#location: rumple's hovel

[treatian]

The Chronicles of the Dark One:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 24:  Her Gilded Prison

Cora was dying. Not physically, not even magically, but the sudden spike in Cora's abilities reflected the inner turmoil she was experiencing, and it wasn't good. Only a month before the wedding, and after she'd set out to set a piece of paper on fire and instead had lit the entire table on fire, she confessed that what he suspected was true. Cabin fever, as he'd sometimes heard it described, could happen in a cabin or a hovel, but Cora was proof that it could spring up even in the biggest of castles among those who felt the loneliest and those, like Cora, who were doted upon by servants and fiancés. Their stolen meetings in the late hours of the night and early hours of the morning were enough at first to counteract her busy schedule, but it no longer was. When that had happened, he wasn't entirely sure; it had been developing for so long. But now that it had happened, he could see all too easily how the castle had become her cage. When she placed her head at the window and gazed out into the village she once despised, what he really saw was her straining at the bars of her jail cell. There was a part of her that was dying inside from it, eating up part of what she'd been before and replacing it with something else, something cruel and cold.

"Where were you?!" she demanded when he was only a few minutes late for their lessons. She was upset, but his mind was still thinking the wheels turning with the information he'd gathered since they'd last been with one another.

"Forgive me," he begged with a smile, walking over to steal a kiss from her. "I got held up with some research for a deal."

"What research? What deal?!" she practically screamed at him. In fact, he was certain she'd have screamed louder if not for the late hour. "Who were you with?!"

Was it jealousy he saw in her eyes, the same kind he sometimes felt when she spent the day with her Prince Henry? Or was it something more?

Something more…that was what he chose to believe. It wasn't who he'd been with or what they'd been doing merely that he had been out in the world with someone else while she'd been here, parts of her soul rotting away in his absence.

"I was with no one. Simply doing a bit of…reconnaissance," he giggled, slipping over to the fire and into her chair.

She crossed her hands over her chest and narrowed her gaze. "For what…"

"A legendary object for which I've been searching for quite a long time."

She was in a sour mood, but the truth was that now that he'd found this object, he was in a happy mood. No, he knew, according to the Seer's Prophecy in his head, that was not the way he was destined to get back to Baelfire, but he was a firm believer after all these years that every little thing he could have in his store hold would be helpful. Even this, ludicrous as even he admitted it was.

"And when will you go about making a deal for this…'legendary object'?"

Now it was his turn to meet her angry gaze with a cautious one of his own. He didn't come over here night after night to be examined or tested, and he certainly didn't come over here to have his plans scrutinized by her, especially when he was positive that he wasn't the real problem.

"When the time is right," he commented. "I've identified the weak links in the chain and set the wheels in motion to create an environment that might place my prize right in my lap. Tell me, dearie, is it really me you are angry with, or Henry, for dragging you out for a walk in the gardens for the hundredth time this afternoon?"

He'd hit the nail on the head, an expression that she'd never understand because he found it wasn't bound to be useful in this land, but it was still the best thing he could think of to describe the thoughts he saw changing before his eyes. Her face softened, her shoulders slumped forward the iron grip she'd had on her arms fell away as they dropped to her sides. She let out a sigh and walked over to sit down upon the arm of the chair he rested in.

"I'm really starting to hate that garden," she stated. "I'm sorry, my darling. I never intended to-"

"Quite alright, quite alright," he dismissed, moving his arms around her waist so that he could place his forehead just at the small of her back. "I know you've been feeling trapped here, like a firefly straining against the jar a child puts it in, but…I've got a plan, a surprise!"

"A surprise?!" she exclaimed, turning to face him. Ah, now there was the light in her eyes he loved to see. "For me?!"

"It's not ready quite yet, but I promise, when it is, it will be an experience you'll be thrilled to take."

It was only a few days after that everything was ready. While she spent her days becoming a princess and courting her future husband, he spent his days in a different Kingdom altogether, where the King was a savage man who had captured a beast, a man trapped by a witch in a terrible curse that could not be broken. It was the fate of the scorned lover that she never wanted to see his face again, and so she'd given him the head of a bull and the mind of one too. The Kingdom called the beast the Minotaur. Many years after the curse was cast, none other than the King himself came into procession of the Minotaur. He'd had a labyrinth constructed to house the beast. A King like that had never been gifted with a wife, no woman would have him, and it had only made his hatred of the fairer sex grow. He had plenty of half children by those he took advantage of when he needed his cock stroked but none that would inherit his Kingdom. For sport, he'd issued a challenge. Every year seven of the most beautiful men and women were rounded up, imprisoned, and every day for one week, they were let loose in the minotaur's labyrinth. If they managed to kill the Minotaur and find their way out, then the King would adopt them, and they would inherit the Kingdom. But no one was ever successful. The Minotaur's appetite was insatiable. He'd eaten every last offering that had been lost in that dark maze. The longest had lasted two hours.

It was a fascinating beast, but the Minotaur was only a small part of the plan he had to fetch his future property. In that same kingdom, there was a girl from a poor family. It was an old story. Her mother and father had loved each other truly and had more children than they could take care of. A couple of years ago, things grew worse when the father had died from disease. Now the family was near destitution. But one of the girls, she was beautiful; dirty constantly, but beautiful. And on her shoulders, completely unaware of the magic it possessed and the wealth she could gain from it was a fleece of gold. It should have been an easy sale, and it might have been if not for the fact that he'd learned the fleece had sentimental value to her. Her father had given it to her just before he'd died. And now everywhere that Mary went that fleece was sure to go. It would take an offer of something more important than money to get her to part with it. And so he'd made arrangements for her to be on the same street while the King was passing by one afternoon before the Minotaur's offering week. Now, he was happy to hear that she, and that wonderful fleece of hers, had been locked away in a jail cell, awaiting her opportunity to go into the maze and kill the Minotaur.

He'd left her there for a couple of days, left her family to try unsuccessfully to break her out, left her to unsuccessfully try to leave on her own, left her to learn for herself that there was no escape. Not without help.

The night before she was to be offered, he appeared in Cora's room with Donna held tight in his fist.

"Get dressed, I have a surprise for you…" he informed her.

"A…doll? I grew out of those before I ever grew into them, Rumple," she commented, looking over the puppet in his hand. But her skills were growing, and after only a second, he watched her face as she located the magic that rolled off of it. "A magic doll?"

He pulled Cora away from her bed and set the object upon it. With a wave of his hand, the doll became Donna once more, sitting there properly, hands folded in her lap as her eyes stared blankly ahead. Cora jumped at the sudden presence, then watched as he waved his hand one more time and Donna's long blonde locks became dark brown, her long face shortened, her lips plumped, her toes reached to the floor, and her ordinary peasant gown became the beautiful white and flowing nightgown Cora wore over her shoulders now. Cora was speechless as what looked back at her now was not Donna, but herself.

She stood motionless as he stepped up to the doll, reached his hand into her chest, and withdrew her red beating heart. "Your name is Cora in this form. You will finish reading your book by the fire, then go to bed. If someone knocks on the door, tell them you're not decent and tired, you'll talk in the morning. If they insist on speaking tonight, tell them you'll meet them in the ballroom in five minutes and say the name of Rumpelstiltskin three times."

