мαgιc αℓωαүs cσмε ωιтн α ρяιcε.

.·*༺ ᎠᎪᏒᏦᎠᏒᎪᎶᎾᏁ ༻:·.

-ˋˏ ༻༺ ˎˊ-

༄༉̣̣̣̣̣ͯ•͙͙͙͙•͙ͯ•͙͙͙͙͙•͙͙ͯ•͙͙͙͙•͙̣̣̣̣̣ͯೄྀ࿐

A Rumplestiltskin x Oc Fan Story

by

꯳ Ahna Basilisk ៚

༄͙͙͙༉｡. ུ࿐

𝔖𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤, 𝔖𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔬𝔫𝔢

͙͙͙ -ˋˏ༻༺ˎˊ- ͙͙͙

It had been several weeks since the anubis attack. The seasons passed and the land turned from bright green to the earthy colors of Fall. And they gradually turned into the whiteness of Winter. And because the Dark Castle was in a mountain, the snow came swiftly and abundantly, blanketing the land in pure white.

Through those weeks Ahna would wake up extra early to spend time knitting a gift for Rumple. She had found an old knitting basket, having been long forgotten, while cleaning a particularly dusty room. She used a bit of her magic to clean and restore it so that she could use it! There were balls of yarn that were in a multitude of colors. Blues, reds, greens, yellows, and purples! The ones she chose for Rumple's gift were the reds and yellows. And in time, she completed a nice, warm, soft scarf. Smiling brightly, she took some brown paper and tied a pretty ribbon around it, complete with a tag saying "For Rumple" in pretty handwriting.

On that early morning she completed it, she went down from her tower room and peeked around the corner to see if Rumple was at his spinning wheel, hoping to place the gift there for him to find. Delighted to see that he wasn't, she hurried to his chair and laid the gift right on it, smiling at it meaningfully. Then, she hurried away to the kitchen to cook breakfast.

Little did she know that Rumple had been watching her place the gift, and he materialized out of nowhere as soon as Ahna had gone. He slowly walked to his chair and reached down to pick the present up. He was frowning at it with uncertainty, almost nervous of what it was, but even then, he began to open it. The second the ribbon was undone, the paper fell away and revealed the scarf Ahna had made for him. Rumple flinched when he saw it and stared at it. He wasn't sure how to take it, and he looked up to gaze in the direction of the kitchen, where Ahna was presently.

In the kitchen, Ahna had just lit the wood in the stove on fire and was setting up to cook some maple toast. The batter was ready and waiting next to her with a loaf of bread all evenly sliced up. She blinked when she sensed Rumple walk in and turned to see him. "Good morning, Rumple," she placed her hands together, bowing to him. "I am halfway done with cooking breakfast." She fell silent when she noticed his frown and tense mannerisms. "What is this?!" he asked sharply, holding up the scarf. Ahna blinked nervously and gave him a confused look, worried that he was going to be angry. With a soft, nervous voice, she replied, "It-It's a scarf. I-I made it myself- for you."

Rumple stared a her, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he was struggling internally. She watched him with concern as he looked down at the scarf in his hands and pursed his lips in thought, feeling the squishiness of the yarn with his fingers. "Thank you . . ." he muttered.

Ahna blinked in surprise at his reply, her nervousness vanishing completely. "Y-Y-You're . . ." She cleared her throat and straightened herself up to bow her head to him, "You're welcome."

He looked at her for a silent moment, frowning in deep thought. "I'll leave you to your cooking. I'll be waiting in the main hall."

"All right, Rumplestiltskin. I- I'm almost done. . ."

"Good." He turned and left the room, holding his new scarf in his hands as he stared down at it. She- made it- just for him. Thinking about it, it made him feel something- he didn't recall ever feeling before. A meaningful feeling that one would feel when someone gave them something that was made by that someone just for them.

He remained silent most of the morning since, constantly derp in thought. Recieving that scarf as a gift, he had a lot to think about. The breakfast Ahna had cooked was heavenly and peaked his sweet tooth deliciously. And now, he had just finished his morning tea -- having found himself enjoying it more than usual -- and was watching Ahna begin to gather his dishes. Lifting a hand up in the gestural manner he always did, he rose from his chair, his dark eyes not once leaving the sight of her. His brow was furrowed in thought.

The thoughts of how she fought so viciously for his life without any regard for herself lingering in his mind. Dragons were rare in the Enchanted Forest, and the ones that were known in the realm were nothing more than animals, brutish things with only the needs of eating, sleeping, defending, and mating -- if they did that sort of thing. He had never thought of the possibility that dragons were ever people. Yes, there was Maleficent, but she was a human that used years of hard earned magic to adopt the shape and nature of a the fabled beasts. She wasn't natural dragon-born. This girl . . . Ahna . . . was, and it was evident in everything she did, everything she was. Her grace, her unearthly beauty, her voice, the ferocity of her loyalty, her devotion. In the entire time she had been under his servitude, she had never complained of her confinement. Surely, it bothered her some how. . . Dragons were known for their need for freedom after all. She was wild, untamable. Her battle against the anubis proved it more than anything else. She was loyal, fierce, and selfless. For him. Even after he held her captive in his castle as his servant. It wasn't the first time he ever did that to someone, but this was the first time that someone did something so- important- for him without expecting anything from him in return.

