The apothecary had been quick to sell Rumple everything he'd asked for, then he'd just lingered in the shadows to watch the denizens of Ranga to give Belle as much privacy as possible. He'd seen so many odd sights in his long life, but the elves, pantherians and grasswalkers truly were unique; had he not been trapped in Dreymyr, Rumple would have rather enjoyed studying the place. It was a shame Bae wouldn't ever see Dreymyr, he'd had loved living amongst demi-humans with fluffy tails and ears.
Everything was so different compared to the Enchanted Forest, the architecture was similar but that was about it. The biggest oddity was that he could stand in the street without instantly being feared, hated, set upon by brave heroes or begged for deals. In himself Rumple felt different too, like a crushing weight that had been clinging to his soul was gone and for the life of him he didn't know why. in Ranga he was just a person instead of a beast – or at least he was until they found out he was the Dark One. Everybody in this strange realm had heard of the Dark One, called him the first of the demon lords, but Rumple hadn't ever been there before, had to have been a previous Dark One; and that meant there was a way to return home.
His predecessor must have gotten control of their magic again, figured out how to play by Dreymyr's magic laws. Teleportation functioned just as it always had, he could move himself and objects to anywhere he'd been before or anywhere in his line of sight. His immortality continued to function and heal him and, so far, he could create fire and extract one substance from another like he had with the dirt in Belle's gown. From what he'd gathered in the books he'd bought from Rodrick Zule, Dreymyr's magic was all elemental based and anything outside of those core elements was deemed to be dark magic. In most realms, magic was just magic, it was intent that made it into different things, but in this new realm he'd been summoned to they had a much more ridged structure to define it all. That was fine, Rumple had been the Dark One longer than any other, he'd designed and built many a spell in his time, he'd master Dreymyr's magic and swell his power again.
Rumple finally returned to the inn room about two hours after he'd left, he'd wanted to return much sooner but hadn't wished to interrupt Belle while she bathed: she surely wouldn't have wanted a monster like him looking at her in such a state of undress. He suspected her name suited her in every way possible though; beautiful skin, beautiful hair and eyes, a beautiful figure if the hint he'd seen under her chemise that morning had been anything to go by. No, certainly not a sight for the likes of him. Belle probably wanted their deal to be concluded as quickly as possible so she could find some noble and handsome prince deserving of her beauty and intellect. And why wouldn't she, he'd only known her a few days and could already see just how much genuine goodness was inside her. He shook his head not wanting to think of such things and dumped his hessian sack of ingredients down on the cluttered desk and started to pull items out as Chip let out a yelp at Rumple's sudden appearance.
"Oh Drazva!" He cried as Rumple spun around to see the man had been trying to haul the bathtub out of their room while Belle read quietly.
"No, dearie, Rumpelstiltskin." He giggled. "For the sake of getting you out of my room, where does this bathtub go?"
Chip's brow furrowed deeply a moment, but finally he gestured behind him to the open doorway as if that was helpful. "Em, in the storage room at the end o' the hall."
"Which end?" Chip gestured again, this time more helpfully to the left and Rumple waved his hand which caught the wooden bathtub to disappear. "It's down the hall, I trust you can take it from there. Goodbye, dearie." He said dismissively and Chip thankfully took the hint and left closing the door behind him.
Belle rested her finger in her book to keep her place. "You could be nicer to people, you know."
Rumple's mind muttered: 'well, she really isn't afraid of me any longer'. "I moved the bath for him, that was nice."
"You did that for you, not him."
He shrugged uncaring. "Same thing. Enjoying your book?"
As expected that got Belle's beautiful face to light up and distracted her from whatever chastising she had been in the middle of attempting.
"Very much, thank you. I had a wonderful conversation with Mister Zule while you were making your selection. He's a nice man, very knowledgeable." Blue eyes glanced to the sack of ingredients on the desk. "Will you be sleeping tonight or are you intending to sit at that desk until dawn again?"
Before any sarcastic comment could slip from Rumple's lips, a knock sounded at the door and Missus Potts poked her head in hesitantly.
"Forgive the intrusion, Milord, but Chip said you'd returned." Later Rumple would question where the 'milord' had suddenly come from. "I thought you'd like some stew."
After only a second of eyeing it, he took the bowl and it smelt just as heavenly as everything else she'd served them – except the tea, that had been awful. Pleased Rumple hadn't snapped at her, Missus Potts headed back downstairs and Rumple turned to face Belle at the foot of the bed.
"Have you eaten?"
Belle nodded. "Yes, I went for a quick meal after my bath."
Apparently happy with that answer, he shoved some of the clutter out the way and sat down at the desk to eat his stew: thick gravy and soft vegetables, Missus Potts really could cook. For a time Belle watched him and Rumple did his very best to pretend he'd not noticed. What she pondered he had no idea but he couldn't sense any malice in her gaze, 'probably just curious about the beast' said that dark part of his mind his curse had twisted and turned into a savage abyss.
It was only when the wooden spoon clattered into an empty bowl and golden-green hands reached for one of the many tomes that Belle's lyrical voice broke the quietude between them.
"You need to sleep." Rumple shrugged off her concerns but Belle didn't back down. "If you stay awake then so shall I."
"That's idiotic."
"And yet is what will happen. If we are questing tomorrow you shall need all your energy, so please sleep. For my sanity if not your own." Rumple just glared at her because how dare she show concern for his well-being?! "Please?"
Normally he'd have wanted to snap out some nasty comment, something cruel designed to make her hate him and leave him be, but it didn't come. The savage abyss was oddly quiet and Rumple found her sweet, pleading eyes impossible to deny.
"Fine." He grumbled. "Annoying little princess."
He had intended to just settle down on the floor, he'd spent years as a spinner doing just that so he was no newcomer to the idea, but Belle surprised him by pulling back the covers beside her.
"Come along, you can't sleep on the floor. I trust you."
Rumple snorted. "A very stupid mistake."
"Actually, I don't think it is."
"You're very opinionated all of a sudden."
"Well," began Belle with a small shrug. "I've realized that not only are you not a monster, you're also a good man."
"Another stupid mistake."
"I doubt it." She pointed insistently at the bed. "Please just get in the damn bed so I can go to sleep." Sensing no end to this argument if he didn't do as she commanded – odd since he was the slave master in the room - Rumple perched on the bed's edge. "Take off your boots, and that coat. The vest as well, or you'll not be comfortable."
Rumple just looked at her questioningly. "Since when were you my mother?"
"Since you clearly need someone to point out the basics." She shot back without a single shred of fear for addressing the dreaded Dark One in such a way.
For the smallest of moments she thought he'd bark out a complaint at her or storm over to the desk simply to spite her, but then he removed his coat and vest which he dropped onto the nightstand and dumped his boots on the floor. He insisted on laying on top of the covers instead of under them like Belle had originally intended, but she let him have that one and blew out the candle she'd been using to read after placing her book down with all the care in the world. The princess bid him goodnight but she only got a quiet grumble from him in response as he lay there on his back staring up at the ceiling. Slowly, Belle drifted off to sleep but Rumple wasn't so fortunate, never was. He slept as little was was physically possible to keep the memories away and, without his wheel to help him forget, they'd come for him in full force inside his dreams: he'd see the day he'd betrayed his word to Bae and lost everything he loved, he'd see Milah, Hook and the villagers laughing at him in the tavern, he'd see the moment the last bit of innocence died inside Regina because he regretted that, too. When he was sure the princess slept, Rumple dared to glance at her through the darkness, so pretty and delicate but unfazed at sleeping beside a monster. She'd insisted he wasn't one but clearly that was just the believes of a naïve girl who was far too kind; and desperate, she had made a deal to save her brother, father and kingdom after all. Of course Rumpelstiltskin was a monster, he'd essentially kidnapped her. Those dark eyes of his found the candy she'd gifted him still on the desk then; maybe Belle du Marchand was too naïve or trusting, but he liked her and it had been a very long time since he'd genuinely enjoyed somebody's company.
