A high-pitched giggle erupted from the Dark One's lips as he was attacked with mirth. "I have something you want? Well, dearie, that doesn't surprise me. What I do wonder is why a thief like you would desire my help." Rumpelstiltskin smirked in merriment but he felt magic flowing through his fingertips should the little trespasser cause any trouble.
Instead of attacking, the thief turned his head and focused on the beauty standing safely on the other side of the dining table. "So, it is true." Robin Hood mused. "The beast has enslaved a beauty." He mocked. "What a strange turn of events."
"If you are insinuating that you want my dear maid," the Dark One growled, "I do believe you will be sorely disappointed."
"Please," Hood shook his head lazily, "I wouldn't be interested in a petty woman to clean my clothing and cook my meals." Rumpelstiltskin felt his ire rising but calmly kept it hidden behind his dark orbs. The outlaw did not know how much he was irking the beast, as he just continued to speak in his haughty manner. "No, beast, I am interested in something much more valuable."
The Dark One scoffed inwardly. If only he knew how valuable his Belle was...When did she become 'his' Belle? And yet, it sounded so right. Not out of possession, but just pure and raw truth. Explicit honesty. His Belle, indeed. Rumpelstiltskin tented his fingers and watched as the man's eyes roamed about the spacious room. He could barely quench the curiosity of what such a stranger customer could possibly want.
"Come, come, dearie. What is it you want?" The imp asked impatiently.
Then, recognition dawned in the thief's eyes as he laid his eyes on a particular object. "That." He stated simply to something that rested on a tall pedestal. "I want that."
Rumpelstiltskin was silent, shocked at his strange proposal, and then broke into mirthless laughter. "That old thing? Tell me, dearie, what use would you have for a magic wand?"
"Answer me this, beast," Hood countered, "How did you come by such an object?" He started slowly approaching the golden wand. Atop it sat a crystal orb, from which a dull glow emanated, pulsing gently.
Rumpelstiltskin waved his hand in boredom. "It once belonged to a fairy godmother until I acquired it."
"You mean stole it?" Robin Hood chuckled. Really, did this man have no fear around this monster? It was beginning to really unsettle the fiend. "How fitting, then, since I am going to steal it from you."
"Are you?" The Dark One scoffed but their was malice dripping in his tone. His fingertips were humming with the flow of magic, a spell was upon his tongue.
Robin Hood smirked, "Indeed."
There was that strange confidence again. "And what on earth could you hope to use such a thing for?"
"That, beast, is none of your business."
"If you are to steal it, I do believe it is my business." The fiend chortled to mask his confusion. "Fairy magic is very powerful, but it is also incredibly fickle." He spat out in disgust. "A mere mortal like you cannot hope to wield such a power."
Robin Hood laughed, a rich booming sound that was so much in contrast with the Dark One's squeals. "I think I can manage just fine." He winked and then his expression turned serious. "Now, if the formalities are all finished-" his words broke off as he reached for the arrows in his quiver and knocked one to his bow, "I'll be taking that wand." Aiming the bow at the fiend, he began to slowly approach his precious prize. It was nearly in his grasp when Rumpelstiltskin began laughing hysterically.
"You are truly as ignorant as you are arrogant if you believe such a trifle thing can kill me, fool." He smirked and opened his arms out wide, "Come on." He goaded, "Hit me. Because I will not let you take that wand otherwise."
Robin Hood stood there for several seconds as if thinking before he too smiled. "Well, I need that wand. Your life seems like a fine price." And with that, he shot the arrow straight for the imp dressed in dragon-scales and feathers.
Just before the arrow's tip pierced the Dark One's skin, Rumpelstiltskin used his magic to escape the barbed danger. In a puff of sickly sweet smoke, he had disappeared and reappeared only a few feet away from where he had been standing. He looked to Robin Hood and grinned with success and blood-lust. But then, he saw that the thief's eyes were also shining with glee. Rumpelstiltskin felt a hum of magic from behind him and instinctively disappeared, missing the danger of the arrow that would refuse to fall to the ground.
Time after time, he would reappear only to have to vanish once again. The arrow had been enchanted and he cursed his foolishness. Why had he not suspected something? The arrow was beginning to pick up speed, flying faster than lightning. Rumpelstiltskin continued to pop here and there in the room. His heart was beginning to race and sweat was accumulating over his temple. This was not good. And then, he felt a sharp pang break his skin and he looked down to see the protruding arrow in his chest.
