Hello to everybody out there who is reading this. I was very sad over the lack of reviews I received for this story I hope that is remedied with this chapter. I'm sorry this chapter came out shorter than I expected, but I decided to cut the chapter in half. There will be more so please continue to read and please review and remember I own nothing.
Chapter 2
Rumpelstiltskin sat in the great hall at his wheel and for a moment it felt like all those years ago. He almost expected to feel her hands on his shoulders, her lips coming to graze his cheek and as the thought, the memory entered his mind he could swear he felt her. Turning his head he wanted to find her there next to him like he always had so many times over the last ten years, but his side was empty she was gone, his Belle was gone forever. Falling to his knees he howled in despair, his wife, his love, his Belle was dead and gone. He was brought back from his sorrow by the clearing of a throat and when he looked up tears covering his face like a mask, he saw Jefferson and Granny standing in the doorway.
"She is ready, it is time to bring her here to lie in state until the burial "whispered Granny her words so quiet had he not had exceptional hearing he wouldn't have heard a word she said. As she spoke Granny kept her eyes glued to the floor refusing to look at the dealmaker in his moment of sorrow; never in her life would she have thought she would see the all-powerful dark one cry. Rumpelstiltskin didn't move he remained silent and it wasn't until Jefferson approached him hauling him to his feet that he spoke.
" Jefferson I need a moment before I can see her, my Belle…my Belle like that " cried Rumpelstiltskin his entire body shaking unshed tears in his eyes as he looked at his friend a silent plea there for him to understand.
" Why don't you go out for a walk around the grounds, I'll come for you when everything is ready " whispered Jefferson putting his arm around the imps shoulders and leading his silent mourning form out of the room and out of the castle returning shortly after to help prepare the great hall for its lady's eternal rest. As Rumpelstiltskin moved along the grounds of the dark castle he felt nothing only the despair, the loneliness that came with the death of his beauty.
It was a cold winter day, but the imp felt no chill, the only thing he could think of was Belle, he still loved her and he felt that love even though she was gone. He had meant what he said to her as she lay dying, he would love her for the rest of his days, he would never love another, and he would never let her memory fade. She would be remembered by their children and him; they would not forget her. Before he knew it he found himself in the garden, her garden.
"Belle "whispered Rumpelstiltskin her name leaving his lips as if in a prayer as he stood in this place she had loved so much; every rose and plant was still in bloom despite the chill of the winter air, he had used magic to ensure he garden always remained in its full beauty and as he sat on their bench of cold stone in the center of this oasis he remembered her joy at the sight of the forever blooming flowers. He cut a single rose from a nearby bush looking down at it as he held it in his hand.
"Belle "cried Rumpelstiltskin a million memories flying through his mind in that moment, memories of their life together and as he thought of them he couldn't explain it, but he could still feel her with him, he had felt her since the moment she had dead, but eveytime he turned to search for her she wasn't there and now in this place where they had rejoiced and spent many a happy time he felt her more than ever.
"I miss you Belle "cried Rumpelstiltskin his body shaking without control as he cried in his misery his eyes remaining on the forever in bloom rose he held remembering a moment long ago when he had offered her a rose and she had accepted it not knowing at the time that it was her betrothed, the brute she had almost been forced to marry. Jefferson appeared out of nowhere and nothing was said between them as his friend approached placing a hand on his shoulder silently telling him it was time to say goodbye, it was time to lay his beauty, his Belle to rest.
" Please someone give me strength " thought Rumpelstiltskin as he stood moving with the hatter back toward the front of the castle and then suddenly they were there standing in the doorway of the great hall; he could see her lying in her deathly silence silhouetted in the darkness of the room. He had been a coward his entire life and it took all his courage to move from the doorway into the room where she lay.
Belle looked as beautiful in death as she had in life and if he hadn't of known any better he would have thought she was only sleeping. She wore a beautiful midnight blue dress with cap sleeves, a long flowing skirt with an empire waist. Her hands were folded peacefully across her waist and her long chestnut curls were fanned out along the pillow her head rested upon. The two men stood in silence side by side looking down at her as she lay shrouded in death. The castle seemed to sense the loss of its mistress, it had grown dark and had it not been for the candles that flickered around them they would have stood in complete darkness.
"Should I get the children, so they can say goodbye "asked Jefferson tears moving down his cheeks as he gazed down at the lady of the dark castle; he would miss her she had been one of his dearest and most beloved friends?
" No, she didn't want them to see her as she lay dying, she didn't want to be remembered in that way, she wouldn't want them to see her like this, she wouldn't want to be remembered as a cold, lifeless corpse she wanted to be remembered as she was, they can say their goodbyes once she is already buried " whispered Rumpelstiltskin his voice cracking as he spoke shaking his head vigorously as he held in his tears moving to stand closer to the dais on which she lay. He tried without success to hold back his tears, but he could not do it, not when she laid there the reality finally coming to slap him in the face; this wasn't a nightmarish dream she was really gone, she was dead and now he would have to find a way to go on without her by his side, but in that moment he just couldn't imagine a life without her. The rose that had come from her garden was still in his hand held tightly between his fingertips and continuing to let the tears move down his face he placed it on her chest.
