Author's Note1:

What?! It's a twofer today! I typed three chapters in one weekend, and I've gone over and edited them so I thought I might as well post them too :)
In case you were at all curious, I don't own Once Upon a Time, shocker I know.
In this story, Cillian is Killian (the C made it look a little more Victorian to me?)
Elina is Zelina (but doesn't get fleshed out much)
George is Gaston, but he's basically just an annoying little boy

I have based them pretty lightly on their characters in the show, really just using them for the purpose of this story. Hope that's not too confusing.

Chapter 7 A Bag of Tricks

Mr. Gold had made everyone's roles clear. This was a very important business meeting. As such, while Mr. Gold met with Mr. Mills in his dark office, Mr. Jeffery entertained the other two adult guests, showing them the home and grounds. It was up to Belle to stay with the children and from that first evening, when she had sat on the pinecone, she had determined not to give importance to their actions. Making a scene would only cause their laughter to be worse, and she would not blabber to Mr. Gold, or even Mr. Dove over an insignificant prank, so she steeled herself and continued with her dinner as if nothing had ever happened.

The ants in her bed the next morning were harder to ignore. Somehow a child had crept into her room and poured a jar of ants onto her sheets, and she woke up to what felt like hundreds of bites all over her body and she yelped as she noticed her unwelcome visitors. She jumped out of bed, quickly brushing off the horrible little villains and pulling up her sheets to shake them out the window.

Her body itched in a thousand places, but she bit her tongue until she could taste the metallic taste of blood as she entered breakfast. The children looked expectantly at her, but, with a look at her seat to make sure there was nothing there, she sat and brushed her skirt down and began to eat and chat with Bae, as if the others did not exist.

'What do you think we should do today?'

'Don't you think you should ask your guests?' The larger girl, Regina, crossed her arms in her seat with glaring eyes.

'Only children who behave properly get their opinions considered. Bae is the only one at this table that has done so, therefore his is the only opinion I will be hearing and heading.'

The youngest girl, Emma, suddenly cried into her hands. 'I'm sorry, Miss French, Regina and Cilian made me-and-and-I didn't put the pinecone on your chair, I swear!'

'I'm afraid it isn't polite for young ladies to swear, but since you've confessed your misconduct, I'll listen to your opinion as well. Does anyone else have anything they would like to say?' Belle sat even straighter in her seat, not letting her general feeling of miserableness overwhelm her.

Regina and the other older girl, Elina, threw icy daggers at her while looking down their noses. Cilian, the eldest boy, said nothing at all but his eyes held cruel amusement in them. George, the youngest boy pulled at one of Emma's ringlets, causing her to yelp out.

'That's quite enough, I think.' Belle commanded, and the boy had the audacity of rolling his eyes at her. Belle glared at him until he looked at least a little sheepish.

Bae and Emma had decided to explore the grounds, and Bae delighted in pointing to his favorite places to play. Belle walked at a distance, though close enough to keep an eye on her pupil. She smiled sweetly at how happy Bae was, and was thinking to herself how happy she was that he had someone his own age to play with. With her attention being on the sweeter children of the group, she did not notice the more naughtier ones until she tripped over a branch that had suddenly appeared in her path. The older children had already scampered away, snickering behind their hands. Belle had caught her fall with her hands, and they had been skint up. The stinging covered the ever increasing itchiness of the rest of her body, and though her pride was wounded, she almost welcomed the pain in her hands as it distracted her for a while. Bae had been too distracted by his companion, and Belle hurriedly caught up with them, so she would be doing her duty, no matter how uncomfortable it was beginning to make her.

That evening, the children were allowed in the drawing room with the adults for an hour. Belle had calmed her hair as well as her nerves, and sat straight in the chair as the other children fidgeted. Bae asked if he could be excused to his father's study before long, and Belle wished she could follow him. Mr. Jeffery was his normal self, regaling tales of days gone by and outlandish things he had done and experienced, but even he seemed to give Belle glances of 'Help!' and Belle tried to look amused.