He whispered the instructions into her heart, and when he put the thing back into her chest, she took a great gasp of air, and looked around the room. She ignored their presence entirely, then went to the fire, picked up the book Cora had been reading a moment ago, and began to read just as she'd been ordered. It wasn't perfect, but it would fool someone enough to give them time to return before people truly started to question her.

When he turned back to Cora, her eyes were wide, still staring at her new doppelganger with a mix of awe and horror before he turned and put her hand in his own. "I have a deal to make tonight. I wondered if you'd accompany me?"

For a moment she simply stared at him, doing nothing so that he wanted to look behind him and make sure that Donna was still in the chair and the real Cora before him, but before he could she breathed out an "oh, yes!" and launched herself into his arms. Cora kissed him in a way that no doll could ever fake. He would have been happy to stay there all night, to continue kissing her and maybe even doing a little more than kissing finally, but he'd been planning this deal for some time now and if they didn't go to her tonight tomorrow morning Mary would be dead and who knew what that Minotaur would do to it while he ate her, how it would affect the magic of the fleece. They had to go tonight, he explained to Cora, and in only a few minutes she was dressed warmly, the fake Cora was stretching by the fire as if tired, and he was explaining that to take her with him she was going to have to hold on tight to him.

"Teach me how!" she urged, a montra by which he swore she lived by. She was so fiercely independent that any suggestion that she rely on his magic resulted in an insistence that he simply just teach her.

"Later, there's no time now."

"Rumple…" It was the closest thing to a whine he'd ever heard her utter.

"I will teach you, but…I've been working on finding this object for years and it's taken me weeks to set this deal in motion. I don't have time to teach you when it's at stake."

She didn't like that response, she didn't like it at all. "After, then…you'll teach me to come and go as I please after."

It was half a request, half an order. But he didn't have time to negotiate, the time was ripe. This had to get done.

"Of course," he agreed holding out his arm so that she could move closer to him. There was only one last thing. "Before we go, you need to know that when I broker a deal, I may say some things you don't understand or don't agree with, but I promise...with you I've only ever spoken truth. Anything you hear tonight-"

"Is just part of the act, I understand, Rumple. Let's go!"

#Rumbelle #Rumple #Rumpelstiltskin #Cora #Queen of Hearts #Golden Heart #ouat #fanfic #ouat fic

[toseehowthestoryends]

A Different Fate - Chapter 20

Summary: Fiona learns that Rumplestiltskin is the Dark One shortly after Cora breaks his heart, and leaves the Dark Realm to find him. Slowly, they build the relationship they should have had - and Fiona grows determined to restore the destiny she cut away from her son.  Years later, when Belle makes a deal to become the Dark One’s maid, she never expects to find his mother living with him, or to find Fiona encouraging her growing relationship with Rumplestiltskin.

Read it on AO3 | FFN | tumblr tags

Chapter 20—“Let the World be Done with Me”

Anyone who dared use a locator spell to track Rumplestiltskin down would have been in line for a very quick death.  Unless, of course, that person was his mother.  

“I don’t want to talk to you!” he snapped, trying desperately to keep his tone dismissive instead of furiously wounded.  He didn’t need his mother, not right now.  Maybe not ever, not if she kept sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong.  

He didn’t need to turn around to know Fiona had crossed her arms and snorted.  “That’s because you’re being quite the little idiot.”

“This is your doing!”  Rumplestiltskin whirled around before he could stop himself, snarling the words.  “Don’t deny that that you’ve been trying to push us towards one another.  This has your sparkly little fingerprints all over it!”

“Actually, no.”  Fiona’s smile was wry.  “Not that I’m above playing matchmaker, mind, but the girl came around to her feelings for you all on her own.  Isn’t her saying that what made you run away?”

Rumplestiltskin glared.  “I didn’t run.  Dark Ones don’t run.”  But the coward he’d once been had, and even knowing he had been meant to be the Savior didn’t lessen the crippling guilt.  Power or not, I’m still a coward. Always will be.

“If you say so, dear.” Fiona looked around, seeming to notice the hovel they were standing in for the first time.  Unlike everyone else of his acquaintance, she didn’t even blink at the humble surroundings, merely taking them in with a glance.  “Is that why you came here, then?  To remind yourself of what you were?”

Rumplestiltskin wanted to snap at her, but instead his voice came out very small. “Baelfire grew up  here.”  I was loved here, even if only by him.

The love of his son and his mother was the only love he should ever want or need. He had been a fool to fall in love with Belle, and even more of a fool to think that doing so might be safe. Loving his maid from afar was one thing, but the knowledge that she could love him back—that she’d said as much!—broke him into tiny pieces.  Their terrifyingly honest conversation had brought so much into the light that Rumplestiltskin felt blinded.  He couldn’t do this.  He couldn’t.  

Focus on Baelfire, on the curse, and on getting to him. Nothing else matters.  Yet he could still hear the faintly mocking laughter of his predecessors.  They’d stopped demanding he kill Belle a few hours earlier, yet they were all still rather amused at his expense.

“It’s not a betrayal to love someone other than him, you know.”   His mother’s voice was surprisingly gentle, particularly for Fiona, who embraced her darker urges as often as he did.  

“You know nothing!”  He wanted to throttle her, could feel the darkness boiling in him.  His rage over denying himself love demanded a target, but Rumplestiltskin would not let it hurt his mother.  Not after everything.

“Do you love her?” She put her hand on his arm when he turned away.  “Do you, Rumple?”

He snorted bitterly.  “Of course I do.”

“Then don’t try to punish yourself by denying yourself love just because you lost your son. Come back to the castle and talk to her. She’s confused and hurt, but you still have a chance.  Though not as much of one if you sit here and dither.”

Rumplestiltskin just shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.  After a moment, Fiona huffed impatiently and continued:

“Do you think she’s like Cora?  That she’ll betray you?”

“Belle is nothing like Cora.”  The words were harsh, but Rumplestiltskin knew they were true.  Even as Zoso cackled madly, he knew that Belle wasn’t after his power.

No, she wanted him, which was far more terrifying.

“Then come back before it’s too late.”  Fiona squeezed his arm again, and Rumplestiltskin just closed his eyes against her soft voice.  “Please, Rumple.  She makes you happy, and there’s nothing to fear in that.”

He wanted to. Oh, he wanted to.

“I can’t.” Rumplestiltskin swallowed hard. Those were not tears trying to leak out of his eyes.  Go take her, coward, Zoso demanded.  Say sweet words and she might even let you. Not that you’d ever be brave enough. Opening his eyes did not banish the voices, but it made focusing on his mother easier.  “Love…love like that is not made for demons like me.”

“Oh, Rumple. You silly, loving, fool.”  Suddenly, Fiona’s hand was on his face, soft and far too gentle, and Rumplestiltskin wanted to pull away.  Yet he couldn’t.  Not now. “If a monster like me can love and be loved, what makes you think that you cannot?  Your heart is full of love, despite the darkness you’ve wrapped it in.”

He wanted to. Burned to.  How had Belle become so important to him in the last months? Had it even been a year?  He knew that he loved her; lying to himself was useless on that front, as was—apparently—lying to his mother. Except Rumplestiltskin knew where this led.  Belle was not Cora; she would not seek his power only to betray him repeatedly.  She would love him honestly, if she could, and he would hurt her.  Or someone else would.  Who did hardly mattered; he was the Dark One, and his enemies were legion.  Even if he somehow overrode the voices in his head screaming for him to ravage her and own her, someone else would take Belle to hurt him.

