Belle smiled softly to herself. It was indeed a comfort, if not a joy, to be around Rumpelstiltskin. The way he looked at her as if she was worth more than a royal status claimed. Of course, he would never admit to giving her such a look. But Belle knew. It was a look that Gaston had never once given her. She could not for the life of her define what it meant, but knowing that it came from the cursed Dark One made her feel special. The way his eyes melted only for her. How she would feel his stare boring into her back, yet every time she turned around, he would be glancing at something completely opposite to where she stood.

There was something there. That she knew. Perhaps, he did not feel the same, but she knew that within her own soul a stirring had begun. She may have been princess of Avonlea, but she had still been privy to the girlish fancies of prince's on their white stallions. Growing up, several young boys had caught her eye. Foolish crushes all, how silly! Did she really think to say that she had a crush on her master? Well, no. Belle knew what it felt like to develop feelings for someone, but this was entirely different. Rumpelstiltskin was so different from the prince charmings in her fairytales. Yet, he stirred feelings within her that were still strange and foreign. When he entered the room, her heart would race hard at the thought of him being near. When he spoke, his voice sent shivers crawling down her spine. His littlest of touches were enough to awaken a fire within her. When she had awoken in his arms only the morning before, she had silently wished that him holding her in his arms would never cease. Dare she think that she loved the Dark One?

Belle did not know, nor did she really want to. If she did, then her love would remain hollow and unrequited for eternity, for how could her master ever love her? And if she didn't, well, she didn't really know how she would feel. Belle sighed. To have such a dilemma as this was taxing to her mind, even more taxing than her scrubbing the banisters of the stairwell.

That was when she made it to the second floor, to the hall which led to the east and to the west wings. Belle, in obedience to her master's wishes, had never ventured to the forbidden part of the castle. Whenever she chanced a glance down that ominous and deathly silent hall, shivers would involuntarily crawl down her back. Of course, she knew that those shivers were partially from curiosity that she could barely keep reigned in. Oh, blast her curious nature! Her father once said that it would be her undoing, and it would seem he was right.

She longed to know what Rumpelstiltskin could possibly be keeping hidden down that hallway. Perhaps it was a half-alive prisoner, locked away in a dusky and darkened room. Dare she allow her mind to conjure anymore vile images of what the Dark One could have forbidden her from seeing?! But then again, maybe it was just his sleeping quarters. In which case, perhaps she should go and see if they needed any cleaning.

No, she hissed to herself, Rumpelstiltskin commanded you never to go there! He is just beginning to trust you. Do you really want to compromise his trust? No. No, she did not at all. But then again, it would just be one peek and Rumpelstiltskin was away for the day. She could go and have a peek, satiate her raging curiosity, and he would be none the wiser.

Belle's mind was still in debate when she discovered that her feet were moving of their own accord down the hall. Slowly, her feet moved, not daring to make a sound. Something about the hallway made her fear that a single creak of the floorboards would echo throughout the entire Castle. With each step, it became darker. It was dirtier too, since she had never ventured down there to clean the red-hued carpet or wipe the spiderwebs from the dusty walls.

Suddenly, she was before a large oaken door that she could only assume led to Rumpelstiltskin's sleeping quarters. He always had to be over-the-top. Yet another thing she loved about him. Wait. Love? No. Absolutely not.

Her fingers cautiously fell upon the golden handle. Should she do this? Her head turned from side to side to see if any eyes were watching her. She was truly alone, but did she dare? Just one peek, just one little peek. And with that, she turned the handle and pushed. The door opened with no sound to reveal a darkened room.

Belle blinked several times to adjust her eyes to the duskiness of the room. How could he bear to live in such a dark room? Of course, he was never in here, except to sleep, so it made sense. Her vision had somewhat strengthened and she gasped as her eyes caught the atrocious sight of the room. Some light was allowed access to the room through long tears in the maroon curtains. They looked as if they had been torn by long, sharp nails. With what light there was, she could see that every article of furniture was either laying on its side or completely broken to pieces. The bed was the only thing that still remained intact. It was large, too large for one man to sleep in all alone. Dust particles floated heavily around the room amongst the streaks of light.

