Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I hope you like the new chapter. I promise that there are no detailed, descriptive sex scenes between Cora and Rumpel in this chapter, for those that are uncomfortable with them.
Like always, reviews are welcomed.
And on we go...
Belle was amazed at the magic Rumpelstiltskin possessed. With just a swish of his hand, they were transported from her home to a great castle in the mountains in a matter of seconds.
Belle stared in awe, taking in her surroundings. The magnificent castle standing grandiose. The gate encircling it. She reached a hand out to touch the bars.
"Ah, ah. I wouldn't do that, dearie," Rumpelstiltskin said, tisking. Belle rushed to pull her hand away.
"Why not?" She asked, looking between him and the gate.
"Boundary spell," he said. "Touch the gate, and it will fry the skin from your bones." He looked serious. Belle knew her eyes were opened wide. She took a step back from the metal.
She jumped when she heard him laugh. "It was a quip." He wore a smug expression.
"Oh," was all she could say, nodding. She started to relax, and began to walk forward.
"It'll actually boil your blood, causing you to eventually die." Belle jumped again, turning towards him, gasping.
"You're joking," she said. He paused for a moment, looking her up and down.
"I am," he smiled, showing his teeth.
Belle couldn't help but chuckle. "You got me," she said, breathlessly, shrugging.
"I did, dearie. You're very trusting." He leaned down to look in her eyes. "Don't believe everything I say."
Belle eyed him. "Then how do I believe you, when you tell me you're joking?"
"Ah," he paused, holding up a finger. "I guess you don't, do you?" He giggled, waving a hand, and pushing the gate open.
Belle was left feeling frazzled. He was difficult to keep up with. She still didn't know if he was being serious about the gate. Even though he pushed it open, Belle kept a considerable distance between herself and the bars, walking through.
Rumpelstiltskin was waiting impatiently at the doors of the castle. "Come along, dearie." He waved a hand again, causing the doors to fly open.
"You could have pushed the doors open," Belle observed. "Why use magic?"
He glanced back at her. "When you have as much power as I do, dearie, why not show it off?"
"But doesn't that seem like taking advantage of it?" Belle wondered.
"Yes, but that's the fun of it," he quirked an eyebrow.
Once they entered, Belle was engrossed in the beauty of the castle. The black, red, and gold colors were mesmerizing. She wondered if a women designed the place. No offense to her father, but he didn't have the best eye for detail. But Rumpelstiltskin was an enigma. She wouldn't put anything past him. Like picking out color samples. The thought made her want to laugh, but she pushed it down. She didn't want Rumpelstiltskin to think she was making fun of him.
They entered what looked like a dining room, with other functions as well. A spinning wheel was in the corner. As were two young women, around Belle's age. One had red hair, the other black as night. Belle wondered if one of them was Rumpel's wife he had mentioned. Or his...mistress. They were sitting on a couch, each studying. Belle was curious to know what they were reading.
The red haired one looked up from her book, her eyes lighting up. "Rumpel, you're back." She stood up, and practically ran to him. She seems nice, Belle thought.
Or well she did, until the girl looked at her. The redhead stopped in her tracks, frowning. "Who's this?" She did not sound happy.
The black haired girl finally turned her attention to the situation. Her face didn't change much from the scowl she wore, except for the eyebrows that rose.
"Zelena," Rumpelstiltskin nodded at the red head, "Regina," he looked at the other girl, "We have a new occupant. Zelena, go get your mother, and my wife." That answered Belle's inquiry. Obviously the girls were not his wife and mistress.
"But, who is she?" Zelena looked extremely irritated.
Rumpelstiltskin sighed. "Go tell your mother and my wife, to come here." When she hesitated, he spoke again. "Now," he growled. Zelena finally left, her shoulders slumping.
The other girl, Regina, went back to reading, ignoring both of them. Belle and Rumpelstiltskin stood there in awkward silence. Which was made even more awkward by Rumpelstiltskin's declaration, "How utterly awkward." Belle could only nod. Regina didn't look up from her book.
