A/N: That's right folks, I'm back and better then ever, absolutely flowing with ideas (and writer's block) and am so sorry you guys had to wait a whole summer before I updated. And this chapter seemed really hard to do, I struggled with it a lot, typing and retyping so I'm sorry if it's not too great. Also as a side note I'm not sure how long this story is going to be, maybe just a few chapters. It's definitely not going to be really long... I'm pretty sure anyway. That being said I was thoroughly crushed no one left me any reviews, crushed I tell you. Sure people updated me (is that the right word? Anyway) or are following which is cool and all, but come on! Throw me a review bone for this next chapter 'kay? You might even get a cookie out of it! With that being said, ON TO THE STORY, MY LOYAL READERS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Once Upon a Time, not even the DVDs but hopefully soon I will. Kitsis and Horowitz (too lazy to see if that is how you spell their names) and ABC own this amazing television series
Belle found herself surrounded by darkness, nothingness surrounding her. "Hello," she called out, but there was only silence. Before Belle had time to investigate the darkness, voices began to filter in, angry voices by the sound of them. "Villain!" One voice shouted, hitting Belle like a blow, knocking her off balance. "You killed him, didn't you?" another shouted. "We don't want you here!" Voices upon voices started to hit her like a wave, Belle falling to her knees as they all hit her, her head pounding and body aching.
"Rumpelstiltskin!" Belle shouted into the torrent of insults and curses. "That's right, call to your master," a voice sneered at her, Belle shivering at the hate it possessed. "Make it stop, please make it stop," Belle whispered into the dark to no one in particular. She felt feverish and hurt, the voices seeming to get louder and angrier, the words far crueler than when they had started, melting into one voice.
The voice was a woman's cackling in glee. The laugh was cold and Belle recognized it as the woman's voice she met on the road. The Queen, Rumpelstiltskin had called her. Fear clung to the woman, her body locking up and she could feel herself falling.
The last thing she heard as everything became bright was the one thing she wanted to here. "I'm here, dearie," he whispered to her. "Don't despair, I will find you again."
"Is she all right, sir?" a man's voice entered Belle's mind, but she was too tired and her head hurt too much to open her eyes, scared of what she might find. "Nonsense, she was attacked in the village, how do you think she is?" a deeper, harsher voice boomed towards the other, causing Belle to flinch inwardly. She had had about enough of harsh tones and mean words. Finally giving in, Belle cracked her eyes open and was welcomed with the familiar sight of her bedroom, her last memories before fainting coming back. Escaping her room, the villagers, their words made Belle let out a groan.
The sound didn't go unnoticed and immediately Belle's vision was sliced with light as the curtain around her bed was pushed aside, her father's face entering her vision. The look on his face shook Belle. His face was distraught and pained, his skin turned an ashen grey color. There was also someone else with him, a surly looking guard, glaring daggers in her direction. "Well she seems fine now, sir," the guard said, his eyes never leaving her.
"Belle," Maurice murmured, sitting down on her bed. Belle started to push herself up, every muscle in her body ached and her head was pounding. When would she stop waking up somewhere else with everything hurting? "Father," Belle whispered, glad her throat wasn't hurting. A pained smile crossed her father's face. "You're safe now," he told her, reaching out as if to touch her. The strange guard made a coughing sound and Maurice's hand paused, falling back away from Belle.
"Well," he said, standing up and turning away. "Me and Christophe will leave you to rest." Belle just stared at him, confusion clouding her mind. Something was very wrong here, but she had no idea what it could be. "What happened?" Belle called as her father reached the door, her voice strong considering how weak she felt. "The villagers," she continued, gathering strength as she continued. "They kept saying how I killed him. They were so angry. What happened, father? Who is 'him'?" Belle didn't fail to notice how Maurice flinched when she called him father. The guard, Christophe, put his hand on Maurice's shoulder, seeming to share a look with him that Belle couldn't understand.
After a quick silent argument, Maurice brushed Christophe's hand from his shoulder and walked back to Belle. She stood up, her arms folded across her chest. She was tired of not knowing what was going on. She had been weak for far too long and that time was over. She was a strong, capable woman, she faced the great Rumpelstiltskin and survived more or less physically unscathed. She was going to get answers, she was through being the damsel.
"Tell me," she said, jutting her chin out showing bravado she did not feel. Maurice's face crumpled as he fell into a nearby chair, strength seeming to fail him. Christophe stayed near the bedroom, his eyes never leaving the king. "Very well," her father said, his breath ragged as he took a deep breath. "It's Gaston."
When he finished his tale Belle had taken the other chair, her hand on her mouth, too shocked for words. He explained how shortly after she left with Rumpelstiltskin Gaston had went on a quest to bring her back home at whatever cost. Everyone knew where he lived and Gaston had made a vow that he would not return until he could bring her back safe and sound. "We haven't seen him since he left. The village could only assume the worst. You understand how people can talk. They think that you...," at this he petered off, uncertainty flickering across the old king's features.
