Belle might have been stuck in the tower of the Queen's castle but that didn't mean she was just going to sit around and hope for a rescue. Of course, the Queen had said it was hopeless and she now knew that Rumple wouldn't come since he believed her dead not to mention the tower was apparently warded against his magic. But she would need to at least try to escape. And so try she did.

OUAT

Her first attempt was admittedly fairly uninspired. She waited until the guards came to unlock her wrists so she could eat the meager scraps they gave her. Quick as lightening Belle grabbed the tray of food and bashed the guard over the head. He stumbled back and she ran past him. Dodging another guard by the door.

There were shouts as she ran down the stairs and briefly, she thought she might have a chance until she found her way blocked by four armed knights in black mail. She turned see two more approaching from behind looking furious. She was trapped.

The guards grabbed her, though she kicked and struggled, and dragged her back to her cell. Rechaining her more tightly.

Not long after the Queen arrived glaring at her.

"Thought you'd try and escape did you?"

"Yes." said Belle.

"I told you it was futile."

"That doesn't mean I'll give up." snapped Belle angrily.

"Well, perhaps you'll rethink it after a punishment." scoffed the Queen before ordering Belle to be given several lashes.

Despite the pain Belle remained defiant. She'd just need to think of something else.

OUAT

Her second attempt at escape came in the form of someone else. She was lying on the cold hard bunk trying to think up a new escape plan when she heard a commotion outside. There were yells a clang and then a thunk. The door swung open and Belle scrambled up.

The man who entered was what one might call ruggedly handsome she supposed though not really to her taste. He had dark hair, the beginnings of a short beard and mustache, and one of his hands was replaced by a hook.

"You must be Belle." he said.

"Did the Queen send you?" she asked.

"I'm here to rescue you." He said as he began to undo her chains.

"Who are you asked Belle?" wondering if she might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

"A friend. We don't have much time your father is being attacked by the very monster who stole you away." Belle's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Rumplestiltskin." the man nodded.

"He must be stopped, you worked for him. You know him better than anyone. There's rumors of a magical weapon that has the power to kill him. Your father's life hangs in the balance I need to know where the weapon is and how to find it." said the man. Belle's first thought was to pull away but she stopped herself. She needed to play this right and this man could still be her ticket out.

"Truly my father is in danger?" she asked in fake horror. She knew full well her father was fine aside from betraying his only daughter.

"Yes." said the man sounding earnest though she suspected he was anything but.

"I know of the weapon of which you speak. Get me out of here and I'll help you." she said the man grinned and the two turned to leave. Unfortunately, just as they reached the door the Queen stepped around the corner.

"Leaving so soon?"

"Damn." swore Belle.

"She won't be any use to you Captain. Clever play my little maid. But not clever enough. You see, she believes herself in love with the monster. She'd never help you kill him." The man turned on her looking murderous raising his hook to strike her Belle made to dodge out of the way but the blow never came as with a wave of the Queen's hand the hook appeared in her own.

"I'm afraid I can't let you kill her though. She's a very valuable chess piece." Those were the last words Belle heard before the woman waved her hand again and everything went black.

OUAT

After the near rescue of sorts, the Evil Queen seemed to decide that the palace was too risky and Belle was relocated to a singular isolated tower in the middle of nowhere. Once again, she was chained up and several guards were set.

Belle stared out the window one night. Granted calling for Rumple would apparently be useless as the Queen had transferred her spells from the old prison that blocked him from hearing her call, or his magic from having any effect within the bounds of her prison, over to the new tower. However, there was one individual Belle thought she might have a chance at calling on. Fairies. I mean. She didn't want to. She remembered the warnings about fairy magic but she really was getting desperate here. Closing her eyes she wished for help getting out.

After a few minutes she heard a silvery voice.

"I hear you child." she opened her eyes and saw floating outside her window (which mind you also had a spell so she couldn't jump or climb out much to Belle's chagrin,) a tiny woman dressed in blue with a skirt like a jellyfish and glowing blue wings. It seemed she was being "honored" by the chief fairy herself.

"Hello ma'am." said Belle politely.

"I hear your wish child but I cannot grant it." said the fairy.

"Why not? Is the Queen's magic too strong?" asked Belle.

"With a little time perhaps I could get you out but there is a greater issue at stake."

"Oh?" said Belle.

"You're love for the Dark One."

"What?" said Belle. "We're true love."

"A creature like that of such darkness can't bear true love it's impossible. If you were freed you would return to him that I know and it would only seek to ruin you."

"RUIN ME!" snapped Belle. "I've been tortured up here by the Queen. I think I'm as ruined as I can get. I hardly see me getting out as any worse." The sanctimonious fairy shook her head.

"No, there are worse things than physical pain and ruination. Such as the stain on one's soul. You are good and kind. He would only destroy that."

