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Chapter Three: Preparing for Battle

The pirate pushed opened the large wooden door that lead into the throne room, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor of the chamber as he entered the room with a sneer on his lips. His red coat flapped against his trousers as he approached the throne, studying the woman that sat the on the golden chair in her elegant red and silver gown.

She caressed the arms of the chair. "This would have been my throne if that tart, Ava, hadn't stolen it from me all those years ago. I was fortunate enough to have my daughter take back what should have been mine, the throne. That fool Leopold didn't recognize me thanks to this." The woman known as Cora clutched the violet colored medallion she wore around her neck.

Standing up, Cora's feet almost glided across the floor, her gown swishing as she moved. Digging her nails into her palms, drawing a sliver of blood, she growled, "But that backfired as well, thanks to my dear Rumple."

"How are we to get to these people you desperately want to punish, your highness?" The pirate questioned, a mocking edge to his tone.

"All in good time, Captain," she said, smiling as she leaned back enjoying the views of the remains of the throne room.

~Page Break~

Rumple inserted the key into the lock of the building, but before he let her walk in Rumple stood at the front of the entrance.

"This place you're about to enter will take you on the grandest adventures of your life without ever having to leave the room, unless you want to. My lady, I give you the Storybrooke Library," he presented with a familiar flourish and bow as he stepped aside.

Belle giggled and walked passed him entering the library. She stood in the middle of the darkened room her eyes alight in awe as she stared at the surrounding shelves of the books before her. She had to shield and squinted her eyes when Rumple flicked on a switch, lighting the room.

"How do those work?" Belle inquired, turning to look at Rumple, and pointed to the light switch. She could see floating spots that distracted her sight.

"The lights? They work the same as those electronics I told you about with a charge of electricity to give them," he explained, coming up to her.

"I would like to see it for myself at some point," she said, turning back to the shelves. Reaching for him to take her hand so they could walk together, Belle began to explore the many shelves of books. Her eyes glowed with inspired wonderment removing various books from the slots reading the titles and summaries of each book she picked up.

"I can have this?" She asked excitement in her tone.

"If you like," he replied.

She ran to him wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him enthusiastically. "I'll take that as a yes?" He asked.

"Yes," she said grinning, "I would like it very much. Thank you. What would you have done with otherwise if..." Belle couldn't finish the sentence as she couldn't even begin to bear the thought of the library being neglected or given to some who could care less.

He shrugged. "It would have probably just sat here," he admitted.

The thought made Belle frown. "I couldn't imagine doing that. It would break my heart to see it wasted like that."

"I wouldn't know who would appreciate it the way you would, maybe Snow White. She's a teacher at the Elementary school here. Now that I think about it, we'll probably have to start to consider a school for when the children grow older," Rumple answered, wrapping his arms around Belle's waist.

Belle cocked her head to the side. "The children wouldn't be educated in the same place?"

"No, in this world as they grow from being children they attend different schools for higher learning," he explained.

Belle returned her attention to the books. She came across a blue velvet covered book with gold embossed writing.

"Beauty and the Beast?" she read. "By Marie LePrince de Beaumont, is that?"

"Yes, actually, but it's a much less complicated version," he admitted, "I have read it."

"Is it close to truth?" she asked, arching her brow.

"Not entirely. For one thing, I don't have that much hair," Rumple said, making Belle laugh.

"Also in this story, your father is a merchant, you have two greedy sisters, the beast is actually a prince, and whole story centers on them eating dinner together while he proposes marriage," Rumple added.

"Oh it's definitely not our story, because unlike the beast in this story, you were playing hard to get," she teased.

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "She did eventually say yes when she found out her leaving him killed him and true love broke the spell turning him into a handsome prince."

"I would never want a prince. I've met the princes in our world and they're incredibly arrogant and vain. They don't have to work hard, because they have servants who do things for them, and they take for granted the hard work that comes with running a kingdom. My mother and father always believed that doing something for yourself makes it mean more and worth more. I also found many of them to be more into their physical appearance than passing laws and if a man tries to be prettier than me that

~Page Break~

Rumple massaged his temples having finished another long conversation with another one of the town's folks trying to convince them to testify. It seemed people had mixed feelings about testifying against Regina, even though they hated her, but after some persuading Rumple was able to convince a few of them.

He glanced up at the sound of knocking. "Come in," he called his voice sounding tired.

"I thought I would bring you something to eat," Belle said as she came in carrying a tray with a sandwich, being the easiest thing for her to make, and placed it on desk.

"Thank you sweetheart," he replied nodding.

"Do you mind me asking, what you're doing?" she inquired.

"Just calling a few people to see if they'll testify against Regina," Rumple replied.

"I'm guessing I'll have to go up there as well," she said, fiddling with her fingers as she looked down at them.

