Chapter 2 : The proposal
*-*-* Fairytale World *-*-*
Third Person POV
We are in a magnificent castle in the heart of what seems to be an impenetrable forest. Orange trees and rose shrubs surround a stone path leading through a majestic garden to the golden gates of the palace. In the garden were the rarest flowers, which exhaled the most delicious perfumes. The air was mild and sweet. In the trees where were all kinds of birds, whose songs, blending with the stir of waters, formed a charming symphony.
A lone man is kneeling next to a rose shrub and remembering his promise to his daughter sets to cut the most beautiful rose he had ever set eyes upon when a horrible voice stops him
"Who gave you permission to pick my roses? Was it not enough to have allowed you the use of my palace, and to have shown you the hospitality you have enjoyed? Instead of being filled with gratitude, I find you, rash mortal, stealing my roses I but your insolence shall not remain unpunished."
The voice revealed itself to be a horrible Beast. The man panicked and threw the rose away from him before throwing himself to the feet of the Beast hastening to try and explain himself.
«Have pity on me. Indeed I am not ungrateful. Deeply touched by all your goodness to me, I was far from imagining that so small a thing could have offended you."
The monster, big with anger, replied
"Silence, cursed babbler! Your flattery does not move me, and I care nothing for the titles you give me. I am not Lord, I am the Beast, and you shall not escape the death you deserve."
The merchant, in dismay at so cruel a sentence and thinking that submission was the only chance he had of saving his life, told him that the rose which he had dared to pick he had intended to bring to his only daughter, whose name was
Belle.
Then, either in the hope of retarding his death, or thinking that he might induce his enemy to feel for him, he related to him all his adventures. He told him about his decaying merchandizing business until the total loss of his fortune forced him to leave his beloved Island and live in a small village. He told him how his daughter had faced the loss of her admirers like a real trooper and how after living there for two years he finally got word that his last ship had reached port safely. Unfortunately by the time he received this news and traveled to the city his old partners, who for some reason believed him dead, had taken upon themselves his share of its cargo. After six long months in the island where he tried to take back what was his, he was forced to leave back for his village in the most horrible weather. He told him how he found this castle.
He did not omit to mention the little present which he had promised to bring to Belle. He added that that was the only thing she had asked. Then he spoke of the opportunity which had presented itself to him the opportunity of satisfying Belle's modest wish, saying how he believed he could have done so without offending anyone, and he ended by begging pardon for his involuntary fault.
The Beast considered a moment, then, speaking in a somewhat milder tone, he held forth thus
"I am willing to pardon you, but on this one condition only, namely, that you give me you daughter. To repair the injury you have done, someone must be given to me."
"Just heaven!"
Replied the merchant.
"What is it you ask of me, and how could I keep my word? Even was I so inhuman as to wish to save my own life at the expense of that of my daughter, under what pretext could I get her to come here?"
the Merchant replied trying to reason the Beast
"I won't hear of any pretext, your daughter must come here of her own accord, or I will not have her come at all. Go and see if she possess sufficient courage, and love you enough to expose herself in order to save your life. You have the air of an honest man: give me your word of honor that you will return here in a month's time, accompanied by your daughter. If you can persuade herto come with you she will then remain here, and you will be allowed to go home. If you cannot do this, promise me that you will return here alone, after having said farewell to your family for ever. For then you will belong to me. Do not imagine,"
Continued the monster, grinding his teeth,
"that by merely accepting my proposal you will be able to save yourself. I warn you that, if such be your thoughts, I shall seek you out and destroy not only you, but all your race, even though you should have a hundred thousand men to defend you. I warn you again, to take care not to leave her under any disapprehension as to the sacrifice which you have to exact of her and as to the danger which she will have to undergo. Paint my face to her just as it is. Let her know what she will have to do, and above all, let her be firm in her resolution. Once you have brought her here, there will no longer be any
time for reflection. There must be no drawing back; for then not only you yourself will be lost, but she as well will not have the chance of returning. You may take with you this rose for Belle"
The last thing we see before we flinch at the horrible proposal is the pure fear at the Merchant's face. When we open our eyes again we are faced with a small house. The Merchant has just finished telling is daughter of his journey.
