Chapter One
The cool breeze came from the open window while the sunlight shimmered multi-colored images on the walls from the stain glass windows and some papers sitting on the tables softly fluttered up and down.
For the first time in a long time, Rumplestiltskin had the windows open and forgot how sweet the scent of the rosebushes outside smelt. He had rediscovered quite a few things since Belle had come to live with him and he softly smiled while holding the glass vials in his hands. He had also noticed a few changes inside himself over the last few months as well. He was able to talk so freely with Belle and she didn't seem to judge him too much.
"You're not a monster," she told him, even though he felt like one most days, and he was enjoying his time with her.
Carefully pouring the liquid from the glass vials into the beaker, he watched the yellow liquid bubbling when a soft knock made him turn to look at the wooden door and he placed the glass vials on the table.
"Come in," he said as the wooden door opened and Belle came in the room with a silver tray in her hands. The white china tea set was on the tray as he looked at the chipped china cup and arched his eyebrows up. Belle had been so worried that he was going to be angry about the cup, but he wasn't and tended to pick that cup when he had his tea.
"I was wondering if you'd like some tea," she said with a small smile on her face and he placed his hands behind his back, walking to her.
"Yes, that would be nice," he said then pointed to the table near the door. "Place the tray over there."
"Are you going to be in here long?"
"Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you're going to have lunch in here or are you going to dine in the dining hall?" she asked and he tilted his head to one side.
"I'm not sure."
"I'll bring a tray then," she said as she headed for the door then turned to look at him. "I'll leave it outside by the door."
"That will be fine," he said as she nodded her head then left, closing the door behind her. He stood in the middle of the room as he felt the emptiness in the air and sighed, walking to the table. He poured the tea into the chipped cup when the door opened again and he looked at Belle.
"Oh, I forgot," she said and he sipped on the tea. "I was checking the pantry and we're low on some things. May I go to the market?"
"Yes, there is a money pouch in the kitchen," he said as she nodded then closed the door and he sighed. The loneliness inched up his chest as he frowned then sipped on the tea and placed the chipped china cup on the tray.
Belle walked by the stalls as she checked her list and had chatted with some of the merchants. She liked when Rumplestiltskin allowed her out of the castle, but she secretly promised herself that she would return as quickly as possible. She figured a long time ago that there was a lot of pain and loneliness inside him and the idea of him being alone too long hurt her inside. She walked by one of the stalls when someone grabbed onto her wrist and her eyes widened.
"Let go," she said as she looked at the tall man holding onto her wrist and he glared at her. He had a lean, but muscular build and his face was oval with deep set eyes, a long nose and thin lips. She admitted he was handsome, but there was something in his eyes that frightened her. He was wearing leather boots, tan trousers, a tan tunic and a large blade dagger was in the sheath on his leather belt.
"Are you Belle?" he asked and her heart slammed hard in her chest. "Answer me!"
"Let me go!" she shouted as he pulled her closer and the basket she was holding fell from her hands, spilling the contents onto the ground.
"You don't have to fear me," he said and moved his face closer so his lips barely touched her ear. "Your father sent me."
Belle was shocked.
She knew her father might have sent someone, but was he desperate enough to send someone like him?
She also knew what Rumplestiltskin would do to her father if he found out and she pulled, trying to get away from him.
"Let go of me before….," she said and the man smiled.
"Before your "master" finds out?" he asked with a smirk on his face.
"Yes, he'll be furious!"
"I have no fear of that demon," he said when Belle heard a familiar giggle as the man noticed the merchants were moving away from them and heading into the buildings on either side of the street.
"You don't fear me, Dearie?" Rumplestiltskin asked as the man turned to look at him and Belle could see the anger in Rumplestiltskin's eyes. "You should."
"I'm not alone!" the man said then whistles and five men came out from behind the stalls. Rumplestiltskin looked at the men then at the swords in their hands and the men circled around him. Rumplestiltskin folded his arms across his chest as the man smirked and Rumplestiltskin arched his eyebrows up. As the men moved closer, Belle picking up a large, wooden bowl and slid the bread inside the large, wooden bowl onto the table. She held the large, wooden bowl in her hands as she walked to the man who grabbed her wrist and tapped him on the back. The man turned as Belle swung the large wooden bowl and a shocked look appeared on the man's face as the large wooden bowl slammed into his groin.
"Ah," the man grunted as he doubled over then fell to his knees. Roaring, Belle swung the large wooden bowl as the man's head snapped to one side and he fell onto his right side, closing his eyes. Rumplestiltskin and the men looked at her when the men dropped their swords to the ground and Rumplestiltskin pressed his lips together, trying hard not to laugh.
"Remind me not to get you angry," he said with a small grin while walking closer and she placed the large, wooden bowl on the table. She knelt down as she picked her shopping off the ground and placed them in the basket while Rumplestiltskin turned to look at the men. He took two steps toward them when the men turned and ran away. With a little giggle, he looked at Belle then at the man lying on the ground and frowned, folding his arms across his chest. "What did he whispered to you?"
"He said my father sent him," she said and he looked at her then at the man then back.
"Do you think he's telling the truth?"
"No," Belle said and Rumplestiltskin frowned, scrunching his nose.
"Let's go ask him," Rumplestiltskin said as he held out his hand and Belle sighed, taking his hand. The merchants watched as Rumplestiltskin, Belle and the man vanished and thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance.
Sir Maurice stood near the window as the dark clouds moved across the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. His heart hurt as he thought about Belle being taken to live with Rumplestiltskin, but he knew he had no choice. If she hadn't made the deal, he would have lost everything to the Ogres. He had sent Sir Gaston to bring Belle back, but Gaston hadn't returned. Maurice wondered if he had met some gruesome fate at Rumplestiltskin's hands and he sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. Turning, he was startled to see Rumplestiltskin standing near the table and a man was lying on the floor at his feet.
