Chapter 20- The Truth

"I don't see how he could have done all that." Gerard looked at the two women across from him with disbelief. "The King has been such a good friend to Claude, he would never intentionally harm him."

"We never said it was intentional. In truth, we believe he's never meant to do anything that's happened. But we need to find him. Belle's been affected, and it's erased her memories of the King. Take it from someone who's done that to the people I love, it is a torment beyond imaginable. To have the feeling like you lost something, something so important and vital to your existence, but unable to remember it." Rosalind reached across the table and grasped Gerard's hand. "Claude is not in any trouble. We just need for him to reverse whatever it is he's done."

"Alright. Come with me, I think I know where he might be."

Gerard led Rosalind and Kara out of the tavern doors and through the forest to the lake. There on the end of the dock sat Claude, alone and skipping rocks across the glassy surface. He glanced back at his cousin.

"Good afternoon, cousin. What brings you all the way out here?" he asked in a meek, small voice, getting on his feet to face the party as they came down the dock.

"Afternoon, Claude. These ladies have a few questions for you. But perhaps they're best answered in our cellar?" Gerard gently said, referencing the special room they built where Claude could practice controlling his magic, but it couldn't affect anyone around him. The small elf wearily looked at the two women, but slowly followed behind his cousin back to their house, hanging his head in shame.

Once inside the warded room, Rosalind explained to Claude all the recent events they believed him to be responsible for, starting with the more minor incidents, and ending with what he'd inadvertently done to the King and Belle.

Claude was stunned. He'd never purposefully used his magic to influence another and was crestfallen that he had caused so much damage.

"The King is my friend, I would never ever try to hurt him, or influence him in that way. Is he going to be alright? What can I do to make this right?" he begged. The familiar gold specks flew around him, but stayed close to his body.

"Do you know how your magic works?" Kara asked, observing the way it danced around him and swirled through the air.

"Not really. Gerard has been trying to teach me, but mine is so different from his. I can apparently change how people feel; affect their reasoning, and memories. But I don't really know how. These gold sparks radiate off of me when I'm sad, or angry, or afraid. And unfortunately, I've been rather fearful since we came here. So much change, and unfamiliar faces. I've spent most of my life alone in a cave, hiding from everyone and everything around me. I suppose I haven't adjusted very well."

"Do you know how to reverse it?" Rosalind gently extended her hand to him, and he gratefully took it, the gold sparks returned into him at the contact.

"I've managed it a few times, when I accidentally bumped into someone walking through town. Oh, that reminds me… I ran into someone last week at the castle. I was worried about the King when he failed to meet me by the lake like usual. I was in the west wing when I heard him talking about lifting the ban on humans. I panicked and ran, and in my flight I got lost—it's a very big castle. I ran into someone, a young lady who was creeping around the first floor. That must have been Belle! I am so sorry." He started to cry in his guilt, and Rosalind squeezed his hand.

"It's alright. You didn't do it on purpose. But what was it you did to her? What were you thinking?"

Claude closed his eyes, bringing up the memory of that afternoon. "The King said he was going to lift the restrictions and that he wanted to make amends with Miss Belle. It scared me. I also didn't see how a human like her could be with someone like him. I was raised to believe one kept with their own kind. I just… I'm sorry…" More tears fell, and he swallowed hard. "I hoped she'd find someone like her to be with and forget the King."

Now Belle's sudden interest in Gaston and Edmund made more sense. It had concerned her how quickly Belle seemed to bounce back after being so heartbroken when Beast broke things off, almost as though she'd never met him at all. But if the enchantment had conditioned her into finding a new partner—even going so far as to make her see things in the men that weren't there—the changes in her personality were understandable. To think this magic was influencing her daughter in such a way that it could have led to her spending the rest of her life married to a man she didn't truly love, was infuriating. But what was done was done. Now that they had identified the magic's source, they could reverse its effects, and she'd personally see to it this never happened again.

Softly, Rosalind replied, "I see. It's been working at an alarming rate. But now, you need to help us lift the enchantment. Do you think you can do it from here, or must you touch her?"

Her green eyes gazed into his, and he wiped the tears from his face. "I've never done it from this far away. I don't think it would work."

