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Chapter 8: Times of war

Rumpelstiltskin had to wait a while before the market would actually open. People were already busy in organizing and displaying their products, so it was only a matter of time for him to start trading. The textile merchants and tailors were his target. He had a few names and contacts with whom he usually traded, so he expected things to go smoothly. While he waited, he entered a tavern to have some breakfast, spending his last precious coins. Just like Wilhem had informed him, people did nothing else but talk about the invasion. All kinds of plot theories were made up, one sounding more ridiculous than the other. Rumpelstiltskin was half listening, when somebody asked what he thought. He stared blankly and spoke without thinking.

"The Ogres aren't the ones leading the war. Otherwise the king was already dead." He regretted his words immediately, feeding the already built up commotion. Now new theories of who really was behind this war were being made up. Having enough of the noise, Rumpelstitskin left the tavern and headed to his regular textile buyer.

He had taken only half of the wool he had spun, keeping the rest as reserve. He knew this was high quality wool and would be selling it only for a fit price. In just a few hours, Rumpelstiltskin had sold his product and had gain enough to buy bread and dried fruit for several days. The look in his regular buyer's face had not deceived him. He wanted that wool. Still, there was needed a lot of negotiating and renegotiating. There was even the involving of a third party (another textile merchant) for Rumpelstiltskin to succeed in selling his wool for the price he wanted.

He was now standing before the fruit tent pondering what he should buy, when the corner of his eye caught something that disturbed him. A tattoo. He looked up and saw a dark haired man standing next to him, taking some apples. The tattoo showed a sword between thorns and was drawn on the left arm, close to the hand. Just like Baelfire had described.

"Like my tattoo?" The man growled at Rumpelstiltskin, for staring at it too long. The cripple felt immediately fear sweep all over his body.

"I deeply apologize." He bent his head submissively. The man gave a look of disgust and walked away saying nothing more.

"Hey, you did not pay!" The fruit owner yelled.

"Send the bill to the king!" The man with the tatoo answered and threw a half bitten apple over his shoulder.

The owner started complaining something about immorality and insolence, but Rumpelstiltskin didn't hear him, his ears pounding from his crazy heartbeat. Fear and shock had paralyzed him momentarily, Baelfire's desperate words spinning in his head. He had to be sure he was seeing correctly. Rumpelstiltskin woke himself from his state of shock and cautiously followed the man. His pursue was a short one, for the tattooed man stopped after two streets. The cripple heard voices. Very carefully, he peeked from behind a building. For a second, he thought he was going to throw up from the nerves, when he saw with who the tattooed man was talking to. A bald man with a red ponytail, sitting on the edge of a wagon with iron bars. Rumpelstiltskin quickly turned back, his heart racing at a mad speed. He felt a cold sweat going through his body. Baelfire's dream had indeed been a premonition. The man felt his insides turn and walked away, as far as possible from the two dangerous men. When he felt he was at a safe distance, he stopped feeling dizzy. He was sweating and panting. Fear was taking over him. Rumpelstiltskin tried to breathe and calm down, but the uncontrolled emotion was stronger than him. Suddenly, Baelfire's words came back to his mind.

"Promise me, if you see those two men or the wagon or hear screams; promise you will leave immediately."

The boy had told him to do the thing he was best at. Running away, the coward he was. But, ironically, his fleeing impulses were hindered by sense, this time. Rumpelstiltskin put his shaky hand on his head and looked at his empty bag. He could not leave without supplies. All the same, their survival would be in stake. Suddenly he didn't know what was worse. Being killed on the spot or have a slow torturous death due to hunger and weakness. He needed to calm down and think. He breathed in and out a few times, forcing himself to relax. When his mind finally cleared, he came to the conclusion he still had time. They weren't doing anything yet. It was a calculated risk he had to take. For this one time, for the sake of his son and fair Linda, he had to summon the almost inexistent bravery in him. So, he quickly returned to the market and bought four middle sized breads by the first baker he saw. The merchant seeing him livid as a ghost asked if he was feeling alright. Rumpelstilskin gave no answer and paid him what he owned, leaving without exchanging another word. He quickly returned to the fruit tent and bought fresh and dry fruit. When he saw the owner's daughter, a girl around 12 years old, he felt all the blood drain down his face. Soon, she would be taken. Only the gods knew what the future reserved to this innocent child.

