Belle hated being treated helpless. Yes, she was a princess, but that didn't mean she had to be the one being saved. For her entire life, she had been treated like she could handle anything, eventually she had managed to convince her overly protective father to let her take a few lessons from his best knights. That had been five years ago. Now here she was, still forced to attend her father's meetings dressed up formally, as her father said a princess should, while at the same time she had to wake up at the crack of dawn almost every day to practice with Lumiare, her father's head knight.

That was her life, and though it hadn't been perfect, she had loved it. But everything changed three months ago when Queen Cora of Wonderland had threatened to take over their kingdom if they didn't help her destroy her daughter's kingdom. Belle had already known from her father that Cora was a little off her rocker, and had tried multiple times to force her daughter into power and had eventually succeeded, but her daughter had banished her from their lands with the help of young outlaw Snow White.

Years later, Cora had returned and forced a rift between the step mother and daughter, until eventually Regina had pushed Snow White out of her heart. Unfortunately the Queen had stopped there, she wanted to take her daughter's power in revenge for everything she had ever done for Regina that her daughter had tossed away. Slowly Cora broke Regina's heart piece by piece and that had caused the beginning of the war.

Regina and her husband had gone to King Maurice, Belle's father for help. In response, the kingdom of Avalon had declared war on Wonderland and had told Cora in no uncertain terms to back down. At first, it had seemed like Cora would, but then she used her greatest weapon against them, a man known simply as the Dark one, whose loyalty to Cora was unquestioned. With the Dark one's help, Cora had ravaged the land before Princess Snow White had suggested that they strike wonderland's palace while tricking Cora into having her "pet", the Dark one attack Regina's palace.

Belle huffed angrily, if Snow White was allowed to help why wasn't she? She knew she shouldn't be jealous, but she couldn't help it. She had read about people's adventures her whole life, and the one time where she was actually willing to put one of her precious books down to help her kingdom, her father had refused. And to further emphazise his point, had put a stop to her lessons.

Presently, Belle was in the library, her favorite place in the entire palace, reading about war techniques. She was curled up on the window seal reading, but after a while, she closed the book and sighed. For once she wasn't in the mood to read about adventure, so she climbed out of her spot and replaced the war book with one about romance.

Belle usually didn't read about romances, mainly because of the two character's love only came from their love for each other's beauty. Many times it never once would mention what lay in the person's heart. Only their beauty. That's what Belle truly hated about romance stories, they were only ever skin deep. Belle didn't believe that, she believed love was layered, not to be determined by the person's appearance.

Belle was just reading about the part where the two lovers first meet, when three guards came in. She barely noticed their approach and kept reading, finger moving along the line she was reading in order to keep her place in case she was interrupted.

"Princess Belle, we are to escort you to the King's throne room," the first guard said sternly, his eyes cold. That's the one thing that always bugged her about the knights. They never smiled, except for a few such as Lumiare.

"Why? Have they returned from Wonderland?" Belle asked, setting the book down, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Yes, now follow me, there's something your father wishes to speak to you about," another guard said and offered his arm to her with a cheap smile. Gaston. He was always chasing after her, even though she had absolutely no interest in him. He was always treating her like she was a damsel just waiting to be saved. Belle wasn't going to wait around for anyone, and had told him to leave her alone. Unfortunately, her father had seemed to like the idea of her having a knight as her betrothed, so he had insisted that she at least try and get to know him. Belle had reluctantly agreed.

"Then let's go," Belle replied hotly, she was tired of Gaston chasing her, and was soon going to bring the matter up with her father.

Gaston frowned, and narrowed his piercing blue eyes at her, angry. But the other two knights simply led her out of the library and towards her father's throne room, Gaston trailing behind her, still angry.

When they arrived at the throne room, her father was standing beside a small table discussing something with his head advisers, and two of his knights.

"Hello Papa," Belle greeted him cheerfully, stepping farther into the room. Maurice turned around and smiled at his only daughter, his eyes gentle.

"Hello Belle, I need to speak with you about something," he said softly, he motioned her over to the table, and she quickly joined them.

