Chapter 46: The Elder Tree

Belle awoke groggily, reaching out for Rumplestiltskin. This bed was decidedly more comfortable than the ones from the previous few nights, and she wanted a few moments longer in bed snuggled against her husband. After over a year of being without him, she now wanted to be near him at all times. When her hand brushed cold sheets she raised her head and looked over, glaring at the empty space.

She noticed the parchment on the pillow and picked it up, unfolding it to read.

My dearest wife,

I'm sorry I'm not there to greet you this morning, but I've gone on ahead. We are on the edge of the Western realm and I feel a restless anticipation to truly begin searching. I did not want to burden you unnecessarily, however. You were so tired last night that I had no desire to disturb you. Please do not be upset. I simply could not sleep and didn't want to waste time.

When you are ready, simply get in the carriage. You will continue on the path I have set, and I will meet you later on.

Do not worry, my dear. You will be perfectly safe.

Yours eternally,

Rumplestiltskin

Belle clenched her fists, wadding the paper slightly. "Oh, that….stupid….sneaking….imp!" She huffed in annoyance. "Going on without me. I can't believe him!" She stood and dressed, huffing and grumbling all the while.

"Not all of us can be annoying magical sorcerers who can just travel anywhere we want whenever we want!" She complained loudly.

When she was finished packing and ranting, she traveled downstairs and requested her carriage. The young man looked at her fretfully and Belle resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "My husband has gone on ahead to take care of some business," she said as politely as she could stand, "He won't be joining me at present."

The man seemed to sag in relief and rushed off to ready the horses. When he turned away, Belle did roll her eyes. People could be so infuriating. At that thought, Belle shut her eyes and took a long, deep breath. Waking to find Rumplestiltskin had run off in the night without her had put her in a foul mood, and though she wanted to snap at anyone who so much as looked at her, she knew that was wrong. When the man came back with the carriage, she did her best to smile at him and be as pleasant as possible. He'd done nothing wrong, and she wouldn't taker her frustration out on him.

Belle climbed into the coach with slight difficulty. She was used to having a hand to assist her, but she'd set the young man who'd hitched up the horses to take care of her trunk. Once she was settled, she sat, thinking back to how Rumple made the horses move. Biting her lip, she glanced around as she thought, then finally settled on saying aloud, "Let's go."

She jerked forward as the carriage started moving, but smiled in satisfaction. Let her husband leave her alone, she thought smugly. She could take care of herself.

After what felt like hours of riding alone in the carriage, Belle had had enough. It was on thing to be cooped up with someone, but to spend that time alone was another. She called out for the horses to stop, pleased when they obeyed her. She felt almost magical, a sorceress in her own right, to be able to make commands in the same manner as her husband. She waved her hand at the door playfully, only half expecting it to open, thoroughly surprised when it did. Looking at the door as if it might reach out and grab her, Belle slid quickly out of the carriage and stretched.

It was probably not wise to walk about alone in the forest without Rumple nearby, but Belle was annoyed, achy, and needed some exercise to stretch her legs. If she was late to the next inn, well, that would teach Rumple to leave her in the middle of the night. She 'hmphed' indignantly, more vexed than angry, and decided that when she saw her husband again she was going to tease him mercilessly about leaving her alone.

She pushed her way through the forest, debating on how far off the path she should go. She didn't want to wander far, for fear of leaving the horses at risk. But she wanted to walk. She was outside, in the warmth of the day and covered by the shade of the trees that towered over her. She glanced up, blinking as rays of the sun peeked through a thick blanket of leaves. It was a pleasant day.

As Belle walked, she wondered what Bae might be doing. What sort of world was the Land without Magic? Was it like this one, only void of the energy that thrummed through the air and made her bones tingle whenever Rumple displayed a feat of his magic? Was it still just as dangerous? Men could do great evil without magic. She thought back to her father, who'd been killed by men, not a wizard. Was this new world just as cruel, or was it a quiet paradise where all their troubles would be stripped from them like they didn't belong?

