Chapter 10

-I had a devil of a time picking the right song lyrics for these chapters! I want things to really match up even though I realize that it's not actually important to the story at all. I listen to so much music I don't think I would be able to write without a song lyric going through my head.

-Not much else to comment on this chapter. It will set up some really cool stuff in the next three chapters which then sets up for the next ten or so after that. I am so excited to see how this snowballs! I hope you are too!

Hurts Like Hell- Fleurie

I don't want them to know the secrets
I don't want them to know the way I loved you
I don't think they'd understand it, no
I don't think they would accept me, no

I loved and I loved and I lost you
I loved and I loved and I lost you
I loved and I loved and I lost you
And it hurts like hell
Yeah it hurts like hell

That night there was great revelry at the inn. Early celebrations for the autumnal equinox.

"Pegans!" Adam muttered under his breath and one of his men laughed and patted him hard on the back.

Not long into the night an unusually blessed bar maid made her way over to Adam and his men. He, having already consumed two mugs of warm ale, was feeling rather drowsy and sinking into his drunken broodiness. All he could see in his mind was that ridge. The sheer ugly cliff's face with thick fog rising up from the river to hide its treachery. Part of him had known they would inevitably pass by this place again but at the time he had been too blind with rage to care. Now he silently berated Chip for being too young to remember his history here and at himself for being too stupid to think clearly. The cool night air drifted into the tavern bringing with it strange smells that tingled his senses and sorely tempted his resolve to stay put. He looked over at the maid who was earning her piece of gold she would receive tomorrow morning after she captured one of his party. Any drunker, Adam mused, and it might be him.

Chip smiled at her obvious flirtations and noticed how tactfully she loosened the strings on her corset to free her obvious bosom. Very close to Adam's face. Chip would have missed it if he hadn't been staring directly at them himself. If she only knew who she was flaunting herself onto this entire town would go into a massive uproar. Chip almost wished Adam would take the bait. If anyone deserved a balm it was his Master. And if the man wasn't so damn honorable and proud Chip wouldn't have to feel as concerned that Adam might do himself an injury.

Perhaps it was his own torrid past, but Chip felt an overwhelming protectiveness to his Sovereign. He felt devastated for Adam and wished there was anything he could do to sooth his turmoil. Surely a comfortable romp with such a willing partner would be a good place to start but Adam remained stoic and stared at the fire having none of the revelry.

"...But of course you will be careful to avoid the witch!" The girl exclaimed, having made her way over to Adam's guard when her efforts proved fruitless with the auburn haired giant lounging near the fire.

Adam immediately looked up at her with interest upon hearing the word 'witch'.

"Where?" He spoke for the first time that evening. The wench gave him a seductive look and smiled coyly.

"Up on that ridge. Surely you saw her cottage when you came into town. She lives up there with her son and on nights like these we must lock our doors in case she comes to steal away our souls in the night."

"Have you ever seen her before?"

The girl looked a bit perplexed that her frightening tale seemed to be giving the opposite attentions she had been seeking from Adam. However, she soldiered on anyway. "Only when she comes to sell her wares at the marketplace. She keeps her face covered so that innocent victims will not notice her disfigurement and know her for who she truly is."

"How do you know she is disfigured if she keeps her face covered?"

"Why else would she do it?"

"Perhaps she has a condition of the skin which prevents her from exposing it to the elements."

This seemed to stump the bar maid. She looked at Adam as if she was suddenly realizing that whatever gold she could get from lifting her skirts for him wasn't quite worth the conversation she would have to give to get him there.

"Or perhaps an entire village of people are not wrong when they say they have seen her working her evil magic from the time she came to our peaceful village."

As if to solidify her point she leaned in so that her bosom was almost totally exposed to the men facing her. "She lives on the ridge where they say the beautiful Princess Isabelle fell to her death when the cliff-side crumbled underneath her carriage. They say those who walk those paths are pulled down by her spirit. I, myself, have heard the ghosts calling on nights such as these from the bottom of the ravine. Have you heard the stories, monsieur?"

