CHAPTER 4

BELLE nervously looked over her shoulder every few feet as she came to find herself in a forest clearing. Since she had fled the cave Gaston had brought her to, she had been stricken with yet the familiar feeling as though she were being watched. But now, she saw not a thing. Not Gaston following her, not a single person or even an animal in sight, but she still felt multiple pairs of eyes on her. It was getting dark, anyone could be hiding out there, waiting for her, watching her.

She shook her head and let out a deep breath and took a step forward, hoping she was walking back in the direction Gaston had originally brought her. Belle swallowed and felt her throat tightening as she looked around the clearing and saw nothing but a thick dense cold fog settling in.

She clutched at herself as it was getting fairly cold and when she had taken her walk in the Courtyard earlier, she'd not thought to grab a cloak. Now, she was wishing she had.

She was cold and hungry, and she was sure she was lost, and somewhere here in the same forest, Gaston was now a Beast and suffering. She felt a pang of pity tug at her heartstrings. A part of her was tempted to turn heel and go back, to plead with Gaston to come back with her. Perhaps there was another way his curse could be broken, perhaps Adam's curse was unique and if it could not be broken and merely passed on from man to man, perhaps the circumstances changed, as well. She was about to take a step forward, though Belle let out a yelp of surprise as she felt the heel of her boot snag on what was either a twisted gnarled old tree root is hidden underneath a pile of leaves, or more likely, her own foot. The roots in this forest seemed to have a mind of their own. But her feet and legs felt like lead.

She landed on her ankle as she toppled to the forest floor and she was unable to stop the cry of pain as it left her lips as she felt her ankle twist in a way that she knew shouldn't.

She attempted to stand up but couldn't, and nearly cried out again as just the feeble attempt sent a swell of pain up her leg. She painfully managed to raise herself to her knees as she looked around frantically with panicked eyes, clutching at her chest.

"Gaston? Adam? Lumiere? Mrs. Potts? Someone? Help me, I-I can't breathe, and I can't walk!" she called out. She was met with silence. All Belle could hear in response was the sound of her own breaths, though they sounded painfully slow. So slow, in fact, that if she would have heard someone else breathing as she was now, Belle would have feared for their health.

Surely, she was going to die if she could not get a proper breath in.

She tried to breathe quicker, as she knew no one could live like this. She did not understand. She had suspected these woods tended to do strange things to people who dared to venture within their borders, but could they really trick someone into forgetting how to breathe?

She felt so scared. Was she going to die out here? Her lungs burned as they begged her to fill in the air. It felt so real. Belle knew that she was panicking and needed to attempt to control her breaths but couldn't. "Adam!" Belle screamed as she fell to the ground with a panicked sob, her now-twisted ankle no longer able to support her trying to stand up even on her knees. She knew her husband would not be in these woods, but she was desperate at this point for him.

No one was answering her cries for help, and she highly doubted that Gaston in his monstrous form had thought to come after her. She felt foolish for considering calling for Gaston to help her.

No doubt he was too angry to care about her enough to think to come to help her, at least to see her safely out of the woods, but she had hoped that he would be able to put aside his feelings for her and help her. She was no doubt to feel ridiculous to feel as though Gaston had betrayed her, but she had always hoped there was goodness within the man.

She'd tried too hard to tap into that spark and bring it out of him and now, he would leave her out here to die, and she'd deserve it. She should have tried harder to help Gaston.

"Gaston, please! Help me!" Belle whimpered in a trembling voice that was barely above a whisper and did not carry on the chilly breeze that swept through the forest clearing.

She curled herself into a feeble ball and tried to focus on taking breaths that she wasn't even sure were reaching her burning lungs at this point. She had never felt so confused, or so scared.

Was she breathing? She honestly didn't know.

The unmistakable sound of cracking branches and leaves being stepped on met her pounding eardrums, which were previously filled with the rush of her own blood. Belle bolted upright into a sitting position and then she froze at the sight that met her eyes. Horror was the only emotion left within them.

