Chapter Two
Lord Maurice D'Leon looked out of the carriage window as the carriage went down the dirt path and he sighed. The rain fell as the horses went through the puddles when a low rumble of thunder rolled across the sky and the rain fell harder. A flash of lightning startled the horses as the driver tried to calm the horses down and Maurice nearly fell forward.
"What is happening?" he demanded as he pounded his fist on the top of the carriage and sighed.
"Sorry, Milaird, the horses got spooked," Colin, the driver said while stopping the carriage and Maurice got out of the carriage. The rain pounded against him as he looked up at the dark sky and thunder rolled around him. He walked to Colin when he looked up at him then looked at the horses. He was about to go back inside the carriage when he heard moaning coming from the side of the road and Colin looked toward the forest.
"What was that?" Maurice asked when Colin got off the carriage and stood next to him. Removing the sword from the scabbard at his side, Colin slowly walked into the bushes while the rain soaked him to the bone and he looked around. Rain made it hard to see while Colin moved some of the bush branches back and frowned. The moaning grew louder when he nearly tripped over something and looked down. "Is there something there?"
"Yes," Colin said when he placed the sword back in the scabbard and knelt down on his haunches. Rumple moaned while lying on his stomach and Colin looked him over, noticing Rumple's lower right leg was bent in an odd angle. "There's a man lying on the ground."
"Is he alive?"
"Yes, Milaird, but he's hurt."
"Was he attacked?" Maurice asked as Colin looked around and noticed the broken branches, trampled grass and a long mudslide. He looked at the mudslide then at Rumple then stood up and sighed.
"No, I think he fell from the top of the hill," Colin said when he heard someone coming and turned, seeing Maurice behind him. Maurice knelt down next to Rumple as he looked at Rumple's clothing, the packs on his back then his boots and frowned, standing up.
"Have you seen his clothing, packs and boots?"
"Yes, Milaird," Colin said with a nod of his head.
"We need to get him out of here," Maurice said while looking around and balled his hands into fists.
"Do you think it's safe to move him?"
"We have no choice."
"Yes, Milaird," Colin said when he leaned down and carefully lifted Rumple into his arms. Maurice watched Colin head back to the carriage, looked up at the top of the hill then sighed, half running to catch up with him.
Avonlea
A small shock woke him enough as Rumple felt someone lifting him up and he yelled out from the pain.
"Be careful with him, you fool!" a male voice shouted. Rumple didn't recognize the voice as he made a soft whimper and white sparks of light moved in the darkness.
"Milaird, who is he?" a woman's voice asked and Rumple felt someone touching his hair.
"Never mind that," the male voice said. "Bring him inside and someone fetch the healer."
"Mama, he's all dirty," a little boy's voice said and Rumple barely smiled.
"Yes, he is," the woman's voice said, but started to sound far off and the darkness crept into his mind. "There's no need to worry, Love. We'll clean him up before putting him to bed,"
Hours later
Screaming was all he could do when his mind came slightly out of the darkness and he tried to move.
"He's awake," a female voice said.
"Hold him down!" an older man's voice said and Rumple felt like kicking out his right leg.
"Hush now," the female voice said as Rumple felt soft fingers moving through his hair and he whimpered. "It's almost over."
The darkness rushed to greet him as he sighed and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Three weeks later
Pain…pure, white hot pain roared through Rumple as he moaned and wanted to cry. His throat was raw from screaming. He didn't want to move. He didn't want to wake up. He felt like he was on fire. He was hot, sick and tired.
"Easy now," the soothing female voice said as something warm slid by his lips and swirled around his tongue. Rumple tried to swallow, but his throat felt like it was closed over and gentle fingers rubbed his throat until he swallowed, feeling the warmth of whatever it was slid down into his stomach.
"Unh," was all he could manage to say as whoever it was wiped his lips and stroked the top of his head. The cool gentle finger felt good on his hot skin, but a cold shiver made his teeth rattle and he whimpered.
"Hush now. It's alright. You're alright," the female voice said, but he shook his head, which hurt, and closed his eyes tighter.
"I feel like I'm going to die," he moaned then heard a soft hushing noise.
"No, you're just feverish. Rest now," was the last thing he heard as the darkness returned and he sighed, drifting off into a dreamless sleep.
A week later
The cool feeling of something wet moving over his skin made him smile as he sighed and slowly opened his eyes. He blinked his eyes until the fuzzy green he saw turned into a green canopy and he looked at the gold swirl pattern. He moved his eyes when he saw a young woman with auburn hair and shining blue eyes sitting next to him and she sweetly smiled at him.
"Hello," she said as he blinked his eyes a few times and she placed the sponge she was using in the wooden bowl on the night table.
"He-hello," he croaked and she used a soft towel to dry his neck, chest and face. He liked how she smiled and the way the light sparkled in her eyes then noticed she was wearing a white linen dress with short sleeves and her hair was floating in long curls around her shoulders. "Who are you?"
"My name is Belle," Belle D'Leon said as she placed the soft towel on the night table then buttoned the top of the white flannel nightshirt he was wearing.
