Sorry for the late update. Have family staying with me, keeping me buzy.
Thank you all for your kind words: jjxox8d, Grace5231973, thedoctorsgirl42, vanillaface, AshRedDragon, tigger64.
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Chapter 9 – Days 4 and 5: Urgency
The tree travelers only stopped by sunset. They had travelled in silence. Questions haunted Baelfire's and Belle's thoughts. By nightfall, Baelfire built up a small fire and the three of them sat around it, while they ate some bread and fresh fruit. There was a heavy silence and Rumpelstiltskin knew they were waiting for him to speak.
"This whole war affair." He started. "Doesn't make any sense. The Ogres are beasts. They are well-known for their senseless violence. They are only interested in breaking and killing everything on their path. Not interested in politics! It's not characteristic of Ogres to take over a castle and then let its ruler live."
"So what do you think is really going on?" Baelfire asked.
"Somebody is using the Ogres to fulfill their purposes."
"What makes you think that?" Was Belle's turn to ask. The thought somebody else could be behind these attacks made her blood freeze. It would bring a complete new perspective to the whole invasion.
"The only reason the king is still alive is because the princess is missing. Don't you see? Somebody wants to take over the kingdom. And this can only be made if all rulers and heirs are defeated and, ultimately, killed." Belle swallowed dry. His words were sinking in and suddenly the events of the invasion's day made more sense.
"Do you think the princess is still alive? I mean, she could have been killed or had an accident of something and died." Baelfire spoke.
"I highly doubt it. If the enemy (whoever that may be) had hold of the princess, everybody would have already known. And if she was killed and lying somewhere dead, probably she would have already been found. I mean, they are searching for her. They should know where she headed to… Anyway, if the princess is captured, dead or alive, this will be displayed publically. As a proof for everybody."
"So if she is alive, where do you think she is?"
"No idea. She can be anywhere. Hiding, off the road like us…Travelling at night is the most probable. Don't forget she's with Lord Gaston. He's experienced and will make sure she remains safe. And the only way by doing so is remaining invisible and move like a shadow." Belle swallowed hard. If only they knew the princess was indeed moving like a shadow.
"How can you be so sure she is alive?" Baelfire asked. He somehow thought it was incredulous that his father was so sure the princess was alive and safe.
"Because, as I said, we already would have known. The kingdom can only be truly taken if there are no righteous heirs to the throne. Let's suppose the king would be killed and Armithil would be taken." Belle couldn't help feel her heart skip at the thought. "And princess Belle would meanwhile, reach in all secrecy Snowland. Sure it would take days, perhaps even weeks, but an army with the ally would be formed. Princess Belle, with the help of King Leopold and Lady Snow, would retaliate with full force. What do you think would happen then?" Rumpelstiltskin asked with a strange glitter in his eyes.
"I know!" Baelfire said. "She would win the people's trust and they would follow her, fight for her!"
"And the castle would eventually be taken back by its righteous heiress, with the support of the people and the allies." Rumpelstiltskin concluded.
"If she dies, the people will lose their hope." Belle finally concluded, finally understanding her father's urgent plan. Rumpelstiltskin nodded.
"They will lose all hope, people will flee, others will kill and betray for survival. Chaos will install itself among the people. It's already happening. I saw many refugees in the way to Gaevo."
"Speaking of Gaevo, those men that were taking the children, do they work for the king?" Baelfire asked, his dream's images still haunting him.
"No. I'm sure they are outlaws. One of them stole fruit and did tell the salesman to send the bill to the king. Which is ridiculous, of course, since he is a prisoner now." He looked thoughtful for a while. "The way I see it, there are two possibilities. Or landlords panicked, are desperately sending anybody who's healthy to the wars by using the king as pretext to carry out these crimes… After all, Lord Maurice does send children easily to the front lines." He said, doing nothing to hide his disdain towards the monarch. "Or it's a set up from the enemy to manipulate people, filling them with doubt about the royal family and their men. It could be a strategy to make sure people will revolt against the king and princess."
"Which one do you think is most likely?" Belle asked. She needed to know more about the wars and what exactly was going on. She needed to know what for actions her father has taken the last years. She wanted to know what Rumpelstiltskin meant with sending children to the front lines. Surely her father could not have participated in such a horrible decision?
"The later."
"Why?"
"Because of the tattoo. It was a sword in the middle of thorns."
"Maleficent's insignia?" Belle gasped. "You think she is behind the attacks?" It could not be possible. It just could not! Rumpelstiltskin remained a while looking at the flames, thinking about the answer.
