"Hello Regina." Belle said as she came into the room she was in. Over the last few weeks Belle had enjoyed a few late night chats with the woman and Snow, and as long as they weren't teasing her about 'Richard' or Hannibal. Belle had been a little sad at first that Rumple hadn't come since the first banquet, but Hannibal had kept her company.
"Hello Belle." Regina said sadly.
"What's wrong Regina? You look like your puppy just died, not like you're getting married in three days."
"It's just…" Regina started to tear up. "Belle can I tell you something?"
"Of course." Belle then sat next to the woman, very concerned.
"I'm scared. My mother wants me to marry the King and become queen, my father wants me to be happy, Snow wants me to be her mother, and to top it all off, the King wants me to be a mother to Snow and Queen of his people. And I'm not sure if I can be any of those things." Regina said breaking down in tears. "I didn't even want any of this."
"Why not just leave?" Belle asked.
"My mother has magic, I can never leave." When she said this, Belle realized that she did have a way out.
"What about her teacher?"
"What?" Regina asked confused.
"Think about it, your mother probably wasn't self taught was she?" Regina nodded. "So, if your mom wasn't self taught, that means she had a teacher, if you found out who it was, maybe you could find a way to summon that person, and then he or she could help you."
"But that person taught her Dark magic, why would they help me?"
"If that person did teacher her dark magic, I'm willing to bet that they won't have a problem helping you to get at your mother." Belle said, and then sitting back and looking relaxed, she had a look in her eye that could only be called a Rumple look. "And besides, your mother isn't going to be queen, I'm willing to bet you can offer her teacher something of value that she can't."
Regina looked at the young woman astounded. "Has anyone ever told you that you are a devious little trouble maker. Cause this is defiantly not the sweet little girl I met over the last few weeks."
"What can I say, Hannibal's been rubbing off on me, and I am a woman, so I think that's enough said." Belle said smiling.
Hannibal had been having a good time with Belle, the dancing was fun, and he had enjoyed her company a great deal. He had caught her refection in the sword many times over the last few weeks, and he was just not sure what to do.
So after pacing and thinking, sitting and thinking, standing and thinking, practicing sword fighting and thinking, arranging flowers and thinking, and just hitting his head against a wall, he had come up with, well, nothing if he was being honest. Dear heavens it was annoying. Why was it so darn hard to think of anything to help with this problem?
"Hello." Hannibal heard a voice say from outside his door. "May I come in?" it was defiantly a girl.
"Yes." Hannibal yelled. And when the door opened, Snow White came in.
"Hello, Hannibal is it?"
"Yes my lady, and of course you need no introduction." Hannibal said as he gave a small bow. "You will have to forgive me for asking, but why are you, the princess, coming to visit me, a man you don't know, in his private room, and with no one else present?"
"You will find we share a friend, Belle. She has told me a bit about you, said you are a dear friend of hers." Snow said as she sat down. "She also appears to have an eye for someone. Not you, as I'm sure you know, but someone else she had danced with at the first banquet."
"Robert."
"Yes."
"Then you'll forgive me my dear, but I can't for the life of me see what this has to do with either of us."
"Robert has not been here since the first party, and Belle has been sadder because of it, when I asked, I found there were many princes who are named Robert, but none of them him."
"And you are worried your friend has fallen for an imposter."
"Yes."
Hannibal thought for a moment. "You are half correct; Robert is not a prince, at least, not in a traditional way. And you are right Belle loves him."
"So you know who he is?"
"Yes and no. Only Belle knows who he is, he is a man of layers, peel them back, and you find a terrifying mix of darkness and light. He cares for her, but I would be shocked to learn he has the since to realize she loves him in a romantic way."
"Who is he?"
"A man, a monster, a demon and an angel, all of them or none. He is many things to her, her truest friend, her confidant, her comforter, and so much more. The man who caught her tears after her mother died, and the man who would kill for her. I believe he would even die for her."
"What are you saying?" Snow said, annoyed and confused.
"I suppose I'm not being very clear, but it is because I don't know all the details, and I'm merely a friend and guardian to Belle while he is away. But I do have a problem only you can answer."