His Belle, who had been anxiously silent till then, screamed in fear. "No!" She shouted in horror as she saw the weapon had struck through Rumpelstiltskin's vest and skin. "Rumpelstiltskin!" She tried to run to him but he motioned for her to stop. Gritting his teeth, he carefully pulled the barbed arrowhead from his chest and cast it upon the floor. He wanted to scream at the pain but his senses were overridden by the intense wrath that he knew was directed at the outlaw.
"Big mistake, dearie." His eyes glowed a bright red and he was grinning with feral malice.
He saw Robin Hood's face turn a sickly pale as he realized his mistake too late. He opened his mouth, to say what, he did not know. But then he saw the powerful Dark One clutch his chest tightly and wince hard in pain.
"Rum-" Belle hesitated in asking, fearful of the answer. And then she saw her master collapse to the ground. "No, no, please." She ran to him and knelt beside him, feeling at his wound. There was no blood, at least not red. Her hands lifted and upon her beautiful fingers was a black, inky, and sticky substance. "What is that?" She whispered fearfully.
The Dark One took one look at it and groaned. "Poison." He spat out from between his teeth.
"Poison?" She gasped, and then she turned her head to the outlaw, a smirk of satisfaction was upon his lips. She growled in both anger and desperation. "What have you done?"
Robin Hood shrugged, "I did something someone should have done a long time. I slayed the beast."
"How dare you?" Belle tried to stand but she found her knees were too weak and she fell back upon the floor. "You have known him for only five minutes! You know nothing of him, but I can tell you that he is no beast!" She declared violently.
Robin Hood shrugged again in indifference, and then, Belle heard her master's voice, quiet and weak, but still there. "Belle, it's not that bad. I have something upstairs that will heal it. Go to my apothecary, get the vial with the green sparkling liquid in it." His eyes closed as he felt the poison taking effect. If it was any other kind of poison then he would have been able to heal himself in an instant. But that arrow had been enchanted, it only made sense that the poison would be too. "Come on, hurry." He pleaded as he felt himself becoming weak.
Belle nodded and stood away from him. She cast an angry, disdainful look at Robin Hood. "Go!" She commanded with the authority of a former princess. "Go now, and never come back!"
The thief's eyes were as wide as saucers when he realized that she was releasing the man who had nearly killed her master. He nodded but Belle did not see as she headed in the direction of his apothecary.
Green with sparkles. Green with sparkles. Oh God, let him be alright. Never before had Belle been gripped with such fear. Not when her mother had died. Not when the ogres had demolished her small kingdom. Not when she had sold herself to the wicked monster himself. Nothing had ever frightened her more than seeing her master being brought low by that arrow.
She found the potion soon enough, and she was glad that Rumpelstiltskin had not had more than one green potion. That could have been disastrous. She ran as fast her legs would carry her. Twice she nearly dropped and shattered the vial, her hands were so clammy with nervousness.
She finally was at Rumpelstiltskin's side again and she knelt down. Uncorking the vile, a green mist erupted from the mouth of the bottle. It smelled pungent but she brought the vial to her master's lips. His breathing was erratic and his eyes were flitting fast underneath his lids. He barely swallowed the potion, so withdrawn in his own hallucinations was he.
"Come on, you silly oaf. Come one." She coaxed the liquid down his throat and waited for what seemed like the longest seconds of her life.
And then his eyes shot open and he let out a loud cough. "Bloody hell, that is disgusting!" The liquid had near scathed his throat, he still felt the awful burning sensation.
"Well, you were the one who made it." Belle breathed in relief as she saw her master was fully conscious. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, you hear?"
He had frightened her? Well, as the Dark One, he would expect nothing less. But it had not been him, per se', who had frightened her. It had been his imminent death. Suddenly, that realization made his throat dry and he lost himself in her cerulean eyes.
He could say nothing. Not a quip. Not a word of indifference. All he managed to pass between his lips was, "I'm sorry."
It was Belle's turn to be surprised as she noticed the all-powerful fiend was apologizing to her. His servant! "What was that?" She looked dejectedly at the arrow, laying limp on the ground. Her master's blood was still coating the barbed metal.
"It had been enchanted," Rumpelstiltskin spat out as the anger returned. "The poison too."
