ofrosesandmonsters:

Belle hadn’t realized just how far she had gone from the Castle until she heard the carriage passing behind her. Stepping off the road, she glanced backward, seeing her home a ways back. That wasn’t good— if the Master found out where she was…

But a woman’s voice drew her from her thoughts, and the young girl turned to face the speaker. A woman, dressed in elegant cloth, with eyes that were both horrifying and kind all at once. “M-My name is Belle, madam. I…I’m the caretaker of the Dark Castle…” She made a weak gesture back toward the castle as she said such, managing a smile at the stranger.

Regina continued to smirk at the young woman as she spoke, placing a hand on Belle’s shoulder. “Belle, you said?” almost hummed, tilting her head toward the young brunette. “Ah. You’re Rumple’s girl, aren’t you?”  She attempted to look toward the castle, where Belle was gesturing, but she knew full well that it was long out of sight. This girl was now in her forest, her territory. So, she chuckled a bit, trying to nod sympathetically at the girl.

“You’re quite a way from there, my dear. Might I ask what you are doing in my forest? This isn’t some sort of mission from the Dark One, is it?” she drawled, slightly suspicious as gave Belle’s shoulder a firm squeeze and slightly clenched her jaw behind her forced smile.