"What if we helped?" Kara interjected with a look of determination. "We can amplify your powers if we hold your hands. Could you do it then?"

"It's possible." Claude shrugged his shoulders, and Gerard came up behind him, placing his hands on him. Kara stood on Claude's left with Rosalind on his right. Both gripping his hands.

"Let's try," Rosalind said, and all four began chanting together.

Belle woke with a splitting headache. Edmund's hand clutched hers, leaning it against his forehead as if in prayer. She rolled, bringing her other hand up to his face and smiled at him. "Edmund?"

"Belle!" the young man exclaimed, dropping her hand and springing up from his kneeling position next to the bed. He wrapped her up in his arms, giving her a gentle embrace. "You're alright. Oh, thank God you're alright."

"What happened? How did I get here?" She looked around her room and moved the pillow behind her to the headboard so she could lean against it. Something felt different, but she couldn't place her finger on it.

"What do you remember?" he asked gently, looking into her eyes.

"We were at the school... building a bookshelf. I got dizzy and my head hurt. Then you answered the door and…" she trailed off, concentrating harder to recall what happened next. Her eyes flared as the image came into view, and her mouth dropped open. "That monster showed up! The one from my nightmares. But he didn't look the same. He was smaller somehow, and he said my name." Her head throbbed again, and she closed her eyes against the pain.

"That was the Beast. He's the King who sent the books," Edmund told her, hoping maybe she'd start to remember.

"He's also the love of your life," her father added from the doorway.

Belle shot him a horrified and skeptical look. She knew her father to have an odd sense of humor, but to say she was in love with a creature like that went beyond the realm of reason. She looked back at Edmund and his sad gray eyes confirmed her father wasn't kidding.

"No. You've both gone mad. I don't know that creature... Have only seen it in my worst nightmares. Until today, I didn't even think it was real."

"He is real. And you know him better than anyone else. Here. Read through these." Maurice placed a hatbox on the bed and lifted the lid. It was full of letters, all addressed to her. She picked up one dated a few weeks ago and read through it. The words were sweet and full of longing and hope that they would be together again soon. It closed with a beautiful poem and signed, "Ta Bête".

Belle's skull felt like it squeezed her brain as she tried to read another. She didn't get far before arcs of pain started shooting through and she was forced to set the letter down. Then a memory played in her mind. One of her and that creature in a forest dancing and laughing. He held her so carefully as he spun and twirled her around. The deep blue eyes looking down on her with love and admiration were unmistakable. Those were the eyes of the man she loved, and she could feel her heart swell and ache.

Just then a knock came from downstairs, and Maurice exited the room to answer it.

LeFou stood in the doorway. "Is Miss Belle home?" he politely asked.

"Yes, but she's not feeling well. Can I help you with something?"

"No, I was told I could only give this to Belle." LeFou held a sealed envelope in his hand, and refused to give it to Maurice.

"Fine, you can come in. But only to deliver the letter." Maurice begrudgingly stood to the side, allowing the smaller man to enter the house. "She's upstairs in her room." He trailed behind as they climbed the steps.

"LeFou, what are you doing here?" Belle asked in surprise, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She saw the look of perplexity on her father's face beyond the messenger.

"Gaston asked me to deliver this to you." With a flourish he brandished the letter, and her father stepped closer, hovering near enough for LeFou to feel uneasy.

"Merci." She managed a smile at him, which he returned before giving a wary glance to Maurice. He gave a quick bow and left, having completed his task.

"What's this about?" Edmund asked, leaning over the bed to look over Belle's shoulder.

"He needs my help. Some poor injured creature is at his hunting lodge and he needs me to bring supplies to bandage it up." She sprang to her feet and began searching her room for the needed supplies.

"Belle, you've been through enough today. I'm sure he can manage on his own. You need to rest," Maurice insisted, trying to pull her back onto the bed.

"Papa, I am fine now. I'd never forgive myself if this sweet animal dies because I refused to help. Plus, I'll be with Gaston."

Maurice made a disgusted face and glanced over to Edmund, who appeared equally disturbed. "That's what worries me."

