Hi, everyone! So, this is the continuing story of my one-shot (A Rotten Apple), which I got many favorites and author-watches from. Read that super quick one-shot, then read this! This story takes place Post-Curse and during the Curse (you'll see what I mean). This is thought vomit that has been cycling through my head for some time and I had to get it out before the plot of the TV show veers from what I'm doing.
When the curse ends, I don't think Regina will die. It's too easy. I think she will suffer every unhappy ending everyone else was forced to suffer in Storybrooke; hence her 'liveliness' in this story. Just sayin'. :D
DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Once Upon a Time,' but I do own Emmabelle.
The Iron Warrior – Chapter I
He nearly dropped the dinner tray when he saw her, curled up in her favorite windowsill with a book in her lap, right below her belly…Her incredibly round, very expecting belly. With her hair spilled over her shoulders, a smile gracing her face as she read what was no doubt her favorite part of the tale, she was the absolute definition of her name.
Beauty.
Rumpelstiltskin had told her many times before that she'd be far more comfortable sitting in his armchair by the fire, even going so far as to threaten finding a chaise for her, but she always insisted on sitting on the cushioned windowsill so she could see the stars whenever she wished. She claimed that during her imprisonment in both worlds, their light had guided her through the darkness.
"And how do they shine tonight, dearest?" he asked, moving slowly toward the table by the fire before setting the tray down.
He felt her eyes on his back and turned to meet her gaze, a nervous smile on his face.
She faced the window, examining the sky above her.
"They're shining as they always do, but the moon is full," she responded. "It almost outshines them tonight."
He smirked at her thoughtful reply and began to limp toward her, but she descended from her perch before he could reach her, meeting him halfway. He fell back a step as she threw her arms around him as though she hadn't seen him all day; she hadn't, he reminded himself.
"How did it go?" she inquired, taking his hands in her own, and for the first time all day, he honestly smiled.
"She was brilliant," he said. "Emma is taking over as the Royal Head of the White Guard within the month. All but one of us gave her a perfect score."
Belle's smile fell just slightly.
"Which king? Why?"
He sighed, walking her to his chair so she could sit and eat the small bowl of soup and slice of bread he had prepared for her, sitting on the arm of the chair himself.
"It was Frederick, but he was trained by the best. He feels she should get a better handle on the sword before she is promoted," he explained, and Belle rolled her eyes in response. "I agree with him, but she's already beaten our best men, even her father."
She smiled through a mouthful of soup at the thought of James being bested by his own daughter. Rumpelstiltskin smiled back, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her shoulders. He noticed she was wearing his favorite nightgown; a light blue frock with golden thread woven into it here and there. He'd made it, after all, and she loved to see his smile when he'd realize that she was wearing it.
"Henry is the best and wisest little prince I've ever met," he continued. "He was at the evaluation, of course, but I saw him on the side practicing some techniques with James now and then." He watched as Belle's smile widened at mention of the boy.
"He's going to be a soldier one day, just like his mother," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Mark my words." Rumpelstiltskin chuckled.
"I don't doubt it," he said, his eyes falling into a distant stare she knew very well.
"Something else happened, didn't it?" she asked with a frown. "There's something you're not telling me."
She waited for a response for a few moments, but the silence quickly worried her. She made to stand up and he quickly took her hand, holding her in place.
"Please… Don't leave," he murmured hoarsely, his heart in his voice. He hated feeling weak around her, especially when the cause was her.
His tone caught her off-guard. Since that moment in the dungeon when he'd first rejected her, he had always been very wary of letting her leave him after their reunion, especially when she seemed angry. But she wasn't angry at all. Concerned, perhaps, but not angry.
She moved to stand beside him, her fingers brushing his jawline.
"I was only going to go put away the dinner tray," she said with a small smile. She lifted his chin and suddenly found the chestnut eyes gleaming into her own. "The soup was magnificent. Thank you."
The wrinkles in his forehead slowly began to disappear as the sadness faded from his eyes. Her unfailing kindness would always be his undoing.
He should tell her.
