II

A Chipped Cup

The deep frown marring Rumpelstiltskin's brow deepened as the little princess hurried from the room. His new caretaker was confounding to his unshakable constitution. He hadn't felt a bit of remorse for locking her in the dungeon upon her arrival. He couldn't very well let her roam about the fortress before he'd had a chance to ward it to prevent her from escaping.

He didn't want to view her as a prisoner. She was his treasure, albeit one who would earn her keep. Belle had howled at the injustice of being locked away. She'd given her word to stay with him, and she believed it should be enough. Yet, the Dark One wasn't known for trusting those unfortunate souls he dealt with. Given the opportunity, they would try to find some way to go back on the deals he made with them.

He'd felt supremely smug when his list of demands had shaken her unflappable mein. For the first time he'd seen a hint of fear behind her eyes. Good … for she needed to fear her wily master. She'd been startled into dropping the cup she'd just filled with tea. He wasn't worried about the stain, nor the sizable chip in the porcelain. They could both be seen to with a bit of magic. She'd dropped to her knees, angling the cup to minimize the chip, but he'd seen through her. What he couldn't understand was why it had mattered so much to her. It was just a cup.

The relief, which flooded her when he brushed the mishap away, confirmed his nagging suspicions. Despite her outward bravado, deep down she was afraid of him. That was what he'd been waiting for! Of course, she would be fearful of the monster. It was as it should be. If she could see how intrigued he was by her, she would run roughshod all over him. Intrigued … and a bit confused. Maybe it was due to the fact he hadn't been near such innocence in a very long time. The gods knew the women he dealt with were far from innocent and pure as the princess was.

Did the girl really believe he would hurt her? That thought unsettled him, for he wasn't in the habit of abusing women. Despite the darkness ingrained in his soul, he could never harm a woman in his care, and whether he would come to regret it or not, she was very much his. One thing he knew for certain, he wouldn't be bored.

Rumpelstiltskin was torn from his reverie as she carefully made her way back into the Great Hall. His lips quirked appreciatively at the soft sway of her hips. He doubted she could know the affect her beauty had on him. "And what, pray tell, did you find for me in the pantry, dearie?" he drawled in a dark tone. He wasn't about to allow her to cook for him. The results surely wouldn't be pleasant. She'd either burn the kitchen down or likely poison him, neither prospect appealing to him.

"There wasn't much to choose from, so I hope this will tempt your palate," she said, a hint of nervousness clinging to her dulcet tones. He waved her forward, and she set a plate before him filled with warm crusty bread and slices of roasted lamb and fragrant cheddar. It was meager fare, but more than he'd had at a single meal when …

He pushed the thought aside, his appetite waning considerably from the memories. He focused instead on the girl still standing stiffly at the table waiting for his orders. "This is fine. Go … find your own dinner and then return to your room. We'll discuss your duties more in the morning," he said tersely.

The princess curtsied to him in a show of respect. "My room as in –"

"The dungeon, yes," he snapped irritably. "Trust is to be earned, little Belle. It's not something I give freely."

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, yet she paused, studying him. He grew warm under her scrutinizing gaze, but he would not flee. He would not give her the satisfaction of letting her know she unsettled him.

Finally, she offered a tentative smile. "Goodnight … Master."

A shiver skittered along his spine as he watched her go. Perhaps he should have taken the gold after all.

A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying this so far. I'm rather excited with this project. 31 days of Rumbelle hope to take us through December. A Christmas present for the fandom? Lol. Yes, I can be pretentious at times :D Lemme know what you think and thanks for reading!