"But he's different now, Papa. He's changed somehow." She kissed her father's head, threw her velvet green cloak over her shoulders, despite it still having the rip in the hem from her clash with the river, and gave Edmund a brief hug. Edmund and Maurice exchanged a wary glance as she filled a satchel with the needed bandages, and one of her mother's healing tonics.

"At least let me come with you," Edmund begged, coming up beside her in the main room downstairs.

"I will be fine. I'm safe with Gaston. Go back and finish putting together the library. And stop worrying about me. I feel much better now." She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, eliciting a blush from the kind teacher.

She skipped down the steps and hopped onto Lisette, taking off to Gaston's cabin before any more objections could be heard.

Beast woke to pain coursing through his arms. They were pulled behind him and chained to the wall. He yanked as hard as he could, despite the shooting pain that caused, but the metal rings in the wall wouldn't budge. Cursing under his breath, he was certain if he'd been at his former strength he could have easily ripped them out, but as he was, any further attempts would just deplete what little energy he had left.

He still couldn't believe Gaston had gotten the drop on both him and Tobias. They were so distracted arguing with one another that neither had picked up the scent of the hunter stalking them nearby. Tobias went down first with one blow to the head from the butt of Gaston's rifle. Gaston then turned it on the Beast and forced him to lay on the ground, face down, where the despicable man clasped chains around his wrists and ankles before the butt of the gun slammed into the back of his head. It had been so easy. He nor Tobias had a moment to fight back, and now he sat against the wall, his wrists and ankles chained to it, the back of his head throbbing with no idea how to get out of this.

"You better hope Belle gets here soon." The hunter emerged through the cabin door, a cocky grin on his face.

"She won't come," the Beast said dejectedly. "She doesn't even remember who I am." He wished he was just bluffing, but as far as he knew, it was the truth. If Rosalind and Kara had broken the enchantment, he prayed Belle now knew better than to come. Especially when he was helpless to protect her against this vile brute who had nothing but ill intentions for the both of them.

Gaston strolled over to an armchair and lounged back, keeping his rifle on his left shoulder. "I didn't mention you in my note. Simply asked for her help caring for an injured creature. She has no idea you're here."

A skeptical look crossed Beast's face as he stared down the hunter. "Why would she come then?"

"Don't you know? Belle and I have been courting, ever since I saved her from drowning the other day. She's been very grateful for the rescue and extremely impressed with my generosity. I've been doing all sorts of good deeds, and she's eating out of the palm of my hand. She just can't get enough of me. We've had dinner, she's made me special treats, and just this morning we went for a very romantic ride where she spouted off some mumbo jumbo about true love never running a smooth course." A sickeningly sweet smile stretched across his thin lips at the memory. "It's a shame that it didn't work out between you two, but it was probably for the best. I mean, a hideous creature like you with a pretty thing like her? Don't make me laugh."

Beast growled sharply through his teeth, but the hunter merely smiled and paid him no heed. "So when she came back to Villeneuve, heart torn apart by your order, I decided to make my move. I began courting her the way men without my manly good looks court their women. Peppered her with compliments, listened intently as she droned on and on about those silly books she reads. Even encouraged her work at that pathetic school she's been helping at. Been a real trial of my patience. But it's paying off. This is the final test of her affections. I need to be sure she has you completely out of her system before she becomes my wife. Only then can I cleanse her of your bad influence, and teach her to be an obedient and doting housewife, with none of those dangerous books poisoning her pretty little head. Believe me, she'll be nothing like the free thinking girl you knew once I'm through with her."

Beast growled out through clenched teeth. "Even if she's forgotten me, Belle will never be your wife! She's too smart for you. She'll see through this façade and realize you haven't changed. You'll never be capable of changing into a decent man, Gaston. You'll never be worthy of someone like her." As he said these things, he couldn't help but question what Belle could possibly see in the hunter. Had whatever enchantment she was under affected her ability to see the evil lurking beneath his cold, icy eyes? Then again, perhaps it was simply in her nature to see the good in everyone she met, like she'd seen the good lurking beneath the beast.

"I suppose we'll see soon enough, monster." Gaston sneered. "I believe she should be here shortly. And once she is, we'll know who she thinks is more worthy of her. A handsome, skilled, accomplished, rich man like me, or a horrible, revolting creature like you."

