First post is chapters 1 through 4. The rest will be singular chapter posts I just downloaded the first four in one swoop because I had them pre-written.
1
Rumpelstiltskin's talon like fingers gently strummed the china teacup as he watched the new 'care-taker of his estate' cleaning up on the higher shelves that time had long forgotten. Weeks had passed and his once dark, unkept home was gleaming and clean. Sitting at the table idley, his eyes shot to his spindle but quickly found the girl again. She let out a petite girlish sneeze as the feather duster kicked up a cloud of an ancient layer of flith. He watched carefully as she held onto the rung of the ladder above her head, she was a beautiful and intelligent young woman though grace was not her name for a reason. He watched her regain her balance and his body relaxed again bringing the steaming cup to his lips.
Taking a long drawn sip as he admired the sunlight on Belles beautiful face, he was not certain in his long life that he had ever seen such a fair maiden. Lost in a lapse of thought he missed Belle climbing down the ladder and only just managed to see her lose her footing on one of the lower rungs. In a wisp of smoke the imp was prepared to catch her before she could bruise that porceline perfect skin. She let out that delicate melodious laugh as she shook her head. "Thank you, one of these days you won't be here to catch me and I'll really feel what its like to take a fall." Belle said her tone jovial.
"Lets hope that never happens then, Dearie." Rumpelstiltskin replied, his voice sugessting distaste at the idea of this delicate creature being hurt. "Wouldn't want the place to fall into disrepair again." His eyes flickering up to hers as he tried to say the last part as impassively as possible. Quickly his eyes flashed to the wall looking past Belle as he set her down gently.
"Perhaps it's time for you to stop for the day, the sun is nearly set." He gestured to the newly unveiled windows. The sky was that of a water color painting, the horizon a mesh of blue, pink and orange creating an array of colors that defied description. "Come, have some tea." He pulled out her chair and gave a charming little bow before taking his seat at the table.
"Thank you." the beauty repeated and took a seat beside her captor. "Rumpelstiltskin...could we." She hesitated and sighed. "could we play a little game, I'm terribly bored with just cleaning."
He watched her as she bashfully folded her hands onto her lap waiting for his reply. A wry smile pulled his lips tight. "What sort of game did you have in mind?" His voice soft and steady.
She thought for a moment and then met his eyes. "It's a question game, I ask you something and you must answer honestly and then you ask me something and I must answer honestly."
"Deal." The beast replied his gleeful smile revealing his sinister looking teeth.
"No, we aren't making a deal it's a game." She shook her head. "Not everything needs to be done in business terms."
Rumpelstiltskins smile dissapeared as he tilted his head curiously at the brave young woman. "Quite right, Dearie. Besides I already have you, I suppose you don't have much left to bargain with." He gave a malicious giggle and poured her a cup of tea. Taking two cubes of sugar and plopping them in carefully as he nudge the hot cup to Belle. "Who shall ask first?"
"Me." Belle replied without a moments silence. "Why did you shut out the sunlight before I came here?"
His brow furrowed in thought, one long digit grazing his own green-gold skin. His gaze peered towards the window again as the very last light of the day beamed through the glass. "I don't live in the sun Dearie, I do my dealings in the dark. People are more willing to admit what they truely want and who they are when they don't have to do it in the light." His knowing eyes looked methodically back to the girl. "My turn then?"
She nodded taking a long sip of tea wondering what he might like to know about her.
"Had you not come here, where do you think you would be today?" He asked this partially out of curiousity but also because when ever Belle spoke of home, the longing in her voice reminded him of how he once longed for home as well.
"I would be married, I would be most likely carrying the heir to the throne." Her nose crinkled slightly showing that she did not care for that thought. "I would be in my Papa's castle and on the arm of Gaston...his prize that he won."
"Won, How?" Rumpelstitlskin asked seeing if his second question could slip by.
"Yes, Won. How he did it is another question entirely." Belle lush pink lips drew into the most adorable smile.
"I suppose." He nodded thinking to himself that she was paying attention to the fine print even if it was just a game.
