A/N: Here is the next chapter (finally...sorry it took so long!). I promise that Hook will at least appear in the next chapter, but first we have to get some background established. Enjoy =).
This was truly crazy. Emma knew that, but she also knew that she had no other choice. It was either this or marrying Jonneth, and that wasn't going to happen.
The caves darkened as she descended, her torch lighting up a smaller and smaller area as the oppressive blackness crowded her. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized that it must be magic - the darkness seemed alive and almost tangible.
Hurrying her steps, Emma took a deep, bracing breath and gathered all of her courage around herself like a shield. She knew that if his reputation was at all true she would need every scrap of bravery and intelligence she could find.
"Who's there?" The high-pitched cackle echoed around Emma's head and made her flinch. The light she was holding blinded her to anything outside of her circle of light - it was impossible for her to see the source of the challenge.
"It is Princess Emma," she replied, holding her chin high and keeping her voice from trembling as she approached the end of the long tunnel.
Dimly, at the edge of her light, she could make out a prison in front of her. And in the prison, a figure, slumped over against the wall, his grimy hair covering his face.
The voice returned, taunting, "And what does a princess need of me?"
"You have magic," she stated, her voice steady despite her fear. "And I need magic, to escape the castle before my wedding takes place."
"Well, then, dearie," he giggled, raising his head so that she could see his dark eyes glittering in the light of her torch. "I have just what you need."
"Really?" Emma couldn't help the excitement in her tone even though she knew that she couldn't trust him. After all, she was aware of Rumpelstiltskin's reputation and she knew that she needed to be wary. "What's the catch?"
"Ooohh," he breathed, his eyes lighting up as he stood and moved over to the bars, his grotesque face twisting into a grin, "Smart, are we?"
Shrugging, Emma stayed silent and waited.
Finally, the man replied, "It's merely a simple favour in exchange for an invisibility spell."
"What favour?" Emma demanded suspiciously.
"Go to an island and bring me back a certain flower. Do we have a deal?" His eyes gleamed.
"A flower?" Crossing her arms, Emma waited for more of an explanation of this task before she accepted.
Licking his lips, Rumpelstiltskin replied shrilly, "Yes, a flower. There's a small, black flower with saw-edged petals. It only grows on that island, and," he gestured at his cell, "I'm not in a place where I can go get it."
"Why do you need it?"
"That's my business, dearie," he announced. "Not yours. Do we have a deal?"
Emma hesitated, but eventually her desire to escape won. "Yes."
"Perfect." With a snap of his scaly fingers, a contract appeared in the air in front of her. "Sign there," he instructed, pointing at the bottom of the page.
Without replying, Emma carefully read the whole contract, including the fine print. One part alarmed her slightly - "...the signing party will be magically compelled to complete the stated task…" she read, then looked at Rumpelstiltskin. "What does that mean?"
"Merely that magic methods will be put in place so that you can't back out of our deal," he explained with a giggle.
"I intend to keep it," Emma replied haughtily.
"Then it won't be a problem, dearie. Sign."
Taking the quill that had magically materialized along with the contract, Emma scribbled her name onto the bottom of the page, watching as the letters glowed a bright red and then faded into a glossy black on the page.
"Twas a pleasure, princess." Rumpelstiltskin bowed formally, his greasy hair flopping around his face.
"Yeah. The invisibility spell?"
"Of course," he cackled, waving his hand. Out of nowhere, a bracelet appeared, made of what appeared to be beaten copper. "Put this on," he ordered, "and you will be invisible to anyone you are not touching."
Taking the bracelet and tucking it into a hidden pocket on her gown, Emma turned on her heel and strode away without another word to the prisoner.
"Don't forget our deal!" His call and the accompanying laughter echoed after her, making her shiver and touch the bracelet, seeking the comfort of the metal and the assurance that she would be able to escape the palace.
Please review and let me know what you all think of the story so far!