His face grew smugger as he spewed his taunts. But Beast had a few of his own. "Are you forgetting I'm also a king? With me, she becomes a queen. I could care for her every need and give her whatever her heart desired. A life with you would be pittance in comparison." He allowed some of his own smugness to seep through, puffing his chest and letting loose a brief chuckle. "I used to be just as selfish, just as conceited, just as arrogant as you, Gaston. Possibly even worse. This form was my punishment. But Belle showed me what it meant to care about something outside of myself. I am more than willing to die for her. But I will never allow you to have her."

With a burst of energy, Beast lunged forward and snapped at his captor, causing his chains to rattle and clang. Gaston jumped, his face turning a shade lighter, and Beast smiled in satisfaction. But the moment was short-lived, as Gaston realized he was still securely restrained.

That cocky expression returned. "She will be mine, one way or another. And you'll get to watch as I finally take her as my own." Gaston threw his head back laughing as Beast growled and fought against the chains to no avail.

A soft knock rapped against the door, and both men snapped their heads towards it. Gaston brandished a knife from the back of his belt and waved it in front of Beast.

"Say anything to ruin the moment, and this slices through her delicate neck. Is that clear?" His tone was menacing, and Beast begrudgingly nodded his agreement.

He wanted to roar and shout, to warn Belle to run. He didn't care that his arms had gone numb as they hung behind him, or that his shoulders ached with untold knots that screamed with every slight movement. He hardly noticed the lump that was pulsating at the base of his head from the strike of the rifle that now rested against Gaston's chair. All he wanted was Belle safe. And nothing about this scene was safe for her. She was walking into a trap, and he was helpless to do anything to protect her. Tobias wasn't far away—if he was still alive—but Beast didn't have the luxury of worrying about him right now or waiting on a rescue. All he could focus on was devising a plan to get out of these restraints and get Belle back home to her family safe.

Gaston replaced the knife into its short scabbard and pulled his slightly untucked shirt over it as he opened the door.

Belle stood outside with her hair cascading over her shoulders, windblown and disheveled, but no less beautiful in the glow of the fireplace and the setting sun behind her. She calmly walked in, smiling at Gaston as she removed her riding gloves and shoved them into the pocket of her cloak. With surprise, Beast noted that it was the same cloak he had given her almost a lifetime ago. The tear at the bottom caught his attention and his brow creased in wonder at what had happened to damage the sturdy item.

Belle finished removing her outerwear while Gaston closed the door behind her. She hadn't seen Beast yet, and was looking instead at Gaston as if waiting for a greeting.

"My beloved Belle, you came." Gaston stretched his arms wide, beckoning for her to come in for a tender embrace. She immediately, and without hesitation, sprang into his arms, and appeared to revel in the warm contact.

Thankfully, Beast didn't have to witness this disturbing scene for long before Belle pulled back and looked up at her suitor quizzically. "Where is this poor injured animal you need me to tend to? You didn't bring it inside, did you?"

"Unfortunately, the poor fawn didn't make it." He sounded despondent, and Belle ate up every word. She reached up and cupped his cheek, lending her understanding and support.

"I'm sure you did everything you could." She gently moved her hand from Gaston's face into his hair, brushing a stray lock behind his ear.

How had it come to this? She was not only being affectionate, but intimate with Gaston! Beast felt his hope drain, and he slumped against the wall.

Gaston pulled her into a hug again. "Not to worry. Its death won't be in vain. I'll clean it up and present it to one of the struggling families. It'll probably feed them for a week at least with how much meat I can salvage."

"You're always so generous." Her smile was far too admirable, and Beast was sure he was in some awful hallucination. He had to be. All this past week was just a fever dream. He was still in his bed, sick with a scalding temperature. It was preferable to what he was seeing and hearing.

"I did, however, capture the creature who killed it. He claims you don't remember him." Gaston's jaw hardened, and his body turned, pointing to the Beast.

Belle gasped. Her hand clutched her chest as her eyes flashed with horror once again at the sight of him. Then she turned into Gaston's arms, just as she had with Edmund earlier. In that moment Beast felt defeated. Whatever her mother and Kara were trying to achieve hadn't worked, or was too late. Gaston hadn't been exaggerating about Belle's new found affection, and Beast felt his stomach turn at the thought she might actually willingly become the brute's wife. Unable to bear the disgusted look in her eyes, Beast looked to the floor.

