Disparity - a Rumpelstiltskin story (Fairy Tales Retold)

by Sonya Writes

  She nodded. “Thank you for considering me,” she said. “Can you tell me more about your health? What is wrong?”

  “It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he said. “I just start having issues every night and I like to be alone when it happens. In fact, I hope you won’t mind, but even after the wedding I would prefer if we sleep in different rooms.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief. “That won’t bother me at all,” she said.

  “I’m glad,” he said. “I wouldn’t want you to feel rejected by it.”

  “Not at all,” she said. “I think I would like privacy at night as well. Especially while we’re still getting to know each other.” This will make fulfilling my promise to Rumpelstiltskin far easier too.

  He chuckled. “It takes years to fully get to know someone,” he said. “Hopefully after a couple of years have passed, we’ll still be able to get along with each other.”

  “Still?” she said. “Are we getting along now?”

  “It’s been a pleasant breakfast so far by my standards,” he said. “I very much enjoy your company, Alina, and I hope that one day you’ll forgive me for the way in which this has all come about.”

  She took a deep breath. “So,” she said. “You wanted to discuss wedding plans.”

  He smiled. “Aren’t you going to ask me how my night was, first?”

  Alina stifled a laugh. “I think we’ve covered that well enough for now.”

  “You have a beautiful smile,” he said. “I’d like to see it more often.”

  She forced a smile for him.

  “Your real smile,” he said. “I want to see your real smile.”

  “That takes time,” she said.

  He sighed. “Anyway, about the wedding. Your father was rather excited last night. He seemed to hope we would wed this week, but I thought you might prefer a longer engagement.”

  “I’d like at least a month to get used to the idea,” she said.

  “A month it is, then,” he said. “And, the tower. Do you still wish to sleep up there? I do have a room prepared that I think you might prefer.”

  She thought about it. “I’d like to see the other room,” she said. “But I actually enjoy my time in the tower. It is a peaceful location for me. I’d like it very much if I could go there whenever I want, particularly at night.”

  “Consider it yours then,” he said. “The north tower belongs to you. You may go there whenever you wish, and no one will bother you or any belongings you wish to store there.”

  She smiled, thinking of Rumpelstiltskin. His presence never ‘bothered’ her, but she suspected it would fall within King Cameron’s intended definition of bothering.

  “That smile again,” he said. “It’s beautiful. I’ll give you all the towers in the palace if it will keep a smile on your face.”

  “Oh, no,” she said. “I was only daydreaming about something. But thank you. The north tower pleases me and I appreciate your willingness to let me continue using it in the future.”

  “Of course,” he said. “I would not deny you such a reasonable request.”

  She nodded her thanks and then closed her eyes. She took a few deep breaths. She wanted to like the king, particularly now that it was certain they would be wed, but she was having a difficult time trusting him after all that he’d put her through.

  He placed his hand on hers and the warmth spread through her body. She looked up and into his eyes.

  “Alina,” he said. “I do hope you can forgive me for any wrongs I’ve done.”

  She nodded.

  “My parents had a good marriage. I would like ours to be good as well, and I realize we haven’t quite started off on the right foot for that.”

  Alina bit her lip and hoped she wouldn’t have to say anything. She felt completely tongue-tied around His Majesty.

  He squeezed her hand. “If you’ll give me a chance, I’ll show you that marriage to me won’t be as terrible as you seem to fear it will be.”

  Alina looked at their hands. His touch felt good. It didn’t make sense. How could his hand feel so right on hers when she could barely open her mouth to speak to him?

  They finished their breakfast and Quinn showed Alina where her new bedroom would be. It was only a short walk down the hall from the door to the tower. She was glad. It would be easy to visit with Rumpelstiltskin at night, and she was sure that if she was to go through with this marriage, she would need him there as a friend.

  ~

  The next month passed slowly, but quickly. Alina continued to visit with Rumpelstiltskin almost every night, and she confided in him about all her fears and concerns. He was a good friend. She still felt uneasy around Cameron, however. They spent time together at various intervals throughout the day. He treated her well and gave her nothing to complain about, but she struggled to let him into her heart. It wasn’t easy talking with him. The broken trust that had been there from the beginning was a huge barrier to her willingness to be open.

  At last the day of their wedding came. Alina was extremely nervous, but it was difficult not to be swept up in everyone else’s happiness. There were smiles all around; she couldn’t help but smile back.

  Throughout the day she looked for Rumpelstiltskin. He’d told her many times that he wouldn’t be there for the wedding, but still she hoped. She’d invited him on a daily basis since the decision was made; she wanted him here, needed him here. He’d become the best friend she had. But he was nowhere in sight.

  After the ceremony, everyone crowded into the banquet hall for dinner. The king and his new queen sat at the end of the room where they could see everyone and everyone could see them. Cameron noticed the sad look in Alina’s eyes as she scanned the crowd. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I’m just looking for a friend of mine,” she said. “I really hoped he would come, even though he already told me he wouldn’t. Is that silly?”

  Cameron squeezed her hand. “No, it’s not silly. And I’m sure that your friend had good reason for not being able to make it.”

