Chapter 21- Renaud and Mirielle, Part 2
…
Saturday turned out to be cold and brisk, tiny snowflakes filling the cloudy sky. Mirielle, the bride of the day, rode in Adam and Belle's covered carriage down to Molyneux, a warm cape over her wedding gown.
Lumiere and Cogsworth were at her side as the men who would 'give her away.' Her young bridesmaids Chandelle and Felicity were in the back seat, their good dresses covered in warm blankets.
"I'd give anything to be a bride, going to the chapel to meet a handsome groom," Felicity said wistfully.
"So would I," said Chandelle, looking forlorn. "But," she said, sitting up straight and putting on a smile, "I am not going to let Antoine and his problems ruin my day! Felicity, look at us. We're single maidens, all decked up in our best velvet gowns, and there will be a banquet and dance! The world is...our scallop! Isn't that what you always say, Papa?"
Lumiere grinned, shaking his head. "Actually, it is- 'the world is our oyster,' ma petite."
"Oh, okay, Papa. Mirielle...are you nervous?" Chandelle asked. Studying Mirielle's expression, she was curious as to why she didn't look ecstatic. She would be.
"No...all right, maybe. I'm looking forward to this day being over, perhaps Renaud will settle down a little. He's been acting strange," she told them.
"Explain 'strange' to us, dear," replied Cogsworth.
"When we first met, I thought he was like you, Lumiere," Mirielle explained, turning to face him. "Charming, suave, and always happy, even though one of the villagers had just shot him in the shoulder! Now, he's irritable, secretive, always trying to go off alone, or running around creating work even when the work is done for the day. I mean, it was kind and helpful of him to do all that he did when Monsieur Bouche passed away, but I've wanted to spend more time with him alone to talk. He will be my husband today, and I feel as if...I only know half of him."
"He is nothing like me, then!" said Lumiere. "I would have moved the stars to romance my lady during our betrothal. But then again, Babette and I had our own rocky beginnings, c'est la vie! We turned out just fine, though," he made sure to add.
"Some men are of the mindset that they have to prove themselves to impress their lady. For a lot of us, it is about our work," Cogsworth replied, trying to be understanding.
"I guess you're right," Mirielle replied in consideration. "Renaud feels down on himself, because of the circumstances of his birth. He told me some things...well, those things are private. He didn't want me to tell anyone, and he wants to just forget about it."
"He should get better, Mirielle, after a romantic honeymoon vacation!" said Lumiere. "It is what you both need! Why don't the two of you spend time in Molyneux if you don't want to travel?" he asked.
"I'll ask him. He seems to like spending time doing errands and business in the village. Just not with me," she said in frustration.
...
The wedding chapel, St. Lucien's Church, was packed with castle staff who took up most of the pews. There was little room for the villagers as guests inside the church, so most waited outside under a canopy to congratulate the bride and groom when they came out. A few ladies who were friends of Mirielle's- Gigi, Sophie, the seamstress Mme. Couture- were seated in a back pew. The priest, Father Guillaume, was at the altar standing solemnly, candles lit.
Renaud wore his new suit- a bright blue cutaway coat and long trousers with gold trim, a gold-tone vest, and lacy white cravat. He carried a decorative cane in his hand which gave him the look of debonair and sophistication. When the villagers had seen him arrive in this uniform, there were a few raised eyebrows and critical whispers amongst them. It just seemed too ostentatious for a servant, too emulating of Prince Adam's uniforms to the point where it seemed, well, crass and tacky.
Louis Violoniste, a talented castle violinist, raised his instrument and begin to play a hymnal. Bridesmaid Chandelle walked down the aisle escorted by her colleague Claude, the clumsy cook whom Antoine had often berated. Young Claude was in seventh heaven for the chance to walk at Chandelle's side in lieu of Antoine.
Next, Felicity was assigned to walk with- to her embarrassment- Henri-Gaston. He gave her a friendly grin and held his arm out to her. Felicity blushed as she took his arm and followed the first pair down the aisle.
Henri's little brother Jean was the ring bearer. The flower girl was nine-year-old Claire, daughter of castle maid Pauline and her husband Michel, the royal ostler. The two children caused the ladies in the church to gush 'aww!' and 'how precious!' as they skipped to the altar together. Claire's velvet dress was a miniature of Chandelle's, a bright Christmas red. The ring pillow Jean held was made of the same red velvet, as was his bow tie.
Violinist Louis's hymn segued into the sweet notes of Here Comes the Bride. Mirielle walked slowly, between Cogsworth and Lumiere. For the two men to give her away seemed perfectly fitting; they had been the chief father figures in her life. The congregation stood, all beaming at her. A few lady servants whispered about how young and beautiful she looked in her simple and elegant gown.
She took Renaud's hand, a blush coloring her face. He appeared nervous and uptight. When she squeezed his hand and looked up into his eyes, whispering 'We'll get through it,' he seemed to relax and his charming grin returned.
They took the vows, lit the candles, and after a half-hour of ceremony, Renaud bent down to take the rings from the tiny pillow Jean held. Jean accidentally tipped the pillow, and the rings fell and rolled down the aisle. The crowd of servants laughed. Jean said 'Oops!' and scrambled to get them. Pippa soon found Mirielle's tiny ring, which had rolled beneath her pew.
