Chapter Two

Repercussions

A/AN: I would like to thank everyone for their continued support! I'm blown away by the amount of reviews I've been getting! Keep them coming, and I'll keep whipping out these chapters! Thanks so much!

Regina walked back to the castle. The sun was just beginning to set, and she sighed realizing what was to come. She was having dinner tonight with King Leopold and his "darling" daughter Snow White. The man was twice her age and yet her mother thought she was investing in her future by finding her a husband and marrying a king was no small matter. Regina's mother was sadly mistaken if she thought she was going to marry a man she didn't love. She'd already promised herself to Daniel but tonight she would endure the king's company. She felt her heart leap within her chest at the thought of running away with her true love. She would be Mrs. Foster the day after tomorrow and miles away from her mother's clutches.

"Get changed! Dinner will be ready in half an hour!" Cora commanded meeting her daughter in the hallway.

"I'm sorry mother…I must've lost track of time while I was riding." Regina fibbed averting her mother's stony gaze.

"Well get dressed! We want you to make a good impression on the king!" Cora chastised pushing her daughter towards her chambers.

"No mother you want me to make a good impression on the king." Regina thought spitefully to herself.

A half an hour later she emerged from her room wearing a royal blue gown made out of silk with an empire waist, a row of glimmering sapphires sewn underneath the bust and along the neckline. More strands of sapphires served as sleeves, and a lace overlay covered the bodice. The skirt was full and flowing.

Regina felt completely overdressed for the occasion. She was grateful that she could be herself around Daniel and that he didn't expect her to masquerade around in ridiculous ball gowns. She'd chosen a simple white cotton gown she would wed him in, already packed away safely in her satchel.

"Regina you're simply breathtaking." King Leopold gasped in awe taking her all in. He took her hand and gently placed a kiss on the top of it.

"Thank you your majesty." Regina forced a smile, bowing respectfully.

"King Leopold it's certainly a pleasure to have you and your daughter Snow White with us tonight." Cora praised as she took her seat at the head of the table. Regina rolled her eyes at her mother's half hearted sentiment.

"Thank you for having us." King Leopold replied as he and his daughter took a seat at the table. He sat directly in front of Regina. She cursed to herself inwardly. She just wanted to get this horrible night over with.

The king's daughter Snow White sat perpendicular to her. Regina had no ill feelings towards the girl who seemed to be enraptured by their first course of lamb stew.

"So Regina what sorts of hobbies do you enjoy?" King Leopold inquired making an effort at conversation with her.

"I enjoy horseback riding. It's my favorite activity I do believe." Regina admitted feeling a smile spread across her face at the thought of her handsome stable boy.

"We have lots of horses in Astyn. Perhaps we could all go riding together sometime." King Leopold suggested smiling broadly at her.

"Wouldn't that be fun Snow? Perhaps Regina could give you a riding lesson." Leopold told his daughter who looked up shyly from her lamb stew.

"Could you give me a lesson someday?" Snow inquired sheepishly to the older raven haired girl.

"Of course." Regina emptily promised knowing that it really didn't matter what she told King Leopold or Snow White. She would be out of Avonlea before the first light of dawn spread its majestic wings across the sky.

Cora engaged Leopold in a conversation about Regina's goals and accomplishments shortly after that. They also discussed trading agreements and other kingdom affairs that Regina felt her mind unfastening from as she pictured Daniel's loving face within her mind.

The dinner soon ended, and King Leopold made her promise that she would come visit him and Snow in Astyn soon. Regina politely compiled before excusing herself to her chamber. She changed into her traveling clothes and crawled into bed, pulling the covers over her head just in case her mother peaked inside her chamber.

The hours slowly ticked by, and Regina waited until she knew everyone including her mother would be asleep. She slipped out the back entrance, past the snoozing guards she knew wouldn't realize she'd ever crossed their paths.

She made her way to the stable taking in a relieved breath. She was almost free of this place. She slipped inside the stable to see Daniel waiting for her. He already had her horse Sadie saddled and loaded down with the supplies they would need for their journey.

"Regina!" Daniel smiled as she threw her arms around him, greeting him with a deep kiss.

"Daniel I can't believe we're actually running away together!" Regina exclaimed falling into his awaiting arms.

"I can't believe it either." a sinister voice spoke from the shadows making Regina's blood run cold. Regina pulled away from Daniel cautiously averting her gaze in the direction the voice resounded.

"Mother what are you doing here?" Regina quivered with every syllable as Cora emerged from the shadows.

"I've come to stop you from making a huge mistake." Cora retorted narrowing her gaze at Daniel who was still standing beside the brown horse.

"It isn't a mistake! I love Daniel!" Regina proclaimed standing between them, shielding her lover from Cora's hateful glare.

"Love is weakness…You're better off without it my dear girl. What kind of future can this boy provide you with besides shoveling stables? You're going to be queen someday, and you need to start acting like it." Cora scoffed snapping her fingers. Regina cried out when she felt two guards grab her arms.

"Mother no!" Regina screamed as Daniel was confined by three guards and hauled away. She felt tears began to stream down her cheeks at the sight of her betrothed being taken hostage by them.

Cora was now face to face with Regina, who was still confined by both guards. She slapped her hard across the face sending a stinging sensation cascading across her cheek, "You will not defy me anymore…Do you understand!?" Cora hissed vehemently staring coldly into her eyes.