'And where is Rowland this evening? Could you not persuade him to join us, Henry.' The Mrs. Cora Mills looked bored of life itself.

'He seemed deep in our papers, my dear.' Mrs. Mills rolled her eyes at her husband's bland answer.

'You know Rowland, Cora, he never was one for entertaining.'

She turned a quiet word to her husband in a mocking hushed whisper that could be heard by everyone. 'Couldn't entertain his wife long enough, that's for certain.'

Regina and Elina giggled to each other. Jeffery looked ready to kill-a look Belle had never seen from her old friend before. Belle had heard nothing but what Bae had said about his mother, yet she felt anger towards the woman making such cruel remarks towards someone she now considered a friend.

'For shame, Cora!' Her husband said weakly and Mrs. Mills simply rolled her eyes drolly again.

'At least we have you, dear Jeffery and I'm glad I brought dearest Margaret or we would truly be bored out of our minds. As it is, you may tell him, for I know he lets you see him, that I think it very rude and that he has left me quite put out.'

Jeffery bowed in exaggerated assurance. 'You have myself and Miss French at your disposal, I can assure you Cora.'

'The governess?' She scoffed. 'Nuisances the lot of them. Emma's governess just quit us, and I suppose I'll have to start the search again. How very glad I am that George is finally old enough for school. They are all such sniveling weaklings, determined to overcome their station.'

Belle inwardly bristled, but outwardly stood still in her seat while Mr. Jeffrey gave her a sympathetic look. Belle did not like Mr. Gold's guests, but the business deal was apparently very important, so she would bravely face the conceited looks of the adults, and even the children, and thank God once it was all over.

'How about a game, Cora!'

Card tables were brought out and Belle, not wishing to be where she wasn't wanted now that everyone seemed to be paired or grouped together, she left the room and made her way to her own bedroom, where she could rub her arms and legs to her heart's content.

She was frightened to sleep. She shouldn't have been-she should have been brave and determined not to let the children get the best of her. She was, however, and as her eyes grew heavy, her ears tried to stay alert as she was lost to sleep. She woke up comfortably, and thought perhaps the children had gotten their cruel pranks out of their systems.

She was very wrong.

She took a bite out of her porridge, and her mouth revolted at the amount of salt added. All but little Emma and Bae giggled under their napkins, and Bae looked at her in concern, but didn't understand what was going on. She tried to keep herself as dignified as possible as she asked for an additional bowl of porridge.

She did her best to keep a fervent eye out for any other tricks the children might have up their proverbial sleeves, but for all her diligence, she wondered if the children must have the upper hand in experience, and felt such empathetic sorrow for their past governesses.

One day it was George running ahead of the playful children, climbing a tree and putting spiders in her hair, the morning after that it was wet slippers. She felt as if she were going insane. That night she simply could not sleep, with the knowledge that her privacy could be encroached upon and perhaps she would wake up to snakes or toads, or to a bucket of water on her head, or perhaps worms in her porridge. She couldn't take it any more, and she walked the halls of Dark Manor on the path to the library to find a book to comfort her.

Another had taken its refuge too.

'Mr. Gold!' She stammered. Mr. Gold was in a robe and slippers which made her gasp and realize that she was in a similar state of undress. She knew her hair would be in a wild state of things, and if the look on his face was any indicator, she knew she had taken him in as much surprise as he did her.

'Miss French!' He said in a tone so low she almost didn't hear him.

'I-I am so sorry, sir, I didn't mean…'

'Are you alright, Miss French?' He said softly, taking more in of her, she thought, than just her wild hair and night robe.

She knew what he must see. Dark circles under her eyes, possible slowly disappearing bites on her hands, and the fact that her slippers had yet to dry meant she was in her bare feet! She reddened at the thought.

'Quite alright, sir.' This wasn't exactly a lie. She was alright. The tricks that she had endured had taken her peace of mind but little else. 'I am having trouble sleeping, so I thought I would get a book.' She smiled shyly at him, still flooded with embarrassment at how she was standing before him. What must he think of her?