"So Robin had ample reason to be confident." Belle surmised with bitterness in her voice.
Rumpelstiltskin chuckled and grinned as he sat up off the floor. "Except he forgot one little detail. I am the Dark One, and not much can kill me." He winked slyly at her and Belle giggled. Her heart felt so light at the knowledge that Rumpelstiltskin would be alright.
His eyes probed the room. He seemed confused. "Where is our murderous friend anyway?"
"You don't remember?" Belle probed. "I told him to go."
"You what?!" Rumpelstiltskin cried incredulously as he stood to his feet too soon. His head began to swim and he would have fallen if Belle's arms had not wrapped around him snugly to hold him upright.
He tried not to be distracted at the feeling of Belle in his arms or of her intoxicating scent. He closed his eyes and carefully focused until he could stand by myself, and then he released himself from her arms. She blushed in embarrassment and then their—well, whatever their moment had been- was over.
The Dark One's eyes became hard and emotionless as he tried to keep his anger from bubbling over. "It seems you were well rewarded, dearie. Your little friend stole the wand anyway."
Belle looked to the pedestal and saw that the relic was indeed missing. Her heart leapt as she realized that the man had taken advantage of her mercy and had still stolen the very thing that had nearly killed Rumpelstiltskin!
"See the foolishness of mercy, Belle," he growled angrily, "No one deserves mercy." His anger was near the boiling point but he was desperately trying to reign it in for the sake of the woman at his side. He stalked away from her and to the discarded bow that the thief had left behind in his haste.
"Why would he leave that behind?" Belle asked gently. Even though she was relieved to know that her master was trying desperately to control his anger, she was still wary to speak.
Rumpelstiltskin shook his head. "I imagine he was so frightened when I did not die that he just dropped the weapon. Besides, that wand weighs more than you would give it credit for." He picked up the carefully carved yew bow and exchanged it between his hands, testing out its lightness and strength. "It was expertly carved, a very nice craftsmanship," he said more to himself than the beauty who was watching him curiously, "Yes, I think this will do very nicely."
"Will do what nicely, Rumpelstiltskin?" Belle inquired with a raised eyebrow.
He looked at her and she saw amusement clearly written in his eyes. His lips turned into a sardonic grin and she knew that her friend was gone and the imp had returned. "Why, to kill him of course."
Belle's mouth fell open. "K-kill him? Surely not."
Rumpelstiltskin chuckled at her, "Well, I can't let him get away with my wand, now can I?"
"Surely, you could just leave him be." Belle protested softly, but knew it to be foolish as she saw a hint of warning in her master's eye. "Why can't you show him mercy?"
"Oh, like he did to me." Rumpelstiltskin retorted in a hard, biting tone.
Belle licked her lips and wondered what bravery had surged within her to keep an argument with the Dark One for as long as she had. "Maybe he really needed that wand. I've never seen you use it, so if it can help him, then what is the harm? Why not just let him have it? And if you must take it back, why must you still kill him for his mistake?"
The Dark One cackled before his tone became scathing, the proof of the boiling inferno that was raging beneath his scaly skin. "He tried to kill me, Belle." He stamped his foot on the ground and flailed his arms about madly, "No one tries to kill the Dark One and escapes to live the tale. No one!"
"He now knows it was foolish to make an attempt on your life. All is past." Belle pushed softly, but her master would have none of it.
"Well, he should of thought of that before he tried to poison me! No. I am going to kill him, with his own bow and his own arrow. He will pay for what he tried to do to me!" Darkness seemed to pour forth from him, and Belle curled her lips in disgust at this man, nay...this thing, that could provide no mercy. "You, dearie, are going to come with me." He pointed a black fingernail at her and she tried not to cower at the dominance which he was inflicting.
Belle stuttered, "Why? What need do you have of me?"
He cackled darkly. "I want you to watch as I pierce his heart with this barbed arrowhead. I want you to see what happens when someone tries to kill your master. Just in case you get any ideas." Instantly, the man within him tried to fight and surge forth as he felt instant regret at his words.
They had hurt her, he could tell by the emotions she was willfully wearing on her sleeve, not even trying to hide them.
Rumpelstiltskin desperately tried to push the surfacing man deeper into his heartless soul. "Come," he put all of the authority he could into his voice, "We will take the carriage and find him before nightfall."