Never in his life had Rumplestiltskin felt more like the poor spinner he was before becoming the Dark One. Never had he felt more helpless and lost than he did at that moment. He had given up hope. He had lost Bae and now Belle. He had lost everything he ever loved. He was a broken man doomed to be a slave for all eternity.
A shiver went down his spine when he heard footsteps approaching. He assumed it was Maurice or the guards returning to do more damage, but he was wrong.
"The chains look good on you Rumple, you should ditch the leather," sneered Regina as she appeared from the dungeon hallway. She had sent the guards away, so the two were alone.
"What do you want Regina?" Rumplestiltskin asked without looking at her.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't come visit? I'm hurt Rumple, that you don't want to see me," Regina made a mocking face as if she was really upset.
"State your business."
"You shoulda taken me up on my offer. We could have ruled the world as the two most powerful sorcerers. Now I guess I'll just have to do it by myself."
"You'll never be more powerful than me. Even when you get the dagger, it will be my power you're using not yours."
Regina bent her body toward him, "Well at least I'll get the pleasure of watching you suffer."
"Go ahead do your worst. It's not like Maurice hasn't already done plenty."
"Oh I'm not going to lay a hand on you. That's too easy." Regina let out a bellowing cruel laugh that echoed through the dungeon.
Rumplestiltskin suddenly knew the meaning of her words, "Leave. Belle. Alone."
Regina ignored him, "That poor girl…I hope Gaston isn't too rough." She talked as if she actually cared.
"WHAT?!" Rumplestiltskin tried to lunge forward, but the shackles prevented it.
Regina's voice went back to being sinister, "You broke our deal Rumple. Now the two of you will pay the price. I told you I would make your lives hell. I only wish I could make you watch," she paused and looked up to the ceiling, "Oh wait, I can." Regina flicked her hand, and a small handheld mirror appeared.
She held it out for him, "Take it."
He glared at her, "No."
"If you don't take it, and watch, I'll kill her."
Rumplestiltskin stared at her for a minute trying to judge if she was telling the truth.
"You know I will Rumple, now take it."
Hesitantly he reached out and grabbed the mirror.
It revealed a perfect view of Belle's room. He watched as she came in through the secret door carrying something wrapped in silk. She seemed almost happy and his heart sank. 'She was so devastated when she left, now all of a sudden she's happy?' It was confusing to him.
When Belle returned to her room, she saw it was daybreak. She must've been in the tunnels longer than she thought, but she really didn't care. She had found it! The dagger that controls Rumplestiltskin. She could barely contain her glee. She couldn't wait to get back to the dungeon to tell him. Now they could leave all this behind and be together.
She placed the dagger on her bed, and grabbed a back satchel to pack her things.
'At least she's leaving like I told her to…run Belle…hurry before it's too late…' Rumplestiltskin thought. He was hoping Belle would get out before Gaston arrived.
Belle pulled a couple of dresses from her closet, ones that would make travel easy. She was already wearing her favorite blue dress. She grabbed a few books, the ones that were her favorites and belonged to her mother. The scarf Rumplestiltskin had made and given her was thrown over the chair by the fireplace. She picked it up and placed it around her neck. She was gathering a few other essentials: blankets, undergarments, etc. when there was a knock at the door.
'Oh no…'
Belle was worried. She suspected it to be her father; after all he would be coming for her. 'Or perhaps he knows the dagger is missing…but it hasn't been very long…'
She dashed over to her bed and stashed the dagger under her pillow. Then, she slowly made her way over to the door and creaked it open. She breathed a sort of sigh of relief, but was surprised all the same, "Gaston...what a pleasant…surprise."
"How did he get here so fast?" Rumplestiltskin asked Regina.
Regina rolled her eyes, "Oh Rumple, you underestimate me."
"Belle, were you expecting someone else? You seem frightened," Gaston said.
"No, I wasn't expecting anyone. What are you doing here?"
"I just came to visit my fiancée. May I come in?"
Belle was rather hesitant to let Gaston into her room. It was her personal space, and she had no desire to share it with him. However, she failed to come up with a good excuse and moved aside to allow him entry. She couldn't let on that she was about to leave or her father or Gaston might stop her. She pointed to the two chairs sitting beside the fireplace, "Have a seat?"
Gaston nodded and strolled over to one of the chairs. Belle sat opposite to him. She had her hands in her lap and twiddled her thumbs. She kept her gaze on her lap. There was a moment of awkward silence. Belle was very uncomfortable. She could tell Gaston wanted something, but she couldn't figure out what it was.
'Belle…RUN!'
Gaston stood up and looked at the books that filled Belle's room, "You have a lot of books I see."
