A/N: Was hoping to get this chapter before this weekend, but life got in the way. Also, I've been severely beaten up by some Rumbelle plot bunnies giving me ideas for another fic, so I've had to spend some time fending off the devious little critters. I think we're getting towards the end of this one (mind you, I've thought that before), so there should only be a few more chapters.
Coming up: Belle creates some magic, Henry decides to steal something, and Alex makes some useful accessories.
Gold made his way back to the camp, boots rustling softly through dead leaves. The sun was climbing over the hills to the east, its pale light filtering through the trees as he entered the clearing where they had bedded down for the night. His companions were still curled by the dying fire, sleeping peacefully. He thought for a moment, then shrugged and summoned the Mirror to him. He had considered not contacting Belle again, thinking it would be easier if he didn't see her, but his entire being ached for her. He tried to tell himself that his need to see her was not born of the violence he had just doled out to Pan's followers, but he knew that was a lie. He winced as he cut into his palm, scattering the blood on the Mirror to summon her, and wondered whether blood from the Lost would enable him to work the spell. Perhaps that price would not be high enough for the magic to work. Something to experiment with at a later date, perhaps.
"Rumple?" He smiled at the sound of her voice, the image in front of him somewhat jumbled; he assumed she had picked up a hand mirror. Sure enough, after a moment she was before him, beautiful as ever, although there were shadows beneath her eyes. He frowned at the scene behind her, a desk with a pot plant and a computer screen.
"Are you at the Sheriff's station?" he asked, surprised, and she nodded with a grin.
"A story that's too long for this conversation," she said ruefully. "How are you?"
"Fine, fine," he lied breezily. "I just wanted to see you. We didn't get the chance to talk before."
She was eyeing him knowingly, a slight frown on her face, and he sought to distract her before she could see that he was hiding something.
"Did you deal with your interloper?" he asked, and she nodded.
"I don't think we'll have any problems from that quarter," she said, sneaking a look behind her. "Are you any nearer to finding Henry?"
He smirked. "I found a most valuable source of information," he said. "I'm hopeful that we'll be able to catch up to Pan by tomorrow at the latest."
She looked grave, then, and bit her lip. "Please be careful, Rumple," she begged, touching the image of his face. He smiled, not meeting her eyes.
"I'll be fine," he lied. "There are three of us with magic, two very determined grandparents, and a pirate who, it pains me to say, is rather useful in a fight."
"Must you fight?" she asked sadly, and his mouth flattened in a line.
"Do you think I can somehow charm Pan into releasing him?"
Belle shook her head, dark curls bouncing. "I didn't mean that, it's just – you always deal for things, you don't fight."
"First time for everything," he said quietly, and she bit her lip again, looking worried.
"Will you call me before you rescue him?" she asked, and he hesitated.
"As you wish," he said, somewhat reluctantly.
"Promise me you'll come back to me," she said softly. His heart felt as though it was being squeezed by icy hands, and he grimaced, looking at the ground.
"I can't," he whispered.
"Please, Rumple," she begged. "Promise me that you'll at least try." He sighed, and her eyes pleaded with him. "I won't give up," she insisted. "I won't stop trying to get to you. Promise me you won't give up on me."
He raised his head, looking into her eyes, so wide and blue and filled with love and fear, and found that he couldn't lie to her.
"I…" he began, and the Mirror's surface swirled, Belle's image gone. He swore under his breath, banishing the Mirror with a flick of his hand. He hung his head, sighing with grief and loss, and was disturbed by a low whistle from behind him.
"Crap, was that your wife?" asked Lily. He turned slowly to face her, noting her stance as she leant against a tree, eyes wide, hair still mussed from sleep. He grimaced. Why the hell hadn't he married Belle as soon as they were reunited in Storybrooke? Because you're a coward, you worthless fool.
"No," he admitted. "But she is my true love." Lily grinned.
