Chapter 7

They finished their tea.

"Are you ready for the grand tour?" Belle asked.

She decided to start with the ground floor and took them from the main room directly across the foyer to the library. Rumpel saw more books than he thought to even exist. Bookshelves from floor to high ceiling covered every wall space, except for the large windows that mirrored those in the main hall. There were comfortable looking chairs and lounges, a large beautifully carved wooden desk covered with maps and ledgers, another large fireplace, and a spinning wheel.

Rumpel felt it call to him and he walked over and reached out spinning the wheel with a little squeak.

"I enjoy spinning." Rumpel said to Belle. Rumpel caressed the wheel gently sliding his fingers across it reverently. He missed sitting at the wheel allowing his mind to travel elsewhere.

When he pulled his hand away he felt a tingling in his fingertips. He rubbed his thumb against his fingertips at the odd sensation. Belle walked up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"It's enchanted." She whispered in his ear.

"I don't know how to spin so I have never tried, but it supposedly spins straw into gold with the right touch and feelings to guide it. I was hoping maybe you would try, gold is a precious commodity."

"I will." He said.

"Spinning always puts me at ease and it is something I do well."

Belle turned her head and watched Bae as he looked up the stairway at the back of the library that led to her workroom.

"I want to show Bae my workroom so his imagination will not temp him to explore it on his own." Belle told Rumpel.

"He gave you his word. He will not break it." Rumpel said a little annoyed that his son's word had not been good enough.

She removed her hand from his shoulder and walked over to Bae.

"Come with me and I will show you, but don't touch anything."

Bae beamed at her.

"I won't I promise."

"Rumpel, do you want to come and see my workroom?" She asked as he still stood before the spinning wheel studying it.

"I'll be up in a minute dearie." He said preoccupied.

Bae followed her up to the workroom as his eyes tried to take it all in, shelves of various bottles and jars, some even glowed, books open everywhere on tables and even the floor. Strange objects sat in the window sills and hung on the walls. It smelled of jasmine and something he didn't recognize, but he could feel it in the air. It's as if the room hummed and had a breath of its own.

"What are all of these?" He asked pointing to the shelves of bottles and jars.

"Different potions, curses, and other ingredients I use to cast spells."

She told him.

She had never shared this space with anyone and this curious boy made her smile, so she decided to have a bit of fun. She pulled two bottles down off of the shelf and a glass dropper from an empty beaker and told Bae,

"Hold out your hand palm up."

Bae did without question and Belle felt moved at the boys trust in her.

"I'm going to place one drop of this into your palm, and then I want you to make a fist, clear your mind and imagine your favorite color. Do you understand?"

Bae shook his head yes. Belle took the dropper and placed a single drop in his hand. Bae closed his fist and eyes and she could see him concentrating on the task she had given him as his skin suddenly changed into a dark shade of purple.

"Belle, I don't feel anything." He said. She giggled at his honest response.

"Open your eyes and look down at your hands Bae." Belle prompted.

Bae opened his eyes and looked down at his purple hands and arms, then pulled up the front of his shirt to look at his purple stomach.

"This is so cool. Could I have been any color?"

"Yes." She said smiling at the boy's enthusiasm.

"Alright now," she said, "let's get you back to your normal color."

"Do I have to right now? I've never been purple before. I like it."

Belle could not help but laugh heartily at his response.

"It's not a powerful potion, it will wear of by nightfall, but what will your father think?" Belle asked?

"He'll think that the boy looks more like a plum than his son." Rumpel said now standing at the top of the stairs.

"Will it hurt him in anyway?" Rumpel asked?

Belle looked hurt at that question and their was a little irritation in her voice when she said,

"I would not have given Bae something that could harm him we were just having a bit of fun. Do you want me to remove it?"

Rumpel was just protecting his son, but he felt the stab of her response.

"No, it's alright, I'll get used to it."

Bae smiled and began to ask Belle about some of the objects in the room that he couldn't identify. For the next half an hour or so Rumpel watched as Belle patiently answered the boy's questions, and began to realize that no matter what doubts he had running around in his brain Belle would never intentionally hurt the boy. She seemed to care a great deal for him, and had showed him nothing but kindness.