Four large and sturdy grey wolves were stalking her path. She shivered though tried to calm the shakes in her body, forcing herself to stay motionless, too afraid to even try to draw in a breath of air.

The wolves sniffed and pawed at the ground along which she'd walked, stalking her trail, and following her scent. The four beasts hastened their pace as the scent grew heavier.

Finally, the wolves seemed to realize that their prey was directly in front of their path and all four animals collectively lifted their heads and stared at her. Fury and hunger could be seen in their yellow eyes. Belle let out a moan of fear as she scrambled backward onto her rump and pressed herself against the trunk of a tree, trying to ignore the swelling pain in her twisted ankle. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and these beasts as she possibly could.

Belle's terror grew as the largest wolf, the one in the middle flanked by the other three, likely the Alpha of his Pack, raised his head to the forest's canopy and let out a ferocious howl that stuffed the chills down her throat. Frantically, she found a loose rock buried underneath a pile of fallen red and gold leaves and lobbed it clumsily at the wolf, hoping it would scare the pack of vicious predators away. Unfortunately, her foolish actions only made the wolves even angrier.

Her mind traveled back to a similar scenario when she had thought she would be killed the first night in the castle as she had attempted to flee from her prison. Her handsome Prince had saved her life that night, though his arm had been horribly mangled when a wolf had bitten him and taken a chunk out of his arm. He still had the scar, a permanent visible reminder of his bravery, and in Belle's mind, the fateful night that things had begun to change between the two of them.

Her greatest fear now was that these wolves would rip her apart limb from limb, and this time, there would be no one to save her. The pack of wolves now stood only a few feet from her, their hackles hunched, tails whiplashing sharply back and forth, prepared to pounce.

Their razor-sharp teeth glinted dangerously in the fading light as they growled. Belle squeezed her eyes shut and sharply turned her head, fully bracing herself for the feeling of multiple pairs of teeth clamping down on her neck, for her life to end inevitably, but that moment did not come.

From somewhere in the distance, she heard a familiar fierce roar that sent a swell of hope in her chest. She opened her eyes and looked to the front just in time to see Gaston bounding forward, his monstrous form as a Beast towering over the wolves.

Her heart filled with dread as the four wolves turned away from her and launched themselves at him.

"Gaston!" Belle screamed, panicked, as she watched the wolves pile on top of the fierce Beast.

Gaston started to twist and writhe in desperation, trying to rid himself of the wolves now clawing and biting, clamping their jaws around his broad neck, though the wolves latched their jaws around both of his arms, his back, to keep from being thrown off. Belle could only watch in horror as her village's former hero threw himself against the trunk of a particularly thick dead oak tree, trying to knock the wolves off his back. Belle lost sight of Gaston for a fraction of a second, and she feared Gaston had been lost to her, as it was four against one and hardly an even match.

She shakily managed to sit up on her knees on the ground, careful to not put too much strain on her twisted ankle, praying that Gaston was unharmed. A chill went down her spine as she heard one of the wolves let out a horrifying howl that sounded like death, as Gaston reared up and sank its claws into its neck with all of his force to ensure the wolf's demise.

The wolf's ghastly howl faded to a choked whine as the last of its breath left it and the wolf died. The Alpha of the Pack collapsed in a heap to the ground, and the other three quickly scampered off, the sound of their terrified yelps echoing through the clearing as the wolves fled the scene.

Belle clung to the tree for support, her whole body trembling as she struggled to find her breath as Gaston staggered backward, breathing heavily, and a gash on his neck and right arm were bleeding profusely from where the four wolves had bitten him.

Feeling a vent of adrenaline surge through her veins, she somehow shakily managed to get to her feet and limped towards Gaston not caring how it looked, threw her arms around the Beast's middle, expressing her relief and gratitude the only way she knew how.

Her entire body still shook with fear. She was forced to relinquish her grip on his middle when she felt the strength in his knees dissipate, and his knees buckled beneath him, and he was brought to his knees a few paces in front of her. Bile rose in her throat as she caught sight of Gaston's mangled arm and neck and was stricken with a bout of paralyzing fear.

