Belle had been in the Dark Castle for a little over two weeks now and was becoming quite certain that the stories of the "Evil Dark One" were significantly exaggerated.

Oh, he still made some rather morbid jokes, that oddly enough she was coming to find a bit amusing, and wasn't always the friendliest person (especially in the mornings). But he was interesting to talk with and they had almost developed a sort of banter.

Beyond that he also never mistreated her unless you counted making her sleep in the dungeon. Which was far from comfortable but it wasn't as if he chained her up. In fact, he no longer locked her cell. That had been an interesting evening.

*Flashback Belle POV*

Belle entered her cell for the evening and the door swung shut. However, oddly enough she didn't hear the click of the lock.

Puzzled Belle moved to the door and pushed on it experimentally. It swung open. She stepped outside into the hall and then shook her head and went back inside the cell closing the door. Belle had no intention of breaking her word to him.

Even had she not been determined to stay to protect her people, she still considered herself of woman of her word. Come to think of it Belle was also 99% sure this was some sort of test. The man did love to play games with people and she'd just won. The thought brought a slight smile to her face.

*Flashback Rumple POV*

She'd stayed. She'd realized the door was open and she had a chance at escape and she had simply returned to her cell. It seemed the former Princess really did intend to stay true to her word. Of course, she'd claimed as much, hence his desire to test her. But he'd not actually expected her to pass.

He had believed that she surely would have come to regret her choice to trade her freedom for her people by now. But no, his new maid really was as selfless as she seemed. The former peasant in him found it pleasant to see a noble act so refreshingly different. He really had acquired a unique young woman.

*End of Flashback*

Belle had never brought up what Rumple had done with the door but from that moment on he no longer implied she had any intention of breaking her deal with him. And that meant something to her. If she was going to be here forever she'd like to at least be on amiable terms with her employer.

One evening after Belle had completed her chores, she glanced at the calendar and with a jolt realized the date. It was the one year, anniversary of her mother's death.

Feeling particularly unhappy Belle went to the dungeon and began to cry. She missed her mother. The two of them had always been closer than she had been with her father. After all it had been her mother who instilled her love of books in her.

Belle hadn't realized how loud she had apparently been crying because the door to her cell was suddenly flung open. She looked up to see Rumplestiltskin.

"When you so eagerly agreed to come and work for me, I assumed you wouldn't miss your family quite so much." he sneered.

Tired, sad, and upset Belle glared and without really thinking snapped back.

"I made my sacrifice for them of course I miss them you Beast!" something briefly flashed across her employer's face before for it was replaced by a scoff.

"Yes, yes, of course. But the crying must stop. It's making it very difficult for me to spin. You know, I do my best thinking then!" he seemed to struggle for a moment before he waved his hand and suddenly a small gold pillow appeared in it. "Perhaps this will help."

"For me?" she asked in surprise. He threw it at her and she caught it.

"Not so beastly now am I?" he snarled.

"Thank you," said Belle a bit perplexed but grateful and also rapidly regretting insulting him. He surely could have silenced her in any number of magical, and even potentially nasty ways, but he was giving her a pillow?

"Don't think it's to help you sleep dearie, it's to muffle your cries so I can get back to work!" Rumplestiltskin told her nastily. Suddenly the sound of glass breaking came from above. Rumplestiltskin turned on his heel and Belle followed behind.

They entered the room to find a hooded man with a bow and arrow reaching for one of the wands Rumplestiltskin had on display.

"Are you sure you want to do that dearie?" her Master asked the man his tone dangerous.

"Pretty sure," answered the man removing his hood to reveal a man with honey brown hair and blue eyes as well as a fair bit of stubble on his chin. Belle considered the man to be either very brave, very foolish, or very desperate to break into the home of the Dark One. She had a feeling this was not going to end well for the thief.

"If you don't know how to use that wand, it can do nasty things to you." Warned Rumplestiltskin.

" Well, then... I'll stick to what I know works." The man placed the wand in his quiver and pulled an arrow out notching it and aiming at Rumplestiltskin. "Do you know what this arrow can do to you?"

"Has to hit me first," jeered Rumplestiltskin before teleporting to another part of the room.

"Shouldn't be a problem. An arrow fired from this bow always finds its target. Don't you just love magic?" he released the arrow and Rumplestiltskin teleported away again however to Belle's surprise the arrow swerved in mid air and whirled to hit Rumplestiltkin in his new position. Fear filled her and she cried out as it struck him.

"I know I do," said the thief. Belle made to move towards Rumplestiltskin to help him but he disappeared.

"As. Do. I." Replied Rumplestiltskin appearing in front of the thief and to Belle's shock and relief he pulled out the arrow from his chest seeming completely unharmed.

"But don't you know? All magic comes with a price! And in your case, that's me." He waved his hand and the thief disappeared in a swirl of smoke.

OUAT

Rumplestiltskin had been admittedly a bit perplexed by Belle's crying. She'd not done so on previous nights, so it didn't make sense for it to be over her imprisonment here. But at the same time, he couldn't think of any other possible reason.

