Adult-FanFiction.org : Books

What's in a name?	By : jinna1979 Category: Fairy Tales, Fables, Folklore, Legends, and Myth > Fairy Tales Views: 16599 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction,I do not own Rumpelstiltskin. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons,living or dead, is purely coincidental

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Millicent woke up late the next morning, and she bolted up in shock, realizing she had slept in. She was completely alone in her bed, and although she had not expected the mysterious man to stay, she was still somewhat disappointed at his absence. Her cheeks reddened as she recalled what had happened the night before, and she hoped that her actions would not be stamped upon her face when she saw her family. She dressed herself slowly and dreamily, distracted by her memories, and with a deep breath, she exited her bedroom.
Her mother was busy working in the kitchen, and raised an eyebrow when Millicent entered, but her mother only made an offhand comment about whether or not Millicent might be sick before returning to her work. Buttering a slice of freshly baked oat bread, Millicent ate her breakfast while lost in her thoughts. Later, as she sat at her spinning wheel, time seem to fly, for she was distracted by her fantasies. It mattered little that the rain had not yet subsided. Her heart was already brimming with enough excitement.

She wondered if he would visit her that night, but decided not to get her hopes up. Considering that after their first encounter, it took five days before she felt his presence again, perhaps she had frightened him off by being to forward. A frown marred her lovely face, as she anxiously wondered if she had been too wanton for him. Had she forced him into an awkward position? She wished she knew where he lived so that she could find him, but sadly, the rain prevented her from searching. She heard tales of people being able to cross into different worlds from faerie rings, but she could not recall having seen one since she was a child. Then again, she had never actively searched for faerie rings before.

Unfortunately, her thoughts proved to be too distracting, for a moment later, her mother was berating her for the lumpiness of her spinning, and she had to start anew. With an irritated sigh, Millicent focused as much as she could on the task at hand.

Rumpelstiltskin had barely been able to sleep that night, for all his thoughts were on Millicent. Knowing that he could not stay with her in her bed, as much as he longed to do so, he vanished into the night, returning to the comfort of the woods that marked the border of the land of the fey. He sat now, at the base of a tree, stringed instrument in hand, which he absently strummed. Composing music always soothed him, putting him in a calm, almost meditative state, as he listened to the melodies that flowed through his mind, to be translated on his instrument.

He knew that he could not go to her room again. At least, not until he spoke to her first. Millicent was simply so tempting, and so free with herself - it was clear however that she had no ideas about the rules that existed between the fey and humankind. If he were a mortal man, he would have been expected to woo, and then marry her. The idea was actually surprisingly appealing. As a faerie however, he would have to take her as a changling, and he gathered that she might want to at least have a say before he whisked her away from her family and friends and all she had ever known.

He looked upwards at the cloudy skies, sensing that it would be a few more days before the rain relented. Knowing Millicent, she would be out upon the hills as soon as the tiniest hint of the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. He smiled to himself as he imagined her, stopping every so often to gather a flower or leaf to place in her basket. Never had he wished sunshine more.

As Rumpelstiltskin predicted, the clouds began to part a few days later, and Millicent was delighted to see the sun finally showing it's face. She worked on her morning spinning with renewed vigour, but before she could grab her herb basket and dash out the door, her mother stopped her.

"We are to go to town today now that the rain has finally ceased," her mother announced. Millicent looked at her mother, bewildered. She was not usually expected to travel with her mother to town when the family stocked up on domestic staples and wares. Trying to come up with excuses, Millicent gave her every reason she could think of for why she could not accompany her mother, but her mother would hear none of it.

"We need to take you to the seamstress to get measured," her mother explained. "With the King coming in less than a fortnight, you need to look your best. It's what your father wishes." Millicent had completely forgotten about the King, and although she did not care a fig about how the King would perceive her, she did wish to please her father. Grudgingly she agreed to accompany her mother, and putting her herb basket back with a sigh of regret, she followed her mother to the wagon.

It was a tedious drive to the village, and Millicent could not help but mourn wasting the beautifully sunny day on a bumpy, dusty wagon ride. She sighed wistfully, watching the woodlands slowly disappear from the horizon as they neared the small town. Her mother harrumphed in irritation, having to endure her daughter's continuous sighs. Although she loved her beautiful child, she could not help but feel that her husband over-spoiled her. Still, the miller's wife had the same hope as her husband: that their daughter would eventually marry well, and perhaps become a fine lady of the court. It was an ambitious, high reaching hope, but then again, Millicent was an exceptionally beautiful girl.

