AN: So first of all, I feel the need to tell you all that I debated for a long while whether or not to make Alice Jefferson's wife. In the end I made the conclusion to do so, despite the argument of him being the "Mad Hatter" in Alice in Wonderland. Secondly, all of the chapters set in FTL (after this one) will actually be in Aurelie's POV as opposed to Jefferson's. And as far as the time line goes, Ch 1 was set further down the line in the story, to explain the tensions between Jefferson and Aurelie. Ch 2 and on, will begin when she was younger, and progress on to the point when the curse took effect.
And in case Ch 1 was a bit confusing, Persephone is the Storybrooke component of Aurelie. But I promise all will be explained in due time!
Ch 2: A fair Trade
"Once we have accepted the story we cannot escape the story's fate."
Outside the castle walls, the people King George's kingdom celebrated. It was a night where wishes had come true, and hope had been returned to the land. In the throne room however, the King and Queen were as unhappy as ever. Their wishes had been fulfilled, only with a terrible price. The queen, head bowed, soothed a young babe in her arms, even as tears fell down her own face. The King paced around the hall, deep in thought.
"Still not happy I see." A voice remarked, as a figure glided out of the shadows of the throne room. The King and Queen stopped, a thick silence coating the air.
"What? You don't appreciate my 'gift'?" The man named Rumplestiltskin continued. He had a grin upon his face, as he held his arms out to the young Queen. Rather ungracefully, the Queen nearly threw the child in the imp's arms, and then hastily retreated behind her husband. Rumplestiltskin held the baby up to the light, surveying her closely. The child outstretched a tiny hand towards his face, and her touch brought a frown to his features.
"You promised us an heir!" King George snarled, pointing to Rumplestiltskin accusingly.
"No. What I promised was a child. And a child I have given you." The imp replied, pointing to the child cooing in his arms.
"That thing is not a child!" King George roared, bringing another frown to the dark one's face.
"You didn't see what she did! What she can do!" The Queen screamed, speaking for the first time. He face was white, and her slender hands pointed to the baby in an accusing manner.
"You asked for a child. You wanted magic to give you what you wanted! This is the price. I made you a child with magic, and magic she shall have." Rumplestiltskin replied his dark face set with anger.
"We don't want it." King George argued, his lips forming a thin line. "But the people expect a child. As we speak, they celebrate the birth of an heir. The birth of a son…"
"You have nothing left to give me." Rumplestiltskin stated, handing the baby to king, who looked disgusted by the very sight of her. The Queen began sobbing, clutching her husband tightly. The imp laughed at the sight of them, before turning to walk away.
The dark one didn't make it ten feet before stopping dead in his tracks.
"On second thought…" Rumplestiltskin muttered, before twirling around, eyes transfixed on the child. He grinned madly, and in under a second held the child in his arms once again.
"Seems I've changed my mind…" Rumplestiltskin remarked, eyes never leaving the stormy eyes of the baby. "In fact, I've decided to do this for you. Out of the kindness of my heart," the imp replied bowing to the couple.
"What's your price?" The Queen questioned softly, refusing to meet the eyes of the dark one. Rumplestiltskin laughed, smiling ear to ear.
"Let's just say, you owe me a favor." He quipped, adjusting the child in his arms. "I'll even throw in a replacement child for you. Since the Queen is still barren."
King George seemed stunned to silence, and seated himself in his throne heavily. The Queen however moved gracefully towards the imp, placing a slender hand upon his arm.
"Thank you." She whispered, tears in her eyes. She turned her eyes to the baby, and touched its forehead sadly. She recoiled, as if burned, and ran from the throne room sobbing. Rumplestiltskin seemed amused by the whole situation, and strode from the hall, leaving King George alone in his silence. As soon as Rumplestiltskin was out of earshot he looked to the child, who gazed at him curiously.
"Don't worry I have plans for you young one. And one day, you'll be of great use to me." He whispered to the child, who twisted her face and began to cry. Rumplestiltskin frowned, and silenced the child with a wave of his hand. "Don't cry dearie. After all, you can't fight destiny." And with those final words Rumplestiltskin and the child disappeared into the darkness once more. The destination was a small farm, in need of a miracle.
A young farmer and his wife Ruth, were also unhappy. They wished for a miracle to come along, before they lost their children to starvation. The farmer Bancroft cared greatly for his family, but he felt as though he had failed them.
"Bancroft, what are we to do?" Ruth would ask him, over and over. Her once beautiful face was sullen, and her eyes were full of tears each time he looked at her. The babies fared even worse, and he feared for all of their lives. The crops wouldn't grow, and without the crops they were doomed to their fate. And so, for Bancroft, it was nothing short of a miracle when Rumplestiltskin showed up on his doorstep. The imp carried with him a baby girl, and promised the farmer all they would need to survive, for a price.
Ruth begged her husband not to make the deal. She cried, and promised that they would find a way to survive on their own. But Bancroft knew it was their best chance. That's why when he handed over his baby boy, he felt as though it was the right decision.
Due to Ruth's sadness, it was only too easy for Rumplestiltskin to convince the couple to take in the baby girl. The farmer knew that one child could never replace another in Ruth's mind, but she had always wished for a daughter.
"Take this child. Care for her, raise her as your own. And on her 12th birthday I will come for her. At that time she will come to work in my dark castle." Rumplestiltskin ordered, handing the child over with surprising care. It was upsetting to Ruth that they would gain this child, only to lose her 12 years later. But Rumplestiltskin promised that their crops would grow and flourish, for as long as the child was in their care. This deal would ensure that the son they still had left would survive. He would be well fed, in a family that loved him. They made the deal with a heavy heart. Ruth held her new child in her arms, glancing upon the small dark tuft of hair, and stormy eyes.
"Wait!" She called out, as Rumplestiltskin turned to leave, her baby in his arms. "What shall we call her?" The imp smiled evilly at Ruth in response.
"Call her Aurelie. It suits her." Rumplestiltskin ordered them lips curling into a wicked grin.
"Oh! And keep your other boy safe as well. He may yet come in handy as well, one day."
Rumplestiltskin said, before laughing and disappearing away. Bancroft shared a look with his wife, before turning and disappearing inside with his son clutched tightly in his arms. Ruth looked down at the curious child in her arms, before sighing ruefully.
"Oh my dear Aurelie, what will be your story? What could that horrible man possibly want from an innocent child like you?"
Ruth's questions would go unanswered for a long while. But for now, young Aurelie slept in the crib next to her new brother. A crib crafted for another. In Rumplestiltskin's eyes, it was a fair trade.
AN: I apologize for the short chapter! I had a Storybrooke counterpart that I wanted to add, but decided to leave it for later. Don't worry, there will be more between Persephone and Jefferson soon!