Chapter Three

The odd looks she was getting were starting to make her nervous. The nurses and staff knew she existed; she was in their records and there was one time as her cursed self that she had needed medical care, so there were a few who recognized her. But many that didn't. Those who didn't obviously wondered who she was, what she was and why she was there. But beyond a few clipped responses to inquires, Danu did not divulge her purpose.

There was more than one reason she wished to put Belle under her wing. One was to keep her from helping the stranger from doing whatever schemes he had planned. If this new Belle was in the loop, perhaps she would refrain and help Storybrook keep its privacy. She may be more of an outsider in this place herself, but she would be damned if she let magic be exploited and strangled back out of this world just like what happened before. This place needed magic, but its population had no ability to appreciate and care for it.

Danu reached the ward Bella was being kept and walked straight into her room.

Its occupant looked up and gave a sigh. "I seem to get a lot of visitors lately." The elegant English accent showed annoyance as well as curiosity. "Are you a friend of mine as well?" she asked, sitting up straighter on the hospital bed.

With a sardonic smile, Danu shook her head. "We actually haven't met. As for friends... I don't really have any."

Dark brown brows shoot up above startling blue eyes. "Really? Then why are you here?"

"I was just wondering if you would like a friend." When Danu saw her about to say something, she held up her hand. "One with no inclination of knowing you as others have... I want to get to know you. Who you are right now, even if you don't know who that is yet."

That took Belle aback.

Danu took the opportunity to enter the room fully, closing the door behind her. "My name is Danuela, but most people call me Danu. What should I call you?"

"Uh... for now you may call me Belle... even though I'm not sure I want to be Belle... but she seemed like a good person." She answered, looking Danu over for the first time, "Yes... call me Belle. Everyone else does... so..." Then she smiled and was a bit afraid that she was babbling. After so long, to actually have someone concerned for her and not who she apparently used to be.

Flicking her white hair back, Danu smiled in return. "Wonderful to meet you, Belle." She greeted. "May I sit down?"

This woman kept surprising Belle. No one seemed to mind making her decisions for her –insisting on pushing this Belle persona onto her. Danu's approach was much more refreshing. "Yes please." She found herself saying.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Danu looked around her. She took note of a novel, heavily loved but deposited in a nearby trash bin; along with a few remaining shards of what was once a teacup. "Tell me something about yourself... that you know."

Belle shifted one of her legs out of the crossed position to stretch it out in front of her. "There isn't much to tell. As far as I've known, I've been in the asylum a very long time. With no memory... just emptiness."

Danu nodded. And she thought she had gotten a bad deal of this curse as the town shut in; but to have no memories at all? Regina must really dislike this girl. "But you're out now... or mostly. What would you do if you could?"

"Well..." Belle thought for a moment. "I'm not much for nature, but being cooped up has me wanting to take a long walk. Get some air and stretch my legs."

Smiling, Danu nodded again. "Not very ambitious, but makes a good start."

Before Danu could say more, Belle put a hand on Danu's knee, leaning in with an intense look. "Danu... if you really want to be my friend... I must know something... and please be honest." Belle waited until Danu nodded to continue. "What I saw when that man came and crashed his car... the ball of flame... was it real?" she asked. "Did I see magic?"

Danu shifted to face her fully. "What I tell you is between you and me. You won't tell anyone? For any reason?" this time she waited for Belle to nod, which took a moment as she hesitated. Belle must have really wanted to know for her to break the tenuous trust the stranger, Greg, had put in her. "What you saw was real. You saw Gold use magic."

Exhaling abruptly, Belle let her gaze fall to the bed. "So magic... it's real?"

"Only here. And for very good reasons." Danu put a hand on Belles shoulder. "I know it's a lot to take, and most of the town is filled with people you do not know... But they are good people, mostly, and deserve their peace and privacy." She urged.

Belle looked back up at Danu's purple eyes. "You are asking me to trust you... and to keep something like this a secret from outsiders?"

"Yes." Danu answered bluntly. "You are part of the magic, Belle. I know it doesn't feel that way... but I can show you. Help you understand. It's something to cherish... not exploit."

