Chapter Two: Fear
As the years passed, King Maurice was relieved his daughter was protected. Even though her protector was The Dark One, he was certain that he had nothing to worry about. At least, until Princess Belle came of age.
When the Princess was 2 years old, she was attacked by a poisonous viper. The bite was on her leg and the limb swelled to twice its size. The physician said Belle felt no pain beyond the bite but she would surely die without the antidote.
The ingredients for the antidote was rare and every apothecary was searched in the Castletown. They were able to find some but not all to make the antidote. All hope was lost. The Princess was sure to die by the next day.
Night had fallen on the kingdom when the Dark One appeared. Like before, he stood over the sleeping princess. He said nothing as he waved his hand over the tiny girl. Then he let out a growl that frightened the king and queen.
"How did this happen?" The Dark One sneered.
At first, no one answered him. The king, the queen, the nanny, and the two guards were too frightened. The sound of chattering chainmail filled the room.
"How did this happen?" Rumpelstiltskin ground out like he was trying not to yell. Still, no one spoke up.
The sorcerer raised his hand and King Maurice felt as if he were being choked. Queen Collette screamed.
"Please," she begged.
"How did this happen?" Rumpelstiltskin said again. His eyes flicked to each person in the room. The reptilian gaze was cold and deadly.
"The garden," the Nanny exclaimed with a choked sob. "She was playing in the garden."
The Dark One's eyes fell upon the trembling woman. He studied the young face and slight frame. The woman was plain looking. Brown eyes and dull brown hair. Nothing that stood out.
"Go on," he growled out as he released the king.
"I turned my back for only a second. There was a rustle in a nearby bush and it caught my attention," the woman explained. Rumpelstiltskin was impressed that the woman could speak so clearly in spite of her fear. "When I turned back, I black snake had bitten the princess. She was already on the ground and I screamed. One of the guards came and killed the creature."
Rumpelstiltskin took the moment to gaze at the nanny. He was thinking about killing the woman but decided against it. From the few moments he dared to spy upon the princess, he knew the girl adored her nanny.
Instead, he turned to the king and queen.
"Luckily, I know of the viper that bit the princess. I've seen it before." He did not reveal that the same beast had struck down his son centuries ago. "And I have the antidote."
He gave a playful giggle as he waved his hand and a vile of antidote appeared. He gave the antidote to the princess and all watched in awe as Princess Belle was healed.
The king and queen rushed to their daughter and embraced her. By the time they remembered to thank the Dark One, the sorcerer had vanished.
The next time Belle fell into danger was the girl's own fault. The princess was a curious girl and always enjoyed exploring her surroundings. So, when the girl was five went missing, the castle was searched. She was nowhere to be found.
"Where could she be?" King Maurice asked no one. He was alone. Queen Collette had taken to bed after Belle could not be found.
"So, I see I am needed again," came a dark voice.
Maurice wondered how the Dark One always knew when Belle was in trouble while she was not in her room. He didn't dare ask.
Rumpelstiltskin sighed as he stepped from the shadows.
"Maybe I should take her now and save us all the trouble," he said. His voice was lower and very serious as he said this. Maurice suspected it was more for the sorcerer's ears than his own.
"She just curious," the king said. "She's always exploring the castle."
"Maybe you should find a way to settle the girl down or I will take her," the Dark One's voice was light but Maurice could tell there was meaning behind the words.
"We will," the king assured. "Please, help us find her."
The men stared into each other's eyes. King Maurice was reminded that he was much taller than the Dark One and he was reminded that despite the sorcerer's shorter stature he was the stronger of the two. Maurice knew that angering the beast would end in pain or death.
"Very well," Rumpelstiltskin said. He raised his hand and he held a hand mirror. "Show me the girl."
The mirror shimmered and Rumpelstiltskin turned the glass to face the king.
Maurice gasped as he said his daughter shivering in a dark tiny space. Winter had come and a constant chill filled the air. Where Belle was, was obviously colder than the more occupied rooms that held fires in the hearths than wherever the princess was.
"I need more." The King pleaded.
Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes as he made the mirror vanish. Maurice was about to complain when the Dark One snapped his fingers and a heavy trunk appeared in the room.
The king gasped as he rushed to the trunk. He quickly unlatched the lock, luckily the thing had just snapped shut and not locked because he would hate to demand a key while his child could possibly be dying inside. Who knew how long it would have taken to find the key to get the princess out. He didn't notice the mirror attached to the inside of the trunks lid but heard it shatter as he slammed it shut.
Maurice gathered his daughter in his arms. He held her close to his body to warm her shivering form.
This time he didn't turn to thank the sorcerer, he already suspected he was gone.
Later that night, Belle was safely tucked away in her bed. The king and queen were by her side. The nanny and the guards stood outside of the door to give the family some privacy.
"We need to keep a better eye on her," Maurice told his wife.
Collette nodded.
"I know," she said. She stared at their daughter as she spoke.
"The Dark One has threatened to take her from us," the king said.
Collette looked at her husband this time.
"But the deal." She gasped.
"The deal wouldn't matter if she dies," Maurice said thinking of the worse. "If Belle was to die, the deal will be void and the Dark One may no longer protect our land. We need her to survive."
"You make it sound as if she is just a thing and not our daughter. Don't you love her?" the queen asked sharply.
Maurice looked hurt at her words.
"Of course, I love Belle," he said. "I loved her since the moment I laid eyes on her."
His confession satisfied his wife.
"What can we do?" Collette asked.
Maurice had no answer and they sat in silence for a moment.
Collette's eyes fell upon the wall of bookshelves. The shelves weren't filled completely and only a few books were on a middle shelf. She stared at the books and saw a green one. She walked over to the shelf and pulled out the book.
"Her Handsome Hero," the queen read.
"My love?" the king questioned.
"I could read to her," Collette said. "It will keep our daughter in one place and we can keep a better eye on her."
The king smiled and approached his queen. He embraced her and gave her quick but loving kiss.
"You're brilliant," he praised. "That is why I married you."
"I thought you married me because I was the fairest maiden you had ever seen?" Collette joked playfully.
"I married you for many reasons, my love," Maurice said.
At first, Princess Belle did not want to stay in one place while her mother read to her, but soon, as Collette made it further and further in 'Her Handsome Hero', Belle began to settle down. By the time the book was halfway through, the princess would sit cuddled up to her mother's side as she listened to the tale of Gideon. When the book was complete, Belle had fallen in love with the book and reading.
By the upcoming year, the princess was insisting that she should read to her mother and she paid more and more attention to her studies. Belle found that she loved learning and that she absorbed almost any and all information she was taught or read.
Belle had learned to dance, speak several languages, ride a horse, and cook by the time she was ten. She just couldn't get enough of learning. Because of Belle's yearning for more and more knowledge, she did stay out of harm's way for many years.
The King and Queen believed that they had finally found some luck for keeping the daughter safe. But when the princess turned eleven, the luck ran out.
The Royal family had to play host to other kingdoms. The seafaring family of King Patrick, his wife Queen Oceana, and their son, Prince Eric, the King and Queen of Arendelle and their youngest daughter, Princesses Anna, King Leopold, Queen Ava, and Princess Snow White, of the Western lands, King Harmon and his son Prince Thomas, King Midas of the Northern lands and his daughter Princess Abigail, King Stefan, Queen Briar Rose, and Princess Aurora of the Garden Lands, King Hubert and his son Prince Phillip of the Southern lands, King George of the Eastern lands, his son, Prince James, the king's new wife, Queen Cora and her daughters Princess Zelena and Princess Regina.
Cora's first husband, Prince Henry had died after rescuing the girl Zelena from another realm. In honor of her deceased husband, Cora adopted the girl. At least, that was the story that was given. King Maurice and Queen Collette did not believe the tale. They suspected that kind Prince Henry was murdered, mainly because Cora had attached herself so quickly to King George after his wife died. Prince Henry died five years ago and Queen Alaina died a month after. Cora made some excuse for making friends with someone to share the pain of loss with. The two married three months after.