"You caught it! The tormentor of my nightmares… You got it! How did you know?" Her voice filled with such relief and gratitude, Gaston couldn't completely restrain the smug smile that sprang to his lips at her praise.

"I was on my way to offer you a ride back from the schoolhouse when I saw Edmund let this horrible creature in. I heard your screams and rushed over, but by then, your teacher friend, and this thing, were already taking you home. I was worried. Even though Edmund trusted that monster, I didn't, so I followed them and waited by the stables. I must have been there for hours before the creature emerged and ran into the woods. He was fast, I'll give him that, but he couldn't hide from me forever. By the time I caught up to him, he was feasting on the sweet little fawn. I managed to restrain it, and brought him and the innocent baby back here. I sent LeFou to find you, but by then, the fawn was dead.

"Now all that's left is deciding what to do with this horrid creature. He could be a predator or he could be one of our new magical neighbors. I couldn't just assume one way or the other. So Belle, what do you think? Is this Beast a friend or foe?"

Piercing ice-blue eyes bore into her, and a tension hung in the room as if the fate of the world depended on her answer.

She turned her sharp, distrustful hazel eyes towards the Beast, and slowly, but clearly stated, "Foe. Definitely foe." The Beast bowed his head. That was it. The very last scrap of his hope was snuffed out by one little word, and nothing would ever be alright again. "I never knew it truly existed until today. Until this afternoon, it had only plagued my nightmares. And now you've rescued me from it. Oh Gaston, how can I ever repay you? You're my hero!" She threw her arms around him once more and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

Gaston beamed with pride, and a gloating snort rumbled in his throat as he hugged Belle tightly to his chest. He kissed her head before separating from her, then placed a hand under her chin, trapping it gently with his thumb, holding her gaze.

"I've asked you before, and I can see how my words failed to show you why we would make the perfect pair. I was an arrogant, self-centered, trou de cul. But you've helped me find the best of myself. You've softened my jaded heart and shown me how valuable a woman of your talents can be. I never realized how boorish it was, conversing with someone who only wanted to fawn over my greatness. But now that I've learned to appreciate your intelligence, nothing less will do. I know we haven't been courting long, but Belle, I can't wait any longer. I want you." A hand caressed her cheek, and she kissed his palm. "I can't stand another day of us being apart, when fate has clearly proved that we should be together. Let me take care of you for the rest of your days, and put this beautiful smile right here on your face, always. No woman in the world could ever complete me as much as you. So what are we waiting for?" He got down on one knee, holding her hand in his. "Belle, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

He delivered the small speech with just the perfect amount of charm and levity, and Beast was incapable of restraining the groan of disgust reverberating in his chest. But Belle didn't notice. Instead, her face lit with joy and she closed the distance between her and her suitor, taking his face into her hands and kissing him.

Beast felt his stomach lurch and his head swirled in disbelief. Not Belle, not his Belle! She wouldn't do this, not with Gaston. It had to be the enchantment. She didn't know what she was doing. Any thought of keeping her under that spell disappeared, and even if she never forgave him, she needed to be made whole again. Under his breath, he murmured, "Don't let this happen. You can't let this happen!"

Beast was just about to shout to Belle not to do it when she parted herself from the hunter and breathlessly uttered, "Yes!"

Gaston lifted her up and spun her around, triumph shining from every pore on his face. Belle would be his, and willingly. When he was fighting off hordes of wild beasts in the Black Forest just four months ago, he never imagined that one day he would be home, using the patience and cunning he'd acquired in his travels to finally win the heart of the most beautiful girl in town. The crowing trophy that would adorn his arm for the rest of his days. Their children would be the most beautiful the world had ever seen. And he was confident that once she had children of her own, she would leave behind her work at the school and devote herself to the raising and teaching of their brood. Somehow, he'd find a way to tolerate her time there until he knew without a doubt his seed had been planted. And if she defied his expectations in any way, he would be quick to correct her. Her transformation into Madame Gaston, his perfect little housewife, would begin the moment they exchanged their vows.