"Oh yes I love to read."
He pulled one from the shelf and flipped through the pages. Belle watched him intently, remembering the night Rumplestiltskin had done a similar thing, except Rumplestiltskin, although was very playful with them, seemed to handle the books lovingly as if they meant something. The way Gaston was handling her book was not.
Rumplestiltskin was thinking the same thing.
Belle was getting agitated, "Gaston, may I have my book please?"
He ignored her request, "How can you read this? There's no pictures."
"Well some people use their imaginations." She stood and walked over to him trying to grab her book from him, but he jerked away.
He threw the book on the floor and turned to her, "Belle, it's about time you got your head out of those books and paid attention to more important things…like me."
Belle rolled her eyes while she went to retrieve her book thrown so carelessly to the floor.
Belle didn't notice, but Rumplestiltskin saw Gaston try to peek under her skirt. He gritted his teeth in anger.
"Gaston, I love my books. I would never give up reading."
"It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas…and thinking."
"You are positively primeval."
Gaston prided himself, "Why thank you Belle."
Belle cocked her eyebrow at him. She put the book back on the bookshelf where it belonged.
"But seriously Belle. When we're married I won't put up with this book stuff."
Belle swung around and saw Gaston was standing much closer to her than she would have liked, "You can't keep my books from me, they're my life!"
He inched closer to her, "That won't be the case soon," Gaston grabbed Belle's arms forcefully, "I'll be your life when we're married."
Rumplestiltskin wished so hard he could transport to her room and show Gaston what the Dark One is capable of.
Belle tried to squirm from his grasp, "Gaston! Stop! You're hurting me!"
Rumplestiltskin knew what was coming next, and it pained him more than anything to know he was helpless to stop it. He closed his eyes. He couldn't watch.
"I told you to watch Rumple, or I'll kill her. You better do as I say," Regina commanded.
As much as he didn't want to watch, he didn't want Belle to die. He opened his eyes.
Gaston bent down trying to kiss Belle, but she turned her head. That action ticked him off. He grabbed her vigorously and threw her on the bed, "You will learn to be an obedient wife and do as I say!"
"Gaston, please stop!" Belle begged.
"Please, Regina. I'm begging you…stop this!"
Regina scowled, "Shut up! You shouldn't have broken our deal, then you wouldn't have to endure this, and neither would she."
Gaston wouldn't stop. He began to hike up her skirt going for the place that was meant only for Rumplestiltskin. Belle tried to reach for something, anything, that she could attack him with. Her hand fell upon the dagger she had placed under her pillow.
Belle had no idea what would happen if she stabbed Gaston with it, so instead she whacked him upside the head as hard as she could and kneed him between his legs at the same time just before he gained access. The dagger was heavier than she thought, and Gaston was passed out with only the one blow to the head.
Rumplestiltskin shut his eyes and let out a huge sigh of relief. 'My brave, brave Belle…' Then it occurred to him, 'What did she hit him with?'
Regina snatched the mirror from Rumplestiltskin, "Let me see that!" Horrified and angry that Belle defeated Gaston, which in turn meant Belle defeated her, Regina threw down the mirror and fled the dungeon to do something about it.
Gaston collapsed on top of Belle, unconscious. It took all of her strength to shove him off of her. She jumped up and gathered herself. 'I can't stay here another minute!' She grabbed the satchel she had packed, her green and gold cape she had received from her father for her birthday, threw the dagger in the bag, and ran out the secret door.
Belle burst through the dungeon door, not caring if the guards heard her. She had the dagger now, so they were powerless, but the guards had yet to return.
Rumplestiltskin was shocked, "Belle? I thought you were running away! Why are you here?"
"I've come for you, we're going together."
"Belle…"
"I found it! I found you're dagger! We can leave!" Belle flung open her bag and pulled the dagger out to show him. She smiled, "You can release yourself from those chains, this cell."
Purple smoke engulfed the entire cell, leaving Rumplestiltskin standing in front of Belle, free from his prison. She held the dagger out for him to take.
As he reached for it, Belle saw a look in Rumplestiltskin's eyes she had never seen before. His whole demeanor seemed to change. To her he almost looked…evil. In that moment she knew she wasn't talking to Rumplestiltksin, but the Dark One.
"Rum?" Belle looked at him concerned and worried. She reached out and placed a gentle touch to his arm.
At the feel of her hand on his arm, the evil that was flaring around Rumplestiltskin melted away. He relaxed at her touch and his wicked grin disappeared. He looked confused for a second, like he had just woken up from a strange dream, "Uh, let's go Belle."
Relieved the Rum she knew returned Belle, smiled and nodded. She tried to hand him the dagger again. He put a hand up in the air signaling no, "Just put it in your bag for now. We'll deal with it when we're safe."
