SotRFitH: Sorcerer's Apprentice, have you ever met the current Dark One?
“Hello, dearie.”
The apprentice stiffened, his cup of tea nearly slipping from his hands. He turned slowly, his brows furrowing at the sight before him.
The lady was dressed in a deep purple, marking of elaborate flowers embroidered over her sleeves and low-cut neck. The skirt fanned out beneath her in elegant ruffles, giving her the whole look of a rose. She’d be unbearably beautiful save for her glinting gold skin and the dark magic that sparked around her.
“So the rumors are true.” The apprentice said. “There’s a new Dark One.”
“Dark Lady.” Belle corrected, stepping around to stand before him. She sat at his table easily, giggling at the way his eyes widened. “Calm down I’m only here for a social call.”
“I don’t remember calling you.”
“No but I was curious. I’m told I’m too curious. I don’t believe becoming The Dark Lady has helped.”
The sorcerer’s apprentice tilted his head as she waved her hand, summoning her own tea service as to impose on him. Her posture as she sat was perfectly poise and it was obvious from her speech that she was well-read. Not at all like the barbarian Zoso who sought the hat so forcefully.
“You’ll not get what you came for.” The old man said.
The Dark Lady hummed, “And what is it you think I’ve come for? The hat? Afraid not, dearie.”
“Why are you here then?”
“I simply want some information.” Belle said, sipping her tea. “You see, I’m afraid I became The Dark Lady for a singular purpose and now with that purpose over I find myself quite bored.” She regarded him over her teacup for a moment. “And I’m afraid you’re the only one that came to mind that might give me a good conversation without running for the hills. Honestly was my predecessor so bad?”
“He was.” The apprentice said. “You don’t seek the hat?”
She rolled her eyes. “A magical hat that captures and accumulates magic? No I think not. Unless it can absorb dark magic from one’s very being and soul and leave them alive?” The sorcerer frowned. “No I suppose not. Either way, no. Such a thing does not interest me. I grew up a lady in a kingdom ravaged by war, Apprentice. I know better than anyone that raw strength amounts to very little.”
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice watched, the air around them tense with the swirling light and dark magic. The Dark Lady was completely at-ease at his humble table, across from him drinking her tea. There was no lie in her voice. No twinge in her magic.
“You’re...different than the others.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“You haven’t given in to the darkness.”
She only chuckled. “Oh no, apprentice. I think you’ll find I have quite thoroughly. It’s intoxicating.” She giggled, an odd manic sound. “But still, I’m not here for the hat. I simply want to find a good place to call home. A castle fit for a lady with lands worthy of her subjects.”
“You expect me to point you in the directions of lands you can pilliage?”
“Of course not, dearie. I expect you to make a deal with me...”
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Snow on the Roof: Does Belle really embroider, or does the thread just pile up. Does Rumple ever figure out she hates it/isn't using the thread?
“I could teach you how to embroider, you know.” Ruby said as Belle tried and failed the third time to thread her needle.
A hankerchief with some kind of sloppy “G” sat in her lap, the thread of one end broken from Belle pulling on it a little too hard in her frustration.
“It’s so tedious!” Belle complained, huffing and using her magic to thread the needle. “How does anyone do this?”
“It’s supposed to be soothing.” Ruby giggled, sipping the tea she’d poured for herself. “Some women do quite enjoy it.”
“How?”
“Wasn’t it you who said you always need something to do with your hands to focus on...whatever?”
“Forgetting.” Belle muttered to herself, setting the hankerchief aside and sipping her own tea. Ruby had taken her cup first, forcing Belle to use the chipped one. Yes, that was the reason she was using it. “And I already have something for that.”
“What?”
“Books!” Belle grinned, the smile genuine, the first Ruby had seen on her lips in a long while. “They help me forget and whisk me away.”
“Can’t you whisk yourself away?”
“It’s different...”
Belle’s voice trailed off, and Ruby smiled. She knew, of course. The Dark Lady was not allowed such luxuries as being able to blend into a crowd. Especially not now that she was expecting.
“Well,” Ruby said, pouring herself another cup. “You should probably let me teach you, so that the thread doesn’t pile up.”
“I can manage. I think there’s a book on it in the library.
“You should probably stop buying thread until you have more proof that you’re using it. He’ll get suspicious if you don’t have embroidery you’re actually doing.”
“I’ll need the thread for the future.”
“You need over two-dozen spools for the future?”
“Of course!” Belle gave Ruby a glare as the other woman laughed. “Alright perhaps I do have enough for my uses...”
For a moment Belle looked to be at a loss. Her eyes drifted down, fixating on the cup in her hand. Ruby could already see her overthinking things, and that only made her laugh again.
“Don’t worry, Lady Belle.” She said. “You’ll find some other excuse to see your spinner.”
