Belle was abused before making her deal with Rumpelstiltskin to save her village, the events of skin deep with a twist. I know that this was a long time ago and all that but I found myself re-watching series one and managed to fall in love with RumBelle all over again x
Belle POV
"Please Papa, please stop!" I cried, I hadn't eaten in 4 days and after weeks of daily beatings he's done it he has finally broken me.
"Not until you agree to marry Gaston. We need his help this war isn't going to win itself. Are you ready to marry him?" He only paused long enough to ask his question and get answer ready to continue this beating until it ended the way he wanted it to.
"Okay Papa, OK. I agree. " I finally concede the words taste bitter in my mouth.
"Say it." Why must he make me say it, I know that resisting is futile but to say it means that it will become real, that I would really have to go through with it. The whip comes down on my back once more, leaving it painful scar and mixing wit the others. "Say it!" He demands once more.
"I will marry Gaston." I practically cried.
"Good at last I just hope we are not too late to stop this war, you have half an hour to get ready, be downstairs and be ready to officially announce your engagement. " Father said and then went to leave but when he got to the door " If anything goes wrong at the announcement, then this will seem like nothing, understand?" I simply nodded at him with tears still in my eyes.
As he left I continued to cry as the maids came in and got me ready , they all gave me scornful looks as if it was all my fault. They probably think that if I had agreed earlier this wouldn't have happened and Gaston would have some how made this war end, and their husbands and sons would all miraculously be at home, unharmed and alive.
But all I can think of is the pain and I keep thinking that if only Rumpelstiltskin had came none of this would needed to have happened, although I know father will always find something. If only he had come and ended the war, then Gaston would never have come here and I would hopefully have a few more years before the prospect of marriage, although that seems unlikely. If he had come I am certain I would have tried to get my self away from here. Although he hurts me, he is still my father and I suppose I have a sort of love for him deep down, probably more for the memory than the man.
He hasn't always been like this, once he was loving towards me, mother would always be there to protect me and then after she died something in him changed and most certainly not for the best. Although after she died he seemed to have discovered alcohol. But in public he always plays the role of the loving father and me his doting daughter.
The maids tend to me and clean the new wounds that now cover my back, I could see the blood covered cloth used to clean it and the water they used getting darker and darker as it changes colour going more and more red. They weren't gentle about it either, then they bandaged me up then then fastened my corset much to tight for my liking making it difficult to breathe and it rubs against my back painfully. They then allow me to wash my face free from tears and then proceed to help me into the yellow gown that my father had chosen when he found out Gaston's favourite colour was yellow, then my hair was done and suddenly it was time.
I head down the stairs towards the main hall as I look around I can see the damage of the war, due to the wall being partially collapsed in some places you can hear screaming and crying, this is why I must do this I continue to tell myself, and will continue to tell myself everyday for the rest of my life.
I know from now on I am to be a possession, as I already seem to be, it is my duty to bear children until I am unable to or die and raise a family, With my heritage this is the only thing expected of me and that sickens me, why must being a woman define my role. Why can't it be the same for women as it for men why can my worth not define my role? My heritage is what is wanted to set up our children, our sons for a good and hopeful future and my looks to pass on to daughters to do the same as I do now. That is my entire future mapped out in a moment.
As the doors open I can't help but feel as if this is the end of something. And the start of something new, my new life I suppose. As soon as I have walked in I am guided to Gaston whom I have to stand beside, he puts his arm around me to show that I am to be his I hardly hear what is being said, it's mostly congratulations.
I smile and thank everyone, putting on a brave face, I let people talk to me of my wedding plans. Gaston has announced he wants to be married as soon as possible.
Then suddenly a group of our knights come rushing in saying that Avonlea has fallen. I know this must be bad news, especially when I hear my father say "Oh, my gods", which he only says when nothing else can be said.
Gaston looks almost as broken as my father, probably realising that his marriage to me won't benefit him as much as originally thought. Gaston then uttered the exact words I had thought in the hall "If only he had come.."
Hearing this makes me angry inside, Gaston was here to help protect us we had only called Rumpelstiltskin as a last hope. It seems as though he never intended on doing much and simply hoped to bargain with the Dark One.
" Well he didn't, did he? Ogres are not men. " Father snaps at Gaston as he crosses the room and sits on his throne head in his hands.
