Chapter Text
Belle had gotten taken from her rightful home and now is Rumpelstiltskins maid.
She slept in the dungeon all night in the cold damp air. She wrapped her body with the thin blanket providing little warmth. She shivered in her sleep, wether due to the cold or being scared, or perhaps a combination of both.
Rumplestiltskin walked down the cold stone floor in his usual attire and opened the dungeon door to see his new little maid shivering. "Wake up now you have a big day ahead of us now dont we?" He said, his voice surprisingly loud for this early in the morning.
She wiped her eyes from the little sleep she had and she practically jumped out of the bed when she realized where she was. She stood up and straightened her crumbled skirt. "Yes that seems like a good idea." She spit out even though she was obviously terrified.
He looked her up and down. "Well then follow me dearie." He said with a small giggle and went up from the cold air into the warm air with a fire blazing in the corner. She looked around at the grand room that was larger then a good portion of the whole castle back home.
She noticed that there was no dust anywhere at all and the floors were perfectly clean. Why had he needed a caretaker in the first place? He led her to the center of the room and he turned around to look at her.
"Let me be very clear, you will clean, cook, and join me for meals. You will not touch my wheel though you will fetch me straw for it. And clearly since you dont have anything with you I have provided you with clothes upstairs, second door to the right. I expect you would rather sleep there then the dungeon unless you have any objections. Am I clear?" He said rocking on the balls of his feet.
She tried to absorb all the rules he told her trying to memorize them exactly. "Um yes but I dont know how to clean or cook." She answered slightly embarrassed by the fact she didn't know how to clean or cook by any means.
He looked at her blushed face and then fiddled with his fingers for a moment. "Lets see how you do today and if you do as terrible as I assume we can work something out. Okay? Okay." He said turning and leaving the room before she could say anything. She opened her mouth but before she could ask anything he turned back around. "Oh and the cleaning supplies are down the hall dearie, try not to get lost. I would like dinner in say, 12 hours." And then he disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.
She looked at where he used to stand wide eyed. She really needed to get used to that. First Belle went upstairs and found the clothes he had mentioned, she chose a light dress so she could work well. She walked back down towards the great hall and found the cleaning supplies.
She grabbed a mop and a bucket of water and attempted to clean the floors. Though she left huge puddles of water all over the floor. After a good few of trying to clean the floors and then many more hours of various duties she finished and went into the kitchen.
He hadn't told her what to cook for him, though there was food everywhere in the huge kitchen. She found some meat and vegetables and cut them up. She accidentally cut herself several times but she kept going. Finally she got his teacups and poured tea. She gathered the food and went out into the great hall where Rumplestiltskin sat with his legs on the table. When she arrived he put his feet down and leaned back in his chair.
She poured the tea as gracefully as possible but after one of his horrid
quips she dropped a cut. She quickly picked it up inspecting the chip on the beautiful tea cup. She held it up and almost cried. What would he do to her it was only her first day and the floors looked awful and she chipped a cup. But when she held it up Rumplestiltskin nearly shrugged it off saying it was only a cup.
After that she realized he wouldn't kill her offer a piece of china she relaxed a bit. She gave him a bowl of stew and he took a cautious bite. She also took a spoonful of the stew. Rumplestiltskin actually spit it out and vanished the bowl. "If I knew any better dearie I would think you were trying to poison me."
She swallowed the spoonful, sadly he was more then accurate the food tasted absolutely horrid. He vanished her bowl also with a cringe. She looks up at him. "What are we going to eat then?" She asked slightly concerned, did he even need to eat.
He looked up at her then stood up. "Come along dearie, I need to teach you how to cook." She stood up and followed Rumplestiltskin into the kitchen.
"Wait so your going to teach me how to cook?" She said following behind him.
He continued heading towards the kitchen but slightly turned his head towards her looking over his shoulder at her. "Why yes I am. Is this a problem?" He asked, she could sense that he was slightly annoyed with her.
"Oh no, I just thought you would use magic to make food." She said quickly hoping he wouldn't be too mad.
They arrived at the kitchen and he threw the door open and went inside. He turned to look at her and he leaned against the counter. "No no magic doesn't make good food, potions yes. Tea and bread, not so much." He said with a fun grin.
She couldnt help but slightly smile at his fun voices and gestures. "I guess that does make sense." She said weighing the idea he actually cooked for himself in her head. Did he also clean for himself?
He fiddled with his hands. "Are we ready to start now? Good." He waved his hand and a whole group of seasonings and meats appeared on the table. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, well its quicker to just magic them here. Is it not?" He raised an eyebrow back her. "So dearie I expect you to just watch today but tomorrow you will be helping." He picked up some spices and threw them into a pot. He grabbed some water and threw it in. He chopped some vegetables and meat and threw it in the pot.
"So now we wait till its done. Take a seat." She pulls out a seat and sat down across Rumplestiltskin in the large kitchen. He magicked their teacups onto the table and he drank out of the chipped teacup. She picked up her teacup and took a sip. Rumplestiltskin grabbed her hand after she sat the teacup down and examined her hand with the cuts all over it. "What are these from dearie?"
