Chapter Fifteen
The black smoke faded as Robin, Regina and the Merry Men looked around and the flap to the main tent opened while Roland ran toward them.
"Mama! Papa!" he said as Robin picked him up and he hugged his papa.
"Were you good for the friar?" Robin asked, looking at Tuck walking toward them.
"He was an angel," Tuck said, ruffling Roland's hair.
"He got a little scared when a squirrel ran over his foot," Roland said then giggled and Regina tried hard not to laugh.
"He was?" Regina asked, giving Tuck an amused look.
"It was a very big squirrel," Tuck corrected, wagging a finger at Roland then laughed.
"Did Mister Gold come back with you?" Roland asked, looking for Rumple. Suddenly a black mist floated around them as Robin lowered Roland to his feet and everyone fell unconscious to the ground. The soft sound of footsteps filled the air when Merlin walked closer and looked at Regina, Robin, Roland, Tuck and the rest of the Merry Men. Walking toward Regina, he knelt down when he placed his hand on top of her head and his hand shimmered in a black light.
"My sincerest apologized, Dear Lady," Merlin said softly as he spoke the spell which altered her memories and removed her meeting Rumple as the Dark One. He removed his hand as he went from Robin to Roland to the rest of the Merry Men and changed their memories. He walked back to Regina when he knelt down and brushed some hair out of her eyes then sighed. "I know you wish to avenge your mother's death and regain your rightful claim to her kingdom. To do so, you will need the aide of the Dark One. He will be willing to aide you, but you will not have to worry about the price. What he asks will be something you will not mind paying."
Standing up, he looked up at the dark clouds covering the moon when the black smoke enveloped him then faded and the fire in the fire circles crackled in the darkness.
Avonlea
Maurice stood near the large stone fireplace while the fire crackled and he had his hands behind his back. He watched the fire while the black smoke appeared behind him and Belle's gasp made him turn around.
"Belle?" he asked while she ran to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Are you alright? Where is Rumple?"
"I'm fine," she said as the tears rolled down her cheeks and she placed her cheek against his shoulder. "I don't know where Rumple is though. He was facing Mab and Merlin when Merlin sent me here."
"I'm sure he will be fine," Maurice said while rubbing her back and she sobbed. Suddenly the air grew ice cold as she moved back and noticed the fire in the large stone fireplace wasn't moving. 'That's odd."
Belle looked at Maurice when she noticed he wasn't moving either and she gently moved his arms away while backing up. Looking around, she saw a white mist floating behind the French doors as she carefully walked closer and opened the door on the left. She walked outside while her breath curled in the cold air and she looked into the semi-darkness. Her heart leapt in her chest when she saw someone lying on the ground and she ran toward them. In the semi-darkness, she saw Rumple lying face down on the ground as she gasped and gently stroked the top of his head.
"Rumple, can you hear me?" she asked while shaking him then carefully rolled him onto his back and her eyes widened at the sight of the hole in the jerkin. She carefully slid her fingers in the hole when she felt something wet and pulled her fingers back out. She could just see the blood shimmering on her fingers as she gasped and placed her hand against his chest. "No, please no!"
"He is still alive….barely," Merlin said as she looked up and saw him standing next to Rumple.
"What have you done?" she demanded as the anger filled her heart and he saw the hate in her eyes.
"I have removed his curse."
"Wait, to do so, you had to…"
"Yes," he sighed and lowered his head.
"Murderer!" she shouted as she went to slap him, but he gently grabbed her wrist and frowned. "Let go!"
"Only if you promise not to strike me," he said and she glared at him.
"I should kill you!"
"That is your right, but it will not help him."
"You said he is alive, but the wound appears to be over his heart."
"It is, but I placed him in a preservation spell. It is keeping his soul inside him, but I need your help if he is to survive."
"What would you have me do?" she asked, looking at Rumple.
"The first thing you must do it use this," Merlin said when he waved his left hand and a wooden box appeared in his hand. He opened the lid then removed a glass vial and she looked at the red liquid inside the glass vial. "This is the Elixir of the Wounded Heart. He will need to drink all of it or he will die."
