The Frog Prince // Mr. Gold

002. RUMPLE

ONCE UPON A TIME...

"I wish...I wish to be free of this castle..."

A sense of shame rapidly forms in the middle of my chest. Placing my forehead against the side of my intertwined hands, I think of what is to be and what might happen in my near future. Marriage to a man I know nothing about. Living in this kingdom with a mask of grief. Wishes aren't real. At least not for me. This was a foolish idea.

Just as I open my eyes, a small croak catches my attention. Beside me, a frog sat on the balcony ledge. His large eyes appear to be looking back at me as I scoff at the irony.

"Haha," I muttered, placing my chin into the middle of my palm. "Very funny."

For the first time, I wish for something good to happen but instead, I am given a frog.

"Am I supposed to kiss you and all my wishes will come true?"

"Why, yes. That's exactly what is supposed to happen." The frog spoke in a cheery tone. The frog of all things is talking. With a loud yelp, my body snaps away from the creature in fear and my eyes begin to grow ten times their size. My heart pounds and the bravery I once held towards this thing shatters to my feet. And while I question my sanity, a black mist grows around the frog.

Once the mist settles, a man now sat on the balcony where the talking frog once lounged. His large eyes are sunken in and those features upon his long face are pronounced. Wisps of messy waves sat on top of his head, parted in the middle to allow those dilated amber eyes to glisten back at me. I can see that his skin reflects like gold at night. Giving this stranger the appearance of scales upon his flesh. Frail he seems as one leg lazily sway back and forth on the edge of the balcony. The other is bent slightly closer to his chest.

And as I try to gather what is truly happening before me, the once frog smiles at me. Revealing yellowish teeth.

"I've been looking all over for you, dearie. You're quite hard to find," spoke the stranger.

"Are you a demon?" I whisper with slight fear, backing away as he stands to balance on the balcony's railing. He chuckles and it is the most childish high-pitched laugh I've ever encountered.

"Now why would I be a demon if I am here to give you what you wished for?" He smirked.

"Demons also give out wishes, just in a brutal way."

"Never that," the stranger raised his right index finger to wiggle it in front of him. "Compare to me, demons are exceptionally unintelligent."

"Then," I start, watching the stranger jump to the ground with a small bounce to his large feet. "You're my fairy godmother?"

He is quick to see my now slumped shoulders and the disappointed expression. His brows furrow with perplexity never seeing such a reaction like this before.

"What?" He blinked, patting the front of his chest as if to be searching for something I might find disheartening.

My head snaps back upward, opening and closing my mouth for only a moment. I take care to pick at my inner thoughts. My hands pull together in front of me.

"Fairy Godmothers usually don't look as you do," I explain.

Shocked, the stranger's mouth gawks open and one hand press against his chest most dramatically. "Well, isn't that offensive. If I would have known you were so vain I think I would have overlooked your wish."

"Wait," I burst out, moving closer to him with my hands before me. "I never said there was anything wrong with you." Without thinking, I take his hands into mine. His hands a cold, and rough but I ignore the sensation, examining the dull glint in his eyes. Flashing him with a generous smile, my lips push to continue. "I know more than anyone, that beauty can be as skin deep. The real beauty is a person's soul and the fact that you came to me to help means yours is one far more beautiful compared to others."

The stranger is taken aback by my words. I know it to be true. He might appear to be - different in the eyes of others; But I can see something surrounding his form. A bright light is there with a sprinkle of hope but unfortunately, that light had been dimmed by something from his past. Horrible things I'm sure, but who he used to be hadn't disappeared completely.

And after all that examination—I should have known better.

With his brows still furrowed, the stranger recoils his hands away from my grasp. As if my touch may be poisonous. I take no offense to his action but I do find it curious. Who I believe to my Fairy Godmother adjusts his composer, tugging at the bottom of his leather vest with a shy clear of the throat. He then stretches out his lengthy arms beside him and bows deeply;

"Might I introduce myself? My name is Rumpelstiltskin."

Taking the sides of my skirts, I giggle and courtesy in return, "My name is Tiana -"

"Oh, I know. As I've stated, I've been searching for you for a very long time."

My head tilts as I remember what he had said. "Why have you been looking for me?"

Rumpelstiltskin hums underneath his tongue as his index finger tapped the edge of his chin. He began to slowly stride to my left as I stood back straight.  The sound of heeled boots clack against the stone flooring. I'm unable to move once I realize Rumpelstiltskin ceased his pacing right behind me. The sense of his cold finger connects with the nape of my neck, gliding down to the introduction of my shoulders.

I'm unable to move now as his warm breath presses against my neck seconds after his hand slips away. Did he not know anything about personal space? This one action causes me to feel conflicted by his help.

"That's for you to find out eventually," Rumpelstiltskin whispers into my ear. His lips nearly touch the beginning of my lobe.

This is a strange encounter and as much as I want to move, I can't. Electricity vibrates through my bones due to his intimacy. The way his voice changed as if we are lovers and not strangers. My hand flies up to the back of my neck and my heart flutters against my chest once he steps back in front of me.

Rumpelstiltskin's expression is just as intimidating as his tone.

Why is my body reacting this way? I'm not afraid or angry. I'm pleased with this. This beast isn't charming, but my insides scream attraction. I'll never admit that, however.

"Anyway," Rumpelstiltskin chirps, throwing his look of longing away to continue our original conversation. "I'm here to give you that wish. Well, more so a deal."

"A deal?" My palm slowly drops away from the back of my neck as I think of what could be a deal-breaker. Money? Jewels? Perhaps even a spot in my family's privy council? "Fairy Godmothers make deals?"

"I do," Rumpelstiltskin raised his arm above his head as if he were victorious in a great war.

"Okay. What would you like? My families Treasury is pretty full - I can give you as much as your pockets can fit -"

"No, no." My Fairy Godmother wiggles his finger just as he did before. His brows raised towards his hairline and his lips twitched into a smile of mischief. "I don't want your money, I want your glove."

My hand resting against my chest, stretch out in front of me. I examine the silk glove for only a second. What an odd item to want. With supervision, I take the glove from my left hand with one swift motion. It declines from around my skin before I hesitantly place the fabric into the middle of his begging palm. With a chuckle, Rumpelstiltskin takes the glove, giving it a quick look before hiding it into the inside of his vest pocket.

"Are you sure this is what you want, dearie? Magic always comes with a price."

I think of the idea of being free. My eyes look over to the inside of my large chamber. I take in the four-poster bed and beautifully crafted paintings of my family and our legacy. Magic comes with a price, however, I am ready to pay that price to escape what I dread the most; Marrying a man I do not love and living a life of lies. Licking my lips, I sit my gaze back onto Rumpelstiltskin and nod my head once.

"Alright. Your wish is my command. Let's hope this new life treats you well."