Skin Deep: Part One
A/AN: As you can tell I'm on a writing spree this week. Don't judge me! Anyway this idea kept nudging me all day long but it isn't going to be a very long story. If you've read my story "Beautiful, Brave, and True" then you'd know the inspiration for this partly came from that story. I hope you guys enjoy it…This is going to be a two or three shot at most. Read and review please!
Isabelle French was the most beautiful princess in the entire realm. She had a crown of chestnut hair and eyes so blue, they put the skies to shame. Her complexion was flawless and countless suitors vied for her hand many years before her coming of age because they knew such a beautiful child would undoubtfully become a beautiful woman. Many liked to spin the tale that her mother was a fairy and that was why she was so ethereal to look at.
Isabelle had never known her mother, so she couldn't say. Maurice told his daughter that her mother had died during childbirth. She wasn't left motherless though. Maurice had remarried in time to a vivacious queen named Cora who had two other daughters: Zelena and Regina.
Zelena was the oldest and was always at odds with her younger sister Regina, who despite being the younger daughter was most fawned over by her mother. Regina was younger than Isabelle, leaving her right there in the middle of them.
Isabelle tried to be the peacemaker between the two bickering sisters but often her attempts failed. She tried to be friendly with them, but they often pushed her aside unless they wanted to borrow a dress or a hair ribbon.
The day she turned thirteen marked a significant year in her life. She was no longer a child yet not quite a woman either but her body hinted at the changes. She was growing taller and curvier in her physique. All the young men began to notice these very distinct changes in her, so Maurice kept her under a careful eye. She was the jewel in his crown, an irreplaceable treasure. The man who married his Isabelle must walk worthy of her.
Maurice held a ball in her honor, but she wasn't interested in the dancing or the eyes the prince's were making at her. She wanted to be free of the castle for a little while, so she snuck out the back entrance when no one was looking. She grabbed one of the lit torches off the wall to light her way, making her way into the heart of the forest. Her intention was to find her favorite spring a cool her toes in it for awhile.
Isabelle's feet began to ache as she made her way down the dusty road. She plopped down on an old tree stump, relieving her aches for a bit. She was startled when she heard a sound coming from the bushes. She jumped up, holding the torch out in front of her for protection. She gasped when a frightened boy of about sixteen jumped out of the bushes, hands held high in surrender. His breeches legs were torn and he was barefoot. His hair was straw colored and fell in his eyes.
"Who are you?" she demanded, drawing closer to him torch still in hand.
"I'm sorry Milady. I was running from some bandits. They took my wagon and tried to pummel me." he explained, still quaking slightly.
She frowned at the lone traveler, patting the stump she was resting on a few minutes ago. "Have a seat then. You should rest." she commanded, and he nodded cautiously taking a seat.
"Thank you milady…" he said, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Isabelle took in his lanky but thin appearance. He looked like he'd used up all of his rations, making him sickly to look at.
"You still haven't answered my question traveler." she said, a thin crease in her lips as she studied him intricately. He was plain to the eyes but something about him intrigued her.
"My name is Rumplestilskin and yours?" he inquired looking at her dazedly. She felt herself blushing from his stares. She was used to men gawking at her, but they made her feel uncomfortable while this one made her feel shy.
"My name is Isabelle, but you may call me Belle." she smiled fondly at him. His mouth twitched into a similar fashion causing her to blush.
"Why are you out here all by yourself on such a starless night?" he inquired, and she frowned, remembering the ball. She didn't want to go back inside while men approached her father for her hand in marriage like she was a piece of property to be auctioned off. There was more to her than a pretty face. She swore in her heart that she wouldn't marry for anything less than love.
"There's a ball being held in my honor back at the castle…I'm thirteen today, and my father seems to think I should be thinking more about my future. In three years he will procure a husband for me unless I choose one first, but I'm not ready to think about such things. I want to focus on writing my book, instead of court life." she admitted to this complete stranger in wooded isolation.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I kind of ran away from home a few months ago because I'm a coward. The life that was being forced upon me was one I didn't choose. I wanted to be a free man, so I've been living in these woods the past few months. I sleep under the stars, hunt my food, and drink from the creek. I've never felt freer in my entire life." he said, standing up, stretching his limbs.
"I would never run away from this life. I tell myself to do the brave thing and bravery will follow. I could never turn my back on my people. I realize that one day I'll be queen and despite what I want, I must be selfless for their sake. I must remain true to who I am." she told him, filling his heart with guilt.
"Maybe I should return home then but I'm just not ready to face them yet." he sighed, running his fingers through his hair timorously.
