"I wasn't always like this," I confessed to Belle, "at first, I was excited to go off the the ogre war. I was finally going to make something of myself. Once I got there though, it was not what I expected. There was young deformed girl there as well she could see the future. She told me that my wife was pregnant and that I was to die the next morning. I couldn't live with the idea of never meeting my child. So I hurt myself so I could leave."
"And then you were shunned?" Belle asked me.
"Yes,"
"I'm sorry," Belle replied.
We were lying together in my dark castle, in my bed. Belle with nothing more than my shirt over her and me with nothing,
"I can probably think off something to make you feel better," Belle replied with a devious grin and crawled back on top of me. She placed her lips on mine and ran her finger nails up and down my chest knowing it drives me mad...in a good way.
Her auburn hair fell and I took one hand and grabbed her hair light enough not to hurt her but hard enough to drive her mad as well. I let my free hand scale slowly up her thighs, over her back side and underneath my shirt to her back. I could feel every dip and muscle in her back that I have come to memorize by heart. Her skin was so soft and perfect, which is why I kissed every part of it not even 10 minutes ago. Even though we were finished I already felt like going again. Belle started to make her way down my neck to my chest. I moaned with every kiss she placed and she continued to run her fingers up my chest.
Suddenly I felt my body changing, it was going numb...and cold...and stiff. The scene before me started to fade, but I wasn't panicking which seemed odd to me. Then it was nothing but darkness. I could taste something foul in my mouth. It was something I had never had before. Then the light started to come before me. I could see something near the end, auburn hair...
Eventually everything came into focus. Belle, she was here. She had on a dark maroon dress that draped her very unflattering. She was cradling me like a child, her face stained with tears. She had small empty bottle in one had.
"Belle...?" I whispered.
"Rumple..." Belle whispered back with more tears escaping. She wrapped her arms around me and buried her head in my neck. For the first time in over a month, my heart now truly soared. This was better than any dream I had ever had, because this was real.
I wanted more than anything to throw my arms around her, but I became acutely aware that my body was numb and stiff as a board. It was starting to fade but slowly.
"Belle, how-, where did-?" I began to ask a few of the millions of questions that flooded my mind.
"With this!" Belle cried holding up the empty bottle, "after you unshackled me I went to the witch that created potions, and begged for an antidote."
"And she just gave it to you?" I knew better than anyone that all things came with a price.
Belle also knew that everything came with a price, "There's one thing that I must do before I leave this island,". She tried to find the words to explain but it only brought tears to her eyes.
I hated not being able to move yet, I finally find my Belle and I can't even get close to her, "what is it Belle?"
"Well..." Belle began, she couldn't utter his name, "he, took lots of girls... including me and the witches granddaughter. I know where she is, shes with a customer. I need to bring her back to the witch."
I started to notice that the sky was getting lighter, dawn was approaching. We had to get off this ship and repay Belle's debt, "ok just give me a moment."
I knew we had to leave soon, Hooks crew would be returning any minute now but my body was still failing me but slowly recovering. For once I could just study her face. She looked tired, her eyes were puffy and red. She looked beaten down and sad. I wish more than anything to reach up to caress her face.
"I'm sorry Belle," I mumbled. This was my fault, I should have gotten here sooner, I never should have sent her away. Hook having her way with her would never change, but I could have and I would never forgive myself for that.
"No don't. I knew you were coming for me," Belle said, her eyes were still just as blue as ever.
"How did you know?"
"Because I have faith in you Rumpelstiltskin," Belle confessed.
She has faith in me...
I looked up at her knowing that I would never let anyone touch her ever again. She was mine. She also started to lean into me. She hadn't even touched me yet but my heart fluttered knowing what was to come. When she finally layed her lips up on mine, every ounce of pain melted away, and my first reaction was to throw my arms around her and pull her closer.
I deepened the kiss, our tongues dancing together in perfect sync. She was just as I remembered the first time only so much better. She tasted of honey and sunlight. I wanted to stay like this but I heard the pounding of boots on the dock and knew that Hooks Crew had returned. I broke the kiss but kept my arms tight around her. With the blink of an eye we were on another part of the island, hidden in the brush. I kept my arms wrapped around her waist holding me to her desperately and her arms wrapped around my neck.
