She'd gone to bed early that night, almost immediately after he'd given her the library, in fact. And the moment he sensed she was locked away it had freed him to leave his room and wander down into the Great Room. She had him feeling dizzy, like he was three times taller than he actually was. And somehow it made him long for something normal. Work. Spinning. Anything that made him feel like he was the master of his own castle and not sweating because of the woman downstairs in his dungeon. He locked her in, with his magic so that he didn't need to go down and risk being close to her. He set things right in his Great Room. With the couch up in her library now, he moved his spinning wheel back into the corner where it belonged, then turned his attention to the windows. He closed them. He put the drapes back over them and then stopped.
He'd tried to do something that might make things seem normal and yet…he knew she was going to try again someday. Women like Belle, they didn't give up easily. After this little excursion, she probably wouldn't try any time soon, but one day…one day she would. She'd begin testing her boundaries again some day, and that was when she'd try to open them once more. He almost looked forward to that day…which was why he used his magic to hammer nails into them. That would ensure some entertainment. He'd seen then just how determined she could be.
Work! He wanted to work. He didn't want to think of her or her determination or stubbornness. He wanted to do something to get back to work, and so he had. It was the bow that started it. He looked his new prize over and looked at the place where his wand had once sat, and for the first time he realized that when the curse hit he risked being separated from his things. All his wonderful, magical, useful things! He could fix that.
Over the next week or so, he threw himself into his work. He created a new spell. He called it a Magnetism Spell. It was a carefully crafted combination of spells that would all work together for one cause. First, a very low and diluted portion was a Sticking Spell, designed to keep objects connected, whether not they wanted to be together. He'd never once found that spell helpful other than for a laugh, but for this purpose it would work well in low quantities. He wanted his collection close to him, he didn't want it stuck to him for the rest of his life. There was a better, stronger version of a Lost and Found Spell, a spell that was already a variation, of his own creation, on a Tracking Spell. The difference was that this potion didn't bring objects to life, instead, it worked on the being that held it, compelling them to return it to its owner. He added a longevity potion that would ensure those spells stayed active for far longer than normal-close to fifty years, long enough for the curse to be cast, the Swan to grow, return, and the boy to lead him to his Baelfire. Finally, the easiest portion but the most important, the Magical Absorption Spell. If he was going somewhere without magic, he had to make sure his own remained active. Some of the objects he wanted had magic innately built into them, but others, like his spinning wheels, didn't. He had to take what wasn't magical and make it magical, create a store it could draw from for years to come. That was what the Magical Absorption Spell did. It would force non-magical items to draw this magic deep inside of them and keep it locked there, using it when there was none. Over time, the energy of the magic would decrease and wear off entirely, but it was his hope that with the longevity potion at play as well, that by the time the curse broke, he'd have everything right where he needed it. His one regret was that he hadn't thought to do this before he'd lost the fairy wand.
It took him days, and many pricks of the finger to draw enough of his own blood out and get it into the potions, to mark everything he wanted. The curse being cast was years away, but he felt suddenly like he was packing. He did his work secretly, starting with the doorless chamber, then his tower. Each night, when Belle went to sleep, he let himself out to wander about the castle and mark what he wanted, without her prying eyes. But what he found was that he didn't need to work too hard to avoid her, he wasn't the only one who had come home and thrown himself into work. It seemed that she had too.
On the night he'd given her the library, some small part of him truly believed that he might have just given her permission to stop doing her chores and spend all her time reading. But he was pleasantly surprised to find the library might have been the best thing he could have done, not only for her, but himself as well. While she liked to read fantasy books and fairy tales, she often left other books around that he found, books on housekeeping, cooking, even medical remedies. Almost overnight, the food she served improved. Meal after meal turned better than the last. And though they both appeared to be trying not to look at the other, every now and then, as he ate, out of the corner of his eye, he could see her waiting for signs of approval. He tried not to give them. He'd already been soft enough with her.
But her improvements didn't stop with food. His clothes were finally unstained and cleaned well.
The castle, it seemed, was clean too. She'd begun to create cleaning supplies for herself that went beyond just using a duster. She'd begun keeping most of it in a little room downstairs and had started in the Great Room. To his shock and amazement, he hadn't found a single bit of dust on the surfaces since she'd begun. Now she seemed to finally begin working out a schedule and working on some other rooms in the castle, cleaning them methodically. She hadn't tried on his room yet, she didn't seem to go in there for more than laundry and to make small adjustments.
The biggest surprise, however, was her attitude. He avoided her whenever he could, but he did like to check in on her using the mirrors and crystal ball throughout the day, he told himself it was to make sure she was working and not lazing about reading. She often wasn't, but when he watched her, he found that she seemed to be enjoying herself. She was determined and hardworking, and when she was finished with something, he had to admit that he liked to see the way she put her hands on her hips, looked over her work with a proud smile, then moved on to her next task. Efficient. He liked that.
He was glad she was working so hard, that they were both busy working. It gave him an excuse not to be around her as much as before. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her, he just didn't see the point and that was what really scared him. There was no purpose to seeing her, and yet he wanted to. He just didn't know why. He didn't know what to say. He'd given her a library, it was more than he'd ever given any maid he'd ever had before. It was good, but he felt like he'd unintentionally crossed a line and didn't know where to go from there. Keeping distance between them was the smartest thing to do, he'd concluded. At least until he had a plan for moving forward or backward. And until then...
