Chapter 3- Moving Forward
Belle was never one to give into tears, but having gone from the happiest she'd ever been to nearly the saddest in a matter of days was a new experience. She and the Beast had been through so much together in the past six months, travelling Europe, working together to reestablish his kingdom, sharing nearly every moment together, and aboard the ship, they'd even shared a bed. She felt empty and alone without him. Her parents tried to comfort her and reassure her that the measure was temporary. While they could grasp the logical reasoning behind it, none of them understood how easily it came to the Beast. He had appeared to be affected so little by the separation, almost cold.
As she made the trek back through the forest, she stubbornly refused to allow the tears that burned her eyes to fall. She was stronger than this. It was a setback, to be sure, but she was still certain that nothing could stifle her love for the Beast, or his for her. She had to trust him, just like she told him. Trust that he knew what he was doing, and that it was in fact for the best.
The small family worked together to clear the cobwebs and dust that had accumulated in their little cottage. Maurice made repairs to his water transport machine, and Rosalind tended the overgrown garden in the rear. Belle took the bedding down to the stream to wash it, applying herself to the task with more vigor and zeal than she ever had before.
While Belle and Maurice got their old home prepared, Rosalind went back to their apartment to pack up. She brought Phillipe and a cart to haul everything. As she loaded up the cart with another trunk, Kara came storming up, her blue eyes blazing in fury.
"Has he completely lost his mind!?" the witch shouted, her hands flying into the air.
Rosalind couldn't restrain her chuckle. "I am not sure, but you look like you're about to."
Kara huffed, crossing her arms over her heaving chest. "I am of perfectly sound mind. He's the one who banished the love of his life and her family from living in his kingdom. What kind of king does that?"
"The kind who puts the needs of the people above his own," Rosalind evenly and calmly stated. She'd been furious when he first made the announcement, but after a few friends stopped by, explaining their relief and gratitude over the new rules, Rosalind began to see the reasoning. And there was a certain amount of respect she gained for Beast's ability to set his personal feelings aside and take heed of the needs of his people. "I don't like it anymore than you do, but I understand it."
"Well, I don't and neither does Tobias." Kara's jaw set with stubborn determination. "Belle and I had plans to open a school. And now what? She won't be allowed to teach anymore?"
"I didn't know that… what a wonderful occupation for you both." Rosalind's eyes softened and glowed with pride. "I am sure by the time you've got the schoolhouse set up, this annoying decree will be over. He did say it was temporary."
Kara rolled her eyes, snorting indignantly. "That's what he said, but in my experience when the monarch banishes a certain kind of people, they never let them back."
Rosalind put a motherly hand on Kara's shoulder. "He loves her. You know this as well as I. He'll find a way."
Together Kara and Rosalind gathered the necessities, including the beautiful new gown Belle had brought home earlier. The enchantress tucked it into a trunk, knowing how painful seeing it would be just now. The two women then loaded everything into a wagon and hitched Philippe to it as the sun began to set.
At the border, Rosalind stopped the wagon. "Kara, I think it's best you remain here. You can stay in our apartment while your home is being completed, and please take care of my garden for me. Belle is going to need some time and space, I believe. Her entire world just got turned upside down again, and I'd like to be there for her for once." The older woman's eyes pleaded with the witch.
"She needs her mother right now more than a friend. I can respect that. But tell her I'll visit her soon. I still cannot believe he would do this." A tear fell down Kara's cheek as she hugged Rosalind goodbye, and the two women parted ways.
It had been nearly a week since she'd come back to the village, and Belle finally put her books down and returned to the provincial life she thought she'd left behind forever. I just have to wait it out. I'll occupy my time with chores, books, and getting to know my mother.
So with her favorite blue dress well pressed, and her hair pulled back, she grabbed a basket and made the short walk over the bridge and into town like she'd done a million times before.
Nearly everyone greeted Belle as she passed. The baker gave her a fresh loaf; the farmer offered her a generous heap of newly harvested vegetables and fruit and bid her to thank her mother for the rose oil that had healed his aching joints. Even Paulette, Claudette and Laurette pleasantly welcomed her home, although they had a smug air of superiority about them. Gaston was conspicuously missing, and after running into LeFou, she discovered he had returned to war in exchange for a pardon over murdering M. D'Arque. Although the villain certainly deserved to die for what he'd done to her mother and the other charmantes, he should have gotten a fair trial and been properly executed by the magistrate, not gutted in front of the entire town by Gaston. It was almost refreshing to know everyone else now saw Gaston for what he'd truly been, an egotistical, self absorbed, blowhard.
