Chapter 8 Rumble Stillskin One day, a poor miller was called before the king.
He said, I have a beautiful daughter who can spin straw into gold.
This was not the truth.
The miller was just trying to impress the king.
What a useful talent to have, the king said.
Bring your daughter to the palace tomorrow.
The next day the king took the miller's daughter to a room filled with straw, a spinning wheel and a spindle.
Before he locked the door, he said, Get to work.
If you haven't spun this straw into gold by tomorrow morning, I'll lock you up in the castle prison.
The miller's daughter burst into tears.
What am I going to do?
She said, I don't know how to spin straw into gold.
Just then, a gnome appeared.
Little girl, why are you crying?
The girl told him what her father said and what the king had ordered.
Is that all? the gnome said.
What will you give me to spin this straw into gold for you?
She thought for a moment.
Hmm, my necklace?
Very well.
The gnome sat down and quickly spun all of the straw into gold.
Then he disappeared.
The next morning, the king unlocked the door and saw all the gold.
His greedy eyes widened.
There was a lot of gold, but he knew a king could always use more gold.
He took the miller's daughter to a bigger room filled with even more straw.
You have until morning to spend this straw to gold or else.
The girl was frightened and started to cry.
The gnome appeared again.
"'What will you give me to spin this straw into gold?'
The miller's daughter said.
"'This ring on my finger?'
"'Very well,' the gnome said.
He sat down to spin the straw into gold.
The next morning the king was happy to see all the gold, but it was still not enough.
He took the miller's daughter to an even bigger room filled with even more straw.
If you spend all of this straw into gold, I will make you my queen.
But if you don't, I will lock you away forever.
When the king had gone, the gnome appeared.
What will you give me to turn this straw into gold?
He asked.
The miller's daughter replied.
I have nothing left to give.
If you promise to give me your firstborn child once you become queen, I will spin all of this straw into gold for you.
The gnome said.
Who knows what will happen between now and then, the miller's daughter thought.
No one would actually make a mother give away her child.
So she agreed, desperate to have the gold to please the king.
The gnome spun the straw into gold.
The next morning, the king discovered yet another room filled with golden thread.
He was so pleased that he arranged the wedding ceremony and feast for that very day.
A year later, the new queen had a healthy, happy baby.
She had forgotten all about her promise to the gnome.
When he suddenly appeared, asking her to keep her promise, she became very upset.
I can give you all the treasures in the world, but please let me keep my child.
The queen begged him.
All the treasures in the world were not what you promised me.
They are not what I want.
She started to cry, and the gnome felt pity for her.
He said, if you can guess my name, I will let you keep your baby.
I will give you three days to do so.
All night long, the queen made list upon list of names.
She asked all around the kingdom for names that she might have forgotten.
The gnome arrived the next day wanting to hear the queen tell him his name.
She started reciting the names.
Casper, Melichor, Balthazar.
After she had said every name on her list, the gnome said, No, you have not said my name.
I will be back tomorrow.
The queen asked even more people for new names for her list.
When the gnome came to see her the next day, she asked if he was rib-themed mutton chops or spindle shanks.
She tried the most unusual name she could think of, but each time he said no, that is not my name, I will be back tomorrow.
The queen sent messengers to every single corner of the kingdom.
She had to figure out the little gnome's name.
One of the messengers returned on the third day with some news.
He said, I came around a bend in the forest and saw a funny little hut.
In it there was an odd little man dancing around a fire.
He said a little rhyme that went, Tomorrow I brew, today I bake.
Soon the child is mine to take.
Oh, what luck to win this game.
Rumpelstiltskin is my name.
Oh, thank you, she said to the messenger and gave him a handsome reward.
When the gnome appeared, she asked him, is your name Connor?
No, that's not my name, he said.
A sly smile crept across his face.
What about Harry?
No.
Could it possibly be Rumpelstiltskin?
The little gnome was shocked.
How did you find out? he shouted.
How did you know?
He stomped his little foot and shook his little fists, but the queen had won the game.
Rumpelstiltskin left the palace, never to return.
