A/N: 'Ello guys. This is my longest chapter yet! The longest for any story that I've written. I just got so excited about this chapter and just kept writing and writing and writing. I fell in love with my idea of Graham being Belle's brother, and I ran with it. And here, ladies 'n gents, is Graham and Belle's story. A story that I've come to love from writing it, and I hope you all love it as much as I do.
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Chapter 10:
Castle at Avonlea: Many Years Ago
A young girl of about seven ran down the corridors of the castle, her little fingers holding up her dress so she didn't trip, slowing down as she reached a set of double doors, breathing hard. Looking up at the the guards and nodding politely to them before they opened the doors for her. She smiled as they bowed a little to her and then she looked inside.
Inside was a party, one of the most elegant parties she'd seen. Smiling slowly, she walked into the room, looking around. As always, she was the very picture of a young lady. Her long brown curls were done very well and held off to one side with a diamond brooch at the side base of her neck. A beautiful diamond tiara graced her head. It was small and elegant, showing off her station as Princess of Avonlea. And then her dress fell to the floor, a beautiful pale blue dress that was simple as it was beautiful.
Resting her hand on her stomach, taking in a breath as she tried to catch it, walking in and looking around curiously, her blue eyes scanning the room curiously. She was looking for something, someone in particular. And she smiled when she saw who she was looking for.
Carefully walking along the room, making sure to say 'excuse me' or 'pardon me' whenever she passed by someone until she got up close to the man she was looking for. Looking up at him, she smiled. "Grahammy!" she said happily.
Graham looked down at her and smiled as soon as he saw her. "Belle, why, aren't you the most proper princess at the ball?" he asked sweetly. He was also dressed up in a nice tuxedo for the party.
She smiled up to him and nodded. "Yeah, don't you love it? I do!" she said happily. Reaching to take his hand, she gripped it a little as she looked up into his eyes. "Will you dance with me, Grahammy?" she asked sweetly, giving him a soft pout.
He returned her smile and nodded. "Of course. You are my best girl, after all." he said happily. Looking up to who he'd been talking to before and excusing himself. Taking Belle's hand, he walked over to the dance floor away from the people who were dancing in a way Belle didn't know how yet. He was teaching her, teaching her how to dance like a lady would, but she was still rusty.
Belle's brilliant blue eyes glanced over at the men and women dancing like that and smiled. "I can't wait until I can dance like that."
"As long as you always save a dance for your favorite brother, than neither can I." he said with a small chuckle.
"I'll always save a dance for you, Graham." she said happily, looking up at him.
Gently he took her hands and brought her closer to him, carefully moving in a four step simple dance back and forth. He smiled and nodded. "Good. Because I was worried you'd find a man and forget about your dear old brother." he said.
Leaning up to him, she held his hands and looked up to his face. Her head came to about his chest. She was a bit short for girls her age, but she would still grow. "I could never find a man better than my brother!" she protested with a small giggle, leaning her head against his chest and cuddling up close to him.
"Ah, that you couldn't. No man is truly worthy of my sweet baby sister." he said.
Belle chewed on her lip a little as she looked up at him. "Are you gunna marry one of those girls?" she asked. She'd seen him talking to a few women before he went to dance with her, and it scared her more than anything. Scared her that someone would come and steal her brother away. She was closer with her brother than she was even with her father. Ever since her mother died, her father had been irritable and distant. Graham had taken that place in her life.
When he looked down at her, she met his eyes, concern filling her own. He gave her a soft smile and shook his head. "Don't you fret, Belle. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be right here when you need me. Always."
Content with that, Belle smiled happily, cuddling up into his chest as much as she could and still dance. But he slid his hands down, resting them on her hips and playfully picking her up and twirling her, making her dress twirl out a little and a giggle come from her. "Graham!" she said in her giggle.
Hugging him around his neck, he brought her up to hug her, too, laughing as he held her against him, her feet dangling down. "Oohh stop, you won't be this young forever."
Leaning up as she looked at his face, shaking her head. "Nope. I'm a big girl, Grahammy."
"That you are, my love." she said, kissing her forehead gently.
"That is enough." they heard a strong males voice say. Looking up into the face of their father, Grahams smile fell from his face as he nearly glared at their father. It was no secret; Graham and Maurice had their differences especially as Graham got older.
"Father."
"Daddy!"
Slowly Graham set Belle down onto her feet, turning to their father and resting his hands on Belle's shoulders. He wasn't old enough to be King yet, not nearly. While he was the older brother, he was only fifteen years old, still young in his own right. But he had grown quite a bit, almost grown into a man but not quite yet.
"To what do we owe this pleasure, father?" Graham asked, disdain laden in his voice.
Maurice shook his head. "I came to see my Belle. And introduce her to someone." he said, glancing behind him. "Gaston!" he called.
A young man stepped towards Maurice. He was a handsome young man, and while he was a bit older than Belle, he wasn't much older, not quite Grahams age. He looked to be about ten or eleven. Dressed in his formals that were done in a dark navy blue, he nodded slowly and gracefully bowed to Belle, holding out one hand to her. "Might I have this dance, m'lady?" he asked.
Belle looked at him and then up to Graham, almost asking if it was okay. When Graham nodded, she reached to take Gaston's hand, letting him lead her out onto the dance floor.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Graham glared towards his father. "What exactly is this, father? What is your agenda?"
"Ooh nothing, son." he said, patting Graham's shoulder, looking at his face. "Just finding a proper husband for my daughter, Graham. Since you refuse to marry."
"I do not refuse to marry. I simply have not found anyone worth me marrying yet. Can you not understand that?"
Maurice rested a hand on his sons shoulder, gripping it slowly. "No. We do not marry for love, Graham. We marry for opportunity."
Shrugging his shoulder away, he looked at his father. "So thats what mother was, huh? Opportunity? Don't you want better than that for us? Hell, if not for me, for her?"
"I learned to love your mother. As you will learn to love your wife, and Belle will learn to love Gaston. Thats how the world works, son. You better get used to it."
Shaking his head, Graham looked away, looking over to his sister as she seemed to dance awkwardly with Gaston. Seeing her blue eyes look up at him, almost pleadingly, his heart sank at the look on her face. She wasn't having a good time. "I don't want Belle to learn to love somebody! I want Belle to fall in love, and marry whomever she loves. I don't even care if that person she decides to love is a shepherd, its her decision, not yours. She is entirely too young to be swept up into all these politics."
Maurice rolled his eyes, glancing over at Belle and then back up to Graham. "She was born into these politics, Graham. Marrying for love is for the poor."
"Than I'd rather be poor." he said, glaring at his father. "Do you not see her? See that she is miserable over there? She's trying to make you happy, father. Though I haven't the slightest clue why."
"Oh you'd rather be poor, huh? Have all this taken away from you? Graham, you better put your head on straight and find a proper girl to wed before I choose for you."
"Like you've just done for Belle? What are you going to do pray tell? Force me into submission?"
"Yes!" Maurice said in a harsh whisper, leaning closer to his son, glaring at him. "And you will do as your told."
Glaring up at his father, Graham shook his head. "I'll do no such thing." he said. Walking around his father, he walked towards Belle and Gaston, looking at them. "Belle, come on, lets go. Party's over." he said, holding his hand out for her.
She looked up at him and smiled, eagerly taking his hand and walking off with him.
