Chapter Six
"Go in peace, my son; you're sins are forgiven." Father Francis blessed.
Making the Sign of the Cross, Gaston finished with his throat twisting. As he thanked Father Francis, he rose and for the first time in his life: Gaston felt a huge weight taken from his shoulders. When he stepped out of the Reconciliation box, Father Francis rose and when he approached, he placed his hand on Gaston's shoulder as he whispered.
"Well done, my son; Our Lord has forgiven you of your sins and He will help you restore trust with your wife."
"Thank you, Father." Gaston replied but he couldn't take his eyes from the Eucharistic which was in the center of the Adoration Chapel. He knew he would pray his amends and Father Francis nodded in lovingly understanding.
"Go to Him, my son; He's waiting for you." Father whispered before Gaston made his way over to the pew and after genuflecting, he pulled out a pew and making the Sign of the Cross, feeling the power of the sacrament of Reconciliation, Gaston started his penance as he began.
"My Lord and my God, Jesus Christ" but he paused when he looked over and noticed a statue of Our Blessed Mother. Gaston looked at her as he added.
"And to Our Blessed Mother as well as the Holy Spirit…"
When Gaston stepped out of the Adoration Chapel, he felt different. Adam, as well as James and Father Francis were waiting outside but when Gaston looked at Adam, he said.
"I feel much better now."
Then he felt a little embarrassed when he timidly asked.
"Is… there a way… I could learn how wield the sword as Our Blessed Mother instructs?"
A smile appeared on Adam's face as he unfolded his arms. He was standing outside of the Adoration Chapel and above the room was a huge Crucifix and he replied.
"Yes, Gaston. James?"
"Yes, sire?"
"Get that suit of armor ready for our knight here. We'll practice this afternoon and make sure that sword is reverently taken from the case. I know Our Blessed Mother will be helping us when we practice because Gaston?"
"Yes?"
"Our Lady's weapon is going to be such a weapon against the dragon that with Her guiding hand: She will help you defeat him and save Belle! Come," Adam gestured towards the hall and this would take them out to the back of the castle, "let's prepare you to fight. Our Lady's sword is going to be the most powerful blinding light that beast has ever seen!"
All three men received a blessing from Father Francis before Adam directed his friend to the back of the castle. Adam prayed to Our Blessed Mother to help guide him as he started to train Gaston with first: the armor and the significance it symbolized. And he was thankful his friend listened attentively as the training began.
Sometime later…
"Here's Our Blessed Mother's weapon, Gaston." Adam said as he held the sacred weapon in his hands. As he held Our Blessed Mother's sword, Adam watched as Gaston's expression changed. Gaston was wearing the armor and the men spent the entire afternoon preparing him to wield the sword. Presenting it to him, Adam heard Gaston ask.
"Adam?"
"Yes?"
"How am I going to wild it if the dragon knows my weak spots?"
"It will be simple, my friend." Adam answered.
"Our Blessed Mother will guide you with Her sword. Remember: she gave us this weapon centuries ago and the dragon can't stand its blinding light! Give it a try."
Gaston needed no further bidding. As he reached out, he reverently took the sword and along with a few of the other servants present: everyone watched as Gaston took the handle before he drew it out.
The blade was covered in its casing so Gaston had to remove it gently. As he did, a gasp fell over the audience when he took the covering off. And as he did: the blade glowed an illuminating white light.
A hand rested on Gaston's shoulder when he heard a voice say.
"Now, my son: you're ready to fight that beast. The significance of the light means that a man worthy of heart and nobility has made a decision to save the woman he loves. Sacrifice connects with courage and nobility is connected with loyalty."
It was Father Francis and Gaston felt how he remembered how the dragon had taken Belle… the roaring of the fire… how she fainted when she was in his clutches…. The unborn baby… HIS unborn baby!
"Adam?"
"Yes?"
"Where is that filth's cave? And where is she?!'
The grip from Father Francis increased on Gaston's shoulder as he tightened his hand Our Blessed Mother's sword. The light started to grow lighter and stronger as Gaston's heart pumped inside his chest. He envisioned how he would defeat this beast as Adam replied.
"Prepare yourself for a fight, my friend. The dragon hates this sword but he will go blind when he sees you wield it. Remember what you've been trained to redeem love and trust with your Belle."
"Here, Gaston." James answered as the servant approached. Everyone who'd witnessed Gaston's training were outside in the back; including Mrs. Potts, Chip, her son, who Gaston met a long time ago, and others. James was only one out of the many staff Adam had and was thankful for and once he was beside Gaston, he held out a small map as he finished.
"Follow this. It will lead you to Belle."
Gaston looked at the audience before he paused on the Adoration Chapel. The glow of the sword intensified before he softly asked.
"Before I go: can I have a moment with Our Lord?"
"With all the grace and blessings: yes; you may." Father Francis answered and he let Gaston's shoulder go. After Gaston thanked Adam as well as James and the other servants, he returned to the Chapel before he knelt before Our Lord; asking Him for His strength, guidance, and will before he would venture off. He also prayed to Our Blessed Mother for Her guiding hand as well as the power of Her intercession when he would face the beast.
When Gaston mounted George, he had Our Blessed Mother's sword to his side.
"Remember: follow the map and don't worry. When the moment is right raise the sword and the light will blind the dragon. And he fears this most, Gaston." James said as he brushed his hands after helping Gaston on George.
"Yes; I know. But that's what he deserves." Gaston answered determinedly.
"Then go get him, Gaston." Adam encouraged.