"My name is Rumplestiltskin Gold," he said with a small, yet painful nod of his head.
"That is an odd name," she said with a smile and he pressed his lips together. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to insult you."
"No, it's alright," he said and she brushed some of his hair from his eyes. "Where am I?"
"You are in my castle," Maurice said as he walked in the room and stopped near the foot of the bed. "I am Maurice D'Leon."
"I know that name," Rumple said while trying to remember from where and frowned.
"Are you familiar with Marcus D'Leon?"
"Yes," Rumple said when Marcus' face appeared before his eyes and he sighed. "He was a friend of mine."
"How did you meet?" Maurice asked and Belle saw the anger in his eyes.
"Father, please, he just woke up," she said and Rumple gave her a puzzled look.
"He's your father?" Rumple asked.
"Of course I am. Who did you think she was?" Maurice asked with anger in his eyes and his face started turning red.
"No offense, Lady. I thought you were a servant," Rumple said while looking at her and Belle softly smiled as a trace of a blush moved over her cheeks.
"No taken," Belle said then looked at Maurice. "Why are you so angry?"
"How did you meet Marcus?" Maurice growled.
"I met him during the war. We were in the same regiment under Major Cole," Rumple said.
"What is your name?"
"I am Rumplestiltskin Gold," he said and Belle wondered why her father was interrogating him.
"Father, why are you doing this? He's still ill," Belle said and Maurice sighed, folding his arms over his chest.
"We will talk later," Maurice said then turned on his heels and left the room, closing the doors loudly behind him. Belle looked at Rumple when she noticed the look in his eyes and she placed her hand on his chest, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his breathing.
"I am sorry," Belle said with a sad look in her eyes. "He hasn't been the same since my brother died."
"That is understandable," Rumple said and she could just feel his heart slamming in his chest.
"Were you…were you with him when he…?" she asked. She watched him close his eyes as his mind replayed the last time he had seen Marcus and he made a small, shuttering sigh.
"Yes," he said then looked at her. "He had been injured and I was trying to find a healer."
"Father told me he had been crushed by an ogre," she said and felt his heart jump in his chest.
"I shouldn't have left him," he said then looked at the canopy.
"Why did you?" she asked and he was shocked by the anger in her voice.
"He told me to run. He wanted me to take his pack and journals to his mother," Rumple said then pressed his lips together. "Does your mother have them?"
"No, she died shortly after Marcus left. My father has read them though," Belle said and he blinked the tears from his eyes. She gently wiped the tears away as he sadly smiled and closed his eyes.
"How did she die?"
"She fell of her horse and hit her head on a rock."
"You have my condolences, Dear Lady," he said and she smiled.
"Thank you."
"Why does my leg hurt?" he asked while lifting his head, but the room spun around and he lowered his head, moaning.
"No, don't move," she said and he made a soft, high pitched giggle.
"What is wrong with my leg?"
"It was badly broken from your fall. Do you remember falling down the hill?"
"No," he said and held her hand against his chest. Neither of them said a word as they looked deeply into each other's eyes and she felt the rise and fall of his breathing. "How badly is it broken?"
"The healer was able to set the bones, but he thinks you will be lame."
"I see," he sighed and stroked the side of her hand with his thumb.
"Is there someone we can send word to say you're alive? Do you have any family or…a wife?"
"My parents are both dead," he said and knew, deep down, his father was dead to him and she saw anger in his eyes. "And I never married. I was engaged, but had to go into service before we were wed."
"I see," she said with a warm look in her eyes and he softly smiled at her.
"I was taken in by two spinner spinsters and lived with them until I went into service."
"Hold on." Belle said when she got up then walked to the desk in front of the large windows and picked up the small writing desk, a quill, an inkwell and a piece of paper. Walking back to the bed, she sat down and he tilted his head to one side. "What are their names and where did you live?"
Rumple told her while she wrote on the paper then placed the small writing desk on the floor. She saw the tiredness in his eyes as she smiled and he covered his mouth with the back of his hand while yawning.
"I do apologize," he said and she smiled. She liked how much of a gentleman he was, she knew of only a small handful, and she brushed a few strands of hair out of his eyes. She admitted she liked his chocolate brown eyes and how they shimmered with an amber light in the candlelight.
"There is no need to apologize. Why don't you go back to sleep?" she asked as he sighed and slowly closed his eyes. She watched him drift off to sleep then got up, moved the duvet up and crossed his arms over his chest. She leaned closer, but stopped inches from his lips when she stood up, picked up the small writing desk and placed the small writing desk on the desk. Picking up the piece of paper, she headed for the door when she opened the door, turned and looked back at him. Smiling, she left the room as she closed the door behind her and Rumple sighed as a small smile spread across his face.
A few minutes later
Belle found her father in the den as Maurice sat by the fire and held the journal in his hands. On the small table near the high back chair he was sitting on were a stack of other journals and Belle sighed. He had spent hours reading her brother's journals and it hurt her to see him so sad. Marcus had been ten years older than she was and she knew her father was so proud of him when he went into service. Marcus had promised her that he would come home, but she never expected him to come home wrapped in a white shroud and the casket had to be sealed so no one could see the broken body that once was her brother.
