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Chapter 31 – Days 22 to 23: Friends or Foes?

Belle and Gaston rode during three days following. They travelled through dark forests, crossed wild rivers, climbed tall mountains. They rode to kingdom Leostille, the reign of King George. Although the alliance between Armithil and Leostille was never as strong as the one with Snowland, they did abet in the past and proved more than once to be helpful in times of war. Gaston only hoped King George wouldn't forget the bond their kingdoms shared in the past.

Gaston had avoided Belle since their little confrontation. Even though he was upset with her, even though she had wounded his pride; Armithil's hero remained always faithful to the princess. He would continue watching over her at all times, without Belle's knowledge. After the Queen's treachery he fulfilled his duty and did all in his power to protect the princess, as he once, long time ago, had vowed. After the revelation that the Queen was working alongside Maleficent, Belle had entered into a dangerous state of shock. One that blocked all her reactions. One that froze her brains and body. And so, Gaston guided the shaken beauty once more out of the eminent death, taking her far away of the Evil Queen's claws. He didn't even think twice. He immediately rode to Leostille in hope the king and his soldiers would assist them. But Gaston was worried. Kingdom Leostille was in a tight spot. They were in the edge of collapse and needed desperately gold to survive the financial crises the reign that fallen into. Gaston knew they could give a promise of gold, but it would only able to acquirable once Armithil was conquered back. And he was not sure King George was willing to wait that long.

Gaston did not share his worries with the princess. He remained silent, like the beauty was used to. He planned wordlessly the next strategies during their tireless journey. Right now, his main task was to protect Belle. He wouldn't lose her again. That he promised himself. He frequently would look at his future wife and be honestly surprised with her behavior. He had been first shocked and confused in the forest of Snowland, then mad and outraged when she dared to play a role owned exclusively by men in the Great Council. But after she told him off, he was forced to swallow his pride and admit she had become strong.

The Belle he knew before was spoiled, stubborn and even insistent about her opinions, most of the times based on some silly romantic book she read. But she had changed. For a spoiled lady of the court, Belle endured uncomfortable long hours of travel, slept on the cold hard floor, ate whatever was at disposal and missed her daily baths; all without a word of complaint. She was brave, he had to admit. Her stubbornness had transformed into constructive arguments, unfailing and strong. The pushy princess had become a true leader. She knew what she was saying. She knew what she was doing. Every word and gesture in the Great Council had been conscientious. Gaston couldn't help to feel some admiration towards the princess. He seriously wondered where she got, all at the sudden, the capacity to argument and present her vision so straightforwardly, in such a short space of time. He seriously wondered what made the princess change. How did she become so brave, so strong and determined? Gaston had no answers for his questions but he was glad she was so. The last thing Armithil needed was a scared and feeble princess.

Belle sighed comforted when King George's castle came into view. She was relieved the exhausting travel was finally over. Her back and legs hurt as hell. In a matter of fact, all her muscles seemed to want to scream out of pain. She was tired, hungry and dirty. But most of all, she was scared. King George was not the kind type of king. He was quite the opposite of the friendly King Leopold. The princess, for the first time in a while, was actually glad Gaston was with her. As much she started disliking him after his merciless words towards Rumpelstiltskin, Belle was thankful she had him to protect her. Gaston could be the arrogant knight, but he was a soldier and an experienced one in matters of war. King George would be a greater challenge than the Great Council at Snowland and Belle knew she could not do this alone.

"Princess Belle! Lord Gaston! What a pleasure to receive you in my humble castle." King George came to meet them, after their arrival was announced. He walked to them open armed and smiling, looking truly pleased to see them. "Lady Belle, you have grown into a beautiful woman. No doubt your father must be very proud." The beauty forced a smile, for she didn't miss the king's stare on her cleavage.

"King George, we come here in difficult times. I'm sure news must have reached Leostille." Gaston spoke confident and proud, hiding the irritation he felt for the king staring longer than needed at his betrothed.

"Yes, yes. I've heard about the ogre's invasion. Horrible, I know. We will take the time to discuss it. But first, you need to rest. You both look tired." Belle let a small smile of gratefulness slip and Gaston nodded in concordance. "Besides, my son, Prince James, is on his way back to Leostille. He's bringing with him Princess Abigail from the Golden City. They'll marry next week. I would be delighted to have you here as my guests of honor."