Belle and Bae were at the window looking at some of her unusual trinkets when she saw Tacey approaching the castle with their supplies.

"The rest of the tour will have to wait our supplies from town are here." Belle said.

They all made their way back down to the kitchen and Belle said,

"My friend may look a little scary but he's harmless I assure you. He is also a mute, but there is nothing wrong with his hearing."

She went out the kitchen door into the inner garden as Tacey was backing the wagon in close to the kitchen door. He climbed down and raised his eyebrows questioning her appearance as she stood waiting for him.

"Don't ask." She said. "I'll explain later."

He simply shrugged his shoulders, and tried to hand Belle the remaining bag of coin.

"I want you to keep it." She said.

He shook his head no.

"I insist, and you know better than to argue with me." She said smiling.

Again he just shrugged his shoulders and tossed the bag of coin up onto the seat of the wagon.

Tacey grabbed a heavy box of supplies, as Belle grabbed a few bags of vegetables and they headed inside the kitchen. Tacey looked like a giant compared to Rumpel's slight build as he passed by and laid the box on the table.

Tacey turned to see the purple boy by the door, and didn't know how he missed that when he walked in. Tacey stood and stared for a moment as Belle put down the bags and said,

"Tacey this is Rumpel and his son Bae. He's not usually this color but we were having a bit of fun in the tower when you came."

Tacey just smiled slightly and shook his head.

Rumpel extended his hand to the large man, surprising Tacey, but then he extended his and shook it.

"It's nice to meet a friend of Belle's." He said with a genuine smile.

Bae took his father's lead and approached the man extending his hand.

"It's nice to meet you. You're almost as big as an ogre." Bae stated with disbelief.

"Bae," Rumpel scolded, "apologize!"

Tacey amused held out his hand in a 'stop' gesture and looked at Belle and indicated he wanted to write something.

With a wave of her hand across the palm of her other, a quill and parchment appeared and she handed it to Tacey. He went over to the table and scrawled something quickly and reached out to give it to Bae.

"I can't read." Bae said.

So Tacey gave the parchment to Belle, she scanned over it giggled, then said,

"He says, almost, but not quite, but at least he's not purple."

Rumpel laughed glad that the man had not been offended. Belle gave the parchment back to Tacey and he stuck it and the quill into the deep outside pocket of his shabby blue colored jacket.

Everyone pitched in and unloaded the wagon that had been full, even at Rumpel's insistence to Belle that they would get it and she didn't have to help.

The kitchen now crowded and full of supplies Tacey brought in a large stack of books with a small tied bag perched on top and placed them on the table. Bae standing by the table watched the bag move. Belle set the bag aside putting it on the table and picked up the arm load full of books.

"Tacey, I'm going on up to the library, come up when your finished. Rumpel when you have time could you please send up some tea? Tacey will also be staying with us for supper. "

Rumpel smiled, "Of course."

The men busied themselves putting things away as Bae continued to watch the bag on the table slowly move around. Bae thought to himself, a snake, a turtle, a mouse, something small. He reached for the bag and untied it, opened it and looked inside and then let out a squeal as a red toad jumped out over the side of the table onto the floor. Bae immediately went to try to catch it when he felt himself pulled back hard.

Rumpel stood dumbfounded as Tacey shot across the room and grabbed his son around the waist pulling him back away from the toad. Tacey looked at Rumpel with a look of anxiety.

"Bae come here!" Rumpel demanded.

Tacey released the boy and he went to his father.

Tacey held his hand out palm up to Rumpel and then touched it with the index finger of his other hand and then shook his finger 'no' in a back and forth motion.

Rumpel questioned, "Do not touch it?"

Tacey nodded yes.

Then morbidly Tacey drew his index finger across his neck as if having his throat slit.

"Deadly?" Rumpel asked.

Tacey again nodded yes.

Rumpel had heard of the red toads, but had never seen one. They excreted a poisonous toxin through their skin that paralyzed their victims. Rumpel went over to the sink and picked up a wet rag and tossed it over the toad covering it. He then retrieved the bag from the table and carefully scooped up the toad with the bag, rag and all. He tied the bag shut. He handed the bag to Tacey and said,

"Thank you." The man had kept his son out of harm's way it was the least he could do.