"Yes mother…" Regina nodded compliantly feeling the rest of her heart break in the process. She would never get to forge her own path as long as her mother sat on the throne. She would always be enslaved to her as long as she lived.

~X~

Belle awoke the following morning feeling refreshed. Mrs. Potts had brought her a tray of fruit, biscuits, and tea for breakfast.

"Good morning Mrs. Potts." Belle greeted her cheerfully.

"Good morning my dear. I've laid out a fresh pair of clothes for you on the chair." Mrs. Potts supplied gathering up her breakfast dishes. Belle stood up, the ache in her head only a distant pain now. She walked to the chair and picked up the golden silk gown. She gasped as she held it to her chest in front of the mirror.

"I can't wear this!" Belle protested admiring the extravagant dress.

"Oh but you can! The master insists that you wear it to lunch. He handpicked it out himself." Mrs. Potts smirked admiring the dress Belle held against her body.

"But why?" Belle questioned clearly taken aback by his offer.

"He seems to fancy things made of gold." Mrs. Potts shrugged leaving her standing there gaping at the dress. She allowed Mrs. Potts to assist her into a type of dress she hadn't worn since she was a princess.

"You look ravishing miss…I think the master will approve." Mrs. Potts chuckled, as she plait her massive curls into a crown. Belle hadn't felt like royalty in quite sometime but today she did. She smoothed out her skirts trying to adjust to walking in heels and balancing her weight in such a dress she thought she would never wear again.

Belle made her way into the dining hall that Mrs. Potts had showed her at eleven o'clock sharp. Two occupants sat at the grand dining table. One was Rumplestiltskin and the other was a boy with a mop of curly dark hiding one of his eyes. Belle presumed he was Rumplestiltskin's son Baelfire.

"Good morning." Belle greeted them warmly making her presence known, giving them both a gallant bow.

Rumplestiltskin locked eyes with the blue eyed beauty. He felt his breath hitch in his throat as he continued to stare at the golden gown that seemed to hug her curves in all the right places. She reminded him of warm sunshine the way she lit up the room. She was so beautiful that it made his chest hurt.

"Good morning Belle…This is my son Baelfire." Rumplestiltskin returned tearing his gaze away from her as he introduced his son.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Baelfire. I'm Belle." she greeted back warmly. The boy stared at her for a few moments drinking her all in.

"Papa said you're to be my teacher, but he forgot to mention how pretty you were." Baelfire said gazing steadily at her.

"Bae it isn't polite to stare." Rumplestiltskin scolded clearing his throat uncomfortably at his son's comment.

"Why thank you little prince." Belle chortled filling his ears with her tinkling laughter. He was certain that sound would put the angel's to shame.

"So Belle are you feeling better?" Rumplestiltskin inquired quickly changing the subject before things could grow anymore awkward between them.

"Yes I had good rest. Thank you for such kindness. I'm forever grateful to you." she thanked him giving him a warm smile that made him melt on the inside.

"You're very welcome." He felt himself smiling back at her until Baelfire made a coughing sound with his throat. He hadn't realized he'd been staring so intently at her. He tore his gaze away quickly as the cook brought out their first course of Mutton, Pork, and dried herbs. Belle tried her best not to tear into her food like a scavenger, for she hadn't eaten such a meal in a long time. She forced herself to take lady like bites even though she wanted to tear into it like a lion would an antelope.

"So what are you going to teach me about?" Baelfire inquired breaking the silence between them. Belle threw back a sip of her ale, fastening her gaze on the boy.

"I was thinking we could do some arithmetic, writing, reading, spelling, and anything else your father wants me to teach you." Belle respired turning her attention back to Rumplestiltskin.

"I would like him to learn other dialects." Rumplestiltskin stated taking a bite out of his mutton.

"Papa no! You know how much I detest other languages!" Bae pouted sticking his lip out for the full effect.

"No buts my son! If you plan to be a good king one day, then you need to be well versed in other languages, so you can communicate with the other realms. They all don't speak our language and if you know theirs then our kingdom will fair much better." He told him throwing back a gulp of his ale.

"Your father's right Bae…The more you know, the farther you will go in life." Belle smiled winking at the young boy.

"All right." Bae grumbled poking at the dried herbs on his plate. The last portion of their meal was brought out which consisted of a light fruit salad and slab of chocolate cake. Belle licked her lips at the delectable dessert.

"Do you like chocolate Belle?" Bae inquired innocently, his childlike eyes full of wonder.

"What kind of person would I be if I didn't?" she smiled giving him a wink before running her finger over the top of the cake. She plopped her frosted finger in her mouth and smiled. Rumplestiltskin eyed her analytically as she licked the frosting from her fingers. Most nobles would've found her impulsive, but he couldn't help but think she was adorable interacting with his son in such a childish manner.

"I like her papa…I think she's going to be a great teacher!" Bae chimed in excitedly making Belle blush.

"I think you're right Bae…I think Belle is going to be a splendid teacher." he smirked before taking a bite of his own cake half smiling at Belle sending something warm and invigorating through her. She just wasn't quite sure what it was yet.

A/AN: Yes that's all of chapter two! I'm so glad you guys love this story! I've had a few of you inquire about Rumple's eye patch, and I promise I'll get into that later! Cora is still more evil than ever, and I hope you'll keep reading because things are about to get interesting. In the next chapter Belle will start to tutor Bae, and she and Rumplestiltskin will have a moment.