Hey everyone! I had this idea come to me when I was studying for finals. The beginning of this story I had taken from the 2015 Cinderella movie, I just thought it would fit into this story nicely as a short introduction for Belle's mother. Anyways I hope you enjoy this story, for I am having a wonderful time writing it. Also I do not own Once Upon a Time, for if I did it would probably be called Once Upon A Rumbelle.
A cold rain was falling, turning the walls of the French manor as dark as blood. The woods were dark and foggy, echoing with sounds from the creatures that dwelled within the darkness. The night had brought sorrow to Maurice French, who awaited news on his wife, who had collapsed just the day before.
Maurice watched intently as his nine year old daughter, Belle, paced back and forth in the hallway. He knew that her books had only distracted her for a portion of her time, while the rest she spent asking questions. Belle twirled on her feet and sat back down on the chair beside her father. "What is wrong with mother?"
"I'm not sure, darling." He answered, honestly, not dating to peel his eyes off the wooden door in front of him. He heard the sound of the doctor and nurses pacing inside, just as Belle had. Suddenly, the door creaked open and Maurice stood up immediately to speak to the doctor. "Will my wife be alright?" He pleaded, attempting to sneak glances inside at Colette, who has still taken up residence in her bed, barely stirring.
"I am so sorry" the doctor apologized, taking off his hat to offer his sympathies. "She will not recover from this illness." He reached down and grab Belle's hand. It was just as he had feared. Maurice bid the doctor thanks and farewell as he lead Belle into the room to say goodbye to her mother.
"How much longer does she have?" Maurice asked one of the nurses while they gave him sympathetic look. "Could be anytime now. Might be best to say your goodbyes now, just in case." The nurses and bedmaids then exited the room to give Belle and her father privacy with her mother.
Belle walked over and instantly embraced her mother, cuddling up to her side, reaching out for her hand. "Please don't go, mother." Belle pleaded.
"Belle, my darling," Colette rasped, "I want to tell you a secret. A secret that will see you through all the trials of life. You must always remember this: Be kind, and follow your heart, for it will guide you to your happily ever after." She spoke.
"I will, I promise."
Colette then kissed the top of her daughters head, before placing the book on the nearest side tables. Tiredness began to overtake her, she felt her breathing weaken, it was almost certain that she would not last the night. "My beauty, I am sorry I will not be here to see you further grow into the beautiful woman I know you will be. Please forgive me."
"Of course I forgive you." Belle whimpered, her bottom lip beginning to tremble. Belle had never read a story that had ended like this before. Maurice wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes as he watched his daughter and wife embrace tightly. "I love you," she kept repeating, "I love you, I love you."
Colette reached her cold hand out towards Maurice, who had tears streaming down his cheeks. She gave him a faint smile as he joined his hand in hers. "I know that I am leaving you on a lonely path, my love, but that is not what I want for you. In time if you find you are ready to open your heart to love again, I want you to do so."
Maurice did not know what to say, but held his wife in his arms as she took her last breath and fell asleep into an internal slumber. From that day forward, Belle finally understood that not every ending to a story has a happy one.
Time passed, and pained turned to memory. Maurice had watched day by day as Belle grew from a child into a mature beautiful woman, just as her mother had been. In her heart, Belle stayed the same because she remembered the promise she had made. Follow your heart. Her father however was muched changed, but continued to wished for better times. They remained in their charming manor on outskirts of the forest, while the absent of Colette's presence seemed to plague them.
Belle and Maurice sat on the cushioned couches by the warm burning fireplace. A book was opened on Belle's lap as she read it aloud to her father. She had read to her father often, it was something that had allowed them both to calm their nerves after a long tiring work day.
"And they all lived happily ever after," Belle finished dreamily, gently shutting the cover of her book shut and clutching it tightly against her chest. "I do love a happy ending, don't you?"
"They are quite my favourite sort." Maurice agreed, smiling to his daughter.