Belle wasn't sure if he was telling the truth as she took the glass vial out of his hand then knelt down. She gently arched Rumple's head back when she parted his lips with her finger then poured the red liquid into his mouth. She made sure all the liquid was in his mouth when she softly rubbed his throat and Rumple swallowed a few times. She moved his head down when she looked at Merlin and Merlin saw the hate in her eyes.
"The next part depends on his strength and your commitment to him," Merlin said as he closed the lid to the wooden box. "Once I remove the preservation spell, you must give him True Love's Kiss."
"Fine," she said as she looked at Rumple and softly stroked the top of his head.
"Are you committed to him? Will you stay with him for as long as you live and be faithful only to him?"
"You make it sound like we're getting married," she said with a small smile.
"You think this is a joke?" he growled. She stood up when she balled her hands into fists and breathed hard through her nose.
"You are trying my patience, Demon!"
"You have no idea how true that word is when it comes to me, My Lady," he said when he lowered the hood and she gasped. His eyes were not the soft brown lizard-like eyes like Rumple's eyes. Instead, Merlin's eyes were red and snake like. The gold scales were thick and bumpy and his ears were sticking out from under his hair, ending at sharp, curved points. He showed her the long, curved fingernails and the razor sharp teeth as she backed away and he sighed, placing the hood up. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," she said with a shaky tone to her voice and knelt down next to Rumple while Merlin placed the wooden box down on the ground next to Rumple.
"There are eleven more vials of the elixir. You must have him drink all of them over the next few days or he will die."
"I don't believe you, but I have your word his heart will be fully healed and he will be able to live a normal life once he is finished taking the elixirs?"
"Yes, he will be as he was before," he said. He watched her kneeling down next to Rumple when Merlin sighed and Belle looked up at him. Waving his left hand, the wound closed and the jerkin was repaired and Belle gently stroked the top of Rumple's head. Moving closer, she placed her lips against Rumple's cold lips and Merlin nodded. She started kissing Rumple while Merlin waved his right hand and released Rumple from the preservation spell. She felt all her love moving through her and into Rumple as she deepened the kiss and silently begged him to come back to her. She felt his lips growing warmer when she felt his love, fears, doubts, regrets and pain moving toward her and her love enveloped them. She moved closer when she went to lie next to Rumple and placed her head on the center of his chest.
At first she didn't hear anything then a soft thump filled her ear followed by another until the thumping grew into a steady, but weak beat and she felt tears in her eyes. Rumple made a deep ragged sigh as the fingers of his right hand twitched and his breathing came in soft breaths.
"He's alive," she thought as Merlin waved his hand and watched Belle closing her eyes. Kneeling down, he placed his right hand on her head as he spoke the spell to alter her memories then he looked at Rumple.
"I know you will never forgive me, but I am sorry," he said then placed his hand on Rumple's head. He spoke the spell to change Rumple's memories and Rumple made a weak, jagged sigh. Standing up, Merlin flicked his right hand when a scroll appeared and he placed the scroll on top of the wooden box. Looking at them, Merlin smiled when the black smoke spread around them then over the kingdom while he cast the spell then the black smoke faded, leaving Belle and Rumple lying on the ground.
The Hawthrone Tree
The black smoke faded while Merlin walked to the wall, waved his right hand and a large hole opened in the wall. He placed the silver blade dagger inside the hole then waved his left hand the hole in the wall closed.
"Nimue?" he called out, but only heard the sound of the wind whispering through the glowing moss and frowned. He walked into the next chamber, but there was no sign of her and panic filled his chest. He searched their home, but she was gone. Suddenly he noticed the entrance was open and he slowly walked closer. Nimue knew how to open the entrance as he slowly walked outside and his eyes widened. Lying a few feet from the entrance was a female skeleton dressed in tattered clothing and he slowly walked closer. Kneeling down, he raised his face to the sky as an inhuman scream filled the air and the Hawthrone Tree exploded in a huge fireball.
After the fireball died down, Merlin walked to the remains of the tree when he knelt down and picked up the silver blade dagger. He was surprised to find the handle was not hot nor had the dagger been charred. He also found the iron cage with the lizard which had once been Rumple's father as he picked up the iron cage and looked at the ruined tree. Sighing, he placed the silver blade dagger in the scabbard then waved his hands and vanished in a puff of black smoke.
