DFF - Finding the Fairest One of All Ch 2

“I can’t believe it,” said Elsa softly as they watered their horses at a small lake. They were near the little French village where Rumpelstiltskin had freed Belle. He had offered to take her through the more scenic routes but Elsa was insistent to see the desolated landscape that had taken up more of the lands. She had said that it would give her reason to help him in reversing the evil that the Overtaking had done. Rumpelstiltskin was amazed at how well she was coping with the sudden change despite her upbringing.

“I am sort of used to sudden changes,” she answered when he asked her.


“Yes, it was a tempting offer she made,” he said.

“It’s not just that,” she continued, giving him an annoyed look. “It’s just that I had never really known about all of this…this evil. Arendelle is a maritime kingdom after all.”

“So, you didn’t think it funny that no trade was being made?” he asked. “Or that any boat was returning for that matter?”
“Well, of course, and I did send a vessel out in hopes to investigate the lack of…well, shipping,” she hugged herself, realizing now the fate of that vessel.

“Like I said before, your kingdom has most likely been far enough away from the main realm to be as affected as the other kingdoms,” he explained before adding. “But close enough to feel the after-effects.”

“That’s probably true,” she agreed. She looked over at Rumpelstiltskin. The blue cloak and other clothing looked fresh from the spinner and even his boots had a shine to them. She figured that he most likely had a spell on it so that it wouldn’t deteriorate. She could just barely make out the form of the dagger underneath it at the small of his back.

“Admiring the view?” he asked, forcing her out of her thoughts.

“What? Oh, oh no,” a blush began to creep up her neck. “I just thinking on a change of wardrobe for you.”

“Funny you should say that because I was thinking the same thing,” he said looking down at himself. “I was thinking something a bit more scaly, a bit more reddish, and a bit more flamboyant.”

“I don’t know,” she now had to put her hand up to cover her smile as the blush deepened. “I think that the blue is flamboyant enough. It makes you stand out.”

“Well, I did have to forcefully change into a lowly spinner with a broken foot, but that’s not really a good look for me.”

The two of them laughed some more before they got back on their horses. Rumpel paused as he watched Elsa canter away, her light blonde braid bouncing behind her, her cape swirling in the wind, the light glistening off of the dress. As he did so he felt that sudden rise of emotion coming from within him that he had previously felt when he first saw the vision of her ice castle and hearing her voice. Of course, he did leave out those parts when he told the story to her. They were way too personal and he was still trying to figure out what it all meant. He didn’t tell her that as he traveled through Arendelle and stayed in her castle on the North Mountain, he had recollected all of Frozen. He knew that there was something wrong with him. He hoped that if he survived after this conflict he could find out.

“Admiring the view?” smiled Elsa, repeating his words.

“You have no idea,” he smiled back as he kicked his own horse. Once her back was turned to him, his smile faded and a look of melancholy overcame him.

“I’m getting too deep here,” he sighed.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They arrived at Prince Eric’s Castle the next day, having to stay for the night at the base of an enormous beanstalk that Rumpelstiltskin had somehow missed on his way up to Paris. When Elsa asked about where it led, he replied that it connected to the land of the giants and it was probably best for them to not stay for very long.

Prince Eric and Princess Ariel both greeted them warmly at the gates. Both also insisted on hearing their stories so they were taken to the dining room where they shared a cider to quench their thirst. Eric actually revealed that he was one of Arendelle’s trading partners, and confessed that he had not seen the investigative ship from that kingdom. Both hosts were excellent listeners, expressing shock, awe, happiness, and sadness at different events and also cheered at the death of Maleficent and Elsa’s revelation and thawing of her kingdom.

“So,” finished Rumpelstiltskin. “As I said to King Stephen before we left, the remaining villains are going to strike back at us. But I believe that if we unite, I think that we have a chance to fight back ourselves. I also believe that we need the help of the Olympian Gods on our side if we have a chance to take on the Titans.”

“I agree,” said Eric. “We’ve already become a beacon of hope to many especially when that Winter Curse started. A prince from France along with his bride, Princess Belle, and their servants had stayed and left only yesterday. We also found a craftsman and his wooden son, who magically had turned into a real boy along with a cricket named Jiminy. They’ve been staying in a room in the town. Prince Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, and the Genie had left the day you did. The Seven Dwarves are still here along with the Darling children. Peter Pan took the Lost Boys with him back to Neverland. We have been recruiting but the numbers are thin. We’re more of a maritime kingdom than a militaristic one.”

