A Game of Chance

by CharlotteAshmore

Using the last of her spinner husband's wages, Milah sets off for a night of drinking and gambling at the tavern. She bites off more than she can chew when she agrees to a game with the Lady Belle. She ups the ante and bets her husband … and loses. What does the Lady Belle have in store for the sweet spinner?

5. Chapter 5

V

"Rumpel? Rumpelstiltskin, are you alright?" Belle asked worriedly as the color drained from her servant's face. She'd merely mentioned that he'd be meeting her father and brother when they arrived, and he'd gone pale as a sheet. His lips parted and she could see he was struggling to breathe.

"Papa?" Bae asked, frowning curiously at his father.

Belle patted the boy's shoulder reassuringly and moved to the opposite seat. Her close proximity only seemed to make matters worse. His eyes were dark and unfocused, his breathing heavy and he seemed to be locked away in his own misery where she couldn't reach him. She clasped his face in her hands and swung his head around, so he was forced to meet her gaze.

"What's wrong with Papa?" Baelfire asked in a tiny voice laced with fear as he knelt between them and laid his hand on his father's knee.

"It's ok, darling," she murmured soothingly to the child. "He'll be fine. I think he's just a bit overwhelmed. Will you help me?" She smiled at the boy, trying to keep him as calm as possible and then turned her attention back to the spinner. "Rum, dear, I need you to breathe, ok? There's nothing to fear from my family, you'll see. You're just nervous, that's all."

Baelfire took Rumpelstiltskin's left hand in both of his and brought it to his cheek. "'S ok, papa," he said softly.

Belle leaned closer, her thumbs rubbing lightly over his cheekbones. "Rum, please come back to me. Bae needs you to be strong for him. I know you have it in you to be brave. You're just having a bout of nerves."

Rumpelstiltskin dragged in a deep ragged breath at the mention of his son and his face flamed crimson with mortification. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, princess," he stammered as she released him. He reached for his boy, pulling him onto his lap. "I'm ok, Bae."

Belle linked the fingers of his free hand with hers, refusing to move back to her own seat until she knew he was well. "There's no reason for you to be sorry, Rumpel. You've lived your whole life in that village in the Frontlands. Even the markets available in the surrounding area wouldn't have prepared you for the sheer size of Avonlea. It's only natural for you to be nervous."

He tried to steady his breathing. Baelfire on one side and Belle on the other went a long way in calming him. He was growing too attached to her, he thought, but there was no help for it. She had a way of breaking through the walls he'd built to protect himself over the years. Her kindness, her compassion and her outright gift of friendship was like a drug and he was helpless to resist her allure. "My apologies, princess … truly."

Belle reached up and brushed away a bit of hair which had fallen into his eyes. "Think nothing of it, Rum. When we get to the palace, hold tightly to Bae. We don't want him getting lost. And you are to stay where I can see you at all times. If you can't see me, then I can't see you. Got it?"

"Yes, m'lady," he said, nodding vigorously.

"Rumpel," she replied in a soothing tone, her smile gentle. "Just as you will serve me, so will I care for you. Don't be afraid. Before you know it, you will feel right at home here with me." She turned her smile on Baelfire. "Won't he, sweetheart?"

"Yes, m'lady," he chirped enthusiastically. He snuggled into his father's embrace and whispered, "And no one is going to be mean to you anymore … 'specially Mama."

Belle wanted to delve into the matter more, but all too soon the sound of trumpets carried through the twilight as they pulled into the courtyard. "Alright, you two, chins up," she encouraged them. She didn't have time to say more before the coach door was being opened and the steps let down so she could disembark.

A new fear gripped her as she stepped out into the torch-lit courtyard and she quickly called Thorrin over to her as he dismounted. He bowed to the princess and trained his full attention on her. "Thorrin, I want you to remain with Rumpelstiltskin and his son. Do not leave them for a moment. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Highness," he bowed respectfully, reverting to her formal title now that they were back in Avonlea.

"Gods, it's good to be back!" Gaston guffawed as he joined her and offered his arm to escort her inside. "I hope Mrs. Potts prepared something good for dinner."

