Origins: Part Nine
A/AN: Some of you have expressed that you know where I'm taking this fic, and I would like to hear your theories! Leave them in the comments.
Rumpelstiltskin nuzzled his wife's neck affectionately as he spooned himself comfortably behind her. It had began to rain sometime in the middle of the night, lulling them both into a peaceful slumber. He'd awoken a few hours before the sun arose, his mind buzzing with queries. "Belle, are you awake?" he whispered softly into the darkness.
"Yeah, I have been for a few minutes." she supplied sleepily. He snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She sighed appreciatively, relishing his warm body heat.
"Earlier at the tavern when you were speaking to that dying barmaid, I realized it wasn't your first encounter with death. I was curious as to why a woman of noble birth would have been exposed to such horrors." he probed. She rolled over in his arms to face him.
"My land was ransacked by the ogres, and the healers were in short supply. I wasn't obligated to help, but I wanted to show my people support. I longed for them to know it wasn't beneath me to help them." she answered, tangling her bare legs around his.
"I'll never understand why you would still choose to be with me after my future self treated you so horribly." he remarked, kissing her brow affectionately.
"Because I love you..." she replied, resting her head against his chest.
"It's funny because I never thought anyone would ever be able to love me. I'm not handsome or brilliant. I'm just an ordinary man." he berated himself, averting his gaze to the wall.
She cradled his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her, "Don't you dare put yourself down like that Rumpelstiltskin. You're the kindest and most gentlest soul I've ever met. I get butterflies every time I look at you." she reassured him, leaning up to place a fervent kiss against his lips. His hands ghosted up and down her sides, cherishing the feeling of holding her so close. There were so many men back in his village who bedded numerous women, and he couldn't fathom why. Belle would always be enough for him. There would never be another woman in existence he desired but her.
He broke the kiss momentarily to gaze into her azure irises, threading his fingers through her unruly curls. "Belle, I know the future isn't promised with chaos ensuring around us, but I want you to know that no matter what the outcome is, I'll always love you." he declared, crushing her against him.
"Rumple, we'll fight this thing to the very end. I already have a plan to overthrow Lacey's tyrannical regime." she disclosed, and he loosened his grip about her, gazing intently into her eyes.
"And what would that be?" he inquired curiously, propping his head up with his elbow.
"Lacey is my ancestor, and I believe I can get her to trust me by pledging fealty. If she honors my oath, then I'll use it to gain her trust. After I gain her trust, I'll steal the Dark One's dagger from her and use it to put an end to this madness. The bean, Agnes gave us could be used to send him to another realm." Belle expounded.
She noted the uncertainty in his eyes."You're not on board with this are you?" she surmised, reaching out to brush untidy locks away from his face.
"I am, but what if something were to happen to Lacey? She's the key to your survival, and we must protect her to ensure your existence." he illuminated.
She squeezed his hand lightly, "I've already figured out that part. You just have to trust me." she instructed.
"Always." he affirmed, encircling his arms around her waist, and bidding her closer. She melted into his arms as he assaulted her lips with kisses. Their tongues swirled together harmoniously as he shifted his position into the cradle of her hips.
"I'm completely and utterly addicted to you my sweet, Belle. There's no other woman in the world who could satisfy my longings as you do." he rumbled in her ear as he made love to her the second time that night. Back home in Avonlea, her maids had informed her of her wifely duties and that a man nary cared for his wife's pleasure. Sex was a loathsome task, but she had yet to experience this in her marriage with Rumpelstiltskin. He was the most attentive lover and always made sure she was satisfied. Their growing appetite and affection for each other was never sated no matter how many times they came together, and Belle found each time was better than the last.
"There will never be another man, I'll love as I have you loved you." she whispered as she rubbed his back soothingly. He buried his face in the crook of her neck as he made his release, his breathing labored from such an intense bout of lovemaking.
"There will never be another woman for me during any era of time but you." he sighed, pulling her against him, and they drifted off once more.
~X~
Lacey's heart lurched forward upon hearing the great cathedral doors burst open. She gazed down to see the Dark One and a man she didn't recognize with him. "Who have you brought with you, my pet?" she inquired, gesturing her jeweled hand to Killian Jones.
"This gentleman is the one I procured for you to sire you an heir, mistress." the imp revealed. Lacey stood from her throne, sauntering towards him. Killian felt his heart hammer in his chest when he realized this woman was identical to Belle and the one Milah sought. Oh the irony...
"What's your name traveler?" she asked.
He bowed respectfully, "Your majesty, my name is Killian Jones, and it's such an honor to be in the presence of such true beauty." he complimented, taking her hand and kissing it reverently.
She smirked at his introduction. Lacey had, had her feel of men and this one was no different. He was a scoundrel and most likely a drunk, but she would have her fun with him. "The pleasure is all mine, Sir. Jones. I'm sure the Dark One has explained as to why I am in need of your services. If you successfully give me an heir, I'll gift you with whatever your withered black heart desires." she promised.
"I want a vessel that's the fastest in all the realms." he supplied, standing to his feet.
"And you shall have it, if you make good on your promise to me." she remarked, pulling him by the lapels of his shirt. He was overwhelmed by lust for this woman who had such intoxicating beauty. He'd never seen a more lovely specimen in all his life.
"Leave us." she commanded the imp who left in a crimson haze.
"Why don't you and I have a little fun, Mr. Jones?" she whispered sensually in his ear.
"Call me, Killian." he insisted, placing his hand on the small of her back. He dipped her low, placing a desirous kiss against her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back urgently.
"Let's take this somewhere more comfortable." she panted, briefly breaking the kiss.
"As you wish, your grace." he returned, bringing her to a standing position. She grabbed his hand, briskly leading him down an elongated hallway to her chambers.
