A/N: Thanks to those who took time to review the last chapter. Just a quick warning in advance of this one there are scenes of violence, blood, mild mentions and threat of rape and a minor character death. Just so you know.
Farewell to the Frontlands
Belle cursed as she slid once more down the muddy slope that made up the wall of her primitive prison. She splashed into the deep puddle at the bottom, the water up to her ankles and swimming with filth she daren't guess the origin off. It had been over a day since she had been tossed into the pit by her jailers, no explanation forthcoming even as they had slammed the crude iron mesh over the top of the hole and tying it down with thick rope. Darkness had fallen once again, only the moonlight allowing her to see, but at least the rain had stopped. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, her soaked clothes itchy and uncomfortable against her skin. She was tempted to strip off the heavy bodice and skirt if only to get some relief from the weight but the memory of the soldiers' wandering hands kept her from doing so. She was only glad that in the course of their pawing at her they had not found the dagger strapped to her thigh, allowing her to keep her promise even in the direst of situations.
Her thoughts turned once more to Rumpel and Baelfire, her last memory of them being Rumpel unconscious on the ground outside the cottage with Bae trying to wake him. She hoped that they were alright and that they hadn't been dumped in a similar cage to her where the damp and wet would torment Rumpel's already damaged leg. She had cried out for him for hour after hour for the entire first night of her confinement, not caring for the rain pouring in and soaking her through or the mud that clung to her from head to toe after so many failed attempts to scale the slippery walls. Her stomach growled, no food having been forthcoming from her captors and her only way to slake her thirst had been the rain drops she had caught on her tongue whilst it had still been falling. She longed for sleep but there was no comfort to be found and she had spotted one too many rats to ever dare lie down even if there hadn't been an ankle deep puddle of murky water beneath her.
She looked up to see the moon almost at its zenith, wondering how late it was as she could hear nothing from the village. She could hear the snores of the soldier who had been given her guard, the portly, ugly man having taken over before sunset and spent the first hour of his watch leering down at her through the iron bars, trying to intimidate her with tales of what he and his colleagues would do to her should she be released into their care. Belle had closed her ears to the threats of her defilement, the ignorant man skilled with words when he was threatening to pass his charge amongst his colleagues until she expired, utterly ruined and used by the ranks of soldiers. She had given him her back and ignored him, letting her imagination run riot as to what would happen to him should her beloved Rumpel find his way to her from Storybrooke, in full possession of his power. She decided such a close association to the Dark One had let a little darkness bleed into her over time, her imaginings growing more and more gruesome as she indulged them.
She strained her ears as she heard movement above her, hoping that it was not her guard waking to regale her with more stories of his wicked desires, and jumped as she heard a sickening thump. She pressed herself against the far wall of the cell, not caring for the mud that caked her back as she slipped as deeply as she could into the shadows. A figure appeared above her, a black silhouette against the moonlight as it pulled a knife from its belt and went to work on the ropes holding down the metal grate.
"Rose?" came the soft voice from above her, "Are awake my love?"
She sobbed at the sound of the beloved voice, stepping out into the moonlight, "Rumpel?" she said, keeping her voice low for fear of being heard, "What are you doing here?"
"Well from the fact that it's the middle of the night and I've just knocked out your guard before cutting these bloody poorly weaved ropes," he said with a grunt as his knife tore through the last of the ties, "I'd say I'm here to rescue you."
"You're rescuing me? Have you taken leave of your senses?" said Belle, as the metal cage was heaved off the top of the hole, "If anyone finds you they'll kill you."
"Which is why we need to be quick," he said, dropping a rope down into the hole, "You're going to have to climb up, I… I don't have the strength to pull you up myself."
"I'm sure I'll manage," said Belle, "Shinning up a rope is easy compared to some of the things I've done."
She took hold of the rope, giving it an experimental tug before she heaved herself onto it and promptly falling back into the puddle beneath her. She growled and pushed back up to her feet.
"Are you alright?" came the question from above.
"My dress is too heavy, it got soaked through in the rain," she said, pulling at the ties, "Hold on a minute."
"We don't have much more time," said Rumpel, "I think the guard's waking up. I didn't hit him hard enough."
