Okay, I wanted to apologize to all of my readers who were waiting for the next chapter. I've had a lot going on in my life, and I couldn't update this as fast as I wanted to. In addition to that, I completely scrapped chapters 5 & 6 because I changed my mind about the direction I wanted the story to go. I'm back in school, so I will still not be able to update as fast as would like, but I will try. Thank you to all who have enjoyed this story.
Belle could not move, her heart pounded in her chest. Did she just here the old woman right? Her son would eventually kill her husband. What kind of cruel fate is this?
"My son…. Will kill his father?"
"Indeed, he will. I f he makes the wrong choice," repeated the seer.
"What choice?"
"That….. I cannot see… the choice is… clouded. All I see is the aftermath and the crossroads."
Belle opened her mouth to say something, but turned when she heard Veronica outside.
"My Lady?!" called Veronica.
Belle turned back to take the old woman, she was gone. Veronica breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Belle ermerged from the dark hut. Belle could not hide the fear on her face, and she walked as if she was as stiff as a board. She walked past Veronica without saying a word.
"My Lady?"
Belle kept walking towards the castle, she could hear Veronica, but she could not form words. What the hell was she going to do? She could not tell Rumple this; she cursed fate for this horrific plan for an innocent child. It wasn't fair, none of it was. Belle's silence all the way to the castle let Veronica know that her princess wanted to be alone. Something happened in that hut? For when Belle emerged from the darkness, it was like she lost all joy. Veronica decided when Lumiere returned, the two of them would go investigate the hut.
The Next Morning….
Belle lie asleep in bed, she didn't get much sleep, the events of the day before weighed to heavily on her mind, and in the few hours she got sleep, all she could see when she closed her eyes was dark figure, surrounded by smoke and flames, saying only one thing:
"Mother…"
The trumpets blared outside, her eyes flew open, it was the horns that signaled their return. Belle hopped out of bed as quickly as her belly would allow; she slipped on her robe and hurried out the door. Servants stopped and bowed, as passed, power walking through the bright hallways. She held on the rail with one hand, the other holding her stomach as she rushed down the grand staircase, but, at the bottom, her family was nowhere to be found. Surely they would've reached the castle by now, and Belle knew that Rumple's first priority was to come see her. She slowly descended the last few steps, looking around for anybody, entrance way was deserted. She suddenly heard footsteps drawing closer at a quickened pace; Veronica appeared from behind the corner.
"Oh, my Lady…"
"Have the princes come in yet?" asked Belle hastily.
"Yes, your majesty. Prince Alaek sent me to come get you."
"It's Prince Rumplestiltskin….. He sustained some sort of injury while he was in Neverland-"
Belle didn't even let her finish, she was off to the medical quarters in one swift turn of her heel. She wore a look of dread the entire journey, and kept replaying Rumple's assurances over and over in her mind. She decided that this would be the last time she'd let him go to a dangerous world without her, and that went for both him and Alaek. Bae was right to stay away from that place, and she was sorry that she pushed him to go. She opened the door to the medical quarters; Rumple was sitting on the bed, shirtless with a bandage wrapped around his shoulder. A worried Alaek stood next to him on his right, while Bae and Emma stood together next to the wall on his left. They were all staring at her when she entered; Rumple held up his hands to calm her down, as she let out a worried sigh, and reached out to hug him.
"I'm okay. I'm okay, sweetheart… Just a scratch," he cooed.
She grabbed his face and kissed him all over.
"It was more than a scratch-"said Alaek.
"Al….. She doesn't need to know the details," said Rumple.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, careful of his injured shoulder.
"You scared me," she whispered in his ear.
"I'm sorry, darling."
"What happened?" asked Belle, trying to calm herself.
"Ursula happened," said Alaek.
"What about her?"
"She attacked me. Dragged me under and left as dinner for the mermaids," said Rumple.
"What did she want?" asked Belle.
"For me to stay out of her way."
"Why don't we just do that?" asked Emma.
"Whatever she's doing could blow back on us. We have to squash it now before it's too late," said Alaek.
"No… right now we don't know what it is. We need more information," said Rumple.
"You don't think she's planning something?" asked Belle.
"Oh, I have no doubt, but acting recklessly is not in our best interest…. We will wait. Belle, contact your father….. have him put his best spies on it," said Rumple.