Belle finally heard voices outside the room, getting louder.
"What are you talking about Zelena? What girl?" Another voice sounded irritated. Belle was starting to realize maybe she shouldn't have been so happy about the prospect of women living here. Clearly they were not what she was expecting.
Two new women came in with Zelena. One had long, dark brown hair. She kept to the back, and was walking slowly. The other had honey, brown hair. She pushed past Zelena to storm up to Belle and Rumpelstiltskin.
"Rumpelstiltskin, what is going on?" She glared at Belle. Belle jerked her head back at the cold menace in the look.
The wizard laughed. "She's our new maid."
The woman with honey colored hair, tilted her head to the side as is she didn't understand what he was saying. "A maid? Is she staying?"
"Well of course, she's staying, Cora. We made a deal." He waved his hands between Belle and himself. "I save her family from the Ogres ravishing her lands, and she becomes my maid."
Cora seemed to be holding back her anger. Which wasn't much. "Why do we need a maid?" The other women in the back was quiet. She was looking at Belle with pity. Belle wanted to know why. Zelena just stood there, arms folded, pouting.
"Ah, well. The help around here is just terrible," Rumpelstiltskin said. Belle thought he was entirely too pleased, with a woman who was clearly reading to unleash her anger on him.
Cora flicked her eyes to Belle. "I don't want her here. Get rid of her."
Rumpelstiltskin scoffed a laugh. "See, I can't do that, dearie. Like I said, our lovely new maid and I made a deal." It didn't seem to Belle that Rumpelstiltskin should be using words like 'lovely' in front of his wife, speaking about another girl. Well, Belle though she was his wife.
Cora turned to her. "What's your name, girl?"
Belle wasn't sure she should answer. "Belle French, my Lady," she bowed her head.
Cora scoffed. "I'm no lady."
Rumpelstiltskin snorted. "She has a point." Cora glared at him.
Belle was confused. "I'm sorry, but are you his wife?"
Cora laughed, causing Zelena to laugh as well. "Not at all."
"But, I thought..." Belle trailed off.
"I'm his wife," the woman in the back said, stepping forward. "Milah," she said, indicating that was her name.
"I'm sorry," Belle addressed the women. "I didn't know."
Cora smirked. "We have an innocent on our hands, do we?" Her eyes gleamed with a harshness.
"Why does she have to stay?" Zelena asked, pouting even more. "Why ask for a girl in your deal? You couldn't just ask for a something like a piece of hair or a newborn child like you normally do?" Newborn child?, Belle thought.
"See," Rumpelstiltskin said, looking put out, "You don't seem to be grasping the reason she's here. It makes you jealous... which in turn makes me amused." He pointed at the drapes, covering the windows. "And like I said, the drapes are terribly dusty." He giggled.
"Rumpel, let's speak privately about this," Cora said.
"Privately? You're always one for a show," Rumpelstiltskin was confused.
"Yes, well, I don't need to be scaring off our new maid, now do I?" The look Cora shot Belle was spiteful. Belle flushed, and ducked her head. The menace in her expression terrified Belle more than anything had before.
"If you insist," Rumpelstiltskin sighed. Before he left with Cora, he turned to address the other women."Regina, Milah,... and Zelena," he rolled his eyes when he said the last name, "keep the maid company. I'll return to show her where she'll be staying."
Zelena looked like she wanted to disagree. Milah sighed. And Regina kept on reading.
Belle had originally thought that having other women around would make staying with Rumpelstiltskin easier.
Belle had thought wrong.
Rumpelstiltskin, though he cared for his mistress, found her to be a nuance at times.
Like when she disagreed with him. He hated it.
"What were you thinking?" Cora demanded, after they entered his chambers. "A maid? She needs to leave."
Rumpelstiltskin sat down, clasping his hands below his chin. "If I didn't know any better Cora," he pointed a finger at her, "I would say you were jealous."
Cora paused in her pacing, shooting him a seething look. "Why would I be jealous?"