  She managed to smile. She saw that her father was smiling where he sat, and she thought she’d never seen him happier. For years he’d told her she would one day be Prince Cameron’s wife, back before his parents died and before she’d ever met him. She always thought he was jesting when he said it. Then when Cameron became king, she just knew it wouldn’t happen, but her father wouldn’t let up about it. It was his dream for her. She sighed. If only it had been her dream for herself. Then this day could truly be remarkable.

  ~

  Cameron spent their wedding night with Alina, but the following night he went to bed early in his own room, leaving Alina alone in the room she’d been given. She lay in bed for a while, and then she decided to go up to the tower to see if Rumpelstiltskin was there. She realized then that she didn’t know how else to find him if she needed him.

  Rumpelstiltskin indeed was in the tower waiting for her. He smiled when she walked through the door, and she gave him a loose hug.

  “I so hoped to see you at the wedding,” she said.

  He smiled. “I was there,” he told her. “I used the sapphire to appear differently from how I am now, as you see me.”

  She frowned. “But why? I wish I’d known. I would have said hello to you.”

  “But you did say hello,” he said. “You just didn’t know it was me you were talking to.”

  “Still,” she said. “You should have told me. I felt so alone at the wedding. I needed the comfort of a friend.”

  He gave a puzzled look. “Half the kingdom was there,” he said. “And by the way, congratulations, my queen.”

  Alina sighed.

  “So,” he asked. “How do you like being married?”

  “We’ve only been married for a day and a half,” she said.

  “I know.”

  “I guess it’s okay,” she said. “It’s just weird, though. I feel a physical connection to His Majesty. I noticed it the first time he held my han
d. Now that we’re married, the physical connection is still there and stronger than it was before. But I still struggle to connect with him emotionally. I have a hard time talking with him.”

  “Perhaps it will come with time.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Is he trying to converse with you and connect with you?”

  “Oh yes,” she said. “All the time. And I feel terrible about it. I just can’t seem to get over the distance that’s been between us because of the way we met.”

  “What you’re saying is: you still don’t trust him.”

  “Not completely. I have been trying, you know. I’m trying to open up to him, but my mind gets blocked. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I think I understand.”

  “You do?”

  “My trust has been broken a time or two,” he told her. “I’ve been hurt by those who should have loved me. My own mother, there was a time where even she didn’t want to look at me anymore because of my ugliness. Then during the days that she wanted to spend time with me, it was difficult to accept her affection.”

  “I’m so sorry, Rumpelstiltskin,” she said. “You seem to be such a sweet and kind man; I hate that you had to go through that.”

  He smiled. “I think you’re the first person aside from Cameron who has been willing to sit and talk with me when I look like this. Sure, I’ve used the sapphire now and then to not look like this, but I haven’t had a friend stick by me the way you do while I’m in this wretched form.”

  “Do not call yourself wretched,” she said. “You have a beautiful heart, and that’s what matters.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”

  “It’s true,” she said. “Right now, you’re the best friend I have.”

  “It warms my heart to hear you say that, Alina.”

  She smirked. “It leaves me with a measure of guilt,” she told him. “I’d always hoped my husband would be my best friend.”

  “One day he will be,” Rumpelstiltskin assured her. “I am sure of it.”

  Alina laughed. “How is it that you are so sure of everything?”

  “If you’ve noticed, I’m only sure of things in which Cameron is involved.”

  “The two of you must be good friends,” she said. “It still surprises me however that you live in such solitude.”

  “It’s for the best,” he told her. “I prefer it this way.”

  Alina yawned. “I suppose it’s time I went to bed for the night.”

  He nodded. “Sleep well,” he said.

  She stood and went toward the door. “Good night Rumpelstiltskin.”

  He smiled. “Oh, and Alina?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Thank you for caring about me.”

  She smiled. “And you, too,” she said “Thank you for caring about me.”

  He nodded to her. “Good night, Alina.”

  Alina returned to her room and went to sleep. For the following months, she met with Rumpelstiltskin on all the nights that Cameron went to bed early, and Rumpelstiltskin never seemed to be offended about her absence on the nights she spent with Cameron.

  ~

  Rumpelstiltskin?

  It came to pass that within a year of their wedding day, Alina bore a son. They called him Rowan, and once she’d recovered from the birth, she started taking him to the north tower each night after Cameron had gone to bed. Over time she filled the room with storybooks and toys, and little Rowan associated the tower with playtime and fun.

  Rumpelstiltskin got along extremely well with the child from the time they first met. He held Rowan as a baby and read to him every chance he got. There were still one or two days of the week when Alina spent the night with Cameron and was not able to bring Rowan up to the tower, but on all the other nights, Rumpelstiltskin was there.

  As Rowan grew larger and began to speak in short sentences, Alina became concerned about Rowan possibly mentioning Rumpelstiltskin to his father.

  “Cameron still doesn’t know that we’ve met,” she said. “You need to be the one to have him introduce us. It’s not like I can ask about you. Theoretically I shouldn’t know you exist.”

  “I know,” Rumpelstiltskin said.