This was similar to what had happened with Adam in the woods and was now happening again.

"I—I don't…I never…" she started to say, her words coming to her disjointed as her mind felt like it was reeling. "I—I'm so sorry, Gaston, I—I didn't mean this, j-just look at you, you're hurt! You are a mess! It is all my fault!" she apologized, tears brimming at the edges of her lids, and they began to slip down her cheeks. "You could have been killed!" she whispered, terrified.

Gaston was still panting heavily from the exertion of having to fend off four fully grown wolves, but he managed to summon enough strength in his throat to answer her as he blearily lifted his gaze to her.

"No." He spat his answer more than spoke it as he scoffed and rolled his eyes to the sky. "It would take more than a few lousy wolves to kill me, Belle. Did you forget, I'm the best hunter in the realm?"

She couldn't be sure, but she thought he was beginning to sound like his former self, arrogant and cocky. Though she thought she caught the faintest twinges of mocking in his lilt, a thing he did so naturally.

Belle furrowed her brows into a frown as he continued, though her hardened expression in response to Gaston's usual posturing softened as his own expression clouded and then he looked regretful.

"I did not mean to…chase you away, Belle. I…I'm…sorry," he growled through gritted teeth, sounding as though just speaking his apology were causing him great pain, though perhaps that could have been the pain in his arm from his wounds.

Wounds that would become infected if she did not help get him back to the castle for medical treatment. A surge of determination coursed through her just then as Gaston hesitantly looked at her, and she felt a flood of sympathy and pity wash over her. She supposed she should have been shocked that Gaston had, for the first time in his life, apologized to her.

For a moment, she did not know what to say to him, and could only stare at the Beast, gobsmacked. Gaston had just saved her life, and he would likely face scorn once she brought him back to the castle in his turned and monstrous form as he was, but she was not about to let such scorn continue for him.

She owed him a life debt and vowed to help him in whatever way she could. Belle gingerly approached where he knelt, too weak to move, and summoned every ounce of courage within herself to touch his paw. She flinched, but only because she did so the moment her hand was over his, and Gaston stiffened.

"Please, Gaston. You're hurt. This is all my fault. Let me do this. Let me take you back. Let me help you, Gaston," Belle pleaded in a voice that was soft and smoother than silk.

Gaston looked up at her, wide-eyed and astonished. He looked more than shocked by her kind reaction. It was clear he was taken aback by her kind offer and did not know how to formulate an apt reply in his mind. Gaston parted his lips as if to speak, though nothing came out. Before he could try again, however, there came the sound of crunching twigs underfoot.

Belle whirled around with a gasp that escaped her lips, fully expecting another pack of wolves to have caught wind of their scent and had tracked them here.

Though what met her terror-filled eyes was the furthest thing from a pack of wolves that could be.

Relief and joy battled on her expression as tears flooded her vision once more. Though this time, they were tears of happiness, not fear, as her eyes landed upon Adam and her hearth keep, Isabelle, standing on the opposite side of the forest clearing, their expressions awash with disgust and horror at the monstrous deformed creature that knelt on its knees a few paces from Belle.

Hope swelled in her chest as Isabelle's gaze lingered on Gaston for a moment and then the maid turned her gaze towards Belle, a cloud passing over her face. Belle, sensing danger, opened her mouth to speak, though before she could, Adam was already bounding forward on his heels, drawing his knife, a cry of rage upon his lips, as he made a beeline for Gaston. She had no time to feel her heart soar at the sight of her beloved husband returning home early from Paris.

Belle was appalled as she realized what Adam fully intended to do in order to protect her life, his, and Isabelle's, and struggled to get to her feet. Isabelle darted forward and helped her upright. With the support of her friend, she clung to Isabelle's arm for support and angrily called to Adam.

"ADAM! STOP!" she shouted at the top of her lungs as Adam pressed the tip of his dagger to Gaston's throat. "This is not the way, Adam, you are not killing this man! He's innocent!" Belle shouted.

Isabelle was startled and turned to look at the Princess with incredulous disbelief brimming in her eyes.

