Okay, this is the third chapter in this series and I am really having fun with all of it. Enjoy and don't forget to review. Have fun.
The next day came and I woke up feeling refreshed, the comfortable bed made me feel happy and back in my home, in the village. It was early but I knew I had to get up and finish my chores as fast as I could so that I could go hunting today. I jumped from the bed and washed my face in the little bassinette that was in my room, dressed in my green dress and popped to the kitchen to prepare our breakfast. It was strange to say "our" breakfast when only two days ago I wanted to run as far away from this man as I could and now, now I am having meals with him. When I arrived in the kitchen I put my apron on and I lit the fire, deciding that today I was going to make pouched eggs and pancakes with syrup. In an hour the meal was ready and I started setting the table, this time for two. I went upstairs and into the room of my master, he was sleeping, looking quite comfortable and relaxed, he seemed so harmless and innocent that I nearly stopped myself from waking him up but I knew it had to be done if I wanted to go out today. I came closer to the bed and reached for his shoulder, when I touched him, he grabbed my arm and spun around so fast that he pulled me with him so that I ended up on the bed, with him on top, straddling me. I blushed hard and tried not to look at his face, especially his lips which right now looked really tempting.
"And what are you doing in my chamber, dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, raising an eyebrow, smirking at my embarrassment from our current position.
"I came here to wake you up and tell you that breakfast is ready but if you want to sleep longer, I can always keep the food warm until you wake up." I replied, finally finding the courage to look him in the eye.
"So nice of you to wake me up, then, Arina, love. I will come down for breakfast right away, dearie." He said, his voice raising and lowering from a word to the other, the sentence ending with a giggle.
Rumpelstiltskin got up from atop of me and washed his face, ushering me away so that he could get dressed. After we both ate, I started dusting the place, making sure to put everything back in its original position, until I reached a chipped cup, sitting on a pedestal. I reached to clean it, when his hands stopped me. When he touched me, I jumped and squeaked in surprise.
"Don't touch that one, poppet! That cup is to never be touched, understand?" He warned me, his voice dark and frightening.
"Yes, Rumpelstiltskin, I understand. I am sorry, I did not know." I replied, asking myself what could be so important about a chipped cup.
The hours ticked by and before I knew it, my chores were done, lunch served and eaten and I wanted so bad to ask him if I could go outside but I was afraid of his reaction.
"Rumpel? Do you mind if I go outside hunting so that I can cook some game for dinner?" I asked, talking really fast and hoping he would say yes.
"I guess you can, dearie, but be back by sunset. Your horse is waiting for you outside." He replied while spinning the wheel.
"Thank you, Rumpel! You are the best!" I said as I kissed his cheek and ran out the door, pulling a black cape on me in the process, leaving a stunned imp behind.
The horse was beautiful, his body covered in black shiny fur and as he neighed at me, I knew we would become great friends. I got up on the saddle and rode away to the forest. When I reached the forest, I grabbed by short bow and I started looking for any kind of edible animal that was in the area. After a while I saw a deer, prancing about in the woods and stopping from time to time to eat some grass. I pulled the string on my bow, aimed and just when I was about to shoot, a carriage ran by the road, scaring the deer and ruining any chance I had of caching it. The carriage was black, elegant and too expensive for anyone that was not royalty, plus, it was surrounded by guards, dressed in black, not a normal sighting in the woods. It was so curious that it captured my attention and I started following it from the shadows. Soon, I found out who was really in the carriage, it was the person I despised most, the Evil Queen. Snow White was a distant relative of mine and we sometimes messaged each other and she told me what that witch did to her and how she poisoned her with an apple. She was part of my flesh and blood so her enemies were my enemies.
While following the carriage, I failed to notice that the sun had set and that night now surrounded me in darkness. When I finally looked around, Rumpelstiltskin's words came to mind, I should have arrived home at least 2 hours ago. In a panic, I hopped onto my horse, Thunder, and rode as fast as I could back to the castle.
When I arrived, Rumpel was sitting at the table, dinner in front of him and he looked mad at me.
"I am so sorry, Rumpel. I did not mean to come back so late, I forgot what time it was and I got distracted by the Evil Queen and her awful carriage. I am so sorry, do forgive me." I begged as I approached the table probably looking like a child about to be scolded.
"The Evil Queen... You were distracted by the Queen, how?! What did she say to you?! How did she persuade you to kill me?! TELL ME!" he said as he got into my face, slamming me into the stone wall, bruising my back in the process.
"S-she never talked to me, ever! I swear! I am a distant relative of Snow White's and she told me what the Queen did to her and how she poisoned her with the apple. I just wanted to find out where she was going and what she was up to. I would never betray you, please, trust me. I want her dead just as much as you do." I stuttered, fear growing in my soul.
"So, you are flesh and blood with our little princess, eh? How exquisite to have royal blood as a maid, isn't it?" He said giggling as he released me from his iron grip and returned to the table.
"Do you forgive me, Rumpel?" I asked, kneeling next to his chair, taking his green almost scaly hand into mine.
"Yes, I forgive you..." He replied his hand cupping my cheek. I relished in the feeling of his warm hand on my face but he retreated his hand fast, as if it was burned.
"Can I please have dinner with you?" I asked somewhat ashamed of telling him I was incredibly hungry.
"Sit, sit! I made this so I hope you will enjoy it!" He said as he gestured for me to sit down, food magically appearing on my plate. I took a bite from it and flavour exploded into my mouth, it was exquisite and rich.
"It is delicious, Rumpel! You are an amazing cook! Thank you for the food and for forgiving me, even though you didn't have too." I said smiling sweetly at him, him winking at me from his seat.
It was so comfortable, this dinner. Even after the whole Evil Queen argument, I still felt safe sitting next to this man and eating dinner like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Okay, that was it! Next chapter is set in Storybrooke and will be posted tomorrow. Love all of you, buh bye! Don't forget to review, guys, I need the feedback.