Rumplestiltskin couldn’t let that happen.  He wouldn’t.  Not even if it broke his heart.

“I can’t.” With an effort, Rumplestiltskin pulled away.  He had to harden his heart right now, had to distance himself from love as best he could. So, he drew on the darkness, wrapping it around himself like a shield, and using its coldness to draw a line between himself and his feelings.

Fiona opened her mouth to argue, but he twitched his fingers and teleported her away before she could speak.  She’d howl bloody murder later, but for now, it at least gave him some peace.  That left Rumplestiltskin alone in his old hovel, in the home where he had both raised and lost Baelfire, a place where he had known so much joy—and so much pain.  He hated this place, but that made the hovel the right place to be.

For once, Fiona got the hint and didn’t return.

“I can help you find someone who will make you happy.”  

The stupid green fairy spoke so earnestly that it made Zelena want to puke.  As far as she was concerned, the midget’s only redeeming quality was that she had a good choice in the color of her wardrobe, but even then, Zelena wasn’t sure that the idiot wasn’t trying to suck up to her. Why would she want a fairy’s help?  Did the oversized fly think that Zelena was so desperate that she’d turn to someone like her?  The very idea was laughable.

“Why would I want help from a pathetic little fairy to be happy?” She snorted before she could stop herself; snorting wasn’t terribly regal, but Zelena thought she could do it just this once. “I have everything I could possibly want.”

The diminutive fairy stuck her chin out defiantly, hands on her hips and feet spread like she was ready to go to war.  “Except someone who actually loves you.”

“Love is weakness.”  A maid who had once served her mother had told Zelena that was Cora’s mantra, and Zelena liked saying it.  It made her sound strong.  Everyone said that Cora had been strong.

“Don’t be stupid.”  Tinker Bell rolled her eyes.  “Love is—”

This time Zelena scoffed, which was much more queenly.  “Love is a tool men use to keep women subservient to them.”

“And what if I could find you a man who would be subservient to you?” The fairy cocked her head, and then shrugged. “Some men like that kind of thing.”

“Do they?” The question wormed out of Zelena before she could stop it, but despite herself, she was intrigued.  James—her faithless prince who had chosen Snow!—had liked strong women, but he hadn’t exactly wanted to kneel at her feet.  Zelena wouldn’t mind an equal, someone who respected her and would fight beside her, the idea of a strong man who would let her rule was even more enticing.

“It takes all kinds.”  Tink laughed lightly, and Zelena found herself smiling before she quashed the expression.

Queens did not smile at fairies.  Not powerful queens, anyway.  So, she narrowed her eyes with suspicion.

“Why do you want to help me, anyway?  You fairies are a prissy lot, always following that holier-than-thou Blue Fairy.” Zelena knew that.  The Blue Fairy had helped Snow more than once, so there was no way that any of her minions would help Zelena.  Not that the idea of having a fairy in her corner was in any way unappealing. It might even be useful.

Tink shrugged again.  “Blue kicked me out.  I tried to help a fellow fairy run away and find love, and she didn’t like that very much.”

“So, you’re not actually a fairy?”  

“No, I’m a fairy.  Blue couldn’t take my wings because I left before she could.”  A bitter smile.  “I don’t miss most of them, anyway.  But I do like helping people who actually need it. You do.”

Tink’s answer made sense, even if Zelena figured there was a lot she wasn’t telling her. Still, Zelena liked the idea of finding a man who would appreciate her for who she was.  She’d cast a line or two in the pirate’s direction, but he hadn’t seemed terribly interested in anything more than a fling, and Zelena really did want more than that.  She didn’t like admitting that, even to herself, but it was true.  She was lonely—but not so lonely that she’d let any man control her.  Not ever. She’d follow her mother’s example and be the one in control, even if it meant taking her potential beau’s heart.

He knew what he needed to do, but Rumplestiltskin didn’t want to do it.  He supposed that he’d always been a coward, even emotionally.  Back in another life, it had taken him weeks to work up the courage to propose to Milah—something he’d been pitifully proud of himself for, even if he now half-wished he’d never done so.  She gave me Bae.  She might have hated me, but without her, I’d have never had my precious boy.  The other Dark Ones laughed in his mind at that thought, but Rumplestiltskin ignored their contempt for his son.  They were glad he’d murdered his wife; he wasn’t. He still felt shame for what he’d done that day, even if a part of him was viciously proud that he’d finally fought back against the woman who had berated him for so long.

She’ll do the same to you, Nimue whispered insidiously.  If you let this one in, she’ll turn out to be just like your dear, departed wife.  You thought Milah loved you, too.  Just like you thought Cora did.  How did that work out for you, fool?

Shaking his head wildly, Rumplestiltskin squeezed his eyes shut, trying to shut the voices out.  “No,” he whispered.  “She won’t.”

That was the worst—and the best—thing about Belle.  He knew that she was no Milah, knew that she was no Cora.  Belle was nothing like either of them: she was honest, honorable, and she wore her heart on her sleeve.  Rumplestiltskin might have needed time to realize she was developing feelings for him, but he knew that her feelings were honest.  For now.

The problem was that he knew what kind of situation they were in.  Belle might have been young enough to forget, but he wasn’t.  He knew that so long as she was in his employ, as long as she was a servant in his castle, nothing between them was real.  Rumplestiltskin held incredible power over her; he could make her life miserable with a wave of one hand.  And yes, he could do that to almost anyone, but it was different for Belle.  As honest as she was, who could blame her for falling for him in self-defense?  Any maiden might do the same, what with the limited competition in the Dark Castle.  It was the only way of making her life better.

That left him with only one possible path, one way to do right by the woman he loved. Belle was worth more to Rumplestiltskin than his own happiness, and even though he knew how this would end up, that changed nothing.  If you love her, the old saying said, let her go.  He had never done that before.  Rumplestiltskin had always held on too tightly, smothered those he loved until they ran for freedom.  But he would not make that mistake this time.  This time, he would do what was right.

Even if it killed him.

“Baelfire? What are you doing here?”  Tiger Lily greeted them at the mouth of her cave, looking between Bae and Beans in confusion.

Bae had to suck in a deep breath of air before he could stop panting; as near as he could tell, the two hour trek to Tiger Lily’s cave had taken more like all night. Losing Felix had been harder than he’d expected.  “Um.  I need somewhere to hide Beans.”

“Beans?”  Tiger Lily stared at the other boy—who was panting even harder than Bae was, since being chained under a tree wasn’t really good for getting exercise—and blinked. “You’re the Seer Pan has been using.”

“Using.” Beans wheezed, and then snorted breathlessly.  “Yeah.”

“Come in, then.”  She shot Bae a hard look.  “What have you done?”

He bristled. “Something right, for once.”

“Of course you have.  That’s hardly the point.”  Tiger Lily sighed as she led them past her fire and deeper into her cave.  “Not here on Neverland.  Here, right is never easy.  Sometimes, it’s even impossible.”

“Pan leaves you alone,” Bae shot back before he could stop himself.  He wasn’t here for a lecture.  He was here because Tiger Lily was their only hope for hiding, or at least Beans’.  Bae was pretty sure that Felix didn’t know who had let Beans out, so as long as he returned to the other Lost Boys fairly soon, Pan might not figure out it was him.

