CH10

For the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, Denise pondered the things the maestro had told her. It was as if Forte had opened her eyes to a part of life she had never taken notice to before; like looking into the dark and uncertain shadows that lingered silently in the hallways when everything was still and quiet. She had always known they were there and as long as she didn't study them too hard, they were perfectly harmless. But if she gazed upon them for too long, they grew into hideous monsters, ready to lunge and attack. 'You were born to rule,' 'Your mother and father want you to enjoy the freedom of mediocrity,' and 'You have the divine right to decide what is best,' kept rolling in her head until she could barely stand it.

That night, dinner was informal and for all in the castle to come and partake. The dining room was filled with all sorts of people, mostly sitting at the grand table, as a small quartet led by Fife, played quietly in the background. Everyone was happily enjoying the late summer sunset and talking of how the leaves would soon be changing. Maurice and Chip sat side by side of each other, laughing heartily, telling every one of the day's earlier events. Even Prince Adam and Belle joined in the laughter as Maurice described the details of the fiasco.

Denise meanwhile, poked haplessly at her food. Was she really living a life of mediocrity?

For as long as she could remember, everyone talked of how brave and decisive her father had always been; and how he had grown into a man of great humility and yet great authority. Could she ever live up to such a living example of majestic strength.? Denise began to wonder if father was proud of her, did he see her as a born leader, or did he think she wasn't capable to rule like he could at her age.

"Poppa," she began to quietly ask. "How old were you when you began to rule the castle?"

Prince Adam looked up from his plate to meet his daughters eyes. "It was shortly before I turned six years old."

"It was such a heavy load for your father to carry," Mrs. Potts began to tell Denise.

"The flu came and took away so many of our loved ones that winter, your grandparents included; as well as my dear husband, Henry."

"Were you a good leader father?" Denise went on to hesitantly ask.

Her father glanced down at his plate with a deep sense of humility. "I'm afraid the answer to that question is, no. I was a terrible leader, Denise; just terrible."

"Ah Master," Lumiere spoke up, trying to comfort his friend. "It wasn't really your fault. We, your servants, we were the adults in the house, and really we should have been better guardians. If we had, you wouldn't have grown so sp.. oil… eh, what I mean to say is…"

Prince Adam merely chuckled with humility. "You can say it, Lumiere; spoiled. I was a spoiled rotten little prince!"

Denise noticed how the older servants, the ones who had been here before the enchantment, seemed to now have a nervous look on their faces, as did Prince Adam. "It's not your fault guys," he went on to encourage them. "I remember my parents let me get away with pretty much anything when they were alive, so naturally when they died so suddenly, you didn't know what else to do with me."

He then patted Lumiere on the back, "Remember the time when I got mad at you for not having any blue ink so I made you drink all that green ink?"

The frenchman reeled back in his chair with a ghastly look on his face. "Oh heavens yes! To this day, I can't stand the smell of green ink."

He then sniggered a bit with a smirk, "Sire, do you remember, making Cogsworth eat the mud pies you made, worms and all?"

Prince Adam's face turned bright pink as he rolled his eyes, embarrassed to the bone. "Ack! I had forgotten about that. Hey, do you recall when I hid behind that door over there, and when Cogsworth came around the corner, I jumped out and scarred the wits out of him!"

Everyone in the room began to laugh except for maybe Belle who just sat there looking uncomfortable, hoping her children weren't getting any bright ideas.

"So is it true, that the servants have to do what we say? No matter how ridiculous or even cruel?" Denise uneasily asked, realizing the injustice this might cause.

Prince Adam took a deep breath, "Denise, we a direct blood line to the royal house of Bourbon, which means we are monarchs. Our country lives under the rule of 'absolute monarchy' which gives us the legal right to force anyone to do anything we tell them."

Adam then sighed, "I am one of the few, if not only monarch in France to be given a chance to see the err of absolute monarchy, and given a chance to change my ways. I pray that I now am an example to you and your brother; to show you that having absolute power does NOT give us the right to hurt or abuse. Our power should only be to help, or protect, or save. Do you understand?"

"Poppa," she continued to clear up any misunderstandings. "Does that mean Adam and I are masters of this house too?"

Her father softly shook his head, "Well, technically yes, however, that kind of power is very tempting to abuse Denise. Someone as young as you might not know how to handle that kind of responsibility."

So, Forte was right after all. Momma and Poppa did think she was mediocre. Denise's face scorned, "I would make a good ruler. I certainly know I wouldn't make my servants drink ink, or eat mud pies!"

Belle gasped in shock, "Denise what's gotten into you?"

Cogsworth, raised his napkin over his mouth, pretending to cough out the name, *forte*

Denise heard him and proudly declared, "Yes, Cogsworth you are right, Maestro Forte told me everything!"

"He told me that I was born to rule, it is my divine right." She then gave Cogsworth a quick, haughty glare.

"He also told me that servants don't to tell princesses where they can and cannot go! So stop making up things for me to do, because I won't do them any more!"

"That is enough Denise," Prince Adam's sharply commanded. "We'll talk about this later."

Denise threw herself back into her chair, and gruffly retorted, "Yes, sir."