"So, did we win?" Belle asked her father carefully, he had forbidden her from asking about the war, stating that it didn't concern her at the moment though it most certainly had.

"Yes, we did," Maurice sighed, "Unfortunately Cora escaped, and Regina took a very broken prisanor; one that we will hopefully retrieve for the sake of our kingdom,"

Belle frowned, "I thought Queen Regina was our ally Papa,"

"She was, but now she wishes to use the dark one to find and kill her mother, she believes that she is responsible for her misery," Maurice told her.

"The dark one? I thought he was completely loyal to Cora," Belle gasped in surprise, the evil monster of a man had never questioned his queen before, had never even given the slightest hint of treason, or at least that's what Belle had heard.

"That's what we thought, but now we have reason to believe that loyalty may not have been the reason for his servitude to Cora," Maurice said softly, he shook himself, "Now, it's getting late, off to bed with you."

"Papa . . ." Belle instantly complained, "I'm almost twenty-one, you have to stop treating me like a little girl,"

"Yes, yes, I know," her father sighed, "But I still want you to go to your room and stay there,"

"But-"

"No buts, Revu, Gaston, take her to her room and make sure she doesn't leave it," Maurice said firmly.

Belle groaned, and rolled her eyes as the two knights led her up to her room and shut the door behind her, not before Gaston however offered her to stay in his room, and Belle promptly shut the door in his face at the offer, disgusted.

Several hours later, after Belle had once again curled up with a good book on her bed, she heard loud shouting from the palace entrance, and within a few moments, she heard Gaston and Revu running towards the throne room.

Not one to sit around and wait for someone to tell her what was happening, Belle jumped off her bed and stumbled to the door. She listened for the guards for a moment, then slowly opened the door, wincing as it squeaked, then she warily slipped out into the hall and hurried in the direction of the throne room.

Several guards were already rushing into the room, none of them taking any notice of Belle who slipped in after them, but unlike the guards who rushed to the center of the room, where her father was, she stayed in the shadows, determined not to be noticed. If she were noticed, she would probably be kicked back to her room and locked there for the rest of the week for disobeying her father's orders.

Belle couldn't see what had everyone so worked up, that was until the doors to the throne room were flung open and at least ten to twelve guards entered the room. In the middle of the cluster of guards, it appeared someone or something was being dragged between two knights.

"We found him, your majesty and we stole "it" from Queen Regina, though she won't be pleased when she learns that the dagger she has, is a fake," Lumiare said, motioning with his hand towards the something.

"He needs medical attention though, but I can assure you that the dagger does very much control him, see for yourself," Lumiare handed a wavy bladed dagger to her father that had writing on it, though she couldn't make out what it said from where she was.

Control someone? That dagger controls the dark one? That's horrible! How could anyone want to have complete control over anyone, Belle thought, absolutely shocked.

She didn't process what was truly going on until her father's fingers enclosed the blade and he spoke a strange word, the person who been dragged between the two knight's head snapped up. Even from where she was, Belle could see his eyes were wide open.

"No!" she yelled, and raced across the room surprisingly fast for someone in a dress, and high heels.

"Belle! What are you doing in here, you're supposed to be in your room sweetheart," Maurice seemed shocked to see her there.

"Papa, you can't take his dagger if it controls him," Belle pleaded, without even glancing at the man to see how he was reacting.

"Belle, this man was dangerous and did many bad things even before he became a slave to Cora, he's just better known from being her slave," Maurice tried to reason, "He's killed people without mercy before he became a slave, terrified people, and made deals that almost always ended badly for the person dealing with him. He's a monster Belle."

Belle shuddered when she learned this bit of information about the Dark one, she had every reason to believe what her father was saying was true. Not matter how protective he was of her, he had never lied to her about anything.

"He's a monster Belle, just look at him," Maurice motioned for the knights standing in front of their new prisanor to move so she could have a better look at him.

He didn't look anything like she had suspected him to. She had pictured him to be very large

and muscular, like a knight normally was, but with cruel dark eyes, that burned with hatred,

and would have dragon hide clothing and countless scars . . . This man was not any of those

things.

