Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Once Upon a Time.
Author's Note: Hello! I've had this written for a while, but I haven't gotten around to posting it. I may not add chapters for a while, since I have finals coming up, but I will try my best to keep posting. As always, R & R!
~Later that evening~
King Andrew awoke to the sound of the doorbell. He yawned and sat up, unsure of whether it was a dream or not. When he heard the bell again, he groggily got up and pulled on a pair of black slack and a white button-down shirt. He threw a black velvet cape over his shoulders before descending the stairs to the front door. He finished tucking in his shirt and opened the door, confronted with none other than Rumpelstiltskin and his Belle.
The king straightened up and glared at the sorcerer. "What do you want, imp? You aren't welcome in my court."
With a twisted little giggle, the magician replied, "I seek refuge for the night. We've been journeying all day since I returned your magick to you, my King Andrew. Besides, I only want a place for her to stay. I've just recently gotten my power back, and I can't very well take her with me with a spell."
"The girl is affiliated with you?" asked Andrew with curiosity.
The young woman stepped forward into the light. "I'm Belle, your majesty. I don't want to impose."
Andrew stood contemplating for a good while, hearing the story about how she had been locked up and had followed Rumpelstiltskin because she loved him. "Well, I—" Andrew began, but stopped when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw his wife descending the stairs in a stunning silver cloak.
"You returned my power to me, Rumpelstiltskin?" Armina asked of the imp, her face not revealing anything about the reason for the question.
With a flourish of his gold-flecked hand, he bowed and replied, "I'm glad to see you are well, my queen. It was me who returned your power with the last of my bottled true love."
Armina placed a reassuring hand on Andrew's shoulder and gently pulled him away from the door. He backed up and she beckoned the two lovers into her house. "If you promise not to betray me, imp, I will allow you both to rest in my home. You screw this up, and you won't have time to consider what I might do to you before an arrow sprouts from your chest. Is that clear?"
"Clear as crystal, my queen," the magician said with a toothy grin.
Andrew scowled at his giddy attitude. "The first room on the left on the second floor is free for you. The girl can sleep elsewhere, if you wish it."
"I would like to stay with him, if that's alright, your majesties. I've been separated from him for too long as it is," said Belle quietly, not meeting the eyes of the monarchs.
"That's fair enough. Go now; I need to go back to sleep," said the queen as she began to ascend the stairs.
"If you try anything, imp, you won't see another day alive, understand?" Andrew threatened as he followed his wife up the stairs.
Rumpelstiltskin bowed his head in a mock bow and opened the door to their room for Belle to enter.
Andrew stalked up the stairs, intent on asking his wife why she would allow the horrid little imp to stay with them, but he found her asleep instead, her eyes peacefully closed. His anger at the imp instantly dissipated when he saw his queen's chest rising and falling at a metered rate, her golden tendrils of hair covering her pillow as she slept. She had gotten rid of the cloak she had worn before, throwing it on a chair near the bed.
His eyes caught sight of her black, knotted tattoos that marked her as a shapeshifter. The sharp lines gave her a wild look, without detracting from the charisma that she always oozed. They made her look exotic, and positively powerful.
He grinned and removed the shirt he had put on earlier, along with the cloak. He pulled back the sheets and lay down in the massive bed, placing a protective arm across her stomach. Without delay, he fell asleep as well.