It was a crisp frosty morning when Belle brought Rumplestiltskin's breakfast in. By her count she had now been her for around three months and had settled into a routine. However, instead of the simple good morning she normally received as she placed his food in front of him Rumplestiltskin stopped her.
"Wait a moment dearie." Belle turned.
"Yes?" she inquired mildly.
"I'm leaving for a deal today and will be gone for at least three days."
"Oh, where to?" said Belle feeling a strange sadness at his leaving. Of course, she was used to him going off on occasion during the day but he was usually back by nightfall at the latest.
"Camelot," answered Rumplestiltskin not sounding impressed in the slightest at the idea of going to the realm of the legendary King Arthur. Belle however, felt a rush of excitement of course she wasn't going but surely, he'd be able to tell her about what he saw when he got back. If she could get him in a good mood.
"I see well, I suppose that's a few less meals to cook," said Belle with a slight smile.
"Don't think you are to be shirking your duties while I'm away dearie. I expect this castle spotless when I get back." Belle decided not to point out that one maid was not enough to completely clean a gigantic castle even if she didn't stop to sleep.
"Of course not, I'm still your caretaker," she answered.
"Quite right," said Rumplestiltskin firmly. "The front doors are going to be sealed and you aren't to answer them for ANYONE. I want you to stay inside the castle while I'm gone."
"I'm not going to run away," said Belle not feeling particularly resentful about the restrictions as they were only marginally tighter than usual. Rumplestiltskin's answer surprised her.
"I know that dearie."
OUAT
"I know that dearie." As seemed to happen all too often around Belle the words left his mouth without fulling thinking them through. The surprise was evident on her face although her rose petal pink lips twisted up in a smile.
"I'm glad you've come to accept that much." she answered. Rumplestiltskin shrugged trying to make it seem as it didn't matter.
"I accept that you are neither foolish nor deceitful enough to try and break your deal with me. You would not risk your people's lives for your own freedom."
And it was true. If for no other reason, for surely there wasn't any other reason, Belle would stay because she was a woman of her word and cared far too much for the lives of those she'd saved by coming her to forfeit them through some ill-conceived escape attempt.
"That's true enough," agreed Belle. "When do you depart?"
"Immediately after breakfast."
"Do you want me to pack something for the road?" she asked. Rumplestiltskin shook his head technically he didn't need to eat as much as a normal man. He could go quite a while without food but after having been a nearly starving peasant he normally did prefer to take his meals. Still, the journey itself to Camelot was not long enough to warrant packing food.
"That won't be necessary." he answered with a wave of his hand.
"Well then. I'll be waiting when for you when you return." she said and he could have sworn he detected a hint of sadness in her eyes though he must have been imagining it. Surely, she would be relieved to have a few days to herself.
"That you will." He answered and couldn't stop the way his mouth briefly twitched upward. Strangely enough he liked the idea of coming back knowing that Belle would be here on his return. It was...comforting.
OUAT
It was late into the second day of Rumplestiltskin's departure and honestly the castle was a bit lonely without him. She missed his quips and their daily tea time. The sound of his spinning wheel echoing in the great hall. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough it seemed.
Dusting one of the cabinets Belle found herself intrigued by a long, thin silver sword with strange marking on the blade. Belle bit her lip. She knew she probably shouldn't pick up or touch any of Rumplestiltskin's things but at the same time he wouldn't be back for another day and surely what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
She opened the case and very gently began to lift the sword from its display. Suddenly a high-pitched voice rang out startling her and causing her to drop one end of the sword with a clatter.
"Don't cut yourself dearie!" Right behind her was of course Rumplestiltskin looking slightly disapproving. Belle sighed feeling guilty.
"I'm so, so, sorry, I thought..."
"You thought I'd be away for another day and it would be fine to play with my toys," interrupted Rumplestiltkin with a dramatic gesture of his hand as he stepped forward and took the sword from her hand.
"Good thing I came back early too. It's quite interesting to see how the mouse plays when the cat is away," he continued walking towards the table and swiping a finger across it.
"And the mouse has done very little cleaning." Belle shrugged. She had planned to get to that table later. But decided to explain her actions even if it wasn't exactly a justification.
"It's just you have so many things here from all over the world, I was curious." she sighed. "And you never talk about them."
"Well, you're the help," shrugged Rumplestiltskin turning to face her and Belle resisted a snort. Yes, because the help were given gorgeous library's and bedrooms. Instead, she strode forward so she was toe to toe with him and poking him in the chest.
"And you're rude."
"Well, I could be much worse," said Rumplestiltskin turning away. And Belle sighed following him and sitting on the table. Clearly, he was still stuck in what she had come to privately dub "Dark One mode". Sometimes it took a while when he came back from his deals to drop the dangerous person he used in his line of work.
"But you're not," she pointed out. Rumplestiltskin turned back to face her and Belle could already see the beastly facade starting to slip so she continued.
"Look you have seen the world, something that I have ALWAYS wanted to do, yet you share nothing."
"Mouthy, mouthy! And foolishly brave," said Rumplestiltkin leaning in so their faces were close together however Belle refused to be intimidated as she looked into his amber eyes with their small pupils raising a skeptical eyebrow. Her words had been no more severe than any of the other quips she'd shared with her Master.
"If you were going to kill me you would have done it long ago." Rumplestiltskin looked slightly miffed that his bluff had been called.
"Perhaps I would but..."
"Good help is hard to find," she finished the last part of his sentence in unison with him. It seemed to be his go to excuse. Rumplestiltskin shot her a glare though it didn't hold much real anger.
"Yes."
OUAT
"Yes."