  “And, in all seriousness, I think this is part of why I still have trouble connecting with him. Our friendship is a rather large secret to be keeping from my husband. It doesn’t feel right.”

  Rumpelstiltskin sighed. He wondered if he should tell her the truth, but then he reminded himself that if she knew about the curse there was a zero percent chance of her breaking it. As it was, she might possibly call him Cameron on accident one night, and then he’d be free of this body.

  “It will be a while yet before Rowan can say my name, I’d imagine,” Rumpelstiltskin said. “You probably don’t need to worry about it for now.”

  Alina sighed. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “The secret…it’s not right. I know you’ve assured me that Cameron will understand, but truly, none of this is right. It must be rectified. You have to tell Cameron either that we’ve met, or that you wish to meet me, so that at least our friendship can be out in the open and not in secrecy.”

  He sighed. “You’re right,” he said. “You’re absolutely right.”

  ~

  The next day after dinner, Cameron looked over at Alina and smiled. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” he said.

  She raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  He nodded. “A dear friend of mine,” Cameron said. “I should have introduced you to each other a long time ago, but it didn’t seem important until recently. His name is Rumpelstiltskin.”

  Alina smiled. “Rumpelstiltskin?” she asked. “Such a unique name.”

  “And he is a unique character,” Cameron said. “I’ve asked him if he would meet you in the north tower tonight before you go to bed. I realize that you spend quite a bit of time up there anyhow, so I thought it should be a comfortable location for the both of you.”

  His words confused her. “Will you not be joining us?” she asked.

  “I’m afraid not,” he said. “I’ll be going to bed early tonight as usual. You understand.”

  Alina nodded and tried to hide her frown.

  “But you can bring Rowan with you. I’m sure Rumpelstiltskin would love to meet our son.”

  She kept her eyes down and nodded. The situation still felt overly deceptive to her. She wasn’t comfortable with it at all anymore. In the beginning she justified it by her need for a friend, but now, it had gone on too long. She needed to tell Rumpelstiltskin that enough was enough, and they needed to tell Cameron the truth, together.

  After dinner, Cameron walked Alina and Rowan to the base of the stairs. He kissed her softly on the lips and smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow, my love,” he said. “Then you can tell me all about your meeting with Rumpelstiltskin, my good friend.”

  Alina tugged on his arm. “Please come with me,” she said.

  “I can’t,” he told her. “Not tonight. Perhaps another night I will.” He sighed. “I’ll warn you, however. Rumpelstiltskin is, well, he doesn’t look like most people. I hope you won’t be offended by his appearance.”

  “No,” she said. “Of course not. It wouldn’t matter what he looked like. If he is a friend of yours then he is a friend of mine.”

  Cameron smiled. “He is a good man. He should be up there to meet you in about twenty minutes. Perhaps you can read to Rowan while you wait.”

  Alina nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I’ll do that.”

  Rowan was already excited about going up to the tower that night, and he too wanted his father to come.

  “Come see!” Rowan said “Come see!” He tugged on his father’s hand.

  Cameron knelt and hugged Rowan. “I know,” he said. “You love it up there, don’t you? Your mother has prepared a wonderful play room for you. Perhaps I will come up tomorrow during the daytime and you can show me all of your
favorite things.”

  “No, daddy,” Rowan said. “Come now. Come see friend. Come now daddy!”

  Cameron tousled his hair. “Not tonight, son,” he said. He kissed Rowan’s forehead. “Good night, Rowan.”

  Rowan hugged him. “Good night, daddy,” he said.

  Alina gave half a smile. “I suppose we’ll see you tomorrow, then,” she said.

  “Yes,” he told her. He hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Have a wonderful evening,” he said. “Good night.”

  “Good night.” She watched as Cameron walked away toward his bedroom. Rowan was already halfway up the stairs to the tower. Alina sighed and followed her son.

  Rowan ran around the room and looked through the tiny corridor. Alina pulled him back into the room and closed the little door. “No,” she said. “You’re not allowed to go in there.” She picked up a book and sat in the chair. “I can read to you while we wait. Rumpelstiltskin will be here soon.”

  “I like him,” Rowan said. He sat down in her lap and she began to read. Rowan kept glancing toward the tiny door. He yawned.

  “Getting sleepy, little one?” Alina asked. She set down the book and rocked him in her arms. Some nights were like this and he would be too tired to play by the time Rumpelstiltskin arrived.

  “I want daddy,” Rowan said.

  Alina sighed and looked toward the tall, open door. “I know,” she said. “I know.”

  She turned her head at the sound of the other door opening, the one Rumpelstiltskin used. Rowan’s eyes opened too and he looked over at Rumpelstiltskin.

  Rumpelstiltskin smiled. “Hello Rowan,” he said.

  Rowan suddenly wasn’t so sleepy anymore. “Read books! Read books!” he said.

  Rumpelstiltskin laughed and picked up one of the books. “All right,” he said. “Come sit in my lap and I’ll read to you.”

  Alina gave him a look and said, “We need to talk.”

  “I’ll read for a few minutes first. You can put him to sleep and come back up here if you want to talk with me alone,” he said.