He shrugged. "Maybe because there will be a new, younger face than your's residing in my castle." He tilted his head to the side, eyes scrutinizing. "Are you worried, she'll replace you?"
"I'm not worried about that," Cora said, softly. Her eyes narrowed.
He giggled. "You're expression says otherwise, dearie."
She clenched her hands into fists. "What game are you playing?"
"No game at all. I really thought having a maid would be beneficial." His face was the picture of innocence.
Cora let out a harsh laugh. "Spare me your lies, Rumpelstiltskin. You never do anything unless it helps you gain power. Why bring her here?"
"Like I said, we need a maid," he shrugged, again.
"Did you want her because she's virginal?" Cora asked.
Rumpelstiltskin laughed, surprised. "Where did that come from, lovely?"
"Well?" Cora waited.
He paused, looking her up and down, standing up to walk to her. "No. And who said she's a virgin anyway?"
Cora scoffed. "Please. Your little maid screams virgin. I've been around and corrupted enough to know."
He grasped her face in his hands. "That's what I find endearing about you, Cora. Your corrupted, dark heart." He kissed her, smashing his lips into her's. They grappled for dominance, their tongues fighting each other's. He broke away. "I love fucking you. I don't think a little virgin would be able to handle me." Cora smiled, wickedly.
Even though Rumpelstiltskin meant what he said to Cora, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like taking the girl's virginity. Her flower, so pure. He would never tell Cora that the thought aroused him.
He valued his life.
But he wasn't a monster. He wouldn't touch the girl if she didn't want him to.
Before Cora could kiss him, he pulled away completely, de-tangling their arms.
Cora looked pissed. "Really? Again?"
He laughed. "Well, I have to show our new maid to her room. I don't think anyone else would be capable. The service here is terrible," he winked, smirking.
"If she's going to be staying here, give her one of the cells. There's not much space left upstairs." Cora upturned her nose.
He lifted an eyebrow. "I have an entire castle full of rooms."
Cora shrugged. "Well, that might be true, but she is the help after all. She shouldn't be given the same kind of luxuries we get," she paused. "Well, she shouldn't be getting any luxuries at all."
He eyed his mistress. "You'll kill her, if I don't, wont you?"
Cora seemed to think about it. "Probably."
Rumpelstiltskin giggled. "You are bad. But for you Cora, I will place an innocent girl, who has done no wrong, in a dark, dank, room full of mice," he bowed.
"Who knows, maybe she'll befriend the mice. They can mend her clothes, cheer her up when she's down..." Cora said, sarcastically, lifting an eyebrow.
Rumpelstiltskin started to laugh, then stopped, contemplating. "She'd probably would, wouldn't she?" He giggled. With that, he turned to leave the room, but glanced back when Cora called after him.
"Rumpelstiltskin, don't think you can leave me aroused like you did last time, and just leave again. We're finishing this later," Cora threatened.
"Of course," he smiled. "In the mean time, I'll just being taking the girl." Cora glared. "To her room, that is," he smirked. "And after that, who knows? Her flower just might be too tempting to resist with a bed close by..."
Cora pursed her lips. "You are such a bastard."
He laughed, a great billowing laugh. "Someone's in a bad temper."
With that, he left the room, rolling his eyes. Cora could be extremely high maintenance.
It wasn't his fault women found him irresistible.
"Cora Mills, you are here by charged with adultery. You will be sent to prison for a week, where you will be awaiting your execution. After that, you will be hanged for your crime." The Magistrate pounded his javelin, ending the trial.
Regina saw the way her mother flinched, while trying to keep on a brave face. Death was a terrible punishment, but committing adultery against the prince was unfathomable. But her mother cheating on her father was even more so. Her father looked crushed, his head lowered, in his hands. Regina couldn't even cry, she was completely shocked.
Cora was led away, to the dungeons, to await her time. Regina looked to her sister next to her. For once, Zelena wasn't speaking. Regina sat up and followed after the guards.