"Seriously, I'm impressed!" She held up her hand, palm outwards, and after a moment of confusion, he slapped his palm against hers in a rather surreal high-five. "You'd better snap her up good and proper before someone else does, Gold, I'm not kidding."
"I'm so pleased to be getting relationship advice from a seventeen-year-old runaway," he remarked dryly, and she chortled.
"So, how did you two meet?" she asked, throwing a couple of branches onto the fire to coax it back to life. "I mean, you're not bad-looking, but she's way out of your league." She caught his flat stare, and shrugged. "No offence."
"Oh no," said Gold sardonically. "Why would I be offended by that?" She was still looking at him inquisitively, so he sighed. "It's a long story,"
"You can tell me while I make some tea," she offered.
Shaking off the despondency that had threatened to swallow her following her conversation with Rumple, Belle started to put her plan into action. Having retrieved her laptop and taken it to the sheriff's station, she plugged it in and passed it through the bars of the cell to Alex, whereupon he grabbed it eagerly. He had explained that his intention was to hack into the Home Office's files; it was something he'd resisted in his job thus far, out of a sense of loyalty to his employer, but he told Belle that he was confident that he could do it. He had heard whispers of the sorts of things the Home Office had researched and collected over the years, and if there was any way to get across to Neverland, they would have it. Belle was considering what help the spellbooks and objects in Gold's shop could be, in addition to anything he could provide, and intended to go back to the shop as soon as he was in the system. Alex's face had glowed when she informed him that magic might be necessary to finish the job, and had eagerly asked if he could watch. He settled himself more comfortably on the cot as he began typing; Belle had decided not to let him out of the cell just yet.
"I don't know how long this is going to take," he warned, and she shrugged.
"It's a step closer than I was ten minutes ago, so take as long as you need," she said. "Is there anything I can do in the meantime?"
"Hmm?" He was typing away furiously, and had a vague expression on his face, one which Belle had seen on her own on occasion. His face cleared and he grinned. "Okay, I'm through the first barrier. Let's see how far we can get."
"I'll leave you to it," she said, with a grin. "I'll be at the shop if anyone needs me."
Belle rifled through the books on the shelves, eyes watering slightly with the dust that was inevitably stirred up. Her cataloguing of the spellbooks had made things easier, certainly. She had found several spells that she thought would be handy, and gathered together some ingredients, in case they were needed. She pulled out the final book she wanted and put it on the pile on the workbench, wiping dust from her forehead. Her phone rang shrilly, and Belle fumbled it up to her ear, her other arm full of books.
"Hey, Ruby," she said. "Feeling any better?"
"Not really." Her friend sounded as though she had a cold, and Belle guessed that she'd been crying. "I feel like a total idiot."
"Well, don't," said Belle firmly. "You weren't to know. Besides, I don't think he's like the others. He's interested in magic, he doesn't want to destroy it. I told him all about us, and how Storybrooke came to be here."
Ruby made a strangled sound. "You did what? Belle, what if he tells his stupid Home Office?"
"What if he does? They can't hurt us," said Belle defensively. "Anyway, he's going to help us. I left him hacking into their network to try and find us a way to get to Neverland."
"So where are you?" asked Ruby. Belle put down the books and sat on the edge of the table.
"Rumple's shop," she explained. "I have a feeling we'll need some serious magic for this, no matter what he can come up with. We might need the fairies again."
"I'll talk to Blue and Astrid when you're ready," said Ruby, a little despondently. There was a moment's silence. "Belle, did he…talk about me at all?"
Belle smiled. "Yes. He said he cared about you and didn't mean to hurt you."
There was nothing at the other end of the phone, but Belle imagined that her friend was pleased.
"Maybe I should speak to him," said Ruby, after a while, and Belle grinned.
"I'll phone you later, when I know what's going on," she said, and ended the call. She started scanning the shelves again for anything else she might need.
Gold was finishing the story of his relationship with Belle, which had been much to Lily's delight, and the tea was brewing by the time the others started to wake. Hook was first, stretching with a groan.
