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Chapter 64 – days 73 and 74 – The longest day

One more day.

Only one more day.

Rumpelstiltskin thought hard to himself, while he politely smiled and greeted the new wave of aristocrats coming from the Seven Kingdoms. He was sick of this daily rhythm. Since he moved in the castle (a clear demand coming from the king and the strictest members of the Council) he was expected to have the same habits and conducts as the rest of the court. Something that went horribly wrong, right in the first morning.

It was agreed he would share his room with Baelfire and Charleston until the wedding day. The first light had barely touched the horizon when an invasion of middle-aged maids came in with towels and soap. Rumpelstiltskin had been greatly affronted when the unknown women sought to undress and bathe the males. He had been furious and had refused the treatment; yelling nobody would lay a hand on his or Baelfire's naked bodies (Charleston, by the contrary, was quite happy with the thought of having young hands rubbing his old back). The spinner accused the women for tenting to assault their privacy. They had insisted meekly, explaining it was their task and duty to wash the members of the court, but Rumpelstitlskin was deaf to their words. The thought alone had disgusted him and he ended up expelling the women, much for Charleston's disappointment but to Baelfire's great relieve (who was eternally grateful for his father's intervention, blushing terribly at the thought of having a woman seeing him with no clothes on, even more touch him). The maids recounted the happening to the king and the princess. The first thought he could kill himself, while Belle laughed heartily, seeing the humor in it, already picturing a highly flushed and insulted Rumpelstiltskin. Well, that was one tradition he would always refuse to follow. The king had ended up by letting it go. What happened inside the castle walls, stayed inside the castle walls. It was simply not worthy to spill all that energy in something so trivial.

King Maurice realized there was so much he could demand from the spinner and his family but they wouldn't be able to fulfill everything in such a short time. He struggled with Rumpelstitlskin's stubbornness, but even more with the old man's, who insisted in being rough and brutal in his manners and language employ. The teenager seemed to be the only one to see the superiority in the nobility's lifestyle, translated by rules of etiquette. The king, of course, confused the boy's insecurity for his reserved and obedient manners.

The king stood gracious and eloquent next to Belle and Rumpelstiltskin, looking satisfied with the peasant's results. The efforts from the last days were finally visible. The man was at least clean, his skin looking unsoiled, his hair smooth and shinny. His overused clothes had been dispatched and he wore an outfit worthy of the prince he was to become. He knew the spinner was tense at all times and was probably biting his tongue to stop himself from cursing viciously (an inferior habit he clearly inherited from the old man). But even with the forced posture, his manners were good enough. Somebody lacking the king's refined eye wouldn't tell he was a low-classer.

Alas, the sovereign's blissful moment was short lived. The great doors from the reception room opened suddenly, with a loud bang, so everybody turned around and gasped of surprise. King Maurice thought he would faint the moment the insupportable old man came storming in with his air untidy and his expensive clothes disheveled. He had a wild look in his eyes and his cheeks were red like two apples. Rumpelstitlskin and Belle switched alarmed looks.

"They are here!" Charleston exclaimed panting.

The king actually felt his legs give away when Rumpelstitlskin quickly excused himself to the guests, paced a few steps hastily, but by the time he reached his father, he was already running. The king felt the strong hands of two ministers' under his arms, supporting him when he almost collapsed the moment his daughter followed her irrational future-husband's example. The guests' eyes followed their movements with curiosity and could hear them climb down the stairs leading to the courtyard. They headed to the great open balcony to see what was going on. Down below, they watched a carriage with Armithil's insignia enter the castle's great courtyard. Rumpelstitlskin reached the courtyard the moment the carriage arrived. Baelfire was already there. He and his father smiled when they saw Mulan and Humbert lead the carriage's escort, who greeted them with smiles.

"Beth!Betty!" Rumpelstiltskin's breathless father came running to the carriage's door, pushing a soldier out of the way and opening it impatiently. Elisabeth carefully stepped out of the carriage, not used to the large dress she was wearing. "Oh! You look beautiful!" The old man said, his wrinkled face brightened by his happiness.

