Chapter 7: Up Where They Walk

"Ariel," Rumplestiltskin sat on a large rock looking down at the mermaid that was treading water and staring soundlessly at him.

Well, she was more glaring and gesturing at him wildly, but she couldn't utter a peep. Belle was completely enthralled. She would admit previous to her life with the Dark One she had lived a relatively sheltered and common life, but while even with Dark One, one couldn't exactly call life boring she had never had an experience with a mermaid, or anything even close to it. Mermaids were of myth and legend, even here in this magical realm.

"Her? Never mind her, she's mine… No she isn't under a spell… Yes she's here of her own free will… Now shut up about her or I'll leave right now," Rumplestiltskin stood to do just that.

Ariel slapped the water violently and shook her head.

"Alright then dearie, lets get down to the deal shall we?"


Belle couldn't help feeling sorry for the girl. She was in love with a human, a prince nonetheless. Prince Eric. Belle couldn't recall ever meeting him or his family, but that wasn't at all unusual. Her deal with Regina had been just as Rum had told her, a deal for the squid ink that Rum himself was now after but the spell that had given her legs and also cost her, her voice had worn off before Ariel had barely made it out of the water. If Belle hadn't already hated the Evil Queen, she would now. At first she thought it was a little cruel, making Ariel rehash the details of her dealings with the Bitch, but perhaps reminding her would remind her to never again do business with a devil.

But then again, what was Rum? Certainly no angel.

Ariel was so incredibly beautiful, young and so desperately in love, Belle couldn't help but feel kinship to her in that regard. Loving someone that seemed unattainable …and another species entirely, Belle felt like she might have even more in common.

"You want your voice and legs? Oh, dearie, what could you possibly have that I want that would be worthy of all that?" Rumplestiltskin cackled.

Ariel glared and made a series of rapid gestures Belle didn't even pretend to follow.

"Hm, well, yes, that is a place to start from," Rumplestiltskin trilled happily, "So which do you want? The voice or legs?"

Ariel scowled and slapped the water.

"Oh you think a little bit of squid ink is worth all that? Silly fish, no. No, I want the ink and something more."

Belle watched, biting her tongue. She didn't know what Rumplestiltskin was playing at. He wanted the ink, she knew that, that was why he had even agreed to deal with her, or so he had said. It wasn't terribly nice to toy with the young girl like that.

Ariel frowned deeply, flicking her tail and rippling the water.

Rum made a few complicated gestures and Ariel's eyes went wide and she pulled back from him

"How bad do you want it then dearie? Time is...ticking... Tick..." Rumplestiltskin waved his finger, "tock..."

Belle could clearly read the distress on Ariel's face, and she forcibly bit her tongue to keep from speaking out.

She had to trust him, she had to, no matter her doubts in this situation, and she did. She trusted him emphatically.

The silent contemplation on Ariel's part and the impatient ticking of Rumplestiltskin's finger as he counted the seconds, drug on, and then somewhat suddenly, Ariel's shoulders went back, squared.

She swam propelled by that powerful tail to the very waters edge and raised her hand to Rumplestiltskin. Her blue eyes were blazing.

"Oh good, we have a deal then," Rumplestiltskin clapped his hands and giggled in the back of his throat.

They shook and, as Rumplestiltskin was so fond of saying, the deal had been struck.

"Get the ink and we'll meet back here at sunrise," Rumplestiltskin looked down at the sullen but determined mermaid. She nodded and in one fluid movement turn and dove gracefully into the water, glittering blue and green tail glinting in the ever fading light.


Both Rumplestiltskin and Belle were quiet as they rode back to town. Their horses moved silently in and out of the light and shadows from the full moon overhead. They did not ride with urgency or the joy they had previously. The beach was empty and the light filtering down and painting the rocky shore in stark relief demanded silence, demanded the morose and dark attitude. It was a night of stolen moments and chaotic thoughts.

Belle wondered if the ocean somehow knew that come first light it would be losing one of its treasures? Wondered if somehow it sensed the presence of magic and the disruption of natural order? The ocean was such undiscovered territory, with such beautiful unknowns, and hidden the depths. Belle found her mind wandering, wondering about the world little Ariel was giving up.

