Summary: {prompt from rumbelleprompts on tumblr...I've tweaked it a bit to fit my needs in the story.}
Belle is the next in line to become queen, but the people are antsy because she hasn't married yet, they want her to produce an heir, the sooner the better. Her solution is to pick a random man of the kingdom, whom she'll give her virginity to and take as a lover until she becomes pregnant, then she'll have an heir and keep her freedom since they're be no need to marry. Every man's name is collected, and she draws the name of poor spinner Rumplestiltskin to be her lover.
Rumpelstiltskin. The Queen, Belle, wonders if she should know this name. She assumes she shouldn't, as it was from the bowl of lower status citizens… But something in her rebels. She wishes she didn't have to have different bowls for each status, lower, middle and high.
She could hear every breath pause as she read off the name. Rumpelstiltskin. It rolls off her tongue well enough that she almost thinks she could say it on a day-to-day basis. As she looks from face to face, she can tell there is nothing but disgust for this man.
What she doesn't understand is why. And so she asked, her voice ringing out in the silence, "Is he here? Rumpelstiltskin?"
"Milady," Lancelot, one of her most trusted knights and advisors, said lowly, "Rumpelstiltskin would never dare to appear in front of you."
"Why not?" Belle persisted, looking frustrated at the fact she didn't know something about her beloved kingdom.
"He's the coward, milady." A woman with brown hair called out. "My old husband, he was." she added.
Belle's face grew red as the woman spoke. "Come forward." Belle beckoned the woman. "Tell me about your- your ex husband."
The brunette walked forward and curtsied. "His name, as you know, is Rumpelstiltskin." She began. "I became Milah Gold when I married him." she added vainly. "About two years ago, he was drafted into the ogre wars. Six months after he left, he returned. With a bum leg, he'd crushed it himself."
Belle gasped softly, looking at her own legs. "Why? Why did he do that?" she asked.
"Claims to have known I was pregnant. He didn't want to leave the child fatherless, he said." Milah responded.
Belle looked at her, disgust taking flight in her stomach. She turned to Lancelot. "Bring me Rumpelstiltskin, and whatever he requires." She demanded, her tone brooking no arguments.
"Yes milady." Lancelot had almost looked as if he wanted to argue, but he dipped into a respectful bow as he went to retrieve the man.
Milah looked at her in confusion. "What do you want him for? He's not good for anything." She said snidely.
"I believe I will tell that." Belle snapped before she could compose herself. "Leave me." she stated as she glided out of the room gracefully.
Belle knows that what was decided was for Rumpelstiltskin to possibly become her lover. This however doesn't settle well with her. She would like- like to provide for him. She wondered what happened, what truly happened, to make Milah find such hatred in her heart to lend to her husband.
CROSS POSTED ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN
I AM AN ADMIN OF A RUMBELLE FACEBOOK GROUP: Rumbelle For The Win
LOTS OF LOVE, KINDLE
