Of Monsters and Men

Chapter 2

    I wave at Emma as I walk backward toward my Castle, after she drops me off.
    She waves at me, and drives away.
    I slowly back toward the play set, watching her, waiting until she's out of sight. Once I see her turn off the street, I turn around and bank to my right, toward the woods. I scan the edge of the woods for the path I've walked down many times, and once I find it I step into the underbrush.
    The woods are calm, and vibrant, at this time of day. The smell of the nearby water drifts through the forest as I trek down the path, following the waters edge.
    It doesn't take me very long to find the small clearing, hearing the babbling brook leading to the small inlet.
    I smile a little as I see the statue. "Hi!" I say to it, "sorry I'm late today, Emma insisted on driving me here instead of letting me walk,"
    As expected, the statue doesn't answer.
    I set my bag down and take my coat off as well, the day growing warm enough for me not to want to wear it, setting it on the rock next to the rock the statue is sitting on.
    The stone statue of a man in a long coat, tall boots, draped trousers, a tunic that's open almost halfway down his chest, and a wide brimmed hat that kind of droops a little at the sides, a few feathers sticking out of the hat. He has a small amount of facial hair, a handlebar mustache and goatee, and what seems to be scars criss crossing his face. He has a small smile on his face, a kind, but tired, look in his eyes as he stares off into the distance, across the water. He is sitting with one leg extended, the other on a smaller rock, leaning forward with one elbow on that knee. He also has two empty scabbards hanging from his belt.
    I open my bag and grab the spray bottle, stack of rags, and shoe-shining brush I had borrowed from Marco. "I brought some stuff to clean you up!" I say, setting the stuff down, and starting to pick the moss off of the brim of his hat. "I wonder how long you've been sitting out here..." I mutter, "...must have been a long time, with all the stuff growing on you," I drop the moss on the ground at my feet, and pick up the spray bottle and brush.
    It almost feels like the statue has looked up at me, watching me clean his hat. I might also have imagined his smile widening a little.
    I spray the stuff in the bottle on some parts of his hat, and start to scrub at it with the brush. I crinkle my nose at the strong smell. "I had to use vinegar and water, because I didn't want any chemicals getting into the forest," I say, "we learned about pollution in science class, and I'm not taking any part of that," I sprayed more of the vinegar mixture, still not enjoying the smell. "Ugh..." I mutter, "...I just wish it smelled better..."
    After a little while, I have most of his upper body scrubbed free of dirt, lichen and bird poop.
    I sigh, wiping my forehead on my arm. "Well...that's a bit better," I say, looking at my spray bottle, "but I'm almost out of vinegar. I'll have to get more and come back another day,"
    Again, the statue doesn't answer, but he seems appreciative.
    I put the cleaning stuff away, and sit down on the rock where my coat is, sitting on top of my coat. I grab my story book out of my bag, and open it on my lap. "Let's see if we can find you today..." I say, turning some pages, "...maybe if I know who you are, it'll help with...I don't know, finding who knows how or why you're stone?" I look up at the statue.
    He looks somewhat saddened now, looking out over the horizon.
    I sigh a little, and turn a page, seeing a story about Gold before he was the Dark One. "Huh..." I mutter, "I don't see many of these...Gold doesn't show up in the book very often...especially like this..." I start to read the story, looking at the illustrations. I turn the page, and gasp a little, seeing an illustration from the perspective of someone on the ground, seeing a shadowed figure behind a bandit. I look at the statue next to me.
    It's hard to tell with the illustration in the book, but they look very similar.
    "What...?" I mutter, and then look back at the book, continuing to read. I frown a little, reading about him attacking the bandits, then helping Gold to his feet. I gasp when he introduces himself. "Woah..." I say, looking at the clearer illustration, then looking at the statue again.
    He again seems to smile a little, but a sad smile, like he's glad I finally figured it out.
    I quickly close the book, and put it in my bag, grabbing my coat and bag. "I'll be right back," I say to the statue, "I...I just...I need to go talk with Gold, okay?"
    Water seems to be dripping from the statue's eyes again.
    "It's crying again..." I mutter, amazed, "just wait here, okay? I'll be right back!" I then turn and tear back down the path, though the woods, and out to the street, running to Gold's shop.