Having the castle clean was inspiring in some strange way. It smelled like lemons though he couldn't for the life of him figure out where she'd have gotten lemons for the scent. It had the oddest effect, though. For the first time in a long time, it was beginning to feel like home, a place he wanted to be. Perhaps that was why he'd summoned fresh flowers for the entryway. Maybe that was why, when Regina kept calling him, he checked on her progress and then decided to let her finish her journey to his castle.
In fairness, she had made it much faster than he ever would have thought anyone would. The journey from her Kingdom to his castle could take weeks, and had taken her weeks, but when he finally felt someone cross over into his property and heard her call for him yet again, he was shocked. He thought it would have taken her another day or so.
He didn't rush outside to greet her. She'd already walked this far, she may as well walk to the front door. Which was why he calmly finished the spool of thread he was spinning and pocketed it before walking to the door. Regina would be here in a moment, angry, no doubt, but he had plans for the thread. Belle's dress, the one she had yet to change out of since arriving, hadn't been designed for a trip through the woods or scrubbing floors on hands and knees. It was beginning to show signs of wear. For a while he'd wondered why she didn't change until he realized she'd brought nothing with her when she'd arrived. It was a problem. Too much longer and the thing would fall off of her. Short term, he intended to fetch a needle and hide it with the thread in her library, hoping she'd take a hint. Long term, he had yet to figure out how to get her more clothes without appearing generous. Things were odd enough between the two of them after the library; he didn't need them to be-
The second he swung the door to the Great Hall open, his thoughts ceased as he was greeted with an unexpected vision in yellow, exactly what he hadn't planned on running into. He heard his breath suck in with shock and she jumped, letting out a gasp herself. She'd been by the table. Had she been smelling the flowers? Did she like them? It was a poor time for him to suddenly notice there were dead ones in the bunch and he suddenly wished he hadn't done it.
He couldn't think of anything to say. He couldn't think of anything to do. Regina was on her way, probably would be here any minute but running into Belle was not something he'd planned on or wanted. Stupid, really, the more they stared at each other, the more he realized it was close to dinnertime. She'd probably been on her way to the kitchens when she'd literally stopped to smell the roses…or whatever those white things were…
He wished she'd used that time to mend her dress instead.
Regina's voice echoed in his mind again, another summoning so weak now that she was practically outside he barely felt a pull. But she was angry, furious, he didn't want Belle to see that. They were going to have to say something to one another.
"Ah…hold dinner for just a few extra minutes," he finally declared tapping his fingertips together. "I…ah…I'm going to be a bit later tonight."
Suddenly her eyebrows lifted almost excitedly and her shoulders dropped into a more relaxed posture. She almost looked relieved that he'd spoken. She moved to pick up a book he hadn't noticed on the table, but it fumbled to the ground instead and she swooped down to pick it up before he could get it for her. He'd taken a step before he'd had to catch himself.
"How-how long?" she asked before glancing back up at him. "How late will you be?"
Was it him, or did she sound interested?
It was just work. Obviously, it was just work. She had to prepare dinner, he had to meet with Regina, those were the questions she had to ask. And really, they were questions that were none of her business.
"Not long," he answered without giving a definitive answer. He didn't really have one. Regina would be here in seconds, he imagined that once he gave her back her magic she'd be gone soon, but didn't really know.
He expected, now that she had the information she'd run off. But she didn't. She stood there in the hall with him, looking awkwardly every which way except his eyes. Perhaps he should move, give her a clear path to the door. But that meant getting closer to her. Why did that make him nervous?
"I'll, uh…I'll get started!" she finally smiled clutching the book to her chest and hiding the fact that more jewels had fallen off her bodice today. Did she know how shabby she looked these days. It didn't suit her, not one bit. He really needed to do something about it. "It shouldn't be long," she assured him without taking a step.
"Just long enough," he smiled back as his stomach flipped over. He was an idiot. She'd been about to leave and then he'd had to go and make a comment and now she seemed stuck there again, grinning and blushing and-
Regina again…that time he hadn't just heard the call in his head but with his ears as well. If he didn't get rid of Belle soon she'd walk right into this and he didn't want her exposed to the witch. This had to end.
He took a breath, then did the only thing that came to him. He pointed at the door and said "I have business…"
"Right!" she exclaimed suddenly, her eyes going wide as her damn blush deepened. They hadn't been here long but she was no stranger to people coming to the castle for him. She'd learned he liked to conduct his business in private and quickly seemed to gather herself. "I'll, uh…go…make dinner then," she stuttered, finally moving to the door.
He should have moved around her, he should have gone around the other side of the table, but instead he moved only a step or two out of the way and inhaled as she passed by catching that scent of lemons he was noticing more often. He watched her as she turned, his eyes immediately moving to the hem of her dress and a new tear he saw there. He really had to do something about that before it fell off entirely. She was distracting enough when she was around. He didn't need her naked too.
Originally I had this chapter hooked into the next one but they were both too long and it turned out they both had something different to say. So I separated them and reading through this again for it's final edit, I don't regret it. In Moments, the scene is short and filled with lots of questions on Belle's side, I really enjoyed taking this little encounter to Rumple to see what he was thinking. I hope you like it.
Thank you, MissAmande, Jennifer Baratta, and Grace5231973 for your reviews on the previous chapter. I did promise that I would explain how so many things seem to wander back to Rumple during the Curse. This chapter holds that explanation. I hope that you'll think it's acceptable. Peace and Happy Reading!