"As well they should be." She spoke, taking a sip from her hot tea. The soft crackles of the fireplace had brought Belle into a relaxing meditation, especially with the cold and dark weather outside. However, even in her state of relaxation, Belle sensed her father was holding something back from her.
"Belle," Maurice began, "I have concluded I believe it is time, perhaps, to begin a new chapter in our lives."
"Indeed, father." Belle placed the book on the table beside her, listening closely to what her father had to say.
"Do you recall me telling you that in my travels I had made the acquaintance of Sir Henry Mills?"
"Yes, the master of the Birchwood guild, is he not?" The beauty questioned.
"Was," Maurice corrected his daughter, "the poor man has died, and he has left a widow who is still in the prime of her life, who now processes his fortune. As you know, we no longer get financial support from your mothers noble relatives so I just thought-"
Belle scanned her father's facial expression. There was something he wasn't saying, something he was holding back from her, as if he were too intimidated to bring it up. "You mustn't be afraid to tell me father, if it will lead to your happiness and if it will save our house."
"Yes," Maurice nodded, "maybe there is some chance that I can have the happiness of love once more. Lady Cora Mills will be your stepmother and you will gain two lovely stepsisters to keep you company."
Belle got up out of her chair and hugged her father. She knew that he had been very lonely since her mother's passing. She also wondered if this new chapter that her father spoke about would bring the well deserved happiness to both of them. Perhaps Cora Mills would be everything her father described her to be. Maybe she would be allowed one last chance at a mother figure in her life. This brand new chapter could bring joy and life back into their lives. But as much as she wished it, Belle did not know how wrong she was.
1 year later...
Belle ran from the forest, using her book as an umbrella for her already soaked hair. She passed the stables and the farmlands, collecting mud in her hem of her dress as she went. Finally, she took a moment to shake off the accumulated rainfall from her hair and sweater before entering her household. However, Belle did not make it two steps inside before she cringed at the sound of her stepmother's harsh voice.
"Where have you been all afternoon?" She hissed from the dining room.
Belle took a few moments to hang up her coat and shake her hair. Her book has somehow escaped the fate of being water logged, the cover remained clear and unaffected. "I was reading in the forest, until the rain spoiled it." Belle replied, although the muddy hem of her dress explained it all. Suddenly, Belle acknowledged two other presences lurking by the doorway. No doubt it was Cora's daughters, Regina and Zelena, the beauty could hear them whispering to one another, scowling in Belle's direction.
"Just for one day can't you pretend you are not an ignorant peasant?" Cora barked, while Belle's stepsisters had gone quiet upon hearing their mother's words. She knew that they were watching her intently, watching every expression and reaction that occurred. For that reason and that reason alone, Belle did not let the sting and ache from Cora's hostility show.
The beauty lifted her chin up high. For one day can't you pretend not to be a blood-sucking miserable bitch? She thought. Ever since her father had married this woman her life had continued to go on a never ending spiral of being tortured by both Cora and her terribly mean stepsisters.
In the moment of hatred, Belle thought of her book. It truly was a lovely story, filled with adventure and passionate romance, everything she had longed for, yet it was also everything she knew was out of her reach. Belle knew that not all stories had happy endings like the ones in her novels; the death of her mother had taught her that painful lesson.
"Take those disgusting clothes off; you look like a kitchen wench." Cora ordered, picking up the sweater Belle had hung up and threw it in the fireplace. Belle took a deep exhausted breath in, while running her fingers over her long chestnut curls. She couldn't win. It was three against one, her life was a continuous nightmare of unfairness. Belle took her time as she slid off her dress, holding back all the words she wanted to retort back at her stepmother. It would be futile, for if she caused conflict, Cora and her daughters would make her father's life more stressful and harder than it needed to be.
"Can you make a pot of hot water and add wood to the fire?" Regina asked, while Belle noticed the nearby woodpile, only obtaining three logs left. "I thought you were going to chop wood today." She growled, while Regina picked at her neat, polished nails. "I hate chopping wood. I always get splinters." She glanced up from her dark long lashes. "Besides, Belle," she spoke with a pout, "you're so much better at it! Your nails are cracked and your hands are already so rough-"
Belle's jaw clenched, while Zelena took the opportunity and demanded, "also my dresses need to be stitched up."
