Chapter Three: Rumpelstiltskin
King Maurice wasn't pleased to learn of Rumpelstiltskin's plan.
"Would you rather I just take her?" The Dark One challenged. He had appeared before the king in the glamour.
"Of course not," Maurice said.
"Then this is perfect," Rumpelstiltskin said.
"Who will you be?" Queen Collette asked. "I mean, we cannot call you by your name. There will be no point in disguising yourself."
"Weaver," the sorcerer answered. "Mr. Adam Weaver."
"Well then, welcome to Avonlea, Mr. Weaver," Collette greeted.
Maurice remained silent. He knew he had no say in the matter. He would either have to allow the Dark One to be his daughter's teacher or have his daughter taken away. For him, there was no choice to make. He would rather have the Dark One reside in Avonlea until it was time for the sorcerer to take his daughter, not before.
"Very well," he said.
Belle was introduced to her new teacher, Mr. Weaver the next day. She took to him quickly. She instantly found him funny and wise. He encouraged her love for books. She thought he was a fair teacher. He was neither too strict nor too easy-going. He was the perfect teacher for her.
As for Rumpelstiltskin, he found he enjoyed having a student who loved learning anything but magic. He had had plenty of students in his near 300 years of life. All of the students were witches or wizards. Cora was among them and he wasn't exactly proud of her, not anymore anyway.
At one point, Cora was his star pupil. She had a natural talent for magic and she was a quick learner. Her darkness and ambition attracted him to her. She was clever, smart enough to actually read his contract and making it work towards her benefit before signing. Not many people ever read the contract before signing.
Unfortunately for him, Rumpelstiltskin revealed too much of to her. He allowed his attraction to Cora cloud his better judgment and he was made a fool because of it. Not only did she find a way out of their deal but she also had already had given birth to her first child a couple of years before. If he could foresee his own future, Rumpelstiltskin would have allowed Cora to die in favor of tutoring and manipulating Zelena.
Princess Belle was nothing like Cora. She was genuinely kind and caring. She didn't seem to have a manipulative bone in her body. She was sweet and not at all snobbish. The Dark One could tell that the girl would have been just a comfortable in poverty as she was in wealth. She never looked down on anyone.
When the time came for her sister to be born, Belle was not jealous of little, Princess Victorie. She loved her baby sister. She was protective and looked after her sister just as much as their nanny and their parents. Victorie adored her older sister.
As Victorie grew older, she became Belle's little shadow. She often sat in on Belle's lessons with Weaver. The little girl was just as interested in learning as her big sister. Though she did enjoy being read to just as much as Belle did, Victorie did not like reading as much as her big sister did. No, the youngest Princess of Avonlea was more interested in telling her own stories instead. And she had quite the imagination. Belle would often sit with Victorie, writing down the stories.
"One day, you'll be able to write down your own stories," Belle said. She was now 15. Victorie was 4.
"But I like it when you write them," the small princess said.
"Well, I will write your stories for you as long as you want me to," Belle said.
Rumpelstiltskin chuckled from his desk. He had to admire the way Belle handled children. Not just Victorie, but also the children in court and the servants' children. He took comfort in the knowledge. He knew that Belle would someday make a wonderful mother. He secretly hoped that with Belle by his side she would balance out his darkness and he would not drive away any child they shared. He also hoped that once his son, Baelfire was back with him, and he would want to stay because he would have a much more kind and caring mother than the woman who had given birth to him.
Hearing her teacher's chuckle, Belle smiled warmly up at him. She was always kind to him. She had come to care for him. She always liked him, but ever since she was 13, she had developed a crush on him. She knew she shouldn't have, especially since she was already promised to The Dark One. But she couldn't help it. There was something about her teacher that always appealed to her. The way he would make a dark quip or the way he made a snide comment towards people he didn't like. She liked his half smiles and loved when she got a glimpse of his real smile.
She cared for him. She loved talking to him. She loved hearing him speak. She loved his accent and the timber of his voice. She felt as if they would make a good match.
Belle found herself staring at Mr. Weaver whenever she could. When he spoke to her or returned her stare she would blush.
One day, Belle was alone in the classroom with Mr. Weaver. She had a test, so, Victorie wasn't allowed in the room.
"Mr. Weaver?" Belle asked turning in her test book.
"Yes, Princess," Mr. Weaver said as he took the book. His brown eyes were focused on her and she melted inside.
