AUTHOR'S NOTE: This will be a series of vignettes exploring the thoughts and drives of Rumpelstiltskin in particular, but other characters will be involved as well. I will release more chapters as I have them written. This first chapter is quite short. Warning: There will be spoilers from the show.

He approached the china cabinet slowly, his body feeling heavy as lead. The conversation with the Queen ran over and over in his mind, torturous and unending. The cabinet doors swung on silent hinges, and the china cup stood out, shining and aloof on its shelf. With a trembling hand, he reached for it.

...You can rest assured I had nothing to do with that tragedy.

His fingers traced the pale blue pattern on its side. "I'm so sorry," he heard the girl say. "It – it's chipped." He whispered her words as he felt the small chip along the rim.

And after her stay here, her...association with you...no one would want her, of course.

Turning, he walked across the great hall, his echoing footsteps reminding him of the emptiness of his castle, and his heart.

Her father shunned her. Cut her off and shut her out.

The sun beat down mercilessly through the windows, casting glaring light on the hardwood floor, and on his soul. There was a reason he had the curtains nailed up before, but he had been unable to bring himself to close them up again.

He was cruel to her! He locked her in a tower and sent in clerics to cleanse her soul with scourges and flame.

As he approached the pedestal, the golden chalice upon it glistened coldly. It held no appeal in his eyes, and he had no hesitation in removing it. In its place, the small china teacup stood proudly as a testament to what he had lost.

After a while, she threw herself off the tower. She died.

His face crumbled as he stared at the precious cup, a reminder of that impetuous yet kind girl, his Belle. She was lost to him forever, but she would never leave his heart.