---
    I'm arranging some things in a glass case in my shop, when the front door slams open, making me jump. I sigh, angrily, looking up. The anger subsides when I see that it's Henry, breathing heavily, and he looks like he ran here. "Henry?" I ask, "what...what's wrong?"
    "I found him!" He says, excitedly, out of breath, placing his book down on my counter.
    "Who?" I ask, walking over to where he placed the book, "What? Henry, what are you talking about?"
    "Sebastian!" He says, excitedly, glancing up at me, turning pages in the book, "Look, see?" He points to a page, turning the book to face me.
    I look at the illustration, and wince a little, seeing the illustrations of my old friend, seeing the night that we had first met. "You found his story, yes," I say, "but you said you found him?" I look up at him.
    He nods. "Uh-huh! I can take you to him!" He says, "Come on!"
    I sigh. "Henry, I can't just close my shop-" I start.
    He grabs my wrist. "I think he needs our help, Mr. Gold!" He says, desperately, "Please!"
    I sigh softly, being reminded of Baelfire when he was young. I nod a little. "Fine," I say, "just...let me close up," I say. I quickly lock up the cases, covering them as well.
    As I go to the back room, Henry kind of stands up straighter. "Grab the swords!" He says.
    I look at him, and nod a little. I lock my back door, grab the swords, wrapped in fabric now, and turn off the light of the back room. I lock the cash register, and exit from behind the counter. I flip the sign on the front door, and open the door for Henry.
    He exits the shop, and I follow him, locking the door behind me. "I'll drive us to where we need to go," I say.
    He nods. "The park with the castle," he says as I open the passenger side door of my car for him, "the one by the beach?"
    I pause, getting into the driver's side. "Henry...there's no statue there," I say.
    "I know," he says, buckling his seatbelt, "he's not at the park, but...near it,"
    I sigh, looking at him, not yet starting the car. "Why me?" I ask, "why not go to Emma or Regina about this?"
    He sighs and looks away, hanging his head a little. "I tried," he says, "neither of them will beleive me, and both have told me stop going to the statue. But...I heard the way you had talked about him, and thought...'maybe he'll help me'," he looks at me, hopefully.
    I grit my teeth a little. "Do either of your mothers know you are here?" I ask.
    He shakes his head a little. "Emma dropped me off at the park earlier today," he says, "and I waited until her car was out of sight to go to him,"
    I sigh, starting the car. "They're both going to be cross with the both of us, I hope you know," I say.
    "I kinda figured," he says, chuckling a little.
    I chuckle as well, shaking my head. I drive to the park, wondering how he ran all the way to my shop, and park on the street. "There..." I say, "...lead the way from here, Henry,"
    He nods, and gets out of the car.
    I follow him after grabbing the swords from the back of my car. I furrow my eyebrows as he veers to the right, toward the woods. "Henry..." I mutter.
    "He's this way!" He says, "Come on!"
    I sigh, and follow him into the woods.
---
    It's almost sundown by the time we reach the clearing.
    "Sorry for taking so long!" He says, but I don't think he's talking to me, "I had to convince him to come..." He looks over his shoulder at me, giving a smile.
    I furrow my eyebrows, and look up, at a statue on a rock in the center of the clearing.
    My heart leaps into my throat.
    The likeness of Sebastian sits on the rock, staring out across the bay, but it's an effigy of stone. The upper half of the statue looks like it's been cleaned recently, but not the lower half.
    I take a deep, shaking breath.
    "It is him!" Henry says, "I knew it!"
    "Henry..." I mutter, walking toward the statue. I gasp a little, the likeness of the statue so accurate.
    It's so life-like, I'm half expecting him to blink, and look up at me, smiling his charming smile as he did when I knew him in the Enchanted Forest.
    I bend down a little, setting the swords on the ground, and gently place my hands on either side of his face.
    The stone is smooth, and feels slightly warm, but possibly because it had been sitting out in the sun.
    "What has happened to you, my dear...?" I mutter, tears rising in my eyes. I gently caress his cheek, when I notice water welling up and dripping from the statue's eyes. I furrow my eyebrows. "What...?" I mutter. I wipe the water as it trickles down his cheek, and sniff it. After no result, I quickly put some on my lip. "Salt water?" I mutter.
    "Henry!" Someone calls from nearby, somewhere in the woods.
