Belle tried to push away the desperation and helplessness that washed down on her the next morning. She fought the tears that threatened to flood her again. The girl held her breath and put her ear to Rumpelstiltskin's chest, sighing contently as an even, although very quiet, heartbeat slowly calmed her nerves. He wasn't alright but he was alive. She would figure something out and this nightmare would be over.
Belle felt like she shouldn't leave him; her presence appeared to bring no changes to his state but she was unable to stop touching him, clinging onto his hand to remind herself that he did not abandon her. And if she knew how to do one thing - that was how to be stubborn enough to pursue her goals.
She tried to reason herself into starting the day and moving around, thinking that Rumpelstiltskin would hardly approve of her idly sitting at his side, disheveled and tear-stained and rose to her feet. Belle looked at the fireplace and, remembering how cold the man had recently felt, she decided that it wouldn't hurt to light it; the castle was not the warmest of places despite the summertime and the blazing sun outside that mocked her sorrow. But then, she didn't exactly have a reason for grievance either.
The girl fumbled with matches and not quite dry logs, frowning and huffing as several matches broke. When the fire surrendered to her efforts and began cracking merrily, Belle paused to admire her handiwork. There was something captivating in the way orange and red flames licked pieces of wood. Then a funny idea crossed her mind and she turned to the man.
"You will laugh so hard if – when – you find out about this," she murmured more to herself than anything. She shifted on the floor uncomfortably, and grasped the lapels of his dragon hide cloak so as to give herself some courage.
"Please come back to me." She delicately placed her dry lips over his thin ones. Belle felt strange, keeping her lips unmoving as it would be too creepy to do more. She sighed and closed her eyes, willing her emotions to flow through her body and into his. For a few blissful seconds she believed it worked and that the tickling of his soft breath against her cheeks sped up. Carefully opening one eye to glance at his face revealed no changes. Belle straightened up and folded her hands in her lap.
She had little doubt that kissing him last night was crucial; perhaps it mattered whether she did it with intent or not, guided by instinct or knowledge; possibly, it worked only when least expected. Or she had to gradually kiss him back to life. Or the true love's kisses were just a myth. So many speculations and so few certainties.
It would be better if she could transport Rumpelstiltskin to his bedchambers or at least make him more comfortable. Lacking any realistic options or ideas, Belle propped his head on a velvet cushion, pulling it off the armchair. With that done, it was time to attend to her own needs.
"I'll be right back," she reassured Rumpelstiltskin, who, naturally, made no response, but the girl found it to be soothing if she talked to him. Her voice was a bit raspy but knowing he might hear her, made her feel a little more brave.
Belle quickly washed herself and braided her hair, avoiding looking at the glass she kept on her vanity to remind herself of how she felt and what she went through to get those red puffy eyes and dark circles. She chose a modest light brown dress before hurrying back to the grand room. Belle dragged another cushion off the chair to sit on and put her joined fingers under her chin as she stared at Rumpelstiltskin. If she looked close enough, she could observe the slight rise and fall of his chest. Otherwise there were no changes to his state, which could be both a good and a bad sign.
Minutes stretched – the sun was still low in the skies – but it seemed like it had been days since she found the man catatonic. Reluctant as she was to, it'd probably be better to occupy herself with something. Belle decided she ought to polish his spinning wheel; in that way she could kill time being productive and prepare it for his return. Just when the girl was about to fetch the varnish and a cloth, she caught a glimpse of a sunbeam with the corner of her eyes. Reaching under the table, she pulled out a thin book, decorated with sophisticated golden swirls of flowers and vines pressed into the cover. She tripped over it last night and that was probably why it had ended up under the table.
She tried not to be too hopeful, but it couldn't just be a coincidence. Certainly if Rumpelstiltskin was reading it or kept it near instead of storing it in the tower along with the rest of the books, the little volume was important; maybe it had the key to what happened to the man. The excitement drained out of her when Belle glanced at the first page – the whole thing was written in runes. That's a bit of a let down , she thought to herself, flipping aimlessly through the pages.
Unusual drawings caught her eyes. The artist must have been poorly skilled for they mostly looked like ink blotches and shapeless dark contours. Belle gasped when she realized what those drawings represented; they were no random dark spots. If fact, one of them, connected to a figure of a man at his feet clearly resembled a shadow. She knew she had to read the book now, she was positive it held the answers she sought. There could be a way to do this without learning to decipher runes; a quick translation spell would enable her to understand the markings for a short while and, if needed, she would keep casting it.
"If you keep the fire roaring like that, my dear, he will just rot faster from the heat."
Belle yelped in surprise as a smarmy female voice slithered into her ears. She turned abruptly, hearing her neck snap at the swift movement, and quickly jumped to her feet to glance at the intruder. Not far from her, in a reveling blood-red dress which looked to be tightly laced to the point where it would be impossible to breathe, and an accompanying embroidered cloak, stood the Evil Queen.
"But if that was your intention, pray do not mind me." Regina's painted lips pulled back in a gloating smirk as if she said something truly amusing. Belle was so shocked to see the woman in the Dark Castle that she felt too stunned for words. Did she just stride in, surpassing the locked doors to take something of Rumpelstiltskin's?