I noticed the ugly maroon dress she was wearing must have been that bastard Hooks'. She smelled foul and her hair was a mess. Seeing her in this state only made me want to extract more of a revenge but I had already slaughtered Hook. It wasn't enough... I knew it would never be enough.
I began to realize two things. First was that my body was in no pain at all. I figured the poison would take some time to wear off, but it felt as if it never happened. I couldn't explain why. All the scratches and bruising also seemed to have faded away. That had never happened to me before. Secondly, Belle had kissed me. I still had my magic coursing through me. I tried to wrap my mind around this possibility, but it seemed impossible. Belle noticed this too.
"I thought that your curse was supposed to fade?" Belle asked.
"As did I," was all I could think to say back. I couldn't help myself, I pulled her into another hug. It was a huge relief to have her here. I could tell that her body relaxed in my hold. This gave me comfort that she still cares for me.
"I'm really proud of you Rumple," Belle said not releasing from the hug, "you were so brave."
I could feel my pride being boosted, I suppose she was right, "thank you."
I knew that by now Hook's crew would have found the bloody mess on the ship, I assume they would blame rival pirates but if they discovered I was here they would know. We had to repay Belle's debt and find a way off this island. I wanted more than anything to just be back at my castle alone with Belle as it used to be.
We picked ourselves up, and Belle winced and limped as she stood. I could tell she was sore in her intimate spot. I assumed that Belle was a virgin at Hook took that away in a not so gentle manner. It took all of my will to not burn down the island out of my rage. For now there were more important matters to attend to.
I put my hand around to Belle's waist to help her steady more, and we began our search. It took us a few hours but we found the girl Belle needed, unfortunately in the same state as Belle was in a pub passed out. I used my magic to clean her up and gave her some water and nourishment.
"Elizabeth, I'm going to take you back to your grandmother," Belle explained to her, the girl was still quiet shaken.
I helped her to stand and Belle lead the way to the witches shop.
When we opened the creaky door an elderly woman sitting behind the counter looked up. Her shop was dark and disturbing. It was covered with small bottles of every color, some even contained body parts. The witches eyes were a light glassy green color, I could tell her was blind which concerned me that she made poisons and potions for a living.
"Grandmother," Elizabeth whimpered.
"Lizzie..." I could see that the elderly woman was over joyed to see her granddaughter again as they embraced.
"Thank you Belle," the elderly woman said, "and you to Rumple. Thank you for everything."
"How did you know my name dearie?" I questioned eying the other contents of her shop.
"I can sense your magic, you're the dark one. Rumpelstiltskin," the witch said with a mostly toothless smile.
It dawned on my that that didn't concern her, that was new.
"I can sense many things Rumple, like the love between you and Belle here," the witch continued.
Belle smiled at this and took my hand, her hand was even more delicate and soft than it was in my dreams, I laced my fingers in between hers.
"So what are your questions that you have Rumple?" The witch asked.
She was smart, perhaps she read minds. I didn't think that she would be able to answer my questions however, but it couldn't hurt.
"Why did Belle's kiss heal the poison in my veins and Belle's cuts, I've never seen anything like that before," I stated.
"Well of course not! You're the dark one," the witch giggled, "you haven't experienced love until now. Love has just as much power as any other magic because love is magic. Love has healing abilities," the witch replied.
"But my kissing him doesn't break the curse," Belle pointed out to her.
"Well that's because you don't want him to loose his magic sweetheart," the witch said.
"Is this true Belle?" I asked shocked, I was prepared to give up my magic for her.
"I... I don't know," Belle said trying to collect her thoughts, "Rumple, I haven't stopped thinking about you since the day I left. Once my father sent me away with pirates I knew you would come after me...but I knew that without your magic you would never find me. It because of your magic that brought us back together."
I was sure that my heart had swelled to twice the size, I wanted to embrace her. I could feel my lover growing stronger for her.
"She is your true love Rumple, but she has also learn to accept you for who you are, magic and all. That's why you magic dosnt fade when you two are together," the witch explained.
"Belle, are you sure? Are you sure that this is what you truly want?" I asked making sure, I was still prepared to trade it all in for her.
Belle just gave me a smile that made my heart stop, she placed both her hands on my face, "Yes."