So this is chapter 9. I worked on it quite hard seeing as today I had a bit of writer's block. As I said in the previous chapter, I do't know if I will be able to update everyday this week. Hope you like it and if you want, reviews are always welcome.
When I reached the castle I was spent, the shock of my granny's death combined with the hard ride made me exhausted physically and mentally. I hopped off my horse, took him to the stables and entered the castle, throwing my cloak on a table. Rumpel was sitting at his spinning wheel, turning yarn into gold, when I ran to him and hugged him from behind, sobbing on his shoulder.
"What is it, dearie? What happened?" he asked, stopping his work and turning around to look at me better.
"She is dead, Rumple. She died last night, on my watch. Oh, it was awful! I am so scared and I don't know what to do. After the undertaker came and the funeral date was set, I ran out of there as fast as I could. I couldn't handle it, I panicked and I ran. It was so foolish of me, now that I think about it." I said looking him in the eyes.
"I see that you didn't care if the branches scratched your face either. You are full of scratches and dried blood." He said as he waved a hand and my bruises and the blood was gone.
"Oh, thank you, I guess I was in such a hurry to get back that I didn't even feel them. The funeral is in three days, in my village and I wanted to ask you if you would like to come with me. She would have wanted you to come, please." I said kissing his cheek while holding his hands.
"I'll think about it. I will give you an answer after you finish knitting the blanket you promised." He replied giving me a short kiss on the lips.
"Alright, I will knit for you and when I finish I will have your answer but first, let's have dinner, I am sure that cooking will take my mind off of the incident." I said going to the kitchen to cook us a nice roast with mashed potatoes and butter sauce.
After the uneventful dinner, Rumpel started spinning again and I stood next to him, needles in hand and started knitting the golden blanket. After a few rows of knitting a bang was heard in the castle and then the doors of the dining hall slammed open and the Queen walked in, she always knew how to make an appearance.
"Oh, Rumpelstilitskin! I see that you have a new maid, how lovely! After what happened with the last one I thought you would have given up." She said smiling evilly and looking at me from head to toe, examining me like I was some sort of vermin.
"She is not my maid, dearie. Now what do you want, your majesty?" Rumpel asked getting up and sheltering me from the Queen.
"Now, now, Rumplestiltskin, don't be so rash, I am not here to hurt anyone, I am here to make a little deal with you. I want to know where a curse it, you know it, it used to be yours, the curse that will destroy everybody's happy ending and bring me mine." She said smirking evilly.
"That is a very powerful curse, dearie, why do you want to use it? No matter, I will give it to you. What I want in exchange is that you will never as long as you live harm me and Arina, in any way and by any means. Do we have a deal, your majesty?" Rumpel said following her movements with keen eyes.
"Yes, it would seem that we do. Now, where do I sign again?" she asked smiling and getting ready to sign.
"Right here, dearie." Rumpel said as he waved a hand and a long parchment appeared. "On the dotted line, if you please. Now, your little curse is with your darling friend, Maleficent. Have fun taking it away from her."
"Oh, and just so you know Rumpelstiltskin, the Charmings are complotting against you with Cinderella and her husband. They are going to use a special quill to trap you with magic. Just a heads up, you know, between fellow villains." She said as she left the castle, slamming the doors behind her.
"This woman likes slamming doors, doesn't she? Why did you tell her where the cure is? You are much more powerful than her, you could've said no." I said looking at him while holding his hand.
"Well, I may be more powerful than her but you, my love, are not. You are now my weakness and I can't let her get to you because if she does get to you she gets to me too, dearie." He said as he covered my hand with his.
"I can't compromise you in such way Rumpel. We have to do something about it and I have just the idea." I said kissing his lips gently.
"Oh, really, love, and what would that be?" he replied kissing me back.
"Well, you could teach me magic. That way, I will never be unprotected and open to attacks or threats coming from people like the Evil Queen. Do you think it's a good idea?" I asked a bit nervous at my proposal.
"It is a great idea, Arina, but do you think you can withstand the training? It will be pretty hard dearie, seeing as I specialize in dark magic." He said looking me in the eye, searching for the answer.
"Yes, yes I am. I am tired of being helpless and waiting for others to protect me. I am old enough to protect myself and it is time I learn how." I told him, fully confident in my abilities.
"Alright, then, dearie, we will start your training tomorrow, hope you are ready for it, though." He said sitting back down and spinning the wheel yet again like the conversation never happened.
So, I also sat down and knitted away, thinking about the training. Would it be that bad? Will it involve any kind of killing or maybe torture? I shivered at the thought but I knew what kind of man Rumpelstiltskin was and I chose to love him just as he was so why back down now? Maybe I was afraid to see what he was really capable of.
"What is wrong, dearie, you got silent all of the sudden?" Rumpel said, still spinning the wheel.
"I was just thinking, will the magic change me? Like it did to the Queen or like it did to you? Will I become evil or will I be able to preserve myself as I am now?" I asked finishing another row of knitting, trying not to look at him.
"Well, love, that depends solely on you. If there is pure evil anywhere in your soul, it will change you. The change depends of how much evil is truly in you." He said never stopping his work.
Was there any evil in me and if there was, was it enough to turn me into the next Evil Queen or will I remain the person I am now?
Thank you for reading chapter 9 and I hope I will see you tomorrow.