"They think I had something to do with his disappearance," Belle said flatly, remembering the townspeople's words. Maurice nodded grimly. "But that is completely insane, and not true," Belle said. "I haven't even seen Gaston since I left that night. If he had come I would've known." Wouldn't I? Belle asked herself. "It's just talk, darling. I...don't think you had anything to do with it," he finished quickly, silence enveloping the two. After a second Belle looked up at her father. "They all want me dead." It wasn't a question. They truly believed that she had something to do with Gaston's disappearance, maybe even his death. Her friends, people she spent her entire life sharing smiles and laughs with, despised her.
The thought sent a searing pain through her chest, another thing she was sick of feeling. Maurice didn't look in her eye, his head bowed. "Belle...if you could just...," Maurice let out another sigh, unsure how to continue. Her father's vague spurt of words were starting to infuriate her. "What? What is it," she practically shouted at him, catching herself and him off guard with the sharpness. Christophe stiffened, his hand resting on his sword as if she might do something bad. At the sharpness of her tone Maurice finally met her eyes.
"Look, everyone has already finalized that Gaston must be dead. Now if you could just tell them...that you tried to stop him, that you fought to save Gaston, that you couldn't help him. Maybe then they will come to realize that you are not to blame. The people need a scapegoat, Belle, someone to blame for this tragedy and unfortunately they've chose you. But if you tell them how that monster kept you away from him, that he killed him while you were restrained or unable to help, then things could go back to they were. Please Belle, tell them how Gaston died."
His request hung in the air, Belle unable to hide the surprised expression from her face. Was her father asking her to lie? To call the one person she loved, no matter how much it hurt to do so, a monster and a murdered. It seemed so mad, such an insane request that she couldn't believe it. "You want me to tell everyone that Rumpelstiltskin killed Gaston?" Belle asked, making sure she understood correctly.
Maurice took his daughter's response as a reason to sit up, energy starting to fill him again. "Yes, exactly. We all know he did it anyway, why else would Gaston not have returned home? If you convince the people that you couldn't help him, that Rumpelstiltskin forbid you, or that he chained you up and forced you to watch as he killed your betrothed, they will believe it and your name will be restored. You will be safe again. Isn't that what you want?" Belle stared at him, now not even trying to hide the disgust from her face. "You want me to tell everyone how I watched him kill Gaston? That is disgusting." Belle noticed Maurice's face harden. "If it's for the good of the people Belle I don't understand why you won't agree to it. We all know that that monster would do something as evil as kill the man you love in front of you. All you have to do is say it and they'll believe you."
Belle jumped from her seat, her fists shaking in anger, the words spilling from her mouth before she could stop them. "He's not the monster. You are," she said, her voice shaking in fury. "I know he's always seemed vicious and cruel, but father, he's really very kind and gentle and how dare you suggest me do that to him. I...," her words failed her now, the look on her father's face was far scarier then anything Rumpelstiltskin had done to her.
"If I didn't know better, Belle," Maurice said, his voice dark and heavy, his face dark with anger. "I'd think you have feelings from that beast." His words clung to Belle, causing her to shake. Maurice stared at her, his eyes blazing with anger and something under that. Was that disbelief? Or perhaps it was something sadder. Belle just gave a small nod, hardly any movement at all, but her father saw it, and his face collapsed as if the only thing holding it up was her silence.
"Then we're done," he said curtly. He turned from Belle and began walking towards the door and this time Belle didn't stop him. Christophe glared at her, Belle unsure whether or not his eyes would actually burn into her. Maurice opened up the door and Christophe walked with him, shutting the door with a loud slam.
The noise knocked Belle out of her trance, running towards the door. Putting her ear to the wood, she craned to hear what was going on on the other side. "What would you like us to do with your daughter?" Christophe's muffled voice asked, sarcasm dripping with every syllable. There was a pause, and then Maurice spoke so quietly Belle strained to hear. "My daughter is dead, Christophe. This is a tainted, evil thing living in her body." Belle blanched as she heard the words, running them over and over in her head. My daughter is dead. My daughter is dead. Tainted, evil thing. The words hit Belle like a blow, causing her to crumple at the bottom of the door, but she could make out the last words before the silence. "Keep the prisoner locked in. If she escapes, kill her."
A/N: Oooh, twisty ending? Did I appease my maybe readers? *ducks behind a bush to avoid the onslaught* Well I hope this was a good welcome back chapter, hope it was long enough and the storyline wasn't too bad. I typed and typed this chapter so much and I just could never get the beginning to where I would have liked but all in all I think it was good. Also, I put two little hidden things in here and if you can guess them in your reviews you're awesome! I'll give you hints: I got the name of the guard from a book series and certain parts of the dialogue between Belle and her father should sound familiar. And with that I wish you guys a goodbye and goodnight and I will probably maybe wrap up this story with the next chapter which I will upload as soon as I write one I am satisfied with. R&R please or I will cry and then flood the world with my epic tears.