You've all heard the fairy tale, right? The dwarf helps the miller's daughter spin hay into gold so the king won't kill her. The first time, she gives her necklace, the second, her ring, the third time, the first child she'll give birth to. In this alternate story line, Rumpelstiltskin does succeed in getting the baby, and you learn what the boy does years later after discovering his heritage. This is the prologue.
Prologue:
“What do you mean the midwives aren’t here?” cried Catherine as she was led to her four poster bed. The blankets had been recently stripped so they wouldn’t be stained. She moaned and grabbed her bulging stomach as the baby inside moved. Tears from the pain were beginning to form in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” the little girl, Anna, yelped as Catherine gripped her hand tightly in reaction to the contractions. Her long, dark brown hair was tied up behind her head to keep it out of her face, and her crimson eyes were searching for any women that could help. “But you can’t blame them. You’re nearly a month early.”
Anna helped Catherine onto the bed and tried to calm her. Being only six years old, she had little or no clue what to do. She’d assisted on two births, but had never actually helped the baby out.
The manservant she’d sent for came stumbling in with a bucket of hot water and some rags.
“Set them by me,” Anna said as she pulled up her mistress’s nightgown. She could tell that the baby was well on its way.
The manservant rushed over, spilling some of the water on the carpet, and set it next to the little girl. He was fidgeting nervously and sweating like a pig.
“S-should I help?” he asked even though the idea obviously distressed him.
“I don’t think the queen would like that,” Anna said as she soaked one of the rags. “But find someone who can help.”
“Yes, I’ll do that,” he said with relief. He backed away and made sure his eyes didn’t wander to the bed as he left through the door.
Anna brushed away the queen’s dirty blonde hair and dabbed her forehead with the wet cloth. Her face was contorted in pain and she didn’t seam to notice the comfort. She cried out and dug her fingernails into her palms.
Realizing it was time, Anna moved in front of Catherine and began watching for the head. She was breathing awkwardly and gasping each time pain erupted from below. Anna began to feel unsure about herself. If she failed, the next ruler of the kingdom would be dead. She hid her doubts from the queen as best as she could.
“Get away from there, child!” came a sharp voice. Anna looked over and saw an old lady walking in through the doorway, her sleeves rolled up and her silvery hair tied back. “A young man told me the Queen was in labor.” she gazed over at Catherine with worry. “And I guess he wasn’t mistaken.” She walked over and shoed Anna off the bed. She took her place in front of Catherine and checked how far she’d dilated. “She seams pretty far along, so, child, I need you to get ready. As the baby comes out, wipe away the blood and try to comfort the Queen.” Anna nodded, happy to have someone take her place.
The hours dragged on as the old lady struggled with Catherine to push and keep her breathing steady. Anna tried her best to comfort and keep her calm, but the pain overcame her efforts. The baby seamed like it would never be born, but then, finally, the head became visible. Anna quickly started dabbing it with her wet cloth to wash away the blood as the old lady helped the baby on its way.
“Just a bit more,” the old lady told Catherine. She groaned loudly and pushed as hard as she could. The baby slid all the way out and into the hands of the old lady. She quickly swatted the infant’s bottom so it could cry and clear its lungs, and then she wrapped it in a blanket. She and Anna sighed in relief. It was finally over.
“Congratulations, my queen,” said the old lady. “It’s a boy.” She went to hand it over to Catherine, but something was wrong. She was still pushing. The old lady quickly handed the baby to Anna and tried to find out what was wrong. Then another head started to come out.
“T-twins,” Anna stuttered.
“Well don’t just stand there,” the old lady snapped. “We have another baby to deliver.” The two of them continued the process once again, dabbing the blood and helping the baby on its way. Before too long, two newborn brothers were laying by each other on the bed.
“Please,” Catherine said happily, “Let me see them.” She was sweating effusively and panting as the babies were passed to her arms. A tear of joy trickled down her cheek as she looked upon the faces of her sons. To her, they were the two most beautiful things in the world.
“Thank you both, so much,” Catherine said.