For the first time since Belle's birth, the Marshlands were opened to visitors. This time Cora and her family had to be invited. The Royals were to renew the peace treaty. This was done every fifteen years. Though everyone was wary of the guests, Princess Belle was not.
Belle was loved by so many around her, but she didn't know many children. She was eager to make new friends. She practically bounced in her seat as her family greeted the other leaders of Mist Haven.
She got a smile from Princes Eric and Phillip. She made Princesses Abigail, Snow White, and Aurora laugh. She made fast friends of Princess Anna. She even got Princess Regina to smile.
Prince Thomas didn't know what to make of Princess Belle. Prince James gave her a look of disgust. And Princess Zelena wasn't interested in the girl at all. Belle wasn't worried.
Zelena was the eldest out of all the children. Next, came Regina who was younger than Zelena by a few years. All the other children were around the same ages between 9 and 11. Anna revealed that her sister was two years older.
As their parents debated and argued, the children played in the gardens. James had gotten all of the boys on his side and was trying to get them to play mean tricks on the girls. The Princesses, except Zelena, bonded over horses. Anna admitted to not being the best of riders but loved to watch the other girls talk on and on about their horses. Belle discovered that Princesses Snow White and Regina shared her passion for the majestic animals.
Aurora and Abigail shared their dreams of meeting their princes some day and Zelena scoffed.
It was the first time Zelena had spoken to any of them besides Regina.
"You won't have a choice," she said. "Your parents will pick who you marry. In fact, I already know who some of you are matched with."
She had an air of superiority. She stared down at Aurora.
"You are to marry Prince Phillip," she pointed to the boys. They were spitting into an ant hill.
Aurora's face was a picture of disgust.
"That can't be true," she said.
"It is and has been since you were born," Zelena said smugly. She turned her attention to Abigail. "You are betrothed to Prince James."
Abigail gasped. A flash of sadness passed through her eyes.
This time, Zelena didn't wait for someone to speak.
"Well," she said with a dramatic sigh. "It's just fact. Noble blood rarely gets the chance to marry someone they love. Duty first girls and if you're lucky, you will either fall in love with your husbands or widowed so you can marry whoever you like."
She turned a judgmental look on Anna.
"Not you," she said snidely. "You'll be allowed to pick your husband. After all, you're not the heir to your throne."
"Leave them alone, Zelena," Regina said.
"Why? I'm not teasing them. I'm just telling them how the world works. They can't live a life of delusion forever. Not everything is about balls, pretty dresses, and romance. Sometimes, one has to do what is expected of them."
The younger girls all blushed. They were just at the age where they could understand what Zelena was saying was true.
"And what will your duty be?" Belle said. She said standing up to the taller girl.
"I will marry whomever my mother chooses for me," Zelena answered honestly.
"That's so sad," Snow White said.
"It's what expected," Zelena said with a dismissive wave of her hand. She stared down at the girls. Her eyes fell upon Belle. "But whoever I marry will be a far better match than who you will marry."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Belle asked angrily.
Zelena didn't say anything at first, she just stared down at the princess.
"It's not my place to say," she said finally.
"Never stopped before," Regina mumbled.
Zelena held back her need to glare at her sister.
"Now you didn't hear this from me but you are to marry the Dark One," she said in a conspiring tone.
"Who's the Dark One?" Anna asked the question everyone else was thinking.
"Of course none of you would know," Zelena scoffed but she knew very little herself. She didn't want the girls to know that though. "He's the most feared being in the world. They say he will make any deal at a high price."
"How do you know he is to marry Belle?" Regina asked suspiciously.
"I just do."
What Zelena didn't say was that she had overheard Cora talking to a strange man.
Zelena had been in search of her mother. She didn't want to go to Avonlea to negotiate some dumb treaty. She wanted to stay home and practice her magic. She wanted to try and sway Cora in allowing her to stay.
She approached her mother's sitting room. The door was cracked and a flickering light glowed.
"You are failing," a male's voice said from inside of Cora's sitting room.
"There is still time to kill the girl," Cora argued. "She's still a child."
Zelena walked closer. She couldn't see inside the room, the crack was too small, but she could clearly hear their words.