Gwain and Merrick nodded enthusiastically as they stepped in line behind the spinner and his son. "You boys are in for a treat," Merrick bellowed cheerily, his stomach already growling. "There's no finer cook in the entire kingdom."

Rumpelstiltskin clasped Baelfire's hand tightly in his left and began to follow the princess through the entryway, his heart in his throat. He kept his lips firmly sealed, too nervous to answer the knight. The entryway nearly stole his breath as he stepped inside, never having seen such rich appointments. And where would he have seen such splendor, he asked himself.

Ornate tables lined the walls holding beautiful vases filled with the freshest of flowers from the palace gardens, gilt framed mirrors and rich tapestries lined the walls and the marble floor shone with a polished shine. It wasn't just the entryway which had him dazzled, he found. Each and every corridor he passed through was the same, some decorated the same as the entryway, some resplendent with brightly shining suits of armor. There was even one – which Gwain informed him led to the armory – where the walls were adorned with ancient weapons from days long past.

The spinner fought to breathe as the doors to the Great Hall opened before him. Belle glanced at him over her shoulder as they stepped onto the long, carpeted runner in a rich blue, to assure herself he was well. He stood a little straighter, held his chin a bit higher as he remembered her words. He didn't want to disappoint her by appearing to be the cowardly peasant he believed himself to be. He kept his eyes straight ahead of him, looking neither left nor right at the members of the court who filled the room. He didn't have to worry about them, however, as the king made a swift motion of his be-ringed hand and a small blast of a bugle dismissed the court, leaving the princess and her entourage to greet her family in relative privacy.

"My darling girl!" King Maurice boomed, hurrying from the dais where his throne sat to embrace his daughter. "Oh, how I've missed you, Belle. You were gone far too long."

"Papa!" she murmured, burying her face against his big barrel chest. "I missed you, too." Two pairs of identical cerulean eyes shone with tears as he let her go in order to look her over.

Rumpelstiltskin watched another man descend the dais and butt his way between the princess and her father. His eyes narrowed as the breath caught in his chest, not recognizing the burning in his gut as jealousy as the man embraced his mistress. He was further distressed as the man lifted her into his arms and twirled her about.

Belle squealed and slapped her brother on his shoulder. "Beast!" she giggled. "I've been on the road for weeks, Luc. I didn't come all this way to be manhandled by the likes of you," she admonished lightly, her eyes sparkling as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"Pfft!" he scoffed, setting her down gently. "You're not allowed to leave again for so long, sister dear. It was a dreadful bore with you away."

Her sister-in-law was next to greet her, hugging her tightly. "Don't listen to him, Belle. He had plenty to occupy his time," Lyssa laughed.

Belle sighed in feigned exasperation. "Ah, yes, but he does enjoy being melodramatic, doesn't he?"

Rumpelstiltskin felt the tension drain out of him as he realized the man was Belle's brother. He should have guessed sooner. The prince had the same dark chestnut hair – a lock of which fell rakishly over his brow – and the same startlingly blue eyes as his father and sister. But whereas Belle was petite, Lucern had taken after his father, topping out at over six feet and built like a brick wall.

The king eyed each of her knights with a calm air of superiority as they stood at attention. "Gentlemen, you have my undying gratitude for seeing my daughter safely home. Tomorrow we will feast and properly welcome you all home. Dismissed!"

"You must be famished, Belle," Lyssa said, her warm smile never faltering. "I will send someone to the kitchens for a light repast until dinner is served."

"And tea!"

"Of course."

"Oh, I've missed a good cup of tea. It's tragically difficult to find a decent cup on the road," the princess complained.

Gaston smirked at his friends, his gaze swinging between the twins. "Oh, I don't know, Belle … there are quite a few interesting things to be found in one's travels."

Belle gnashed her teeth together as her eyes flashed at him in warning. It was too late however as her brother's gaze flickered to the spinner and his son.

He moved away from her, his eyes alight with curiosity as he came to stand before Rumpelstiltskin. "And who might this be?" he asked in a low tone as he looked the man over.

