The Coward's Daughter [An OUAT Fanfic]

Papa's Deal

{Centuries Before The Curse}

"You want me to marry the Prince of Nottingham?" Y/N asked, her mouth agape.

The Dark One still had the crown outstretched in his hand, offering it as if it was a chest of jewels to barter with.

"No! No! No!" Rumplestiltskin said, waving his free hand with each word. "You won't be married to him for more than a few hours. All you need to do is trick him into marrying you, get through the ceremony, then those long droning toasts and finally once the nights over, you go into the king's chamber, grab the spellbook, summon me and I'll bring you right back here."

Y/N stared at him, wondering if the madness had finally fully taken hold.

"Papa," She said slowly. "There is no way that this plan will work. No man wants to marry the daughter of the Dark One."

"Oh but it won't be you he proposes to darling! You'll adopt a new identity, this kind of crown is worn by every princess in the Southern Kingdoms. Simply wear this and they'll believe you have royal blood without question."

The elegant crown shimmered, the gold had been wrought to look like leaves, an imitation of nature created by a goldsmith, fitting to adorn the goddess Demeter herself. Y/N looked at her father and began to speak, trying to talk him out of this.

"Papa, the Nottingham Palace is highly fortified, they won't let just anyone in." 

Her father sighed dramatically.
"After all I've done. You still doubt my methods. I've seen the future darling, a future where you hand me the spell book, a golden wedding band on your finger. So, should you play your cards right it is indeed possible unless-" He stepped forward and stroked her hair. "You'd prefer to remain in my care. If a task like this is too daunting, perhaps you're not ready to be on your own."

Y/N suddenly realized what this was, little more than a carrot dangling from an impossibly high stick, if she said no, she'd be stuck under her father's watchful eye forever but if she said yes, it was likely she'd get caught by the Nottingham guards and have to flee back to him.

"It's not to daunting I just... want to know what I'm walking into. Tell me more about him." She pointed to Prince Florian's portrait.

"Ah, the ever dashing Prince Florian. He's not the one you have to worry about impressing really." Rumplestiltskin walked around the portrait, running his fingers across the swirls of paint. "His father died shortly after his birth and he's lived a sheltered life with his mother presiding as regent. He may be strong, but from what I've seen he's naive, innocent, harmless as a flea really."

"And who do I have to impress?"

"Nothing gets past you does it?" He chuckled, "The prince's mother is a woman of cold ruthlessness, she won't allow just any girl to marry her son and usurp her as queen. You'll have to dazzle her."

"And how do I do that?"

"Thought y'said you could be independent? Sure are asking for a lot of help." Y/N's jaw clamped shut, he was right. "And there is one tiny caveat to this mission that makes it different from your others."

"What is it?"

"You'll be entirely on your own. If you summon me in a time of need rest assured- I'll come running! But once I do, you'll be right back here. Where I can protect you, if you can't handle the Nottingham court, then you can't handle the threats of the outside world my dear."  He put his hand on her shoulder and once again held out the tiara. "So, what'll it be?"