    Henry turns. "It's Emma!" He says, sounding both relieved and scared.
    Emma, David, Snow, and Regina enter the clearing, and Henry takes a step closer to me.
    "Henry!" Emma says, relieved.
    Henry runs up to her. "I told you!" He says, "I told you, the statue is special!" He tugs on his mother's arm.
    "What do you mean, 'special', Henry?" Snow asks him.
    "What is he doing here?" David asks, looking at me.
    "Henry, did you go to him about this?" Regina asks, offended. She then pauses, looking at the statue. "Is that who I think it is?" She asks, taking a step closer.
    I stand up, wiping my own tears, and turn toward them. "It is," I say, bitterly, "it seems the curse had turned him to stone, and he's now stuck here,"
    They all look at me, unsure or angry looks on all of their faces.
    "W-who is that?" Emma asks.
    "Sebastian..." David says, angrily, "...he was a pawn of the Dark One's, killed a lot of my father's men,"
    I scoff. "Is that what you were told?" I ask, "well, your father seems to have left out the fact that he attacked us first. And, Sebastian was never a pawn of mine. He...he was a friend," I look down at the statue, and see the tears are spilling down his cheeks.
    "Where is that water coming from?" Snow asks, stepping closer. "Oh my...is he crying?" She kneels next to the statue. "Do...do you think he knows?" She asks, looking up at me, "That he's a statue?"
    I sigh. "I hope not," I say, "but...it seems like he does..."
    "How do we make him better?" Henry asks.
    I sigh. "I-I'm...not sure, Henry," I say.
    Emma pauses, looking at the statue, then looks at me. "Gold," she says, "The swords. His scabbards are empty," She points toward the statue.
    I look toward the statue, and see what she means. I nod. "Luckily, your son convinced me to bring them with..." I mutter, grabbing the swords from the ground.
    "It seems like someone cleaned him recently," Snow mutters. She had gently grabbed his hand, almost like she thought holding it would comfort him somewhat.
    "That was me," Henry says, "he's my friend. I come here, read to him, hoping I'd find him in my book and figure out who he is. I thought...maybe...if I knew who he was...I could figure out what happened to him," he looks at Emma, then at Regina.
    I look at Henry, and sigh softly. I smile a little. "I'm sure he appreciates it, Henry..." I say.
    Regina sighs, rolling her eyes. "Henry..." she says, "...I told you, I didn't want you coming here!"
    "When has that ever stopped him before?" Emma mutters.
    I chuckle a little, and look at the swords in my hands. I take a deep breath.
    "Let me hold one of them," David says, walking up to me.
    I nod, handing him one of the rapiers.
    He looks amazed. "This is a well crafted sword..." he mutters, "...not something I'd expect someone like him to have..."
    I grit my teeth, just nodding a little as I approach Sebastian. Holding the blade with a cloth in one hand, handle with the other, I carefully put the sword in the stone scabbard.
    The sound of metal scraping stone makes me cringe a little.
    I hold out my hand, taking the other sword from David. I round the statue, and put the second sword where it belongs.
    There's an expectant silence.
    "What now?" Snow asks.
    "Is there anything else missing?" David asks, inspecting the statue. "Gold, you knew him well," he says, "anything missing from the statue?"
    I pause, examining him in the waning sunlight. I pause, seeing that his rings are missing. "Hold on..." I mutter, "...that's odd...his rings..." I reach up to my coat pocket, and take out the small bag.
    Snow watches me, tilting her head a little. She looks down at the hand she's holding. She gasps a little. "They go on this hand, don't they?" She asks.
    I nod. I take out the rings, and very gently place them on the fingers they belong to.
    The rings fit into small grooves in the statue.
    I smile a little, tears rising to my eyes again, but I try to keep them from falling. My eyes skate across the stone surface, and I realize he doesn't have his compass either. I grit my teeth a little, and I remove my wrist watch, which is, in fact, his compass.
    Regina has now approached us, and tilts her head. "That watch was his?" She asks.
    "It's a compass, Majesty," I say, securing it to the statue's wrist, "he had given it to me when we had seen each other last, in the cells..." I glance at Snow, who looks away from me. I clear my throat a little. "He said it'd help me find him, wherever we ended up," I mutter, "and...I suppose, in a way, it did,"
    Snow looks at me, a little confused, but nods a little. She looks at him. "Anything else missing?" She asks.
