By far Belle's favorite part of the day was the evening. Every night she and Rumple would retire to the library. Sometimes he would spin while she read, other times he would read and she would sew his garments. And sometimes they would just talk debating and discussing all manner of things they came across in their literary adventures
She also got the sense that Rumple greatly enjoyed it. Indeed, he was always the first one up to the library and though he tried to hide it always seemed a bit disappointed when it would grow so late that Belle would inevitably need to head to bed.
Tonight's subject was fairies.
"Nasty little useless knats!" snapped Rumple so vehemently it rather shocked Belle.
"Nasty?" asked Belle. She remembered a few had attacked Rumple which she supposed could certainly justify some dislike but that couldn't be the only reason let alone apply to all fairies. "But everything I've ever come across speaks well of them and their good magic."
"Books largely influenced by said fairies. And it's LIGHT magic Belle," Rumple corrected her and upon seeing her confused face he elaborated.
"Magic is neither good or evil. Simply light or dark. Light magic tends to have more limitations than dark though the latter tends to require a higher cost. But don't mistake me. Light magic DOES have a cost all the same."
"So it's the result that is good or evil not the magic itself. You used dark magic I presume to get rid of the ogres. That wasn't an evil act but it did utilize dark magic and thus required a higher cost in this case something extremely precious. My father's only child." said Belle choosing to use her own deal as an example. Rumple gave her a proud smile.
"Very good and entirely correct." Belle grinned but then narrowed his eyes.
"You're deflecting. What is so bad about fairies?" Rumple paced to the window.
"For one thing they're a load of sanctimonious fleas especially their head the blue bug, who take a very black and white view of the world. And while I personally don't give a damn what they think of me I find that particular outlook exceptionally irritating."
"What do you mean?" asked Belle. Rumple pursed his lips.
"Let's take Pip as an example do you believe her to be an evil villain?" Belle's eyes widened.
"Of course not!" she exclaimed.
"Ah but you see the fairies do. Pip is a loving mother, a loyal friend, and when she finds someone, she trusts a genuinely kind person. She merely severely limits who she displays those traits to. Now all those traits very much fit a good person. However, because she also chooses at times to use her magic for shall we say...less than moral purposes and is quite willing to resort to revenge should she feel the need the fairies consider her evil."
"But that isn't the case. She may not be pure of heart but she's not an evil person." said Belle who could think of another person those words could apply to. Rumples lips quirked upward.
"That's because you have the capability to recognize that the world is not so black and white. Almost everyone has shades of grey within them and it's narrow minded to act otherwise."
Belle found herself thoroughly agreeing with that. The real world, though she hadn't experienced too much of it already seemed too messy for things to be so cut and dry. She could understand how someone like Rumple who had lived so long and seen so much would find the simplification of such morality annoying.
"You said one thing, why else don't you like them?" asked Belle. Rumple snorted.
"They're deceptive about their magic. Aside from falsely claiming it to be GOOD as opposed to simply light they never tell the recipient the price. They make the person think they are getting a magical favor for free but that isn't the case. SOMEONE will always have to pay the price and I assure you the fairies aren't choosing to do so." Belle tilted her head.
"I suppose that makes sense. For all people may disagree with your deals it can't be said you don't offer the price up front in some form. Which ironically seems like a much safer bet when making a magical deal now that I think about it."
"I may be strict in my deals but I refuse to give anyone cause to say they weren't told the price before. Now whether they choose to be specific is another matter but the point stands."
Belle nodded in agreement. Honestly Rumple seemed to be more responsible about his powers in some ways than the fairies. Granted Rumple was obviously biased but then again so were the accounts in her books.
"Then I suppose it's a good thing I convinced my father to call on you rather than the fairies isn't it?" said Belle coming to stand next to him. Rumple's head snapped to face her in surprise.
OUAT
Rumple always enjoyed his little discussions with Belle. Her constant thirst for knowledge and even interest for an alternate opinion was refreshing. Regardless of if she agreed with him on something she'd always hear him out and more often than not could usually acknowledge where he was coming from even if she still disagreed.
Tonight they were on the subject of fairies. Probably his least favorite creature in the world. Still it was providing a stimulating topic of conversation. He wasn't going to go into his specific reasons regarding Bae for hating the pests but there were other valid ones he had that he was more than willing to discuss. As per usual his Belle was quick to catch on.
He smiled as she grew indignant at the idea of Pip being considered a villain. He knew Pip didn't have much of a problem with the title any more than he had a problem with people considering him evil, but it was the principle of the matter.
Then of course they had moved on to an actual discussion of the differences in how he and the fairies handled magic. Personally, Rumple prided himself on his deals which were always iron clad for both his benefit and his client's they knew what they were getting and they knew what they had to pay, for the most part. He was a master with words but he always abided to the letter of his agreements.
The same couldn't be said for the knats. That said he was thrown for a loop by Belle's next words as she came to stand next to him.
"Then I suppose it's a good thing I convinced my father to call on you rather than the fairies isn't it?"
"What?" he asked. Belle gave a small smile.
"Everyone else was focused on military tactics I figured we ought to look elsewhere for a solution. Come to think of it with how hard I wished each night for things to get better one would have figured at least one fairy might have bothered to come and lend a hand if they wanted to." she added suddenly.
"Ah the third annoying thing about them. They're elitist. They focus only on those they deem worthy for their agenda, or major nobility. Your little kingdom likely wasn't considered important enough."
"Now I get the irritation," chuckled Belle. "Anyway, I decided to try and find a magical solution that could match the ogres. Some research led me to see that the First Ogre wars were ended by the Dark One. A little more research proved you to be trustworthy in terms of keeping to your deals so I figured, if you ended the last one why couldn't you end this one?"