"What are you doing here?" Maurice asked as he walked closer and Rumplestiltskin placed his hands behind his back. "Where is Belle?"
"She went to get some clothes," Rumplestiltskin said as he stepped over the man lying on the floor and stood face to face with Maurice. "I can't have her wearing the same thing every day, can I?"
"So she is alright?"
"Yes," Rumplestiltskin said then looked from him to the man lying on the floor then back and Maurice saw the anger in his eyes. "I'm not so sure about you."
"What do you mean?" Maurice said and Rumplestiltskin smiled from the sound of fear in his voice.
"Did you….?" Rumplestiltskin asked as he walked to the man lying on the floor and gently kicked him in the stomach. "Did you send this man to take Belle from me?"
Maurice walked to him then looked down at the man lying on the floor and frowned. Rumplestiltskin noticed the look of confusion on his face then looked at the man lying on the floor and sighed.
"You didn't send him," he said and Maurice looked at him, shaking his head. "If you didn't…."
"Then who did?" Maurice asked and Rumplestiltskin knelt down on his haunches, looking at the man lying on the floor.
"Let's wake him up and find out," Rumplestiltskin said when he waved his right hand and the man lying on the floor vanished then reappeared, sitting tied to a chair to their left. Rumplestiltskin walked to the chair while Maurice picked the water pitcher off the table then walked to him, handing him the pitcher. The man gasped for air after Rumplestiltskin splashed him with the water then the man's eyes widened when he looked at him. "Hello."
"Where am I?" the man demanded then looked at Maurice and frowned.
"I'll ask the questions," Rumplestiltskin said then looked at Maurice and Maurice balled his hands into fists. "Who sent you after Belle?"
"You don't scare me," the man said and Maurice growled.
"Answer him!" Maurice demanded and Rumplestiltskin gave him a blank look. He knew a father's rage as he sighed and looked down at his feet then slowly looked at the man.
"You told Belle that her father sent you to come get her, but it turns out that you were lying," Rumplestiltskin said and placed one hand on the top of the chair.
"So?" the man asked and Rumplestiltskin looked from him to Maurice then back.
"This is her father," Rumplestiltskin said then stood up straighter.
"Then you should be thanking me for wanting to get her back," the man shouted and Rumplestiltskin sighed, shaking his head.
"You're wrong. Belle came with me of her own free will."
"And you allowed her?" the man said, looking at Maurice.
"Yes," Maurice said.
"Why would you let this…this...monster take your child?" the man demanded, but Maurice didn't answer and Rumplestiltskin crossed his arms over his chest.
"Who sent you?" Rumplestiltskin growled and the man glared at him.
"I'm not afraid of you," the man said then winced as Rumplestiltskin placed both hands on top of the chair and placed his face close enough to the man's face that their noses touched.
"But you are afraid of Belle, aren't you?" he asked and giggled.
"Yes," the man sighed and Maurice looked at Rumplestiltskin with a confused looked on his face.
"Why would he be afraid of Belle?" he asked and Rumplestiltskin stood up straighter.
"She hit him." he said as he looked at the man's lap and Maurice looked as well. His eyes widened as Rumplestiltskin smiled and rocked back and forth on his heels.
"I…see," Maurice said and made a little cough.
"Keep her away from me!" the man shouted then winced from the hard look Rumplestiltskin gave him.
"Then tell us why you tried to take Belle," Rumplestiltskin said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I can't," the man said as Rumplestiltskin leaned closer and placed his hands on the top of the chair. He locked eyes with the man then stood straighter and pressed his lips together.
"You're heartless, aren't you?" he asked and Maurice gave him a stunned look. Rumplestiltskin looked at him then sighed and titled his head to one side. "He doesn't have his heart anymore."
"Then who has it?" Maurice asked.
"The Queen," Rumplestiltskin said with a wave of his hand then looked at the man. "Am I right?"
"Yes," the man said with a nod of his head. Maurice watched Rumplestiltskin pace back and forth then turned on his heels and headed for the door. He stopped as he turned to look at Maurice and arched his eyebrows up.
"He's yours."
"What am I supposed to do with him?" Maurice asked.
"Well, he tried to take your daughter," he said then looked at the man and smiled. "If I were you, I would make him pay."
Maurice watched Rumplestiltskin leave the room then looked at the man and the man swallowed hard from the look in Maurice's eyes.
The large wooden doors opened as Rumplestiltskin strolled into Belle's bed chamber and held his hands behind his back. Belle was standing by the window as she watched the dark clouds gathering on the horizon and was holding a cushion against her chest. He stopped behind her as he reached out a hand to touch her shoulder when he remembered what she did to her attacker and coughed. Belle turned around when he saw the redness around her eyes and realized she had been crying. His heart shuttered in his chest as he sighed and arched his eyebrows up.
"Are you ready to go?" he finally asked and Belle looked down, holding tighter onto the cushion. A part of him hoped she said she wasn't going to come back with him, but the other part hope she would come back with him and he lightly bounced the balls of his feet. "Well?"
"Did my father send that man after me?" she asked, changing the subject.
"No," he said with a shake of his head.
"Did he say who sent him?"
"No, but I do know who it was."
"What are you going to do with my father?"
"Nothing," he said then titled his head to one side. "Should I?"
"No," Belle said with a gasp and he gave her a blank look.
"Then I won't," he said then turned and headed for the doors. "Are you coming?"
"I guess I have no choice," she sighed and he was glad to be facing away from her so she didn't see him wince. She placed the cushion on the chair then walked to him and he turned to face her. "May I say goodbye to my father first?"
"No," Rumplestiltskin said then took her hands and they vanished in a blue and purple smoke.