"What is it?" Snow was now only confused.
"When Belle came to meet me, he was there. When I met him the first time, he and I agreed that I would not be good for Belle, she needed someone purer then both of us. Someone who was as untouched by darkness as she is. That night I knew he loved her, that he would have killed me if I hurt her before I had a chance to even begin hurting her, but his love for her is like that of a parent for his child. The problem is, not too long ago I realize that while Belle may not realize it yet, she loves him too. But in a romantic way."
"So what do you need me for?"
"I need to know if you think I should intervene. I don't want you to tell me if you think their right for each other, they are a horrible match, and yet at the same time they would be perfect togeather. She brings out the best in him in ways he is not even aware of, and he is her rock in the worst of storms. The thing I must do is ask if it is my place to make either of them aware of their feelings, or let nature take its course. As Belles closest friend who is not directly involved, I would greatly value your input."
Snow White thought for a moment. "Do you think it's true love?"
"That is a bet I would never feel safe placing."
"Well, I think you should let nature run it's course, but don't be afraid to give it a little help." Snow said smiling.
"Thank you." Hannibal said standing, Snow did the same. "Your smarter then you think my dear, but if I might give you one word of caution."
"Sure."
"I have a feeling, that it will not be long before something happens to you, something very bad. I don't know were or when or how it will happen, but you will know it when it dose. My advice is simple, don't lose your goodness, but don't let your goodness make you lose."
Snow looked at the strange man before her, and while she wasn't sure what to make of his odd statement, she felt as if she knew he was right. And as Snow was just about to leave, she heard him say one more thing. "And remember, you can always trust Belle."
Rumple was having a horrid last few weeks. He couldn't get over the fact that Cora was sleeping under the same roof as Belle. And no amount of spinning or deal making was helping.
So he tried other methods he had seen Hannibal use, something appeared to be bothering him as well. Pacing and thinking, sitting and thinking, standing and thinking, practicing sword fighting and thinking, arranging flowers and thinking, and just hitting his head against a wall, he had come up with, well, nothing, apparently Hannibal's methods weren't any good for either of them. Dear heavens it was annoying. Why was it so darn hard to think of anything to help with his problem?
"Rumplesh... Stilts... Rumpleschtiltskin, I summon thee." Oh now this is interesting.
"That's not how you say it, dearie, but then... You didn't have to say anything."
"What are you?"
"What, what, what. My, my. What a rude question. I am not a 'what'."
"I'm sorry. I… I don't really know what I'm doing." Rumpelstiltskin: That much is clear. Allow me to introduce myself – Rumpelstiltskin.
"And I'm-"
"Regina. I know."
"You do?"
"But of course."
"Because of my mother, Cora. You taught her?"
"My legend precedes me."
"People say I look like her when she was younger."
"Really?" Rumple said as he gave her a once over. "I don't see it. No, that's not how I know you."
"Oh? How then?"
"I knew you long ago, dearie. It's been some time, but I knew this day would come. I've been waiting for it. And I'm so happy, we're back where we belong."
"And where's that?"
"Together." He said as he took a step away from her. "Oh, yes. I know everything about you, my dear. I held you in my arms. You were younger. More… Portable. There is much history between your family and me. History both in the past, and in the future."
Then, can you help me?
"Possibly, yes. You seek power. The death of your enemies… The death of your friends?
"No! I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Hard to believe you're from the same family." Rumple then skipped over and touched her face. So… Kind. So… Gentle. So… Powerful. You could do so much, if you just let yourself.
"But, I don't know how."
"Well, let me show you the way." Rumple then made a large mirror appear.
"How did..."
"Magic. It can set you free."
"I don't want to do that. Use magic... that's what she does. I don't want to end up like her.
"No. No. Of course not, but that's the beauty of my gift. You don't have to. It will do it for you."
"What is it?"
"A portal. A passage between lands. This is a portal to a specific annoying little world. Useless to me, but for your purposes, a-perfect. You're unlikely ever to see her again. All she needs is a little push. The question is... can... you?" He said smiling.
"And what if I can't." Regina asked concerned.
