Princess Rumpelstiltskin | ONC 2024

Chapter Four

The secret passageways are significantly more dusty, dark, and twisted than Rosa described.

By the time Rumpelstiltskin decides they've had enough of blind wandering, they find themselves half-climbing half-falling out of a hatch a foot above the ground into a dark corridor. Not bothering to dust themselves off, they set off in a blind march down the corridor toward the sound of distant alarmed voices.

Oh well, even with less than helpful directions I still made it to the east wing. They mentally congratulate themselves.

"Your Highness!" A loud male voice calls from behind Rumpelstiltskin and they turn to see a knight at the other end of the corridor. His startled exclamation is followed by more voices coming from the direction Rumpelstiltskin was originally heading towards.

"It's the princess!" "She's here!" "The princess is safe!?" Hurried shouts and exclamations greet Rumpelstiltskin.

Several knights all march into view. Rumpelstiltskin fights the urge to run as they thunder towards them, eyeing the scabbards hiding iron blades warily.

The knights stop an arm's distance away and drop to their knees. Each knight bears the emblem of an iris flower on their chest plate.

"Where did you go?" "Your Highness, are you alright?" "Princess?" Questions are fired at Rumpelstiltskin from all sides. Their mind reels at the assault of vocal concern.

"Give her space." A voice commands and all the knights rocket to their feet and back off, forming two lines on either side of the corridor.

A knight with slightly more impressive armour marches through the parted assemblage, a purple plume sways on their helmet and golden crest shines on their pauldron. This must be the Knight Captain Rosa had mentioned to avoid.

"Alert the King. We have found her." The order is thrown at one of the knights and they nod before taking off at a sprint.

"Princess Rosa." The knight kneels at Rumpelstiltskin's feet, voice stern. "You've given us quite the scare."

Narrowed eyes meet Rumpelstiltskin's own, the brown irises appear black in the shadow of the helmet. It is apparent he is waiting for an answer of some kind.

Speak like a princess. Speak like a princess. Rumpelstiltskin tries to recall Rosa's demeanour when she first entered the spinning room. They straighten their back, forcing out their best customer service face. "I was only out for a walk. I...apologise...Captain, if I scared, you."

Captain Kaynan's Nope Konan's Nope Kieran's eyes narrow even more, but they make no move to accost Rumpelstiltskin for being an imposter. They stand, holding out their elbow. "Allow me to escort you to your room, Your Highness."

Rumpelstiltskin stares at the proffered arm, mind racing.

They have seen this before, noble lords and ladies walking arm in arm in moonlit gardens or touring around a ballroom, but always from a distance in their capacity as sorcerer and trickster. They rake through their memories, settling on one of a young noble couple Rumpelstiltskin had made a deal with three years ago. They slowly raise a hand copying their memory, flexing their fingers up towards the ceiling before resting their hand on the captain's forearm, taking a hold of some of the sleeve material. "Thank you, Sir Kieran."

Captain Kieran's other hand comes up, clamping over Rumpelstiltskin's hand like a vice. "Very well. If you will allow me."

Rumpelstiltskin allows the Knight to lead them past the assembled knightage, through the corridors, and up a wide spiral staircase until they stop in front of a pair of heavy oaken embossed gilded doors.