"My, my Charlie. You look smart!" The old woman said appreciatively, ignoring the fact his shirt was out of his trousers. "How I missed you!"

The guests on the balcony made sounds of adoration as the old couple embraced lovingly, kissing their cheeks with a tenderness undiminished by the passing of years. The old woman afterwards hugged her son and grandson with great kindness and released tears of joy when she saw Belle. The old woman cupped the beauty's face in her old hands and kissed her motherly on each cheek. Meanwhile, Thumbelina was already hanging around her brother's neck, just like Baelfire and his cousin Rafael were wresting in a tight hug, causing amused giggles on the balcony. Jonathan helped his daughter Angelina step out the carriage, the black haired girl looking stunning in her fashionable dress. The aristocratic man smiled appreciably and some whispered praised words about her beauty. Thomas handed over little Ravenna to her mother and the infant was admired by her whole family. King Maurice looked petrified from one guest to the other and then to the peasant family below.

"I-I apologize for their rude manners, t-they do not…" The sovereign begun, desperate to save the honorable image he had worked so hard for.

"Apologize for what, My Lord?" Lady Jasmin from Agrahab asked. "For being true with their feelings?" She said while she switched an accomplice smile with her husband.

"I must agree with the Desert Flower." King Midas said. "There is nothing more beautiful than sincere gestures of love."

"I would like to meet your family-in-law, My Lord." Lady Abigail said with a smile, while she cordially waved to Belle. King Maurice stared confused as other lords and ladies agreed enthusiastically with Abigail's suggestion and smiled faintly. When did protocols be abolished and replaced by spontaneity, he wondered. But he breathed of relieve and thanked the gods for the good disposition of his guests. As long as they were happy, all was well.

It had been a confusing day for the king. During the afternoon reception, his guests had showed nothing but great pleasure in meeting the modest family of weavers. The peasants had tried to act with grace in their manners, which were in his opinion, horribly unsuccessful. In his eyes, they were clumsy, making the wrong bows in the wrong moments. They talked and laughed too hard, propped too much food in their mouths and even talked while still chewing the food. Yet, everybody seemed to be delighted to meet each family member. He was petrified to see the Sultan of Agrahab laughing heartily together with the crazy old man, his chubby fingers clutched against his round belly. King Maurice watched perplexed as all the princesses wanted to admire the pretty peasant girl and hold the baby; and how the peasant men chatted merrily with lords and princes.

"It's a lovely party." King Maurice blinked, as an elderly voice woke him up from his musings. He looked down at the very short old woman. She was holding too cups of tea and handed over one to him. He sighed. Why these people insisted serving themselves with tea went beyond his understanding.

"T-Thank you. Mrs. Elisabeth."

"Aw! Just call me Beth." She dismissed with a hand wave. "It's so wonderful to see them so happy. I know I hadn't seen my boy this joyful in a very long time." She said almost dreamy, pride and motherly love omnipresent in her voice. King Maurice looked at his daughter standing next to Rumpelstiltskin, her arm around his, laughing along with Princess Abigail and Lord Frederick.

"When I think about it…I don't believe I ever saw Belle this happy before either." Elizabeth smiled gently as she realized he was talking more to himself than to her.

"Then its good fate brought them together." She wisely concluded, giving him an unconventional soft squeeze on his arm and went away.

The king's eyes followed a while, her words still burning in his ears. Suddenly, and for the second time of the day, the great wooden doors opened themselves with a loud noise. All heads turned surprised but quickly everybody was smiling and some even were applauding.

"I hope we didn't miss too much of the party!" Prince Charming's voice echoed in the large division. Belle and Snow White ran to meet each other and greeted with a warm hug (breaking again all rules of cortesy) with tears on their eyes, both glad Snow had made it in time for the great event.

"I'm so glad you made it!" Belle chocked from the emotion.

"I wouldn't miss your wedding for nothing!"

"The Queen?" There was a shadow of sadness when Belle made the question, but Snow never ceased smiling.

"Is still to be judged. But let's leave this topic for after the wedding." Belle nodded with a smile and the last guests joined the party that stretched itself till late in the night.