Narrowing her eyes, Belle studied Danu. "The man in the car... Greg...you think he would do that?"

Danu nodded right away. "It's rare to have proof of magic here. I think he would use it to his advantage... it could destroy Storybrooke."

Nodding absently, Belle thought for a moment. At least she knew she wasn't crazy. "And you could show me?"

"I could. Just know my magic is slightly different from what you've already seen." Danu commented.

Belle blinked quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"Well... have you heard of Morrigan LaFey?"

"Well, yeah. It's a King Arthur story." Though she didn't seem to like Joules Verne as much as the tall woman said she did, Belle did find mythology much more entertaining.

Danu chuckled. "That story... the one told here... it's not completely accurate... or at all really. Depending on the version. But it so happens that Morrigan is me." Danu admitted, speaking slowly and bracing herself for the worst that could happen at the admission.

At first Belle looked at her like Danu was crazy. Then thought for a moment. She decided that it didn't matter; so far this girl had been nice and honest to her. More honest than most in this place. "Alright... I'll give you the benefit of the doubt... for now. So you're Morrigan LaFey... what does that make me?"

Danu smiled in relief. "For now?" she grinned at Belle with sincerity. "My friend." At that Belle smiled happily back. Danu shifted into a more comfortable position facing Belle. "I have faery blood in my veins. It makes my magic a bit... random... unstable may be a better word. I also have dark magic inside me from my mother."

"Does that make you dangerous?" Belle asked, concerned.

At that, Danu hesitated but eventually nodded. "Don't worry, I have lived long enough to get a handle and know my triggers." She assured. "In this place, I also put in place extra assurances." She added, fiddling with the ring on her finger.

Thinking about that, Belle looked down at her hands. Her nails were unkempt from being bitten and her hair could do with some care, but this woman still could pull off looking completely charming, even breath taking. But then, most women in Storybrooke were of handsome stock. "Alright." Belle breathed, "Go on."

"Would you like me to show you some? Nothing big or anything... but I can show you something... pretty." Danu suggested, an idea forming in her mind.

An excitement appeared in Belles eyes. "Yes! Show me!" she practically bounced on the bed.

But Danu held up her hands. "Whoa. Hold on. I can't do it here. But I am willing to take you to a protected place where I can show you. Are you willing to go with me?"

Belle hesitated. Did she dare go with this white haired woman with the strange purple eyes? Leave Storybrooke General? That last thought was very appealing; she had enough of these hospital walls.

Mr. Gold had basically told her that she was brave. For some reason that counted for something.

Belle looked Danu straight in the eyes. She took a deep breath, and smiled excitedly. "Let's go."

Danu grinned and grabbed the bag she had brought with her. "I hoped you'd say that, so I brought you a change of clothes and a few things to allow our exit to go unnoticed." She told Belle with a wink. From the bag she brought out a change of clothes, a knitted toque for Belles wealth of hair and slightly tinted glasses.

Once Belle had changed and looked more like a normal, healthy woman instead of an unstable wreck, she and Danu calmly walked out of the hospital like old pals and headed into the forest.

...

One of the Lands of Faery

The grip of her foot on the branch was starting to slip, so she tried to adjust. For one heart stopping moment, her foot had no purchase and left her struggling to keep her grip at both hands. With a grunt, Danu lifted herself back up and found new purchase. She stayed there until her heart stopped pumping so hard and so fast.

"Geez, Dani, you could give someone a heart attack." A voice said above her. It was a young man's voice, just shy of reaching puberty. The voice belonged to a gangly yet wiry boy a good five years older than her with light brown hair of youth and dazzling steel blue eyes. His words held both concern and condescension.

Danu looked up to scold at the boy. "To bad you didn't actually have one." She shot back half heartedly as she continued climbing. She went up several more branches, getting level with her opponent. Danu gave him a triumphant grin and stuck out her tongue before going even higher in the tree. She just needed to get a little higher. As she lifted a foot, she felt her dress snag and pulled on it. A ripping sound told her she'd torn it, but Danu would worry about that later.