"The future has changed, but no in our favor," the man said.
"It will. I will make sure the little princess is killed during negotiations," Cora said. "I will make it quick."
"You have tried three times and each time the Dark One was able to save the girl."
There was a pause.
"I had no clue that he was watching the girl," Cora said finally. "She should have suffocated in her crib."
"Yes, yes," said the man. "And the viper's bite should have poisoned the child."
"It did poison the child," Cora corrected. "I even made sure the antidote could not be made to save her."
"But the Dark One is very clever, he already had the antidote," the man said hotly. "And the third time."
"The trunk," Cora sneered and Zelena could hear the anger in her mother's voice. "She followed the singing voice as planned. How was I to know that the Dark One would know that the lid held a mirror?"
"You need to find a way to kill the princess without the Dark One finding out," the man said stating the obvious.
"This time will be an accident. He cannot stop an instant death."
"I don't see why you can't just crush the girl's heart," the man said.
"Because the girl is never left alone. Since the trunk, the princess is always with someone. Her guards, her nanny, her mother, or her father. I can get brief glances of the girl through a mirror or reflective surface but my magic is being blocked. I can't even get to the girl while she's sleeping."
Another pause and Zelena absorbed all she heard. Her mother was trying to kill a princess but why?
"He can see," the man said. The word see was drawn out. "He must see the girl's future. He must know that someone is trying to kill her."
"And you did not think of this?" Cora said sharply. "You and I both know that Rum… the Dark One is a seer. Why did you believe he could not see the girl?"
"Seers cannot see their own fates. We can see those who come seek us. Whether they seek information or bring death, we do not know."
"What does that have to do with Princess Belle?" Cora asked.
Zelena held back her gasp as she heard the girl's name. What she knew of Princess Belle and her lands were very little. Zelena knew that the princess was an only child and very learned. She wondered why the girl was so important. She learned that a moment later.
"She is supposed to be his wife," the man sneered. "Her life is entangled with his. He can't possibly see the girl."
"But he has. Maybe their lives aren't as entangled as we believe."
"No there is more," the man said and then growled. "Something is blocking my vision. I cannot see how the Dark One is spying on the child."
"It doesn't matter," Cora said. Her voice was cautious. Zelena wondered if her mother was afraid of the man. "The girl will be dead soon and the Dark One will suffer."
"I will take you at your word," the man said. "But no this, if you should fail again, you will not get another chance. The Dark One will take the girl to his castle and she will be out of your reach. And Cora, if that were to happen, I will make sure Regina is corrupted, despise you, and a perfect candidate to complete the Dark One's goal."
"Understood," Cora said behind clenched teeth.
Then there was nothing. Zelena hurried out of the hall. She did not want Cora to know she was being spied upon. Zelena forgot about her mission to remain home and practice magic.
The girls were so absorbed in their conversation they did not notice the boys had approached them. They didn't notice the spit wetted dirt and did not see them throw the mud balls at them. The girls screamed and scattered. The boys continued bombarding the girls with mud balls.
Phillip and Thomas were able to corner Anna and Aurora. Eric had trapped Regina. James fired rapidly at Zelena, Abigail, and Belle. They laughed as the girls cried out demanding the boys stop.
James nailed Zelena in the mouth and laughed hard.
"You just ate mud and spit," the blond prince said. He had doubled over in his laughter. He did not see the fireball form in the girl's hand. He did not see the murder in her eyes. He did feel the heat from the ball that had barely missed his feet. He cried out and jumped back. Another fireball flew at him and he dodged it.
"You want to throw mud, then pay the price," Zelena sneered.
Regina stood frozen behind her sister. She knew Zelena had magic but she has never seen her use it so maliciously. The other children had stopped to watch fireball after fireball get thrown at Prince James.
After the sixth one, Belle decided to interfere. She tried to talk Zelena down.
"Please stop," she pleaded. "It was just a joke. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm."
Zelena did not listen. Fireball number seven singed the boy's hair. Belle jumped in front of
James and prayed Zelena would stop. Fireball eight came toward her. Belle shut her eyes and waited for a burning death. But nothing came. Instead, a shadow fell over her.