Love was such a wicked, wicked thing.

Wasn't Rumplestiltskin though, doing the same thing? Wasn't he conspiring to give up this world for another, another so different than here...in the name of love for his son?

Hadn't she? To a point? Maybe Ariel's sacrifice wasn't all that different than anyone else who had given something else up for love...but she was changing her entire species because of love.

Belle wondered if she loved that like. Would she change who she was, her very essence and body for Rumplestiltskin?

Something churning in the pit of her stomach said that she would.

And it almost terrified her.


As they made their way back through town Belle's mind turned to Rumplestiltskin. She wasn't sure what entirely to think of it all. She hadn't ever really seen him deal before. His reputation of course preceded him and it wasn't of any surprise to her that she had felt uncomfortable watching him, it perhaps surprised her that she wasn't quite as uncomfortable as she would have expected.

She had gotten a thrill out of watching in his element. She wasn't sure entirely that she like all of how he had treated Ariel but he was good at what he did and a marvel to watch. So different than the Rumplestiltskin he was in private. There was fall less pomp and show when they were alone.

Still she wondered, as they bedded down the horses, why he had been so secretive about the second thing he bargained for? There had to be something more, something he didn't want to tell her...

And there it was, she realized as they climbed the few steps into the cabin still in silence.

That was what was bothering her. Not the magic, not even so much the high handed way he dealt with the mermaid - Ariel had been free to leave, he didn't abuse her, he just didn't let her get her way right at the get-go. It was that he was keeping, had kept, something from her. She really didn't like that.

Rumplestiltskin went to the fireplace and soon had a magical fire roaring in the hearth and heating the cabin quickly, as only a magical fire could. Belle busied herself with fixing a light meal, carrying the cold cuts and hot tea on a tray to the chairs pulled cozily to the fire.

Rumplestiltskin was already seated, looking deep in thought.

"You're quiet...I had expected you'd ask by now," Rumplestiltskin was the first to break the silence.

"So, it was game of who would speak first?" Belle pursed her lips after taking a sip of tea, "I wasn't sure I was allowed to question the all and powerful Dark One."

Rumplestiltskin couldn't miss the snip in her tone; he arched an eyebrow at it, "Belle, you can ask me anything, you know that."

Belle pouted slightly, bottom lip jutted out, "Really? So I have to ask about everything? How was I even supposed to know to ask about this 'other' thing you bargained for? Hm? I don't like playing those kind of games Rum."

While Belle's tone indicated she was rather pissed at him, calling him Rum betrayed the fact she was more curious than angry at this point.

"A lot of what I do is spontaneous. Not all of it of course, a lot of pre-planning and researching and studying is also involved but you can never know the level of a person's desperation, know their tells until you are standing in front of them. I didn't discuss with you my deal with Ariel, beyond the ink because I didn't know the deal until I was making it."

Belle evaluated that statement for a long minute, then nodded. She still wasn't overly pleased with being out of the loop but his answer was without reproach. How could she argue that? Sometimes she hated when he was reasonable.

"What did you bargain for besides the ink?" she asked evenly.

"As you know, mermaids are quite fantastic, even to world such as ours, that knows magic..."

Belle nodded, thinking back on her childhood. She knew magic existed, mostly evil magic for evil things, but had never really seen it until Rumplestiltskin had shown up. She knew too, from Rumplestiltskin that there were worlds where no magic existed. One such world was where his son was. Mermaids were fantastical beings in any realm she had to think.

"Mermaids are a different kind of magical and mythical creature altogether. It is part of the reason that merpeople and humans no longer have interactions or relationships. Humans have a nasty way of want to conquer things, especially new things and things they don't understand. Things that might have a value...and merpeople, especially the mermaids have a value that is beyond many measures."

Bell had completely forgotten her irritation at this point and found she was sitting on the floor leaning against the ottoman near Rumplestiltskin's feet as she listened raptly.