She was utterly appalled. She had expected a little bit of dust, grime, articles of clothing spread about the floor. But this? Truly, he could not stand to live in such a place. Go back, go out now, her mind warned her. But she quickly replaced the cowardice with bravery. She took one step into the room. When she saw that nothing happened, no booby traps assaulted her, she took several more steps as she slowly and cautiously observed the room. If only he had told her, she would have cleaned the entire mess up. Belle desperately wanted to start right away, the dirtiness was already creeping over her skin. But she knew that would be foolish. He had commanded her never to enter. What would he say if he found that she had not only disobeyed but had also cleaned everything?

Belle sighed. What had caused him to be so aggravated that he had completely demolished anything lovely in the room? Just then, her foot hit a loosened board in the floor and she fell hard to her knees. She winced as her leg made contact with the floor. Luckily she had not torn her dress, but she thrust forward her hands to feel for the nasty floor board. When she found it, she dug her fingernails into the wood and gripped it hard. If she tore it out, she could replace it, and at least she wouldn't have to worry about her master tripping over it in the dead of night.

Wait. The board had come off easily, the nails squeaking with age. But through the dim light, she could make out a box within the small hole. She then began to remove several of the other boards. When the box was completely in view, she took a hold of it and lifted it out of the hole. It was covered in dust and grime. When she wiped it all away she saw intricate designs carved into the wood of the crafted box. The hinges creaked as she carefully lifted the lid.

A gasp escaped her lips as she saw what was inside. A long, thin dagger was set against blood red velvet. The hilt was set in silver, and the blade was shining as if it were new. But it was what was upon the blade that caught her eyes. Running her fingers across it, she traced the letters carved into the steel.

Rumpelstiltskin.

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He felt it the moment her fingers touched the blade. It felt as if shivers were crawling across his whole body in a sensation that was not at all unpleasant. But he could not focus on the pleasantness of the touch. Someone had found it, after all these centuries of being hidden. He was in danger, and that fright was enough for him to immediately transport himself back to the Dark Castle.

When he appeared in his room, the door was slightly ajar. And at his feet, back turned to him, was the beauty of his maid. And she was caressing his dagger. Whether she felt the heat of his ire or the strength of his eyes staring daggers at her back, he did not know. All he did know was that she instantly withdrew her hand and turned around to face the master. Her features were marred by utter fear, the first time he had ever seen Belle frightened by him.

Rumpelstiltskin growled at her and clenched his fingernails into his skin.

"I—I'm sorry," Belle stuttered, "I—I didn't mean-"

"What are you doing in here?" Rumpelstiltskin roared, not allowing her to finish. Not allowing her to sedate his anger.

"I—I-," Belle swallowed, "I came in here to see if I could clean this room, when I found this dagger. I am sorry."

Quick as lightening, Rumpelstiltskin reached down and took the box from her grasp, cradling it as if it were a child. He blew an inward sigh of relief that he had not become the slave of his maid before he turned all fear of what could have happened upon her.

"I told you never to come in here!" He bellowed in rage. "Do you have any idea what you could have done?!"

"I said I was sorry!" Belle shouted back, fists clenched at her side. She had never seen this side of him and it frightened her so much that she was quaking. It seemed that a dark aura had formed about him. She felt the magic, mixed with his wrath, crackling off of his skin.

Rumpelstiltskin smacked her across the cheek and she stared at him in horror, caressing her stinging skin. "You foolish girl, you could have destroyed everything! Everything!" He pointed a devilishly hooked finger at her. "Get out!" He cried out in anger, "Get out now!"

Belle did not leave anytime to see what he would do. She, still grasping at her burning cheek, fled out the door and down the stairs, his bellowing screams following her. She did not leave time to prepare. She did not get her cloak or any supplies. Her fear spurred her steps forward and she flew across the Great Hall. Opening the door, she prayed that the magical wards chaining her to the castle would have dissolved. She breathed a sigh when she did successfully exit the castle and started running through the calf-deep snow.

