Chapter Seventeen
The sound of the spinning wheel relaxed him while Rumple moved the wheel with his left hand while the thread spun between his fingers and he pushed the pedal with his left foot. The other spinning wheel squeaked as well while Chip moved the wheel and the sound of scissors snipping came from the work table. Rumple had designed several gowns and suits for the engagement ball, but Belle's gown was his top priority. He knew how he wanted her to look and had found the perfect fabrics in a nearby market.
"Are you sure you want to travel so far?" Belle had asked while wrapping a soft scarf made of tan flannel around his neck and placed the hood of his tan deerskin cape up. He knew she was concerned when it came to him traveling, but Chip and Jefferson had gone with him. He had admitted his leg hurt from walking, but he did have fun searching the stalls.
"How does this look?" Jefferson asked while walking closer with a leather cap in his hands and Rumple stopped the wheel. He took the leather cap in his hands as he checked the design and stitching and hummed.
"Well done" Rumple said, smiling as he handed the leather cap back to him. Nodding, Jefferson headed back to the worktable while the door opened and Belle walked in the room. Jefferson and Chip stood up and bowed as she smiled and Rumple carefully stood up. He limped to her when he took her hand and she saw the light dancing in his chocolate brown eyes. "How may we serve you, Lady Belle?"
"Father wishes to speak with you," she said, letting go of his hand. Rumple saw the looks on Jefferson and Chip's faces as he glared at them and they made soft coughs as they looked away.
"Thank you. Tell your father I will be there shortly," he said. Nodding, she left the room while he turned and looked at Chip and Jefferson. "I want your work done before sundown."
"Yes, Rumple," Chip said and Jefferson nodded. They waited for him to leave before softly laughing and went back to work.
Maurice's den
The doors opened while the guard led Belle and Rumple in the room and Maurice stood in front of the large stone fireplace. He watched the fire when the guard made a small cough and Maurice turned, looking at them.
"Lady Belle and Master Gold," the guard said and Rumple glanced at him with a disappointed look on his face. He did not like being called "Master" and Maurice nodded. The guard left the room as he closed the door and Belle slid her hand in Rumple's hand.
"Please sit down," Maurice said while Belle and Rumple headed for the white wood couch with light blue cushions and sat down. Rumple placed the black wood cane on the floor as Maurice walked closer and held the scroll in his hands.
"Is there something wrong, Father?" Belle asked.
"Well, I am not sure," Maurice said, looking at the scroll. "I have made a list of those who agreed to come to the ball, but I don't know if I should have invited Zelena Mills."
"If I remember correctly," Rumple said as he leaned back against the cushion and strummed his fingers on the arm of the couch. "She was Lady Cora's daughter."
"Yes, she is," Belle said and he saw the angry look in her eyes. "It turns out she was the one who told Gaston we were dancing."
Merlin had given them memories of Gaston being found dead in the dungeon and Rumple felt the anger he still felt for the man bubbling in his chest.
"And she's invited to the ball?" he asked with a sour look on his face.
"Seeing how she rules her mother's kingdom since Cora's death, I had to invite her," Maurice sighed.
"I remember her having a sister," Rumple said, sitting up. "Is she invited as well?"
"No one has seen Regina in years," Belle said. "Zelena banished her."
"I see," Rumple sighed and sat back against the cushion.
"Do you think Zelena will cause any trouble, Father?" Belle asked.
"I fear she might," Maurice said then looked at the scroll. "Zelena seems to cause trouble no matter where she goes."
"If she does, I will show her what it feels like to impaled on a cane," Rumple thought. Belle saw the angry look in his eyes as she patted his knee and he smiled.
"Are you, Chip and Jefferson nearly done with your work?" Maurice asked, changing the subject.
"Yes," Rumple said with a small nod.
"I wish you would let me see my gown," Belle said with a frown.
"All in good time, Dearie," he said and she glared at him. Maurice thought their banter was sweet as he thought back to the way he and Colette would banter back and forth and his heart hurt from her not being there.
"Now," Maurice said as he walked back to the table and picked up another scroll then walked back to them. "Let us discuss the menu."
