As close to freedom as she can get

King George truly was a fool. He went through all that effort to procure a child for him, and he went and got him killed. Honestly. And now he needed a new prince to slay a local dragon for Midas. Of course he could kill the dragon, but Georgie Porgie seemed to have skipped over that point. At least the prince had been a twin. He and Belle could just go and fetch the other one. He was looking at the dead man at the moment and, although he wouldn't show it, he felt sorry for George, losing his son and last remaining family. If only he had waited a few days more, until after the Cinderella business was over. But still. The man would be able to tell him where that dratted 'bop' and flitted off to as the price, since Belle couldn't figure out where Cinderella actually lived. Ridiculous. So, off to a failing farm in the middle of nowhere. He called Belle away from the dead body with his mind, since she looked about ready to scribble on his face with the sharp looking quill in her hand. He was just glad she had remained invisible. George would have been horrified, and hilarious as that would have been, it would likely have ended in disaster. Belle probably wouldn't mind just letting George kill him.

Anyway. He tried to recall what the little farm had looked like all those years ago, and sent the image to Belle to find. In no time at all they were on their way, and he sincerely hoped the greedy King didn't notice his magic smoke had changed colour. They were going to have to work on appeared unseen on the edge of an expanse of green pastures, a long haired young man surveying his flock. He stood, feet apart, with his weight bared by a staff. Though the sheep were healthy and clean, the little wooden cottage was suffering. As they watched, waiting for the mother to return, Rumplestiltskin explained to Belle what he had seen in his visions. Snow White and this man, the replacement Prince James (thank the Gods it wouldn't be the real one, that man was insufferable), would have a child that would be vital in his plans. In no time at all, although it felt like forever, the young soon-to-be-prince started to round up his sheep. Most came easily enough, but one slipped from the flock and they watched him chase it with his arms outstretched. He was startled by a giggle to the side of him, and turned his head to find Belle chuckling at the man's antics, her eyes bright. He scowled. That was the type of man his Belle was soon to realise she wanted. A handsome, carefree Prince. The only consolation was the prince probably wouldn't find her very attractive at the moment. He ignored his mind when it said Belle was all the more beautiful.

As the man caught the sheep, Belle still smiling, they watched an old woman wave to her son. He tilted his head towards Belle. "It's showtime!"

This fresh air cleared her mind. It was so much easier to think, so much easier to ignore the darkness, when she was outside the castle walls. She had not been out in the open air since Rumplestiltskin first summoned her with that awful dagger. She could breathe again, and the freedom made her laugh. That, and the ridiculous antics of the man before them. She smiled as she watched a sweet old woman, his mother, appear and encourage him to consider marriage, but also follow his own path. As they crept forwards, Rumple looking for an opening, Belle found herself liking the woman and the freedom she offered her son. It was too bad they were here to take that freedom away. The woman said "When are you going to learn? You can't have everything." It was here Rumple motioned for her to make him visible. "Perhaps he can." His voice drawled and his hands danced, and she watched the mother and son turn in surprise. The man really did look like his brother, identical save for that bird's nest mop of hair. The woman clearly recognised Rumple.

Some time later, after the woman had explained to her son several times the severity of the situation, and after Rumple had had her summon a comfortable chair for him as he drank from his flask (all the leather was making him uncomfortable now that his body didn't regulate its own temperature), the 'Dark One' got bored. So he interrupted them. "Time is of the essence." She punched him in the arm. She watched as Rumple explained the deal to the shepherd, unsympathetic of his feelings, with dramatic voices and flourishes. He distracted the young man with roundabout phrases and promises of heroics. The poor man thus chose (was forced) to accept. She watched as the man embraced his mother with tears, and noted that Rumple couldn't bare to watch.

The next day, the 'prince' having been delivered and sent dragon slaying, Belle skipped in with news. It had been a long time since he had seen her skip. "The Prince killed the Dra-agon, the Prince killed the Dra-ha-gon." Her voice was sing-song-y and her eyes bright, and she reminded him of himself when his deals succeeded. He stood from his wheel where he had been spinning straw into gold (he had that much magic left at least, that and the seeing (unfortunately)) and said "You're in a good mood dearie. Haven't seen you this bright since you got here." She beamed at him, and it hurt to think he hadn't noticed it was missing. "Going outside yesterday made me feel much better. Lately it's been like the magic has been warring within my mind, but the fresh air truly did me wonders!" She gave a little hop and spun around him, a smile still on her face. He couldn't help himself, and he removed the dagger from his vest. Belle immediately calmed, the smile falling from her face and her eyes hardening as she eyed the weapon. "I now give you permission to leave the castle walls, as long as you remain on the grounds, whenever you wish, as long as you have not been given other tasks to do. You may also leave the castle grounds if you find there is an emergency you must tend to, as long as you come back immediately after finishing." She shivered as the command lodged itself in her mind, but even that didn't prevent the return of her smile. He slipped the dagger back into his vest just as she asked "May I go outside now?" Her hands were clasped together and she pouted a little (he didn't think she noticed), but it was her eyes that settled it. So bright, and hopeful.

"You may." He gave a nonchalant hand flourish and she beamed with delight, clapping her hands a little. She summoned a book to herself (it made it into her hands, and he suspected she had had a lot of practice at it), and on a whim leaped forwards to embrace him. As she dashed out of the doors she yelled "Thank you!" and it was only after she left that he managed to get past the boulder in his throat. "No matter..." He imagined she would be less pleased when she learned the slayer of the Dragon would be marrying Midas' daughter.