For once, Belle would love to see Regina and Zelena outside doing the farm work, helping to plow their crops, or chopping firewood with an ax. She would take utter delight in watching Zelena cry out in disgust as she got mud on her bright pink dresses, and Regina, as she broke one of her manicured nails. Gods forbid they do any of their own household chores for a change.
The door opened suddenly, causing all four women to stand and address Maurice, who was covered in white powdered snow. He didn't bother taking off his damp jacket or boots as he entered the main room, carrying nothing but a white envelope.
"The courier brought this" Maurice spoke, "from the castle." He held up the piece of paper as if it were a golden trophy. He handed the letter to Cora before any of the girls had a chance to see it. The envelope was laced with white ribbon and fine ink was printed on the front of it.
This was no normal common letter, Belle observed. She recognized the castle symbol along the front, but what business would the nobles want with them?
The girls watched attentively as Cora ripped the letter out of its fancy envelope. Her stepmother stared blankly at the piece of paper, catching quick glances at Belle as she walked forward.
"Dear gods," she whispered, "we are saved!"
Zelena and Regina immediately rushed to their mother's side, fighting over the envelope to find out the big news. Their hungry eyes scanned the letter with haste, until they both finished reading, slowly glaring up at Belle with envy as they did so.
Zelena cleared her throat and read the letter out loud for all of them to hear. "Lord Gaston LaRoux requests Isabelle French's hand in marriage. They are hosting a ball at the castle in a fortnight to make the engagement official." Zelena repeated in a state of disbelief.
"It would seem that Gaston has accepted the arrangement I had proposed." Maurice boomed, happily.
"What arrangement are you referring to father?" Belle inquired, curious to know why her stepmother and step sisters were glaring at her as if she were a piece of meat.
"The LaRoux family has agreed to join our houses together as one. Gaston has agreed to marry you within a fortnight." He finished, a wonderous grin on his face. With good reason, Gaston was a lord, the marriage would benefit the entire family. It would pull them out of the current state of poverty they were living in.
Belle felt as if she were going to be sick, wishing she could shake his words out of her mind. An arranged marriage? One of the biggest burdens she bared was the single responsibility was to marry, to bear her husband sons, and now, it was finally happening.
"Engaged?" she repeated, wishing she could turn her nose the other way and disobey this proposal. "Yes, betrothed to be married." Maurice confirmed, a happy glow beamed across his pink rosy cheeks. Cora wrapped her arm around Maurice's, giving him nods of approval after every sentence he had spoken to Belle.
"Betrothed." Belle's voice rang flat. "To Gaston. But, Papa… why?" Maurice paused and sighed, looking around at Cora and her daughters.
"Ladies, may I have a private conversation with Belle for a moment?" Cora bowed her head submissively, snapping her fingers, initiating her daughters to follow her out of the room. Before exiting, she placed a kiss on the outside part of Maurice's whiskered cheek. The door closed shut behind the girls, leaving Belle and her father in deathly silence.
"Surely this isn't a shock, Belle. You've two have been friends for years."
"Friends?" Belle gave an un-ladylike snort. "We have nothing in common," she protested, imagining it now, Gaston would be off sword fighting while she would be left alone to raise his children. "He is a good man, Belle, I believe it is a good match, he will treat you well."
"Treating me well and loving me are two very different things. I want someone who will love me for me. Even when I try to show interest in his barbaric sword fighting, he insists I go find an activity more appropriate for a woman." She snarled, irritated. "He also hates sharing conversations because they only prove I am far more intelligent than he is, and…and-"
"There are much worse things he could do. Gaston may not be the brightest man in the world, but he's strong, he can protect you. Plus, his status will give your children titles and a well off future!"
"But I don't love him!" Belle protested.