Gaston needed no further words. With a "Ha!" with the reins, he pushed George into a fast gallop; in the direction where the dragon's cave was located. He was thankful he'd gone to Reconciliation and trained himself for the fight. He prayed Belle would learn to trust him as he rushed off into the evening light.
When Belle opened her eyes, a sulfur smelling aroma met her nose.
Trying her best to remember, she retraced her thoughts.
"Gaston's betrayal, the tavern, the unborn baby; Harriet… the Beast or… Adam…" She remembered and then instantly the last memory returned. Belle was thankful she regained her memory when she looked around her. The sulfur smelling was suffocating as she tried to regain her site.
When her vision became clear, she felt her heart beat deep within her chest when she realized she was inside a cave but not a cave with rocks. No! She was standing in the middle of a pond of lava.
Then Belle realized she wasn't only standing but she was chained! The chains were solid and when she tried to pull herself free, Belle realized she wasn't able to! Then she heard a voice which made her pause.
"Belle."
When Belle looked up, she instantly paused in her struggling when a figure approached. As she watched, he stepped out from the shadows and she gasped when she realized Gaston stood before her!
"Gaston," Belle began as her husband came close to her, "however did you find me?"
She felt the intense heat from around her and here, Belle looked at Gaston as he approached. He didn't answer her so she asked again.
"Gaston? How did you find me?"
Her husband's eyes glowed a shade of red she'd never seen before when he let out a laugh as he answered.
"There's no way he's going to find you, Belle!"
When she looked at Gaston, they glowed a horrible red and she realized the dragon had transformed himself to look like her husband to trick her! As he started to change, Belle could feel her unborn baby kick as she called.
"Gaston!"
She could hear the sounds of how the dragon was transforming himself back to his true self. And Belle felt the unborn baby kicking and she tried to give comfort but then she heard a voice say.
"Don't presume he's going to come back for you, Belle. You told him so yourself you don't trust him and I love how you gave in that untrust! What a perfect way of ridding you as well as that unborn baby!"
Belle felt the words of the dragon and she looked away when he was finished with his transforming. She remembered how she'd spoken those words to Gaston and how he'd betrayed her. The dragon seemed to be pleased with this as he continued.
"Ah… seems that your words had the effect I wanted! See Belle," she felt a sharp tail touch her cheek, "I'm one of those dragons who likes to make women lie to their husbands and vice versa. I use the past sins of their history to make them distant themselves from them. And I also love cheating and betrayal. Something which humans are so weak to! They will be lured by my intoxicating foul words of lies and they easily fall for the tricks."
The edge of the dragon's tail was sharp. Belle tried her best to fight her way out but the chains behind her seemed to have a mind of their own. The beast wasn't finished.
"Souls who cheat and betray their spouse are perfect for myself, as you can see, Belle. I saw how Gaston cheated on you with that mistress at the tavern because I was one who tricked him to! I also took Adam's wife and lured her and killed her unborn child!"
Belle's eyes widened when she realized this and she opened her eyes. Her heart skipped when she realized she was the next prey of this creature and she started to pray. She prayed she would make it out and escape! As she started, the dragon let out a hiss when she looked Heavenwards! And the chains started to cool a bit as she did.
"Enough of this!" The beast cried and his tail left Belle's cheek. For a moment, she thought he would take off into the sky and leave her but when she heard a strong inhale, she realized he was going to burn her when she looked to the side. She continued to pray as he inhaled and she saw the horrible way he'd transformed himself into.
"Worse than the novels I've read about." She thought but she kept her praying going.
Then she recited a Hail Mary and this caused the beast to instantly take a step back. When she prayed it aloud, the dragon took a step back and his fire started to subdue and at the same time, he hissed.
"NO! Not that!"
"Belle!" A voice suddenly called to the right.
Belle looked over and as she was continuing to pray the Hail Mary, her heart thumped even harder when Gaston, her real husband, stood in the cave's entrance and in his hands, he was brandishing a sword.
When the dragon looked back at the sound of her husband's voice, a strong light glowed within the cave and Belle tried her best to see where the light was coming from. But when she watched, the beast let out another cry when Gaston shouted.
"Never again: will you destroy those souls with your luring intoxicating lies, you filth! In the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ and Our Blessed Mother Mary: YOU ARE DONE!"
Belle watched as her husband ran at full speed with the sword towards the dragon, who'd reared on his hind legs, due to the blinding light, and ran him through the sword. Belle heard the wailing cries from the beast as he let out a blast of fire as the blade seared through him. As Gaston shouted at the top of his lungs, she watched as the blood poured out from the dragon's belly and dripped down through the sword. She wished she could have closed her eyes at the sight but Gaston's fierceness was what captured her. He was wearing a suit of armor and a shield was on the ground and she didn't notice this. But she heard a final cry when Gaston finished.
"And you will never lay hands on those destined to be born! Including my own child!"
Then Belle watched as her husband let out a final cry and pushed with all his might upwards with the sword and this was the final blow. With a deathlike cry, the dragon's eyes turned a black and Belle watched as her husband pulled the sword out before he stepped back. With a thud louder than she'd ever seen or heard, Belle watched as the beast fell to the ground of the lava pond and lay there lifeless. A light which glowed from the sword was in her husband's hands as he walked over and out of breath, placed his foot on the head of the dragon. Then she turned away when Gaston raised it for the final time before he let out a cry and chopped the serphant's head off with a cracking sound.
Then after a moment, Belle heard a deep masculine voice softly ask.
"Belle?"