Through A Glass Darkly

Chapter Four: From Princess to Cook

Rumplestiltskin blinked in annoyance as a shaft of sunlight came slanting in through the window to land with perverse preciseness on his eyelid. He grumbled, throwing his arm over his face, and sighed in relief, ready to go back to sleep when an earth shattering crash came from the kitchen. He bolted awake, wondering just what the devil was going on.

Red came awake as well, looking a bit scared. "Rumple, what was?" Her eyes widened. "You don't think Blanche..!"

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yes, that is exactly what I think. I better go see what the damage is." Red nodded, and then placed her hand on his arm.

"Go easy on her; she's had a tough day."

"I make no promises, my dear. But I will try to curb my temper, nevertheless." He threw on his breeches and shirt, and then headed out to the kitchen, expecting to see a complete disaster area.

Instead, he saw Blanche at the stove, stirring a pan of eggs as she whistled off-key. He blinked, and then noticed the source of the crash. A large platter had fallen onto the stone floor and broken into a thousand pieces. "Princess?"

Blanche turned, smiling at him. "Oh! I…Morning. I'll get that cleaned up in a minute, I was reaching for plates and I guess it wasn't balanced well enough because it just fell, and I tried to hold on to it but I couldn't."

Rumple blinked against the onslaught of words, and then sat at the table. "You don't have to cook, you know. Both Red and I are pretty good at it."

Blanche blushed. "I know I don't, but I was taught by my nurse that if someone does something nice for you, you do something nice for them in return. Both you and Red Riding Hood have been nice to me, so I figure the least I can do is make breakfast."

Rumplestiltskin grinned. "That's the first time a princess has called me nice. Usually their names for me are less than affectionate. Breakfast smells like it's done, by the by."

"Did I hear someone say the word breakfast?" Red came into the kitchen, smiling at the pair of them. "So, what exploded in here?"

Rumple pulled her onto his lap, kissing her. "Just a platter, love. Nothing to worry about." Red grinned, kissing him back, and he slipped his hand up her shirt, stroking her spine.

The sound of Blanche loudly clearing her throat made them break apart. The princess was beet red. "Umm…I…breakfast." Red grinned and hopped off Rumple's lap, smirking at his moan of frustration, then grinned at her plate.

"Eggs! Marvelous!"

Rumple muttered something under his breath about 'spoiling my fun' and dug into the eggs. "Princess, you did not exaggerate your skills. You're quite the marvelous cook. Who taught you?"

Blanche smiled at the compliment. "My nurse, Hannah. She passed away three years ago. Do you think the Lord you're…giving me to will like my cooking?"

Rumple nodded. "Yes, but I'm not giving you to him. He needs a competent cook, and you fit the description. Plus, his home is far away enough from your father's kingdom that there won't be any danger of you being recognized. Besides, he's also quite lonely, and very handsome from what I've heard."

Red glared at her lover. "Rumplestiltskin, don't tell me that you've added matchmaker to your list of talents."

The imp giggled. "No, but it doesn't hurt to let the Princess know what sort of person she'll be working for. Would you rather I told her Lord O'Connell was an old, stooped, and ugly man with one arm, three eyes, and no feet?"

Blanche gasped in horror. "Is he? !"

Red glared at Rumplestiltskin, and then addressed Blanche. "I'm sure he's a perfectly fine looking and upstanding gentleman, which is more than I can say for that imp of mine. Really, Rumple, you are impossible."

"But you love me anyway."

Red rolled her eyes. "Yes, though sometimes I don't know if I want to kiss you or kick you. Now, hadn't you better get going? It's a long way to Lord O'Connell's estate."

Rumplestiltskin frowned. "Red, aren't you forgetting that I can go anywhere in an instant? We've got plenty of time."

"Oh. Right." Red blushed a bit. "Well, when will you be leaving?"

"As soon as the Princess finishes her breakfast."

Blanche swallowed the last of her eggs. "I'm done. What about clothing? All I have is my mantle!"

Rumple giggled. "That, and the three dresses you packed in those shells." At Blanche's startled look, he nodded. "Oh yes, I saw them. Quite exquisite handiwork. Don't worry; they've been put back in your pocket-along with a few items of my own." Blanche looked even more shocked. "Don't look so afraid, dearie; it does nothing for your complexion. I just put in some things that may turn out to be useful to you. Now, if you are finished eating, we can be on our merry way."

"Yes sir, I'm finished."

Rumple grinned, then stood and extended his arm. Blanche took it a bit gingerly, and he rolled his eyes and pulled her close. "Sorry lass, but you'd better hold on tight and shut your eyes. Red, I'll be back later today." Red waved a goodbye, and Rumplestiltskin and Blanche vanished from the room.

Blanche felt as though she was being pulled apart, and she clung tightly to Rumplestiltskin, screaming in terror. She couldn't see, couldn't feel anything. Gradually, she became aware that her feet were touching something solid. "You can open your eyes now, Princess. And kindly dig your nails out of my arm."

Blanche cracked open one eye, then the other, and gave a gasp of relief. They were standing in front of the servant's entrance of a large manor house, and she noticed that Rumplestiltskin looked a bit uncomfortable. After a moment, she realized why-her nails had dug bloody furrows in his arm. "I'm so sorry!" Rumple winced as she released his arm, and then rubbed it, smiling at her.

"That's perfectly alright, dearie. Now, be a good girl and go knock on the door!" He vanished, and Blanche stared in dismay at the spot he had been only seconds before.

"Wait! I…I…what do I do? What do I say? You can't just leave me!" Blanche shouted. There was no answer, and she sighed in frustration, and then walked over to the door, timidly knocking. It was opened a few moments later by a large and formidable looking woman.

"Yes?"

Blanche's tongue felt cleaved to the roof of her mouth. "Uhh…I understand his Lordship is looking for a cook?" The woman nodded once, and Blanche gathered her courage. "I…I'd like the job, please."

The woman glanced at her. "Come on in, Miss, and let's see if you're qualified. His Lordship is very particular about who he hires. He will accept only the best." Blanche smiled at her in thanks and followed her into the kitchen. "Now, he usually has his lunch about this time, but since he fired the last cook, I've been making his meals, and I confess to not being that adept at it. Still, I've managed. Let's see what you can do."

Blanche found an apron, tying it over her mantle. "What does he eat?"

"He wants soup. By the by, my name is Dorothy. What's yours?"

"Blanche, Ma'am."

Dorothy gave her a smile that made Blanche feel much more at ease. "Welcome to Lyall Hall, Blanche."

Blanche smiled at her, thinking how strange it was to go from princess to cook in the space of one short day.