Adam glowered at the fire and then abruptly came to his feet. His guards knew better then to rise with him and give away his ownership of them but they both twitched in anticipation of following him. Adam signaled for them to stay put and join in whatever debauchery they desired.

"Yes, I do believe I have heard the stories, mademoiselle. If you will excuse me."

Chip shot to his feet and was at Adam's side so quickly it made several heads turn. Grasping Adam's arm as tightly as he dared he leaned in so that not a soul but Adam would hear his voice. With shock in his eyes he addressed his Master as he would his own sibling.

"How could you not tell me this was the same village?!"

Adam looked away in great pain he could barely mask. "How could you not already know?!"

"I was nine! It is not as if my mother brought me here for a casual visit!"

"You knew it was a sleepy little village, you knew it was a sheer ravine from which she fell, and you knew it was near here! What more did you need to deduce the information!"

"How about your honesty!? I could use a little of that right now!"

"You are entirely out of line, boy!"

"No, you are out of line! You didn't say anything on purpose! Well, here is some honesty for you! YOU are not the only one who misses her more then you can breathe!"

With that Chip released Adam and stalked away to the bar to order himself more ale. He knew he would pay for his words in the morning but as of that night he would let it stand between them.

Adam had not actually kept his silence on purpose. They would be home the next day and he would have to face Elizabeth and making a terrible choice for her future. Her foray with a servant would spread like wildfire and he would not be able to stop it. Soon everyone would know how easily she had strayed from him and then his hands would be tied.

However, he had not intentionally tried to use or abuse Chip. He had only thought of getting away. He did know how desperately the boy missed Belle. They had been the closest of friends to one another and Adam was not sure if Chip had ever fully recovered from her violent removal of his life.

Adam did not sleep that night. He didn't drink anymore either but after listening to several bar wenches discuss, in detail, the things they would like to do with that "Roughish Prince Adam" and "Is he really as devilishly handsome as everyone always said?" he had sorely had enough. He curled up next to the fire in his room until the last ember blazed out of existence.

Like a man possessed, he dressed himself in a warmer jerkin and made his way out of the inn through the tavern. He walked down the dirt road of the quiet town where no one was stirring but him. The light from the sky was blossoming in the east and it rose over the crest of the ridge. He was not sure how or when he arrived but found himself on the lip of the ridge looking down at what ended the life he had loved so well.

Without knowing how, he felt himself come to the end of something. The end of the solace he received in the arms of his Elizabeth. The end of the weight of his country and position baring down on his shoulders. And, perhaps even, the end of all his happiness when he returned to La Chateau de la Rose. And in those moments of finality he let himself sink into despair for just a moment.

He longed for Belle and the life they had once known. Oh God, did he miss her! In that moment he would have given almost anything to be with her again. He wondered at the possibilities of hurling himself off the chasm and if he would be granted a glimpse of her on his way down to Hell.

Even a glimpse would be more then he could have ever dreamed of.

For one aching moment he considered it. It wouldn't take much just a little step forward and a quick drop and it would be over. He would be free. It should have been him that fell with that carriage. His men had pulled him out first and he had tried desperately to pull her with him but they had been too strong and had wrenched him away from danger before returning to retrieve her. Her body had been too awkward, the winds too great to get a steady grip on her. If he had only sat on the other side of her, they would have pulled her out first. He would have been able to climb up the precipice. He would have been able to hold on long enough for the guards to reach him. She was not as strong and had been too frightened.

If only, if only, if only.

For what could have been hours or even days he stood on those crumbling rocks and stared down to the river below. When he had finally exhausted himself of all the torrid emotions one soul could possibly expend, he turned himself back towards the village. The last thing he noticed, before the gale force winds of what could only be described as fate knocked him off his balance and right over the edge of the cliff, was the pale puffs of smoke peeking out of the little cottage of the witch.

Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnn! I can't wait to post the next chapter! Review Review Review Please and I will have it up as soon as I can!