Belle finally loosened the ties of her heavy brown dress, tossing it into the muddy waters at her feet, leaving her in little more than a shift and petticoat but she already felt ten times lighter without the sodden material weighing her down. She tackled the rope once more, climbing it with ease now the encumbrance was removed. She reached the top, a warm hand taking hold of hers to pull her the rest of the way up. As soon as she was safely on the ground she threw her arms around the man before her, pressing her face into the warm skin of his neck as she bit back a sob.
"I thought I was going to die down there," she said, her body trembling as the ordeal toppled in on her, "I was so frightened."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner," said Rumpel, rocking her gently, "They were watching the cottage…we…Baelfire came up with the plan. He begged the soldiers to come check on me, claiming I was all but insensible in my bed. I've had to play the invalid so they wouldn't believe I had the strength to come for you. The soldiers abandoned their vigil and I came as soon I was certain the darkness would work in our favour."
"Oh my darling you're so brave, this is such a risk," said Belle, "We have to hurry, we have to…"
The groan from behind them alerted them to the waking guard and Belle hurriedly heaved Rumpel to his feet, knowing that whilst she would be able to run he would not.
"Hand me your staff," whispered Belle, "If anyone is going to whack that bastard this time it will be me."
She saw the quirk of his eyebrow at her coarse language but he handed her the staff all the same, letting his left leg take all of his weight when he was left without a crutch. Belle kept her steps measured and quiet as she approached the groaning figure of the guard, raising the heavy wooden staff to strike him. She released she had been tricked when the guard rolled to his feet, knocking her backwards with a swift punch to her stomach. She failed to keep her balance, crashing into Rumpel where he stood at her back and sending him sprawling onto the floor. She didn't have a chance to cry out as strong hands seized her legs, dragging her through the mud until she was beneath her former jailer once more. She felt the breath knocked from her as his heavy form straddled her waist, his hands going to her throat and pressing down hard. She fought for breath, clawing at his hands to no avail. She barely registered Rumpel's cry as he righted himself, concentrating more on freeing herself when she knew he could be little help against the hulking soldier above her. Rumpel fell upon the soldier but the larger man barely battered an eyelid as he tossed him away, Rumpel tumbling back into the mud and grime.
Belle gave up trying to release his hands as blackness clouded her vision, instead reaching down beside her, over the meaty thigh crushing her until she reached her petticoat, tugging it out of the way until her fingertips came in contact with the hilt of the dagger. She couldn't get a grip on the handle, her reach too short with the soldier's leg in the way but she fought for it all the same. She cried out hoarsely as his hand came to her thin chemise, tugging it sharply and exposing her breast, growling as he did so. Belle's anger flared and she felt a spark of something reach her fingertips as she silently pleaded for help, the dagger seeming to leap into her grasp from its ties on her leg. She pulled it back and gave no thought to the consequences as she plunged the blade into her assailant's throat, the sharp blade tearing easily through flesh and muscle. The dagger sank in further as the soldier fell towards her, blood raining down on her and choking her as she cried out in fear of what she'd done. She saw the moment his life left him, collapsing onto her with the dagger still embedded in his neck.
It felt like an age until the great weight was shoved of her, Rumpel on his knees beside her, pushing the soldier until he was laid out on the grass beside Belle. The familiar hands grabbed her roughly, forcing her to sit up as he tried in vain to wipe the blood from her face with his sleeve. He soon gave up the futile venture, tugging off his own cape and wrapping it around her tattered clothes.
"Are you hurt?" he said desperately, the fear more than apparent in his dark eyes as they flicked between her and the dead body beside her.
Belle shook her head, tears tracking through the blood that covered her face as she failed to find her voice.
"Then get up," said Rumpel, ignoring the tremor in his own voice as he struggled to his feet before pulling her up, "We have to move."
Belle turned back to the soldier on the ground, her hand clasping the dagger and trying to pull it free. It wouldn't budge and she had to bite back the bile that rose in her throat as she placed her foot against his cheek, allowing her the leverage she needed to pull the blade free. She was glad for the darkness and the gore that covered the blade making the name inscribed upon it impossible to read. Rumpel grabbed her arm with his free hand, dragging her along behind him as he moved as fast as his limping gait would allow. It wasn't long until they reached the tree line, Rumpel taking her deeper into the dense wood until they came across a small clearing, already lit with a fire.