He had golden-greenish skin, with long matted black hair that went to his shoulders. He himself

Wasn't as large as she had imagined, in fact he was quite small, probably only a couple of

Inches taller than herself. Her breath hitched in her throat, but not for the reason that her

Father would expect, it was because of how badly injured he truly was. He was slouching against one of the guards, barely standing. His right leg seemed fairly ok, but his left one was coated in dark red blood with green liquid oozing out of several places, while fresh blood dripped down to the floor, creating a small scarlet puddle. Two slash marks crossed his chest, while his wrist looked broken. Besides the obvious injuries, he was coated in bruises and scrapes. His thin and very dirty clothing was torn in many places, especially at his left leg, where it barely came to his knee before ending abruptly. Blood dripped down from his mouth and nose, evidence that he had been hit several times. His right eye was blackened from another blow. And his eyes . . .

Belle found that his eyes was the most enchanting part about him, his were a deep chocolate brown with hints of amber; but it was the look in them that made her heart ache for his pain. There was clear misery and agony in his eyes, but unfortunately there was also hatred, for he was watching Maurice, who was still holding the dagger. That hatred was the only thing anyone else could see.

"Papa, no one has the right to take away someone's will, please, he's hurt and he needs medical attention," Belle pleaded, turning to look at her father with a practiced puppy dog face.

"Belle, he's dangerous," Maurice said firmly.

"He's hurt Papa," Belle pleaded, tears now pooling into her eyes, she was the master of the puppy-dog face, and even the knights were looking away, not wanting to feel guilty about what they were doing.

"Fine, I'll have Mrs. Potts tend to his injuries and I'll have him stay in a room in the west wing. But I will keep the dagger until we can prove he's not dangerous and won't hurt our kingdom," Maurice finally relented. "But you WILL stay away from him Belle,"

"But Papa, you have the dagger, he can't hurt me. Besides I want to help him," Belle continued to plea.

"No"

"Please,"

"No,"

"I'll dress more formally,"

"No,"

"I'll act more like a princess should,"

"No," Bell sighed, thinking hard. What would convince her father to let her help this man, what did he want her to do more than anything. Then it struck her, and she felt a sickening feeling erupt in her stomach. There was ONE thing that might convince her father.

"I'll give Gaston a chance if you let me help this man Papa," Belle said quietly. Her father, as well as the young arrogant knight's interest perked up again.

"You will go on a few dates with him?" her father questioned,

"Yes, and like I said before Papa, he can't hurt me if you have the dagger," Belle insisted with a small glance at the man. He looked about to pass out.

"Let's do it this way," her father said, holding up his hand for her to be quiet, "If you can prove that this beast isn't dangerous in two months time, then I will let him have his dagger back, but for those two months you will date Gaston, and if you can't prove he's trustworthy, he will remain in our care, but in the dungeon."

Belle thought about it, and was about to reply when the Dark one spoke up for the first time.

"A deal, no one can ever back out on a deal, master," he rasped, his voice extremely hoarse from lack of use. For several minutes, Belle was in too much shock at the man's words to do anything but gawk at him. Finally she pulled herself together and told her father that he had a deal.

They shook on it, and Maurice had the knights take the Dark One up to a vacant room in the west wing, while he sent Belle to go find the head nurse, Mrs. Potts.

When they arrived at the room, her father was waiting outside, and the two knights on guard let Mrs. Potts and her small crew of nurses in to care for the man. Right before Belle could enter the room, her father stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Not while he doesn't have clothes on Belle, they have to tend to all of his wounds and change his clothing so that he doesn't get an infection," Maurice said firmly, this time Belle knew she couldn't talk him into letting her into the room while the nurses were starting to work on the Dark One.

So she waited out in the hall for them to finish until she realized that she had forgotten one very important detail about the man. She had forgotten to ask for his name.

"Papa,"

"Yes my darling,"

"What's his name?"

Maurice looked at her, then pulled the dagger out of his belt to look at it for a moment, then placed it back at his belt, the words facing his leg.

"It's Rumplestilskin," he said.