"I am the cause of all this trouble and I alone must bear the burden. It would be unjust to make you surfer for my fault Father. Alas! it was but an innocent wish, however. Could I foresee that the desire to have a rose, when we were in the midst of summer, would be punished so cruelly? But the fault is done, and whether I am innocent or guilty, it is only right that I should atone for it. It cannot be imputed to anyone else. I will risk my life, to release you, Father from this fatal promise. I shall go to the Beast, only too happy in being able to die your place"
"Think, darling child," said he, "there is still time. This monster is more appalling than you can possibly imagine. However firm your resolutions now may be, I cannot help fearing that they will fail you when you see him. Then it will be too late; you will be undone, and we both of us shall have to perish together."
"If I were going to the Beast," replied Belle sagaciously, "in the expectation of being made happy, it is not impossible that all hope of happiness might fail me at the sight of him; but, as what I have to expect is a speedy death, which appears to be unavoidable, what does it matter to me whether he who takes my life be agreeable or hideous?"
We can't help but sigh at the thoughts of this well natured girl who marches to her death so calm. We look closely at her pale skin, lips at the same color of her favorite rosy rose ending with her rich brown hair and eyes that are so much older and wiser than the rest of her fearing this will be the last time we see her.
Blinking we see that father and daughter are arriving on the castle mounting a beautiful steed.
"The Beast, must be very hungry indeed to make such great rejoicings at the arrival of his prey."
Indeed the yard around them was illuminated by torches held by various statues. Majestic fireworks had just died out but we could still see the decorations around. Besides, lamps without number on the portals of the palace, symmetrically arranged in true lover's knots, and crowned monograms, the latter consisting of the intertwined initials of the names of Belle and Beast. On entering the court, their arrival was announced by a salvo of artillery, the noise of which, mingled with that of a thousand instruments of various kinds, some soft, some warlike had a thrilling and charming effect. The whole palace spoke strangely of joy and magnificence. It appeared that it was her arrival that had caused these demonstrations, which it was hard to believe, had been designed as accompaniments to a funeral ceremony.
That moment the monster made him heard. A frightful noise, caused by the enormous weight of his body, by the terrible rattling of his scales, and by an awful roaring, announced the coming of the Beast. Belle was seized with terror.
However she recovered herself in a moment, and once more became mistress of herself. As soon as she saw the Beast approaching, whom she could scarcely look at without shuddering, she advanced to meet him with a firm step, and bowed very respectfully.
Her manner appeared to please the monster. After having looked her all over, he said to the old man, in a voice which, without being one of anger, was none the less such as to fill with terror the bravest heart
""Good evening, my good man"
Then, turning to Belle, he said the same thing to her.
"Good evening, Belle."
The old man, fearing every instant that something terrible was about to happen
to his daughter, had not the strength to reply. But Belle, without any agitation and in a calm and sweet voice, said
"Good evening, Beast."
"Have you come here of your own accord? And do you consent to let your father depart without accompanying him?"
On Belle replying that she had no other intention, the Beast continued
"And what do you think will become of you after his departure?"
"Whatever may seem good to you, my life is at your disposal, and I am ready to submit myself blindly to whatever fate you have reserved for me."
"Your docility pleases me and as it appears that you have not been brought here by force, you shall remain with me. As for you, my good man you may departure"
A moment passed before the Beast continued
"Once in the midst of your village, you must never dream of revisiting my palace. Remember that its doors are closed to you for ever"
We watch as the Merchant hugs his daughter fiercely and wipes his eyes. The heavy golden gate slams closed and the last thing the Merchant sees are the eyes of his daughter following him.
A/N: In case you're wondering what the heck is this fairytale about and why there is no talking silverware, teapot and candlestick, I am using the original French fairytale as base