"Are you okay, mister?" The fruit trader asked while he gave his change back. Rumpelstiltskin turned his eyes from the girl to the man.

"You should leave Gaevo. It's not safe here." The man stared perplexed as he watched the cripple rush away.

Rumpelstiltskin could only think about one thing right now: he had to leave the town at once. He got what he needed; so now he had to be sure he came out of Gaevo alive. He was already by the gates when he heard a horrible scream. Then another one followed. Screams made by children. Screams of terrified parents. People started running to the source of the sound. Rumpelstiltskin headed the opposite way. He walked as fast as he could, ignoring the throbbing in his left leg. All he could think about was to run away. Run away back to safety. Run away back to his boy.

Baelfire had not spoken to Belle the whole morning. He felt betrayed. She had known when his father left and had not woke him up. He fought the urge to yell at her, curse her and cry in despair. Thinking his father was gone and he had not said goodbye. Sure he knew Belle was in her best intentions. Sure he knew his father was behind this, always making sure he was safe. But he hated that overprotection. He wished he had talked with his father before he left. He could have tried to put sense in his father's stubborn head and stop him from going. Instead, his father sneaked out before day break and made Belle promise she would watch over him. His typical cowardly behavior.

Baelfire had not eaten anything since he woke up. His stomach kept rumbling, but he felt a knot that avoided him to swallow whatsoever. His heart skipped a beat each and every time he heard a sound coming from the woods. It was silly, he knew. It would take at least two hours for his father to reach Gaevo, another two to return. And trading always took its time. As much as he loved his father, he hated when Rumpelstiltskin took this kind of decisions without ever asking his opinion. He was a child, but meanwhile, he had become fourteen. He was young but not stupid. He knew his father had many skeletons in his closet. He knew he hid lots of things from him, for his safety. Always for his safety. And for this he both loved and hated his father.

Baelfire had prayed from the moment he woke up. He prayed to all gods he could remember. He prayed for his father to come back. Little did he know Belle was doing precise the same thing. She, on the other hand, had kept her promise. She understood Rumpelstiltskin's reasons and intentions, but she also understood Baelfire's frustration. She knew how it felt to be left out during difficult decisions. It had been like this her entire life. So she let him be. And meanwhile, made sure he did not get away.

Suddenly, both Baelfire and Belle's heads turned. A distinctive rumbling was coming from the forest. Baelfire recognized the uneven stamping and run in his father's direction. Rumpelstiltskin dropped his bags and staff when he saw his son running to him. Belle ran just behind the boy and breathed from relieve when she saw father and son hugging like if they had been separated for years.

"You left without saying goodbye!" Baelfire moaned as he pressed his head against his father's shoulder.

"I know. I'm sorry." Rumpelstiltskin whispered. Baelfire smiled at the sound. No matter how angry he could be with his father, the sound of his voice always seemed to make things better. They remained a while, enjoying the warm feeling of being together again. But short after, Rumpelstiltskin let go of his son. Only now did Baelfire and Belle saw how horribly livid he looked. There was also something dark about his eyes.

"They were there!" Baelfire gasped as realization came upon him. He had seen the future after all. No. He had seen a possible future. His father was back, safe and sound.

"We have to leave." Rumpelstitskin sounded urgent. "We have to leave now." He walked to the camp, to gather the rest of the stuff.

"Wait, what happened?" Baelfire asked; Belle wondering the same.

"I don't know how you do it…but it was just like you described." Baelfire and Belle looked at one another and then back to Rumpelstiltskin, who was meanwhile dividing the supplies into different bags, his instinct telling him they had to move on. "The two guys were there with the iron wagon…It started just before I left. I heard the screaming but didn't stay to watch it." He told with his eyes wide. "The one with the tattoo imposed himself as one of the king's men, but he wasn't. Looked more like an outlaw." He distributed a bag to either of them. "You are going with us." He told Belle.

"What?" The princess was surprised at the uncharacteristically unquestionable command. Rumpelstiltskin sighed heavily. The look he gave her sent a chill down the spine. Something really bad was going on.

