My hubby knows how to keep me happy :P

Queen Regina sat upon a throne of ebony, a piece stylized to her own personal taste and replacing the boring standard golden throne her deceased husband had kept in the palace.

Her throne spoke of power, but today as she leaned back into it she did not feel the sense of control she typically enjoyed while sitting in it.

Her power play against Rumpelstiltskin had succeeded, but something about the easy way he let losing all of his sorcerous might roll off of his shoulder bothered her in ways she didn't even understand. In addition to that, she had battled Maleficent, stealing back the most powerful curse ever created from the other sorceress, but the curse had failed!

Regina drummed her black fingernails on the armrest as she thought. She had played out the ritual exactly as the spell books suggested, even given up the life of her most precious horse as a reagent to fuel its unholy power, but… nothing. Nothing whatsoever had happened.

Regina felt a creeping impotent rage swelling within her, her frustration mounting as she recalled how she had promised her enemies such vengeance and now it was coming to nothing. Her frown vanished slowly as she thought of the only one who might know what she had done wrong.

Regina smiled, in fact; Rumpelstiltskin would be easy to convince now that he was powerless, and now she had good reason to make his life exquisitely miserable.

"You can't seriously mean to do this!" Belle tugged on Rumpelstiltskin's arm but he maintained his steady pace, walking down the dusty road towards the castle.

Rumpelstiltskin gave her a meaningful look, "I have to; in time they will come for me, and I have no recourse to evade your father's armies forever. I have a bad leg and no magic… besides; I don't really want to hurt anyone when apprehending me would only be justice."

Belle couldn't believe that he was giving up so easily, and anger flashed over her features, "You're being a coward again, what happened to the man I saw back there that caused even arrogant Gaston to back down?"

Rumpelstiltskin paused and shook his head at her, sadness in his eyes, "You don't understand; every fiber of me wants to run, but that would be the coward's way. I vowed never to run again, since running is what made me lose my son…"

Belle saw the pain in Rumpelstiltskin's eyes and calmed, seeing that his choice was fueled by strong regret. "At least consider other options; we can think of something…"

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head again, "I said I wanted to make things right, but if I don't face those I've hurt, then already I am a liar."

Belle's throat tightened at his words, which though noble and true would certainly lead to her lover's death. "I… I don't know if I can bear to see you do this…"

Rumpelstiltskin took her hands in his, squeezing them tightly as he gave her a small, strained smile, "I am scared witless, perhaps we can enjoy being terrified together knowing that at least for once in my miserable life, I'm doing something right. If I don't do this…"

Rumpelstiltskin looked at her, the innocence in her face, "If I don't do this, then I truly won't deserve you. Will you speak on my behalf to your father, so that throwing myself upon his mercy might not end in my death?"

Belle bit her bottom lip, staring at him in desperation a long time before answering, "I will."

Rumpelstiltskin slammed into the hard stone of the dungeon with a grunt, twisting in his bonds to see his jailors sneer and spit at him as they shut the iron door to his new prison. The former sorcerer crawled on the floor as best he could with both feet and hands tied until he could inch himself into a sitting position against the wall.

Rumpelstiltskin let out a deep breath, taking stock of his many bruises and the rank, fetid nature of his new home, "Well, that could have gone better, but at least they didn't kill me outright."

A raspy voice sounded from somewhere in the dark around him, "No, but after a while, you will wish they had."

When the door opened again, Rumpelstiltskin shielded his face from the blinding torchlight that came from the other side, the last several days making his eyes more comfortable with the dark than any form of light. When he heard his visitor's voice, though, Rumpelstiltskin's spirits soared.

"Oh, Rumple, have they not been feeding you?" Belle crouched down next to him and ran a comforting hand through his matted, wiry hair.

Rumpelstiltskin smiled at her, "Three square meals a day, dearie, and occasionally the hard bread is garnished with the most delightful mold. Has your father the King made a decision yet?"

Belle grew ghostly quiet and Rumpelstiltskin nodded soberly, "That bad, eh?"

Belle shook her head, obviously trying to appear hopeful but wearing the face of despair nonetheless, "Father is sated with telling me that I am fortunate he spared your life, I believe he is more prone to believe Gaston's account of my seduction by your magic than the truth."

Rumpelstiltskin nodded again, "Ironic that my reputation is what shall slay me…" he leaned forward and took Belle's hand, his voice cracking with his raw emotion, "Even more than all the other heinous things I've done, I regret most the heartbreak I see on your face now… I am sorry, Belle."

Tears coursed down Belle's face as she leaned close, pressing her forehead to his and whispering vehemently, "I'm not going to give up on you! There has to be some way that I can help you… please, Rumple, don't confine me to this fate, tell me what I can do to free you."

