One day he found that he could not stand wondering if she was okay. He had to see, just once, that she was okay. Then maybe, just maybe, he could truly let her go. Belle would have returned home to her father and her friends. There'd be no Gaston, of that he was certain. He glanced at the unwithered rose he had transformed to give to Belle as he sped through the main room. He headed to the front door, doors opening and closing for his passing.
As soon as he stepped out the doors, he disappeared from sight. He reappeared outside of that little town that Belle willingly sacrificed her life for. He walked up through the town, his mind racing on what to say if actually saw Belle. His plan was to just look, but things do happen. The townsfolk whispered and muttered at his passing. He knew who he was, what he was, and how he looked. Everyone feared him, as they should - proved them normal. Even some of those who called him for deals feared him. Belle was the only one that saw him - as someone, not something. She peeled every layer back and found the true frighten, poor excuse of man that he was. She'd called him a coward, correctly so, and he pushed her away so cruelly. He forced her out at the first sign of trouble, not wanting to hear any more that she had to say. All that she was both fascinated and captivated him. Belle was pure - so pure she was too good to be real.
With his magic, he found several perches to peer through windows. He checked many rooms and the grand hall. Belle was nowhere to be found. This puzzled him; surely he would have seen her by now. At one point, he had noticed a group of clerics come address her father, in the grand hall, and then left toward the northwest of the castle. Rumplestiltskin had had enough of this spy game, his nerves couldn't take it anymore. He popped to the front doors and invited himself in. As he strolled onward that night ran through his mind for the billionth time! Plaguing him ever since he let her go. That night was one of his greatest regrets, which tied with the regret of loosing Bae. Rumplestiltskin opened the doors to the grand hall and everything stopped.
"Don't stop on my account dearies! Carry on!" Rumple said loudly with a flourish of his hands. It took a minute for the music to strike up again. He continued on heading straight for Sir Maurice. Maurice greeted him with a deep scowl.
"What do you want sorcerer?" He growled as Rumple came up beside him.
"Nothing much," he said circling him, "your sweet daughter left something at my estate. I merely wish to return it." Rumple cleverly lied. "Where is she?"
"Not here. Neither should you be! You're not welcome here, Rumplestiltskin!" Maurice growled as he was fully aware of him.
"I'm not really welcome anywhere, so you'll find that it doesn't bother me." He said rather matter-of-factly. "Answer my question," he pressed since he could no longer fulfill his desire from afar.
"Because of you, I've had to have her purified! The clerics are with her now!" Maurice growled and puffed himself out.
Rumple felt his blood burn with rage, and magic boil throughout him. He grabbed Maurice's collar and yanked him level. "WHERE IS SHE?" He roared viciously. Rumple was seething, and it could be sensed throughout the hall.
Maurice shuttered in fear. "N-Northwest tower!" he shouted , and Rumple let him go. He immediately ran out the hall towards the Northwest tower. He teleported as soon as he was in the corridors. He was not going to waste time running through unfamiliar halls. He landed at the bottom of the Northwest tower. Rumple ran up the stairs as fast as he could. Shrieks of pain echoed down the stairwell, coaxing greater speed from him. He made it to the room and magically ripped the door from its hinges. The screams had stopped - everything had stopped. He summoned a sword to his hand.
"If you value your lives, you will run from this room! NOW!" He growled and all but three torturers fled. They tried lashing at him, but he dodged by moving side to side. Rumple charged one pulling his sword across the guy's stomach, slicing him open. He then wheeled around striking another with the back of the sword in the back of the head. That was two down, one to go. Suddenly he felt searing, ripping pain from his should and down across to the blade. Rumple wheeled again, this time chopping his head off. The head fell back out the window, and the body soon followed. "I did offer you mercy, but you didn't take the deal!" He said standing up straight, as the sword vanished.
Then he actually saw Belle. His poor beloved Belle, hanging from chains in the middle of the room. Her blue dress completely tattered. Lashings upon lashings covered her back flesh. He walked to the front of her, which was untouched. She had just fainted as he arrived. At least, she didn't hear or see that carnage. He gently took hold of her around the waist so she wouldn't fall when he magically undid the locks. Once she was free, He gently lifted her into his arms and teleported them back to the Dark Castle.