"The pleasure will be ours." Belle gracefully said, with a courteous bow, before Gaston would insist in talking more about war. King George was in a good mood. Best was to take the most of it.

The king smiled cheerful. But both Belle and Gaston didn't trust that smile. It hid something and neither of them was trilled in knowing what it hid. Maids came to take the princess and the knight to their respective chambers. Belle blessed the warmth of her bad, the water relaxing all her sore muscles. She took a deep breath and let herself be taken by the scent of roses. She wondered if the rose aroma was the new trend. She didn't mind it. The scent took her thoughts far away, to the simple peasant who had, unknowingly, taught her some of her most important life lessons. She wondered if he received the rose. She wondered if he cherished it or threw it away. She wondered if the flower brought him the good memories of their time together or if it reminded him of their unfriendly farewell. Bell sighed. She hoped he would at least accept the money. It was the least she could do, after all the sacrifices father and son had done to take care of her. The beauty failed to notice the sad tears of a broken heart running down her face.

Gaston got up early. His years of military training had taught him to rest enough with few hours of sleep. But now, his short hours of rest were tormented by troubled dreams. The knight was worried with the future of his king and kingdom. Getting up was for him a recompense. He had tried to bring the subject of Armithil's war the night before, after dinner; but King George insisted he would rest and sleep a night over. Gaston had respected the king's answer, but couldn't help feeling frustrated. Armithil had no time. Rest and pondering were luxuries that were costing lives of young soldiers. The earlier they would come to a decision, the better.

He got up early, but of course, too early. The castle was still asleep. He hated the peaceful feeling. It didn't match his state of mind. He was becoming impatient with all the waiting. Before the king would get up, be ready with his morning toilet and have breakfast; it would already be half way the morning. Gaston couldn't stay still that long. He marched to the weapon's courtyard and practiced his sword skills. The exercise was good for him. It helped his mind relax and focus on something else but the war. The fighting with an invisible enemy woke his muscles up, revived his reflexes, prepared him for battle. His morning training made him stronger, mentally and physically.

Little did he know that azure eyes watched him from behind a window in the castle. Belle too, had woken up early. She had dreamt about her father locked up in a damp and stinky dungeon, tired and hungry, where time ceased to exist and hours stretched themselves forever. She had woken upon crying desperately, truly scared for the first time in ages. Maleficent was a powerful enemy. One thing was asking a king to fight against ogres, which were already monstrous enough; another was asking to fight an ancient sorceress who had the ability of transforming into a dragon. She would, of course, hide this detail from King George and she was sure Gaston would do the same. Belle and the knight had the same goal. Free Armithil from the enemy and save her father. And this made of them strong allies.

Belle was outside the doors of the throne room fuming furiously. She paced hurriedly from side to side under the watchful eyes of the guards. Her fists were clenched and she breathed way to fast, tension spread all over her body. How dare he? She thought over and over. A princess has nothing to say in matters of war! What kind of nonsense is this? She bitterly thought as King George's words echoed in her mind, taunting her. He had quickly dismissed her when she and Gaston asked for an audience. He spoke in the typical sardonic manner of a man who thought a woman was empty headed and created with the only purpose of being pretty. Even Gaston had suggested she should at least be present to listen, but the Lord of Leostille rejected the idea right away. Now the beauty bit her under lip to suppress a scream of anger. How she wished she could have slapped the old boastful king. The men must have been at least an hour inside. She died to know what they were discussing. The nerves and anticipation were killing her. She needed to know what King George's decision was.

Inside the Throne Room, Gaston did his very best to remind the king of their old alliance, but the task had proven itself to be more difficult than he had foreseen. He scolded himself internally for not having waited another day to gather some important advisers of Armithil before heading to Leostille. He had no backup now. Worst of all, he had come empty-handed, which only revealed how desperate he and Belle were. This was bad. The king was one not to give in easily and Armithil had little to offer. A lethal combination when it came in dealing with King George.

"I understand Armithil is living a war, but you cannot expect me to just send my soldiers by good will." King George spoke nonchalantly. "I mean, I need my defenses to be strong too. Imagine if the ogres decide to counter attack? Besides, I've heard rumors that Maleficent is behind this. What is your knowledge about this?

