Regina strolled through the main hall in Dark Castle. Her menacing gaze leaving no item or trinket untouched, her spike heeled boots producing a scraping click sound that echoed through the large expanse of the room as she prodded through the various magical objects on display. She was searching for the source of Rumplestiltskin's power.
"My Queen, we have found the potions room, it's in the west tower." the queen whipped her head around at the news, He long ebony hair swept up high on her head, leaving a single tail of hair drapped across her shoulder as she turned to face the guard. "Search, find me his sword, bring it to the tower."
As she climbed the stairs to Rumple's spell room she gloated to herself. "No more boasting of your great power now, is there imp." She smiled as she reached the massive doors, pushing them open with ease. The large room reveled books of various kinds sprawled everywhere and large cabinets full of bottles of spells and potions. She opened the first cabinet with decorated glass doors, taking stock of thier contents. A few of the bottles she confiscated, she sauntered about the room gliding past the wooden trunk in the corner, growing impatient with each passing second. Her insanity blinding her to what was right before her very eyes. "GUARDS, WHERE IS THAT SWORD!" The few men that ecsorted her up to the tower had found no trace of any magical sword. The Queen flew into a rage."I thought he must have it here, he MUST!" She howled out her frustration as she began sweeping vials of potions off the shelves, sending them crashing to the stone floor, shattering the glass so that thier ingredients comingled, causing potient fumes to rise in the air around her. The guards began choking as the air filled with thier poison, they fled the room. Regina continued her destruction of the tower with glee backing up to the entrance admiring her handiwork. She stretched out her hand and with a spark of energy shooting from her fingertips, smoke and flame began to overtake the room.
Gaston went to find Regina and spied her desending the stairs in the west wing of the castle. The guards were plundering through the rooms, taking whatever they could find as Gaston made his way to her. " You said the castle was mine, what are you doing, tell these men to stand down." He could feel writhing anger as he watched a satisfied smile creep across her face.
"Is- is that smoke?' Gaston yelled, as billows of hot air came flowing down from the top of the tower. "Oh, the castle IS yours, Sir Gaston" the Queen bowed to him, laughing. "It's yours and your lovely queen to be, Enjoy!" The Queen spread her hands in the air, as sparkes flew to the heavy curtains and tapestries, igniting into tongues of flame. The Queen headed for the outer courtyard, her intentions for Dark Castle as a tomb for her nemises becoming clear to Gaston. She may not have retrieved his sword, so she resolved to put an end to him one way or another, she would start with burning him alive in his own abode, Maybe that would rid her of him, it didn't hurt to try.
Gaston watched with astonishment as Regina and her guards abandoned him to the flames. He retreated back to the dungeons, he had to claim Belle, she was his link to King Maurice. If he returned her to her father, he thought, his place as her rightful husband and Lord over all the land was assured.
Belle beat against her cell doors, screaming for Gaston to release her. she had no idea what could be happening to Rumple at the hands of that insane woman. Gaston reached the dungeons and hurridly unlocked the door to the cell. " Come Belle" He said as he began to pull her toward the exit, "We must leave now, I'll take you to your father."
"NO, let me go, I'm not going anywhere" Belle fought him, kicking and screaming out Rumple's name. "Your not staying here" Gaston held her up against the wall, trying to calm her down. "You will be my Queen Belle, do you hear me , I would kill you rather than see you with that monster." He grabbed her sharply around the throat, holding her head back painfully. "You will not cost me my crown, I will not let this thing happen, either you come with me now, or die, what will it be Belle?"
Tears slid down Belle's cheeks as she desperatly tried to remove his iron grip from around her neck. "Please, at least let me say goodbye" she managed to choke out. "Please Gaston" she whispered, she relaxed in his grip so that Gaston backed off from her, releasing his grip. "Fine, but it will do you no good, he's dead so be swift about it, there is no time." Gaston scowled, very aware of what was transpiring above them, while Belle was ignorant of what was going on in the castle.
Gaston opened the door to Rumplestiltskin's prison, and steping back, allowed Belle entrance. She turned to Gaston, "Please, let me say goodbye, alone, I won't be long." "I'll wait in the hall" Gaston stomped out , "Be quick" he muttered as he turned and left.
Belle pulled the cell door closed . She fell on her knees by the crumpled form of Rumple lying on his side . Tears ran like two rivers down her cheeks as she rolled him onto his back, he looked like death. She felt for a heartbeat...nothing.
"Rum, can you hear me?" She put her head on his chest as her little body shook with sobs. "Come back to me Rumplestiltskin" Belle wailed out her grief. She pushed his hair back from his face where it had fallen across his eyes. She rubbed her thumb softly across his bottom lip, it still felt warm somehow. She cupped his cheek, feeling for any sign of life, she could find none, he was simply gone.
"I love you Rumple, did you know that?" she whispered. "No matter what happens, that will never change." Her lips trembled at the words escaping her mouth. "Fight this, I want you to fight, do you hear?" she grabbed his shoulders and shook him...nothing, he just lay there, lost in oblivion.
Belle grew quiet, accepting that she had done all she could and knowing in her heart that this would be the last time, leant down and pressed her warm, little mouth to his.
Rumple could hear a heartbeat, he wasn't sure if it was his or not, but as it continued, everything seemed to get faster and faster, comming in waves of the sound of blood once again coursing through his body. Flashes of white and brown danced behind closed eyelids, then a large inhale of breath shook his body. Belle jumped back at the action then she began shaking Rumple, begging him to open his eyes.
Rumple coughed as his senses returned. His eyes fluttered open as he reached for Belle's hand. "Calm yourself dearie, I'm here" he managed to say. Fresh tears, although these were of joy instead of deep anguish welled in Belle's eyes as she cradled his head.
"Gaston is outside Rum" Belle began, "I don't know where the Queen is or what else is happening, but he is taking me back to my father, I need you to see if you can get up." Belle tried to help him in a sitting position. Rumple was a bit shaky but quickly got to his feet. He could smell smoke in the air and imedietaly knew what Regina intended to do.
"Belle listen to me" Rumple cupped her face in his hands. "Call for Gaston, have him come in here, do you understand, don't be frightened, make him enter this room." Rumple was weak from the poison, any unnessacery magic could drain him to exhaustion. he placed a light kiss on Belle's forehead as she nodded. he spotted a rotting table in the corner of the room and he ripped the leg from it, intending to use it as a weapon. He stood behind the door as he nodded to Belle.
"Gaston" Belle cried, "Help me, I've fallen, Please come in here, I've hurt my ankle." Gaston rolled his eyes at her words,"Clumsy little bitch" he mumbled as he stomped into the room. He walked toward the center of the room, noticing that the body of Rumplestiltskin no longer lay on the floor. As he advanced on Belle He reached out to grab her shoulder, he heard the door swing closed, He turned as Rumple approached him from behind.