"`I think you might do something better with the time,' she said,

`than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.'"

-Lewis Carroll,

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Chapter Five: A Mad Tea Party

The Witch's Brew (which I'd seriously considered naming Miracle Max's at one point) was closed to the public at five o'clock promptly every evening. With all the extra work the green-house required, I wouldn't leave my little shop until around seven. Perhaps it was time to hire some help. I was comfortable financially; it wouldn't put too much strain on me to hire somebody to mind the counter.

My musing of a new employee and the possible free time that might give me was cut short by the sound of my door being opened, which was odd, I was sure I'd locked up for the night. In three long strides I was at the counter, frown placed firmly on my brow when I saw the identity of my visitor.

This was the first time Mr. Gold had ever chosen to darken my door way. This visit couldn't bode well for me.

"Good evening, Ms. Edoras."

Instantly an image of Mr. Gold dressed a-la-Bela-Lugosi, cape draped in the infamous creature of the night pose, popped into my head. It took conscious effort not to snort in amusement.

"How do you do Mr. Gold?"

He made his way languidly into the shop, in no rush whatsoever, his limp was quite prominent today and I couldn't help but wonder what exactly had caused it.

"Well enough I suppose. Though, I find myself in a great deal of discomfort as of late."

Remembering the manners my grandmother had so painstakingly beat into my head I remove my soil covered rubber gloves and extend my arm towards the plush leather chairs near the windows.

"Please Mr. Gold, have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

He smiled at me in an indulgent manner that made me feel like a puppy that was chasing after its tail. I was certainly acting like one. I didn't know what it was about this man, an air of authority (of power, maybe mind control?) that directed my actions.

'Yes Sir Mr. Gold, can I prostrate myself before you in a more efficient or pleasing manner Sir?'

"Tea would be lovely dear. As long as it's not too much of an inconvenience of course."

'Your existence is an inconvenience.'

I smile, "Not at all. Make yourself comfortable, I'll only be a moment."

In the backroom I applauded myself for having captured a few moments to become compose and for portraying such a classy lady attitude. Win-win situation.

'Breath Anabelle, get him his tea, ignore the urge to add a sprinkle of belladonna to it and get him out before you break into hives.'

My little pep talk seemed to do the trick; I could just barely hear the pounding of my heart now, though the sweaty palms would still need to be wiped on the legs of my shorts.

I placed the kettle on the little stove, got out my nicer china (which I usually saved for my favorite or faithful clients) placed it on a silver coated tray. It would take another ten minutes for the water to boil sufficiently.

I took a moment to smooth out my clothes, though it was pretty much hopeless at this point after all the crouching by the flower beds. My ponytail was still holding so that was good, a frustrated huff of air would have to be enough to fix my bangs.

Feeling presentable and confident I when out to meet the Beast.

"An Imp you say, my, my, you've become quite powerful to warrant yourself such a familiar."

I'd just finished recounting the events of the last day to Magpie, who was sitting comfortably in her threadbare arm chair. A fresh cup of tea in her hand, she could have been considered almost grandmotherly if not for that spark of madness glittering in her eyes.

"I believe so, I'm not familiar enough with the fey to say with certainty but he didn't correct me when I called him an Imp."

She sipped her tea, "Golden skin and he has the Sight."

I nod in affirmation.

"I think, little Amora, that you have stumbled into a far bigger mess then you realize."

"What have you Seen Magpie?"

"Not what I've seen, what I've heard child. A century and a half ago, there were rumors. Whispers in the forest that a new Dark One had risen. Golden skinned and Seer-eyed."

"I believe him to be a Changeling,would the Sight not have driven him mad as soon as he acquired it? His thought capacity wasn't made to house it."

"I would imagine so, though madness is a relative term."

Magpie left me to my thoughts for a while; I could not carry on the conversation with so much dread building up. Long moments passed before I spoke again.

"There's nothing I can do, is there Magpie, I am going to die."

"I was not always Magpie."

"What?"

The sudden revelation was unexpected. A completely different conversation had begun.

"That name is not the one my mother gave me."

Frowning I asked, "What is your name then?"

With a flash of sharp teeth she answered, "I am Baba Yaga. Or I was."

"Baba Yaga."

I repeat the name slowly, hardly believing it. I knew the name, any practitioner knew the name. It was a cautionary tale, of a child gobbling Witch from the Slavic lands.

"You're supposed to be dead."

Her laugh is hoarse from disuse, "And she is, Baba Yaga, died many centuries ago Child."

Confusion kept the fear at bay I think, it was the only explanation for the calm I displayed. My reserve of wills had been drained by the Imp.

"And yet, here you are."

"Here I am a shell of a once powerful being. And I deserve it. My punishment is life child; death was deemed to easy an escape for me."

"What did you do Magpie?"

