King Maurice stood before the window, pacing nervously as he watched the sun slowly start to vanish behind a row of sharp peaked mountaintops. Belle must be on her way back now, he thought anxiously. But as the mists of evening had begun to rise, it sent grey shadows up the walls of the castle, also sending up fear within the King. "Where on earth is that child?" Maurice growled to himself, not knowing whether to curse or yell at the servants.
"I am sure that the princess will be back, my Lord." One of the guards tried to reassure him, while he continued to gaze out the window, hoping to see his daughter come up through the marbled pathway, perhaps having picked some fresh azaleas from the gardens.
"Papa?" A feminine voice rang from behind him, causing him to whip around instantly. Maurice saw Belle standing there, no doubt curious to what he was doing, the bottom of her golden skirt dusted with mud. "Belle!" He was shocked to see her standing behind him. "Where have you been, it's nearly dark-"
"I was with Charlotte my handmaiden" Belle lied, "There was some gowns that needed to be fitted, I'm sorry if I worried you- I told Charlotte to send word to one of your guards to inform you on the matter."
"You have mud on your new dress" he pointed out, and that is when Belle sheepishly looked down and noticed the horrible stains, uncomfortably flustered, hoping that she wouldn't get caught in her devious lie.
"It must have been from walking through the rose bushes, it is quite muddy around there, but you do know how much I love roses." Belle slyly covered up her tracks. She knew that the mud on the bottom of her dress was not from the castle gardens, it was from the dusty village. Suddenly the beauty felt sick, if her father had ever found out she was in the village he would lock her up for good, just to make sure she never does something like that ever again.
"So, how was your stroll in the gardens, my darling?" He continued on the conversation.
"It was fine" she answered, "It was very peaceful, I was glad to get outside of the castle for once" she could not help but showing her pearly white teeth coming through her fake grin. When in reality, Belle was remembering herself back in the village, and most importantly, she was remembering every bit of scaly detail on the Dark One's face. Such a dominating powerful man, if you could call him that. He was someone everyone feared and even the name would force shivers down any peasants spine in the village. The Dark One- Rumplestiltskin, had stood so close to her, his presence creating a sense of plague on her body, even when recalling the memory, she could imagine his voice in her head as if he were speaking to her in that moment.
Belle stopped her curious mind from wandering the second she realized her father was speaking. "Belle, I've done some thinking, and you know I don't like fighting with you, and if it means your happiness, I will occasionally let you leave the castle, if that's what you truly wish-
"Oh it is, Papa!" The beauty could barely believe what she was hearing, and in return, she flung her arms around her fathers neck, letting out a small joyful giggle.
"However, there is something else" Maurice started, while Belle pulled back, pulling her arms back down by her sides with an attentive ear on what the king had to say. "Like what?" she questioned.
"I have made a little arrangement."
"Okay" Belle followed along, "what kind of arrangement?"
"The LaRoux family had agreed to join out houses together as one, you and Gaston are officially engaged" he finished, his grin and eyes were enough to show her that he truly wanted this, he truly wanted this union to be made. Maurice wanted an arranged marriage for his daughter.
The princess felt as if she were going to be sick, wishing she could shake his words out of her mind. An arranged marriage? One of the biggest burdens she bared was the single responsibility was to marry, to live in comfort, far from the violence of war and to bear heirs, and now, it was finally happening.
"Engaged?" she repeated, wishing she could turn her nose the other way and disobey this proposal. "Yes, betrothed to be married" Maurice confirmed, a happy glow beamed across his pink rosy cheeks.
"Betrothed." Belle's voice rang flat. "To Gaston. But, Papa… why?"
"Belle, surely this isn't a shock. You've two have been friends for years-"
"Friends?" Belle gave an un-ladylike snort. "We have nothing in common," she protested, imagining it now, Gaston would be off sword fighting while she would be left alone to raise the children. "He is a good man, Belle, I believe it is a good match, he will treat you well"
"Treating me well and loving me are two very different things. I want someone who will love me for me. Even when I try to show interest in his barbaric sword fighting, he insists I go find an activity more appropriate for a woman." She snarled, irritated.
"He also hates sharing conversations because they only prove I am far more intelligent than he is, and…and-"
"There are much worse things he could do. Gaston may not be the brightest man but he's strong, he can protect you, plus he hails from a loyal family, you will be surrounded in whatever you would like."
