Chapter Three

Declarations

A/AN: Thank you for all your continued support, and I hope this chapter meets all your Rumbelle needs. This chapter is mainly Rumbelle with a little bit of Regina towards the end. I hope you all enjoy it and please review!

The afternoon meal had ended with Baelfire going to his jousting lesson. The nine year old apparently had much to keep him busy and it pained Belle's heart in a way as she remembered the things she was required to learn as a royal. She missed her childhood years when she could be carefree without a worry in the world, without evil stepmothers and pestilence that stole those she loved away. She longed for the years she would never get back.

She was about to leave the dining hall when she heard Rumplestiltskin clear his throat awkwardly behind her, "Belle do you mind coming with me for a moment? There's something I would like to show you." he told her gaining her attention.

Belle turned around to meet his scarred face. A face like Rumplestiltskin's would've repulsed many but all Belle could see was a story to tell. She longed to cup his face in her hands and run her fingers over his blemished features, stealing his pain away. Where did that come from? Belle shook her head trying to get rid of those estranged thoughts.

"Is that a yes or a no?" he inquired tilting his head slightly.

"Yes! I'm sorry! I thought there was something in my hair." she fibbed quickly shaking her head for the full effect.

"Come then…" Rumplestiltskin motioned with his hand leading her up a set of stairs. Belle tried to stay in sync with him, but she had to be careful of her footing since she hadn't worn a pair of heels in so long.

They made their way up the steps. Belle was thankful it was only one small staircase she had to navigate instead of the three larger ones that led back up to her room. She sighed inwardly at the thought of having to climb those.

He stopped in front of a set of double doors before turning to her, "This room is where you will tutor Bae. It should have everything you will need to get started. You may access anything in this room you please." he informed her, pushing open the door.

Belle hardly had time to register anything he was saying because she was too overwhelmed by what lay in front of her. She gasped at the room that held shelf after shelf of books. There was even an upstairs compartment which held even more shelves. They were standing in a library with more books than she could ever read in a lifetime.

"This is simply amazing!" Belle gasped drinking in her surroundings, wishing she could inhale every word off every page of every book in this library. She would have to ask Rumplestiltskin if she could spend some time here during her downtime. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to hold a tome in her hands, reveling in how the leather felt in her hands and the scent of worn pages smelt. After being sentenced to a servant's life, Belle hadn't been allowed to read. Cora made sure her workload was so cumbersome that she had no time for leisurely activities.

"These books are all categorized by topics. This shelf over here is full of books in foreign dialects. I've translated a few of them myself but there's a few that even extend beyond my knowledge. I was hoping you could translate a few of the ones I haven't and teach Bae how to read them." he explained, leading her over to a shelf at least eight feet tall.

"I can't wait to get started!" Belle said eagerly noticing a ladder that extended to the top of the shelf.

"May I grab a few to take back to my room? I would love to spend some time decoding them if you don't mind?" she inquired sheepishly averting her gaze.

"Be my guest." Rumplestiltskin obliged gesturing towards the ladder. Belle smiled stepping out of her heels. She grabbed the edges of the ladder and began to climb, etching carefully up the incline.

Rumplestiltskin watched her intrigued. He still wasn't sure what drew her to him that night. He had been on his way home from Elameth, a small village north of his kingdom to settle a dispute concerning some missing livestock. He had come up short in his endeavor to uncover the perpetrator. A few villagers stated they'd seen a large lupine like creature do it. He'd suggested they round up a hunting party and told them he would be back in two weeks time if they hadn't captured the creature by then.

He was restless and tired of dealing with the villagers and then a beautiful maiden had decided to jump in front of his carriage. He'd stopped on a whim, fortunately leaving her uninjured. He'd planned on giving her a piece of his mind, but she had fainted.

He wasn't good at playing the hero but something foreign stirred in his heart telling him that he needed to save this girl. He'd taken her back to Albannach with him and had placed her in the care of his loyal housemaid Mrs. Potts. The older woman had informed him that she had a nasty concussion and would need around the clock care.

Rumplestiltskin would never disclose such a secret to her, but he had watched over her on that third day when she'd come down with fever. He wanted to protect this woman and give her a home. She seemed to have a wandering soul like his own, someone who had lost much in their life and endured much sadness.