Anna and the old lady smiled modestly. “It was my honor,” the old lady said.
“Mine too,” Anna piped in.
Catherine looked at her two babies lovingly and said, “I want you two to name them.”
“Really?” Anna said eagerly. The old lady stayed silent, the idea of it not quite sunken in.
“Of course.”
The old lady looked towards the youngest of the two. She reached over and put a finger on his head and said, “I think this one is a Bartholomew.”
Catherine smiled. “I think you’re right. Now, Anna, what about your name?”
Anna thought about the name long and hard, making sure it wasn’t one that would be regretted. After a long time, she finally said, “How about Mathias?”
Catherine nodded. She brought the first born to her face and said, “Mathias it is.”
“Well, isn’t that lovely,” said someone with a gruff voice. The three of them jumped and looked over at the door. There was a shadow cast over it, but they could just barely make out the shape of a short, stocky person.
Anna was too frightened to speak. She looked over at the two women hopefully, but Catherine was petrified, shielding her babies, and the old woman had fainted and fallen to the floor.
The figure walked out of the dark and came into view. It was a dwarf standing about as tall as Anna, but at least three times as thick. He had a large nose, big ears, and a long, black beard that stretched to the floor. His clothes were no more than a bunch of rags that had been sloppily sewn together, and his big, burly arms were holding an assortment of old fruit, such as apples, peaches, and pears.
“W-who are you,” Anna managed to stutter as she slowly moved away from the dwarf until she was beside Catherine.
He smiled, revealing two rows of crooked teeth. “I’m Rumpelstiltskin, the one who spun Queeny’s hay into gold.” He picked a badly bruised apple from his collection and took a bite. It made a sickening squishing sound as he sunk his teeth into it, the expired juices running down his chin and into his beard. “And I’m here to collect what’s due. Her first born to be exact.” He smiled cruelly at Catherine, who was shaking terribly.
The dwarf walked over awkwardly, as if he had a limp. Anna began to noticed the revolting stench emanating from his obviously bath deprived body. It was so intense she wondered if she’d faint like the old lady had.
“Please, Rumpelstiltskin,” Catherine begged. He was now standing beside her, smiling at Mathias. “I’ll give you anything. All the kingdom’s gold can be yours if you just...”
“No,” The dwarf said simply. Anna watched in horror as he snatched Mathias from Catherine’s hands and jumped out of reach. The baby began to cry, and, in turn, his brother started as well.
“Something alive is more dear to my than all the treasure in the world, Queeny.” the dwarf said harshly. Catherine tried to reach for her baby, but she was too exhausted from the birth. She cried in self pity, begging for her first born.
“I think I’ll name him after me,” the dwarf said spitefully as he cradled Mathias in his arms. Anna was confused and horrified at what was taking place. Catherine seamed to understand perfectly, but why?
The distress of a mother replacing her fear and fatigue, the queen growled, “If you leave with Mathias my husband will find you. He will kill you.” Rumpelstiltskin stood unfazed.
“Yes, young Rumpel,” he said playfully to the baby, “you’re mommy and daddy’ll come for you. And what’ll happen then?” He looked over at Catherine with a devilish grin. “Then there won’t be a young Rumpel anymore.”
The Queen’s face lost any sign of emotion. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a soft croak. Anna looked at her hopefully, praying she’d do something, but her eyes had rested on the sharp knife at the dwarf’s side. There was nothing they could do without endangering Mathias.
“I’ll take my leave then, Queeny,” said the dwarf as he bowed low to the ground. “And remember. If so much as a scout comes looking…” He patted the dagger at his side. To Anna’s surprise, Catherine nodded.
The dwarf slipped through the door stealthily and disappeared. Catherine tried to wipe her tears away, but there was an endless flow. Anna started crying too, still not understanding what had happened.
The old lady stirred and stood up. She rubbed her head and looked around. “W-where’s Mathias and that little man?”
Anna and Catherine looked at each other. The queen quickly wiped her tears and said, “You must have hit your head pretty hard. Whoever those people are, they haven’t been here. Just me, Anna, and Bartholomew.”