Avonlea
Belle woke to the sound of a weak heartbeat when she opened her eyes and sat up. She could just see Rumple lying next to her when she reached out and touched his hair.
"Father!" she called out as Maurice ran outside and headed for them.
"Is that...?" he asked, looking at Rumple.
"Yes, it's Rumple," she said and placed her hand on Rumple's chest. "He's barely breathing."
"I will fetch someone to bring him inside," Maurice said as he ran off and Belle looked at the wooden box and the scroll. She picked up the scroll and the wooden box while Maurice returned with two guards and one of the guards carefully lifted Rumple off the ground. They headed inside the castle as one of the guards closed the door and the black clouds moved away from the full moon.
Rumple's room
The door opened while the guard carried Rumple in the room and Maurice and Belle followed closer behind him. Mrs. Potts stood near the bed as the guard walked to the bed and slid Rumple down onto the mattress.
"Oh, poor dear, he looks terrible," Mrs. Potts said while stroking the top of Rumple's head.
"Help me get him undressed," Belle said while she placed the wooden box and the scroll on the night table and Mrs. Potts nodded. Belle removed his boots as she placed the black leather boots on the floor and wondered where he had been and what had happened to him.
A few minutes later they had Rumple undressed then placed in a white flannel nightshirt while Mrs. Potts covered him with the bedding and tucked the bedding under his arms. Chip had come into the room after he was told of Rumple's return and Mrs. Potts had sent him to fetch the healer. He returned with a tall woman with flowing hair of black curls and deep blue eyes. Her face and body were flawless and a gold chain with a moonstone embedded in the amulet at the end of the gold chain was around her neck. She was wearing a white linen gown with a pouch tied to the leather belt around her waist and tan sandals.
"This is Nimue, Milaird," Chip said and she made a small bow to Maurice after walking to him.
"How may I serve you?" she asked.
"This man is ill," Maurice said and Nimue nodded. She walked to the bed when she sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at Rumple. He was barely breathing as she placed her fingers against his neck and could just feel the weak pulse. She finished her examination when she buttoned the top of the white linen nightshirt then looked at him.
"Has he been injured recently?" she asked, looking at Maurice.
"I wouldn't know. The last time we saw of him was ten years ago."
"What is wrong with him?" Belle asked.
"There are signs of a wound to his chest, but what concerns me is his heart. It is very weak," Nimue said and Belle gasped.
"Can you heal him?" Maurice asked while Belle carefully climbed on the bed, sat next to Rumple and stroked his hair. Nimue saw the love in Belle's eyes as she sadly smiled then looked at the wooden box sitting on the night table and blinked, picking up the scroll.
"Where did you get these?" she asked as she looked at Belle after reading the scroll and Belle frowned.
"They were with him when I found him," Belle said.
"What is in that box?" Maurice asked and Nimue opened the lid of the wooden box.
"It is the Elixir of the Wounded Heart. It is very powerful. It heals hearts that are wounded either physically or emotionally," she said then saw the empty vial. She gently touched Rumple's lips then sniffed her fingers and smelt the sweet odor of the elixir.
"How long will it take for it to work?" Maurice asked.
"He will need to drink of the elixir over the next few weeks for it to fully work."
"And his heart will be alright?" Belle asked.
"Yes," Nimue said, closing the lid of the wooden box. Opening the pouch tied to her belt, she reached in and brought out the chipped china teacup. Placing the chipped china teacup near the wooden box, Nimue looked at Maurice and smiled when she saw the worry in his eyes. "There is no need to fear. It's just a cup. Use it to give him the elixir."
"But it's chipped," Mrs. Potts said, picking the chipped china teacup.
"It's barely noticeable," Belle said as Mrs. Potts handed her the chipped china teacup and smiled,
"I also suggest someone be with him at all times," Nimue said, looking at them.
"Alright," Belle said, taking Rumple's hand and wrapped their fingers together. Nimue smiled at the look Belle was giving Rumple as she sighed and headed for the door.
"I shall take my leave then," she said as she made a small bow then left the room. Walking down the hallway, Nimue's appearance changed into Merlin while he walked faster and vanished in a puff of black smoke.