"I ache all over," he grumbled, rubbing at his legs. "Did you two have to make such a bloody noise? I could have done with another couple of hours."
"Couldn't we all?" said Gold dryly, tossing him one of the apples Lily had picked. It bounced off the pirate's chin and then hit him in the groin, but it wasn't as though that was what he'd aimed for. A lucky coincidence, that was all. Hook growled something unflattering concerning Gold's dubious parentage, and bit into the fruit with a sour expression on his face. David and Mary Margaret unwound themselves from one another and got to their feet, rubbing their eyes sleepily and accepting their breakfast of fruit and hot tea.
"Still no Emma," remarked David, his expression tight with worry. His wife stroked his arm comfortingly.
"I'm sure she's fine," she said soothingly. "You know how tough she is, she's probably…"
"Here," interrupted Hook, looking over to the east with a grin on his face, as Regina and Emma stormed towards the camp. The two women were practically crackling with anger, and Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. Hook whistled softly.
"Looks like a lovers' tiff," he announced, loud enough for them to hear and shoot him glares that could have flayed the skin from his body. Emma ran to hug her parents, and nodded to the others curtly. Gold raised an amused eyebrow at her.
"Breakfast?" she said bluntly. "Good. Let's eat and get out of here." She took her portion of the food on offer and settled down to tuck in. Regina hovered on the edge of the group, scowling.
"So what's the plan for Henry?" she demanded. "I'm assuming there is a plan, but perhaps I'm giving you more credit than is due."
"The camp's not far from here," said Lily, before any of the others could offer a biting retort. "We should walk to the next ridge, and make our own camp. I'll scout ahead and see what we're facing." She pointed at Mary Margaret. "You can come with me, if you like. You're way quieter than any of the others. We'll sneak up and check it out, find out where Henry is, and then we need to come up with a plan to get him out."
The others nodded, even Regina, and there was silence for a while as they breakfasted. They set off once the fire had been doused and water bottles filled from the river, and began the long trek to the next ridge, which they could see beyond the veil of treetops to the north.
Henry woke up, warm and comfortable, in a bed of animal skins. He could hear the noises of the camp around him, and sat up hurriedly. Most of the Lost Boys seemed to sleep through the day and hunt and explore at night, and he could see them slumped by the dying embers of the fires that burnt in front of many of the small huts. He pushed himself to his feet and went to find some breakfast. The boys had been welcoming to him last night. He was not the youngest in the camp, but almost; the majority of the boys appeared to be in their mid to late teens. Having secured a thick piece of cold roast pork and a ladle of tea in a cup that seemed to be fashioned from a thick piece of bamboo, Henry made his way over to Tinkerbell's cell. She was picking at her breakfast, a piece of fruit and some sort of flatbread, and Henry offered to share his meat with her. She was more interested in the hot tea that he had, and after giving her his, he went to get another cup before returning.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, and she shrugged.
"A little better," she admitted, and he could see a spark of life in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "What are you planning on doing today?"
Henry leant close to the bars. "Pan's kinda jumpy, and he sent a bunch of the Lost Boys out this morning to scout," he whispered. "I reckon my family's close. I think they'll be here soon, and when they are, we can get out of here."
She smiled wanly. "Unless you can get me out of this cage I'm not going anywhere."
"Leave that to me," he announced confidently. "I won't leave you behind." He looked at her curiously. "I haven't seen any other fairies here. Are you alone?"
She nodded. "We came here from the Enchanted Forest with the help of some mermaids," she began, and Henry gasped. "You know it?"
"That's where my family's from!" he said excitedly. "My mom – my real mom – she's Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter, and my other mom is the Evil Queen!" He frowned momentarily. "I should probably stop calling her that. I don't think she's really evil."
Tinkerbell looked slightly disbelieving at that, but was interested in the tale. "So, you're from there too? Are the fairies alright?"
