The Rose and the Dagger

Chapter 1: Desperate Souls

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a poor peasant who lived with his only son. He was despised by the whole village. It was said he was a coward. Years ago, he had fled the Ogres War by deliberately injuring his leg. Ever since he had had to lean on a stick to walk. Thus, in addition to being called a coward, some would name him lame duck, and use the most scatterbrain names they could find. But his real name was Rumpelstiltskin. One day, while he was trying to spin wool in his modest home, he heard movement outside. It was the king's army that came to recruit young souls for the Ogres War. His son Baelfire would turn twelve the next day, and it was at that age that the young men had to leave for the war. Rumplestiltskin felt his stomach knot as he realized what it was about. He did not want, by no means, his son to leave and fight, he did not want to lose him. He was the most precious thing he had in the entire world. Once the king's men had left, he went back into the house, and began to collect things in a bag. Then Baelfire came back:

-Dad what are you doing? he said, looking at his father.

-We must leave Bae. We must leave as quickly as possible and far away from here.

-But why, where do you want to go? he asked in a worried tone.

-They'll come back tomorrow to get you and the other children to take you on the battlefield. I don't want you to go Bae. We must go.

-But Dad, leaving will not change anything. They'll find us.

-Not if we leave now.

-Dad, you can't always run away from the danger.

He put his hand on the bag that his father was trying to fill. The latter paused, and looked into his son's eyes.

-Baelfire, you do not understand, if you go on the battlefield, you will die.

Tears began to well up in his eyes. "And I do not want to lose you! I do not want to lose my boy!" He put his hand on his son's shoulder. "I beg you Bae, we must leave." Baelfire knew that his father was right, but he wanted to be brave. He wanted to fight, he wanted to win, he did not want to be called a coward. But even if his father's attitude saddened him, he knew he was doing it to protect him. Understanding all the love his father felt toward him, he hugged him, and Rumplestiltskin did the same.

***

The woman closed the book she was reading with a sceptical look. She put it on the bedside table that was next to her. A nurse came into her room. She was a young woman with short brown hair. She smiled as she entered before asking:

-So how do you feel today?

-Better, thank you, the young woman replied.

-I'm going to take your blood pressure. Memory still hasn't returned?

-No, still nothing. I don't even remember my name, she said with a desperate tone.

The nurse put the device around her arm. The pressure made the young woman slightly shudder.

-I'm sure you'll recover your memory, you just need some time. Has anyone come to visit you?

-No, no one.

The young woman in the white coat sits on the edge of the bed, trying to comfort her patient.

"My name is Mary-Margaret. If you need anything, call me I'll be there. Okay?

-Thank you so much.

The nurse smiled. She saw the book on the nightstand. "Is it your book?" She asked.

-Apparently yes, I was told it was with me when I was found.

-Have you tried to browse it? Maybe it would remind you of some things.