Tacey bowed slightly to Rumpel. Tacey was taken aback by this small man. Besides Belle no one had ever thanked him for anything. He didn't appear to be afraid of him, and treated him as though he were any other man. Tacey liked him he decided, even his purple boy. Belle hadn't lied he was amused by the two.

Tacey, bag in hand, left the kitchen and started towards the library. He had forgotten about the toad and assumed Belle had seen it on top of the books and took it with her. He was glad the boy had not been harmed.

Rumpel turned to Bae when they were alone and raised his eyebrows waiting for an explanation.

"Papa, I'm sorry I didn't know what was in the bag I just wanted to know why it was moving." Bae said guiltly.

"Did it ever occur to you to ask?" Rumpel asked trying to keep his irritation from showing.

"I know you are curious about everything Bae, but you have to be careful."

Rumpel said.

"What if Tacey had not stopped you from picking up the stupid toad?"

Bae thought about it and said,

"I know. I will try to be more careful Papa."

Rumpel went back to putting things into the pantry and felt bad for being so hard on the boy, but the image of Tacey indicating 'deadly' made his stomach churn.

He didn't know what he would do if something ever happened to Bae.

They stayed busy working side by side. Rumpel took some lamb and chunked it up setting it in a large pot to cook for stew, adding vegetables, roots, and seasoning. Tacey had brought fresh garlic rolls he would serve with it, they would not keep long. He put water on for tea and set up the serving tray with some small pastries that Tacey had also brought. The tea steeped and the tray was ready when it occurred to him the difficulty he would having carrying it up the stairs with his leg. It would be too heavy to balance with one hand, but he had looked forward to bringing it to Belle.

"Bae will you come with me and carefully carry the tray to the library?"

"Sure papa." Bae said.

Bae took the tray and Rumpel followed him towards the library. In the foyer Rumpel could hear Belle's laughter ring out. They entered the library and the two were huddled together leaning over the desk looking at books and Rumpel watched as Tacey wrote something and Belle laughed again. They were so engrossed that they were not even aware that the tea had arrived until Rumpel said,

"Belle, where would you like the tea?" Rumpel asked.

"On the table over by the fire, we'll get it in a bit. Thank you." She said dismissively.

She did not even look up from the book in front of her. Tacey watched Rumpel's eyes on Belle and saw him bristle as a strange look crossed his face and then he went blank. Bae went and put the tray on the table and then started to walk to the desk when Rumpel said,

"Bae come with me."

Belle still continued on with what she was doing paying no mind to their presence. Bae joined Rumpel to leave and only then did Rumpel's eyes move to Tacey. Rumpel held his gaze with a dark expression on his face and then left the library Bae following behind him.

Rumpel could feel himself seething inside as he made his way back to the kitchen. Rumpel stood in front of the fire stirring the stew. Ever since Tacey had came that afternoon Belle had been different. No touches, no shy smiles, and she had treated him like a common servant. After this morning in the kitchen he had fooled himself into believing he was something more to her than just hired help. He wasn't, and he needed to quit chasing some dream that wasn't there and do his job. Belle could never care for a simple uneducated man. Tacey may not be much to look at and mute, but it was obvious they had a love of books and knowledge in common and maybe more. Why did he feel so hurt and angry? He knew the answer. He knew he was jealous of Tacey. Rumpel shook his head frustrated and sighed heavily. He did not see this coming, and he hated the way it made feel, foolish.

Bae watched his father and knew he was upset, it was that blank look he gets when he is trying to cover up how he feels. Bae had seen it often enough, and knew better than to ask what was wrong. He wondered if he was mad because Bae was purple, or because of the red toad. Bae just let it go and asked,

"Papa, is there something I can do to help?"

"Yes," Rumpel said.

"You can butter the garlic rolls for me to toast then you can go and set the table in the main hall for Belle and Tacey."

"Aren't we all going to eat here?" Bae said gesturing to the table.

"No, Tacey is her guest, they will eat upstairs together." Rumpel replied trying his best to keep the sharpness out of his voice.

Bae collected what he needed then sat at the table and buttered the rolls.

