"Looks good on you." Mr. Gold gave a nod of approval before walking to the centre of his shop closely followed by Clara. "Perhaps I gave you something once? An item, artefact. Something I would recognise you by" He watched as Clara's face lit up.
"Yes, yes! Yes you did, for my.. My neck" Her hand came up to clasp itself around her neck.
"A necklace?" Mr. Gold knitted his brow together.
"S-sort of, you called it differently, we had different names for it.. My marker, My woven of metal.. Where is it..."
"This shop holds most of the artefacts from the enchanted forest. Can you remember what it looked like?" Clara moved from her spot, looking over the many glass counters.
"Yes, yes it was metal, large rope-like strands of metal woven together, enchanted..." Clara poured over the many artefacts and trinkets in the shop. "It's not in here... I can't even smell it..." Mr. Gold looked at her confused
"Smell it?" Clara turned to him, absent mindedly running her hand over her scarred arm.
"Yes... It had a very distinct smell, of me and metal and the old smell of home..." Clara sighed gently placing her hand to her forehead.
"I'm sure we'll reach the bottom of it... I'm genuinely curious as to who you are." Clara rounded the last counter, pausing just before the front door, smiling towards Mr. Gold.
"Thank you, I hope we'll find a way soon.." Clara watched as Mr. Gold's face changed, his hand reaching towards her yet a moment too late. The door flew open knocking Clara flying into the far corner catching her head on one of the many objects.
"Your majesty.. To what do I owe the pleasure." Mr. Gold hissed through gritted teeth. Clara lifted herself from the corner her nose scrunched and blood trailing down from her forehead
"My tree's dying. Why is that?" A strong growl came from the corner, Regina turning to look at the woman she had knocked out of the way, the vicious expression not phasing the queen in the least. "Who's this..."
"Perhaps, it's your fertiliser?" Mr. Gold gestured to Clara who rounded the counter taking her place by Mr. Gold's side glaring intently at Regina.
"You think this is funny? Well, I'll tell you what I think. I think it's a sign of the- ..." Regina trailed off looking at Clara
"The curse weakening? Don't mind her. She remembers everything too your majesty." Mr. Gold shot a small look to Clara who's face hadn't changed, she didn't even move to wipe the blood from her face. A small growl leaving her.
"Yes.. Well.. I think it's a sign of the curse weakening because of Emma. But do you care? No. You're content to just sit back and do… Whatever it is you're doing, while all my hard work burns." Mr. Gold chuckled darkly
"That's not all, is it? Come on. You might as well get everything off your chest." Clara gave one last snort towards the queen before moving herself away to the back room.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Regina crossed her arms letting her eyes follow Mr. Gold.
"Henry. Miss Swan wants him." Mr. Gold shifted his weight, placing both hands on his cane.
"She'll have that boy over my dead body." Regina's facial expression dropped harshly
"The curse was meant to take away Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness. Perhaps, you giving up Henry is just the price to keep the curse unbroken." Mr. Gold glanced to the back room, noting Clara rummaging through his possessions.
"I think I'd rather just get rid of her." His attention turned back to the evil queen.
"Well, well. You're going to have to be quite creative. We both know the repercussions in killing Miss Swan. The curse will be…" He waited for her to finish his sentence.
"The curse will be broken. That's because you designed it that way. Undo it." Regina crossed her arms staring at him harshly.
"You know… Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. Magic… Well… Is in short supply around here and dwindling by the minute." Mr. Gold slowly made his way towards the back room.
"You want the curse broken. Why?" Regina watched him closely moving to follow slowly.
"That's not something I care to discuss." Noticing the queen following his movements he paused in his steps, keeping his eyes trained on Clara for the moment.
"Don't bother. You can shove your reasons. I want to strike a new deal. One where I can get rid of Emma without shattering the curse." Regina said firmly.
"Unfortunately for you, a negotiation requires two interested parties, and I'm already planning a trip." Mr. Gold looked away from Clara who held a small ornate box in her hands
"I'll give you anything." The queen almost begged
"You no longer have anything I want, dearie. But I will give you a piece of advice, free of charge. I'd plan a trip of your own. Because, once people waken up and remember who you are and what you did to them… They are going to be looking for blood." Mr. Gold waited for Regina to leave his shop before storming into the back room. "and what in the world, do you think you're doing. These items are personal possessions, not for the likes of you to go rummaging through-"
"No wonder I couldn't smell it out there, you thought of me as personal? Oh that makes me so happy sir..." Mr. Gold stared at her harshly.
"You believe you're 'that' close to me do you, well missy you have another thing coming." Snatching the box from her hand, he grabbed a fist full of her hair with the other, dragging her through the shop and launching her through the front door, causing a gathering of attention. "I have been patient with you! I have helped in what way I can, shown you what little hospitality I could muster and yet persist to annoy me! To go through things that do not belong to you!" Clara struggled, having landed rather awkwardly.
"Of course they do not belong to me but I once belonged to you! Just open the box, you'll know who I am!" Clara made it to her feet heavily favouring her left side.
"I know who you are Clara! You're a hermit. A forest dweller, I've shown you all the kindness that I'm willing to, now you're just stepping on my nerves. Be off with you! This box has nothing in it that you would ever pertain to!" Mr. Gold returned to his shop slamming the box on the side before moving back to the door.