"I love you Belle, I don't know what to do without you here to guide me "whispered Rumpelstiltskin his body racked with sobs as he spoke causing him to fall to his knees before the dais where her body lay.
"What do I say to him now he has lost nearly everything he holds most dear, what do I say to comfort him now "thought Jefferson as he moved around the dais to stand on the opposite side as the imp kneeling next to it and gazing upon her face as it shone in the flickering candlelight before letting his eyes find those of the inconsolable dealmaker still unsure what he could do or say to his friend in that moment to comfort him in this time of great sorrow. However, there was something he knew he had to say not for Rumpelstiltskin, but for Belle. The hatter knew her spirit still roamed these halls and that she was most likely in this very room at that very moment watching over all of them and he hoped she was, that she would hear what he was about to say in her honor.
"Rumpel would you mind terribly if I said a few words to honor Belle "whispered Jefferson looking across at his friend watching as he met his gaze. Rumpelstiltskin took a shaky breathe fighting to control the sobs that wanted to burst forth and rack his entire body before looking at Jefferson as he nodded his consent and his thanks.
Jefferson looked at the still form that was Belle, his beloved friend a jagged breathe leaving his body as the words he wanted to say formed in his mind fueled by his many memories of this beloved, sweet, caring, exquisite lady. "The first time I ventured into this castle I immediately knew why it was called the dark castle; it was filled with darkness "began Jefferson.
" Then one day I came here and something was very different, this castle was filled with light, a light that you brought when you came here Belle " continued Jefferson taking a shaky breathe as he held back his own tears at the loss of his friend.
" You were the bravest person I've ever known, you had a courage I've never seen in another, you had the courage to come here and not only bring light to the dark castle, but to the man that dwelled within, you had the courage to show him that he wasn't what he believed himself to be, but so much more and you loved him "exclaimed Jefferson hearing Rumpel's strangled sobs knowing his words had caused them, but in that moment he couldn't stop he had to go on only giving the imp a sad melancholy smile that he returned halfheartedly before they both looked at Belles lifeless form once more.
" You loved him from beginning to end, everyone who ever knew you loved you, you were a friend to anyone you ever met, a friend to those in need, you were never anything, but kind to those around you, you were a friend who would listen, give your advice without judgment, you left your heart open to those who needed your love whether they wanted it or not, you were a wife who loved her husband, who picked him up whenever he fell, who stood by his side come what may, you devoted your life, your love, and everything that you were to him " cried Jefferson no longer able to hold back his own tears as they came running down his face like an unstoppable rain memories flashing through his mind, his eyes still locked with Rumpel's as he nodded in agreement to every word he spoke.
" You were a mother who loved her children unconditionally, who loved and protected them like a fierce lioness, you nurtured them, you filled them with your love, your devotion and you never ever let them forget about the strength of the love you had for them, you never let a single being you let into your heart forget your love for them " exclaimed Jefferson drawing a final excruciating breathe as he prepared to bring his honorable words to this much loved lady to a close. "And finally you were an angel in life and I have no doubt you will be an angel in death, a guardian angel, you will no doubt be watching over us all, you will be our guardian angel and we will love you for the rest of our days, we will never forget you, and we will miss you dearly forever "cried Jefferson bringing his heartfelt words to a close.
All remained silent in the seconds after he was done speaking as his words sunk in their meaning and the loss of the lady they were for bringing fresh tears to the two men's eyes and then nothing was heard, but the sound of those tears. Finally the two men looked at each other and the imp nodded his head in silent thanks; the hatter's words had been perfect, they had described his Belle in all her entirety.
" Rumpel I know you have your own words to say I'll leave you alone with her now, but I'll be just out in the hallway if you need me " said Jefferson towering over the imp as he rose to his feet moving to stand next to him as he spoke.
"Yes thank you Jefferson you are a good friend I will forever be grateful for your presence here during this time, but could you please go check the children if I am in need of you I will come for you "gasped Rumpelstiltskin looking at the unmoving form that was his wife, his Belle trying to hold himself together, but failing miserably. When the double doors of the great hall closed behind the hatter he drew a cracked rasping breathe closing his eyes gathering the last vintages of strength he had left, he knew he would need them to say goodbye to her, his Belle the words forming in his mind as memory after loving memory flowed behind his closed lids. Opening his eyes once more they were filled with tears that slid down his cheeks and fell onto the dais she lay upon, but still his eyes never left her face wanting it all to be some cruel joke, some nightmarish dream, he wanted so badly for her to suddenly wakeup and give him that smile he loved so much, but she didn't she was gone, his beautiful bride, his Belle was gone and before he knew it he was once again racked with sobs over the loss of his great love his head falling onto the dais both his hands coming to take her cold lifeless one in his own. As he sat there in a crumpled pile crying hysterically he prayed for strength once more, he prayed for the strength to go on without her because in that moment he didn't know how, he didn't know how he was supposed to go on without her by his side to guard him, to love him, and to keep the darkness at bay. He didn't know how he was ever going to survive without her.