"My turn." She bit her lip as she considered her question. "What are you really trying to forget when you make your gold?"
"I don't remember Dearie, it has been awhile." he said entirely way too quickly, his voice losing its composure slightly.
"That's not true, you're just afraid to talk about it." Belle insisted.
"Afraid? Why would I be afraid to talk about things that are merely shadows now?" He asked his gaze baring into her.
"Things are only shadows when you keep them in the dark, we already know you don't like to deal in the light." She answered without the slightest bit of humor to her voice. "You said you would be honest."
"Ah but this is a game, we never did make a deal." He shrugged nonchalantly his hands gripping his tea cup firmly as he stayed very still.
"Fine, Deal. Question for question...no more skirting around the answers." Her delicate features seeming much more serious as she decided to play her game his way.
Her fingers ran through her chestnut curls as she waited for him to seal the deal. His face blank though his mind was racing. How would she know a lie from the truth? He could simply fabricate his tragic past. Would that be fair though? Did he really want to lie to her about in the first place?
"Deal." his head bowed in consent.
"What are you trying to forget?" She asked again, her voice piqued with interest.
"It's not so much a what, Dearie as it is a who. I try to forget who I was, before...before I became the beast. I was a father and a husband, I was human and..." He stopped himself short of the word 'powerless'. "It's best that I keep it forgotten." Rumpelstiltskin frowned into the reflective surface of his tea.
Belle saw the sorrow in his eyes and for a moment felt embarrassed to pick at the imps old wounds.
"I believe it is my turn again, correct?" He broke the awkward silence not able to stand the look of sympathy coming from the gorgeous girl beside him. "Why do you believe you were Gastons prize?" the answer was self evidant on her appearance alone. He somehow doubted that the sword weilding brute had any regard for Belle's intelligence.
"My Papa, he was worried that I would wind up unmarried." She spoke with a note of laughter. "I always had my nose stuck in a book, when a woman wants to know about the dealings of men they tend to be puzzled..or afraid even. Papa knew if he could just arrange a marriage for me then he wouldn't have to worry about me courting a prince. He held a ball so that the royal families from kingdoms all around could attent and their sons could be entered into the quest. Each suitor was to try to kill the goblins on the edge of the forest who had begun to steal the children in my fathers village. Many of them died before Gaston's turn. He spends all day practicing with his sword its no surprise that he would know how to use it as well as he did. He came back bloodied with the Goblin Kings head in a sac and was given my hand in marriage in exchange." Belle sighed and shrugged. "I was a prize to be won to the princes and Gaston was no acception. I could tell he was very eager for our wedding night."
An unfamiliar pang swept over Rumpelstiltskins heart, he didn't like the idea of devaluing such a precious girl. Her own father making her the trophy to save the people, isn't that how it always was though...yet the kings were always said to be wise and fair.
"You don't look at me the way they did, I could feel hunger when they watched me at the ball that night." Belle added on as she tried to think of another question and clear her head of her own answer.
"You're quite a beautiful girl, Dearie but you are simply the keeper of my estate. Someone to dust off the shelves while I spin how should I look at you?" He asked his voice sounding unphased. He did not expect her to answer this question but he admired the deep rose flush that crept across her cheeks now. "I do believe it's your turn Belle."
He had seldomly used her name, she had almost gotten used to being addressed simply as 'dearie'.
"You asked to keep me forever, you could have used me for what ever purpose you wanted and you could have easily have several servants to keep the castle clean. Why did you bring me here?" Belle's voice remained tempered and even as she was careful with her wording. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear delicately as she took another deep drink of tea.
"You were the most precious thing your father had to offer. As you said I have spun more gold than I could ever dream of spending, you were the only gem I could not have without a deal being struck." Rumpelstiltskin smiled grimly at her. "You are quite a prize, Gaston was no fool to risk his life for your...hand. " the last word came after a long knowing pause, his eyes scanning the shapely shiloutte of his prisoner.