Belle and Prince Adam just looked at each other in bewilderment not believing this was their darling Denise. Everyone close enough to hear this outburst, became quiet and still and the hush soon filled the room. All had looks of quiet shock or amazement knowing this was Denise's first contemptuous tantrum. Cogsworth however looked liked the cat that swallowed the canary. "Oh if only someone had just warned you what would happen if she spent too much time with Monsieur Forte. Oh, that's right, I did!"

"Not now!" Lumiere impatiently snapped under his breath. No more was said after that, as the atmosphere in the room turned quite heavy and gloomy. When dinner was over, Mrs. Potts hoped things would soon get back to normal. It was almost time for Belle to retell Denise and Adam's favorite story. But, when she looked around expecting to see them snuggling next to their mother, only Adam was there by Belle's side. Just then, from out of the corner of her eye, she saw Denise storming up the stairs. Mrs. Potts rushed over to the stairway as quickly as she could before Denise had gone too far up the stairs. "Dear child," she beseeched Denise to turn around.

"You've never missed story time before. Are you really sure you want to start now?"

Denise stopped in her tracks and turned around and sighed. "I just want to go to bed early tonight Mrs. Potts."

Mrs. Potts had seen her share of children reach and overcome childhood hurdles; dear Denise wasn't her first and wouldn't be her last. But, still it was always hard on the heart to see one of the little ones work their way out of their shell so then they could then someday soar like the great eagle they were intended to become. "All right, love."

She called out, "I'll let your mother and father know."

Story time that evening just felt off to everyone, especially to the royal family. Little Adam never really seemed to get into the story like he normally did, while Belle and the Prince, couldn't help but feel a bit worried for the daughter; had they made a mistake after all, in letting her visit the dark and gloomy being who was so notorious for manipulating?

Mrs. Potts however, along with many of the other members of the staff assured the young parents that Forte or not, this was just a part of Denise growing up. Except for Cogsworth who, one moment would seem genuinely concerned for his precious Denise and the next gloating over, yet again, being right about something.

Meanwhile, Denise had already got herself ready for bed and lay there alone in her bed, in the dark, watching the curtains gently blowing in the late summer's breeze. She knew she was in trouble, she knew how she acted was horrid. But how can she prove she isn't mediocre, if her parents won't even give her the right to even chose her own friends? She really wished she could just get up and go see her new found friend Forte. He wasn't sneaky like Cogsworth who made up things for her to do, just to make sure she'd stay where he put her. Forte was honest and sincere, he certainly didn't tell her who she could and could not see.

No doubt he would know what to say to her now, She just knew the Maestro would set things right inside her mind. Poppa said Forte always knew the right thing to say. He helped Poppa, maybe he'd help her too. He had been there for Poppa, maybe he could be there for her too. Moments passed, when suddenly Denise's bedroom door cracked open. "Denise?"

Denise sat up in her bed; it was her mother. "I'm awake, mother. Come in."

Belle walked inside, carrying a small lit candelabra. "Did you get enough to eat this evening chere fille? You barely touched your food."

"I'm fine momma," Denise quietly replied. Belle, set down on the edge of the bed next to her oldest child.

"Is everything all right?" she lovingly asked her daughter.

"Yes, Momma," Denise looked hard into her mother's eyes."Momma, do you think I'd be a good ruler. You know, like Poppa is?"

Belle smiled tenderly at her child. "Of course you will, my dear. You are smart, and courageous. You're kind and most important, you care about others."

Instantly, Belle saw the tension from Denise's face leave. "Thank you, Momma. And, you don't think I'm mediocre do you?"

"What," Belle broke into a soft chuckle, "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Forte, says that maybe the reason why you and Poppa don't allow me to give any orders, is because you want me to enjoy the life of mediocrity."

'Ack, Forte!' Belle was getting tired of hearing that name.

"Well, I don't think Monsieur Forte, has the slightest idea what he's talking about." Belle confidently assured her daughter.

Denise felt like a great burden lifted from her chest. She enjoyed the long intense hug her mother bestowed upon her, just before she began to stroke Denise's head and look her in the eye. "Denise, maybe you shouldn't visit Forte for a while. He's… not very good around people."

Denise defiantly shook her head. It seemed the more people tried to stop her from seeing Forte, the more she yearned to be with him. "Momma, he's not the problem."

The last thing Belle wanted to do was upset her daughter, but maybe if she could just talk some sense into her. "I'm not saying he is Denise. However, when all is said and done, Forte has chosen by his own accord to be disconnected from the human world. By his own decision he refuses to live as a man and be a part of our home, our community."

Belle then took her daughter's face and held it gently in her hands as Denise looked into her eyes hopefully. "It's not right that he should then try to tell you how things should be in this house. Does that make sense to you?"

Denise then nodded her head, her mother did make sense. Belle smiled and kissed Denise softly on the cheek. "But Momma, will I still be able to visit the Maestro?"

Belle gave in and nodded her head as well. "But promise me, you will stop taking everything he says so seriously."

"Yes, momma; I promise."