~X~
Belle discovered extremely quickly the next day that when Rumple had told her they'd be taking another quest, he'd really meant he wanted to test the new potions he'd prepared. That was how they'd ended up accepting a bandit quest on the Trade Road between the Gorasitz at the base of the Spikes and Locheart. In Belle's opinion just making it to that stretch of the Trade Road had been a quest in itself; sure, Rumple's spacial magic made their journey take the quarter of the time it would have by waggon, but when they'd arrived at the Dravenhyde trade post she'd thought the alarm they'd caused would start a fight.
There had been steadily increasing trouble with a bandit gang for months now which had started to affect trade, so the Merchants Guild had put out a quest with the adventurers and Rumple had taken up the mantle since he'd seen bandits as the perfect guinea pigs for the potions. Belle was just enjoying her chance at adventure, even if it was because Gaston LeGume had decided to attempt taking over the kingdoms starting with Avonlea.
He'd used magic to get them as close as he possibly could to the last reports of bandit attacks, which was closer to Gorasitz than expected, but with no idea where the bandits had made their home, walking the road and watching was kind of their only option. Rumple's intention seemed to be having them look like an easy target but nobody took the bait. Waggons passed them now and then all loaded up with cargo and as many adventurers as they could fit: security for the area really had shot up. About an hour after they'd started walking the road to Locheart, Belle's feet were screaming bloody murder at her – princesses weren't used to walking so long – and a smaller waggon rolled to a stop just ahead of them. It was packed with several smaller crates branded with a crest Belle recognized as that of Arkadius Deem, meaning they'd originated in Huntington, Avonlea. The horse was speckled and probably a little old to still be pulling a wagon, but she looked well cared for and fed. An older demon sat at the reigns, his white beard a stark contrast to his slate-colored skin, and, despite his age, he was limber and tall. Beside him sat a girl of maybe eight munching on a shiny red apple; Belle couldn't help smiling at her.
"Greetings!" Began the older man with a small wave of his large hand. "I'm Fabius Hume and the little one is my granddaughter, Karita." He nudged the girl with his elbow. "Say hello, Karita."
"Hello." She said happily, lips coated in apple juice.
This was the first time Rumple had seen any of the demons in Dreymyr and he could understand why folk had assumed him to be one. The gray skin was somewhat reminiscent of his own golden-green flesh and their black eyes did have a slightly unnerving quality much like Rumple's peculiar eyes did: other than those few things, Rumple didn't think the demons and the Dark One looked alike at all. Yes, he'd been labelled a demon simply because it was the easiest association for people to make.
"You're adventurers, right?" Asked Fabius and Rumple nodded. "Ah perfect! I've been hearing tales of bandits since I reached Gorasitz and I have a lot of merchandise that has to make it to Locheart intact. I'll let you travel in the wagon in exchange for you guarding us and the cargo." Fabius worried a hand through his white beard. "I'm afraid I don't have much else to offer you, certainly not enough to hire you properly or I would have while still in the capital."
While Belle would have been happy to hop in and accept the Hume's kindness, Rumple was a dealmaker and valued information above coin. She could practically feel him plotting away while Fabius and his granddaughter awaited their answer.
"Do you travel the Trade Road often?" Rumple eventually questioned.
"All the time, this is my job."
"All right, then I'll make you a deal. We shall ride with you to the city and defend your wagon, horse and granddaughter as asked. In exchange, you will tell me everything you know about the Trade Road including it's history and things you've heard while travelling."
Part of Belle wanted to remind him they'd accepted a guild quest, but something told her Rumple had filtered that into a task he'd get around to eventually.
"Odd request, but if that is your only price then I happily agree." He slapped a hand on the wagon in what he must have thought was an inviting gesture. "Hop in. Mabel is an old girl but she's dependable, we'll be there in no time."
So the two climbed in the back, Rumple even offered Belle a hand like a gentleman, and sat themselves down atop two of the larger crates comfortably. When Karita turned around in her seat to look at them properly she asked who they were and Belle was quick to apologize to the Humes introducing themselves and asking they forgive Rumple's rudeness and lack of people skills.
For the next couple of hours Rumple and Fabius discussed the Trade Road in depth while Belle played happily with little Karita. A charming little girl filled with life and giggles and Belle almost wanted to keep the cute child, her brother Lorrimer surely would have adored a playmate. Thinking of her sweet little brother forced Belle's happy mood to something more melancholic. The poor boy had been sickly since birth, often bedridden and physicians suspected he'd not live to adulthood. Back when her mother had been pregnant with him, Belle had been excited to be a big sister, with an eight year difference she was meant to be his wise protector, but Belle didn't know how to protect him from his own weak body any better now than she did then. The most Belle had ever been able to do for Lorrimer was read to him in bed, sneak him sweet treats from the kitchens and keep him company since he had no friends. With her in Dorovoth magically tethered to the Dark One and Gaston holding Lorrimer hostage to keep Belle in line, there was nobody to keep him company any longer.
Suddenly screams and shouts sounded as bandits rushed out from their hiding spots on either side of the road and Belle startled out of her inner thoughts: she'd almost forgotten about the bandits all together. Mabel reared up causing the waggon to come to an abrupt halt and the cargo to clank together dangerously. There were easily twenty bandits of various species, mostly human, charging toward them with weapons drawn and murderous intent in their eyes. Karita screamed as Rumple hopped out the wagon, normally he'd have just set them all flying with a single flamboyant gesture or turned the lot of them into slugs for daring to threaten him – and more to the point, a child. Slugs wouldn't be in his repertoire for some time yet, so he concentrated on air as his elemental focus and used it to launch half the bandits backwards with a gust of wind.
"Blue-white one." He said in Belle's direction so she fished out the corresponding potion from the small satchel Rumple had put all the potions in for her. "There."
Quickly she tossed it where Rumple pointed, into the group of bandits pushing themselves back to their feet. The glass shattered on impact releasing a dense puff of smoke that caused the bandits to cough then pause. It was what happened after that brief pause though that caused Belle's eyes to widen, instead of continuing to the wagon they began to attack one another in a frenzy. Surprised by just how quickly the potion had taken effect, Belle grabbed Karita and pulled her close while Fabius did his best to calm Mabel the mare.
Please with the results of his potion, Rumple turned his attention to the rest of the bandits who were mostly focused on stealing whatever they could and bludgeoning the shit out of anybody who dared get in their way. Idiot bandits didn't know who they'd picked a fight with, even with his magic restricted they stood no chance against him. A pantherian missing his right ear swung an axe at Rumple but he dodged it easily; the coward wasn't afraid when he knew he'd win. Over his head Belle threw another blue-white potion into a cluster of bandits who quickly started to fight amongst themselves as the others had.
"Rumple! There's more!" She jumped down from the wagon and rushed to the Dark One's side.
Later he'd realize that was the first time she called him by his nickname, but in that moment he just spun around to see yet more bandits: the damn things seemed unending. He shouted for her to toss one of the red potion vials and, as with the others, a puff of smoke burst for, though this one lingered and, as soon as it was breathed in, the bandits collapsed having been put to sleep. Belle decided there and then she much preferred the red potion to the blue-white one, it was much less violent.
From behind the pair a scream sounded, the sharp and panicked sound of a scared child. They spun around just in time to see a scarred, muscular bandit kick Fabius from the wagon and haul Karita into the grass by her green dress. A sick grin coated the muscular man's face, the sort of smile only the sickest of perverted individuals flashed at children, as he forced Karita's skirt up her legs while she kicked and screamed.
Belle didn't even notice Rumple had used his teleportation ability until he was already behind the bandit, then, in one smooth and rage induced motion, Rumple thrust his hand into the man's chest and ripped out his heart while it still beat. The bandit collapsed to the side and Rumple stared at the dripping heart in his hand; apparently magically removing hearts was another thing that couldn't be done in Dreymyr.
