Chapter Two

Entering the forest, Belle kept in mind what Harriet told her about a woman by Potts.

"I've never heard of a name like that before!" Belle thought as the thunder clashed. Surprisingly, Belle felt her unborn baby was still and she figured the little one was asleep. She was thankful for this because she'd gone through "kicking episodes" in the evenings. When Gaston wasn't otherwise holding her close to his chest, she would feel the baby kick and she would stand and pace until the baby calmed.

"Yet this isn't the case." She thought as she guided the stallion to the left.

"Gaston showed me his betrayal and unfaithfulness. The baby is only a reminder of that."

A clash of lightning struck the sky and Belle glanced to the right. The stallion followed her guiding hand as the two approached a small stream. Even in here Belle was able to see this: it was a little crock with some rocks and the soothing sound entered her ears. As the rain poured and touched her cloak, Belle lifted her eyes a bit to see if it were possible for the two to cross. Knowing how the rain could enhance a stream into an almost river she wanted to make sure this was safe. She bit her lip slightly as she thought.

"Crossing that way wouldn't work. If we take this route perhaps it could!"

"Come on, boy." Belle spoke to the stallion. Using a bit of her legs, she was able to guide her ride enter the stream, which wasn't deep, before the two were on the opposite side. Relieved, Belle was thankful before the two continued up a small embank. It was raining as mentioned before but Belle hardly noticed. All she wanted to do was get away from Gaston before midnight!

"And if I know anything about him," she thought as she urged her horse into a faster pace, "he will either try to find me or not."

She swallowed when she remembered his betrayal and how she told him she no longer trusted him. It was something which hurt and she disliked telling herself this. However did she not see this when she'd married him? Or for that matter: how had HE never bothered to inform her of his doing behind her back?

But this was put on pause when her horse suddenly reared and Belle let out a scream when a large figure jumped out at them. She held on for dear life when she felt her baby start to kick.

Clinging to the horse's reins, Belle called.

"Boy! What is it?"

When she peered to the side, her throat dried when she realized a fearsome wolf, eyes as dark as the night, snarled at her. He stared at her in the eyes; like a lion but Belle was fast. She offered a prayer of courage before she pressed hard and asked for her ride to gallop forward. The stallion complied with her request and darting forward, Belle zoomed the two of them past the beast. But when she glanced behind, Belle's calculations were wrong; more wolves suddenly appeared around them and she could see the foam on their mouths.

"They must have been waiting in ambush for a chance at a meal!" She thought as she returned her attention to her riding. The stallion wasn't Phillipe but Belle felt something strange happening as she tried to guide him along the path. The thunder and rain roared overhead when her ride seemed to have a mind of his own. Trying to make him move to the right, Belle felt how the animal moved to the left and entered a path completely unknown to her.

"Boy! Where are we going?" Belle yelled above the roaring of the storm. She glanced over her shoulder and her heart beat when she saw how the wolves were following them. She kept her prayers going when she felt how the horse was galloping at a faster pace… as if they were on a race track and they were in the lead! Belle felt the unborn baby kicking and she placed a hand on the movement as she soothed.

"It's alright, little one; mama's trying to figure out where we're going."

A strong gust of wind blew from Belle's left as their ride entered a small valley. Belle glanced over her shoulder. The wolves were still pursuing them and the leader's eyes were as fearsome as she'd first seen him. Belle continued to pray as she held on to her horse. But she knew she needed to make sure they followed the direction which Harriet and her husband showed her and find a woman by name of Potts but here?

She heard a cry when she looked forward and it was here: a flash of lighting came and it lit the valley. Her horse continued to gallop and Belle urged him forward. He seemed to know the area better than she did and for some reason she felt she trusted him more than her husband's rides! The wolves were on their back and Belle could tell the leader was in the lead. She didn't bother to engage him; like a bear but she knew she needed to get to that woman Potts! It was at this moment when the stallion entered a small hill and but expertly ascended and when this happened, Belle gasped when she saw before them a large castle!

For a moment, Belle wanted to halt her horse but she didn't have time. As the two started to approach, a flash of lightning struck and when Belle peered to the right, she let out cry when she realized the lightning struck a nearby tree limp. It light on fire and started to fall towards the two…!

"No!" Belle shouted as the tree started to fall.

The cracking of the tree started and when Belle thought she would only watch as the limp fell, she heard a voice call.

"Miss! Gallop George forward! He's not afraid of a tree!"

The voice came from the gates and when Belle looked, she saw three men opening the gate. One of them was large and muscular and Belle thought she saw him holding something. The stallion was still galloping but the men pushed the gates open and when Belle entered, she heard a gun's cry at the same time the tree fell in front of the gates. Managing to steady her ride, Belle turned him around and when she saw the three men the one in the middle was lowering a hunter's gun when he said.

"That's that, boys. The leader's gone and the others are fleeing. The rain will take care of the fire; no need to put it out. Thank you for informing us you saw her coming."

Here, Belle watched as the two other men closed the gates. With a solid bang, she watched as they closed them as one said.

"Sir? Those wolves have been bothering travelers for the longest time! It would make sense that when someone's traveling there should be some way of notifying for help!"

"And Gaston's wife is no exception." The man in the middle answered.

Belle paused when she heard this. The gentlemen knew her husband? When she looked at them, one of the gentlemen approached and with a smile, he asked. "Would you like to come inside the castle, Belle?"

"However did you know of my name?" Belle asked.

Against the pouring rain and the thunder, Belle soon found herself on the ground. One of the men answered as he took the reins.

"Belle? You're one of the most memorable women of town. News travels when Gaston's men like to tell tales about him and his little wife."

