Rumpelstiltskin went inside the room, and his eyes turned wide at the scene before him. Maurice was laying on the floor, Gaston over him, looking worried. "What happened to the king?" Rumpelstiltskin demanded in a low tone, careful not to be loud enough for Belle to hear him.
"He just- fainted, sir." Gaston says tremulously. Rumpelstiltskin can tell that the knight is actually worried about the king, and so he nods. "Move away, Sir Gaston, and fetch smelling salts." He instructs. "Yes, Sir." Gaston says quickly, rushing out of the room.
Rumpelstiltskin crouches down, and bent over Maurice is how he remains for several moments. Finally, something changes. Maurice's eyes flicker open for a moment. "Careful, sire." Rumpelstiltskin said gently. "You fell. Stay still, alright?" Rumpelstiltskin's tone was gentle and comforting.
Maurice's eyes shut again, and Rumpelstiltskin worries that he's slipped unconscious again before the king's mouth opens. "R-Rumpelstiltskin."
"Yes, highness, it's me." Rumpelstiltskin confirms, taking the king's hand. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Will be. I- I made the wrong choice." Maurice tells him, and Rumpel's heart seizes in his chest.
"The wrong choice, sire?" he questions.
"The right choice for my daughter is you, Sir Rumpelstiltskin." Maurice says, and Rumpelstiltskin finds himself nodding. "Tell her… I changed my mind." he coughs.
Rumpelstiltskin nods shakily. "Yes, sire. T-thank you, sir. I promise not to disappoint." he vows, and Maurice was about to respond when Gaston rushes back into the room. "My betrothed wants to know what's going on, what should I tell her- sire?" He looks down to see Maurice's head cradled in Rumpelstiltskin's lap.
"The choice, Rumpelstiltskin. Tell him." Maurice coughs out, and Gods, if he wasn't a king, Rumpelstiltskin could have thrown something at him for giving this opportunity to him.
But luckily, at that moment, Belle breaks herself into the room. "Rumpelstiltskin! What in the gods name happened to my father? The oaf won't tell me anything!" She demands to know.
"'The oaf' is your betrothed," Gaston interjects. "You'd best not forget that."
Rumpelstiltskin feels Maurice squeeze his hand, and he nods. "Actually, Sir Gaston…" he manages to sound stronger than he feels. "The king has decided his choice in his daughter's betrothed was wrong. He has given me her hand in your stead."
Belle's eyes widen to the point of saucers, and she drops herself to her knees, her blue dress pooling around her as she takes Maurice's hand in hers. "Truly, papa?" she demands.
Rumpelstiltskin nodded jerkily. He takes Belle's other hand in his, then affords Gaston a glance. "If you would excuse us." he says regally, feeling stronger just by holding Belle's hand in his. Belle is squeezing his hand tightly, so tight he's afraid she's going to cut off circulation, but he doesn't stop her.
He loves it far too much, to be embraced by Belle.
"You took my feelings into consideration." Belle states, looking down at her father with awe in her eyes.
"I realised I had to. Your betrothed will be the king after me, and you will need someone you can trust. Of course that would be Rumpelstiltskin." Maurice explains, his voice quiet.
Belle nods quickly, and looks away from her father to glance at her new betrothed. "There's no one I trust more." She whispers. Maurice smirks, looking at the two in amusement. "Not even me, daughter?"
Rumpelstiltskin blushed a little, leaning to place his forehead against hers, stealing a chaste kiss.
Belle giggles, and leans against his chest as they look down at her father, who is staring at them in amazement. "Father," she begins softly. "Long ago, when I was a young girl, you told me perhaps one day I would find someone who would take my Papa's place as the man in my life… I didn't believe it then. But I know now - It's Rumpelstiltskin." She murmurs.
"I don't know how I didn't see it before. There must be something there, that wasn't." Maurice said quietly.
Belle rolls her eyes, and looks down at her father intently. "It's always been there Papa, we've cared for each other for… for ages." She can't even truly name the time she realised she cared for her Knight. "And Papa?" she says cheerfully.
"Yes, daughter," Maurice questions her. She leans down and whispers in his ear something that makes him turn white. "Yes, daughter." he whispers, looking at her in shock.
"Now, we'll call for the physician and Rumpelstiltskin will walk me around the rose garden." Belle says, in that same, cheerful voice.
"Yes, love." Rumpelstiltskin agrees, kissing her head. "I'd love to."