Chapter 1- Discovery

If there was one thing Belle was proud of it was her library. In under a month she had transformed the boarded, dusty building under the clock tower into a reader's haven. It hadn't taken much either. A few squidgy sofas, the odd colourful rug and a good ol' dusting had done the trick. Rumple had reluctantly helped her with the dusting but that was probably because she had made him wear the pink rubber gloves.

'I like them. They go with your tie.' She had quipped with a smile.

'Do you even need gloves for dusting?' He moaned preferring just to magic the dust away in a second. 'Look! You're not wearing any!' He folded his arms which just made him look funnier and Belle put her hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh.

'I didn't say you'll be doing the dusting…' she trailed. 'I got another job for you. The toilet needs a scrubbing.' He stared at her incredulously and she couldn't help but laugh this time. 'I'm just joking give them here.' Rumple chuckled along with her and she replaced the rubber gloves with a vibrant yellow duster. He bowed and waved it extravagantly like a magic wand. Belle grinned and grabbing her own duster they both whisked over the shelves and anything they passed having more fun than they first thought. As they had finished Belle still wasn't quite happy.

'Something the matter Belle?' asked Rumple both of them now relaxing on the new sofa with a cup of tea.

'I don't think there are enough books…' she said warming her hands on her mug.

'What? Really?' He looked around the room. 'There seem plenty enough to me.'

'I know but the children's section is a little thin and I still haven't found a copy of Phantom of the Opera…'

'Write down what you need and I'll see what I can do. Its no good having a library without the right books now is there?' he said simply sipping from his mug.

'You'd do that?'

'Of course. Anything for you Belle.' She leaned over for a kiss which he accepted lovingly.

He had meant what he said as well because the two days later he arrived with over five boxes stacked with books. Some of them weren't even on the list and Belle had eagerly put them on the shelves ready for the weekly school visits. Belle had left her office till last. It was just as messy as the rest of the library but she didn't mind. There was a mahogany desk that Belle had instantly fallen in love with and now Belle sorted through the papers that cluttered it. The library wasn't open until ten so she had an hour to have a quick sort. The desk was piled high with papers none of which had anything to do with the library. She sifted through them and put them in the recycling. She moved to the front of the desk which had two large drawers. One opened with a mighty pull but only had a broken glasses case and a half full bottle of whiskey.

'Whose desk is this?' Belle thought aloud. The desk adjacent had a keyhole and no matter how much she pulled Belle couldn't open it. She searched around for a key not finding it anywhere on the desk. Belle peered on the floor and had a feel under the desk for any nooks that she could use to push the drawer out. She couldn't find any but what she did find was the key. It was sitting on a shelf under the desk. Blowing off the dust Belle twisted the key in a lock with a rusty clank. Inside the desk was book. It was like no book Belle had ever seen. She took the book out carefully it was large enough to fill the entire drawer. The musty pages were covered in expensive brown leather and it was heavy enough for Belle arms to ache after a few minutes. On the cover was a coppery Celtic knot of intertwining snakes all coiled together so you couldn't say where it begun or ended. Belle was surprised to find that the pages were bound in a golden lock so you couldn't open the book. There was no keyhole either so she couldn't attempt to look for a key this time. Intrigued she called Rumple who she hoped would know more than she did. She had seen all the weird and wonderful items in his shop. The phone picked up after two rings.

'Belle? How are you?' He seemed chirpy. Belle could tell by his voice whether he was busy or not.

'I'm fine but I found something rather interesting in my library desk do have a few minutes to have a look. I know you're busy with the shop…'

'No problem. The shop is quiet as usual I'll be right there.' Belle put the phone down excitedly and studied the book once more trying to find some sort of mechanism that opened the lock. She had been at it awhile because she heard Rumple calling her from the front door. She went out to him and handed him the book which he analysed profusely. He was just as excited as she was when he saw it. Not many books have locks on them unless they contain something mischievous or precious.

'You've made quite the discovery Belle this book is locked with magic.' He concluded after a few minutes. 'Show me where you found it.' Belle showed him to the desk and the now empty drawer. 'I have no idea where this desk came from but this book shouldn't be in it. Someone was hiding it or protecting it, I don't know which one.'

'Can you open it?' Belle questioned hoping that it wasn't just a book of spells that would be anti-climatic.

'Probably.' He answered quickly. 'I don't know whether I should though. I don't know what is in there. For all we know it could house a demon or…'

'Rumple! Where's your sense of adventure?' she pleaded. There was no way she could possibly sleep that night not knowing what was inside. She scrunched her nose and raised her eyebrows with hopeful smile to which he held his hands up to.

'Alright. I'll open it but if an evil spirit comes flying out you will have to be the one to ask it nicely to hop back inside ok?' She nodded happily and he grinned knowingly before turning to the book. Concentrating he slowly moved his hand across the cover with a blue shimmery hue. Instantly the coil of snakes on the cover twisted and shook but stayed the same shape. The lock on the side opened with a hiss but no demon flung from its pages. They waited a moment before Rumple gestured for her to have a look. She opened the cover gently and the title page read:

The Never Ending Story

It had no author and no witty blurb or even a date of publication. Just the title in bold lettering. She looked back at Rumple and he shrugged so she continued. It read chapter one.

'Not a book of spells then?' Belle said surprised. Usually all the old interesting one were.

'Apparently not. But Belle you won't read it will you? I'm still not sure its safe.'

'Rumple it's a story. There was no monster in the pages like you said there might be. What harm can a book do?' She held his hand reassuringly.

'It wouldn't be locked for no reason.' He explained but Belle knew that as soon as he left she was reading it. After assuring him she would be fine he left with the bottle of whiskey that she'd found. Belle before settling down for the exciting read ahead guiltily she put a closed sign on the library door with a note for the returns to go through the letter box. She also moved her ready made lunch to the sofa along with a cup of tea. She sat cross legged and the book fitted snuggly over her knees. Head bent she begun reading not knowing what she was letting herself in for.