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Storybrooke: Graham's funeral
She was still stunned that her brother was dead. She'd spent so much time crying that Rumplestiltskin felt a loss for words. He tried to comfort her, but what could he do for her? For once, the great Rumplestiltskin felt powerless to do anything but watch the woman he loved in pain.
Of course she insisted on going to his funeral. She had to say something, had to say goodbye. Standing there, she looked down at the casket that resided above the hole in the ground and her heart sunk. The service hadn't begun quite yet, but it would in a few moments once everyone was there.
Slowly she stepped up to it, holding a rose in one hand as she stepped next to it. Resting the flower on top of the casket, looking at it and resting her hand flat on the cool metal. "I'll miss you, Grahammy..." she whispered softly, taking in a few deep breaths. Running her fingers along the casket atop of where his head would be.
"He was a great guy.." she heard a voice behind her say. Glancing back, sniffing and wiping her eyes a little as she saw Emma Swan standing there.
Nodding in agreement, looking down at it. "More than anyone will ever know. Even himself." she said, biting her bottom lip slowly. "I hear...I hear you were with him when it happened? He wasn't alone?" she asked, looking up at Emma again, her eyes pleading.
Emma nodded. "I was. We'll all miss him. Were you two close?"
Belle nodded, looking down a little. "We were. Once upon a time he was my brother. He...he didn't remember that though." she whispered only softly.
It shocked Emma that Graham had a sister. Her eyes widened for a moment before she took in a breath. "You're his sister?" she asked, stepping up more beside her.
"That I am. Little sister. He um...its...complicated." she said, glancing towards Emma.
"Then would you know who Belle is?"
She blinked a little and nodded. "Yes. That'd be me. Well...well thats my middle name." she said, trying to pull it off as being her middle name so Emma wouldn't get suspicious. She wasn't even sure what Lacey's middle name was supposed to be, it was always just Lacey Stan.
"Oh..." Emma said, taking in a breath. "Well...before he died...Graham...he um...he begged me to tell Belle...he's sorry. That he loves you and he's sorry."
Her words caused fresh tears to prick at Belle's eyes. Looking at the casket and shaking her head. "He had nothing to be sorry for..." she said, taking in a deep breath and letting it out through her mouth, looking back up at Emma. "Listen...don't tell anyone he's my brother, okay? There are...things about this town that you don't know. But you will. One day. And you'll understand. Then...then I'll tell you the entire story, I promise."
Emma nodded a bit. "Things I don't understand? Like what?"
"Like about my family. Everyones family. Theres a lot, Miss. Swan. And I'm afraid I'm not the one to tell you. But you will know. Just...just listen to your son, okay? Listen to Henry. Always listen to Henry." she said, turning back to the casket and sighing a little.
"Listen to Henry about what?" Emma asked.
Belle didn't look up from her brothers casket, closing her eyes halfway. "About his books. About his stories. And listen. Tell him...tell him to look up the story of the Huntsman. Then you'll know, you'll understand. It won't be the whole story I wager, not many people truly know the whole story of the Huntsman..."
Emma looked at her confused. How could she listen to what Henry was saying? He'd been telling her everyone in town is a storybook character. Was Graham supposed to be this Huntsman?
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Castle at Avonlea
It was a few nights after she'd met Gaston, and Belle didn't really like the man that would become a knight one day. She thought he was arrogant, full of himself, and not what she wanted in a companion. Her father would hear none of it, and dismissed it as though it wasn't a possibility.
And that night Graham had put her to sleep like he usually did, read her a story from one of her books even though she was perfectly capable of reading on her own. She loved the sound of Grahams voice as he lulled her to sleep with fanciful tales of princesses and adventure. She got her love of reading from her brother, from the bedtime stories he always read to her.
But that night nightmares had jarred her awake in her bed and made it so she was unable to sleep. every little noise the castle made scared her suddenly, and she found herself getting out of bed and walking out of her room in just her shift. Quietly walking down the hallway to her brothers room, she took in a breath and knocked once on the door. It was pretty late, she knew he'd be in his bed.
After she knocked, she didn't hear an answer so she carefully opened the door, peering in at the darkness of her brothers room. Walking inside, she closed the door behind her and leaned her back against it a little, looking up at her brothers bed, seeing him laying there underneath his covers.
Taking in a breath, she walked up to his bedside, reaching up to shake his shoulder a little. "Grahammy..?" she asked in a soft whisper.
He shifted as he felt her shake him, hearing her voice he took in a breath and opened his eyes a little. Glancing at her, he gave her a soft smile and shifted to lay on his side, facing her. Leaning up on his elbow, he reached to brush one of her long brown curls behind her ear. "Heyy...its late, are you alright?"
"I had a bad dream." she said, giving him a cute pout.
Gently he rubbed his face a little, shifting a little and pulling his sheets open. "Come here." he said.
And she did. Crawling up into his bed, she crawled up to lay next to him, laying underneath the covers and cuddling into his chest, looking up at his face.
He gave her a small smile and laid down on his side next to her. Bringing his arms around her to hug her and kissing the top of her head. "Want to talk about it?"
Belle chewed on her bottom lip as she cuddled into her brothers chest, looking down at his arms around her waist. "You were gone..." she muttered.
"Where'd I go?"
She shrugged, slowly looking up at him, tears starting to rim her eyes. "I dunno. You were gone. I was looking for you...calling for you, and you were gone. I...I ran down the hallways and couldn't find you. And...and I found Papa, and he looked right through me like he didn't even see me, Graham. I asked him where you were and he...he told me you were gone, you wouldn't come back.." she said. Laying her head on his chest and cuddling up to his chest.
"Oh Belle..." he said with a sigh, hugging her tighter against him. "I'm right here. I'll always be there for you when you need me, you know that." he said as he held her, rubbing her arm and looking down at her.
Belle shook her head, wiping her eyes a little. "And...and Papa told me...he told me I'd have to marry that...that he needed to marry me off.." she said, looking up at him slowly. "Why would he send me away, Graham? Doesn't Papa love me?"
He sighed, not quite sure what to tell her. He wasn't a father, but he sure acted like it. It was him she came to when she had a bad dream, it was him she cried for when she hurt herself, it was him she wanted to dance with at the balls, not their father. "I'm sure he does, Belle. Who couldn't love you? You shouldn't question that."
Looking at him and cuddling up to his chest. He was so warm to be cuddled up against, and his chest was bare as he only wore pants to sleep in. Laying her head on his chest and looking up at his face. "Because I heard him talking...after the party...saying that he'll have me married off soon as I can be. He wants to send me away..." she said with a sigh. Moving her arms around his waist to hug him tightly, hiding her face on his chest. "I don't wanna go away from you."
Graham hugged her, shaking his head. "You won't. You won't." he said in a soft whisper against the top of her head. He had to protect her, he just wasn't sure how.
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Storybrooke: After Grahams Funeral
Belle returned home to where Rumplestiltskin was watching Elsa shortly after the funeral ended. She should have been resting, she knew, but she would not miss her own brothers funeral. Besides, it'd been almost a week since she'd given birth, and she felt fine.
Walking into the salmon colored house and slipping her shoes off by the door. Sighing as she walked in and to the living room, taking a seat on the oversized chair there and bringing her knees up to curl up a little, looking down at her lap. She was alone in the living room for a moment, not even thinking twice about it at the moment. But it didn't take long before she heard the familiar footsteps and the sound of his cane coming down the stairs and down the hall.
