Origins: Part Six
A/AN: I would like to say thank you for all the reviews/follows.
Agnes awoke early the next morning. She wasn't sure what it was, but she felt an ominous presence settle over her. She grabbed her cloak. She could heard soft snores erupting from her nephew's bedchamber and figured they probably wouldn't awaken for a couple more hours. She walked towards the kitchen and grabbed her bucket. They were getting low on water, and she thought a nice walk to the well might clear her mind. The first light of dawn cascaded across the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink. The morning air was nippy, so she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She expected to find no one at the well this early but was surprised when she heard muffled whispers. Agnes crept closer to the well, attempting to distinguish who's voice it was. She hid behind a tree directly across from the well. Agnes wasn't a gossip by any means, but she felt like she needed to hear the exchange between the other two occupants.
"The king's men will be passing through town tomorrow afternoon. I plan to turn her in then." a feminine voice spoke sinisterly.
"And then we can set sail." a man said in response. Agnes curiously glanced behind the tree to see Milah talking to a man she didn't recognize. He appeared to be a sailor of some sort, but Agnes didn't question it. She just kept listening.
"How do you think Rumplestiltskin's going to react when you turn his wife in?" the man questioned her, and Milah smiled cupping his face gently.
"Rumple is a coward, and he will fade into the background. No one has the audacity to question the king's guard, especially him. She's a law breaker and deserves to be locked up." Milah said coldly causing him to grin.
"Aye, you truly do have the makings of a real pirate love." he grinned, stroking her face affectionately.
"Of course I do." she smirked before pulling him in for a passionate kiss.
Agnes paled, her hands trembling at what she'd just heard. She wasn't sure what all of this meant, but she had to get back to the house immediately. She crept away so the pair wouldn't see her. She rushed along the dirt path until she seen the hovel in the distance. She took a shallow breath, barely making it to the door. She could hear the blood thumping in her ears as she approached their bedroom. Rumplestiltskin was spooned against Belle, his face buried in her tresses. She sighed, wishing she didn't have to disturb them with such troubling news, but she needed answers.
"Get up!" she shouted.
They woke up simultaneously, giving her a half lidded gaze. "What's the trouble Auntie?" Rumple yawned. Agnes prodded over to them, and Belle gazed up at her drowsily, placing her hand over her mouth to stifle back a yawn.
"I went to the well this morning to fetch water, and I seen Miss Milah there. I hid behind a tree because she was talking to some fella I'd never seen before. She was talking about the king's guard coming through town tomorrow. I would've thought nothing of it until she mentioned Belle. She said she was going to turn her in, but she didn't mention why. My question is what are you hiding Belle?" Agnes interrogated the beauty. Belle glanced up at the older woman with confusion in her eyes and her stomach knotted at the accusation.
"I don't know...I've done nothing wrong!" Belle defended herself.
Rumple looked between both women, full of disbelief. "What are you trying to say Aunt Agnes? That Belle is a criminal?" he inquired with narrowed eyes towards the spinster.
"I'm not accusing her of anything. I just want to know the truth!" Agnes spat out. Belle buried her face in her husband's nightshirt, sobbing uncontrollably. He rubbed her back consolingly, "There...There sweetheart. I know you've done nothing wrong." he crooned.
"I'm not guilty of anything! I have no idea why Milah wants to turn me in." Belle said brokenly between sobs. Agnes felt guilty for upsetting the girl. She could tell that Belle wasn't lying. She had a keen sense about things, and she knew Belle had no idea of what she was speaking of.
"Aye child...Well it's no matter if you're guilty or not. That wench plans on turning you in, and we need to plan an escape route for you." Agnes supplied. Belle looked wide eyed between her husband and the spinster.
"You mean for us! I'm not leaving Belle alone! I will go with her." Rumplestiltskin declared, holding his wife protectively.
"I didn't expect any less of you. We need to start prepping. I think it would be best if you both left after nightfall so you don't raise any suspicions." Agnes suggested, and he nodded, stroking Belle's hair consolingly.
"If you don't mind auntie, I would like a few minutes alone with my wife." Rumplestiltskin replied, and the older woman compliantly let herself out, shutting the door behind her. He looked down at his wife still amazed that he was able to share a bed with this beautiful creature. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out what he'd done to deserve her, but he planned to continue doing it.
"Rumple..." Belle whispered his name, her body quaking with sobs.
He turned over, pulling her closer to him, "Aye now...Don't you cry...We'll get through this." he assured her as he placed a gentle kiss against her brow.
"It isn't fair...You don't deserve to be put through this! Just let me go Rumple." she sniffled, pulling away from him. He halted her, pulling her back to his chest.
"Do you see this wife?" he inquired, taking her hand in his, and entwining their fingers. He pointed to their plain silver bands, running his finger over the polished silver. "This is a symbol of the oath I took when you became my wife. It means that I'll never leave you. You're bound to me, and I to you. We are one flesh and that means I'm not going anywhere. I love you Belle, and I'll stand by your side no matter what." he swore.
