A/N: Now Rumple and Belle are the same age. And Belle proves she isn't easily fooled.
Chapter Six
The wooden door squeaked as Belle walked into the room and looked at the white sheet that covered the spinning wheel. Ten years had passed since Rumple had vanished. The guards had returned from their search and she nearly fainted when they returned with the brunt remains of Rumple's brown wood staff and the bundle he had packed. Her father had called off the search, but she had the satisfaction of knowing Gaston was still their "guest" in the dungeon. The only regret she had was Rumple would never know about the deaths of his aunts nor could she tell him they never lost faith of him returning.
She walked to the spinning wheel then removed the white sheet as she looked at the spinning wheel and sighed. Sitting on the stool, she touched the soft wood then tried to move the wheel, but rust had sealed it into place.
"Oh, Rumple, where are you?" she sighed as she patted the soft wood then stood up and walked to the window. She looked out when she heard a loud booming sound and turned, looking at the doorway.
"Lady Belle," Chip called out then ran into the room and Belle smiled. He was no longer the happy five year old boy, but a fifteen year old squire and she saw the fear in his eyes. "You must come at once."
"Are the ogres back?" she asked as she ran to him and he nodded his head. He made a quick glance around the room where he had spent such happy hours helping Rumple make things and sighed. He had given up his dream of ever becoming a spinner, a weaver or a tailor after they failed to find Rumple and his mother wasn't happy when he told her he had become a squire. She knew how dangerous life could be for a squire even though Belle had assured them that Rumple would come home someday.
"Come," he said and they left the room. A few minutes later they came in the deb as she looked at her father pacing when he stopped and looked at the map spread out on top of the table.
"Father," she said as she ran to Maurice and he gave her a concerned look.
"Where were you?" he asked.
"I was…I was in Rumple's workshop," she said and Maurice patted her hand. He knew she suffered as much as he did from losing not only her brother, but Rumple and she looked at the map. "Where are the ogres?"
"They are here," he said while pointing to the map then noticed the look in her eyes. "What is the matter?"
"You are going to be angry with me."
"What have you done?"
"I sent for help."
"And you thought I would be angry? Who did you send for?" Maurice asked and she sighed, looking down.
"I sent for the Dark One," she said and his eyes widened.
"Have you lost your mind?! Do you have any idea what sort of beast he is?" he asked when they heard a high pitch giggle and turned, seeing a figure walk out from behind one of the marble columns and leaned against the column. The figure was male with a thin build and was wearing black leather boots which were laced up the front and ended at his knees, tight brown leather trousers, a brown leather belt, a red silk shirt which was open at the top to show some of his chest and collarbones, a brown leather vest, a brown leather waistcoat and a light brown cape with a hood. The hood was up and covered most of his face and he crossed his arms over his chest. "No."
"No what, Dearie?" the Dark One asked as he kicked off the column and walked toward the table. He placed his hands on top of the table as they barely saw the impish smile shadowed by the hood. Belle noticed the gold scales on the skin of his hands and his fingernails were painted black with gold and green swirls. There was something familiar about his long fingers as he looked at her and moved his hands back.
"There has been a mistake," Maurice said as his heart slammed in his chest and the Dark One stood straighter.
"So you didn't send me a note that more or less said "Help! Save me! The ogres are attacking!"?" he asked, dramatically gesturing with his hands.
"No, I sent you a note and asked you to help save us from the ogres," Belle said while she walked closer and the Dark One backed up.
"That's close enough, Dearie," he said, holding his hand up in a passive gesture then looked at Maurice. "So, do you want my help or not? I don't like wasting my time."
"Yes, we need your help," Maurice said and the Dark One giggled.
"Well, before I do anything," the Dark One said as a serious look came to his face and he tilted his head to one side. "What's it worth to me?"
"I will give you anything," Maurice said and the Dark One placed his hand against his chest and gasped.
"Oh, that is not a good thing to say, Dearie. You never know what anything is."
"I can give you gold."
"I have gold," he said with a snarled look on his face. "I also have jewels, silver and other trinkets."
"I will give you my castle."
"It's nice, but mine's bigger," he said while moving his head to look around the room.
"I'll give you all my land."
"No, I have plenty."
"Then what do you want?"
"What I need is a servant," he said and flicked his hands up.
"You need a servant?" Belle asked.
"Yes," he said then giggled. They watched as he walked around the room while looking at them when he smiled and pointed with his hand toward Belle. She was wearing the gold gown Rumple had made her as well as a pair of black slippers and he noticed how the light sparkled on her auburn hair and in her blue eyes. "I pick you."
