SMOKE AND ASHES

Now in the Upperworld, Belle and Gold (in his imp-persona) have spent the night with the expatriated fairy Nova and dwarf Leroy. Nova has given them directions to the city and let them know it will take at least a day, if not two, to get there. Belle and Gold set off but when they stop for a picnic lunch, they are waylaid by dreamflowers, a noxious plant that causes all those not of fairy heritage to fall asleep (to their death). Belle manages to pull a drowsy Gold to safety. They continue on the path, walking along a river and it is in the late afternoon that Gold finds that Belle has abruptly disappeared. He searched in vain for her but, unable to locate her, he decides she most likely has been taken by the Fae and he elects to continue on his own to the city. He realizes he's being followed. He discovers it is a boy (who reminds him much of himself) and tempts the child into the safety of his shelter. He graciously shares his meager food with the child. He realizes that the child is being followed by someone with evil intent.

The Fae are watching him and are determined to test his true nature, anticipating that he will revert to his old ways before he can make it to the city.

Chapter 37

High Roads

+ + + + Babysitting

Their first twenty-hours together had gone smoothly. Elspeth had eaten some spaghettiO's (with little meatballs), taken a bath, sat quietly while she was read to and then turned in to sleep. Zelena had retired to one of the guestrooms of Gold's apartment.

Breakfast had turned into a shared enterprise with the two females working together to scramble eggs and fix toast. Elspeth then wandered off to spend some time finding Lovecraft who, for once, purred for her when she patted him, thrilling the little girl. Dressing herself in a little blue outfit, Elspeth played around with the television remote and channel surfed until she found a show she liked. When that got boring, Zelena suggested they take a walk around Asheville. Zelena took her into Mast General Store and got her a cute little red dress and some Fair-Isle patterned stockings. They then stopped at the Local Taco on Lexington for lunch (Elspeth got the veggie-dilla while Zelena got the grilled steak taco and the portabella taco with a side of jalapeno cole slaw. Elspeth then began to yawn and Zelena was able to get her back to The House for a nap.

Zelena sat on the sofa with Lovecraft (curled up in Gold's 'throne chair') in the living room. "This is more work than I thought I would be," she said to the cat. Lovecraft opened one of his golden eyes and regarded the . . . The Interloper (apparently there were two of them now in the cat's mind – The Little One and now This Big One).

"She's a cute kid. I wonder where Gold got her from. He said he just found her and took her in but she looks so much like Belle you almost wonder if there hadn't been some hanky-panky between those two four years ago . . . but," Zelena sighed, "I guess that would have been impossible." Zelena considered. She had heard that Belle was actually a-for-real-and-for-true princess who'd been locked up in a nut house for a couple of years. Zelena considered. What if somehow, Belle and Gold had met four years ago? Belle would have been under-aged but Zelena didn't think a little thing like that would have stopped Gold from seducing her—although now that she thought about it, she hadn't heard that seducing young innocent girls was his style. The man had been a paramour of her mother's for dearie's sake – and her mother was about as far from being young or innocent as one could be.

Zelena shrugged. Well she was a cute kid. No matter where she came from. And Zelena found herself dropping off into a nap.

She awoke with a start. Elspeth was standing in front of her . . . staring at her.

"Oh darling," Zelena exclaimed, "I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep."

"It snack time," Elspeth told her.

"Right," Zelena had struggled up. "What do we have here?"

"Nothing. We have to make some cookies," Elspeth told her.

"Make cookies?! I can't make cookies!" Zelena protested. "You have to have ingredients and stuff . . . and a recipe!"

"Look on the 'net. That's what Miss Belle does," Elspeth directed.

Zelena sighed. "What kind of cookies?"

"Oatmeal raisin," Elspeth responded without hesitation.

"Okay," Zelena agreed reluctantly and went back into the kitchen. She and Elspeth first went on online to find a recipe – not hard. They then worked together to find ingredients. They couldn't find any oatmeal or any raisins.

Elspeth quickly realized that oatmeal raisin cookies would not be forthcoming – not this afternoon anyway. Zelena, however had found some peanut butter and went back to the computer.

"How about we make some peanut butter cookies today and then we'll get the ingredients for the oatmeal raisin for another day?" she asked the child.

"Otay," Elspeth agreed. She had pulled a stool up to the counter so she could 'help.'

Zelena had never really cooked before so this was quite an experience. Together she and the child were able to measure and mix the ingredients and on a found cookie sheet they began baking the cookies. They found a rack to cool them and soon they had a first batch on their hands ready for eating.