Rumpelstilskin and Baelfire had been utterly surprised and thrilled to see Red and Jiminy, the Cricket again. The magical insect had sent the greetings from Pinocchio and Gepetto, who were back in the village; and spoke eloquent words of wisdom to the couple about to marry. Red, on the other side, retold them how she met Snow and how she had learned to control the wolf inside of her. She could sense the suspiciousness around the spinner, knowing he still didn't trust her fully, which didn't bother her, since she knew the origin of his fears. His friend, the woodcutter, by the contrary, seemed to be absolutely fascinated by her wild side. He too struck her as interesting, especially when he recounted his adventure with the Evil Queen and Prince Charming, sounding really brave and loyal as a father. She didn't miss the conspiring looks and giggles coming from his children and smiled amused. She had the feeling this wouldn't the last time she would chat with Bram.

Red was particularly surprised to realize how many people knew each other. How they were somehow connected by the horrible events of the past months, but brought together with strong bonds. There were too many coincidences and she could only think of one word that could explain all of this: Destiny. That somehow, they were all pawns, knights and bishops in a great game of chess of mighty proportions. They all played a lesser or more important role in the development of events. Because, even the smallest decision and action had lead to the building up of the perfect circumstances for breaking curses, war victories and the defeat of the villains. She shivered, wondering to what extent these happenings were indeed the hand of destiny. And prayed destiny would give them all the happy ending they so much desired.

Chocolate brown orbs followed the soft light in the horizon coloring the sky with pastel yellows and pinks. Rumpelstiltskin sighed. He barely had slept and sat practically the whole night on his bedroom's balcony listening to the sound of his father and son rhythmic breathing. He watched the blackness of the sky slowly turn into gradual lighter shades of blue and the stars slowly, one by one, hide away for the day. He was nervous and he was excited.

The day had finally arrived. The day he and Belle would make their vows and tie the knot of marriage. He knew she would be a completely different wife than Milah. She truly loved him. Belle was the bravest, most innocent, delicate yet tough being he ever met. And he loved her beyond reason. He could not imagine his life without her anymore. She had become his anchor, his strength, his everything. She brought the best of him to the light.

But Rumpelstiltskin was terrified with what was accompanying this wedding. He had already mentalized the many changes that would accompany his new wedded life. He was actually already living these changes the last days and weeks and realized it was much more demanding and exhausting than he ever imagined. It was so much to cope with and fulfill the expectations of everybody. He still wasn't used to the admiration and love he received from civils and soldiers. He still wasn't used to the heroic status that was given to him. He was still struggling in winning the approval of many Council members. He was daily living under pressure of the king. He was still getting used to all the formalities, rules and protocols. And he knew this was nothing but a tip of the iceberg.

Rumpelstitlskin had always known he was marrying much more than just Belle. He was marrying a whole kingdom. A whole community. He was the bridge between the plebeian and the noble. And the thought of it alone made his heart race of fear. He sighed, knowing the maids would enter any moment now with the soap and towels. Afterwards somebody would come to help him dress his too rich and complicated layered pieces of clothing. He knew more than half the castle was already awaken and busy with the last preparations and details for the great ceremony.

He fidgeted his fingers nervously and his eyes rested a while on the modest engagement ring. He smiled tenderly wondering if Belle was as nervous as he was. If he was as anxious and impatient to be married as he was. And the mental image of the beautiful princes warmed his heart and melted all his fears away. The idea they would belong to each other by the end of the morning made it all worthwhile. And all the challenges and changes all seemed too insignificant to worry about.

There was a knock on the door. The voice of the maid in charge was heard. He smiled as he watched the sun slowly rise on the horizon. The wedding day had finally arrived.

Struggled writting this chapter (I seem to be in sintonie with struggling Rumple).

I'm not sure how many chapters yet (I never am, first I thought it would be around 40, then 50, then 60) but I'm guessing (I repeat: guessing) somewhere between 3 to 5 chapters.

so...what do you think of the chapter?

Please, do continue reviewing :)