“Only because I leave him alone.”

“But you’ve got magic.  I saw.” Bae frowned as Tiger Lily blinked in confusion.  But he’d seen her do magic, something white and flashy that had made the Black Fairy happy.

“Oh, no.” She heaved a sigh, sitting down hard on a rock.  “You came to me because you think I have the magic to protect you?”

“You don’t. But you will.”  Beans’ eyes had gone a little glassy again.  “The fallen fairy will find her magic once more.” Then Beans shook his head, squinting up at both Bae and Tiger Lily as they stared at him.  “What?  Did I prophesy again?”

Tiger Lily cracked a smile.  “Just a little.”

“You’re a Seer?”  Bae felt stupid for asking, but he hadn’t really thought about it.  But Felix had mentioned that, hadn’t he?  No wonder why they’d had Beans locked up.  Pan collected magical objects; it wasn’t hard to believe he’d collect magical people, too.  

“Hard to figure out, but true.”  Beans shrugged.  “It sucks.”

“Yeah, I can tell.”  Bae knew that a Seer had been the one to tell his father that he’d die in the Ogre Wars, that that knowledge had driven Rumplestiltskin to desert so that he wouldn’t leave Bae fatherless, as he’d been.  His mother had always scoffed and said that the Seer had told of the future that should have been, but Bae had always been glad that his father had listened.

He’d never imagined a Seer who was younger than him, though.

“I don’t have magic.”  Tiger Lily’s voice shattered the sudden stillness.  “Pan thinks I’m unimportant, so he ignores me, as long as I stay out of his way.”

“But I saw you.”  Bae knew magic when he saw it.  His last few months with his father had taught him a lot, and Neverland had taught him even more.

Her smile was sad.  “That was the last of someone else’s magic.  Mine is gone, and has been ever since the Blue Fairy took my wings.”

The uneasy feeling in the pit of Bae’s stomach was quickly becoming a rock of misery; now what were they supposed to do?

Belle didn’t see Rumplestiltskin again until the next morning.  She’d hoped he’d come back so that they could talk, but so far as she could tell, he stayed out of the castle until after breakfast.  Then, just as she was silently finishing her own meal in the kitchen, he appeared across from where she sat without warning, making Belle jump.

“Rumplestiltskin.”  Belle gulped, jumping to her feet to face him and trying to swallow her surprise. Sitting while he was standing just didn’t feel right, not after their last mess of a conversation.  She wanted to face him on equal terms, not look up at him. “I didn’t know you were back.”

“I’m releasing you from our deal.”

A long moment passed before those words sunk in.  Belle found herself stuttering.  “…what?”

“Leave. Go.  You’re not my prisoner anymore.”  He shook his head rapidly, and Belle couldn’t help but notice the way Rumplestiltskin wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“I haven’t been your prisoner since you let me out of that dungeon.”  He hadn’t really still viewed her that way, had he? Belle thought they had something special, something more than that.

“It doesn’t matter.”  Rumplestiltskin finally looked at her, and she could see pain radiating out of his eyes. “You can go.  You’re free.”

Blinking, Belle let the words sink in.  She was free. Free from the deal she had made, free from staying in the Dark Castle forever. She could go home, go adventuring, or do whatever she wanted.  Belle had never expected to be freed, even as she grew closer and closer to Rumplestiltskin and stopped wanting it, so the feeling took her breath away.  Her life was her own, probably for the first time since she was born.  Her father couldn’t command her, and Rumplestiltskin had let her go.

“What if I don’t want to go?” she asked curiously.

That seemed to jerk him up short.  “What? No. You have to.  You have to go.”

“Why?” Belle crossed her arms, jutting her chin out at him.  “Because I said I could—”

“Don’t say it!”  Suddenly, he looked panicked, panicked and desperate all at the same time.  “You can’t. You shouldn’t.”

“I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you, Rumple?”  Belle could read his body language, could see the way he leaned towards her without meaning to.  There was a yearning in Rumplestiltskin’s eyes that warmed her to her very bones, making Belle feel light-headed and giddy.  Deciding to take a chance, she reached for his hand, squeezing his fingers gently.  “Tell me you have no feelings for me, and I’ll go.”

“I don’t—I don’t—” Rumplestiltskin cut off, squeezing his eyes shut.  “I want you to be happy.”

“Well, that’s good.”  She smiled her best smile.  “Because I want me to be happy, too.  And I think that could be with you, if you’re brave enough to try.”

She knew he was afraid; every line of his too-tense body screamed that.  So, Belle squeezed his hand again. Rumplestiltskin, however, just shook his head again.

“You can’t,” he whispered raggedly.  “I can’t. Everything I lo—everything I touch eventually turns to dust.  I am a monster, Belle.  And that is why you have to go.”

“But that’s—”

“You deserve your freedom.”  Rumplestiltskin’s shrug was bitter and a little twisted.  “And if…if you come back, I’ll still be here.  But take your freedom first.  Remember what it is like to live away from a monster.”

“You think I’ll come back?”  Belle’s heart leapt; she hadn’t missed the word he’d cut off earlier. Rumplestiltskin might believe that everything he loved turned to dust, but she could prove him wrong.  And if it took leaving to prove that to him, she’d come back again.  He loves me.  Her heart beat wildly in her chest, hammering out a rhythm that she could barely hear over.   Belle felt lightheaded.  That’s what he stopped himself from saying.

“Oh, Belle.” His sad smile broke her heart.  “I expect I’ll never see you again.”

“Then why tell me to go?”

“Because I’m sorry.  For…everything.”  Slowly, his free hand came up to touch her cheek, but the contact was so fleeting that Belle almost thought she’d imagined the feeling of his warm fingers against her skin.  “Because you deserve better.  The castle will provide everything that you need for your journey, or if you desire, I’ll take you straight to your father’s castle.”

“No.  I don’t want to go back there.”  Still stunned, Belle shook her head.  She wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave, but she knew that she didn’t want to go there.  She wouldn’t go back to that suffocating world where she was expected to be nothing other than Gaston’s broodmare, to tie herself to a man who thought nothing of torturing an innocent ogre-child.  Her father was a little better; he did love her, but he thought nothing of her opinions or her intelligence.  But Belle felt like she’d drown if she returned home.

I want adventure, she knew.  But wasn’t loving Rumplestiltskin an adventure? It would be, but only if he would let her.  And he seemed to think that she couldn’t love him if she left, that leaving would make her feelings fade.  

“Tell me what your desire is, and I shall fulfill it.”  Rumplestiltskin stepped back as she mulled her options over, offering Belle a courtly bow that made her smile sadly.

She almost told him that she wanted to stay.  Almost said that all she wanted was to stay here, with him.  Yet part of Belle could see the sense in what Rumplestiltskin said. Trapped here, with no one but Rumplestiltskin and Fiona for company—aside from those who came for deals—could she truly know her own heart?  Belle was certain that she could, but she could see the doubt in Rumplestiltskin’s eyes.  He feared that she loved him out of self-defense, that she was only looking to better her situation through his good graces.

“What if I want to come back?”  The words burst out of her before she could stop herself, and Rumplestiltskin’s eyes went almost comically wide.

Then he seemed to deflate.  “Don’t—don’t say that.”  He gulped. “But I would never stop you.”