"Armithil has no enemies. And who else would have enough power to manipulate the Ogres and have interest in taking the kingdom?"
"I thought she died, long ago!" Baelfire said confused.
"The tale says she disappeared forever. Not that she died. Besides, I've heard rumors she lives alone and hidden in the Forbidden Fortress, in a remote place."
"But why attack now?"
"I don't know. Maybe she stopped sulking from her great defeat and decided to take revenge."
"But she must be ancient!" Baelfire said, imagining how the queen with would look like.
"A few centuries old, yes. But don't forget she's a powerful sorceress. Magic tends to give eternal youth to those who can wield it."
"The Lady Dragon." Baelfire whispered in a mix of fear and excitement. There was a long silence. Belle still could not believe what was being revealed this evening.
"Anyway, if Maleficent, or whoever is behind the invasion, catches the princess and brings an end to the royal family, then Armithil will be doomed. Next to the general chaos, we will be alone and enslaved under the new ruler. Other kingdoms will have no interest in interfering, since the alliances with Armithil will be broken and ended… That's why it's so crucial for us that the princess lives, just like it's crucial for the enemy that she dies."
Belle remained a moment silent. It was all too overwhelming. The weight of responsibility was almost unbearable. Millions of lives were dependent of one. What a strange place the world was.
"How do you know all this?" Belle suddenly asked.
"I might be illiterate, doesn't mean I'm ignorant." Belle felt her face flush from embarrassment. She meant it as a compliment, not as an insult.
"I didn't mean…"
"I know what you meant, dearie." He gave her an honest reassuring smile and Belle sighed of relieve. "It's getting late, we better get some sleep. I want to see if we cross the hanging bridge tomorrow."
Baelfire didn't seem too pleased when his father spoke of the bridge. He knew the path well. At a certain point they would go uphill and distance themselves from the river, and thus, of refreshment. Those were two factors working against his father. Baelfire knew his father had to be already in great pain. And he knew it would only get much worse.
"How's your leg?" Baelfire demanded before settling himself.
"It's fine. Is not hurting too much." He smiled, hoping his eyes would not betray him. Baelfire looked suspicious, and suppressed the urge to ask his father to rest the following day. But he knew the man too well. He knew as long he could walk, he would.
Rumpelstiltskin had of course lied. He practically run back from Gaevo and during the way down, gave a few false steps. The pain intensified after that, and due to not having rested a moment, it felt like knives were being stuck around his knee cap. Numbness was already spreading through the leg. But he had to bear it. Rumpelstiltskin had a bad feeling. His instincts were telling him time was shortening. Something kept telling him to run away and never stop.
The next morning Rumpelstiltskin could barely move his leg. It was stiffer than normal and ached terribly when he turned over. Still, he refused to denounce any of his discomfort and sat normally by breakfast. He was starting to worry seriously. They still had three and a half days before they would reach Bram and he knew by the symptoms he probably would not make it more than two days walking. He nearly stumbled, when he got up, if Belle hadn't reacted fast and caught him in time. He supported a few seconds on her weight unable to hide the pain in his face.
"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.
"It's nothing, really." His voice was cracked from the pain, but he started walking to make his point. He looked ahead and could see Baelfire already surveying the path to the hanging bridge. He turned to Belle. "Don't tell him anything, please. I don't want to worry him." The princess nodded, but something told her this was wrong. She knew Rumeplstiltskin had already surpassed his limits.
"You really should rest." She whispered.
"No, we really should be going. We have no time to lose." He insisted and followed Baelfire's lead.
Belle followed him, wondering why they were acting like if they were being chased by something. She was surprised to notice he walked accordingly to their normal rhythm. Rumpelstiltskin walked persistently, the only thing different about him now, was that he was absolutely silent. And he had now two pairs of eyes watching him closely. After one hour walking, they reached the beginning of the hill. Both cans of water were filled, because from here on they were separated from the river. The walk upwards was a bit slower due to the elevation, but also because it was becoming increasingly warmer. Rumpelstiltskin cursed nature, its elevations and hot days, but thanked all gods when they reached a shady clear by noon. He practically collapsed exhausted under the shade of a tree. Baelfire and Belle switched worried looks. During the travel they noticed Rumpelstiltkin was looking paler. It was becoming readable on his face that he was going through agony.