Finished, he went to the large cabinet that held the dishes and asked,

"Which ones do you want me to use?"

"Use the one's with the blue rose pattern that matches the tea cups." He said.

"Bae get bowls, large plates, and cups two of each, and also four saucers and silverware.

Rumpel walked over to the cabinet and retrieved a small serving tray and large serving bowl with lids to keep the food warm. He saw a stack of fine linen napkins on the shelf and selected two embroidered with red and pink roses.

"Do you know how to set the table properly?" Rumpel asked Bae.

Bae shook his head no.

"Come upstairs and I will show you." Rumpel said with a smile for the boy. "You will need to learn. She may have company often."

Bae carried the bowls, saucers, and plates neatly stacked up the stairs as Rumpel followed with the cups, silverware, and napkins clenched in one hand.

He showed Bae how to arrange the dishes on the table and explained how the pattern should be directed at each seat. He showed Bae the appropriate placement of the silverware, and where to place the serving dishes and tea when he brought it up.

"Do you think you can remember all of that?" He asked Bae.

"Yes, but I don't understand why a person would go to all this trouble just to eat."

Bae gave Rumpel an exasperated look.

Rumpel couldn't help but laugh.

"Neither do I." Rumpel chided.

The table finished they returned to the kitchen, as Belle and Tacey sat down in the two chairs in front of the libraries fireplace for tea.

Tacey had brought the quill and parchment with him he wanted to find out what was going on here. Belle made their tea and passed him a cup as he passed her the parchment he had just written on,

'Why are you hiding yourself?'

"I had found the two of them huddled together just inside the gate the other night.

I did not want to frighten them." She said.

Tacey rotated his hand in a circle indicating for her to continue.

With a heavy sigh Belle said, "Rumpel had used his body heat to keep the boy warm and the boy was fine, but Rumpel was close to freezing to death. I made the boy a deal that if stayed here until he was 18 as my servant that I would save his father's life, but if he left my castle before our deal was concluded, I would take his father's life back.

Tacey shook his head at Belle.

"I know Tacey, I shouldn't have. I don't know what came over me. I liked the boy, and I got the impression that they are on the run. I thought I could give the boy a home, and I was lonely. I thought the boy might add some joy to this miserable existence, as well as be of some use to me. Then Rumpel awoke and I," she stopped.

She looked down at her tea not really sure of what to say to Tacey. He leaned over and picked up the parchment off the table and wrote something and handed it back to Belle.

'You liked the father as well. You have feelings for him.'

Belle read what he had written and nodded her head yes. He reached for the parchment again and she handed it to him. Tacey scrawled something quickly and handed it back.

'How does Rumpel feel about the deal you made with Bae?'

"I don't think he is aware of our deal. I was letting Bae tell him when he was ready. Part of the deal was that Rumpel could also stay if he wanted. I was not going to demand their separation. Rumpel is here because I offered him a job as my servant, and he accepted." Belle explained.

Tacey bowed his head slightly and placed his hand on his head as if he had a headache, rubbing it with his fingers. He then rested his chin in his hand and thought pensively. Belle passed him back the parchment she knew what was coming.

He took it and began to write as Belle waited patiently. Finally he handed it to her with a pitiful look on his face.

'You have really messed things up Belle. If the flash of jealously I saw from him is any indication of how he feels you need to tell him the truth. I would advise you do it sooner than later because the longer you wait the more it is going to hurt him. He is no doubt going to feel betrayed and lied to, but in time I think he is capable of accepting you for who you are. He truly seems to be a good man, and accepted me easily. You know that's not a reaction I get from most people. If you care for him at all Belle you need to show him who you really are.'

Belle read his words and knew he was right, but she also didn't want this fantasy to end.

"I tried last night to come up with a way to make the glamour spell permanent. I couldn't find anything." She said.

Tacey leaned forward as far as he could in his chair and took Belle's hand in his and squeezed, Looking into her eyes and shaking his head no.

She looked again at the parchment in her hand and knew what had to be done. She just didn't know how she was going to bring herself to do it. She didn't want to see the look of disgust in his eyes when he looked at her. She knew this would change everything between them and she was afraid.