"Rumpel?" she said, looking around the small camp.
"I knew you'd been in that hole all night and it was raining," he said, pushing her towards the warmth of the fire before he tossed down his staff and disappeared behind a tree, coming back with an overstuffed sack.
Belle still felt cold despite the heat of the fire, the flame catching the blade of the dagger and making it glisten. She hastily tore a strip from the base of her petticoat, wiping the blood off the blade before wrapping another strip around it, concealing the name written on it. She let the dagger fall to the floor beside her as she crouched down, wrapping her arms around her middle as she stared into the flames. She heard Rumpel's voice but not a single word made sense to her, her mind too full of the soldier she had killed, the light going out in his eyes as his blood rained down on her. She shivered violently, falling backwards until she was sitting fully on the floor, her body feeling leaden and immovable.
She only came back to awareness as she felt something cold against her face, opening eyes she didn't realise she had closed to see Rumpel knelt before her, concern marring his handsome face as he carefully wiped the blood from hers with a wet cloth. When each cloth was bright red he tossed it into the flames, retrieving another and soaking it with water from a well filled skin.
"Come back to me, my love," he said gently, "Rose please; you need to come back to me."
Belle leaned into his touch as he wiped her face once more, yearning for the familiar feel of him and the strength it gave her, "I killed him," she said weakly, "I killed him."
Rumpel hushed her as her voice broke, "You had no choice," he said, "He would have killed you. I'm only glad you were armed."
"Were you hurt at all?" she said, finally taking in the bruising across one of his cheeks from his jaw to his hairline, and the awkward angle he held himself at as he tended to her.
"Nothing from that encounter," he said, "The bruising is from the night they took you."
"You look like hell," said Belle, reaching out to lightly touch his cheek, pulling her hand away as she saw the blood still on it.
Rumpel took her hand before she could pull it back fully, gently washing her fingers clean before doing the same for her other hand. He hesitated for a moment before he tilted her head back slightly, opening her cape and righting the top of her chemise to cover her once more as he washed the blood from her neck and chest. The faint blush on his cheeks as the cloth skimmed the neckline of her shift brought the smallest smile to Belle's lips, unused to such a timid touch and reminded how much more innocent the man before her was in comparison to the one she had left behind. He tossed the soiled cloth into the fire with the others, his hands curling into the linen of his trousers as he met her gaze, the blush on his cheeks deepening.
"You…you need to change out of those clothes," he said, looking down at his hands, "I brought you some dry things. I can go but I need to stay close, we don't know when people will come looking."
Belle nodded, moving to get to her feet but her legs went out from under her and she toppled back to the ground. She looked down at her hands, seeing them tremble and try as she might she could not get them under control. She was glad when Rumpel's long, capable fingers wrapped around hers, his grip almost punishingly tight but it grounded her, lending her strength when she had none. He loosened the grip of one hand, reaching behind him and dragging over the bag, pulling out fresh clothes for her and laying them out on the ground. She saw him steel himself before her met her gaze once more.
"Do you…would you mind…"
"Help me," said Belle softly, "Please. I know it's not proper but I need you, I can't do it on my own."
Belle felt tears spring to her eyes as she felt his hands tremble as they reached for the ties of her petticoat but she refused to let them fall. He soon had the laces loose, his hands trembling as he eased the hem of her shift out of her waistband. She couldn't suppress the shudder that went through her as his fingers brushed the soft skin of her waist, the familiar calloused fingertips sending fire shooting through every nerve ending and replacing the fear of the hands that had threatened her. She realised her error though as he snatched his hands away as if he had been burned, his eyes dropping to the leaf littered floor.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "I only want to help, I would never…"
"Rumpel," she said, cutting him off before he could offer her further apology, no doubt adding a statement about his unworthiness, "Darling, that wasn't…don't ever think your touch is unwelcome not when I've wanted it for so long. I will never be afraid of your hands."
Dark eyes met hers, uncertain as ever but flecked with desire that wasn't being allowed to fully burn, "You shouldn't say such things, we're not married," he said.
Belle smiled, "I think we have already established that I am not particularly concerned with the thoughts of others," she said, "I have your love and you have mine, what ceremony do we need to prove that? I love you Rumpel."
