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Chapter 40: Day 34: The deal

Things were slowly restoring themselves. Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire were beginning a new life, with a fresh start. The teenager relished his days in the company of his cousins and new friends in Kriemont. Even though he knew he would never forget the people from his home village, being with them eased the pain of loss and made the grieving more bearable. Also, and according to tradition, he had reached the age to choose a trade and start learning it. So Baelfire's mornings were now spent at his uncle's butcher shop. Rumpelstiltskin was slightly disappointed with the boy's choice, but accepted it rather well. He had always known his son to be too impatient and energetic for the slow and rhythmic pace of the spinning wheel. In compensation, he got to instruct his nephew Rafael, who's a year older than Baelfire and had, already, started his training with Charleston. The boy had found it awfully scary to learn spinning with his grandfather. He felt constantly the old man's always watchful eyes on him, not to mention his sudden impatient scolding. Thanks to his mother's insistence it was his far more mellow and patient uncle (although as equally strict as Charleston) that would guide him through the processes of spinning.

Things were indeed slowly restoring and Rumpelstiltskin had already contacted the local carpenter, Gepetto for the pursuing of a new spinning wheel. They had also talked about plans and prices for a new home, a subject the cripple had hidden from his family. Belle's gift would be enough to pay all costs. The problem wasn't there. It was telling his family about his little treasure. He knew they would never believe in the truth. So for now, he kept it secret.

It was late in the afternoon and Rumpelstitlskin was having some tea with his mother, when they heard a horrible scream come from outside. The noise of horses and men's voices were followed. The cripple and his mother quickly exited the house. They were followed by his sister and brother-in-law who lived just a bit further away. Nobody had been mistaken by who gave the scream.

Rumpelstiltskin was the first one to reach the spot. He saw Charleston half lying, half sitting on the muddy ground. Opposite him stood a carriage. The old man had been almost overrun and fell on the ground during the process. He was now shaking his fists in the air, cursing viciously at whoever almost hit him. Rumpelstiltskin took a better look at the carriage. It was clear it's owner was extremely wealthy, for the black carriage was richly decorated. It was escorted by several guards, all dressed eccentrically in black uniforms. Their faces were not visible, but Rumpelstiltskin could feel their eyes following him when he came to his father's help. They gave him the creeps, just like the horses, which were also black, but their eyes had an unusual red tone.

"Come on, pap. Let's get you out of here." Rumpelstiltskin whispered, carrying a bad feeling and wishing to leave the scene as soon as possible.

"It's outrageous!" The old man shouted madly. "These bloody rich folk from nowadays think they can race everywhere like they are lords of the world and don't even look where they are bloody driving!"

"Shhhh! Will you please stop screaming? It was an accident!" Rumpesltilstkin begged. He missed the door of the carriage open itself and a gorgeous woman is a high couture dress step out off it. All the villagers, who meanwhile had assembled at the spot, gave a step backwards, fear imprinted on their faces when they saw her cold and malicious look.

"Your son is right, old man. Besides, I am the Lady of Snowland. I can ride anywhere and anyway it pleases me." Her sardonic voice was heard behind the two men.

Rumpelstiltskin felt his blood drain down his face, realizing who she was. He turned around to see the dangerous beauty staring at him and his father with a rather amused and mischievous look. He knew, by the glare in her dark cold eyes and her cruel grin that trouble was on their way.

"You!" Charleston, instead of being afraid like the rest of the villagers, spat furiously at Queen Regina. "You are evil! You sent all the armies away from Armithil!" The old man yelled in his rage. The dark beauty shrunk her eyes dangerously.

"I plea for pardon, Your Majesty. My father is old and demented. He knows not what he says." Rumpelstiltskin quickly jumped in between his father and the powerful woman.

"What! I am not such thing!" Charleston complained.

"Shhhh. Will you shut up, you old rag! Do you have a death wish or something?" Rumpelstiltskin told off.