Belle gulped, she'd never seen so much rage inside a man and, for the first time, it was clear to Belle just how powerful the Dark One truly was. She'd seen him playing nice, she'd seen him research and eat his meals, but until that moment she'd not seen the immense omnipotence that had earned him the rightful title of First Demon Lord. Rumpelstiltskin could have destroyed the realm if the mood took him and, unlike the other three demon lords, he'd succeed. So much hate should have caused him to explode but, as he dropped the heart and tugged Karita's dress back down, Belle reaffirmed that he wasn't evil. These were the Dark One's true colors; a dangerous man with unrivalled power, but ultimately he was just a man protecting a innocent child.
The sight of one of their strongest having his heart ripped out was enough to have the surviving bandits running away in terror before they suffered the same fate and Rumple was content to let them go, he'd find their hideout soon enough. Fabius pushed himself up from the muddy grass and rushed to pull his granddaughter into his arms while she cried quietly and Rumple glanced around for a breathing bandit, he found one trying to scurry after taking an mace to his kneecap.
"How far is it to Locheart?" He asked Fabius without taking his eyes from the injured bandit.
"… Not far, it's literally over the next hill."
"Go on ahead." Rumple insisted and even helped the old man to his feet while Belle did the same with a red-faced Karita. "I have a quest to finish."
Only a little reluctantly did Fabius load his granddaughter back onto the wagon and head off with Mabel walking a little faster than before. Belle smiled and waved comfortingly at Karita until they were almost out of sight, but Rumple had already gabbed the last bandit and spun him around onto his back. It was almost comical to watch the bandit try to melt into the earth to escape Rumple when he crouched down, a deadly expression on his scaled face.
"Paying attention, dearie?"
"Are- are you Drazva's messenger?"
"Far from it." Rumple snorted savagely. "Now, where is your camp?"
"I can't tell you. Kerr will kill me."
Rumple giggled manically and for the life of her, Belle didn't know what to do. Rumple clearly intended to torture this man into giving up the bandit camp and such a thing repulsed Belle, but these people had been harassing, stealing from and killing innocence for months. Screams erupted from the injured man when Rumple pressed on his crushed kneecap.
"He's not going to get chance to kill you, dearie, because I am. Tell me where the camp is and I'll make it quick, refuse and I'll take a leaf out of Doctor Frankenstein's book and dissect you."
Belle dropped to her knees by the Dark One and stared at him pleadingly. "You don't have to do this, maybe we could track the others back to their camp instead of torturing hi-"
"Oh sweet Drazva, you glow so heavenly."
The princess and demon lord lifted eyebrows as they stared down at the bandit, he was deathly pale and clearly had lost more blood than they'd assumed. A thought occurred to Rumple then, the potion that caused them to attack one another contained a hallucinogenic, so maybe this man truly did believe Belle to be his goddess as he died.
Rumple shrugged and went along with it. "Sure she does, she's very beautiful, lots of glowing. Where is your camp? She'd like to know, wouldn't you, Drazva?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, I'd like to know."
The dying man smiled. "North east in the forest."
"How far?" Demanded Rumple impatiently. "Tell your goddess."
"Three miles, give or take."
"Lovely." He rose to his full height, helped Belle up then started towards the small forest they'd passed not long ago. "Enjoy being dead."
Belle was outraged. "We can't just leave him here like this!
"Can't we? What do you think his friend was going to do to Karita? Complement her dress?"
Belle faltered but didn't give up. "Well, no, but-"
"Belle," he sighed. "I'm the Dark One, I'm not a good person. He's not good either, how many merchants, travellers and adventurers do you think he's killed for little more than amusement and whatever coin was in their purse?" He sighed again. "You have a good heart, Princess, please do not waste it on the likes of him."
"I take your point, but I can't just leave a man to die on his own. The quest criteria said we could capture them."
"And you want me to send him to the Guild." It was no secret he felt different since being summoned to Dreymyr, maybe that was what had him agree and send the man off for Maylea to deal with. "Fine."
One of the healing potions Rumple had made was carefully poured into the bandit's mouth once Belle had fished it out her satchel, then, with a wave of his hand, the man was gone and Belle rewarded him with a gentle smile that actually warmed Rumple's dark heart: he'd not lied when he'd said she was beautiful. Having gotten her way, there were no more objections and the pair headed into the small forest pleased that this one was significantly better lit than Bear Forest had been.
As they walked Belle thought more about the potions he'd concocted: four in total. The blue-white one was clearly a distraction, made people fight amongst themselves long enough to either put an end to the threat or escape. Red was a similar idea but could be used to quickly subdue a person as well. The green potion was a healing potion, and a damn strong one at that, while the black one was a horrible poison and clearly to be used as a last resort. He'd made them especially for Belle and, even though she'd not liked watching the chaos they caused, Belle had to admit they were useful and would indeed protect her and those around her. They'd not been made for coin or acclaim, just to keep her safe. Belle wasn't a killer so she appreciated the non-lethal options. He'd told her he wasn't a good man, but Belle just kept seeing reasons to doubt that.
After quite some time of slowly moving through the woods, Rumple had managed to track some of the wounded bandits back to their encampment. Most of them were in rough shape after daring to attack a waggon the First Demon Lord was on, but the able-bodied ones had gone on high alert so the pair clung to the trees out of sight. Rumple's head fell to one side when he noticed the large cage with a too-large creature stuffed inside.
"What in the Enchanted Forest is that?"
"It's a linaelor, related to dragons and dragonlings, but I don't see why it's here. Those things live under ground and they're savage."
Rumple let out a little hum. "Let's see what happens when I let it out."
Before Belle could object, Rumple had moved from tree to cage, ripped the padlock off and returned to the tree. The metal cage swung open and all hell broke loose, the beast roared as bandits attacked with swords and bows. They were ploughed out the way as though they were little more than children's dolls while magic users launched a volley of ice shards and used vines to try pinning it back down, the linaelor resisted though and soon started slamming its front legs into the ground to tunnel away leaving destruction in its wake.
"Well, that worked nicely."
Didn't take long for Rumple to track down Kerr the bandit leader after that. Most had tried to flee the linaelor into the forest while others had been knocked out by Belle's red potion, and, after a man half his height had pinned Kerr to a tree so hard the bark had cracked, he was not inclined to resist being apprehended despite how much he wanted to. Having gotten used to using his magic to have the air move objects for him instead of simply having the magic do it, Rumple pulled one of the crates they'd stolen over to them and used the same air pressure to force Kerr inside. A note was quickly written, slammed on the lid and then the crate was sent off to Maylea just as the bandit Belle had healed had been. Their quest was complete and he'd collect his reward later.
"Now that's over, care to join me on the final leg to Locheart?" He offered Belle his arm and a flamboyant smile that just came off as smug. "I'd like to investigate the city."
Of course it wasn't as if Belle could actually refuse him since the collar forced them together, but she still chuckled at his dramatic display and took his arm with a polite 'thank you, sir' before Rumple poofed them back to where the wagon had been attacked so they could continue on to the city. Locheart was a new experience for both Belle and Rumple since neither had ever been before and the walk did wonders to take Belle's mind off of what had happened at the bandit camp. Had she been a stronger tamer she'd surely have been more use, would have been able to control the linaelor, but instead she'd just stood there staring as it caused chaos and Rumple rounded up survivors: she guessed she should have been grateful he'd not attempted any further torture.
Slowly the city walls came into view and Rumple's steps faltered when he saw the thick walls that encompassed the hexagonal city, they looked thick enough to withstand a dragon's worst rampage. Were one to look down from the sky, they'd see Locheart separated into six sections with a vast market in the very centre bustling and filled with all manner of goods from across the kingdoms thanks to the extensive Trade Road turning Locheart into a nexus of trade. He'd travelled to hundreds of places in his long life, seen all kinds of architecture and aesthetics, but Locheart was by far one of the largest cities he'd ever seen. They'd passed through Gorasitz on their way, but even the capital hadn't been so … alive. Just another thing Bae would have loved to see.