"Love can always grow" Maurice added, "when I first married your mother we couldn't be any more different, but eventually we grew to love one another. There was not anything I wouldn't have done for your mother, she truly was the love of my life." There was sadness in his eyes, especially now. He had seldom spoke of her mother in these past few years, perhaps the memory of her death was still to painful to dwell on. "It is wonderful that mother had been your one true love, father, but I know for a fact that Gaston is not mine."
"Time will change that, you must understand that it is for the benefit of this family that you should be married. Cora has funded us for months now, it is out turn to give back." Maurice concluded, not allowing Belle to have another opportunity to fight back. Belle felt her lips turn into a snarl. Over her dead body. Belle knew that if Cora had the chance, she would have that arranged.
"Cora and I have discussed the possibility of this happening and she agrees with me." Maurice explained, gaining an upset reaction from his daughter.
"Of course she agrees with you!" Belle exclaimed, angrily, "she is not the woman you think her to be! Any chance to get rid of me she will take it, especially if it benefits herself!"
"Your stepmother is insistent on this marriage, Belle.""If she insists on a marriage so ardently, why doesn't she arrange Regina or Zelena to marry Gaston?" The beauty outburst. Afterall, it wou ld make sense. Cora would gain more wealth and power if one of her own daughters had married into a noble family. Maurice shifted his position. "She has tried, but Gaston is only interested in you for his bride. Your mother was Gaston's father's second cousin, making you an agreeable match for him." He lifted up her chin with his fingers, "you are my daughter; I only want what is best for you. Gaston can provide you wealth and protection, something that I have failed to do for you these past years."
"You have never failed me father, you even married that evil witch so we could keep this house, to keep mother's memory alive."
"Do not refer to your stepmother as an evil witch, Isabelle." Maurice demanded, causing Belle to cringe at the sound of her full name. She had only been called Isabelle when her father was exceptionally angry with her. "Cora may have her faults" Maurice continued, "but all of us do, including you."
"And what would you consider my faults, father?" Belle challenged, "that I actually obtain a brain in my head? Because ever since you married that wretched woman I have been questioning where yours has gone."
"Don't" Maurice warned, "you are to do as your told, young lady. It has taken me many sacrifices to prepare for this arranged marriage, it is the key so save the house, your mothers house."
Belle felt her expression go sour. How dare he bring her mother into this. It was not her mother's fault that they were struggling to keep them from being evictd and it certainly was not her mother's fault that Maurice had become blinded by Cora's dark ambitions. The beauty watched as her father turned from a state of fierce madness, to a state of mere normalcy. He knew that he should not have raised his voice at her, challenged her so, especially on such a sensitive topic. "You're just as stubborn as your mother was." He spoke quietly, causing Belle to relax and let out a sigh of relief. She didn't like fighting with him. In fact, he was the only person in this house he trusted and could talk to without getting infinite demands. "I won't marry him, Papa."
"You will marry him." Maurice concluded. That was the end of it. Belle had lost the argument, or should she start calling herself Mrs. Gaston LaRoux?
Belle couldn't think of that anymore. Even though there was nothing she could do that would change his mind. Cora had her strong talons too deep into him for any sort of logical reasoning on this matter. "In time your love towards Gaston will blossom." Maurice finished.
Belle wished she could believe him. In fact, the beauty wanted nothing more. For if a love could blossom out of this opportune circumstance she could save her family from impending ruin. Could she really learn to love Gaston? Belle really doubted it.
The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted that the Winter would only get worse. They had said Spring was to arrive early, yet Rumplestiltskin did not see any sign of the frost giving up. He had never liked the Winter, being raised down south, he had never been able to adapt to snow.
The Spinners acquired a spacious cottage alongside the streams of the village. He had lived here since he was eleven, since his father had abandoned him here without any explanation or any clues to where he had gone. Rumplestiltskin had thought of his mother often, she had died tragically during childbirth, a crime in which his father never fully forgave him for.
The head spinner, Ingrid, had taken care of him growing up, providing the best she could for him given her poor circumstances. He knew that she once had a husband of her own before he fell ill to a fever and never recovered. Years in isolation had lead her to become a celibate spinner, caring for an orphaned boy who had no sense of direction or understanding of why he had been abandoned.
