Hi everyone I hope you are still reading this..I am sorry it is taking me so long in between chapters. Happy OUaT eve all. 3 Thank you Jane Espenson for the writing sprint.
The fire soon simmered into embers both Rumpelstiltskin and his beauty were collapsed, asleep in front of the glowing ashes. Belle had the book open upon her lap, her relaxed fingers losing their grip, the book slipping to the floor with an audible thud. Blinking dazed the imp looked at the sleeping beauty curled up beside him. His dark deep eyes going wide as he saw her resting beside him. The last thing he remembered was her voice ringing with delight as she spoke of Arthur gathering the knights of the round table to start his crusades. She had captivated him into the story simply by her own enthusiasm.
The imp sat beside Belle watching her sleep his fingers oh, so gently brushing her hair aside. A small flick of his wrist conjuring a blanket to lay over her to keep her petite frame warm. Not daring to move, not wanting to wake her from what ever pleasant dream that had her full lips curled into the softest of smiles.
Slowly he slipped back into sleep completely comfortable with his Belle beside him. Waking only when he felt her stir. Belle yawned her palm stroking over her eyes, rubbing them and blinking lazily as she realized where she had spent the night. "Oh, my." she whispered and glanced up seeing his eyes were open. "G-good morning." she stammered
"Good Morning, Dearie." he giggled when he saw how flustered she was. "Sleep well?" he had to ask her.
"Very well, actually." she laughed lightly sitting up so that her weight was not supported by Rumpelstiltskin.
He gave one solid nod and slid from the chaise lounge standing and straightening his rumpled clothing. "Perhaps some breakfast?" he suggested and with a small gesture Mrs. Potts came back to life and headed promptly to the kitchen.
Belled nodded but stayed contented on the lounge. "Breakfast sounds wonderful." her blue pool like eyes peered up to his.
Rumpelstiltskin strode over to the table and sat in his usual seat waiting for the kettle to prepare the meal. He watched the beauty rise to her feet and join him her hair a bit tousled from having rested on it. "I'm sorry I fell asleep on you last night." she bit her lip a little uncomfortably.
"Not to worry, Dearie," he didn't speak the rest of his thought aloud but he had actually enjoyed the warmth of her body on his. After a few moments of small conversation the teapot came back with silver trays of food.
"Here you are Master, breakfast is served." Mrs. Potts voice rang out respectfully as the carts came to a halt beside the imp.
After breakfast was finished he sent Belle to complete her normal chores as he spun. It was difficult not to think of their little snowball fight, her giggles, how happy he had felt in that moment. The day had passed at a snails pace as he waited for her to rejoin him, when the sun had set without a sign of her he headed into the library.
With no surprise there was the brunette girl lost in the pages of yet another story. He giggled breaking her concentration. "Has Dear Arthur found his happy ending yet?" he asked casually entering the room.
"There's an evil witch, Mab...all she does is interfere." Belle gave a breathless sigh, "They could have a utopia if it weren't for her meddling."
"I thought true love concurred all?" Rumpelstiltskin gave her a mock perplexed look.
"It does, it will!" her eyes wide with hope.
He gave her a mischievous grin and continued deeper into the library. Out of all of her qualities her innate hope for the better in situations was something that he had grown to admire the most. How after her own story had turned out so skewed...so irrevocably lonely did she still believe in happily ever after?
"Why do fantasy stories intrigue you so?" he asked curiously, knowing they had to provide an escape.
"It helps to give me perspective." she answered simply.
"Perspective?" his brow raised giving her an uncertain look.
Belle nodded smiling at him, "Yes, it really can help. For instance Arthur was raised as a farm hand and he was told it was his destiny to rule and unite the land. What a terrible responsibility but he was so noble that he sacrificed his easy life for one of constant struggle."
"As you gave yourself to me to save your fathers kingdom?" Rumpelstiltskin suggest his voice attempting to stay neutral.
"Well, yes. I know now it was my destiny to come here Rumpelstiltskin, even if I am just a maid." she frowned feeling a bit delusional when he called out the parallel her mind had made.
"Destiny is something easily changed." he remarked looking her over before allowing his eyes to drop to the floor.
Belle absorbed these words hearing woe in his voice. "We decide our own fate." she argued, "I chose to come here." without a thought the next words unfurled from her tongue. "What did you choose to make you like this?"
The imp felt as if she had just pierced his heart with an arrow, she struck him to the very core with that question. "I chose to save my son, I chose the cowardice of killing an old beggar man in the woods to gain some power." he grimaced thinking of how he had been tricked into his curse. He had answered her honestly for he felt no reason to lie to her, in his old life he was well known as a coward.
He watched the lovely face look back with a bit of disapproval. "We all must live with our choices." her lips faltering into a pout, she felt badly that his error haunted him so many decades after.
"You must have loved him greatly." Belle whispered meeting Rumpelstiltskin's hollow ancient eyes.
"I did." he nodded, "though he did not love what became of me." if he had tears left in his leathery body he may have wept at the thought. He had saved his son and lost him all in the same act for what child could love a wicked creature like himself?
She had no words to console him though she searched for them. Her rosy full lips continued to pout as she gestured him closer. "Would you like to finish this with me?" she lifted the book slightly.
"Perhaps another time." his face was barely concealing the turmoil that was coursing through his entire being. He bowed curtly and turned to leave the library skirting away from her questions as quickly as he could.
Belle sat there unable to concentrate on the text that had previously enthralled her, instead she thought of what fate really meant. Did she really have as much control as she thought? What was her purpose here with Rumpelstiltskin, had she made the right choice after all?