"Father?" she asked as Maurice looked up and she walked to the high back chair, kneeling down next to the high back chair.
"Did he tell you anything?" Maurice asked.
"Yes, he told me Marcus had been injured in battle and he was trying to find a healer when they encountered an ogre. He also said he wanted to stay with Marcus, but Marcus had given him his pack and the journals then told him to bring them to Mother," she said and saw the anger in his eyes. "Father, he didn't want to leave Marcus and I believe him."
"Does he remember how he ended up at the bottom of the hill?"
"No," Belle said and Maurice sighed, looking at the journal.
"I have looked through all of these and Marcus did mention a friend called Rumplestiltskin."
"It has to be him."
"Or he had read the journals and is lying," Maurice growled and Belle placed her hand on his arm.
"Why would he lie?"
"I don't know, but I have sent word to Major Cole, asking him to come and see our "guest"."
"And if he really is the Rumplestiltskin in Marcus' journals?"
"I will see that he gets the best treatment for his injuries and send him home."
"He did tell me where he's from and who to contact," she said and handed Maurice the piece of paper. He looked at the names when he nodded and Belle saw the anger return to his eyes. "What if he is lying?"
"Then he dies," Maurice said through clenched teeth and Belle sighed.
Three days later
The carriage drawn by four horses moved along the cobblestone path then came to a halt at the marble stairs when the footman walked to the carriage and opened the door. He held his hand out as Major Cole carefully got out of the carriage and held the black wood cane with a gold handle tightly in his left hand. He looked at the footman then nodded his head and headed for the door. Slowly, he went up the marble stairs when the front door opened and the butler gave him a small nod.
"My master instructed me to take you up to him," the butler said and Major Cole sighed, looking at the large marble stairs arching left and right. Being a longtime friend to Maurice, he knew he wouldn't have sent for him if it wasn't important. Nodding his head, Major Cole headed for the large marble stairs and headed up the steps.
Rumple's room
"How does that feel?" Belle asked after placing Rumple's right leg on the pillows and he smiled at her. He wasn't sure he wanted to sit up, but Belle insisted and he brushed the hair out of his eyes. He did look better and his eyes were clear and she felt the blush moving across her cheeks.
"It feels fine," he said and she straightened the bedding and duvet. "Belle, what is going on?"
"Nothing is going on. I thought you would like to sit up," she said and he frowned.
"Why are you lying to me?" he asked and she saw the hurt in his eyes.
"I…," she said when the door opened and Maurice and Major Cole came in the room. Belle moved away from the bed while Rumple looked at Maurice and Major Cole and saw the look of shock on Major Cole's face.
"It can't be," Nicholas said when he stopped at the foot of the bed and held the gold handle of the black wood cane in his hands. Rumple wasn't sure, but the major looked older and his hair was fuller, longer and nearly white.
"Hello, Sir," Rumple said with a small nod of his head.
"Do you recognize this man, Nicholas?" Maurice asked and Rumple felt the anger boiling inside him. Now he understood by Belle had sat him up and made him comfortable and she saw the look in his eyes.
"Yes, I do," Nicholas said when he moved around to the side of the bed and carefully sat down. "You are Rumplestiltskin Gold, aren't you?"
"Yes, Sir," Rumple said, his voice cold and hard as he glared at Maurice.
"You were assigned to my regiment, were you not?"
"Yes, Sir, I was."
"Were you a swordsman, foot solider, archer or rider?"
"I was mostly a swordsman and rider."
"Where was your last assignment?"
"It was Elf's Head Valley in the northern sector."
"I was told Rumplestiltskin Gold ran from the battlefield and vanished."
"I did no such thing, Sir," Rumple said, feeling affronted and looked from Belle to Marcus to Major Cole and his heart slammed hard in his chest. If they wanted him to admit to being a coward, he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. "I did run, but it was because I was told to by my friend."
"And this friend was Marcus D'Leon?"
"Yes, Sir," Rumple said, getting angrier, but curbed the urge to growl at them. "He wanted me to take his pack and journals to his mother. I did not want to leave him, but he insisted."
"What happened after you ran?"
"I don't clearly remember. I do remember running and stopping near some trees. After that, it's all a blank," Rumple said and hoped he believed him. He didn't remember much about what happened and was feeling insulted by the questions. He watched Major Cole get up then head for the door and leave the room. Maurice followed the major out of the room as Belle looked at Rumple and he glared at her.
A few minutes later
"Well?" Maurice asked while they headed down the hallway and Major Cole stopped at the top of the stairs.
"He is who he says he is," Nicholas said.
"That's impossible."
"Don't you think I know that?" Nicholas asked with a sharp tone in his voice and his eyes were wide.
"But how did he go from being on the battlefield to being here? I mean how could he travel all that way on foot?"
"Never mind that," Nicholas said as he looked down the hallway and sighed. "Where has he been for the last twelve years?"