So, he had stormed down and taunted her though his heart wasn't really in it. Unsurprisingly his Belle. Wait when did she become his? Had clapped back and called him a beast. For some reason coming from her the insult hit much harder than it had from her father.

At a loss Rumple conjured a pillow and unable to think of a genuine justification snarled.

"Don't think it's to help you sleep dearie, it's to muffle your cries so I can get back to work!"

He wasn't sure what his maid would have said next but it was interrupted by a crash of glass from above.

Rumplestiltskin hurried back above with Belle on his heels. They came out into the great hall to see a hooded man with a bow attempting to steal one of the fairy wands Rumple had collected over the years.

"Are you sure you want to do that dearie?" Rumple trilled dangerously.

"Pretty sure," said the man removing his hood and taking the wand.

"If you don't know how to use that wand, it can do nasty things to you." Rumple pointed out. He was honestly just toying with the thief but really what was the idiot thinking breaking into the home of the Dark One with nothing but a bow and arrow while said Dark One was home?

"Well, then... I'll stick to what I know works." The man placed the wand in his quiver and pulled an arrow out notching it. Rumple was utterly unconcerned considering the man might as well have been pointing a bread stick at him. "Do you know what this arrow can do to you?"

"Has to hit me first," jeered Rumplestiltskin and deciding to show off he teleported away. To the thief's credit he wasn't wholly put off. Yet.

"Shouldn't be a problem. An arrow fired from this bow always finds its target. Don't you just love magic?" He fired the arrow and Rumplestiltskin disappeared again reappearing near the thief only to have the arrow swoop around and strike him.

Belle screamed. In fear for him? NOW he was truly irritated by the man. However, he was slightly distracted by the fact that Belle had begun to move towards him as if to aid him. Unnecessary but surprising.

"I know I do," answered the thief. The thief made to leave but Rumple smirked and teleported in front of him pulling out the arrow. Much to the thief's shock, and to Rumple's pleasure horror.

"As. Do. I. But don't you know? All magic comes with a price! And in your case, that's me." He waved his hand and teleported the man down to the dungeons.

Belle hurried over to him.

"Are you truly alright?" she asked and Rumple was surprised to see genuine concern in her eyes as they scanned the spot where the arrow had pierced him. Why was she so worried? If the arrow were able to slay him she would have been freed from their deal.

"It'll take more than an arrow to kill me dearie."

"Well, thank goodness for that," she answered softly. "What are you going to do with the thief?"

"Why make him pay of course," giggled Rumple a nasty smile spreading over his face. Oh, could think of several ways of making the thief regret ever having tried to steal from the Dark One. Fear crossed Belle's face.

"What do you mean?"

"That's my business dearie," he said mysteriously before teleporting away.

OUAT

Belle had been terrified for Rumplestiltskin when the arrow had stuck him. Why exactly she cared SO much she wasn't sure but at the very least Belle didn't want him to die.

"Are you truly alright?" she asked him once he had banished the thief presumably to some other part of the castle. He started and for a moment she thought he looked genuinely surprised. Belle wondered how long it had been since anyone had actually cared about his wellbeing. But then the mask of the imp returned.

"It'll take more than an arrow to kill me dearie."

"Well thank goodness for that." answered Belle without really thinking before quickly changing the subject. "What are you going to do with the thief?" she asked.

"That's my business dearie," he said and she didn't like the smirk the spread across his face before he disappeared.

OUAT

His "business" to Belle's horror, turned out to be torture. As she swept the floors Belle heard the unending screams of the thief. She tried her best to block them out but it was especially difficult when Rumplestiltskin kept bringing up blood covered aprons for her to clean and hang to dry.

Belle just couldn't imagine that a failed attempt to steal an object even a powerful one like that wand was worth such punishment. Besides shouldn't he at least be given a chance to explain what he wanted it for?

Yes, the man was foolish in Belle's opinion to try and steal from the Dark One of all people instead of making a deal. But the punishment didn't fit the crime. She supposed one might argue the man had also made an attempt on Rumplestiltskin's life. Something she didn't approve of. But clearly her employer had known the arrow would do him no harm and it had been in an attempt to escape rather than an assassination.

The man's screams stopped and Rumplestiltskin came up into the entryway.

"I'm going to need another apron," he said removing the latest blood-spattered one. Hoping to provide the man with a slight reprieve Belle lied.

"They're on the line drying. It will be some time." It seemed Rumplestiltskin didn't pick up on the lie as he stated.

"Fine, fine. Get to cleaning this one as well," he tossed it two her and Belle visibly cringed. "I'll be back later." He turned to leave and Belle plucked up her courage.

"All this because he tried to steal a magic wand?" Rumplestiltskin rounded on her.

"No, because he tried to steal from me. The Dark One. You try that, you get skinned alive. Everyone knows that."

"Actually, they don't." snapped Belle with a defiant glare. Her Master shrugged and answered gleefully,

"Well they will after they find the body!"