She looked at the ground. "I cut myself cooking." She mumbled staring at the ground. He shook his head and frowned.
"Well that won't work at all dearie." He said and waved a hand over her hand, and when she looked down and the cuts were gone.
She gasped and stared at her hand in wonder. "Did you... heal my hand?" She said staring at it in shock.
Rumplestiltskin leaned back in his chair and looked at her with his brow raised. "Yes if I could heal it why wouldnt I? Unless you prefer to keep your injuries." He said mockingly trying to figure out why she seemed so shocked.
She went back to sipping her tea yet still occasionally looking down at her hand. He stood up and took the lid off the pot and stirred it. "Its done dearie, will you hand me two bowls?"
She grabbed two bowls and walked over to Rumplestiltskin. She handed them to him. He took the bowls and put a decent amount of soup in both. She grabbed one of the bowls and tripped. Before she could hit the ground he grabbed her and held her up and transported the bowls to the table.
She was wrapped around Rumplestiltskin and he quickly helped her to stand. "Careful dearie you seem to be a walking accident." He said looking her over to see if she was hurt.
"Thanks for catching me and saving the soup, I do seem to attract accidents." She said straightening her skirts. He opened the door for her and she went through from the kitchen and made her way for the dinning table.
He pulled out her seat and she thanked him. They sat and ate their food sharing occasional glances. The stories she read told of a monstrous villainous beast but all she had seen was a lonely, powerful, and kind man. She knew of the awful deeds he has done but yet he had done nothing mean to her.
After they finished their meals Rumplestiltskin whisked the dishes away. And walked Belle to her room through the winding corridors. They said their good nights and she went to bed. She lay there processing her day, wondering what new adventure was to come tomorrow.
Rumplestiltskin sat at his wheel spinning, trying to not think about his new little maid. But yet every few minutes she would creep her way into his head again. He spun and hoped light would come quickly so he could wake his little maid again.
If turned out he didnt have to wait so long. A quivering Belle came down the steps covered in tears. She gasped when she saw him and tried to go back up the steps, but before she could Rumplestiltskin magicked next to her and grabbed her. He bent down and looked at he face. "Belle what are you doing, why are you crying?" He sounded almost concerned when asking her.
Her cheeks blushed, she had hoped Rumplestiltskin wouldn't see her in the state she was in. "I just.... had a nightmare." She felt so foolish for disturbing her new master and no less the dark one with the fact she was having a nightmare.
Rumplestiltskin put a hand on her shoulder trying to comfort his new little maid, though he hadn't had to comfort anyone in a long time, he still tryed to be comforting though. "What was it about?" He asked wondering if he could help even though it was none of his business. "Here Belle why dont we go sit by the fire and we can talk about it?" She nodded through her haze of tears and he led her over to the couch by the fire. "So what is troubling you dearie?"
"Its just once back in the castle a theif had gotten through security and into my room. I awoke to find I was tied down and I couldnt speak. He........ raped me and I was so scared and alone and that new room reminded me of when it happened. Im sorry I shouldn't have bothered you I just haven't slept alone in a long time and I couldn't remember where i was...." She said wiping her eyes and looking down at the ground.
Rumplestiltskin looked over at Belle with concern etched on his face. "Belle... is there anything I could do to help?" He asked, he didnt know what assurance he could offer her but after that awful story he would do anything to make her feel better.
Belle figetted with her hands in her lap then she looked up shyly at him. "Could I sleep on the couch... and could you just ummmm stay here and keep me company? I mean its okay if you dont want to ill just try and go back to me room."
Rumplestiltskin looked at her sad blue eyes and he knew no matter what silly thing his maid asks her he would do, I mean she did just tell him a very personal story and this was her first day working, it was only right he comfort his distressed maid no matter how much he knew about her, he knew she was different from the rest no matter. "Okay dearie ill stay here while you sleep. Okay? Now get some shut eye."
"Thank you." She said and curled together on the couch while Rumpelstiltskin sat there unsure what he was gonna do sitting on the couch for 8 hours. He wrapped a warm blanket around Belles body and eventually he drifted off into sleep too.
She awoke to find she was laying on Rumplestiltskin's chest. She looked up and saw he was awake, yet she didn't dare move. He felt warm and inviting though she knew if was rather odd to want to rest on the dark ones chest. He looked down at her and he kissed the crown of her head. Did the dark one just bloody kiss his maids head? If she found out she would probaly maul him on the spot. But all Belle did was curl up on his chest and stay there. Rumplestiltskin just sat there and stroked her hair and tryed to figure out what he was to do when the girl got up.
Belle opened her eyes and looked at Rumplestiltskin who looked as though he saw a ghost and yawned. Rumplestiltskin didn't move a single muscle and Belle found it almost humorous that he would kiss her head while she was "asleep" but when awake he wouldnt as much as touch her. Belle lifted herself off Rumplestiltskin and stood up. "Good morning, im going to go change and then I can get those cooking and cleaning lessons I was promised I would get." He just stared back at her. "So yes?"
