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I Do not own Once Upon a Time

Chapter 23 – Day 12: Lady Aurora

"For the goodness sake, Rumpel! Will you stop it?"

Bram suddenly shouted for much of the other man's surprise, as well as the rest of the group. It was half way morning; everything was packed and ready to go. They sat together drinking tea before leaving and the spinner had been silent the whole time. Rumpelstiltskin, who had been staring into the colored water of his tea, lifted his head in confusion.

"What? I did nothing!"

"Your face says it all!" Bram was clearly annoyed. His friend had looked depressed the whole morning and his silence was never a good sign. The woodman could already read in his friend's face what was going on in his stressful mind. Bram knew Rumpelstiltskin was already working himself up, worried with the future of his best friend, worried with the travel he had ahead, worried with everybody's welfare. "Everything will be alright, so stop working yourself up. I mean, gods Rumpel, you've been staring at your tea for at least five minutes! Soon it will be cold." Bram scolded.

He couldn't help it. He loved this man. Rumpelstiltskin being the brother he never had, his buddy, his confident, his very one and best friend. It killed him to see him miserable and he felt guilty, knowing he was the reason for his friend's gloominess. Bram knew Rumpelstiltskin condemned his decision, even thought, he hadn't mentioned it since their talk the day before. Bram felt it was the right decision, so he regretted it not. But he knew Rumpelstiltskin would wonder and worry himself dead for the safety of his friends and that was something Bram didn't wish for him.

Rumpelstilstik lifted his eyes and they rested a while on those of his childhood's companion. Bram's ways were rough and rude; he could be a true idiot sometimes and annoy him until he would lose his patience. But he was always trustful and loyal. He had always been there for him, in the happy and sorrowful moments of his life. Rumpelstiltskin saw he was worrying Bram with his fears. A genuine smile drew on his lips. He realized they both became anxious for each other's concerns. In this very moment he truly treasured this friendship.

"Don't worry, I'm okay." The cripple assured in his calm voice, smiling slightly teasingly, with his typical impish look in his eyes. Bram breathed relived. His friend was back to his normal merry mood.

The last farewells were bid. It had been with clear reluctance that the three departed, leaving the kind family behind in times of uncertainties. When Bram had caught Belle alone, early in the morning, he practically begged her to be careful and do the right thing. The princess was glad Bram had kept her secret and had not treated her any differently than before. Belle nodded to his request with a determined look in her eyes. She was prepared to reveal her true feelings and identity to Rumpelstiltskin. The spinner had calculated four days travel to Lobino, the first village they would reach in Snowland. Belle would use the time to her advantage. The moment they would be alone, she would tell him.

They strolled at the same rhythm as the first day Belle joined father and son. But unlikely the first day of their journey, the lot traveled silenced, each own lost in their in thoughts and worries.

Baelfire was living an internal turmoil, feeling frustration turning into anger and then into fear, as his thoughts went back to the wooden house. He couldn't stop thinking about the boy and girl they left behind. The thought something could happen to them made his insides turn. His heart would leap a few beats more when his thoughts went to Gretel. He didn't know why, but the more he thought about her, the more he wanted to be with the blond girl and protect her. He sighed defeated, knowing he was just a kid and could do nothing against the adult's decisions. And he hated that so much. It made him feel powerless, useless and revolted.

Belle too was lost in her musings about the war and her future. Bram had been right. A peasant and a princess were an impossible match. She was also reminded of how limited the woman's role was in her father's court. She wanted to stay with Rumpelstiltskin. She knew she had already given her heart to him without even sharing a word of love or a tender kiss. And she knew he felt the same. Their feelings had developed fast. From simply strangers to friends and then, something much more deep and significant. But the war, the court rules and the society stood in the way. The beauty knew she had to find Gaston if she wanted to be taken seriously in Lord Leopold's court. He had power and was a respected warrior. She needed him as an ally, but wished him never to be her husband. The whole idea repulsed her. He was her betrothed, a thought that made her feel nauseous. Belle sighed defeated, knowing she was woman and could do nothing against the dominant men's decisions. And she hated that so much. It made her feel powerless, useless and revolted.

