Don't Forget About Me
My steps were heavy, walking in the pouring rain away from that retched man's miserable castle. I couldn't see where I was going, but that wasn't the fault of the rain, my eyes were clouded by my tears that wouldn't stop flowing down my cheeks. The pain from his rejection was tightening in my chest, and I felt like I was about to drop dead from the literal pain that was stabbing my heart. I had only made it about two miles up the deserted road, before I completely collapsed in my own arms, wishing so badly for his to be around me. The thoughts invaded my mind, before I could swallow them down, and another wave of tears erected from my swollen eyes, as I sat on the muddy ground, not caring if the devil himself came and took my life, because I can't think of having a life without him. After I've meet my true love, I'm not sure I will be able to live, truly live, without him. My legs are weak under me from the stress and pain that was swallowing me alive. I gave up on trying to head home, that would have to wait till tomorrow. I allowed my emotions to completely unfold while I laid on the cold ground crying myself to sleep.
With one long stride after another I had finally reached the outskirts of the woods that peered over the local market to our humble town. I winced trying to suck in the tears before they came. The last time I was here, was when he took me away. He made me promise forever, and then he decided to throw that away, and give me a never ending hollowness inside. I stumbled into the square with wide eyes, and not so quiet whispers coming from every direction possible. I didn't bother saying hi to any of the people who I've known my whole life. I just wanted to be in my room, covered by the thick sheets, and warm fires hoping that somehow it would drown out all my memories of him. I approached the castle where the guards I grew up with didn't even seem to recognize me. I must look like a dreadful mess, but no matter how bad I look on the outside, I'm fairly certain that it didn't even compare to the way I felt on the inside. The guards sent me to a halt examining me before one of them realized who I was, and had me hurried in while maids were sent to alert my father. I need my papa right now. I needed to be in a man's arms, and the only man I trust at the moment would be my father.
As I was rushed into the familiar room, my eyes caught his, and within seconds we were holding each other. "Belle." He breathed into my ear while holding me close. Not wanting to let me go. Papa and I shared a long embrace while other members of my family were running down to greet me, like my aunt Abigail. My maid Annette was also running down the massive ball room styled stair case with open arms. I tried to smile, and look like I was happy to be here, because I knew I should be extremely happy to be home, but I couldn't help but think of where I rather be right now, even if it meant I was stuck dusting and sweeping. After we had our hello's, and I love you's, I was sent to my room without any further questioning as to my father's request that I should get some rest. I hastily agreed wanting nothing more than to allow my desperate tears to escape with the privacy of my own room. Annette was told not to leave my side, but I knew it was okay to cry in front of her. She was my best, and only friend, and she was the only one I could tell about this. Everyone else would judge me, or throw me to the wolves, just like he did if they knew how I really felt about the most feared man in the Enchanted Forest. I was going to have to get this off of my chest, and she was the only person to tell.
The soft sound of the spinning wheel echoed in my mind as the door creaked opened to my room. Annette was beside me within seconds crying alongside me. I'm sure she thinks these are happy tears, but she couldn't be more wrong. Somehow I found none of this happy, or converting. I wanted him, and only him. I wanted that bastard right here holding me in his strong golden arms. After a long time without my tears coming to a stop Annette became suspicious as to why I was still letting salty droplets leak from my eyes, so she addressed me unlike any maid should ever address a princess, but we were so much more than Lady and servant. "Why in the world are you still crying? Perk up a little would you." She teased not knowing that nothing could void the emptiness inside of my soul. "If I tell you something do you swear never to tell another living soul?" I ask chocking on every word, but I needed to tell my tale before it eat me from the inside out. She nodded looking very nervous, but concerned at the same time. So I told her, every last detail, about him, about the castle, and about our actions. I didn't fail to tell her my true feelings towards him either. "And even after all this I still love him more than anything." I finished my story while silent tears rolled down my naturally red cheeks. She held me letting me fall apart in her arms. She would never judge me, and I know she will always trust the decisions I make, even if they seem completely crazy. I was exhausted from all the mental torture that played games in my mind, so I let myself drift off into a deep slumber with my last thoughts, being his warm lips lingering on mine for just a few perfect moments.
