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Once Upon a Time: Tea Cups and Hearts

Chapter Eight: Children of Beauty The Enchanted Forest: The Past . . .

Snow White giggled as her cousin chased after her. Both of the seven year olds were running as fast as they could.

"You'll never catch me, Belle!" Snow yelled happily.

Belle just smiled, as she kept the same pace she had all morning. The girl knew that sooner or later, Snow would grow tired and slow down. It was just a matter of time.

Sure enough, several seconds later the beautiful dark haired girl began to pant for breath, and ran slightly slower than before. Belle took this opportunity to put on her speed, and catch up to her cousin. With a triumphant smile Belle gently touched Snow's shoulder. "You're it."

Snow pretended to be upset but failed as she began to laugh. "I can't stay mad at you!"

"Nor me you," Belle answered laughing as well.

"You caught me," Snow said in mock surprise, her dark eyebrows rising on her forehead.

"I've been trying to catch you for a while now," Belle said calmly. "I was bound to get you sooner or later."

Snow smiled, "That's true."Then she looked at her cousin and added, "But I had to go super fast to get away from you!"

Belle hugged her cousin, "We're both fast."

Together the two girls sat under a nearby hedge to cool off, their game of Tag forgotten. As they sat with their dresses bunched up around their little legs, Belle looked across the flower beds, to see a man watching them. He stood tall, his back as straight as a pole and his eyes twinkling merrily. Belle could tell he was amused by their antics.

"What are you staring at?" Snow asked curiously, her eyes following her cousins.

"I'm not staring." Belle said quickly. "I was just wondering what Bo was doing."

Snow grinned, "Do you think he's handsome?"

Belle's eyes grew wide, "No!"

"Then why are you blushing?" Snow countered.

Belle's hands flew to her cheeks. "I blush because you always embarrass me!" Belle huffed indignantly. Sometimes her cousin thought of the craziest things.

Snow put her hands up in surrender, "Okay, if you say so."

Belle sighed, "I do."

The girl's were silent for a moment before Snow's grin returned. "Why don't you go ask him, if he wants to play with us?"

Belle looked at her cousin, "Why don't you?"

"He doesn't talk to me," Snow said truthfully. "But I've seen him open up to you several times, since you arrived."

"Maybe you frighten him," Belle thought aloud. "After all you're always smiling your toothy grin and laughing about something."

"That doesn't mean I'm scary." Snow countered. "It means I have a good time."

Belle shrugged her shoulders and let the matter drop. "Fine, I'll ask him."

Snow clapped her hands, "Yay! Now we can play Hide-n-go-Seek!"

Belle shook her head, "Why not another round of tag?"

"I'm too tired!" Snow whined.

"Alright, Hide-N-Go-Seek it is."

As Snow White cheered, Belle stood up from the ground and brushed off her skirts with her dusty hands.

"Nanna would be shocked at how dirty I am." The girl thought with a giggle, as she walked over to the guard who stood several feet away.Bo watched the princesses as they played his heart grew full at the sight. Though he was a Captain of renown in the King's Army, he was a quiet, and usually kept to himself. He found that listening got you a lot further than talking ever could.

The man had been serving as a royal guard since the age of 18 and he was long past that mark. With every year that passed, Bo learned more about his job and how to do it more efficiently. Hence why he had been labeled a captain instead of staying a lowly foot soldier.

Bo was a man of results, and discipline.

But now as he watched the children at play in the royal gardens, the man transformed into a man of peace. He reveled in the serenity, wondering how he had lived without it for so long.

The man had watched Belle and Snow White play round after round of Tag, and with every game it seemed that Snow White had the upper hand. For most children this would have been discouraging, but to Bo's surprise, Belle had never given up. Instead, the girl had worked twice as hard, always with a smile on her pretty face. Until finally, she caught up to Snow and she had had victory.

"She'll be a great Queen one day," the man thought in awe. "She will make all of us proud."

As the girl approached him, Bo smiled. Who was he kidding, he was already proud."Bo Torben," Belle called as she drew closer.

"Majesty," Bo inclined his head. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Belle answered stopping in front of him. "I just wanted to ask you, if you wanted to come join our game?"

Bo tried to hide his ever growing smile and failed, "That is a kind offer, Princess. But I have been charged to watch you."

Though the girl tried to hide her disappointment, Bo saw it in her big blue eyes. "Oh, okay."

As the girl turned to walk away, Bo found himself calling after her, "What game would we be playing, Majesty?"

Belle turned around hopefully, "Hide-n-go-Seek."

Bo pretended to think about it, though he already knew his answer, "Hmm . . . a fine game indeed."

"Please won't you play," Belle said in her sweet seven year old voice. "It's no fun with just two people."

Bo nodded after a moment, "Alright. I'll play."

Belle's smile touched her eyes, "Okay, you're it!"

As Bo followed the bouncing girl back to where Snow White sat in the shade, he felt as though he was a father. Both girls were sweet, and kind. And he knew both would make good rulers one day.

Snow laughed as she pulled Belle with her. "No cheating Bo! You have to count to 30 so we can have time to hide!"

"Fair enough," Bo said. "But no leaving the garden."

Snow and Belle nodded as the man turned his back and began to count, "One, Two, Three, Four, Five . . ."

The two girls ran and split off to find different hiding places. And as they settled into their newfound spots, they heard the scream of agony, and the sobbing that came after it.