"Take some to Unca Jeff," Elspeth announced. And, after finishing with the last batch and cleaning up, Zelena and Elspeth went downstairs to find Jefferson. He didn't answer in his apartment so they tried Emma's.

Jefferson answered the door and greeted Elspeth enthusiastically. "How's my little princess?" he asked.

"I's fine. I made you some cookies. Aunt Zelena helped."

"I'm impressed and honored," replied Jefferson taking a cookie to sample. "Delicious, the best cookie I've ever had," he pronounced.

Elspeth smiled and went and sat down in front of Emma's little television.

Jefferson sat back down on the sofa and soon enough Elspeth climbed into his lap. They snuggled together eating cookies and watching a cartoon.

Zelena envied Jefferson's easy style with the little girl.

"I've got a daughter," Jefferson mentioned to Zelena. "She lives with some relatives."

"Oh," Zelena answered. That was interesting. Why didn't she live with Jefferson?

It was going on for six when Zelena tried to get Elspeth something for supper but the child had become unexpectedly stubborn. She didn't want anything that Zelena suggested. Zelena was running out of ideas when Emma came in carrying a couple of bags.

"Well hello, "Emma greeted Elspeth. "You must be Elspeth."

"I must," Elspeth answered. "You pretty."

"Aren't you adorable? That's what I need to hear after a twelve hour shift."

Elspeth was intrigued by the bags that Emma had put on her counter. "Wass in the bags?" she asked.

"Sustenance. Nutrition. Food," Emma told her.

"Don't want none," Elspeth climbed down.

Emma looked at Zelena.

"She's just gotten into this mood. She was fine last night and all today. She's seems to be kinda down and is now refusing supper," Zelena explained.

"Oh," Emma said. "I have a guess what's wrong." She walked over to Elspeth. "Come here kid," she held out her hand to Elspeth. She picked her up and carried her back to her bedroom.

"You miss daddy and Miss Belle, don't you?"

"Uh huh," Elspeth quickly admitted and tear came into her eyes.

"You know they love you very much. And they're trying to get back to you as soon as they can," Emma told the child.

Elspeth nodded again, the tears beginning to drop.

"Come here," and Emma held out her arms and sat hugging the child. "Do you want to spend the night here, with me and Zelena?" she asked.

"Otay," Elspeth answered, wiping her nose on Emma's shoulder. "I hungry now."

"Great," Emma led her back to the kitchen. "I stopped at Zaxby's and got a whole bunch of chicken fingers and French fries and a little cole slaw."

"We in business," Jefferson said and the four chowed down. Emma then offered the child one of her tank tops to sleep in and they found a sit-com to watch together. Elspeth returned to sitting on Jefferson's lap and soon fell asleep. He carried her to Emma's bed and laid her down.

"She'll be ok here?" he asked.

"I think so. She's missing Gold and Belle."

"How can anyone miss Gold?" Jefferson asked.

Emma smiled, "Oh, he has a certain charm."

+ + + + + The First Test

Gold awoke to find the fire had burned down to embers. The rock he had slept on was no softer than when he had laid down upon it but it had gotten colder as the heat he had pulled into it had dissipated over the night. He stomach growled and he realized that if he was hungry then the boy was likely close to starving. He considered the risk but opted to fetch a couple of hen eggs and a potato to fix for himself and the child for breakfast – hang the noise, if he were detected well, so be it. It was for a good purpose. He took his knife and chopped the potato up and then cut one of the hard rolls into thin slices. Using the single sturdy pot that Nova bless her had packed and a renewed campfire, he was able to fry the potatoes, toast the bread and then scramble the eggs. He set the meal out for himself and the child. The child stirred and sat up. He ran his fingers through his hair and came out from the crude shelter.

"For me?" he asked Gold in wonderment.

"Well, you'll need your strength if we're going to find your way back home."

The child shoveled the food into his mouth. "You're very nice," Wart told him. "Nicer than my foster parents. Do you have any kids?"

"I have one little girl. She's younger than you. Just three . . . and kinda mouthy."

The boy smiled. "You miss her?" he asked.

"Very much," Gold admitted, realizing that little Elspeth had already gotten under his skin.

"Hope you get to see her soon," the boy told him, as he finished up his breakfast. "This was the best breakfast I ever had," the boy added.

