Saving The Saviour || OUAT || CS - complete

Chapter 23

Belle's POV

I stormed out of rumple's castle, making a point to slam the door.

Everything Rumple has done over these past two months has been just like his past self. He taunted and teased. He made out like the only important thing was his crystal ball.

The crystal ball had done nothing but drive us apart since the day we returned to the Enchanted Forest. I couldn't even see what he was looking at because he cloaked the images on it.

Once again, he no longer trusts me with anything. Someone could be dying and I wouldn't know about it because I don't leave the castle.

It was a half a days walk before I even reached the doors of the castle. Of course, I couldn't turn up and ask for a place to stay empty handed so I picked up some fresh pastries from the village bakery and picked some fresh fruit from the vines.

When I walked up the cobblestone pathway that led to the castle, I was noticed from far away. Despite my long cloak that covered me, my blue dress stood out to Grumpy and Sneezy, the two dwarfs on guard duty. As I approached them at the gates I smiled and pulled my hood down.

"Belle, good to see- achoo! You."

"It's great to see you too Sneezy" I laughed. I smiled at Grumpy as he opened the gates for me. He simply nodded his head, but I didn't take it personally.

A few of the guards around the castle seemed surprised I was here and others didn't even try to hide their confusion.

Even though I had only been to this castle once I easily found my way to the grand dining hall where The Charmings were sat at the table. Snow had her head resting in one hand and the other holding a spoon to feed her son. David sat slumped in his chair with a tattered piece of paper in his hands and starring at it like it was the last thing he'd lay eyes on.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, gently placing my basket of treats on the table.

"Of course it's not okay" Snow replied. She had no emotion, she barely lifted her eyes from her son's plate of food. "Nothing is okay."

"What's going on? I don't understand." The monotonous voice Snow showed only confused me further.

David slowly lifted his head and his grip loosing on the paper. He placed it on the table and sat up straight.

"Rumplestiltskin didn't tell you?" Obviously he was shocked. But I had no idea why.

"We aren't exactly speaking right now. Can someone please explain to me what's going on?"

So the family retold the story. They told me about Killian's plan to propose that night of the ball. They spoke about the note they received. They retold the events in which Rumple refused to help them and even how Henry is now linked to Emma - both of which are now suffering.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I said before pulling out the seat opposite snow. "I can't believe this is happening." I reached across the table and held Snow's hand in my own. Her eyes lowered and she starred at our interlocked hands across the table.

"How much longer do we have to wait?"

"Honestly, I've lost all track of time" Snow mumbled.

"Two more months. We're going to borrow The Jolly Rodger from Hook to get to Dellhollow." David said.

"Are you sure about that?" I questioned.

Snow's head snapped up. She looked me in the eyes, fear evident there. She looked like she was almost begging for any news.

"The other day, back at Rumple's castle, he left the room for a few minutes. His crystal ball was on the table and I took the moment to look into it. I was so interested in it, it was the only thing he'd paid attention to. And I saw Killian on his ship. Him and his crew were preparing a tonne of supplies. Food, water, building materials, rum. They were clearly preparing for a journey to last a good six months."

None of this adds up. If Killian promised to lend his ship, why was he leaving?

"He did say earlier today he had a plan. He didn't go into details but he said it'd be like we never met." David said, his voice as confused as his expression.

Suddenly, Snow's head snapped up. She dropped my hand and stood up from the table.

"I know his plan!" Snow exclaimed, a sudden look of realisation on her face. "He's going to forget Emma. He's going to go to Rumplestiltskin a-a-and he's going to get the potion. The exact one I drank to forget you! We have to stop him!"

She pushed her chair out and went to run from the table. Charming quickly reached for her wrist and caught her attention.

"Snow, that's crazy. You got all that from Hook saying he had a plan? Look, you're stressed and worrying about Emma. I get it, we all are. But jumping to these conclusions is only going to mess with your head even more." Snow slumped back in her chair, resting her elbows on the table and placing her head in her hands.

"Now, Belle. What was the reason for your visit." Charming said with a small smile. It was probably all that he could muster up.

"Well, I was going to ask for a place to stay. But I can see you guys have a lot going on so-"

"Nonsense. We'll set up a room for you right away!"

I smiled and followed a butler to a spare bedroom.

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