I hope you all enjoy! Once again, I don't own anything.
And it's up a couple hours early! I just couldn't wait to upload it; it's gonna be a good one!
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"This isn't you, Rumpelstiltskin!" Belle declared with a shake of her head.
"You propose to know the beast, dearie?" He sped around and glared at her hard. "You have been here for four months. If you think that in that amount of time you have killed the monster in me, then you are gravely mistaken." To anyone else it would have seemed like he was stating a simple fact, but Belle could hear the protest within him. The dripping regret in his voice. The Dark One was holding the man captive and wouldn't let him go. Belle knew she had to appeal to that imprisoned man, and give him the strength to rise to his potential.
"Please." She plead as she gently grabbed his arm. He flinched at her touch and drew himself away. "If you won't do it for him, then do it for me." Rumpelstiltskin's glare softened and his frown disappeared into a thin line. "Prove to me that you are the man I believe you to be."
He blinked and licked his lips. "Who do you think I am?" Belle saw his dark orbs soften and she smiled slightly. She was talking to the man. To Rumpelstiltskin.
"You are a good man, underneath your scales and darkness." She raised her hand and began to softly stroke his shoulder, "I've seen it, you've shown me that you can be kind and gentle. When you saved me from falling off of the balcony, when you healed my burned hand, when you gave me my new room." She raised a manicured eyebrow. "If you were really as monstrous as you say, how do you explain how you can be so generous?"
His mask of darkness was faltering, she could see it. For one hopeful second, she thought she saw him change his mind, but then the softness in his eyes disappeared and he sneered. "It was weakness." He replied in a hard, biting tone, "And the Dark One is not weak. I will do this and prove that I am not a coward."
He turned away from her and Belle frowned. "By killing him, you are showing that you are the coward you are working so desperately to hide!" Her face was red with renewed anger, and then she let her shoulders hang.
If her words affected him, he did not show it. Rumpelstiltskin just shouldered his bow once again and continued walking forward. Since they had abandoned the carriage just a little ways back, in order to be more stealthy around the forest-adjusted thief, they were now forced to walk through the dense trees.
Suddenly, the Dark One raised a fist and Belle stopped abruptly. "What is it?" She asked nervously, praying desperately that they had not found the unlucky Robin Hood.
"Someone's coming this way. On a horse." He whispered before standing straight. "Stay behind me," he added quietly before the first glimpse of the majestic mare came into view. The chestnut beast trotted forward towards them and stopped. Upon its back sat a well-dressed man with a clean-shaven face, but the effort with which he used to slide off of his horse suggested that he was a bit too intoxicated. Belle watched curiously as the man approached them and smirked.
"Who do we have here?" He mused.
Rumpelstiltskin smiled pleasantly, but there was hidden malice in the smirk, "I am looking for a man, an outlaw of the forest. Perchance, have you seen him?"
"It's possible. I am the Sheriff of Nottingham." The man declared proudly through his drunken stare. "I know everyone and everything that passes through this forest. I even know you, Dark One."
"My reputation proceeds me," Rumpelstiltskin giggled impishly, "Excellent." From behind him, Belle rolled her eyes.
The Sheriff smirked at the beast's antics and took another sip of his canteen. He rubbed the back of his sleeve against his moist mouth. Rumpelstiltskin frowned. He knew all too well what liquor could do to a man. Truthfully, he had never much appreciated the habit. Ignoring the act, he tented his fingers. "You know where this man is, this Robin Hood. Where is he?"
"I am not so easily used, Dark One. I know that you are notorious for your deals, and I wish to make one."
The Dark One grinned at the prospect of a deal. "What do you want?" He asked eagerly, and looked up at the man before him. But he was confused when he realized the Sheriff was not looking at him, but his attention had been directed upon the woman standing behind the beast's back. His eyes were scanning her lovely figure, hidden beneath her cloak, and they lit with a flame that Rumpelstiltskin recognized. It was the look of lust.
"I will tell you where Hood is if..." his stare continued to roam over the beauty's body. Belle wriggled under his adulterated glances, "You give me one night with your wench."
