's all right. I told him you've dealt with magic before. In the letter," Maria explained. "Just give him some time. If he wants to fight, then allow him. That's how you can love him, by giving him a chance to decide what he wants."
"He's like you that way."
Maria knew that Rumpel was afraid of this magic, and she inquired as to what exactly happened. They went inside and as they sat down in the hay, he told her everything and how much he regretted the decision. Maria suggested he talk to Merlin about the strength of his magic, but Rumpel refused this.
"I can handle this...it's losing Bae I can't stand," Rumpelstiltskin said, his eyes still tearing up. He wasn't ashamed when it was just Maria with him. Crying was nothing to her, and she understood his worry.
"Rumpelstiltskin, I think this magic will soon drive you insane as you fear. You must learn to control it and take it back as you once knew," Maria suggested. "I think we should get Merlin and do a few tests."
As she was persistent, eventually he agreed to seeing Merlin, but he promised her only once. That seemed to already satisfy her, but he was still left with the dilemma of Bae.
"Give him the last letter before he heads off to war," Maria told him. "Be sure he has everything he needs, perhaps...give him a thread. If you can manage it now, which I'm sure you could, I don't think he could ever forget you."
"That's good, I like that idea, Maria," Rumpel said. "Thanks...oh, this is not good."
"What's wrong?" Maria asked, but within minutes, Rumpelstiltskin had already taken the dagger out to show her his name imprinted on the blade. He then stood up and threw it into the wall, shutting his eyes and shaking violently.
Maria had an idea now. Instinctively and knowing it was what calmed her magic every time, she kissed Rumpelstiltskin, thinking about how badly she wanted the magic to calm itself down. She'd heard somewhere that true love's kiss could break any curse, but this was not a curse. This was something that may come of use to him; his magic was finally given back to him, no matter how powerful and uncontrollable. It made him happy, and Maria saw that. She couldn't take that away from him.
After she let him go, his eyes opened, staring at her in disbelief.
"What?" she asked, hoping nothing was made worse. He blinked twice, a finger raising to point at her, though his arm remained close to his chest. His eyebrows rose slowly, for this was something he thought never to be possible.
"You just-you just calmed the magic of the Dark One," he said slowly. "I've become a monster, a beast Maria! Yet somehow...you managed to settle what I cannot even within my own body."
"It's a trick I learned at a very young age when my own magic went out of control. Merlin later confirmed with me that love can overcome anything...if it is true," Maria told him. At that, Rumpelstiltskin's smirk grew wider with each passing moment, and all at once, he could not contain his emotion any longer.
He lifted her off the ground, pulling her into a tight grip, and when he set her down, he wouldn't let go for at least five minutes.
"I don't know what I would do without you," he whispered softly into her ear as his head came to rest on top of her head.
"Keep yourself level, Rumpel," Maria told him. "You must stay strong, learn to control the magic."
"Maria...I need you with me far more often," Rumpel said. "I've protected what's mine and now I can do the same to you. Why don't you come back with me?"
"I think I'll stay here...permanently. I can live here," she told him. "The village holds no more purpose for me. I'd rather live the rest of my life here, just being with you."
Maria knew that Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't catch her drift from this alone, but she didn't want him to yet. He wasn't looking deep into her words like he once did, though Maria found this to be better. Her time was more precious to her than ever.
She wanted to see Bae at least once terribly bad as well. Rumpelstiltskin told her plenty of stories, and the boy does not have magic for sure.
"He misses you; I can tell. Even though he doesn't know you, he seems to find that you and him could have connected very well," Rumpel said. "I swear he clutches to that letter like there was nothing more important to him."
Maria expressed her concern about them lying to him about her death, but perhaps they could right that before time ran out. Time was already short, but Rumpel needed to see Merlin. That was also important.
"I'll get Bae tomorrow," Maria said. "I can go. You are going to see Merlin."
"Maria, he won't-"
"He'll know," Maria said. "I'll explain it to him. At least, all he needs to know about the situation. Rumpel, please trust me with this."
There was a silent moment between them as Rumpelstiltskin thought about what she was saying.
"Deal," he said suddenly. She smiled, a hint of surprise in her expression.
"Haven't heard that word in a while from you," Maria said smiling. "Back to deals are we?"
"I have magic, do I not? This time I'm going to need them!" he replied.
