A brand new story, heavily based on a roleplay I've done on Skype! So only half of this story belongs to me, the cover art does not belong to me, and the characters belong to Himaruya. Enjoy!

A Boy and a Beast

Once upon a time, in a town in Sweden many years ago, there lived a young Lord named Berwald Oxenstierna. As the sole heir to a huge castle and sizeable fortune, as well as being the only child of his adoring parents, it was no wonder he grew up spoilt. But that was not his major flaw.

On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, he was hosting a dinner party for his friends, and they talked and laughed well into the night. Rather late, there came a knock at the door, and the party of young men ran to it, assuming it was a late guest.

Alas, it was not a guest but an old, haggard man.

"If I give you this rose," the man wheezed, offering a white rose to Berwald, "would you let me stay the night in your castle, good sir?"

Berwald was not a strong man. His friends jeered at the old beggar and told Berwald to have him thrown off the grounds – and Berwald complied, buckling under the pressure of doing what others wanted, rather than what he knew to be right.

But just as he was about to give the order, the beggar transformed. He became a young, fair man, glowing with heavenly light.

"You!" he cried, pointing an accusing finger at Berwald, who was now frozen in shock and fear. "You would not give me room, simply because your companions would not allow you to!"

With a click of his fingers, the young lords that had surrounded Berwald were sent fleeing from imaginary demons – but the angel was not finished with Berwald yet.

"From this day forth, you will become a Beast – and you will remain like this until each petal on this rose –" here, the angel held out the white rose he had offered to Berwald, " – has fallen. This curse will only be broken when you can find someone to love you for your character and not your appearance."

With another click, the angel vanished, leaving in his wake a horrified young Lord, who had now transformed into a hulking Beast.

Chapter One: Beginnings

It was a hot summer night, stuffy and stormy with rain pouring down, when an unfortunate young man named Eduard Von Bock made the mistake of trying to enter the Oxenstierna Castle. Everyone knew it was where the Beast lived.

Mere hours after his friend didn't return, a brave boy named Tino set off in search, and came to the castle, his heart filling with dread. But there was nothing he wouldn't do for his friends. So there he was, standing in the massive entrance, looking up at the castle. He was going to take Eduard's place. He would have to get used to the fact that this nightmarish castle was to be his home.

Meanwhile, down in the dungeon, was the Beast itself – a huge, tawny creature, his frame nearly seven foot tall and covered in thick, wild golden fur. On top of this, he wore a shirt and trousers, in an attempt to stay human. Set in his face were two eyes of the brightest sea-blue.

The young man in his dungeon, Eduard, was terrified. And who wouldn't be?

Finally gathering all his courage, Tino went up to the large door and knocked. He knocked again, and the door swung open slowly. He walked in, calling out, "Hello? Is anyone here? I'm here for Eduard!" He shivered at the cold inside the castle, and pulled his coat closer to his small frame.

The Beast swung round, searching for the source of the voice. Another intruder? Couldn't they leave him in peace? He growled under his breath, stalking from the dungeon up into the main hall, in search of the unfortunate who dared intrude upon him.

Tino stared with wide, almost-lilac eyes at the figure before him. He hid his fear as he stood up taller, not making much of a difference against the seven-foot tall creature.

"I'm here to save Eduard. Let him go." He looked at the figure challengingly, hoping that the other bought into his bravery.

"Save Eduard?" The words came out as a growl. "Th'other intruder?"

The Beast clenched his fists. Everyone had friends, even the weakling in his dungeon. Why could he have none?

"Wha' makes y'think I'll let 'im go?"

Tino nodded and swallowed hard, scared by the growl the figure gave. "I'll take his place! Let him go and have me instead. You don't need him."

This boy was willing to take the place of another, as a prisoner? That was true friendship. Even the Beast could recognise that. Perhaps this boy – no, he wouldn't think about that. He wouldn't get his hopes up.

"Fine," he said shortly. "Follow'm." And with that, he stalked off in direction of the dungeon where this boy's friend was being kept.