The closer they got to the city gate, the louder the hubbub became; wagons went in loaded almost to breaking point and left loaded with totally different cargo precariously packed, and the scent of fresh bread wafted through the streets and over to the city's main gate like a tease. Just as in Ranga they were taxed to enter, five coppers each, one more than before, but Rumple didn't bother arguing since it would do little more than waste time. Coins were handed over in exchange for another wooden token, then Belle and Rumple were free to wander the streets.
Belle's feet still hurt and Rumple almost giggled when he heard her stomach rumble a few times, so he bought two honey cakes from one of the stalls and let Belle perch on a bench while they ate. The sweetness and heavenly scent had Belle moan quietly in delight and Rumple pretended he'd not enjoyed the sound: pretended he'd not missed having company as well. They'd had a busy day and completed a rudimentary quest, she deserved a treat. Belle deserved to see something other than violence and death, death was normal to him but Belle still had innocence that shouldn't have been stripped away from her. The princess hadn't asked for their situation any more than Rumple had; he'd promised to get that enslavement collar off her though and he'd keep his word. While travelling in the wagon, Fabius Hume had mentioned a large bookshop in Locheart that Rumple wanted to take Belle to, wanted to see her face light up and those stunning polished sapphires of hers glow.
Sure enough when they entered the shop, Belle had almost been overcome with happiness. She'd forgotten entirely about the horrors they'd seen with the bandits and just ecstatically moved through the bookshelves while Rumple had looked through the store's magical selection. The place was much larger than Rodrick Zule's little shop but that was kind of the point. Soon he was done, had selected two new elemental guides and one on potions that he suspected would help him make the potions he'd given Belle even more potent.
"We're done here." He told her as soon as he spotted her in the shadow of a rather large mountain of books.
"Oh, all right." She showed him the book she held. "Em, may I have this, please?" It's cheep, only six coppers."
Rumple cocked an eyebrow because meek didn't suit her. "You did help with the bandits earlier so I think you earned it. From what I've gathered from the Guild, everybody in the party is entitled to an equal share of the quest reward. You're part of the party so you should get your share." Rumple was many things, most of them horrible, but he'd always been fair.
It was Belle's turn to lift an eyebrow. "But I'm your slave."
"I've told you before I don't care about keeping women as my slaves. Spend your share on whatever you please: weapons, books, treats, anything your little princess-y heart desires."
"I don't actually need that much and you've been feeding me-"
Rumple cut her off. "Regardless, I make deals and, contrary to popular belief, they're equitable. I do what people want of me if they do what I ask of them, it's not my fault if they suddenly decide the price is too high after they've accepted and I've done my bit. They had a choice in their deals, you had no choice in wearing that collar."
In the end Rumple bought his books and the one Belle had asked for, something romantic set on the high seas. Quickly, they were sent back to their room at the Teapot Inn and Rumple made a mental note to collect the quest reward as soon as they returned to Ranga, the coin purse had started to feel a little light and frankly that was Rumple's fault; he'd not needed to conserve his coins since Bae was little and Rumple nothing more than a simple spinner.
"Thank you, Rumple. I'll think of you as the swashbuckler saves his beautiful maiden from the sea dragon."
He ignored her teasing and instead focused on the last word. "You got another book with dragons in it, I'm noticing a theme."
"I find them fascinating. I always have. As a child I fantasized about meeting one."
Rumple was less keen than the teenager. "In my experience dragons are all an annoying sorceress or more concerned with killing you so they could go back to sleep than anything else."
"You've seen dragons! Actual dragons?" Belle beamed.
"They're rare in my realm, most realms, but they do exist."
"Officially they're extinct, but there are rumors that the Cardinal Dragons still exist. One supposedly still lives at the top of Dragon Mountain in Avonlea. Lorrimer always wanted to go but … couldn't."
Yes, her sickly little brother still in the clutches of evil Gaston and Tvon. Helping Prince Lorrimer was part of their deal, they just had to find Jefferson first.
Adding a few new locations to Rumple's teleport list had been most of the reason Rumple had taken the quest to deal with the bandits, but he'd also wanted to see if he could scrounge up any information on where Jefferson had gone. Nobody in Ranga they'd asked knew anything about a strange human in a top hat.
Suddenly a rather burly man with hair like a golden mane bumped into Belle almost knocking her off her feet, only to bark out some half-mumbled insult. The dark part of Rumple's mind normally would have told him to kill, to snap the pathetic man's neck and be done with it, but that dark part stayed eerily quiet as he looped his arm with Belle's to keep her close. The evil might not have ordered him to murder the brute, but that didn't stop Rumple dishing out a small taste of karma. With a tiny wave of his hand, Rumple used what he'd learned about wind magic to knock the muscular man flat on his face which earned a bold giggle from all children who witnessed it, and small chuckles behind hands from the adults.
Belle swatted his arm in mock annoyance; her smirk gave away the fact she wasn't upset with him at all. "That was mean."
"Dark One, remember?"
It occurred to him then that he might have been immortal and had started to figure out Dreymyr's magic laws, but Belle had no real defensive capabilities. Back at the Guild she'd revealed herself to be a tamer, but that didn't seem to be of all that much use from what he'd seen so far, and with her being literally tethered to him she'd always be in danger. The potions would protect her for the most part, but perhaps something a little more … steadfast was in order.
As if some deity had heard his thoughts, Rumple caught sight of a sign for a weapon and armor shop further up the street by a crossroads. He had enough coin left and, if he provided Belle with another layer of protection, maybe that strange feeling inside his blackened heart would leave him in peace. He had his wit and magic, but Belle was a princess with all the fighting skill of a sheep; of course he had no intention of letting harm come to her, but it did make sense to get her something sharp.
"Follow me." He told her casually, careful not to issue a strict order that triggered her collar.
"You could be nicer to me, you know."
Rumple grumbled only a short moment before he gave a flamboyant bow and offered his arm again. "My Lady Belle, would you do me the great pleasure of accompanying me about six shops up the street?"
That got a laugh from the chestnut-haired princess, a genuine laugh which caught Rumple off guard because nobody ever laughed at his jokes and attempts at humor.
"That's better, just because you're a demon lord doesn't mean you can't be polite."
Together they made their way through the bustling street to the shop where Rumple kindly held the door open for her to step inside. The two separated to look more closely at the shops wares; shields and bows lined the walls, racks held swords and hammers as well as a few axes and either side of the counter were lined with various bits of armor. All the shop smelt of fire and leather, and the telltale sounds of metal rhythmically hitting metal gave away the forge in a room behind the counter. As Rumple stepped toward said counter, a tall, bald man dressed in dark clothes and a leather apron emerged, his beard was gray and scorched in a few places suggesting he'd had one or two accidents with that forge in the past. Despite being easily two heads taller than Rumple, the man smiled brightly at them and didn't seem intimidating in the slightest. The quick once-over he gave Belle didn't go unnoticed by Rumple either.
"Hello," the tall man greeted as he wiped his sooty hands on his apron. "You need help? Looking for a sword?"
Rumple waved that question off quickly. "I have no need of one."
The blacksmith nodded in understanding as he realized Rumple was obviously a magic user. "You're a mage. Sorry, we don't make staffs, there is a good place a couple of streets over that can get you what you need though. Shop called Twisted Oak Magic Supplies."
"Not a bother, dearie, it's her who needs a weapon." He gestured to a rather surprised Belle. "Something easy to wield preferably."
"Dagger would probably be best. We have some second hand ones over by the door but I think they'd be to heavy. Give me a minute."
With that the bald blacksmith vanished into the back of the shop and Belle lifted an eyebrow at Rumple who didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"I don't know how to use a dagger, Rumple."
