Victor wandered through Godswood quietly, listening to the sound of a gentle breeze dancing through the trees, the mortals that came to give offerings never noticed the trees moving but the Gods did, the Nymphs did, it wasn't so much seeing them move as feeling it, hearing the roots stretch out in search of a new home. It was said that Godswood had once been a regular forest of lush green trees and dark soil but when Kyra had created Pan and cast him to the realm, the moment his feet touched the ground magic bled into the land changing it.
The God of Healing and Medicine had never really liked Pan, in truth they'd hardly known each other since Pan had always been so high and mighty sitting on his throne giving orders to everyone else. Victor was one of the first Gods after Pan, Msiddi and Rumple. Killian had come first followed by Ruel Ghorm and then Mulan, of course after the Goddess of War had been born – which had been very early on – mortals needed Victor to heal them. Dorothy had been next and soon after animals had started being hunted to extinction Robin and Ruby had been born; they'd come into existence at almost the same moment leading some to refer to them as the twin Gods.
His feet carried him through Godswood as the often did when he'd come to his wits end with the Upperworld. He'd never supported the new King and Queen, Rumpelstiltskin was to be King by right and he would have been good at it. However, Msiddi then died and everything got turned on it's head, rather that realise who the real monster was they just saw Rumple as Death, Snow and her blind justice had seen the golden scales, the un-natural – even for Gods – eyes and leapt into action.
The High-Gods went on about never changing fate, chance or freewill for mortals but they didn't seem to care when it came to the lives of the Gods. Some days Victor thought he acted like a spoilt child, sophomoric, while others he wished he'd been banished along with Rumpelstiltskin. The amount of drama that went on around that table was like one of the mortals stage performances.
His mind returned to the world around him when Victor's blue eyes saw a familiar pair of dark leather boots, as he made his way closer – fully buttoned green coat swishing somewhat in the cool breeze – the blonde saw the rest of Jefferson laying comfortably on a pile of red leaves.
"There you are, I thought you'd be here." Said Victor as he came to a halt by the Nymph's legs.
"And to prove it I'm here." Jefferson grinned.
Victor always felt better after hearing Jefferson's voice, the blonde sat down beside him and leaned his head on the Nymph of travel's shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
"Rumple has allowed Belle to continue bringing Avonlea's offerings." Replied the God as he looked up at The Tower not to far away.
"It's important to Belle, of course he let her. Rumple has taken a liking to our young Princess."
With that Jefferson leaned over and brushed Victor's lips with his own in a loving kiss, the two men shuffled closer and let their hands lace together, they'd been together as long as they or anyone else could remember and would continue to be.
"I missed you." Said Victor when they separated for air. "Where have you been all morning?"
"Rumple asked me to go to Avonlea and tell King Maurice that Belle would continue the offerings. He was pleased for his Kingdom but asked so many questions about her."
"A Father will always worry, you should know that better than most. And let's not talk about Rumple, I feel like all the Upperworld has done since their deal is talk and complain about him."
"Then what do you want to talk about, Victor?" Jefferson asked with a sultry smile.
"How about nothing?"
Jefferson was practically on top of his lover seconds later, straddling the man he loved as their lips locked again. Jefferson tasted sweet just like he always did and Victor found himself melting into the other man. The blonde's hands came up to pin Jefferson's writs to the crimson soil.
"The others still don't approve of you being with a Nymph do they?" Jefferson asked almost absent-mindedly.
"Do I look like I care?"
The Nymph just laughed at that and let his lips return to Victor's.
XXXX
Sir Gaston had been – for lack of a better term – viciously abusing the training dummies for the better part of an hour, had they been real people they'd have been dead many times over. It was all muscle memory of course, his brain was too preoccupied with finding a way into Godswood, getting Belle back and becoming King. Gaston was determined. The strange but powerful Oz had given him the orb map and he remembered what the wizard had said, only a Nymph, God or Mermaid could enter Godswood freely. He'd never get a God to help him but that didn't mean he didn't stand a chance of getting a Nymph or Mermaid, he could trap one somehow, but precisely how he'd go about that Gaston didn't know. He possessed no magic of his own and the Wizard of Oz had already taken his blood, maybe he could convince Maurice to have his men search for a sorcerer or sorceress who could. Gaston had the map now, he was halfway there.
Since Belle had left Maurice had been volatile, knew he shouldn't be but the anger kept bubbling to the surface, over flowing at times. The Kingdom understood just how much pressure he was under but some of his outbursts had been cruel.