"And I love you," he said, "And for that reason I would never dishonour you. My love you are temptation and desire to me but your innocence is not something I will take here. You deserve more than some rushed affair on the forest floor with the threat of a garrison of soldiers hanging over us, especially after what you have been through. Though you may hate me for it I would rather step away now than have you regret anything."
Belle bit her tongue to stop herself informing him that her innocence had been his from the first night they had been reunited in Storybrooke, knowing it would make little sense and only serve to scare him away. Instead she forced a bright smile to her face before she leaned forward and kissed him soundly, allowing him a taste of the desire his honour wouldn't allow him to see to its completion.
"I love you," she said once more as they parted, her brow resting against his, "My sweet, darling man I love you so much."
The skilled spinner's hands cupped her cheeks, tilting her head down so he could press a kiss to her forehead, "Lets get you warm," he said.
The tender care with which he helped her remove her soiled clothes before helping her back into the ones he had brought her brought tears to Belle's eyes, reminding her of the night she had escaped the asylum and had her memories restored. When they had returned to the pawn shop Rumpel had managed to find her a dress amongst the curiosities of his shop. She had changed in the small shower room in the back of the shop but the fastening had been up the back of the dress and despite several minutes of futile struggle, she gave up trying to do it herself. She had sheepishly tip-toed back into the work room of the shop, steeling her courage as she met his gaze before requesting his help.
His smile had been reassuring as he twisted a finger before him, prompting her to turn around. The zip had been halfway up before it had caught, his hand slipping and coming into contact with the bare skin of her back. Belle had never been sure which one of them had gasped at the touch but she knew they had both felt the spark. There was a moment when they both nearly fell, nearly gave in to the desire that had been born in the Dark Castle and had reawakened when the curse had broken but then he had taken up the zip once more, loosening it before running it to the top of the dress. Warm, strong hands had come to her shoulders and a kiss had been pressed to her hair, gentle and comforting when the world around her seemed to be spinning at hundreds of miles a second. She had turned in his arms, privileged to look into the face of the gentle man that only she had been allowed to see, the look on his face so similar to the man who aided her now. It had been later, when she had walked away and returned to his side in the space of an evening, that they had given in to everything that burned between them, barely stumbling through to door of his home before she found herself laid gently upon silk sheets and brought to bliss by her lover.
She shook off the memory as Rumpel tied a final knot in the laces of her dress, the faint blush still heightened in his cheeks. Belle picked up the dagger that still lay wrapped on the floor beside her, slipping it into the woollen garters at her thigh before she smoothed her skirts back over her legs.
"Am I presentable again?" she said, knowing she was far from it as she felt the coarseness of the blood still in her hair and the grime Rumpel hadn't been able to remove.
"Beautiful," he said, his words so sincere that Belle couldn't help but smile, "But you can't run around with nothing on your feet. I brought these, funny looking things that they are."
Belle giggled as he held out the fur lined boots that had been conjured for her in Storybrooke, boots that she had long since tucked away beneath her palate bed in the heat of the Frontlands' summer. Once she had pulled them up and tied the laces she felt as though she had run a marathon, fatigue making her limbs feel heavy as she reached out for him. She was glad he seemed able to read her mind as he gathered her close, his arms holding her tighter than usual as she buried her face against his neck. She didn't move for several long moments, the familiar scent of his skin and the silence of the woods calming her frayed nerves but she knew they were nowhere near out of danger and they needed to get moving.
"When is Bae meeting us?" she said, her hand stroking through the smooth strands of his hair.
"Bae?" he said, pulling back with a confused look, "I told Bae to stay in the cottage."
"Surely it would have been better for him to come here," said Belle, "If we head back into the village there's a chance we'll be seen."
The frown on his face only deepened, "You've lost me my love?"
Dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she realised she had assumed far too much, any hope she had of an elusive happy ending with the man before her crumbling in the face of reality, "You're not coming with me are you?" she said, sadly, "I'm leaving on my own."
"You need to get away," said Rumpel, a tear breaking loose from his eye and running down his face until Belle caught it with her thumb, "I would only slow you down. I wish…well wishes aren't something people like me are entitled to."
"Don't ever say that and don't ever think that," said Belle sharply, "You deserve so much and I'd lay the very stars at your feet if I could. All I want is for you to be happy."