Rumplestiltskin walked into the living room, he'd just put Elsa down for a nap and he held the baby monitor in one hand. Walking over, resting the monitor on the coffee table and walking to sit on the arm of the chair Belle sat in, looking down at her. "Are you okay?" he asked. Reaching to rest one hand on her shoulder and rubbing it slowly, carefully.
Glancing up at him, she nodded a little. "I will be. Thanks Rumple..." she said. Resting one hand on his and leaning her head against his arm, closing her eyes halfway. "He remembered.."
"What?"
Looking up at him, Belle gave him a soft sad smile. "He remembered. He told Emma...told Emma to tell me that he was sorry, that he loved me. He remembered me. For the first time in such a long time he remembered me. He knew who I was..." she said, gripping his hand a little bit as tears started to slip down her cheeks, still keeping a soft smile on her lips.
"He remembered you? Like...remembered who you were?"
Belle nodded, shifting a little so Rumple could slide down and sit with her on the chair. It was a big chair, so there was enough room for them to sit closely together. His arm moved around her shoulders and she cuddled up to his side, moving her arms around his waist. "Yeah. They're starting to remember Rumple. And...and to know my brother remembered me before he died...is the best thing anyone could have told me right now.."
Leaning to her, Rumplestiltskin kissed the top of her head slowly, hugging her close to his side. "Thats great, Belle. Are you feeling any better?"
She shrugged and sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "As good as anyone could I guess. I just miss him...I'd always missed him. I just thought we'd have time. Time to catch up, time for him to remember me, to meet Elsa. And we'll never get that again." she said with a sigh, looking up at him. "You would have loved him, Rumple. He was a great man..."
Rumplestiltskin nodded a little. "I know he was, from the stories you've told me. You speak fondly of him. I only knew him as the Huntsman."
Running her fingers up and down his chest overtop of his shirt, she rested her head more on his shoulder and sighed, closing her eyes. "He was so much more than that..."
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Castle at Avonlea: Six Years Later
Belle had grown, she was now thirteen years old and she was growing into a beautiful young woman. Soon she would be of marrying age, and though she didn't want to, her father surely wanted to marry. She was going to marry Gaston, who would first become a knight in her fathers army before taking her hand in marriage. Gaston didn't appeal to her. In fact, he repulsed her. He would try entirely too hard and end up getting things wrong. She didn't love the guy, and she didn't want to marry him. At least she had another eight years before he would be eligible for knighthood. Maybe by then she could figure out a way out of this marriage she wanted nothing to do with.
Things in their lands had gotten a little worse over the years, though. Wars were ravaging their lands, it was becoming almost total anarchy in some parts of Avonlea, and her fathers armies were hard at work trying to restore order and stop the invasions from bordering territories. Belle wasn't worried, though.
Her brother, though, had just turned twenty one years old, the age eligible for knighthood. And her father had granted him that, given him the title of Knight and Prince all at once. He was a wonder to watch, too. She loved watching him practice with his sword. And he sometimes even gave her lessons, even though most people viewed women as incapable of wielding a sword. Graham wanted her to be able to protect herself if she ever needed to.
And that day was a beautiful one to train. She awaited her brothers arrival in the fenced off portion of the yard, the one he would use to train her in.
She wasn't in one of her beautiful dresses, no. A dress was not the type of thing one should train with a sword in. Instead she wore a pair of leather pants that were tucked into her boots that came up a bit, ending just below her knees. Around her waist she wore a bustier, the fabric coming up and straps over her shoulders, wearing a white long sleeved shirt underneath. A belt was around her waist with her swords sheath attached to it, and on her hands she wore a pair of gloves. Her long brown curls were tied up into a side pony tail, the pony tail secured at the right base of her neck so her hair came over one shoulder, and it was secured with a navy blue bow.
Slowly she drew her sword as she walked along the courtyard. Twisting the blade in one hand the way Graham taught her to handle a sword, smiling a little. Oh, she was becoming good at this. Graham was always proud at how fast she learned certain things, and this was no exception.
Looking up and sighing. He was late. Pushing her sword back into its sheath and walking out of the gates, looking around a little and blinking. There was commotion along the path leading outside of the house, and as she watched she noticed just what was going on. Several men had Graham by his arms and were dragging him out while he screamed and kicked, thrashed about.
Shaking her head, she quickly ran over to the path, only to be caught around her waist and pulled back by another soldier. "Graham! Stop! You let me go right now! Whats going on?! Graham!" she yelled, looking up at her brother pleadingly.
Graham looked up at his sister. "Belle!" he said. Squirming and yanking on his arms as he grit his teeth in the effort. Finally breaking free of the arms that held him, he ran over to Belle, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him, unsheathing her sword for her and holding it up at the soldiers. "That is NO way to treat a lady." he said in an almost growl.
Belle leaned close to her brother, shaking her head. "Graham whats going on?" she asked, leaning up to his side and hugging him around his waist, looking around at the men as they encircled them, getting closer.
He moved them back, holding his sword up towards the men who approached, shaking his head. "We're leaving Belle. Now." he said, bringing one arm around her shoulder and gripping it.
One soldier went to grab him, and Graham swung his sword, swiftly taking off the mans hand, hearing him scream as the appendage was cut off. Pointing his sword at the others, blood dribbling along the blade. "Not another step. Any of you. I'm leaving."
"We cannot let you do that, your highness...we have our orders..." one of the men said.
Looking around, Belle counted the amount of men that were around them. There were seven of them, including the one who had just lost his hand. "W-What...whats going on?" she asked, looking up at her brother. His face was serious, his jaw was tight as he glared around him.
"Your orders? Of course you have your orders. Thats what all of you are, lackies, incapable of thinking for yourselves. Just mindlessly follow the Kings orders, even if it is to destroy one of his own child, your crowned Prince?"
"W-What?!" Belle asked, looking at him and shaking her head. "What has Papa done?"
"He wants me dead, Belle..." he muttered, holding her impossibly closer. He didn't care about much, but Belle was his little sister and he loved her with all he had, and he would fight to protect her.
And she trusted him. He was the one person she trusted, the one person that told her the truth no matter how hard it was, and the one person that treated her like a person, not just a woman. Women didn't have much value outside of marriage and childbirth, but Graham seemed to see the value in her outside of all that. "W-Why?"
"Because I'm taking you from here, out of this cursed monarchy. I will not let him treat us as though we are chattel, Belle! Especially not you."
Belle shook her head, looking around at the men. "Just what are you talking about? Chattel? What's he done?" she asked.
But before he could answer, she felt herself be grabbed and yanked away from him. Her back pulled against another mans chest and a cold blade felt against her throat. Taking in a breath, tilting her head back a little and looking up at her brother. "G-G-Grahammy..." she whispered, swallowing slowly as she felt the cold steel against her skin.
He turned and pointed his sword at the man who held her. "Release her this instant. She is your princess for gods sake!"
"We have our orders, your majesty. Go peacefully, and this can stop..." the soldier said.
Tears brimmed Belle's eyes, looking up at Graham slowly. "Graham..." she whispered slowly.
Graham gripped his sword tightly, slowly lowering the sword and looking down. Letting it go, hearing it clatter against the ground. "Just...just let her go..." he said. Raising his eyes to look up at Belle, closing them halfway. "I'm sorry..."
The knife left her throat, but the man still held her. Shaking her head, Belle squirmed. "No...Graham..." she said, letting a few tears slip down her cheeks, reaching her hand towards him.
