This time, the Story door deposited them gently in the halls of a castle. Gwaine had a hand on Emrys's shoulder, wordlessly supporting his exhausted brother. They were all exhausted and demoralized. The sense of urgency to save their parents was gone. What was the use, when they were all probably dead anyways? Nobody even cried any more tears. It was as if they simply couldn't feel anymore.

It was unsurprisingly Lana who broke the silence. "What do we do now?" she asked. "Go and find the ruler of this place and demand, 'Wake up this random fellow'?"

When she put it like that, Eve felt foolish. What were they supposed to do? No matter where they were, they were bound to get strange looks for turning up from nowhere and demanding that the sovereign help Will—if the sovereign were friendly at all.

A servant stepped down the hall in front of them. The group stared at him, and he at them. Then he spoke in a heavy accent. "Guardians?" he inquired.

Eve glanced at Emrys, but it was Morph who responded. "Yes," he said. "Why do you want to know?"

"It's not what I want to know, but it is what my Queen wants to know," the servant answered. "Would you follow me, please?"

Eve nodded. "Of course." They trailed after the servant as he led them through the white stone hallways. Torches lit the halls, and windows lay between columns on either side of them. The whole place had an airy, light feeling to it.

It was difficult to picture who would own such a place, but Eve doubted it was someone evil. The servants they passed looked far too cheery for that, indicating that they were well-treated. Unless the evil ruler had not yet shown her true nature, they were quite safe here.

Before long, they had arrived at a room and were let into what seemed to be the front room of a set of rooms. An attractive woman with curly caramel hair sat at a table, shifting through papers in front of her. She reclined in a seat, looking uncomfortable—probably due to her swollen stomach. Obviously, she was several months into pregnancy. When the woman saw them, she smiled. "Hello," she greeted them. "Forgive me for remaining seated, but it's a struggle of late." Her eyes fell on Eve and her smile widened. "Your eyes! You—you are an Andric, are you not? Those eyes are unmistakable."

Eve nodded, entranced by the woman's cocoa-colored eyes. "I'm sorry, what's this Story?"

"Rumpelstiltskin's," the woman answered. "I'm Queen Vivian."

"The woman who made the terrible deal with Rumpelstiltskin?" Emrys asked, suddenly interested.

Vivian smiled bitterly. "That woman, yes."

"Have you made him rip himself in two yet? I'm tired of him," Rampion snapped.

"No ... and that's the problem," Vivian said. "He'll accuse me of cheating when he comes to claim my child. And it's in the contract." She shoved the pile of papers towards them, and Eve realized with horror that what had seemed to be twenty or so piles of paper was actually a single contract. "If I lie and already knew his name before I made the deal, he can take my child." Her eyes fell on Will, unconscious in Morph's arms, and she stood up, nearly tipping the table over in her haste. "Mein wort! Is that Will Scarlet?"

Emrys swiftly grabbed her arm as she nearly toppled over. "Are you alright?" he stammered out. Eve saw sweat beading on his brow.

"Fine, fine," Vivian answered distractedly, pushing him away and moving painfully towards Will. Morph stared at her as she tenderly laid her hand on the side of Will's face. "Oh, who could have done this to you?" she murmured.

"Excuse me," Rampion interrupted, looking uncomfortable. "Do you ... do you know my father?"

Vivian looked at Rampion, confused. "Of course," she said. "He came to help me with my problem. So sweet, so giving ... even when he couldn't read the contract, he was there in ways my husband couldn't be. I look upon him as a close and dear friend. Guardian or not, son of the Editor or not, he helped me when nobody else could. He knew what it was like to lose someone he cared about. Even if he couldn't help me save my child, he helped me come to terms that I may lose my child."

Tears filled Rampion's eyes at the kind words about her father. She covered her eyes, crying. Vivian was at her side in a moment, embracing her as best as she could with her large stomach. "Oh, child," she whispered. "What has happened?"

"My mum ... she's ..." Rampion couldn't finish. Thankfully, Vivian seemed to understand what she was talking about.

"I'm sorry. So sorry," Vivian told her. "I know the words seem empty, but know that my thoughts and my tears are with you and for you."