Rumple took her hands in his lightly caressing them. "Belle, you don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, I should, because I'm the one who suggested a different way to punish her. In way I'm the one punishing her and if I don't go up there it will give her power over me. I'm just nervous, I've never done anything like this before, and I'm terrified she'll come after me," Belle admitted, with a mixture of sheer determination and fear in her tone.

Rumple guided Belle towards him so she was sitting on his strong knee and held her hands within his fingers and kissed her knuckles. "I swear to you she won't come anywhere near you and neither will her magic, not if I have anything to say about it."

"Promise?" she asked.

"I promise," he said.

He drew her in, kissing her softly on the lips, but having not been able to know what it would feel like to kiss her sweet lips again made his desire grow. The kiss became more passionate as if her kiss alone would fill his lungs with air, but what surprised was how she responded with the same fervor.

The kiss had been sweet and tender, but as it deepened, Belle's heart fluttered and she responded with just as much desire. Wrapping her arms around his neck she ran her fingers through his silky russet strands, but just as a part of her fantasized about him taking her, not that she would really want him to, he pulled away.

His breath coming out in rasps he said, "Forgive me, I got a little carried away, but we should probably stop."

"Um….yes….right," she muttered, still a little breathless herself. She reluctantly eased off of him, letting her hand linger within his before departing.

In a few days Rumple would meet with the opposing counsel and discuss the case, but Belle didn't trust the former king, and worried for Rumple's sake as well hers. She wouldn't be surprised if King George found a way to manipulate things and bribe people to win the case.

~Page Break~

The rest of the week, Rumple continued making phone calls to try to get people to testify against Regina, but Spencer had gotten to most of the town already, probably with threats. He was able to get a few key witnesses though, such as the Charming's; although, Mary Margaret was a concerned about testifying against Regina. He also got Emma, and Dr. Hopper, but there were two particular witnesses that were debatable: Belle and Henry. Rumple didn't like putting either one of them on the stand, but he might not have a choice.

Putting Henry in middle when he was just a boy caught between wasn't fair, and he doubted Henry could truly testify against the woman who raised him for ten years. He knew from experience the emotional impact a parent could have on a child, even if they weren't the best parent in the world. Regina was also the perfect example of that.

Rumple stared at flames as they danced wildly in the grate and took a sip of his scotch. Putting Henry wasn't fair to the boy, but he doubted Spencer wouldn't waste any time at doing it, taking advantage of the boy's conflicting emotions.

Belle was another matter entirely, because he knew Belle wanted to see pay Regina for keeping her prisoner for all that time, but his sweet Belle was terrified of the witch too. He knew most of Belle's nightmares had to do with the torture Regina had put her through, and she would wake up screaming, clinging to him, as they were still sharing a bed every night. He hated seeing her like that, but at least he could comfort. He wanted to do more though than just take Regina to court, but Belle had a point, that he would get more satisfaction with a much slower punishment, such as seeing her humiliated in front of everyone.

With all this preparing for court he was forced to rely on Belle's new acquaintance with Ruby to keep her company. Belle had told him she was fine staying at the house reading a book, but he wanted her to get some fresh air and experience of what the town had to offer. The dogs also needed to be taken for walks, and the she-wolf was the only person who expressed interest in being friends with Belle, probably to keep an eye her in case he hurt Belle.

While the two ate lunch at one of the tables in the library, Ruby asked, "How did you two meet anyway, just curious?"

"That's a long story," Belle replied, taking a sip of her iced tea. She had come to enjoy the sweet taste of the cold tea.

Ruby bit into one of her ketchup coated fries. "Well we got time, and it's gotta be an interesting story."

Belle raised her brow, but Ruby put her hand up. "Don't worry I will reserve judgement."

Belle sighed. "Alright, well, as I'm sure you guessed, it started with my father making a desperate deal. The Ogre's were destroying our villages and even Gaston's troops helping us weren't enough to destroy the Ogre army, so I suggested we summon Rumple."

"It was your idea?"

"Yep, I had heard how he had done once before and as crazy as it was considered I didn't see any other option," Belle said, with a shrug, "I hated seeing my homeland destroyed."

"I don't know if I would have been brave enough to suggest it, so you have my admiration," Ruby said, making Belle's cheeks turn a bright red.

"Thank you, but all I did was suggesting it to my father and the council," Belle said.

"Yes, but I'm sure people thought you were crazy for suggesting it," Ruby pointed and Belle nodded. "I take it your dad and this Gaston didn't think it was a good idea."

"It took some convincing, but we sent a messenger requesting his services with a promise of gold," Belle continued, "of course the offer of gold was pointless. 'I make gold'." Her attempted impersonation made Ruby almost choke on her coke.

"His price was much higher, of course," Belle said.

"You?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, we were worried I would be taken as his mistress, but all he wanted was a caretaker. Rumple was quite lonely, not that he would admit it. My father refused to give me to him, but I couldn't just sit there and do nothing, and I had to admit I would do anything to escape my betrothal to Gaston," Belle said.