"But I don't love him!" Belle protested.
"Love can always grow" Maurice added, "when I first married your mother we couldn't be any more different, but eventually we grew to love one another, then we had you. There was not anything I would not have done for your mother, she truly was the love of my life"
"But I know for a fact that Gaston is not mine!"
"Time will change that, you must understand that it is for the duty of your kingdom to be married, this is not a time to be selfish and think about yourself." The king concluded, not allowing Belle to have another opportunity to fight back.
When Belle did not reply, Maurice approached her, grabbed a hold of her shoulders lovingly, following up and supporting his decision, "you are a strong beautiful woman, this marriage will only bring happiness into your life. In time your love towards Gaston will blossom."
But Belle really doubted it.
A couple days passed and Belle had a lot of time to think about the arranged marriage. Though she was immediately opposed to it before, time had given her a different lens of perspective. She let her father's words creep in to her mind, even managing to somewhat make sense now. Marrying Gaston would be a very smart match indeed, and perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing after all, it would please her father and maybe she would find a way to love Gaston.
Gaston would not make a bad husband, and maybe he would allow her to leave and explore other places than the castle- but Gaston was also traditional, he believed that the wife belonged at the homestead. However, she could no longer afford to be thinking about those things right now, not while the unimaginable was about to unfold.
A ragged soldier burst through the door, his breath panicked as he shouted out for the attention of the king. She listened, unseen from the corner where she sat with a book, the business too urgent for her father to remember to dismiss her before it was dealt with. Gaston was in the room as well, in a bundle with the other soldiers as the rogue man broke into the throne room, desperately. He was far too busy discussing his countless achievements with the other soldiers too notice her presence.
"The ogres-" the man gasped, "the ogres have returned, a war is upon us!"
"Oh my gods" Maurice stood out of his throne, countless furs of hunted animals wrapped around his neck, almost matching the golden crown upon his balding head. There was a small panic among the crowd of guards, shock mostly, the ogres were destroyed, the men never once thought they would ever return.
Neither Gaston or her father never spoke of war in her presence. War was something she read about, something she could only begin to understand. it was in the history of Avonlea, the ogres have attacked before.
"Send out more men to the battlefield" the king ordered the men in front of him, demandingly, no doubt feeling threatened by what he was hearing. "The ogres are too strong, our men are being slaughtered like pigs!" The ragged man responded. "Maybe there is still hope" the soldiers standing beside Gaston added.
"To have that thought in your head only proves you are a fool"
"What about magic?" Belle stared at no one but her father, "magic can do anything."
"Indeed my darling, but where could we get such power?" He pointed out.
"We could send for aid from the other kingdoms, we desperately need more men" Gaston pitched, gaining vocal support from many of the other men.
"We do not need more men." Belle snapped, opposing his idea, "why would we bring men all the way out here, just for them to be slaughtered? We do not need unnecessary bloodshed. These ogres are ruthless and will take down anything that stands in their path."
"So what would you suggest then, princess?" Gaston raised a critical brow at her, while dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on the petite girl. "What about the Dark One" the beauty bravely spoke, her words plaguing the room with a deathly silence.
"The Dark One would bring destruction, he is a manipulative imp who cannot be trusted." Gaston stated, giving her a look of inequality, which made the princess even angry.
"He's the only chance we've got!" Belle urged, wishing just one person was willing to listen to what she had to say, but as usual, her wishes were gone to waste.
"He's right," Maurice croaked, slugging back into his throne, "perhaps, Belle, you should return to your chambers. War is no place for a lady, let alone a princess." The King suggested as gently as he possibly could, which struck a nerve deep down within Belle.
The kingdom needed someone in this time of despair, and deep in her heart Belle knew exactly who must aide them. Then, not daring to speak any louder than a whisper, Belle called "Rumplestiltskin". When the attempt failed she called the name two more times, still leaning hopelessly over the balcony, her log brown hair being gently blown by the slight breeze.
"I knew it would never work" she growled, letting out a deep defeated sigh.
"Well, never say never, dearie." A voice came from behind her, causing her to become startled and frightened.
"How did you get in here?" Belle demanded, her head racing to keep ahead of her heart which had risen in her breast, driven by terror. "You called my name." His voice was strange and grating; mockery and a childish slyness that combined to chill her blood. "And here I am."