"Glad you liked it," Gold was growing concerned. The child was obviously not fed well, not taken care of, was unloved and who knows what else. He had begun to wonder . . . .

"I really want to go back home," Wart told him. "They really don't treat me so badly and my foster father has promised me that he will train me to become a knight one day. I just have to wait until I'm ready."

Become a knight? Just where was this kid from? "Well I hope that happens soon," Gold told him. He took down the alarm screen that he had cast last night and began packing up. He walked back down to the river with the child. They followed the river until the water widened and Wart recognized The Lake that belonged to his Lady. He broke into a run and retrieved his fishing pole where he'd left in near the water.

Gold could feel their trackers behind them.

"This is where The Lady lives. Under the water," the child explained. "I must have put my pole down when she came and started talking to me. She tells me all kinds of stories."

"Like what?" Gold asked the child, interested in what the water witch might be telling this child.

"That my father was a king and that one day I'll be a king too. But I have to work hard and study hard first."

"A king. That's a lot to look forward to." And if it's true, then it would explain why an apparent peasant child might have some real enemies. "Now, do you think you'll get in trouble for being out for the night?" Gold asked him, not about the alarm the child.

The boy nodded, "Unless I could bring home a bunch of fish. They might like that."

"Well, shall we see what we can do?" Gold asked him and he laid a quick enchantment on the business end of the fishing pole. "Why don't you try it again?"

He watched and Wart twitched the line into the water and almost immediately came up with a fish.

"Wow, that's a big one!" Wart took it off the hook and threw the line back in the water.

And again he almost immediately caught a fish. This happened several more times and soon Wart had a large mess of fish.

He was jumping up and down, smiling. "They'll be happy with this! I know it!" Then the child's face fell. He was looking beyond Gold and Gold knew, without turning, that the two followers had made their presence known.

"Move away imp and you won't get hurt," one of the men, a large burly fellow, growled out.

"Imp? Imp! Am I?" Gold sounded offended and quickly stepped aside, as always, light on his feet. They were wielding iron weapons, heavy broad swords. He briefly considered frying them both. It would be easy enough to do – his dark energy was well available to him for such actions. It would take care of the situation, but . . . Belle wouldn't like it if he killed them outright. She would want him to try to find out why they were there. If they needed help. And so forth.

All right, then there was also the likely probability that if these two were simply disposed of, then more would come. He needed to stop the assassins from stalking the kid.

"Move aside," the other man spoke up. This one was a little brighter. He obviously recognized Gold as a magic user.

"Or. . . or what?" Gold was enjoying himself. It had been awhile since he'd been involved in a hand-to-hand fray.

"We'll slice your head off," said the first man.

"Like this?" and the illusion was too easy he lifted his head off his shoulders. Then he vanished.

The two men stood gaping.

"Witchery!" said the first man.

The other man scoffed, "Of course it's witchery! What did you think it was? We can't fight him!"

Gold materialized behind the larger first man. "But perhaps we can dance together," he twirled the other man around to face him and using his magic pulled the sword from his hand, sending it flying up and arcing into the lake. The man was ill-advised enough to take a swing at him which he easily avoided.

"Not up for it? Pity. I'll guess you'll have to sit this one out." And he waved his hand sending the other man flying backwards to land on his backside.

"You," he motioned to the other man, the one with more sense. "Who do you work for?"

The man hesitated and Gold rolled his eyes, "You're on an excursion into Fairyland – you're obviously not from around here. So," he waved his fingers theatrically, "one. more. time. Who do you work for?"

"Morgana," the man muttered.

Gold stepped back. He knew her – there was a little history between them. Modest power – no real threat to him. "Dear, dear Morgana. Give her a message for me." And he made another exaggerated gesture, "She's not to take any more . . . steps against the boy here. Tell her, Rumplestiltskin will be watching." He turned to the brighter man, "Do you have that name right?"

"Rumpus . . . Rumpleshilt . . .

"Rrrumplestiltskin," he repeated his name, trilling the 'R.' "She knows me well. Let her know my father has recently met his demise and I have assumed his position in Undertown. That should give the little bitch pause."

The man stood gaping at him.

"Run off, run along now. I'm tried of dealing with you. And take him with you," he gestured at the brawny man who still struggling to get back to his feet.

He watched with some satisfaction as the two men scurried off. He watched the direction they went, assuming they would be heading back to the portal that had brought young Wart over. He went over to the child.

"Well, let's go find that portal," Gold told him. The child was looking at him with eyes as wide as saucers.