    I nod. "His necklaces," I say, gesturing to my own neck. I then pause. "I...I have those as well," I say, "in a box, in my shop," I stand up straight, "I will be right back,"
    "Give me the key to your shop," Emma offers, extending a hand, "I'll get them for you. You...you should stay here with him,"
    I look at her, narrowing my eyes a little.
    "If he's aware of what's going on, don't you think he's scared?" She asks, holding her hand out, "Don't you think being here will make this go better for him?"
    I sigh softly, taking out my shop keys. I then turn to Henry. "Henry," I say, holding the key out to him, "go with Emma. The box is in my back room, on the shelf above my desk. It's a wooden box, stained red, with an image of a raven carved into the top, understand?"
    He nods, grabbing the key. "Back room, shelf above desk, red box, raven on top," he says, nodding.
    I nod. I look at Emma.
    She looks confused, but nods a little. "Come on, Henry," she says, grabbing his shoulder, and they start down the path again.
    Regina watches them, then looks at me. "You'd never give your key to anyone," she says, astonished, "he must be extremely important to you,"
    I nod, watching Emma and Henry disappear into the trees. "You have no idea..." I mutter.
---
    I watch the bandits sit around the fire at their camp.
    There are four of them, and a boy in a tan tunic and pants tied to a tree, a gag in his mouth. He is straining against his bonds a little.
    Rumplestiltskin gasps. "Bae..." he whimpers.
    I glance at him. "So, plan is this:" I say, hiding behind my tree again, "I distract the bandits, you get Baelfire, I defeat the bandits, you and him get back to your cart, we all go to market. Sounds good?"
    He looks at me, a look of terror in his eyes. The light from the fire reflects in them, showing the tears welling up. "You w-want me..." he asks, shakily, pointing to himself, gripping his walking stick, "...t-to go out there?" He points to the camp. He chuckles in disbelief, shaking his head. "You're mad, you are..." he mutters.
    "Do you want to get your son back or not?" I ask, "Rumplestiltskin, mon ami, do not worry. I'll be doing all of the dangerous things, all you have to do is cut the ropes tying your son to the tree, and get him out of the camp before the bandits can notice!" I smile wide at him, nodding.
    He looks at me, not looking much more confident.
    I nod a little more, making him chuckle ever so slightly, though it may be nervously.
    He gives a soft, half-hearted, smile, and nods a little.
    I nod again and slowly back away, going from one tree to the next, closing in on the bandits.
    "This guy just...came out of nowhere!" One of the bandits says, "all we heard at first was a...whistling, in the woods, then...then he killed everyone,"
    "One man?" Another asks, laughing a little, "one man killed everyone except you?"
    I smile softly, and walk up behind the man, quietly. "Only because he ran away before I could get to him..." I say, and swiftly snap the man's neck.
    The other bandits leap to their feet, drawing weapons.
    I smile wide. "Bonjour, gentlemen," I say, "How shall we solve this, huh?"
    The one who was speaking about me looks terrified, but the others dash at me with echoing battle cries.
    I dodge the blades of the daggers and swords, and after a few minutes of dancing, I see that the young man is no longer tied to the tree. I smile, and continue to dodge the attacks. I grab one of the bandit's wrists, twisting it to the point that he screams, and stab him with his own dagger.
    He groans, and falls to the ground.
    In an attempt to scare the others, I lick the bandit's blood from my hand, not breaking eye contact with them.
    The others back away, stunned, and make a run for it.
    As soon as they're out of sight, I spit the blood out, and wipe my tongue on my tunic. "Bleh..." I mutter, "...don't want another episode..."
    "Sebastian!" Rumplestiltskin calls out, walking up to me with his son, "I...I got him...Baelfire is safe..."
    I smile, and turn to them. "Good!" I say, "I'm glad. Let's get you back to your cart, oui?"
    Baelfire is staring at me, unsure. He looks at his father.
    "Bae..." Rumplestiltskin says, "...this is Sebastian. He's a friend,"
    Baelfire nods a little, looking at me.
    I smile softly at the young man.
---
    I sit next to Sebastian's statue, my hand resting on his knee. I gently caress the rough surface of the stone with my thumb.
