The very next day, Rumplestiltskin waited in the dining room for Belle to come. When she had entered the room she was surprised to see him. "I have a very important task for you today." He said to her with glee.

"What is it?" She asked worried it would be vile. An evil act that she would have to refuse. He walked over to her and pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket.

"You will take this to the tallest tower in the castle. Climb up the stairs and give this to the one you see there." He handed her the envelope.

"I had no idea someone lived with you." She said with genuine surprise but happy. In a way maybe this dark one was not so different from herself or another person.

"Just do as you're told." he said smiling but glaring.

"Oh yes. I shall." She looked over the envelope.

"Today Dearie!" He said not hiding his annoyance with her delay.

"Sorry. I'll go now." She left walking quickly to the tower doors. Belle couldnt help but stop to admire the lovely doors. Then she opened them and walked slowly up the stairs. the feeling in this part of the castle was very different from anywhere else. This place was eerie, and cramped. The rest of the castle was so spacious, and frightening because of the monster there. Here, there wasn't a monster. That is it didn't feel like the DarkOne spent much time here at all. It felt like a ghost haunted here. Loneliness pushing in on you from every stone. She came to a small door above her head and wasn't sure if she should knock or if she should just throw open the door. Belle decided to knock. It was awkward because the door was directly above her head. She hear a woman's voice call out to her.

"Since when do you knock?" Its didn't take much for Belle to realize this woman did not know who was at her door. "I thought you liked popping in all powerfull DarkOne? No reason to be so formal now!" The voice was coming closer and Belle could hear the woman kneeling to open the door. She threw the door open and her eyes widen at the sight of Belle. "Good evening?" Rapunzel asked certain it was evening and questioning Belle's presence.

"Its uh... its actually morning Mam. Good morning. I am Belle. I am the new maid of the castle."

"We got a maid? When?"

"Just yesterday."

"You've been here that long?" Rapunzel asked shock at how time had past.

"No. Not that long." Belle replied confused.

"Why are you here?" Rapunzel was apprehensive of this 'new' maid. And insulted that the DarkOne thought she couldn't clean up after herself like a child. " If the DarkOne sent you to clean, you can tell that hot tempered beast to go shove a broom up his-"

"Oh no no! I was sent here to give you this." Belle cut her off and handed her the envelope. Rapunzel took it and began to read the letter inside. She walked away from the opening, and Belle took this opportunity to come into Rapunzel's room. Once inside the first thing she noticed was the hair. Massive locks all over. "Your hair!" she gasped.

"I'm growing it out." Rapunzel respond uncaring at the girls surprise.

"How long have you been here?" Belle asked amazed by all the golden hair.

"I'm not very good with time." Rapunzel never took her eyes off the tiny paper.

"Are you a prisoner here too?" Belle asked somehow sad and hopeful.

"No." Rapunzel answered simply. This question would have normally enraged her, but she was too captivated with the little message. It was a hand written in the most beautiful lettering, with gold dust in the ink.

'Dear Rapunzel,

You have been invited to join the me, the DarkOne, for dinner tonight. I will send

the maid for you when it is time. Do respond in a timely manner.'

There was a 'yes' and a 'No' written below it, and a box next two both. Rapunzel read the message over and over. 'Do I yes or no?' she thought to herself. 'Is this a trick, or should I go?' She wondered and wondered. Absent minded her finger brushed over the yes box. Instantly she was pricked and her blood stained the note. The blood moved magically forming a large red check at 'Yes'. She turned to Belle in time to see her about to touch her soft golden hair. "Stop!" Belle was stunned at being yelled at. "Don't ever touch my hair maid." Rapunzel felt so wronged and angry.

"Please I'm very sorry." Belle was full of remorse.

"Take this back to your master, and get out!" Rapunzel did not hold back any angry as she spat out her words and threw the note at Belle, who took it from the floor and ran down the stairs and out of the tower. Belle arrived out of breath in the library, where Rumpelstiltskin was spinning his straw into gold.

"Back already?" he chimed.

"Yes. Who was that woman?"

"Why didn't you ask her?"

"Well I..." Belle was nervous again. She didn't know how Rumpelstiltskin would react to her upsetting the tower maiden.

"Well spit it out Dearie!" He was annoyed with her hesitation.

"I had tried to touch her hair." Belle confessed.

"And...?"

"And she screamed at me. Practically through me out of the tower." Belle was sheepish.

"I see." Wheels were spinning in his mind, but his face didn't show it. He began to feel his heart slowly dropping. Forsure after being so angered Rapunzel would not leave her tower.

"She wanted you to have your message back." Belle handed him the paper, and he snatched it from her quickly looking it over. "She didn't write anything, but what did your message say?" Belle asked curiously.

"We are having someone down for dinner." he said delighted and giggled in a way that even chilled the air. "Later today, I will send you back up to tell her that dinner is ready."

"Oh I'm not so sure thats a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well Mr. Rumpelstiltskin she seemed very angry with me and I don't think she would like to see me again so soon."

"Believe me princess, the passing of time never means much to Rapunzel in her tower. To ease your nerves" he paused conjuring a beautiful teal Ball gown. "When you go take her this. I doubt she will be so violent with the messenger who brings her this."

"How long has Rapunzel been in her tower?"

"She has only been with me a short time. She has lived in that tower her entire life." He explained, then added "However long thats been."

Rapunzel knew this dinner was her chance. She would have to play it by ear. 'No a plan! No, what if the plan doesn't work? What then?' she argued inside herself. 'Don't go to him without a plan. What will you do, if you don't know what to do?'. In the end she decided on a plan. She heard a knock at her trapdoor again. 'That girl.' She was instantly irritated, but opened the door.

"Hello again."

"Why are you back?"

"I have something for you." Belle said with a smile trying not to take Rapunzel's harshness to personally.

"If your master is canceling-"

"He wants you to have this" Belle cut off Rapunzel again, showing her the beautiful dress.

"My clothes are never good enough for that man." Rapunzel thought the dress was beautiful and a lovely gesture, but any kindness in front of Belle was just beyond her for now.

"I'm sure that's not what he had intended." Belle swallowed worried how the DarkOne would react if Rapunzel refused his gift. "Perhaps you'll like it if you try it on?" Rapunzel already knew if she put on that dress she'd never want to take it off.

"Very well. I need your help to put it on properly."

"Yes mam."

"But do not touch my hair."

"No mam"