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Chapter 4 – Day 1: A merry company

The three travellers walked under the fresh shade of the woods. They strolled next to the river, which waters glittered under the sun's rays like millions of diamonds. They remained in silence, like if they were scared to disturb nature's peace. Rumpelstiltskin, although he was the one with the most difficulty in walking, leaded the way. He marched in his characteristic uneven pace, but surprisingly in a continuous and somehow, quick speed. Baelfire marched behind his father, easily distracted by his surroundings, watching intently insects and birds flying by. Belle was the last on line, her thoughts wandering from the beautiful scenario to the worries about her kingdom's future.

Belle praised the fact Rumpelstiltskin and his son had business to make in Gaevo, for it lay in the path to Snowland. She would go to the town and try to get as much information possible about her father and Gaston. She prayed to the gods they were safe. She also prayed for the housekeeper's life, whose name she embarrassedly realised she knew not. Belle looked around and could barely believe there was a world of war, when she wandered in such a peaceful place. Surely this was a dream; or they had crossed into a different realm. It was too serene to be real. They were the only human beings crossing this world of nature and solitude. Baelfire looked back and noticed Belle's expression of wonder. He halted a bit, so he could accompany her pace.

"What are you thinking about?" He innocently asked, wakening Belle from her daydreaming.

"Bae." Rumpelstiltskin's voice was heard a bit ahead. He continued walking, but his tone was clearly a warning for his son not to meddle with Belle's matters. Bae frowned a bit, not really seeing where the problem lay. So he continued.

"You're not really a housekeeper, are you?"

"Bae!" This time Rumpelstiltskin turned around, in a mix of disbelief and anger. "Leave the girl alone!"

"No, it's okay." Belle reassured. "I'm sorry I lied before about being a housekeeper, but I really cannot tell who I really am."

Rumpelstiltskin looked for just a moment at the young woman and then he met his son's accusing gaze. He frowned, upset with himself, and turned around, resuming his pace. Speaking of liars, he thought, he was the worst of them. He lied all his life to Baelfire about his wife, about his leg and now he lied to Belle about their real intentions. But there was no other way. He thought the truth was too confronting, too painful. So he cowardly hid behind lies that made the world a less miserable place. After a short silence, Baelfire restarted his chat with Belle.

"I bet you are a Lady." He said enthusiastically.

This time his father didn't even budge, for he agreed with his son. It was not only the hands and clothing that denounced the girl's background. It was her manners, her gestures and way of walking that outstood the most. In Gaevo, he decided, he would only leave the girl if he was sure she was safe, and in preference, accompanied. A young woman with her looks and status was an easy prey in a world full of ill-intentioned people.

"Are you a lady from the king's court?" Baelfire continued. Belle smiled at him but gave no answer. The boy frowned. He wanted to learn more about her and all the secrecy was making him more curious. "I know! You are running away because you were going to marry someone you didn't love!" Belle let out an amused laugh.

"No, it's nothing like that."

"So, are you to marry someone?" Baelfire asked. Belle remained silent, pondering if she should answer that or not. But Rumpelstiltskin seemed to sense Belle's uneasiness, as he turned around again.

"Why so interested, Bae? Are you looking for a girlfriend?" He said teasingly. Baelfire gave a wide grin and steadied his pace so he reached his father in a second.

"Not for me, Papa." Rumpelstiltskin stopped and looked confused. Then reading the boy's naughty expression; stared incredulous and pointed warningly at him. Belle giggled a bit amused by the situation. Baelfire continued grinning mischievously and took a few fast steps so he was taking the lead now. He then turned around, facing his father with a playful look.

"Rumpelstiltskin and Linda, sitting under a tree..." He sung mockingly. Rumpelstiltskin groaned and Belle let out a merry laughter. The man stopped and looked seriously at the girl.

"Don't encourage him." He said trying not to smile. Belle's laughter was a contagious one. "You see what I had to put up with for the last long 13 years?" Belle gradually came out of a laughing fit, while Rumpelstiltskin shook his head in disbelief, but smiling.

"He's a great kid." Belle finally managed to say, while she cleaned her tears. "I bet your wife is proud of him."