"Then you have to leave without me," said Rumpel, "Because I'd rather lose you forever to the world and know that you are living than risk losing you forever to the pyre these fools want to place you on. I should be able to protect you but I can't. I'm a cripple and a coward and I always will be but tonight I will be brave and I will let you go. I think a part of me is dying as I do so though."
Belle said nothing, instead she wrapped her arms around him once more, holding on as tightly as she could as she realised their forever had been reduced to minutes. She knew he was crying as she felt the tremors in his thin frame, still nowhere near a healthy weight but better than he had been when she had arrived and she took comfort in it. Her heart broke as she realised she wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye to Baelfire but she was glad he was out of harm's way at the cottage. The thought though made her realise that Rumpel was still at risk of being found and she pulled back from the tight hold she had on him.
She kissed him soundly, pouring all the love she felt for him into it and her tears broke once more when she felt him return it ten fold. It was a noise in the distance that broke them apart, a faint sound that could have been a shout and they both froze at what it could mean.
"You have to go," said Belle, getting to her feet and helping him up to his, "If they find you here they'll kill you. Get back to the cottage."
"Promise you'll send me word when you're safe," he said, "Even if it's just one word. I won't rest easy until I know you're safe."
"I promise," said Belle though something in her gut told her the words were hollow, "And I promise you that somehow, someway you and I are going to be together again."
"I will hold you to that," said Rumpel, leading her to the far side of the camp.
He bent down and picked up a cape, fastening it around her neck before he picked up the bag he had made her, the bag she hadn't even thought to unpack when they had returned from Longbourne, which contained everything she had brought from Storybrooke. It felt heavier though and she looked inside to see a familiar coin purse.
"Don't argue with me about it," said Rumpel as she looked up at him, "You have a long road ahead and I want you to be able to pay for a room and food and anything else you might need. We did well at the fair even without our bargain, we will survive this winter and have plenty to buy a mule and fix the cart."
"Thank you," said Belle softly, "You've been so good to me."
"I owe you a debt I can never repay," said Rumpel, turning as another shout went up from the village, this one clearer than before, "You need to go. Keep north through the woods for about three miles and you'll come to a road, the nearest town is six miles east from there."
Belle hugged him tightly, biting back the tears that wanted to fall, "I hate saying goodbye."
"Then don't say it," said Rumpel, "Just tell me you love me and go."
Belle took his face in her hands, committing every feature to memory, knowing that even if she did get back to Storybrooke the man before her would in part be lost to her forever. She kissed him once more, longing to linger but the voices grew closer and she knew he needed more chance than she to get clear.
"I love you," she said, "Forever I will love you."
"And I you," he said, "Now go, run and don't stop until you're clear of this place."
Belle turned to leave but hesitated for a moment, grabbing his hand and pulling him back to her once more. It was the clear shouts of soldiers that split them apart this time and Belle headed into the trees, looking back to the clearing to see Rumpel slip into the shadows on the opposite side. She paused for a moment, saying a silent prayer that he would keep safe but the pause cost her dearly as the soldiers crossed the tree line. She heard the shout as she was seen and took off at a run, hoping she was distraction enough to let Rumpel get away. She knew they would kill her if they caught her, the dead guard enough to justify her death without any trial in their eyes but she had no wish to give them the chance.
Her lungs burned in her chest as she kept running, ignoring the pain in her leg as the blade of the kris dagger at her thigh scraped against her skin with every move. She placed a hand on the hilt through her skirt, not wanting to lose it in her haste if it managed to cut through her garters. She nearly stumbled as her foot hit a tree root, cursing as it gave the soldiers more ground against her. She pushed on harder, wondering if she could find a tree to climb but knowing that they would merely cut it down until she fell into their grip. She knew she could not fight, any skill she had with a blade learned from books and the reach of the dagger was minimal against a broad sword.
She broke into a clearing but this time she did trip was she hit a raised root, pain lancing through her arm as she fell awkwardly. She pushed up to her feet but the soldiers had already broken the tree line, their swords drawn and their expressions feral. She held her hands up in surrender, knowing both fight and flight would be her death. They continued to advance and Belle trembled despite herself, hoping that her death would be quick on the end of a blade and not the hours of torment her jailer had promised at their hands. She backed up as the soldiers advanced until her back hit a tree, cutting off any hope of escape. She bit back any tears that wanted to fall, refusing to meet her death weakly.
