"What If..." Fairytale Madness Blogfest: Rumplestiltskin

It's time!  The "What If..." Fairytale Madness Blogfest is here!  To participate, we had to write a 300 word scene(s) that illustrated a new detail of a fairytale to change the perspective of the reader.


The four categories for this blog fest are (listed with their respective judges:

Team Tragedy: Leigh Covington

Team Comedy: Mark Koopmans

Team Plot Twist: Cassie Mae

Team Love Story:  Morgan Shamy

Late Saturday night, hyped up on a Starbucks Latte and a significant amount of Diet Coke, I got down to work.  I picked Rumplestiltskin, because I've always felt sorry for the poor guy, and landed squarely in Team Love Story.  I hope you enjoy the story!  I sure had fun writing it!

Rumplestiltskin

The miller’s daughter, now Queen and mother, searched the darkness for his return.  Her entire pregnancy was a calendar for their reunion.  Each month the child grew brought him that much closer to her.

“Rumplestiltskin.”  She tested the name, the memory.

Her father had brought her to the castle, innocent and young.  When all hope had fled, and she cried in fear of her impending death, Rumple had come to her--wiped her tears and held her close.  While he spun hay into gold, he told her of the King’s greed, and offered to take her away.  Stupidly, she trusted the King to free her, and refused.

Rumple returned the next night.  To take her mind off her troubles, he’d shared tales of faraway lands.  She remembered how his brown eyes danced and the curve of his smile.  Before he left they shared a kiss so tender the Queen’s heart ached.

The third night she waited for him, eager yet burdened with sorrow.  The King planned to marry her if she produced more gold, and threatened to kill her and her father if she didn’t.  She couldn’t leave the King now, but she was determined that love would have first claim upon her body.

In the early morning hours of the bittersweet evening, the Queen’s tears poured onto Rumple’s bare chest as she explained her future.   He’d listened, somber, and then made a request.  He wanted any child that might result from their union.   The King would have her, but he would have their love.

Sobbing, she'd agreed.

Tonight, he came to claim their daughter.  She watched for him, her heart pounding with anticipation.

The shadows beside the castle walls stirred. 

“Rumplestiltskin.”  She ran to him, their child in her arms,  never to return to her golden prison.

*****

Thank you Leigh, Mark, Cassie and Morgan for coming up with and hosting such a fun and creative blogfest!