Belle ties down the last trunk on to the horse drawn cart, she checks the knots again to be sure it was nearly time to go, she ties on her green cloak she heads to the front of the cart patting the horse "hey there, ready?" she smiles as the horse bows it's head with a small huff, she notes the apples on the wall "of course" she gets to the wall feeling a little sick, lugging around cases and not having breakfast was not helping her well being.
She gives the apple to the horse who nibbles it up in one go, she gives him a pat noting the people starting to gather "here we go"
She jumps up onto a nearby wall waiting for everyone to gather, she notes Nala gathered with others who were staying behind Jefferson was turning his hat in his hand nerves getting to him, Belle claps three times to get everyone's attention.
"Right it should only take an hour to get to our destination at a good pace, just keep together and keep moving everything will be back to normal soon, lets go"
She steps down noting Jefferson kissing Priscilla's head she was crying rubbing her stomach, Granny was near by ready to lead her to the carriage rubbing her shoulder in comfort.
Belle walks to Nala "are you sure about staying?" Nala looks back to her group all women from her clan "of course we are made for battle, we will come and get you guys back home before you know it" they hug tightly and Nala whispers "I will watch out for him" Belle nods in thanks.
She had not gone back home last night she was still a little angry at him for speaking like that. Rafiki walks to Belle tapping her shoulder hinting it was time, everyone was lined up ready watching her, she looked to her fathers grave taking a deep breath, she holds her head high as she walks to the carriage but notes her front door open she slows to a halt to see him clearly.
Others noted her eye line Rumple walks down the steps his dark skin glimmers lightly against the sunlight, he was back to normal she had stopped now he walks to her some people where whispering she bows her head shutting out their voices out.
"My lord we are heading out now" He hated this cold front she was putting up his eyes cast over the line quickly then to her noting her necklace was tucked in today when normally it would be for all to see, he pulls his out from under his shirt letting it show
"I am sick of hiding from you Belle"
he pulls at the necklace string around her neck putting it on show "when you come back I want to start again, to give you the forever you deserve, to tell you everything" she searches his eyes he takes her hands in his holding them together "I want to do things properly" she smiles a small warmth pools in her stomach "would you like that?"
Her voice cracks a little "yes" he smiles kissing her on the lips not really caring for the forty odd eyes gawking at them he stokes her cheek he puts up her hood and points to the door.
"Now go"
Belle climbs on to the cart it pulls away and the people follow, Jefferson comes to Rumple's side noting a small trickle of sweat fall down his forehead, the gates where closed behind the people.
Rumple breathes out heavy as his skin snaps back to human again Nala comes forward "you tricked her? You tricked them all!" Rumple rubs the heat from his forehead slightly gasping "I needed to, she needs to go knowing everything will be fine"
He holds his chest in pain Jefferson gets his arm under his shoulder to support him seeing blood starting to stain his shirt again "it's not getting better is it?" Rumple eyes were heavy "it will but when is the question" a raven lands in front of them squawking "ohh" Rumple grins.
Priscilla had sobbed the whole way fearful for her husband, Belle sees the cabin ahead she stops the cart near by the road facing back the way they came she helps Priscilla down and they head inside as others start to put up tents and shade lucky it was summer. Peter and Neil follow in after Belle all where in awe the place was full of book cases wall to wall, it smelt of parchment a blush creeps across her face she could clearly smell his scent a mix of herbs and spices.
Belle looks to the men "get everyone settled and clear some space in here for the elderly, I'm going to get Priscilla upstairs for some rest" with a nod they were gone she leads the weak woman up the stairs to the next floor which was all open like downstairs she helps her to the bed "rest now"
It was night everyone had just about squeezed into the cabin, Belle was brushing down the horse in the stable who was in good spirits, she chuckles at him as he bobs his head happy to be free of the reins and saddle "much better eh?"
Belle feels sightly sick for a moment and pause to catch her breath she turns to the door to be faced with Gaston, she froze in her tracks he grins at her "good evening Belle" she smiles falsely at him "Gaston we wondered were you went"
He chuckles darkly unnerving her "Lets just skip to the part where I say its time to go home and fix what we have Belle have the life we are supposed to, the Dark One is done it's time to stop this fighting" Belle looks to him unconvinced "please Gaston what ever mess you are in we can fix it"
Gaston puts his hand in his pocket pulling out a blue ribbon and the remains of the jet shard attached to it, her face drops "what did you do?" He grins and then she didn't want to hear the answer she felt sick "we sent him a present and, he must have thought it was from those people in the North he was asking after" he laughs cruelly.
Belle runs a finger across the stable door "so you don't know if he is dead?" Gaston realized she had just called his bluff about the Dark One, she rips open the gate holding the horse back he had never like Gaston rearing up towards him shooing with his hooves.
She barrelled though the back door shouting at the men getting a fire ready "Is everyone inside?" the men nod all turn to the stable as Gaston scrambles out being chased by the horse who was trying to stamp his hooves on him. Belle clasps her necklace "Rumple"
Rumple reads the note in his hand while sat on a beer barrel he looks at the vile that was attached to it, he pulls out the cork bringing it to his lips but he stops looking around which catches Nala's eye, he looks confused "Belle?"
He calms to drink again but instead stands looking around, Jefferson had noted the behaviour too, then Rumple turns he attention back to the bottle his eye brow raises in realization and throws it in to a wall.
"have you lost your mind?" Jefferson and Nala close the gap now "its a glass vile they don't have glass in their village" smoke starts to come off the wall as it starts to melt Nala gasped, her awareness heighten and uses her staff to deflect an arrow Jefferson and Rumple run for cover as more arrows fall.
Belle clutches her necklace "it's poison Rumple don't drink it" she looks up to see a woman with stood with a couple for men behind her holding a blade with the end chipped off, Belle starts to back away "we only want to talk" Belle ran back towards the cabin Ruby and Peter waiting at the door for her she pulls out the parchment Rumple had given her. The woman behind her barks out her orders "get her then!"
Belle turns on the porch and starts to read the writing on the parchment a gold shear comes down over the cabin a man runs into the sealed barrier hitting him back a few meters, Shenzi bends over in laughter pointing at her colleague writhing on the floor "ah! Did you see that! He flew!" The other two men laughing with her, Gaston approaches wiping dirt off his shirt Shenzi points her dagger at Belle "very nice spell girl, you must be the one we are looking for, get out here!"
-Note from the author- A young woman clad in a dark grey cloak kneels in front of the monk in brown robes with his hood up her voice soft her eyes cast down - Love Croc-
"forgive me father for I have sinned"
the man nods as her eyes cast up to him slits like a reptiles mostly green of shading
"I created something, a story of sorts which was to entertain and bring joy"
She sighs her shoulders shrug in defeat opening her hands
"but I have a writers block it's a nightmare plus my job and.."
the man raises his hand
"No one likes excuses deary, you what you need to do so get on with it"
She stands heading to the door
"To those who have been following from the begging I apologize for this long time to update the story but its been a busy time for me but no more I will finish what I started"