Another two soldiers grabbed him by his arms and yanked him away down the pathway so his back faced her.
"Graham!" she yelled. Squirming and tugging on her arms, trying to get away from the man that held her. But he only held her tighter. Tears slid down her cheeks as she watched Graham be led away, she shook her head. "No...no no no, no, Graham! You can't! You can't leave! You can't leave me! I need you! GRAHAM!" she yelled.
Her screams tore at him and he gripped his hands into tight fists as he walked. "I'm sorry, Belle...I...I love you..." he said, glancing back at her a little before he looked forward to the carriage that sat at the end of the pathway. It was a prison carriage with a cage on the back that he was shoved into. He heard the click of the lock and sat back, looking towards Belle where she still fought against the guard.
She was only released when the carriage pulled off. Falling to her knees, she shook her head, sniffling as she cried slowly. "Graham..." she muttered. What was she going to do now? What would she do without her brother?
"Come, Princess...you need to dress for dinner." one of the servants who had been watching said.
When the woman put her hands on Belle's shoulders, she yanked back, shaking her head. "No! Leave me!"
"Princess..." the woman whispered.
Glaring up towards her, tears still shone in Belle's eyes, shaking her head. "No. None of you did anything! You just let them take him! No. Go away. I want nothing to do with you." she said. Looking down at her lap, she wiped her eyes and sniffled a little. Graham had been raising her to be a tough young woman, but she didn't know what to do now, she wasn't sure what had really happened, either.
Gathering her courage, she sniffled a little as she pushed herself to stand up. Walking back into the castle and making her way up towards her fathers office. Oh she would confront him about this. Gripping her hands into tight fists as she stalked towards his office. She didn't even knock, she just pushed the doors opened and stormed in, seeing her father sitting behind a desk.
He looked up at her and gave her a smile. "Ahh, Belle. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Uh-uh." she said. Walking up to his desk and grabbing a dagger that was hanging on the wall on the way. Stopping just in front of his desk and slamming the dagger down onto his desk hard, the blade biting through the papers and the wood as she gripped the handle, glaring at him. "What did you do to Graham?! Tell me now, Papa. Tell me the truth!" she demanded.
Maurice leaned back in his seat with a sigh. "Oh, you saw that, did you?" he asked.
"You're damn right I saw that. Every bit. You took away my brother. Now would you like to tell me why?"
"Belle! Watch your tongue. A lady does not say such undignified things."
"Well maybe I'm no lady." she said, gripping the handle of the dagger tightly.
"Bite your tongue, you are a lady of the court of Avonlea, and you will act like it."
"Not until you tell me where my brother is and why you sent him away! What did you do, Papa? He's your son! My brother!" she nearly yelled, becoming quite furious.
Maurice shook his head, looking up at her face. "Graham was a threat, my sweet girl. He was planning to kidnap you. I could not let that happen. I could not be left without my sweet daughter, my heir."
Belle nearly laughed at his explanation. "Graham? A threat? Kidnap me? Father, I would go willingly with Graham. You cannot kidnap those who willingly go. This is your way of controlling us, isn't it? I demand you return him to me this instant!"
"You will not make demands of me!" he said. Standing up, grabbing her wrist and yanking her forward, making her hip press against the other side of the desk as he looked at her face. "You will go to your room, you will dress like a proper lady, and you will forget the nonsense that Graham filled your head about."
Gritting her teeth, she glared up at him and shook her head, pulling on her wrist. "Or what? You'll send me away too?"
"No. I'll simply let Graham live."
Her eyes widened at his words and she shook her head. "W-What? You would kill him? Your own son?"
Nodding slowly to his daughter, looking her in the eyes. "I need an heir, Belle. A proper one. Graham wasn't going to be that. But you will. In eight years you will marry Gaston, you will produce an heir yourself, and you will be a proper Princess, and one day Queen."
Blue eyes filled with tears at her fathers words, shaking her head slowly. "Papa...I do not love Gaston. Please...you cannot make me marry him. You cannot barter Graham's life for such a thing!"
"I can and I will. You will do this...or I will have the guards bring you Graham's head. You will learn to love him truly. I promise. I learned to love your mother."
Fear filled her at her fathers words, the seriousness on her fathers face. "And if I do this...he'll live? He'll be okay? Can he come home?"
Maurice shook his head. "He will be safe, but he cannot come home."
"You cannot keep him prisoner! If I do this you cannot keep him prisoner..."
Staring at her for a moment, gripping her wrist as he sighed. "Fine, I will release him elsewhere...in a place that he cannot come back here from. If you will do this without complaint. I do not want to see tears over your brother again after this day. You will love Gaston, you will marry Gaston, you will give me grandchildren."
Slowly she chewed on the inside of her bottom lip, sniffling a bit, drawing in a deep breath. Tears still streamed down her cheeks as she looked her father in the eye, nodding. "You have my word. Let my brother live and I will agree to be miserable for the rest of my existence." she said, disdain clear in her voice.
"Oh you will not be miserable. As I said, you will learn to love Gaston."
"I will learn to pretend to love Gaston. I cannot promise that feeling will reach my heart."
"Oh it will." he said. Reaching his other hand to rest on her cheek and smiling. "You will love him, and you will not be miserable, my sweet daughter."
She turned her head away from his hand, shaking her head a little. "Do we have a deal?"
"We do." he said, releasing her wrist.
As soon as she was free she pulled back and turned to walk out of his office. One thing she knew for sure was that her father was wrong, she wouldn't learn to love Gaston.
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Storybrooke: Late That Night
Belle awoke with a start, not quite sure what happened. Sitting up in bed and breathing hard from the nightmare she'd just had. Reaching to rub her face slowly and brush her fingers through her hair, she glanced around, glanced towards Rumplestiltskin's side of the bed, only to find it empty. She knew he'd gone to bed with her.
Sighing, she fell to lay back against the bed and look up at the ceiling. Why couldn't she sleep? Every time she tried to sleep she saw her brothers face, saw the look on his face when he'd utterly given up when the soldiers took him from her and threw him in the cage on the carriage.
"Graham.." she whispered, closing her eyes halfway.
And then she heard it. She heard Rumplestiltskin's voice. Glancing around, not seeing him there in the room with her. Shifting up on her elbows and glancing at the baby monitor, realizing thats where it came from. She couldn't help but smile a little as she heard his voice.
He was telling a story, most likely talking to Elsa she would hope. The story of the Beauty and the Beast, their story. She'd read their story and seen the movie that depicted them, and thought it was utter rubbish and untruthful. But Rumplestiltskin didn't tell his daughter the inaccuracies of the story this world had to offer. No, he told her the truth. Well, a dulled down version of the truth, but truth nonetheless.
"Oohh the beast of the Enchanted Forest was a menace, heartless man...feared by all except one person. This girl...this beauty, she confused the beast, she did. He wanted to know why she didn't fear him like all the rest. She had a confidence about her that no others had in his presence..." Rumplestiltskin's voice said through the monitor, and Belle smiled a little as she laid back on the bed, listening to his voice tell the story to their daughter.
"And, so what did he do?" he asked, hearing Elsa coo in the background. "He stole her away, intendant upon locking her up in his dungeon, teach her to fear him, to fear the darkness in him. Made her clean his home, prepare his meals, treated her with a harshness he treated everyone. But...she saw through that. She saw the man behind the beast."