Tino followed quickly and pulled his coat closer as they descended to the dungeon. It was getting colder and wetter and more importantly darker, he was having a hard time seeing where the stairs ended. "You'd better let him go!" He felt like his threat was weak and meaningless because he was obviously no match for the other.

The Beast let out a low growl, as if to say, don't you threaten me, but otherwise said nothing. He didn't so strong of a natural dislike towards this young man, as he usually did with humans. Once they were in the very depths of the dungeon, the Beast lit his lamp and gestured with one huge paw at the trembling young man behind the bars. "There."

Tino rushed forward and fell to his knees in front of the bars, tears in his eyes. "Eduard! You're alive. Don't worry. He's going to let you go now." He reached in towards his shaking and slightly battered friend. He was covered in dirt and grime and his glasses had cracked. "I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have let you go alone! This is all my fault."

The Beast watched the scene with little sympathy. It just reminded him even more strongly of how alone he was.

Tino looked back at the Beast, tears in his eyes. "Please let him go, we had a deal..." He was sad that he wouldn't see his best friend again, but if it meant that his friend would be safe and free he would do anything.

Beast's heart, locked away in his chest for so long, twinged painfully at the sight of tears in those big, pretty eyes. He had to look away, down at the ground, away from the young man's face and he fumbled the key out of his pocket and unlocked the cell.

"He goes. You stay," was the only command he gave.

Tino nodded and hugged his friend tightly, crying into the other's shoulder. He wasn't just giving up seeing his friend – he was never going to see anyone again. The only way that was a good thing was that he would never have to see his overzealous suitor, Ivan, again. He whimpered when Eduard had to leave his grip and go back up the stairs and out the door.

Then they were alone. The Beast knew that the other young man would be able to find his way out of the castle well enough. He turned his gaze onto his current ward. (Ward? Surely it was prisoner? ... He preferred the term 'ward'.)

"Wha's y'name?"

Tino shook visibly with tears and sniffled, looking down at the ground. "T-Tino Väinämöinen..." He was alone now with the Beast and he could do whatever he wanted to Tino, he was now the Beast's prisoner after all. He was terrified now, all the bravery of saving his friend having left him.

Tino was shaking, and crying, the Beast noticed. Well, getting out of the chilly dungeon would help the cold, and perhaps a good meal, and a comfortable room would help the tears? The Beast didn't want the Finn lad to be too upset. But he had strict rules, for his own self-preservation, and trespassing was one of the worst offences.

"Finnish?"

Tino nodded, "Yes, sir." He had moved from Finland to the little Swedish town when he was sixteen and hadn't left. Why would he want to leave? He had good friends that he would obviously do anything for, and a job he loved in a toy shop, so he had money to buy everything he needed, especially books. Now he had nothing. He whimpered at the realisation and pulled his coat closer.

"Y'cold." The Beast began to climb the stairs, then beckoned Tino after him. "Warmer up here," he clarified.

Tino followed quicky back up the stairs, it was warmer but it still felt cold and empty. He nodded a little and kept his gaze downwards. "Yes, sir."

Keeping his lamp lit, the Beast made his way up the second flight of stairs, up the grand staircase that led to the second floor.

"Berwald," he told Tino as he lead the way down a narrow corridor, brushing cobwebs from the corners of the ceiling as he did so. "Call me tha'."

Tino followed the Beast, Berwald, down the corridor. He wondered where they were going as he avoided cobwebs, but he didn't dare. He looked around and looked at how dirty, dark, and neglected everything looked.

Finally, they reached it - the nicest guest room. Well, what had once been the nicest guest room. When Berwald pushed the door open, it was dark and cold inside, with slightly outdated decorations. It would still be lovely, but he didn't want Tino to sleep in here, it hadn't been cleaned.

"This's your room. Later."

Tino looked into the room, it looked like it had the potential to be very beautiful if some time was put into it and given some love.

"W-Where will I be for now?" He was scared he would be sent back into the dungeon and wondered why he wasn't going to be in the room now.

"My room." It was the only place suitable, after all, for it had a fire burning in it every night and was relatively clean. Tidy was another matter, but that could be fixed in a short amount of time.

Tino gulped. "Okay."