Belle had to admit that she looked forward to seeing the new world. Her first priority was Baelfire, as it would always be, but once he was found - and she was certain he would be found - she hoped to explore the world. Maybe they could settle down to a humble living, away from rumors and torturous pasts that lingered in the shadows like a thief waiting for a moment of weakness. They could be happy in this new world. Things could never go back to the way they were before, but they could heal and move on. And things could be good again.

"I can't wait to see my son again," she sighed to the trees around her. They only rustled in response.

By the time Belle drifted out of her thoughts, she had no idea where she was. She turned back to face the way she came, but the road was nowhere in sight. Swallowing thickly, she glanced around her, trying to get her bearings. How could she have become so absorbed in her own mind that she stopped paying attention to her surroundings!

Pausing to collect herself, Belle took a deep breath and counted silently to ten. If it began to get too late, she could simply summon Rumplestiltskin, and all would be well. She fingered the ring on her finger, something so a part of her she often forgot of its existence, and tried to think back. As far as she knew, she'd walked straight. So if she walked straight the other way, she would come to the road eventually. It was a sound theory, she thought, and so she squared her shoulders and began to walk back.

~000~

It was not a sound theory.

It was growing dark, and Belle was beginning to panic. She was nowhere near the road, and she couldn't hear the horses either. Rumplestiltskin would be expecting her at any moment, and he would go mad with fear if she didn't arrive.

"Oh, why did I get out of the carriage?" She griped to a passing tree. "I should have just stayed put."

She didn't not expect an answer, and so when a whispering voice brushed past her ear, Belle lurched around, chills running up her arms and down her back when she saw nothing but trees.

"Hello?" She called out softly, praying that she was not about to do something foolish.

For a moment Belle was met with silence, but then she heard what sounded like growling. Deciding it would be best to get away from the source of that sound, Belle turned and began to walk briskly back the other way. Trying to remain calm, Belle glanced around her, looking for anything she might recognize as a distinct feature that told her she was going the correct way. Behind her, the growling grew louder and Belle whimpered in fright. She heard a rustling behind her, and panic took over.

Gripping her skirts, she lifted them and began running, and any hope that she might have been on the correct path disappeared. She shoved her way through low cut branches and shrubs, cursing herself for her idle curiosity and foolishness. She should have known better than to get out of the carriage! But instead she had been stubborn and decided to do things her own way, and now she was lost and being chased by- she didn't want to find out what.

Out of breath, Belle sagged against a tree, and took a moment to listen. She could hear nothing save for her own haggard breathing and some birds rustling in the trees overhead. By now the sun was nearly set and Belle knew she had no other option than to call for her husband. He would be upset no doubt, and Belle could just hear him fuss over her carelessness. He would be right, but it didn't make it easier to bear him admonishing her for it. With a resigned sigh, Belle leaned against the tree and called out Rumplestiltskin's name.

"Rumplestiltskin, I summon thee!"

He appeared before her in all his menacing glory, but his expression was that of a worrying husband. He took a moment to take in their surroundings, then studied Belle for a long moment, and for the first time Belle realized she must look a fright. Glancing down, she saw her dress was wrinkled and dirty. There were a few small rips as well. Raising a hand to her hair, she felt her curls were limp and dirty, and she suddenly felt more embarrassed than anything else.

Crossing his arms, Rumple said, "What have you been up to?"

"I took a walk."

His eyes raked over her. "Is that what you call it?"

Rolling her eyes, Belle pushed herself off the tree and stepped forward. She half-heartedly pushed at him, frowning, "Just what were you thinking, leaving me alone like that?"

"You're not blaming your current state of disarray on me, are you?"

Sighing, Belle shook her head. "No, I'm not. But I thought we were doing this together," she emphasized, gesturing between them, "It's one thing to wake up alone at the castle, it's another entirely to wake up alone in a place with which I'm entirely unfamiliar."

