Chapter 4

The other one

"You are learning quick, dearie." He muse while undoing my protection curse. "Thank you." I say while putting on my apron to go and get my chores done. "oh – ah – Today you are not allowed to come into this room again." I quickly turn around and see him looking kind of – well he was hiding something.

"Okay." I just say as if I'm not bothered by another secret I'm not allowed to know. As I close the door it locked immediately behind me. "Why tell me not to go in when you will lock the door anyway?" I grumble and walk downstairs to get my old bucket and cloth. At the end of the day – after practicing magic – I feel glad I could do my chores. The magic is draining me and cleaning this huge place gives me some rest. The rhythm makes my mind at ease and I can feel the train of my thoughts go free.

What was it he was doing in our practicing room? What is it I can't know about. I've seen every deal since I come in here. Well – a lot of them really. But still – what could be so life threating that I – of all people – someone who can't escape this place – could not know about this.

The more I think about this – while sweeping, cleaning and scrubbing – the more I want to know what in Merlin's name is going on there. I make my way towards the tower and start cleaning the floor. Just a few hours left to dinner so maybe I can catch something of this secret.

At one point I hear a woman yell and slam the door shut. "I'm going to use the curse! With or without your help." She yells and walks downstairs. That voice is familiar, but I've been in this place for a long time. I can't seem to get a name or a face with it. Footsteps come closer and then I realize who this must be. I turn around to as fast as I could out of this hallway – but as you expected – I am the most retarded person on earth. "Who in their right mind dares to let me trip."

Do you know the feeling like you are in deep – but I mean really deep – trouble. Well, this was really close to it. I turn around to see that she had slipped onto the ground because of the wet stone floor. Quickly, I go over to her and slime my but off. "I'm sorry your Majesty. I didn't know you would be coming over." I can see her dark raven eyes burn with hatred. "So you are the one that keeps this cursed place clean." She looks me over and gracefully stood up. "Again, I'm really sorry."

A sly grin spread across her face. "Well I think he has to look for another maid then." She raises her hand and fire came bursting towards me. In a reflection I raise my hands and protected myself – as the flames bounced away from me. Opening my eyes I see it had worked! Merlin – I stood up against the Queen!

"Regina! That's enough. Go get that curse from Maleficent!" She stopped and stomped away. Her face plastered in an unattractive way. "Good job, dearie. Your protection curses are brilliant." He walks past me without even looking at me – leaving me standing there like nothing happened.

I know this is not what I am supposed to do – but I trailed after him. "Please, sir. Explain to me what happened over there. The Queen – of all people… What was she doing here." Rumpelstiltskin giggled and continued to walk in a fast pace, making it hard to follow. "That – is none of your business."

"What curse? What was she yelling about?" He turns around, fingers tightly grabbing my chin. "You – stop asking questions." I see his eyes change from that ember color to dark brown ones. I just nod my head, feeling my bravery slip away and fear creep up. "Didn't you know that curiosity killed the cat." He let go of me and strode off again. This time I knew better then to follow him as the fear still draped me like a fine cloak.

The next few months I didn't saw him that frequently. I often spend my time practicing alone in the morning, cleaning in the afternoon and make dinner – for him not to show up. I could turn myself into a swallow and reverse it – but never did the idea of flying away occur to me. I felt some sort of responsibility for the man. I know it is stupid, but I can't help it. I worry if he is eating enough, I worry if he is hurt. But who am I fooling? Myself probably. He is the Dark One. He can take care of himself.

I was allowed to fly over the woods and see if anyone had some news. In a sort of way I was his eyes and ears when he wasn't around. Never again was I allowed to go to the village again. Not even near it.

This night however, he stood waiting for me in the dining room, overlooking the forest from the window. "Dinner is ready, sir." I say – feeling excited that he finally was here to eat. "Thank you. Take yourself a seat too, Sarah." Oh no – something serious was going on. I could feel it – plus he says my name rarely. He often just refer to me as dearie, love, birdy. Little names I that made me feel at ease. "We have a lot to discuss this evening. But first – " He sat down making a gesture for me to do the same. "Let's eat." He smiles as I showed him what I cooked tonight. On the menu today ladies and gentlemen: Fresh broccoli soup, followed by Salmon – filled with cream cheese and basil and as desert strawberry cake with whipped cream.

