Chapter Ten
Rumple was furious. His heart slammed hard and fast in his chest as his fragile hope of having a life with Belle cracked and tears prickled in the corners of his eyes. The glare he gave Maurice froze Maurice's soul as an inhuman growl filled the darkness and Rumple snorted a breath of air. The guards drew their swords as he made a high pitch giggle, waved his hand and the swords turned into water. The purple smoke enveloped him and Maurice felt his heart freezing in his chest as he watched Rumple vanish.
"Milaird?" the guard finally asked with a shaky voice when Maurice glared at him and headed for the door.
"Find Gaston," he growled then left the cell and balled his hands into fists.
The Dark Castle
Belle was reading one of her favorite books while she sat on the black wood couch with red cushions when she felt the air grow cold and looked up, seeing the purple smoke materializing at the center of the room. Smiling, she got up as she placed the ribbon to mark her place and put the book on the cushion. Rumple had his back to her as he watched the fire and she noticed he was shaking.
"Are you alright?" she asked while placing her hand gently on his back and he spun around, glaring at her.
"No, I am not alright," he snarled and his eyes looked hard and angry.
"What's wrong?" she asked while placing her hand on his chest and felt his heart slamming against the palms of her hand. He brushed her hand away when he stood back and she noticed he was trying not to strike her. His eyes were cold as she saw him biting his lower lip to stop it from trembling and he scrunched up his nose.
"You lied to me," he snarled and she gave him a confused look.
"I have never lied to you."
"Everything out of your mouth has been a lie!"
"I don't understand. Where have you been?"
"I went to talk with your father."
'Why?"
"I wanted him to verify everything you told me about this friend of yours."
"That friend is you," she said as she tried to come closer, but he moved back and held his hands out.
"No," he said with a shake of his head and she felt tears coming to her eyes.
"What did he tell you?"
"That is none of your business," he said as he waved his hands and she vanished in a puff of purple smoke then appeared in a dark, damp cell. She ran to the iron door when she banged on the iron door and found the door was locked.
"No! Please, let me out!" she shouted and sank to the floor. She felt the cold air coming from the small windows above her as she lowered her head and cried.
The dining hall
Anger bubbled inside him as Rumple stood at the center of the room and breathed hard and fast through his nose. His mind replayed their dance, but he didn't want to see it. He wanted to banish all thoughts of their relationship from his mind as he closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists.
"Don't," a familiar voice said and he opened his eyes. No one was in the room as he felt his heart slamming in his chest and tears threatened to fall.
"Leave me alone," he shouted while spinning around in a circle and looked up at the ceiling.
"I don't understand why you are angry."
"She lied to me!"
"You know full well she didn't."
"I am not who she thinks I am! I am a monster!"
"Now who's lying?" the voice asked as a laugh filled the air and he growled. "Don't you care that she loves you?!"
"No one could ever ever love me!"
"Liar," the voice said in a sing song tone and Rumple stormed to the white wood cabinets when he picked up the black wood cane and roared. He smashed the black wood cane against the glass as he smashed everything in the white wood cabinets then dropped the black wood cane onto the floor. He placed his hands against the shelf as he lowered his head and breathed hard and fast through his nose. He tried to calm down. He wanted to calm down. His heart was slamming in his chest and the anger, betrayal insecurities and pain grew to the point where he thought his soul would shatter. He moved back then opened the doors of the white wood cabinet on the left and picked up the china teacup. Roaring, he threw the chine teacup as the chine teacup shattered on the floor and he picked up another china teacup. He tossed one china teacup after another until the only china teacup let was the chipped one and he held the chipped china teacup tightly in his hand. "Go on. Toss it. Break the one thing that represents your love for her."
"No," he said as he walked to the pedestal with a gold goblet on top and placed the gold goblet on the floor. He gently placed the chipped china teacup on the pedestal then stood back and looked at the chipped china teacup. He sniffed when he waved his hand when the destroyed china teacups were restored and placed in the white wood china cabinet and the door closed. He walked to the black wood couch when he sat down and placed his head in his hands.
"Feel better?" the voice asked and he looked up.
"Go away," he growled then went into his right side and looked at the red cushion. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he sniffed, but didn't hear the door closing or the sound of a wood clicking on the marble flooring
Hours later
Belle woke to find she was still in the cell as she brushed the hair out of her eyes and sat up. She got up when she slowly walked to the iron door and was surprised to find the door was unlocked. Carefully, she opened the door when she walked down the stone hallway and slowly went up the stairs. She felt her stomach growling as she opened the door to the main hall and looked out, seeing no one around. She walked to the doors to the dining hall when she slowly opened the door on the left and looked inside the room. Rumple was lying on the black wood couch with red cushions as she slowly walked in the room and headed for the black wood couch. He was facing the wall with his legs curled up and she heard a low sniff. She knelt down when she reached over and gently stroked his hair. He didn't move as he looked at the red cushion and she brushed some hair behind his ear.
