Belle felt her heart hammering in her chest as the doors swung shut behind them. She was more than a little scared. Though more of how unsure her future was now than of the man who stood beside her.

So lost was she in her thoughts that Belle was caught off guard when they were suddenly surrounded by a swirl of crimson smoke. Seconds later the interior of her father's castle had been replaced with the stony exterior of a large and foreboding black castle set amidst high mountains.

Belle stumbled slightly at the change in terrain and was only prevented from falling flat on her face by the Dark One catching her arms and steadying her. Despite his wiry frame his grip was strong.

"Careful dearie, we don't want you to break anything before you've even started," he said.

As opposed to breaking something after? she thought wryly but didn't overlook the gesture.

"Thank you," she told him. The Dark One didn't acknowledge her thanks instead stating.

"Welcome to the Dark Castle. Your new home for well..." he giggled. "Forever."

The doors swung open and Belle followed him through the red carpeted foyer and into a grand hall with tapestry covered walls and which held a long table with a chair at either end, a series of pedestals and a display case showing various objects that Belle suspected must have some sort of magical significance, and most notably a spinning wheel in one corner. All the drapes were drawn shut leaving the room darkened.

Dark Castle certainly appeared to be an apt name for her new employer's residence.

"Don't dawdle dearie," snapped the voice of the Dark One and Belle shook her head and focused on following him as he led her down a series of stairs.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Let's call it... Your room," he answered and Belle nodded. She supposed as caretaker she'd be put in servants, quarters which was understandable and she had no intention of complaining about the change in station. However, she was shocked when they stopped at what was essentially a prison cell.

"My ROOM?" she asked in disbelief.

"Well, it sounds nicer than dungeon!" he replied cheerfully before shoving her inside.

Belle was speechless as she caught herself on the hard stone floor. Belle closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm herself.

Do the brave thing and bravery will follow. That was what her mother had always told her. Well, she'd done the brave thing by coming here. But she wasn't quite feeling the bravery just yet.

Belle had no way of keeping track of the time so she wasn't sure how long it had been before the dungeon door creaked open and she saw the Dark One. Belle swiftly stood.

"Come I want you to serve me tea." She followed him up the steps nearly running into him when he stopped abruptly.

"Kitchen is that way. When you have the tea ready, I'll be waiting in the Great Hall."

"Understood sir." Belle moved to the kitchen which looked like it needed a good cleaning. However, she was able to find a fairly nice white and blue patterned tea set that only needed to be briefly wiped out with a rag.

Being royalty cooking hadn't been something Belle had learnt much about but luckily tea was at least within in her range.

Once the tea had boiled, she set the pot, milk, sugar bowl, and some slices of lemon she was able to track down on the tray and carried it, slightly unsteadily thanks to the ballgown, up to the great hall.

The Dark one was seated at the end of the long table closest to the door his fingers steepled as he watched her.

"You will serve me my meals and you will clean the Dark Castle," he began as she set the tea service down.

"I understand," said Belle.

"You will dust my collection and launder my clothing."

"Yes," Belle answered softly pouring the tea.

"You will fetch me fresh straw when I'm spinning at the wheel."

"Got it." said Belle setting down the tea pot. The cooking might be a challenge but the rest was fairly standard.

"Oh and you will skin the children I hunt for their pelts." Belle's heart plummeted at his gleeful tone and the cup slipped from her fingers falling to the floor.

"That one was a quip. Not serious," said the Dark One. Belle let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Apparently, her new Master had a morbid sense of humor.

"Right." She bent to pick up the cup and her heart which had just started to get back to a normal pace sped up again in fear. The cup was damaged. Would he punish her?

"Oh. My. I'm sorry but umm...It's chipped." she said as the Dark One peered around the table. Belle held up the cup.

"You can hardly see it..." She waited for his reaction expecting him to perhaps rage at her. She'd seen the nobility of her father's court punish servants for less. But instead he shrugged.

"Well, it's just a cup." Belle breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps he wasn't so bad.

OUAT

He'd startled her with his quip about skinning children. Of course, that had been his goal. To see how she would react. All things considered it could have been worse. She'd looked terrified yes but she didn't fall to pieces confirming his suspicion that she was made of sterner stuff than first glance would imply.

"That one was a quip. Not serious," he trilled. This seemed to calm the girl and she bent to pick up the cup she had dropped however she didn't rise immediately and Rumplestiltskin peered around the edge of the table to see her looking nervous again.

