Objects with the capacity to sway one's morals — Belle's heart sank. Ben was safe here, of course, but that wouldn't necessarily stop the evil from spreading throughout his realm, or even leaking into this one, if Ben's presence was any indication. A crown and a staff. Belle made a mental note to debrief the Charmings on the artifacts later.

More fittingly, perhaps, her mind drifted to Rumplestiltskin's dagger, and she nearly leapt out of her chair so great was her impulse to get up, to physically look at the weapon that remained tucked away in her office. Belle kept herself seated but nearly choked on the next sense of tea that she took. The boy certainly did have a sense of timing (and an interesting choice of words, certainly; it had been quite a while since Belle had heard that moniker for him).

"He — ah — he doesn't live here. Not anymore." She placed her cup back on the table and neatly folded her hands in her lap. More than anything, it was a way to hide her fidgeting. "We were all brought here by a curse cast by Regina. You might know her better as the Evil Queen. Most of us lost our memories for years, but when the curse was broken, we were able to find each other again. He —" Belle cut off suddenly, her voice wavering. "He crossed the town line. The magic in place, he can't come back here. His — his name is Rumplestiltskin."