The cheeky girl had called his bluff. Of course, course he wasn't going to kill her. The idea was unthinkable. But her boldness and lack of fear was still astounding. Belle sighed and smiled slightly, the gentle expression warming his black heart and reminding him why he had sped up how long it took to conclude his business in Camelot.
"Now we've established that we both know you aren't going to kill me, will you tell me what you've seen? How was your trip to Camelot?" The excitement that danced in her eyes tempted him to give into her wish. To tell her about his travels but another part of him. A part firmly rooted in the curse of the Dark One felt the need to pull back. Don't indulge her. She's your servant. That's all she'll ever be. She could never actually care for you. Hissed one of the traitorous voices in his mind.
"Good for me, not so good for Camelot," he answered shortly. With a wave of his hand he summoned the gauntlet he had gotten in Camelot.
"A souvenir." He said handing her the gauntlet. "Clean it." Belle took it and he watched her carefully examine it. Her face alight with curiosity.
"What is it?" feeling slightly guilty about having ignored her earlier enquiry Rumplestiltskin decided to answer.
"It's a magic gauntlet, with a very specific purpose. It can locate anyone's greatest weakness." The voice's in his mind shouted in alarm at him for revealing that information. "She'll use it against you" hissed Zoso. And yet Rumplestiltskin didn't believe she would.
There was no ambition or cunning in Belle's eyes as she looked at the object in a new light.
"How ominous," she said dryly. No Belle wouldn't use it. Aside from being smart enough not to try and cross him he could tell from her demeanor that the thought clearly hadn't even crossed her mind. His Belle was far to innocent and kind.
Which wasn't to say that she wasn't shrewd as her next question demonstrated.
"But why do you need it. With all your power you could destroy any foe." Rumplestiltskin couldn't help but preen a little at her faith in his powers. He took a step closer.
"It's about manipulation," he explained. "And for that you must find one's weakness. And for almost everyone, that weakness is the thing they love most."
"You make loving someone sound dangerous," commented Belle. Rumplestiltskin chuckled.
"Love is the most dangerous power out there, dearie. It can result in greater harm than even the most vehement of hatred."
"I've never thought of it that way. But I can't say I don't think it's worth the risk. It may be the most dangerous. But it's also the most wonderful," Belle's gaze turned thoughtful. "Which in itself may be what makes it a double-edged sword.
Rumplestiltskin had to resist the smile that wanted to come to his face at her cleverness.
"I didn't realize I'd dealt for a philosopher as well as a maid. Though perhaps you are better at the former given your abysmal job as the latter." He quipped and Belle laughed as she hopped off the table.
"I'm not that awful. And if you wanted a better maid you shouldn't have dealt for a princess."
"Careful dearie that sounded dangerously close to insubordination." he answered though it lacked even a hint of the bite he'd attempted earlier.
"Perhaps," said Belle before starting to walk out. Suddenly she paused and turned back.
"Rumplestiltkin?"
"Yes?" he asked turning back to face her only to find her once again beaming at him.
"I'm glad you're back." She then turned on her heal leaving him gob smacked at her words.
OUAT
The following morning Belle served Rumplestiltskin breakfast as usual. It really was nice to have him back. She knew to other people it might sound strange that she enjoyed the Dark One's company and preferred to have him here in the castle with her rather than being left alone. But then she'd always been considered strange.
"You know I think I've figured out why you collect so many things," she said casually as she set the plate down in front of him.
"Oh?" scoffed Rumplestiltskin.
"You have a hole in your heart. So, you try and fill it by collecting trinkets," answered Belle.
She'd been actually been coming to this conclusion for a while. After all, certainly many of the objects in the castle like the gauntlet held magical significance but from what she'd seen there was also a significant portion that was just "stuff".
She might have chalked it up to a hoarding habit had it not been for the few occasions she'd caught him with his guard down there was something in his eyes at those times that spoke of pain and loneliness.
"Rubbish," snorted Rumplestiltskin. "The only hole is the one in my closet. I need fresh laundry."
Before Belle could reply he had waved his hand and she found herself whisked away in a cloud of crimson smoke and deposited outside with a basket of laundry. This was the one area outside she was actually allowed in.
"Very mature," she said sarcastically. "You only did that because you know I'm right." Belle bent down and picked up some laundry and began to pin it to the line. At least Rumplestiltskin had had the courtesy to magic her cloak onto her given the nippy air outside.
"And no I am not talking to myself because I know you can hear me." she grumbled. This wasn't the first time Rumplestiltskin had resorted to teleporting out of any sort of emotional conversation. It was simply a toss-up whether he'd teleport himself away or choose to move her instead. Not that that deterred Belle.
She wouldn't push him more than necessary but she also did want to get to know him and it was clear any steps towards friendship were going to be needed to be initiated on her end.
Suddenly Belle heard barking and turned to see a small Dalmatian puppy.
"Hello, where did you come from?" she said. The dog barked again and she followed it not too concerned as the wards around the castle were supposed to keep her in and anything dangerous out.
It was only when she reached just past the edge of the lawn of the castle and had taken a step into the wood that she realized that she hadn't run into the wards yet despite Rumplestiltskin saying that the boundary was the forest line. Her heart suddenly felt uneasy.
Unfortunately, this realization came too late as before she could step back within the castle grounds everything went black.
Author's Note: Apologies for the delay in updating I was on vacation. So I decided to embellish the scene from the show a little along with adding something before hand. Also since Belle and Rumple are getting along a little better his threat to her is more banter than anything else plus I wanted to use the phrase "Dark One Mode". I also wanted to make Belle seem SLIGHTLY less foolish for following the puppy here. The scene about the hole in his heart is also a deleted scene however I again altered the dialogue a little. If you like the story PLEASE PLEASE let me know in the comments below. Thank you to all who have already left comments already! Until next time.
