Chapter 2 - A Rose And Thorns
Belle smiled brightly as she entered the royal nursery and looked into the cot at her gurgling daughter,
"hello my precious little bloom" she cooed gently and picked her up into her arms and the little baby wrapped in a light pink blanket gurgled happily looking up at it's mother and Belle smiled softly before sitting down in a little chair next to the cot and fed her daughter her bottle.
Belle had taken to calling Rose the nickname 'little bloom', mostly because she was still so tiny and she would always be her little girl no matter what. Little Rose gurgled as she finished off her bottle before letting out a little tiny yawn and snuggling back into her mother's arms and drifted off to sleep once more.
Belle couldn't help but rock Rose gently in her arms for a little while longer and pressed a soft kiss to her daughter's tiny forehead.
Rumple had been playing with Bae and Sir Teddy outside in the garden when His father came running up to them with a worried expression,
"Rumple?" he said with a firm tone to get his attention and Rumple looked at him before smiling at Bae gently,
"Why don't you and Sir Teddy go and get a cookie from the kitchen?" he suggested and Bae giggled happily,
"Yay! Thanks papa" he said brightly and hugged his papa before running off and Rumple turned to his father with a concerned expression,
"Father, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked and his father looked at him sadly before handing his son a scroll of yellowed parchment with a black seal,
"…. King Gaston of the Northern Kingdom has…. Declared War on Misthaven" he informed his son in a regrettable tone and Rumple concerned face turned stunned and he unrolled the parchment, which read:
'To the false kingdom of Misthaven,
I hope you have enjoyed your short reign as king for it shall soon be ending.
I am declaring war upon you and Misthaven. I have become tired of peace, Face me on the field of battle like a man unlike the coward you truly are. If you refuse, or make any attempt of trying to suggest peace I shall give the order for my men to invade your kingdom where they shall show no mercy to any one of your subjects and followers.
You have until the sun sets on this day.
King Gaston Of The Northern Kingdom.'
Rumple looked at the writing worried and he looked up towards the window of his new born daughter's nursery. He thought of his family, his wife, his children, his subjects before closing his eyes and then opening them, looking at his father sadly,
"Tell…. Inform the knights…. Tell them to prepare for battle. We are at war" he said sadly and his father nodded with an equally sad expression before bowing and returning to the castle.
Bae was giggling as he made Sir Teddy dance for little Rose who let out a small giggle as her mama helped her clap her hands. Rumple stood outside the door watching them secretly after his manservant has helped him with his armour and he sighed sadly as he watched his happy family.
Belle somehow sensed his presence and looked up and she frowned gently at his sad expression and she stood gently before laying Rose in her cot and she smiled softly at Bae,
"Ok little soldier you and Sir Teddy watch your sister for a moment" she said teasing and Bae gave her an innocent salute and giggled before marching up and down next to the cot like a soldier and Belle came outside the nursery and closed the door gently but not all the way,
"Rumple?... what's the matter? Why are you in your armour? Are you and your men going hunting?" she asked gently and Rumple looked at his wife sadly before stepping forward quickly and cupping both her cheeks and kissed her passionately and she was stunned for a moment before returning it and then she pulled back gently and looked at him concerned,
"Rumple…. What's wrong? What aren't you telling me?" she asked quietly and Rumple was silent before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead and looked at her sadly,
"King Gaston….. He's…." he sighed frustrated and ran a hand through his hair,
"He's declared war upon us…. I must ride into battle…. Tonight or he will give the order for his men to attack the village without mercy" he explained and Belle gasped in horror and she cupped his cheek with a look of fear on her face,
"Rumple…. Please…. No. you can't ride out to face him. Please" she said desperately and Rumple sighed and held her hand in his,
"I have no choice Belle. It's my duty as king" he said sadly and Belle allowed tears fall,
"And what about your duty as a father?... what if…. What if you don't come back Rumple?" she asked sadly and Rumple caressed her cheek with thumb, wiping away her tears,
"What if Rose never gets the chance to meet her father?... I can't raise her and Bae without you…. I can't live without you Rumple" she said sadly as tears fell and he pulled her into his arms gently and kissed her forehead,
"Shhhhhhhhhh. It's alright my love. I give you my word that I will return to you safe and sound. You have my word" he whispered in her ear soothingly before using his finger to tilt her chin upwards so she would look at him and he kissed her deeply before whispering,
"I love you…. Tell Bae and Rose that I love them too" he whispered before stepping back but he didn't release her hand and he smiled,
"And Belle….?" She continued to look at him as tears rolled down her cheeks and Rumple smiled,
"Try not to marry Sir Teddy whilst I'm away" he teased gently and Belle couldn't help but smile gently despite the tears and she removed her wedding ring gently and her necklace and slipped it on the chain before clasping it around her husband's neck before whispering in his ear,
"So that I'm with you on the battlefield" she said softly and Rumple smiled and removed his wedding band and placed it in her palm,
"So that I'm with you even when you can't see me" he replied softly, closing her fingers around and she cupped his cheek gently with her free hand,
"I will keep it safe until you return" she whispered and he smiled, nodding,
"As I will keep yours safe until I can return it" he said before walking away after reluctantly letting go of her hand.
Rumple held his wife's ring that hung from the chain around his neck and pressed a gentle kiss to it and putting it away safely behind his tunic. He looked up at the enemy army before looking at the men who had sworn allegiances to him on the day of his coronation. He brought down the front shield on his helmet and yelled,
"Charge!" his men yelled in response as they all followed their king into battle on horseback.
Belle tucked a sleeping Bae and Sir Teddy into bed gently before pressing a kiss to his head.
Most of the men had dismounted now, including Rumple and were now engaged in duels with enemy knights. The rain started to pour fiercely as the sound of metal clashing with metal could be heard.
Belle knelt over the edge of her daughter's cot and pressed a kiss to her forehead and fixed her blanket before heading to the library where she stared out the window, praying her husband was safe.
The Battle was ruthless and King Gaston's knights showed no mercy as Rumple's knights began to fall. Rumple glared as he finally came to Gaston and the enemy king smirked evil as they both swung their swords and they clashed together.
Belle had her eyes closed tightly as she held her husband's wedding band; that now hung from a necklace around her neck; in her hand,
"Please….." she whispered,
"Please find a way back to me" she quietly prayed.
Rumple fought bravely before finally swinging his blade and disarming Gaston and the enemy king fell backwards to the ground in surrender,
"Go on then…. Finish me off!" he shouted firmly as Rumple pointed the blade at his throat but he just glared at him before growling,
"No….. There's been too much bloodshed here today. I order you to leave my kingdom and if I ever see or hear of you within its borders again I 'will' kill you" he said firmly before placing his sword back in his scabbard and turned before starting to walk away and he suddenly cried out and time went still and Gaston growled in his ear,
"Not if I kill you first" he said mockingly and Pulled a dagger back out of Rumple's back and the king fell to the ground. Completely still.
Belle had been walking back to her room at the time when she cried out in pain,
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" she used the doorframe for support before whispering weakly,
"No….. Rumple…. No….." she slowly slid to the floor and fell unconscious.
Noooooooooooooo! it can't be the end!
Nah it's not don't worry. Poor Rumple, but what is King Gaston really after? did he really just want war or is there something else going on?
Find out in chapter 3! where Queen Belle must now face King Gaston alone without her husband by her side. What will she do?
Please Review it will help me post the next chapter faster! :D lol
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996