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Chapter 1
The Binding Contract

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A faint light hit the young girl's closed eyelids before her body was greeted by the familiar cold she grew to hate. A long sigh passed over her lips as she slowly opened her eyes to see the familiar stone ceiling above her. Katherine stayed there for a moment before she finally pushed herself off her cot and to her feet. The redhead's knees cracked after she stood to her full height before she stretched out her back and neck.

Once she was fully awake, Katherine made her way over to her small barred window. She stepped onto the small stool and looked out at the landscape that surrounded the castle she was forced to call home. Her eyes landed on the clouds as they inched their way across the sky before they found a family of wolves running through the trees without a care in the world. The different sights the young girl saw always made her wish she could escape these walls and join them. But she knew that was never going to happen.

Just as a small smile began to form on her face at the sight of birds flying through the air, a small swooshing sound broke the silence. The next thing she knew, a cloud of maroon smoke began to circle around her body and blocked her vision of the outside world. It didn't take long for the fog to clear and she found herself in the dining room of the castle.

A shaky breath passed over her lips before turned around to meet the sparkling face of the Dark One. The power-hungry man just stared at her for a moment then waved his hand through the air and made a broom appear in her hands. Rumplestiltskin didn't say a word as the red smoke surrounded the girl once again and sent her to one of his many dark rooms.

After letting out another sigh, Katherine began dusting the shelves and knick-knacks around the room then she pulled the curtains open to let in some light. Her feet moved around the room like they had a mind of their own as she continued to clean the many magical objects that she'd never understand.

Hours passed before the redheaded girl finally finished cleaning the many large rooms that fill the castle walls. However, she never had a chance to take a break because as soon as she sat down, the familiar maroon smoke surrounded her once again. It didn't take long for it to vanish into thin air before she found her back in her cell. Anger flowed through her veins at the sight of the stone walls until her emotions were replaced by sorrow when my eyes fell on the window that let her look at the outside world. While Katherine stared at the small square, she found herself questioning what she did to deserve that kind of life.

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The next day, Katherine found herself stuck in the same routine that she followed for the last twelve years of her life. The only difference from every other day was that Belle was with her. Usually, the Dark One had the two of them separated because he thought they got our work done faster when they were on their own. But she knew the real reason was he didn't want them making an escape plan together, even though the brunette woman would never want to leave this place for reasons Katherine would never understand.

Belle used to be a princess with everything she could have wanted, only to give it all away to protect her kingdom from the Ogres. No matter how much Katherine told herself that the brunette woman made the right choice in protecting her kingdom, she couldn't help but feel jealous that Belle had some sort of choice in coming here and wasn't forced into this life.

As she dusted one of the bookshelves, the redheaded girl's attention wandered out the window as a squadron of knights rode by the castle. Her eyes stayed on the small group as she listened to the faint sound of their horse's hooves hitting the dirt until were out of sight. Even though they had to fight in the Ogre Wars, Katherine envied them. They were allowed to enjoy the world around them without having to worry about the most powerful man in the lands breathing down their necks. If it were up to the redheaded girl, she'd rather fight in that war rather than continue working for the Dark One. At least she'd be able to go outside and feel the wind on her face.

"I know he doesn't want us talking but I just have to say that I'm sorry he won't let you get a taste of the outdoors," Belle broke the silence, drawing Katherine's attention away from the clouds in the sky, "a girl like you should be running around an open field, not trapped within the four walls of this castle."

"I tried to tell myself that every day," the young girl muttered before turning her gaze back to the green treetops while letting out a quiet sigh, "but at some point, I just faced the fact that this is how the rest of my life is gonna go. There's no point in giving myself false hope."

Before the brunette woman could respond, Katherine was surrounded by the Dark One's magic and transported to one of his many offices. She didn't hesitate to make her way over to one of the many storage units that fill the room then she opened a drawer to organize some of the contracts that the powerful man has collected over the years. Her fingers flipped through the files to see if anything happened to be out of place even though she knew she just finished organizing them the other day.

Just as she was about to move on to the next drawer, her movements halted when her eyes landed on a certain file at the very back of the storage space. Katherine normally wouldn't pay much attention to the papers, knowing that the Dark Ones doesn't like when she or Belle read over his contracts, but this one stuck out more than the others. Her fingers gripped the parchment as her eyes reread the date neatly written on the top corner.

March 17, 1969. The exact day she was born.

Katherine ignored her better judgment and slowly pulled out the paper then she walked over to the desk in the corner of the room. The redhead lit the candle on the corner of the table before unrolling the scroll to read the deal that was made with the Dark One twelve years ago.

I, Rumplestiltskin, sometimes known as "The Dark One," or other names that I may choose or have been chosen for me, do enter a contract with Fergus and Elinor, rulers of DunBroch and its surrounding lands.

The time of initiation of this contract shall be at the moment that Fergus and Elinor initially gave their word. However, I shall require the signature, mark, or seal of the one with whom the contract is made.

Fergus and Elinor wish for me to save DunBroch and its surrounding lands from the onslaught of the Ogres, who have of late brought much ruin and hardship to the resident's lives. Their majesties also request that their children all live, with no harm to come to them.

It should be noted that in fulfilling my end of the bargain, that the Ogre Wars may not, in probability, end immediately and some battles may still carry on for a time. However, I will endeavor to use my magic to bring this war to an end and of course, first and foremost, to protect their land and children however and whenever possible.

The royal family has agreed to turn over their youngest daughter, who was born just hours ago, to me in return for keeping the Ogres at bay. As agreed, she will be unharmed but will be taken from DunBroch and the royal family to live her life in my castle.

Katherine's whole body froze while her eyes continued to reread the last paragraph of the contract. Anger began to course through her veins as she rolled the contract back up and threw it against the nearest wall. Tears formed her eyes while her head filled with thoughts about how this life was chosen for her the moment she was born. Her family, if she could even call them that, condemned her to a life that no one wanted.

Just as she felt the urge to scream, an almost inaudible swooshing sound broke the silence. Katherine's blood ran cold as she slowly turned to find the Dark One standing a few feet away from her with an emotionless look on his face.

"You weren't supposed to read that," he stated after making the contract appear in his hands, "but at least now you know why you're here and why you always will be."

Before the girl could respond to the man, Rumplestiltskin used his magic to transport Katherine back to the cell she'd grown far too familiar with. Her eyes instantly went to the barred window that gave her her only view of the outside world before the tears she was holding back broke free. A sob passed over her lips as she sat down on her cot and brought her knees to her chest. The only thoughts that raced that night were of how "her parents" gave their daughter away to some maniac in order to survive an unwinnable war.

Katherine knew she should've been honored that her life was worth just as much as a kingdom full of people but all she felt was hatred towards those who sentenced her to life with the Dark One.

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