The boy watched her test the thinner branches as she went. He hadn't got that high in the tree since he was much smaller and lighter. His weight now would break the branches; as he feared would happen if Danu went any further. "Okay, okay. You proved your point, you can stop now." He hadn't realized his boyish teasing would provoke her like this. He didn't want to get blamed if she fell during her visit.

"Danuela!" called a man near the foot of the tree which grew in the courtyard of a grand dark stoned castle. "You get down from there at once!" his tone was more afraid than angry.

Giggling past the boy, Danu nimbled her way down the branches to land lightly on the ground. In a burst, she ran to the regally attired man. "Papa! Did you see me? I beat Jereth!" she exclaimed girlishly as she reached him. A few small fluttering wildling faeries quickly got out of her way, with tiny huffing sounds displaying their displeasure. "He said girls couldn't climb trees, but I showed him!" she said proudly.

Lord Wyette LaFey looked past his beaming daughter to find Jereth also out of the tree approaching them; a quiet smile on his face but his head was low with veiled contriteness. Wytette nodded. "Prince Jereth. I'm happy to see you do as boys do, but perhaps when with my daughter, you could find something more appropriate to do?" it was a question, but not a serious one. This prince would soon be a King, and Wyette was but a Lord from a different realm which was connected to this one; like two bubbles stuck to each other yet separate.

Prince Jereth shrugged. "I did try." He said and gave Danu a nudge. "But Dani insisted."

Danu made an unladylike noise. "You're the one that said I couldn't climb it."

Wyette knelt. "Which you proved wrong, my dove. That doesn't mean you must stick his nose in it. He is a Prince after all."

Now the one contrite, Danu lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry papa."

Boot heels were heard coming from the other side of the courtyard. "Is that any way for a lady to act in front of royalty... even Faery royalty?" A dark haired, middle aged beauty asked in a deep, rich and harsh tone. She wore an extravagant gown with her hair up in a complex hairdo and make up which accentuated her eyes, lips and cheeks. Her eyes were such a deep, dark purple that they were almost black and were of stark contrast to her alabaster skin and fierce face. But what really caught the eye were the glittering dark runes that seemed to be etched along the planes of her skin like elegant tattoos. In some light, one could barely see them, but in others, stuck out in astonishing contrast. This was Lady Morrigan LaFey, Danu's mother, and The Morrigan –her true name almost long forgotten. As she crossed the cobbled stonework, Morrigan swatted at a few faeries that weren't quick enough to get out of her way. One hit the ground with a tiny shout of pain and was surrounded by her sympathetic brothers and sisters. She took one look at her daughter and sighed heavily. "Why is it that when left for only a few minutes, you have accomplished to rip your dress?" Morrigan asked, but when Danu tried to answer, she shushed her and put up a hand. "I expect more from you than this, Danu."

Cheeks red, Danu had to be heard. "But mother," she wasn't allowed to call her anything else, "I bested the Prince! I proved I could do something he could not."

One eyebrow rose, and the smallest smile appeared and disappeared just as quickly. "I see. Well perhaps next time, you can best him and keep your dignity intact." She chastened

Danu's face fell and she looked to the ground. Beside her, Jereth didn't think much of Danu's mother and his expression said as much.

Morrigan sneered. "Come along. We have been here for too long. I've heard tell that King Uther's wife has passed on. Perhaps now is a good time to take advantage of his sorrow to strike a betrothal between his son and our daughter." She said with a lazy air as one of her servant guards handed her a glass to drink from.

Wyatte took a few steps up to his wife, separating the children from the conversation. "Nonsense, my beloved. You well know that can't happen. For one, Uther would never agree to an arrangement like that." He told her, casting a side glance at Danu before leading Morrigan away to a place they wouldn't be heard.

Danu sighed. Her mother was a hard woman to please, which was why Danu focused on making her father smile. She felt that was her duty, seeing as he had a wife as impossible as her mother.

