so full of this adventure;

[fantasies]

Who: Henry and YOU
What: INVESTIGATION
When: Sometime this afternoon
Where: Out in the castle courtyard
Rating: pg for fairytale nonsense

[Henry is doing research.

Between all he castle's changes and Arya's loss, he hasn't had a lot of time to do it. But today he's doing it out in one of the castle courtyards, because the library was stuffy, and the pup Robb gave him was antsy. He has books all around him, and a journal separate from the castle's open in his lap, where he's taking painstaking notes. August wanted to rewrite his book, the book the castle took from him, and he's going to make sure it's as complete as possible.

However, a disproportionate number of the books are open to 'Rumpelstiltskin.'

Henry's wolfdog pup, still full of energy, is running about around him, pawing at dirt and sticking his nose into bushes (and occasionally Henry's lap). But he never wanders too far away from Henry himself.

He comes close to nudge Henry's shoulder with his nose, and Henry reaches up to pat his head.]

Don't worry, boy, I'm almost done. We can race after.

Comments

[fantasies]

[He chews his lip a little, thinking.]

I'm... looking for someone.

[ensorceler]

[ She remains silent, giving him an opening to continue or dismiss her curiosity. ]

[fantasies]

[The problem with silent adults is that it really encourages kids to babble.]

I mean, it's only one story so I don't know for sure. But I thought that if I got a whole bunch of them he might be in one version.

[ensorceler]

What is his name, then?

[fantasies]

[He's quiet for a longer moment, tracing a line of text absentmindedly with his finger.]

Neal.

[beat. He winces.]

No, um. In this it'd be different. Baelfire.

[ensorceler]

[ Her eyebrows raise considerably at the name, if only for how blatantlly pagan it is. But he is looking around in books about faeries, so... ]

I am sorry, I have not heard of a character by that name. But these, as you say, must be from a different world or time.

[fantasies]

It's okay. He's not in any of the ones I've read in my world, either. I just, you know, thought that since there's so many....

[Maybe he'd get lucky.]

[ensorceler]

How does he know this Rumpelstiltskin?

[fantasies]

[This is where it gets weird, for him. Henry steadies himself.]

Rumpelstiltskin is his dad.

[ensorceler]

[ If she was drinking this would be a spittake. ]

A child he stole?

[fantasies]

[He hesitates. He's honestly not sure, but from the way August told it--]

I don't know. I don't think so.

[ensorceler]

But he cannot have his own child, I had thought. That is why he would steal the babes of others. Why is this one of such import, if I may, my little lord?

[fantasies]

[Henry shakes his head a little helplessly. He honestly has no idea. The concept of Gold having kids is completely foreign to him.

But the question he can answer.]

He, um. He's my dad. Baelfire.

[ensorceler]

Your...

[ Flabbergasted! But Emma is his mom, and she is surely to be a princess. It's one thing for someone of no repute to marry into royalty, but for the child, abducted or no, of a fae? Her expression might be mingled somewhere between repulsion and fascination at the very idea. Only for a flash, though, and she is quick to adopt a gentler smile, hands placed calmly in her lap as she begins to lean over to try and look at one of the books. ]

I must help you find him, then! Those of us written in books, must we not band together?

[ It is a darker mirth, for her, but her tone remains light for the child's sake. ]

[fantasies]

[He doesn't notice any negativity in her expression. There's a moment of surprise, and then his smile positively blossoms.]

... yeah. Yeah, that could be perfect! Maybe I can't find him because I've read it so many times, I don't know where to look. If you read them...

[He offers her one of the books, hopeful.]

[ensorceler]

It is an honor to help in such an intimate matter.

[ She doesn't really expect to find anything he hasn't, since it seems to her he's been awfully thorough, but she feels like it would be negligent not to occasionally see after his welfare when his mother had unfortunately left without him. With a nod, she accepts the book, turning the pages back to the beginning of the tale. ]

Has he perhaps done any deeds that may have been written of? You might wish for such similar texts.

[fantasies]

He-- He has. I know he has.

[The way August had talked about it, Neal's "deeds" might not have been anything Henry would want to know about it. But August had also called him a hero, and he'd do anything to cling to that.]

I just... don't know what they are.

[ensorceler]

[ Ooh, this is suddenly a might awkward. Her lips purse for a moment, but she doesn't wait too long before lifting a hand from the book and reaching to place it over his.

She doesn't speak immediately, but her voice is very quiet when she does. ]

My daughter grew up not knowing of me...the true me. But you see, she is smart, and tenacious, and she understands the way of things better than her lord father or I ever really did. In it's own way, the truth is always discovered, if only by the one soul who needs know it the most.

[fantasies]

[He nods, mutely. It's already happened to him, in a way. He believed one thing, the story that Emma told him, but the truth came out eventually.

He has to swallow before he speaks.]

I'm going to meet him. One day, if I go home. [He doesn't realize it, but he solidly says 'if' now. Too many friends and family come and gone, and him always left behind.] But he, um.

[He can't say it, doesn't want to.]

It'll only be for a little bit. So I wanted.... You know, if he comes here. I wanted to know about him.

[ensorceler]

[ It's hard to know what to say here, much of this subject is alien to her, but the small part of it that hits home makes her stay and try to form words that would harm him the least. ]

Then I will read and search for his name until my eyes can no longer stay open.

[fantasies]

... Thanks.

[It comes out small, and his smile is slightly watery, but he sniffs in an effort to keep it at bay.

He's on a mission, after all!!]

Even if we don't find him him.... This is good, it's gonna help.

[ensorceler]

[ She hopes it will. Maybe for him it's like prayer? She wonders if he does pray... His mother was not so much the type, it seemed, but what of her son? He should have been raised like her, but he had not been raised with her.

After a moment's hesitation, she pulls her hand away. ]

Mayhap, if you should like, we can also pray together for him.

[fantasies]

[He immediately looks slightly uncomfortable -- not because the topic of praying makes him uncomfortable, but because he doesn't really know how to do it.

That's an answer in itself.]

Do you think that would help?

[ensorceler]

I think that it does good for our souls to occasionally unburden them and place your trust in God's plan. Whatever shall happen, shall happen for the best, and it is good to preach our love for His Almighty Grace and his own beloved children, of which your father is surely included and so looked after by our love and His.

[fantasies]

[There's a lot in there that Henry just plain doesn't follow, but she's talking about love, and he knows the power of true love, no matter what type. He's seen it for himself.

It may be missing the core point of what she's saying by a significant margin, but it does make him feel better.]

Is there a specific way you have to do it? Or do you just... ask?