"Don't worry…I'm sure you'll do the brave thing." she smiled warmly at him, filling his heart with hope-a beacon of light amongst the darkness. She was not only beautiful inside but out as well, he realized.
"Thank you for your encouragement Belle." he smiled, relishing her name on his lips until he heard a howl coming just a few feet away.
"What was that?" she hissed coming to stand beside him. She held the torch out in front of them, ready to fend off whatever was stalking them if need be.
"It sounded like wolves." he respired, gulping back the bile in his throat. Before she could make a retort, one leaped out of the bushes, lunging at them, bearing its large white fangs. Rumplestiltskin grabbed a stick, hitting it hard on the nose.
"Run before it's too late!" he commanded as the wolf rose to its feet, but she shook her head fiercely, "I will not run! I will face my fears and protect you Rumple." she spoke, determination in her voice.
The wolf growled baring its fangs at them again. He'd made it very angry because he'd hit it. It ran towards Rumplestiltskin, but Belle jumped in its way, swiping her flaming torch at it. The wolf ran away in agony but not before sinking its claws, deeply in the right side of her face. She screamed in anguish falling forward, but Rumplestiltskin caught her. The hem of her yellow gown was torn but her blemished face was a sorer sight.
"Belle I've got to get you some help!" he panicked, hoisting her into his arms. "Just take me back to the castle." she pleaded, and he nodded, running in that direction. Blood gushed from her wound, tainting the fabric of her dress.
"I'm so sorry Belle…Why didn't you run?" he demanded, the castle coming into view.
"Because I wanted to save you…Your life is worth more to me than a little scratch on my face." she smiled weakly, touching his face gently. He tore a piece of his shirtsleeve off, pressing it to her wound. She winced in pain but pressed it against her gash, hoping to stop the bleeding.
He didn't have time to answer her because a set of guards were taking her from him before they reached the castle grounds. He quickly explained to them what happened and one decided to take him in for further questioning. Belle watched his kind face slip away as she drifted into unconsciousness.
~X~
Belle awoke three days later in her bed. The curtains were shut but sunlight filtered through them anyway. She instinctively touched her cheek, wincing when she felt a soft linen in its place. She threw her legs over the edge of her bed, making her way to her vanity. A large cloth bandage decorated her wound, her right eye swollen shut. She squinted hard, realizing she could no longer see out of it. The revelation that she was now blind in her right eye made her feel sick. She wobbled over to the door, ready to open it surprised when the knob turned, to reveal her stepmother. Her eyes were cold and calculating, instead of being full of motherly concern.
"Cora…I wasn't expecting you." Isabelle replied, refusing to call her mother.
"Sit down Isabelle…We need to talk." Cora commanded, waltzing over to her bedside. Belle sat down, hugging her knees, awaiting her stepmothers accusations. She gave Belle a sympathetic glance, sighing. Belle was surprised to see this type of reaction from her since she was usually reprimanding her instead.
"What is it?" she inquired, afraid to hear the rest.
"You're every bit of a hero, and we should be proud of you but were not." Cora remarked venomously causing her insides to jump.
"What do you mean you're not proud of me? Is he okay?" she inquired fearfully, expecting the worst.
"Yes your little peasant is fine. We sent him on his way. He said he was going back to his kingdom or something. That's not the problem Isabelle. This is." Cora admonished, taking the mirror off her vanity, shoving it in her face.
"Just look at yourself…Your beauty has been ruined! You've scorned our family's good name because of your heroics! No prince is going to want to marry a woman with that kind of face." she scoffed, thrusting the mirror in her hands.
"I don't care! I still believe I did the brave thing by saving him! Do the brave thing and bravery will-" Cora waved her hand in the air, silencing her.
"Those books are going to your head Belle…Now you listen to me…Your father and I can't have an ugly daughter prancing around…From this day forward, you're sentenced to permanent isolation. You're never to leave this room ever again. Your meals will be brought to you, but you are never allowed to leave this chamber and if you refuse, I'll have you thrown out!" she threatened marching towards the door.
"I want to see my father!" Belle cried, lunging at her, but Cora pushed her to the floor, placing her heel against her chest.
"You're father says your dead to him and that he never wants to see you again. I'm offering you the utmost kindness by allowing you to stay here. You may have been a princess, but you'll never be a queen." Cora howled, before slamming the door in her face. Belle felt frozen as she lied there on the floor, crying bitterly. She would never be a queen, those words resonated in her mind like a mantra. All of her beauty was gone, and no one could ever love her.
A/AN: Well there's the end of the first chapter! The next part will be up sometime later this week. I'm thinking this will be about three or four chapters…I'm not sure yet. Please review!