Origins: Part One
A/AN: This is one of those "What if" scenarios in which Belle isn't captured by Regina when Rumplestilskin banishes her from the Dark Castle. She finds herself in another time period where she meets a much younger Rumplestiltskin before he was the Dark One.
It had been three days since he'd banished her. Her heart was still heavy as his words echoed in her mind, "M y power just means more to me than you dearie". She heard them within her dreams and when she was walking along the road. Her stomach rumbled from hunger. If she traveled back to Avonlea, then she would find herself wrapped back up in the confines of another castle. At least Rumple had given her a little bit of freedom to be who she desired. He didn't shun her ideas about politics or choice of literature. In fact, he'd gifted her with an entire library full of every book imaginable. She'd devoured countless pieces of literature that weren't even native to their realm.
There was one story she longed to unravel but was now out of reach. The story she wished to know more than anything was the one about Rumplestiltskin. He'd conceled every trace of himself, the only clues he left behind were a child's clothes. She had no knowledge of any previous lovers or friends. It seemed he had lived a solitary life for the most part. Her heart ached for the man she longed to know but who had completely shunned her.
A light drizzle dampened her cloak, and she began to shiver. For the past two nights, the weather had been fair enough to sleep on the mossy earth but it had started to rain steadily. She walked at a brisker pace while searching for shelter in the midst of twilight. She came to an empty cave and peered inside to see that it was empty. She would stay near the entrance just in case there was a creature lurking within its depths that decided to devour her.
She pulled her cloak tightly around her shivering frame, allowing the dull thud of rain to lull her to sleep. She wasn't sure how long she'd slept when she awoke the following morning to bright sunshine filtering through the entrance. She stood up and stretched her legs, hoping that she wasn't far from the next village.
She found the dirt path again and began to continue her trek. She'd walked this very dirt road just the day before but things seemed different. Everything seemed normal like a shelf full of knickknacks except for the one that seemed out of place the next time you went over them with a duster. It looked the exact same as yesterday but today it felt peculiar.
After walking three more miles, she noted smoke billowing in the distance. The smoke was assumably coming from chimneys which meant the village was over the hilltop. She practically ran the rest of the way, only stopping to catch her breath. She noticed several houses dotting the decline.
She continued down the hill, approaching the heart of the village. There were various venders set up, selling their wares. Children ran around her feet as many of the townsfolk bartered with each other. She felt like an outsider as she tucked her cloak tightly around her shoulders. The villagers didn't seem to take notice of her when she approached the outskirts of the village.
She inhaled deeply, licking her lips as the aroma of marinating beef filled her nostrils. She hadn't realized her feet had taken a life of their own when she entered the hovel. The door was left wide open, and she felt herself blush when she realized what she'd done.
"Are you here to buy some wool my dear?" the voice of an elderly woman spoke. She turned around to meet a woman with streaked grayhair and deep brown eyes.
"I'm sorry to intrude! I was just passing through and the smell caught my attention. I haven't eaten in nearly three days." she admitted hesitantly and staring at her feet demurely.
"Well then you shall stay and have dinner with me. My nephew is in town selling wool, but he will be home soon. We shall all sit down and all have a meal together." the older woman smiled kindly, halting her foot that was treading the spinning wheel.
"How kind of you, I don't know what to say." she remarked, smiling coyly.
"A thank you will suffice! I'm Agnes." the older woman introduced herself as she stood and traipsed towards her. Agnes held out her hand, and she shook it firmly.
"My name is Belle." she spoke, taking the spinster's hand and returning the greeting.
"Ahh I shall call you Belle then. Why don't you have a seat, and I'll make us some tea?" she offered, and Belle sighed, feeling relieved at the thought of putting something on her stomach.
"That sounds lovely." she replied sitting down on a stool that Agnes had provided. In a matter of minutes, the older woman returned with a piping hot cuppa tea. Belle didn't care what kind it was as she plucked it from Agenes's hands, drinking it greedily. The hot liquid scorched her throat, but she was parched. She hadn't had a drink in nearly two days.