Gaston left the half destroyed training dummies and made his way forcefully into the castle and down the long stone hallways towards the War Room where Maurice had been spending most of his time, Gaston assumed that was because Maurice felt closer to Belle there. Gaston knew he'd be a better King, he'd actually use all that power rather than pathetically snapping at the servants and hiding in the castle. When he reached to push the War Room door open it was suddenly yanked back letting the Nymph known as Jefferson exit, he flashed a smile at the knight before striding off down the hall; Gaston saw him pull his top hat off but never saw what he did with it since he shut the door behind him.
Maurice was sat in his high-backed chair looking rather relieved but there was still a glint of anger and worry in his eyes.
"Are you alright, Sire?" Gaston asked feigning concern. "What was the Nymph doing here?"
Maurice took a breath. "He said the Dark One sent him to tell me Belle has been allowed to resume taking our Kingdom's offerings to the Gods.
"Surly this is Good news, My Lord." Also means I might not have to get into the Underworld to bring Belle back.
"Yes but-" The King left the sentence open, he knew he should have been leading his people not sulking.
"My Lord, I have discovered a way to save the Princess."
Before Gaston could say anything else Maurice had shot to his feet and was at the Knight's side, tired eyes full of curiosity and concern.
"How?!" He all but commanded.
Gaston had to back up a step or two when the aged King invaded his space.
"I spoke to the Wizard of Oz and he gave me a map to The Tower Belle spoke of, we can find her and bring back the Princess."
"Then do it! Find my daughter, Gaston!"
"I will, Your Majesty, but first we need a way into Godswood-" Maurice cut the younger man off abruptly.
"Then find a way! Bring me back my daughter from that monster!"
Gaston was forced to back up further when the King tried to occupy the same space, his breath smelt faintly of wine and for a moment Gaston actually feared what Maurice would do; that quickly passed and the Knight was never going to admit that of course.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
XXXX
There was a pause in the King's tale and Alistair chose that moment to look up at Maurice with confusion, despite his young age the boy hidden under his mop of blonde hair was mature beyond his years; oh how it reminded the old King of Belle.
"If you knew Sir Gaston only wanted Avonlea why did you let him do all that?" He'd grown comfortable around the King since the tale had begun.
"You have to understand, Alistair, at the time I had no idea of Gaston's true intentions. Even if I had I'd have I would have let him carry on."
Alistair cuddled Aidan closer as he wriggled in his seat.
"Why?"
"Because back then all I wanted was my daughter back, I didn't care how." Maurice cleared his throat. "I was neglecting Avonlea and only focusing on the horror Belle must have been enduring."
"But Gaston must have gotten Princess Belle back. Mama says she sees her in the castle sometimes."
"Not quite, Alistair." Th King glanced out the library window and smiled at the gentle sun, it looked peaceful just as Belle wanted. "It's such a beautiful day, shall we continue the story outside?"
Alistair nodded happily. It didn't take long to rise and make their way through the castle and out into the gardens, the land was bursting with life, colorful and vibrant flowers in varing shades of red, yellow and pink. Maurice's two guards, Hugh and Marcus, followed along a few feet behind.
"Sire, what happened to Gaston?"
Maurice smiled at the inquisitive child walking by his side.
"I'll tell you at the end of the tale, don't want to ruin the plot."
The King took a breath to continue the story but he found himself falling silent when the boy spoke again.
"What is it like being King? My sisters play Princess' all the time and I have to be a Prince."
"Let me guess, they make you wait on them hand and foot?" It wasn't exactly a question but Maurice still phrased it as one. The boy nodded. "Being King is not about fun, dear boy, it's about being able to make the hard decisions and do what is best for ones people." He paused for a moment and turned to face young Alistair. "Sometimes it's fun though, just fleeing the castle for a short while and riding a steed off into the woods, I did that a lot in my youth. Belle goes to the library like her Mother. What do you do for fun?"
"Play soldier!" Alistair beamed.
"And what do you want to be when you grow up? Be a Knight?"
Suddenly the blonde's face dropped growing sad as the doll was pulled closer to his chest.
"My sisters say peasants can't be Knights." The boy mumbled.
"Alistair, normally you'd be correct but I am the King remember? If I say you can be a knight then you can." That grin returned to the young boy and Maurice felt his heart swell having been the cause of the boy's happiness. "Sir Alistair, it's got a nice ring to it don't you think? Now, Sir Alistair the brave, I think I have a story to finish."
The two turned and continued along the garden path.