The Dark Castle
Merlin sat at the table of the grand dining hall as he folded his lower arms on the top of the table and frowned. He wondered why he had been so busy over the last three months, but most of the calls were to help obtain things for some sort of celebration.
"What is going on?" he mumbled when the sound of someone knocking on the front door filled the air and he growled. Standing up quick enough to make the high back chair screech along the marble floor, he headed for the large doors as the large doors opened and he stormed down the main hallway. The knocking grew louder as he walked to the front doors and the front doors swung open. The Seer was standing at the top of the stairs as he looked at her and folded his arms across his chest.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"I have news," she said and he snorted.
"I nearly killed you the last time you brought news."
"This news I bring has to do with what has been going on."
"Go on, but make it quick," he said, glaring at her.
"The daughter of D'Leon is to be married," she said and his eyes widened.
"Are you speaking of Belle D'Leon?"
"Yes."
"How can this be possible?" he asked. "You told me she died after Rumplestiltskin perished."
"And you believed me."
"Of course I believed you. Why shouldn't I?!"
"I was lying. My mistress wanted you to suffer for what you have done to him," the Seer said then gasped when Merlin slammed his hand into her chest and grabbed her heart. She placed her hands on his shoulders as he squeezed until her heart crumbled into dust then moved his hand out of her chest. Her body fell to the ground while he walked back into the castle and the large doors slammed shut with a loud bang. The sound of material scrapping on the stone came closer when someone looked down at the Seer and smiled then looked at the large doors.
"I said I would leave the Spinner and those around him alone, but I didn't say anything about what I would do to you," Mab said then laughed and vanished in a puff of black smoke.
Avonlea
Maurice, Rumple and Belle were talking over the menu for the ball when the air turned ice cold and Belle moved closer to her fiancé.
"Father, what is going on?" Belle asked while a large cloud of black smoke appeared and Rumple's eyes widened.
"No, please no," he whispered and she saw the fear in his eyes. The large cloud of black smoke faded while Merlin glared at them and Maurice balled his hands into fists.
"Guards!" he shouted and four guards came into the room with their sword drawn.
"Do you really think they can stop me?" Merlin asked then made a high pitched giggle. Waving his hand, he watched as the guards stood stone still then he looked at Rumple. Seeing his grandson shaking in fear made a part of him feel sick as the small voice laughed and Merlin walked closer. "I see you are still living."
"Yes," Rumple said softly and lowered his head as Merlin glared at him.
"Yes what?" Merlin demanded.
"Yes….Master," Rumple said while Belle gasped and Maurice stormed toward him.
"So you are the creature who kept him prisoner these last ten years," Maurice growled and Merlin grinned.
"Oh, like you haven't done the same with her attacker, Dearie."
"How did you know that?"
"I know a lot of things."
"That was different! You tricked him!"
"Is that what he told you?" Merlin said as he looked at Rumple then tutted and shook his right index finger at him. "What a naughty puppy you are!"
"Please. Leave him alone," Belle said and he looked at her.
"Ah, you must be his Twue Luv!" Merlin said, flicking his hand up and rolled his eyes. "I don't see what he sees in you, Dearie. I wager you would find a new lover the moment he is away for more than a day!"
"How dare you, Demon!" Maurice said and Merlin tilted his head to one side.
"Be silent or I shall remove your tongue," Merlin said then looked at Rumple. "Are you ready to leave?"
"Yes, Master," Rumple said as he slowly stood up and picked up the black wood cane. Merlin walked closer while smiling and saw the tears rolling down Belle's cheeks.
"No," Belle said while walking closer and slid her arm around Rumple's lower right arm. "Please don't take him. If you need a servant, take me in his stead."
"Belle, what are you saying?" Maurice asked with wide eyes. She looked sadly at her father then at Rumple when she let go of him and walked to Merlin. Merlin looked at her and a cold wind blew through his dark soul.
"It's forever, Dearie," Merlin said, wagging his left index finger back and forth then giggled.
"I understand," she said with a nod of her head. Holding out his hand, Merlin watched her walk closer then took his hand and he wrapped their fingers together.