"What are you doing here?" The Queen asked when Belle failed to speak and the girl was smothered by indignation.
"I beg your pardon? I was about to ask you the same thing! I live here and…" Belle clenched her hands around the ridge of the book so hard her knuckles turned white. How dare she show up and demand explanations?
"I thought you'd flee the second the bastard began showing signs of weakness. Didn't he share with you where he kept his most valuable trinkets?"
"…and I see no reason for you to pollute the air with your presence," Belle pressed through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to throw the valuable book or anything at Regina. Apparently, she did not intend to leave until she was done sneering.
"If you sell them and collect enough money…"
Breathe, Belle, breathe, do not let her enjoy seeing you lose your temper.
"…and influence, people might someday forget that you once were the Dark One's whore."
Those are just words, they cannot hurt you.
Regina paused, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she awaited a furious reply, but Belle wasn't about to indulge her. Instead, she smiled sweetly and cocked her head, letting her eyes sweep down the woman's form, trying to convey how much disgust she held for her persona.
"My, my! Your Highness, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you're jealous," Belle said slowly and the Queen's face twisted; that hit too close to the truth. "Were you rejected by him? Did you, an innocent young apprentice, offer your body and soul to your master only to be rejected and laughed at?"
"How dare you! I could turn you into a pig at a snap of my fingers!"
"But you haven't done it, so I suppose you do require a shoulder to cry on about this student-seducing-the-teacher mishap. Or a full-blown failure, if you like."
"Shut up," Regina strained, her sugary voice dropping all pretense. "You know nothing."
Of course Belle had no idea what Rumpelstiltskin's relationship with the witch was like, but she darkly savoured the reaction her bluff had on the woman.
"Maybe I don't," Belle agreed easily. "Or perhaps, he told me every amusing detail."
"Did he, now? He's never been talkative in bed." Belle restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Was it the best Regina could do, imply Rumpelstiltskin had a liaison with her or was he unfaithful? "So did you two like to plot together after he would soil you with his touch?"
Belle closed her eyes tiredly and took a deep breath. The Queen distracted her from doing something important, from trying to get to the cause of the sorcerer's illness and despite her calm appearance, Belle felt like she could snap at any moment. She hated how much poison dripped into her speech but she just wanted to get rid of this undesirable guest.
"Your Majesty, I believe we have no common subjects to discuss. I'd kindly ask you to leave; I or this Castle have nothing of which you seek."
"What I seek is vengeance," Regina snapped, narrowing her eyes; the younger girl's ostentatiously controlled voice only fueling her temper. "Do you have any idea what his filthy servant - that repugnant shadow of his, intended to do to me?"
"I…" Belle felt taken aback; she had completely forgotten about it. "He said it wouldn't be fatal…"
"Oh sure, I could trust the imp's word anytime," the Queen cut off her babbling. "I should parade his mouldering carcass around the kingdoms. That example would serve the fools who believe themselves stronger than me just right."
Belle's heart shrank painfully as her worst suspicions were confirmed. So Regina's was indeed behind this mysterious illness. The girl stopped paying attention to her words, studying the visitor intently. There must be a reason for this , her mind prompted. She wouldn't be here talking and tolerating you unless she can somehow gain from it. And as far as she could trust her intuition, the girl could gain from this encounter as well, but it didn't mean she should lower her guards down.
"You will do nothing of the sort," Belle said quietly when her companion ran out of the blood-chilling things she could do to impose unknown fear over her subjects and to commit sacrilege to the body of the "deceased".
"Oh? And why not? Because his little pet will prevent me?"
"Yes," Belle nodded plainly, immune to the taunt. "And because Rumpelstiltskin is not dead."
"He's not…" Regina's voice trailed off as she looked at Belle and the Dark One's body on the floor. Then suddenly she threw her head back and laughed.
"You cannot… Dear gods, are you telling me you actually loved the fiend?"
"He was no such thing!" She argued hotly and Regina cackled the last time before becoming serious once again.
In a rustle of skirts she approached Belle and towered over her, but the girl pushed her chin up stubbornly. She knew that with her gentle nature, plain gown and puffy eyes she was no match for the overly confident Regina wearing her impeccable make up and exquisitely crafted garments, but it mattered little. Whatever the woman saw in her, it did puzzle and awe her.
"You did love him," she repeated, amazed.
"I still do," Belle stated boldly.
"Interesting," the Queen drawled and a corner of her mouth twitched upwards. "How far would you go to bring your little demon lover back, pet? I think I may have just what he needs to start prancing around and multiplying misery again, but I must know what are you willing to do."
"Anything," Belle whispered hoarsely, licking her suddenly dry lips. She knew it was a trap and that she shouldn't play along with the witches rules, not so easily at least, but she was eager to do whatever was required. If there was even the faintest hope Regina could fix things…
"Anything?" The Queen arched an eyebrow expectantly but stopped smiling.
"Yes."
She could almost see the wheels turning and some vicious plan forming behind the smirk that slowly spread on Regina's beautiful, but cruel, face.
"Then, my dear, I am pleased to announce that our collaboration may turn out to be quite beneficial for both sides."