"I am aware that neighbouring kingdoms have been summoning you for weeks, yet you did not respond to them." She accused.
"I was waiting for just the right person to call me here" He answered, half of his body draped in the shadows of the walls.
"And that would be, who, me?" Her tone was almost sarcastic, she was obviously exhausted and tired from everything that was going on.
"Precisely." He put his hands together, making clicking sounds with his fingernails, slowly emerging himself from the darkness. Belle gulped as he approached her further, taking a deep breath in, turning around completely so she was face to face with the imp.
"The ogres are going to invade us." she spoke up, "you told me a few weeks ago that exchange for saving your son you would owe me a favour, unless you've forgotten-"
"Trust me dearie, I would never forget a face like yours"
"Then you will honour your favour? Will you help us?" She tried to ignore his comment.
"You are a feisty one aren't you" Rumple observed, "A stubborn princess, no doubt- I wonder what your father, the king, has to say about this. I would like to see his reaction from his own daughter summoning the darkest creature in the entire Enchanted Forest."
"I am sure he will be reasonable," she replied sheepishly, "he will respect the decision I have made, I just know it" she said, hoping her words to be true.
"Belle, what have you done?" Maurice bellowed, glaring at Rumplestiltskin, "how dare you bring him here."
She was wrong, her father was everything other than understanding. "Papa, I've done what should of been done a few hours ago." She informed, "I have called the Dark One and he has responded, he can help us!"
"He is dangerous, you disobeyed my orders by calling him here" Maurice kept looking at Rumplestiltskin with disgust and hatred.
"He has the power to do anything!" The beauty enthused, turning back briefly to look at Rumplestiltksin who met her gaze, ignoring any scoffs made in the crowd. "So, what do you say? Will you help us get rid of the ogres?"
"That's an awfully large favour your asking, Princess," he briefly paused for a moment, "how about we make a deal instead?"
"And what kind of deal would that be?" She question, skeptically.
"Well, all magic comes with a price"
"And what's your price?" Maurice stood up, "what is your price to save our kingdom from such a brutal fate?"
"My price," the Dark One began circling the room, "is her." His finger pointed to Belle, which aroused gasps of horror within the court around them. Gaston placed the beauty behind him, shielding her from the imp that demanded her. "The young lady is already engaged, to me" Gaston's deep voice stated.
"I wasn't asking if she was engaged- I'm not looking for love," Rumplestiltskin mocked him, "I am looking for a caretaker for my estate, and for my son."
"Get out" Maurice pointed towards the door after hearing what the monster had requested.
"As you wish" he obliged, a devilish smirk painted upon his lips. The silence took over once again and there were faint whispers among the crowd, worried whispers mostly, unsure what was to become of their beloved kingdom.
"No wait" Belle called out, wriggling herself out of Gaston's protective grasp. "Father, people are dying, innocent people and children too. If me going with him assures out people then it is my responsibility to protect them." She argued to the very reluctant king.
"But Belle, you can't go with this beast" Maurice blunted added, gaining a sarcastic and childish reaction from Rumplestiltskin. "It's been decided, this is what I must do"
"It's forever dearie." The Dark One interjected.
"My friends, family and my people will all be safe?" She questioned.
"You have my word" he gave a short gentleman-like bow towards her, never breaking eye contact from her. "Then you have mine." Belle agreed, "I will go with you, forever."
"Deal" he grinned, letting out a shrill of delight.
"Belle.." Her fathers pleas were nothing more than a faint whisper. "Papa, you raised me my whole life teaching me to do my duty, and now I am fulfilling it, I am saving our people."
Her father opened his mouth to speak but before she had the chance to hear what her Maurice had to say, she was surrounded by magic purple smoke, being taken away from everything she once knew. And before the eyes of the king, Gaston and all the other men, the princess of Avonlea was gone.
Next Chapter: Belle has a rough first week at the Dark Castle, between dropping teacups and mood swings from Rumplestiltskin, she is able to find comfort in his nine year old son, Baelfire.
I want to thank everyone who left reviews and anyone who favourited/followed this story! You all rock and motivate me to post the next chapter and to keep this story going! I will try and update it ASAP! Thanks for reading! Leave another review and let me know what you think! :)