"I didn't lie to you," she whispered and he sniffed then rolled over onto his back to look at her. The rims of his eyes were red from crying and she brushed some hair out of his eyes.
"You're lying now," he said and she placed her hand on his chest.
"Well, you're rude," she said and he looked angry at her. "You are rude and childish. You throw tantrums, you don't listen and you think only you are the only one who is allowed to get angry."
"Are you finished?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes. Now tell me. Why did you go to see my father?" she asked and took his hand, wrapping their fingers together.
"I had to make sure what you told me was the truth."
"Why? Don't you trust me?"
"I'm not sure."
"What did he tell you?"
"He confirmed what you told me. He also said he thought of me as a brother, that Marcus thought of me as an uncle and mentor and that…that he would have allowed us to marry if he hadn't needed help."
"He said that?"
"Yes, but only after I told him I thought you and I were just friends. He told me we were more than that."
"We are."
"Why didn't you tell me? Was it because all I am is a crippled spinner and a coward?" he asked and anger filled her eyes.
"You know damn well my father and Major Cole restored your reputation by telling people what really happened. You also know your aunts or people of your village never believed the rumors to begin with. And you having a lame leg or you being a spinner never mattered."
"Is it because I'm older than you are?"
"Well, seeing my father is much old than my mother when they were married, no, that never bothered me," she said with a small smile.
"It bothered me until I realized we're now the same age,' he said and gave her a small smile.
"You're right. But why didn't you tell me how you felt?"
Rumple did feel like a child as he held her hand to his chest and gently rubbed his thumb against her knuckles. She felt the gentle rise and fall of his chest while waiting for his answer and he looked at the ceiling. He pondered his words, but everything came back to one thing and he closed his eyes, sighed then opened his eyes again.
"It wasn't proper. You are a lady and I'm nothing," he said while looking at her and she smiled, shaking her head.
"You are not."
"Someone like you couldn't love someone like me."
"Now who is lying?" she asked with a grin and he sat up. She got up then sat down and he curled back onto the black wood couch, placing his head in her lap. She gently stroked his hair as he closed his eyes and felt all the anger inside him melting away. She loved how soft and silky his hair felt and how relaxed he looked. Sighing, he opened his eyes and placed his hands on his stomach.
"Gaston wasn't in the dungeon," he said and she stopped stroking his hair, frowning.
"He wasn't?" she asked and he shook his head. "But that's impossible."
"Well, your father took me to see him and the cell was empty," Rumple said and sat up.
"We need to go see my father," Belle said as she got up and he looked up at her. Standing up, he wrapped his arms around her as she placed her hands against his chest and he moved her against him.
"How did you get out of the cell?" he asked and she looked at him.
"You unlocked the door."
"No, I didn't."
"You must have."
"I was up here the whole time."
"Then I guess someone knew you needed time to calm down and let me out," Belle said as he sighed when a purple smoke enveloped them then faded. Neither of them noticed the door slowly closing as the sound of wood clicking on the marble floor echoed down the hallway and a soft laugh filled the air.
Avonlea
Maurice stood near the window as he watched the guards riding off when he felt like he was being watched and turned around, seeing the purple smoke materializing in the center of the room. Rumple let go of Belle as she smiled at him and he brushed some hair behind her right ear.
"Belle, are you alright?" Maurice asked as he half ran to them and gently pulled her away from Rumple. "Has he harmed you?"
"Father, please, he would never harm me," she said as she moved away and Rumple took her hand, lowering his head.
"I do apologize for my behavior earlier," Rumple said and Belle squeezed his fingers.
"Well, I was as surprised as you were," Maurice said when the door opened and Chip came in the room. Rumple placed the hood up as Chip walked closer and stood next to Maurice.
"Milaird, what is that doing here?" Chip asked as he sneered at Rumple and Belle walked closer.
"This isn't what appears," she said and looked at Rumple. "Come here."
"I am fine where I am, Dearie," Rumple teased while holding up his hands in surrender and she smiled.
"Please come here," she said as she held her hand out and he walked closer. He didn't know how his former apprentice would react seeing him as he sighed and stood next to her. She gently turned him to face her when she reached for the hood and he shook his head. Nodding, she slid her hands inside the hood and slowly lowered the hood. He lowered his head so his hair covered most of his face then she lifted his chin and went forehead to forehead with him. "Go on."
Rumple slowly brushed his hair back when he looked at Chip and Chip's eyes went wide.
"What sort of trick is this?" Chip demanded as he drew his sword and pointed the sword at Rumple.
"It is no trick," Rumple said and waved his hand, making the sword disappear. The sword reappeared on the table and Chip looked at Rumple.
"But… But…You can't be… You…," Chip stammered then balled his hands into fists. Ten years of anger bubbled inside him, but one thing roared through his mind. He needed to know why his mentor left. "Why did you leave?"