As she walked past the rebuilt shop where Uncle Levi's bookstore once stood, the memory of searching the shop with Beast nearly overwhelmed her. How they'd broken free from the strange webbing that was encapsulating the castle and made their way here, digging through Levi's shop, looking for clues, only to find a startling memory in the small mirror. The intrigue of searching for her mother and a way to fully break the curse had consumed her entire life for nearly a year. And now it was just over. She suppressed tears that started to well in her eyes, thinking of all the nights she and Beast had spent together, how their friendship had deepened into something more until they couldn't bear to be apart. So why were they apart now? She still couldn't completely understand.
She forced herself to keep walking down the winding allies, passed the pastry shop, and haberdashery, until she rounded the corner and a new structure caught her eye. It stood alone in what used to be just an open field that rose up a hill, and she could see children playing outside at the top. Both boys and girls tossed balls back and forth, running around chasing one another. A few girls jumped rope, and one little girl sat leaning against the lone tree, her nose buried in a book. By all outward appearances it looked to be a school, but educating girls was never something she'd seen done formally in her sleepy little village. Monsignor, who oversaw the education of the village boys at the Church, never would have allowed it.
A young gentleman with mousy brown hair that was tossed haplessly about his head filled the tall frame of the doorway. He was lean, and had on a well-worn tan jacket over a dull white shirt, and his breeches were a darker brown, very unassuming and average dress for a man of the village, nothing to lend him the air of confidence and authority he wielded. With a ring of the brass bell in his left hand the children gathered their toys and lined up, single file. As they entered the schoolhouse, their teacher gently spoke to several of them, ruffling the hair of one boy, and greeting them each back into the room with a warm smile. Belle found herself drawn to the scene, and without thinking, her feet brought her to the end of the line of children as she followed them into the building.
As the last child passed through the doorway, the teacher curiously came face to face with the strikingly beautiful young woman, far too old to be a new student, but younger than himself to be sure.
She smiled warmly at him and introduced herself. "Bonjour. I'm Belle, my family and I live in the cottage just over the small bridge. I've been away for some time and was curious to look in on the new schoolhouse, if you don't mind." Her voice was soft and light, almost lyrical, and he could see a warmth in her hazel eyes.
"All are welcome here, please come and listen in. We were about to start our mathematics lessons. I am Monsieur Edmund St. James, but you may call me Edmund." He returned her kind smile and signaled for her to enter.
Belle took a seat in the back corner and looked around the room. There were two rows of long tables on either side of a center aisle, with a furnace situated in the middle to provide heat when the weather turned. At the front of the room was a platform, atop it a podium with a large desk to the left, and to the right was an easel where education materials were displayed. In the far right corner, behind the easel, was a small shelf with a few books.
It was a comfortable classroom, with many windows and an abundance of natural light. The children sat attentively listening to their charismatic teacher as he taught basic fundamentals of mathematics. Having only been in the village a short time, today's lesson concerned subtraction. On the large desk a line of fresh plums sat, and the class counted them aloud. The teacher then removed several. The class recounted. This type of visual exercise continued with various objects being used to demonstrate. Belle spent the day watching Edmund teach the children of the village in fascination.
After the pupils left the small school at the end of their lessons, Belle got up from her seat in the back of the room and approached Edmund. Her eyes traced the books on the shelf in the corner, reading the titles and smiling when she saw some of her favorites. A sign above the teacher's desk read, "The object of education is to teach us to love what is beautiful." As Belle read it, her smile widened.
"Plato. What a brilliant man," Belle spoke, nodding towards the placard.
"You are familiar with Plato, Mademoiselle?" Edmund replied, his face lighting up, for he was a passionate student of Plato. Belle just grinned as he continued. "I firmly believe that education is the path to a virtuous life. Through ignorance, hate and fear run rampant. Access to education should be free and available to all who wish to learn. This is why my school here is open to everyone. I teach the students from early morning to the afternoon and leave their late afternoon and evening hours to their parents' instruction on manual labors that benefit their families. It is my goal that they leave here with heightened character, and the ability to reason and flourish."
"That is indeed a noble endeavor. If you don't mind me asking, if you offer this education freely, how then do you live?" Belle inquired. She took a seat in a chair in the front row, looking up at the handsome teacher.