Rumpelstiltskin walked with a heavy heart. He had failed to convince his best friend to join him. He had found some closure with his wife, but felt guilty he never could have given his son a mother. No woman ever wanted him. The poor spinner, the cripple that cowardly run away, the liar that couldn't even find the guts and tell his own son the truth about the past. And then there was Belle. A beautiful young woman, half his age, who shyly flirted back at him in the rare moments he dared to reveal some of his feelings for her. He couldn't remember when he started loving her. Could it have been from day one? Or did it happen days later? Was it before or after Gaevo? He didn't know when, but he knew he did. And it frightened him dearly. She was too good to be real. Young, beautiful, simple and kind. But with a secret, so dark, she wouldn't tell him. His mind struggled with his heart, telling him this was ridiculous, impossible even. The girl deserved much more than a cowardly poor cripple. She deserved a strong young and valiant man, one who could protect her from the present dangers. But his heart refused to let her go. He had let his guard down a few times and let his feelings transpire. And she had somehow corresponded instead of feeling repulsed. It confused him. He could not understand what she saw in him. He sighted defeated, giving the blame at the current circumstances. No, she didn't love him, he concluded. A woman could never love him, least one like her. It was something just fleeting. An infatuation caused by their isolation and struggles they lived the past days. He gave a quick glance at her, lust and loss marked in his eyes. His mind told him she never would be his, but his heart felt she was already. He shook his head irritated. He couldn't think properly anymore. He had to stop listening to his crazy heart. He had to concentrate in the path to north, find the safe ways and reach his family's home. He was the one with the travel experience, with the needed knowledge and he had two lives depending on him. He had to be responsible and stop thinking about nonsense such as love. He knew it was not destined for him. Something he had accepted long ago. Something he could continue accepting.

They walked many miles before Rumpelstiltskin gave order to halt. They made a brief stop for lunch, having this time enough food to not need to hunt or search for anything else. They were much better prepared and so the journey went smoother. But Rumpelstitlskin's bad leg was already taunting him. He had rested enough at Bram's, but the abusive efforts of too many days following had made his muscles and bindings around his knee cap more vulnerable and weak. Still, he would not let a word or painful moan slip. The journey was shorter this time. He knew he could make it.

It was close to dusk when they camped for the night. The small group had their warm woolen capes and socks on. The temperature had decreased greatly, announcing an early winter, characteristic of Snowland. The closer they would reach the other kingdom, the colder it would become. So a bigger fire was built and the three warmed themselves happily around the dancing flames. Rumpelstiltskin smiled as he saw the almost full moon rise up in the sky. He liked when the white orb illuminated the word in its pale light, making the night less dark and less mysterious. He always felt safer under the guidance of the moon light.

"Papa, do you think if Princess Belle manages to free Armithil that she'll be a good queen?" Baelfire suddenly asked, as he lay with his back on the ground and stared at the few stars that dared to near the white light.

"One can only hope, Bae. As long as she doesn't follow King Maurice's example. He's a true warlord." The cripple spoke with some disdain as his eyes instinctively went to his left leg.

Belle swallowed hard. Knowing Rumpelstiltskin's past had made her decision on revealing her true identity more difficult. She knew he disliked the king, but she could not blame him. After all, he had lost almost everything because of her father's laws. She still could not believe that her loving Papa would dare to command untrained and defenseless men, with families of their own, to the horrible Ogre Wars. She could not believe he could give such a command from his high throne, protected behind the thick walls of his strong castle. Belle loved her father unconditionally, but was starting to question if he liked the king he was. The princess knew he never went to battle during the Ogre Wars. Actually, she started wondering if he ever went to battle. What kind of king was he if gave orders but didn't give the example himself? Her thoughts were broken by Baelfire's next question.

"Who was the best king of Armithil, Papa?"