"May I ask you something personal?" Belle asked.
Mr. Weaver paused to think over the request.
"Yes," he said finally with a nod.
Belle drew in a deep breath. She was nervous.
"Do you have a family?" she asked. "You don't talk about a family."
"I had a family, once," Mr. Weaver answered. "Long ago. I had a son and a wife."
"Oh," Belle said. She noticed he spoke in the past tense. "What happened to them?"
Mr. Weaver didn't answer right away. He stared into Belle's blue eyes. He seemed to be deciding whether he could trust her or not.
"My wife died," he said. "My boy is lost."
"I'm sorry," the Princess said and she gently touched Mr. Weaver's hand.
For a moment, the teacher allowed the touch. Belle reveled in the feel of his skin and his warmth. She hated the moment when he pulled away.
"Your lessons are done for the day, Princess," He said softly. "You may go."
Belle hurried out of the room. Her skin was burning where they had touched and she knew that Mr. Weaver must have seen her deep blush.
For his part, Rumpelstiltskin could not explain why he revealed his past to the princess. Sure, he had come to care about her. Hell, in the past year, he would say he was falling in love with the girl. But that still did not mean he should have told her so much about himself. He had made that mistake only once before with Cora and he didn't want to make it again. But would he really be making the same mistake?
Belle was too kind to be Cora. He could not imagine the girl ever turning into another Cora. She just didn't have it in her.
Maybe, it was her kindness, but Rumpelstiltskin felt as if he could trust the princess. This was a good thing, especially since her 16th birthday was coming up in a few months. On that day, Belle would be his. She would become his wife. A man shouldn't keep all his secrets from his wife. With that in mind, the Dark One decided he would not worry about telling Belle about his past.
A few days before Princess Belle turned 16, Cora sent a messenger to the castle. A weak looking lad, with knobby knees and a spotted face. When he approached King Maurice, he collapses to the floor and died right on the spot.
Rumpelstiltskin appeared then. He was out of his glamour. He reached down and snatched the scroll from the boy's stiff fingers. He waved his hand and the body vanished. He unfurled the scroll and read it aloud so the king and queen could hear.
"I humbly," the sorcerer scoffed at the word 'humbly'. "Suggest a union between our kingdoms. A marriage between my son, Prince Malcolm and your daughter, Princess Victorie would benefit both our lands."
There was more but the Dark One crumbled the paper in his hands and tossed into the nearby fireplace before throwing a fireball into the hearth.
"Just another way to gain entry to your castle," he told the king and queen. "She's still trying to find a way to kill Princess Belle."
"The request seemed genuine," Queen Collette said.
"Yes, and once she has your kingdom, she will dispose of you and your family. Do not think for one minute that woman won't betray you."
"We will have to answer," King Maurice said.
"Of course you will," Rumpelstiltskin said. "You will decline. Tell Cora that you have your eye on some prince from a far off land. A prince that will strengthen your trade. Don't mention any names."
By this time, the king and the queen knew to listen to the Dark One's warnings. Cora has proven to be their enemy while Rumpelstiltskin, their ally. Soon, Belle would be taken away by Rumpelstiltskin and they would only have Victorie to look after. They couldn't afford to believe with Belle gone, Cora would not turn her attention to their youngest daughter.
They did as Rumpelstiltskin said. Cora sent an angry reply and they ignored it. They were after all, under the Dark One's protection. The king and queen of Avonlea had to believe that protection wasn't just from ogres.
Belle's 16th birthday came. There was going to be a ball to mark the occasion. The princess was to wear a golden gown Mr. Weaver had given her the day before as an early birthday present. Once again, the castle was opened to the other royals of the nation. This, of course, included Queen Cora and her family.
A lot had happened since the last time the royals met. Zelena was given to Robin Locksley, a nobleman. The marriage wasn't a love match. The two spent more time apart than together. Some said Robin had taken a liking towards Regina and Zelena had taken an interest to a huntsman who lived in the small castle she shared with her husband.
Cora devoted her time to Prince Malcolm. The boy had just turned 5 and was everything his mother wanted out of her daughters. Loyal and obedient to his mother. He was hardly in the company of his father or brothers.
Last year, it was learned that Prince James was adopted. He had a twin, David. King George had no clue there was another boy in the world who looked like his son. When David's mother had fallen ill and died, a traveling noble past the little farm David had grown up in. He recognized David as the image of James and told George. Once he learned about the twin, George adopted the young shepherd. Not from the kindness of his heart but for the positive rumors that would spread. He couldn't allow the boy to be looked upon with pity and himself to be looked at with hatred.