Belle obliged, then took hold of his arm. Rumplestiltskin smiled at her, "There are some things that need attending to before we leave."
Belle looked at him questionably, "Like what?"
He chuckled, "Well first…" He waved his hand and his usual attire of leather and silk replaced the peasant clothes he was wearing, "That's better, now we must retrieve some things from my room."
"We have to hurry Rum…"
"Don't worry about that."
Belle followed him as he led her up to his room.
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"Maurice!" Regina yelled as she burst into the throne room.
King Maurice looked up from his task.
"Maurice, something has happened…Belle…I think she's trying to escape. She hurt Gaston who tried to stop her…"
King Maurice became alert very quickly, "Sir Lucan! Take half your guards and accompany Regina to Belle's room, the other half will be coming with me. Take any means necessary to bring her back here, but don't harm her."
The guards obeyed.
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When Rumplestiltskin and Belle entered his old room, he grabbed a few bundles of gold thread and added them to their pack.
"Gold? We came up here for gold?" Belle asked irritated.
"We need money dearest."
"But you can spin straw into gold."
"That's true, but if you think carrying around a full sized spinning wheel will be easier than gold thread, then by all means go ahead," he motioned to the spinning wheel.
Belle gave him an aggravated look, but she let it go. This was no time to argue.
"However, I did need one more thing and it's not here…we must go to the kitchen."
"The kitchen?" As much as Belle wished she could say goodbye to Mrs. Potts, she knew the more they ran around the castle, the greater chance it was they would be caught, "Rum…we need to go…"
Rumplestiltskin clenched his fists, "I'm not leaving without it!"
Belle stepped back, clearly upset he had yelled at her.
He immediately regretted what he did, "Belle, I'm sorry." He placed his hands on her arms, "but we must go to the kitchen."
Belle nodded. She was still a little agitated, but agreed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Regina, Sir Lucan, and the other guards broke into Belle's room. Belle was gone and Gaston was still passed out on Belle's bed, but a moan erupted from his lips.
Regina walked over and kicked him, "Get up you buffoon, and fix yourself!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mrs. Potts was busy with her chores when the two visitors startled her. When she saw who they were she was a bit surprised. She was familiar with the fact Belle was confined to her room, but she also knew the tunnels would prevent that. However, Rumplestiltskin was supposed to be chained up in the dungeon, "Belle, what are you doing here my dear?"
"I freed Rum, and we're leaving," Belle explained.
Mrs. Potts smiled, "That's wonderful. Now you two can finally be together."
"Yes, but I'm going to miss you so much," Belle embraced her in a tight hug, "You're like a mother to me."
"I know, and I'll miss you too. But this isn't goodbye, not forever. Our paths will cross again someday."
"I hope so." Belle welled up as she rejoined Rumplestiltskin.
Rumplestiltskin took a few steps toward Mrs. Potts, "I believe you have something that I want."
"Yes, I have it put away," Mrs. Potts walked over, opened a cabinet, and pulled out the item.
Belle's heart melted when she saw what Mrs. Potts was handing Rum: her chipped cup. 'No wonder he was so adamant about coming here.'
Rumplestiltskin reached forward to grab the cup, but Mrs. Potts pulled it out of his reach. He looked at her questionably with hint of anger.
"I hear you don't give anything for a price so I'm going to do the same," the smile never left her face.
Rum gritted his teeth, "Very well what is your price?"
"All I want is my girl to be safe. I want you to protect her no matter what and never let any harm come to her."
His features lightened, "Now that dearie, I can manage."
Mrs. Potts handed him the cup. He gladly took it. Belle hugged Mrs. Potts one last time. They bid goodbye, Rumplestiltskin placed his hand on the small of Belle's back, and led her out.
Once they were alone Rumplestiltskin spoke, "Now my Belle, we must pay your father a visit."
Belle's stomach twisted in knots. She grabbed him by the shoulders, "Rum you promised, you promised me you wouldn't hurt him. Please…please let's just leave!"
Rumplestiltskin looked up from her pleading eyes. She could tell by the look on his face that he seemed to be fighting something internally. She knew it pained him to say his next words. He looked back into her eyes, "Yes, I did. Let's go before I change my mind."
Belle nodded and they headed through the tunnels that led to the outside beyond the castle walls. The sun shone bright and they needed a moment for their eyes to adjust when they reached the outside world. The two turned to each other and smiled. "Ready to go?" Rumplestiltskin asked.
"More than anything," Belle stood on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.
Rumplestiltskin grabbed Belle and pulled her close, "Hold tight dearest."
"Release my daughter you monster!"