“My father has also been helping,” interrupted Ariel who had been looking back and forth between Elsa and Rumpelstiltskin. “We have been able to make the seas safe for travel. We’ve been preparing to send out a ship that would call for kingdoms to unite against this evil but now that you’re here-”

Rumpel held up his hand to stop her. “No, no, actually that is a good idea. The wider that the message spreads, the better. I can handle anything that the enemy sends back at us.”

“Are you sure?” asked Eric, his face a mixture of concern and confusion. “From what you’ve told us that each time you’ve faced-“

“I can handle it, Dearie” Rumpel interrupted, indicating that he meant what he said.

A short and awkward silence hung around everyone before Ariel spoke up again.

“I’m getting uneasy about all of this talk of war. Queen Elsa, would you like to join me for a walk on the beach?”


Elsa accepted and the two of them left the men. Once they had left, Rumpelstiltskin stood up from the table to look out at the sea from the windows. From there he could see the Darling children playing by the water along with another young boy that he didn’t recognize. The maid, Carlotta, and an elderly gentleman with gray hair and a short, busy moustache of the same color watched them.

“The boy is Pinocchio and his father is named Gipetto,” explained Eric, joining him in front of the window.

Rumpel nodded before his noticed Elsa and Ariel side-by-side walking down the steps to the beach. Both were chatting and he could tell that the two of them were hitting it off immediately.

“You seem a little different than we last met,” pointed out Eric.

That certainly got his attention as he brought his gaze from the blonde queen to the prince.

“Is it the new makeover I got?” he smirked feeling his face. “I kinda like what that curse did.”

Eric shook his head. “No, it’s not that. You seem more confident, more,” he mimicked the warlock’s hand gesture. “And maybe…a bit more darker.”

Rumpel’s smile dropped. “I’m not dark or getting power-hungry like these narcissistic, diabolical megalomaniacs. I’m one of the good guys remember? I’m bringing about everyone’s happily ever afters. Trust me, you don’t have anything to fear from me.”

Eric held his gaze for a second before smiling and patting his friend’s shoulder. “I know you are. I’m glad.”

He looked out the window to see Elsa showing off her powers with the sea and his wife applauding as a snowflake, a snowman, and a boat were made up from the iced waters.

“So, have you made any attempts yet?”

The wizard spun to face him. “Apart from being a simple gentleman, no, and I don’t plan to.”

“Oh, come on, Rumpel, from what I’ve heard from your story, you’ve had the longest time with her, and you both made it apparent that you two are going to continue your journey. Sooner or later, you two are going to get close,” he continued. “Might as well admit it now before something bad happens.”

“One, I’m not interested the whole ‘love at first sight’ sort of thing. Two, I’ve been in danger since the instant I’ve got here and that will no doubt continue. So, I really can’t get involved in any long lasting relationship. And three, I’m not interested in getting stuck in the whole business of ruling over a kingdom. That’s just not me,” he retorted, counting his fingers.

“All right, you won’t admit it,” shrugged the prince in defeat. “But I can tell that something is going on between you two.”

Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes.


At that moment the doors at the other side of the hall opened and the seven dwarves came through followed by the butler, Grimsby, who looked like he had been trying to restrain them unsuccessfully.

“I’m deeply sorry, sire,” he said as he tried to get through the crowd. “I told them that you were busy entertaining royal guests.”

“It’s okay, Grimsby,” replied the prince. “We’re all friends here.”

“Bumblekiltsin,” began Doc. “We’ve all been hungering, I mean, wondering when are you going to uh, well, um, uh-“

“When are you going to help us with Snow White?” demanded Grumpy, shoving himself to the front. “You’re powerful with magic. Can’t you just awaken her?”

“Well, Dearie, I may be powerful but not that powerful,” he replied. “The only way to undo a curse is with the kiss of true love.”

“Well, who on earth is Snow White’s true love?” asked the dwarf.

“The Prince!” shouted Happy raising his hand. “The Prince that Snow White talked about when she stayed with us.”

“That’s right,” agreed Sneezy. “She-she-she-ah,” Sleepy and Happy both put their fingers under his nose to stop him. “Thanks, she did.” Immediately, he sneezed making his cap lopsided.