Belle took in a breath and shook her head. Moving to stand up, grabbing her silk robe and pulling it around herself, tying it in the front as she walked around the bed and to the door. Oh she had to correct this, she did. Walking out of the room and down the hallway to Elsa's nursery. Looking in at Rumplestiltskin, she smiled.
"Why is daddy telling it wrong?" she asked.
He looked up from his spot on Elsa's rocking chair, holding the newborn against his chest as he smiled. "Hey...I thought you were sleeping..."
Shrugging, she walked over to him and took a seat on the foot rest in front of the rocking chair, looking up at him. "I couldn't let you tell our story wrong to our daughter."
"And just how was I telling it wrong?" he asked, thinking about it.
Yawning a little, Belle rested one hand on the side of her neck, tilting her head to one side to crack her neck a little. "Mm, well...yes, the beast treated his beauty pretty roughly at first, trying to scare her off. Oh he tried many a times to scare her off. But, she realized something. She realized that the beast wasn't a beast at all. There was no monster, no horrid creature town folk spoke about. But he was a man, hiding behind the mask of dark power. You see, Elsa dearest...he figured he wouldn't get hurt that way, by acting like the monster people portrayed him as..." she said, looking at Elsa, reaching to rub her back and then looking up at Rumplestiltskin.
And he smiled a little to her, chuckling. "Now who is filling her head with nonsense? Oh there is a beast, dearie. I do believe the young woman was showed that many...many times." he said with a soft grin.
Looking up at his face, she shook her head and laughed. "That doesn't count, Rumple. And I think you'd want to wait to teach our daughter that particular topic for many years."
"Oh, our sweet Elsa will know nothing of the topic, dearest." he said confidently.
Belle laughed and rubbed her eyes a little. "Oh she will. My Papa used to say that about me..." she said. Slowly pausing, her smile fading and looking down, shaking her head. "Actually...I think if my Papa could have imparted that bit on me sooner, he would have been happier." she said with a sigh. She'd had a nightmare alright. A nightmare about when she'd lost her brother. She hadn't had that particular nightmare in years now. It used to haunt her dreams every single night after he was taken from her life.
Looking at her, he reached to take her hand, bringing it away from her face. "Your father is a fool, Belle. I will not be a fool, not this time. I cannot mess up with her."
"Oh you will.." she said, looking up at Rumple and giving him a small smile. "You will. She'll hate you, she'll love you, its part of growing up. Or so I'm told. Graham was more my father than my real father. And trust me, there were times I yelled at him that I hated him.." she said with a small unhappy laugh, looking away. "I wish I could take those times back..."
Yeah, she was close to Graham. But they did fight sometimes like any two people would, but they'd fight more over father-daughter things than brother-sister things. Graham was more of the authority figure in her life than her father. Maurice was just sort of...there. Technically he was her father, but she barely knew the man for many years.
"Belle..." Rumplestiltskin warned, looking up at her and shaking his head. "Don't do that. Don't think about what-ifs. Your brother loved you, and he knew you loved him. Obsess over what you could have done differently...and it'll eat you alive from the inside out. Trust me, I spent far more years than I'd like to count beating myself over Baelfire's disappearance. Thats how I became how I was, the monster everyone said I was."
She glanced at him and smiled a little, nodding. "I know. I just can't help it. I just wish I...had something of his still..." she said with a sigh, shaking her head. Looking down at Elsa, she smiled a bit. "Seems she's asleep. You're good at this father thing..." she said.
Chuckling and nodding, he looked down at Elsa. "Seems I am." he said. Carefully moving to stand up, holding Elsa against his chest as he took his cane, moving over to her crib. Gently he laid her down into it on her back and brought her sheets up a little, making sure she was tucked in before he stood up straight, glancing over at Belle.
Her eyes moved with him, watching him with Elsa. Smiling, she stood up and walked to stand behind him, lacing her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly, leaning into his back with her cheek against his shoulder, looking up at his face and giving him a small smile. "I love you...you know that?"
"I know. I'll never understand why, but I know." he said, resting one hand on top of hers and rubbing it slowly with his thumb.
She laughed a bit, kissing the back of his shoulder. "Well, some things need to remain a mystery in our relationship." she said, sighing as she cuddled up close to him. "Are you coming back to bed? I hate sleeping by myself. I spent entirely too long sleeping without you."
"Of course I'll be coming back to bed." he said. Shifting out of her arms and taking her hand in his, bringing her arm up so theirs were intertwined a little, holding her hand gently before walking with her towards their bedroom.
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Castle Outside of Avonlea: Eight Years Later
The monarchy had begun to fall, their rule threatened by the Ogres. It was becoming more and more dangerous in the lands and they'd been forced to flee Avonlea, their home. The wars were becoming dire, men died every day and King Maurice was becoming desperate to save his kingdom.
It was just a week after her twenty-first birthday that they stood in the room barricaded at the door with a few of the close men in the army including Gaston. He still repulsed her and she hated him, but true to her word Belle put on a good face and pretended to be smitten with the young knight. Though, few people were even thinking of marriage and starting a family right now.
The knights stood around the table with Maurice, discussing things. "Avonlea has fallen..." she heard one of the knights say.
Belle stood at the window, looking over the war torn lands, her eyes closed halfway. "Perhaps he will still come..."
"Belle, don't be foolish. He would have come already!" her father said, looking towards his daughter. "Our kingdom will fall. We will fall."
She tried not to speak her mind just then, tried not to tell him that they'd have had a chance if they had Graham. She hadn't seen her brother for eight years, and through the warring times it was very difficult on her. She wanted to see him so bad, to hug him and confide in him how scared she was. For she put on a brave face, but inside she was trembling. There was nobody who could save them, except for the Dark One, whom they'd sent note too weeks ago. Everyone had given up hope, except for Belle. She had to hold onto a sliver of a hope that he would come, would save them all. While she did not want to rule her lands the way her father had suggested, she did love her people dearly.
"You never know, he could be on his way.." she said.
Just as she spoke a bang came to the door, making everyone jump and look at it. "It could be him!" she suggested, looking towards her father.
Maurice nodded. "Open it."
Two knights moved forward to lift the board from the barricade, opening the door and stepping back, all hands on their swords as they looked outside into the empty hallway. Nobody was there.
"Well, that was a bit of a let-down..." his voice came from behind them. Belle turned her eyes to steady on the imp known as The Dark One, sitting in her fathers chair. "I was sent a message...something about..." he started, raising his hands in the air for effect. "Help! Help! We are dying, can you save us!?" he said in an almost mocking tone.
Gaston slowly approached him, bringing his sword from his sheath and pointing it at the imp, his eyes narrowing.
Rumplestiltskin looked up at the man and stood up, slapping his sword down. "Well, the answer, is yes. For a price."
"We sent you an offer of gold..." Maurice said as though that were the answer to anything.
"Ahh, but you see, I can make gold...so...why would I want gold?" he asked, slowly stalking to the front of the room and looking around. And then his eyes laid on her, the only woman in the room. She almost seemed to have some sort of fire within her that everyone was snuffing out since she stood quietly behind the men. "No...I want something more...precious..." he whispered, his eyes locking with Belle's.
His eyes made her blush and shudder, something inside of her stirring, something she'd never felt before, and something so foreign to her. He looked at her as though no man had before, she didn't simply feel like a trophy with the way his eyes bore into hers. She felt something more.
