Belle & Rumplestiltskin Relationship Thread

[Keb]

Well, her worries about the dagger are two-fold–she KNOWS it’s a huge act for him to surrender the dagger to anyone.

So, a, as the mirror reflected, she knows who Rumple is even though she wants to believe in his better nature winning out. She’s afraid that he hasn’t changed enough to be honest (that was his crime in 204 that made her leave him) or worse, what he might be doing if he isn’t being honest with her (she definitely wondered if he had killed Zelena–and then he told everyone she had the dagger as proof he hadn’t). She’s not stupid, but she wants to believe in him and believes he needs her to.

And b, she wants to believe that she’s worthy of his love. She’s got a lot of self-doubts; she’s an idealist (it comes with the loving stories territory) and has very high standards for herself. That’s why it was hard for her to risk going on the adventure she’d always wanted in 211. That’s why she lied to people in 406–she was afraid of people finding out she wasn’t as good as they thought her to be. That’s part of why she was so depressed in 307–she believed that she wasn’t needed to save Henry, that she didn’t have anything to offer. And worse, that the man she loved didn’t want or need her with him.

Her history as far as we know it is not exactly a series of heroic victories of the sort she seems to like in her books. She not only couldn’t save her mother, but she couldn’t even remember her mother’s sacrifice because she blacked out. To Belle’s insecurities, that’s a sign of cowardice, even if an outsider might not see it that way. That’s why it was so important to her to regain those memories–another mission she failed, and in the process she let a friend get hurt and captured. And worse, she didn’t know what else to do afterwards so she…just went home.

She did manage to save her family, but as we see in 211 when she’s fresh from Rumple breaking her heart and casting her out, she still feels like she failed. (And she did fail to break his curse.) She did manage to save Phillip, but then she was held captive for three years and then put into the asylum for another 28 and a half. I’ve no doubt that during that time she dwelt a lot on how she’d messed up just about everything since the ogres attacked her mother. Not exactly good for the psyche.

And then in Storybrooke she’s had her share of failures as well–she saved Archie but then she got shot and couldn’t help Rumple with his son (and as Lacey probably made things worse). She couldn’t go to Neverland and she almost botched her missions from Rumple too. Oh, and let’s see, she was completely helpless when he died…and couldn’t stop Neal from sacrificing HIS life, either.

We, the audience, see her in a much more positive light than she sees herself. We skim over her failings for the most part because a, we often see her through Rumple’s eyes and he worships her, and b, her heroic acts stand out more to us because her failings all have reasons (or horrible writers to blame). We get that Pan had her frozen in place, but someone with insecurities could still blame herself for that. And what we saw in the mirror combined matches up with what we saw in 211 and 307 to really help define her mental state. It doesn’t take away from her independent streak (204, 406, 112, 219) that she’s got insecurities–to me, it makes her a more rounded, dynamic character who has been shaped by her experiences, which is exactly the sort of character we want.

[Killian Jones]

Wanted to share this here too…

Is it me? Or does it feel like Rumple’s also being played by the Snow Queen?

Maybe I just can’t accept that’s he’s regressed this far but could she also be manipulating him, playing on his darkness for her own ends? At first glance it seems like they’re basically partners but it just doesn’t seem right. It’s like the Snow Queen is slowly playing every one against each other? Would she really draw the line at Rumple? I doubt it.

Remember Snow Queen had the hat, and Rumple just happened to come across this thing he wanted to free himself of the dagger? That seems a little too convenient. Actually, look at the gall of the Snow Queen she even admitted it in that last scene in the pawn shop that she had the hat in her possession! Rumple didn’t put two and two together and realize that he’s been set up? The Snow Queen is really quite brilliant because I really think she’s playing him and it’s VERY hard to pull the wool over the eyes of Rumplestiltskin.

https://www.tumblr.com/hooked-on-once/102313812188/is-it-me-or-does-it-feel-like-rumples-also-being

[Keb]

I’ve been suspecting she planted the hat for a while, even before we knew she had it. They still haven’t revealed whether there’s a reason Belle found that particular house or who it should belong to. I’m hoping they don’t drop that loose end because I think it may tie together what’s going on between DQ and Rumple.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[seamstress]

I think the house belongs to the Snow Queen, and she deliberately left the hat there for Rumple to find. I just find it strange that a member of a royal family lives in a cave in the middle of the forest (I think she left her house for some reason), plus she wasn’t in SB during the first curse, nor was the house. And as far as we know, she was also the last person in possession of the hat before Rumple found it on his honeymoon. Either she was the one who left it on that table, or there’s a third party involved (which I doubt).

