Thanks to TamyG for reviewing! I had no idea you loved "Once" too, darling! It is my new favorite show and the Rumbelle is my new obsession! That and Robert Carlyle. Hee-hee
Also, to everyone...I am trying to get a trailer up for this story. I will try to have it up within the next two weeks, so keep your eyes peeled!
Belle had cried herself to sleep that night. She had mourned the life lost, and the frightful life to come. She had pitied her fate. And most of all she had formed a deep resentment for the monster who had imprisoned her. Was this really what bravery led to? Was this where she had imagined her desire for adventure would lead her?
XxxX
Puffy-eyed and sore, she was forced to get up before the crack of dawn. Her eyes opened just a bit to see two boots right in front of her face. When she opened them all the way and looked up, she found herself staring into the dark orbs of the Dark One himself. His smirk was apparent through her dried film of tears, his glorious victory sparkled in his eyes.
"You'll be pleased to know, dearie, that the battle is over. Your little war is won thanks to my...specialty." He bowed in a mocking form and grinned all the more at her. Belle seemed unimpressed and remained frowning. This led him to also frown. "What has made you so upset? Your people are living."
Belle did not answer. Instead, she asked, "What is going to happen to me?"
The Dark One squinted his eyes and linked his fingers together, "A bit selfish aren't we this morning?" His impish squeal pierced her ears, causing her to wince. When he found that she just lay there unwilling to answer, he added, "I told you, dearie, that I needed a caretaker. This place is not going to run itself."
"You don't have any other people to do that?" Belle asked as she proceeded to stand up.
He turned his back to her as if to give her some privacy and answered, "No. It is just you and me, Princess."
"And why is that?" She pursed her lips as she brushed the straw from her golden dress.
The Dark One chuckled, "You were the only one brave enough to come."
Belle was about to ask why he never forced anyone to come with him, when he turned around suddenly, waving a notorious finger in the air. "But enough of this chatter," he commanded, "We must find you something to wear. Ahh-" He eyed her carefully for a moment before grinning, "Perhaps...this." And with a wave of his hand and a puff of purple smoke, there lay a dress of light blue and gold-threaded accents.
Belle did not touch the magically-conjured dress. She was fearful too. She also would never give him the satisfaction of seeing her in such a thing. No. She was a princess. "I will be quite fine dressed in these clothes." She told him forcefully.
"Oh, come, come, my dear. The blue shall look lovely with those brown locks." He reached out a hand to stroke her hair but she pulled away.
"Don't touch me."
The imp only smiled triumphantly. "Suit yourself." He waved a hand for her to follow, and she did so with some regret. The dungeon wasn't looking half so bad anymore as she climbed two flights of stairs into a darkened dining hall, large, but bleak and miserable.
The Dark One took a seat at the head of the long dining table and motioned for her to bring him his tea. It took Belle several seconds to find the tea tray, hidden in a dusty corner. Strangely enough, the china remained clean and shining. He must drink tea a lot, she mused. She carefully brought the tea tray over and rather clumsily began to prepare her master's cup.
As she did so, he began to explain her tasks as care-taker and Belle tried her very best to listen whilst preparing the tea. "You will serve me my meals, and you will clean the Dark Castle."
Belle let out an inward sigh. Clean the whole Dark Castle. Every last bit. Her services were already looking bleak. "I understand," was all she said.
"You shall dust my collection and launder my clothes." His hands motioned to his elaborate clothing. He then pointed to the spinning wheel in the corner. "You shall bring me fresh straw when I spin at the wheel."
Belle tried to smile as her list seemed to increase with each passing second. She nodded. "Got it."
"Oh!" The Dark One pointed a long finger to the ceiling, "And you shall skin the children I hunt for their pelts."
That was too much of a shock for the young girl and the tea-cup slipped through her fingers and onto the floor. Her expression as she looked upon the monster was one of horror and sickness. Her face had turned pale. The imp seemed amused as he let out a small chuckle. "That one was a quip," his eyes squinted in amusement, "Not serious." He wagged his finger at her and she let out a sigh of relief.
The Dark One sure had a strange sense of humor. The thought was chased from her head as Belle remembered that she had let the cup fall to the floor. She knelt down, her dress blooming all about her, and picked up the fragile chinaware. To her fright, she found that on the front side of the cup there was a small chip. The broken piece was nowhere to be found, and she trembled slightly as she faced her master who was staring at her quizzically.
"Oh my, I am so sorry." She stuttered in fear. "It is...chipped." She turned the cup to him and noticed that he just continued to stare at her. Her heart leapt with the realization that he might be angry and she hurriedly tried to explain. "You can barely see it. I am so sorry."
The Dark One looked at her for several minutes more before smirking. "Well, it's just a cup." He pointed out and Belle breathed a sigh of relief and giggled nervously. She stood to her feet and placed the cup on the tea tray and continued to pour the tea.
He just stared at her and the hair on her neck was beginning to stand on end. Why couldn't he just stop looking at her? After what seemed to be hours, she finally handed him the chipped tea-cup and tried to smile. "Here you are, Dark One." She added a small bow of the head and went to stand safely at the other end of the table.
"Hmm." He muttered thoughtfully as he sipped from the cup. He placed the teacup down upon his saucer. "I do not like it." He said simply.
Belle flushed. "I am sorry. I do not know how to make tea, but I will learn."
"No, no," he waved his hand, "The tea is fine, little too much sugar though." He pursed his lips before continuing, "I mean the name you give me."
Belle raised an eyebrow. "I gave you no name. I called you the Dark One because that is what I have been taught to call you. It is what everyone calls you. No one knows your true name. That is, if you have a real name?"
The imp cackled, "Well, I should just let you call me 'master', now shouldn't I? It is fitting, after all, for a woman as my maid to call me something with respect."
The woman frowned. She had wanted to learn his name. She had somewhat foolishly thought that if she knew him by another name besides 'The Dark One', he would seem more personable. More of a man than his monstrous form would allow. She hid her frown quickly and just nodded. "Of course, master."
"But you," he pointed at her with the index fingers of both hands, "Now I must know your name."
Belle looked confused. "Wait." Her eyes squinted, "You do not know me, but you know my father?"
"I only know your father through the message he sent, dearie. I do not pay much attention to the names of all the royalty in this land."
Belle blushed again. Of course, he wouldn't know my name! She smiled slightly, "It's Belle."
Her master seemed to roll the name off of his tongue a couple times before nodding. "It is a lovely name. Means 'beauty', now doesn't it? Well, well," he squealed, "It's quite a pity such a beautiful lady should become a maid, now isn't it?" He mocked her and Belle grew angry.
Trying to keep her voice calm, she replied, "It is not my fault I was taken here against my will."
The Dark One shot up from his seat and began to walk towards her. "Ah, but I did not take you here against your will. Remember, dearie. You promised yourself to me, hmm? Yes. I did nothing wrong... Belle." He was so close now that she could feel the warmth from his breath and she was stunned into silence. What he had said was true.
The Princess within her was trying to push her to retort and to fight back. But he was her master. Surely she couldn't without him punishing her. She lowered her eyes, "Yes, master." She replied with submission before raising her head. "But I would not be here had you not bargained for me."
"Oh no, dearie." He clasped his hands together and looked at her curiously, "You know what I think? I think you wanted to come. You desire danger and adventure. What more of those could you get than from being in the home of a monster himself?!" He declared triumphantly as he saw the look of truth in her eyes.
Belle knew that he must be sharp-witted to guess such a secret and it made her even angrier. Fortunately, she had no time to retort before her master led her back to her lifeless cell to wait until his further summons.