"I'm sorry Rumpel," she said, her mind bringing her an image not of the Spinner she had left or the mage she had known in the Dark Castle but the man she had left in Storybrooke, the man she loved and longed to see again, "Please forgive me. I tried. I so wanted to come home."
It took her a moment to realise the men before her had ceased their advance but they had not chosen to stop, instead they stood frozen unmoving even to draw breath. She looked on as they fell to dust on the forest floor. Seven men reduced to ashes at her feet. Despite the threat before her having passed she did not feel safe, did not feel lighter, instead her stomach rolled as she felt the swell of dark magic surrounding her. She knew the magic, knew its scent and its feel but it had never been so cloying. She shuddered, knowing something was not right, and she waited for the threat to reveal itself fully.
"You must be Belle."
The voice was low, quiet and controlled and there was a familiarity to it that she couldn't pin point. She turned towards the sound, the darkness making it hard to discern anything through the trees. She debated running but the magic she had seen destroy the soldiers would no doubt capture her if its wielder desired an audience. Curiosity got the better of her also, her name almost alien to her ears as she heard it spoken for the first time in weeks. Her eyes finally fell on a figure cloaked in black, his back to her as he stood unmoving.
"Who are you to know my name?" she said, keeping her distance.
"The question more is what am I to know your name," came the response, "We have known each other a long time but we have never spoken to one another. I have not met you yet but in some cases messages pass both ways so I know of you Belle of the Marshlands, Belle of the Dark Castle, Belle of the Gold."
"You speak in twisted words and only one of the titles you give me have I ever owned," said Belle, "Tell me then who or indeed what you are?"
"Come closer and you will see," said the voice, "I am afraid, I cannot turn to you."
Belle crept forward, watching for any movement that would denote a threat from the figure before her but he remained unmoving. It was only when she moved to his right to try and glimpse his face that she realised what held him in place, the familiar figure of an angel freezing her at his side.
"You needn't fear it at this moment," said the figure beside her, "I have it held. This beast has a keen interest in me but I have little desire to know what. Move round if you wish to see my face."
Belle did as she was bidden, keeping her eyes on the angel as best she could also. She gasped as she saw his face, recognising the beggar man from the fair but where before the man who had prophesised her return to Rumpel had been but a man she now saw the side he had hidden.
"Dark One," she said, "But not Rumpelstiltskin. You're Zoso. He told me about you."
"Zoso is my host," said the man, "But it is not to him you speak."
"So you're the demon, the darkness," said Belle, "You're what…"
"Careful dear Belle, pause before you speak words you will later regret," said Zoso, "I have often had a mind to kill you girl but your Spinner kept me in check, Zoso is much easier to subdue."
Belle recoiled at his words but as she moved the angel that she had kept half an eye on came into full view and she frowned as she saw the dagger held in its stone hand.
"You're lying," she said, turning her full attention to the angel, "You're not the Dark One, you're being used as a voice box. You're the angel."
The Dark One at her side chuckled, "Clever girl."
"You found a Dark One," said Belle, "But he's not the one you wanted, you wanted the most powerful of them and that's Rumpelstiltskin. Now I know when I'm looking at you that you can't move but as you're speaking through him I'm sure you can still command him to hurt me so I'm going to choose my words carefully. You're the angel from my library in Storybrooke aren't you? You followed me here to get to Rumpel and the dagger?"
"You are correct," came Zoso's voice beside her, "The Rumpelstiltskin we found here though is inadequate."
Belle hissed through her teeth, trying to keep her tone even, "He is not inadequate," she said, "But for your purposes he isn't yet under the thrall of the dagger so you went in search of another. Zoso altered my path when we met in Longbourne, maybe he knew that somehow I would save him."
"Why would you save him?" said Zoso, "He will corrupt your mate."
"Because while I would spare Rumpel the pain of the curse if I could, I also know that I can't. That's his path and there's nothing I can do," said Belle, "So instead I'll make you a deal. Use your power once more on me; I reckon there's a way to guide it. I will call the Rumpelstiltskin you want to mind, the Dark One at the very height of his power. We can go there, you and I but there's a price and you'll be the one to pay it. If you take me there you'll have the chance to get what you want but I warn you now, you won't succeed without a fight and if anyone can beat you its he and I together."