Belle gave her a glare. “He’s not my--”
“You know you really don’t need an excuse. He’s already the father of your child. You could always just--”
“Ruby I believe I’m in the mood for some strawberry tarts. Do fetch them from the kitchen.”
“You don’t have any strawberry tarts there.”
“Yes I do! I bought them last market day.”
“No, you were so distracted by the cobbler’s widow fawning over thread that you were distracted and got apple instead.”
Belle made a face. She hated apple. Everyone knew she hated apple. How the hell had she allowed herself to get apple?!
“Now I can get you an apple tart...” Ruby said.
“Of course. That’s what I meant.” Belle said, waving her hand. Magic tingled in the air and Ruby laughed again. “Of course, if you happen to run across any strawberry ones in there...”
“I’ll bring them right away.” Ruby said, rising to go into the kitchen. “You know he’s not going to court her. She’s far too pushy for the likes of our spinner.”
Belle blinked. “How do you know?”
“Just a hunch.” Ruby said, giving her a wink. “You know how rumors are.”
“Yes.” Belle nodded, but the hope in her eyes were unmistakable. “Yes of course.”
SotRFitH: Does the subject of Rumple's "courting" ever come up while Bae is around Belle?
Belle stiffened at the word. Courting. That’s what she’d heard float around the market all day.
She both loved and dreaded that word.
“What’s all this courting nonsense I’ve heard today?” Belle asked as Mrs. Potts handed her a new vase to inspect.
“Oh! Mrs. Potts smiled. "Well, they’re only rumors, milady, but there’s talk that the new spinner will be courting someone soon.”
The vase very nearly fell from Belle’s hands. Courting. He’d be courting someone. It was fact now. Of course, she’d known that. But hearing it from someone who wasn’t his son made it seem…final.
“Milady?”
“I’m fine.” Belle said, clearing her throats and dropping a few coins absently in the woman’s hands. “Have a good day.”
Mrs. Potts gave her a nod, and Belle turned to make her usual rounds. Head held high. Easily putting on her facade. It was getting harder and harder to manage that these days. She had gone two steps before Jefferson approached her, intercepting whatever thoughts and steps she had been taking to avoid the spinner's booth entirely.
“What are you thinking, little rabbit?” He asked, steering her to his booth full of hats.
“I’m thinking that making a harem would have been infinitely less complicated.”
I know y’all wanna see more SotRFitH but it is so disjointed. Part of me wants to revamp it, but the other part of me might just drop an exposition chapter in there before I get back to regular updates and finishing it.
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Snow on the Roof, Fire in the Hearth II Chapter Eleven
Chapter One I Chapter Two I Chapter Three I Chapter Four I Chapter Five I Chapter Six I Chapter Seven I Chapter Eight I Chapter Nine I Chapter Ten
AO3
Jefferson blinked “A hat? For Yule?”
“That’s what I said.”
“We’re celebrating Yule?”
“There’s no rule saying my villains can’t.” Belle said as she sipped the coffee at Jefferson’s table. “I simply don’t.”
Jefferson frowned at her, though only sipped his coffee as well “I didn’t think you’d want to celebrate it.”
“I don’t, truth be told. But I know there is normally a gift exchange and small festival in the square. And I’ve already been asked what I want and I don’t have anything festive to wear at the gift exchange.”
“Ah. So Baelfire got to you?”
Belle only turned away, her eyes wandering to the window. Snow was falling outside, only adding inches to the white ground. Jefferson emptied his mug in a single gulp, but Belle’s eyes had become distant. She was no longer here but someplace far away. He understood that well enough. A long silence passed, and Jefferson followed her gaze. The once empty street outside was now filled with the few children of the village playing, among them Baelfire and Grace, throwing snowballs and commencing strategies for building with the snow.
“You know…” Jefferson said, reaching over to retrieve her now cold mug from her hand. “No one will blame you for not going.”
“They never do.”
“No one knows why do they?”
“No. I’ve never told anyone the whole story.” Her eyes drifted to him. Jefferson. Her oldest friend. He knew why, or at least what she’d told anyone who asked. “Not even you.”
“That’s fine.” Jefferson said, taking her hand for a moment to squeeze it and offer her a smile. Outside, Rumpelstiltskin appeared, wrapping a scarf protectively around his son’s neck. Belle frowned, deliberately turning her eyes away. Jefferson only squeezed her fingers again. “Maybe you have one you could tell now.”
Belle winced, taking her hand away from him. However, she didn’t protest. Not verbally anyway. The hatter has to wonder if that was due to the tired in her eyes or the fact that she knew he was right.
“I’ll have you a hat befitting you, Dark Lady.” Jefferson finally said, giving her a flourishing bow. “What dress shall I be matching?”
“It’s cranberry, framing gold on the skirt and bodice. The sleeves are trimmed in it as well. Will that description suffice?”