Jereth tapped her on the shoulder, and when she faced him, gave her a smile. It was a cocky smile mixed with concern. "It's alright, Dani. My father knows your mothers opinion of his realm and overlooks it. He doesn't care what she thinks, and that makes her edgy. What my father cares about is your father's promises. You and he are of us, nothing can change that." He said with youthful superiority. Jereth puffed himself up when she smiled back. "Anyway... before you leave, I was hoping to give you something."

Eyes lighting up, Danu grinned up at the boy prince. "What is it?"

"Close your eyes." Jereth told her

Not without giving a pointedly suspicious look, did Danu close her eyes.

"Hold out your hand."

She did so. Something warm and roundish was placed in her palm. It wasn't heavy, but had weight to it.

"Now open your eyes." Prince Jereth commanded.

When Danu opened her eyes and looked at her hand, she saw a carved wooden pendant connected to a leather string. The carving was of a maze, but an elaborate three dimensional maze sphere. She held it up and spun it slowly to try to see every angle. "This is remarkable, Jeri, thank you." She said, truly awed. "Did you make this?" she asked.

Jereth shook his head with a lazy shrug. "No, but I designed it. I'm still learning my magic." He explained.

Danu sighed before he could say more. "I wish I could do magic." She said wistfully. "Not like my mother, though. Like this. To make beautiful things." She said.

"You have faery blood, Dani. I'm sure you have magic, and when you're ready, you'll come here to learn." Jereth said confidently, taking the amulet and putting the leather around her neck. "There is magic in this. A wish. But you must solve the labyrinth first. Once you do, it will open, and then you may make a wish." He smiled down at the young impressionable Danu. "Then... I donno... you can use it to store charms or lucky items." He said with another shrug. "May this help you when you need it most... anything you put in it should be able to work anywhere."

The gift left her speechless. No one had ever given her something so special, but there was also a foreboding sense as she looked in his steel blue eyes. She gave him a warm and thankful smile before going up on her tip toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Jereth." Danu finally was able to say.

Jereth's childish cheeks spotted for a moment.

From the entrance of the courtyard came the sound of her mother's voice calling impatiently. Wincing, Danu sighed. She curtsied to the Prince. "Bye." She bade before sprinting towards her parents.

For a moment Jered could only watch her go. He was so still that one of the hoof toed faeries that was visiting the castle came and stood on his shoulders. "Bye." He said to no one.

...

Storybrooke

Belle used a nearby tree branch to help her climb over a fallen log. "How much farther? Feels like we've been walking for hours."

Danu chuckled, walking slightly ahead of the other girl. "We're pretty much there. The sacred alcove is supposed to be hard to find, that way no unwanted visitors find it." She said, pushing back a thick overgrown thorn bush to allow Belle to pass through it. After her new friend made it in, Danu followed, picking up the faint trail in the concealed grove.

It wasn't that big, perhaps a half dozen feet to all sides; surrounded by trees and almost completely obscured from the main paths, this was a secret place. On the opposite end of where they stood, there seemed to be a small stone alter with a tea light, a bell and a small statuette. Danu went up to this and took out a matchbox. She lit the candle and sat in front of the stone, gesturing for Belle to do the same. Once Belle was impatiently seated beside her, Danu gave her the ring she was wearing. "Don't loose this." She said as she touched the statuette before gesturing to the arch like backdrop within the thicket behind the altar. With her gesture, there seemed to appear a glimmering light that filled the small archway with shinny light.

A tiny gasp escaped Belle as she watched the archway shimmer.

Danu took one slow breath in before exhaling just as slowly. "Faery in the groove, make yourself known. Only friends wait on this side of the door, so come out that we may know you more. Come little faery, come and play. Let us see you by light of day." She intoned and rang the bell. This was old magic, elemental magic; that which Gold, Cora and Regina knew almost nothing about.

A few moments passed before Belle turned to Danu. "Now what?" she whispered.

"Just wait." Danu said with a smile, looking pointedly at the archway now filled with magic. "I can only make the doorway on this side... my request needs to be heard, then a connection made on the other side. This is the only way I know how to make a portal... luckily, this world connects with a world I am familiar with." She said, somewhat ruefully.