After the laughter had settled and both rings were retrieved, Renaud confidently put Mirielle's ring on her finger, and Mirielle placed the larger ring on his.
Father Guillaume announced "You may kiss the bride." Renaud did as such; a tight embrace and a chaste kiss. Mirielle closed her eyes, feeling secure, confident, and...happy?
She wasn't sure about 'happy' yet. That would take time. That would happen after she and Renaud actually had some quality time together, could bond and laugh together, talk together about the future, like they had done for a short time weeks ago, after Belle's birthday ball.
They hadn't done much since. Renaud had been much too occupied and busy to court her, but she could understand.
She could wait a few hours to be happy. I hope Chip decided to come after all, she thought. After their kiss, she looked among the people gathered in the church, hoping to see Chip there, smiling and clapping. He was absent.
...
Chip was in the parlor with Adam and Belle. "It sure is quiet around here with everyone gone," he said.
"It is, but I enjoy the quiet," said Belle. She was curled up on her favorite settee, reading her book.
Adam gave Chip a sheepish smile. "I don't like the quiet and emptiness either. It gives me bad memories," he admitted.
"Would you like me to get you anything?" Chip asked the Prince and Princess. "A spot of tea? I'll have dinner set in the dining room at exactly five."
"I'd like that, Chip. Thank you," Belle said, taking her eyes out of her book for a moment. Chip left the parlor into the great foyer, which usually echoed with the voices of maids and servants running up and down the stairs. Today, it was completely silent.
The silence reminded him of his childhood, of the days of the curse, when there was little to do but sit in the gloom. The spacious castle with its gargoyles and dusty tapestries had bothered little Chip. He told his mother he wanted to start sleeping in the cozy cupboard, with a group of soul-less little teacups which the Enchantress had made move. He called them his 'brothers and sisters,' after some time.
Chip liked mornings the best in those days. When it was morning, the sun would cast bright rays through the tall dining room window and the place wouldn't be so gloomy. From his spot in the cupboard, Chip would watch the plate-maids and the fork-maids and spoon-maids setting the table, in hopes that the Master would come and eat his meat in the royal dining room like he used to.
At age eleven, Beast would still eat in the dining room every day, wanting cooked meat. By age thirteen, Beast had learned to be a hunter, going to the woods to find rabbits, boar, and deer to slay and eat, with the help of his four enchanted weapons Luc, Noel, Jean and Yann. Chef Bouche, the oven, would ask the Master if he'd like to have the meat cooked, but the adolescent Beast would just glare at him and growl.
By age nineteen, Beast never went into the dining room anymore. He would either be out hunting his raw meat, or in his secluded bedroom in the West Wing tower. He rarely spoke, except to yell orders at Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Chip's mother. His method of movement had gradually changed- from the upright walk of a human boy, to crouching like an animal on all fours.
Meanwhile, in the dining room and kitchen, the servant-objects would spend the daytime pretending that there was still a human schedule. A breakfast, lunch and dinner-time would be had, even when there was no actual food to be cooked and served anymore.
Chip found another child-object to play with and talk to in that dining room. Mirielle was a pretty silver serving spoon who wore a yellow bow around her-not 'neck,' but the place where handle met spoon-head. She was bossy sometimes, but she was his only playmate.
She could turn graceful cartwheels and somersaults, and so Chip wanted to copy her. He tried a somersault perched on Sophie's chair-cushion for padding, but he fell off, suffering a little break. Mirielle had cheered him up, telling him 'he looked just like his nickname now.' That made him feel brave and proud, and caused Mama to not be quite as angry.
He wore the 'chip' with honor afterward, and as a human child, it remained as a chip in his front baby tooth.
It was all so long ago and surreal, but since young children are resilient and become accustomed to the world around them, Chip was a happy child.
This day- as a man, he walked into the dining room and tried to imagine it so much bigger, the way it was then. He began to serve up the already-prepared dinner for just five people. While setting the table, he picked up one of a set of silver serving spoons. Chip had the urge to find a piece of yellow ribbon and tie it around the 'neck' of the utensil.
He began to laugh out loud- a laugh of bittersweet joy, a sort of acceptance. Holding the spoon in his hand, he decided to think of her in this way.
There were two versions of Mirielle in his mind and heart. The first was his childhood best friend and playmate, who for a time had been that pretty spoon with the yellow bow and little-girl face. Together, they were twin souls. Cup and spoon. The second version was, of course, the lovely grown woman she was now.
The first was the Mirielle that Chip could always have. They shared a childhood, a castle and a curse. The second Mirielle was the one that Chip could not have, because she was Renaud's.
He put the spoon in his pocket and went back to Adam and Belle's dining room.
...
Molyneux was in the midst of a happy celebration. The canopy was set up over picnic tables full of bounteous drinks and foods. Louis's violin was accompanied by the village's quartet of a French horn player, trumpeter, tuba player and flutist, playing upbeat music. Renaud and Mirielle danced the first dance alone and then everyone else was invited to join in.