Once her mother was behind bars, Regina had the courage to ask for her company. The guards were reluctant, but finally nodded, and walked a few distance away, giving mother and daughter privacy.
Cora still looked pristine, and perfect. She hadn't been locked up long enough for it to affect her.
"Regina, you came to see me," Cora said, smiling.
Regina reached up to wrap her hands around the bars. "I wanted to ask you something, actually."
Her mother lifted an eyebrow, waiting. "What is it Regina?"
She couldn't look at her mother, her eyes lowering. She grimaced, her hands tightening on the bars. "How could you?" She whispered.
"What, dear?"
Regina shook her head. "You know what?"
Her mother sighed, sitting down on a bench. "I don't love your father anymore."
Regina jerked her head up. "So that makes cheating all right?" Cora didn't look at her. "Do you even love this man. The one that you're in jail for? The one that you are going to die for?" Cora flinched.
"No, I don't love him either."
Regina scoffed, an ugly sound. "Then why did you do it?"
Her mother sighed, again. "I was feeling neglected. He showed me attention. But he just tricked me. All he wanted was money."
"What's his name?" Regina whispered.
Cora smiled, but it turned out resembling more of a grimace. "Jonathon. I don't even know his last name."
Regina felt her breath shortening. She wanted to cry out in frustration. She couldn't believe her mother. "You had Zelena. You had me," Regina said, sadly.
Her mother finally looked at her. She stood up, walking to the bars, wrapping her hands around Regina's. "I love you and your sister. Don't ever doubt that." She squeezed Regina's hands.
Regina finally let the tears she was holding back, fall down. "If you loved us, you wouldn't have broken up this family." She pulled her hands from her mother's. Cora's eyes widened. "You're selfish," Regina said, hardening her tone. "Goodbye, Mother." She turned to leave.
"Wait," Cora called out. Regina stopped, but didn't look back. "You will come back to see me, right?"
Regina slumped her shoulders. "I don't know." She continued walking.
In that moment, she wondered if she really would see her mother again.
Zelena did not like the...maid Rumpelstiltskin had brought home with him. She hadn't liked her from the minute she laid eyes those blues eyes, ivory skin, and beautiful brown hair. Zelena thought she was too pretty.
Which made Zelena hate her instantly.
The girl sat down, looking around her, taking in the room. Zelena took a seat next to her sister, who was still reading. She had hardly glanced up from her book. Regina could be such a bore sometimes.
"Excuse me, but I was mending a dress of mine," Milah said, walking back to the hall, still showing the girl a pitying look, "I'll leave you girls alone."
"Where are you going, Milah?" Rumpel's wife stopped. "Your husband asked us to keep...what was your name again," Zelena asked, looking at the girl.
She parted pretty pink lips. Zelena grimaced. "Belle French," she nodded, politely.
"Yes," Zelena pursed her lips, shifting her eyes back to Milah. "Your husband asked us to keep... Belle... company, until he returns."
"Let her go, Zelena," Regina said, still concentering on her book. "If Milah doesn't want to stay here, she doesn't have to."
"Excuse me?" Zelena asked.
Regina sighed. "Milah would probably rather mend a dress, an extremely boring process, than stay here, listening to you complain about the maid."
Zelena's mouth dropped open. Regina could also be such a bitch.
Milah just walked away, rolling her eyes. The new girl hid her mouth behind her hand, clearly trying to fight a laugh. Zelena wasn't having any of it.
"What's so funny?" She asked, glaring at... Belle. For god sakes, even her name meant Beautiful. Zelena really hated her.
The girl shot a guilty expression Zelena's way. "I'm sorry. That was inappropriate of me."
"Yes it was." Zelena leaned back against the cushions getting comfortable. She looked the girl up and down. "So, what do you think of our home?"
"It's beautiful," she nodded. "Why do you ask?"
Zelena shrugged. "You keep staring at everything around you. It's...cute how curious you are," she said, condescendingly.
"Oh?" She seemed surprised.
Zelena became straight faced in a second."No. I was joking."
"Oh," she nodded. "Of course." She tried to smile.