Belle nodded and turned back to the thicket. Just when she was about to get impatient again, she thought she saw a flicker. Then heard the sound of a far off tinkling of a bell. Another flicker and then the portal seemed to shimmer with hundreds of colors.

Out from it, as dainty and wild as one could possibly imagine, came a faery. But not the kind of faery that one would have found in the Enchanted Realm with their pastel gowns and fairy dust; these were very different. These were wild, adventurous, curious and untamable. These did not need fairy dust as long as there was wildness in the world. As long as there was adventure and imagination. The closest depiction Danu had ever found in this world that was close enough to what these faeries were like were the works of Brian Froud and his fairies (and goblins of course).

It looked Danu up and down in its gossamer, frail looking white dress. It had goat toes, pointed ears and large slanted eyes that were dark and fathomless. It seemed to recognize her, for it came closer, tiny wings fluttering as it hopped closer.

Danu nodded in welcome and respect. Even though these fae were almost the lowest caste in the faery realm, they deserved far more respect then Danu gave most people. "Thank you for coming." Danu greeted.

The faery looked curiously at Belle.

"This is my friend, people here call her Belle." Danu introduced.

Belle nodded like Danu had at the site, finding her voice in her shock and amazement. "How do you do." She greeted.

A grin spread across the faeries face and it curtsied as elegantly as a courtier.

Belle was flabbergasted. While the fairy was completely foreign to her, Danu had accomplished the task of showing her something truly amazing and beautiful. "We won't keep you long." Belle said, at the same time wishing she could keep the little tyke, but suppressed the urge, knowing that Danu would not stand for it.

Danu agreed. "No, we shant." Her Avalonian accent came out slightly with those words. "I wanted to show you this place. It's a safe grove for you and your friends to visit here again. No one will disturb you and your dances here. You can return to this realm once more." She said, indicating the secret place.

The Faery looked beyond the two women, fluttering up over their heads to get a better view. When she landed again, she gave Danu a look.

Apparently Danu knew what the faery wanted to say. "When we leave, I will put an enchantment that will allow no one but I to enter, but even then, only with permission or if you are not already here. I shall protect it. I promise." This had been her real reason of coming here, but she thought she may as well bring Belle and show her natural magic.

After a moment, the faery smiled again and nodded. She curtsied again before waving in thanks and enthusiasm to the both of them before departing through the portal once again. This time the shimmering colors within the archway disappeared and the connection was broken.

Danu looked over at Belle. "How was that for magic?" she asked.

Belle beamed over at her. "That was wonderful! Thank you!" somehow Belle knew what sort of trust Danu must have put into Belle for her to show her something so precious and private. But she wasn't yet ready to go back to the hospital.

With a sigh, Danu stood and held her hand out to help Belle do as well. "On the way back, you can ask me anything you like." She said to try to make it up to her. Danu didn't really want Belle in that hospital any more than Belle did.

"Alright."

With a smile, Danu parted the bushes again and they exited the grove. True to her word, Danu put a protection spell on the small piece of area so that no one would ever think to look within or get too close.

They turned to leave, but they must have only gone ten steps before they heard a commotion coming towards them and suddenly a small group of people appeared from the bush directly in front of them. At the lead was Ruby, with Leroy and a few of the nurses in the hospital. Danu groaned. They must have discovered Belle missing sooner than Danu expected them too and got Ruby to help them find Belle. And knowing Leroy had been friends with Belle as well brought him along too.

Ruby looked Danu up and down, but recognized her immediately. "You? What the hell are you doing with Belle?" she demanded.

"Why did you kidnap her and bring her here?" Leroy put in, clearly thinking the worst.

Danu sighed and shared a look with Belle. She put up her hands even though she knew even Ruby wasn't a match for her –not with her ring still in Belles possession. "Calm down, Red. It's not what you think." She said as patiently as she could muster.

"And what exactly do you think I could be thinking?" Ruby asked.

"That I would harm Belle." Danu stated plainly, and a bit sharply. "Come on, Red. Remember last full moon?" At Ruby's slightly uncomfortable shift in stance, Danu guessed she did. "I thought you knew that I deal with the forest a lot. My scent had led you straight to me that time. Remember, I wasn't afraid." She stated.