"I dabble in poetry and have a few published works. But my father was a successful businessman who ran a workhouse. When he died, I made some improvements to the shop before selling it to fund my goal of educating the common man. My father was gravely disappointed when his investment in my education resulted in a son who despised his business and wished to offer my talents free of charge to anyone and everyone willing to listen." Edmund chuckled a bit at the memory of his father's rants on what an ungrateful and spoiled child he had raised. He found humor in the fact that what he liked most about himself, and the convictions he held, were so opposed to those of his father, and yet they had attended the same schools.
He spoke to Belle of the many debates he and his father would have, and about the time he saw Voltaire speak at a large gathering in Paris. Hours passed by as the two discussed their favorite novels and differing philosophers, the fortune of living in an era of great progress and change, and lastly, Belle hinted at her need for distraction from an unpleasant turn of events in her life. She refused to go into detail, only to thank him for the wonderful afternoon.
"You are welcome to come anytime. I could use help as my talents are more geared towards mathematics, science, philosophy, and history. You seem to have a greater passion for literature, and many of my students are struggling with writing. I would be indebted to you if you would assist me in those areas," Edmund said as he escorted Belle out of the school.
"It would be my pleasure." Belle smiled. "Thank you for a wonderful day. I shall see you tomorrow."
And with that, the two parted ways, each invigorated by the conversations that had passed between them and the anticipation of more to come.
Back in Montiquent, Beast was hard at work assisting in the raising of a new building that was to be filled with apartments above shops. A group of several dozen men were hammering nails into the wooden frame, while others laid stones for the outer façade in the areas that were finished. Beast wiped sweat from his brow as the afternoon sun beat down on the crew. While they worked, a lively chat about everyone's hopes for the future after all the building was completed ensued. Some wished to pursue the arts, while others looked forward to establishing farms or other trades.
From the corner of Beast's eye, he noticed a very shy, odd-looking fellow—even by his standards—who hid behind a group of trees. The creature had been watching the laborers for some time now, listening to the conversations. After lifting the last beam into place, Beast excused himself and approached the frightened man.
"I don't believe we've met yet. I am the Beast. And you are?" Beast approached very gently. He recognized the Elf from around town, but hadn't yet had the opportunity to introduce himself.
"Claude. I'm called Claude," shook the voice of the strange lad. "Gerard is my cousin."
"Of course, I know Gerard well. We spent a very nice evening by the sea many months ago. I recall him mentioning a cousin he wanted to find. I am so glad you decided to join him. How are you settling in to your new home?" Beast asked as the two walked away from the crowd of workers.
"It's far better than the one I left. However, I am unaccustomed to all these people everywhere, and the noises. You see, I lived alone, in a cave far from anyone for many, many years." Claude felt at ease around the massive King, despite all of his earlier reservations. As he continued detailing his previous existence, he and the Beast walked amiably through the forest. Claude's shoulders began to relax, and he settled into a comfortable pace as Beast told Claude of his vision for his kingdom, and how he hoped that someday soon he could welcome humans to live beside them all.
Claude stiffened again and pleaded with Beast to never allow humans to reside in the kingdom. "Please, Your Majesty! Humans are violent, selfish, and ignorant beings. They destroy what they don't understand, and cause nothing but harm and devastation." As Claude got more agitated, flecks of shimmering gold shed off of his body.
"Not all humans are like that. Belle and Maurice are perfect examples. Maurice is wed to an Enchantress, and before my parents destroyed this kingdom with their own fear and hate, he was friends with many magical creatures such as your cousin, Gerard. And I've never met anyone with a kinder heart than Belle. She devoted herself throughout our journey to not only releasing folks like yourself from a life of seclusion and loneliness, but she also spent considerable time teaching the young to read, never once showing fear or disdain for anyone. I truly don't think she's capable of it." Beast's face softened and his eyes sparkled when he spoke of Belle. He longed to see her, but had simply been so busy with the rebuilding, that he hadn't had time. He also knew she needed space to come to terms with the restrictions he'd placed on humans, restrictions he'd already begun to reconsider.
Claude listened carefully and eventually replied, "I suppose that there might be a few chosen humans who are tolerant, and maybe even pleasant to my kind, but isn't it better to be overly cautious and safe, then accidently trust the wrong human?"
The young elf became agitated again, and more gold flecks sparked into the surrounding air. Beast took Claude's words into careful consideration, and as their conversation continued, he became more and more convicted in his stance that humans must remain at a distance.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I'm not usually this direct." Claude hung his head and moved away from the King.
"It's alright. I prefer when my subjects are direct and honest with me. This is as much your kingdom as it is mine, and your needs and safety are my top priority. For now, the restrictions on humans in the kingdom stay in place. But I hope to help you see that there can be peace and harmony between them and you."