Zelena stretched, giving the girl a smirk. "I always thought curiosity killed the cat myself."
Regina snorted. "Since when? You always ask questions. You have to know where everyone is going, what everyone is doing."
Zelena sighed, smiling tensely at Belle. The girl still tried to smile. "Regina," she didn't take her eyes of the new girl, "Go back to your book. You're not helping."
"Not trying to," her sister muttered. Zelena rolled her eyes.
"So, Belle, what do you think of the master of this house?"
"Rumpelstiltskin?" she asked. Zelena nodded, rolling her eyes again. God, how stupid could she be? It was a simple question. Maybe she only received pretty looks. Zelena was betting there was not much going on upstairs. "He is...interesting."
"Interesting, how so?" Zelena tilted her head to the side.
"Well, a man with so much power, who is hardly spoken of, who makes deals, like he does, is a fascinating creature. I think he's an enigma," she smiled, self-consciously. That was not the answer Zelena was hoping for. She was hoping for crying, and begging to be released.
"You're not scared of him, at all?"
"Well, he is intimidating," she admitted. "He's a very strange wizard."
Zelena laughed. The girl was surprised. "He's not called a wizard, maid. He's referred to as the Dark One." Zelena rolled her eyes again.
The pretty girl blushed. "I didn't know."
"Yes, well, it seems you don't know much." Zelena was gleeful and full of satisfaction at the flushing of the girl's face.
"You wouldn't be bothering our new maid, would you, Zelena?" She jumped, when Rumpel showed up. It was always discerning when he literally blinked into existence. But he was always a happy surprise, nonetheless.
"Not all, Rumpel," she smiled sweetly. Regina snorted again.
He looked suspicious. "Yes," he turned towards the girl, "I'll show you to your room now. I think you'll find it quite...accommodating." He giggled.
Belle hurriedly stood up, clearly not wanting to upset Rumpel. At least she is a little afraid him, Zelena thought, happily.
As Rumpelstiltskin and the girl left, Zelena couldn't help herself. With a swish of her hand, she lifted the end of the rug up they were walking on, so the girl could trip walking over it. Belle did just that. And she did not disappoint.
Belle gasped, trying to catch her fall, her arms swinging. Zelena found it to be a hilarious sight. Of course, she had not planned on Rumpel catching her. He caught her arm, and righted her. He turned back to Zelena, giving her a look that was between amusement and irritation.
"Zelena, don't be petty." Zelena blushed herself. He let go of the maid's arm, thankfully, and they continued on their way.
Regina sighed, shaking her head. "Really, Zelena?"
"What?" She asked, innocently. "Clearly the rug was upturned. I didn't do anything." Though Rumpel thought you did. Which of course he was right, but that was besides the point.
"She's staying, so you might as well learn to tolerate her," her sister advised.
"As compared to you?" Regina finally looked up from her book, a question in her gaze. "You were reading the entire time, ignoring the girl. It doesn't seem you like her."
"No, Zelena," she said, closing her book, and standing up. "I was ignoring you."
Zelena's mouth dropped open. Her sister really could be such a bitch.
Cora was left feeling bad for her daughter. But she did not feel guilty. She would never feel guilty for wanting someone to pay attention to her. For wanting to feel some kind of romance, once in her life.
But of course that love affair came at a cost. Her she was, sitting in a dank, dark, dungeon full of mice. It was disgusting. And not fit for a future queen. Or she would have been, if she hadn't cheated on her husband.
She sighed, holding her chin in hand, staring out the one tiny window.
"What do we have here, dearie?" Cora whirled around at the high, quirky, voice. A...man was in her cell. And he was gleeful. "A damsel in distress that needs my help?" He giggled in a high pitch.
"Who are you?" Cora didn't know how to feel about the turn of events. She wasn't sure if she should feel afraid of the man, or intrigued.
"Rumpelstiltskin," he bowed. "At your service."
"Rumpelstiltskin," Cora murmured. "I've read about you in fairytales." Her eyes widened. "Books say that you are a imp, causing trouble wherever you go."
