Through A Glass Darkly

Chapter Eight: The Truth Will Out

Blanche's heart pounded in fright as she raced away from the parlor. She had been having a wonderful time at the party; dancing and talking with Lord O'Connell, when she saw someone in the crowd that looked very familiar to her. At first, she thought perhaps she had simply had too much wine, but a second discreet glance confirmed her fears. She went pale, and dashed out of the room as fast as her feet could carry her.

Upon reaching her room, she slammed the door, leaning against it as she fought to regain some control. What was he doing here? ! How had he found her? She shook in terror, and then cried out as someone knocked firmly on the door. "Who…who is it?"

Red's voice answered her. "It's only me, Blanche." Blanche sighed in relief and opened the door. Red stepped into the small room, and Blanche quickly slammed the door, locking it. Red looked a bit startled at this, but remained silent.

"Red, what are you doing here?"

Red sat on the bed. "Rumplestiltskin asked me to check up on you. So how are you enjoying life as a cook?"

Blanche sighed. "I am, but…I…I think my father's found me!"

Red sat up straight, eyes wide. "What? !"

Blanche nodded eyes wide in fright. "I was at the party just now, in my golden dress, and Pete…I mean Lord O'Connell and I were dancing, and just talking-he's such an intelligent and witty man that it is a pleasure to speak to him-when I spotted a man that greatly resembled my father. And since he has no twin, I am positive it is him. I ran before he could approach, and now I am sure Lord O'Connell despises me even more. This is the third time in as many months I've run from him, and when he finds out I'm a princess, he'll hate me for a liar."

Red smiled at the girl. "What are you more scared of, Blanche? Your father revealing you, or Lord O'Connell rejecting you?" Blanche went red, and she laughed. "I thought so. You love him, don't you?" A nod, and Red grinned. "Wonderful."

Blanche sat next to her. "You don't think he's too old for me? After all, he is nearly twenty four."

Red scoffed. "You are asking the woman that is lovers with an immortal imp about age discrepancy? Rumplestiltskin is old enough to be my ancestor."

"Yes, but that's different. He's immortal, as you said. Peter is not, and I'm sure that if he does harbor any feelings for me, they are merely friendly pity for a pathetic little slip of a girl. Not to mention that I am, for all intents and purposes, his servant!"

Red sighed. "That's true, I guess. Well, I'm sure things will resolve themselves in time." Blanche glared at her, and Red shrugged. "After all, it isn't as though you couldn't tell him the truth."

Blanche gasped in horror. "How could I even begin? What am I supposed to do, ask to see him in private and then tell him how my father is an incestuous bastard that wanted to marry his own daughter, so I ran rather than be party to such a monstrous union?"

Red hugged her. "No, what you do is go back to the party, and if your father is still there, reveal him for the bastard he is. I know Rumple promised you would never have to go back, and he keeps his promises."

"Is he here?"

Red nodded. "You know that imp of mine-he loves to make deals, and what better place than at a gathering of gullible nobles?"

At the same moment that Red and Blanche were talking, Rumplestiltskin was closing a deal with one gullible noble for a prosperous year. And all it had cost the noble was his wife's as yet unborn child. Of course, Rumple had been careful not to mention that little part of the bargain. But after seeing the way the woman behaved towards her husband, Rumple thought he would be doing their progeny a favor. He had often heard the term fish-wife, but had never met a noblewoman that so personified it. "So, Lord Carrow, do we have a deal?"

Lord Carrow, a small, nervous looking man with limp brown hair and watery eyes, nodded. His wife, who was tall and imposing, gave Rumplestiltskin a gimlet eyed stare that had absolutely no effect on him, and spoke in a voice that sounded like a donkey's bray. "I trust you will keep your part of the bargain, Imp? I know that…creatures such as you are never to be trusted."

Rumple smiled disarmingly at her. "My Lady, I always keep my deals. Always." Lord and Lady Carrow looked at him in unease, and he giggled, and then turned around as a large hand fell on his shoulder.

"I don't remember inviting you." Lord O'Connell glared at him, and Rumple fought the urge to turn the man into a frog. "What are you doing here, Imp?"

Rumplestiltskin brushed the hand off his shoulder. "I'm here on personal business, My Lord. You under…." He trailed off, and then spoke again, his voice low with anger. "You. What are you doing here?"

The man he had spoken to looked startled. He was in his late forties, with black hair and brown eyes. "I do not know what you are asking, sir. I received an invitation to this party."