“Good.” Belle took a deep breath, steadying herself.  She could tell that he wanted to believe that she loved him as much as he clearly loved her, that her emotions matched those she could see burning in Rumplestiltskin’s eyes.  But he was so hesitant, her Rumple.  So afraid.  Fiona had explained to her how he had been hurt, and Belle promised herself then and there that she would not be the next person to break his heart.

“I…I wish you well.”  Rumplestiltskin’s whisper was almost a stutter, and on impulse, Belle stepped forward to kiss him on the cheek.

“Thank you.” She gave him the most encouraging smile that she could, and then forced herself to back away.  If she didn’t, she might never leave.

Rumplestiltskin wanted to give her space, wanted to let her decide.  And maybe Belle needed that perspective; maybe she needed to be certain that he was what she wanted.  So, she would leave—and then she would come back.  Forever.

A/N: Stay tuned for Chapter 21—“Curse the Fading of the Light”, in which Belle leaves the Dark Castle, Rumplestiltskin mopes, Snow learns the truth about Charming, Beans surprises Tiger Lily and Baelfire, and Fiona tries to shake sense into her son.  While you’re waiting, please do let me know what you think—feedback is food for fanfic writers.

In other news, one of my fabulous readers has created a TVTropes page for this story! You can check it out here.

#rumbelle fic #rumbelle au #a different fate #rumbelle #you knew he was going to let her go #the similarities with ADB end with this chapter #since everything else is BRAND NEW

[mryddinwilt]

For those upset/annoyed about their fav not getting enough time and or their least fav having too much... Let’s examine what we know about the episode (which at this point is A LOT)

First off we have the entire scene breakdown from this picture. It lets us see pretty quick that this episode is an Emma centric. We are opening on a flashback to her foster home and I am expecting to bawl when I hear Emma’s Theme first being played. We also know thanks to the B-Roll video that Emma’s solo is the all important Hope triumphing moment. The flashbacks are going to be all about Snowing trying to ensure Emma’s Happy Ending which by law of OUAT storytelling means they will “fail” in the past and the success will be in the present. So this is an episode built around Emma Swan and her happily ever after moment. (which may or may not get interrupted by a curse cloud)

If you look at the scenes that aren’t musical numbers it seems to me (optimist that I am) that they are mostly “wedding prep” scenes. Emma’s house, the Captains Quarters, the Loft are all places people would be getting dressed and ready for the big day (and big musical number!). These are likely interspersed with BF/ Gold causing trouble and Regina trying to break the spell in her vault (or maybe Regina gets ready in her vault IDK)

Now lets look at the songs. I think it’s important to note that there are possible reprises throughout the episode and that we don’t know the length of each song but even without that it still feels balanced to me. From the interview with Zachary and Weiner each song was meant to be from a huge emotional/dramatic moment for all the characters. That translated into what looks like solos for all the main characters (minus Belle and Rumple). With Snowing getting two songs– a love duet and a fight with the EQ–because that is how Snowing rolls. 

When you take out the solos you are left with:

 “The Queen Sings” which by looking at the scene breakdown seems to be more of a ensemble piece that is going to establish that “why yes everyone is singing”. The EQ is going to bounce from the Mines, to Pinocchio’s shop, to Granny’s hovel, and back and everyone is going to get in on the action. 

Then “Charmings vs Evil Queen” which, is like Snowing’s second solo because fighting the EQ is basically a requirement in their flashbacks. And I am actually going to guess this is the one that takes place on the Jolly Roger/docks because it seems to fit with the order of things. With Hook delivering them and Regina showing up for the face off. 

And finally “A Happy Beginning” which looks to be the big finale number with Captain Swan starting out singing a duet and everyone else joining in (Bex’s singing in the B-roll seems to come from this based on the words). Odds are that this occurs at the actual wedding likely after the vows (?) because in the B-Roll the dancers are in the wedding location and because there is a whole Chorus joining in for it which means a big crowd and it just makes sense

So TL;DR: I think it’s going to be an Emma centric with a healthy balance of all the mains and a sweeping ending centering on Emma’s happy ending.       

#ouat spoilers #ouat musical #cs crew #well that just happened #ouat speculation #mryddinwilt makes wild predictions #but not really because this all seems to be about right to me #and like i shouldn't have spent time on this #but it was fun for me #and now others can use it

[katmtan]

Did you ever hear anything about Stephen Lord or any other actor filming as Malcolm (adult Peter Pan) for "The Black Fairy"? Since it's been teased Rumple's backstory as an infant with Black will be shown, it would seem odd to not have Malcolm involved somehow.

Hmm i haven't heard. I know they use Malcolm's Hovel as one of the location but never heard of Malcolm making an appearance?

[rumbelleshowdown]

The Price of Magic

by The Daydreaming Doll

Prompts: Execution, The four elements, “Take me anywhere.”

“The punishment for involvement with witchcraft and failure to provide information on the witch’s location is execution. Send him to the pit!”

Rumplestiltskin writhed in the grips of the two prison guards. “Please, you can’t. I—I have a son! She was the only way I could save him from dying.” His walking stick fell to the dirt ground of the hovel as Baelfire, no more than four, watched in terror. “What else could I have done? He was so sick…,” he whimpered.

Hordor had him by the neck of his shirt. “I guess you made the wrong decision, then, didn’t you?” With the loosening of his grip, Rumplestiltskin collapsed in front of the men.

“Now, I think I’m a fair man, and it would be better to have a witch in our hands than a dead peasant and a corrupt village, so I’m going to give you one last chance. Where is she?”

Rumple begged to Hordor, stumbling over his words as panic filled every inch of his body. “I told you, I don’t know. She was visiting, I heard someone say, only I didn’t know their name. I met her along one of the paths, and that was when she came back to my home to heal Bae. Please, you have to believe me.”

Two of them were quick to rip him up to his feet when they realized this was going nowhere, each of them taking a handful of fabric and tossing him into a cage attached to a nearby carriage.

It was a long ride to the king’s castle, the sun setting completely by the end of the journey. When they arrived, he was guided down three flights of stairs by the same two men as earlier. They didn’t even bother to gather his walking stick from the cottage floor, so Rumplestiltskin’s ankle dragged against the stone steps until raw and bloody.

The cell, one of many, was cold and damp. He felt relief, however, to no longer be standing. With the help of a jagged edge of one the bars of the cell door, he tore off a strip of cloth from the bottom of his shirt and wrapped up his fresh wound.

He tried to sleep that night, though it took hours to do so.

A puff of smoke from the corner of the pit woke him up, jolting from the bed he formed out of the hay strewn across the floor and scurrying to the furthest wall. It was difficult to make out the ghastly figure from the shadows, cloaked in a deep shade of blue velvet, but the outline of brunette tresses cascading from underneath the hood gave her away. He never did see her face when he sought out her magical assistance.

Rumplestiltskin cowered in her presence. After all, she was the most feared witch in all the lands, mostly for her secrecy, though she was also a master of the four elements and wise beyond any human capability. “What more do you want from me? I don’t have anything left to give.”

Sauntering toward him with delicate precision in each step, she lifted off her hood. “I’m not here for money, I’m here for you.”

Rumplestiltskin had imagined her as some sort of monster or hag based on the stories spread by the townsfolk who claimed to have seen her true identity--long, spindly nails, horns of a goat, eyes of a snake—but she was no monster.