Rampion nodded, her face still covered. Gwaine laid a hand on her shoulder comfortingly as Vivian made her way back to the table and sat down. The Queen stared at the contract in front of her, as if she'd wished it would go away while she'd been speaking to Rampion. "It would seem that adding my problem to yours would only serve to overburden you," she said. "If you wish to wake Will Scarlet, one of you must be strong enough to do something that is terrifying to you."

"Rumpelstiltskin," Rampion said softly.

Vivian nodded. "Yes. Rumpelstiltskin. Your father is very ill, child. He could die. Only a deal with the most powerful magician in The Story can save him. Heaven help you."

"I have to try," Rampion answered. "For Father's sake. And my own. I can't—I can't lose another parent."

"Rampion—" Emrys took a step forward, but Rampion silenced him with a look. "I just don't want you to make a bad deal," he added in a whisper.

Rampion shook her head. "It's too late for anything else," she replied. "How do I summon him?"

"It would be best to do so alone," Vivian said. "And remember this: he cares for only two things. Himself, and the continuation of The Story. Go to my bedroom and say, 'Rumpelstiltskin, I call to you'. It's quite simple—he's always listening for those words."

"Then how come he didn't come now?" Morph asked.

Vivian sighed. "Because he knows I have nothing else to give."

. . . . . . . . . .

Rampion stood in Vivian's bedroom by herself. The others had all attempted to take her place, but she'd insisted. Will was her father; it was her deal to make. Otherwise, Rumpelstiltskin might not think she was desperate enough, and she was certainly desperate. Whatever the cost, she would save her father. If she couldn't have her mother ... since she had failed her mother ... she wouldn't let the same happen to Will.

Rampion took a deep breath before calling, "Rumpelstiltskin, I call to you!"

The effect was instantaneous. Rumpelstiltskin formed from the shadows in the corner of the room, in his tall, handsome persona. She wasn't sure which was real. "Ahh, back so soon, Rampion?" he said, grinning and showing off his missing teeth. "I thought you didn't want a deal with me to save your father from Nimueh."

Bitter tears pricked at Rampion's eyes at the mention of Nimueh, her mother's killer. She pushed them aside—she had to be on top of her game to save her father. "You know what I want," she said. "My father is unconscious and dying from Nimueh's torture. I want to save him and wake him up."

"Easier said than done," Rumpelstiltskin answered. "That will require something very, very—"

"I'm not finished yet," Rampion cut him off. The snake of a man's eyebrows shot up at her rude tone, but she didn't care. If she was going to make a terrible deal, at least she should get a lot out of it. "You have to end all your past deals. All of them. And you need to leave us alone, and not fight with Nimueh anymore."

"What you're asking for calls for a high price," Rumpelstiltskin said. "A very high price indeed. Are you sure you're willing to pay it? I wanted your life in exchange for your father's. What can be more valuable to me than that, in exchange for all these added things as well?"

Was it worth it? A moment of confidence-sapping doubt spread through her. Fear that she would lose out in the end. Terror that her father wouldn't approve. Worry that she would fail what she was going to do. But it was worth it. She clutched her red hair, long as her mother's and red as her father's, the testament to their strength and love. Both to each other, and to her. Mama, wherever you are, Final Death or Heaven, I'm doing this for you. I hope you approve. "I have something of great value to you," she choked out, surprised at the tightness in her throat as she fought back tears.

"Oh, really?"

She nodded. "When the time comes and The Story demands it ... I will accept my fate and do as I am supposed to. I won't fight it anymore. Vivian told me you want The Story's continuation no matter what, in whatever form. Isn't this the best way for it to continue?"

To Rampion's surprise, Rumpelstiltskin smiled widely—and not a cruel smile. Happiness seemed to have changed his face from the twisted rage and mockery of before to something ... different. "You would truly do that? And only ask for those things in return?" he said. "Then I accept your offer, Rampion Scarlet! And remember what happens when you renege on a deal with me ..." From nowhere he procured a contract and quill pen, offering the pen to Rampion with his long nails and grubby hand.

Rampion accepted his offering without a word and signed her name at the bottom. Once she had stepped back, the contract snapped up into his hand and disappeared from sight. He clapped his hands together in glee. "The deal has been struck! Good luck, Rampion Scarlet. A chance to embrace your newfound fate may come sooner than you might think." Before Rampion could question him further about what he meant, the magician had twirled his finger above his head and disappeared.

Her audience with the greatest magician in The Story was over.