Belle nodded in agreement; Bae listened to the change his father had taken, a more heroic, more responsible change, he admired him for the first time in 300 years. Alaek and Belle helped Rumple off the bed, she cradled her husband on their way to the bed chamber they happily shared, and all Rumple could think about was the opportunity to lay with Belle once again.
"Uncle Al," called Bae.
Alaek turned abruptly to look at him, he waved Rumple and Belle on, letting them know he would join them later. It was obvious to him that Bae wanted to talk to him alone.
"Yeah, nephew?"
"Emma and I are going back to the enchanted castle. We have to go back to the other world soon."
"Let me guess…. you're too scared to tell your mother that you're leaving so soon?" said Alaek with a slight smile.
"We gave to take care of a few things back home, but we'll back….. very soon," said Bae.
"Alright then. Take care of yourself, nephew," said Alaek as he hugged him tightly and patted him on the back.
"You too, Emma," he added.
"Thanks, Al."
They turned to leave, Bae gently pushing her ahead of him.
"Hey," he called.
They stopped and turned to look at him; Alaek just stood there and grinned.
"Don't be a stranger. And bring Henry around more, we all miss the boy," he said.
"Sure," said Bae.
Al watched them leave, he missed them already. They all missed Bae all the time, he rarely visited. Alaek scratched his beard, and turned on his heel to head up to Rumple and Belle's bedroom.
Belle sat on the bed with Rumple's head nestled in her lap; he moaned as she stroked his long brown hair. Alaek entered and slowly walked over to sit in the lounge chair next to the bed. Rumple grabbed Belle's hand and kissed it, holding it tightly, he closed his eyes in an effort to clear his head.
"What are we going to do, brother?" asked Alaek.
"I don't know….. I just….. don't," he moaned.
Rumple had never been felt more helpless and useless in his life. He knew Ursula was dangerous, but she had reached all new heights of power, and he was pretty sure that he would be crushed. In that moment, he asked himself, why didn't the Dark One take over? He had ample time and perfectly good excuse, but he never came.
"Because you didn't need me," said a familiar voice inside his head.
"What?" asked Rumple aloud.
Belle looked down at him curiously.
"What?" she asked, bewildered at his sudden outburst.
Suddenly, a flaming arrow came shooting through the far window, shattering the glass, and planting itself into the bookcase. Alaek glanced at the look of horror on Belle's face at the insight of the flames slowly creeping towards her favorite books. Al snapped his fingers, and the fire instantly extinguished with a slow hiss. Belle breathed a sigh of relief and nodded her thanks, which Al happily replied.
"Your majesties!" called Lumiere, as burst through the doors.
"What's going on?" asked Rumple.
"A massive army forming in front the gates."
"Whose army?" asked Belle, as she helped Rumple to a sitting position.
"I don't know. They appear to be men, but they are… deformed. I don't know what they are," said Lumiere frantically.
Alaek looked at Rumple; both had a hunch about who the army belonged to.
"Belle…."
Rumple pointed at his sword and dagger hanging from the rack by the door. He attempted to stand, but Belle pushed him back down.
"No. No. You're not going out there. You can barely walk."
"I am the Prince. I will protect my village," groaned Rumple.
"You're no good to any of your people, dead," cried Belle.
Alaek placed a hand on his shoulder. Rumple looked up at him, and he was still; his brother just stood there smiling down at him. Rumple felt happiness wash over, he didn't even have to say a word, through Alaek's eyes, he could see the pride his brother had for him.
"It's alright, brother. I'll handle it. Listen to Belle, stay here," he said.
Rumple nodded, and watched him dash out of the room with Lumiere in tow. On top of the north tower stood Cogsworth, trembling, and staring out into the distance with a telescope. Alaek arrived behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder. Cogsworth jumped and spun around, the telescope flew out of his hand. Alaek reached out and barely caught it as it flew over the edge.
"Your majesty," he yelped.
"Calm yourself, Cogsworth," said Al as he looked out at the mountainside through the telescope.
In the distance, he could see the soldiers marching towards the castle, but they weren't any old regular solders, they creatures of magic. They were covered in crust and mildew; their hair was dripping wet and it clung to their faces. They looked and moved like corpses that had been rooting in the ocean for weeks, and more importantly, they were carrying massive unique weapons of some kind; giant clubs and humungous swords that they were carrying on their shoulders. This was without a doubt The Grey Army, Ursula's personal immortal military. Alaek had only heard rumors this army existed, last time it was deployed was over a thousand years ago., and he knew they would not win this fight; the kingdom was nowhere near prepared for a battle like this. He knew he had to formulate a plan fast to save the villagers.