"Now, where were we?" she inquired as she turned to face him.
"I believe, I was about to kiss you again." he answered, hoisting her in his arms, ravishing her mouth with his. She became putty in his hands as he clumsily kicked open the door and deposited her on the bed. He placed searing kisses down her neck, his hands gliding over her supple skin. Waves of euphoria coursed through her from the way he pleasured her. Lacey thought she might have to keep this one around for awhile.
~X~
Rumple and Belle rewarmed the rabbit stew from the night before and each sat down to fill their bellies. They discovered several pairs of homespun clothes in a wooden chest and decided to take a few for the road. Rumpelstiltskin had a feeling that whoever owned the hovel wouldn't be returning. They gathered some bread and cheese from the cupboards to replenish their supplies. Belle had a feeling that Lacey now occupied the palace in Astyn, and they planned to journey there to pledge their allegiance to her regime. They were going to pretend Belle was a seer since she knew how most of the historical events would play out in the future. She and Rumpelstiltskin had discovered a stable of horses behind someone elses property and decided to take advantage of this bout of good fortune. Traveling by horse would land them at the palace a lot faster than traveling by foot. Belle had taken riding lessons when she was younger and was accustomed to it. They'd opted to take separate horses but stayed close by. Each village they encountered resembled the last one they'd rode through, desolate and eerily silent. They didn't bother to check for survivors because they realized there was nothing they could do. It would be better to forge on with their plan to spare the rest of the realm than to slow down to aid a dying few. It was one of the cold hard truths about being a monarch that Belle didn't care for. It was impossible to save everyone.
They'd traveled an entire day without interference and decided to tie up their horses and find a place to settle down for the night. The palace was only a half day's journey, and they would finish their quest tomorrow. They'd located a secluded hovel on the edge of the new village and decided to lodge there for the night. Rumpelstiltskin had went inside to check out the house while she tended to the horses. She petted the snout of the black mare she'd ridden on the entire day. Perhaps, she would keep the gentle beast, for her heart ached her own horse she'd left back home in Avonlea named Philip. Her thoughts were thrown in a disarray when she felt someone grab her by the throat and hold her at knife point.
"I have been tracking you and your daft husband for days now. There's a hefty price on your head, and I plan to collect the reward money. Shall I take you by force, or are you going to come willingly?"Milah snarled in the beauty's ear.
"That might be plausible if you didn't have the wrong girl!" Belle retaliated, giving the woman a swift kick in the shin. Milah tumbled backwards, a slew of curses spewing from her lips.
"Leave us or I'll do to you exactly what you planned to do to me." Belle threatened, picking up the discarded blade that had flew from her hands after the fall.
"And what do you plan to do with that? Are you going to kill me? You don't have it in you, princess!" she taunted, giggling manically at the brunette. The blade trembled in her hands as she backed her against a knotted old oak.
She held the blade against her neck, "Did you kill Agnes!?" she demanded, her voice wavering with every syllable.
"If I say yes, are you going to kill me?" Milah croaked, a satisfied smirk playing upon her lips.
"DID YOU KILL HER!?" Belle thundered, a flock of geese scattering the trees from her utterance.
" I sent Hordor and his men to your residence to arrest you but you weren't there. The old hag wouldn't tell them a damned thing, so he killed her and burned down the house. If you'd been there, then she would still be alive, so the real question isn't did I kill her, it's did you kill her?" she cackled cynically. Blind hot rage consumed Belle as she raised the dagger in the air to strike down Milah. As she was about to slash her throat, two slender arms enveloped her, holding her back.
"Killing Milah isn't the answer Belle, You'll regret it the rest of your life." her husband cautioned, upon hearing the entire exchange between them.
"WHY!? She killed an innocent woman who didn't do anything but freely give of herself to others! She was going to kill me next and then you, I'm certain!" Belle sobbed with tears streaming down her face.
"Because your heart is purer than gold. Don't allow this wicked woman to taint your soul by avenging my aunt. She isn't worth it." he retorted, pulling her securely into his embrace. She freely slipped the blade into his hand, giving Milah the perfect opportunity to sneak away. With better precision and planning, next time she would get what she came for.
Belle pulled away abruptly, noticing she had vanished, "Where did she go!?" the former princess implored, scouring the back property. Rumpelstiltskin seized her wrists, pulling her forward. He brushed tousled ringlets from her eyes.
"She's gone but if she shows her face again, then we'll be prepared." he vowed, rubbing soothing circles along her wrists to calm her. She nodded wordlessly, allowing him to lead her into the hovel. The anxiety in her chest relaxed as he led her to a large basin full of warm water. He barred the doors before unloosening her corset.
"You need to relax." he commanded in his lilting brogue as he continued to undress her. Her borrowed homespun dress pooled at her feet until she remained in nothing but her knickers. She quickly discarded those, slipping into the tepid water. Her husband took time to massage her strained ligaments with his skillful spinner's hands. He even washed her hair with a sweet smelling ointment he'd found in one of the cupboards.
"I can't just let for go, Rumple. Agnes deserves justice." she voiced as he dumped a bucket of warm water on her head to rinse out the soap. She raked sopping locks out of her eyes as he handed her a wool towel to dry off with.
"I realize that, and she will have it but killing her isn't the answer." he countered as she towel dried her hair. She pulled her clothing back on and sighed.
"I can't promise you I'll spare her, if she tries to harm either of us again. I will fight for what's mine." she determined before walking into another room to clear her head. Rumpelstiltskin sighed as he watched his wife walk away. Belle was the epitome of goodness and it bothered him that she was reacting so callously. She had every right to loathe Milah but her hatred for the other woman ran deeper than this blood feud. There was something Belle wasn't telling him, and he had to find out what it was before it destroyed her goodness.
A/AN: I updated much quicker than I predicted. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!