She steeled her courage when the angel failed to speak again, reaching out and working the dagger bearing Zoso's name from its grip. She knew if the angel wanted it could use the power it held over Zoso to kill her or rip out her heart and control her. When the dagger was in her grip though she relaxed slightly, keeping her eyes on the angel as Zoso awakened beside her.
"Dark One, you may speak freely," she said, knowing he could not until she gave the command, hating the thrum of power she felt running up her arm as she bore the dagger.
"And who are you that commands me?"
"A friend," said Belle, "In a way. I've rescued your dagger from the angel and it won't be bothering you again and I promise to release you in a moment. For a time though I command you to keep your eyes fixed on the angel and don't blink."
She heard the angry exhale but the Dark One heeded her words as his mistress and she was confident the angel would be rendered powerless for a while longer. She took the time it gave her to check the fastenings of the dagger, making sure it couldn't be lost and then checked that her bag was secure around her.
"I won't question your motives in sending me back to Rumpel," she said to Zoso, "And I won't beg you to spare him. I have done what I've had to do here and I won't interfere anymore. All I ask is that you leave here when I give you your dagger; you will get what you desire before too long I'm sure. I may have loved him for a while here but I can't prevent the ogre wars that will threaten Baelfire, he will fall to your clutches when you want him to."
"You're very confident that I won't kill you where you stand the second you relinquish the dagger," said Zoso.
"You won't risk the angel touching you," said Belle, "And I know the Dark One. I'm going to give you something you want, your power back in your control and my price is your cooperation but I want to be certain too so you're going to play fetch."
Belle turned her eyes once more to the angel beside her, forcing her eyes open to keep it still. With all the strength she had she hurled Zoso's dagger into the darkness of the trees, the sorcerer disappearing in an instant in pursuit of it. Belle regarded the angel, knowing she didn't have its agreement to the deal she put before it but she knew she had to risk it. She called Rumpelstiltskin to mind, pushing away images of the spinner she had loved in his tumbledown cottage and the smart businessman she loved in his Storybrooke home. The man in her mind was the feared mage of the Enchanted Forest, the Dark One at the very height of his power, the man she had fallen in love with when she had seen beneath the monster.
With his face and form clear in her mind she let her eyes fall closed, his name a whisper on her lips as the stone cold hand reached out and touched her.
xxxx
Rumpel felt the magic begin to surge around him, Emma's power still new and volatile but he hoped she could manage to get herself away. He heard something click loudly and he wondered what she had damaged but his concern grew as he felt something grab on to him, pulling him sideways. It was only when his back hit the grating of the TARDIS that he realised they had been rescued but he wasn't quick enough to save himself as Emma fell solidly on top of him, knocking the wind out of him with the impact. He barely registered the Doctor slamming the TARDIS doors shut as he tried to catch his breath, glad when Emma gathered herself and rolled onto the grating beside him, a rather unladylike curse leaving her lips.
"Gold, you alive?" she said breathlessly.
"I think you may have crushed a lung but otherwise I'm fine," he said, feeling a smile tug at his lips as she laughed in relief beside him, "That was too close."
"When you two have stopped giggling," said the Doctor standing over them, "Perhaps you'll want to get up off the floor."
Emma was the first on her feet, holding her hand out to help Rumpel to his, the two of them righting themselves as they headed up onto the central platform of the ship.
"Thank you Doctor," said Rumpel, "I didn't think we were getting out of that."
"You were lucky the TARDIS alerted me to the fact that you were outside," said the Doctor, flicking on the monitor to see the angels still outside the ship, facing away from one another but still once more, "What the hell were you doing outside?"
"I wanted to speak to you and Rose," said Rumpel, pulling up his sleeve to show the Doctor the cuff around his wrist, "Regina has contained my magic, if I lose control again I won't be able to access it. I'm sorry you were threatened."
"Oh I'm used to threats," said the Doctor, "Daily occurrence."
"And Rose?"
"I'm fine," came the voice from the doorway that led into the body of the ship.
Rumpel looked up, frowning at the sight of the young woman bundled up in a dressing robe with her face blotchy from her tears, "Oh Flower I'm so sorry," he said sincerely, "I'm sorry you went through that."