She was beautiful.

“Pardon my manners, but I haven’t properly introduced myself.” She knelt where he sat and extended out a hand excitedly. “My name is Belle.”

She left him dumbfounded. He was about to die, thrown to the lowest levels of the king’s castle not knowing who would care for his son, yet she was cheerful. It wasn’t until he shifted to try to lay back down that her demeanor changed.

“I didn’t think this would happen. You would think I’d be smart enough to not be so reckless in how I go about my business, and for that, I am truly sorry.” He wouldn’t listen to her ramblings. Why should he?

She made one last attempt. “Rumplestiltskin, your son is safe.”

Rumple swallowed hard, curled up on the ground with eyes shut tight. “Where is he?”

Belle hesitantly inched a hand toward him, placing her palm soothingly on his back. Since he was facing the wall, she didn’t know what else to do. “In my hovel. I’m going to bring you to him…under one condition.”

He felt something like anger bubbling up at the word ‘condition.’ She owed him everything; he owed her nothing. Still, he couldn’t find it in himself to be entirely hateful toward her. It must have been her voice, a soft lull amidst the harsh surroundings. He thought about how he found it would be easy to get lost in it, carried off to some far-off place where he could live happily with Bae. Perhaps she would be there, too.

“What do you want me to do?”

Belle let out a warm sigh. “Since my current home has now been proven to be unsafe, for me and for others, I’m in need of extra hands to set up shop in a new town. Work for me, and you will live.”

Rumplestiltskin sat up, much to her delight. He wiped away a piece of straw from his face. “Take me anywhere, as long as I get to see my boy again.”

“Let us go, then.”

Remembering his ankle, he peeled off the make-shift bandage to inform her of his injury. She looked down to see the open wounds on his flesh atop an already mangled foot.

“I-I can’t walk,” he said, barely able to speak through the searing pain.

She soon graced her hand above it, a cloud of blue smoke trailing under her fingers as she moved across the length of his injury. Tears welled as she saw the disbelief in his eyes. “Better?”

“Yes,” he cried under his breath. “Thank you…Belle.”

#rumbelle #rumbelle fic #rumbelle showdown

[katmtan]

Good morning. Do you know if Rumple's dad (Malcolm) filmed in 6.19 flashback? I think that's the Black Fairy centric...

For the filming days I know, I didn't see any mention of him, but they do use Malcolm's Hovel as one of the location.

[toseehowthestoryends]

A Different Battle - Chapter 13

The one where Rumplestiltskin’s mother shows up at the Dark Castle shortly after Cora breaks his heart, changing the course of future events forever. Years later, when Belle makes a deal to become the Dark One’s maid, she never expected to find his mother living with him.

Or, the one in which Rumbelle truly are Beauty and the Beast. But they need a little push.

Winner of Best OC for Morgan le Fae in the 2017 TEAs.

Read it on AO3 | FFN

Chapter 13—“…Let Her Go

Morgan had followed Belle down to the great hall, but she hadn’t said a word until that disastrous conversation was over.  She could see what was happening, could see the war happening within Rumplestiltskin as both his own insecurities and the previous Dark Ones resisted the very idea of love.  She had hoped that he could overcome them, that the love he felt for Baelfire might help him not flee from love again, yet she had underestimated the lingering effect of Cora’s betrayals.  Rumplestiltskin had fled instead of letting love in, and Morgan’s magic was more than enough to tell her than her son was not in the castle.

“Damn.”

Belle wheeled on her.  “Is that all you have to say?  What’s wrong with him?  Why is he so afraid of love?”

“Very few people he has ever loved have done well by him.”  Morgan sighed heavily.  “I had hoped he could overcome that, but…I think he is afraid he might hurt you.”

“Would he?” Belle didn’t look alarmed; the girl had her hands on her hips and was glaring at Morgan defiantly.

“You already know he would not.”  Stopping herself from snapping was hard.  Morgan wanted to throttle her son, but she knew that wouldn’t help.  

Belle bit her lip thoughtfully.  “You said that people who loved him haven’t done well by him.  Are you one of them?”

“Of course I am,” she snapped before she could stop herself, the old self-loathing rising immediately.  “I abandoned him as a baby.  I have tried to make up for that, but any actions I take are too little and too late. They always will be.”

“So you expect me to fix that for you.” Belle’s thoughtful look turned into a glare, and Morgan felt her shoulders slump.

“Perhaps I do.  Or did.”

They stood in silence for a long moment, with Morgan feeling guiltier by the moment. Belle had accused her of playing games with her earlier, and while that wasn’t precisely true, it wasn’t really false.  Morgan liked Belle well enough, but she hadn’t really given a damn about the girl insofar as Belle’s choices were concerned.  What she cared about was Rumplestiltskin, and the possibility of breaking the Dark One’s curse and finally freeing her son of it. Morgan knew where Nimue’s power had come from, after all, and she knew of Merlin’s prophecy concerning a Dark One who would finally learn to use the power for light.  She had viewed Belle as a convenient way to facilitate that change more than she had viewed her as a person.

How ironic was it that her son was more worried for Belle’s safety than she was?

“I’m not doing this for you, you know.”  When Belle spoke again, her words were hard and uncompromising.  Then her face softened.  “But I’ll try for him.”

“He’s afraid for you for more than one reason.”  Morgan thought Belle already understood that, but she knew that the words needed saying. And perhaps it was time for some honesty on her part, too.  “He’s not wrong to be, either.  Rumplestiltskin has enemies who would be eager to hurt him using you.  He’s more afraid of losing you than of loving you, I think.”

“Why?” Belle blinked.  “Because he lost his son?”

“In part.”

Belle crossed her arms.  “That doesn’t mean he gets to choose for me.  Or that he should be afraid of love.”

“Tell him that.  I know.” Morgan smiled sadly, though.  Her own track record with love was terrible, and she had long since decided to dedicate what love she had left in her to her one remaining child.  Rumplestiltskin had proven easier to love than she had expected, however, so she did know how Belle felt.

He’s infuriatingly stubborn and so very damaged, yet it’s impossible to miss the good heart hidden behind the darkness once he lets you in.  Morgan had been surprised by how quickly Belle worked her way into Rumplestiltskin’s heart—and vice versa—but now that fledgling love stood on the edge of a precipice.  They had both underestimated Rumplestiltskin’s fears, but Morgan thought she understood what he was really afraid of, and it wasn’t love itself.  Not even after what Cora had tried to do to him.

No, he was afraid of losing Belle, not of loving her.

“I will tell him.”  The way Belle met her eyes practically dared Morgan to object.  

She didn’t.

“I think I’m in love.”  Snow’s entire face was glowing, and Regina didn’t have the heart to say something cutting to her friend.  After all, she had known Snow since the younger woman was a little girl; her father and King Leopold had been good friends.  Regina had found herself the shoulder Snow cried on when her mother died and her father married Zelena, and when Snow had to run from her wicked stepmother, who she’d turned to had been an easy choice.

Regina didn’t regret helping her, either, even though it had made both of them outlaws and had forced Regina’s own father to go into hiding.  Her uncle the king refused to go to war to protect Regina or Snow, but at least he was willing to protect her father.  That left Regina and Snow in the woods with outlaws, but that arrangement was turning out much better than Regina had expected.  Even if it means Snow robs even more royal carriages…she can at least pretend she isn’t doing it to meet a certain prince, she thought with a snort.