"You are just perfect." He said while digging in. I knew he hadn't been eating in a long time. I scooped up small portions for myself, knowing there wasn't enough for the two of us if he kept eating like that. "You should be taken better care of yourself." I said while putting down my spoon. "You've become even more skinnier." He grinned. "Since when did you start to care for me." My eyebrows raise high up, highly surprised at his rudeness. "I always have! I take care of you for almost two years now." He giggles. "Has it really been that long?" I nod and went for the salmon. "It has." I confirm. "I do appreciate the way you care for me." The silence creeps in at this point. I don't know what to say – which is kind of strange. The last few months I was used to eat in silence, making fake conversations in my head with the man who is sitting in front of me at this moment.

When we were done he took me to the garden. It is dark but a few torches are lit, making the path visible for the eye. "I need to talk to you about our deal." He starts as his hand were behind his back. "I think you have done a good job and tomorrow – " The moon reflected high in the sky – just like the night of our deal. "Tomorrow is the day you are on your way home. Free to go and must not return." He looked at the ground as my face must have looked bewildered. Over the past two years we've become – I don't know – friends maybe?

"Go? But our deal? It was forever you said. Are you sure?" I felt conflicted. I could go home, but the word must have gotten out that I had lived with the Dark One. And what did he said about not returning. "What is happening tomorrow?" I asked. A dark sly smile appears on the imp his face. "Tomorrow, I will be captured." My eyebrows knit together. "Captured... But if you know, why don't you just not go out tomorrow." Rumpelstiltskin giggles. "It is fate, love. I need to go in order to get something back I lost long ago." Feeling the sadness I stare at the ground. "And if I don't want to go?" I softly say, not sure whether he hears me or not

"You must, Sarah. It won't be safe here. My magic will limit and yours won't be powerful enough. Everyone wants to kill the beast you know." – "You are not a beast." We stop as he takes my hand. "You no longer need this." Getting the bracelet of my wrist he puts it in the pocket of the dragon leather jacket. "You are from now on not bound to me, nor the castle. Please go." We are standing at the rim of the woods. I don't want to go. I want to stay. "Surely I could help you?" I asked. He shook his head and pushed me further into the woods. "If you don't go, I'll make you." He warned. Green smoke surrounds me and I fly away.

I am angry at him – at myself. How could he do this. Now I need to return to a world where no one wants me. Where no one will like me. Most of all where likely everyone will kill me. I fly for a very long time. For the first time flying over the village where I was once kept hostage. It is late winter; the wind not that cold anymore. In my head I'm forming a plan.

Where do I need to go? I could go to my parents. Maybe that is a start? After three days I finally reach the little house. It's old. Bits and pieces are falling of the roof. The windows are broken and the garden my mom once held some veggies was overgrown with wild plants. What happened? I fly around to the window of my old bedroom. It was all broken and I can tell someone made quit good work of wrecking the place. I fly in through a hole in the wall and undo the spell. Adjusting to the fact that I had human legs again I sit on the bed – Well what was left of it anyway. The memory of the dream of Rumpelstiltskin still burnt vividly inside of me. The first time I learnt of him.

My hand automatically grabs my wrist. No – it is real. I'm alone. Loved ones are gone, disappeared. Now what? I curled onto my bed, little sobs escape my lips. This terrify me even more than when they took me. I just knew he would come for me. Now I now he is held captive somewhere. As that thought crosses my mind I jump up. I could visit him there! Someone will know where he is, someone who wants him out of the way. The Queen maybe? I will fly to her and see what happens. It's not like I've got something to live for anyway.

I fly out again, leaving the house for what it is. I see the castle, but it is not like what I remember. It used to be very dark over there since the Evil Queen took over. Now it was – peaceful? I look around from a branch and spot a woman with black hair and a pale skin. That must be Snow white.

I fly closer to see who she is talking to. "Don't worry. We will find him." She says to another girl I don't recognize. "What if something happened to him? It was a bad idea to imprison the Dark One." I could see she was doing her best not to spill more tears as her cheeks were puffy – I assume from crying all day.

"We go back tonight to ask him how to stop the curse." I perk up and felt an energy shot through my tiny body. Tonight I would know where to go.