Rumplestiltskin stalked forward, a sardonic smile on his face. "Don't play the liar with me. I know who you are, and who you are after, and you…are…not…getting her." He poked the man hard in the chest with each word, and the man stumbled backwards, eyes comically wide.

"I have no idea what you are speaking of! Unhand me, you loathsome imp, or I will take steps to defend myself!"

Rumplestiltskin cackled. "Oh, please do…Your Majesty." The man went pale, and Rumple grinned. "I've never turned a King into anything. Princes, sure, but never a King. I think you would make a fine weasel. Would you like to be a weasel, Majesty? Or perhaps a snail? I'm quite…partial to snails." He smacked his lips together. "Especially with a bit of butter."

"You are mad! I am not a King! I am simply an…"

"Incestuous bastard."

All eyes turned to see Blanche standing in the door, her face pale and set, Red with her. "Hello, Father. You're right, you are not a king. A true king would not sully his wife's memory as horribly as you have. A true king would not entertain the thought of marriage to his daughter. You are no more a king than I am, and if you came here to try and make me return home and force me to agree with our shameful marriage, than I am sorry to inform you that you have wasted the trip. So goodbye forever, Father. I have no intention of ever returning to the castle or to your kingdom."

King Derek smiled evilly at his daughter. "Well, I am afraid you have no choice, Blanche. You see, you said you would wed me if I gave you what you wanted, and I did. So you have no choice, you see."

Blanche glared at him. "Everyone has a choice, and I am not going anywhere with you."

The King snorted at her in derision. "And who will you go with? That imp and his whore?" Rumplestiltskin growled in rage and Red came over to him, placing her hand on his arm. He relaxed, but still continued to glare daggers at Derek.

Blanche looked over at them, then back at her father. "They are my friends, and Red Riding Hood is not a whore. She is a good woman, and besides, I am already engaged."

King Derek gawped at her in shock. "Engaged? ! To whom? !"

Blanche hedged. She had not rehearsed this bit, and was at a loss for words when a voice spoke up.

"She is engaged to me, Your Highness." Lord O'Connell stepped forward, smiling, and took Blanche's hands in his. "We had meant to announce our engagement at dinner tonight, but I suppose this is as good a time as any. Though I am a little curious as to why my darling didn't tell me she was of such high birth."

Blanche smiled at him in thanks. "I wanted you to love me for who I was not my status or station. I was afraid that you would think you were not good enough for me, when you are the finest man I have known."

Lord O'Connell grinned. "You do not need to worry, my dear. I love you for you." He tilted her chin up, and then kissed her, and Blanche sighed, kissing him back.

Rumplestiltskin looked over at the king, a mad grin on his face. "Well, Majesty, it seems as though you no longer have any claim on your daughter. Now leave, or I will show you just how much power this loathsome imp commands."

Derek started to speak, and Rumple fixed him with a glare that made him shut his mouth in terror before running out of Lyall Hall.

O'Connell sighed in relief, and then turned to Blanche. "We need to talk. In private." She nodded and followed him out.

Rumple grinned. Everything was going as he had foreseen, though he had also seen that actual marriage was a long way away.

Peter ushered Blanche into his study, closing the door behind them. She faced him, and began to babble. "I am so sorry I did not mean to act like that and I am grateful to you for your help but I was lying earlier and if you knew who I really was than…"

"You mean if I knew you were the cook here?" Peter asked, amused, and Blanche's jaw dropped. "Oh yes, I knew. I've known since you ran from me at the last party. I followed you, and discovered your secret."

Blanche went pale and collapsed in a chair. "Why, if you knew, did you not dismiss me?"

Peter grasped her hands and pulled her to her feet. "Because what I said earlier was the truth. I have fallen in love with you, and I do not care if you are a cook or a princess. You are beautiful, smart, and extremely pleasant company. So, even though the announcement of our engagement was a way to make your father leave you in peace, would you be willing to make it real?"

Blanche gulped. "I am only sixteen, My Lord. Surely you would want a woman who is…more experienced?"

"No, I want a woman who can hold her own in conversations, and who does not simper at me. And if you are not comfortable with marrying now, I will gladly wait until you are. What do you say, Blanche? Will you agree to be mine?"

Blanche's smile lit up her entire face. "Yes, I will."

Peter beamed and kissed her passionately. Blanche wrapped her arms around him, sighing in happiness.

At last, the darkness that surrounded her was starting to lift.