By the time Theseus returned, he knew what he was going to report to him, what he was going to have to say. The fight with Bo had bought Anna another day. With all the excitement, she was delaying her journey until tomorrow morning. So he sent Theseus home to celebrate his son's birthday, but not without orders. He needed him back first thing in the morning, before daybreak.
"Why?" he'd demanded.
"Because I have another task that needs to be done, just a simple one, but it's good to cut the boy's teeth," he explained. But he could see the Theseus was hesitating, uncomfortable with the idea of what he was asking him. He couldn't blame him, not for trying to be a good father and protecting his son. After all, that was simply what he was trying to do. He could relate to the man easily, though he'd never admit it.
"Theseus…in all the time that we've known one another have I ever asked you to do anything unsavory?"
"Depends on your definition of 'unsavory'."
"Have I ever asked you to do anything unsafe?" he corrected. "Compromising?"
Theseus finally sighed and shook his head. "No," he admitted.
"Then bring your son to me. You have my word that he shall do nothing that you've never done, nothing unsafe, nothing compromising."
"I want it in writing."
"Oh!" he laughed gleefully. "We've learned a thing or two in our time together, haven't we."
"A little, yeah!"
He probably should have been upset, with others, he probably would have figured they were insulting him and had a bit more fun with them. But, probably because he'd known Theseus for so long, he found that instead of being upset, he was proud. He always told himself that he was teaching lessons. It was nice to see that it worked.
And so he produced a contract, a simple one that stated if he ever put Pirithous in a compromising or unsafe situation, the loyalty that was owed would be rescinded, and he would be free of the contract. It was simple, but satisfactory, even if the general idea of it wasn't to Theseus. With another potion in hand, he left and returned the next morning with his son in tow.
Pirithous was bigger than Theseus in every way. He was taller and wider. He was darker than Theseus, blessed with his mother's coloring, and his voice was deeper. The only thing that Theseus could lay claim to that his son could not, was his hair. Pirithous had none. And it made him wonderfully intimidating…but it wouldn't work for this situation.
"How much do you know?" he asked as he mixed a new potion in their presence.
"Everything," Pirithous informed him. "Enough to have contempt for this entire situation."
"Pirithous-"
"No!" he piqued. "Don't chastise the boy. It's a terrible situation you put him in."
"You put him in his situation," he snapped. "You put me in this situation, not my father."
"I did no such thing! T'was he who summoned me to save your mother! And that was the reason that your loving parents met, that you and all your lovely little siblings were born into the wonderfully posh life you are living. So what you should be saying is 'it's my father that's put me in this situation'."
"Pirithous," Theseus warned when the boy opened his mouth. "You'll learn soon enough not to argue. The faster you do what needs to be done, the faster you can go home."
"There, there, listen to your Papa, he is the former you."
Pirithous stared at him, his jaw set, his lips pursed. He could see the child's anger in his eyes, anger that his father never had. Pity. This could have been an amazing relationship, just like he'd had with his father, but he could see this was going to get him nowhere. At least not yet. Even as he looked at him now, he had the feeling that this new deal wasn't a complete loss. He might not be useful now, in this form, but perhaps one day, he would. But first, he was going to do what he needed him to do.
It was a simple potion, one that changed his appearance into a seemingly innocent boy-dirty, pale skin, speech impediment, runny nose. He looked so pathetic that if he didn't know who he really was he would be tempted to help him. He took Pirithous out to the forrest, purposefully leaving Theseus behind in the castle. He didn't trust him already, and though no harm would come to Theseus alone in his castle, he knew that Pirithous would assume leaving him behind was a sinister act. He could behave and do exactly what he told him so that his plan worked perfectly, then he could see his father.
This wasn't "the plan" for dear Anna of Arendelle. This was merely the set up for the plan. While Theseus had been home with his family, explaining the reasons he tended to disappear on a whim and who he was now indebted to, he'd been thinking. He'd translated something very particular in the Seer's vision. There was something assumed in the vision that he'd had, something that went directly against what the Apprentice had said about getting that box.
"Pure of heart," the vision had said.
That was all fine and good for him. But the Apprentice had stated quite clearly to Zoso that no one who had ever succumbed to darkness could break the curse.
Was she pure of heart because she'd never been tempted before? Or pure of heart because she had, and she'd refused? That answer wasn't clear. He didn't have time to interrogate her or comb through her past to figure it out. But he also had the sense not to assume that she was pure of heart because she'd already been tempted. He would have to solve the mystery by himself. So, he'd spent the night coming up with a plan, one that hinged on the trap being set just right.
Pirithous was to find his way to the Apprentice's house on this morning, knock on the door and ask for a bit to eat. If he did it right, he'd cough a bit at just the right time to instill some sympathy. Because the Apprentice had studied under Merlin, he was counting on him being a kind and generous soul, easily tricked by the desperation of a poor boy. When he invited him in for breakfast, he was to give him a potion a very specific and certain potion that he had spent the night working up. It was a simple low-level transformation spell, one that would change the drinker into a harmless mouse.
Oh, he could have done better, he could have chosen to make it a poison and killed the Apprentice, but that wouldn't help him test Anna and get what he needed from her. Besides, Dark Ones had been trying to kill the Apprentice for years, at least five that were willing to admit their defeat to him. He didn't want to kill him, just incapacitate him enough to lower his magic and allow him into his home. The transformation spell would work. In addition, he'd bound it with two other potions, one that dampened magic, making it almost undetectable so that the Apprentice would have to concentrate hard to feel it, and another that would allow the potion to be absorbed into the system. It would take time for the potion to work, a day at least. That would give Anna enough time to arrive, enough time to be confronted with her temptation, and resist or give in, whichever it might be. Either way, he would win in some way. If she did what he expected then he'd get the hat. If she did something unexpected, then the Apprentice would have his magic dulled for several days as he stayed in his mousey form, giving him ample opportunity to explore his home and figure out what to do with him.
It was nearly afternoon by the time Pirithous wandered off to do his first job for him. He stayed behind, waiting for him to return. While he waited, he summoned his crystal ball and watched as Anna departed David's farm. He laughed. What else was he to do when he was about to achieve what so many had failed at?
Another short chapter, yeah, I know. Don't say I didn't warn you. But I am hoping that in the next chapter it'll be clear why this one is so short. It didn't fit with the last chapter, it doesn't fit with the next chapter, there's not really a lot of action going on here, merely a lot of discovery and conjecture. I submit this chapter to you as the quintessential "filler chapter".
Thank you Alarda, Grace5231973, and Jennifer Baratta for your reviews on the last chapter. They were much appreciated. And no one got the big hint that I left for you in it, which makes me really happy because that means that you are all in for one really nice big surprise in a few chapters! Until then, the guessing games continue. Theseus and Mary's son, Pirithous, will be the character that appears in Storybrooke as a bit part. We don't see him on screen much, I don't even think we hear him talk when we do, but he's there. Anybody want to take a guess now on who he'll be (or perhaps I should say what role he will play as he wasn't given a real name)? Peace and Happy Reading!