"As you said it yourself, my Lord, those are rumors." The knight spoke firmly. King George only gave a brief suspicious look, but sensing no tension coming from the knight, nodded in acceptance.

"Still, it will be an expensive expedition…I might have received gold from Midas, recently, but still. I'm not sure Leostille is in the position of engaging in such a war right now."

"We will pay you in gold. That will be no problem."

"Really? And pay me when? Look at you. You and the princess arrived alone, dirty and tired. Where is your escort? Where's your richness? You truly expect me to invest in this war when I finally managed to save the kingdom from poverty?"

"We will pay you generously after we win."

"After you win! Listen to yourself! What makes you truly believe you will even win?" King George shook his head in pity. Gaston was starting to despair. He let none of his fears or nerves transpire, but he was becoming short in arguments. "Let's suppose you do win. The question is when. It can take months. It can take years! And that's an expensive thing. It will demand enormous sacrifices from Leostille's people. And then there is always the question if you will still have that gold you promised me after your victory. It can be stolen by the enemy or your kingdom can be so devastated that you'll need to use all of it to restore the damage in Armithil. Then I can wait forever for my payment! No, Lord Gaston, a promise of gold when it doesn't exist is not a good arrangement." Gaston was silenced. He had played all his cards. There was simply no way in convincing this king. King George sat staring smugly at the troubled knight.

"Armithil and Leostille are old allies. It's our kingdoms' duties to help in times of need." King George chuckled. A moral principle was all this man had left as argument.

"That is true. But I do not believe our alliance has ever been strong enough." The king was about to say something else but halted. Gaston looked at him warily.

"When is an alliance strong enough then?" Armithil's hero asked. King George smirked, his eyes glinting with lust.

"When there's a marriage between both kingdoms." Gaston looked confused.

"I thought you said your son is marrying Princess Abigail. I know you have no other children." King George laughed madly, sending chills down Gaston's spine.

"No, not my son, you fool." The king got up and looked right into the knight's dark eyes. "I was talking about me. Give me the hand of Princess Belle in marriage and I'll be glad to aid Armithil with its little war."

"I forbid it!" Gaston yelled at the lusty king. "The young lady is engaged to me!"

"Come on, Lord Gaston. You are not in a position to refuse such a proposal. I marry her and you'll have all the soldiers you wish." King George spoke in a matter of fact. But Gaston didn't believe him. He realized the king had planned this from the moment they arrived in the castle. From the very instant he laid his eyes on Belle. It was not the war that was the issue here. It was the princess.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow it. Now, if you will excuse me." The tall dark knight turned his back to the king and headed to the doors.

Belle was glad to see the large door open. Finally, she would know what the men's decision was. But something in Gaston's expression told her there was something wrong.

"Princess Belle. We are leaving right now." Gaston yelled, still fuming with the kings' inappropriate request. Belle looked confused at the knight, never having seen him in this state before.

"W-What happened?" She asked while the knight was already pushing her to walk down the corridor. She glanced back and saw King George watch them from his throne with a strange smile on his lips.

"He's not interested in helping Armithil. All he wants is to have you."

"What?"

"King George wants to marry you. He said he would only help Armithil if you become his wife." Gaston said in between his teeth. Belle was shocked by the proposal.

"B-But I'm engaged to you."

"You think that stops him?"Belle suddenly realized with bitterness this was not about war anymore. This was not about politics, strategies and alliances. This was nothing but one man's desire, one man's lust and fantasy. They were heading to the stables to get Gaston's horse, when suddenly guards barred their way.

"Out of the way!" Gaston commanded, already taking his sword out. But he was surrounded. There were too many soldiers for him to fight alone. King George appeared behind the fortified castle walls and smiled triumphantly.

"Guards, take Lord Gaston to the dungeons!"

See, Gaston is not that bad. He's just muscles-for-brains (in this case in the military version and with more brains than Disney's version)

King George/Albert Spencer is definitly the most despisable character in OUAT. I prefer Regina or even Cora. He is simply a horrible, wicket person. In a way of sense, he is Charles Widmore from Lost, just less powerful. I dislike him soooo much!

Poor Belle.

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