A/n: simple and short, I may post another on Thursday. Ash hopper jelly and blisterwort are both ingredients that make up a heath potion in Skyrim. I figure why not make it into a tea? Also thank you to my lovely Guest who gave this story its first review!
Bonus points! Did I ever write about how Sissel was adopted? I have it written but I can't remember if I've put it in or not.
The Crocodile
Certainty poured tea for Rumplestiltskin as he sat at his spinning wheel, turning straw into gold. "What is this?" He took a tentative sip of the purple/red liquid.
"Ash hopper jelly and Blisterwort," she said as she poured her own cup and settled herself on the floor beside the wheel. "Perfectly safe."
He looked at her as she drank her tea before continuing his work. This had become a ritual for the pair over the last few months. She made evening tea and watched him as he spun gold. She never spoke or interrupted his spinning. She merely watched his hands. "Why do you watch me spin?"
"It's a beautiful craft," she replied. "A craft which, where I'm from, has mostly died out. Along with many others."
He paused in his spinning and turned to her. "Would you like to learn?"
"To spin wool into yarn?"
This threw him for a loop. "Not straw into gold?"
"I have more gold than I know what to do with," she said snorting into her cup. "What would I do with more? No, I need new socks and gloves and a scarf for the upcoming winter."
Another loop. When he had commanded her to clean his castle she had donned a relatively threadbare dress, hat, dust mask, and gloves to do her work. But she had money? Surely she could dress herself in the best clothes that money could buy. "Not a new dress?"
"I can hardly make gloves and socks, let alone a whole dress," she laughed. "If I need a new dress, I'd go get one from market. The ones I have will do for now."
He thought again before making a decision. With a wave of his hand, the straw was replaced with wool. "Come here," he said holding his hand out to her and scooting back on his bench.
She carefully took his hand and allowed him to sit her in front of him. "I suddenly feel like Cora," she smiled nervously.
He placed a basket of wool on her lap. "Oh, but this, my Lovely, is so very different than turning straw into gold." His arms wound around hers to guide her hands. She frowned internally as she showed her how to thread the wheel, but said nothing.
Orabella woke at 3am. She sighed as she sat up, stretching her tired muscles. The children were exhausting, but it was Belle's day to watch them, so she had that comfort. She made her way downstairs and poured herself a glass of orange juice before making her way to the basement.
"You should be asleep, Lovely," Gold said as she walked down the stairs.
"I won't go back to sleep. Too late for that." She looked at the work table. "You're getting frustrated. I'm sorry I cant be of more help."
"It's not your fault, Dearest," he said as she sat beside hm as he spun. "I need more time. I'm glad you told me about the line. I suspect I wouldn't have much time, were you against me."
"You would still find the answer. I have no doubt." She set her glass down and picked up some of the gold he was producing. "We should find something to do with all this gold your making."
"Perhaps you can close your tea shop down and set up a jewelry store."
"I like making tea too much. Plus the pastries are delicious."
He laughed before taking the string from her hand. He cut a piece off and placed it into a vial of purple potion on the work bench. The concoction glowed momentarily then faded. "Nothing," he hissed, leaning against the bench.
"It will come." She warped her arms around him from behind. "It will come. I'll go make breakfast." She pulled away.
"How long?"
She paused a moment in thought. "Week to a week and a half?"
"That's it?" He turned in shock.
"You will find it," she assured. "We will find Baelfire and Sissel. I can promise this." He only nodded before returning to his craft.