Belle groaned as she watched Rumpelstiltskin's cheeks flame with color. She hurried to place herself protectively in front of her servant, meeting Lucern's gaze head on. "This is my new servant, Rumpelstiltskin, and his son, Baelfire … my new ward."

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, shock and disbelief coloring his tone. "Did you say 'ward'?"

"I didn't stutter, Luc. You heard me well enough," she said defensively.

Her father laid a restraining hand on his son's shoulder, forestalling the argument he knew was seconds away. "A 'ward', you say? How very charitable of you, daughter. And might I ask why you chose this young lad when he has family of his own?"

"She bought him," Gaston mumbled under his breath as he leaned in to Lucern's side.

"She what!" boomed from both the king and prince.

"Gaston!"

The knight grinned unrepentantly and Thorrin looked as if he wished the floor would open up and swallow him. What was worse, Baelfire huddled next to his father, hiding his face in Rumpelstiltskin's cloak and the spinner had lowered his head meekly in shame.

Lucern braced his hands on his hips and tossed his head back. It looked as if he were counting to ten - or maybe twenty - as he sought patience to deal with this new information. "Explain yourself please."

Belle glared at the lot of them before she turned to Thorrin. "Take Rum and Bae to the kitchens and see that they have some dinner. When you've seen to that, have Mrs. Littleton prepare the room next to mine for their use. And a bath, I think. I want them to be comfortable." She nodded reassuringly to her new servant. "I'll be along shortly." She dropped to one knee and took Baelfire's hand in hers. "Go along with Thorrin, sweetling. I'll see you in a bit ok? Don't be frightened."

Baelfire wrapped his arms about her neck and buried his face in her hair. "You promise?"

"I promise, my sweet boy. I'll even fetch a book from the library and read you a story before bed," she added softly.

He brightened considerably and left with the squire and his father. Belle met Rumpelstiltskin's gaze briefly before they were led away, seeing the mix of fear and shame in his eyes. It was with no small amount of ire that she rose to her feet and turned on her brother … and kicked him in the shin. His yowl of pain from her pointy little half boots made her feel somewhat better.

"Hellfire and damnation!" he cried, limping to the brown leather sofa next to the hearth and rubbing at the injury. "What the hell was that for?"

Gaston hurried over to one of the chairs in the small sitting area and dropped wearily into it before she could vent her wrath upon him as well. Belle held her tongue as a servant entered with a tea service and set it upon the coffee table. Her father sat down next to Lucern and poured the fragrant brew into four cups.

"That, brother dear, was for making my servant and my ward uncomfortable." She glared at him through narrowed eyes. "You and your temper."

"Look who's talking!" he brother grumbled.

She took the cup her father had prepared for her and sat in the only remaining chair, sighing happily as she sipped. Maurice looked between his daughter and Gaston with a raised brow. "Would either of you like to explain what's going on here?"

Gaston smirked. "She won the spinner in a card game."

Belle barely refrained from dumping her tea in the knight's lap.

Lucern blinked owlishly at her.

The king spluttered as he nearly choked on his tea. "I beg your pardon?" he coughed out.

Gaston winked at the princess. "Don't get your petticoats in a twist, Bluebelle. They were going to find out sooner or later."

"Jackass," she hissed over the rim of her cup before turning her vibrant gaze back to her family. She quickly told them of the tale Marie had shared with them of the spinner and his wife and how horribly the woman treated him. "I was only trying to teach the woman a lesson, Papa. I wanted to hurt her where I knew it would cause the most damage … her ego. I never really expected her to bet her own husband, but when she did, I couldn't let the opportunity pass to help him if I could."

Maurice reached out to clasp her hand. "You always did have a kind heart, daughter."

Lucern wasn't so easily swayed. "And the boy?"

"I couldn't separate the spinner from his son. That child is his whole world," she explained. "After I saw how devastated he was at the thought of having to leave Bae behind, I offered to buy the boy outright."

"What kind of woman sells her own child?" Maurice asked in a low tone, his moist gaze looking between his own children with love and compassion. He couldn't bear the thought of losing one of them.

"She was truly horrible, Papa."