"Regina stopped by to watch," he said, eyes suddenly downcast. He only did that when something made him nervous. Belle cocked an eyebrow and squeezed his hand, waiting for more information.
"She stopped by to see Henry, but I wouldn't have it," he said with a frown, finally meeting her eyes. "The boy has already been through enough without her poisoning his mind. I sent her away before anyone else could see her." He watched as she smiled sadly at his last comment, understanding why it had pained him. For years, Rumpelstiltskin had been unable to see his own son. Sending Regina away had forced him to relive many of those unhappy memories, and Belle knew it.
Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him. She sighed contentedly as he returned the favor, pulling her close. His memories always terrified him, and she always saw fit to hold him until they passed.
"Bae is just fine," she reminded him. "He's probably in his library right now, reading one of his books on literary criticism while Emma glares at him," she added with a smirk.
"It's not Bae I'm worried about," he stated simply. He always hid his emotion when he was frightened, and now was no different.
Belle immediately pulled away, a scowl growing on her face.
"What did she say to you to scare you like this?" she asked unabashedly. "Did she threaten you?"
He forgot his mind and immediately his eyes fell to her belly as he remembered Regina's words. Belle took a few steps back, horrified.
"She threatened the baby... Didn't she?" she asked, her voice wavering just slightly.
For the first time since he had known her, he could hear true terror in her voice. His Belle was afraid.
He took a deep breath.
"Regina told me that one day she would take our child away from us, just as I took Henry away from her."
He watched as Belle's face shifted from shock to confusion, her breath quickening. This would not do, especially not in her condition.
Reaching out, he took her face in his hands, calmly stroking her cheeks with his rough, calloused thumbs.
"Belle, she no longer has any power in this land," he reassured her. "She never will."
Her piercing blue eyes finally met his, an unspeakable sadness within them as she gently raised one hand and placed it over their unborn child.
"And you gave up your power for me," she murmured, her shoulders slumping just slightly. "We have no means of protection."
She felt immeasurably guilty. Never, not once, had she thought of the effect that kiss would have on their future, however welcomed it had been at the time. And now they were helpless to stop Regina if she chose to take their child.
He watched as the lines on her forehead increased as she thought, and he knew she was worrying more than she should. Before she could react, he quickly enveloped her in his arms once more, clinging to her as though he'd never have the opportunity again. She welcomed his warmth, holding him just as tightly. He hoped against hope that his words would soothe her.
"Let's make a deal," he whispered, his lips caressing her hair.
She lifted her head, eyes narrowed.
"What kind of 'deal?'" she asked, slightly suspicious of his intentions. He looked down into her eyes before twirling a strand of her hair, an action he knew would calm her.
"I will protect this child with all of my might. Beginning tonight, I will alert every king, queen, and knight to Regina's threat, and they will take the appropriate precautions to protect our child should anything occur-" Belle winced, "which it won't. I will see to it. You, on the other hand…" he trailed off.
She furrowed her brow, wary of her end of the deal.
"…will permit me to name our child."
He saw the smile slowly creep across her features, fully aware that she would accept the bargain. She stuck a finger in his face, playfully pointed at his nose.
"First name only," she stated. "I get to choose the middle name."
He opened his mouth to protest, but she promptly silenced him with her lips.
When they drew apart, they were both smiling.
"Deal," he said.
Two Weeks Later
He had made sure every part of the palace was secure before returning to their bedroom, where she was already curled up beneath the blankets, snoring softly. Quietly so as not to wake her, he tiptoed to the crib and peered through the unicorn carousel the 'Charming' family had given them.
She was sleeping just as peacefully as her mother, her golden locks shimmering with the magic they contained; the remnants of his own magic, lost the night his Belle had kissed him…The night they had conceived the wonderful creation before his eyes.
Around her neck sparkled a silver chain that held a small ring he'd seen fit to have created just for her immediately following her birth. The ring setting had been one of Belle's mother's. The jewel within had been made by one of Snow's dwarves, who had taken both his and Belle's tears of joy, combined them, then sealed them within a fairy diamond. It glittered white with a shimmer of the lightest shade of purple.