"I love you too Rumple...so much." she returned, pressing her lips against his fervently. She tangled her bare legs around his, and he groaned, threading his fingers through her hair. He kissed her back and continued down her neck, nipping it lightly. He knew it would quickly escalate into lovemaking, but he didn't want to waste any time preparing for their journey. He pulled away, opting to kiss her cheek instead.
"As much as I would enjoy ravishing you sweetheart, I think it's best if we begin to prepare for our venture. We need to pack food and supplies." he informed, and she nodded, pulling away from him. He missed her body heat immediately. It surprised him how much he'd come to depends on her. He watched as she undressed, his eyes never leaving her form. He watched as she pulled the thin shift over her head, leaving her bare. His eyes roamed over her body appreciatively, and he couldn't help but wonder how he'd ever gotten so lucky.
"You better put something on, or I might not be able to contain myself." he warned, and she met his gaze, his eyes brimming with desire. She smirked tauntingly at him and walked over to the vanity. She took her comb, brushing the tangles out. He loved his wife's hair. It was so beautiful and smoother than spun silk. She pulled on a new shift, and then the green peasant dress he'd made her. She tied her hair back, stray curls framing her face beautifully.
Rumplestiltskin rolled out of bed, grabbing his tunic and breeches. He pulled off his night clothes, changing quickly. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck lovingly. "Let's have some breakfast shall we?" he whispered against the shell of her ear, and she smiled, taking his hand.
The day passed by quickly and uneventfully. They packed several changes of clothes and enough food for a week, though they would have to use their rations lightly. Rumplestiltskin packed his bow for hunting, so they could catch fresh game and not have to depend so heavily upon their rations.
When it was dark out, and everyone had gone to bed, Agnes gathered them in front of the spinning wheel. "I have something for you my children. It's been in my family for years, passed down for many generations. I always planned on giving it to you Rumple. I just had no idea it'd be so soon." the spinster swallowed sorrowfully, pulling an iridescent bean from her pocket.
"Wait what is it?" Belle inquired, staring at the bean inquisitively.
"It's a magic bean. It can create a portal that will take you to another land." Agnes expounded and Belle's eyes widened with curious intrigue.
"Wait, you mean you have another?" Rumpelstiltskin queried, giving her an incredulous look. She took the bean pressing it into his palm, "Aye, I do lad. Gladice had one but so did I. The one we gave you as a child was hers. This one is mine." she explained closing his fingers over the seed.
"But it's to dangerous I-" he protested, but she shook her head demanding he take it. Belle hadn't been updated on the events of his past, and he sure hadn't mentioned anything about a magic bean.
"You need it for protection. Promise me you'll use it if things get out of hand. You could easily start over somewhere else." she supplied, and he smiled, throwing his arms around her hunched shoulders.
"Promise me you'll take care of yourself auntie." he pleaded, and she smiled, giving his back a good pat.
"Don't worry about me Rumple. I'm a tough old goat, and I can handle anything." she assured him. He squeezed her again tightly, reluctantly letting go.
Belle was surprised when the spinster wrapped her in a secure embrace, "You take care of him lass." she spoke, and Belle could tell she was holding back.
"I promise." Belle vowed. They gathered up the rest of their belongings before heading for the door. Belle turned around meeting her gaze one last time, "Thank you for everything." she added before they departed. She wasn't sure where they were going when they left the hovel, but Belle knew she had everything she needed for the journey. It didn't matter where life took them because she would always be home if she was with Rumplestiltskin.
~X~
"She resides here." Milah informed the guards, approaching the hovel. The captain banged heavily upon the door until an old woman opened it, peeping her head out.
"Madam, we have word you're withholding a fugitive here." the captain remarked.
Agnes shrugged, looking him square in the eye, "I have no idea what you speak of sir." she retorted.
He gave her a grimacing look before forcing the door open, "I'm going to need have a look inside I'm afraid." he remarked before walking past her. After ten minutes of searching, he returned to the front door.
"WHERE IS SHE!?" he roared, grabbing the old woman by her collar, and pulling her forward.
"I told you that she isn't here!" she choked out, the intake of breath strangling her lungs.
"Where did she go then!?" he demanded, and Agnes smirked, unperturbed by his presence.
"She ran away." The man could tell this old woman wasn't afraid of him like most were and it infuriated him. He slung her forcefully against the wall, full of blind hot rage. The crackling of bones could be heard as she slumped forward. Blood trickled from her mouth as she fell lifelessly to the ground.
One of the guards walked towards her, checking her pulse, "She's dead sir," he told the captain who shrugged.
"Take the body and burn it, burn this whole bloody place down! Let this be a lesson to the rest of those that this is what we do with mutinous traitor." he commanded before walking out the door.
"As you wish Hoarder." the soldier complied. In a matter of minutes, smoke could be seen billowing throughout the village as the hovel burned to the ground. Milah watched the flames consume the house, unmoved by it. The only thing she regretted was leaving empty handed. She supposed she had a new quest to prepare for. She would find them no matter what the cost.
A/AN: I'm sure you all must hate me now! That was very hard for me to write. I don't enjoy writing character deaths but it just felt very fitting for this chapter. Please review! They mean so much to me!