"Did you have her sign a contract?" Lucern asked, settling against the back of the sofa as he relaxed and sipped his tea. "I know you drew one up."

Maurice beamed at her as she nodded. "Of course. Papa taught us well, after all." The king was unconventional and shrewd, believing Belle should learn at her brother's side how to handle business and become a strong leader. Just because she was a woman, he didn't value her any less.

"I knew I should have gone with you to Arendelle," the prince muttered. "Then perhaps I could have kept you from bringing home strays."

Gaston made a choking sound and swiped a hand beneath his chin several times to warn Lucern off, but the prince paid him no heed and was left facing his very irate sister as she rose to her feet. "That's quite enough from you," she hissed. "Rumpel and Bae are not a couple of strays, Luc. Lowborn, they may be, but they are deserving of our compassion and respect and I will not have you speak out against them. Rum is indentured to me for five years, so you'd better get used to it."

Maurice interrupted before she could fully vent her ire. "Be easy, daughter. No one is going to send them away. If you're certain you want this man as your servant and his son as your ward, so be it." He rose from the sofa and embraced her. "Your brother, I'm sure, is simply concerned for you."

"Rumpel is a good man, Papa. He just needs a new environment in which to flourish. And Bae needs to be able to grow up with every resource available to him." Her entire face relaxed into a warm smile. "He's such a wonderful little boy. I'm sure you'll see it for yourself soon enough."

Maurice dropped a kiss to his daughter's brow. "I'm sure we will, sweetheart. You are an amazing judge of character."

Lucern sighed as their dinner was announced and the king offered his arm to Belle to lead her to the dining room. He glanced at Gaston who shrugged. His sister was one of the most kind-hearted people he'd ever met. He just hoped her charity and compassion didn't come back to haunt her.

*.*.*

"Eat up, lad! You're entirely too skinny and poor," Mrs. Potts admonished as she set another piece of blueberry pie in front of Rumpelstiltskin.

"I couldn't possibly, madam!" he shrieked in alarm. The trestle table he sat at in the cavernous kitchen was laden with all manner of food and the woman was steadily trying to get him to eat it all. Baelfire's little belly was already distended as he tucked into the treacle tart she'd served him. He moaned happily, his face covered in bits of the sticky dessert.

"You can and you will," she insisted, talking over his objections. "Thorrin said the mistress wanted to put some meat on those old bones and by the gods that's exactly what we shall do."

The spinner watched anxiously as she bustled away to see to her duties, leaving them sitting there with no choice but to obey. He felt sick as he looked down at the pie. He'd never eaten so much in one sitting before. He was lucky if he'd ever eaten this much in a week. He and Bae had already had the pleasure of the most succulent meats – lamb, boar, pheasant and wild turkey – dishes of sweet buttered peas, spicy greens and root vegetables, there had even been a bowl of the finest lamb stew he'd ever tasted. But he had to admit, the yeasty rolls with honeyed butter had been of his favorites. Now another piece of the woman's delicious blueberry pie with sweet clotted cream was stretching it a bit far.

At Rumpelstiltskin's look of horror and the way his adam's apple bobbed, Thorrin took pity on the man and pulled the plate towards himself to spare him. He chuckled heartily. "Don't let Mrs. Potts get to you, Rum. She's like that with all of us. If she had her way, we'd all be lounging in front of the hearth the size of a plump chimera."

Baelfire gripped his tankard of frothy milk in both hands and drank deeply, leaving a little milk mustache behind as he patted his belly. "That was the bestest food ever, huh, Papa?"

"Indeed, son," Rumpelstiltskin agreed with a smile. He now felt as if he could sleep for a week, but he knew he would have to see to his son and then to the princess's needs before he was allowed to find his own bed. If he were allowed to stay, he thought worriedly. What if the prince decided he wasn't welcome there? Contract or no, he was sure the man could override the princess's wishes.

Finally, the squire pushed himself to his feet with a groan and beckoned them to follow. "Mrs. Potts surely makes the best food in all the land. I hadn't realized how I'd missed it while we were away."