She'd used his nickname again, why did he like it so much when she did that?
"It's essentially put the pointy end in whoever you want dead."
Belle didn't look impressed. "That's not funny."
The blacksmith returned then alongside a raven-haired dwarf who was dressed almost identically. Old tattoos ran up one of his arms and his left eye was totally clouded almost like it contained a storm. The height difference between the two was practically comical though. In his hands the dwarf carried a tray of daggers that he placed down on the counter for inspection.
"My brother here makes all the daggers, these are his new ones."
Rumple lifted an eyebrow questioningly. "Brother?"
"He's adopted." Said the bald man by way of explanation.
Being not so keen on his brother's chit-chatting, the dwarf glanced from Rumple to Belle then back before he leaned on the counter with his tattooed arm.
"What does the little lady normally use?"
"The 'little lady' has a name. I'm Belle." She offered them her hand to shake which earned puzzled expressions from the brothers because they weren't used to customers being so polite or refined; then again, it wasn't every day a princess strolled in.
"Where are our manners?" The bald brother said while Rumple looked at the daggers. "I'm Oskar Lyrelocket, this bearded ball of grump is Ulfur."
"Nice to meet you both." She told them politely. "I'll be honest with you though, I've never used a knife outside of eating my dinner." Ulfur snorted. "So I'm a total novice."
Oskar asked if she had an adventurer chain and didn't seem even remotely surprised to find her iron ranked when she pulled it out from her shirt. It was only after both brothers had stared for almost a full five seconds and Belle had nudged him that Rumple exposed his own chain.
"Ooh, gold ranked. That's rare."
"Yes, dearie, I've come to realize that. Now, Belle doesn't need anything magical or fancy, just something sharp, easy to use and fairly light."
Quickly Ulfur eliminated several daggers from the selection he had on the tray before him; Belle felt a little bad for the rejects as they were shoved aside.
"They're too heavy." Ulfur plucked up one with a red hilt and proffered it. "How about this?"
It wasn't nearly as ornate as the kris one that had turned Rumple into the Dark One, but it did have a simple elegance as well as a handle made of bloodwood giving it a distinct red color, a color that actually paired well with the burgundy outfit Rumple had gifted Belle with. She truly didn't have any weapon experience beyond a letter opener and pushing Gaston's bow out the way when he'd dumped it atop one of her books, but she could see why Ulfur had recommended it, the dagger was indeed light enough for Belle to use; a manageable weight. She made a few small slashing motions and that was where the problems arose, the handle was just too bulky for Belle's petite hands.
"What about that one?" Questioned Rumple as he pointed a clawed finger at a dagger with a blue hilt.
"You know your girl well." Said Ulfur as he swapped the daggers in Belle's hand and Rumple did his best not to think about the words 'your girl'. "It's a good choice."
The second dagger was leaf-shaped, sharpened and versatile, the guard and pommel were steel and, for the life of him, Rumple couldn't work out what material had been used to get the hilt such a brilliant shade of blue. This dagger fitted more snugly into her small hand and, though Belle hoped she'd never have need of the blade, it was nice to know it was there should the moment come.
Seeing she had found the dagger for her, Rumple looked pointedly back at the brothers. "She'll need a sheath as well."
Oskar nodded in agreement, took the dagger from Belle and vanished into the back of the shop while Ulfur pushed the tray aside and fixed his eyes – one brown, the other cloudy – on Rumpelstiltskin.
"Two silvers and thirteen coppers for the dagger."
From what he'd learned of Dreymyr's currency, Rumple found the price of two silvers and thirteen coppers to be exceedingly reasonable for such a well-crafted dagger, so he paid and Oskar handed over the sheathed dagger once he returned. As they left Belle made sure to say goodbye, thank the brothers for their help and it was then that Rumple noticed she went out of her way to treat everybody with kindness and respect despite happenstance, position their birth had awarded them or even their magic level rank. Belle du Marchand was an innately good person not corrupted by royal power or arrogance, she'd make a fine queen one day, of that Rumple had no doubt. Hell, she'd even gone out of her way to be kind to a monster who was so evil the Church had basically turned him into a legendary devil. He hated admitting it, even to himself, but he'd miss Belle once their deal was concluded.
"Thank you for this," said Belle as she strapped the dagger on her belt. "I know it's dangerous out here so I should be able to defend myself, but you really have gone out of your way to accommodate a novice. I'm not much use at questing, I've only ever left Kalecaster Castle a few times."
Rumple shrugged her kindness off: the streets had started to quieten as people went in search of lunch. "Can't have you dying on me, Belle. We're bound, I can't be carrying a corpse around."
Rumple regretted that one as soon as it had left his mouth, it was too morbid even for his tastes but, instead of being offended or disgusted, Belle started to laugh and he just stared at her. Belle really was an odd princess and he'd met Snow White. She linked their arms again and Rumple enjoyed the pleasant feeling of somebody not shying away from his touch. Yes, Rumple had thought it best to return to the inn, but he couldn't resist walking around for a little while longer arm in arm with Belle. Dreymyr might not have been somewhere Rumple could stay, had to focus on finding his beloved boy, but his dark heart felt lighter being able to walk the streets without somebody picking a fight, demanding a deal or screaming and running as soon as they saw him.
"Shall we get lunch?"
They'd had honey cakes when they'd arrived but that had been some time ago and if he made sure she was fed and watered rather than just providing her the new book, he'd likely get more hours of quiet peace to work and research when they returned to the Teapot Inn.
"I hadn't even thought about food." Books and new people with stories of their own had distracted her. "Yes though, lunch sounds lovely."
Didn't take long for Belle to spot a quaint tavern named the 'Dancing Saint' and, once inside, Rumple made a bee-line for the backmost table in the shadows. A healthy mix of species littered the tavern, some buried in their drinks, others in plates of food, all apparently in jovial spirits. Rumple did pick up a few sideways glances as he had everywhere they'd travelled to so far, his odd clothing and more golden-green than gray skin was indeed enough to rouse a glance but little more; nobody stopped eating or gulping down afternoon ale. A grasswalker with scruffy brown hair quickly scurried over to offer them food and drink, an offer they happily took him up on when Belle discovered they had fresh roast chicken.
While they waited, Rumple was content to sit in silence like some kind of ghost but Belle could only linger in that silence for so long.
"Why have you been buying so many magic books? I know you said magic works differently here compared to where you're from, but surely the library you're building is excessive."
Rumple sighed quietly because he hated admitting to what he was about to admit to. "My magic is powerful regardless of where I am. My passive magic, like my immortality, continues to function exquisitely, but Dreymyr's peculiar elemental based magic laws have left my power … intermittent. The better I understand those laws, the more powerful I am."
"You sent all those bandits mad with a potion, I think you're powerful enough." She'd meant it as a tease, but Rumple's expression suddenly reminded her of Tvon and it sent a shiver down her spine. "I – I grew up watching my father's court mage. He's powerful, or at least I thought he was until I met you."
"You admire this man?"
"Assuredly not." Belle was quick to insist. "He's the man who ran away with Gaston after you were summoned to Rutherford Tower. I was amazed by the spells Haldor Tvon could cast, I'll admit, but there was always something sinister to them. I have no respect nor admiration for Tvon. He is a cruel man who only seeks power."
Rumple had seen many people like the one Belle described over the years, he was one himself, and once the darkness was in, it was very hard to expel it again. Power was a savage mistress and many fell victim to her charms.
"There is always a certain level of arrogance, it goes hand in hand with great power." He explained. "Some manage to realize that and, over time, they overcome it while others mistake it for wisdom and charisma. Then there are those who are so totally blinded by it that they fail to ever notice what is staring them in the face."
For Bae, Rumple wanted to be in the first category, wanted to do better for his boy, but he honestly didn't know if he'd ever overcome his darkness or even if there was any overcoming it.
Belle snorted in a rather unladylike fashion. "Haldor Tvon is the second one, that's for damn sure."