Later that night, Denise still tossed and turned in her bed. 'Things would be so much better if Forte was just human,' Denise thought to herself. 'He'd be a part of our home, he'd be a part of our family again. Everyone would be happier that way.'

Suddenly her eyes flew wide open. 'Wait… that's it!'

Once again, Denise spent the night waking up every few hours, waiting for the right time to slip away. She wanted to get there before sunrise this time. before Cogsworth could stop her, even before anyone else who work at the winery was there. She listened carefully for the first sounds of mourning; a rooster crowing, and song birds waking up. Of heifers and nanny goats calling for their babies to feed. Now was the time to set Forte free.

She quietly slipped on her clothes, and slipped out of her bedroom. In the darkest hour of day she quietly walked the halls, and made it downstairs. She decided to sneak out of one of the dining room french windows just in case Andre was up baking bread this early in the morning. She was glad that her mother and father lived in such a quiet, peaceful kingdom that never needed a sentry on duty. Even so, she kept to the shadows as much as she could, praying she would not disturb any of the animals nearby.

Finally, she came to the cavern, and went inside. She wondered why her father hadn't done this before; obviously the best thing for Forte would be to turn him back, and Poppa even said power should be used for helping, protecting, or saving. Well, as far as Denise was concerned this was helping. When she came to the steps, she saw hundreds of tiny music notes floating like magical fairies in the air. Up and down, the twirled and bounced. She marveled at this wondrous sight, but knew she best be getting on with her mission. She looked up to see the organ's eyes were closed shut, obviously asleep.

'This is perfect!' she exclaimed to herself. 'Now I can really surprise him.'

Denise recalled exactly where she had left the box and quickly opened it up. Inside were the three last stops to complete Maestro Forte and return him to his human form. Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest that it surprised her it did not wake him up. Denise controlled her trembling hand and steadily put the first stop in. It needed a little push to fit inside, but with a steady hand, it fit right in. The organ remained motionless as its music tones fluttered and bobbed around Denise's head.

Then came the second stop, and it too went in without a hitch. Finally, the last stop, and Maestro Forte would be a man once more.

Denise gazed long and hard at the Forte's metal face for the last time. She would miss him in this state, grand and ornate being; larger than life itself.

"Maestro!" Denise shouted out with the glee. "Wake up!"

Forte's eyes opened, making the music notes disappear. "Who, who's there?" he softly wondered, thinking perhaps it had just been his imagination.

"Maestro, down here!" Denise called out. Forte leaned as far as he could, but she was too close for him to see that directly underneath.

"My dear," he continued to search for her with his eyes. "You're really taking this 'come and see me any time' thing far too literally."

She laughed a bit, "Well that won't be a problem anymore Maestro."

"And why is that?" he wondered loftily.

"Because," she leaned back far enough to him to see where she was, "I'm making you human again!"

Forte's eyes and mouth shot wide open. "God in heaven, child, NO!"

Denise didn't pay him any attention of course. She pushed the last stop in place and looked up to see what would happen next.

Forte prayed there was still enough time to undo what Denise had just done. With all his might and concentration, he tried to create a massive beam of energy which he could use, to yank those infernal stops out of his console, hoping this could stop the process, but alas it was too late, the transformation had begun. Instantly, Forte felt himself freeze in place as he began to be separated from the wonderful instrument he had come to identify as himself.

From Denise's view, she saw an incredible bolt of light and power made of gold and silver shafts. At first the shafts were bound together, but then gradually separated, revealing two separate individual things inside the brilliant ball of magical power. As the one solid object became two, the gold shafts recreated the organ, now much plainer and shorter than Denise remembered, and the silver shafts formed into the shape of a man who now was on his knees, slumped over and silent on the ground. Tall, and slender; he was wearing fine clothes, just as he had insisted before. His head was covered by one of those long, regal, what she and her brother called, 'fussy-pants' wigs.

"M-m-maestro…?" Denise trembled as she approached him. He raised his head and suddenly Denise's jaw dropped open in shock. Yes, he was an awkward looking man, deep inset, black eyes, surrounded by puffiness and greyish-blackened eyelids; bony cheeks and wrinkled skin. His skin was… grey. No longer majestic and astounding, Forte was now, just a puny middle aged man who apparently never slept. But it was the expression he wore, that made Denise want to cry. For a second he looked dazed, and in shocked which quickly turned to dread and woe. Then almost instantly, rage! Murderous rage! "What have you done! What have you done to me!?"

His arms stretched out to grab the child around the neck and squeeze the life from her body. She had taken his life, it was only fair. "Aargh!" he yelled at her, as his face was now that of a demon!

Denise was terrified beyond belief. She wanted to run for her life, but was too afraid; instead, she barely managed to take a step or two backwards as Forte's hands clasp around her throat. Then, just as he should have squeezed, his hands fell into weightless fists onto her shoulders as he began to sob. "Get out!" he whispered, then shouted at the top of his lungs. "GET OUT!"

WELL, WE KNEW IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN SOONER OF LATER.

NOT DONE YET, STILL HAVE TO GET HIM SETTLED IN.

AND AS ALWAYS, REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK ARE ALWAYS NICE