Chapter 1: "You Have My Word"

I had always wanted to be brave—to do something heroic that people would remember. Being the daughter of a ruler afforded me a greater opportunity than most women had to do something—to do anything—beyond the everyday expectations of raising a family, but I was still limited. I was still caged.

I felt it even more with the current war. Every day the cries and smoke of the battle with the ogres drew closer to the heart of our kingdom; the grounds were drenched with the blood of our people. And I was powerless to change it. We were desperate to gain some ground, to win at least some part of the war, but nothing was working.

My father, Sir Maurice, had just finished another council meeting in hopes of making some progress in the war. I could tell by his expression that the meeting had not brought about any new insights or solutions for the war. His hope was dying; I could see defeat etched into his solemn face. I joined him in the council room as many of the council members left, "Father, any news?"

"No good news, I'm afraid. I can think of no solution we haven't already tried. Men are no match for ogres." He was right; in size alone we were unevenly matched, but add in the weapons that the ogres possessed and I could see no way that men could beat them… not without magic anyway.

"Papa, the council couldn't think of any new tactics?" He sighed in exasperation, shaking his head, "we've tried new military formations, strengthened our weapons, and even Gaston has run out of ideas."

I hesitated before responding, knowing that the suggestion could cause even more turmoil to my father after a fruitless meeting, but we were running out of land, out of lives, and out of time to not even consider asking for his help.

"Father, may I speak freely?" He looked up at me curiously, knowing that if I were to ask permission to speak then the contents of the conversation may be considered imprudent for a woman to take part in. "You may." He replied after surveying the room and seeing that all of the other council members had already cleared out.

"If all other avenues of securing our people have been exhausted, I can think of one path we have not yet tried."

"Why have you not brought this suggestion up before, my daughter?"

"I'm afraid that this path has a rather dark and unpleasant reputation."

"In war there are many unpleasant things. I've yet to hear your suggestion."

"Yes father, but please think on this suggestion before you respond." He nodded his head and I continued, "Perhaps we should call on the Dark One."

"The Dark One is a vile creature who does not give his help freely. He cares not for our plight or for anything beyond his own means. It would be unwise to summon him here when we are so vulnerable."

"But father, we have tried everything else. If there is any chance that he may help us, that he may stop the deaths of our people I do not think that we can ignore this option."

I could see his resolve fading. He knew, as well as I, that we could not afford the loss of more life and our current techniques were not working. My heart ached for his sadness; he knew that we were running out of options other than surrender, and even then we couldn't be sure that the ogres would be merciful to those of us who remained.

I placed my hand on his arm wishing to extract his pain and provide him with even the smallest amount of hope. His other hand clasped mine, "I forget how wise you are, my daughter. While I do not like the idea of calling upon the Dark One for help, tomorrow the council will meet again and we will discuss this new option together before we attempt to summon him."

"Thank you, papa." I squeezed his hand once more before turning toward the door.

"Belle? I would like for you to join us in council tomorrow. We can waste no time in reaching a decision."

. . .

I nodded briefly and returned to my chambers. It was no small thing to be invited to the council meeting. A woman's opinion was generally not valued in military discussions; I would have to choose my words carefully to be taken seriously.

I arrived with my father just as the other members were settling in. I could hear their whispers about my presence. I had never attended council meetings before, so I could understand their cause for disturbance.

"Gentlemen, I apologize for pulling you from your duties for another council meeting so soon after our last, but something has been brought to my attention and I felt it imperative to discuss this manner with you at once." My father had captured their attention but I could still see the other members casting glances at me.

He paid them no mind and continued on, "yesterday, my daughter" he gestured to me, "held an audience with me to discuss the kingdom's current despair. In this discussion, she brought up a suggestion that we have not yet attempted. Although her suggestion has merit, I did not want to go any farther without getting some input from this very council."

An older man stood up as he spoke, "What can a woman have to say that our land's top military strategists and soldiers could not?"

I held my tongue as a few other men added comments and nods of agreement. They had every right to question me, even if they were being insufferable and close-minded about it.

"Gentlemen!" My father called as he held up his hand. "As my daughter, Belle is privy to nearly everything that happens in this kingdom; she has poured through our history books and has seen firsthand the damage of the war while providing medical triage to our soldiers. Now before we waste breath discussing why my daughter is here, let us first discuss what she has to say."

I did my best to keep from smirking; my father was always my champion, but my breath caught in my throat as I realized that every eye in the room was focused upon me. It was now or never.

"Gentlemen, I want to thank you for your time. Our kingdom has had a long history of victory on the battlefield, but our struggles with the ogres have ventured far beyond the realm of what we are used to. As such, I believe it is time we consider using warfare from another realm. We should summon the Dark One."

They seemed to be following along with me up until the last three words.

After that the room erupted in shouts of dissent in every tone of voice, from every direction. It was too much and too loud. I couldn't even follow what they were saying to make a retort. The Dark One definitely inspired a great sense of fear.

I saw the resignation on my father's face as the council members questioned not only my suggestion, but my father for even considering it. They weren't being reasonable. I was sure that none of them had even bothered to see how this could save us.

In a few moments, the suggestion would be lost and the council meeting over. I had to regain their attention. I had to make them understand.

"If we could just-"

I wasn't even sure that I had spoken the words; I could not hear them above the constant interjections about the Dark One's evil powers.

I had nearly given up when I heard a strong voice silence the others, "ENOUGH! I believe Lady Belle has been trying to speak. You will silence your useless outbursts and listen to my fiancé."

Gaston had been invaluable to the council and to the kingdom. His strategies, though not effective in killing the ogres, had at least helped to slow the rates at which our soldiers were dying. His heroic gestures and military accomplishments had endeared him to many in our kingdom.