"Mirielle, would you mind if I left the party for an hour or so?" Renaud asked her as they danced their third song. "I have to go and get a surprise for you."
"What surprise? Where do you need to go?"
"Oh, just somewhere," he said tensely, but when he saw the joy fade from his new wife's eyes, he quickly stroked her cheek and grinned.
"Do you really want me to tell you where? Delphine's cottage. Something magical."
"Oh...well, all right," Mirielle replied, somewhat disappointedly. "A magical gift would be nice, but I'd rather have you here. Please don't take long."
"I won't. I promise I will be back, darling!" Renaud let go of Mirielle, and with a bounce in his step he danced through the crowd, slapping the hands of other party-goers. He left the reception canopy in a graceful run, looking like the busy bee he always was. Lefou saw him running towards the stable behind the tavern.
"Where ya going, Renaud? It's your wedding!"
"It's a surprise for my bride! Be right back! Say, is there enough wine and ale to last?"
"Uh, I hope so."
"Don't worry about it!" he called to Lefou as he secured Leon's saddle, making sure the horse had taken some oats and water. The horse nickered, happy to see his rider and ready for a good run. Renaud reached into the side pouch of the saddle to make sure the thing he needed was still there. It was.
He was soon riding at full gallop out of the village and through the forest. He neared Delphine's cottage, but raced right past it. His destination was the castle.
...
"Dinner is served!" Chip told the royal family as cheerfully as he could, beckoning them to come and sit at their places at the dining room table. The clock on the mantle chimed five times as Chip took the lid off the silver platter with a flourish. "Voilà!" he sang, imitating Lumiere's cheerful enthusiasm.
"Wow! Potato soup! Who would've guessed?" exclaimed Vincent. "Especially considering we had it on Wednesday, and yesterday-"
"Vincent," Adam said sternly, "That will be enough!"
Vincent frowned, and didn't say another word. He glanced across the table at Hélene. She rolled her eyes at him. For several minutes, the whole family was silent as they begin to eat the bland, somewhat watered-down soup.
"Adam- I'm going to Paris again in the spring." Belle said after a while.
"What?!" He glared at her. "To the orphanage? It's no use. That place is probably shut down, thanks to all the chaos there with the Revolution. Those children? Most of them are dead by now. And it is just too dangerous out there for you," Adam said darkly, his eyes cast down on his plate in gloom.
"I have to find out what happened."
"Why are you so concerned about children not your own? I need you- we need you here with your own children!"
Belle looked at her son and daughter guiltily. "I need time out of this castle, Adam," she said in determination. "It's hard to stand. I feel helpless to do anything here. Every day is the same as the day before, and I could be there instead, seeing what I can do as 'Private Citizen' Belle DeFleur for the people in despair. Perhaps Vincent and Hélene could come with me, just like Vincent had suggested once."
"Maybe...if Papa doesn't mind," Vincent replied.
Belle brightened, trying to avoid Adam's angry glare. "And Chip, would you like to come along? I might need your help. You were there last summer."
"Well...Mistress Belle, I don't know about that, I..."
"See?" Adam said, making a sweeping hand gesture toward Chip. "He says it's dangerous. Belle! I understand how you feel helpless, but my answer to all of it is no."
"Papa," said Hélene, "please don't quarrel. I hear footsteps, someone's back from the wedding."
Footsteps, running ones, were noisily echoing through the foyer and growing closer. The next moment, Renaud burst into the dining room, his cravat loose and uneven, sweat dripping from his brow. His face was reddened from the cold winds outside, and one hand was in his coat pocket.
"Bonjour, Renaud!" Adam greeted him cordially. "Congratulations! I guess you and Mirielle decided to-"
"STAY RIGHT THERE!" Renaud shouted. He pulled his pistol from his pocket, raised it and aimed directly at Adam's chest.
"Don't anyone get up! I will shoot, I swear to God!"
Hélene burst into tears. Renaud aimed the pistol away from Adam and at the frightened young girl.
"Protected from the Revolution, are you? Hidden by a witch's magic? Well, I'm afraid that's not going to happen, Cousin Adam. Because I'm about to start a revolution right here! MY OWN!"
Adam rose to stand from his chair, enraged. "What are you talking about? Are you a..."
"This castle is MINE!" Renaud hissed, aiming the gun back at Adam and stepping closer to him. His demented expression marred his handsome face, and made Belle's, Vincent's and Hélene's blood run cold. Belle had seen this kind of look on a man's face once before, long ago. Chip was completely stunned, his face pale.
"I am the Duke Renaud de Mériadac. Son of Duke René-Louis de Mériadac, your cousin! His father before him- my grandfather- was Prince Louis-Charles, the original owner of this castle! And I'm the rightful heir. Not you! With this magic I will survive this Revolution- ALONE!" He waved the pistol like a madman.
"You can't-" Adam yelled. He and Chip both stood, preparing to fight, but the movement incensed the young man further.
"TIME TO DIE, Prince Adam! And ALL of you!" Renaud proclaimed.
"NO!" Chip screamed in horror as Renaud took aim at his Master's heart, and pulled the trigger.