She was running. Running as swift and as hard as her legs would allow. She would never make it; he was too fast for her. She looked back but the fog was too dense for her to make out anything. She could feel him gaining upon her and she tried to run faster but her legs felt heavy, like they were weighed down.

She came upon a wall of bushes trimmed neatly and rising impossibly high. How could bushes get that high? She quickly ducked to her right with the bushes on her left; she had to go, she had to escape. She cried out in surprise when suddenly out of the ground sprouted a new wall of hedges, the branches weaving about with minds of their own, reaching out to tear at her yellow dress and thickening up. So she took another right only to be blocked off as well. The hedges were growing all around her and to her horror she found herself blocked into a corner with no escape. It was then she heard a low growl from behind her.

He was here, he had found her.

She tried to cry out, but when she opened her mouth nothing came out. She tried to push through the bushes but they only became thicker and thicker cutting her and making the skin on her hands bleed.

She could feel him behind her, the bulk of his shadow drenching her in darkness. He was so much bigger than she, and she would never be able to escape him. She quaked in fear as she slowly turned around. To her surprise, when she turned there was nothing there but the fog. She strained her ears, trying to hear the sound that had frightened her. She strained her eyes to try and make out any ominous shape in the mist, but she saw and heard nothing. Sighing in relief she turned back around only to come face to face with black soulless eyes. Red lips pulled back into a wide menacing smile and before Belle could get away a hand with painted red nails shot out and dug into Belle's chest, squeezing painfully at her racing heart…

Belle gasped as she sat up in her bed, a cold sweat forming upon her brow. She was trembling uncontrollably with the sheets twisted around her body and trapping her to the bed. In a dazed panic Belle felt her chest, making sure her heart was still there and sighed in relief when she felt the fast beating. It was just another nightmare.

Her room was beginning to brighten with the sun of the new day, the light through her window spilling sleepily across her bed. Belle slowly slid from the four poster and into a pair of slippers placed neatly on the floor next to a tall stack of books. Perhaps a cup of tea would be good, she decided as she yawned and splashed cool water from the bedroom basin on her face to help wake her up. She slowly dressed into her usual blue work dress and left her room to wander down to the kitchens and start on tea and a small meal before finding some work to do.

Cora's cold dark eyes had been haunting Belle's dreams the past few nights and she shivered at the recollection of the hand reaching in and tugging at her heart. It was the same dream over and over, each time it felt more and more real. And what a strange thing for Belle to dream of too…

She reached the main floor and headed in the direction of the kitchen when a light spilling from the main hall drew her attention. Belle found herself grinning as she pushed open the tall wooden doors, finding Rumpelstiltskin at his wheel spinning away. She cast a sidelong gaze at the heavy curtains still closed in the room and decided that perhaps today was the day she let some natural light inside. She glanced around the room quickly as she walked over to the wheel, imagining how wonderful the colours would be while lit up with actual sunlight rather than the warm glow of firelight. It really was quite a beautiful room when you thought about it.

Rumpelstiltskin didn't even glance at Belle when she sat on the edge of his stool, sharing the space with him and her arm slightly nudging him as he worked. They sat in companionable silence for a while as both Belle and Rumpelstiltskin watched the wheel turn and turn. Belle's thoughts drifted to her family and her nightmare slowly melted away as the wheel spun around and around, gold thread glinting as it pooled in the basket on the ground.

"It's going to be a beautiful day I think."

Rumpelstiltskin's voice broke through her reverie and she blinked at him in surprise while he continued to spin. Rumpelstiltskin was not one for small talk and so Belle immediately narrowed her eyes in suspicion, waiting for the catch in this seemingly casual conversation.

"Indeed, the weather has been quite forgiving recently…I'm pretty sure winter is nearly over ." Belle replied slowly.

Rumpelstiltskin only nodded his head slowly and fed more straw into the wheel, turning and turning.

"I was thinking that perhaps you should start working in the garden's today." Rumpelstiltskin said, stopping the wheel altogether and shifting on the stool to look at Belle.

Her mouth gaped slightly and she found herself struggling to form proper words. Go outside?

"I can go outside?" Belle asked uncertainly.

The nervous tone in her voice had Rumpelstiltskin's eyes flicker down at the string of gold around her neck and then back up at Belle. He gave a small aloof shrug and returned to his wheel to continue with his spinning.