As such my father believed he would receive no better offer for my hand when Gaston had asked for it. I was told of my betrothal to Gaston a few weeks ago. If not for the chaos the ogre wars caused we would already be wed, but as a prominent military leader, Gaston had other duties to attend to first.

I wanted to believe that Gaston had spoken up because he believed in me and my suggestion, but I knew better. As Gaston's fiancé I was an extension of him and his reputation; he was asserting his influence because, very soon, all of my actions would reflect upon him as well.

The council members reluctantly held their tongues. Though the idea of listening to me and my apparently outrageous suggestion was not favorable to them, they had too much respect for Gaston to continue speaking.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. My argument had to be reasonable and strategic in order to for the council to even pretend to consider calling upon the Dark One.

"I know that none here would like to bring the wrath of the Dark One upon us, but at that same token, we can all agree that his wrath is unmatched, and once a deal is struck with the Dark One it is not broken. What do we stand to lose from entering in an agreement with him that we have not already lost from the ogres on the battlefields? Our kingdom was prosperous, and even if his price is all of our gold how is that more valuable than the lives of our people? If we stand any chance against the ogres it is clear that it is not with weapons we have forged. I will gladly withdraw this suggestion if any of you have another way to end our daily horrors."

I sat quite abruptly. It was both liberating and nerve-wrecking to have said my piece, and now all I could do was hope that the council members were convinced enough to move forward.

"My daughter is not ignorant of the consequences that might occur from approving this action, but we have ended countless meetings with no viable solution. I urge you to vote yea, and summon the Dark One to end this war."

. . .

In the days that followed I scarcely left my quarters. The summons had been sent to the Dark One and the only thing that had changed in our lands was the continuous rising number of men fallen.

I poured over volumes of histories hoping to find a glimmer of something, of anything that might illuminate the Dark One, but every entry I found was vague and superficial. In the end, I had learned nothing beyond a warning of his great and terrible power.

I was yet again perusing a book when Gaston and another soldier entered my father's study. They had news from the battlefield.

"Avonlea has fallen."

This was terrible. Avonlea was our last stronghold.

In the silence that followed this announcement I knew that my father had all but given up.

"If only he had come." Gaston said solemnly.

"But he didn't!" My father retorted. It must be a terrible burden to be responsible for the lives of so many and yet to have no means of protecting them.

"We have to do something. We have to stop them." Gaston continued.

As a leader in our war efforts, he knew that we could not waste time, not now, after such devastating news, but how would we move forward? Every step we took set us back three more.

"Ogres are not men. They are unstoppable." My father muttered out the words as he sank into his chair. It killed me to see him so hopeless.

"He could be on his way right now, papa." I looked into his eyes as he sighed, "It's too late, my girl. It's just too late."

It was then that we heard a pounding on the doors to the study. I was renewed with hope, "It's him! It has to be him."

"How could he get past the walls?" My father asked as we made our way to the doors. "Open them!" The guards flung open the doors but there was no one there. It was then that we heard a voice from behind us.

Sitting in my father's chair was none other than Rumplestiltskin, the Dark One.

"Well, that was a bit of a let down. You sent me a message. Something about, 'help! Help! We're dying. Can you save us?' Well, the answer is yes, I can. Yes, I can protect your little town… for a price."

I was nervously excited. He had come. He could save us. Finally, things would change.

"We sent you a promise of gold." My father said, regaining his composure as he stood toe-to-toe with the Dark One.

Somehow, he didn't seem as ominous as everyone had warned. Certainly there was something commanding in his presence, but his movements were so fluid and relaxed. I was more relieved than afraid.

"Ah, but you see, I make gold. What I want is a bit more special. My price is her." Rumplestiltskin replied pointing his finger straight at me. I have to admit that I was quite taken aback. What could he possibly want with me? As soon as the words were out of his mouth I felt myself being pushed back by Gaston's arm.

"No. The young lady is engaged to me."

Rumplestiltskin continued on, uninterested, "I didn't ask if she was engaged. I'm not looking for love. I'm in need of a caretaker for my rather large estate. It's her or no deal."

My father wasted no time in refusing him. "Get out. Leave!"

From my stance behind Gaston I saw Rumplestiltskin give a smirk and a noncommittal head nod as he began heading toward the door, "As you wish."

That was it?

After all of the arguing and council meetings—after all of the deaths of our people? The Dark One had been here for only a moment and now he was leaving. How would our people be protected? How could we possibly stand a chance against the ogres now? He was our only chance. I had to fix this. I had to do something.

"No wait!" I pushed Gaston's arm out of my way and stepped forward. "I will go with him." My declaration caused immediate protest from Gaston and my father, but I could see no other way. I had been the one to ask the Dark One to be summoned, and if his price was me, I would be the one to pay it.

"No one decides my fate but me. I shall go."

"It's forever, dearie." Rumplestiltskin stepped toward me, his stance was relaxed but his eyes danced with excitement.

I watched him carefully, "My friends, my family, they'll all live?" I needed to be sure. My only care was for their safety.

"You have my word."

"Then you have mine. I will go with you … forever."

"Deal!"

I felt my father's hand on mine. "Belle, you cannot do this. You cannot go with this, this beast!"

I clasped his hand tightly, steadying myself. I wasn't sure how much more time I would have with him, but there was no time to falter now. "Father, Gaston, it's been decided."

I could see the sadness grow in my father's eyes as he realized the full meaning of my words. The deal had been struck, and everyone knew that Rumplestiltskin never broke a deal once it was struck.

After that, everything happened at a dizzying pace: I could feel Rumplestiltskin's hand on my back as he led me away from my father, away from my fiancé, and away from my home, forever.

I had saved my people, but what would happen to me now?