They arrived without fuss into town, and the miller's wife took her daughter straight away to the seamstress to have her measured. Millicent fidgeted impatiently as the the seamstress measured seemingly every single part of her body, and unfortunately, her restless movements meant that she had to be measured yet again, just so the seamstress could be sure the measurements were correct.

When they were finally finished with measurements, the seamstress informed the two women that the fabrics, which had to be shipped from a larger town, had not yet arrived. Sadly for Millicent, that meant that the following day would involve yet another long, long drive into town just to take a look at the fabrics to ensure that they matched her skin and striking hair colour. It took all her will not to start pulling her hair and screaming like a banshee. The fates seemed so terribly cruel to her.

Meanwhile, Rumpelstiltskin found himself aimlessly wandering the woods, wondering where Millicent could be. Though the other faerie folk tried to tease and play with him, he found that he had no interest partaking in their fun. The only thing that seemed like it would be fun would be seeing Millicent's radiant smile. Thinking of her smile was enough to bring one to his lips.

Though the fey did not usually wander past the woodland border during the day, Rumpelstiltskin skimmed the very edge of the forest, venturing upon the hills in search of Millicent. He did not wander far from the woods - mortal men had strange superstitions about the fey, and the last thing he needed was to be captured and forced to offer a pot of gold in return for release, or something similarly ridiculous.

The sun was slowly beginning to set, and with a resigned sigh, Rumpelstiltskin started to accept the fact that he would not see her this day. Still, he knew that Millicent was drawn to the outdoors like a cat was to catnip, so he was certain that she would be seen happily wandering the hills the following day. He let himself be drawn into the faerie revelry, but for some reason, he simply could not enjoy himself with the dancing and cavorting. All he wished for was to see Millicent.

However, on the following day, Millicent still did not come. Rumpelstiltskin began to feel an uncomfortable sense of unease. It was a feeling unlike any he had ever experienced before, and were he a man instead of faerie, he would have known that the feeling was doubt. He started questioning his own actions, wondering if he had done something to offend Millicent. Or was it she who simply lost interest in him? The very notion made his blood run cold. After having known her as he did, he did not think he could easily forget and shake off the entire experience. It was seared into his soul, and existed now as a part of who he was.

Tired from his ceaseless wanderings throughout the woods, he sat down with his instrument, lost in thought, and unconsciously playing a melancholy tune that reflected his emotions. The falling dusk added a greater sense of gloom to his sad song, and even the faeries avoided him, repelled by the sorrowful notes that he played.

On the third sunny day, Millicent was once again thwarted from being able to venture out. Having fallen behind on her chores due to all the traveling to and from town, Millicent was expected to help her mother, and she could not avoid her obligations. It was a long, hard and tiring day, and she fell into bed that night, completely exhausted. She could not have anticipated that Rumpelstiltskin would visit her that night, unaware as she was of his bewildered and hurt state of mind.

There was no moon out that night, and as Rumpelstiltskin slipped into her room, all he heard was her deep steady breathing. Being fey, he could see as easily in the dark as he could in the light, and as saddened as he had been by Millicent's absence, his heart still melted at the sight of Millicent sleeping, as sweetly as a little kitten. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, and she murmured incoherently in her sleep. He was about to leave her to her sleep, but as an after thought, left a token by her beside counter of a four leafed clover. Though he did not have a chance to speak with her, his heart felt lighter than it had in days.

Millicent woke the next morning to the crowing of the cock, and groaned at the stiffness of her body. Her mother's chores were more physically demanding than she ever remembered, and she had a newfound sense of respect for how much her mother did for the family. As she stretched, she looked out the window, and noticed a spot of green on the bedside counter. She reached over, wincing at the kink in her back, and picked up the four leafed clover, gasping as she realized what it was. She knew immediately that the dark haired man had come to her. Clutching the clover to her chest, she wished that she had been awake to see him. However, she knew that she would be free to venture out today, and her heart leapt in excitement.
Rumpelstiltskin was in the forest clearing, singing softly to himself, and strumming his stringed instrument. He did not know whether he would see Millicent today or not, but knew that his restless wandering would not hasten her arrival. After all, he had no clue as to what it was that kept her from her visits, and he had already decided to visit her room again this very night. The melody that he was playing was complex, reflecting his inner heart, and he was so engrossed by his song that he did not notice Millicent at the edge of the clearing, watching him in awe.

