The top of the Beast's dark, ugly tower fell away, along with all of Gaston's hopes and plans. A scream ripped from his throat in his absolute terror. There was no way he could survive a fall from such a dizzying height. He scrabbled uselessly at the empty air above him, seeking anything, any type of purchase that would stop his fall and save him. An odd memory struck him, something that Belle had mentioned once out of those books of hers - that falling from a great height should feel like an eternity. But to Gaston, it felt much too fast and he wasn't ready to die yet. "Somebody help me! Anybody!" he screamed into the empty dark sky above him, then he felt cold and darkness close around him.
Seconds later, Gaston realized that he was in the water. By an impossible chance, he had landed in the river that ran past the base of the hideous Beast's castle. He flailed desperately, afraid that his luck would turn on him and he would drown. It was hard to tell which way would take him to the safety of the riverbank, and he found himself whirling uncontrollably in the fast-paced water. The side of Gaston's head slammed into a rock, but he managed to push himself away and soon found himself washed up on the side of the river, his lower body still in the water. Hazily, he looked up and started to try to drag himself up onto completely dry land.
"Young man! Are you hurt? Let me help you out of that muddy water," an aged woman's voice croaked. Gaston blinked and refocused his eyes to see a bent woman with a twisted mouth and a hooked nose bending over him, grasping at his shirt with crooked, gnarled hands.
Gaston was not in a mood to be pleasant. "Stay away from me, you old hag!" he snarled, reaching up to shove her away from him.
"Oh!" she cried and fell backwards to the ground. Old, feeble, and not expecting ingratitude, she had lost her balance. "If you're so fit," she quavered, "Then help me to my feet and I won't bother you any more."
Gaston finished pulling himself out of the river and glared at the old woman. "Why should I? I've lost everything! Everything!" He put his face in his hands and let self pity overwhelm him.
The old woman tried again to approach him, crawling over to pat his shoulder with a withered hand. "It can't be all that bad," she creaked. "You're still alive, after all. That was a nasty tumble into a cold river at night. You should be grateful."
"Grateful?" Gaston scoffed, throwing off her hand. "Just leave me alone, you old fool!"
The woman frowned, and said sternly, "It's not right to judge others by their appearance alone, lad. I have more years of experience than you can count to, I'll wager."
"I'm warning you, old woman," Gaston growled, "Leave me in peace!"
The old woman shook her head and sighed, "No, I'm warning you. It is truly a pity you will not listen." Out of a fold of her dress she drew forth a delicate wand and tapped herself on the head. Instantly the disguise melted, revealing an enchantress who appeared to be in the very flower of youth and was also the very picture of beauty, standing where the old woman had crouched the moment before. Gaston gaped and reached up to feel his head to see if there was a lump where he had hit the rock, but he didn't find one. The enchantress smiled sadly down at him. "Poor man. You have obviously been through much already, but that does not excuse your behaviour. It is clear to me what kind of person you are; ungrateful, spiteful, and coarse. I am sure you have hurt many people that you do not even realize have suffered on your account. It is for that reason that I will now lay a curse on you."
Gaston tried to scramble away, but he was rooted to the spot with fear. "No! I beg of you! I didn't mean to offend you! Don't hurt me!" He clutched at the skirt of her sparkling green dress.
The enchantress gently pulled herself away, still giving Gaston the same sad look. "You must learn to realize how your words affect others. You have badly misused the gift of speech. Perhaps without it you will begin to understand its true importance." She reached down and softly tapped the end of her wand on Gaston's head.
Gaston tried to beg her again to change her mind, but found himself unable to speak. Panicking, he frantically clasped his hands together in front of him in a gesture of pleading.
The enchantress continued ruthlessly in her same gentle tone, "When - and if - one of the people you have hurt with your words forgives you for it, you will be freed from the curse. Until then, you will not be able to say a word." Ignoring Gaston's desperate gestures, she faded away and vanished.
With a silent groan, Gaston laid back down on the riverbank and fell asleep.
"It's so awful!" Babette said, sniffing into her handkerchief.
"It's absolutely terrible!" Antoinette sniffled.
"I don't even want to talk about it!" Clairette cried, putting her face in her hands, and causing all three triplets to burst into fresh tears. The trio were out walking together along the river. Their mother had sent them out, telling them that some fresh air would do them good. So far, it didn't seem to be helping. They simply could not get their minds off the tragic incident of Gaston the night before.
"I can't believe he's gone," Antoinette whispered.
"He was so strong and handsome," Babette sighed in agreement.
Clairette gasped, placing one hand to her mouth and pointing with the other one. "What's that?"
The three girls ran forward to see the still form laying by the riverside.
"Oh no!" Antoinette cried.
"It's him!" Clairette said, falling to her knees next to Gaston. "He must have washed up here."
"But so far from the castle?" Babette wondered.
"I can't look!" Antoinette sobbed.
"I can't stand it!" Babette moaned.
"He's still breathing!" Clairette gasped. "Gaston!" Clairette began shaking Gaston's shoulder, and her sisters dropped to their knees next to her to help, all three crying hysterically and calling his name. Then, Gaston moved, slightly. The triplets snatched their hands back and watched, holding their breath as Gaston rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. Crying his name out again, this time joyously, they all fell on him, hugging him.
"We thought you were dead!" Babette shouted.
"We thought we'd never see you again!" Antoinette agreed.
"Oh, Gaston!" Clairette cried.
Somehow, with a lot of excited chattering and only a few stumbles, the three girls managed to help Gaston to his feet and got him back to the small village where they all lived. The triplets were so excited that Gaston was still alive that they didn't even notice his silence, especially since he tended to be aloof with them anyway.