Her Dark Guard
By: RosexKnight
(( So. I'm doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and though I'm off to a shaky start it is THIS story (by popular demand) that's getting finished up! I have no idea how much longer I have in this particular story but I've got alot planned and I hope you guys enjoy it! ))
The Dark One interrogates the prisoner. The Lady makes a confession.
Chapter Ten
Jefferson frowned. "He's not talking."
"Perhaps he doesn't know anything." Graham offered.
"Oh he does." Rumpelstiltskin all but snarled.
Nottingham looked up at the three of them with bleary eyes. Lady Belle had not let them be cruel to him, but between Jefferson's madness and Graham's interrogations he hadn't yet cracked. But then again, Belle hadn't yet let Rumpelstiltskin at him. And The Dark One's fingers were practically itching to get around his throat.
"We have to tell Belle." Graham said. "She needs to give us permission to go further."
"I don't need permission."
Jefferson caught Rumpelstiltskin's wrist as he lifted his hand. "You know she won't like it. Haven't you mucked it up with her enough?"
The Dark One jerked his hand away from the hatter, giving him a glare that daggers would be jealous of. He opened his mouth, fuming, ready to tell the hatter to stay out of affairs he didn't understand. Shouldn't be in to begin with. But then the door to the dungeon was opening, the sound of dainty footsteps drawing carefully near, and Rumpelstiltskin deflated.
"Well?" Belle asked as she came into view, examining the man behind the bars.
"No luck." Graham reported.
The lady nodded, her mouth in a thin line as she stole a glance to Rumpelstiltskin that he pretended not to notice.
"We know Hordor hired you." Belle was saying. "What is the duke planning?" Nottingham was silent. "Is he working with anyone else? Are they the ones that killed my husband?" Again, no answer. "Nottingham if you talk now it will be much easier on you, believe me."
This coaxed a laugh from him. "Easier for me? I'm a dead man either way."
"And why is that?"
"I don't have to answer to the likes of you." Nottingham spat. "Soon your land will be ours, even if we have to take it from that bastard son you call an heir by force."
At this Belle fumed. Rumpelstiltskin saw it in her eyes. Saw the way her fists clenched and her jaw set into a determined scowl.
"I can't say you weren't warned." Belle said. "Rumpelstiltskin is the garden lacking any slugs?"
"You'd trust this welp near your flowers?" Rumpelstiltskin retorted, eyes burning into Nottingham.
"True. Perhaps a bug then?"
"Too easy for him to escape if you don't intend to squash him."
"Too swift." Belle decided, and that seemed to make Nottingham's eyes widen. "How are our mousers in the dungeon and keep?"
Rumpelstiltskin smirked. "The felines are perfect at that job. They barely leave any blood when they kill."
"That seems much more fitting then." Belle said, and just the thought of this man scurrying for his life against the cats was enough to cause Rumpelstiltskin to giggle. "Last chance to talk, Nottingham. I admit I'm quite incapable of reigning in The Dark One when he decides he doesn't like someone."
"Why not use him then?" Nottingham retorted, though his trembling voice betrayed him. "Why not have him wipe us all out?"
"Magic comes with a price." Belle recited, and the spinner felt uncanny pride well in his chest. "Besides, if I did that where would be the fairness for you all?"
This made Nottingham's eyes widen for a moment, genuine fear taking over him for a before he remembered himself and regained his composure.
"Yer bluffing." He said. "We know all about you. You don't have the stomach for leading this place."
"Very well." Belle said with a shrug. She turned away, touching Rumpelstiltskin's arm, making him go stiff for a moment. "A rat I think. I'm sure the cats are hungry."
"As you wish." The Dark One said, lifting a hand.
"Wait!" The yelp rang through the dungeon the moment the magic twinged in the air. Belle turned back to him, an eyebrow raised. The prisoner hung his head. "The Duke sent Hordor to take Avonlea by any means necessary. It's right on the border between the Frontlands. A perfect strategical advantage and excellent lands for a new stronghold."
"We know that." Rumpelstiltskin said impatiently.
"H-Hordor made an alliance. A deal." Nottingham was sputtering desperately now. "She gave us magic. The means to get to Avonlea and take it. Baelfire was to be ransomed off. Traded to you for the keep."
Beside him, Belle stiffened, and Rumpelstiltskin knew she counted herself lucky that it didn't have to come to that. Knew she would have traded anything for Baelfire. He knew he would have.
"Who is she?" Belle finally asked.
