Kingdom of Isolation (Part 1 of 3)

by MidStorm

Summary: This time it's Belle's family tree that has some interesting branches. And what happens when someone she thought long gone returns?

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or Frozen.

Belle woke from a deep sleep when she reached out and did not find her husband next to her. What she found was a note, he had gone for his weekly appointment with Archie and didn't wish to wake her. Just as she seeked help after her imprisonment by Regina, her husband had bravely done the same after his year with Zelena. She shivered at the thought of what her true love had gone through.

His note also asked her to meet him at Granny's for lunch. For whatever reason Granny's hamburger had never tasted better since she was married. She traced her hand at the bottom of the note, where he proclaimed his love for her and signed it 'your husband.'

She knew they were still considered "newlyweds," only being a week married, but she doubted she would ever get over the joy of calling Rumple her husband. He had told days ago, other than being Bae's father, it was the best title he has ever been given. He said he go the rest of his life, known only as Belle's husband.

Yes, to others he was the Dark One, Imp, Crocodile, but to only her he was husband and true love.

And she will happily be Belle Gold, even though Ruby says it sounds like a kind of jewelry while Grumpy claims it sounds like an expensive stripper (he said expensive, as if trying to make the insult better).

She quickly showered, dressed and went downstairs to make herself a cup of tea. She took her beverage and toast outside to the backyard patio. The couple had taken to eating most of their meals outside, both of them had spent enough time in cages, dungeons and towers.

A cold breeze rustled through the trees and made her think of another time, the cold always did that. It reminded her of her sister, Elsa.

Once upon a time her family had been whole, they had been happy. Her parents Sir Maurice and Lady Rosalyn had married quickly after falling in love after literally running into each other at the marketplace. A year later they were blessed with a little girl they named Elsa. While no one doubted the child's lineage, she had her father's startling blue eyes and looked nearly exactly her paternal grandmother, it was found odd that she had the whitest blonde hair anyone had ever seen, since both of her parents were brunettes.

But they did not care, they loved their daughter wished to give her a sibling. Two years later Belle was born and they felt their family was complete. Other nobles pitied Maurice and his lack of sons, but he did not see it that way. He was thankful he had two healthy children and his wife survived childbirth twice, others were not so lucky.

Little Elsa loved her baby sister, however she had a problem saying Belle. She just couldn't get the 'b' out. So her mother came with a solution for the baby to have the nickname Anna, after all she was named after her grandmother Annabelle.

The couple was known throughout as fair and kind to their people. The daughters wanted to help as much as their parents. Their mother taught them how to cook, sew, knit and first aide, all skills they used to assist those in need. While their father encouraged them to learn trade, geography, history and other skills that would help them rule one day.

However the girls found time to have fun and be children. In their town luckily winters were short enough that the people didn't have to worry about freezing, famine or sickness from the weather. Belle noticed her sister alway seemed happiest in the chill. Elsa would often forget her gloves and scarf (while Belle was bundled in five layers) but never catch a cold.

Their favorite activity was building snowmen after people they knew. Their favorite snow caricature was of the the Castle's guard Olaf. He was always a 'frowny face,' but the sisters knew all he wanted was warm hugs and to be loved. Their parents occasionally would join them in a snow ball fight and eventually have to drag the girls back into the warmth of the castle. Everytime they went inside Elsa would become quieter, but Belle would just remind her over a cup of tea that they would go outside tomorrow and she would liven up.

It was the memories of these days (and her love of Rumple) that kept Belle sane in the queen's tower. She almost wished she had those memories when she was in the hospital.

And for ten years the four of them were very happy in their little town. However, there is no such thing as a happily ever after, at least Belle has heard of one other than those in her books.

It was one unusually cold spring day that everything changed. A ten year old Belle was awoken by her maid and rushed to her mother's room, where the Lady Rosalyn lay on her bed pale as death. Belle ran to her mother, grasping her frozen hand. Belle asked what happened, but her mother told her she was sick and not to worry. Her mother's last words was a request to Belle to always love her sister and father.

Elsa wasn't at the funeral. Her father told Belle that her sister had the same sickness as their mother and she had to be kept separate from everyone. Belle lost, in some ways, her entire family that day. Her father spent more time away from the castle, trying to find a cure for her sister, beseeching hedge witches, wizards and fairies. While Belle ran the household and tried to help the town as much as she could at her age.

And it was that for the next eight years. Belle desperately missed her sister. For the first year she was worried that her sister would die any day. However, her father who visited her sister weekly promised she was still alive, but sick. Belle begged to be able to go see her sister, but her father said she may become ill too and he couldn't risk it. They never told her where Elsa was, all Belle knew was she was out of town. And while Belle studied geography she had never been out of her village before.

One summer day Belle tired of people telling her no, decided to take her fate into her own hands, she tricked the knight Gaston into telling her where her sister was. She felt guilty for her ruse, Gaston was kind (though dim-witted) but it was her sister.

She took her horse Phillipe and rode all night, the closer she got to the tower, the chillier it got. Belle wondered why her father would put her sister in such a cold place, when part of the sickness her mother had including her blood running cold.

By the time she made it to the tower, the sun was rising and she could see her own breath in the air.

"Elsa," she called out as she climbed the stairs.

"Anna?" her sister asked, she had grown taller and even more beautiful than the last time she had seen her. Belle rushed to hug her sister, but Elsa backed away.

"You need to leave, you aren't safe here," the older sister warned.

And that was all Belle could remember that day. She woke up cold with a pounding headache, but in her bedroom at the castle. The medic, her maid and Gaston were sitting beside her bed.

She had dreams of snow, magic and fairies. She asked them what happened, none of them would tell her. Belle rushed out of her bed, Gaston trying to stop her, telling Belle he promised her sister that he always protect her. Belle looked at the sullen face of the young man, and knew she had to find her father.

She found her father in the meeting room sitting in his chair, looking forlorn with tears in his eyes. It was the same look he had when her mother died. Belle fell to the ground crying 'no, please, no.' Her father gathered her in his arms and told her how sorry he was.