'I-Well, you find me here for the same purpose.' he stammered uneasily but did not seem upset with the interruption. He held up the book as proof of his words and Belle smiled in reply.

'I really didn't mean to bother you, sir. If you don't mind, I'll just take a book and leave, sir.' She knew she sounded like she was just spitting out words, but as much as she had missed the man sitting in front of her, she felt uncomfortable as they currently were.

'Of course, please get some rest, Belle, you look tired.'

Her whole body stiffened for a moment at the use of her Christian name and his concerned tone of voice. She didn't dare a look back at him. She had been thinking of the book she wanted before she came to the library, so she took it and left with a 'Goodnight Mr. Gold' and hurried to her room, shut the door and read not one page of the book she held, only thinking about the master of Dark Manor and how he had said her name.

The next day, the children were waiting with baited breath to ride that afternoon. They stomped all over the lawn, Cilian and George the most impatient among them. Cilian swore loudly to the wind at the stable hand's slowness.

'Please not in front of the little ones.' She said with conviction, though she had no hopes in him heading her.

'What are you going to do about it, little governess?' His impatience had turned to anger, and suddenly she became a little frightened of the youth, though she did not allow it to show. 'You have no authority over me, nor anyone here. I'm so glad I'm over needing pathetic governesses-mother was right-you lot are all weak. I could break you in half-even baby George could break you in half! It would be so easy!'

He was in her face now, head and shoulders above her, and her wrist suddenly caught in a tight grasp. Bae was red in the face, trying to grab hold of Cilian's outstretched arm and insisting that she be left alone, but she could tell from his face that even her sweet, brave Bae was frightened.

'Are you alright, Miss French?' A friendly voice boomed near her suddenly and Cilian jumped at the authoritative voice then retreated slowly. Belle turned to see her Savior in Mr. Dove. Even with Cilian's opposing height to Belle, Dove was a good head above the boy.

'Perhaps you need to go cool off, lad, and leave Miss French alone!' Mr. Dove commanded, and in such a way that Cilian knew it was no suggestion.

'Alright, Alright!' He threw up his hands and stormed off.

'Are you sure you're alright, Miss French?' Mr. Dove asked again.

'Quite alright, Mr. Dove, thank you.' She smiled, relieved more than anything.

Mr. Dove gave each child a stern look and walked back towards the house, where he had been headed to begin with, most likely returning from an errand on Mr. Gold's behalf. Belle already missed the company of Mr. Gold. The house was full, but Belle was lonely for pleasant company. There were only a couple more days left of the Mills' stay and it couldn't come soon enough. She would brave the days and then cherish the normalcy, she told herself, anyone can do anything for a couple of days, surely!

The horses were brought round, and Cilian, unfortunately came with them. He looked at Belle with something akin to hatred. Belle found herself keeping close to Bae, wanting to keep to her duty, and honestly worried about what the boy would do next. This was what she was reduced to-she thought she had at least a little bravery, but now she was frightened of mere children. It was hard when they were so much bigger than she was. Tears tried to fling themselves upon her, but she refused to let them win.

Belle had only ridden a handful of times in her life, and a couple of times out of those handful had been at Dark Manor. Bae was to ride with her, and be guided by David, the stable hand, so she had Bae stay a little ways away so he would be in no danger as she mounted.

As soon as she put weight on her saddle, she knew something was wrong. The horse immediately neighed painfully, pulling up his head suddenly and so strongly that the rope slipped from David's grip. In a split second her eyes darted to Cilian where he smiled smugly and in the same second she screamed at Bae to get as far away as possible. The horse reared up and she lost her hold on the horse, she tried to brace herself for the fall with her arms, and her world went black

Author's Note: I hope I don't disappoint anyone too much by not adding a ton of adult conversations. Belle is in charge of Bae, so she would be mostly in the children's sphere.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter (or as well as you could with Belle being bullied so badly)! I enjoy all the comments :)