Author's note: it has...been a minute since the last chapter. Finally ladivina lit a fire under my butt, challenging me to have a chapter up within a week. I said I'd aim for that and I am pleased to get this chapter up a day ahead of the deadline.
It's a short chapter. I'm trying not to be so wordy and repetitive as I tend to be. It would be longer, but when I got to a certain point I knew I just had to leave it as a cliffhanger.
The joy experienced by the staff at regaining their sentience was extremely short-lived. They were horrified to hear about what Belle had gone through and how it ended. And while they looked forward to meeting Belle's daughter, the were saddened that her health would come at the expense of that of their beloved master, though they admired and respected him for his sacrifice. They were proud of who he'd become under Belle's influence, and that he hadn't lost that in the intervening twelve years.
It was decided that Chapeau and Lumiere would stay with Beast. Chapeau because as a coatrack, he was best able to help take care of Beast in his illness. Lumiere because he could sanitize things with his flames.
"Master..." Cogsworth said, having lingered after the meeting with the staff. "This...Agathe I think you called her. Do you trust her? How are we to know she is not going to give you the plague while leaving the young mademoiselle sick? She did bring the curse upon us after all."
"I know..." Beast said with a sigh. "She seems...well-intentioned though. But it's a chance I must take. Didiane will not perish without me doing all I can to save her."
"Understood sir," Cogsworth said. "We'll just have to pray that all goes well...and that we don't lose you in the process."
Agathe arrived as promised at sunrise. Beast chose to have Belle laid to rest next to the colonnade they both liked to read in, or just sit and talk. Agathe made a hole in the designated place and gently placed Belle in. Beast and the mobile staff gathered around the grave.
"Do you want me to open the shroud she's in so you can look at her?" Agathe asked. "She doesn't look good, but I'm sure you know that from the mirror. Though the staff won't have seen her."
"Please..." Beast said. "You have to look over the hole to see her, so they can choose whether or not to see her."
Agathe nodded and opened the shroud. Beast looked in along with an assortment of houseware. Some wept, or came as close as possible to it without the ability to shed tears.
"I'm so sorry Belle..." Beast choked out. "Didiane it seems has been infected. But not for long. The enchantress who you know as Agathe will transfer the plague from her to me. She will live and the staff has been revived and will look after her. Whether or not I'll live is unknown, but apparently I have a chance with my strong body. But either way your daughter will live."
A few of the staff spoke some words, all promising to take good care of Didiane. Agathe was about to close the shroud when Beast stopped her. He went to the colonnade about a foot away and plucked a rose. He walked back to the grave and knelt beside it, looking in.
"I love you Belle," he said tearfully. "I wish things had turned out differently." He kissed the rose and dropped it over Belle's heart. "Goodbye mon amour..."
He stood up and nodded to Agathe, who closed the burial shroud around her, then closed the hole. She then waved her hand over the grave and an ornate gravestone appeared.
When Beast saw the inscription upon the stone he cried.
"I hope you don't mind what I did there," Agathe said.
"It's beautiful..." Beast said. "But...why did you?"