Chapter 1
It was exactly midnight; she could hear the bells chiming the hour. It was then she walked to her window and called out into the night "Rumpelstiltskin, Rumpelstiltskin, Rumpelstiltskin." the old stories all stated that he would come if she only called and was in true need of him. And Belle really did need him; the ogre war was almost upon their doorstep. She could see the fires off in the distance of the villages that have already fallen.
Minutes passed and Belle was starting to give up hope. Maybe the stories were just that, stories. Belle turned and went to go climb back into bed and there he was. Standing at the foot of her four poster was the beast feared by all. His skin was a greenish-gold that almost seemed to shine from the small amount of light thrown from the few candles she had placed around the room.
"You called, dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin said with a smirk. Belle took a step back and gasped in shock. After a few moments she realized he was waiting for her answer. "Yes-" she replied stumbling a bit over her words. "I need your help" "Most people do if they call me" he said with a giggle and a swish of his hand, it didn't look like he could keep them still for a second. They were constantly moving.
Belle took a deep breath "The war is almost here and I want to keep my village safe." "And how are you going to do that?" he asked raising his eyebrows. Belle felt a little spike of frustration, he was playing with her. "Well I was hoping that with the rumors of you being so powerful you might be able to do something to stop the war." She said carefully, not wanting to feed his ego any more than it already was.
"It seems you are in luck, dearie, I can save your village⦠that is for a price" his voice had a sing-song quality to it. "I will give you anything you ask, just save my people." she replied "Well, well, dearie. What do I want" he paused as if considering what the worst possible thing he could ask. "Ah I know" his smile made her shiver "How about you?"
"Come with me and be mine forever and in exchange I will save your village from the war." "No one else will be hurt?" Belle asked, though the thought of living the rest of her life with this beast was enough to make her want to cry. "You have my word" the deal maker said extending his hand. "Then it's a deal Rumpelstiltskin, me for the safety of my village" Belle said reaching out to shake his hand.
"Inform your father of our deal and pack whatever belongings you wish to take with you. I will return at sundown tomorrow to collect you" he said before vanishing. Collect me, Belle thought to herself, as if I were an object.
Belle took a few minutes to slow her rapidity beating heart. Once she had calmed enough she ran to her father's chambers. The guard at the door was surprised to see the young maiden about at this hour. "M'lady what brings you here, you should be sleeping." He scolds her gently. "I must see my father immediately; could you fetch him for me?" "Of course M'lady, I will return shortly. Make yourself comfortable in the sitting room while I wake him"
She had only been sitting a few minutes when her father exited his bedchamber. "Belle, my beautiful flower, what brings you here in the middle of the night" one look at her face and he moved forward to pull her into his arm "what troubles you child" Belle took a few moments to compose herself "I have made a deal with the imp Rumpelstiltskin. He has promised to save our village." "And what price my dear has he asked for this" he said warily, fearing the answer. "I promised him myself in exchange for the safety of us all" she said with finality knowing he would try to argue. "Belle I won't lose you, not to that beast" he said holding her tight "Papa, I have already made the deal. What's done is done"
He knew that no one ever went back on a deal with Rumpelstiltskin.
The hours she had left seemed to pass by in seconds, and before she knew it the sun was starting to sink below the horizon. Belle and her father were spending their last minutes together in the great hall just enjoying each-others company. She had only packed a few things; a couple dresses, a pair of sturdy boots for outdoor wear, and the necklace that had belonged to her mother.
He arrived the second the sun went down, suddenly appearing in the center of the hall. "Ready to go, dearie?" he said with a huge smirk. Rumpelstiltskin, the most feared being in the enchanted forest. He strode forward confidently.
Belle stood up and bravely walked forward. "I'm as ready as I will be" her father stayed silent fighting back the want to beg for his only child. "We'll let's get to it dearie. Times a wasting." Rumpelstiltskin said stepping forward to take her arm. Belle shivered and flinched away from his touch. A slight frown brushed over the imps face. And then they were gone. Belle's father cried out at their sudden disappearance and finally broke down and cried. He had lost the last thing he truly cared about forever.
