Chapter 9: - Becoming Lost In The Rose Garden

Although Rumple has assured Belle of his faith in her. He still kept his distance. When she would try to place a kiss on his cheek he would shy away. It broke his heart but he couldn't help but feel hideous in front of her, Even though she had assured him that within her eyes she could only ever see the man she loved.

After Belle had tucked Bae into bed with Sir Teddy and little Rose into her crib she retired to bed. She sighed sadly as she lied in bed and waited but her husband never came and with another sad sigh she finally blew out the candle that glowed on her bedside table.

Rumple was stood in the rose garden looking up at his and Belle's bedchamber window when he finally saw the candle light extinguish and he sighed sadly, turning away, walking further into the labyrinth of rose bushes. Belle had the purest hear he had ever known. Five hours. That's how long he had made her wait. He didn't think she would. He thought she would go straight to sleep as if nothing was wrong but she had waited for him. He couldn't bring himself to go to her side. He couldn't hold her in his arms when he looked like this monster that Gaston had turned him into. He sighed sadly as he came to the lake side where Belle and he had shared their very first kiss and he sat on the stone bench and sighed sadly, looking down, wondering if he truly would be trapped like this forever.

Rumple had been wrong. Although Belle had extinguished the candle at her bedside she had not gone to sleep. She had wrapped herself in the extra bed throw that was kept in her and Rumple's bed chamber for when it was winter. She headed to the library like she had done so many times before but this time it was different….. This time she picked up the old, rusting key that hung from a hook on the wall and she gulped as she headed to a gated part of the library. This part of the library was absolutely off limits to all. It contained all the spell books that had been recovered from an ancient war but these books contained dark magic….. The sort of magic that always comes with a price. Belle opened the gate slowly before pushing it open making it cry out with a haunting, rushing creek of age.

Rumple had given up so much for Belle. He had given up unlimited wishes for her. Not once but twice. He had saved her life so many times and she couldn't bear to see him so unhappy. She reached a part of the restricted section before stopping at one of the book shelves. She had helped the scribe catalogue these books so she knew what each and every book contained so she knew exactly what she was looking for. She reached up hesitantly for a big black hardback text and placed it on a reading pedestal and opened it slowly. She turned the pages with a shaking hand before she found the spell she was looking for,

"The spell of reflection" she whispered to herself,

"A spell that will enable the user to reveal the true form of another that has been placed under a spell of transformation….. But….. Have caution to reveal one reflection is to create another….. For the user to successfully cast the spell, they must too must become their true form." She whispered to herself and closed her eyes as she brushed the tips of her fingers against the aging pages before slowly opening her eyes once more and she began to read the incantation,

"For what I see I do not Believe,

The true form is what I must achieve.

Oh mirror of truth hear my plea,

Reveal the true form of Rumplestiltskin to me.

For the price that is asked I shall gladly pay,

And I Belle shall become my own true form this day.

Let the first spell be undone, for the truth let me uncover.

Transfer the spell to another.

Oh mirror of truth hear my plea,

…. Transfer the spell to me" She begged and was soon overcome with a blinding glow.

Outside in the rose garden at the exact same moment, Rumple was also overcome by a blinding glow and after a moment it faded and when he looked at his hands he was stunned to find them normal and soft unlike the golden scales he had only moments ago. He quickly rushed to the lake's edge, falling to his knees and looked at his reflection and he smiled brightly. He was himself again. He quickly got to his feet and rushed back to the castle.

When he reached his bed chamber he was confused to find Belle wasn't there and so he rushed to his parent's room who were taking some herbal tea before they readied for bed, Rumple's mother looked at him stunned,

"Rumple how….?" She began but he interrupted,

"That doesn't matter right now. Have you seen Belle?" he asked desperately and Malcolm looked at his son,

"If she's not in bed then I can only think of one place she would be" he said softly and Rumple instantly knew where he was talking about.

They all headed to the library and when they couldn't find her in her usual reading spot they began to get worried and that's when Malcolm looked up, seeing the restricted section gate standing open,

"Oh no" he said quietly and Rumple quickly rushed in,

"Belle?!... Belle can you hear me?!" he called out as he ran through the bookshelves, searching for her but he received no response. Madeline and Malcolm also searched the many bookshelves before finally meeting up together and Madeline looked at her son,

"She's not here Rumple she must be somewhere else in the castle" she said but her son wasn't looking at her. He was looking at the floor in silence,

"Rumple…? What's wrong?" she asked gently and Rumple slowly knelt down,

"She is here" he whispered sadly, picking up a glowing red rose and stood again slowly and looked at the book that sat on a reading pedestal,

"The spell of reflection….. She gave me back my true form but in return she became her own." He whispered sadly touching the rose's soft petals and Madeline gasped, placing both hands over her mouth in shock,

"Oh my… It's ok Rumple….. We'll save her" she assured him and Rumple slowly looked at his parents,

"How?" he asked and both Madeline and Malcolm looked at each other before looking back at their son sadly. Unable to give him an answer.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Beauty and the Beast Reference! Belle became the enchanted rose! Will Rumple be able to save her? Find out in the next chapter! Please review in order to unlock the next chapter. I'm so happy with the reviews so far #RumBelle Forever hehe :D Please check out my other story "A Thousand Years" the sequel is now up entitled "I'll Love You For A Thousand More" Please leave reviews and let me know what you think. Thank You all so much for your support,

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996