Rumplestiltskin felt himself shiver as he opened the door, carrying a basket of straw inside with him. "Where were you all morning, Rumple?" He heard Ingrid's voice asked him from across the room. "I thought I would get to the market early, get the best pick of all the straw." He spoke as he placed the basket down on the table in front of her. "Any sign of an upcoming blizzard? This Winter has been exceptionally chilly this year. It has caused half the sheep to freeze to death, it is something that we cannot afford. We need that wool to spin, or else I'm afraid we will not be eating for quite sometime."
"Is there anything I can do?" He questioned, reading the look of distress on her concerned face. Ingrid shifted her position at the table slightly, looking up to stare into Rumple's creamy brown eyes. "In fact, my boy, there is something you can do," she paused briefly, searching her drawers until pulling out a beautiful laced invitation. "I ave gotten you a seasonal job at the castle. You are to serve at the ball they are hosting in a fortnight."
"The castle?" He asked, "don't they have usual servants to wait on their every demand?"
"Indeed." Ingrid spoke, "but I m afraid most of them have died from the seasonal influenza virus."
"Still, that seems like a job description that I am not qualified for."
"We need the extra income, Rumple."
"What are the nobles hosting a ball for this time?" Rumplestiltskin scoffed. It seemed as if every few weeks the nobility had some sort of excuse to get together in an extravagant setting and boast about how much gold and wealth they each have. "I believe this ball is for a marriage. Probably a spoiled princess being married to that brute, Gaston."
"The nobles celebrate anything they can, in fact, they would probably celebrate celebrating if they could!" He chuckled, listening to the sound of the other spinsters spinning in the backroom.
"There is nothing wrong with celebration," Ingrid interjected, "especially in a time such as this, the ogres are moving up from the south every day, who knows when they will be on our doorstep."
"The ogres have been ascending north for nearly a year. If the castle would allow me to be knighted, I cold go and fight them to protect the realm."
The squeaking sound of the ladies wheels turning matched their laughter. "You get funnier and funnier everyday boy." One of than said, picking up some of the newly purchased straw and weaving it between their fingers.
Ingrid did not join the hysteric laughter, instead she straightened up and go out of her chair. "Rumple," she began, "would you mind fetching the box from the inventory in the back, customers are approaching the door."
He obliged the request, however, Rumplestiltskin nearly dropped the box on the hard floor when he saw who was walking up to the front door. He would know those crystal blue eyes and long wavy brown hair anywhere. Belle French had an accent you wouldn't soon forget and was the most beautiful creature he had ever lay his eyes upon. With long chestnut curls and piercing blue eyes, she must have been an angel sent to live amongst mere mortals.
He felt his heart beat faster as he fumbled his thoughts, immediately running towards the inventory in the back. Though Belle was all of those things, there was just one problem: Rumple had never spoken to her before. In fact, the idea of even speaking to her was utterly terrifying. What would he say? What if he made a complete fool out of himself?
They had come to purchase ribbons weekly at the shop, he had taken up residence in the upstairs quarters, watching silently from the tiny hole in the floorboard. He saw Cora Mills, a strikingly frightening woman who had often worn too much makeup for comfort, followed by her two constantly bickering daughters.
Rumplestiltskin froze as he set his sights on Belle, who despite of her fake smile and daydreaming gaze, seemed rather... sad. Rumplestiltskin continued to observe the four women as Cora began shouting demands an expectations for gowns that needed to be made for the ball.
"Where is that boy with that box?" A spinster growled, "He has been back there for a bloody century." She barked. Rumple felt his body stiffen at the words, he prayed that Ingrid would not go back to check to see what was taking him so long.
"What brings you to our shop?" Ingrid asked, politely. Cora pursed her lips as she examined the disgusting poor living conditions of the house. We are in need of dresses for the engagement ball at the castle. Lord Gaston has agreed to take Belle as his wife."