"I don't know. I never saw her. I only got the trinket that would start the fires from Hordor. I'm only a mercenary."
"So you know nothing about my husband and his murder."
Nottingham only shook his head. "I never set foot here 'till now. And no one ever mentioned your husband outside of the fact that he was dead."
"So it wasn't the doing of the Frontlands?"
"I don't know, milady I swear it."
"He's lying." Rumpelstiltskin growled.
"Could be." Jefferson said. "But if he's just a mercenary they'd have no reason to disclose their secrets to him."
Belle sighed, shaking her head "Fine then. If that's all he knows there's not much we can do." Rumpelstiltskin gave her a glare, but she ignored it. "Graham, get our dear prisoner a hot meal any he wants from our kitchen. And then…" She turned to Rumpelstiltskin. "No skinning him alive. But if you think he knows more I doubt I can stop you."
"You're no fun." He pretended to pout.
"No!" Nottingham protested, leaping up. "I talked! I told you all I know!"
"Yes." Belle said. "But you also called Baelfire a bastard."
Nottingham growled. "Don't pretend like he's not you bitch!"
The lady put a hand over her heart in faux hurt. "That's two rude names! I've told you I can't control him when he doesn't like someone do you have a death wish?."
Nottingham paled, and Rumpelstiltskin couldn't help his grin at her. The look he gave the prisoner when he turned back to him, however, was purely murderous. Belle tensed, and even Graham stepped back from him. Jefferson only chuckled.
"Come, Jefferson." The lady said. "It's tea time and I'd appreciate the company."
"As the lady wishes."
Jefferson bowed to her, and they walked out arms linked. Rumpelstiltskin tried not to notice how much that bothered him. How his lips and fingers didn't tingle to touch her again. It had been only a day since they kissed, and already he was yearning for more despite himself. He looked to Nottingham, reminding himself why he left. The man looked to him with pure fear in his eyes, shrinking back.
"I'll get on the meal then." Graham said.
Rumpelstiltskin nodded, turning away. "I'll finish the truth potion."
Yes. This was more like it. Potions. Truth. Murderer. He was losing track of why he'd been brought here in the first place. It was time he got back to it.
Belle deflated the moment the dungeon doors closed. Letting out a shaky sigh, she gripped Jefferson's arm, wanting to ground herself.
"He's a bad influence on you." Jefferson teased as they approached the library, the only place he was sure she could relax. Or at least come close to it.
"Do you think Nottingham bought it?" Belle asked.
"I think Graham bought it." Jefferson said with a grin.
Belle nodded, reassuring herself. She was convincing. They'd know she had a firm hand. That she was on The Dark One's good side. That she could lead. At least until Baelfire was old enough.
She hated this.
Ruby was already bringing them tea when they found Belle's favorite spot in the library. She took the tea gratefully, letting the warmth run through her as Ruby joined them.
"Anything?" Ruby asked.
"No." The Hatter said, his spoon clinking against the sides of his cup as he mixed in his sugar. "We only know Hordor made an alliance with someone with magic."
"But Rumpelstiltskin is more powerful than them right?"
"I don't think there's anyone in the realms that's more powerful than The Dark One in terms of sheer magical power."
"But more cunning?"
"He doesn't always think well when he's emotional." Jefferson said, and Belle tried not to notice the ripples forming from the sides of her cup.
"Where is he now?" Ruby asked, pouring herself a second cup.
"Making a truth potion. He plans to start the interrogations of everyone from the inside."
"That will catch them." Ruby said gratefully, sitting back in her chair. "The traitor will be caught and we can get on with all of this.
"I kissed him." Belle suddenly blurted, met with stunned gazes from Ruby and Jefferson. She tried to silence the pounding in her chest from saying it. Confirming it to herself. Trying, desperately, to figure out just how to get on with all of this.
"Well." Jefferson said with a laugh, leaning back on the setee beside Belle. "Now we're getting somewhere."
She was trembling, and Ruby took the cup gently from her.
"Easy Belle. Talk to us."
The lady looked between her friends, a sort of helpless look in her eyes. For not the first time Belle realized just how tired she was. Tired of the danger. Of the ache in her chest. Of being scared and hurt and angry. She shook her head.
"I'm fine."
"No. You're not." Jefferson said, giving her a firm glare. "Tell us what happened."
Belle sighed, running her fingers through her hair, trying to figure out where to start exactly. Finally, after a long pause, the words stopped catching in her throat.
"I kissed him. And I didn't want to stop