"I trained your mother, but you've know her longer then I have, I don't think I need to tell you what will happen to you I you fail." Then Rumple got his face just an inch away from hers. "So the answerer is simple really. Don't Fail."
"And your price?"
"You must simply answer a question before you leave this place."
Regina strained up, trying to look confidant. "Deal."
Then Rumple looked at her, smiling wickedly. "The deal is struck." And then he laughed like the mad imp he was.
In the days that followed, a few odd occurrences happened, Rumple returned for the wedding, where Cora was absent. But when Belle asked about it, all he would say is Regina had figured out how to be rid of her mother.
Hannibal danced the fist dance with Belle, and even danced with Snow. "It's nice to see Robert is back, Belle looks so happy again that he is here."
"Yes, I wonder who will realize first that they are in love."
"I think Belle already knows more than Robert dose." Snow said, watching her friend look at her partner as if he was the only one there.
Hannibal chuckled lightly. "I do believe you may be right." Hannibal then thought back to when he had first seen Belle caught in the swords reflection. He saw a little girl crying for her mother and a friend at first, but the second thing he saw, was a grown Belle kissing Rumple as if they were truly in love.
After the party Hannibal when back to his room. When he got there, he found a young maid, no older than ten years old in the room. "Excuse me." He said softly.
The girl jumped almost ten feet and let out a yelp, dropping some sheets. "OH. Oh I'm so terribly sorry sir. I meant to get to this room earlier, but with the Wedding and the dance and people needing so much I didn't have time. I'm so terribly sorry, so very sorry sir." The child kept going on, saying every form of sorry for about a minute, after the first 45 seconds, Hannibal tried to get her to calm down.
"Child. CHILD. CHILD, CHILD!" He yelled. That finally got her attention, but she shrunk down in fear. "It's all right if you're a little late getting to my room, I won't die if I can't sleep in the next few minutes." Hannibal said calmly and evenly. "What I do mind is that you are talking at me, saying sorry a hundred different ways, and have yet to pick up the sheets you dropped" He said motioning toward the sheets.
"Oh, um of course. I'm terribly sorr-." The girl went to pick up the sheets, but before she could even grab one, of finish her apology, Hannibal grabbed her wrist. And he looked murderous.
At first the girl thought he was made at her, she couldn't blame her, she was a bumbling fool, but then she noticed he was looking at her arm. "Who. Gave you. Tha-t!?" Hannibal said, motioning toward the ugly grey and purple bruise on her arm. It was a horrible thing, going up her whole arm, with scratches of varying lengths and depths.
"It was an accident." She said not looking at him as she started to tear up. He then slowly and gently wiped the tears away and brought his hand down to her chin, making her look at him.
"Dear. You. Are. A. Liar. And a bad one at that. Now you can either tell me how this accident happened, or I can find out by ripping this castle apart." Hannibal said, keeping his voice even and letting none of the anger in.
The girl started sobbing. While the words were hard to understand, he managed to understand the words "Uncle, alcohol, beating, and that she was working to supported him, and that she was often yelled at by the staff for clumsiness."
Hannibal lessened, and when she was done, he wiped her tears. "Stay hear for a little while, I'll be back soon."
"Sir?"
"That's an order."
"Yes sir." She said. And Hannibal left.
He returned to find the girl asleep. "Child." He said, and she shot up in terror, and after looking around, must have remembered where she was.
"Yes sir."
Hannibal put a bag down in front of her with all of her things in it, and some new clothes. "I have just bought you from your Uncle and Aunt. They did not ask why I bought you, and I did not say. You are now my ward. Here are some new things for you to where, get ready to leave."
"Now sir?" The girl asked wide eyed. "Yes, when else."
"Um." The girl was clearly shocked. "Thank you Mr…"
"Hannibal, Hannibal Lecture. And you are?"
"Clarice, Clarice Sterling." The girl said.
So, what do you think? I'm almost certain this is the last we will see of Hannibal until Storybroke, which in retrospect should be soon unless I'm attacked be plot bunnies.
Thank you to emospritelet, Twyla Mercedes, xxxLeanniexxx, and Grace5231973 for the wonderful reviews as always.