"My question." He giggled as his hand rested against his chin mocking the motion of being deep in thought. His question rolled smoothly off of his tongue. "Why haven't you tried to run away?" He had experience with other desperate maidens agreeing to come to his castle forever, after their end of the bargain was met they all had tried to escape.
When he looked to Belle's face he noticed that it had a hint of sadness painted across it. She was hurt that he had called her a 'prize' , though she had realized that she was just that, she would always be that to one man or a beast. "I am your prize, Rumpelstiltskin...where ever would I belong if not here with you. I have nothing to run to, at least here is an adventure, something unknown. I won't ever have to worry about sacrifice or loss again because I am merely a prize."
With that she stood up. "I'm sorry I'm a little tired." She curtsied sweetly doing her best to hide her disapointment in her face. "If you'd excuse me I think I'll head to my room." The last word was said with a bit of irony, though it did still sound better than dungeon.
"Of course, goodnight Belle." Rumpelstiltskin waved gently towards her, gesuturing to excuse her. He watched her quickly leave the room the hem of her dress vanishing behind the door frame. He looked out the window it was dark except for the pale glint of the moon. She had been just a trade to him, a deal, a prize. As he sat there, his tea cold now he realized how fond he had become of her. She was kind to him, she was not afraid to speak to him as if he were truely any other man. He shook his head knowing that he hit a tender spot by calling her a prize. What surprised him was the fact that he cared that her pride was hurt. Maybe, just perhaps there was something there that wasn't there before.
- 2
Belle sat up in her tower, she could have sworn she felt eyes on her just a moment ago, it must have been a dream. Looking around her cell, the barred window gave way to the light of the morning sun. She stretched feeling well a little sore, the straw bed on the cobblestone floor did little for comfort. As she rubbed her bright blue eyes and blinked lazily waking herself for the day, she noticed her door was already unlocked and open. Most mornings so far she had to wait for Rumpelstiltskin to make his way to her room and release her. She assumed it was out of fear that she may escape in the night when he was out doing his dealings.
Combing her fingers through her long dark hair she picked up the dress that her Master had laid out for her at the foot of her door way. Heading down into the parts of the castle that were more inhabitable. Finding her way to a bathroom she drew open the curtains letting the sun shine in. She pulled off a sheet that was covering the mirror and looked into it staring back at her own reflection. She was always told how beautiful she was, when she saw her features in the looking glass she couldn't help but think that she was average. The same brown hair as the other girls, the same eyes and cheekbones. She never understood men coveting her for something so common when she had the knowledge of hundreds of books tucked neatly inside of her head.
Rumpelstiltskin had watched her from outside the little window in her dungeon all night. She was a genuine beauty, especially in the deep recess of her slumber. He couldn't help but keep his deep cold eyes on her, it was better that she didn't see him fawn over her. He was by all rights and definition a monster and she, she was far too good for an imp. None-the-less through good fortune and bargaining she was his to do with as he pleased. A sudden visual flash lit up his mind with what exactly would please him with his Belle. His familiar sadistic giggle echoed in the night air as he vanished in a cloud of purple smoke from outside the window.
Reappearing next to Belle a moment later, careful not to rustle the hay on which she rested. His hand reached for her face, he found himself wanting to touch her soft skin but he did not want to wake her. Retracting his hand he compared the bleak color next to the vibrant pale hue of this beauty. Frowning he shook his head, what did it matter to him if she found him undesirable? A deal is a deal after all and she promised to be his forever, he left loopholes open intentionally on the details of how she would be with him.
He stayed close by being still and silent. Conjuring a pretty dusty blue dress, suitable for cleaning of course; leaving it out in Belle's sight so she would find it when she woke. Hours had passed and he was contented staying in the tower with her, observing her with interest. When the sun began to peek through the bars he noticed the girl stirring and he evaporated in a sudden wispy cloud.