Belle looked up to see a thin man dressed in crocodile hide from head to foot. She did not get a very good look at the man. The sun was facing him and blocked her vision.
"So, this is why Cora took you from Oz," he said in a high pitched but deadly voice. "Your magic is different than her own."
The man did not move.
"I…" Zelena choked out. Belle could tell she was afraid.
"Yes, I know, but off you go," the man said. "Leave these gardens and if I were you, dearie, I wouldn't show my face until it was time to go home."
Zelena nodded and she ran. The other children followed close behind. The man turned and Belle still couldn't get a good look at him. He walked up to James. Belle stood in her spot as she saw a red glow in the man's hand then nothing. James let out a painful gasp. Then he and Belle were surrounded by a reddish smoke and were transported into the castle.
Hours later, Queen Cora faced her former lover. She was terrified as she had never seen him as angry as he was at the moment.
"You couldn't kill the princess yourself, so you sent a witch to do it," the Dark One growled.
"I don't know what you mean," Cora said.
"Don't play dumb," Rumpelstiltskin said. "You forget how well I know you. You want Princess Belle dead."
"Why would I want the girl dead? What would I gain from her death?"
Rumpelstiltskin said nothing. He glared at the woman and for a brief moment, Cora thought that he knew that she hand conspired with the seer.
"Why else, power," the Dark One answered. "The Marshlands are very rich in jewels and horses. Its army small but strong. If you can end the royal line your husband would be allowed to claim the land as his own."
Cora was visibly relieved.
"Yes, well, I've failed," she said.
"Four times," the Dark One said holding up four fingers. "There will not be a fifth."
Cora gulped.
"It wouldn't matter," Rumpelstiltskin said. "Queen Collette carries the next heir. That heir is under my protection as well."
"Why are you protecting this tiny kingdom?" Cora asked.
"I hate ogres," Rumpelstiltskin answered.
There was a pregnant pause between them.
"I thought you should know, I replaced the boy's heart," the Dark One informed. "Clever, using the young prince to anger your little witch enough to try to kill him. It would have served your purposes perfectly. You would have killed your husband's only heir, the witch would have been executed for his death, and your third child would rise to power."
"Third child?' Cora questioned. She was indeed pregnant with King George's child but she had yet to tell anyone. "I only have the one, by birth."
"Yes, third child," Rumpelstiltskin said. "I'm a seer or have you forgotten?"
He let out a haunting giggle before continuing.
"Magic has a signature. Everyone's unique but magic connected by blood share some factors. The fireballs your witch threw, for example, matched the heat of your own. I'm sure if Regina were to practice magic, her fireballs would hold the same heat. The power may vary but the heat would be the same."
"What do you want?" Cora asked. Her hand went to cover her womb.
"Nothing but for you to leave the princess alone and I will make sure that you and yours will live."
"And if I don't" Cora dared to say.
"It's simple, dearie, I will destroy everything you covet. I will turn your daughters against you, have the king annul your marriage, your child would be born a bastard, and I will make sure you will end up back where you started." Rumpelstiltskin paused. He stepped closer to her and whispered in her ear. "A miller's daughter."
Cora gasped and the Dark One laughed. He vanished and Cora stood in place, terrified.
The Dark One made one more appearance in the castle that night. Instead of seeking out the king, he found the queen. Collette was in the library, a large book on her lap.
"Such an avid reader. I wonder if little Belle is just as literate," Rumpelstiltskin said and the queen jumped. Her hand flew to her pounding heart.
"Dark One," she said. She placed her book to the side.
"You know what almost happened to your darling daughter today, dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin said as he walked up to the queen.
"No," Collette said in a weak voice. "I was in negotiations with the other leaders of this land."
Fear paled her skin. A lump had formed in her throat.
"Queen Cora's little project, Zelena, used magic and nearly killed both Prince James and Princess Belle."
Collette quickly stood and went to the libraries double doors. She tried to open them but they seemed sealed shut.
"I'm not done," the Dark One said from behind her and the queen knew that the doors would remain closed as long as he willed it.