"And then you go traipsing about in the forest by yourself?"

He had a point there, Belle realized. "Yes," she said, "My legs were getting stiff. I didn't intend to go far, but…." She waved her hand hopelessly around them, "Here we are."

"Indeed. Why did you not call for me sooner?"

Belle shrugged. "I thought I could do it myself. Obviously I was wrong. I heard something back there," she pointed in the direction she just came, "And ran away. I think that made me even more lost than I was already."

"Well," Rumple said, stepping forward and swinging an arm around his wife's shoulders, "Shall we go?"

"Please."

Turning them, Rumple took a few steps, then stopped, his body going rigid. Belle glanced up at him in concern. "What's wrong?"

He shivered slightly and turned his focus toward the west of where they were standing. "I sense magic."

Belle pressed closer to Rumple. "What kind?"

In lieu of answering, Rumple grabbed Belle's hand and began to pull her behind him as they moved toward the source of the magic. Belle gave up all hope of trying to salvage the dress and only lifted it enough so that she wouldn't trip over her skirts. She followed Rumple who was practically running at this point. She couldn't believe that this mysterious magical source could be dangerous; if that were the case Rumplestiltskin wouldn't let her anywhere near it. The fact that he was dragging her along with him gave her hope that perhaps something good was just over the horizon.

They reached a small clearing. Rumple halted and Belle took a moment to catch her breath, her heart racing in her chest. Beside her, Rumple was silent. Wordlessly, he waved his hand and summoned the botany book. With another wave of his hand, he produced a lantern and wordlessly handed it to Belle so that she could see. He held the book down so they could both look at the image, and then Belle glanced up in front of them.

In the middle of the clearing, matching the image in the book exactly, was the Elder Tree.

~000~

Rumplestiltskin stared at the tree before him, feeling an array of emotions. After all this time, he'd found the key to reaching their son. It was hard to comprehend that at last, his searching was at an end. There were plenty of new obstacles ahead of them, but the largest hurdle had just been overcome. Beside him, Belle stood tense, and he imagined she was just as overwhelmed as he was.

"It's….smaller than I thought it would be," she said at length. Rumplestiltskin snorted.

"Magic comes in all shapes and sizes, sweetheart. I wouldn't judge its worth by its size."

Belle shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that," she replied, "I suppose I just imagined something more…imposing." She bit her lip and then added thoughtfully, "But smaller means easier to move, I guess?"

Her own words caused her to tilt her head in confusion, "How are we going to move it?"

Rumple stared at the tree for a long while before answering. "I suppose I just….send it home."

"Won't that kill it?"

Rumple shook his head. "It's a magical tree, dearest," he said, "I can't imagine it'll die so quickly. I can preserve it, at any rate."

Belle nodded thoughtfully. "So we just take it home?"

Rumple weighed his options. "I suppose that's all there is to do," he said, "We can't just leave it here."

"Especially since I have no idea where here is."

That caused Rumple to roll his eyes. "You know you're not allowed to be upset at me leaving after you pulled a stunt like this."

"My stunt helped us find the tree," Belle countered tersely.

Turning to face her, Rumple smiled softly. "Indeed it did," he said before leaning down to kiss her. She tensed at first, fully aware of how sweaty and dirty she was, but Rumple seemed to take no notice and instead pulled her closer to him. Deciding that if he didn't mind, then neither did she, and she wound her arms around him, her hands sliding into his curls, and kissed him back soundly.

When he finally released her lips, he turned his head to look back at the tree. "This wouldn't have been possible without you," he whispered.

Belle could sense his melancholy, and rested her hand on his chest. "Hey," she whispered, and he turned his attention back to her. "It doesn't matter who did what," she said, "What matters is we're going to find our son. Let's focus on that. We should be happy."

"You're right," he answered after a thoughtful moment. "You're absolutely right."