"They are a natural and born magic. Everything about them is magical. It is commonly known lore that a mermaid's kiss can keep a man from drowning... A mermaid is fierce and as emotionally solid as the ocean she is born in, she sees creation from an entirely different perspective and life and death from a different depth. A mermaid does not cry often, her tears are rare and precious. They are one of the mostly costly and rare magical things in existence. Especially tears wept from joy. Though tears of anguish are also powerful, they are just simply used for a different kind of magic and are a bit less rare than those of joy." Rumplestiltskin paused and cocked his head thoughtfully, seeing something in his mind's eye.

"A mermaid's voice can call a man to his death...or his salvation. Her hair is of a fiber that creates ropes that will not ever break. Her skin soft and glorious to the touch but also so tough and resilient that they can shield a drowning sailor from a ship that is bursting apart from the crashing waves... A mermaid is a magical creature..."

Belle was completely lost in his words, as his voice carried off just as his gaze did.

"Perhaps the most treasure thing that a mermaid is in possession of his her tail."

This caught Belle by surprise and she stiffened, "What?"

"The scales of a mermaid's tail are light, harder than tempered steel, more flexible than chainmail. They naturally repel magic. In the water they offer increased dexterity, buoyancy, and create temporary gills for breathing under water. The mermaid's tail is tied to the waters that they were hatched in. When the scales of the tail are returned to those same waters the whole of the ocean feels it. It also knows if the scales are in possession of the mermaid, or if in the possession of another if they were gained by force and evil means...or willingly given."

"If taken by force the whole of the ocean will attack and kill those that had harmed the mermaid. If willingly given, the ocean honors the gift and the wearer is given the protection of the ocean."

Belle's jaw was slack. She had never heard such a story. It was such a haunting, amazing and magical story. Mermaids were already so surreal to her, now they were even far more mystical.

"Truly?" she asked, finding herself caught up in the tale.

Rumplestiltskin looked down at her, "Truly. The other truth to this is that there has never been a mermaid that has willing given her tail..."

Belle expelled a long breath, "That is the other thing then...you want Ariel's tail."

Rumplestiltskin didn't answer just made a waving gesture that said all she needed to know.

"Will it hurt her? Taking her tail?" she asked softly.

Rumplestiltskin laughed harshly, "It has to be removed one way or the other if she is to have legs. I'm simply making sure it doesn't go to waste."

"What will you do with it?" Belle asked, she was almost afraid to ask.

"I will protect what's mine."


Sunrise was little more than an hour off, Rumplestiltskin and Belle were again making their way to the tip of the beach Belle had come to learn was called Bad Wolf Bay. There some kind of myth about the woods just above it and a pack of werewolves, or other something, she had only caught bits of the rumor as they rode through town that evening.

She found that her heart was pounding a little faster, a little harder as they neared the point. She would witness magic, crazy magic that would turn a mermaid to a human... It was terrifying and wonderful all at the same time.

They moved through the crevice and along the rocks coming into the open pool. Rumplestiltskin snapped his fingers expanding the light from their torch to light up the entire space. Sunrise was nearing but inside the rocks it was still a dark, nearly black, grey.

Ariel was waiting for them.

Both Belle and Rumplestiltskin approached the waters edge and sitting on the stone in front of Ariel was an ornate, carved ivory inkwell.

Rumplestiltskin moved to pick it up but Ariel moved it out of his reach shaking her head. She pointed to her throat.

Rumplestiltskin grinned, "Getting smarter little fish…"

He lifted his hand and almost instantly a purple glow began to emit from his hand, he flicked his wrist and the hazy light flew at Ariel's neck.

Ariel looked surprise for a moment and her hands flew to her throat. Her mouth opened and from it poured the most pure and glorious music.

Her sweet and clear voice ran musical scales, echoing off the stonewalls, Belle couldn't remember ever hearing a sweeter or more beautiful sound in all her life.

"My…my voice…" Ariel stuttered smiling wide, testing it out gingerly.

"Oh yes dearie, returned and sounding as tip top as the day you hatched I'd venture to say…" Rumplestiltskin twittered dancing his fingers together.

"Th…thank you," Ariel's eyes misted with happiness and clear, genuine thanks.