"No," Maurice shouted and the Dark One looked at him.
"Then I will be going," he said with a small bow.
"Wait," Belle said and the Dark One looked at her. "I'll go with you."
"No!" Maurice said with a shocked look on his face.
"It's forever, Dearie," the Dark One said then giggled.
"Alright," she said and the Dark One rubbed his hands together.
"Are you going to save our kingdom?" Maurice asked and the Dark One gave him an angry look.
"I already have," he said, waving his hands up then smiled at Belle. "It's time to go, Dearie."
"Wait," Maurice said while walking closer and the Dark One looked at him. "Let me say farewell to her."
"As you wish," the Dark One sighed then stood back. Maurice walked to Belle when they hugged and she kissed his cheek. Letting go, Belle walked to the Dark One while he held his hand out and she took his hand. His hand was warm and the gold scales felt thick and rough against the palm of her hand. She tried to get a better look at him, but he pulled the hood lower and she swore he growled.
Maurice watched the purple smoke enveloping Belle and the Dark One as Maurice balled his hands together and the purple smoke vanished, leaving him with nothing, but the sound of the clicking of the mantel clock.
The Dark Castle
The purple smoke swirled then vanished as Belle looked around the grand hall then looked at the Dark One. He headed for the large, double doors at the end of the hall when he snapped his fingers and the large doors opened.
"This way, Dearie," he said in a singsong voice then walked in the room and she followed him. The large doors closed as she looked at the large dining hall and noticed the windows were covered with thick red curtains with gold fringe. The crystal chandeliers were held to the ceiling by gold chains and the light from the candles caused little rainbows of lights on the ceiling and walls. She watched him remove the cape when the cape fell to the floor and she quickly ran to pick the cape off the floor. Standing up, she noticed the wavy brown hair which spread around his neck as she held the cape in her arms and waited for him to turn around. "Well, are you going to hang that up?"
"Yes," she said with a nod of her head then walked to the dark wood coatrack, placing the cape on one of the pegs. She wondered why he wasn't turning around when he walked to the large china cabinet and opened the doors.
"I wish tea. The door to the kitchen is there," he said while pointing to the left as she saw the small archway and walked toward him. She stood behind him as he looked like he was trying to pick which china tea set he wanted her to use and she fought back the urge to reach out and touch his back. "The teacart is over there."
Belle walked to the gold teacart when she turned around and was shocked to see he was gone. Sighing, she walked to the table when she saw the white china tea set with a blue willow branches etched onto the gold trimmed teacups, creamer, sugar bowl, saucers and teapot sitting on the top of the table and she carefully placed the tea set on the teacart. A few minutes later she returned to the dining hall when she heard a sound she never thought she would hear again and stopped.
"Ah, just in time," he said as she looked at the Dark One and he was sitting at a spinning wheel. Her heart slammed hard in her chest, but it wasn't just from seeing the spinning wheel. She watched the Dark One stand up when he walked toward her and she held tightly onto the handle of the teacart. "Place the tea set on the table."
"Yes," she said with a nod of her head and he frowned.
"Yes what?' he asked and she stopped the teacart near the table.
"Yes…Sir?" she asked and he walked around the other side of the long wooden table then sat down on the high back chair at the head of the table. He leaned back against the back of the chair when he crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to one side.
"That will do for now," he said and she started unloading the teacart. "Now, this is what I expect from you. You will cook all my meals. You do know how to cook?"
"Yes, Sir," she said with a nod.
"Good," he said and pressed the tips of his fingers together. "You will clean, dust, sweep and scrub every room in this castle. Well, the ones I allow you in."
"Yes, Sir," she said, placing the white china teapot on the table.
"You will wash my clothes, towels, bedding and aprons and polish my boots."
"Yes, Sir," she said as she placed the creamer on the table.
"You will dust my collections, but you are not to play with them."
"May I ask why?"
"Because they are mine," he said and she barely smiled. "What's so funny?"
"You sound like a spoiled child," she said and he glared at her.
"I am not," he said with a smug look on his face and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you always this rude?"
"Are you?"
He glared at her then sat up straighter and leaned his lower arms on the top of the table.
"It's just that some of things in my collections are dangerous and…"
"You don't want me to get hurt," she said with a nod of her head.
"Now you are to weed and tend my gardens," he said as he ignored her and she smiled.
"Yes, Sir," she said as she placed the sugar bowl on the table.
"You will fetch me fresh straw when I'm at my wheel."
"Yes, Sir," she said, placing the spoon and saucer on the table then picked up one of the teacups.