He laughed again. "I see my reputation doesn't go undamaged."
"What are you doing here?" Her eyes narrowed. "Have you come to kill me?"
"Now, why would I do that?" He said, walking slowly around the room.
"I'm not sure. Why else would you be here, than to put me out of my misery?"
"So eager to die, are we, dearie?" He leaned against the window seal, closer to her than she expected. She surprisingly wasn't disgusted by him. She didn't move away.
"I'm not eager to die," she said, affronted. "But death is better than being strung up by my neck in front of the whole town, people laughing and cursing at me."
"So," he said, contemplatively, "what you're saying is, you want to escape." Even though a question, he said it like he already knew the answer.
"Of course, I want to escape." Cora gasped. "I don't want to die. I don't want to leave my daughters behind."
He giggled, clapping his hands. "I see we have a deal we can make."
"What kind of deal?"
He traced one finger down her hand, laying on the window sill. "The one where you get what you want and I get what I want." He removed his hand from her's.
She looked at her hand, the feeling of his finger still lingering. She liked the feeling of it. "And what do you want? You want me to fuck you?"
He laughed. "Well, you are in her for adultery, dearie," he said, moving his head mockingly to look around the room. She narrowed her eyes, again.
"So you want sex? Don't get enough at home?" She knew she was mocking him, but she didn't feel afraid. She felt like he enjoyed it.
"I get plenty at home," he said, gleefully. "Or I did," he added as an afterthought. "But no, I'm not asking for you to open your legs for me. I need a new prodigy to teach my magic to, and I think you're the best candidate."
She looked at him speculatively. "Why me?"
He stared right into her eyes, entrancing her. She couldn't look away. "Because you have a black heart, Cora. You could do wonders with magic. The possibilities are endless."
She shivered. "How do you know my name?" She whispered.
"Names are my specialty, dearie." He leaned back, letting her catch her breath. "So, do we have a deal?"
"You'll help me escape, if I learn magic?" Cora was weary. She wasn't sure it was that simple.
He nodded. "I'll teach you magic, so you can escape yourself."
"But, I have a week before my execution. I wont be able to learn enough to escape on my own." She was confused.
"Cora," he said, entrancing her again. "You have the blackest heart I've ever met. You have so much anger in you, it wont take me long to teach you."
"But why not help me escape first?"
His eyes narrowed, and a wicked grin befell his face. "This way, with your own magic, you'll be able to destroy everyone that made you feel weak, that hurt you, that ignored you, and most of all, put you in this cell," he whispered, dangerously. " If I help you, these people won't see you leave. They won't see the power you will posses. You can surprise them all, if you use magic yourself. It's a better option than letting me do all the work," he paused. "How does that sound?"
Cora thought it sounded amazing. It was so easy for her to trust Rumpelstiltskin. It seemed they were very much alike. "I think we have a deal," she smirked.
Belle was grateful for Rumpelstiltskin catching her arm before she could trip. From his reaction to Zelena, it seemed she was the culprit behind the rug mysteriously flipping up. Belle had no idea that she could use magic. She assumed only Rumpelstiltskin or the Dark One, as Zelena corrected her, possessed magic. She didn't like the idea of Zelena being able to do anything beyond human control. Mostly because Belle received the distinct feeling that the red head did not like her at all.
"Thank you," Belle said, to Rumpelstiltskin. They were heading to her room, wherever that might be.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "For what, dearie? I know it can't be from my generous hospitality." He chuckled at his own joke.
Belle tried to smile. "Thank you for stopping me from falling. I'm a little clumsy," she said, sheepishly.
He waved a hand dismissively. "It was all Zelena's doing. She can be a little envious of others."
Belle's brow furrowed. "Why would she be envious?"
"It seems you've made multiple of the women slightly jealous with your presence," he said, gleeful. Belle thought again that he was way too happy under present circumstances.
"I don't understand. I have nothing they would want," Bell shrugged.