"Ahna . . . " he called softly with uncertainty, and she looked up at him in response without hesitation. "Yes, Rumple?" He paused with his mouth a little open as he met her lavender eyes, searching for what to say. He wanted to offer something, but he had forgotten what it was the second he began to speak. "I um . . . I was wondering . . ."

Blinking softly, Ahna remained silent and waited for him patiently.

"What do you miss- from your cave? Before you were taken." With his brow still forrowed, he watched her sharply, studying any changes in her expression.

Ahna blinked in surprise at his question, and she blinked some more as she gazed up at him and she thought back about it. "I . . ." She looked out the window and said, "I miss playing my kalimba. And I miss- playing in the snow." She looked up at him, her large eyes soft and gentle, with a little heartache.

The corners of Rumplestiltskin's lips trembled with uncertainty as he lifted a smile, touched by the wholesomeness of her answers. He curled his fingers as he opened his mouth to respond. "Then uh . . . would you like to play in the snow today? It is fresh from the snowfall last night."

Ahna smiled wide and meaningfully at his offer and gave a softly nod, "Yes, please. I won't try fly away."

He blinked as he stared at her, waggling his fingers as he pursed his lips and searched for a response. "Well! . . . I never thought you would! You know very well how powerful I am! So, I am confident you will make the smart decision." He waved his hand and all the dishes were gone from the table. Ahna gasped and looked down to find her dress was replaced with warm Winter clothing, complete with a thick cloak around her shoulders. She looked up at him in surprise to find a smile on his face "Th-thank you."

He gave a small hum and offered his hand, his clothes also transforming for the weather, with a fur cloak around his shoulders. The scarf she made for him was draped around his neck, complimenting his skin color well. Ahna grinned with delight at that and accepted his hand, and he began to walk her out of the castle.

Ahna's heart gave a great leap as she feel the cold fresh Winter air wafted through her hair. Her nose twitched at the crisp smell of fresh snow. And she blinked tears out of her eyes as the brightness of the snow momentarily stung her eyes. She had to look away briefly and hold a hand over her eyes as they adjusted, tightening her hold on Rumple's hand.

Seeing this, he watched amd waited patiently for her till she was comfortable again. And he watched her delighted expression when she saw her misty breath before her eyes.

She looked up at him and asked, "May I go to play in it?"

Rumplestiltskin gave a nod but then he suddenly frowned, "But do not throw any snow at me!"

Ahna nodded and bowed to him. "I won't." She looked out at the snow and released his hand to crouch low onto all fours and leap straight into the nearest snow drift. She literally disappeared into the mound of snow, with only her cloak flat on the surface to show she was. She popped right back up with the snow reaching her chest, and with a huff she began to dig her way out, clawing through the cold powder.

Rumple frowned regretfully at his own disregard for her hands as he hadn't given her gloves, but watching her touch the snow unbothered, he took comfort in seeing that she appeared perfectly fine without them.

As soon as she was free from the drift, she began to bound and tumble about on all fours as easily and nimble as if she were in her dragon forms. Her heart was alight with joy, and she felt her long missed freedom once again. She leaped high into the air to dive back down on the snow to make it burst all around her. She'd make snow balls, toss them up, and leap after them like a cat would to yarn. No other words could describe her joy. She felt so happy to be playing in the snow, rolling, leaping, bounding and chasing. Even if she were to never fly again, this would be enough for her.

Rumple watched her with admiration slowly growing in his heart, watching her literally glow with life and happiness. He could not tell if it was because of the brightness of the daylight on the snow or because of her new sense of freedom, but her hair, skin, eyes, and dragon tail looked brighter than usual, their glow rivalling that of the snow all around them. The sight of her playing happily in it, in the way dragons would, did something to him, and he could not stop this feeling in his chest. He frowned softly as he watched her, resting a hand on his chest as the feeling began to overwhelm. The urge to join her . . . It was getting too strong. . .

Kneeling down, he picked up some snow and began to form it into a ball, and then he waited and watched her till her back was turned to him.

Ahna was watching the snow on her nose melt when she felt something suddenly hit her in the back of her head, and because she was crouched low on all fours, she hit the snow face first with an "Oof!" She snapped right back up and turned to see him just standing there with his arms crossed. "What?" he said, "It wasn't me."