"Innocent? Belle, do you hear yourself? Of course, he can! This-this beast almost killed you!"

Belle vehemently shook her head, trying to send away the hearth keep's words.

"He-he didn't, Isabelle, I-I know that's how it looks, b-but Gaston saved my life. He saved me from four wolves. That's not the point! He's helpless! He's hurt!" Belle protested, hardly daring to believe this.

"Exactly why I should kill this creature now, Belle! So that this monstrous wretch can't come after you again!" Adam shouted, losing the last vestiges of his thin patience, and pressed the tip of his weapon deeper into Gaston's neck so that a single bead of crimson welled at the gash he was now creating there.

"NO! I don't care, Adam, we're not killing him! If we do this, then we're no better than how he used to be! I know there's good in him, Adam, he can change and be free of this curse, just as you were, my love, please! We have to help him! He got hurt protecting me, and I owe it to him to try to get him the help that he needs! He needs to come back with us!" Belle raised her voice so that Adam could hear her.

She could hardly stand it. She knew Gaston had not exactly been a good man when he had been human, or perhaps his goodness had been so entrenched within himself that it would take a near miracle to bring it to the surface now. Though the fact that Adam's own curse had passed onto Gaston was more than a punishment enough, if not too much so.

Gaston was innocent and could no longer defend himself. Belle knew, from all that Papa had taught her growing up, and all that was within their culture and her own life, that killing a defenseless man was very, very wrong. More to the point, she did not want her husband to have Gaston's literal blood on his hands. The tension between the husband and wife was unbearable for what felt like an eternity.

Then, the silence between them all in the forest clearing was broken as the Prince heaved a frustrated sigh of defeat, as though he could not be bothered to argue with her. He turned away from Gaston, who was now struggling to remain kneeling on his knees and slipping away from consciousness as the seconds passed. Then, Prince Adam gazed heavily at Belle.

Belle shivered and ground her teeth as she saw something in her love's face she had never seen before. A shadow of sadness passed across Adam's strong and angular features. And even greater regret.

"You'll regret this moment, Belle, love, mark my words," he growled and then turned away without another word in greeting to his wife to help Gaston to his feet, struggling to lift the Beast upright.

The Prince only succeeded when Belle and Isabelle collectively darted forward to help support Gaston's body weight on either side of him. Belle tried to shoot both her husband and hearth keep a grateful look with just her eyes, though both Adam and Isabelle ignored her.

Belle cringed as they began the long walk back through the forest, hoping that she had not made a grave mistake just now in advocating for Gaston's character and insisting Gaston be brought back to be healed.

BELLE fought the urge to shiver as she sat in her favorite armchair by the fire, her hands wound around a steaming mug of tea that had been specially blended with a calming tonic by Mrs. Potts herself upon their arrival back to the castle within minutes of Adam whisking her away to their chambers.

He had relinquished Gaston's unconscious form to a pair of strong and able-bodied guards, who, although shocked and stunned at seeing another Beast, had not hesitated to follow their master's orders and escorted him to a cell down below in the dungeons where he'd remain.

Belle had confessed to Adam everything of her and Gaston's history in the village prior to her coming here, how she suspected that somehow, Adam's curse must have passed onto him as he had fallen off the balcony and supposedly to his death.

She did not know how or why Gaston had survived, but after the Beast had saved her life just as Adam had done once before, she knew deep down they owed Gaston the same courtesy and wanted to extend a hand in friendship.

"I don't trust him, my love, after the misery that he's caused you, to say nothing of almost killing me," he growled, a shadow of anger flaring to life behind his wintry blue eyes as the edges of his mouth pinched and turned down in a frown. He pinched at the bridge of his nose as though fighting off the beginnings of a headache.

For all Belle knew of her beloved husband, he was.

"I don't like that you insist on keeping him here, even in the dungeons for the time being notwithstanding, what if he tries to hurt someone?" Adam announced in a rough voice calloused with ire as he stood away from Belle, his back paraded to her as he looked out the window.