Suddenly something roared through Rumple's mind as he staggered forward and he glared at Merlin. He looked down at his right hand when a white light encircled his fingers and he raised his hand. The white light grew brighter while Merlin looked at him, but didn't have enough time to move as the white light came at him, sending him flying through the air. Merlin landed hard onto the marble floor while the air crashed out of his lungs and felt his body growing numb. He heard the clicking of wood on the marble floor while the ceiling flickered in and out of focus when Rumple's semi-blurry face appeared in his line of vision and Rumple growled.
"Well, it appears the coward has finally….," Merlin said then gasped after Rumple slammed the gold handle of the black wood cane into Merlin's stomach. Rumple raised the black wood cane when he slammed the gold handle into Merlin's chest and Merlin screamed. He raised his arms to protect his face and head as Rumple slammed the black wood cane down several times when Merlin vanished in a cloud of black smoke and the black wood cane clattered to the marble floor.
"Easy," Maurice said while Rumple staggered backward and Maurice caught him. They slid to the floor while the guards ran to them and Belle knelt next to Rumple. He felt sick and dizzy as he looked at the dark blood staining the marble floor then he looked at his right hand with wide eyes.
"I used magic," Rumple whispered. His eyes rolled back then closed while he went limp against Maurice and felt like he was falling into blackness.
"Rumple," Belle said as she lightly shook him and Maurice placed his hand against Rumple's chest. Rumple was breathing in short breathes and Maurice could just feel the quick beating of Rumple's heart.
"He lives," Maurice said as he looked at the guards and Belle gently stroked the top of Rumple's head. "Someone fetch the healer."
"Aye, Milaird," the guard said then the guards ran out of the room. Maurice carefully picked Rumple off the floor when Rumple made a small moan and Belle hushed him. Belle placed Rumple's head against her father's shoulder as they left the room and the fire crackled in the large stone fireplace.
The Dark Castle
The large puff of black smoke appeared in front of the large front doors then faded while Merlin collapsed onto the ground and wheezed in gasps of air. He never knew his grandson could harm him in such a way as his mind replayed the viciousness of the attack and the hatred in Rumple's eyes and a low moan came from Merlin's lips. The soft sound of material moving over the stone came closer when he rolled onto his back and saw a blurry female face looking down at him.
"Who are you?" he whispered. A soft laugh which sounded like ice tinkling in the wind filled his ears when whoever it was knelt down next to him and he felt cold fingers moving through his hair.
"I am a friend," Mab said with a smile.
"Help me."
"Oh, I will once you agree to do me a favor."
"What sort of favor?"
"I will heal you if you agree to serve me."
"No," Merlin said then moaned.
"Your injuries are grave. Are you sure?"
"I serve no one!"
"Ah, but you already do. The Dark Gods only want what is theirs."
"Then I will serve them not you."
"There you are wrong. I only work for them when I see fit. If you join me, we can be the true Dark Ones," Mab said when she looked up and her eyes widened. "No!"
"I warned you," another female voice said with a growl in her voice.
"But I did as you asked! I kept away from the Spinner and those who love him!"
"Yes, but Merlin is mine to destroy!" she said and Mab screamed as she faded from memory. Merlin groaned as he pulled himself up to his feet and moved side to side. He could barely see the female figure standing in front of him in golden light and he wrapped his arms around his stomach. "Stay back!"
"Who are you?" he asked then saw the flash of sunlight on silver metal and something growled inside him. He felt the tug of the silver blade dagger as he stumbled closer and held his right hand out. "Give me that."
"No," Nimue said as she held the silver blade dagger tightly in her left hand. She had been told she would kill Merlin, but she had some crueler fate in store for her husband and blinked the tears from her eyes. "I command thee, Dark One, to stand still."
Merlin growled as he stood still and Nimue moved closer until they stood toe to toe. Merlin's vision cleared as he felt his dark heart clutching in his chest and his eyes widened.
"Nimue?" he asked and she sighed. "How can this be? You're dead."
"I am living. I assure you."
"Then how….?"
"You should never have taught me magic."
"I did so you would have something to do while I was gone."
"Yes and now I have the power to destroy you."
"Please. For all the love…."
"How dare you mention love after everything you have done?! You never loved anyone! If there was one ounce of love inside you, you would never have used our children…our grandchildren…"
"I never used them! They wanted to help me!"