“I don’t remember that,” grumbled Grumpy.

“Well, it’s most likely that the Evil Queen has him in her dungeon along with Hercules,” said Rumpelstiltskin.

“Then we’re coming with you,” stated the dwarf and the others all nodded their heads in agreement.

“Rumpelstiltskin!” shouted a voice.

“Who said that?” asked the warlock before he noticed a small green bug on the table. Leaning closer, he could see that it was dressed in a suit with a top hat and a black umbrella.

“Jiminy Cricket I presume?” he asked.

“That’s right,” he said cheerfully before frowning. “I’m surprised that you don’t remember me.”

“Refresh my memory,” responded the wizard.

“We first met when we went to meet Sam.”

Now that really confused Rumpelstiltskin. “Who’s Sam?”

“You really don’t remember do you?”

“I woke up in the middle of the jungle with no memory of how I got there. So, no.”

“Well, I can’t really tell you more than that. We were ambushed and got separated before we could meet him.”

“Well, Dearie, I can tell you now that I haven’t met anyone named Sam and I haven’t met you before now.”

Jiminy nodded sadly in understanding. “Hopefully, he’ll turn up.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Elsa and Ariel had become good friends by the end of the day. They had both exchanged their life stories, and even Elsa had decided to accept Ariel’s choices even if they were irrational and foolish in that teenager spirit. It reminded of her sister, Anna. In fact she was sure that the two of them would definitely be close friends with their innocent and playful behavior.

Back in the castle, the two of them were going through the enormous wardrobe of dresses. Ariel was quite overjoyed to share what she had with another woman as well as her thoughts, and even Elsa had tried on a few but in the end remained content with her ice dress.

“I don’t even know what the whole deal is with this,” said Ariel holding up a corset. “The first time that I wore it I couldn’t even breathe!”
Elsa smiled. “It’s called a corset. It’s supposed to make your back straighter.”

“That’s what Carlotta says. She’s insisted on keeping it for special occasions,” she sighed putting it back. “I’ve never really known how much clothing humans really wore. It’s so weird.”

A look of confusion crossed the queen’s face. “How much clothing do mermaids wear?”

“I just wore a strap-on seashells. The only time that I recall mermen wearing clothing was on special occasions and they only wore capes,” she talked as if it was trivial.

Elsa now understood why Rumpelstiltskin seemed distracted and his face had a pinkish tinge to it when he talked how he first met Ariel.

The spunky princess continued to go through the dresses before pulling out a pale, simple one that was surprisingly clear and soft. Elsa was sure that if she put it on she would see a lot more than she was comfortable with.

“This was amongst our wedding gifts,” she said with pride, pressing it against her to see that it fit. “I’m not sure who gave it but I’ve never seen anything like it. Can you believe it that I found my old seashells next to it?”

“I’m sure that the men would love it,” said Elsa sarcastically.

Ariel’s face brightened. “You think so? Then I’ll put it on.”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant!” protested Elsa. “Probably when you are alone with your husband.”

The red head nodded in understanding and put it back. Elsa sighed tiredly before settling herself on a chair. Ariel sat down next to her.

“So, what’s he like?”

“What’s who like?”

“Rumpelstiltskin! You’ve spent several days with him. I’ve only had one. He was quite nice and sweet if a little shy.”

“Well, he’s still nice and sweet but I think all that shyness is gone. He’s quite theatric, playful, eccentric, slightly sadistic.”

“What do you feel when you’re around him?”

“What?”

“Do you love him?”

“No. Why would you think that?”

“Because I can see it. I saw your reactions when he was telling the story, and when you told yours, you would look back at him as if you were saying it right. Think back on when you were with him. How did you react around him?”

Elsa looked away from the red head but not at anything in particular in the room. True, she was taken in by his peculiar and yet gentlemanly manner. She certainly responded with his mischievous side with her own playfulness. There were several times that she couldn’t help but blush when he was around or complemented her in his fun way. She recalled how distressed she was when she thought that he was killed by Maleficent. She definitely felt different around him. The only feeling that could come close was what she felt when she was around Anna.

Could it be that not only Anna but also Ariel were right to think that she could be in love? Unconsciously, she brushed her hair back behind her ear.