To Cora's misfortune, Malcolm was now third in line to be king. George did not trust James not to kill the boy if Malcolm was named heir to the throne. After all, the king did love his son. David had no interest in the throne and was happy to be the last in line to become king.
Prince James and Prince David got on like oil and water. They were complete opposites. James was cruel, mean, and manipulative. David was kind, compassionate, and willing to sacrifice for others. Some said David's kindness was what attracted Princess Snow White to him. The rumor was the two were courting. James was still promised to Abigail.
Princess Aurora and Prince Philip had fallen in love three years ago. One day, they couldn't stand each other and the next, they couldn't be separated. Belle was happy for them. They were both to attend the ball along with their parents.
For most of the night, the ball went on without any trouble. Everyone seemed to be getting along. There were smiling faces everywhere. That was until near the closing of the ball and everyone was ready to settle in, Belle had taken her first sip of champagne and began choking. Her hands rose to her throat as she gasped for breath.
Everyone gasped in shock and horror as Princess Belle fell to the floor. She had turned blue and her chest was heaving in slow beats. She was dying.
Suddenly, Mr. Weaver appeared by her side. He touched her back, her abdomen, and her throat before he summoned a potion. He poured the clear liquid down her nostrils, he couldn't get her to open her mouth.
The potion took longer than expected to work but soon Belle was gasping for air.
Then Mr. Weaver disappeared, thick smoke was in his place. He reappeared beside Cora and took her by the throat.
"Normally I would use magic," He sneered. "But I think a more personal touch is needed."
Belle rose to her feet with the help of Anna. She looked directly at Mr. Weaver. She could see his face clearly and she was surprised to see a look of hate twist his features.
Cora tried to use magic against her attacker but failed when the man's hands tightened around her neck. George tried to stop his wife from being strangled but was pushed back by an invisible source. Zelena tried throwing a fireball at the teacher but the ball evaporated into thin air when it touched the barrier.
"This makes five, dearie," Mr. Weaver said. "This is the fifth time you've tried to kill my bride. I will not stand for it any longer."
His hands tightened even more.
"One lesson I never taught you," the Dark One said. And he was the Dark One again. Gone was his glamour and he didn't care. He was too focused on his former lover. "Don't mess with what's mine."
He said the last words with clenched teeth.
There was murder in his eyes and he was planning to snap Queen Cora's neck after she passed out from lack of air. He knew no one could stop him. No one would dare. Not with his true face revealed, but someone did stop him.
Princess Belle had moved to stand where the barrier's limits stopped. She placed a small hand on the unseen surface.
"Please stop," she pleaded.
The Dark One decided to ignore her. He was enjoying the way Cora's face turned from red to purple. He took pleasure in her bulging eyes and the way the veins webbed through the whites of them. There was a tiny bit of drool rolling from Cora's red lips. Tears had formed in her eyes.
"Stop," Belle ordered.
"Why should I?" Rumpelstiltskin asked but he loosens his grip a little. "She's tried to kill you multiple times."
"I know," the princess said. "But I don't want her dead."
"Well, too bad, dearie, because she's going to die right here, right now."
Belle became frantic. A million ways to get the man she thought was her Mr. Weaver to not to kill Queen Cora raced through her mind. All ways seemed impossible until one idea popped into her head.
"Look at me," she said softly.
Mr. Weaver had not looked at her since he had given her the potion. There had to be a reason.
"Look and me," she said again but more firmly than before.
Finally, Rumpelstiltskin looked at the woman he was going to marry. His grip on Cora's neck loosened even more.
"Don't do this," Belle said. "Not here. Not today. Do you really want me to remember every year on my birthday, the man I married killed a woman on my special day."
That did it. Rumpelstiltskin released Cora. She fell to the floor, unconscious from the lack of oxygen.
Belle and her betrothed stared at each other for a long moment before King Maurice's voice broke through the silence.
"Belle, you cannot marry him," the king said. "Not now. He's proven himself to be a beast."
"You dare call me beast when I just saved your daughter's life again?"
"We are grateful," Queen Collette said. "But maybe…"
"Maybe back out of our deal?" the Dark One said. "If you do, a horde of ogres will be at your front door as soon as I vanish."