The Dark Castle
The black smoke faded while Merlin walked to the windows when he waved his hands and the curtains slammed shut, the gold tassels at the end of the gold cord tying the curtains back swinging back and forth. He looked at the items decorating the grand dining hall when he sighed and walked to the spinning wheel. He moved his hand over the wheel when he sat down on the seat and placed his hands on his knees. Closing his eyes, he opened his mind when visions of Belle and Rumple filled his mind and he saw how happy they were. He saw them being playful or arguing and saw how Belle took care of Rumple after he had been wounded. Merlin smiled while watching her giving Rumple a bath and Rumple gave her a stern look.
"Don't even think it, Dearie," he said then giggled and she softly laughed.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said as she looked back at him with a blank look on her face and he wiggled his right index finger back and forth, placing his leg back under the water.
"I do not like it when someone tickles my feet," he said as she got up and moved the wooden stool to the other side of the tub.
"I wasn't going to," she said and he gave her a doubting look.
The sound of someone pounding on the front door caught Merlin's attention when he opened his eyes and frowned. Getting up, Merlin walked out of the room while the pounding grew louder and he headed down the main hallway. He opened the door when he looked at the Seer and folded his arms across his chest.
The Seer's long, matted blonde hair hung limply around her head and her long face was creased with wrinkles. She still wore filthy, tattered clothing, and she held up her left hand as the blue eye blinked.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"I bring news of the Spinner," she said and he gave her a puzzled look.
"Are you speaking of Rumplestiltskin?"
"Yes, it appears he has perished," she said then gasped when he waved his right hand and her throat closed while she slowly rose into the air.
"You lie!"
"No, it is the truth!"
"No, he was given the Elixir of the Wounded Heart! First by Belle then I gave him a second dose!"
"It was too late," she gagged as he waved his right hand and she gasped, rubbing her throat after being lowered down onto her feet. Raising her right hand, she watched him pacing as he thought then he stopped and glared at her.
"No, it should have worked!" he growled then started pacing again. "It must have been her! It must have been Belle! She lied! She never loved him! Well, she…"
"She has perished as well," the Seer said and he glared at her.
"What do you mean?" he asked as he moved closer, grabbed hold of her shoulders and snorted. "Mind your words or I will destroy you."
"She killed herself shortly after he died," she said and Merlin let her go. He felt his heart turn into stone as he walked back inside and the door slammed shut. He walked back to the dining hall when he sat down on the high back chair and looked at the spinning wheel. Waving his right hand, he watched the spinning wheel explode as the fiery wood lie scattered across the floor and he placed his head in his hands. The small voice giggling in his head drowned out the doubts as he sobbed then leaned his head back and screamed.
The Seer could barely hear the screams when she turned and felt like someone was standing behind her. The figure was female and was wearing a long white gown tied with a gold belt around her waist and tan sandals and the hood covered her head and most of her face. Raising her left hand, the Seer smiled when she held her right hand out and wiggled her fingers.
"My payment, My Lady," she said as Nimue walked closer and placed the sack of silver coins in her hand. The Seer smiled as she walked away while Nimue stood looking at the castle and the screaming grew louder.
She didn't care if he was suffering. She had warned him what would happen if anything more happened with Rumple. Using the magical mirror he had given her to see the outside world, she had watched in horror the final battle with Mab and what he did afterwards. She had opened the entrance to the Hawthrone Tree and used the magic he had taught her to cast a spell to make it look like she was dead. Nimue admitted she was scared as she walked away from the Hawthrone Tree, but her anger drove her onward and she was surprised when the Seer agreed to take her to the Dark Castle.
"He sounds miserable," a female voice said as Nimue nodded then looked to see Mab standing next to her.
"I guess he forgot he placed those charms, runes and spells on the Hawthrone Tree to prevent magic from being used against me," she said and Mab smiled.
"Well, seeing that you are the only one who remembers me, what do you want me to do?" Mab asked.
"I want you to leave my grandson alone. That includes Belle, her family, her kingdom and any children he has with her. If you don't, I will cast a spell and you will finally be destroyed."
"Oh, there is no need to worry. I have no desire to harm or use of the Spinner or those associated with him," Mab said with a small bow then vanished in a puff of black smoke. Sighing, Nimue turned as she walked away and the dark clouds overhead burst in a deluge of water.