"Oh—" The curse Belle let out was far from lady-like. Alone in the sudden deluge there was no one to criticize her. The darkening skies and heavy air had threatened her all morning. But she had hoped to reach the next village before they made good on their promise.

She tugged the hood of her traveling cloak over her hair. It was soon soaked through, the fabric meant to keep the chill at bay. Not a heavenly downpour. The rain fell so heavy that the path through the forest was soon obscured completely. She would have to stop walking or risk getting lost. Though she was directionless in her wanderings to begin with.

With a sigh, she moved to take little shelter at the base of a large tree. It provided a little relief, but not enough for her to dry off. At least she wasn't wearing skirts, she mused even in her annoyance. While she earned strange looks traveling in trousers. They were not nearly as cumbersome when wet as all the fabric and frills.

Belle curled into herself, soaked cloak drawn over like a shield. She stared into the gray nothingness the rainstorm had turned the forest. She had almost dozed off, the many days of walking sticking like molasses to her bones, when something flickered in the corner of her vision.

It was a light, flickering like a candle. Small, seeming to float at about the height of a windowsill. She couldn't make out the cabin that it was sure to be a part of through the rain. With sore muscles complaining, she stood. Surely beneath a roof by the fireside was better than outside in the rain, no matter who was inside. There was always the blade strapped to her thigh if the owner turned out to be unsavory.

It was more of a journey into the trees than she expected. The more Belle walked, the light seemed to more further away. More than once she thought about giving up and turning back towards the path. But the temptation of warmth pushed her forward.

Instead of a cabin, or housing of any kind, Belle found a stump. A single stump standing alone in a clearing, with a single candle flickering on top of it. As she stepped closer she realized that no rain fell within ten feet of the stump. Leaving the area dry if not quite warm. She decided to ignore the strangeness of the situation. Mentally calling it bravery rather than foolishness. She sat inside the dry ring around the stump, letting the rain fall beyond her. As if watching it past a window. Nearly a quarter of an hour passed as she watched the rain.

"Oh!"

Belle jumped, startled by the sudden exhale behind her. She turns to see a man staring at her from the other side of the flickering candle. His hair hung around his face, damp and curling from the rain. He held a walking staff in one hand, the other holding a shabby looking umbrella above him.

"You're lost," he said. He nervously clutched at his staff, eyes wide.

Belle shook her head. "No, sir. I saw the light and came to get out of the rain."

He smiled, just a slight twitch of his lips. "N-no, miss, you can only find the candle if you can't find your own way. You'll want to come with me then." He ducked his head apologetically when she began to protest. "I'm sorry, miss, but I came to put the light out. I can't leave it burning long, my mother doesn't like me to use my magic like this."

"Your mother?"

"Is not here. Please come with me, at least until the rain stops? I don't have much, but a fire and some food would do you good."

When Belle stood she realized that this strange man was only the slightest bit taller than her. He seemed to shy back when she came to stand next to him. His eyes averted quickly from her soaked form. His hesitance gave her the confidence to accept his offer of shelter.

"Uh, would you mind?" He held the umbrella to her. Once she took hold of it he reached out, holding his hand over the candle. His skin glitter like scales as the flame flickered violently under his palm. With a slow movement he lowered his hand over the candle. Pressing down on the flame and wax until his hand lay flat on the stump. No candle to be seen. As the light extinguished the rain began to fall around the stump.

He smiled sheepishly when he met her surprised look. He took the umbrella back, holding it above them both. "My home isn't far, miss."

"My name is Belle." Seeing him struggle trying to walk and keep the umbrella over her head she moved to stand right beside him.

"I'm Rumplestiltskin."

The shelter from the rain turned out to be little more than small cottage. Built right beside an ancient tree with greenery covering the roof. Little red flowers hanging from the eves bobbed underneath the raindrops. Giving the house a cheerful look despite the small size and miserable weather. "Is this where you live?'

He nodded, seeming unsure of her intention. "Yes."

"It's lovely."

"T-thank you." He held the door open for her. It was indeed warm inside, and she let Rumplestiltskin usher her into the single chair by the fire. He busied himself preparing a cup of tea. Seeming to struggle with finding a second cup. The one he handed her was lovely porcelain. Missing a saucer and with a small chip out of the rim that he apologized profusely for.

"It's just a small chip, I'm sorry, I-" He looked around his one-room home and sighed. "I obviously don't get much company."

"You must be lonely out here on your own."

The was a spinning wheel by the fire, and he tugged the stool over to sit beside her. "I go to the village sometimes, to sell on market days."

"You're… a spinner?" He nodded, sipping from his own worn and cracked cup. "What about your mother? You mentioned her."

"Ah," he glanced towards the door. "My mother… you know these are called the Black Woods? For the Black Fairy?"

"Yes?" It took a moment, and Belle was sure she was jumping to conclusions. "Your mother is the Black Fairy? You're a fairy?" Belle had researched into many things over the years, including fairy lore, but she had never come across an instance of a male fairy.

"Aye, a halfling." He seemed a little surprised at her enthusiasm. "A half-fae like me isn't good for much. Mother keeps me out of the way by watching the woods."

"You make a good cup of tea, Rumplestiltskin."

He smiled shyly down at his tea, a blush creeping across his cheeks. After a moment, he ventured a question of his own. "What brings you into the woods, Miss Belle?"

"I was returning home to Avonlea, but I've made a bit of a detour."

He seemed interested in her story. More eager to listen to her, than to talk about himself for sure. It didn't take long to get her talking. She told him of her fight with her father. His insistence that she marry. The brutish oaf that was her intended. How she put him off until her return from Arendelle. How she shook off her escort and ended up in the woods in the first place.

"Where will you go if not home?" He asked as if he were a child waiting for the happily-ever-after in a bedtime tale.

Belle smiled. "I think on an adventure."

"It sounds marvelous." He sighed. "I admire you. I don't have much magic, but I can cast a charm for luck and protection. " He pushed himself up from the stool, using his staff. "May I?"

"What's the price?" Belle wasn't a fool, and the look he gave her was almost proud.

"Maybe, someday come back and tell me about your adventures?" He asked, wistfully. "That's more than enough payment for me."

"Yes, I will." Belle found herself blushing at his thankful look. She blinked in surprise as he gently tapped his walking stick to her forehead. A tingle crawled over her skin, and it wasn't unpleasant. It felt like like warm mist passing through her body.

"There. You may now travel in peace." He leaned against his staff, looking down at her fondly. "And I will be here when you return."

"With tea?" Belle asked.

"Of course."