"We'll let him rest a few hours." Baelfire told Belle. "Papa, I'm going to hunt a rabbit." His father just murmured something, already half asleep and gestured in permission. "Wanna come?" He asked Belle. The princess looked at Rumpelstiltskin's lying figure and wondered if he should be left alone. On the other side, she did not like the idea in letting Baelfire wonder alone in the forest. "He'll be okay. He won't even notice we are away." The boy reassured.
Baelfire and Belle walked deeper in the forest. At a certain point the boy stopped, looking at the ground.
"Look! Its rabbit poop! They must be close." Baelfire excitedly pointed at the ground. Belle stared at the trail of small and round excrements. They were almost unnoticeable; looking like little round peddles or seeds, with the same color as the ground. "Ah, there's more over here! There must be a whole community." Belle giggled at the boy's enthusiasm. Soon he was placing a small wooden cage on the ground. He put a small piece of bread in it and let the cage's door open. A rope was attached on the door, so de moment a rabbit would hop in, Baelfire would close it. The boy lay down with his belly to the ground, behind high grass, holding the rope. He gestured Belle to lie next to him. They both stared at the cage.
"Now we wait."
And they waited. Soon Belle realized hunting a rabbit was a patient work, staring at the same place for a long time. At some point, she felt her eyes become heavy. She was weary from the travel and had slept badly. Before she knew it, she dozed off. Baelfire smiled amused. He looked at her a while and thought she was really beautiful. And he was aware somebody else shared the same thought. He had noticed the way his father looked at Belle. He always had a glint of happiness in his eyes, when Belle was around. The teenager liked to watch them together and was slightly amazed he didn't see the age difference really as an issue. He hoped with all his heart Belle felt the same way for his father. Rumpelstiltskin had been alone for so long and deserved to feel love and be loved. Baelfire thought it was more difficult to know what Belle felt. She would redden so easily that it was hard to say if it was from embarrassment or infatuation. Perhaps it was a little of both.
During his muses, the boy sensed some movement in the grass ahead and saw a rabbit hopping in the cage's direction. Suddenly, all his attention went to the little animal. He saw it sniffing the air and coming closer and closer to the cage. Baelfire held his breath. He quickly pushed the door closed and the rabbit was trapped. The boy let out a yell of victory and Belle woke up with a fright.
"We have lunch!" He merrily chipped. The boy run to the cage and proudly exhibited the rabbit.
Belle smiled uncomfortably. The rabbit looked sweet and cuddly. She saw Baelfire carefully grab it by the ears and take it out of the cage. Then, with a swift movement, he cracked the rabbit's neck, so it died instantly. Belle jumped slightly at this, not expecting the boy to kill it so suddenly. She wondered how often he killed rabbits. No doubt it was a handy skill for survival; she definitely would find it difficult to kill the little furry thing.
Murmuring some merry melody, Balefire hung the rabbit on a tree branch, upside down and then cut the skin. He pulled it down, like if he was undressing the animal from its fur. Once the skin was out, he made a deep cut from top to bottom. Belle had to put her hand before her nose and mouth, as an excruciating smell came from the animal's insides, which came lose practically by themselves and fell in the ground. Baelfire worked skillfully, oblivious from Belle's nausea. She doubted she would be able to eat later on.
"Ready!" Bealfire happily announced, after a while. Belle forced a smile, still protecting her nose from the awkward smell. It was a short walk back to camp and they weren't really amazed that Rumpelstiltskin was still asleep.
Baelfire roasted the rabbit and, after a while, asked Belle to wake up his father. She walked to Rumpelstiltskin and thought it was wrong to interrupt him from his rest. She took a better look at the sleeping man. There was no sign of pain in his face, as he slept peacefully with a hand resting on his chest, the other against his temple, shielding the light from his eyes. She came a bit closer, to shake him out of the sleep. But then she hesitated. She felt his calm presence, and before she knew it, she was lost on his features softened by sleep, watching his chest move rhythmically as he breathed in and out. Suddenly he opened his eyes with a stir. Belle gasped and nearly jumped back. Baelfire, who had been watching the whole scene, started laughing heartily.
"He always does that when somebody stares too long at him."
"Good grace." Belle murmured. "Are you in constant alert of something?" She asked, still feeling her heart race from the fright. Rumpelstiltskin merely lifted an eyebrow, too asleep to react or think.
"Lunch is ready!" Baelfire called, with a wide contented grin.
Trying to shed some light in a more political perspective. Hope I succedded.
No, our dear friends don't really suspect Linda is actually Belle. And things are about to become really ugly. Till the next chapter.
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