The Dark One's lips set into a thin grimace. He tried to hide the disgust that welled up within him at this infernal and disgusting creature. Forcing himself to swallow the bile in his throat, he could practically feel Belle's fear radiating from behind him. As if she thought he really would whore her out to a hideous brute like the Sheriff.
"I'm afraid, dearie," the playful imp had retreated within him and his voice was a low warning, "That she is not for sale."
The Sheriff looked unperturbed. "You couldn't spare her for, say, an hour?" His voice was becoming desperate, "Twenty minutes?"
The disgust within Rumpelstiltskin's body transformed into pure hatred for this man. How dare he even consider taking away the virtue of such a lovely and innocent young woman as his Belle? Why, he was not worthy to tie the laces of her shoes, let alone make a whore out of her! He refused to put any woman into that situation, much less the woman who had become his only friend in life. There was an itching sensation in his soul. The Dark One could hardly believe it when he realized it was pure jealousy that made him want to tear the head from that brute's all-too-long neck. No. If not even the omnipotent Dark One could have the beauty, this man certainly wouldn't lay a finger upon her untainted skin.
Feigning deliberation, Rumpelstiltskin brought a scaled claw to his chin. For a moment, Belle felt fear grip at her heart as she realized that he was going to agree to the deal. But then, Rumpelstiltskin waved his palm, and in a dark cloud of smoke, the Sheriff's brazen tongue had landed into the Dark One's vile palms.
The Sheriff stared, absolutely appalled, at the sight of one of his body parts in the palm of the beast. He gurgled at the strange feeling of missing his tongue. The Dark One giggled menacingly. "If you want this back, then you will tell me what I want to know. Deal?"
The man nodded his head violently and then his tongue had landed back into his throat. He gasped for breath and then stared daggers of hate at the beast. "Robin Hood traipses these forests, free to roam where ever he may wish. Just two hours ago, a parole came back saying that they had spotted the outlaw passing through here, he was heading west." He pointed to his right. "I would go after him myself, but I have a more pressing matter at hand."
The Dark One nodded his head and then with invisible tendrils of magic, bound the Sheriff's hands and drew him so close that he could smell the vile alcohol on his breath. "Be glad that I did not rip you limb from limb for the deal you had hoped to make," he whispered fiercely, "No one touches her unless I say so. And you, putrid filth, will never be so privileged." Belle sucked in her breath at his honest words as she strained to hear every last bit of what he had to say. Then, Rumpelstiltskin released the magic holding the man and pushed him away. He fell to the ground hard.
Turning around, the Dark One grabbed Belle's arm, forcefully but not unkindly. "Come, Belle. We're going." Belle nodded, only too glad to get as far away from the man who had let his lust guide his thoughts and actions,
"Good luck to you, Dark One!" The Sheriff bellowed from behind. "Have fun with your whore! Perhaps that's the reason you won't give her to me, eh? You need her to warm your own bed! What a beast you are!"
Rumpelstiltskin's hand clenched hard on Belle's arm as his blood boiled over at the insults. True, he was a beast. But to accuse him of doing something so horrendous to his Belle was unspeakable.
The man continued as his eyes darted to the beauty who looked at him, appalled. "Perhaps you should ask the young lady herself if she would wish to come with me. I'm sure she would rather be with a man like myself, than have her virtue stolen by such an ugly monster as you."
The magic was summoned to the Dark One's fingertips and he was ready to make the man before him pay for his accusations. But then, Belle's soft fingertips caressed his arm. "Come." She whispered softly but firmly. "He is not worth your anger."
The Sheriff did not miss the tenderness that the beauty afforded her master and his brow raised in surprise. A terrible chuckle came from his voice. "Or, maybe, I was wrong. You enjoy warming your master's bed, don't ya, wench? How utterly disgusting!" Belle's face was red but she forced her voice to remain calm. She felt Rumpelstiltskin tense even more and knew that he was about to make the man wish he had never uttered the words.