"My price...is her." he finally said, pointing at Belle. Oh yes, the young woman was the price. He hadn't known he would deal for a woman in coming here, but once he laid his eyes on her he knew he had to have her. It just clicked in his mind.
But, Gaston moved in front of her, blocking his view. One arm moved behind him to possessively be around her. "The lady is engaged." he stated.
Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes. "No no, I am not looking for...romance. I simply need a caretaker for my estate is all. I'm afraid the price is the price."
"Then we have no deal." Maurice said firmly. He would not trade his daughter off to the Dark One, that he was certain.
"Mm...fine then." Rumplestiltskin said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice as he walked towards the exit.
"Wait..." it was Belle who spoke, he knew the voice came from the woman, causing him to stop and turn around, looking at her.
Slowly Belle stepped around Gaston, shooting him a glare. Even Rumplestiltskin could see there was no love lost there would he take her away. "Don't I get a say in this? After all it is my life, father."
"Belle...be quiet."
Her eyes narrowed at her father as she glared at him, too before she shifted her gaze to Rumplestiltskin. Her blue eyes softened as she looked at him and took in a breath. "My family will be safe? My friends? My people? The Ogres will go away?" she asked, stepping up towards him. He could be the freedom she'd always hoped would come, the freedom she prayed for out of Gaston's clutches.
"You have my word." Rumplestiltskin said, bowing his head politely to the lady. Something about this woman made him feel strange things, feel like he would give her the world if he could.
"Then I'll go." she said with a small smile. Oh it did not seem like an unhappy choice, and it wasn't. She would gladly go with Rumplestiltskin over staying and marrying Gaston.
Rumplestiltskin grinned a little. "Perfect." he said happily.
"But you can't!" Gaston said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back. "What of our wedding?"
She shot him a look, yanking her wrist back. "Enough, Gaston. I am not your trophy. I am a human being and I can make my own decisions." she said, looking towards her father. "Ones that aren't forced."
"Belle..." Maurice said in a warning tone, looking down at her.
But again she shot him down, shaking her head. "Its been decided, father. I'm leaving with him, your monarchy will be safe, you'll be in riches...what more could you want, Papa?" she said in an almost mocking tone, looking up at him.
Oh Rumplestiltskin could tell there was indeed a story there, just waiting to be uncovered.
"She's right, you know..." he said in her defense, stepping up to her and leaning his head by hers. "The deal is, in fact, struck." he said with a small giggle. Standing up straight and turning towards the entrance of the room. "Come along." he said, one hand resting on the small of her back and gently bringing her with him.
Feeling his hand there, she blushed. This was definitely not an ordinary man. Glancing towards her father and Gaston before she turned to leave with Rumplestiltskin, her decision firm. All in all, she was happy with her decision to leave, nothing was left in this land for her. Her people would be safe, her brother was safe somewhere, thats all she really needed right then.
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Storybrooke: The Next Day
Rumplestiltskin had to return to work as Mr. Gold. So, that morning he opened the shop for the first day that Belle had returned to him. It was strangely lonely, being without his wife and child, being so far away from Elsa, clear across town. But he did need to keep up appearances, to make a living to support his new family. Of course, as one of the richest men in town he could definitely support Belle and Elsa very well without personally opening his shop every day.
And he closed up the shop at five instead of later in the night. He'd much rather spend his evening with his wife and child. But, he had a surprise for her, a surprise to bring home to her.
When he pulled up in the driveway, he was smiling, quite happy with himself as he got out of the car. Getting his cane and reaching to grab the small box he'd put in the passengers seat. Walking up to the door, he leaned the box against the wall a little before reaching to open the door and stepping inside.
"Belle! I'm home." he said. Closing the door behind him and dumping the box to rest on the bench in the entrance hallway. Shrugging out of his coat, he hung it up before picking up the box again, stepping into the living room.
"Belle!" he called out again.
Hearing his voice, she walked down the steps, holding Elsa in her arms. "Coming, coming!" she said. Looking down at her daughter and putting on a smile. "Daddy's home, baby girl." she said happily to her. She was still upset over losing Graham, but when she held her daughter she went into instant mommy mode. Her daughter deserved more than having her mother upset all the time. So she was trying to be better, for her daughter. Maybe if she could clear thoughts of her brother from her head with her daughter than she could do it elsewhere.
Walking down the steps, she smiled as she looked at him. "Welcome home, love. Dinner will be ready in an hour." she said, leaning to kiss him softly as she walked to the bassinet in the living room. Resting the baby into the bassinet, smiling as she rubbed Elsa's stomach lightly.
"Come come, dearest, I have a surprise for you." he said with a smile. Stepping to her, he took her hand and led her to the couch. Sitting down, slowly he rested the box down on the coffee table, his cane off to one side. Reaching into the box, slowly he pulled out a jacket - Graham's jacket.
Looking at it, Belle's eyes widened. "Is this...?" she asked. Reaching both hands out to take the jacket in them, rubbing her thumbs against the leather and bringing it up close to her.
"It is. You wanted something of his...now you have something." he said with a smile. Reaching into the box. "Oh, theres something else too..." he said. Slowly taking out a smaller box and offered it to her, looking up at her.
She was still looking at the jacket, tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh Rumple.." she said softly. He'd really done this for her? Hearing his voice, she slowly set the jacket down in her lap, reaching to take the box from him and looking at it. Opening it slowly, she looked into it and saw a dagger in its black leather sheath.
"It couldn't be...I thought I'd lost this in coming to this world..." she whispered. Sitting the box down, she took the dagger from the box and slowly ran her fingers along the handle. Taking ahold of it and pulling it out to reveal the blade. Taking in a breath as she saw the engraving on the base of the blade that read 'Prince Graham of Avonlea.' in fancy letters.
"Oh Rumple..." she said again, looking up at him and smiling slowly. "You did this...for me?"
"Of course. You said last night that you didn't have anything of his. Well...now you do. Something of his old life, and something of his new life." he said, resting one hand on her knee.
Pressing the dagger back into its sheath, she moved to hug him around his neck tightly, gripping his jacket with one hand, her other hand clutching the dagger. "Thank you..." she whispered, kissing the side of his neck as she hid her face there slowly.
His arms circled her and brought her up close to him, kissing the side of her head. "Anything for you, love. Does this make you happy?" he asked, leaning his head back and resting his hands on her cheeks, bringing her face up to look at his.
"Incredibly." she said with a smile. Leaning up and kissing him softly, brushing her nose against his lightly. "What did I do to deserve you?" she asked softly.
He gave her a smile, brushing her hair behind hear. "No, dearest, it is I that have done something incredibly right somewhere in my life to deserve you."
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The Enchanted Forest
Being banished from his lands was hard enough, but it was even harder being banished away from his dear little sister. Since he'd been banished, Graham had been living in the forest under the guise of a Huntsman. And frankly, it was ridiculous, this quest to kill Snow White. A quest the Queen sent him on herself.
A place at her court wasn't what he wanted. He spent his entire life running away from a place in a court. He did not want to go from one leash to another, he was no lapdog. But, the Evil Queen was not one to say no to.
People didn't know his true story, not even the Queen. Oh he'd spun a fabulous story for them, that he was left by his parents to the wolves, which was sort of true. His father did kick him out. He didn't really care about much these days, the only thing he truly loved was his younger sister.
So, being in a knights uniform was the last thing he ever wanted to do. He hated those clothes, the armor, the importance. And walking with Snow White was almost like walking in a daze.