Belle remembered this and she felt a little hurt. "His Little Wife" was a title Gaston used to call her but she didn't want to remember this. The mere mention of his name hurt and here, she realized the baby was still kicking. When she placed her hand on the baby, the man who spoke first, said, who was making his way towards the castle.

"Best get her warm and prepare a room for her. I can tell she's traveled a long way and that baby needs to be calmed."

"I'm supposed to chat with a woman by name of Potts?" Belle found herself saying against the storm.

"Oh! Yes! Mrs. Potts will take care of you!" The third gentlemen replied. Here, Belle turned and saw that he as kindly. He smiled at her as he gestured towards the castle as he asked.

"Care to follow us?"

Belle only nodded before she followed the gentlemen. The sounds of the storm were muted when she drew her cloak in. The path leading to the castle was made from bricks and Belle noticed a few bushes around. The place looked as if it needed gardening and she wondered if she should say something about this. But she remembered what Harriet informed her about Potts. And how the master would like her, too. Peering up at the castle, she paused when she stared at the structure.

"Once you've met Potts and settled: you will be graced with the master's presence, Belle." A voice said.

"The master?" She asked.

"Yes. My name is James and the master isn't going to let you see him until you're well settled, Belle. Don't worry; he won't hurt you. You'll find more about him after everything's ready." He was the man who was one of the gentlemen who opened the gates for her. When Belle looked at him, he was handsome but youthful. He seemed to guess what she might have been thinking so he continued.

"Belle? Harriet's husband is a friend of the master's and the horse you rode? He belongs to the master and his name is George. We can't inform you about everything because of what Harriet's husband told us about how Gaston's been treating you."

Belle blinked before she asked.

"You know about…?"

"Gaston? The tavern man? Yes. He and the master used to be friends. Not so anymore."

"James? Mrs. Potts is making her way from the kitchen to greet Belle. Will you help Matt with George? The master will be seeing Gaston's wife after she's ready." Another one of the men asked.

"On my way. Belle? You'll meet the castle's housekeeper, Mrs. Potts, in a few minutes. If there's anything you'll need – we're humbly at your disposal."

Belle thanked the two gentlemen but she wondered how all of this was piecing together. Once she was standing alone in the hallway, she realized the entrance of the castle had pillars; all lightened with torches. It wasn't an eerie feeling but one of mystery as she took a step forward. There was a chandelier in the center, windows with curtains, and a large carpet in the center. She wondered if the palace was at one time hosting a ball or other celebrations when a kindly woman appeared to the right.

"Are you Belle?" She asked and this brought Belle out of her trance.

"Yes." She answered and she felt another flutter of feet touch her. Placing a hand on the baby, she heard the woman chuckle as she answered.

"Well! Seems to be your little one wants some attention, Belle! My name is Mrs. Potts and Harriet informed me that you are Gaston's wife?"

"Yes." Belle replied as the baby continued to kick. Here she wondered if she was carrying a boy!

"The master will be chatting with you later but I'm here to show you to your room, Belle. Will follow?" The kindly woman asked.

When Belle looked at her, she nodded and soon, the housekeeper walked up a flight of stairs. As she followed Belle wondered.

"I wonder how this is going to work. So far: the plan is working and Gaston…" she shuddered… "no! I am resolved! If he wants me: he will either pursue me or let me give birth alone."

With this thought in mind, Belle continued to follow Mrs. Potts up to the second floor.

When Gaston returned home, the house was strangely silent.

He closed the tavern after watching Belle leave and he remembered she'd informed him Harriet would have super on the table. Glancing at the clock it read midnight.

"Belle!" he shouted as he made his way over to the bedroom.

"I'm back! And I presume you're probably asleep and waiting for me?"

There was no reply so Gaston opened the door but when he looked, his heart beat when there was no one in sight.

"Belle?" he asked as he walked forward. He remembered seeing her expression at the tavern. He was closed to her when she tried to chat with him about… he remembered the baby… the way she said she no longer trusted him.

"Harriet!" He shouted as he turned and banged the door open.

"Where is my wife?!"

Gaston's heart beat when he realized Belle had done something which tampered with his temper as Harriet appeared and she was calm.

"Where is my wife?!" He repeated and he was in the frame of mind to travel and find her.

For a moment, Harriet didn't say anything. She merely stood in the doorway and this angered him more. He fisted his hands as he asked.

"Harriet?! As master of the house: where is Belle?!"

"You truly want to know where she is." Harriet replied and Gaston disliked how she was calm.

"Yes!" he shouted and he wanted to throw a log into the fire.

"She's at the Beast's castle, Gaston."

"She's what?!" He shouted and his voice rattled a few items on top of the fireplace. He wouldn't care if they fell and broke…! All he wanted was…

Gaston stormed right past Harriet before he opened the front door. There, he saw his horse and he pawed the ground. Gaston's determination to bring Belle back was so intense he didn't realize the sun was starting to appear above the mountains. Usually he would be in bed with her… cradling her and keeping her close… feeling her body against his… then the baby came to mind!

"I no longer trust you, Gaston." Her voice seemed to speak to him.

He felt tears sting his eyes when he growled at those words.

"And she's at the Beast's castle?! Under his protection?! And not mine?!" Gaston thought. He stormed over to the horse before he saddled himself. The horse was already ready for travel as Gaston said.

"Well that little wife of mine is going to be back before that Beast gets her!"

He pushed his the stallion into a gallop but Belle's words hurt more than hunting a thousand rabbits.

"I no longer trust you, Gaston."

"And as a result of that – she ran away from me." He thought and his heart squeezed. But he wouldn't stop when he followed the trail which would take him to the Beast's castle.