"I'm still shocked your father agreed although not so much at the fact that the only sensible solution to the problem came from you." said Rumple dryly.
"It took time and I swear I wanted to bang my head against a wall when I heard the proposition they sent. I thought that if anything did make you choose not to come it would be the sheer idiocy of the offer."
"I remember your exasperation in the war room well," said Rumple without really thinking.
"You do?" said Belle looking a little shocked and dare he say pleased. Rumple scoffed.
"You were the only interesting thing in there." Belle laughed and took his hand her face becoming more serious.
"I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for my kingdom." Rumple took her hand and kissed the back of it.
"I didn't do anything Belle. It is all because of your bravery. It was your choice to make the deal that led to your people being saved."
"But it was your magic and you paid some sort of price for it, or why else would you ask for something in return?" said Belle perceptive as ever. Rumple smiled slightly. Truthfully it had taken a little bit of energy out of him to get rid of the ogres though not enough to cause any significant damage.
"Perhaps we both deserve some credit in that case," he replied and Belle smiled slightly before standing up on tip toe and kissing his scaled cheek.
"I think I can accept that compromise. Goodnight Rumplestiltskin." She turned and left the library leaving Rumple standing there slightly dumbfounded.
OUAT
While some of the nights spent in their joint book filled sanctuary, for really Rumple was the only person Belle had ever met with as avid an appetite for learning as she, where spent on neutral matters such as philosophy or books. Other times, rare though they were the conversations could turn personal.
One night Belle was reading to Rumple from a book written by a man from the land without color on the science of deduction.
"What do you think? Can you deduce a person's background without extensive personal knowledge?" she asked.
"Oh yes, I quite a agree," said Rumple glancing up from his spinning.
"What could you tell about me just from observation?" asked Belle. Rumple turned to look at her.
"Well, it's obvious you were nobility even without the clothes to match. Your posture and manner of speech indicate having had strict instruction on how to behave in a certain manner. Something that has now become ingrained in you. For instanced you never let your back touch the chair when you are seated at the dinner table.
That said it's blatantly obvious you've had a change in station give the callouses on your hands showing some form of labor. Then there's your accent which of course makes it clear you come from the Marchlands. Oh, and the ink on your finger's dearie which give away your fondness for books."
Belle raised her eyebrows impressed by Rumple's deductions.
"That was a lot." Rumple shrugged.
"Some people are easier to read than others."
"You aren't quite the enigma you think you are Rumplestiltskin," chuckled Belle.
"Oh really?" he said.
"Yes. I think I could probably discern some information about your background from some observations of my own. From before you were the dark one I mean." Rumple gave her a disbelieving look.
"You seem quite confident." Belle got up from her spot on the couch and came to sit next to him.
"I am. I'll make you a deal. I'll deduce what I can and all you have to do is tell me if I'm right or wrong."
OUAT
"You seem quite confident," Rumple told Belle. The brunette stood from her place on the couch and came to sit by Rumplestiltskin who tried his best not to react to her nearness. She looked into his eyes face entirely guileless.
"I am. I'll make you a deal. I'll deduce what I can and all you have to do is tell me if I'm right or wrong." Rumple pondered the deal a part of him wanted to keep his past tucked away but another was intrigued to see if Belle could rise to the challenge she had set.
"Very well." Belle leaned slightly closer.
"From your accent I'd guess you were born maybe near the Frontlands. You can't have been a noble because you always display distain when speaking or dealing with someone of the noble class. Not to mention that you generally treat those who would be considered beneath you in terms of social class with respect. That means you were some form of tradesman. You might have lots of wealth now but you didn't always.
"How do you figure that?" asked Rumple.
"You rarely spend to excess. People who have always had lots of money usually run through it like water. You aren't frugal but you also don't spend more than you require. Just like my manners are ingrained so is your instinct to preserve what you have."
Rumple didn't answer but tilted his head indicating she should continue.
"Like I said you must have been some form of tradesman then and if I were to hazard a guess I'd say you were a spinner. It comes naturally to you so it's something you're very used to. It's also unlikely it's a habit you picked up after becoming the Dark One given it's a rather unusual past time for anyone who doesn't need to do it." Belle sat back.
"So?" A small smile curved Rumple's lips despite the way the voices in his head howled for her death at having guessed so much about him.
"Right on all counts. Not that any of that is to leave this room mind you." he added. Belle smiled.
"Of course not." Rumple shook his head smiling wryly.
"I really must learn to stop underestimating you."
"Yes, you should," said Belle with a cheeky smirk. Then she tilted her head a thoughtful look coming over her face.
"Is your life easier now?" Rumple pondered the question. There were many layers to it. Certainly, it was no longer a struggle to survive in terms of money. However, the internal struggle against the curse for his soul continued every day.
"In some ways yes it's easier. But in other's it has become far more complex." he answered slightly vaguely and Belle nodded in understanding.
"Shall I finish the chapter?" she queried.
"Certainly," replied Rumple inclining his head and turning back to the wheel as Belle began to read her sweet voice surrounding him and warming his darkened heart.
Author's Note: As I said fairies. Not going to be portrayed nicely. I liked the idea that Belle was the one behind calling Rumple as it makes her making the deal with him then make even more sense. Shout out to anyone who got the Science of Deduction reference. I wanted another case of showing them matching wits with each other. Also really hope you guys liked Grace in the last chapter because we've got a bit more Hatter family fluff coming up in the next one. If you like the story please leave your thoughts below it really does mean a lot. Until next time!