From what little he knew of Avonlea's Court Mage, Rumple was inclined to agree with her. There lunch arrived then, delivered by another grasswalker with hair and ears to match Maylea, and Belle tucked in happily. Of course, Rumple was content to eat in silence, he'd done it for centuries, but Belle enjoyed conversation and to her the quiet had probably seemed awkward.
"I'm sorry I'm not much use to you. Had I been born male I'd have been taught swordsmanship and how to fight instead of being shuffled off to corners to learn embroidery and sit prettily. And, since I'm a tamer, my magic is lacking when it comes to any other subject." Rumple paused mid-chew, slightly surprised by her self-deprecation. "You've been very kind and patient with my lack of experience adventuring, even vowed to get this collar off me."
"Not true, Belle." He said after swallowing his bite of chicken. "You may not know how to use a sword or magic, but that doesn't mean you are useless; after all, our deal was that you provide me with information. Besides, with the potions I've crafted, you can become quite the grenadier, or they'll be stupid enough to get too close and get stuck with that nice new dagger of yours." She smiled warmly at his little tease and comfort, Rumple enjoyed the sight so much he found himself saying more just to see that smile a little longer. "You have been instrumental in aiding me understand this strange realm of yours. Everybody always has a use to somebody even if it isn't instantly apparent. You are a princess with a wealth of knowledge about this land and that is most assuredly useful." He might have gone a little over the top because Belle blushed. "Furthermore, if you really want to learn magic, I'm sure I can teach you some."
That might not have been a wise idea, almost everybody he'd ever so much as taught a spell to had fallen to the darkness. Cora had been an accident, he'd wanted to be with her and love her but his evil had gotten inside her and turned anything beautiful to hatred and tenebrosity. Regina's fall into corruption he did regret, but it had been needed if she was to cast his curse; ultimately she was just another soul he'd stepped on to find his son. Then there was Zelena, she'd darkened her own heart with jealousy and Rumple hadn't cared enough to not push her over the edge into the void. The very last thing he wanted was for beautiful Belle to suffer the same fate.
"Tamers aren't very good at learning other types of magic," she explained after a sip of water. "It's as though our magic doesn't want to acknowledge other kinds. Perhaps we could try healing though?"
Healing? Yes, that seemed like the safest option he had before him – apart from just not teaching her anything of course.
"That seems befitting of a princess."
Belle's dazzling sapphires brightened and a tingle of unknown origin moved through Rumple's chest.
"Normally only priests, priestesses and high ranked adventurers know powerful healing spells."
Rumple hummed. "And how many have been taught by the Dark One?"
The question had been a rhetorical one but it still had Belle glance through the tavern as she thought about it.
"I suppose that is a factor I'd not considered. Still, if you're willing to teach me, I'd be most grateful of your tutelage."
Belle almost asked about any others he may have taught in the past, but stopped herself by having another mouthful of roast chicken. They'd been having a surprisingly pleasant day – not that anybody would have thought that possible when enslaved to the Dark One – and Belle had no desire to ruin it with her unending curiosity. Instead she subreptitiously watched him eat: the Church made the First Demon Lord out to be a savage animal but Belle thought he ate with a rather surprising elegance, certainly more elegance than Gaston had shown; he ate like a starving bear, bits all over the table, grease around his mouth and transferred to anything he touched. The first time she'd seen Rumple eat the hammer boar stew Missus Potts made she'd not been able to hide her smile, and she couldn't help watching him quietly enjoy his chicken. It was nice to see him savor even if he pretended he wasn't. Belle actually missed the hammer boar stew at the Teapot Inn. Back at Kalecaster Castle the food had been wonderfully prepared by the kingdom's best chefs, but nothing they'd made quite matched up to the love and care that went into Missus Potts' hammer boar stew.
Belle's mood soured as thoughts of her home, papa and brother filled her mind, she missed them greatly but couldn't return without a plan or until this Jefferson man had been located. Whatever spell Tvon had put her papa under would be broken eventually, Rumple had promised.
Once lunch had been eaten, the left the Dancing Saint and made their way to one of Locheart's apothecaries that seemed to have almost everything and anything one could imagine. While Belle had read many a book on herbs, she could still only name approximately half of the ingredients for sale all stored in glass jars and lined up neatly on shelves; leaves in some, powders and even harpom in others. Tucked away in a shadowy corner close to the counter, where Rumple stood having a rather in-depth conversation with Collyer the owner, sat a dusty jar filled with something black akin to a cross between charcoal and a malformed parsnip. Belle's curiosity quickly got the better of her and she made to lift the lid to gain a closer look but, before she could, the enslavement collar activated when Rumple yelled at her to 'put it down now!' and Belle was compelled to slam the jar down where she'd found it. It was quickly snapped up by Rumple who almost threw it at the apothecary owner who, in turn, placed it under the counter out the way.
"Don't be stupid, Belle."
Her eyes widened, he'd never spoken to her in such a manner before, never been so cruel, even before their deal. Seeing Belle's confusion and that she meant no harm, Collyer gave her some clarity.
"Miss, that jar contains demon lord root, it is the most powerful poison known to us and has no antidote: just smelling it could cause serious illness and death. It's not for sale, I only keep it around because the rats and spiders won't go near it."
Belle automatically wiped her hands on her burgundy leather armor. She'd heard of demon lord root before, knew it was deadly, but the pictures hadn't quite done the root's diseased appearance justice.
"I'm very sorry, sir, I shouldn't have gone picking things up to begin with."
Having learned her lesson about touching and smelling random things she found on shelves, Belle opted to stand quietly while Rumple and Collyer concluded their business. He'd said he'd not use the collar to command her, it hurt, but she supposed that command had saved her life and, when she'd caught his eye right before he'd turned back to Collyer, Belle hadn't seen anger in them, just concern. The human and her companion spoke for much longer than Belle had imagined though and she soon grew bored, the itch to explore again appeared but Belle refused to touch anything else, instead she allowed herself to read the labels on the pre-made remedies Collyer had for sale. Rumple hadn't shown these remedies any attention, just gone right to the counter like they'd not existed and Belle had to assume Rumple had a natural aptitude for potion crafting. How he'd memorized all the ingredients and how they could be used together so quickly, she'd got no idea. He was smart, he'd saved her several times, he'd protected children, the First Demon Lord was a good man.
"Belle, we're done."
She looked over at him just in time to see his purchases vanish back to their room. 'Their room', that made her smirk because should anybody discover the Princess of Avonlea had been sharing a room with a man who was not her husband, let alone the Dark One, there would have been nothing but outrage and scandal.
Rumple had spent more than he'd intended on everything from ingredients to glass vials: really was a good job they'd finished another quest because the coin purse had been draining rapidly. Out on the street after Collyer had sent them off with a 'come back soon, ya hear?' Rumple glanced up at the sky to find the sun had started to tilt to the west indicating the day had finally ticked over into afternoon after they'd started the day so early. Their business was concluded so returning to Ranga seemed like a wise choice, although there was one other thing he'd meant to look into. Belle, meanwhile, blinked rapidly having not realized just how dark and pungent the apothecary had been.
Locheart was significantly louder than Ranga, especially after lunch, and Belle wasn't sure she cared for it. After several minutes of walking she finally realized where they were headed as the revealing scent of the horses told her they were near the stables. The chestnut-haired teenager had adored horses since childhood's hour so she was more than happy to go view them with Rumple.
"Horses? You're planning on buying one? I thought you just used your spacial magic."
"Normally I do, but I have to have either an extremely accurate map or have a location in my line of sight to teleport as you know, hence the wagon ride here." His unique eyes left Belle to peer at the horses on offer. "A horse shall ease some things, most of all your tired feet."
As soon as the stable owner spotted Belle's pointed ears and slave collar, he sneered; apparently he'd not gotten the message Dorovoth was a welcoming kingdom to those not following the Church. Knowing what he expected, Belle played the lowly slave.