Belle began to draw herself a bath, pouring in a few drops from a perfumed oil bottle into the water. The stone roon started to smell like a green grassy meadow, she closed her eyes inhaling the fresh scent. Beaming brightly as the memory of spending many hours in the feilds, among the flowers reading in serene solitude. A quick rapping came to the solid oak door of the bathroom as it swung up gently. "Knock, Knock Dearie." Rumpelstiltskins voice met her ears as her eyes saw him stride into the room.
"Good Morning." She bowed her head politely holding the dress he had gifted her in the night in her hand. "Thank you for the dress, you're too kind."
Did his ears decieve him, he had been called many a thing. Kind had never been one of them. "Blue is your color," He gave a thin smile of amusement.
His boots gave soft echoing thuds as he stepped closer to her. "I haven't smelt flowers in ages, I had nearly forgotten how soothing they can be." He spoke softly eyeing her tub. The meadow scent was much more appealing than the musty smell that lingered in some parts of his castle for years now. She reminded him day after day since she had been here of all the beautiful things he had dismissed.
"Perhaps you should spend time spinning the straw in to roses?" Belle laughed light heartedly. "You'd get more use out of them then anymore gold."
"Perhaps." He nodded wondering why he had never though to craft other things with his magic. Gold is what men wanted, it was so easy to make and easier still to buy people with. He did like how she thought, she was very off the cuff. "I've met few other Princess's that exercise their tongue as freely as you do , I made a better bargain than I thought."
He stepped closer to her closing the distance. Brushing the back of his hand tenderly across her cheek, he towered over her but he was not trying to intimidate her.
"I'm not so certain thats a virtue." She blushed that stunning shade of red again that made Rumpelstiltskin feel the air knocked from his lungs.
"It is dearie, it is." He managed to whisper. His hand pulling away reluctantly from her supple cheek. "Hurry now, more dusting to be done after all." He withdrew a few inches from her before turning on his heel and leaving the bathroom.
Belle quickly washed up, her muscles relaxing from having slept on the barely padded stone floor. The water felt wonderful as it carressed her and washed away the dirt from the day before. Lifting herself from the water and tousling dry before putting on the gift from Rumpelstiltskin. Admiring the artistry of the fabric she wondered if he had spun this for her on his precious wheel. Seeing how careful the stitching was she concluded that he must have made it, for no human hands were as skilled. She smiled into the mirror as she fixed her hair. Blue really was her color, he was sweet for saying so.
3
Belle didn't mind that hands were a bit raw, one of her tasks today included scrubbing the floors of the entrance hall(which was no small task though she was determined). The stone was dirty and terribly scuffed up from years of neglect. She rung out the rag the basin of water nearly black with dirt and she had just changed the water in it minutes ago. She sighed looking to the corner of the room where Rumpelstiltskin sat spinning a pile of straw into mounds of gold. She wiped her cheek, her hand muddy almost from scrubbing. A black streak of dirt marking her pale cheek, it went unnoticed as she worked to finish the job.
After a few more squares of stone she stood up going to carry the dirty water to be changed once again. Her fingers were drenched and wrinkled from the moisture though and she lost her grip on the glass edges of the bowl. "Oh, oh my goodness." Her wide eyes darting over to preoccupied man.
She heard his laugh and she tensed up nervously, she never could tell if that sound was a good or a bad thing in the first place. "I'm sorry Rumpelstiltskin, I didn't mean to."
"No, no, no of course not dearie. For all the beauty that you have, you lack that in co-ordination. I expect many more of my trinkets will be broken and if you are going to apologize each time it will get tiring." He peered over his shoulder flashing her a friendly grin.
"I'm not much of a care-taker if I keep breaking your things." she said smiling still a bit uneasy.
Rumpelstiltskin stood and strode over to a cabinet against the wall. He withdrew a large crystal vase adorned with intricate celtic patterns. The imp's cold gaze looked to the vase and back to the beauty. He repeated this gesture once more before turning his palm upside down and releasing the vase. A fraction of a second later there was a reverberating *smash* that echoed in the hall. He giggled quite amused at the look of surprise on that fair face. "Things are immaterial Belle, I have what I want even if she is...clumsy."