"I was there when you made that box! I was there when you made the promises, when you followed your words, when life.. Actually meant something to you! This is the second time you're booting me away! The second time! I will go. I will go back to that uprooted tree where I've sat and guarded your precious, back where I belong and if you do come find me, then you better hope I'm still willing to come back and forgive you..." Clara, dragged the back of her hand against her eyes "I may have meant something to you once, why I believe I ever will again is beyond me!" Clara hissed.
"Well then dearie. Clearly if I threw you away once. I didn't want you back!~" Clara stormed away from the shop as Mr. Gold slammed the door shut huffing roughly. Clara hugged herself tightly pushing through the small crowd.
"Back to the forest aye? We'll have no such thing!" Clara was stopped by the woman she recognised as 'Granny' the owner of the diner she had stopped in before she had her meeting with Mr. Gold.
"It's clearly where I belong..." Clara shrugged gently.
"Look, you're hurt." Granny gestured towards Clara's hip. "I can offer you food, and a bed for the night... Then we'll see where to go from there..." Clara didn't really get a chance to answer before Granny grabbed her arm, leading her towards the diner.
"b-but I have no, no currency, I can't hope to pay for it" Clara worried slightly as Granny opened the door.
"I'm not asking for money pet, Ruby!" The teenager emerged from the kitchen looking to Granny and Clara. "Sit her down by the radiator, poor things had a bit of an evening. Even thinking about going back to live alone and cold in that forest, keep her company whilst I get her something warm and good to eat and drink."
"Of course Granny." Ruby pulled her arm around Clara taking her off to the sit in the corner near to the radiator. "It's getting a lot colder outside huh... You should take whatever offer Granny's given you, she'll take care of you, you shouldn't want to live in the forest, specially not in this weather..." Ruby gave a reassuring smile sliding in on the other side of the booth.
"I belong there... " Clara's eyes flickered up looking over Ruby "Oh I remember you... The wolf from the clearing" Ruby knitted her brows together.
"Pardon?" Clara blinked, of course. The others didn't remember.
"Sorry, sorry.. My minds wandering... It's been a rough day" Clara rubbed her forehead nervously
"Don't worry... " Ruby flashed her a reassuring smile gently rubbing the back of Clara's hand. "You look a lot better than you did this morning." Clara looked down at her dress and strands of hair.
"Oh. Yes... Mr. Gold was kind to me. Well until I over stepped my boundaries" Clara gave a light chuckle.
"He's a hard man.. Best not to step on any toes when it concerns Mr. Gold"
"Oh... I know..." Clara smiled gently shifting back as Granny pushed a large hot chocolate in front of her.
"Drink up dear, I have a lasagne in the back just cooking through it shouldn't be a minute." Clara nodded, smiling back at Granny who gave her shoulder a reassuring pet before disappearing back into the kitchens.
"You're all such kind people..." Clara chuckled lightly into her hot chocolate smearing cream across her top lip, the door opened behind her as Henry came running in jumping into the seat next to her.
"Hey! You're the girl from the other morning. Clara right?" Clara put her drink down as a safety measure as it was nearly thrown from her hand.
"Yes, yes that's right, and you're Henry?" The boy beamed up at her
"Sure am! So hey, what're you doing here? I thought you ran off to Mr. Gold?" Ruby shook her head before sliding out the booth.
"I'm just going to go to the kitchens a moment" Clara looked to her
"Oh don't worry about me Ruby, you get back to work... I think I'm in good company." Clara flashed Henry a small smile. Ruby nodded before wandering off. "Yes... Mr. Gold ended up throwing me out, heh..." Henry knitted his brow together.
"Huh, but I thought you said you remembered, passed the curse right?" Clara swiftly turned her head to look at Henry.
"That's what this is? A curse? I knew it was magic, but to think of a curse powerful enough to do all of... this?" Clara shook her head.
"So it is true! Who are you? I don't recognise you from any of the stories?" Henry tilted his head.
"I... I can't actually say my name...I've never been able to... Well speak before" Clara shrugged. Henry sat there a while before pulling his book out his back.
"Well can you say a name? Anything to do with your past?" Clara sat still a while.
"B-ba.." Clara coughed gently, it was as if something tightened around her throat "Bael-f-f... Baelf-fire.. B-Baelfire"
"Baelfire? Rumpelstiltskin's son?" Henry looked up at her.
"Yes! Yes that's it exactly." Henry gave it a moments thought before flicking through the pages of his book.
"But... There's no mention of a girl here at all" Henry gave Clara a confused look "Are you sure-"
"Of course I'm sure Henry... I know who I am, I just can't say my god damned name... I used to wear something around my neck... I can't remember what it's actually called, It was my woven of metal... Enchanted so I could have a little magic, I needed it to keep up with my master.. I wasn't one of these things, these... Women..." Clara looked over her hands. Henry watched her carefully before looking back down to the page.
"The only mention of anyone else around Rumpelstiltskin was his dog." Clara jumped to attention.
"That word! That one, the Do.. D-... " Clara struggled immensely.
"Dog? Her name was Arsealen-"
"My name! You said my name, you know it!" Henry jumped back in shock
"You're his dog?!... No wonder you can't speak properly..." Henry looked away before snatching up his book "I have to go tell Emma! She'll have to believe me!" Henry moved to leave
"No wait! I need you to come to Mr. Gold! Tell him my..." Henry had already darted out the door "Name..." Clara slumped back in her seat.