So yes, I do think Rumple is being played by the Snow Queen (and vice versa, probably).

[TheWatcher]

MERRY CHRISTMAS RUMBELLERS 😀 Our two dearies may be in a rough spot but that doesn’t mean this thread is dead for Christmas!

"I could have the giant duck as my steed!" --Daniel Radcliffe
Keeper Of Tamara's Taser , Jafar's Staff, Kitsis’s Glasses , Ariel’s Tail, Dopey's Hat , Peter Pan’s Shadow, Outfit, & Pied Cloak,Red Queen's Castle, White Rabbit's Power To World Hop, Zelena's BroomStick, & ALL MAGIC

[PriceofMagic]

Loving the RumBelle Christmas pics!

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[obisgirl]

So the latest Rumbelle teaser today made me wonder, should Belle forgive Rumple? What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

Myself,  I think Belle’s forgiveness should be hard-fought.  It’s not just her forgiveness, her trust in Rumple is broken as well and it’s difficult to maintain a relationship (any kind of relationship) without trust.  Other question, is Rumple deserving of Belle’s forgiveness?

[RumplesGirl]

So the latest Rumbelle teaser today made me wonder, should Belle forgive Rumple? What are everyone’s thoughts on this? Myself, I think Belle’s forgiveness should be hard-fought. It’s not just her forgiveness, her trust in Rumple is broken as well and it’s difficult to maintain a relationship (any kind of relationship) without trust. Other question, is Rumple deserving of Belle’s forgiveness?

Answer to both questions: no

More complicated answer: It would be a bold decision on the part of A and E to show that sometimes “true love” is not enough. That true love is not some magical cure all against law, justice, common sense, and morality. I know it’s a show but the onus should be on ONCE to try and show that, indeed, there are some things you cannot come back from.  Rumple broke her heart, broke her trust, and *hurt* other people with no consideration to anyone but himself. I don’t care that it’s “a fairy tale” putting them back together after all that leaves a rancid taste in mouth when millions of women are trapped in abusive and troubling relationships and feel like they can’t get out. A and E should really try to be “bold” and say that no–you have a choice. You can choose to not go back. You can choose to understand that love does not save the freaking day.

Even more complicated answer: None of what I said matters. Adam and Eddy will put them back together because TL overcomes everything including logic, morality, law, decency, and self respect.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[PriceofMagic]

So the latest Rumbelle teaser today made me wonder, should Belle forgive Rumple? What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

Myself, I think Belle’s forgiveness should be hard-fought. It’s not just her forgiveness, her trust in Rumple is broken as well and it’s difficult to maintain a relationship (any kind of relationship) without trust. Other question, is Rumple deserving of Belle’s forgiveness?

Yes to both questions. However, I do agree that Rumple should have to work hard to earn Belle’s trust and forgiveness.

I think Rumple’s reasoning behind wanting to be free of the dagger is understandable, he needs his magic to protect his loved ones but doesn’t want to risk being controlled like Zelena did to him, it was his methods that were wrong. The writers needed to emphasise Rumple’s motives more in 4A because he did come across as doing it more for the power whereas the trauma of 3B is what really prompted his actions in 4A.

Belle was right to do what she did, Rumple was out of control, and he needed that wake up call to sort himself out even though it hurt the both of them to go through that. However, I don’t think Belle is ready to give up on Rumple just yet and he’s not ready to give up on her.

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[Keb]

I think right NOW Rumple doesn’t deserve her forgiveness. He’s going to have to earn it. And I, for one, want to see him fight that battle–to do it, he’s going to have to overcome all his demons and repair the trust he broke in her (and overcome her demons in the process). I don’t want them back together before it feels RIGHT and Justified. I don’t want it to just be Because True Love.

I want it to be because Rumple is willing to really fight for her.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Author]

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