Belle sighed. How could she reconcile the man who had healed her with the one that was now torturing a man? Coming to a decision she made she her employer was secluded in his tower before grabbing a glass of water and hurrying down to the dungeon.

There she found the thief chained up and bloodied. His head was bowed in exhaustion and pain.

He looked up as she entered.

"What? Did he send you to finish the job?"

"Uh no. Here, drink this," she put the water to his lips and he downed it gratefully. Then she moved to free him from his bonds. "I couldn't let this continue. It's inhuman."

"I-I couldn't agree more. But I fear now he'll turn his wrath on you." Belle shrugged.

"If he does, I'll stand up to the beast that he is, because no one... no one deserves to be tortured." The thief scoffed.

"Well, he may beg to differ."

"Well, I don't care. He doesn't frighten me." She finished freeing him "Hurry up. He'll be back soon. Hurry." The thief moved to the door but then stopped.

"But he will-he will kill you. Unless-unless you run away with me." Belle shook her head.

"I can't run. I made a deal to serve him, in exchange for him protecting my kingdom and my family from the . If I were to leave, I might survive, but my family surely won't." Never mind that Rumplestiltskin would surely find her anyway. Hopefully if she stayed behind she would be able to convince him to not chase after the thief.

"All I can do is wish you luck." Said the thief.

"Thank you. Now go. Go." Belle told him and the thief left.

Strangely enough Belle was relatively certain Rumplestiltskin wasn't going to kill her. He would surely be angry but murdering her was surely a bit far and if nothing else would defeat the point of having dealt for her as a caretaker in the first place.

She headed back upstairs and having finished her chores opened one of the cookbooks to study. However, try and she might she had a hard time concentrating when all she could do was listen for Rumplestiltskin to find out about her act of defiance. Sure enough half an hour later Rumplestiltskin returned.

"I'll try not to be too loud. Can't promise the same courtesy from our prisoner." he sneered before heading back down. Belle closed her eyes

One. Two. Three.

Then came the expected scream of anger and her master stormed back into the room to stand in front of her

"Belle!" the first time he used her name and it was in anger. For some reason this saddened Belle.

"Where is he?" demanded Rumplestiltskin. Belle took a deep breath.

"Gone. I let him go."

"What? He was a thief!" snarled Rumplestiltskin

"Which doesn't give you the right to kill him."

"It gives me every right. Oh, let me guess. You think he's a hero? Stealing from me for some noble cause? You read too many books, dearie! There." He waved his hand and her book disappeared. "Maybe that'll stop filling your head with poisonous thoughts!" Belle stood up anger filling her. The comment was all too similar to words she had heard back home with regard to her favorite past-time. Not to mention that she disagreed with her employer on principle

"I didn't free him because of what I read in my books. I saw good in him. That man only wanted to escape with his life." Rumplestiltskin scoffed.

"Oh, is that what you thought? Our thief escaped with more than his life." he pointed and Belle turned to see that the stand which had held the wand was empty.

OUAT

Rumplestiltskin was furious. Not only had the thief escaped thanks to the interference of his maid, but he'd also stolen a powerful magical artifact.

"You were tricked, you foolish, gullible girl!" he shouted. Hurt at the insult briefly crossed her face before being replaced by defiance and for a moment Rumplestiltskin felt oddly guilty over his words but he pushed the feeling away.

"There must be an explanation. We don't know why he needed that wand." she said and Rumplestiltskin scoffed.

"He took the wand because he wanted magic! People who steal magic never have good intentions!" He pushed down the brief reminder that came into his mind of another man who had once stolen magic with the intention of saving his child. Surely it couldn't be the same.

"No! No! You can't tell what's in a person's heart until you truly know them." Oh surely the girl was naive.

"Kill her. She disobeyed you." hissed a voice in his head. "Snap her neck it would be easy. Otherwise, you're showing weakness. Just destroy the wench". Rumple shook his head and shoved the voices of Nimue and Zoso respectively back. Oh he was mad at Belle but killing her was out of the question. No he'd find a different way of punishing her while getting rid of the thief at the same time.

"Oh, we'll see what's in his heart, all right. When I shoot an arrow straight through it. And because I am a showman," he struck a pose as he summoned the bow. "It'll be with his bow. And because this is your fault, you get to come with me and watch, and know, as the blood drips from his carcass, it will be you and your rags to wipe it up." Yes that would teach her and satisfy the darkness's bloodlust.

Author's Note: Ok so while I am only covering series 1-3 I do plan to take some aspects of what we learned about the dark one curse in later seasons so I'm introducing the voices of the former dark ones attempting to influence him somewhat. I thought it would be interesting to explore a manifestation of the Dark One's curse. Let me know what you think. I also changed the reason for Belle crying because I never really was fond of her sobbing for what appeared to be days on end over HER CHOICE. I'm splitting the Robin hood story into two parts because when I wrote it all out it came out as exceptionally long. Lastly much as I adore tome Ellis for continuity I'm just describing Robin to look like Season 3 Robin. Thanks to all who have commented please continue to leave your thoughts if you like the story!