As he moved through the narrow hallway, he suddenly felt a chill. He paused. A door creaked open beside him and he entered anxiously. A large fire stood at the end of the room with a chair facing it. It was a cold evening and he relished in the idea of warming up near the flames. He sat in the armchair and just as he felt himself falling into a deep slumber, he heard a voice. It sounded part human and part hyena. "Comfy, are we?" It sniggered. He stood up and moved behind the chair. There was nothing there. "Enough with the child's play. Show yourself" he ordered. " "Hmm, a bit pressed for time are we?" He turned to find the armchair facing him and sitting in it was the strangest little man he'd ever seen. His skin was grey and scaly and his eyes were pitch black. Manannán felt uneasy. "I hear every year that passes in your world is ten here. Don't worry dearie, I won't keep you chatting that long. So what can I do for you?" "You are the dark one? I'd expected you to be taller" Manannán had suddenly found his confidence. The creature was indeed strange but he didn't appear as powerful as legend had claimed. "Well, you know what they say about small folks,its a lot harder to keep track of them" he sniggered again. "I want to make a deal with you, I will give you anything you ask if you do this for me". The imp smiled "What would you have me do?" "I need you to turn my daughter into something hideous" Rumplestilskin grinned wickedly. "Something like me" "Yes". "Oh, I can do better than that" and he leapt from the chair "You see I've always thought you land of youth dwellers were quite, well, vulgar, you eat all day and laze about, never doing any work. It's all about gluttony for you. You know what you remind me of." and with this he gave a wicked smile "pigs". Manannán sighed, "Alright, a pig it is. So what do you want out of this" "Hmm well let me see" he tapped his long finger against his chin for several minutes before looking at the King. "I want to steal the immorality of someone from your kingdom. The King was astonished. He wondered who's immortality would have to be sacrificed. "Do we have a deal?" "Who would you have in mind" asked Manannánn. "Oh I dunno lets say, your daughter's husband" The king was confused. "No man would marry a woman who looked like a pig!"he declared. "Oh I know so luckily for you, you may never have to pay that price. But if you do, well, it's not really much of a price. Say someone agrees to marry your daughter with his youth gone, he'll never take your place." The King grinned. The situation did seem advantageous; A contingency plan was always a wise thing to have. "Deal, but how do I get his youth for you." "Simple" smiled Rumple. "Send him to the isles of Eire where time moves faster than in both our realms. When he is there, I will have my chance."

The deal was struck and the king considered it very beneficial. As he rode back towards Tir na nÓg, he kept thinking about the strange creature. "Dark one, what a joke!" he laughed.

When he arrived home, his daughter Niamh was waiting for him. She rushed to embrace him and as she did he cupped her face within his palms. Niamh of the golden hair was her official title. Like her mother, her hair sparkled like the sun. As he gazed upon her, he felt a tear form. She would never be this beautiful again.

The next morning Niamh awoke and dressed. She prepared some breakfast and sat in the courtyard eating it. She decided to give her father's stallion some special attention for delivering him safely home. She entered the stable and picked up a grooming brush. On approaching the horse he jumped hysterically. The other horses responded in kind with the exception of Aonbharr, her own horse. "Shh Shh" she cried. The stable boy entered and accidently let out a yelp. "Strange creature, leave this place. I beg you" Niamh was confused. "What, it's me, it's Niamh." "Lies" replied the stable boy and he began to beat her with a rack spade. She stumbled and fell "Niamh is the most beautiful woman in the land, you are nothing but a beast. Leave or I will have you beaten and burned. Niamh rose and ran from the stable.

As she crossed the glen, she could still hear the sounds of the horses. Suddenly, she heard her father calling. She stopped and he ran to her. He reached out and put his arms around her. "Oh Niamh, it is as I feared." He led her back inside.

When they arrived inside the castle he guided her to the living room. There, he motioned her towards the mirror. Niamh saw something horrible staring back. Though her body remained unchanged, she now wore the face of a pig. She began to cry. Again Manannán put his arm around her. "I am hideous" she sobbed. "No you're not" he spoke as firmly as he could. "Why has this happened to me, papa?" she looked into his eyes and guilt forced him to look away. He could not bring himself to tell her the truth, that not only had he turned her into a monster, but that he had condemned her to a life of solitude. Instead he lied. He created a story about an evil monster who put a curse on her mother when she was pregnant with her. She believed him in the way all children believe their parents.

