Part 8

Baelfire had travelled far and wide, and he was exhausted. He had travelled through all of the major cities in the kingdom, and now was in the furthest outpost away from the capital. It was well after sunset, and he was looking for a place to stay. The country side had been singularly devoid of buildings, and he was beginning to give up on the idea of finding an inn. He was just about to prepare to camp when he saw lights in the distance. He headed towards them, hoping that they were friendly.

He reached a campfire, with several men sitting around it. Stopping a short distance away, he listened to their talk. It seemed that most of them were local farmers.

As he drew nearer, there was a small explosion of color, and the bonfire started blazing bright purple.

"That's a pretty good trick, stranger," one of the farmers said, "Never met a travelling magician before. What else can you do?"

Another voice laughed. "Oh quite a bit. But only when I feel like it." The flames blazed bright blue now, shooting off little rockets high into the sky. "And today, I am in a good mood."

Baelfire stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of the voice.

"After all," the voice continued, "It's not every day that one comes into a fortune that I have."

"Oh really?" the farmer asked.

"A large parcel of land is going to be mine," he said cheerfully, "Courtesy of the king himself."

The farmer whistled. "Did you perform for him?"

"Something like that," he replied, "He got a good demonstration of my magic tricks."

Baelfire steeled himself. He was sure that this was the magical man that Christopher was looking for. Taking a deep breath, and smoothing his features into a calm mask, he stepped out of the woods, calling out a greeting.

When he said that he was passing through, and looking for shelter for the night, the friendly folk welcomed him around their campfire.

"But there's a price to join us," one of the farmers joked, "You must tell us a tale of your travels."

"Now there's a price I can afford," Baelfire replied with a smile, "I have been all over the kingdom." As he told his tale, he got a good look at the magician. His features were dark, illuminated only by the fire. But that wasn't the only darkness around the magician. His black, black eyes only reflected the darkness inside. The eyes peered out at the world from under a hood. Baelfire tried not to stare.

Most of the men had turned in for the night, but Baelfire wasn't sleeping.

"Still awake, lad?" the magician asked.

He looked to him. "I am."

"Did you need something?"

"Need something?" Baelfire asked.

The hooded figure sat down next to Baelfire. "I can always sense a… desperate soul… as it were. And you are looking for something."

"I guess there is something I've lost," Baelfire agreed, "But it's something that I'll never get back."

"Maybe I could help?" the magician asked.

Baelfire shook his head. "Thank you though. But I know you won't help me with this."

Claudette was feeling sick. Last night, on their third try, she and her husband had still not been successful. If Chris hadn't changed the stakes, they would have lost by now. But she despaired, what would make tonight, the fourth night, any different? She was going to lose her child.

There was a knock on her door, and then it opened and a serving girl entered. "Your highness," she gave a bow, "Baelfire has returned. He and the King are on their way up."

Her eyes grew. "Alright."

As soon as the two men entered, she rushed to Baelfire and embraced him. "You're back."

He hugged her briefly and then detached her. "I can help. I found it." He sounded oddly sad to Claudette.

"You know the name?" she whispered.

"Yes."

"And you are certain?" Christopher asked.

"Positive."

"This is wonderful," Chris beamed at his friend, "I knew you could do it."

"Chris?" Baelfire asked slowly, "What are you going to do after you guess his name?"

"Well, he'll have to leave us alone now," Claudette replied.

"And he will end up with nothing," Christopher said firmly.

Baelfire blinked. "Nothing?"

"We raised the stakes," Christopher said, "In exchange for one extra day. Double or nothing."

"I'm glad that I could live up to your trust," Baelfire said, glad that they were not trying to break their end of the bargain. He knew how that would end.

When sunset arrived, the royal pair awaited the magic man. He arrived right on schedule.

"Good evening, your highnesses," he greeted them cheerfully, "Last day."

"Indeed," the king said.

"Well," he rubbed his hands, "Let's get to it, shall we?"

Claudette looked to her husband and then stepped forward, taking out her list. Once again, he rejected all of them.

"Is that all of them?" he asked cheerfully.

"I have one more," Claudette said softly. "Rumplestiltskin."

He froze. "What?"

"Rumplestiltskin," she repeated.

"How?" he demanded. He had gone white. "How did you find out?"

"Then that -is- your name," Christopher stated victoriously.

"Someone must have told you!" he shouted.

"And someone did," the King agreed, "We did our research."

"Who told you?" Rumplestiltskin demanded.

"I did." came a soft voice.

The very angry magic man whirled to face the speaker. His black eyes narrowed as he recognized the young man from the campfire the night before.

"You!" he hissed. "How did you know it? I told you nothing of my name!"

"No," Baelfire agreed, "You didn't."

"Then how did you know?" he insisted.

"Once I saw you, I knew it," Baelfire said, "I suspected, but I had to see you to know for sure."

"I don't just toss my name out there for people to know," Rumplestiltskin said.

"You had another name once," Baelfire said sadly.

"What are you talking about? I may keep my name a secret, but I only have the one."

"It has been a very long time… father."

For the second time, Rumplestiltskin froze. He wasn't the only one. Christopher was staring, and Claudette's mouth had dropped open slightly.

"Bae?" Christopher finally questioned.

Claudette glanced at Rumplestiltskin and saw the oddest thing. His ashen skin seemed to lighten a bit, and his eyes didn't look so black. He took a step towards Baelfire, mouthing the other man's name.

"I had wondered what had become of you," Baelfire said, "Even after I left."

"You…" he looked Baelfire over, "You're in a uniform. You work for them."

"I do," Baelfire nodded/

"All that I did…" he said softly, and then his eyes darkened again, "All that I did, I did to keep you out of the army! And now here you are, a royal guard?"

"King Christopher is nothing like the duke," Baelfire said firmly.

"No? But he is quick to break a promise!" He glared at Claudette, "And you… ungrateful woman. I gave you your happy ending!"

Claudette suddenly doubled up in pain. Christopher rushed to her side, calling for his guards, who quickly flanked the magic man.

"What have you done?" Baelfire looked at his father.

"I haven't done anything," Rumplestiltskin said, holding up his hands, even as the guards grabbed his arms.

"Let him go," Baelfire ordered the guards, "He hasn't done anything."

After a nod from Chris, the guards let go of Rumplestiltskin.

"He's no threat," Baelfire continued, "Get the queen inside, she needs to rest. Go."

Before leaving with his wife, Christopher turned to Rumplestiltskin. "I want you to leave. Never come back to my castle again."

The man gave a theatrical bow.

"I'm sorry Bae," Chris said, softly as he left. Baelfire just gave a slight nod.

Baelfire and the magic man were left alone.

"You are… happy here?"

"I am, father," Baelfire replied, "Christopher and Claudette are good friends of mine."

"Good. I am glad to hear that." For a moment, his brown eyes were filled with a mixture of warmth and sadness. "I always wanted the best for you."

"I know," Baelfire replied softly.

Rumplestiltskin's eyes darkened to black again. "Well, I know that I'm not welcome here. I should get going. If you're ever in need of me, just make a wish."

"I know. I will." He wouldn't. They both knew it.

"Take care of yourself."

"You too, father."

Rumplestiltskin gave him a grin, bowed, and then was, quite simply, gone.