There was silence around the room, sparking hope and fear into Belle's heart. Had these women also realized what an insane idea the marriage had been? Though Belle had noble bloodlines through her mother, she was far from being a princess.
In the backroom, Rumplestiltskin felt his heart being ripped from his chest. Oh Gods no, he thought anyone but her. He had heard of Gaston's awful reputation with women. He had bedded more than half the women in the country already, what use would he have for Belle? She was different than the rest of the other women, she was perfect, too good for that lord... and also much too good for him.
"When will the wedding take place?" The other spinners sounded from the back room. Belle went to open her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Cora. "It really depends on the ogres war." She spat, "if it weren't for this ridiculous war we would make sure they were married within a fortnight."
"Belle, you will make a lovely bride, my dear." Ingrid smiled, receiving a faint returned smile from the beauty.
"Just make sure you don't mess the dresses up." Cora barked, "we aren't paying you for a half well done job." Zelena and Regina then handed Ingrid the different ribbons and material that they wished their dress to be made out of.
Once all that business was attended to, Cora marched outside of the door, followed by her daughters, slamming the door loudly behind them. Belle was left behind, irritated and slightly embarrassed by her stepmothers horrific attitude. The spinners had always been kind to her, and Ingrid had even known her mother when she was younger.
"Thank you." Belle spoke. "You ladies have always done a remarkable job on all of our gowns. I wouldn't expect even royal spinsters to do such a fine quality job."
"Actually, it is my foster son's doing. He is quite the talented spinner. I told him that he could spin for King's and Queen's one day if he wanted. Maybe next time you will have the privilege of meeting him."
Belle smiled, "I would like that."
In fact, any chance to get out of that house and away from Cora sounded wonderful to Belle. The beauty then reached into her pockets and approached Ingrid, placing a few silver coins into her hand. "This is a little extra for the beautiful gowns I know you will create."
Then, giving them all a warm smile before heading towards the door. They watched as the brown haired beauty raced to catch up to her stepmother and stepsisters that were already long gone.
"That poor sweet girl," one of the women cooed dreadfully, "she has to live with that witch and those terrible girls, it just isn't right." Ingrid nodded in agreement. It was true that Belle French was being served a great injustice being the kind girl she was. She recalled the days when her mother, Colette French, would visit the shop with Belle when she was only a toddler.
Rumplestiltskin returned into the room following Belle's departure, putting the heavy box down on the counter. "It is curious that whenever Belle French walks into this store you seem to disappear." Ingrid smugly stated, glancing back at the other spinsters who had began snickering amongst themselves at the comment.
"I think that is a mere coincidence." Rumple stated as calmly as he was able to.
"The boy is in love with her!" The spinsters called to Ingrid, forcing a blush from Rumple's cheeks.
"You old bats are absurd." He scoffed, trying his best not to be the center of ridicule. Was it that painfully obvious to them that he had fallen in love with her these past years? However, what seemed to be more painful was the fact that Belle French did not even know he existed.
"You have been in love with that girl from the first moment you saw her when you were sixteen." Another said, giggling to themselves.
"It doesn't matter anyway," Rumple hissed, "after she gets married to Sir Gaston, I'm sure I will never see her again."
Rumplestiltskin's answer had left the spinsters quiet, for they knew that was inevitable. The silent pity and sympathy made his head ache, he didn't want the pity from a bunch of old women. What he wanted was to be left alone.
Without speaking another word to them, Rumple picked up straw and sat down at the nearest spinning wheel. The spin of the wheel could help him forget her, and the real pain he felt of the possibility of never seeing her again.
He closed his eyes, imagining her. He thought of her blue eyes that reminded him of an ice pond in winter, and her contagious giggle. Yes, Rumplestiltskin guessed he would not see Belle French again. However, fate had other plans.
Next Chapter: Belle and Rumplestiltskin finally meet at her engagement ball. However, an interesting proposition is made when Belle learns that Rumple cannot read.
Please leave a review and let me know your thoughts or predictions on what is to come. As always, thanks for reading!