"Master?" Rumple wasn't pleased to hear the word at all. "May I make a suggestion?"
Rumple sighed having figured out where her sudden change in personality had come from. "If you must, girl."
"It will fetch a higher price than here, but if you desire a healthy, well-trained horse of good breeding that is reliable, I'd suggest we go to Crystella instead."
The stable owner scoffed and wiped his nose on the back of his filthy hand. "Greatest horse breeders, me left foot! Name's Simeon and me horses are every bit as good as them Crystellan ones, and cheaper to boot. Don't listen ta yer slave girl, pointy-eared thing don't know what she's on about."
With a reactional wave of his hand, Rumple used wind magic to tighten the air around the rude man's throat slowly choking him. Sudden panic consumed Simeon as a gasp escaped Belle, but Rumple cared not.
"Do be quiet." He turned to face Belle fully while she stared wide-eyed at the man. "When you say a higher price, how high are we talking?"
"… Em, they're the best horses in all the kingdoms, all agree. I'd guess anywhere from ninety-five silvers to ten gold coins."
Rumple lifted a single eyebrow because ten gold coins was probably the equivalent of the profits all the business in Locheart would make in a year combined. However, Belle wouldn't have recommended Crystella's horses if she'd not thought them worth the prince, and it wasn't as though he needed a horse right that second.
"We don't have enough gold for that." Muttered Rumple while he pondered and Simeon started to turn from harrowed red to a moribund purple.
"You're double gold ranked, you could kill a dragon and not bat an eye. I think you can make enough money in no time if you wanted."
"True." He'd made a deal for Belle's knowledge and guidance, and there she was offering knowledge and guidance, so Rumple was inclined to take it. "Very well. Those horses had better be worth it though."
Belle smiled fondly. "Oh, they are. My papa gifted all his best knights with one at the end of the last ogre war. Lorrimer had only just been born then, but the horses are all still healthy and strong now."
She'd proven her point, these horses from Crystella did sound like a good investment. He abruptly made to return them to the Teapot Inn but Belle pushed away and pointed at the suffocating man: she didn't like him but that didn't mean she wanted him dead, there had been enough death for one day.
"Aren't you going to release this man?"
"No, I think I'll just leave him here as a marionette for the lickle horsies to play with." He quipped.
Belle's expression was stern. "That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
"Please let him breathe, Rumple." She implored and he sighed dramatically.
"Fine." In an instant Simeon was released, dropped to his knees, coughed violently then ran away startling his horses as he went. "Always ruining my fun."
"Gaston always says I'm a wet blanket, but I've never found that form of humor funny."
Ah yes, the ambitious thief of a noble with a wanton desire for Avonlea's throne and supple princess. Rumple had only caught sight of Gaston LeGume briefly as he'd fled Rutherford Tower with Haldor Tvon, but he'd quickly figured out the man was little more than a greedy child drinking flattery and lies. For the smallest of moments he was reminded of the Duke of the Frontlands who'd ordered him into battle and later tried to send Bae to the same fate. He'd only become a monster to save his boy but he'd lost Bae anyway.
Not wishing to think of the day he'd lost his only child, he slipped out of the stable with Belle trailing after him. Rumple was so distracted that he almost didn't notice the small human unhook his coin purse – almost. With a snarl Rumple grabbed the thief's wrist to find it attached to a boy of no more than fourteen with messy blond hair and dressed in cheap dark green clothing that had been patched up numerous times: a spinner always noticed these things.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Demanded Rumple.
The boy's hiss of pain was what finally had Rumple release his grasp and snatch his coin purse back while Belle – sweet and caring Belle – looked on the boy with concern.
"A pickpocket? But he's so young." She said as though the thief wasn't only a handful of years younger than Belle herself. "Is he okay?"
Rumple cocked his head to the side with an expression that dared the blond boy to run. "Thieves usually start young, Belle."
"I'm not!" The boy insisted, but Rumple just rolled his eyes while horses neighed in the background.
"Oh, of course, because you just happened to leave your money in my coin purse for safe keeping. Yes, that happens all the time, dearie."
"I ain't a pickpocket – I mean, I did try to take your – I'm not though, Mister, just-" Tears were in the blond's pale eyes but the determination alongside them refused to let them fall. "She needs it! She'll die!"
Rumpelstiltskin knew thieves, had seen many before and after he'd become the Dark One, knew that younger ones always turned on the waterworks when caught and spun a sob story. However, Rumple had grown rather skilled at reading people and recognizing falsehoods, but when he looked at the young teen he didn't see a liar. A sideways glance to Princess Belle told him she'd grown agitated and likely wouldn't let him simply leave the boy to his life and, when he stopped to think about it, he couldn't bring himself to either.
"You get one chance, boy." He held up a single finger. "Tell me who will die and, I warn you, do not lie to me."
The blond boy looked up at Rumple with so much shock his mouth fell open, while Belle just smiled because she was proud of him. After a quick prompt he finally started telling his story.
"Me ma, she's a seamstress but she's real sick. We ran out of coin and she can't get out of bed now. I need money fer medicine."
"Where is your father?"
Those sorrowful pale eyes fell to the cobbles. "… Dead."
"And why not go to the Church for aid? Helping the needy, isn't that something they do?"
"They'd want money even if me and Ma weren't abominations." The more Rumple heard about the Church of Drazva, the less he liked them. As if sensing Rumple's next question, the boy lifted up his scruffy blond locks to reveal slightly pointed ears just like Belle's – a half-elf. "Church don't help half-breeds."
"All right, take me to your mother, boy."
"Wait! You'll help her?!"
There was too much of Baelfire's innocence in this failed thief and it caused a twinge in Rumple's heart: Belle though, she just looked at him with that expression that encouraged him to be kind and good.
"We'll see."
The blond boy nodded, wiped the unshed tears from his eyes then, surprisingly, grabbed Rumple's hand and tugged him toward the slums to the east of Locheart's stables leaving Belle to trail behind them. As she watched the young boy guide Rumple, Belle couldn't help smirking to herself because he'd caved really rather quickly. The Church would likely have twisted the knowledge into something sordid and violent, others probably wouldn't have believed her, but Belle had seen just how much he cared about children. While deeply disturbing and not something she desired to see any time soon, Belle had witnessed Rumple rip the heart out of the bandit who'd dared to hurt Karita and now, instead of kicking the boy back into the gutter or handing him over to the Watchers, he'd chosen to help. A demon lord who protected children, unexpected but very welcome. Her great-granduncle, King Gasper, had once told her a story about the demon lords, a story which had come from the Vita Tree rather than the Drazvans: it told of how demon lords had descended into darkness, that they'd all started with pain and good intentions and soon their want to aid had been subverted into a craving for power by that darkness. The Church could twist the origins of demon lords into propaganda all they liked, but Belle had little time for their sophistry. Rumpelstiltskin was a good man deep down.
It wasn't too far a walk, but the slum streets were narrow and cluttered, then there was the pungent smell which assaulted everybody's nose to the point eyes watered. The buildings, if one could call them real buildings, were tall, rickety and made it hard for much sunlight to reach the walkways. Belle had never seen such a sight, she'd always known there were poorer areas of all cities, but nobody should have had to live in such a state. Queen Colette had done her best to improve the lives of Avonlea's people and, once Gaston and Tvon were dealt with, Belle would take over where her mother had left off and improve the lives of all she could.
The blond boy eventually came to a stop at the shaded end of one alley with small broken windows and a door which looked two seconds from falling off its hinges. It honestly was as though they'd left Locheart all together. The teen finally dropped Rumple's hand to push the door open and hurry inside, there were only two rooms: one serving as kitchen, workroom and where the teenage boy slept, while the closed door probably led to his mother's room. Frankly, their home was in a worse state than the hovel Rumple had lived in as a lowly spinner, and that truly had been a hovel.