    Snow looks at me, and tilts her head slightly. "Won't be too much longer," she says, "they'll be back soon,"
    "How do we know this will even work?" Regina says, arms crossed, pacing a little, "And, on top of that, why would we bring him back?"
    I look up at her. "I don't expect you to understand, Regina," I say, "but I've been searching for him for almost thirty years. I'll try anything to get him back,"
    Regina stares at me, about to speak, when we hear someone approaching through the trees.
    "We're back!" Henry calls out, "We've got the box!" He walks up to me, and hands me the wooden box.
    I smile a little, accepting the box. "Thank you, Henry," I say, "thank you so much..." I open it, and look at the necklaces inside.
    Golden chain with a shard of bone that looks like a crescent moon.
    Gold chain with a pendant that looks like the sun.
    Pewter chain that looks like bones.
    Gold chain with a brass key.
    I take a deep breath, taking out the key necklace first. I stand up, setting the box to the side, and unclasping the necklace. I wrap it around his neck, securing it. I grab the next necklace, and put it on him as well. As I put the necklaces on him, I'm repeating one wish in my head.
Please work. Please wake up. Please come back to me.
    I place the final necklace on, and step back.
    Nothing happens.
    The woods are silent.
    I sigh, despair gripping my chest, clawing at my rib cage like an animal.
    "It...it didn't work?" Henry asks, "m-maybe he's missing something else! Gold-"
    "No, Henry, that's enough," Regina says, sternly, grabbing him and pulling him away, "it's better this way, anyway,"
    I take a deep, shaking breath, tears streaming down my cheeks. I raise a hand to my forehead, wipe my eyes, but can't help but sob softly. "I was so sure...that it'd work..." I mutter, face still partially covered with my hand.
    "I'm sorry, Gold..." Emma says to me, kindly.
    I nod a little, but I kneel in front of Sebastian. I look at him, and gently place my hands on either side of his face. "Please..." I mutter, gently resting my forehead on his. I close my eyes, feeling the cold, rough stone of the statue. "...please, Seb..." I mutter, "...come back to me...I'm so alone here..."
    My tears plop onto the stone statue.
    There's a silence, and I feel the warmth of the sunrise start to crawl up my back.
    I feel a soft breeze, almost an audible sound, and then hear a soft gasp. I open my eyes, and meet the crimson eyes of the man I've been searching for.
    He looks confused, but relieved. "Mon amour..." he mutters, and raises his hands to hold my wrists. His voice is hoarse, like he needs a drink of water. His hands are cold, but comforting.
    I sigh, laughing in relief. "Sebastian," I say, "you're alright!"
    "Thanks to you," he says, also laughing, "you and Henry,"
    I hug him, and he hugs back, burying his face in my neck, taking a deep breath.
    "How I've missed you..." he mutters in French.
    "If I knew where you were, I swear I would have come looking for you so much sooner," I say, "I swear, I would not have left you on your own like this, had I known,"
    He rests his forehead on mine again, and shushes me. "I understand, mon amour..." he says, softly, gently wiping the tears from my eyes, "...I had no idea where I was either, to be frank," he laughs a little.
    I laugh as well. I stand up and help him to his feet.
    He groans softly, and rubs his knees. He looks around and sees Henry, and smiles wide. "Mon Ami!" He laughs, "I would like to thank you, so very much,"
    Henry smiles, laughing a little. "You didn't say he was French!" He laughs a little, looking at me.
    I chuckle. "Slipped my mind, I suppose," I mutter, looking at Sebastian. My eyes skate up and down his body, a few times, taking in every detail, as if I think this will be the last time I see him.
    He looks at me, and smiles softly. He gently grabs my arm, and leans close to me. "What do I keep saying, mon amour?" He purrs in my ear, "Savor...I'm not going anywhere...not if I can help it..."
    I take a shuddering breath, then clear my throat. "Noted..." I mutter, then raise my voice a little. "You must be famished, having sat there for...almost thirty years now," I say, "shall we get you something to eat?"
    Sebastian smiles softly, and nods. "Merci beaucoup..." he says, "Where shall we go?"
    "Granny's?" Henry suggests, "It has great breakfast food,"
    Sebastian tilts his head a little. "I...I am not sure what you mean, Henry, but...I trust your judgment," he says, nodding.
    I smile a little, and we all follow Henry out of the woods.