"Well of all the sanctimonious nonsense I've ever heard!" scoffed Belle. "You know I thought GOODNESS would be in favor of true love. That someone GOOD would want to help innocent people be freed. Evidently that isn't the case. I can see why Rumplestiltskin finds you so disagreeable. You really do only see the world in black and white."

The Blue fairy gave her a pitying look.

"It seems he may have managed to corrupt you slightly already if you talk like that."

"Oh for goodness sake get out of here if you aren't going to be of any use. I asked for help not a lecture. Why did you come anyway?"

"I'd hoped to convince you to give up on your fantasy of the dark one." answered Blue.

"Mission not accomplished," snapped Belle.

"Perhaps. But I shall leave you with this. Should you agree to make a binding magical promise on your life that you shan't return to Rumple. I will help you escape. Think on it and call on me when you are ready." said Blue. Belle glared.

"Don't count on it." the Blue Fairy shook her head once more before shrinking further and flying off.

"Useless knat," muttered Belle. If it had been like the man from earlier, she could have just lied. But a binding magical contract was a different matter and there was no way she was making one of those with a being like Blue.

OUAT

Belle continued trying to find various ways of escaping. She'd faked being sick in an attempt to get them to let her out briefly, she'd tried finding something to pick the lock on her chains, she'd even tried yelling for help out the window. Nothing worked and she was only punished for her disobedience.

The Queen seeming to realize that torture wasn't deterring her began to cut down on Belle's food supply. Not enough to starve her to death mind you, but enough so that she was becoming weaker by the day and soon she suspected she might not even have the strength to walk.

And then something changed. One day a guard came in to give her food. However, unlike all the others she noticed that he was far gentler with the manacles and he also had added a little extra food to her plate.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Someone as trapped as you," came the reply. Belle ate her food without question. The following day however she tried to get him to talk more.

"What's your name?"

"I've never really had one." he replied shortly.

"What?" she asked. The guard looked at her for a moment before removing his helmet. He had a kind face with light brown hair and a slightly scruffy beard and mustache to match. But it was his eyes that caught her. They too were a soft brown and held both pain and kindness. However there was also an emptiness that was familiar to her.

"I never had a human family. So I never had a name. They called me the Huntsman."

"You said you were trapped. How did you come to work for the Queen?"

"That's a long story the short version being I spared the life of one the Queen hated and in revenge made me her slave."

"She took your heart," said Belle. The Huntsman looked surprised and Belle gave him a soft smile.

"My true love is the most powerful sorcerer in the realms I'm familiar with the symptoms."

"Then you should know that I cannot free you. I've been commanded against doing so." said the Huntsman sadly and Belle nodded.

"I do not hold it against you." she took his hand and squeezed it.

Her discussion with the Huntsman had left her thinking. Despite his limitations she now had a bit of an ally here. The next day she asked,

"What were the Queen's exact order's regarding not freeing me?"

"Does it matter? I can't let you go." said the Huntsman sounding resigned.

"Yes, as Rumplestiltskin once told me wording is everything." The Huntsman sighed.

"She told me that I was not to free you and I was not to tell Rumplestiltskin of your location."

Belle nodded. The Queen really had been careless then. She could work with that.

"Wonderful!"

"I beg your pardon?" said the Huntsman looking at her as if she were mad.

"I might have a solution. YOU cannot free me, but another might be able to. You can't tell Rumple but there is someone I know who you COULD tell that would help me. If you can get a message to them, they could save me."

"And who would this person be?" he asked.

"The Pied Piper." said Belle with a weak smile.

"Belle I've seen the Piper at Regina's castle. The two are friends or as close as that evil woman could come to having a friend!" said the Huntsman. Belle shook her head stopping swiftly as it made the room spin.

"Regina and Piper have known each other since before she was the Evil Queen. But she doesn't fully agree with Regina's actions. They haven't been truly close for some time. Piper just prefers to stay out of such conflicts and play her cards close to her chest. However, she is DEAR friends with Rumple and me and would help me in a heartbeat I know it."

The Huntsman still looked a bit skeptical but nodded.

"I'll trust your judgement. But we only have one shot at this. I'll get you some paper and ink to write a letter message."

The following day Belle wrote out a short missive for Piper.

Alice,

It's me Belle I know Rumple has been told I'm dead but it's a lie the evil Queen holds me captive. I need your help. Trust the man with this letter.

Belle

She gave it to the Huntsman and prayed it would be successful.

Author's note: So I figured Belle wouldn't just sit still while being held captive and I also feel like she'd have been a bit smarter with Hook so we have that. Blue pops up here being the sanctimonious hag we all love to hate and we get to see Graham. Will Belle's plan work? We shall see. As for Alice's relationship with the Queen that's another thing that will be further expanded upon in the Pied Piper companion series I potentially plan on writing after this. If you like the story please comment below! Until next time!