"Sir, there is terrible news. The town of Avenly has fallen to the ogres attack."
"Oh my gods," Maurice gasped. Belle poked her head out from under the table. Avenly... It wasn't a town she was familiar with, but when anything fell because of the ogres, she had been told to be worried. Her father stood above her, along with the other knights and a number of people she didn't know. They gathered around the table she played under, which on top of was plans of attacks to face the ogres. Belle had never seen an ogre, but they didn't sound nice, because there was a whole army of them heading to the kingdom to destroy it. Belle didn't want the kingdom to be destroyed; where would she put all her toys and books?
King Maurice, Belle's father, sighed heavily and went over to his throne, mumbling on about how all was lost and there was no hope left for the kingdom. He mumbled a lot like that recently, and Belle wasn't sure if it was true or not. Quietly, she crept out from under the table and went over to him, crawling up on his lap.
"Oh, Belle," Maurice sighed, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you or the kingdom. I have failed as a king and a father." "But... what about the man you sent help to?" Belle asked.
"He is no man... And who told you about that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"...Gaston over heard you talking about it and told me," Belle admitted. "It wasn't my idea! I didn't ask! He just told me! He's always sneaking into the meetings and listening."
Maurice only sighed and adjusted his crown on his head. Belle chewed on her lip. She didn't want to get in trouble again.
"Well... he's not coming," the king said. "Our offer must have been too small because he never responded. We must be on our own now."
"But... he could be on his way, couldn't he?" she asked. He looked at her and smiled sadly at his daughter, patting the top of her small head.
"Well... I'm afraid it's too late for that, my dear," he sighed sadly.
Thra-dump. Thra-dump. Thra-dump. Three knocks came from the heavy wood door on the other side of the room. Everyone turned to the door.
"Is that him?" Belle asked and she got down from her father's lap. Holding Maurice's hand, she went over to the door with the rest of the knights and the king. Maurice ordered for the door to be opened, but when it was, no one was there.
"W-Where is he?" Belle asked.
"Over here, dearie!" a voice cried, and everyone in the room turned to the back of the room, where a strange man sat in the king's throne. He wasn't very tall, but he scared Belle a bit. His face was dark, looking like it was green and gold colored instead of skin. He wore strange clothes, leather pants and jacket and boots. And yet his eyes were something else all together, looking... almost human, in fact.
"I believe you sent me a message," the man said. "Something along the lines of 'Help us! Help us! We're being killed! Please come save us!' correct?"
His voice reminded Belle of a giddy child, and he moved his hands dramatically as he spoke. He was very unusual, but Belle refused to show fear to this man, so she let go of her father's hand and stood alone.
"Yes. Yes we did." Maurice spoke, his voice shaky and quiet. "Can you help us?"
"Oh of course I can!" the man laughed a strange laugh that sounded like a child and Belle couldn't help but giggle at it. Both Maurice and the man looked at her. Her father's look was scolding and silencing, but the mans was expressionless. He looked at her up and down over and over for a moment and then turned back to the king. "Yes of course I can protect your little town from these ogres. However, I do require payment. And I'm afraid that your offer of gold is, shall we say... meaningless? I make gold, so that's not going to do."
"...What do you want?" Maurice asked, unsure. The man looked at him for a long moment before his hand pointed at something: Belle.
"Me?" Belle asked. Her? She was only ten years old. What could he possibly want with her?
"NO!" Maurice roared and moved in front of his daughter. "You will not take her from me!"
"Yes, you dearie," the man said, ignoring Maurice and looking at Belle. "If you come with me, your whole kingdom would be saved." "But... why me?" belle asked.
"You're not taking my daughter!" Maurice repeated, "Get out now!" "Papa..." Belle said quietly, stepping out from behind her father. "Please, let... let me talk to him." Maurice fell silent, and Belle slowly went up to the man. There was still plenty of distance between the two of them, but she was still scared, even though that she didn't show it.
"Why me?" she asked again. The man smiled at her and knelt down to her eye level.
"I need someone to help me around my castle, dearie," he said. "Someone to clean up and help me around. Can you cook or clean?"
"Yes... Both," Belle admitted. "I play in the kitchen a lot."
"Wonderful," the man smiled. "You're already quite fit for the job."
"She'll not be going!" Maurice said loudly. The man ignored the king and Belle only glanced at her father, then turned back to the man.
"And... how long would I be there, helping?" she asked.
"Well, dearie, that's the thing about being a servant," the man said. "You would have to stay with me forever. Do yo know how long that is?"
"Yes..." Belle said. "A very very long time."
"Yes," the man nodded. "But if you were to come with me, your whole kingdom would be safe. Your family and friends. Everyone. You would be the hero. All you have to do is say yes, dearie."
"Never! I've heard enough! Belle, go to your room, and you! Out!" Maurice yelled and the man stood up, still smiling.
"Very well. Enjoy your ogre problem," he said and started walking away, out the door. Belle stood where she was for a long moment. Suddenly she whipped around and ran after the man.
"Wait! Wait!" she cried. The man stopped and turned slowly.
"Belle, no! Don't trust him!" Maurice cried. Belle didn't listen to her father and went right up to the man.
"You-You promise? If I go with you, everything is safe? My daddy and friends in town? Everyone? You promise?" she asked. The man looked at her and did a little bow.
"You have my word," he said. Belle swallowed and looked at her father. He was shaking his head no at her and motioning for her to go to him. She sighed and turned back to the man.
"And... you have my word, too," she said quietly. "I'll... I'll go with you. Forever."
"Deal!" the man smiled, and held out his hand. Belle hesitated and shook hands with him.
"NO!" Maurice roared. "No Belle! You can't go with him! You can't go with this... beast!"
The man only laughed his funny little laugh again. Belle sighed and looked at her father.
"Papa, I... I have to. I'll save the whole kingdom," she said.
"But you can't go! I forbid it!" Maurice shouted.
"Ah ah ah!" the man shook his finger at the king and rested his hand on Belle's small shoulder. Belle felt uneasy under his touch but she didn't show it. "I'm afraid there's no turning back. You see, the deal: it's struck."
Belle swallowed again. That was it. She was going to go with this man, forever. And she didn't even know his name. She was starting to regret this decision. She could only look at her father, whose eyes were starting to fill with tears, before she felt the man's grip on her shoulder tighten a little, and he led her from the room.
'Good-bye, father,' she whispered in her mind as she walked away.