Ahna chuckled and shook the snow out of her hair, sending a shower of sparkles in the sun. She knew he did not want her throwing snow at him, but she would be lying if she did not admit that it was something she really wanted to do. However, she also did not want to upset him. So, she turned away to continue playing, but when he threw another snowball, she whirled around to catch it in mid air, the powder bursting in her hands. "Hah! Gotcha!" But when she looked up to see him, he wasn't there.

"I am telling you, Dearie! It wasn't me!" came his voice from up a tree, and Ahna looked to see him sitting on a branch with one leg hooked over the other in perfect balance. Ahna chuckled at him and then turned to climb up a nearby pine tree that was tall and thin. At the top, she gripped onto it and swung her weight over so that the tree bowed over, bringing her right up to Rumple. She hung upside down onto the tip of the tree her face about a foot away from his with her eyes meeting his. She grinned with delight, and he smiled softly at her in return. "Hi," she said softly.

"Hello, Dearie," he replied.

Their gaze held for this gentle moment before Ahna decided to throw her weight up to bring the tree to its original place. Rumple watched her as his brow furrowed a little, wondering what she was doing. Grinning eagerly, Ahna poised herself on the tree, ready and willing, and she jumped clear off the tree.

Understanding well as a dragon she was capable of taking care of herself, Rumple just frowned as he watched her, and that was went her wings appeared and snapped open from her back, catching the winter air in its membranes. She glided with ease straight up the tree he was sitting in and grouged her claws into the trunk as she landed. His hair blowing in her wake, he watched her wings ripple from the wind and fold up before vanishing in a flow of white, scaly magic. Then he turned his attention to Ahna, who was climbing onto the branch he was sitting on, crouching beside him with her tail hanging below her for balance. She gave him a delighted grin, of which he returned with a smirk and a single chuckle.

"Are you ready to go back inside?" he asked simply.

"I am. Thank you for this," she replied, joy sparkling in her eyes.

He nodded to her before disappearing in a swirling mass of purple smoke and reappearing on the ground, walking toward the castle entrance. Ahna chuckled from that and leaped straight down after him on all fours. Then, she rose to her feet and shook any snow off of herself.

In the meantime, Rumple waved his hand to open the doors, letting them both enter the warm castle. Then he snapped his fingers to remove his cloak and replace his clothes with fresh ones, a deep blue blouse with a black waistcoat, both open to his neck and chest.

Ahna had begun to remove her cloak when Rumple stepped forward. "Allow me, Dearie." She stopped to watch at him as he snapped his fingers, and her clothes were replaced with a fresh, white dress that flowed about her slender frame. She grinned at him with delight. "Thank you." He lifted a wide, pleased smile and inclined his head in welcome.

Together, they went to one of the rooms that Ahna had recently cleaned to warm up by a large fireplace. Rumple took a seat in an armchair, and Ahna curled up on a rug before the fireplace, letting the heat warm her back. Her eyes were closed and her tail curled around her.

Rumple watched her from where he sat and blinked his dark eyes, wondering if she would feel the same way he was feeling at the moment. And in truth, in a way, she was.

Though, she looked like she was asleep, Ahna wasn't. She was thinking about their time out in the snow, so grateful and adoring to his kindness. Ever since he touched her face so gently in King George's dungeon, she knew he was able to be kind. She took faith in it despite anything he did to the contrary. She was well aware of the dark magic that inhabited his body and heart. That it was something he valued very much. She was a magical creature by birth and she knew how it felt to lose her power and be rendered helpless, unable to fight back. She also knew he was a very lonely man in a very big castle, in need of a friend, in need of love. She wanted to be that friend, especially after everything he has done for her. She was grateful. So very grateful. She could easily say she loved him for it, and she wanted to love him even if he didn't love her in return. She wasn't aware of how he felt about her, though, and in truth, she was hesitant to sense for it and find out. Such feelings can be so personal, and so- meaningful, she did not want to risk invading something he would want to keep to himself. She knew if it was meant to be, it would be. So she was welling to wait for as long as she needed for the time to come.

Sitting in his chair, Rumple had turned his gaze to the fire, staring into it as his mind delved deep into thoughts of everything that has happened since he first brought Ahna to his castle. He closed his eyes and took a peek into his foresight, wondering if . . . something in the future could tell him. And in flashes, he saw her eyes, bright, pale lavender, her joyful grin more beautiful than he had ever seen her. A veil over her face, and the feeling of more joy he had ever felt in his life. He snapped his eyes open in surprise, his mouth opening a little in wonder. He looked down at the little dragon that lay curled up before the fireplace, his heart filling with a warmth he hadn't felt- in so long.

༄͙͙͙༉｡. ུ࿐

𝔈𝔫𝔡

͙͙͙ -ˋˏ༻༺ˎˊ- ͙͙͙