A woman lay in a small bed, sweat coated her skin sticking graying blonde hair to her forehead and the stench of illness dominated the room. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she did her best to get some sleep, but the paleness of her skin told even a layman she wasn't long for the world without a physician.
"Ma? Ma, I got help! You awake?" He'd hoped she'd answer but no response came, the poor woman was too lost in her fever. "Ma? Ma!" Rumple pulled the teen away from his mother and shoved him toward Belle with an expression that clearly said to keep him out the way. "See? I weren't lying, Mister. Please, help her."
Not that he needed his magic to figure out the woman wasn't long for the world, but still he cast a wave of it over her to see the full extent of her illness. In his studies Rumple had learned that physicians and healers used spirit magic to diagnose and treat patients, so, after some tweaks, he'd been able to reteach another area of magic to himself. Malnutrition and exhaustion were only the tip of her iceberg and they all knew it.
"Your mother is dying, boy. I can heal her, but all magic comes with a price, dearie."
Quickly, the boy paled and Belle rested her hand atop his shoulder.
"We don't have no money."
Rumple giggled in that way of his. "There is more than coin to use as currency. I make deals, it's my speciality. I shall restore your mother to full health, if you do something for me."
The boy's eyes narrowed suspiciously and Rumple suddenly wondered what sort of propositions men had made before of this boy. Still, Rumple persisted to pretend he was a stone-cold dealmaker.
"Do what?"
Though rare, in his three hundred years Rumple had been begged for deals by children more than a dozen times and he'd always been content to pay the price himself, but all of this was for the mother so Rumple would twist things to have her pay it.
He spared a glance to his ripped coat that had been pierced by an arrow the day he'd been summoned.
"Your mother is a seamstress, yes?" The boy nodded. "Then my price is this: once healed, you ensure your mother crafts me a replacement coat as well as a spare and three new vests. I shall provide materials so worry not about money. You'll have her do her best work."
Even Belle was shocked he'd asked for something so simple. Yes, Rumple had been complaining about the rip in his coat for as long as she'd known him, but to ask for so little again showed his kindness.
"Clothes? You just want clothes?"
Rumple shrugged. "I'm very particular about my clothing, dearie, and, unfortunately, I came to this realm without being given enough notice to pack a trunk. Now, do we have a deal?"
The boy glanced to his mother all coated in sweat and fading from the world before he began nodding frantically, Rumple couldn't quite keep the smirk off his face.
"Yes, Mister! Yes. Deal. Help me ma."
Oh, Rumple hadn't made a decent deal in ages. "The deal is struck."
"How long until she can have the medicine?"
"No need for that. I said I would heal her not that I would medicate her, I'm not Victor Frankenstein."
Before the teen could question, Rumple began to fulfil his end of the deal. From what he'd read, Rumple understood that what Dreymyr termed 'healing magic' was a type of spirit magic – or, very rarely, Avarathdian magic – focused on rapid healing of wounds, illness and poisoning that a potion couldn't achieve. Holy magic, necromancy and taming magic also fell under the spirit magic category as well. In all other realms Rumple had visited, magic was simply an energy to be harnessed and used, it was the wielder that decided if it was used for good or evil. However, in Dreymyr everything had been carefully graded and assigned a designation; helpful in terms of learning but meant that until Rumple had come to fully understand those designations he'd not be able to use his full power. Fortunately, healing had been something he'd made a primary concern and had no issue restoring the mother's life to her. With a scaled hand to her forehead the color suddenly returned to her frigid skin while her shivering and rapid breaths came to an end. To Belle and the boy it probably looked as though little had happened, but Rumple worked hard to isolate her sickness and banish it from her tired body.
He pulled his hand back and turned to face the two teens. "She'll sleep for many hours yet since she's exhausted, but when she does wake your mother will be good as new."
"Really?!" The blond boy brightened.
"I don't go back on my deals, dearie, and you will fulfil your end."
For the first time since they'd entered the squalor, Belle spoke in that lyrical voice of hers, the one Rumple had come to find comforting – not that he'd admit to that.
"You can trust him, sweetheart, he's powerful and strong. Rumple is a surprisingly noble man and, if he says your mother will live, then she will. Color has already begun returning to her cheeks."
Belle smiled while he rushed to his mother's side and, for a moment, Rumple swelled with pride at the princess' words. Nobody had ever had quite as much faith in him as Belle, not even Bae.
"I'll have materials ordered and delivered by the end of tomorrow. You can read, I hope?"
It took a second for the boy to acknowledge Rumple's words but, when he did, it was with a confident nod.
"Me pa taught me letters. Thank you fer saving her."
"Good. That'll make things easier. She's going to be hungry when she wakes, only give her something light."
"I'll make sure."
Rumple was happy to simply leave after that confirmation but, as he made to place an arm around Belle's waist and return them to the Teapot Inn, the boy asked a question.
"Mister, what's your name? Ma will ask."
With a flamboyant bow that had Belle's lovely cerulean orbs roll almost out her head, he introduced himself.
"I am Rumpelstiltskin, at your service."
"Rumpal – Rump-"
"You can just call me Dark One, it's easier to say."
The blond shook his head as fear forced him to press himself into the edge of his mother's bed in a silly attempt to put space between him the perceived threat. That expression was a reaction Rumple had grown used to in his many years as Dark One, there was an odd comfort in its familiarity.
"He's not real."
Rumple smirked. "Oh, I assure you I am, dearie."
Sensing the situation turning unnecessarily fearful, and since a riot in the slums was the very last thing she wanted, Belle piped up again as the voice of reason.
"It's all right, he's a good demon lord. Okay, I know that sounds like a contradiction but it's true and he did just save your mother's life."
That comment gave the fourteen-year-old boy pause. It was the Church that went around tossing out stories of evil demon lords; their debauchery, machinations, covetousness, and, of course, how the Dark One was the very worst of them, that he made the ogres look like docile kittens. The Dark One was a mythical foe to make their Goddess' light shine all that much brighter. Although, the blond was a half-elf, so was his mother and father, and each time he'd asked for their aid they'd looked at him with disgust the second they'd spotted the point of his ears, and sent him away unless he had a high amount of coin. Knife-ear, that was what one of the nuns had called him – they weren't all horrible though, another nun had delivered food to his mother a few times just after his father had died. He hadn't thought the Dark One real, but the man before him didn't look, act or dress like a normal demon and despite a slave collar being around his companion's throat, she didn't seem to actually be treated as a slave. The older girl was right, he'd saved his mother's life – plus the legends did speak of the Dark One making deals.
"… You're good?"
Rumple scoffed; he'd never be 'good' again, not after the things he'd done. "I'm certainly better than the Church. Stay with your mother, I'll bring the materials tomorrow like I said." Then Rumple held an arm out, a clear instruction for the Princess to join him. "Ah yes, I meant to ask, what is your name, boy?"
"Faris Quartermaine." He answered slowly before jutting a thumb out towards his sleeping mother. "Ma is called Una."
As soon as Rumple's arm was around Belle's slender waist, they vanished in a puff of smoke oddly scented like petrichor leaving a very confused teenage boy. Faris looked back to his mother, she'd stopped breathing so rapidly and, though still shiny, she no longer sweated profusely. So hard, Faris had tried so hard to care for Una after she'd gotten sick, he'd done all the jobs he could and basically begged the Church to take pity on them, then, after all that had yielded no result, Faris had started stealing here and there so he could scrape enough together for a physician. Yet it was the First Demon Lord who'd actually helped her, the monster in the shadows had saved his mother for just a few items of clothing. At first Faris hadn't wanted to believe their claims that Rumpelstiltskin was the Dark One – a ridiculous claim – but the second they'd vanished before his pale eyes, Faris' doubts had disappeared along with them: spacial magic was only accessible to those who practices dark magic.
A monster had entered his home and performed a miracle all while the Church shut their doors and turned their eyes away.