"We are at war." He gravely stated. Baelfire gasped shocked, while a millions thoughts past through Belle's head. The beauty suddenly feared her cover had been discovered. Rumpelstiltskin continued, oblivious to the princess' fears. "Ogres invaded the castle. The king is alive, but is kept hostage. The princess is gone missing. Managed to escape with Lord Gaston and who knows where they are right now! Villages are being plundered and pillaged as speak. We need to get away, now!"

Baelfire followed his father, who was gathering the last things and bombarded him with thousand questions. But all he received as answer was "Later on." Meanwhile, Belle walked away a few steps, with her back to them. She needed to be alone for some moments. She needed space to work the news she just heard. Hands were clenched against her chest and the princess had to make a great effort not to cry and laugh at the same time.

Her father was alive.

Rumpelstiltskin's words kept repeating in her head over and over again. "The king is alive." She felt an indescribable weight be released from her shoulders. Belle thought she was going mad of bitter happiness. The worries of four long days were released by one simple phrase. She was glad he lived. But she still was worried to death about him. Her father was being held as prisoner and such urged her to reach Snowland as fast as possible. Now that she knew he lived, a new hope was born within her. The thought her father was being held captive made her blood boil and gave her strength to fight back. She would reach Lord Leopold's court and retaliate with all her might. This she promised to herself.

"Linda, are you okay?" Rumpelstiltskin asked. She turned around, face pale and teary eyes. She nodded, trying unsuccessfully to hide her emotions. "You are trembling, child." He said as he rested his hand on her arm.

"Where are we heading to?" Her voice was cracked, but strangely calm. Rumpelstiltskin looked at her worriedly. He looked in her eyes searchingly and Belle did her best not to crumble at that moment. The concern he showed made her feel vulnerable and wanting to break down. But she had to be strong.

"We'll go north." He spoke softly, as if he was afraid of scaring or hurting her. "It's a four days journey to my friend's home. And after that…after that we'll go to Snowland. We'll only be safe once we are there." Belle breathed deep.

Once again, she had to control herself, this time from throwing herself on the kind man for thankfulness. She couldn't help let a few tears drop. Belle blessed all gods Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire were heading the same way as she. Belle blessed no suspicions had fallen upon her. But above all, she blessed the company. She got to stay with them a while longer.

"Is this okay for you?" Rumpelstiltskin asked worriedly as he cleaned a tear from her face. The beauty smiled softly and squeezed his hand gently. "Do you want to talk?" He asked.

"No, I'm okay, really. I'll be happy to continue traveling with you. There's not really anything keeping me here." She softly smiled and saw some of the worry in Rumpelstiltskin's eyes transform into happiness. He then smiled and patted gently her arm.

"That's good, dearie. We'll watch over you." He whispered. Seeing she was recovering from the news of war, Rumpelstiltskin decided to take leave. "Okay, we're going now."

"What about your leg, Papa? You should rest!" Baelfire suddenly told off. He had been watching his father and Belle's interaction with curiosity, but was now suddenly reminded of his father's limits.

"I'll rest at Bram's" Rumpelstiltskin said as he started walking. "We cannot lose any time. The faster we get out of here, the better."

"You're going to be sick!" Baelfire insisted.

"Nonsense. I've done longer travels without any trouble." He lied, much for his son's disdain.

He didn't miss the disapproval look in his son's eyes. He knew that look. Baelfire had inherited his mother's eyes and spirit, which hurt and frightened Rumpelstiltskin. He read the accusation and the frustration one felt in dealing with a coward whose thoughts were controlled by blind fear. He felt ashamed. The spinner wished he could be brave, but running away was what he had always done, already since his childhood. It was his most basic survival instinct. And Baelfire knew it all too well. So he gave a sigh of exasperation, having no choice but follow his father. Rumpelstiltskin knew Baelfire would be extra cautious from now on, observing every step he made, searching for any sign of pain, discomfort or illness to stop their travel. The father smiled at the irony, that love and concern could be sometimes an obstacle. For both father and son knew the pain would increase to an unsustainable point during the following days. And both knew the cripple would deny it until he would finally succumb to his limits. Rumpelstiltskin knew not how long he would be able to keep up. All he knew was that they had to make sure they made it as far as possible. Right now, their survival was much more important than the pain he felt in his leg.

And so they left.

Going deeper and deeper in the personalities of our dearest OUAT characters.

What do you think about the way things are developing?

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