Belle is to be married. She knows this. She's known this for eight years, since she was but ten years old, and still it comes as a shock when her to-be husband is picked out. The very dull, very handsome, Sir Gaston. She's less than pleased with this match.

Still, as she looks around the table, she smiles and says she will do it. She knows it's to be expected of her. She looks around the counsel room, where her father and his trusted advisors discuss important matters. Such as, apparently, her hand in marriage. The table is burgundy, with a rich purple blanket over the top of it. On the blanket is a golden symbol of a white unicorn. Their crest is as pure as their princess, or so her father says.

Her gaze lands on one knight, her best friend, the one she had expected to be married to. Rumpelstiltskin. He returns her small smile with one of his own, perhaps he'd expected it too. She can't help but bite her lip as she looks at him, his dark eyes even darker with emotion. She wonders what he's thinking, and hates that she can't be interested in Gaston the way she is with Rumpelstiltskin. She looks away as she hears her name being spoken repeatedly.

"Yes Father?" she asks, her voice soft and sweet. "I said," King Maurice repeats with an indulgent grin. "There shall be a ball in a fortnight, to announce your betrothal to Sir Gaston." Belle nods, and bites her lip. "Yes Father." She repeats, her voice monotonous as she fixes her gaze on Sir Gaston.

Gaston stares back at her, his eyes looking her up and down and straying to places of her body that make her burn with embarrassment. The scrutiny of his gaze is too much, and so she excuses herself quickly, leaving the room.

She does not expect to be followed, and yet she is. When she turns around to snap at her shadow, she stops. It's Rumpelstiltskin. Her Knight in shining armor, she thinks wistfully. He proves to be his usual self once more as he talks.

"Belle?" he asks softly. "What happened?"

And she bursts into tears. She knows it's not princess-like, or even ladylike. But she can't help the tears, she doesn't want to be married to Gaston - she wants Rumpelstiltskin so much it hurts. It isn't fair that she doesn't have a say in who she marries.

He wraps his arms around her shoulders, keeping his embrace chaste. "Belle, love, calm down." he soothes her, or tries to at least. She doesn't stop, hiccupping and sobbing into his chest as she whispers his name again and again.

"I wanted you." She whimpers, and fists his shirt. "I know, Belle.." he whispers in response. "I wanted you too. But if your father chose Gaston-" He's cut off as she buries her head in his chest, and speaks.

"That doesn't mean I choose him!" Belle hiccups, her voice muffled by his shirt. "I wanted you." She repeats. Rumpelstiltskin's smile is wistful as he kisses her head. "I wanted you too, sweetheart." he whispers in her hair. "But I'm sure your father knows what's best."

Belle shakes her head angrily. "I told him who I was going to marry, Rumpel." Belle whispers, looking up at him with earnest blue eyes. "And he didn't listen." Her nose scrunches with sadness, with irritation as she glares at the door that encloses the counsel in their room.

"You don't have to necessarily marry him, Belle." Rumpelstiltskin tries to tell her, but she's not listening. She's pulled away from him now and is pacing back and forth down the hallway. "It isn't fair, Rumpel! You know my father will have me marry him." She whines, looking at the wall intently.

"You won't have to marry him Belle…" Rumpelstiltskin says before his mind catches up with him. Belle's face whips up as she looks at him. "What do you mean?" Could he possibly want her as much as she wants him? Could he really suggest that he'll run away with her?

"I'll put in that I want you for my own, to your father, the king. But only if that's really want you want, Belle.." Rumpelstiltskin swallows his own worry, his own fear that he would never be enough for his precious Belle, in the face of her angst.

Well, Belle thinks with a little giggle. It isn't running away, it's better. I can have my kingdom, and my Knight.. It's almost too perfect for her to comprehend. "I do." She says excitedly, diving into his arms. "I told you, Rumpel… I want you. I want to marry you, and be your wife." She reaches her face up to lean against his.

"Then I'll ask him." Rumpelstiltskin embraced her close to him for just a moment longer, then he pulled away. At her whimper of protest, he waggled a finger at her. "You're previously betrothed, love. I shouldn't hold you until you're mine, and we both know it."

"I am yours." Belle pouts, kissing the finger slowly and deliberately. "Gods, woman. You're going to be the death of me." Belle simply smiles innocently and pulls away. "Call it incentive." She jokes.

"I'll be back, love." Rumpelstiltskin told her softly, touching her cheek for a moment. And then he turns away, moving back into the counsel room. Belle's heart goes with him as he leaves, but she knows he's doing this for her.

It's in that moment she realises - She loves Rumpelstiltskin.


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