"Rumplestiltskin didn't! All he wanted was to be happy! Instead you treated him like he was some sort of pawn!"
"I still don't know how he still had magic. I removed his magic."
"Yes, you did. So I gave him some of mine," she said then held the handle of the silver blade dagger tightly in her left hand. "Dark One, I command you return to the dark pit in which you came and never return!"
Merlin heard a low growl as the black smoke covered him then he screamed as his body turned into a black liquid and sank into the ground. The castle started shaking while the castle crumbed into itself and sank into the large hole which had open up beneath it. Nimue floated in the air while watching the dust cloud move around her then vanished in a golden light and the dust cloud slowly faded. A few minutes later Nimue appeared at the edge of a large lake as she looked at the still waters then at the silver blade dagger and sighed.
"Sister, hear me," she shouted and the still water clouded over and rippled. "I ask ye to hide this dagger in your depths so no man or magic welder can ever find it!"
With great effort, she threw the silver blade dagger over the water while a woman's hand rose from the water and caught the handle of the silver blade dagger. She watched the hand slowly go back under the water then turned and vanished in the golden light.
Avonlea – Rumple's room
The cool breeze moved small ripples over the lace curtains while Rumple slept and the fire crackled in the large stone fireplace. Belle sat on the chair near the bed while she read one of her favorite books when her eyes closed and the book fell to the floor. The golden light filled the room then faded while Nimue walked to the bed and sat down, looking at Rumple. She placed her hand on his chest over his heart when she moved closer and heard the steady rhythm of his breathing.
"Hear me, My Golden Child," she said with the threat of tears falling from her eyes and she pressed her hand down so she could just feel his heart beating. "If there was a way to remove all the strife and pain you have suffered at the hands of your grandfather, I would gladly remove them so your life would be filled with happiness and joy. But that is beyond even my power. Your life had to flow and ebb has it had so what had come to pass occurred and you must admit there were more joys then sorrows and more happiness then sadness. You found a woman who loves you even when you were a monster. You finally have a home and friends and, soon, a wife who will bare you many children."
She watched him smiling as Rumple made a contented sigh and Nimue gently stroked his cheek.
"I promise you your grandfather will never bother you again. I have banished him to the darkness and removed the away to summon him. By doing so, I have angered the Dark Gods, but there is no need to worry. I know how to protect myself and they believe you to be dead," she said then placed two of her fingers against his forehead. A golden light flickered under her fingers as he frowned then moaned and she kissed his forehead. "I am sorry to have to hurt you, but I had to remove the magic I gave you. Now you are back to being the brave and wonderful spinner."
Standing up, she leaned over to kiss the top of his head then vanished in a golden light. Rumple made a small sigh while his eyes fluttered open and he looked up at the green canopy. He wondered why he was in bed while looking toward the window and saw the sky was dark.
"What?" he asked, softly. He admitted he felt tired and a bit ill when the memories of what happened filled his mind and rubbed his face with his hands. He looked to his right when he saw Belle sitting in the high back chair and was reading a book. "Belle?"
"Rumple," Belle said while she got up, placed the book on the cushion then half ran to the bed and he smiled at her. She sat down when she took his right hand and he saw the worry in her eyes.
"Uh, this might sound odd, but what am I doing in bed?" he asked and she brushed the hair out of his eyes. "The last thing I remember is fighting Merlin."
"Yes, you used magic to defeat him then you beat him with your cane before collapsing," she said and his eyes widened.
"But I don't know any magic."
"Well, seeing how long you were his servant, he might have taught you a defense spell," she said and he sighed, nodding his head. "It doesn't matter. What matters is Father is very worried."
"Will you tell him I am sorry for worrying him?"
"I will," she said and brushed the hair from his eyes. "Now, the healer told Father that you will be fine, but you need to rest for a few days."
"I can't. I have to finish your gown," he said then winced when she gave him a stern look and felt like a scolded child.
"My gown can wait," she said. Feeling sleep creeping into his mind, Rumple yawned then sighed and she moved the blankets up. "Now go back to sleep."
"As you wish, M'Lady," he said with a sleepy tone then closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep. She watched him sleep for a few minutes then got up, kissed the top of his head and left the room while the fire crackled softy in the large stone fireplace.