Rumplestiltskin shoke himself and stood up facing her, "Why yes you go do that and ill get the cleaning supplies." Belle smiled and went up to her room and grabbed a green gown and put her hair up in a lazy bun. She rushed downstairs and found Rumplestiltskin spinning like always and the cleaning supplies were next to him. "Back so soon?" He said and stood from his wheel.
"Yes I changed and im ready to learn." She said with some confidence, she wanted to impress him.
He looked down at his clothing, "oh it does seem I need to change." He said and he waved his hand and he appeared in a red shirt and leather pants, his stiff jacket forgotten. He clapped his hands, "shall we begin?" And he walked over to the mop and bucket.
She followed him over to the cleaning supplies. Rumplestiltskin took the duster and made it disappear. "I assume you can dust? So that leaves moping and sweeping." So first he said picking up the broom, "you must learn how to sweep." He held it and swept in long consistent motions. "You try." He said handing her the broom. She did the same thing and swept the floor. He smiled and made the broom vanish. "Well done, so next is the mop."
He put a little water on the mop and made long consistent swoops with the mop leaving a small wet trail. "Here dearie, lets see it."
"Okay ill try." She took it and moped a small section leaving a bit of water behind.
"No no no dont use so much water you don't want to flood the place." He said ridding the extra water on the floor. "Try again."
She tryed again this time must more successful. She smiled at him. "See Rumplestiltskin im a natural." She said laughing. He laughed too, and she found it was different from his other laughs it actually sounded real.
Rumplestiltskin turned and walked back to his wheel. "You can work on that and then and noon I'd like my noon tea. Oh and you might need these." He said and he made her other cleaning supplies appear.
She smiled at him. "Yes sir." She said mockingly. Was she actually joking with the dark one who makes quips about skinning children?
He smiled and spun his wheel. She grabbed the duster and went around dusting his trinkets. After she dusted she went out in the kitchen and made some tea.
She brought out the tea tray and sat it down. "Rumplestiltskin the tea is done." She looked over to the wheel but he wasnt there anymore.
"Over here dearie." He called, she turned around and he was sitting in the chair. She turned around and gasped. He laughed and she hit his arm and laughed too. She poured him some tea and sat down. She looked at her book she brought from home and flipped through it.
Rumplestiltskin looked over at Belle. "Do you like to read?" He said leaning back in his chair drinking his tea.
Belle closed her book and looked up at him. "Yes I love to read, though this is my only book." She said smiling at him.
Rumplestiltskin got up from his chair. "Follow me." Belle got up and had to practically run to keep up with his long strides. After a long walk they went down a long coridoors with a pair of huge doors. Rumplestiltskin looked behind and smiled at her. He flung the doors open and when she went in she was amazed. There were books everywhere, they lined the walls. She ran towards Rumplestiltskin and hugged him. At first he didnt do anything but slowly he hugged her back.
He awkwardly said it was no problem and left to go to his potion room. Belle stayed in the library for several hours looking through all of the books, and she would have stayed there longer if Rumplestiltskin wouldn't have come up and told her it was time to go learn how to cook.
Belle started to walk back when Rumplestiltskin grabbed her arm and transported them into the great hall. Rumplestiltskin started to walk towards the kitchen but stopped when he realized Belle wasn't following him. He turned around and found Belle swaying back and forth. "Oh yea sorry bout that dearie it seems I have forgotten not everyone has transported via magic before." He said smiling a wolfish grin.
Belle finally got back her balance and glared at Rumplestiltskin who laughed at her. "Rumplestiltskin that was not funny."
Rumplestiltskin continued to laugh. "No dearie it was absolutely amazing." He turned to walk into the kitchen and Belle glared at him the whole time.
Belle followed Rumplestiltskin into the kitchen. "So dearie, I hope your ready to cook?"
"I guess... sure?" She said nervous to find out what kitchen disaster was to come today.
"Well I sure hope so because I dont fancy the thought of doing this everyday. So let us begin." He said and made all the ingredients appear on the table. "So Belle you must first decide what spices you want to use. Some and spicy, some are sweet, and some are sour." Belle nodded and listened while he pointed out all the different types of spices.
"So Belle now that I have told you what all the spices taste like, I want you to cook." He said sitting down in a chair near the table.
Belle looked down at all the spices then Rumplestiltskin, "Are you sure im ready?" She said concern weaved in her voice.
"Yes I am quite sure." Rumplestiltskin said gesturing for her to continue. Belle picked up the ingredients and put some together and dumped them into the pot. She stirred them together and grabbed two bowls and laddled the stew into them. Her and Rumplestiltskin walked out of the kitchen and sat the bowls down on the table.
They both sat down and Belle waited for Rumplestiltskin to take the first bite. "Its actually quite good dearie." And with that Belle ate and found that it wasnt too bad at all.
After they finished Rumplestiltskin magicked the dishes away and he led her to her door. "Goodnight Belle."
She smiled, he very rarely called her by her name. "Goodnight Rumplestiltskin." He closed her door with a smile, and he headed back down to spin at his wheel.