Regina almost chuckled at the situation. Quite a pair those two were. She could see the look of fear present in the cripple's eyes. An emotion she had learned to use and overpower those around her for the past weeks. She loved to see the dread and respect she imposed on others. The dark beauty glanced around. Everybody flinched and gasped at her slightest movement. She drew a satisfied smile. It gave her pleasure. It made her feel mighty. Anything else was too trivial compared to her power. The village was silenced by her presence.

"Bitch! Princess Snow White should be the queen!"

Charleston suddenly yelled, breaking the Queen's blissful moment. Her eyes widened madly and she turned around, her right hand lifted in the air, looking like the claws of an eagle. All villagers gasped in terror. Elisabeth almost fainted at her husband's foolish words. Thumbelina stared desperately at her father and brother. The only thing keeping her from running to them was her husband, who was holding back the small woman. Meanwhile, more people were coming, curious at what was going on. Baelfire and his cousins too arrived and looked questioningly at the scene. The boys came just in time to see the Queen pace slowly, looking extremely dangerous, in their grandfather's direction.

"How dare you." Her voice was low and thundering. Rumpelstiltskin again put himself between the Queen and his father.

"Please, I beg you. Do forget my father's mad words."

"Get out of the way. What do you think you are?"

"I'm just a poor spinner. I'm a nobody, but please…" Queen Regina gestured him to silence. Rumpelstiltskin was sure he was going to meet his end now. But the powerful woman looked at him with a smile.

"A spinner, are you? How interesting. I might just have a proposal for you." Regina spoke with a beautifully evil smirk. Rumpelstiltskin stared at her perplexed, unable to imagine whatever she had in mind.

"Don't listen to her! It's a trap!" Charleston yelled.

"Tell me, spinner." Regina continued, ignoring the old man. "What would you do to save your village? To save your family?" She slowly walked around Rumpelstilstkin, like a predator cornering its prey. The cripple stared confused at the woman while her malicious smile grew wider. There was a tense silence. Nobody in the village dared to utter a sound. Even Charleston was quiet, finally understanding the real danger they all found themselves in.

"Save from what?" Rumpelstiltstink finally asked, more terrified by the minute.

"I thought you'd never ask." The Queen spoke gladly.

At this, she took out a small purple bag from a pocket on her coat. Rumpelstiltskin stared confused at the white powder she took out of the bag. Regina blew the powder from her hand and the little particles shone like ice as they flew softly in the air. And then they gently landed on the villagers. As the powder touched them, one by one, was turned into stone. Rumpelstiltskin saw to his horror his father, mother, sister and everybody else gain a white solid structure, looking like statues frozen in time. He gasped horrified as he rushed to his son, whose face now of white alabaster, his expression one of surprise.

"What have you done?" He yelled desperate.

"Do not worry. It's just a curse and all curses can be broken."

"How? Tell me how!"

"Let's say and old friend of mine gave me a spinning wheel some time ago. It can transform straw into gold." She spoke low, like if she was sharing a secret. She came closer to Rumpelstiltskin and whispered in his ear "All it needs is a spinner."

"It's impossible!"

"Not if it's a magical spinning wheel, and guess what? It is!" She chuckled at her own words. "All you have to do is spin straw into gold during three nights. And then they all will be saved. The magical dust will lose its effect and they will return to their normal selves."

"So… all I'll have to do is spin?" Rumpelstitlskin asked suspicious. He could not help think this was too easy.

"Yes."

"Then it's a deal." He said shaking any hesitation away. He would do anything to save his family, to save his boy.

"Wonderful! Now, I have some important business to take care of. Let's say there's a prince I need to rescue." She said laughing maliciously. "I'll see you before sundown."

At this, the Queen clicked her fingers and Rumpelstiltskin disappeared from the spot, in a puff of smoke, his wooden staff falling hollowly on the ground. He reappeared in a dark cold room, surrounded by dark humid stones. He noticed he was locked behind bars. This was a dungeon. Feeling cold and scared, he sat down on the hard bed and made himself small. The images of the cursed people, of his family, his beloved son were haunting him. He wept silently. Rumpelstiltskin looked hopelessly around and sighed miserably. There was nothing he could do. Only sit and wait for the Queen.