"Lumiere…. Find the Commander; tell him to gather his troops….. Whoever he has and hold them. We will not win this fight, but we need to fight them long enough so that the villagers can escape. We have to get the Prince and Princess out as well. My brother is in no shape to fight these monsters," said Al.
"Yes, sire," said Lumiere, as he bowed.
Al waved him on, and followed the butler out. He later rejoined Belle and Rumple in their bedroom, both had concerned looks on their faces.
"How bad?" asked Rumple through gritted teeth, as he clutched his sides.
"It's the Grey Army…."
Rumple couldn't believe his ears, the grey army didn't exist, it was just a myth. How could this be possible?
"What?"
"Aye, brother. Ursula's army is banging on our gates right now," he said.
"Her army is immortal….."
"Yeah."
"So what do we do?" asked Belle.
"How many are out there?" asked Rumple.
"By my count…. forty to fifty thousand."
"Our army is nowhere near that number," said Rumple, as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I instructed Ian to hold them off until the townspeople could escape….. along with you two," said the elf.
"What? No….. I have spent this part of my life trying not to be a coward. I can't run away."
"You two are the hope of the kingdom. You are in no shape to fight, brother. You and Belle must leave with the others. Watch over them. Be there Prince and Princess."
Rumple sat there in silence for a moment, debating what to do. Alaek was right, he was in no condition to fight, he could barely move without a blistering pain running through his body. If anything he knew, he'd feel better if he was with Belle, he had to protect her and their unborn son.
"Very well," he said.
"Cogsworth!" Alaek called.
Cogsworth stumbled in, wheezing, and leaning against the door to catch his breath.
"Yes, sire?"
"Escort the Prince and Princess out of the castle. Have them join the rest of the villagers, don't leave their side."
"Understood," said Cogsworth, as he stood there in military style attention.
"What about you?" asked Belle.
"I'm going to stay here and help the soldiers fend off the intruders. I'll meet up with you later… I will see you again. Both of you."
"But, Al…."
"Don't worry, darling, we'll see you later, brother," said Rumple before giving his brother a confident nod.
Alaek returned the nod; Belle wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Alaek was taken aback by her concern but he returned her hug.
"Come back to us, Al," she whispered.
"I promise. Be safe, the both of you," said Alaek.
He waved good bye to them, and dashed out of the room to join the soldiers in front of the gate.
"Come. We need to gather up the important things," said Rumple, as he staggered to his feet.
Moments later, Belle was helping Rumple down the grand staircase, a bag of their most prized possessions slung over her shoulder. A soldier eagerly waved them into a secret passageway under the staircase that led them to the underground tunnels.
"This way, your majesties."
"The villagers?" asked Belle.
"They've all been evacuated, my princess. They will meet you in the forest."
"Very good, "said Rumple.
Belle helped Rumple into the dimly lit passageway, Cogsworth stayed in front of them, carrying a lantern. He led them down the staircase, and into the tunnels. They could hear the sound of fighting above them. Belle tried to dismiss the worry she had for Alaek, but she couldn't, as tears began to run down her flustered cheeks.
"Hey."
Belle looked up at Rumple, who was smiling at her.
"He's going to be alright… I have faith," he said.
Belle could see the truth reflected in his brown eyes, and despite those same eyes clearly saying that he still had concern for the well-being of his brother, he still had faith that they would see that clever elf again. Belle smiled at him, and kissed the palm of his hand. At the end of the tunnels, two horses awaited them, Phillipe and Nora. Cogsworth helped Rumple onto Phillipe, while Belle climbed onto Nora. Cogsworth looked back towards the sounds of a battle brewing, Belle studied him.
"Cogsworth?"
Cogsworth looked up at her, he was clearly distracted, and through the look in his eyes, Belle realized what was wrong with him; she smiled at him.
"Go. Help Lumiere. We'll be fine."
Cogsworth gave her a gracious smile, and bowed.
"Be careful, your majesties. If I perish, I just want you to know….. It was an honor knowing you."
With that Cogsworth ran back through the tunnels; Belle watched him disappear into the darkness. A small tear ran down her cheek; in flash, what they worked so hard to build, was now being torn apart. They spurred their horses and raced into the enchanted forest, leaving the burning castle behind, the castle they had once called home.