"No. Yes. I mean, they're fine, but they're not there anymore. There was a curse…"
"Dark magic…" she breathed, clutching at her bars. "I felt it, even here. I didn't understand what it meant."
"It took them all to another world," he explained. "When we go back there you can come with us. You can join the other fairies." He looked at her. "How come you ended up here alone?"
She smiled ruefully. "I wanted adventure. I wanted to be out from under Blue's eye and do my own thing. I was always getting into trouble, and I thought I'd be fine on my own. I was enjoying myself for years, just flitting about as a fairy, talking to mermaids and healing the creatures that roam the forests. But then I fell in love."
"Well, that's great!"
"Not when the one you love is going to marry someone else," she muttered. "Pan caught me when I was grieving and vulnerable. Now I'm here."
"Not for long," he said. "I know we're gonna get out of here, and I know that you'll help us, understand? Pan may have taken your wand and your wings, but you're still Tinkerbell!"
"Maybe." She didn't sound as though she believed it. Henry had a sudden thought.
"I'll prove it to you," he announced. "I'll steal back your wand."
Having made up with Ruby, Alex had a new spring in his step, and upon hearing that Spencer was in the hospital with a cracked skull, Belle decided it was probably safe to let him out of the cell. He had settled into his former role of master hacker with an enthusiasm that was almost funny to watch, fingers flying over the keyboard as he broke through the walls of security that the Home Office threw up, while chewing on a pizza slice or slurping coffee. He had announced that he had found some information buried within restricted files which should enable them to make something that would go a long way towards creating a portal to Neverland, although it would need magic to make it fully operational. Belle had shivered when he informed her that one of the tasks that the Home Office had planned to entrust to Greg and Tamara was to "capture" some magic in another device of theirs (which he wasn't planning on building), and bring it to Headquarters. They had then planned for the two agents to cross to other worlds to destroy the magic there, too. It made Belle grow cold inside at the thought of such fanaticism. Alex requested a strange collection of objects; a radio alarm clock, two mobile phones, assorted wires and circuits, a selection of tools, and something made of silver. Belle donated her alarm clock and a silver tankard from the shop, which she hoped wasn't desperately important to Rumple, and Leroy managed to scrape together everything else. Alex had been working in the back of Gold's shop for several hours, muttering to himself as he melted and soldered and attached tiny chips to even tinier wires, all the time sneaking looks at the laptop screen. Ruby and Belle had paced anxiously around the place, occasionally making a run to Granny's for more coffee. Eventually, Alex poked his head around the curtain to the back room.
"Finished," he announced, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Ruby and Belle hurried over. He gestured proudly at the work bench, upon which sat a choker necklace made of flat silver links, and a nondescript leather belt. The girls eyed these objects curiously, and he grinned.
"The belt's a bonus," he announced. "Mendell had something similar that he used on your Queen."
Ruby snorted. "She's not my Queen, but okay."
"What does it do?" asked Belle, and he held it up.
"Prevents you from using any magic," he said, with relish. She frowned.
"Why would we want that?" she asked, and he shrugged.
"If you can get it on Pan and make it so he can't take it off, it could be useful," he said, and she grinned.
"I'll ask Blue for help," she said. "What's the other thing?"
He held up the choker. "This is the tricky part. You'll need magic to make it work fully, but it will tear a tiny hole in the fabric of reality, thereby opening a portal to another land. You need to control where you go, I guess with a spell. The magic should also enable you to widen the hole to accommodate people." He shrugged again. "It's experimental, obviously, hence the need for magic. I'm hoping you have some ideas."
"I do," said Belle softly, picking up the choker. It felt surprisingly light. She turned to Ruby. "Call the others. We're doing this now."
Within twenty minutes, Leroy, Mother Superior and Astrid had filed into the shop and were led into the back room by Ruby. Belle looked at them all, and took a deep breath.
"Okay, here's the plan," she said, more confidently than she felt. "Alex here has created a weapon for us, a belt that prevents the wearer from using magic."
