Writer's note: Sorry for the short chapters! My attention span sucks, so short chapters work better for me XD Thanks to everyone who's reading! Hope you all are enjoying so far, because I surely am!
"Hold your breath and don't be surprised if you black out" he warned her. Belle looked at him confused, but didn't care to question it.
Rumpelstiltskin wrapped his hands around her forearms, and began to speak in a strange tongue. Belle heard water moving as if a wave from the ocean was rolling toward them. She forgot to hold her breath as water flooded her mouth and nose. Chocking, she clutched the front of his shirt, shutting her eyes so tight her cheeks hurt. He pulled her closer as she felt herself begin to go limp.
It was over in a matter of seconds, but it felt like hours as they were transported back to Dark Castle. Belle crumpled to the floor, coughing heavily. Rumpelstiltskin held her shoulders from behind to keep her from sprawling totally on the hard stony floor of his tower. She breathed in deep a few times before trying to get up. Am arm was around her middle as he helped her to her feet.
"You came for me" Belle said hoarsely, leaning against his chest. Tears filled her eyes as realization hit that she was truly safe. Safe with him. A foreign thought only a few months before. He pulled her close to him again, careful not to jar her wounded back. She grasped his collar, crying into his chest. He stayed silent as she let loose of the emotions inside her.
"You need to be tended to, my dear" he said, gently, more gentle than she'd ever heard him sound. "before the wound becomes infected."
Belle only nodded. He took her by the hand, leading her down the long, winding staircase to the large bathing chamber. He instructed her to sit on the edge of the long, tiled tub as he retrieved clean rags and bandages. What a sight he was rushing about searching for what he needed to clean the burn, all to take care of her. She wished to watch more intently, but pain and weariness were getting the better of her. She could feel her eyes dropping then-
"Uh uh uh, dearie, don't fall asleep yet or you'll fall right into the tub." His lighthearted tone was back, but it didn't reach his face.
He sat behind her and told Belle to lift her shirt. She did, wrapping her arms around herself, slightly self conscious that he would see more of her than he ever had. She winced and let out a hiss as Rumpelstiltskin cleaned the burn with a wet clothe. He applied a creamy ointment to the affected area then wrapped a wipe clothe around Belle's middle, staying the clothe together with clips.
Belle let out a sigh of relief when he was done, the ointment already easing the intense sting. "What did you put on it?"
Rumpel stood, stepping in front of her. "Just something that always comes in handy." He needn't go into detail how he acquired the healing ointment. Just a prize from one of his deals. "Come, you need your rest." He held out a hand to help her stand.
"Why are you doing this for me?" Belle asked as he led her down the dim corridors. "I thought you never wanted to see me again."
The comment hurt, but Rumpel didn't show it in his reply. "There's no need for talk like that at the moment, Belle. There will be plenty of time after you sleep. You look awful, dearie" he threw in, mischievously.
They walked into a lavish room, and Belle realized it was his very own bed chambers. Her eyes widened in confusion. "But this is your-"
He placed a finger on her lips. "And I'm not using it right now. It's the most comfortable bed in the castle." He removed his finger from her lips and wiggled it at her. "But don't get used to it, as soon as you're well enough, you get back to your own bed."