Rose held up her hand, a weak smile on her lips, "You weren't in control," she said, "And I understand that. It wasn't you who hurt me Rumpel, you don't have to apologise. I'll be fine and I kinda know what its like. I once had a woman called Cassandra running round inside my head; she made me do things I couldn't control."
"You'll have to tell me that story one day," said Rumpel, stepping aside as the Doctor breezed passed him and headed to the console.
"We can all sit down and bear our souls over a cup of tea once the angels are dealt with," he said, flicking several switches, "I am assuming Regina and Killian are still at your shop."
"They were cleaning up when we came out," said Emma.
"Then we'll head there," said the time lord, "Now the angels are in town you're even more at risk. I'm going to park the TARDIS in the workroom and then the four of you are going to stay here tonight. Nothing can get through those doors and everyone could use some rest."
Before anyone could say anymore the central column began to work and the ship gave a shudder.
"You may want to hold on," said Rose, leaving the doorway and moving up to the console, one hand gripping the guide rail while the other went to the Doctor's back, her fingers curling into the fabric of his jacket.
Emma and Rumpel took hold of the guard rail behind them as the ship gave a mighty lurch, their grip the only thing keeping them upright. The loud whistle and groan of the TARDIS engines echoed around them, the lights stuttering as it reached a crescendo before the ship gave a finally leap and knocking them both down onto the grating once more.
"Told you that you should hold on," said Rose with a laugh, extending her hand to Rumpel and pulling him back up as the Doctor helped Emma to hers, "You get used to it after a while."
"Took you nearly a year," said the Doctor over his shoulder, as he headed for the doors.
"And I still blame your driving," said Rose to his back as he opened the door and whistled as though calling a dog.
"Oi you two, stop gawping and get inside," called the time lord, "You've seen the ship before Killian, close your mouth and hustle. Angels on patrol outside the door and they'll soon be looking at you like you're dinner."
Regina and Killian soon stepped over the threshold into the TARDIS, the pirate giving the control room a leery look as he kept as far away from the console as possible. Rumpel couldn't help the small smirk that came to his lips at the sight of the younger man, the technology of Storybrooke often stumping Killian and alien technology clearly too much for his mind to process. He reached out a hand a stroked the console, feeling the familiar tremors beneath his fingers that let him know the ship was alive around them. He remembered the first time he had felt it, when he had forced his way onto the ship and begged and pleaded with the Doctor to take him to his son. Rose had been well on her way to recovery, sleeping soundly in one of the bedrooms in the vast expanse of the Dark Castle when he had confronted the time lord. Threats had been no use; deals had fallen on deaf ears so the great Dark One had laid himself at the feet of a being he knew was far superior to him and begged.
It had been some time later when he had been sat on the grating, his back pressed against the console and a mug of cooling tea in his hand. They had talked long into the night, both sharing tales of pain and darkness, ogre wars and time wars, lost families and lost loves, the pull of the dark and the wish for the light. For the first time he had felt understood, beside him a being that had faced similar choices and carried a similar burden. It had been while they had been talking that he had felt the ship beneath his back, questioning the Doctor on it to be told that the ship itself was a living being. He had been amazed and comforted at the thought, so much still in the universe for him to learn, so much for him to teach Baelfire when they were reunited. He had never had the chance to pass on the knowledge though and he felt the ship beneath his fingers thrum with sympathy.
"Oi, dearie!" came the voice from the doorway into the main part of the ship.
Rumpel raised his gaze, realising that the console room was empty aside from him and the Doctor who stood in the doorway.
"You were miles away old friend," said the time lord, "I've packed everyone off to bed so you best get moving or all the good rooms will be taken. Unless…"
"Unless what?" said Rumpel as the time lord offered him a knowing smile.
"Cup of tea?" said the Doctor, "And a chat, like old times."
Rumpel returned the smile, the weight of the day seeming a little lighter on his shoulders as he nodded, "Doubt you could rival Belle's tea but it's the best idea I've heard in days," he said leaving the console and following the Doctor into the depths of the TARDIS.
If he had remained a few minutes more he may have heard the faint sound from outside the ship, the pop of an explosion, the shatter of glass and the rending of wood that signalled the coming of something that would soon turn the tide of their battle.