“Indeed.” Jefferson said. “I’m sure they’ll love that you make an appearance, Belle.”
“Yeah…” She sighed. “I hope so.”
~
Years ago...decades or even centuries perhaps, though Belle couldn’t remember exactly from the years blending together. The day, however, she remembered vividly.
Avonlea had nearly fallen. The very ogres that had taken their west keep had came to finish the job. The union that had been planned between she and Gaston that was supposed to save them had done nothing. After all, Ogres were not men. Ogres did not care of the union of kingdoms.
“I told you he wouldn’t come.” Her father, Maurice, bellowed as he paced the grand hall where those brave enough to stay had gathered.
“He might be on his way right now, papa!” Belle said.
“We must evacuate.” Gaston’s firm voice came. “Now.”
“But—!”
“Avonlea has fallen, Belle.” Her father agreed. “We still have time to get our people out and to safety.”
Of course, that was a lie. The ogres were encroaching too quickly. They could run, true, but they’d never get away in time. And so, the castle was a frenzy of energy, maids scrambling this way and that, those who had the most fear abandoning their station. Belle remembered Gaston vaguely calling that he’d fetch her in a moment when she was ushered to her room to gather what little belongings she could. Her box of mementos had been filled long ago. This meant nothing to her.
“Happy Yule…” She muttered to herself, her body feeling as if it was not her own as she sat on her bed. This was it. All hope was lost.
“I’m sure this is quite a disappointment for you, princess…”
Belle jolted to her feet, whirling around to the shadows, where the voice echoed from. A figure in a dark cloak stepped forward, giving her a bow. “I am Zoso. The Dark One.”
Belle frowned. “You’re too late. We’re abandoning Avonlea.”
“I’m aware.” He took another step towards her, tilting his head when she didn’t flinch. “Are you not afraid, princess?”
“Why would I be?” Belle turned away from him, busying her hands with stacking the books on her bedside table in a neat pile on her bed alongside her box of treasures. “My kingdom is doomed, and if you wished me dead I would be.”
He chuckled, a dark gravely sound that put Belle’s teeth on edge. “You’re correct about the latter, but there is still hope for Avonlea.”
“How?!” Belle snapped, anger swelling inside of her instantly. She whirled on the Dark One, her glare icy. Clearly, she was truly a woman with nothing to lose. “Because you’re here?!”
Truly, a desperate soul.
“Yes.” The cloaked figure said. He lifted his hands to remove his hood, revealing that he was nothing but an old man. Belle’s brow furrowed. “I can give you the power to protect your land and people, Princess. In exchange for a simple favor.”
“What favor?”
The Dark One’s lips quirked in something of a relieved smile. “I want you to kill me.”
~
“Belle?”
The Dark Lady blinked, coming back to herself. The book in her lap sat untouched since she’d opened it. She’d retired to her place by the fire, hoping reading would help, but the memories refused to allow her to forget.
She looked up to see Ruby and Granny before her, dressed in festive dresses lined with furs. They looked great despite their worried expressions.
“Is there anything else you need of us tonight?” Ruby asked.
A smile quirked at Belle’s lips as she sat her book aside. “Time to go already?”
“Belle?”
They were surprised when she stood. He couldn’t blame them. She couldn’t remember the last time she didn’t spend Yule inside, cooped up in her library pouring over books desperately trying to keep the memories at bay. Last year she’d read more books than she could count, and the year before that she’d read her favorite so many times she could recite it. She waved her hand and dawned herself in her planned dress, the magic forming it perfectly to her body despite her protruding belly. Ruby’s eyes were wide, and Granny seemed to be trying to decide if this was truly happening. A question formed on their lips, but soon faded the moment Belle ran a hand over her baby bump.
“Shall we go?”
Ruby’s look of concern didn’t waver. “Are you certain?”
“Of course. I’m The Dark Lady.” Belle said, as if trying to convince herself of that fact. “It’s only Yule.”
~
The old man’s gaze was desperate. Helpless. A look she’d seen in eyes of soldiers and citizens alike. Belle’s blood ran cold, her blood turning to ice in her veins. This was The Dark One?
“It’s impossible to kill The Dark One.” Belle said, “And even if it wasn’t…”
“Once again, you’re only half right, princess.” He said, taking a step closer to her. This time, Belle stepped back in retreat. “I’ve lived so long. Lifetimes have passed in agony. If there had been a way to kill myself I would have a thousand times over. But The Dark One cannot take his own life, and no one has the courage to do the deed.”
“And you think I do?”
“I do. Or rather, I think you’re desperate enough to.”
“There is nothing that can kill The Dark One.” Belle said, frowning. “And how will this help my people?”
The Dark One paused for a moment, then reached into his cloak. Belle tilted her head, watching in fascination as he produced from a hidden pocket, a long wavy dagger etched with black markings. The mere sight of it was almost as hypnotic as it was unsettling.