"Nothing to it dearie, everything for a price…" Rumplestiltskin waved her off and snatched the inkwell from her hands, though Belle thought she saw secret prideful satisfaction in the gesture. It was probably just her imagination though.

"Now, should we get on with the next part, aye?"

Ariel apparently not yet completely used to having her voice back nodded.

"What…what shall I do?" she whispered.

"Oh, nothing much really…try not to drown after I've taken your tail," he made a face at her. "You haven't forgotten our deal, I get the tail, freely given?"

Ariel shook her head, "No, it's yours…freely given. How…how did you know…about that part I mean? …She didn't even ask me about…"

"I know everything dearie, don't push me…let's get this done."

Belle felt her pulse increasing rapidly and her breathing become shallow as her attention focused solely on Rumplestiltskin and Ariel.

Ariel gracefully lifted herself onto the edge of the rock, sitting with her tail hanging into the water, red hair hanging in red, wet ropes partly obscuring her breasts and torso.

"Alright, here we go…" Rumplestiltskin's hands began to glow again.

Belle watched completely enraptured. She watched as Ariel's head lowered and she swore she saw tears fall from her eyes into her lap.

Belle wondered if they were tears of joy or sorrow.

Rumplestiltskin threw the purple haze at Ariel's tail.

A sound of shock and pain ripped open the thick air. Belle pulled back, hands clutched to her chest.

Ariel fell backwards onto her back, arching, pulling her tail toward her middle. The purple haze was fully engulfing Ariel's lower half.

A tearing sound rent the air, and Belle watched as the middle of the fin at the bottom began to split.

Ariel began to scream constantly as the tear worked upwards.

"It's hurts…it hurts so…" Ariel was writhing.

Belle frantically sought Rumplestiltskin's gaze, he was extremely focused but he finally met her gaze. She begged with her eyes, 'Can I go to her?'

Rumplestiltskin looked confused for a moment but gave her a small, jerking nod of consent.

Belle rushed out from her shadow and knelt at the changing mermaid's side, "It's okay…it's going to be okay…it'll be over in just a moment…hang on," Belle grabbed Ariel's hand.

Ariel clutched at Belle, turning to bury her screams into Belle's skirts.

Belle watched as the tail finally split completely down the middle from tip to waist. It was peeling back now and Ariel continued to scream muffled cries into the material.

"It's okay shh, now love…it's okay…almost done now…almost," Belle tried to soothe as Ariel squeezed her hands.

The glittering blue green scales of the mermaid's tale were peeling back on either side, pulling away to reveal slender, perfect legs.

The pain and the screams seemed to last for hours but in actuality the whole process took less than 10 minutes. At the conclusion a sobbing former mermaid was still clutching at Belle's skirts and the last remains of the mermaid she was, was glittering a little less brilliantly on the rocks beside her.

Ariel, youngest daughter of the mighty King Triton was a mermaid no longer.

Somewhere in the ocean an entire people wept.


AN: Already Peeps, how long was THAT in coming? Sheesh! I'm sorry about the wait! I hope ya enjoyed…I know, a lot of Ariel, not a lot of Rum/Belle, it's coming though… I sort of feel like this journey to get to King George is taking a long time…I've a feeling this story is going to be looooong…you all okay with that? Is it moving too slowly you think? Truthfully, hit me with it… I want to know, I really don't want to bore y'all to death with these chapters of side adventures… Feeback is much, much appreciated!

Points of the Major variety to Nicole for catching, Dårlig Ulv-Stranden aka Bad Wolf Bay from the grand and wonderful show Doctor Who

Honorable Mention and bonus points to jackswoman for calling our Fantastic! As the exclamation of the 9th Doctor… though it was not written intentionally, Fantastic should always be said in the 9th Doctor's voice so points are being allocated accordingly.

Also, points and a toast to Hermitess, Mowgli is from the Jungle Book!

Extra Credit for anyone that hops on over to my profile pages and grabs the link for my new Tumblr account! I would love to see ya, it's all about nerdy awesomeness and there is a teaser for my new upcoming OUaT fic called Operation Chipped Cup… would love, love, love to hang out…so hope to see you there!

Much love and THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading and all your continued reviews! - RA