Turn around! You'll break your deal!

-I don't care!-

But if you leave him, your family will be destroyed. Your kingdom will be demolished!

Belle could not find it in herself to return. Not after everything he had just done. Not after he had shouted at her, not after he had struck her. All because she had found a silly little dagger with his name plastered across it. What had that thing really been?

She raced across the lawn of the estate. Her legs were burning from the exertion of trudging through the snow. Yet, she continued to run as fast as her feet would carry her. She felt it. The emptiness of the air. There was just the moonlight to guide her and she no longer heard the hum of the wards. He had allowed them to dissolve. He was letting her go far away from here, and she would take the opportunity. She would leave and never return.

Belle did not stop. Not even to take one last look at the Dark Castle. She just continued to run past the boundaries of the estate and deep into the forest.

It wasn't long before she began to argue with herself about how stupid she had been to not bring any supplies. How did she hope to survive with no food or water, and no source of warmth? Already the winter air was beginning to chill her to the bone, dressed in nothing but her blue dress and undergarments. She wrapped her arms tighter around her and focused on her trudge forward. She was free, but somehow this was not how she imagined freedom should feel. It felt...she couldn't describe it.

Her ears suddenly perked up as she heard the crunch of twigs and a sharp howl. She gasped in fear. Wolves. The stomping continued. The howling surrounded her on all sides. And then the eyes glowed in the darkness, coming closer and closer to her.

Belle groped around for anywhere to hide, or better yet, a weapon, but she found none. She started sprinting through the snow, the fear drumming through her ears as she heard the wolf pack chasing her. Suddenly, one bounded in front of her and she came nose to nose with it. The fierce beast snapped its jaws at her but she jerked her head a way just in time.

In that same second, teeth crunched around her dress and jerked. She heard the ripping of her gown as she was pulled to the forest floor. The cold of the snow enveloped her as she let out an ear-piercing scream.

"Stay away! Just stay away!" She shouted at the wolves but to no avail. They licked their hungry chops and began to approach her. "No! Please, God, no!" She closed her eyes hard, "Rumpelstiltskin!" She bellowed with all of her might and her heart raced as she heard the wolves still circling her, seeming to decided how best to divide their sweet prey.

It was just when Belle was coming close to accepting her apparent fate, that she heard the sharp whine of a beast and then another. She peeked open an eye to see a familiar flash of purple smoke and a long black cape. A wolf flew above her head and hit the bark of a tree with a deafening crunch.

She caught the menacing growl of Rumpelstiltskin's face as he approahced the three remaining wolves. He stretched out an arm and one of the wolves' necks was broken. But then, a wolf jumped from behind and pushed Rumpelstiltskin to the ground, face-down into the snow. Rumpelstiltskin had only enough time to turn around on his back before the wolf brought down his sharp claws and tore open his leather jerkin. Pain surged through his arm and he howled in white-hot rage. Within an incoherent second, the wolf flew off of Rumpelstiltskin and landed in the snow. It's head had been decapitated. Standing to his feet, the Dark One turned to the final wolf. The once fierce creature let out a yelp and ran away, its tail dragging between his legs.

The rage disappeared as Rumpelstiltskin laid eyes on the beauty, unharmed but white from fright and cold. She was still angry, fiercely so, but she stood up and walked over to him.

"Come," he commanded gently so as not to frighten her further. Taking her by the arm, he whisked them away to the Great Hall of the Dark Castle.

The moment their feet were upon solid ground, he released her as if her touch poisoned him. He groped at his injured arm and turned to look at her. Blood was quickly dripping from the wound and down to the floor. "Belle," he said as soft as a caress, before he collapsed in a heap upon the floor, much to her horror.

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Ooooooo, so I left you at a cliffhanger. I know, I know. How evil of me :) Let me know what you thought. Reviews seriously mean the world to me!