"You can do magic!"

"Well, yes," Gold admitted. "I thought you knew."

"I guess I didn't think about it," confessed the child.

"You all right with it?" Gold asked him.

"Yes. I guess magic can be used for good or for evil."

Gold stood still a moment, "Yes, yes it can," he agreed.

They began walking around the lake until little Wart saw a path that he thought he recognized that fit with the path the two assassins had followed. They went down it and soon enough Gold saw the portal, a glittering outline set near the path.

"Here, Wart," he told the child. "You go through there and that should get you home."

Wart hesitated but then, fish and all, flung his arms around Gold, "Thank you sir. Hey, if I ever become king, you can ask me for a favor."

"I'll keep that in mind," Gold told him. "And if it doesn't work out, look me up again. I live in Asheville in a pawn shop on Lexington. You can come and live with me."

"Thanks," said the child and off he went in through the portal.

Gold stood a moment. Once the child went through, Gold walked around the portal. It was quite different from others that he'd encountered. He cautiously reached out and touched it, fully prepared to jerk his hand back if he needed to. But the magic that came off the portal wasn't Fae magic. It was something much older. This portal had a sense not just of distance, but of time. Could it go not only to another place but to another time? That would make sense – he had known Morgana a long time ago. He considered but quickly backed away from asking the Lady of the Lake for any assistance.

+ + + + Judgement

"So he passed the first test, My Queen."

"He did. He helped someone when there was no benefit in it for himself. And he did it without killing anyone."

"You weren't expecting him to manage it, were you?"

"Frankly no. The Rumple I knew would have never helped the child and would have fried those would-be assassins if they had gotten in his way."

"Do you have to do the rest of the tests? This second one could kill him."

"If he dies, then so be it."

+ + + + + Water Magic

He again found himself backtracking and it was noon before he had regained the camp from the previous night. He stopped a moment to finish off the food Nova had packed and went down the hillside into the trees. He had just been able to see the lights of the fairy city the night before so he knew he was getting close.

He ventured into the woods, striding along the trail, hyper-vigilante. It had started to get cold. As he walked on he began to feel small drops of rain. A chill wind began blowing in. He stopped and pulled out two of the blankets, folding them narrowly and draping one across each shoulder. He fastened his belt around them to hold them in place. It served as a makeshift coat, keeping his core warm.

The evening darkness seemed to be coming on quickly and with the lack of sunlight, the temperature began to drop precipitously. The rain became harder, steadier and he began to feel small pellets of sleet hit his face and hands. The occasional flake of snow came down.

He smiled in the face of the increasingly hostile weather. Another effort by Ruel to delay him, no doubt. He would have to stop, build a shelter and a fire and wait out the storm.

He put up a shelter, using a log propped on a stump, throwing a blanket over it and then piling it with pine straw. It took him more than an hour working on his own in the cold, wet weather. By the time he finished it was snowing, a hard driving snow already setting up in drifts around him. He put himself inside his shelter, and wrapped the three remaining blankets around himself. He'd tried starting a fire but there was such a heavy combination of wet logs and stupefying fairy magic that it dulled his own talents. At best, he was able to pull a little heat from the earth, but with the ensuing blizzard, there was less and less heat to pull in.

He was going to need some help if he were to survive.

+ + + + Maurice Begins an Adventure

Maurice French had come to Asheville. He had opted to dress in military green fatigue pants and a plain white cotton shirt. He wore plain black socks and black army boots. He looked like a veteran of some older war. He got a room at a low-end chain motel and rented an inexpensive Ford Focus to get around. Cogsworth had insisted on accompanying him. Maurice had had his chief police officer dress in blue jeans and a tee-shirt. Cogsworth had never looked more uncomfortable or out of place.

"I want to walk around," Maurice had told him. "By myself."

"Sire, I don't think it's a good idea. . . " Cogsworth began.

"But if I go out with you, you'll call me Sire or something worse. The last thing I want is to get outed. I just want to check out the town. I'm sure you can get your people watching over me from a safe distance. I'll walk around, maybe go and check out that little pawn shop."

"But sire, you heard my latest report that Gold and the Princess have just disappeared. They were tailed down to a little tea house and a taco restaurant on this Lexington Street and they just disappeared."

"Well sounds like I won't run into them in the pawn shop." He added a Tilley hat to his attire. "And I want to check out these little places on Lexington. They didn't just drop out of existence."