This does seem to have set Gaston off so he suddenly announces "We have to do something, we have to stop them" as if no one else has tried. Father then points out that they are unstoppable.
As I look around the room I can see people looking at me and then at my father, as if they want me to suddenly make him feel better again. I receive a not so gentle nudge/shove from Gaston obviously thinking the same as everyone else in the room, so I go over to him and kneel, although this movement causes pain to flare but I ignore it, this is my duty. "He could be on his way right now, Papa."
But this does nothing, " It's too late, my girl. It's just... too late," Almost as soon as the words leave his mouth there is a banging on the door. Surely there is only one person who could have got past the walls and all the defences.
"That's him! That has to be him." I announce stating the obvious I realise looking around my father pushes himself off his throne using my shoulder, causing me to hiss in pain which receives a claw like grip on my arm which I'm certain shall bruise and a glare which makes me lower my head. But my curiosity is too much so I look up again when my father shouts for the door to be opened and lets go of me.
The doors are opened but there is not a soul there, nothing at all, but surely that couldn't be possible. All of us walk closer to the door, when suddenly there is a noise behind us, we all turn to see a strange, rather little looking man sitting in my fathers throne. This must be him.
"Well, that was a bit of a let down! You sent me a message, something about, "Help! Help! We're dying. Can you save us?" He says in a strange high voice, he seems hard to believe when looking at him that he could possibly wield as much power as the stories say. But he has a presence that fills a room. Gaston points his sword at the stranger a rather foolish move but Rumpelstiltskin bats it away as if it is nothing and carries on from where he was. "Well the answer is... Yes, I can. Yes, I can protect your little town... for a price."
My father goes on about the promise of gold, although he knows as well as I that our small kingdom isn't really that rich, mainly composed of farmers.
Although that doesn't seem to int rest him " Ah... now, you see, um... I uh... make gold. What I want is something a bit more special. My price... is her." I can see him pointing at me, and I also know I am the only female in the room.
My brain doesn't seem to quite understand what is happening. This could be it, I could be free I wouldn't have to marry Gaston, but the unknown is worse than having a future mapped out for you.
My father however was very quick in his answer of "No".
Gaston reacts in a similar way by guarding me with his arm, as if that would stop the Dark One and then says "The young lady is engaged... to me." As is if that would put him off.I bet he waited to say that.
Just as I had imagined it doesn't have an effect on him. "I wasn't asking if she was engaged. I'm not looking for love! I'm looking for a caretaker... for my rather large estate. It's her, or no deal."
The next thing happening is I'm being pushed into my place by Gaston and my father telling him leave.
As he starts to walk away I can hear the screams that were to keep me content in my life and I now realise that if I allow this strange man to walk away that sound will forever haunt me.
"No, wait!" He staring at me now, be brave I can do this, " I will go with him."
I can hear my father and Gaston shout at me, telling me what to do, as I have had people do all my life , surely I should get to make one decision, and I choose this one. If this doesn't go well and he doesn't take my offer my father will make me suffer, which makes me more resolute that this deal must be made. I will not deny I am afraid of what lies before me on either path, I know what my father is capable of, however with the Dark One able to wield magic he could make me suffer worse.
"No one decides my fate but me! I shall go" I announce, showing bravery that I certainly am not feeling.
He seems to want to put me off " It's forever, dearie." , forever is a long time and I've heard it say that Rumpelstiltskin never breaks a deal, so I want to check my end is what I except, I don't want to have a nasty surprise.
"My family, my friends... they will all live? "
"You have my word." I suppose I have no choice but to believe him.
"Then you have mine. I will go, with you, forever."
Before I've even finished my sentence , "Deal!".
My father is once again trying to stop me doing what I want, " Belle... Belle... you cannot do this! Belle, please! You cannot go with this.. beast." The face Rumpelstiltskin pulls would suggest he has heard this before.
"Father... Gaston... it's been decided."
I can feel him getting closer to me and can feel him just behind me, he's barely there but I can feel the painful pressure on my back, "You know, she's right. The deal is struck. Oh, congratulations on your little war!"
With that he puts his hand on the small of my back, causing me to gasp, he looks at me strangely, I can't work out his facial expressions, although from what I've seen it's rather animated. We walk through the still open door and suddenly purple smoke seems to appear from nowhere and when its gone we are no longer in my fathers castle.
Please let me know what you think xx