"Like the wristband Greg and Tamara used on Regina," guessed Mother Superior, and Belle nodded.
"It should prevent Pan from using any, if I can just get it on him. I have an idea for that. I need something that shields me from any magic." The two fairies looked at one another and nodded briefly.
"Which is great," added Leroy. "But how do we get there?"
Belle pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. "That's the difficult part. Alex has also come up with the beginnings of what could be a realm jumper." She held up the silver choker, which she knew contained circuitry that she couldn't even begin to comprehend. "Of course, it needs magic to work, and I have a spell that needs an element of something that opens a portal to introduce the necessary realm-jumping ability."
"Like a bean?" offered Astrid excitedly. "We don't have any yet, though, Belle."
"I know," she agreed hurriedly. "I'm hoping that we won't need an entire bean, maybe just part of the beanstalk itself. I've been researching magic beans for a while now, and I think I can make this work if we fuse a piece of the beanstalk into the realm-jumper with blood magic."
Mother Superior and Astrid gave her identical frowns.
"I don't like the idea of this," said Mother Superior firmly. "You've already performed one dark spell. Another one could be dangerous. Not just physically."
"Not as dangerous as leaving all our friends over there to die," said Belle calmly. "And my intent is pure. I'll be in no danger." Ruby nodded.
"If you fairies have a better idea, now's the time to jump in," she added. There was silence, and Belle let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding.
"Okay," she said. "I have a cutting from Anton, and the ingredients I need for the spell. All I need, Mother Superior, is your advice on what to use for the conduit."
The former fairy's mouth flattened, expressing her displeasure at Belle's decision to go ahead with the spell, but she nodded wearily. "A piece of crystal would be best," she said. "You may also choose to seat it in an amulet which has the properties you seek, to add to the power of the device you're creating."
Belle's forehead crinkled in concentration. "Like the amulet of Hermes?"
Mother Superior's eyes widened. "Do you have it?"
Belle giggled. "It's part of Rumple's collection. He obtained it centuries ago when he was looking for a way to come here, but it never worked for him."
"The amulet alone isn't enough," agreed Mother Superior. "On our world it could have enabled travel from one place to the other, which the Dark One wouldn't need, but to travel between worlds you would need to add to its powers, just as you describe. I cannot perform the spell, but I can advise and support you, and heal you afterwards, should it be necessary."
Belle's insides took a small, uncertain leap at her words, but she tried to quash her fears.
"I'll get a crystal and the amulet," she said firmly. "Take a seat, guys."
She managed to find a round piece of clear, cut crystal in one of the display cabinets out front, and rummaged through a box of assorted amulets and talismans on the shelf behind Rumple's work bench to find the amulet of Hermes. It was blackened silver, round, with a circle in the middle which should fit the piece of crystal she had found. One side of the amulet was patterned with stylised waves and mountains, the other with constellations. Her friends were subdued, sitting perched on the small bed as they waited for her to begin. The exception was Alex, who was almost beside himself with excitement.
"I think I can create a clip on here to attach the amulet," he said eagerly, holding up the choker. "It would be more effective as a single piece, rather than separate entities."
Belle agreed, and handed over the amulet so that he could make the adjustments to the necklace. She gathered her ingredients; ground moonstone, a phoenix feather, oak leaves, hair from a naiad, and the beanstalk cutting, and ground them into a powder. Ruby held a flask for her to tip the ingredients into as Alex watched avidly. Belle took a deep breath, and Ruby shot her a concerned look.
"You need the dagger again, don't you?" she said knowingly, and Belle nodded, going to fetch it. Mother Superior and Astrid looked at one another in consternation, and Leroy reached out to grasp their hands. When Belle returned, dagger in one hand and a white porcelain bowl in the other, she bade Ruby place the flask of ingredients on the floor and add the crystal to the top. Then she knelt on the floor, clutching the dagger and bowl, and looked at the others.