“This is The Dark One’s Dagger.” He explained, pressing it into Belle’s hand, using his long wrinkled fingers to wrap hers around the handle. “It can kill and control the magic. Kill me, and the magic will be under your control. Then…”
“Then I’ll be able to save my land…”
“Indeed, my lady.”
~
The village was lively. Even well before they could see the glow of fires in the distance, flutes and strings could be heard. Voices were next, joining the music in languages and melodies Belle didn’t recognize. The festival was just a much of a miss-matched mess as the buildings of her village. Candles lined the roads and walkways. A large tree was decorated in all manners of ornaments. A feast fit for a royal gala was layed out for all. In the middle a bonfire roared merrily, warming the whole town at once.
Belle had never seen a sight more lovely.
“My lady?” Granny’s voice was quiet and soothing. “You’re crying.”
“Am I?” She lifted her hand to her cheek, quickly wiping away the tears there. “Hormones…”
“Probably.” Ruby agreed, looping her arm through Belle’s. “Did you prepare presents?”
“I...no. I’ll think of something.”
As they neared the town the voices grew quiet. The music slowed before coming to a stop completely. Those closest turned, staring in sudden unease at The Dark Lady’s sudden but unusual appearance. It was Yule. Everyone knew The Dark Lady never ventured out of her castle during Yule, let alone appear at the celebration looking as if she were to join them.
Jefferson was the first to move, emerging from the crowd, holding something behind his back. With a smile he slowly brought a dainty tophat before her. It matched the wine color of her dress and the champagne-gold trim of it.
“Happy Yule, Belle.” He said as he placed it on her head, securing it easily in her hair. “Are you alright?”
“I’m not sure yet.” Her hand instinctively went to her belly, running over the bump for comfort. “Have I missed much?”
“Belle!” Grace’s voice followed another, and Belle suddenly found herself accosted.
“My lady it’s so good to see you doing well!”
“Miss please come sit someone will make you a plate.”
“Our lady is joining us for Yule! Someone play a good dance.”
Mrs. Potts was the one who guided Belle to a spot by the bonfire, but her eyes never left the crowd of people.
“I’m perfectly capable.” Belle muttered as she was all but doted on.
“It’s Yule, ma’cherie!” Lumierre piped, giving her a broad smile. “We must celebrate with you.”
“A plate of food right away!” Coggsworth was rushing away to the veritable feast layed out. “No wine no wine! Find something else for her.”
“Indulge them, dear.” Mrs. Potts said as she stood. “Everyone’s been so worried about you.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m The Dark Lady.”
“You’re pregnant. It’s natural.”
Belle let out a sigh of defeat, her eyes once again wandering through the crowd. The entire village was accounted for and though she thought they would all quickly settled back down from the commotion, it seemed her presence had all but invigorated the celebration anew.
“Where’s…?”
“He’s running a little late.” Jefferson said, sitting beside her. “Something about finishing a certain gift.”
“Right. Gifts. I didn’t…”
“It’s fine. You’re here and that’s enough.”
Coggsworth came back with a plate of food, piled high with something from every household. Jefferson stepped away, and found himself laughing with Ruby at the sight.
“Do you think that’s what her old self looked like?” Ruby asked.
“Maybe.” Jefferson said. “I’m just happy to finally see her out on Yule again. She once told me it used to be her favorite time of year.”
“What changed? What happened on Yule to make her hate it so?”
Jefferson winced. “That’s not quite my story to tell.”
~
Something was wrong. Something was terribly, terribly wrong.
“What have you done?!”
Belle had done it. Not without hesitation, but it was the only way to save her kingdom. Her family, her friends...anything was worth it to save them. But the moment she plunged the knife into the chest of the old man the world shifted. Darkness descended upon them. Magic swirled and cracked and Belle’s stomach sank. The old man’s appearance shifted, his skin taking on n odd scaly form. His laughter echoed around her.
“I knew you were a desperate soul.” Belle backed away, but he only grinned. “There’s no escaping it now.”
“You...You said I could control it! We had a deal.”
His voice was raspy as death wavered through his body, but his smile did not leave him. “You will control it you little fool. The darkness will be yours to command. Congratulations, Dark Lady.”
Belle squeezed her eyes shut against it all as Zoso’s life slipped away. She felt the moment he died. Magic surged through her, replacing the very blood in her veins. Part of her fought against it, but it did not last long. She suddenly felt...different. Powerful. She should have been afraid, but somehow she wasn’t. When she opened her eyes again Zoso’s body was gone, only his cloak left. Belle turned to the mirror. Her eyes were different, brighter, almost animalistic. Her skin glimmered with a silver sheen. The dagger in her hand hummed, her name now etched onto the blade where Zoso’s once was.
She was now The Dark One. The Dark Lady. She was strong. Her magic could save her land. Her magic could save everyone.