Why would he need to be in Berwald's room? Was he planning on doing something bad to Tino, something Tino would rather not think about happening to him? He shook visibly at the thought of being hurt by the larger person.

"Still cold?" It dawned on Berwald that maybe his castle was a good temperature for himself, but he was of course swathed in a thick coat of fur, while Tino didn't have that. "Want me t'make a fire?"

Tino shook his head quickly and looked down. "No! I'm fine.." He wondered why Berwald was being nice and was thinking about what would make him happy.

"I'll make one," Berwald decided. Tino was probably just shy, and didn't want to ask things of him.

Who would want to ask anything of you, you disgusting creature? a voice in the back of his mind spoke, but he pushed it back with a sick feeling in his stomach.

"Ja, I'll make one," he repeated under his breath, and with that, he turned again, facing Tino fully.

Tino flinched, thinking Berwald was going to hit him. He cowered slightly and looked down. He didn't mean to, he was very thankful for him building the fire and found the other much nicer than he thought he would be.

"Wha'?" Berwald couldn't help the hurt creeping into his voice. He wasn't so terrifying, was he? All he needed to do was for Tino to move a little so that he could get out of the room and down the passage without pressing him into the wall.

Tino blushed deeply and moved away quickly. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" He still wouldn't look up at Berwald, he was embarrassed by what he had done.

Berwald sighed, hearing sincerity in the Finn lad's words. "I'm lightin' a fire. Come down f'tea." His hurt growl made it sound slightly more like a command. He moved past Tino and down the passageway.

Tino nodded and followed Berwald, having misunderstood his request as order. "Yes, sir." He wondered why Berwald was being so nice to him – after all, he had kept Eduard in the dungeon, and not been too gentle with him from the looks of him.

"Not 'sir'. Berwald," the Beast said stubbornly. His main parlour - where he had used to entertain guests in the past - was still bright and warm, and he moved forward to stoke the fire a little before gesturing to an armchair in front of it, meaning for Tino to sit there. There was something about this Finn lad that... intrigued him. Excited him. Made him feel... something.

The Finn sat down in the chair that the Beast motioned to, as not to upset him. "Thank you, s- Berwald."

He snuggled into the armchair and hummed a bit, closing his eyes and relaxing as much as he could, in the company of a stranger who was known to be cruel.

Berwald poked the fire a little more, then moved back, settling onto the couch where he could sit comfortably without feeling squashed. His bushy tail moved back and forth contentedly as he closed his eyes, soaking up the heat of the fire.

Tino opened his eyes and looked over at the Beast. He looked… rather sweet and vulnerable versus the scary Beast he had met less than an hour ago. He smiled a bit at how fast the other had seemed to change. Tino closed his eyes and curled up on the armchair, relaxing more and warming up, starting to fall asleep.

A few minutes later, Berwald opened his eyes, stretching. Tino had... fallen asleep? In front of the fire, curled up like a kitten. How sweet, thought Berwald, endeared by the sight. In fact, it would be cruel to awaken him. Maybe he could carry Tino upstairs to bed? Berwald stood, loped over to the armchair, and gently picked Tino up bridal-style, so that he could still sleep.

Tino was fast asleep while Berwald carried him upstairs, he was exhausted and even curled up close to the bigger man in his sleep. He smiled at the warmth.

He looked so happy, Berwald thought, an aching happiness creeping into his own heart. If only he would look that serene when he was awake. The Beast entered his bedroom, and lay the Finn lad down on his large bed, tucking the heavy quilt over him lovingly.

Tino frowned a bit as the warmth left but curled up more under the quilt, smiling at how comfortable the new place was.

The bed was large enough that Berwald could curl up beside Tino with a comfortable amount of room, and perhaps keep Tino warm at the same time. So that was what he did - he stripped off his shirt and trousers, his thick fur keeping him decent - and curled up on top of the covers, like a big cat.

Tino moved closer to the warmth in his sleep and smiled. Over the day he had found out his best friend was being held prisoner, he had rode through the woods, met the Beast and freed his friend, so he was definitely exhausted.

Opening one eye, Berwald watched Tino sleeping for a few seconds, a smile on his angelic face, before closing it again and drifting off to sleep.

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