Prologue

The golden room was bleak and devoid of all hope. That is, until Rumpelstiltskin appeared, his face dark and downcast. His green scales are what Belle noticed first. The grey-green textured skin would always be what she noticed first, what she recalled of him when she closed her eyes and brought his image to her mind.

"Well that was a bit of a let down." His voice. Gods, Belle thought, if this was our only option left, I'm glad I'm here to see it. Rumpelstiltskin is certainly.. Interesting. Her thoughts were interrupted as Rumpelstiltskin strut around the room, looking as if he owned the place. "I believe I was summoned, something along the lines of, help, help! We're dying! Can you save us? And the answer is… Yes. I can. For a price." He trilled, his voice full of laughter.. as if he thought this was a funny problem, rather than the dire issue that it was.

"We sent you promises of gold." Her father, King Maurice, interjected, looking as if he'd already been beaten. Belle hated that in her father; that he gave up so easily. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such facts, however, as she glanced back at Rumpelstiltskin, waiting for his response.

"You see, I make gold." he taunted. "No, my price is something a bit more… special." he looked around the room, finally stopping and pinning his gaze on the brunette. "My price- is her."

"No." Gaston, her betrothed, shouted. "The lady is engaged… to me." he interjected. Belle narrowly resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his daring.

"I wasn't asking for her marital status, boy. I'm not looking for love… I'm looking for a tutor. For my son." Belle's eyes met his at this, and she smiled just a little. A tutor… How wonderful would that be, to actually help educate someone? She stepped forward, and Gaston put an arm in front of her to keep her still.

"No, you can't have her." Maurice said firmly. Rumpelstiltskin smirked, and looked around as if bored. "Very well then. Enjoy your little ogre war." he taunted. Belle wouldn't let that be the last chance she had to get away from marriage, gone. She pushed Gaston's hand away and said, "Wait."

"My family, my friends, they will all live?" Belle asked, her voice breaking as she tried not to hear the shouting that Gaston and her father were doing.

"You have my word." Rumpelstiltskin gave her an extravagant bow, and she let out a nervous giggle.

"Then you have mine - I will go with you… forever." she murmured, and though the room had moments ago been fairly wild, it stopped at her words. She placed her hand in his, sealing the deal.

"Well, then. I suppose we have a deal. I'll be back in an hour, make preparations. Take only what's necessary. I will provide the rest," Rumpelstiltskin informed Belle. "And.. Just to make sure nothing hinders you," he added, winking at her as he froze the room. "Go now. I'll meet you here in an hour." And Belle nodded, grateful that she wouldn't have to explain her choice to her father or Gaston.

Belle made her way across the room, into the hall, and then turning to the right, she went into her room. It was gaily coloured, with pinks and reds, and it was completely unlike her. Well, perhaps, she amended, the room had held some appeal when she was younger… Like seven. Now, however, the room held no appeal. The only thing that she would miss, the thing that made her heartache at the thought of losing it, were all of her books. She could not, would not, take all of them.

That didn't mean she couldn't pack a few with her dresses and such. She would be becoming a tutor, after all. Perhaps the child would be in need of books to learn from. Belle took care to select only her very favourites.

After forty five minutes, Belle was packed. She had dresses, she had her underpinnings and she had her books. She did not see it fit to bring anything else along. Toying with her mother's necklace round her neck, she heaved the suitcase off the bed.

She lugged the suitcase down the hall and back into the war room, where Rumpelstiltskin was standing. "I've packed everything I deemed necessary, sir." she said quietly. "Would you like to say goodbye, then?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, soft as she was.

"Yes, thank you Sir." Belle said, her eyes shutting tightly as she pictured the anxiety on her father - and friend's - faces. She did, however, spare a thought to how kind Rumpelstiltskin seemed to be treating her - now at least. With an extravagant hand gesture, King Maurice and Sir Gaston were restored to their moving abilities.

"Belle! You cannot- you cannot go with this monster." Maurice pleaded with her. Rumpelstiltskin had the nerve to look offended. "Rumpelstiltskin is just a man with magic, Papa. It has been decided." Belle said quietly. "Nobody decides my fate but me." She added firmly, glaring at Gaston.

Gaston sighed but did not otherwise try to convince her. He knew that his future wife - or who should have, would have, been his future wife - was stubborn, and for some reason, she'd chosen to do this. He opened his arms, and enveloped her. "Be safe, Belle." he whispered in her hair, kissing it just barely.

"I will, Gaz. You too, okay? Promise me you'll look after Papa.." she trembled in his arms, feeling the last bits of her courage leave way for fear. "I will." Gaston promised, kissing her once more on the head. "Now go say goodbye to him, Belle..." he suggested, releasing her from his grip, his voice seeming to be saddened by the prospect of losing her.

Belle nodded slowly, gazing at him intently. She knew she'd never see the friend in front of her again; she wanted the last image of him she had to be a good one.

Belle slowly made her way over to her father, where he was looking at her with shame in his eyes. "I'll get you back, my girl." he whispered into her hair, gripping her tightly. "I'll protect you." he promised.

But Belle shook her head. "I will go with him, Papa. My protection is up to him, now." she smiled a little. "Wouldn't it have been nice if it had always been so easy? To be protected by a powerful sorcerer…" Belle drifted off at the further colouring of Maurice's already ruddy complexion. She drew back after kissing her father on the lips.

"I love you, Papa." she whispered before stepping towards The Dark One.