He should've sent her on her way, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted her close by, and he'd come up with the perfect alibi to make her stay. He knew she was more than a meager peasant. Peasant's couldn't read or write like she could and the fact that her knowledge expanded much beyond that made him believe there was something she wasn't telling him. He hoped in time he could gain her trust and that she would tell him about who she really was.

Rumplestiltskin was so enamored by his thoughts that he almost didn't notice the beauty loose her footing as she reached over to grab a book written in Latin just a little out of her reach. He turned around immediately catching Belle fluidly in his arms.

Belle gazed up at him hazily locking her blue eyes on his single brown pupil. She was so mesmerized by him that she reached up to move an erratic brown curl out of his face. He felt his skin ignite with flame by this simple gesture. He thought about kissing her in that moment until they both snapped out of their hypnotic state.

"Thank you." Belle replied nervously. He set her gently back on her feet, a blush coloring both of their cheeks.

"Allow me." Rumplestiltskin offered as he bent down to gather up the strewn literature.

"I'm such a klutz." Belle blushed biting her lip nervously. Rumplestiltskin couldn't help but think she looked adorable staring aversely up at him.

"It's no matter." Rumplestiltskin assured her with a small smile, handing her the tomes.

"I will get started on these right away." Belle assured him, propping the pile of books in her arms.

"That sounds great…If you don't mind Belle, would you mind joining me for tea this afternoon?" he found himself offering though he knew not why. He could feel his heart beating profusely as he awaited her answer.

"I would like that very much." she smiled, sending chills up his spine.

"Very well then…Meet back here in the library at six. We will further discuss Bae's path of study." Rumplestiltskin quickly added trying to come up with a formable excuse as to why he asked her to tea.

"Six it is then." she supplied before making her way out of the library, longing to gaze back at him but fearful she would trip in the process. Why was her master being so generous towards her, and why did she feel in the back of her mind that this afternoon tea meant more than just discussing Bae's book learning?

~X~

Regina pulled her hood tightly around her shoulders as she made her way down dark damp steps. She tried her best not to breathe in the defecating smells of human waste. She made her way down the winding staircase into the deepest dungeon's of Avonlea. Regina kept her head low refusing to gaze into the eyes of the prisoners her mother had enslaved. When she was certain she'd came to his cell, she lifted her head to see him hunched against the stone wall with his head bent low. She felt her heart breaking in the process of what she was going to have to do.

"Daniel…" Regina hissed lowly hoping to gain his attention. The young man's ears perked up. He lifted his head in realization to meet her gaze. He stood up and walked towards her. She was thankful he showed no signs of bruising or hadn't been beaten, but she was certain her mother held those plans in abeyance.

"Regina?" Daniel inquired to the cloaked figure in front of him.

"I'm getting you out of here Daniel." she proclaimed, digging out the key she'd bribed the guard out of for a few gold doubloons. She stuck the key in the lock and the cell swung open.

"Regina!" Daniel exclaimed wrapping his arms around her in a tearful embrace. He enveloped her in a deep kiss she wished would never end.

Regina pulled away regretfully, placing her hands on his shoulders, "Daniel you have to get out of Avonlea and never return. I've paid a stage coach driver to take you out of town. He's on his way to Albannach. My mother will never come looking for you there, but you must hurry." Regina told him as she pressed a bag of gold coins in his hand.

"Regina I'm not leaving you." Daniel protested, pushing the bag of coins back in her hand.

"Daniel you know I can't go with you. We both know I have to stay in Avonlea. If you truly love me, then you'll leave this place and never return." she sighed placing the bag of coins in his pocket.

"I love you Regina, and I promise we'll find a way to be together. I'll never stop fighting for you." he proclaimed enrapturing her in one final kiss.

"I love you too Daniel now go!" she pushed him forward, clinging to his ardent declaration of love for her. She forced back the tears that stung her eyes as she watched him run back up the steps she'd just descended, praying he made safe travel.

A/AN: Well that's all of chapter three! I hope you all enjoyed it. Will Daniel and Regina EVER get to be together? Will master and servant ever sort out their feelings for one another? What will going to Albannach mean for Daniel? I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I really wanted to incorporate the library scene, so I hope you liked it and please review! The next chapter probably won't be up until sometime next week,. I hope everyone has a great weekend!