My apologies for not updating in the weekend like I usually do. I had a busy week and unfortunately it will remain busy for some time. I barely had time to write this chapter, so I'll be updating the following weeks only on Wednesdays. As soon as things calm down at work/study I'll try to go back to the twice per week update, but I don't know when that will be (soon I hope). I hope you understand.

Thank you for your reviews: FortunesFavour, Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape, Pomc, Arekanderu, thedoctorsgirl42 (Charleston is definitely my favorite self-created character), Grace5231973 (actually I think Rumple is braver than he thinks, but if you hear for years and years you are a coward, you'll start believing it, that's what I think), AshRedDragon, vanillaface, StoryArtistNamedS

I do not own Once Upon a Time

Chapter 51 – days 44 to 45 – Aristocrats and Plebeian

There had been celebrations the whole night, with a lot of music and dance. There was little food and drinks, but everybody was in high spirits and the great victory was partied. While soldiers, children and volunteers danced illuminated by the still subsisting but controlled fires, a pair of golden greenish eyes following the figures of a very happy couple. They watched with pleasure the former spinner and the once insecure princess participate in the festivities, laughing while dancing in circles at the sound of flutes and drums. Their joy reminded him of a time by him long forgotten, of a different life, when he too felt the bliss of being in love, of having a family, of being happy in a world that was perfect despite all its faults. But that had been long ago, that had been somebody else. For that man had then a good heart. Now, there was nothing else but emptiness and coldness in the dark tired was a sigh and a sad smile. One down, one to go. And without anybody noticing, a puff of dark purple smoke was vanished as quickly as it appeared between the trees.

The following morning brought reality back. There was a reunion in an improvised marquee, where the several commanders and the princess gathered. They formed the second new High Council of Armithil and analyzed the general condition of the troops and the developments of the war. The weaker and wounded soldiers were to go back in the still surviving camps for recovery and also to guard the frontiers. The strongest men would march towards Avonlea, the kingdom's capital, where the castle stood and King Maurice remained imprisoned. It was for Belle a great and crucial step and she wished the men had allowed Rumpelstiltskin in the meeting. She needed now his support more than ever. The beauty was glad the commanders were optimistic about the following battles and were certain they would be easier to win, since the ogres were outnumbered and disoriented. It now would be a matter of time for them to reach the castle and finally rescue her father. Belle was happy, but at the same time terrified for her father, afraid he would be sick, insane or dead. She was forced to push her thoughts away as the men continued speaking of strategies. She needed to focus, she needed to continue being the leader, she needed to be strong.

When the reunion was finished, order was given for the troops to reorganize and preparations for the long march were made. Belle went immediately searching for Rumpelstiltskin and found him by his family. She saw Jonathan and Rafael were putting supplies on a wagon, while Thumbelina hugged her brother tightly. Humbert looked dignified as a soldier should, but his eyes were watery. Charleston had his arm wrapped around a teary Baelfire. Belle knew instinctively this was farewell. When the siblings were finally detached, Thumbelina saw Belle and reached for her, embracing her like a sister.

"Take good care of my brother." She whispered in the princess' ear.

"Why are you leaving?" Belle asked, feeling sorry they had to separate so soon.

"We came here to find our boys and we did." It was Jonathan who explained. "Now, we need to go back home to Elizabeth and our daughter." Belle nodded understanding, but couldn't help feeling sad.

Rafael and Moraine came too to bid farewell to the princess. Rafael, unlikely his brother, chose to go back home with his parents, claiming he wouldn't trade the calm and peaceful world by the countryside for the war. Thumbelina and her husband had been very reluctant in leaving Humbert behind, but the young man had been clear about his decision in joining the army. It had been difficult, but in the end, Jonathan and Thumbelina had to accept the fact their son was an adult. He was master of his own destiny and a brave young man following his calling. Finally, lonely Moraine was not alone anymore. She had found a new family with the Highlanders. She was glad and thankful to travel to Kriemont and start there a new life. Belle watched with a heavy heart the family depart and felt a soft touch around her waist. She leaned her body against Rumpeltstiltskin, resting her head on his shoulder.