"You know...the summer palace used to be my favorite place, when I was a little girl..." Snow said as they walked. "I always looked forward to going there..." she said.
They were supposed to go to the Summer Palace, he was her guard to escort her.
She stopped and turned to offer him an apple from her bag and he shook his head. "No..I'm fine." he said, looking towards her. Something about her held an innocence, she reminded him of his sister, his Belle. She seemed sweet and nice, and walking with her felt like walking with Belle.
"You're not one of my fathers men..." she stated.
Oh she was an observant one. "Every one of my fathers men have offered me condolences...but you. She sent you to walk with me...why?" she asked. Tilting her head to one side. "You mean to kill me..." she said slowly.
Before he could react, she quickly hit him in the side with something he hadn't noticed she picked up before she ran off. Falling backwards, Graham let out a small curse before he stood up, taking off after the woman he was supposed to kill.
It didn't take him long to find her, and he found her, sitting there composing a letter. Slowly walking up to her, studying her. "I hunt you...yet you stop to compose a letter?"
Snow White didn't look up, she shook her head. "You'd only find me. No doubt you know these woods better than anybody, she set it up like that..." she said, writing on a piece of paper, looking up at him. "I just ask you to do something. Please...give this to the Queen after you give her my heart.." she said, offering the letter up to him.
Looking at the piece of paper like it were some sort of bomb before he hesitantly reached up and took it from her. Opening the letter, he began reading it, reading the selflessness that Snow White poured out in her words towards the very woman who wanted to kill her.
How could he kill something like that? Kill something so sweet, so innocent? A thing that reminded him simply of his sweet sister? it felt something so...so Belle to do. He knew Belle, he knew Belle would do anything for their people.
Turning his eyes up to look at her, shaking his head. "You would sacrifice yourself willingly...forgive the woman that wishes you dead...why?"
Snow smiled a little. "I wronged her. She won't stop her crusade to kill me until I'm dead, and as long as she rules my people fairly...then my death will not be in vain.."
Graham let out a chuckle, folding the letter and turning his head away. "You remind me of someone...someone I once held very dear..." he whispered, looking down at the piece of paper in his hands, running his thumbs over it lightly.
"Who...?" she asked curiously.
He took in a breath and turned his eyes to look up at her. "If I tell you...this remains between us?"
"Of course. I'll be dead, so theres no need to worry."
Graham shook his head. "No, you won't be. I'm not going to kill you, Snow White. I cannot. You have honor...not many people in these lands do. I respect that."
Snow seemed to be surprised, but she nodded. "I will still keep your secret."
"I have a sister...a little sister. She is the thing I hold most precious in the world. You remind me of her. Such self sacrifice is something she would do for her people. Something she has done for me.." he said. Yes, he knew about the deal that Belle had made with their father...the guards had been sure to tell him how she was trapped in that castle, trapped with Gaston.
"Where is she? Your sister?"
He shook his head, moving to sit down next to Snow White, glancing up at her. "She sacrificed her life, her happiness, so that I could live. I can never see her again. And I cannot begin to say how much that pains me. If you could...do me one favor...I would be forever in your debt."
Listening to him, Snow nodded slowly. "Of course I'll do you a favor. What is it? You won't be in my debt, I am in yours."
"Bring her news...that I am alive. Bring her a letter for me. No one else in our kingdom would do it I know...its against our laws. Our father...hated me quite a bit. I was once a crowned Prince. Now? I'm the Huntsmen..." he said, shaking his head a little, looking up to her.
"A crowned Prince? Wow. What father could hate his child so?"
He chuckled, shaking his head and looking up at her. "Our father isn't the most caring of men after our mother died."
"And your sister is...who?"
"Belle...Princess of Avonlea." he said.
The name made Snow Whites eyes widen a bit in acknowledgement, nodding a little. "Yes...I know her. She's been at a few balls my father has hosted. Never really knew her per-say..." she said, biting her bottom lip slowly. "Avonlea has been ravaged by Ogres. Surely you could go back. But...I don't think Belle is in Avonlea..."
His head tilted up and blinked a bit. He lived in the woods, he didn't hear much about politics or about the monarchy in another land. "Why wouldn't she be in Avonlea? Ogres? Is she alright?" he asked almost frantically.
"There are stories from Avonlea...stories that...the monarchy almost fell, so the King called upon The Dark One. He um...saved the kingdom, for a price. And the price was the Princess of the land...she...she went to live with him..." Snow said, feeling bad as she spoke, feeling as though she told him the worst possible news.
And she nearly had. His face fell and he looked down. "The Dark One...has my sister? Oh Belle...what have you done..." he said with a sigh, looking at his lap and gripping his hands into tight fists.
"I can...I can still deliver the letter!" she offered, looking at him. "The Dark One lives in a castle, everyone knows that. I can...I can go in and deliver it."
"I wouldn't ask you to go to such a place..." he said with a sigh. Going to Avonlea was one thing, but going to the Dark Castle was another.
But he felt Snow's hand atop of his and he looked up into her smiling face. "I insist. Please let me do this for you, its the least I could do..."
He gave her a small smile. "Yeah...just like my Belle..." he said, but shaking his head. "I cannot have you do that. Go, Snow White. Live." he said, pushing himself to stand up. "I will go after my sister." he declared. Yes, he would get back to the Queen, but first...he had to see his sister.
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The Dark Castle: A Little While After Bell Was Taken
It was an empty place...a huge castle for only two people was a little much. It was a nice, elegant castle that was for sure, filled with treasures and valuables that Rumplestiltskin acquired over his deals. And it was her job to keep this place clean, to cook his meals, clean his clothes, fetch his straw and everything.
That afternoon she was cleaning, humming softly to herself, not paying much attention to the sorcerer as he sat at his table, having his tea. Why he insisted on drinking from that chipped cup she'd accidentally broken, she'd never know. But she'd never forget the look on his face when she'd broken the cup and he'd told her that it was 'Just a cup.' Indeed, it was, but now he had his tea with that cup every time.
She was getting to know him, getting to know the man behind the curtain so to speak.
"Why...did you agree to come here?" Rumplestiltskin asked suddenly. He'd been watching her, he always watched her when he didn't think she was looking. They'd make small talk here and there, but nothing too major.
Looking up at him, she smiled and shrugged. "To save my people."
"Yes but...there was something else there. What was it?"
Glancing a bit away from him, she shrugged. "I wanted...to be the hero. Theres not much opportunity for women in this world. I wanted...adventure, I wanted to live my own life for once. Being a princess isn't all its cracked up to be, you know. We are bound by obligation, rules, duty. This way...I got to save my people, and have my adventure." she said.
He watched her curiously, tilting his head to one side. "And your...betrothed?"
She chuckled, walking up to the table and moving to sit on it by him, looking at him. "Gaston? Meh..." she said, looking forward at the windows that shone light in. He'd caught her off the ladder just yesterday, and thats when she started to fall for him, quite literally. No, she didn't realize it yet, but a she had a soft spot for the dark sorcerer. "It was an arranged marriage. I loathe Gaston." she said, scrunching up her nose a little. "He's too...full of himself for me to tell the truth. I always imagined when I fell in love...it'd be this...miraculous thing, this amazing thing that I felt deep inside for someone who was more than just superficial. That was Gaston, superficial to a fault. I couldn't give my heart to a man like that...to a man that treated me as a trophy." she explained.
"But...you were going to?"