After tucking the blankets over her more tightly, he pressed a kiss to her tiny cheek.
"Sweet dreams, my little princess," he whispered, and he watched as she crooned for a moment before falling back into the lull of slumber.
He limped back to the bed, crawling beneath the sheets and adjusting to hold his beauty, her slight snoring bringing a small smile to his lips.
In all his happiness he had forgotten to check their window.
They awoke to the sobs and screams of their little Em.
Belle drowsily turned to face the crib and gasped when she saw the woman, cloaked in a deep purple, holding their child. She knew that cloak.
Oh, gods.
Rumpelstiltskin sat up and his stomach flipped at the sight unraveling in front of him. Belle was standing close to Regina, but not close enough to truly do anything. When his eyes fell on the knife that was pressed to their infant daughter's neck, he knew why.
He slowly crawled out of bed and stood by her.
"What are you doing?" he asked brokenly.
The cloaked figure chuckled; a vile, repulsive noise.
"What I should have done the moment she was born," Regina said.
He took one step forward and noticed the knife pressing further into the unmarred skin of his little girl, freezing in place. Nobody moved for several moments.
"What do you want?" Belle asked, her voice surprisingly calm. "We will give you anything you desire."
They could feel Regina's smile creep up their backs like an ill-composed poison.
"That's exactly why I'm taking her," Regina said.
With that, she ran for the window.
Rumpelstiltskin lunged out to grab her, missing her by inches and slamming to the floor, his bad leg unable to take the weight. The crunch that filled the air was deafening.
Belle went after the former queen, but immediately stopped in her tracks when she saw the knife pressed to her daughter's neck once more.
Regina stood by the balcony, the moonlight glinting off her teeth in a disturbing manner as she laughed at the girl.
"Help him and I won't hurt your girl. Help her and I will kill him."
Belle stood there for a brief moment, unsure of her choices. Then, holding her chin high, she swiftly walked to her husband, falling to her knees beside him and gathering him close despite his protests, despite his command for her to take their child and let him die. But she was deaf to all but the roaring of the blood in her ears. She met Regina's eyes, and the fire within them nearly frightened the older woman.
Nearly.
They watched, defeated and shattered, as Regina scaled down the balcony with their Emmabelle.
Belle fought the tears, turning to her beast and helping him make his way to the bed.
"Francisco! Francisco!" Rumpelstiltskin cried out. The guard quickly entered the room. "She's been taken! Find her! Find her now!" he sobbed, the younger man darting from the room as speedily as he had entered.
Rumpelstiltskin turned to face the balcony, wondering how far she might have gone. That's when his heart fell to his feet.
He hadn't locked the balcony door.
Turning to the woman who had trusted him, the woman he loved, he realized he had betrayed her. His fierce, young beauty had chosen him over their own daughter and he had deceived her.
For the second time in his long life, he had broken a deal.
They heard voices carrying down the corridor, shouting orders and reporting the status of other rooms in the palace, but they were too numb.
They held one another close, not sleeping a wink all night.
Regina knew the child's full name, but chose to call her only by her middle name for safety. It was a common name after all.
Rose.
No one would ever find her; not in this place. Her hair could never be cut if it was to retain its magical properties, which she had yet to figure out. That would come with time. The girl would have some very long hair by the end of her lifetime, but that could be dealt with.
What she couldn't so easily face every day was the piercing blue eyes that had nearly unnerved her on the balcony that night. So like her mother's. And she had her father's disturbing laugh.
This story would be one for the history books, no denying it.
Just as they had on the day she was born, the King and his Queen lit hundreds of lanterns and thrust them into the sky on their beloved Emmabelle's first birthday. To commemorate 'the lost princess,' as so many now called her.
The searches throughout every realm had failed, though some continued in pursuit of what many now believed to be a foolish dream.
But for the beauty and her beast, it was their only hope.
I hope you enjoyed it! Please review if you would like me to continue!
The deal between Belle and Rum is now broken; Rum failed to protect her and Belle's name choice is now used as Emmabelle's first name. Plots are so much fun. :D I'll update again soon!
