My Soul Mate is The Dark One
By: RosexKnight
On your 18th birthday, a name appears on your palm for only you and one other to see. Your soulmate they say. Some people followed it, some people brushed it off as hocus-pocus, but it was undeniable that those who were fortunate enough to meet the person whose name was on their hand was destined for happiness. True Love. (( Original prompt by riversandicecastles of Tumblr: Rumbelle!soulmates AU. Can be anything, but I really like the idea of tattoos that appear on a specific birthday or something that will match your soulmate's. I dunno, something adorably fluffy. ))
Chapter One - Chance
You're 18 when it happens.
It a weird bit of magic that some people say is as ancient as light and darkness and love and curses, but it's there.
On your 18th birthday, a name appears on your palm for only you and one other to see. Your soulmate they say. Some people followed it, some people brushed it off as hocus-pocus, but it was undeniable that those who were fortunate enough to meet the person whose name was on their hand was destined for happiness. True Love.
Belle French hadn't quite broken the habit of staring at the name on her palm even a month after it had appeared. Rumpelstiltskin. It was such an odd name that felt older than some of the books in her father's library. Her mother doted on her when the name appeared, finding it incredibly important. Her father was the one who shrugged it off, arranging her marriage to the knight Gaston. she traced the name once again with her finger as she rode the roads of Avonlea, trying to seek comfort in precious moments of freedom from her father's castle.
The carriage coming down the road gave her pause. It was dark and all open for decoration. The horses that pulled it were obviously thoroughbred, and black as night. She moved her own horse to the side, giving the carriage time to pass to forget about it entirely and go back to her thoughts. But instead it stopped, and an odd little man got out.
"Excuse me, dearie." He twitted, his grin sickeningly sweet and his odd skin almost shining when the sun hit it. "This is the road that leads to Avonlea is it not?"
"It…it is." Belle said, searching her mind for any royal visitors her father might have invited. None came up.
"Oh good."
"What business do you have there?" She ventured when he turned to get back into his carriage.
The imp scoffed, looking her up and down before wrinking his nose at her. "My business is my own, though I am curious as to why Avonlea's lady is out riding on her own."
"How did—"
"Clothes, dearie. And your horse." He giggled. "You don't exactly blend in with the travelers."
"Nor do you." She retorted, regretting it when his eyes narrowed at her and fear coiled in her belly. No she didn't like that at all "Who are you? What business do you have here?"
He rolled his eyes and made a show of bowing, as if he were above doing it entirely. "Rumpelstiltskin, dearie. at your service."
Her eyes widened and her blood went cold. She was off her horse in an instant to get a closer look at him.
"You…say again?"
His eyes were darker with a challenge, but she ignored it as she looked him up and down. "Hard of hearing, dearie?"
Her voice was firmer this time, mimicking he commanding tone her mother used. "Say again."
He nearly growled impatiently as he leaned closer to her, his eyes dark, reminding her that he held power. She could practically feel the magic buzzing off of him. It was indeed intimidating but she din;t sense any danger.
"Rumpelstiltskin."
Belle immediately held up her left palm, where his name was written on it in a neat script. A script she'd memorized the day it appeared. He stared at her hand as if he was surprised it even existed. His own hand was slowly lifted up, revealing that her own name was written there in the same neat script. It nearly took her breath away.
"Well seems my search is over." He said, exhaling a breath he seemed to have been holding. "Come, dearie. You and I have alot to discuss."
"I'm betrothed." Belle blurted.
"Not for very much longer. Not to him at least." He paused, as if remembering himself before turning to her again, eyes wandering over her like he was making sure it wasn't all a trick. "You would want to come with me wouldn't you?"
"Well I don't see why not." She giggled. "I imagine anyone is a step up to my betrothed."
"Oh I wouldn't say that dearie. I've been called a beast in my time." He said as he helped her into the carriage to ride while presumably he took her horse back.
"Why is that."
"Well we may be soul mates but I'm still The Dark One…"
Belle blinked, but before she had a chance to respond they were off, headed back to her father's castle to explain their meeting. Her soulmate was The Dark One. Oh yes her parents would love that.