Rumpelstiltskin stared into her pleading eyes in silence, finally nodding, "I understand; tell your father that Rumpelstiltskin has chosen you as his champion according to the laws of the land, and that through you I shall defeat the Dark Queen herself, freeing him forever of her tyranny."

Belle took a shark breath and stared at him with wide eyes. That hope existed was surprise enough, but Belle felt the blossom of her love for this man growing even larger for the simple fact that no other man had ever entrusted her with something so important, something that require she step beyond her role of princess and become something greater.
Belle nodded and kissed his forehead, turning at one to inform the King that Rumpelstiltskin would trade a quest for his freedom.

"This is absurd! Rumpelstiltskin would affront me further with such a ridiculous notion…" the King at back into his throne, rubbing his temple with one hand as he thought on Belle's words.

Gaston stepped forward, his own face incredulous, "None dare defy the Black Queen and to even suggest that and to even suggest that you be the one to do it…" Gaston rolled his eyes and waved dismissively, "…I'm not sure if it's just an open act of insult upon our lord's intelligence or an actual foolhardy attempt to send gullible Belle to her death."

Bell's jaw worked in anger but she kept her retort to herself, addressing her father again instead, "My King… father, according to the law I am now Rumpelstiltskin's champion, and all we ask is the chance to do something good as proof of his goodwill."

The King shook his head, massaging his temple further, obviously vexed, "Belle, I have allowed your misplaced love to go this far, but I cannot in sound mind allow you to risk yourself and this kingdom by stirring up trouble with the Black Queen."

Belle swallowed her anger, working hard at it against Gaston's knowing smirk. She took a deep breath and spread her palms open in a gesture of defeat, "Then what would I need to prove to you that we have what it takes to defeat her?"

The King leaned forward in his throne to gaze down at her, his face grim, "The Queen has armies, as do I, but hers are led by a huntsman, whose reputation stands tall as a man without fear. He is said to be devoid of compassion, a lethal killer who sweeps across the battlefield like the reaper. Bring me someone of such merit to lead my armies and I shall consider it."

Gaston laughed outright and Belle shot him a withering glare before addressing the King again, "As you say, so it shall be done." With that, she bowed and left the throne room, doing her best to hide her despair.

"Is that all?"

Belle glanced at Rumpelstiltskin with surprise, "You know someone of such renown that I might draft into so dangerous a mission?"

Rumpelstiltskin smiled and nodded, "Indeed… and you will be given the opportunity to help me right another wrong in order to gain his help. Visit with Abigail, and procure more enchanted water; the tricky part is going to be finding the person you're going to use it on."

"You didn't have to come along; are you sure you want to go in there?" Belle looked to Abigail, who stared at the dark tunnel with similar concern on her face.

Abigail waved off the notion, "I'm fine; as far as I know the dwarves are harmless folk."

She glanced back to Belle, "Besides, I heard through the local nobility what you're up to, and I want to help. The Queen has hurt so many people in this land, almost as many as that monster Rumpelstiltskin, and she needs to be taken down."

Belle jumped at her lover's name, and opened her mouth to defend him, but closed it again, realizing this wasn't the place or time. Without another word she extended her torch into the cavern and descended, Abigail following.

After a while, the light of the entrance behind them faded and only the torch provided its acrid illumination. Belle wiped at her brow, the heat of the place stifling, "I wonder why it's so hot underground like this?"

Abigail shook her head and started to reply, but a gruff voice somewhere out in the darkness answered instead, "Because you're close to the forge now. Why are you here?"
But women jumped, and Belle licked her lips before answering, "We are looking for someone, and Red said she would be somewhere in the mines. Do you know where we can find Snow White?"

A solidly built dwarf with dark hair and beard emerged into the light of their torch, a miners picked help menacingly in both hands, "What's she to you?"

Belle pulled forth the vial of water that they had brought, holding it up so the dwarf could see it, "We want to help her. My name is Belle, and I need her memory to defeat the Queen."

The dwarf snorted, "Boy, you are a dreamer. For all I know you're here to put her back in prison; get lost."

Abigail smiled at the dwarf, "What is your name?"

The dwarf answered simply, "Grumpy."

Abigail faltered, "Well, I know that, but what is your…"

The dwarf seemed even more agitated, "My name is Grumpy."

Abigail apologized, "Oh, well, Grumpy, we are not only trying to cure Snow White… we want to reunite her with her prince, whose location I know of."

The dwarf paused, and then sniffed, "Stay here." The squat figure strode off into the gloom and the two women looked at each other, each seeing the hope in the other's eyes.