"The gardens are within the walls, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to tend to them. Unless you would rather stay inside…"

Belle couldn't believe her ears and immediately she shot up off the stool and interrupted Rumpelstiltskin's sentence.

"No no, of course not, if the garden requires tending then I should probably get to it." She could barely contain her joy, and Rumpelstiltskin was clearly aware as he stared at her in mild amusement.

"On the table are the tools you need as well as a particular plant I thought would look well in the back by the kitchen gardens." He replied with a slight gesture of his hand before turning back to his wheel.

Belle gave a slight nod and moved over to the once empty table which now was magically laden with gardening tools. She stopped at the foot of the table and examined the single rose bush sitting on the floor, its roots carefully cradled in a burlap sack.

The roses were very similar to the ones her mother had planted at the Manor home, the same ones that Belle brought to the cottage.

"Where did you get these?" Belle asked as she fingered the delicate red petals.

Rumpelstiltskin looked up from his wheel and over at the rosebush.

"It's a sample from your family's cottage. Beautiful flowers really, I couldn't resist."

He trailed off when Belle looked at him with her eyes full of unshed tears and he frowned.

"I thought you would want something familiar near to you. If you don't like them I can return…" Rumpelstiltskin's sentence was cut short when Belle bounded over to him and gave him a hug of gratitude, the tears spilling onto her cheeks. It was the best small mercy he had given her since she had left, even better than the library.

"Thank you." She whispered fervently, pulling back slightly to look into his face. His reptilian-like eyes were large in his head as he looked at her, his hands still holding onto the golden thread awkwardly. Belle felt herself blush a little when she realized she was practically sitting on Rumpelstiltskin's lap and she quickly cleared her throat and jumped off, wiping any stray tears from her face.

"You… approve." Rumpelstiltskin said slowly, his eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what emotion Belle was feeling, whether good or bad. Belle could only nod vigorously with a bright smile.

"Yes, I approve. I approve greatly, thank you."

Rumpelstiltskin's nervous and almost shy smile warmed Belle's heart. He nearly looked human when he smiled like that and Belle decided she liked him when he wasn't playing at being the most powerful sorcerer in the realms.

She grinned like a fool as she gently picked up her Mother's rose bush and placed it in a wheelbarrow waiting nearby along with the necessary tools, quickly heading to the back door which led to the kitchens with the wheelbarrow leading the way.

"I'll be back soon to make breakfast." She called out over her shoulder as she nudged her way out the door.

"See that you do, maid." Rumpelstiltskin called back and Belle let out a small chuckle.

So I'm back to being called maid, she thought with a smile and a roll of her eyes, knowing she unnerved him with her gratitude, that strange man…

Belle's smirk dropped from her face and she stopped short at the kitchen doors which lead to the castle grounds outside.

What if this was a trap? She thought, studying the old warped doorway leading out to the new spring day. She could smell the earthy scent of spring begging her to come outside, an effect of the ice cold ground warming up under the bright sunny sky. Belle glanced down at the rosebush with unease before shaking away her nerves and bursting through the door in a show of good faith.

Belle had her eyes squeezed shut as she exited into the gardens and she slowly opened one eyelid, then the other and sighed in relief when she didn't feel agonizing pain the instant her feet met the soft ground. Belle stood for a while in the sunlight, letting it warm up her face for the first time in months. The air still held a slight winter chill, but it was buffeted with the smell of the earth waking up and the sounds of birds off into the distance.

Belle looked out past the high castle walls and onto the distant mountain peaks, higher than any mountain she had ever seen and she sighed at the beauty of it, wondering idly if there were any villages nearby. As she pushed the wheelbarrow closer to the Kitchen gardens, overgrown with brown weeds hanging heavily with the last of the spring rain, Belle imagined what it would be like to live in a Mountain village. Did they feel just as isolated as Belle did? What were their customs, their way of speaking, how they do business? Were they much different from the people in her village?

Belle began to gather up fallen twigs, branches and any of the usual winter debris and attempted to clear a small spot of land nearest the castle wall where the most sun would hit. It would be the perfect spot for the rosebush. She noted the various plants already in the garden and tried to think back to what Mrs. Jones had said about early spring gardening and which vegetables and flowers to plant. She was delighted when she found evidence of sweet peas and radishes, remembering those from the list of 'cool-weather crops' she had read in a gardening book once.