Rumpelstiltskin giggled. "On the contrary, dearie. Between your looks and being my maid, it's stirred up quite the controversy with my mistress and her daughter."
"My looks?" Belle raised a hand self-consciously to her face.
"Well, you're not ugly, dearie," he said, obviously.
Belle had nothing to say to that. She blushed, and lowered her hand.
"They're worried you'll take my attention from them," he replied, sneakily.
"That's absurd," Belle said, baffled. "I'm here to be a maid. Clean the castle and what not. That's what we agreed on. I'm not here to take anyone's attention from anyone."
He laughed. "Try telling Cora and Zelena that. I'm sure they're just willing to listen."
"You don't have to be sarcastic," she grumbled. He just smirked and directed her down a hallway. Rumpelstiltskin opened up a door, leading into a small, cramped, room.
"Your chambers, dearie." He waved an arm extravagantly, into the room. Belle was weary walking in. She jumped when she saw what looked like a rat.
"These are my chambers?" Belle hadn't been expecting much. She figured being a maid would not give her the nice, noble rooms from her old home, but she hadn't realized she would be put in a room where mice resided.
He squinted at her. "Isn't that what I just said?"
Belle blushed. "Right. Of course," she nodded, not wanting to make a fuss. Rumpelstiltskin did after all save her family from the Ogres. The least she could do was live in a small, cold cell.
He paused, looking her over. "Starting tomorrow you will serve all my meals in the Great Hall, sweep the floors, and wipe down any dust you see. I'll give you more instruction when I need to." He turned to leave, but paused again. "You have free reign of the castle, but be careful opening just any door. They can be sneaky. I don't need you falling to your death. I don't want to have to look for help again." Sneaky doors? Belle thought. He didn't makes sense sometimes. "Enjoy your...room," he said, glancing around. "Be up early tomorrow morning to serve me breakfast. And be careful of the mice, dearie. They bite." With that, he left the cell.
Belle sighed in relief when he didn't lock the door. But with that way Zelena and Cora had looked at her, maybe a locked door was the safest thing for her. She sat down on the cot, and wondered what to do. She didn't have any books to pass the time. She saw Regina and Zelena reading, so she knew there were books around the castle somewhere. She would ask Rumpelstiltskin tomorrow.
With all the free time on her hands, Belle had nothing to do but think. Which led to thinking of her mother's death, and the absence of her father. While he could get on her nerves, she missed her papa. In all the commotion, she hadn't realized how much it hurt to leave him behind. Her papa just lost her mother, and now herself as well. But she wouldn't feel guilty about saving her country. She could never feel guilty about that.
Thinking about her mother and father, caused tears to pour from her eyes. She started to cry, silently, shoulders shaking. The way she had been un-welcomed surprised her. The glares of Cora and Zelena made her feel small. The pitying looks from Milah made her feel like a child. Regina's stand off nature was discouraging. And she still had no idea how to feel about Rumpelstiltskin. He was so strange.
She laid down on the bed, wiping tears from her eyes, and tried to fall asleep.
Belle figured it would be a long day tomorrow.
Rumpelstiltskin made good on his promise to Cora. He left her sleeping, looking satisfyingly content. He went back to his own rooms, not liking to spend the night with anyone. After Milah, he never slept in another women's bed.
His mind kept drifting back to the new little maid. Belle, he knew her name was. She was pretty, he would give her that. And strong willed, he thought, chuckling. She never once seemed afraid of him. He wasn't sure why. Either she was extremely naive and not bright, or she had a backbone the likes he hadn't seen before. Either way, she was an enigma. He was...curious about her.
He had never felt this strong of an urge before to get answers. He wasn't sure if he liked the feeling or not.
It was irritating.
Everyone finally met! But of course there will be no shortage of drama in the upcoming chapters.
I hope you guys liked seeing a little bit of how Cora and Rumpel met. Obviously it's different from the show's, like Milah's backstory was.
Upcoming: Zelena and Regina have magic lessons, Belle tries to get used to her new life, and Rumpel continues to be a sex god. ;)