Something More Precious Than Gold
Part 1
Rumplestiltskin sat with his back to the doors leading into the dining hall, his hands threading the brittle hay through the spindle absentmindedly; he was lost in thought and concentration. Silence consumed the room, Rumple liked it that way; the solitude allowed him to contemplate his plans and decisions.
One particular decision rested in the forefront of his mind. The war had left traces of unwanted magic all around the kingdom and enchanted forest; bad magic that could be smelt like the rising wafts of sewage. Rumple could feel a darkness steering ever closer to his solitude and it made him restless. Such power only he alone could possess, whether this entity knew of its great abilities yet or not didn't matter, those powers would soon be part of Rumple and he would destroy whatever stood in his way.
He was lifted out of his cunning when the creak of the opening door pierced the emptiness. Belle, whose long dress was tied back to make sort of an apron, lifted in a tray of food and drink. She did not speak but was careful not to lift her gaze towards Rumple. She was tired of his teasing, the rapid mood changes and the fear she felt when he became angry. Although it was not fear for herself, Belle was scared for the man that had once resided in the body now possessed by darkness. She had seen the outcome of dark magic and did not consider, despite her captive circumstances, that anyone deserved to be overcome and destroyed by its unlimited power.
As she pulled back from the table and the tray she had set down, she caught a brief glimpse of her captor still endlessly working away at his spindle. She was possessed by a sudden anger and spoke without intentionally meaning to.
"Why do you make so much gold for yourself when others need it more? And besides you could conjure up anything you wanted or manipulate anyone for what you wanted, why do you persist at that…thing?" Belle pushed a stray hair back from where it had fallen into her eyes, she felt flustered. And that feeling only grew as Rumple slowly turned his head to look at her.
"There is always a need for gold, dearie" Rumple said giving Belle a cautious glance. She had been with him for a while now but never had she exclaimed something so personal, something that niggled at his past. "I may as well be rich as well as powerful. And this way I make the gold myself, for myself."
"Make the gold? You use magic to manipulate the spindle." Belle interrupted.
Rumplestiltskin dropped the piece of hay he was about to begin threading, he kicked the stool out from under him and strode over to Belle. A few steps before he reached her, Rumple stopped and hesitated. Belle was looking at him with so much fear. He spoke steadily. "Magic is power. Magic is who I am. I only need magic!" The last few words came out as a shout, his hands curled into fists.
"You don't…"Belle started to speak bravely but stopped when Rumple grimaced and stuck up his hand.
"Get out!"