Belle's eyes were still locked on the bits of shattered crystal beside the imp's feet. It had been such a dazzling piece of work. She almost felt sad that he was able to destroy something so special and fragile without any remorse. He looked down at the sharp scattered bits with indifference before flashing an unreadable smile to the girl.
Rumpelstiltskin magicked his way across the room so he was suddenly standing in front of her. She watched his hand move to cup her face, his skin was the most intriguing mix of color, a grey green with almost a dusting of gold on the surface. His long lithe fingers met her face, his eyes looking down at the dirt on his beauty's face. Sweeping his thumb in soft stroke against her porceline skin, cleaning the mark away. "Just a bit of Dirt, can't have you looking like you're a cinder girl."
She stood perfectly still, taken aback slightly at how tender his hand felt cupping the side of her face. She blinked a bit dazed as Rumpelstiltskin giggled with delight at his own little joke. He then compared Belle to that girl who desperately wanted a prince, he was suddenly reminded with a faltering feeling of dismay who he was. Pulling his hand away from the young womans cheek and with a sweeping motion of his hands both the glass basin and the crystal vase had repaired themselves. Holding the bowl to Belle with an awkward silent push into her hands he dissappeared from the room leaving the girl dumbfounded.
Belle looked around the room astonished. "Rumpelstiltskin?" She asked being answered with silence. Her voice slightly louder as she repeated the name again. After a moment her eyes sank to the bowl in her hands and pushing away the plethora of questions circling in her head she went to fetch clean water. She would finish the floor and she had hoped when she had she would find him at his spindle, concentrating unknown thoughts into more valueless gold.
Rage was boiling through his blood, who was she to not make him feel worthy? Some Princess that had been traded to win a silly little war! He felt a long forgotten emotion of humiliation, he felt lower than when he had bowed to kiss that bastards boot. A quiet growl vibrated in his throat as he thought of his skin upon hers, how warm her cheek was. The bright white skin decorated with just the smallest flush of pink. He let out a stream of frantic laughter as he shook his head.
You are Mad, simply Mad Rumpelstiltskin if you think that creature wants anything to do with you! If you hadn't forced her to come she would be back at home with her foolish father discussing what a...Beast you are.
His thoughts racing making his blood course with fury. Then another thought entered his head. She was never afraid of you, she came willingly. As willing as the girl could be anyhow and she hasn't tried to run. She hasn't avoided you, she's thanked you...she called you kind.
He felt some of his anger dissapating as he clung to that notion, she did call him kind. Concentrating his frustration he pounded both tightly close fists against the stone wall. His shoulders loosening and his body shrugging as he regained his poise.
He wouldn't go bother the girl again today, he had pressing matters to attend to tonight and for that he was grateful. There were whispers of a maiden with corn-yellow hair locked away by a possessive witch. The sun would soon give way to the night and he could flee his castle for the night. He would leave the doors unlocked so that the beauty might escape as well.
4.
The girl sat weeping at her window sill, gazing out at the moon reflecting over the water of the lake miles from her tower. Her impossibly long corn-yellow hair draped down her back and across the floor of her prison. Her tears pouring down her cheeks unaware that she was being watched. Rumpelstiltskin sat on the edge of her bed watching the desperate girl sobbing. When he lost amusement he finally cleared his throat. "Hello, Dearie." his voice whispered from across the room.
Rapunzel stiffened in place. Her face whipping to look over her shoulder, her expression one of astonishment and fright. The imp let out a satisfied giggled which sent a tremor down the girls spine. His face was shadowed as he stood from the bed, her eyes watching him carefully concentrating on the gleam of his eyes against the faint light of the moon.
"Who are you?" she asked breathlessly, her terror radiating in waves towards the stranger.
"It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is what I could do for you." He replied calmly he lent carelessly against her vanity so that she could see his face from the flicker of the lantern.
"What can you do for me?" The niave girl asked without hesitation.
A dark grin crept across Rumpelstiltskin's face. "I can give you freedom, so you can be with your precious Prince."