She decided, once the ground was free for the rosebush, that after she was done with cleanup she would search for a book on gardening in her library so that when she came out tomorrow she would know exactly what needed to be done.

She was so busy imagining how wonderful the gardens would look once she was finished that she neglected to notice the change in temperature, or the sudden prickle of magic in the air.

"Well, aren't we the very capable gardener." A familiar dark and melodic voice spoke softly just behind Belle; a voice which made her freeze in place, her hand still clutching the small spade that had been tilling the earth.

Instinctively, she tightened her grip on the tool and slowly came to standing. Slowly she turned around, coming face to face with Cora.

Just like in the dream. Her brain provided for her traitorously and making her heart beat just a bit faster.

But it wasn't quite like Belle's dreams. In the daylight Cora appeared to be less menacing; the violet in her dress just a shade or two lighter; her hair a bit more brown than black in the warm sun; her smile less frightening (though it still came across as cold and detatched). Her eyes however were still the same soulless black that Belle had remembered from that night and had nightmares about, and she had to fight back the cold shiver that was slowly creeping up her spine.

Cora's mouth continued to smile as she looked around the overgrown garden until finally her coal black eyes landed on Belle herself, and taking a step forward, her skirts skimming the ground daintily.

A nervous sinking feeling pressed down upon Belle's sternum as the beautifully dangerous woman tilted her head and appraised Belle from the top of her head down to the toe of her muddy boot.

Be calm and don't be afraid. But she did feel afraid, for the darkness that surrounded this woman felt more dangerous than that of Rumpelstiltskin's. It was unpredictable.

"So," the woman began with a quirk of her black eyebrows, "You must be the new me."

Belle was stunned for a moment and simply stared at Cora. She willed herself to think of some sly retort, send the woman away, but her mind was a blank, the nerves getting the best of her.

What does she mean, the new her?

Cora wrinkled her forehead for a moment and frowned at the garden spade still clutched in Belle's hand.

"Are you frightened my Dear?" she asked with mock concern, her eyes flicking back up to Belle's face. "Your hand is shaking."

Belle glanced down at her hand (yes it was definitely shaking) and quickly placed her one hand on top of the other to hide her trembling.

Belle willed herself to smile at Cora,

"Forgive me, My Lady…" she began before Cora interrupted her with a snarl,

"It's your Majesty; you will remember that for next time."

she snapped peevishly as the air became thick with dark magic and made the hairs on the back of Belle's neck stand on end.

"Apologies, Your Majesty." Belle added quietly, thankful when the suffocating thickness lessened and the dark look on Cora's face faded ever so slightly. Belle dipped into the same curtsey she and her sister's were taught to give to Royalty, though she felt a bit shaky on her feet and nearly toppled over. Cora stared down her nose at Belle before taking one more step forward.

"There is magic about you girl. Are you his new apprentice? " Cora eyed Belle curiously, "No." she decided with a cold smile, "I don't think you are…"

Belle sucked in a sharp breath as Cora reached her hand out and tucked a stray curl behind Belle's ear, like a Mother would a child. The back of Cora's thumb began to trace a line from the bottom of Belle's ear across her jaw line and finally rested against the underside of Belle's chin.

"You are very beautiful my dear." She said in a low whisper, as if in a trance. It was not a complement but rather a statement, and it did not make Belle feel any less terrified as Cora's thumb tenderly caressed the underside of Belles chin in gentle circles before gently lifting it upwards and toward Cora's face until both women were nearly nose to nose.

Her thumb nail dug slightly into the flesh it was pressed against and Belle fought back a wince of pain,

"I was beautiful once." She said wistfully, "He likes beautiful things, doesn't he?" Cora leaned in to whisper into Belle's ear, as if she were bestowing a great secret, her black eyebrows quirked ever so slightly upwards and beckoning Belle to listen carefully.

"It's a curse you know; beauty." She breathed, the warmth from her breath tingling in Belle's ear and making her shiver once more. "It brews jealousy and greed; turns men into animals who will take everything from you and leave you alone and in agony; Turns kind women into vicious and dangerous enemies…" Her grip tightened on Belle's chin and Belle wanted to cry out, but stubbornness made her clench her jaw in silence, her blue eyes burning into the black pits of Cora's.