"They are going to a safer place than we are." He whispered to her. And that was all that mattered.

As soon as the wagon was out of sight, everybody went back on with their lives. Baelfire went to help his cousin with the preparation for the journey and Charleston, after hesitating a while, decided to join his grandsons and left Rumpelstiltskin and Belle alone. They remained a while, standing next to each other, one arm around the other's waist.

"We are starting the march to Avonlea today. They expect we'll find ogres in the way, but they are confident they will be easy to defeat." Belle told Rumpelstiltskin and she felt his grip tighten a bit around her waist. "If we are lucky, we could reach the castle in less than two weeks." She voice cracked at the last words and the spinner gently pushed her closer, to fully hold her in his arms. She hid her face in his chest, knowing she shouldn't be crying in public, she shouldn't be showing any kind of vulnerability, but she was scared. So scared for her father's safety.

"He will be fine, Belle. Maleficent cannot harm him anymore. He'll be fine." He whispered in her ears the exact words she needed to hear and she buried herself even deeper in his arms. She didn't realize how badly she had needed him during all her difficult trials and wondered how she had come out victorious without his comforting words. After a short while, she finally loosened the grip and cleaned the tears from her face with a shy smile.

"Where have you been all this time?" She blurted out unintentionally, only realizing what she said after the words were spoken. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean…"

"It's okay." The spinner said with a soft smile. "I'm the one who's sorry. I-I shouldn't…I shouldn't sent you away. I knew it would be difficult for you and…I was stupid."

"No, Rumpel. I lied; I should have told you who I was."

"Yet, Belle, it was wrong. I made the wrong choice. And I regretted the moment you left." Rumpelstiltskin admitted. "There was not one day I wouldn't think of you. I heard the news, fragments here and there and I knew I had made a huge mistake! I knew I should be there with you and I wasn't. I wasn't there when you needed me." He spoke with all his sincerity and regret, gesturing his hand on his chest.

"It doesn't matter now. That was past. It cannot be changed." She replied, already losing herself in the depths of his brown honest eyes. "We are together now. And we will stay together, right?"

"Always." He said while he kissed her tenderly on her temple. Belle smiled and kissed him on the lips lovingly. She missed the disapproving look one of the commanders gave, when he was passing by.

The march to Avonlea began without great incidents. The troops were well organized and special scouts encountered once and a while an isolated ogre, lost in the chaos that followed Maleficent's attacks, which would be efficiently overpowered. They made camp by nightfall and Belle was surprised when Lord Frederic called her to the marquee looking rather embarrassed and asked her to bring Rumpelstiltskin along with her. When the princess and the spinner arrived, Belle sensed immediately something was wrong. Lord Frederic was still looking discomfited, Commander Byront looked quite upset. The remaining commanders stared at the beauty with severity, while Rumpelstiltskin received a look of disgust from them, something he didn't miss.

"What is going on?" The beauty demanded.

"Princess Belle. We are worried about your conduct lately." One of the commanders said, looking quite haughty. "We have heard from several men, including Commander Ervan, you and that peasant have been acting quite… discourteous."

"That peasant has a name!" Belle immediately spat. "And what do you mean by discourteous?"

"There have been several reports of soldiers seeing you demonstrating your affection too openly."

"Since when is kissing and holding hands a wrong thing?" This time was Rumpelstiltskin that spoke, not quite understanding where the problem lay.

"It's vulgar!" The commander told off and looked at him with despise. "Must I remind you she is not some country girl you can lay your hands on whenever you feel like?" Rumpelstiltskin looked genuinely shocked and this time he was the one giving a look of disgust.

"What the hell are you implying?"