Rumpelstitlskin must have dozed off. He woke up with a stir and jumped from the hard bed at the sound of something clasping on iron. It took him some moments to adjust his eyes in the darkness and realize where he was.

"Wise thing to do, spinner. You do need all the rest you can have if you want to spin all night and survive it." Was the low and mocking sound of Regina's voice. The cripple turned startled at the source of the sound to see the Queen standing behind the bars, her evil smirk al present in her face.

"S-Survive?"

Rumpelstiltskin gained an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't imagine since when spinning was a life threatening activity. But then again, it was a magical spinning wheel he was going to work with. He was starting to believe he had made a deal without fully understanding it. The Queen's smile widened. She took a step backwards, reached her hand to the bars and the door opened itself magically. The cripple stared both marveled and afraid of her demonstration of power.

"Did I forget to mention all magic comes with a price?" The Queen faked embarrassment and her heart rejoiced with the man's expression that turned from preoccupied to absolutely terrified.

"Come. Soon it will be sunset. We don't want you to lose a single precious minute."

Rumpelstiltskin obeyed contradicted and limped with some difficulty. His staff hadn't been transported with him and he wondered if he should ask the Queen to summon it for him. He knew it would take him twice as long walking like this, but he dared not to utter a word of complain. The Queen, after a while turned around and noticed how the man struggled to accompany her pace, supporting himself on the wall.

"Well, this won't do. You'll take too long in this pace." The Queen spoke disapprovingly.

Rumpelstiltskin's heart froze as she approached him, her palm redirected to him. He was certain she was going to kill him. He had failed for being lame and therefore too slow. He closed his eyes and saw the image of his son's alabaster face. Forgive me. I failed you. He felt an overwhelming heat surround his knee cap and was forced to swallow a scream of pain. He opened his eyes to see a blue glow coming from the Queen's hand. It only took seconds and the heat dissipated. Rumpelstiltskin stared at his damaged leg. It's strange angle was gone. The spinner, not believing his eyes, bended and stretched the leg. He released a laughter of surprise. He could move without any problem. There was no more pain. He lifted his head, tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Thank you so much!" He spoke with all the honesty of his heart. "I really, really thank you!"

To Rumpelstiltskin, his words sounded too hollow, too insufficient to express the joy he was feeling. For fourteen years he had carried his pain around, been limited by his handicap, being constantly reminded by his cowardice that led his wife to betray him. A burden the Queen lifted with a simple gesture. In a matter of seconds.

Regina stared sincerely surprised at the man, never expecting such a spontaneous reaction. The look in his eyes, the happiness, the thankfulness, the honesty. All of that stirred something inside of her. For some moments, Regina's eyes weren't cold. They showed a new emotion. Something vulnerable. Something kind. Something human. But then, the Queen suddenly reminded herself why she had brought the spinner to her castle and the bitterness returned to her dark orbs.

"Well, you were going to take an eternity reaching the room, limping in that way. Come. We must haste."

Rumpelstitlskin quickly followed the Queen. He enjoyed each step he took without any pain and didn't really care if the Queen's motives were purely practical and selfish. All he cared was that she did cure him and for that he would be forever thankful.

They walked along several corridors until Regina finally stopped on front of a wooden door. Rumpesltitlskin stood just behind her and his heart started racing. He suddenly was reminded of the reason in being here and the bad feeling returned. The door opened itself magically. Regina stepped aside, so he could step inside. Rumpelstiltskin felt his limbs falter. His eyes scanned the room with great distress. There were piles and piles of straw, reaching as high as the ceiling. In the middle of the room stood the spinning wheel looking old and worn out. Rumpelstiltskin was panicking. It was too much straw.

Never would he be able to spin all that in one single night.

I could not resist putting some of the original Rumpelstitlskin's story :)

So, what you think?

Review ;)