"But sire. . . " Cogsworth tried to think of another argument but was temporarily stymied. He gave in, "Very well."

And Maurice began his own explorations of downtown Asheville.

His own magical talents were skimpy and entire latent. They had never been addressed or developed and he was completely unaware that he had any talents. There was just that touch of Empathy and likely some small amount of precognition but, lacking training, his skills were not just unrecognized but wild and unpredictable. Nonetheless, the atmosphere of the town coupled with his paternal desire to see his child again caused every vestige of ability that he had to begin to coalesce as he wandered around the town. Unwittingly he began to tap into the powerful lei lines of magical energy that ran under the town.

He gone down Broadway and turned onto Walnut. He stopped as he came to Carolina Lane. He was drawn to the odd street and cautiously went down the single lane alley. He stopped as he neared one of the nondescript storefronts.

It was most unsavory, dark and murky. He went on. He came out onto Hiawassee and walked down to Lexington, and from there directly to the pawn shop.

He stopped and considered. Why not go in? A tall, handsome young man sat behind the counter.

"Looking for anything in particular?" The young man had looked up from his reading.

"No, not really. Just browsing. Interesting eclectic collection of things," Maurice remarked.

"It is that. All manner of antiques, estate sales, re-sales and pawned items. It's a bit dusty right now. The young woman who helps keep it clean is on a break."

"Pity that," Maurice responded. He wandered the shop. This was the kind of place his daughter would like, full of treasures, old books and tiny precious things. Even Maurice, stunted in magic as he was, could feel the energies coming off many of the objects. He wandered around the shop, thinking he felt Belle's lingering presence but also telling himself that he wanted to sense his daughter and was most likely just convincing himself of what he wanted to feel and hear.

"Lovely shop," he said on his way out. "May have to come back. Thank you."

Jefferson, the tall handsome young man behind the counter, thought it odd. It did happen, but usually anyone who came into the shop ended up buying something. It was the nature of the place to beckon to those that were needful.

He shrugged. It happened.

Maurice now found his way back down Lexington and stopped at the store Virtue. This area of town was much more attractive than the narrow lane he'd explored before. Next to the store he found an iron gate that seemed to go up into a garden. He was fascinated by the arrangement. Wistfully, he put his hand on one of the upright bars and was surprised when the gate opened.

Maurice hesitated. Logical thinking was telling him to push the gate closed and return to the hotel room, having had enough exploring for one day. But intuitive thinking was telling to go through the gate.

He hesitated another moment. Well, why not? It probably just went up into somebody's little garden. He'd go up, turn around and come back.

Then go back to his hotel room.

He stepped through.

+ + + + + Awakening

Belle slowly became aware that she was not where she remembered, not where she thought she was,

For one thing she was warm. She was quite comfortably warm. She eyes blinked open. She was lying in an overly soft bed lying under a soft white coverlet. The room was white, the curtains white, the sheets and pillowcases white. Belle lifted herself up onto her elbows and looked out. The bed was a four-poster make of some light wood – Belle guessed maple. As Belle sat up, she saw there was the same light wood making up the floor. There was a plush white carpet on the floor. Belle looked down – she was now dressed in a light blue dress, a simple a-line frock.

Gold! Where was Gold?

The last thing she remembered was walking along the river bank, stepping over roots and rocks, following closely behind Gold. They were making good progress and expected to be up out of the valley in a short time. Then everything had gone . . . dark . . . and blank.

Belle calmed herself. She knew Gold would be looking for her. She knew he wouldn't give up on her. She believed in him.

He loved her.

He had told her so.

She closed her eyes and reached out to him.

Everything was murky and squishy, soft and dark and . . . she wasn't able to get a grip on anything. He was alive, she could tell that much but she couldn't quite touch him. She felt he was cold, wherever he was. She shivered. In his reptilian form he was particularly susceptible to cold. She briefly considered transporting herself to him, but knew that would be a chancy move . . . one that Gold would not approve of . . . even in the current difficult situation.

She would save that move in case she had to, if there was no other choice.

Instead she did her best to send him some warmth, some very warm thoughts, toasty dreams, hot desires.

She got out of the bed and looked around to find her golden slippers which she put on. She looked out the window. It was just before sunrise. In the diffuse morning light she could see the grounds were beautiful with patterned brick paths winding through flower beds and graceful trees. She guessed she was on about the third floor. She debated if she'd be able to hike out the window and shimmy down the side of the house, using the drainpipe or whatever she could get a grip on. Second floor, maybe, but not the third floor.