"You are just another shiny toy to him, do you understand? And he will toss you away, just like he did with all the others…"

Cora smiled ruefully then before gently releasing Belle's chin, the pads of her fingers dragged down Belle's throat, just light enough to make Belle's skin burn, before catching on the gold chain around Belle's neck. Cora turned the gold chain back and forth in curious examination, her thumb running along the woven gold.

With Cora's close proximity Belle was able to see small scarring along the back of Cora's neck where the collar of her dress met her shoulders. The scaring got lighter as it reached around, leaving faint lines along her cheek leading to the corner of her mouth. It was so faint that one would have to be extremely close to notice and Belle's curiosity was slightly heightened, momentarily distracting her from the dangerous woman herself. There was a story there, though Belle seriously doubted she would ever be on the receiving end of such a tale.

When Cora looked back up at Belle, she narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. Belle averted her gaze away from the scaring on Cora's cheek and prayed that she didn't catch her staring.

"What is your name?" Cora asked slowly, her hand dropping the blue sapphire of Belle's golden collar.

The sudden shift in topic made Belle blink, and a small voice in her head whispered for her to not answer. After a pregnant pause a dangerous look crossed Cora's face and she leaned in closer.

"I asked you a question…" she hissed.

"Cora."

Both Cora and Belle jumped a little at Rumplestiltskin's voice, the elder woman taking a quick and nervous step backwards.

Relief flooded over Belle and she realised she had been holding her breath, letting out a short gust of air. She watched in fascination as Cora took a slow breath through her nose, her jaw clenching tightly before she plastered on a sickly pleasant smile and spinning around to face the Dark One.

"Rumple darling." She said in greeting, sashaying toward Rumpelstiltskin who was leaning casually against the garden wall, his face betraying not a lick of emotion as Cora tilted her head and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Belle felt her face grow hot and she averted her gaze to her Mother's rose bush. A part of her was pleased that Rumpelstiltskin had the power to make even this woman tense. The other part was uneasy that Rumpelstiltskin had the power to make a dangerous woman like Cora tense…

"Frightening the help, I see. Really Dearie, do you have nothing better to do while you're not off playing Queen Mother?" Rumpelstiltskin sang with a slight giggle on his breath and warning in his eyes. Cora only smiled sweetly and looked over to Belle.

"Just having a friendly chat. We girls must stick together after all." she nearly purred.

Belle wanted to snort with disbelief but didn't want to give Cora a reason to dislike her even more than she appeared to. So she squared her shoulders and found a small smile for Cora, adopting her well practiced mask of calm confidence.

"Ah," Rumpelstiltskin exclaimed, pushing off the garden wall and stepping toward Belle and giving her a questioning glance. Belle momentary looked to Cora then back to Rumpelstiltskin before giving him a slight nod to signal that everything was fine. He pressed his index finger to his thumb and rubbed them together in thought at his side before spinning back around to face Cora.

"Tea." He exclaimed suddenly, "I will have Verna here bring a fresh pot up to the workroom for us. The girl does make an excellent pot of tea…"

Belle blinked at Rumpelstiltskin's back for a moment before realizing that she was the Verna he was referring to. Cora made a show of smelling a fragrant herb plant that peeked through the stone of the crumbling garden wall, but Belle could tell she was listening intently.

"Right away, sir." Belle murmured politely before bowing to Rumpelstiltskin's back. Cora straightened when Belle quickly stepped toward the garden exit, swiftly curtseying extra low before Cora with more grace than before, and Cora following her every movement like a hawk eyeing its prey. She stepped passed Cora and safely exited the low garden walls, dropping her spade as she went.

"Oh and Verna…"

Cora's voice had Belle freeze just before she reached the kitchen door. Swallowing hard, Belle slowly turned back on her heel to face Cora once more.

"Yes?" she said quietly with slight uncertainty.

Cora's face darkened into a small triumphant smirk before giving Belle one last once over.

"I take mine with milk."

Belle nodded once and curtseyed again before disappearing into the kitchen.

It wasn't until the kettle of water was on the stove that Belle felt the adrenaline in her system dissipate and the shaking in her hands became more evident.

"She cannot get to me." Belle chanted out loud, her hands gripping the sides of the deep kitchen sink, "I am safe."

But Belle found herself wondering at the truth of her words as she gathered the tea things and placed them on the serving tray.