"Rumpelstiltskin," she sought to calm him. "Please, leave him."
"But," the Dark One growled in wrath, "He is offending your virtue." He looked at her strangely, "You would dare to let him go after saying such appalling things?"
Belle nodded. "It is the drink that has fouled his mind. Let him go. If even I am willing to forgive him for his words, aren't you?"
Rumpelstiltskin frowned and let a small sigh through his lips. What on earth is this woman doing to me? The anger was slowly being doused with her soothing words and the stroke of her hands upon his arm. He looked into her eyes and knew too late that it was a mistake. The look with which she gave him, the soft look that held such hope for him making the right decision, broke him. And he knew that if ever she chose to use that look again, he would be unable to refuse any of her requests.
He nodded his head slightly and turned on his heel to face the Sheriff. "I will not forgive you." His tone was a warning which made even the haughty Sheriff begin to shake. "Your words, whether drunken or not, are vile. As such, I believe your tongue will be the perfect price for your disgusting insults against my maid." With a flick of a wrist, the man's tongue was once again in his palm, and then, enveloping black smoke made it disappear. The Sheriff tried desperately to speak, but only gurgles emanated from his throat. "Oh, and another thing," the fiend pointed a scaly finger into the air, "She is not a wench that you will find at any tavern and charm into your bed. She is a woman, and her name is Belle." The fiend then turned to face the woman beside him. "Let's go." And they hurried to get as far away from the man as possible.
Belle felt relief surge within her, "Thank you," she said breathlessly as she realized his hand once again gripped her arm, but his hold was soft.
Rumpelstiltskin frowned. "That disgusting creature deserved far worse than what he got."
"But you showed him mercy, O Dark One," she smirked, "And you proved it, you know."
"Proved what?" He asked in puzzlement.
Belle giggled. "That there is good underneath your prickles. Of course, now there's a man wandering about Sherwood without a tongue." She feigned displeasure, and he grinned as he realized she was teasing him.
"Would you have preferred I shoot him with this bow?" He motioned to the weapon that still hung around his shoulder.
All jest vanished from Belle's tongue as the real mission for them being in the forest was remembered. "You are not still going after Robin Hood, are you?"
Rumpelstiltskin frowned also at the way their pleasant conversation had soured. "I will do what has to be done."
"But why?" Belle demanded to know, but did not allow Rumpelstiltskin time to answer. "If you let that Sheriff go after what he said and did, then why can't you let this man live?"
"He tried to kill me," Rumpelstiltskin stuttered to answer.
Belle grinned as she noticed that her words were sinking in, "The Sheriff would have raped me."
He hated how right she was and how her argument left his behind in the dust, utterly crushed. Who was this woman? It was that question that puzzled him profusely. Before he could say anything, his ears perked up at a sudden sound. He placed a finger to his lips and released her arm from his hold. He took a few steps forward and then turned to Belle. Ducking behind a tree, he beckoned her to where he was standing. They were so close, her chest against his back, and they could feel the steady beats of their hearts, mingling into one coherent thud. One sound. Ignoring the strange feeling rising to his chest and motioning for her to be quiet, Rumpelstiltskin pointed to where a man stood but a few yards away. A man who was clearly the hunted outlaw of Sherwood. By his side, lay a woman. She was a sickly pale.
Belle tensed as she saw Rumpelstiltskin finger the curve of the bow upon his back. His face seemed to be twisted in indecision of whether to deal the final blow or show clemency. Placing a cool hand to the curve between his neck and shoulder, she whispered calm reassurances into his ear. She needed to tell him that it would be alright to be merciful. She inwardly plead that he would not kill the thief.
"Look," she whispered as Robin Hood took the wand in his hand and waved it over the woman, "He needed that wand to heal her. I knew that he stole it for a good cause."
Rumpelstiltskin was still confused on what to do, an inner war raging within his soul between the Dark One and the man. If he did not kill the thief, he would be a coward. Too weak to slay someone who had tried to murder him. If he did, however, Belle would never forgive him. Was he willing to risk that?