"And you will skin the children I hunt for their pelts," he said then giggled while wiggling a finger and Belle gave him a shocked look. The white china teacup fell from her hands as he stood up and walked to her. She knelt down as she picked the chipped cup off the floor and shyly looked up at him. "That was a quip. Wasn't serious."
"Oh," she said then looked at the chipped cup and sighed. "I am sorry. It's chipped. See, you can barely tell."
"That's alright," he said as she stood up, walked to him and held the chipped cup in her hands. "It's just a cup."
He reached his hand out as she placed the chipped cup in his hand and he looked at the small chip. He noticed the fear in her eyes then looked at the chipped cup and placed the chipped cup on the table.
"You didn't cut yourself, did you?"
"No, Sir," she said and was surprised when he gently took her hands in his hands. His skin felt warm as the light sparkled on the gold scales and she slowly looked him in the eyes. His eyes were amber and looked lizard like and she saw a great sadness there. He examined her hands then let go and she noticed the shy look on his face. He watched her walk back to the teacart when she poured the tea into the chipped cup then added two drops of milk and one sugar and brought the chipped cup and saucer to him. He took the chipped cup and saucer out of her hands when he sipped on the tea and she walked back to the teacart.
"Aren't you going to have any?" he asked and she looked at him.
"Do you think I did something to the tea?" she asked with a coy look and he giggled.
"No, I just thought you wanted some," he said as she poured some tea into the cup then added two drops of milk then two sugars, picked up the cup and saucer and sat down at the other end of the table. "No, Dearie, sit near me."
Smiling, Belle got up when she picked up the cup and saucer then walked to the high back chair to his left and sat down. She sipped on the tea while he looked at her then took a long drink of tea.
"Did you put a little lemon in the tea?" he finally asked.
"Yes," Belle said and he smiled.
"Nice touch," he said and sipped on the tea. "I also like tea with a little honey in the morning."
"I'll remember that," she said then placed the cup on the saucer and looked at him. She wasn't sure, but there was something familiar about his mannerisms and voice and she thought for a few seconds before speaking again. "May I ask you something, Sir?"
"Of course," he said, waving his hand for her to continue.
"Was the only reason you picked me was because you needed a servant?" she asked and he gave her a puzzled look.
"No, a price had to be paid for my help," he said, wiggling his finger back and forth.
"Is there any other reason?" she asked and looked over the rim of the cup while sipping on the tea. "Could it be that you're lonely?"
"No," he said with a cold look on his face.
"Then why did you want me to sit next to you?"
"I didn't want to shout."
"You're lonely," she teased and he glared at her.
"You are wrong," he said then stood up and left the room, slamming the large doors behind him. Sighing, Belle got up when she cleared the table and placing the tea set back on the teacart, leaving the room.
Hours later
The fire crackled in the fireplace while Belle slept and a golden satin duvet was tucked around her. She was amazed that he hadn't placed her in a dungeon and he had explained she was to sleep in the room next to his room so he didn't have to run up and down stairs if he needed her. She had smiled behind his back, but just nodded her head when he turned around and she was amazed with how lovely the room was. Rolling onto her back, Belle sighed then was startled awake as a loud scream filled the darkness and she quickly got out of bed. The candles magical flared as she picked up the oil lamp on the night table when she carefully walked to the door and placed her hand on the door handle. Opening the door, she looked out into the dark hallway when the screaming filled the air and she looked at the large doors which led into his bedchamber. She slowly walked to the large doors when she placed her hand on the door handle and the door opened.
The room was semi-dark from the glow from the fireplace as Belle walked to the bed to the right of the room and a soft moan filled the air. She placed the oil lamp on the night table when she carefully sat on the edge of the bed and could just see the Dark One. He was curled into a ball under the blue duvet while his fingers kneaded the pillow and he sounded like he was sobbing.
"Belle," he repeated between sobs and she felt a cold chill move through her.
"I am right. It is him, but what happened? Why is he like this?" Belle thought as she wondered if she should touch him and slowly reached over, touching his hair. His hair felt silky and soft as she stroked the top of his head and made comforting hushing sounds. He made a small hiccup then sniffed while she stroked his hair and a small smile spread over his face. She brushed some hair out of his eyes when he sighed and she got up, picking up the oil lamp. She left the room as she closed the door then walked back into her room and shut the door behind her. She got back into bed after she placed the oil lamp on the night table then blew out the light and the other candle flickered out. She looked at the shadows on the ceiling while tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand.
"Oh, Rumple," she sighed when she rolled onto her left side, closed her eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.