She rolled her eyes.  “Well, that’s obvious.”

“Regina!”

“What?” Not snorting again was hard. “You’ve been mooning over Prince James for weeks. Maybe longer.  Yesterday, you were on about how he was smart enough to catch you in a net, and let me tell you, I wanted to—”

“Oh, because you’re so much better about Robin,” Snow cut her off with a grin, and Regina jerked herself up short.

“I’m nowhere near as bad as you.”  Her heart was not suddenly racing.  “And besides, he just lost his wife.  Making romantic overtures when he’s mourning would be crass.”

Snow gave her a pointed look.  “But you like him.”

“Of course I do.  He’s a nice man.”  Regina shrugged as casually as she could.  “Stop changing the subject.  You’re in love with Prince James.”

“I think so, yes.  Is it weird, falling in love so quickly?  I know his father wants him to marry Abigail, but he doesn’t seem to want to, and—and I’m being stupid, aren’t I?  I’m just an outlaw.  Everyone believes I murdered my father, probably including Prince James.”

Regina shook her head.  “Love is never stupid, and it’s always worth fighting for.  My father taught me that.”  Thinking of Daniel made her smile sadly, but her Daddy had been right.  It was better to take a chance on love than to live without it forever.  “Talk to him. You never know until you try.”

Snow hugged her, and Regina hugged her back just as tightly. Zelena might have been her sister by blood, but Snow and the outlaws here in the woods were the family Regina had chosen, and she didn’t regret that for a moment.

Anyone who dared use a locator spell to track Rumplestiltskin down would have been in line for a very quick death.  Unless, of course, that person was his mother.  

“I don’t want to talk to you!” he snapped, trying desperately to keep his tone dismissive instead of furiously wounded.  He didn’t need his mother, not right now.  Maybe not ever, not if she kept sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong.

He didn’t need to turn around to know Morgan had crossed her arms and snorted. “That’s because you’re a fool.”

“Me?  I’m the fool?”  Rumplestiltskin whirled around before he could stop himself.  “Don’t deny that this is your idea, Mother!”

“Why would I?”  She shrugged, gesturing around the hovel they were in, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “It’s a better one than coming here.”

“Don’t even say it.”  The words hissed out of him coldly.  “My boy grew up here.”  I was loved here, even if only by him.

The love of his son and his mother was the only love he should ever want or need. He had been a fool to fall in love with Belle, and even more of a fool to think that doing so might be safe. Loving his maid from afar was one thing, but the knowledge that she could love him back—that she’d said as much!—broke him into tiny pieces.  Their brutally honest conversation had brought so much into the light that Rumplestiltskin felt blinded.  He couldn’t do this.  He couldn’t.  

Focus on Baelfire, on the curse, and on getting to him. Nothing else matters.  Yet he could still hear the faintly mocking laughter of his predecessors.  They’d stopped demanding he kill Belle a few hours earlier, yet they were all still rather amused at his expense.

“My apologies.  I didn’t know.”  Morgan seemed to be brought up short by his answer, but Rumplestiltskin didn’t care. Particularly when she turned the subject back to Belle.  “I know you’re worried someone might hurt her, but—”

“You know nothing!”  He wanted to throttle her, could feel the darkness boiling in him.  His rage over denying himself love demanded a target, but Rumplestiltskin would not let it hurt his mother.  Not after everything.

“Do you love her?” A gentle hand landed on his arm when he turned away.  “Do you, Rumple?”

He snorted bitterly.  “Of course I do.”

“Then don’t run from this.  Come back to the castle and talk to the girl.  She’s confused and hurt, but all is not lost.”

Rumplestiltskin just shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.  Morgan seemed content to leave him in silence for a long moment before she asked:

“Do you think she’s like Cora, then?  That she’ll betray you?”

“Belle is nothing like Cora.”  The words were harsh, but Rumplestiltskin knew they were true.  Even as Zoso cackled madly, he knew that Belle wasn’t after his power.

No, she wanted him, which was far more terrifying.

“Then come back before it’s too late.”  Morgan squeezed his arm, and Rumplestiltskin just closed his eyes against her soft voice. “Please.”

He wanted to. Oh, he wanted to.

“I can’t.” Rumplestiltskin swallowed hard. Those were not tears trying to leak out of his eyes.  Go take her, coward, Zoso demanded.  Say sweet words and she might even let you. Not that you’d ever be brave enough. Opening his eyes did not banish the voices, but it made focusing on his mother easier.  “Love…love like that is not made for demons like me.”

“Oh, Rumple. You foolish, loving, boy.” Suddenly, Morgan’s hand was on his face, soft and far too gentle, and Rumplestiltskin wanted to pull away.  Yet he couldn’t.  Not now. “Let her love you, if she can.”

He wanted to. Burned to.  How had Belle become so important to him in the last months? Had it even been a year?  He knew that he loved her; lying to himself was useless on that front, as was—apparently—lying to his mother.  Except Rumplestiltskin knew where this led.  Belle was not Cora; she would not seek his power only to betray him repeatedly.  She would love him honestly, if she could, and he would hurt her.  Or someone else would.  Who did hardly mattered; he was the Dark One, and his enemies were legion.  Even if he somehow overrode the voices in his head screaming for him to ravage her and own her, someone else would take Belle to hurt him.

Rumplestiltskin couldn’t let that happen.  He wouldn’t.  Not even if it broke his heart.

“I can’t.” With an effort, Rumplestiltskin pulled away.  He had to harden his heart right now, had to distance himself from love as best he could. So, he drew on the darkness, wrapping it around himself like a shield, and using its coldness to draw a line between himself and his feelings.

Morgan opened her mouth to argue, but raised a hand and teleported her away before she could speak.  That left Rumplestiltskin alone in his old hovel, in the home where he had both raised and lost Baelfire, a place where he had known so much joy—and so much pain. He hated this place, but that made the hovel the right place to be.

Morgan got the hint and didn’t return.

“I can help you find someone who will make you happy.”  

The stupid green fairy spoke so earnestly that it made Zelena want to puke.  As far as she was concerned, the midget’s only redeeming quality was that she had a good choice in the color of her wardrobe, but even then, Zelena wasn’t sure that the idiot wasn’t trying to suck up to her. Why would she want a fairy’s help?  Did the oversized fly think that Zelena was so desperate that she’d turn to someone like her?  The very idea was laughable.

“Why would I want help from a pathetic little fairy to be happy?” She snorted before she could stop herself; snorting wasn’t terribly regal, but Zelena thought she could do it just this once. “I have everything I could possibly want.”

The diminutive fairy stuck her chin out defiantly, hands on her hips and feet spread like she was ready to go to war.  “Except someone who actually loves you.”

“Love is weakness.”  A maid who had once served her mother had told Zelena that was Cora’s mantra, and Zelena liked saying it.  It made her sound strong.  Everyone said that Cora had been strong.

“Don’t be stupid.”  Tinker Bell rolled her eyes.  “Love is—”

This time Zelena scoffed, which was much more queenly.  “Love is a tool men use to keep women subservient to them.”

“And what if I could find you a man who would be subservient to you?” The fairy cocked her head, and then shrugged. “Some men like that kind of thing.”