Shaking her head, she looked at him. "I was going to give my body to him, not my heart, not my soul. Papa always told me one day I'd learn to love Gaston. But...its hard to love somebody that you're forced to be with." she said. Resting her hands down on the edge of the table and looking forward.
"Your father forced you to be with him? Couldn't you have just said...no?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"I did, once..." she said, a sad looking crossing over her face. Seeing that look made Rumplestiltskin's heart sink, and he wanted to do anything to take it off of her. But...who could love him? Who could willingly love the monster?"
"But..." she continued, closing her eyes halfway. "I made a deal with him. Papa spared my brothers life...and I agreed to marry Gaston."
"A brother? I saw no brother with you..."
"Of course not. Thats the way Papa wanted it. He banished him...threatened to kill him if I did not comply." she said, glancing over at him and giving him a sad smile. "My brother is gone. To where, I do not know. But away from our fathers clutches. And he would be happy to hear that I am too."
"Into the den of yet another monster.."
She chuckled again at that, shaking her head. "You are no monster.."
Just as she finished speaking, they both heard banging coming from the front door. Belle glanced up a little, but Rumplestiltskin stood up. "Stay. Here." he warned. He would see to her safety, and anyone that came to his castle was surely looking to deal.
Walking out of the Great Hall and towards the door, waving his hand to let magic open the double doors for him, looking at the man that stood on the other side. "Well well, just what might I do for you, dearie?" he asked.
Graham stood there, breathing in hard as though he'd ran the whole way. And he had ran for quite a while up to the castle. It'd taken him a days journey to get there, and he was getting what he came for. Stepping up into the castle, he stared the Dark One down. "Belle from Avonlea. Where is she?"
"Belle? My maid?" he asked with a small giggle.
"NO. Princess Belle from Avonlea! I demand an audience with her."
"You demand things from me?" he asked, thinking about it and shrugging. "What do I get for this?"
"Please...I need to speak with her." he said, hoping his desperation didn't show in his voice. Graham hadn't seen his sister in years, not since their father had his soldiers drag him off.
Looking at him, Rumplestiltskin narrowed his eyes. "Whats your name?"
"Graham. Tell her its Graham."
Normally Rumplestiltskin didn't do favors, didn't do anything without a price. But, this was Belle's guest, she was not a prisoner in his home, just his housekeeper. Turning and walking into the Great Hall, opening the doors and closing them behind him, looking at Belle. "Do you know someone named Graham? A man?"
Belle looked up from her spot at the table, her eyes widening. "G-Graham? Are you certain?" she asked. When Rumplestiltskin nodded, a smile spread over her lips. Slipping off the table and quickly running passed the sorcerer and into the entry hall.
As she entered, her eyes looked up and met Graham's, smiling joyfully. "Grahammy!" she said happily. Running the rest of the way up to him and nearly jumping into his arms. Her arms moved around his neck as he caught her around the waist, gently picking her up as he twirled her, causing her to laugh a little.
Slowly sitting her down on her feet, he looked down at her, a smile coming to his own face. "Its true...you're here..."
She nodded, sliding her hands up to cup his face. "As are you. Its really you. Its been so long Graham..." she said, running her thumb over his cheek.
"Too long." he said, smiling and leaning to kiss her forehead, his lips lingering on her skin as he took in a breath. Leaning back, looking down at her and taking her in. "My how you have grown into the most beautiful woman in the world. I've missed you. But...but why are you with him? The Dark One?"
"I made a deal. He saved our kingdom, he saved Avonlea, our people. And I was to come to him, be his maid. Its not really so bad Graham, its better than home. I'm free here. Freer than Papa ever allowed me to be."
"Are you happy?"
"Happier now that I see you. I was always afraid Papa lied and you were dead somewhere...I could not take that, I could not loose you too. Not like that." she said with a smile. Moving her arms down and around his waist to hug him tightly, laying her head on his shoulder.
He hugged her around her shoulders, holding her against his chest with his chin on top of her head, closing his eyes halfway. "I can't stay long, but when I heard you were here...I had to come see you."
Looking up at him with concern, shaking her head. "Why can't you stay? Please Graham stay, don't leave me again, not again. I miss you. We can...we can pick up on my lessons, we can be happy, be a family without Papa sticking his stupid nose in."
Slowly he rubbed her shoulders, looking at her and shaking his head. "The Queen is waiting for my return..."
"The queen? As in the evil Queen Regina? What does she want of you?"
"I um...I accepted a job from her that I did not complete. Don't worry, when I'm done with her, I'll find you again, I promise. I'll always find you." he said with a smile.
"So you go from one monarchy to another? Graham...no. Don't go back.."
"And do what? Live here? In the Dark Castle? Belle that is insane." he said. Looking around, noticing the Dark One wasn't in the room still before he leaned down to her ear. "Fret not, I'll come back for you. I'll always come back for you. I'll take you away from this place, we'll find a nice village to settle in, you'll fall in love, I'll give you away at your wedding...and we will be happy." he said, kissing the side of her head slowly.
She clung to him tighter, shaking her head and leaning up close to his chest. "No Graham...don't leave me. Please not again."
"But this isn't leaving for good, I promise."
"How do I know that? How do I know that woman won't kill you?"
"You don't. But you must trust me." he said, rubbing her shoulders and reaching into his belt. Unhooking it and bringing the sheath that held his dagger off of it before hooking his belt back up again. Offering the dagger in its sheath, looking at her face. "Here. Take this. Its the last thing I have from Avonlea. Take this and know I will be back for it."
Fresh tears welled up in her eyes as she slowly took his dagger, looking up at his face. "I'd rather have you than any piece of metal."
He reached up, wiping away her tears and nodding. "And you will. We will catch up, you and I. I just...I just had to see you, make sure you weren't being tortured or anything. You're safe here...safer than at home."
"Its away from Gaston. And Rumplestiltskin isn't so bad, not as bad as I'd expected..." she said with a sigh, looking up at his face. Leaning to him and hugging him again tightly, closing her eyes as she hid her face into his chest, breathing in his scent deeply. "I'll miss you Graham..." she said, her fingers clutching at the black leather of his jacket.
His arms held her tightly, kissing the top of her head and nodding. "As I will miss you, my dear little sister. We'll be apart again for only a little while." he said. Holding the hug for a few moments before he leaned back, smiling at her. "Be safe, and know that I love you with all my heart. I love you like you were my own daughter..."
Looking up at him, she nodded and smiled. "And I love you like you were my father. I'll miss you. But be safe and let me see your face again. I cannot go another eight years without you.." she said. Leaning up and kissing his cheek gently before she leaned down, holding his dagger in her hands tightly.
He smiled, kissing her forehead. "Neither can I. Be well, Belle." he said. Stepping back from her and turning to leave the castle. Walking away from her for the second time in his life was so hard.
And watching him leave was just as hard. She held his dagger tightly as she watched him walk away, not knowing it would be the last time she'd see him until the curse was enacted, until they were in Storybrooke and she wouldn't know who he was.
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A/N: Tadaaa. I am so in love with this chapter it isn't even funny. And it topped out at some 13,000+ words...man, such a miracle for me to write that much, and it still felt too short in my opinion. But, I tweaked it just right and I do believe I've gotten this chapter down just the way I wanted it. Squee! With all those words, its like two chapters in one! Yowza. Quite fitting for the 10th chapter in my little tale.
Please read and review, let me know what you think. This chapter has so much emotion in it for me. :-)..