I could vividly see him with that genuine smile that he only wore when he was talking to me. His leather outfit curving in all the right places, and his shaggy hair hung just inches away from my face. I was scared, but bold, and had every intention of getting what I wanted, so I ran my fingers up threw his hair pulling him closer to where his lips were only millimeters away from mine. His eyes bore into mine with a devilish grin sliding across his face. What came next I didn't expect. I thought I would have to make the first move, but to my surprise his strong arms grasped my fragile waist pulling me into the air while I leaned all my support on his muscular chest. My legs instinctly wrapped around his waist, and he didn't fight it. I was so overwhelmed with happiness, and so scared that it would all disappear in a matter of minutes, but he didn't leave. Instead he pulled me down, his breath was sharp and raspy against my neck as he placed butterfly kisses down the crest of my shoulder. A whimper escaped my mouth, but I wasn't embarrassed, not in front of him. Finally he made his way up my neck, and to my cheek where his lips lingered at the corner of mine. He was about to plant his thin lips on mine, and the agony was killing me, with one quick movement, and a sharp moan escaping my mouth, I barely had enough time to whisper his name before our lips collided against each other's.
I jerked up with a fluttered feeling taking over my chest, but it quickly disappeared when reality came back to me. It was only a dream I thought to myself. I bit my lip, trying to hold back the storm of sadness that was about to be unleashed. I needed to get my rest, so I forced everything down, curling myself into a ball praying that somehow a miracle would make that dream become real. A sigh was lingering on my mouth as I let his name slide off my lips for the first time since I left the Dark Castle. Even when I told Annette our story I only used his formal name as The Dark One, afraid to say the real one, because I knew he would be listening, he was always listening. But I needed to say it, so I finally let it escape through my teeth with the curves of my mouth slightly shifting upward when the syllables left my red lips, "Rumpelstiltskin."
Rumpelstiltskin's POV
The anger boiled in my blood at the thought of her, and to think I actually thought for a moment that she could love a monster like me. I slammed a vase against the ground capturing the brittle sound of it shattering on the ground, like my heart was shattering in my chest. I made my way to the bedroom passing by hers. I lingered by her door considering going in there to inhale her beautiful scent, but I waved the thought off, knowing if I went in I would never come out. I missed her, every aspect of her. The way she walked, and the image of her beautiful eyes, and her accent rolling off her tongue every time she spoke, and the little messes she make, the sounds of her sweeping the grounds on her light feet. It was too much for me to bare, but she had to go. I couldn't keep her without wanting her, and that would be my undoing. She was a liar and the queen used her, but no matter what I still loved her. With everything inside of me I loved her. I piled onto the bed cradling my head in my knees. I wanted to collapse, but my dark self wouldn't allow the tears to flow, so I laid there for the most of the night, hoping she made it home safe. She would be happier there, without me. She would have a wonderful life living as queen one day, and she wouldn't have to worry about the darkness I would have surly brought on her. In the late hours of the night my mind still hadn't lingered off the brief moment where our lips had touched. It was true love, and I knew it whither I wanted to admit it or not, because the curse was breaking. I should be with her right now apologizing and begging for her back, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I loved her enough to give her, her best chance, and as far as I was concerned it wasn't with me. The sun hadn't rolled around yet, but there was no point in trying to sleep, so I stretched my legs preparing to get to work on a few potions I had on my never ending agenda, but my body froze, and tensed as a familiar voice echoed the walls of my mind. The way my name rolled of her tongue cut daggers through my already hollow heart. I heard her say it, she had whispered it in the late hours of the night. I sprinted down stairs, straight to the crystal ball I had presented in the center of a black mantel. "Show me her." I ordered hastily not wanting to waist another minute without seeing her face. As the smoke cleared away I couldn't help but cup the ball in my hands wanting to be as close to her as possible. I saw her huddled in her room looking as innocent as ever with shimmering tears rolling down her flawless rosy cheeks. I almost toppled over in pain thinking I caused her to do this. Bitterness towards myself swept over my golden body. I knew I wasn't good for her, this was all I was ever going to do. I was only going to cause her pain, and that was something I couldn't handle. I pushed the glass ball away with every ounce of my self-control keeping me from appearing at her side. I couldn't bring myself to hurt her any further than I already had. With her name itching at my lips I left the ball and the thoughts of her behind, giving myself the pleasure of only saying her name once, before I pushed her away, because if I didn't I would surely do something I would regret, "Belle."