As if reading his thoughts, Belle stated, "You will not be a coward if you let him go. Letting him go is the bravest thing you can do. It will show that you are strong enough to resist the evil within yourself."
Within seconds the woman was healed, and Belle could not help but beam as the happy couple embraced, overjoyed that she should be made healthy again. Belle could see the faint swelling of the woman's belly, and judging by the tenseness emanating from the Dark One, he saw too.
"Look, she's pregnant," she continued to argue in a low voice, "I know you are not the kind of man to leave a child fatherless." At those words Rumpelstiltskin's will to kill broke and he nodded softly. She was right. Never again would he be the cause for a child to grow up without a father's wisdom and guidance. With a flick of his wrist, the bow and arrow on his back vanished and landed beside Robin Hood. The outlaw was puzzled and roamed his eyes about the forest but saw no trace of the imp or the woman.
"Come, my Marian," he replied gently, "We must leave before we are discovered." His eyes took in his surroundings once again in an attempt to see the magical beast, but he could not. And within seconds, the outlaw and his pregnant wife were gone.
Belle grinned like a Cheshire cat as her master turned to face her. He seemed troubled, but his eyes were soft. Belle's eyes twinkled. "I knew you could do it. I knew you could be brave." Her arms were suddenly wrapping about his neck in a tight embrace. Rumpelstiltskin barely knew how to react before she released him and stepped away. It was in that moment that he knew he did not regret sparing the thief. Anything that could bring that look of pride into Belle's eyes, that look of pride for him, he would willingly do without a second's thought.
"It was all you, Belle," he replied in a thick voice, "All you."
She giggled lightly, "Don't you see, Rumpelstiltskin? You made the decision." She placed her soft palm against his leather-clad chest, over his beating life-source. "Your heart chose good over evil."
Rumpelstiltskin's mouth became dry at the feeling of her fingers brushing against his chest. His heart constricted and leapt in its beat. Before he could stop himself, he had brought up a gray-gold hand to rest against hers. "You were right, you know. I couldn't allow a child to grow up fatherless." His voice was rough as he was trying and failing to keep his emotions hidden, bottled up like they had been for so long.
"I know." Was all Belle said as her eyes glanced upon their over-lapping hands. She gently moved her palm so that their fingers cautiously entwined. "Even in your eyes," she looked deep into his brown orbs, "I can see when the Dark One is hidden away and the man has chosen to show himself. You are not all beast, despite what you may want to think." Her eyes became lost in his entrancing orbs, lost in the softness he only afforded towards her.
Rumpelstiltskin could hardly believe she had stayed this close to him without pushing away. He could hardly believe that their fingers were clasped together, or that she was staring into his eyes, just as he too was losing himself in her deep cerulean irises. He cleared his throat slightly to allow himself to speak. "It is all thanks to you." He felt too close to her, but it did not stifle him like it usually did. It was calming, as if her soothing nature was washing over him in a strange, inexplicable aura. His Belle was slowly melting his heart of ice. "You are a hero today, Belle. You stood up against the beast to save a man's life. You are braver than I ever dare hope to be."
Belle flushed at his kind words. His voice was so much like a man's. So deep and hoarse, and irresistibly Rumpelstiltskin. Staring up into his face, it was so easy to become entranced, and yet she could not understand why. She had never felt the intensity of a man's stare quite as she did Rumpelstiltskin's. It was as if his eyes were burning deep brands into her soul. She was his slave, but she was so much more than that. And somehow, her master was branding himself into her heart.
Suddenly, the desire to hold him close was becoming too strong for her to resist. Suddenly, the need to kiss her was engraving itself in his mind. And neither of them knew just yet that the beauty and the beast were slowly falling deeply...dangerously...helplessly in love. Instead, they forced themselves to pull away from their embrace and leave Sherwood Forest. And then, the curtain that separated master from servant was replaced once again, out of fear for what was growing betwixt their hearts. But there was, without a doubt, something there that wasn't there before.
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This definitely is my favorite chapter thus far. I hope you liked it as well!