"The witch has the tower cursed, how could you release me?" Her fright giving way to interest. She reeked of despair and he had given her a glint of hope.
He laughed and gave an airy gesture of dismissal. "She might have power over you dearie but there are powers greater than hers."
She shot him a quizical look, she wasn't as bright as Belle but then again she had been locked away all these years.
"She's nothing but a lonely old woman keeping a pretty flower like you locked away in a tower." His gaze looking out at the star bejeweled sky. "Do you not want freedom, Rapunzel."
She hadn't told him her name, yet he knew it. He seemed tricky and sly but he was offering her freedom, her prince, the world. "Yes, please, please help me escape." she pleaded her voice breaking as she bit back tears wishing he could do it.
"Gladly dear girl though…" He crossed his arms giving her a thoughtful look,his voice fluttering melodically, "freedom comes with a price."
"I have nothing you could possibly want." Despair returning in full force to her voice, she had no gems or gold to offer the mysterious man.
"How would you know what I want dearie?" He giggled and swooped with one elegant motion gripping her long braid in his hands. "This must have taken many years to grow."
"My whole life I think. The witch always told me that i have far to pretty hair to cut." She replied unsure why he would ask her that.
"She really does love you, you know…your mother." He controlled his lips from curling into a grin as the girls face twisted in disgust.
"She's not my mother." she shook her head.
He nodded, "My apologies deary, you're right. Anyhow the witch cares for you greatly."
"She is cruel, she keeps me locked up here and she won't let me be with my love." The princess insisted a defiant tone to her voice.
The look in her eyes was that of a nearly broken soul and an aching heart. Being locked away for so many years had taken its toll on the poor girl. Rumpelstiltskin's thoughts were sent to the night before when he had watched Belle sleeping locked in her own tower. He never wanted to see that expression of hopelessness in his beauty's eyes. He shook his head looking back to Rapunzel.
He paused for a moment running his fingers across the soft yellow hair. "The price for your freedom is…your hair."
"You want my hair?" Rapunzel asked confused.
"Yes, all that I want so you can find true love is your hair." He stood up straight making himself taller as the girl was forced to tilt her chin up to keep her eyes on his face. "Do we have a deal?"
"She'll kill my prince even if you help release me…" the girls voice said softly, she may not have had any life experience but she knew to be afraid of magic.
"Then an amendment, Your freedom and your prince…alive." He met the girls deep green eyes. "In exchange for your hair and one of your twins."
"Twins?" Rapunzel looked at him offended. "I'm not…we haven't." She said wanting to defend her honor.
"No, no you haven't but you will. When you do there will be twins a boy and a girl, you can give me the one of your choosing." He gave out a sinister laugh.
The maidens mind was a fog how could she bargain away her children to this apparently dark man. Then again if she never were to be free she would have no children, he said she would have twins and he only wanted one.
"It's a deal. You may have our daughter." She sealed the agreement with those words knowing that a her prince would want an heir.
"Agreed," he bowed to her she watched his untidy hair drape infront of his face. "I'll have my own flower."
Her heart sank and she remained silent as she took in his words, how could she have just volunteered her daughter to the same life that she had been condemned to. "Wait."
"ah, ah, ah dear a deal is a deal."Putting up one hand to hush her with a wry smirk. He pressed his palms together as he peered at her. "Besides its you or her, do you really want to stay in the tower?"
"No, I don't." She shrugged and sighed resigning herself to the agreement already made.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a sharp pair of scissors. He smiled at the young girl as he brought the identical silver blades to her hair. He let out a long hollow sound of laughter as he cut clean through her thick braid. Cutting her hair just above her shoulders. Holding the very heavy braid in hand he gave rapunzel one last smile before disappearing into a signature wisp of purple smoke.
Her entire body felt lighter, would she really be able to escape? She hadn't notice the fading of her tower from around her. Soon she stood in the distance looking up at the window that she once dreamed to escape from. "I'm free." she whispered before turning sharply and running with a fierce streak of determination through the forest. She needed to find her prince, she need so badly to find her true love.