The only other way out was the single door.

Belle took a deep breath. She needed to face whatever was outside of the door. She pulled her hair back, steeled her backbone and opened the door.

It opened onto a hallway. More wood floors, more whitewashed walls. A lot of natural light. No pictures, no plants, the place had a sterile feel. There was no one in the hall. Belle slipped out and began walking down the hallway toward what she hoped was the front door. She found a set of stairs and made her way down two flights without seeing anyone. She wasn't quite sure where she would go if she made it out of the building but she did feel it was important she get out. She came out of the stairwell into another hallway and, keeping to one side of the hallway, she slowly made her way down towards what she hoped was the front of the building.

She heard voices and stopped. These were women's voice, well, she corrected, Fae voices. She began walking slowly and saw that she was coming out into a large public room with tall windows. She could see several women sitting in a circle in plain wooden chairs doing fine needlework.

She froze.

"Belle!" she heard someone call her name. "Princess Belle," another voice called her.

Oh darn! Apparently they were expecting her. She put a smile on her face and walked towards the group. There were five women there including Marilyn who was smiling brightly at her.

"So good to see you again, Belle," Marilyn stood and greeted her.

"Marilyn. Nice to see you," Belle wasn't sure what was up.

"Here now, you must meet some of the other Fae," Marilyn took one of Belle's hands and led her into the circle. "This is Amaryllis, the Flower Fairy, Opal, the Stone Fairy, and Cinder, the Fire Fairy and of course," she turned Belle to look at the one woman who had had her back to her. . .

Belle looked into sincere pale brown eyes. "Mother?" she said tremulously.

The woman stood and came over to Belle. She and Belle were about the same height, both petite women. The woman was smiling but her eyes had filled with tears.

"Belle, my baby Isabelle?"

"Yes. You're Miranda?"

"Yes, dear. I'm Miranda. I'm your mother," and the two women embraced. When they pulled apart Miranda patted Belle. "Come walk with me. You must have a thousand questions."

"Why did you leave?" Belle asked first thing.

Miranda dropped her gaze. "Oh, the hardest question first," Miranda told her. "No doubt you think of the Fae as flighty, insensitive women who seduce mortal men and then abscond into the night, leaving behind any offspring. Oh my dear, I wish it were that we were just so cruel. What we have to do would hurt less." Miranda smiled at Belle. "We are only able to spend, at best, a year in the mortal world. If we stay any longer we begin to fade. I certainly didn't want to leave your father and I stayed longer than I should have. It took me years to fully recover."

"So why come into the mortal world at all if it is so perilous?" Belle asked.

Miranda sighed. "We get called by the mortal world, sometimes by events, but most often by a mortal. Your father, he was the one who called to me. I can't quite explain it, but I knew there was this remarkable man out there." Miranda stopped walking a moment. "I never thought it would go so far as marriage but it seemed so right. I certainly never thought I would get pregnant. It happens so rarely to our kind. I was so excited to be so blessed – I . . . I actually considered chancing staying with your father. It was so wonderful." Miranda turned now so that she was facing Belle. "You turned out so lovely. And I . . . I understand that you have manifested a rare, rare gift."

Belle looked at this woman, so calm, so serene. It was hard not to believe her.

"Why didn't you try to get in touch with me earlier? I've had such a difficult time," Belle told her.

"I should have," the older woman said regretfully. "I absolutely should have. . . but I guess, I. . . I was afraid. I had no idea how you would accept that I was still alive, that I was Fae. Oh Belle, I look back and I think how much time we wasted. But you are here now. And," the woman's eye caught Belle's necklace. "You still wear my necklace. I'm touched."

"You should know mother," Belle began. "I'm not traveling alone."

"Really?" the older woman stopped. "Tell me about him."

"You assume it's a man?" Belle asked.

"Oh yes," the woman smiled at her, "You have the look of a young woman in love."

Thanks so much to my wonderful reviewers and all those others who are following this story: OUATWhoLock, thedoctorsgirl42, RaFire, orthankg1, Robin4, CharlotteAshmore, spacecats, deweymay, Anne Andrews (Guest), crazykat77, Onitsu Blackfeather, MyraValhallah, jewel415, Erik'sTrueAngel, Grace5231973, and Aletta-Feather

Special thanks to DruidKitty who read and reviewed: 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28 & 29 (whew!)

NEXT: Gold deals with the second test

Maurice makes progress