"I should go and tell Papa and Maman the good news." Belle tried to leave Gaston's grasp, and spun towards the door, but he held her steadfastly to him.

"No, not yet, pumpkin. Let's take tonight for ourselves. To celebrate our impending union. We could do a little more of this..." He bent his head and kissed her again. She seemed to welcome the new level of intimacy, throwing herself into the kiss. "Or maybe, some of this…" Gaston's eyes locked on Beast's as he trailed kisses down the side of Belle's neck and his hands skimmed down her waist and over her hips. Belle gave a little moan as she tilted her head, giving him greater access.

Beast held Gaston's gaze unflinchingly, but his skin crawled and the need to rip the hunter limb from limb for touching Belle was so strong, his claws bit into his palms.

Belle looked at Gaston with a dazed happiness when he pulled back, asking, "We also have to decide what to do with that." He nodded his head towards the Beast.

Belle's hand came to her chin, and she tapped her first finger against her rosy-kissed lips. "Well, letting it go is out of the question. There's no telling what damage it could do. But leaving it chained up seems risky." It was such a typical gesture of hers that Beast couldn't keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks. She was in there, somewhere, just lost to him with no hope of returning, and his heart shattered into what felt like a million pieces. Unable to restrain his anguish any longer, he let out a cry full of all the pain and heartache he felt.

Gaston's hand immediately went to the knife at his back as he stared at the Beast, giving the warning to keep quiet or else. Beast stifled the rest of it, choking back what he could. He wanted to believe Gaston wouldn't actually hurt Belle, not when she was so clearly his, but he wouldn't take that risk. Belle alive and with Gaston was still better than no Belle at all.

Belle's hand brought Gaston's attention back to her. "We can leave it for now, enjoy our evening together, and decide in the morning. Do you have anything I could make us for dinner? Something worthy of our good news?" She looked at him hopefully.

"No, I haven't stocked this place for the winter hunting season yet. But I can run down to the tavern and bring us back a delicious meal. Plus a bottle of our finest champagne!"

Her face lit up at the suggestion, and she placed her hands over his forearms. "That would be perfect!" Then her voice got husky, and she added a little swish to her hips, practically hypnotizing her audience as she came closer to him. "Perhaps while you're there you can make arrangements with the vicar?"

"The vicar? You wish to be married right away?" His tone was suspicious, and he carefully studied her face, looking for any hint of deception.

"Like you said, what are we waiting for? We've wasted so much time apart already, I'd like it to be made official as soon as we can. You've arranged an impromptu wedding for us before. And this time, I promise not to dump you into a mud puddle." She grinned at him, and his returned smirk erased his unease. "Besides, the sooner it's done, the sooner we can enjoy our wedding night. Do you have any objections to that, mon cher fiancé?" Her smile was so alluring, yet still innocent, that Gaston felt his heart flutter a little. This was truly beyond his grandest hopes.

"Is tomorrow soon enough, pumpkin?" He beamed down at her with a smile that filled his eyes, and Beast heard Belle's breath hitch. She really believed him. His Belle had somehow fallen for Gaston.

"Then it's settled. Now get going so I can have you back all the sooner." She gave him another kiss that he deepened as his arms came around her small frame once again. Her body melded to his, and a small groan of pleasure tumbled between them.

Beast clamped his eyes shut against the onslaught of disturbing images, but he could do nothing to drown out the sound of Belle and Gaston kissing and making wedding plans. He had failed her. Failed her so many times, over and over again, that he felt like this was some demon's manifestation of his own personal nine realms of hell. With each touch between Gaston and Belle, he was kicked down another layer. He was now doomed to bear witness to the love of his life being wed and bedded by another man. And not just any man, but one that cared nothing for her beyond her outer beauty. A man who detested her intelligence, her wit, her grace and charm. A man who would never love her, or protect her, or cherish her. At least with Edmund, Beast was secure in the knowledge that Belle would have been adored and loved. He sent up a silent prayer that somehow her teacher could still save her from this abhorrent nightmare since he couldn't.

Massive thanks to TheGreenArcher for her help with this chapter! And WhiteButterfly for her excellent feedback as well. The next chapter is on deck, so no worries, I'll post it in the next two days.