That afternoon, the King called for a huge meeting. He declared that all his subjects must attend or they would be punished with exile. Before, his announcement, he requested a private meeting with his friend the druid. He reminded him about his promise of discretion. This made the druid anxious. He knew this threat meant that Manannán followed through on his promise.

The crowd hushed as their king addressed them. He told them the same story as he had told Niamh. They listened attentively as he described how his fair daughters face had been transformed and how she had become unrecognizable. He made his subjects swear not to harm or ridicule his daughter's new appearance and asked them to show her compassion.

In the days and weeks that followed, no one saw her. Usually she would ride into town everyday with Aonbharr. She would stop and chat with the locals. Sometimes she and a few other girls from the town would go into the forest of Coill for a picnic. Nowadays she mostly sat in her room. Sometimes she would spend time in the stable with Aonbharr while the others horses were taking their morning exercise. Her life became quite solitary. Every night she dreamt the same thing that in the morning she would awake and be as she was. She prayed and pleaded with the gods but they offered no assistance. With every day that passed she was becoming more and more a shadow of her former self.

The old druid in the meantime was guilt-stricken. Although, he could not break his oath to the king, he badly wished to help Niamh. One night he had a premonition that gave him cause to hope. When he discovered the king was planning a hunting trip he saw his chance. He decided to visit Niamh and tell her of his dream.

When he arrived, she refused to see him. Yet, he would not be deterred. He waited outside her chambers for hours until finally she gave in. "What do you want?" "My dear princess," he said excitedly "I know how you can break the curse" Niamh's heart began to race. She had prayed for this for so long. "Niamh you must go to isle of Eire, there you must find the son of Fionn McCumhaill. He is your only hope and your true love. By marrying him, the curse will be lifted and you will be happier than ever before." Niamh felt a little uneasy, she had never left Tir na nÓg before and she had heard many stories of the fierce warrior Fionn MacCumhaill. His son would be no different, she could she love a barbarian. "I will tell my father when he returns and we can make plans then." "No" exclaimed the druid much to Niamh's astonishment. He longed to tell her the truth, that her father had done this terrible thing to her but duty had bound him not to. "My premonition shows that you take this journey alone." Niamh nodded in agreement. "Then there isn't a moment to spare." She bade the druid farewell and with her faithful steed she made her way to the Isle of Eire to find her love and her lost beauty.

(scene shift)

Feeling thirstier than ever, Ben tried to get a drink at a few bars. On entering one he saw David and Archie propped against the counter. He bid them hello and sat a few stools down. "Tonight's supposed the coldest night of the season yet," Archie sighed. "Times like this I wish I lived somewhere a little more southerly" David said. "Yeah, but think of the scenery" David laughed "Yeah, it sure makes the frostbite worthwhile. The barman returned from the cellar and his face fell when he saw Ben. "Hey you," Ben looked up "Yeah, you old man, I told you you're barred." Ben tried to plead with him. "Just one drink and I won't cause any trouble here, look," and he pulled out piles of loose change from his pocket. "I have enough money here for two drinks. How 'bout I buy you one to say sorry" "Get out" the barman retorted as he leaned across the counter. "Take it easy" David interrupted "It's just one drink" "Keep out of it" the barman hissed. And he flung Ben's change on the ground "O-O dear" Ben said shakily as he bent down to pick up his change. "Here, let me" said David bending down beside him. "Enough of this crap," the barman yelled. He moved out from the counter and grabbing Ben by the bag of his jacket he dragged him to the door. "No no please, just let me get me money thats all I have." Ben pleaded. But as he said it, he found himself outside. "And don't come back" the barman shouted as he threw Ben on the ground. He slammed the door closed. Ben turned and still sitting, his eyes filled with tears. "Please" he squealed "please just let me stay inside a while. I won't be any trouble, I promise, please, please...please." He began to sob and just then it started to snow.