"My goodness child! You act like ye haven't had a drink in days!" the older woman exclaimed, astonished at how fast she'd drank the brew.
"I apologize for my rudeness, but I haven't had a drink in nearly two days." Belle spoke, holding her throat in agony, regretting her decision of scarfing down the burning liquid.
"Let me get you a cup of water." Agnes said, giving her a sympathetic glance. After devouring her first cup of water, she had three more. The spinster noticed how frazzled the beauty looked and offered her a place to lay her head for the evening.
Belle hadn't planned on sleeping but a couple of hours. When she awoke, the vibrant light of the setting sun filtered through the straw roof. She rubbed her eyes drowsily after putting both feet on the dirt floor. She walked out of the room continuing to rub her eyes as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Agnes, I apologize for napping so long." Belle stated while placing her hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn. She stammered when a familiar looking man with straw colored hair met her gaze. She couldn't seem to find her voice as his eyes roamed over her curves.
"It's good to see you're up Belle. I would like you to meet my nephew Rumplestiltskin." Agnes interrupted causing both occupants to avert their gazes timidly.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance miss." the young man smiled, bowing respectfully. The timbre of his voice, the color of his eyes, and those hauntingly familiar features made her realize one thing. She no longer resided in her own time. The man in front of her was Rumplestiltskin without his talons and sparkly skin. This was Rumple before he became the Dark One, and she surmised it was even before he had a son.
"It's nice to meet you Rumplestiltskin." Belle smiled pleasantly, followed by a well-mannered curtsey. She noted his cheeks tinge a soft pink when she spoke.
"How about we all have some supper then?" Agnes suggested, and Belle was thankful the awkward tension between them was broken. They ate heartily, especially Belle who had three pieces of the meat pie. She was quite pleased her dinner guest was enjoying her cooking. She was worried for the girl who hadn't eaten in so long.
She and Rumplestiltskin parted ways for the night. She watched him go into the bedroom across from Agnes and not offering her another word. Belle was convinced this version of Rumple was shyer and timid but that still didn't change what she felt for him. She wasn't sure if she would ever make it back to her own time, so she would have to do her best to blend in.
"Belle why don't you stay the night? You can stay in my sister Gladice's old room." Agenes proposed, and Belle smiled, feeling better than she had in days.
"If it isn't an inconvenience then I would love to stay." she affirmed relieved to have lodging for the night.
"It isn't an inconvenience at all my dear. I haven't had any female companionship in a long time and it will be a blessing to get to know you." Agnes remarked with a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
"Thank you." Belle remarked, allowing her to lead her down the hallway to a room adjacent to Rumple's. The room was bare except for a straw bed, chest of drawers, and chamber pot. Agnes offered her one of Gladice's old shifts which she quickly changed into. A single candle burned amongst the darkness as pale moonlight filtered through the window. The images of dancing shadows the candlelight formed dissipated quickly. She relished the feeling of falling asleep in a safe haven for the night.
~X~
Belle awoke the following morning before dawn. The house was still dark, but the candle still burned. She yawned making her way out of the room. She could hear soft snores erupting from Agnes's chamber, so she decided not to disturb the spinster. She stopped in the hallway upon hearing the hum of the wheel. She peeped around the corner to see Rumplestiltskin threading thick wool through his hands smoothly. He was humming softly and completly lost in the moment.
She couldn't help but stare at him admiringly as he spun. He looked peaceful and at ease with himself. Belle couldn't help but feel drawn to him as her feet gravitated towards him, his enchantment placed upon her. She crept softly across the dirt floor, uncannily stumbling over the milk bucket she didn't see standing in her way. She was surprised when he caught her on impulse, his tranquil spinning halting abruptly.
Belle felt flushed when he helped her to her feet and pulling away reluctantly, "Are you all right Miss. Belle?" he inquired in his thick accent, and she could sense the nervous edge to it.