"This is a different spell to the one we did before. I need more blood this time," she said quietly. "It must run over the dagger to absorb the magic as it leaves me, and it must be my blood. I must produce enough to fill this flask three-quarters of the way up. I don't know what contact with the dagger for that long will do to me. It may make me incoherent, or unconscious, or so wracked with pain I don't know what I'm doing. In that case I need you all to help me finish the spell, do you understand? Hold me down if necessary."
They nodded nervously, the two fairies looking sickened. Alex's eyes were as wide as they could go, perspiration beading on his forehead. Belle took a deep breath.
"Here goes," she muttered, and sliced into the veins of her arm with the dagger, gasping with pain as she did so. Blood began to flow over the dagger's blade and into the bowl, and the now-familiar black threads began to weave under Belle's skin. She jerked, screaming, and fell to the floor. Immediately, Ruby and Astrid grabbed her and held her down as she thrashed and shrieked. Alex held the bowl to catch the blood that was still flowing from her, and Leroy, lip curling with distaste, held the dagger to the wound in her arm, letting the blood flow down its blade. Belle jerked, spasms wracking her, her screams becoming hoarse. Black threads beneath her skin were thickening, pulsing, as though fresh veins of darkness were growing within her. Her eyes opened wide with pain and the irises turned slowly from azure to midnight, growing unnaturally large as they did so. Tears were pouring down Ruby's face as she held her friend, feeling utterly helpless in the face of her agony.
"Surely that's enough!" said Alex, desperately, and Ruby shook her head, determined.
"A little longer," she said, her voice wobbling. Belle shrieked louder as the veins of darkness thickened further, feet drumming against the floor.
"Now!" said Mother Superior urgently, and Leroy took the dagger away, watching as the darkness spread up towards Belle's head. Ruby and Astrid hurriedly pulled her into a sitting position so that she could disgorge the blackness into the bowl at her feet. She fell back, exhausted, dry-heaving and sobbing, and Mother Superior was immediately at her side, passing her wand back and forth over her body, healing the cut in her arm. The others waited anxiously, and eventually Belle pushed herself up with a groan, tears falling from her eyes. Ruby hugged her, still crying herself.
"That wasn't quite what I expected," whispered Alex to Leroy, and the dwarf grunted.
"This is exceptional stuff," he explained. "Mostly magic's moonbeams and fairy dust."
Astrid gave him a flat look, which he elected not to notice.
"But all magic has a price," said Belle wearily, allowing Ruby to help her up into a kneeling position. "And that was mine. We want this huge gift, the ability to travel between worlds, so I had to pay for it." She rubbed her eyes, which had returned to their normal colour, despite their haunted look. "Now, let's see…" She tipped the blood, which was gleaming with the purple fire of magic, into the flask of ingredients. The reaction was instantaneous. The mixture boiled and seethed. Belle concentrated on what she wanted, on a way to get to Rumple, and poured all her love and hope into the dagger before plunging it into the mixture. There was a slight, rather inconspicuous 'pop' and the crystal, now a deep blood-red, rattled against the walls of the otherwise empty flask. There was a collective sigh of relief at the anticlimactic end to the spell. Belle stuck the dagger in her belt, and picked up the crystal. She could feel the power in it, and hoped it would be enough. She passed it around the group, Leroy, Alex and Ruby mentioning that they could feel something, and Astrid and Mother Superior looking quietly impressed. Eventually Alex took the crystal and secured it in the amulet before attaching it to the silver choker. He held it up to Belle, who took it. It looks so innocuous, she thought, like a pretty trinket, but made from blood and darkness.
"How do we test it?" asked Ruby, and Alex's face fell a little.
"You – can't," he said lamely. "If we've done everything as we should, it'll work."
"I don't like this, Belle," warned Leroy. "If we have no way to test it, how do we know you won't be pulled into some void or hell-dimension?" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don't like the idea of explaining to Gold what happened to you. You should let me go."