Rumpelstiltskin merely nodded as he forced himself to keep up with the man's long stride. They were led down so many corridors, he despaired of ever learning his way. His mouth gaped as he was led through another set of doors and through an archway where the squire began removing his clothes.

"Well, come on then … You can't very well bathe in those rags," Thorrin teased. "You too, young master," he nodded to Baelfire.

The spinner squawked and shook his head firmly as a young girl stepped out of the main chamber and wrinkled her nose at his tattered cloak and tunic. "More like they're to be burned," she said with a healthy measure of disgust. "Where'd you find this one, Thor?"

"Frontlands," the man told her, slipping into a thin white robe and leaning against the archway while he waited for the spinner and his son to hurry along with changing. "Vasha, this is Rumpelstiltskin, by the way … and his son Baelfire."

"Pleasure," she drawled. "Well come along, then."

"S-She –" Rumpelstiltskin sputtered.

"Vasha is one of the bath attendants. The princess wants you both thoroughly scrubbed and deloused. No offense."

"None taken," he grumbled. "But I'm sure Bae and I can manage on our own."

Thorrin chuckled. "Not the way it works here, spinner. The baths here are a place of relaxation, of … pleasure." He laughed again as he noticed how Rumpelstiltskin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Don't worry, it's nothing like those in the east where … well I'm sure you know. I don't want to confuse the young master," he said, ruffling Bae's unruly curls. "There are steam rooms, cool water baths, hot water baths, a masseuse on duty at all hours and a bevy of beautiful maidens to scrub us clean. The prince believes in rewarding his servants for their faithful service."

Rumpelstiltskin balked as his boy was led into a separate chamber reserved for the children who dwelt in the palace, but the squire assured him Baelfire would be fine. He averted his eyes away from the three young attendants who led him and Thorrin into a large bathing pool of clear clean water after discarding his robe. He blushed ten shades of purple, causing them to giggle as they attacked his skin with a myriad of soaps and scrubbing sponges.

"What's wrong, Rum?" Thorrin asked, grinning at his obvious discomfort.

"I've never been bathed before … er … by … um … " He took a deep breath and forced some semblance of sense back into his rational brain. "I've never been bathed before by naked girls young enough to be my daughters."

Vasha chortled in amusement as she aggressively tackled his long shaggy hair with a handful of soft soap. "Don't be shy, darling. Most of us who attend the bath are widows who have no desire to remarry. We're here of our own accord and enjoy our duties. No one is forcing us to do anything we don't wish."

By the time the women had finished with him and he was clad in a long white sleeping tunic and calf-length breeches, he would swear he'd wear a blush to the end of his days. Bae yawned widely as he followed his father and Thorrin along more corridors to the upper floor of the castle where the princess's chambers were located. The room they were led into, was large and spacious – their cottage could have easily fit inside it … twice – and the spinner thought for sure a mistake had been made.

There was a large bed which dominated the room draped in a duvet of crimson and gold, a smaller bed in a large alcove which would be perfect for Baelfire with a small chest at the end of it to store his toys and a shelf already filled with books. There was even a little wardrobe for his clothes. The main chamber had its own hearth and a comfortable array of furniture to rest by the fire when he wasn't attending his duties. A dresser and mirror stood against one wall for his use, though he had little to put in it. His feet sank into the thick Agrabahan carpet as he plodded into the room, his eyes drawn to the far corner where his spinning wheel had been placed, a large basket full of fine wool at its side.

"This … this room can't possibly be mine," he murmured in astonishment. "I couldn't –"

"Her highness insisted you have this room. It's where her last two servants resided before they left Avonlea to marry."

Baelfire bounded onto the small bed he'd chosen for himself, flinging back onto the pillows with a moan of contentment. Rumpelstiltskin couldn't hold back a happy chuckle at his son's obvious pleasure.

"Alright, well if you don't mind, I will seek out my own bed. See you two tomorrow," the squire bid them goodnight.

Rumpelstiltskin's sandals made no noise on the soft carpet as he moved to sit beside Baelfire on the little bed. "You've had quite a day, haven't you, son?"

"The best day, Papa. Are we really going to live here?"