"Ah, that would actually be a queen, Bae. Queen Aurora, our king's grandmother." Belle stared a bit surprised. She never heard that her great-grandmother was a mighty ruler. All she heard in the court were the great deeds of kings and princes. She knew the tales of her King Philip, he great-grandfather, married to Lady Aurora; his great and brave deeds, but never of the queen herself. She suddenly wondered why it was like that. But most of all, why would a peasant take her as the example of best ruler?

"What did Queen Aurora do?" She asked. Rumpelstitlskin turned smilingly, happy to be able to tell a tale.

"When her husband left months to battle Maleficent with his men, she stayed behind as the regent of Armithil. She was a caring and just queen, who had no fear in mingling with the common people. She did a lot of charity work. She founded houses for orphans, for prostitutes, for old folk with no families. She ordered the building of a great hospital to treat the sick and the wounded that would return from the war against Lady Dragon. And later on, after their victory, she ruled side by side with the king, giving advice to important decisions in the kingdom."

"I never heard this version about her history." Belle said in pure surprise.

"Queen Aurora was loved by her people, not by the court." He looked thoughtful at the beauty, obviously pondering the chances of her belonging to the court. But he deduced the version he knew would only exist among the poor, so he continued. "She broke most of the rules of courtesy. Tales tell she would dress like a common woman and go to the streets to listen to the complaints of people. She then brought the social problems as subjects for discussion at the Great Council. But when her son became the new ruler, a young and ambitious king, things changed badly for her. He forbad this kind of behavior that he, as the rest of the court, believed to be highly inappropriate for a lady. Queen Aurora lost her freedom and was reduced, as all women in court, to the banal daily tasks of a lady: be and look always pretty, remain ignorant, take care of the little ones, try new dresses and jewelry and make pretty things like embroideries. From the moment her son became king, she and any other woman was forbidden to speak out their own opinions. Women were to become objects of lust, their function was to ensure the continuation of the lineage, while they should remain as ignorant and superficial as possible. Lady Aurora, who once had been a great queen, died imprisoned in a golden cage."

Belle stared at the man with widen eyes and open mouth. Now, that was a version she never heard before! There was no single book she read that spoke of her great-grandmother's deeds. There was no single person in the court that would talk about her compassion and determination. The only stories she knew was that she was cursed by Maleficent with a sleeping spell, one her great-grandfather broke with a true love kiss. All deeds, new laws and projects, including some Rumpelstiltskin mentioned; were attributed solely to the king Philip. The queen was never mentioned. Suddenly, many things became clear. Mainly the disapproval looks of men when they saw her reading so many books. She knew the history of battles sometimes better than some knights and she always sensed their anger towards her when she proved to be correct. Belle suddenly felt like she had been living a lie her whole life. She grew up with the illusion she would succeed to her father and become the new ruler. Now, she realized Gaston had been chosen to marry her so he would become the new king, the new ruler. Her role would be to remain the beauty and bare male heirs to the kingdom. She suddenly felt disgust. She felt angry with her father, with his councils, with all the people in court that tried to kill her curiosity and adventurous nature. Belle didn't want to be just a doll. She wanted to be a ruler, a mother for her kingdom. Just like her great-grandmother had once been. She would honor Lady Aurora and follow her example. She would go against all and everything if it was needed. She would change things in her court. The women, poor and those in need would have more rights. Belle decided she would be the Queen. And a good one. A clever one. A queen who saw and went beyond the protective walls of the castle.

Belle had been so lost in her musings that she was surprised to suddenly realize, Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire were lying close to each other, deep in sleep. She smiled, finding the scene absolutely lovely. And so, all the fire that was building up in her revolted heart melted right away, as she witnessed love in its purest form.

I miss Bram, Hansel and Gretel already -'

Anyway, this was a chapter with lot of material for reflection, that will be important for the development of this story.

I'm going to be away for a week, so won't be able to post a new chapter until the folowing weekend. Trully sorry, but bear this with me.

Anyway, till the next update.

Have a good week and, don't forget to review ;)