“Do they?” The question wormed out of Zelena before she could stop it, but despite herself, she was intrigued.  James—her faithless prince who had chosen Snow!—had liked strong women, but he hadn’t exactly wanted to kneel at her feet.  Zelena wouldn’t mind an equal, someone who respected her and would fight beside her, but she was definitely interested in the idea of a strong man who would let her rule.

“It takes all kinds.”  Tink laughed lightly, and Zelena found herself smiling before she quashed the expression.

Queens did not smile at fairies.  Not powerful queens, anyway.  So, she narrowed her eyes with suspicion.

“Why do you want to help me, anyway?  You fairies are a prissy lot, always following that holier-than-thou Blue Fairy.” Zelena knew that.  The Blue Fairy had helped Snow more than once, so there was no way that any of her minions would help Zelena.  Not that the idea of having a fairy in her corner was in any way unappealing. It might even be useful.

Tink shrugged again.  “Blue kicked me out.  I tried to help a fellow fairy run away and find love, and she didn’t like that very much.”

“So, you’re not actually a fairy?”  

“No, I’m a fairy.  Blue couldn’t take my wings because I’d completed the training.  She could just make me unwelcome, so I left.”  A bitter smile.  “I don’t miss most of them, anyway.  But I do like helping people who actually need it.  You do.”

Tink’s answer made sense, even if Zelena figured there was a lot she wasn’t telling her. Still, Zelena liked the idea of finding a man who would appreciate her for who she was.  She’d cast a line or two in the pirate’s direction, but he hadn’t seemed terribly interested in anything more than a fling, and Zelena really did want more than that.  She didn’t like admitting that, even to herself, but it was true.  She was lonely—but not so lonely that she’d let any man control her.  Not ever. She’d follow her mother’s example and be the one in control, even if it meant taking her potential beau’s heart.

Belle didn’t see Rumplestiltskin again until the next morning.  She’d hoped he’d come back so that they could talk, but so far as she could tell, he stayed out of the castle until after breakfast.  Then, just as she was silently finishing her own meal in the kitchen, he appeared across from where she sat without warning, making Belle jump.

“Rumplestiltskin.”  Belle gulped, jumping to her feet to face him and trying to swallow her surprise. Sitting while he was standing just didn’t feel right, not after their last mess of a conversation.  She wanted to face him on equal terms, not look up at him. “I didn’t know you were back.”

“I’m releasing you from our deal.”

A long moment passed before those words sunk in.  Belle found herself stuttering.  “…what?”

“Leave. Go.  You’re not my prisoner anymore.”  He shook his head rapidly, and Belle couldn’t help but notice the way Rumplestiltskin wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“I haven’t been your prisoner since you let me out of that dungeon.”  He hadn’t really still viewed her that way, had he? Belle thought they had something special, something more than that.

“It doesn’t matter.”  Rumplestiltskin finally looked at her, and she could see pain radiating out of his eyes. “You can go.  You’re free.”

Blinking, Belle let the words sink in.  She was free. Free from the deal she had made, free from staying in the Dark Castle forever. She could go home, go adventuring, or do whatever she wanted.  Belle had never expected to be freed, even as she grew closer and closer to Rumplestiltskin and stopped wanting it, so the feeling took her breath away.  Her life was her own, probably for the first time. Her father couldn’t command her, and Rumplestiltskin had let her go.

“What if I don’t want to go?” she asked curiously.

That seemed to jerk him up short.  “What? No. You have to.  You have to go.”

“Why?” Belle crossed her arms, jutting her chin out at him.  “Because I said I could—”

“Don’t say it!”  Suddenly, he looked panicked, panicked and desperate all at the same time.  “You can’t. You shouldn’t.”

“I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you, Rumple?”  Belle could read his body language, could see the way he leaned towards her without meaning to.  There was a yearning in Rumplestiltskin’s eyes that warmed her to her very bones, making Belle feel light-headed and giddy.  Deciding to take a chance, she reached for his hand, squeezing his fingers gently.  “Tell me you have no feelings for me, and I’ll go.”

“I don’t—I don’t—” Rumplestiltskin cut off, squeezing his eyes shut.  “I want you to be happy.”

“Well, that’s good.”  She smiled her best smile.  “Because I want me to be happy, too.  And I think that could be with you, if you’re brave enough to try.”

She knew he was afraid; every line of his too-tense body screamed that.  So, Belle squeezed his hand again. Rumplestiltskin, however, just shook his head again.

“You can’t,” he whispered raggedly.  “I can’t. Everything I lo—everything I touch eventually turns to dust.  I am a monster, Belle.  And that is why you have to go.”

“But that’s—”

“You deserve your freedom.”  Rumplestiltskin’s shrug was bitter and a little twisted.  “And if…if you come back, I’ll still be here.  But take your freedom first.  Remember what it is like to live away from a monster.”

“You think I’ll come back?”  Belle’s heart leapt; she hadn’t missed the word he’d cut off earlier. Rumplestiltskin might believe that everything he loved turned to dust, but she could prove him wrong.  And if it took leaving to prove that to him, she’d come back again.  He loves me.  Her heart beat wildly in her chest, hammering out a rhythm that she could barely hear over.   That’s what he stopped himself from saying.

“Oh, Belle.” His sad smile broke her heart.  “I expect I’ll never see you again.”

“Then why tell me to go?”

“Because I’m sorry.  For…everything.”  Slowly, his free hand came up to touch her cheek, but the contact was so fleeting that Belle almost thought she’d imagined the feeling of his warm fingers against her skin.  “Because you deserve better.  The castle will provide everything that you need for your journey, or if you desire, I’ll take you straight to your father’s castle.”

“No.  I don’t want to go back there.”  Still stunned, Belle shook her head.  She wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave, but she knew that she didn’t want to go there.  She wouldn’t go back to that suffocating world where she was expected to be nothing other than Gaston’s broodmare, to tie herself to a man who thought nothing of torturing an innocent ogre-child.  Her father was a little better; he did love her, but he thought nothing of her opinions or her intelligence.  But Belle felt like she’d drown if she returned home.

I want adventure, she knew.  But wasn’t loving Rumplestiltskin an adventure? It would be, but only if he would let her.  And he seemed to think that she couldn’t love him if she left, that leaving would make her feelings fade.  

“Tell me what your desire is, and I shall fulfill it.”  Rumplestiltskin stepped back as she mulled her options over, offering Belle a courtly bow that made her smile sadly.

She almost told him that she wanted to stay.  Almost said that all she wanted was to stay here, with him.  Yet part of Belle could see the sense in what Rumplestiltskin said. Trapped here, with no one but Rumplestiltskin and Morgan for company—aside from those who came for deals—could she truly know her own heart?  Belle was certain that she could, but she could see the doubt in Rumplestiltskin’s eyes. He feared that she loved him out of self-defense, that she was only looking to better her situation through his good graces.

So, Belle nodded slowly.  She would leave—and then she would come back.

A/N: Stay tuned for Chapter 14—“Curse the Fading of the Light,” in which Belle finds her adventure, Snow learns an important truth about Charming, Morgan attempts to shake sense into Rumplestiltskin, and Tink meets with an old friend.

#a different battle #rumbelle fic #ruins & battles #dark castle rumbelle #stupid rumple #belle is hope