"Oh. My. I'm sorry but umm. It's chipped," she said holding up the cup which did indeed now have a chip in the rim.

"You can hardly see it." she said and Rumplestiltskin realized by the nervous tone in her voice that she was expecting him to blow up at her. He supposed he could fake a rage and terrify her. Put the fear of her new Master into the girl.

But at the regretful look on her face his mind suddenly went back to his days as a poor spinner and the way that the Duke of the Frontlands and his Knights would terrorize the villagers for the tiniest offense even if it were an accident. He was many things. But he was not like them.

Rumplestiltskin shrugged.

"Well, it's just a cup." He watched relief flood his maid's face as she stood and repoured the tea and handed it to him their finger's briefly brushing.

An awkward silence fell between them before Belle spoke up.

"Would you by any chance have any books on cooking? It's just if I'm to prepare your meals it would help if I had something to learn from."

Well, well, well. It seemed his little maid actually planned on taking this seriously. Rumplestiltskin wasn't going to deny that he did slightly like the irony of a noblewoman having to become a maid. It would be interesting if she truly stuck with it or crumbled under the weight of manual labor like so many spoiled princess's might.

"You should find what you need in the kitchen." He answered shortly. "All that finery and they didn't teach you anything useful growing up dearie?" he asked trying to see if the jab would irritate her. To his surprise she raised an eyebrow.

"Not really. Aside from reading, writing, and possibly riding, if it would be useful in the outside world it was likely unsuitable." Rumplestiltskin giggled. Oh, she was witty. And more than a little brave. During their conversation her eyes hadn't left his.

"Don't expect that to be an excuse to slack on your duties." He told her. He might have been wrong but he thought he saw her lips curve upward briefly.

"I wouldn't dream of it sir." Silence fell again but this time it was far less uncomfortable. He finished his tea and as Belle collected it she spoke again.

"I'm afraid I still don't know your name. Or am I to spend the rest of my life calling you Dark One?" Rumplestiltskin held back a snort he WOULD NOT indicate he genuinely found her amusing.

"You really don't know?" he asked.

"No, everything I came across with regard to you only used your title speaking more of your deeds then yourself." she answered.

Now that was intriguing. She had read about him. She did seem the bookish sort. Then again, she had been the only person to realize the ridiculous nature of offering gold to someone who could make piles of it with magic.

"That would be because names have power dearie. But seeing as you are never going to see farther than the castle grounds for the rest of your life, my name is Rumplestiltskin."

Belle smiled at him. Actually smiled. Why would she do that? And why did he find himself taking such pleasure in having that smile directed at him?

"A pleasure to meet you Rumplestiltskin. I'll clean these and then go back to my..."room". She pursed her lips placing emphasis on the last word clearly expressing her disapproval.

"See that you don't dawdle. The door will lock after you in case you get any silly ideas of escape." For the first time since their discussion began, she actually looked slightly offended. Interesting.

"You may see me as some silly Princess. But I gave you my word and as long as the deal remains in effect, I intend to keep it. Lock me in if you so choose, but please do not act as if my word means any less than yours." Rumplestiltskin raised an eyebrow before inclining his head slightly, impressed against his will.

"We shall see dearie. We shall see." His new maid curtsied.

"Goodnight Rumplestiltskin."

OUAT

Well, her first job as caretaker had gone fairly well aside from the whole chipped cup incident. As nervous as Belle had been originally, she had found herself beginning to at least feel less uncomfortable.

Of course, the morbid joke about skinning children had been a bit off putting but dark quips aside she got the sense that he had been testing her. Seeing how she'd react. Much to Belle's satisfaction she also had a feeling she'd passed.

Rumplestiltskin. A strange name for a strange man. She still wasn't quite sure what to make of him. He didn't appear yet to be the monster legends claimed, but there was undoubtably a darkness to him.

Belle sighed putting away the tea service and heading back to the dungeon. Interesting conversationalist or not she was still slightly miffed about the living arrangements. Yet it could be worse. At the moment it was probably best she try and get some sleep. After all she had the rest of forever to ponder her enigmatic employer.

Author's Note: And Chapter 2 is up! Thank you to those who have already commented I really appreciate it. I continue to request if those reading enjoy this story leave your thoughts below especially if there is anything you like in particular so I know what to keep doing. Until next time. Also Regina didn't know who Rumplestiltskin was when she summoned him, and Cinderalla didn't recognize him so I figure its not entirely unreasonable that she might not know his name. I kind of figured everyone knows about The Dark One but since its been multiple people that's more what's focused on.