Ruby sighed.

Leroy looked between the two. "Ruby?"

Danu raised an eyebrow at Red. "Ask yourself this... why wouldn't I be afraid of a werewolf?"

"I get it." Ruby couldn't help snap. "You swear that you were not going to harm Belle?"

Danu scoffed. "Why would I hurt my only friend?" she asked rhetorically. "No, I was doing you all a favor. Not keeping her in the dark about what this place really is. Seriously, why are we keeping it a secret from her? It doesn't make sense. So now she knows and I'm pretty sure she'll be careful what she says to that Greg character. You're welcome." She said in a slightly scolding tone.

"Wait... she's a were...werewolf?" Belle asked, looking Ruby up and down a bit timidly.

Ruby nodded. "Yes, but I can control it, don't worry." She tried to sound as soothing as she could.

Turning to Belle, Danu tried to reassure her as well. "Don't worry. It's good to be best friends with a werewolf. And I'm sure it comes in handy as well... considering she found us so fast." She added; casting Ruby an appreciative though annoyed look.

"I think it's time we got back to the hospital now." Leroy suggested, still looking at Danu suspiciously.

All three women blanched, Belle most of all.

"Why can't she just stay with me?" Danu found herself asking, not only surprising the search party but herself as well.

"Why?" Ruby asked.

Danu shrugged. "I can protect her... I have the time, the knowhow and the space in my house. I can take care of her medications... I can even agree to hospital visits if it makes everyone happy... but I'm sure I can take care of her." What the hell, she rolled with it. The house did seem more empty than usual. Time to put a house guest in the guest room.

Belle smiled. "I would really much rather stay with her than in a hospital... it's not very homely." She said even as she rubbed her arm. There were many other things a hospital was, but was going to be left unsaid.

One of the nurses pursed her lips. "You'll still have to come back to the hospital and sign a bunch of release forms."

"That's fine." Danu nodded.

Thus they found themselves on the trail back to the hospital, Danu feeling as if she had accomplished a great deal for the day; Belle feeling ecstatic that she didn't have to spend more time than necessary in that dreadful General Hospital.

...

Avalon

The unexpected snap and burst of what Merlin liked to call firecrackers brought Danu out of her solemn contemplation. She sat up straight and looked up at her instructor with a guilty look.

Merlin pierced her with an abolishing glance. Those unfathomable eyes could pierce steal and see through a person as if looking at their very soul. His beard was white with brown at the edges and a few wrinkles showed though on his tanned skin. He wore elaborate yet plain robes that frayed at the edges. Merlin only wore his good and colorful cloths when he had to go to court. His hands were ink and charcoal stained from scribing and experimenting with his alchemy and science. It was rare to find a wizard who mixed the two with such successful results; it was what made him so powerful; and feared. After a moment he sighed. "I know that the last week has been hard for you, Morrigan. But you must focus or else this dark power will consume you. It has also unleashed your more potent faerie abilities, which you must learn to control as well. Focus, child! It is in you!"

Danu pursed her lips. "My name is Danu." She intoned; not for the first time. It was a testing method; the moment she allowed someone to call her Morrigan, she would be the Morrigan. She started to find it tiring to continuously correct him. More than that, she missed her home; she missed her father even more. Danu even missed visiting the Faery Kingdom her childhood friend Jereth would soon be ruling, if he wasn't already. She had looked forward to going there again and learning from his family's mystics; but both her father and Merlin believed that they wouldn't be able to help her now.

How could they? She had murdered her mother. And the runes that once adorned her mother, now burned on her own skin. Merlin was certain it was because she was resisting; though they were bothering her slightly less since first getting them. He was currently trying to teach Danu how to transfigure herself so that the runes did not show. They were a blatant display of what she was, and Merlin didn't believe that Danu would become what her mother was: power hungry and ruthless.

"Are you ready?" Merlin asked after a moment passed.

Nodding, Danu sat up and shook herself, willing herself to concentrate. She looked up at Merlin, meeting him directly in the eyes. "Yes. Please continue, Master Merlin." She said.