"Or me," put in Ruby, her face anxious. Belle smiled at them.
"Magic comes from emotions, Rumple taught me that much," she said gently. "No offence, but none of you has a true love in Neverland. If anyone can make this work, it'll be me. I have to get to him. There's no other option."
"Before any of that," put in Ruby firmly. "You need to sleep."
Mother Superior nodded her head. "You should rest for a couple of days before you make the trip," she said gently. "Your strength has taken a severe blow. You need to recharge before you can be of any use to them."
Belle grumbled a little, wanting to get going straight away, but she could see the logic in the fairy's words. She sighed, vexed.
"But I'm finding it so difficult to sleep," she protested. "And I'm too excited."
"Well, that's easily fixed," said Leroy slyly, nodding to Astrid, who grinned and tapped Belle on the back of the head with her wand. Belle immediately crumpled to the floor and Ruby chuckled.
"Will she be okay?" asked Alex, wiping his forehead anxiously. Ruby gave him an appraising look.
"She'll be fine, it's just a sleeping spell," she said. "Are you okay? You're sweating. Do you have a fever?"
He shrugged. "All the excitement, I guess."
She grinned suddenly. "Help me get Belle back to Gold's house, and we'll go and blow off some steam. Leroy, Astrid, you up for a beer?"
The fairies declined her invitation, and Leroy hefted Belle onto his shoulder without assistance.
"I'll take her," he announced. "You kids have fun."
Belle was floating in a dark and fuzzy dreamworld when she heard him calling her name.
"Whazzat?" she mumbled sleepily, turning towards the sound. He called her again and her eyes opened fully. She sat up with shock. She was lying on top of their bed, fully-dressed, with no memory of having gotten there. In fact, the last thing she remembered was…
"Sneaky bastards," she muttered, frowning and rubbing her eyes. She did feel better, though, so she supposed she shouldn't be angry with them. She spied the choker lying on the bedside cabinet, awaiting her use. I could go today. I could see him.
"I'm sorry to wake you, sweetheart." Of course. Rumple. She bounced off the bed eagerly, looking into the mirror.
"Is this it?" she asked. "Is this you calling me to tell me you're going to rescue Henry?"
"I would guess tomorrow at dawn," he confirmed, and smiled wryly. "It is tradition, after all. We sent scouts to check out their camp. Henry's there, we just need to get him out."
She sighed, equal parts worry and relief. "Then you can come home to me," she said happily, and his smile disappeared, his eyes suddenly full of pain.
"I have no way to get back, Belle," he said gently, but to his surprise she laughed.
"There is a way!" she said excitedly. "We have a realm jumper! I was planning on resting for a couple of days before using it – Mother Superior thought it would be best – but now you can tell me when to come and bring you back!"
He frowned. "Where the hell did you get a realm jumper?" he asked quietly. "I of all people know there isn't one in town, at least there wasn't before I left. And why do you need to rest?" Belle fidgeted a little, not meeting his eye, and his voice grew sterner. "Belle, what did you do?"
She sighed, and reached over to the bedside cabinet, picking up a silver choker, which appeared to have a round amulet with a gleaming red stone in the centre hanging from it. She held it up to the mirror so that he could see. "We created it, with a piece of beanstalk, some technological innovations courtesy of the Home Office…and blood magic," she admitted reluctantly, and he started as he recognised the amulet, his eyes widening in horror.
"You performed the blood ritual of the lost?" he demanded incredulously, and she gaped at his knowledge. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
"Yes, strangely enough!" she snapped, matching his tone. "Better than most, I expect!"
"You could have been killed!" he said sharply.
"Well, I wasn't!" She planted fists on hips, her eyes flashing. "I did what I had to do and I got what I wanted, which is a way to get you back to me. I would have thought a little gratitude might be in order!"
He sighed, looking at the floor. "I'm sorry, Belle. Look, I don't want to fight. I just – I can't imagine what you must have gone through."