No one said a word but Belle.
"What deal?" she asked.
"The deal that was made when you were still in your mother's womb," the sorcerer answered. "I promised to protect Avonlea, forever, if they would give you to me as my bride."
Now Belle understood how she became engaged to the most powerful man in all the realms.
"I'd rather see my land ravaged than see my daughter married to you," the king said firmly.
The Dark One said nothing as he contemplated what the king said. After 5 minutes, he broke the silence.
"Very well," he said before raising his hands.
Belle grabbed hold of his arm.
"No, please," she said. "I will keep my family's part of the deal."
"You would come to me?" Rumpelstiltskin asked and Belle nodded 'yes'.
"It will be forever."
"But my family and friends will live," Belle said.
"You have my word."
"Then I will be your wife."
"Deal."
The rest of the night went by quietly.
Later that night, Belle lay awake. She couldn't get Mr. Weaver off of her mind. She felt betrayed. All the years they spent together, never did it occur to her that her teacher was the infamous Dark One. He gave no clues and he was so kind. The man she saw tonight was a complete stranger. Kind and caring, Mr. Weaver disappeared as soon as she was poisoned. She never saw him so determined as he was in the moment he gave her the cure. Never had she seen him with such darkness taking over his entire being.
Belle was scared. Before she knew it, she would be the Dark One's wife. She wasn't sure who to expect. The kind and gentle teacher, the evil sorcerer, or someone else.
She cried herself to sleep.
Queen Cora laid upon a soft bed. Her family, who was welcomed to stay at the castle before, was staying in a high-classed inn. She had awoken hours ago. Her neck hurt, her throat hurt, her lips had no feeling, and her eyes felt odd. All in all, she should be grateful she was still alive but for how long.
She had failed on her final day to kill Princess Belle. She knew it was risky using poison but she was desperate. She needed the girl dead.
Now, she had 2 people ready to kill her. She knew if she ran into Rumpelstiltskin again, he would kill her. Since she failed again, the Seer would surely seek her out to end her life.
She had to do something. Cora looked around the room and saw a long-standing mirror. For a second, she saw an image appear. The image was not the reflection of the room. The image looked like another world.
Weakly, Cora rose from her bed and touched the mirror. It simmered and the other world appeared again. She thought that she could escape her fate by taking a step into another realm.
With renewed strength, Cora went over to a small cot near the door of the room. She lifted her son in her arms and went back to the mirror. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside.
After the ball, the Dark One went home to his Dark Castle. He couldn't sleep. He didn't really need to. It was just a way he used to hold on to the little bit of humanity he still had. Instead, he sat at his spinning wheel and absently spun straw into gold. As he worked, he allowed his mind to wander.
Soon, Belle would be by his side as his wife. She had agreed to it. Rumpelstiltskin wasn't sure to be sad or upset. It was sad he had to use his deal with her parents to get her to be his. He was upset because of the same reason and his need to see Cora's blood trail across the floor. There was nothing he could do about either.
Rumpelstiltskin never breaks out of a deal, except for the one and because breaking that deal had cost him so much, he never broke another one. He would have to marry Princess Belle.
He tried to find Cora as soon as she and her family vanished. He looked all over Avonlea and beyond. There was no sign of her. He tried using a tracking spell but it only leads him to an old mirror. So, he turned his rage to Cora's husband. All Rumpelstiltskin did was snap his fingers and King George fell dead. Tomorrow, the body would be found and everyone would blame Cora. Wherever she was hiding, she would have to remain there or face being hanged for murder. It was a small consolation but it would have to do.
By the end of the week, Rumpelstiltskin will call Princess Belle his wife. Cora could never return. His life was almost perfect. All he had to do was find his son.
The Seer entered the room and stepped over the dead body of King George. He looked in the mirror and knew that Cora was somewhere he could not follow. The portal was closed and he had no magic to open it again.
The Seer growled as he smashed the tall mirror in front of him. Blind but with perfect vision the Seer found his way to Cora. The woman had failed once again to kill the Dark One's princess. It was the last chance he would allow her. He would have to take matters into his own hands.
He would need to find another pawn. He had had a few in mind. He could corrupt Zelena, he could wait until a certain pirate made landfall in the Enchanted Forest, or he could use a hot-headed son of a duke. Thinking, he decided all three. One of them had to succeed. What were the odds they wouldn't?
END OF CH. 3