"It seems so, Bae."

Bae held up his little arms for a hug, wrapping them tightly around his father's neck. "I like it here, and I really like Lady Belle. She's not mean like Mama."

"Bae," he groaned, dropping a fierce kiss to the boy's brow as his eyes prickled with unshed tears. "You shouldn't talk about your mama like that, son." Despite how angry he was at his former wife, he didn't want their son to grow up to hate her.

"She doesn't want us anymore," Bae said sadly, sniffing dolefully.

He pulled his son onto his lap and cradled him to his chest, his fingers stroking over his dark hair. "She loves you, Baelfire, even though she had a hard time showing it. Letting you go had to be hard for her, but she wanted you to have your best chance. She felt Lady Belle was our best hope for a happy future."

The boy shook his head adamantly. "No, Papa, she didn't want us," he said, his lower lip trembling. "But it doesn't matter as long as I have you."

"Oh, Bae …" He rocked his son gently, tightly clenching his eyes to keep a wash of angry tears from spilling over his lashes. In that moment of his son's despair, he felt as if he had never loathed Milah more. How could she have given up on their precious son? "It's going to be alright, son, I promise."

Rumpelstiltskin held him until his little body went limp and his soft snores echoed through the chamber which would now be their home. He covered him with the soft down blanket and tucked it around him, remaining on the edge of the bed to watch over him. His head jerked up as a soft knock sounded at the door joining his room to that of his mistress's and he hurried to open it for her.

"I'm so sorry I was delayed," she apologized, coming into the room and searching for her young ward. "Oh … he's already asleep."

"Aye, m'lady –"

"Belle," she corrected.

"Belle. He was exhausted from the trip, I'm afraid. Not to mention all the food he devoured and the warm bath he had," he said with a smile.

She peered up at him from beneath her lashes, quite happy to see him relaxed for once. "And I trust you enjoyed it as well?" He nodded, his eyes following her as she wandered further into the room and set the book down on the coffee table near the hearth. "Your room? It's satisfactory?"

He answered her query with one of his own. "Are you certain this room was meant for us? It's far too fine for the likes of –"

Belle whirled about and pressed her fingertips to his lips, ignoring the widening of his eyes at her unexpected boldness. "I want you close … both of you," she amended. "You are mine for the time being and I want to make sure you are comfortable. I want you to be happy, Rumpel." She released him as his cheeks flushed and his eyes lowered, deciding to change the subject. "Don't put down on yourself. I won't stand for it."

He bowed to her in acquiescence. "As you wish, highness."

"Sooner or later, I will break you of this propensity you have towards my title. It's all well and good to observe society's dictates towards my father and brother, but not between us," she scolded gently. "I want you to call me Belle."

Her maid called out to her before he could answer. "Highness, your bath is ready."

Belle cursed silently, not wanting to part from him so soon, but seeing she had no choice. "Coming, Gerta," she called over her shoulder so her voice would carry through the open door. She smiled up at her servant, sighing softly as she gazed into his warm sable eyes. "I'll see you in the morning, Rum. I'll expect tea at seven. Try to get some rest, please, for we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Goodnight … Belle," he murmured, watching her as she turned to leave. As the door closed behind her, it felt as if all the light had been sucked from the room, leaving him bereft with only his wayward thoughts to keep him company. The bed held no appeal for him, and in only a few steps, he sat himself down at the spinning wheel to chase away his unease, losing himself in the turn of the wheel.

On the other side of the closed door, Belle leaned against the cool wood, a wistful smile upon her lips. "Goodnight, my sweet spinner. Pleasant dreams."

A/N: Guh! I just want to hug them both! Things seem to be progressing quite nicely for our little darlings. Next chapter, Belle takes Rumpel and Bae shopping. Lord knows they need some new clothes :D it will be fun, I promise! Thank you all so much for reading and leaving your kind comments. Love to you all!

Special shoutout to last week's wonderful reviewers: Melstrife, Twyla Mercedes, scorpion22, Wondermorena, BloodyTink, MyraValhallah, Erik'sTrueAngel, FaerieTales4ever, and Grace5231973.