"I was ashamed about what happened. I know it is a poor excuse, but it's the truth. Now, is it true you wanted to come with me?"
"Yes," Chip growled as tears rolled down his cheeks and Rumple felt his heart cracking. Walking closer, Rumple wrapped his arms around his former apprentice while Chip buried his face in Rumple's neck and held him. Rumple let him cry until he calmed down then moved him back and sadly smiled at him. "Lady Belle told me you'd come home someday, but I never thought you'd come home looking like this. How did this happen?"
"That's a story for another day, Dearie," Rumple said as Chip smiled and Rumple saw the chipped tooth was gone. Smiling, he shook his head then looked at Maurice. "Has there been any word on Gaston?"
"No, we have searched the castle, but have no idea how he got out the cell or where he is," Maurice said.
"We need to go to his cell. There might be some clues there," Rumple said as he took Belle's hand and headed for the door. A few minutes later they were walking down the stone hallway then stopped at the cell door and the guards looked from Rumple to Maurice and Rumple held tightly onto Belle's hand. "Move aside."
Maurice nodded his head as the guards moved back and Maurice unlocked the door. Walking inside the cell, they looked around when Rumple felt something lingering in the air and held his hands up.
"What's wrong?" Belle asked as she walked to stand beside him and he closed his eyes. A purple light shimmered on his hands as he moved his hands in small circles and a black light shimmered around the purple light.
"This is a very old magic," he whispered as he opened his eyes and lowered his hands.
"Someone used magic to free him?" Maurice asked while walking closer and Rumple nodded his head. They watched him walk around the room as he held his hands up and his hands shimmered in a purple light. He seemed to be focusing on something as Belle smiled and admitted she liked seeing him using his power. He looked so confident and self-assured as he walked to the center of the cell and looked down.
"He was here when he was changed,' Rumple said and frowned.
"What do you mean by changed?" Belle asked.
"I am not sure, but whatever changed him used Dark Magic."
"You mean we're not dealing with someone human?" Maurice asked.
"Yes, that is exactly what he's saying," a familiar voice said when they turned to the door and saw the healer standing in the doorway. The black wood staff clicked on the stone as he walked closer and stood in front of Rumple. "Calmed down, have you?"
"Yes," Rumple said and the healer patted his shoulder. Rumple wonder how he knew he had been upset then realized who let Belle out of the cell and frowned. "You were in my castle."
"Yes, I was," the healer said as he walked by him and looked around the cell.
"How were you able to get in? My charms, runes and spells…"
"I have my ways. Now, be a good imp and be silent," the healer said as the guards looked at each other and were stunned that anyone would talk to the Dark One in such a manner. The healer stopped near Rumple when he held tightly onto the black wood staff and sighed. "Well, this isn't good."
"Do you know what sort of demon magic we're dealing with?" Maurice asked and the healer softly laughed.
"This isn't demon magic. It is fey magic," the healer corrected, holding up a gnarled finger.
"The fey took him?" Belle asked.
"Yes, but what we are dealing with is one of the dark fey."
"Why would the dark fey want Gaston?" Maurice asked.
"My best guess is she has found her Winter Knight," the healer said and they frowned.
"You sound like you have dealt with this dark fey before, Dearie," Rumple said.
"I have run into her a few times," the healer sighed then looked at Rumple. "And so have you."
"I have?" Rumple asked, scrunching up his nose and looked confused.
"How else could you have come here from the past?" the healer asked and Rumple's eyes went wide. The only ones who knew he came from the past were Belle, Maurice and Major Cole and Chip frowned.
"What is he talking about?" Chip asked.
"Do you remember my stories about the Ogre War?" Rumple asked and Chip nodded. "The brave spinner in those stories was me."
"But that was over twenty years ago," Chip said, getting confused.
"Ah, yes, it was. What no one knows is there was one soldier who was branded a deserter and a coward, but never was seen again. Or so the stories go. Some said he ran off. Some said he was killed then buried somewhere else. In actuality, he was sent forward in time by a dark fey," the healer said and Rumple frowned, tilting his head to one side.
"Why would she do that?" Belle asked.
"It had to do with his bloodline."
"Was he a royal" Chip asked.
"No, his bloodline stemmed from magic."
"He is a sorcerer?"
"Yes," the healer said with a nod of his head then looked at Rumple. "You are a child of the Merlin."
"I am?" Rumple asked with wide eyes.
"Yes," the healer said with a smile.
"How do you know this?" Maurice asked. The healer softly laughed when he let go of the black wood staff and a black smoke moved around him. The black smoke covered him while Rumple held onto Belle and Chip and the guards drew their swords. The black smoke faded as they looked at a tall man with a lean, but muscular build and he was wearing a long sleeve black linen tunic, a black leather belt, black leather trousers and black leather ankle boots. His long brown hair floated around his shoulders and the light shimmered in his brown eyes. He had a handsome face with flawless features and he smiled a crooked smile.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the healer said with a small bow. "I am Merlin."