"No, you can't," she said tonelessly, a shadow seeming to fall over her face. She seemed to regret her words when she saw his expression. She could tell that he was afraid for her. He stroked the image of her cheek.
"Please, sweetheart," he begged. "Promise me you won't do that again."
"Well, I won't need to…"
"Promise me!" he said sternly, and Belle nodded impatiently.
"Okay, I promise, but I don't see…" He rolled his eyes in frustration.
"I do not propose a discussion!" he said sharply.
She glared at him, her face a little mutinous, but nodded, and he sighed with relief.
"I want you to promise not to use that to come here," he said sternly. "Send someone else. It's dangerous. I don't want you hurt."
She frowned at him. "I could ask Leroy, if you think I ought to be wrapped in cotton wool." she said coldly. "Although why you think I shouldn't be exposed to danger as well as you is beyond me. We're a team, Rumple. I want to help."
"I know," he sighed. "But send the dwarf anyway. Humour me." She glared at him again, tapping her foot in annoyance, and he raked an irritated hand through his hair. She had to believe he would come back, or she would use the amulet right there and then, and he didn't want her there. It wasn't just a question of her safety, although the gods knew that preyed on his mind enough. He didn't want her to see what he knew he would need to do, what he would become.
"How close are you to Henry?" she asked, and he smiled sadly.
"Just over the next ridge. As I said, we'll make our move tomorrow," he replied, not meeting her gaze. "I should go; we have battle plans to make." And boys to murder.
She looked at him curiously, a deep, knowing look that seemed to see to the depths of his soul, that was so Belle.
"What has happened to you?" she asked slowly, sadly, her expression sorrowful. He grimaced, and she bit her lip in consternation. "Rumple, what have you done?"
"Nothing…" he began repressively.
"Please don't lie to me." Her voice was calm, gentle. It would have been easier if she'd shouted.
"I have to save Henry," he said softly. It wasn't really answering her, but she seemed to understand, all the same, and she drew back a little. Good.
"At all costs?" she asked sadly. "At the cost of your soul?"
He pulled a face, suddenly impatient. "My soul is as black as night, Belle, you know that."
She shook her head. "I don't believe that," she said gently. "I've never believed it. I know the kind of man you are, Rumple. You're not evil."
He shook his head. "Belle, if you knew the things I've done…"
"I don't care!" she said hotly. "It's in the past…"
"Don't be a fool!" he snapped. "It's never in the past! It's my past, present and future, short though that may be."
"Don't say that!" Her eyes were flashing, her hands on her hips. He shook his head.
"This is how it has to be, Belle," he said gently. "I save him, I die, and I take as many of them with me as I can. A fair trade."
Her mouth flattened, her expression full of pain for him. He looked at the floor, irritated. He didn't need her pity and understanding. Nor her forgiveness. He didn't deserve it.
"I don't accept it," she announced firmly. "I'm coming to help you!"
He growled at her stubbornness. "I don't want you here," he said abruptly. "I'm a lost cause, Belle, and I won't drag you down with me. I know what I have to do, and I don't want you to see it."
"Please, Rumple!" she begged, her eyes shining. "Please don't do this! This isn't you anymore!"
"This was always me!" he snapped, and she shrank back a little. His face softened slightly, and he touched the image of her cheek again. "You were a dream, Belle," he said quietly. "You were a beautiful dream. But I know what I am, and it's time for me to wake up."
She shook her head, her lip trembling, but her eyes were fierce. "Don't you dare do this to me again!" she said angrily. "Don't you shut me out! I love you!"
"Goodbye, Belle," he whispered, and her eyes widened.
"Rumple, no!" Her voice cut off as the image within the Mirror swirled, blue and silver, until it was once again flat glass, throwing his reflection back at him like some sick joke so that he could see the tears rolling down his cheeks.
A/N: I'm aiming to get the next chapter up before next weekend, but don't hold me to it. Hope you all enjoyed.