"I wouldn't know. She died when he was a baby." Rumpelstiltskin said casually. Belle looked shocked for a moment and felt guilty right away.

"I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean..." But Rumpelstiltskin interrupted her.

"You don't have to apologize for everything, dearie." He didn't seem to take any offense, but it still made her feel bad.

"I grew up without a mother too. She died giving birth to me." She said with a hint of melancholy. Suddenly, she missed her father more than ever.

"Seems to happen a lot." Rumpelstiltskin said more to himself. His eyes suddenly followed Baelfire, who was running to him with something on his hand.

"Look, Papa! I found a Madrega" He proudly exhibited a plant to his father. Rumpelstiltskin frowned at it.

"This is not a Madrega! It's a weed, you butthead!" Rumpelstiltskin spoke without thinking and realised too late what he had just slip out, when Belle let out another loud laughter.

"I deeply apologise!" But Belle dismissed, still laughing heartily, finding the whole situation hilarious.

"You see Linda." Baelfire started. "What I had to put up with for the last long 13 years?"

"Why, you little rascal!" Rumpelstilskin yelled as he tried to grab his son, who easily escaped half running and jumping, teasing his father. After a short while, both Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire started laughing, due to Belles' tremendously contagious laughing fit.

The sun was low and Rumpelstiltskin stopped by a clearing near the river.

"We'll camp here." He sat down under a tree, slowly so he didn't hurt his leg.

Suddenly he looked tired and older. Belle watched Baelfire and his father switch some words, the boy helping him to feel more comfortable. The princess could only imagine the effort the cripple had to make to walk a whole afternoon. Surely his leg had to hurt. She watched the scene with some tenderness and again her thoughts went back to her father. If he was alive, which she doubted, than she wasn't there to comfort him. And this made her feel miserable. She quickly shook away the thoughts, for she could already feel the tears coming up. The last thing she wanted was to worry Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire.

She walked a bit, to distract herself and recognize the surroundings. It was an almost circular clearing, in the protection of the trees' shadows. She quickly realized she could see the other side of the shore clearly, but from the other way around, they were difficulty spotted. Rumpelstiltskin didn't choose this place out of nothing.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" Baelfire had somehow come to stand next to Belle without her noticing. She looked at the scenery, the skies softly changing colours. It was a magnificent sight.

"Yes, it is." She turned to him. "Your father?"

"Oh, he's sleeping now. He always rest a bit before dinner."

"His leg, how did he?"

"He had an accident in the year I was born, but he doesn't like to talk about it. I don't really know how it happened."

"I must hurt." Baelfire nodded.

"He never travels longer than three days in a row, otherwise he gets sick."

"So you'll spend the night in Gaevo." Belle calculated. Baelfire nodded again.

"You will be leaving us then, won't you?" Belle could already sense a small hint of regret in the boy's voice. And they had only shared an afternoon together. She feared a strong bond would be created by the end of the third day. It only would make farewell much more difficult.

"Yes, I'll have to go my own way." Baelfire looked like he was accepting the words, but did seem to find it a pity.

"Oh well... I'm building a fire. Wanna help me?" The boy changed the subject, returning to his characteristic enthusiasm.

Belle smiled and was grateful the boy didn't want to push the matter further and gladly helped him gather wood. It was already dimming, when Rumpelstiltskin woke up. He joined his son and Belle, sleep still all over his eyes. They had a simple dinner made out of bread and dried fruits. Belle wondered if they were satiated with such a humble meal, since she was still craving for food. But she dared not to say anything. She was sure they took food only for two and probably had to ration it. And now they shared their little portion with a third party. It made her feel both guilty and grateful. If she would ever come out as a winner from this war, she would search for them and repay them generously.

...

They sat by the fire, warming themselves from the night's cool air. Belle welcomed the heat and could feel tiredness take over her body. Soon, she was lying down, falling asleep with the sound of soft voices in the background.

In the show we only see Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire interacting during moments of tension and difficulty. My aim in this chapter and rest of the story is to show my vision of how their relationship as father and son would be in normal times (by this, I mean when they are actually relaxed). In the show it is obvious that they must have had a tremendous strong bond. That's one of the things I want to focus on.

Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I wrote it. Please, share your thoughts about it. Review.