The Author

Merlin's story part 1/5

Three days ago at the Dark Castle...

"Henry! Don't!" shouted Rumplestiltskin in a groggy voice, but it was too late. Henry had already placed the Sorcerer's hat on his head. Rumple could tell that when Henry opened his eyes that it was no longer his grandson. Arthur looked down at Rumple and smiled mischievously. Arthur waved at his head and the hat suddenly became invisible.

"Come along... grandpa," Arthur joked. "We need to get going. Collect what you need and let's go."

As Arthur slipped the pen and paper back into his coat jacket pocket, Rumple looked around the room that once belonged to him. He suddenly felt disoriented and tried to focus on the task at hand. They were heading back to Storybrooke. Rumple, however, was going back for a different reason; to be back with his family. A family he had left because of his decision to wear the hat. Part of him knew that he would be back to see them again one day, but he didn't realize how much of his life would be sacrificed to time to get to this point. He had spent a lot of time being a slave under the Author's hat, and it was a price that wasn't worth what he had bargained for.

Rumple struggled getting up from off the ground and used the table beside him to hoist himself up. He moved as quickly as he could towards the giant wall and waved his hands over it. Almost instantly a hidden compartment revealed itself before him. He placed his hands over the knob and upon recognizing the hand, the blood magic melted away granting him access to the materials within. He knew exactly what he needed; the Dark One dagger.

As soon as he held the blade in his hands he turned to face Arthur. Arthur looked up at him impatiently and said, "We don't have all day old man."

"Says the man who can manipulate time," murmured Rumple sarcastically under his breath as he tucked away the blade inside his rope belt. "I find it amazing that, even in this circumstance, the prophecy about you still holds true. You will somehow always be my undoing."

"Henry is no longer your primary concern," directed Arthur. "Your top priority now is to make sure your past self gets this hat."

"I understand what I must do."

"Good. Then let's go," said Arthur as he pulled out Cogsworth. "Cogsworth, take us back to Storybrooke."

At the last possible second, Arthur placed a hand on Rumple's shoulder and they disappeared from the castle. When they reappeared they found themselves at the edge of town. As soon as they arrived Arthur immediately let go of his touch. The dawn was breaking and they were alone. They could hear birds in the distance caw as the morning fog rolled in. Arthur broke the serenity by barking orders, "You must not interact with yourself. In fact, you shouldn't interact with anybody. You don't exist in Storybrooke. If you interact with anybody, you risk destroying everyone, including your family in the space time loop."

"You need to be just as careful," warned Rumplestiltskin. "Emma Swan in particular. You may be the Author, but she is still the savior. She isn't a construct of your story, so her actions may not be as predictable as you think. As the savior she will do as her character must to protect and defend everyone in this town."

"Don't you worry about Emma. I can handle her. You leave her to me."

"Likewise... when my family comes back to Storybrooke you leave them to me."

"You will have them when the time is right," Arthur said authoritatively to Rumplestiltskin, neither confirming nor denying his wishes. Arthur chuckled to himself as he marveled, "It appears that you need me as much as I need you."

"So it would seem, but I warn you," said Rumplestiltskin as he pointed a threatening finger looking dead into Arthur's cold eyes, "you harm my daughter and..."