Millicent had her basket in hand, though it was pitifully empty since her first thoughts had been to find the young man, rather than collecting herbs. She could hear a soft, and intricate melody coming from the woods, and followed it to the clearing, her heart skipping in anticipation. There, the dark haired man sat, dramatically contrasted by the soft greens that surrounded him. His eyes were closed as he sang, and the sunlight surrounded him like an aura. She listened to him in reverent silence, for the melody captured her heart, as though it was created solely for her. Unaware of herself, her eyes drifted closed as she immersed herself in his song, until it gradually came to its end. When she opened her eyes, he was looking directly at her with a soft smile on his lips.

Rumpelstiltskin set his instrument down, and stood up. He felt strangely shy, yet he walked up to her, and held out a hand in invitation. With a blush, Millicent took his hand, and they stood like that for a moment, watching one another, speaking with their eyes rather than their mouths.

"Your song is very beautiful," Millicent said, breaking the silence. Rumpelstiltskin, smiled, pleased at the compliment.

"It's a reflection of what I feel," he replied.

"And what is it that you feel?" Millicent asked, for although the song spoke to her heart, it had a complexity that she did not fully understand. Rumpelstiltskin paused, and seemed to give the question deep consideration. His expression was faraway when he spoke.

"I feel... confusion," he said honestly, "I feel things I have never felt before. An unbearable excitement. A squeezing pain in my heart. An utter sense of joy and gladness. Sometimes loneliness and fear. I feel hope, and it is strange. I've never had anything to hope for before. I find myself wondering how it was that once, long ago, it seemed as though nothing was ever lacking in my life. Now..." His voice trailed off, as he gazed at her.

"Now what?" Millicent asked breathlessly, as she absorbed his words in her heart.

"Now, I feel like my life will forever be lacking if I don't have you," he finished. Millicent felt as though her entire body would burst with happiness, for she felt the very same way, though she did not think she could have described it as eloquently.

Unable to resist herself, Millicent hugged Rumpelstiltskin tightly as she expressed her joy to him. Never had she felt so complete in all her life. Loosening her grip, she looked up at him, and asked with her characteristic boldness: "Do faeries get married?" Her question reminded Rumpelstiltskin of why he wished to speak to her in the first place.

"Things are very different in the world of the fey," Rumpelstiltskin began. Unsure of how to go about asking her if she would want to live permanently with the faeries, he told her of how the fey lived their lives - of the revelry, dancing, and mischief. He explained the connection the fey felt to the earth and all it's creatures, and of how they were beings very much affected by the seasons.

"Faeries don't feel regret, or ambition, or pride," he continued, "They... we live our lives in only the moment, understanding that all things are in a state of constant change, and extracting all the joy we can." Her intelligent mind fascinated, Millicent expressed her wonder, and told him about her own life.

She spoke of how she had never met a single human who lived life the way the faerie did. Everyone she knew had hopes and dreams for the future, or regrets about the past. Most humans spent much of the time worrying too much about what others thought, or whether or not they had enough coin, or wishing for something other than what they had.

"Even my parents wish for something more than the present moment," Millicent explained, though her voice softened when she spoke of her parents, and her strong love for them was evident in her voice. She paused and smiled, as she considered her parents quirks, from their irritating obsession with the King, to their playful bickering, to the constant attention they showered upon her.

"Millicent..." Rumpelstiltskin began hesitantly, "Would you ever want to leave your parents and go somewhere far away?" As he asked the question, Millicent thought of how her parents wanted her to live her life as a refined and important lady, no doubt at the heart of a bustling city, far from the countryside she loved. She shook her head.

"I could never leave my home," she replied, thinking of the rolling hills, and sparkling stream. "I love it too much." Rumpelstiltskin's heart sank in disappointment. He cared about her too much to force her away from what she loved. He wished, more than anything, for her happiness, and he didn't want to be the one to cause her any misery. Unfortunately, what that meant for him was that he had to keep his distance from her. He wanted her too desperately, and if he had to see her without having her, he was likely to steal her away against her will. It was a level he didn't want to sink to.

"The day grows late," Rumpelstiltskin said to her, trying to keep his voice from breaking. "You should return to your family." Millicent nodded, and gave him a tight hug before leaving with her empty herb basket.

"I shall see you again soon!" she exclaimed as she dashed off. In the darkening light, she did not notice the bitterness of his smile as he let her go.
- 5
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

What's in a name?