"Now, now. Let's all calm down and not lose our heads." Commander Byront intervened. The spinner and the other commander were already shooting daggers from their eyes and Belle was flushed from humiliation. "He is not implying anything. He's only worried the princess…uh… if she still has her honor." He said cautiously. The spinner looked perplexed for some moments and then he suddenly realized.

"You think I bedded her? Is this was this is all about? Well, for your information, she's still a maiden from my part!" He said furiously. "Not like that is your concern, anyway."

"It is our concern. It is the kingdom's concern. We cannot have the risk of our future ruler having a bastard with tainted blood." Another commander said. Belle looked more embarrassed and redder by the passing minute, while the spinner was becoming increasingly livid.

"Tainted blood? Tainted…Who the fuck do you think you are?" Rumpelstiltskin yelled outraged. Lord Byront sensing the spinner had reached the limit of his patience, grabbed him by the shoulders before the man would do something he would regret later on.

"Please. You need to calm down. Losing your temper will only make matters worse. You'll do exactly what they want." Commander Byront whispered and Rumpelstiltskin realized the old soldier was right, as he read some triumph already in the eyes of the other commanders. He took a few deep breathes calmed down, and after a while the other man released him again.

"Gentlemen. We must not forget it was this man that rescued the princess from Maleficent and Regina, not to mention he slew the dragon." Commander Byront went in Rumpelstiltskin's defense.

"And we are thankful for his loyalty and service to the kingdom. He will be highly rewarded by it, do not worry. But we still are concerned about his association with the princess. He's from the common-people. A plebeian."

"It's against Armithil's court rules for a member of the high aristocracy to marry a plebeian." Belle and Rumpelstiltskin both stared wide-eyed at Commander Ervan's statement.

"Wait! Marry?" The spinner asked shocked. He indeed loved Belle above anything. He would give her the world if he could and cherished dearly every single minute he was with her. But the thought of marriage had not yet crossed his mind.

"You didn't think you could simply woo the princess? She's to become Armithil's future Queen. Her partner has to be carefully chosen and approved by the court because he has to be fit to the task of ruling a kingdom."

Rumpelstiltskin looked shocked and was finally reminded of the implications his relationship with Belle had for the kingdom. It had been one of the reasons for his decision to separate from her in the first place. Now he had her back in his life, he didn't want, he couldn't bear to lose her again. He wanted to scream at them he didn't care about their rules. He wanted to send them all to hell. He wanted to take Belle away from this unfair situation and run away to a place in the world where nobody knew them. But he knew all this was impossible.

"What is it you truly want?" The spinner asked bitterly, going right to the point. The commanders switched looks and nodded. Their chosen spokesman brought their verdict forth.

"We want you and your family to return to your homes."

"And leave Belle?"

"Princess Belle. And yes. You are to be departed and never have contact again. We shall find a new suitable betrothed for the Lady of Armithil."

There was a heavy silence. Rumpelstiltskin stared shocked at the cold faces of these men who knew nothing about life, about its challenges, about humanity. All they saw were strict, black and white rules, laws that didn't see faces nor hearts. Belle, who had remained silence the whole time, was trembling from head to toes. She was humiliated, unfairly accused of conducts she had not done, she was ignored as a human being and her life was being decided by a bunch of authoritarian men from her father's court. She was back in her old life, reliving her old days. Times when she had no voice and had to submit and obey to all wishes from selfish men. But she decided she was not going back to that life. She had seen too much, had learned too much to know things had to be different. And so, she took a step forward, and looking determinant, she spoke.

"And I suppose you do not care of what I think? Of what I feel?" She said while she stared angrily at the commanders. "I suppose you expect me to endure all kind of complicated and dangerous challenges, save the kingdom and still be your puppet? To obey your senseless rules with graciosity? Well, you are wrong. This is my life! My choice! I get to decide what to do with it! Not you! And if you don't let me stay with the man I love then I'll give up the throne!"

Go Belle go!

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