For a moment her eyes glazed over and she was no longer with me, but lost in memories.

"I paid the price and it proved too great."

I find myself nodding in a vague sense of understanding, "The law of equivalent exchange."

"Yes. I was a few years older then you are now, I had a child. A beautiful little girl with corn-silk hair and eyes as blue as the sea, all was well in my life."

She paused and sipped her tea before continuing.

"I began experimenting in Blood magic, small sacrifices, a chicken here or there. That was how I paid for the visions. I was able to save our village from a terrible fire. I thought them a blessing. People came from every corner of the land to seek my council. I charged a small pittance and my small child lived in comfort. I noticed the younger my sacrifice the longer my visions would be fueled. A foal would keep me supplied for a year."

I'd never known the visions came with a price. I thought them an inherited gift, like my affinity to the earth. Blood magic was the Darkest of magic, a rarely used art in these lands.

"Decades passed and soon my child was having a child of her own. My Mira did not posses the gift, but I could feel the magic coursing in the veins of the little one. Here was my progeny, my own little Witch to teach as my mother had taught me. Fool that I was I believed that animals would keep the hunger for life at bay."

"You killed the babe, didn't you?"

Tears trailed down the hag's wrinkled cheeks, "After sacrificing a wild stag, strong and heady with life, I was over-taken by the rush of power. I killed the flesh of my flesh and was cursed."

"Long life, so that your despair may consume your mind and the gift you'd once valued so much you nurtured with blood, life, and death."

I understood.

As quickly as the tears began they ended and I was gazing at the same Mad Magpie as the one I'd encountered as a child.

"How long did the child keep your visions feed?"

"Two centuries. Everyday, visions of people I had never met and wouldn't meet for decades to come. I was a tainted vessel and only blood magic would heed my call. I vowed never to practice magic again."

"Do you think the Imp preforms the same…tasks?"

"I've no doubt. The call of Dark magic, the sudden rush of inheriting all of that power. If he is whom we fear then he was capable of anything to keep that intoxicating rush going that first decade let alone the first days."

"So each human life that he claims fuels the visions?"

"Yes, though adults do not last as long. Life is the key to it, but there is another way."

"To harness the necessary price for the visions without blood?"

"Yes, though it will only work on a babe. Their essence can be consumed without fear of death. Babies have not yet made choices so they have an endless amount of paths the may take. Those destinies can be consumed and harnessed. The child will carry with it a touch of magic, but otherwise it will live out whatever destiny remains."

My mind provided me with two possibilities, I was a midwife, I had access to new born children. The power that I could harness would obliterate the Imp, I was horrified by my thoughts, was the call of power so great that even after hearing Baba Yaga's tale a small part of me wanted to try it?

Yes, I realized, it was. I had never before feared my magic as I did in those moments.

The second though held some potential; I now had some leverage with which I could bargain with the Imp. A substitute to the Blood magic which would eventually consume what was left of his mind.

With an air of grace and formality Mr. Gold brought the tea cup to his thin lips. A brief closing of this eyes, a tilt in the corner of his mouth and I knew that the orange blossom tea was approved.

"So I assume you're here because of your leg."

"You assume correctly. Drug store pain killers do not seem to be enough as of late."

"Why not go to the hospital?"

'You know, the one you practically own.'

"I value…discretion in matters such as theses. I've heard of your rigid sense of professionalism and deemed your services to be of a higher quality."

'Aw shucks' I could feel the blush crawling up neck, being praised in that soft lilting voice almost made me forget who I was dealing with.

'Damn he's good.' I found that little switch inside my mind and flicked it to medical mode.

"I strive to perform as admirably as possible. You'll have to summit yourself to an examination before I can prescribe anything to you. I need to be familiar with the area as well as your general health. I have an examination room here so no need to pull your hospital records. That should keep this discrete. Will Wednesday at noon be convenient for an appointment?"

"Perfectly so." He rose stiffly.

"Hold on a moment, let me grab you something mild to help in the mean time."

A few moments later I returned to his side, a small cloth sack filled with dry black elderberry passed hands.

"This is elderberry; fix it as you would a cup of tea. It should help with the pain and any swelling. I'll create you a more custom blend once I've had a look at you or perhaps a balm, maybe an injection."

'And you're babbling. Cease and desist before you suggest massage therapy!'

He inclined his head in thanks, this shiny hair followed the movement, "My thanks Ms. Edoras, I shall return on Wednesday. Good night."

"Good bye, Mr. Gold"

Next Time One Ties That Bind: A fortnight has passed and Rumpelstiltskin returns to Amora's cottage. Mean while, Anabelle gets Mr. Gold out of his well tailored pants.

A/N: So many of you have put this story on alert, but not too many review. Please take a moment to give your poor authoress some feed back. It would be much appriciated!