A/N: Ethereal_Wishes prompted: Belle has an accident in Rumpel's workshop and he has to take care of her.

VII

Keep Out! (Part One)

Belle knocked smartly on the door, balancing the tea tray on her left arm. It was past time for his afternoon respite from whatever it was he did all day, yet he hadn't appeared in the Great Hall as he usually did. She was taking a rather big chance trekking all the way up to his workshop in the tower, as it was forbidden. After an afternoon of cleaning the solarium and setting it to rights, she was tired and dirty and wanted nothing more than to soak in a hot tub before she started dinner preparations. She wasn't in the mood to be scolded, but she also didn't want him to think she was shirking her duties because he couldn't show up on time.

She huffed a stray lock of hair away from her brow and set the tray on the floor at her feet, her hand hesitating on the knob. Her eyes gave a roll as his voice filtered through her mind with a list of rules. Number one … Do not try to leave the castle. As if she would, she snorted. She'd given her word, but her master wasn't the type to give his trust easily.

Number two … Do not touch master's things. Pfft! And just how was she supposed to clean if she couldn't touch his vast treasures? Number three … Never – under any circumstances – was she to go into his workshop unless she was accompanied by her master. He'd actually had the gall to wag his finger under her nose when relaying that particular rule. There were other lesser rules, but those were the most important which were never far from her mind.

Quite the dilemma. Disobey his rules or sit through a scolding – albeit not her fault! – for shirking her duty? It didn't sit well with her to just leave the tray outside the door. What if there were mice roaming the halls? The door eased open under her light touch. Just a crack, but enough for her to see inside.

Belle's inquisitive gaze swept about the tower room, widening as she took in the myriad sights, sounds and smells which greeted her. Excitement coursed through her, and the door opened a little more, giving her a better view. She bit her lip, nibbling thoughtfully as she glanced between the room and the tea tray. Perhaps if she brought it in and set it upon his worktable? What could be the harm in that. She'd wait for him, and if he didn't appear within a reasonable time, she would return it to the kitchen. That plan seemed perfectly logical to her.

Hefting the tray back into her hands, she took a tentative step into the room. When no form of magic – dark or otherwise – attacked her for the intrusion, she hurried to put the tray on the table. Her fingers twitched and fidgeted as she backed away to the middle of the room. She wouldn't touch anything, she promised herself. She'd show her wily master he could trust her. Belle knew she could satisfy her curiosity without touching anything.

One wall housed a tall cabinet with glass windows where she could see numerous vials with glistening multicolored potions on several shelves. On another she could see containers of ingredients he must have used to make them. There was one shelf which had her wrinkling her nose. Slimy creatures in tall jars swimming about in their solutions, staring back at her with sightless eyes. She lost interest in the cabinet rather quickly.

What really drew her attention was the wall of books which seemed to beckon her forward. She skirted around the bubbling cauldron with its crackling purple flames and came to stand before the bookcase, her fingers itching to pull them from the shelves. Quickly, she stomped on her desire to investigate. These were surely her master's spell books and magical tomes. He wouldn't appreciate her perusing them.

With a sigh of defeat, she moved to his worktable and sat down upon the stool. As much as she'd love to have the freedom to explore, she didn't want to disappoint her master. She'd been at the Dark Castle barely two weeks, and it hadn't been what she would call easy. He no longer locked the door to her cell every night, realizing she would hold true to her word she wouldn't try to leave. Oh, he still tried to frighten her at every opportunity, but she was coming to see it as a way to seek her attentions.

It seemed her master was just as lonely as she was. After he'd given her the library and spent such a lovely evening with her, she could no longer believe the things she'd heard of him in Avonlea. She was sure he was a formidable beast with those he dealt with – he had a reputation to uphold, after all – but she could see past his mask to the man beneath. He wasn't fooling her. They had the chance to form a tentative friendship, more than master and servant if given time. That thought brought a smile to her lips.

Belle had just decided to return the tray to the kitchen, her hands reaching for it when her eyes spied the innocuous purple orb on its black wrought iron stand hidden behind a brace of candles. Her lips parted in a silent gasp as she ducked her head closer to get a better look. It wasn't much bigger than a marble, but it glowed with an ethereal light which called out to her. Mesmerized, she reached out, snatching her hand back at the last moment. She really shouldn't. What if her master returned and found her meddling with his things … in his workroom … which was strictly forbidden to her?

But it was so pretty …

What would be the harm?

Belle's fingers inched closer, her will stolen from her. She had to touch it. Her blood sang with joy as she lifted it into her palm, cupping one hand beneath the other as she brought it closer to her face to inspect it.

"Belle! What are you doing in –" Rumpelstiltskin bellowed, standing in the doorway working himself into a fine rage … until he saw his little maid's discovery. The blood drained from his green gold skin, leaving him a sickly yellow, panic clouding his eyes. "NO!"

A/N: Oh, I'm just awful, aren't I? Thankfully, part two will be posted tomorrow. Hope you're all enjoying this daily dose of Rumbelle :D Thanks so much for reading!