Stepping away from her, Rumple raised his hands and focused his magic. The tree began to tremble and then it was ripped from the ground, it's long roots swirling in the air as it hovered. Rumple held the tree steady with one hand, then waved the other, and the tree disappeared with a soft pop.

"Where is it?" Belle asked.

"At the castle," Rumple replied, stepping back to wrap his arm around Belle's waist, "Where we should return to."

"What about the horses?" Belle asked, worry in her tone. She'd left them, another foolish move on her part, and prayed they hadn't been stolen and attacked.

Rumple said nothing but waved his hand once more. Belle squeaked in surprise, and then they vanished out of the forest. When they reappeared, it was in the great hall. The tree sat on the old, elaborate rug, which was now also covered with leaves and dirt. Belle resisted a groan. She's not been as adamant about cleaning every room of late, but now she definitely had a mess to take care of. She stared at the tree, looking so strange and out of place amongst the various objects that lined the walls. The tree was tall, but only just so. If Belle were to estimate, it stood around seven feet tall. She had no idea how they were supposed to use the tree, but she figured Rumple would know. Magic was his domain, not hers, and she was eager to get on with things now that they had a new path.

"So what now?" Belle asked as she moved over to the window and peaked beyond the curtain. She could see the stable from there, and breathed a sigh of relief when she was able to make out the silhouette of the horses grazing in the pasture.

Rumple circled the tree, hands clasped together behind his back as he looked the trunk up and down studiously. After a long while he said, "I'm not certain."

Belle sank into the lush seat behind her at that. "Shall I start researching again?" She asked, half teasing, half weary at the prospect. "Maybe look up recipe's for harvesting magic from trees?"

"I know what to do," he grumbled, shooting her a playful look, "It's just a matter of deciding how to go about it."

"So I shouldn't worry?"

Rumple shook his head. "I think I worry about things enough for the two of us," he said. "So no. Don't worry."

She stood and approached Rumple, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Keep me company," he said simply, then added sheepishly, "And perhaps some research as well."

"I'll get right on both," she promised before glancing down at her unkempt state, "After I clean up. I'm a mess."

~000~

Once she was clean, Belle busied herself with cleaning the mess in the great hall while Rumple figured out what to do with the Elder Tree. At length he settled on moving it to the work room, where it would be at hand while Rumple figured out what to do next. While he did that, Belle replaced all the old spell books she knew she would not need to reread. When she reached the manuscripts that contained the life of the Dark One, Belle paused. Running her fingers over the cover of one of the books, she stared at it with confliction. Despite all the darkness and evil these books contained, they were a key to fully understanding her husband. It was amazing, after so many centuries of being enslaved by the power of the dagger, of being the most powerful creature in the world, that it would all amount to nothing in the end. With Rumplestiltskin's disappearance, the Dark One would be no more, Belle realized. Everything in those books would become merely history, and would no longer have any hold on their lives, save as a bitter memory.

Suddenly Belle felt a pang in her chest, and she realized that once they reached the other side, there would be no coming back. Her home would be in this new world. The curse had at least offered a return path to this world, but with the tree, there was no knowing whether they would ever return. Her life here was effectively at an end.

But it wasn't home without Baelfire. If she had to give up this world, this life to be with her son, then she would do it a hundred times over. Nothing was more important to her than Bae. And as she returned the books to the shelf, she glanced over at Rumple, who was watching her with a smile. She stacked the books carelessly on the shelf and ran into her husband's arms. All fear and doubt slipped away.

Author's Notes:

My deepest apologies for the delay. I went to post this on Saturday but as I did a quick read through, I decided I absolutely hated the middle part of the chapter, so I spent some time reworking it. I'm significantly happier with it now.

Chapter 47 will be up this Friday or Saturday.

Thank you everyone for your support and kind words. As always, your reviews are super appreciated. :-)

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time. All rights belong to ABC, Adam Horowitz, and Eddy Kitsis.