"Yes I'm fine. I'm sorry that I interrupted you. It's just I woke up, and I couldn't sleep." she respired, averting her gaze sheepishly.
"Tis fine...I couldn't sleep either, so I decided to get up and start on the morning workload. I need to spin fifty spools of thread before I go back to market." he supplied, untangling his thread and reattaching it.
"I see...Well is there anything I can get you?" she inquired, interrupting the awkward silence which washed over them again.
"How about a cup of water?" he requested, and she nodded before walking into the kitchen to fetch it. She found a wooden cup and ladled some water into it from a bucket sitting nearby. She hoped Agnes would allow her to go and get more water for them later. She assumed there must be a community well nearby.
"Here you go." Belle replied, handing him the cup. Their fingertips grazed each other briefly when she handed it to him, sending electricity spurring through her veins.
"Thank you." he smiled faintly, taking the cup from her. He put it to his lips, the cool liquid cascading down his raw throat. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve before handing her the empty cup. He began to spin the wheel again, the soft humming lulling her into a dreamlike state.
She was alarmed when she was pulled from her chair and shoved into the back bedroom, "Just what do you think you're doing lass!? My nephew may be respectful of women because that's the way we raised him, but you can't be parading about in your drawers around him! He's still a man! I don't run a whore house dear, and if you're going to be staying here, then you will act like a lady!" she scolded, her cheeks blooming an angry red.
"I'm sorry Agnes! I wasn't thinking. I got up because I couldn't sleep, and I seen him spinning. I was so mesmerized by the wheel that I couldn't help but watch. I stumbled over a bucket, and he caught me." Belle explained, hoping to calm the older woman.
"Aye I see...You must have had an exhausting journey. You're simply delirious and weren't thinking." Agnes surmised, her voice softening an octave.
"Yes that must be it." Belle excused herself hoping to stay in the spinster's good graces. She rubbed her eyes drowsily hoping it convinced her of her own suspicions.
"Why don't you go back to bed then? I'll wake you in a few hours, and we'll talk." Agnes suggested, and Belle nodded, allowing the other woman to lead her back to bed where she slept soundly for another four hours.
When she awoke, there were a pair of wool stockings with a dark blue peasant dress hanging on the back of the door for her. Belle picked up her freshly washed underthings resting under the clothing and readied herself for the day.
She brushed out her tangled curls with a comb that was left for her and braided her hair. She walked into the kitchen where Agnes was cooking a pot of stew over a roaring fire. She noticed the spinning wheel Rumplestiltskin had occupied earlier was vacant.
"I'm glad you're up! Did you rest well my dear?" Agnes inquired, stirring the pot. Belle clasped her hands behind her back as she approached the older woman.
"Yes I did. Thank you." Belle supplied.
Agnes placed the ladle to her lips, tasting the simmering brew. "I think it's ready. Fetch us a couple of bowls from the cupboard dearest." she commanded, and the beauty obediently did as she was told.
"What about Rumplestiltskin? Won't he be joining us?" she asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not." Agnes confirmed with a shake of her head, "He's having lunch with Miss. Milah today. It seems he fancies her." she winked tying Belle's stomach in knots. She placed the wooden spoons and bowls on the table wondering if Milah was the woman Rumplestiltskin had been married to in the past. Was she his son's mother? She had so many burning questions which held no answers here because she was stuck in a past in which such events hadn't transpired yet.
Was it wise to tempt fate and follow her heart even though she was living in a time that she wasn't supposed to? Could she make Rumplestiltskin fall in love with her and put him on a better path which would divert him from ever becoming the Dark One? Only time would tell and it seemed she better use it wisely.
A/AN: I hope you guys enjoyed the prologue. This story is going to focus on Belle changing Rumple's fate by diverting his path of darkness. I would like to think this might have happened if she was with him in the beginning, to strengthen and guide him. Review please!