![Rumpelstiltskin](https://31.media.tumblr.com/a9a2619ac9767fff4bbaae423d8fb6ae/tumblr_nc9dkyaSdD1s7eez6o3_500.gif "Rumpelstiltskin")

The Enchanted Forest - Swan Lake

*"Fate is fate for a reason, one should not change what life has in store for them lest risk losing more than they had to begin with."*

A flickering smile crossed the Dark Sorcerer's lips, impressed by such bold words from such a small thing with nothing to protect her short of her quick wit. He halted his steps in favor to allow Odette to size him up in return. He could feel her eyes baring into him as she walked around him, as if his true intentions were written somewhere on his golden-flecked skin and though she wouldn't find anything there but darkness, he allowed her further search.

*"I've heard about you Rumpelstiltskin... Heard Rothbart and Bridget speak of you... Heard the people of the kingdom warn others about you... They call you Dark One for a reason sorcerer. You claim to know me, though from your lack of knowing my answer to your question it's clear that you do not."*

Rumpelstiltskin let out a quiet snort through his nose. Oh he knew the answer to her question, even if she didn't; not truly, because he hadn't offered it to her yet.

*"You cannot help me, nor would I ever ask you to. My curse is mine to bare, you couldn't possibly be the one to break it. I do not wish to make a deal with you Rumpelstiltskin... Not now, and not ever... So why are you here?"*

Rumpelstiltskin moved forward, now that her investigation of him was done with, and her back to him to look out on the water, he was able to approach her.

"Break it? No, I can't do that..." Rumpelstiltskin began, letting his hands rest on the tops of her shoulders lightly. It was probably a bit much for someone who had grown up learning to fear him, as most everyone else in The Enchanted Forest had, but he needed the contact. The dark magic of the curse was calling to him like a familiar friend, he just couldn't place what it was, not until he touched her.

Flashes of Odette's past engrained itself into his mind in a blur, as if he were watching snippets of her life through her own eyes. A washing of understanding came over him then as he watched Rothbart cast the curse and she was turned into a swan, forced to the solace of the lake in wait until the moon rose high in the sky to change her back. Feeling the dark magic pulsing through her blood underneath the skin of her shoulders where he was touching her, he could practically feel the tendrils aching to be released from within her; to return to it's true origin; him.

A memory of The Dark One before him, Zoso, flashed into his mind then; a particular lesson in which he had given Rothbart the curse that now plagued Odette. He held his hold on her shoulders a bit more firmly to bend his neck closer so that he was speaking in her ear. He knew all he needed to now.

"But I can... *alter* it." He whispered before forcefully pushing himself away from her, putting distance between them once more. "Who do you think gave Rothbart the curse to begin with?" Rumpelstiltskin then asked, defaulting back to his child-like voice with an equally childish smirk playing on his lips before gesturing to himself with a grand flourish. "A vow of everlasting love." He sing-songed, proving that there was more he knew than she had thought. "I can't imagine the amount of washing you need to do from having to wade into that lake night after night... *But*, if it were only... let's say, once a week... and you no longer had to stay here with Rothbart..."

He was dangling the offer in front of her like a steak to a starved lion. Not only could he *see* how unhappy Odette was with her situation, he could *feel* it too. His magic was coursing through her veins. It was as if a piece of him was living inside her and now under the full understanding of what it was, in turn it was as if she was a part of him too. He could see her mind quickly working, however, and knowing what she was going to say even before she said it, he interrupted by adding on,

"And all I ask for in return is information. A simple question really... all you have to do... is tell me... why you are unable to fall in love with your captor. That's it. Take my words for what they are dearie, for they can not be twisted." It was true enough, that's all he needed to know in order to uphold his deal with Rothbart. The sorcerer, in his rage, had failed to explain exactly what it was that he wanted Rumpelstiltskin to do. The implication was there, of course, but Rumpelstiltskin was never one to uphold his end of the deal on just assumptions... no, not when he could get in return was far more precious than what it is he had to do in return.

"I don't care too much for the man either, *Princess*. Any information you can give me will only help *you* in the end. I have no interest in his wanting your hand, or your kingdom. I simply seek ways to destroy him, simple as that." He rubbed two fingers together, giving his hand occupation while he waited for her answer.