"Arranged marriage?" Ruby asked, and again Belle nodded. "That happened to David."

"His marriage to Snow was arranged?" Belle asked.

"Oh no, he was supposed to marry King Midas' daughter, Abigail, but she didn't love him anymore than he loved her. King George was furious," Ruby replied.

Belle shivered feeling sympathetic towards David, despite her previous encounters with him. "I hated Gaston and I refused to be 'his little wife' and do his bidding."

"I'm glad you got out of that marriage, but what transpired between you and Rumplestiltskin?" Ruby asked, eager for Belle to continue.

"Well in the beginning I hated him and I hated being away from my father, but over time I accepted it and Rumple let me write letters to my father. Not that I was okay with how he treated his 'guests'. I remembered during my first few weeks I had set free a man that he put in jail for stealing from him. I was surprised the man wasn't bleeding to death. Rumple was furious with me and made me come with him to catch the thief, Rumple could have beaten me, but he didn't. I was determined to see the good in him, and I was right."

Ruby raised her eyebrow in disbelief. "Ruby, he spared the man as soon as he saw the man's wife was with child. That look in his eyes, his hesitation…. Earlier that day he had saved me from being raped by a man; although, I wouldn't have gone with ripping out his tongue," Belle added, "the only thing Rumple ever did to me was yelled at me, but I yelled back, and yes I started locked in one of his dungeons, but that only lasted a couple of weeks."

Ruby had to chuckle at that.

"You know this isn't the first library he has given me." Belle gestured to her surroundings. "He can be sweet when he wants to be. I don't agree with all his actions, but Rumple is a cursed man, who is trying to get back to the man he was. It doesn't excuse everything he's done, but who hasn't done something so wicked or thought of doing wicked things, but you know as well as I Regina is worse. He has a son somewhere out there. That's why he created the curse in the first place. No it wasn't the best way to go about, but he didn't see any other options. I am going to do whatever it takes to set Rumple free, but I won't hold too high expectations either."

"Maybe, I could help too," Ruby said, knowing how shocked her grandmother and Snow would be, but she was starting to question the town's judgements on who was good and who was bad. Who were they to decide was worthy of their club of heroes? She had killed her boyfriend and just like Rumplestiltskin, it seemed, she didn't really have control over that.

"Really? Thank you Ruby," Belle said, smiling.

Wiping her mouth and taking another sip of her drink Ruby said, "Well if we want to open up the library soon, we better get back to finishing organizing this place."

"Oh right," Belle said, getting up, and tossing her remaining trash in the can behind her. "Thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome and it's actually better than waitressing at the diner. I love my grandmother, but she is a hard boss," Ruby admitted, walking over to the cart.

"I've never been a server, so I can only imagine, but you have my sympathies," Belle said.

Ruby chuckled. "Thanks for that."

~Page Break~

Rumple scratched a note on a sticky as a reminder for later, but he needed to get out of this room into the fresh air. He also missed Belle and this being the longest they had been apart since she had returned to him, thoughts of her plagued him when he wasn't working on something for the case. He had done enough for the day and seeing her would lighten his mood considerably.

Though he could transport himself easily, even the most simplistic of magicks, such as teleportation, exhausted him and teleportation had made Belle queasy making going back through teleportation not an option either, so grabbing his keys he drove the Cadillac to the library.

~Page Break~

Belle stood in the center of the library with her hands placed on her hips surveying what they had accomplished. Ruby had come up beside her and glanced at Belle.

"So, do you like what we've done so far?" She asked.

Belle said, "I think so, but I might want to change a few things around."

"I hope you don't want to change things too much, because it has to be familiar and easy enough for people to find books," Ruby teased, enjoying their easy comradery that had developed easily.

"Oh don't worry I won't change things too drastically, just a few things," Belle replied, waving off Ruby's concern. Belle walked back over to the shelves and removed various books from slots switching them to other slots that were a more accurate location in her mind.

"Perfect," Belle said, turning back to Ruby. A smile touched her cheeks as she looked over her friends shoulder and Ruby turned to see Mr. Gold standing by the entrance.

"Quite the perfectionist sweetheart," Rumple said, teasingly, as he stood by the door.

"Very funny," Belle said and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and giving him a gentle kiss on the lips.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, "I thought Ruby was going to take me home."

"Do you want me to go?" He asked, turning on his heal as if in a motion to leave.

She reached for his hand and said, "Don't you dare."

Smiling, he said, "Alright I won't."

"I still find it strange out you guys are together, but I'm actually starting to find it really sweet," Ruby said. "It's nice to see you have a softer side."

Rumple's cheeks flushed a crimson color as he recalled they weren't alone, but still managed his traditional rolling of the eyes.

"Yes, my Rumple is a closest romantic and very sweet," Belle said, looking at Ruby, as she wrapped her arms around his waist.