Collette turned to face the sorcerer.
"This is the fourth time young Belle has nearly been killed."
The queen gulped down the lump in her throat.
"Please," she pleaded as tears formed in her eyes.
"So, the king did tell you about my threat to take the girl the next time she was in danger."
"Yes," Collette said but her voice was small and she barely heard the word herself.
"Don't fear," Rumpelstiltskin said with a flare of his hands. "I have a solution that will satisfy both parties. Well, more myself than you and your king."
"What's the solution?" Collette asked with caution.
The Dark One turned a moonstone ring on his finger. The queen didn't notice it before. The stone was opal and round. A dark smoke enveloped the sorcerer and a man stood in his place.
Collette could tell he was still the Dark One. His sharp facial features were not hidden. He was the same height and was still very thin. Now, his skin was pink. His hair was straight and greying. His reptilian eyes were replaced by normal brown ones. His nails were no longer dark and well groomed. Gone was the dragon hide he usually wore was gone. Replaced with soft wools and silks. His trousers were a soft, black leather. He wore a cream-colored silk shirt. His vest was a dark blue and his coat was black. He also leaned against a golden handled cane.
"I see my glamour has left you speechless," Rumpelstiltskin said with a smug smile. He allowed the silence to hang in the air for a moment longer before speaking again. "Now, dearie, my plan is to remain here, at the castle. I will be a wealthy traveler. I will be little Belle's tutor. I get to know the girl and keep her safe. No one will dare attack her while she's under my care."
"How will anyone know that Belle is being protected by you?" Collette asked.
Rumpelstiltskin frowned. He made a mistake, but Collette knew better than to taunt the sorcerer.
"Never mind that part," he said with a wave of his hand. "No, I'll be more of a bodyguard. The next time the princess is threatened, I will be able to stop the threat before harm could come to her."
Collette actually liked the idea. All of the attacks previously had come so close to ending Belle's life. It gave her peace of mind when it came to her daughter.
"Very well," she said agreeing.
"Good," Rumpelstiltskin said. "The rouse will begin after your guests have gone."
With a wave of his hand, the Dark One vanished in a puff of smoke.
Meanwhile, in Belle's bedchambers, King Maurice was tucking his daughter in. He had laid a loving kiss upon the girl's forehead.
"Papa," she asked as she laid back on her pillow.
"Yes, my girl," Maurice answered.
"Who is the Dark One?" Belle asked and Maurice paled.
"Why are you asking?" the king asked.
"Zelena said he is going to be my husband someday," Belle told.
"He's…" Maurice paused. He looked over at the rose. Ten petals had fallen. Six remained. The king wondered if the Dark One was watching them now.
"Papa?" Belle asked.
Maurice turned back to his daughter. She looked so innocent but he and Collette never lied to their daughter. Then, the king remembered the deal he made with the Dark One on the night of the first murder attempt on the princess. He promised he would not say a bad word against the sorcerer.
"The Dark One is your husband to be," he said. "You have until you are sixteen before you had to marry him."
"Oh," Belle said. Her blue eyes wide.
"Do not worry, my girl," Maurice soother. "He is also your protector. He has looked after you your whole life. He will do well by you."
"But I want to marry for love," the girl whined.
Maurice leaned in to place another soft kiss on his daughter's head.
"Belle, love can grow in any marriage," he soothed. "Love is more than an instant warmth when you meet the one you want to marry. Real love is built upon. It can start off as a tiny spark and grow into a giant light. Love is layered, my girl. Love is deep. It starts in your heart and moves to your soul. You can love anyone you as long as they are fair to you. Remember that most of all.
"You may not love you betrothed at first, but you can come to love him. I hope that you will come to love him because even a beast deserves love."
Belle absorbed all of his words.
"Alright," she said. A warm smile formed on her lips. "I will try to fall in love with the Dark One."
"Good," Maurice said and he hoped that he had not just told his daughter a huge lie. "No close your eyes, my girl. It's time to sleep."
Belle did as she was told. Maurice watched as her breathing slowed and his daughter fell into a peaceful slumber.
END OF CH. 2