Chapter 1 forest
`Go, I don't want you any more dearie'. The words ran threw Belles mind as she trekked through the dark forest. She felt like she was being followed, for a moment she thought it could have been Rumpelstiltskin but if it was, he would have made him self known to her. Not spy on her like he did in the dark castle as she cleaned. Belle turned around but saw nothing. Not an autumn leaf move or an animal, not even Rumpelstiltskin, the one she was hoping to see. As she turned back around to walk again, she was thrown back by a force that she could not explain.
While she was unconscious, she dreamt of Rumple. How he joked with her how he cached her, the day she fell of the ladder and into his arms and the day that he kissed her. She dreamt of that more than anything because she thought of that more than anything. The day his soft lips touched hers gently and did not pull away. Every time she thought of the kiss, she also thought of how he screamed and shacked her after wards for almost breaking his curse. She knew that he loved her or the kiss would not have worked. As she was dreaming of the time Rumple caught her, when she fell, as she was in his arms she could hear a voice saying "I think she is coming around". She knew it was odd because that was not in the memory.
When she awoke, she was in a house that was in the forest. All she could she were trees but in one window, she could see her fathers kingdom and the palace. From this view she could see it all. All of a sudden, she could hear footsteps behind her but she did not turn till she heard a gentle sweet voice said "I see your awake, I hope your head feels better".
Belle did not understand why her head would be hurt but then Belle felt the top and she could feel a bruise, followed by a lump "who are you?"
"I'm Victoria and you are?" The woman held out her hand to sit at the table as she had food in her hand.
"I'm..." Belle didn't know what to say, should she give a false name in case of danger. Belle thought for a moment and decided to give the woman her real name because she was being so kind to her. "I'm Belle".
The old woman smiled at her and said "well it's nice to meet you Belle, now please eat". She pointed to the food that was in front of Belle. Belle started to eat and every once in a while, she stopped for a moment and smiled at Victoria.
After both of them were finished eating and sat down in front of the blazing fire, the women started to ask questions. "I beg your pardon but who exactly are you? How did you get in the forest? And what happened to you?" she said "I don't mean to sound rood but the way I found you, it looked like something tragic had happened to you".
Belle looked at the fire and every time she closed her eyes, she had a flash back to the dark castle to him. She could still hear the sound of his laugh and the way he said dearie. She could still feel his hands on her and she could still feel his lips on hers. The taste of his soft lips and that sizzling taste she felt in her moth, when she kissed him were still there, since she left the dark castle she had assumed that was magic. She answered "my heart was broken...we fell in love but he did not want to accept the possibility that someone could want him...so he threw me out". A tear drop escaping from her eyes, the woman Victoria moved closer to wipe the tear from Belle's rosy red cheek.
Belle only thought ` Rumple should be doing this, he is the one making me cry so he is the one that should wipe my tears away. I should be with him but the stupid man does not believe that our love is true'. Belle suddenly said "I'm okay just the memories of him...they hurt".
"Then he is a fool to have let you go. You seem like a nice girl to me and any man would be lucky to have you near them, let alone have your love".
"You are very kind, Victoria, but...he was my true love. I belong with him but the stupid man can't see it".
Victoria put her hands around her and embraced her in a hug. Then when she pulled away she said "you can stay here as long as you like, you can help me in the town".
Belle said "thank you but in the morning I am to be on my way. My father's castle is not far from here, so I will go there".
"Well, know that you have a friend here, to help you whenever you need".
"I know and thank you again for everything".
Victoria just smiled at Belle and in her eyes they said `its alright it is good to have some company'. Her eyes showed kindness the one thing Belle had little of since she left the dark castle.
As she stood up, she still had her cloak on. She removed it but then the rose, that Rumpelstiltskin had given her, fell from her hidden pocket inside. As it fell to the floor, Belle could only stare at it then Victoria said "are you okay?" Belle stood like a statue, not even bending down to pick the rose up. Victoria bent down but when she retrieved the rose, tears escaped from Belles eyes again.
Belle continued to look at the rose then she said "it...it was the first gift he gave to me" she wiped away a tear "he was so nice, he bowed down, when he presented it to me...I took it with me to remember him" Victoria handed the rose to Belle.
Belle twirled the rose between her fingers and then smelled it. Victoria then said "if he truly loves you he will find you".
"How"?
"By the power of love" Belle smiled at Victoria and then back at the rose "come, dear, you should get some rest, if you are going to see your father in the morning".
She lied down on a bed that Victoria had set out for her. She placed the rose next to her on the pillow and said "good night, Rumple, I miss you" she fell asleep with the rose next to her.