His expression was lax and grim together as the man finally turned around to face his wife, and Belle was momentarily surprised to see nothing on his face. No happiness at the thought of the man who had nearly killed him and had taken Belle from him was now a prisoner in his dungeons below. No relief. No visible emotion that she could see, and for a moment, it frightened her.

She did not know how to react and struggled greatly to think about what to say that might supplicate him some. As his wife and Princess, she respected Adam's decisions and very rarely contested his wishes when his declarations on a matter were made clear to her, however, considering that Gaston had been very nearly killed in trying to save her life, Beast now or not, she could not allow the poor Changeling man to be turned out of their home so cruelly as it became clear to her Adam clearly wished to do. She felt a pang of pity tug at her heartstrings.

"Please, Adam, I-I know that what I'm asking of you is a lot, to let him stay, but I wouldn't feel right about sending him away. Keep him down below in the dungeons for now, if you must, until you feel Gaston has proven his worth to be let out, but at least give him food and water and let someone here treat his wounds, Adam, please," Belle begged, her desperation getting the better of her as she came to stand beside her husband and gingerly rested a hand on his bicep.

Adam turned slowly to look at her, his previously hardened expression softening somewhat. Adam stared deep into Belle's soulful dark eyes, and for a moment, hated this yielding to his wife, though he knew he would give anything to see her smile again, and smiling now because of him.

Her love and affection she held for him were intoxicating, something he could never get enough of, and it was his desire to see his wife smile at him that compelled him to assent to his beloved wife's request.

"Fine, my love, the man may stay until his wounds are healed and not a single moment longer, but after that, he leaves. I will give him at least a month, as his wounds looked serious. I don't care what happens to him. He can rot in the woods for all I care, and while we're on the subject, I don't want you going down there to see him without me, Belle. A guard will be posted at his cell at all times and I will send one of the servants to tend his wounds, but you will not be helping him as you helped me. Man thinks he can steal you away from me, he is mistaken," he grunted in a thoroughly disgruntled-sounding voice. He did not sound at all pleased to hear himself agreeing with her, and he was sure he looked shocked, though less so than he expected to be.

He was rewarded for his answer with the faint ghost of a smile from his wife as she snaked her arms around his middle and planted her lips against his, a feather light inquiry before Belle pulled back slightly to study the Prince's flushed face.

Her smile widened and she leaned in to kiss him again, though a loud and impatient-sounding knock on the door startled the pair of newlyweds and brought them out of their intimate moment.

The knock was a painful reminder of the world that existed outside the door of their chambers here in the West Wing. Belle and Adam looked towards the door with dread and sighed in frustration, annoyed their moment alone was no more.

Adam let out a frustrated growl and rested his forehead against Belle's as Belle shakily wiped at her mouth with the back of her fingers before pulling away, though she did not let go of her lover's hand.

"I should see who that is, Adam," she whispered lowly in a hoarse voice.

Adam begrudgingly nodded his agreement and reluctantly slipped his hand out of Belle's grasp.

Belle allowed herself a moment to steady herself and then swiftly crossed the West Wing and opened the door, leaving Adam to stare longingly in Belle's direction as she turned the knob to open the door. She opened the door just wide enough to peer out into the hallway to find their hearth keep, Isabelle, oblivious to the intimate moment that her unexpected arrival had accidentally just interrupted.

Belle awkwardly cleared her throat and again wiped at her lips with the back of her fingers.

"Isabelle, this is a surprise, what can we do for you?" Belle announced, sounding flustered.

The redheaded maid looked confused for a moment as she eyed the coloring of Belle's now-reddening cheeks with a critical interest and it was at that moment that she caught sight of the Prince coming to stand protectively behind belle and rested a strong hand on her left shoulder, his own blush matching that of the Princess's.

Isabelle's eyes widened in understanding as she realized she had just inadvertently intruded upon a private moment between the two of them and she quickly cast her gaze downward at the realization of what she had accidentally interrupted.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, I, ah, don't intend to take up too much of your time, but I come to you now with news, princess. There's...a problem downstairs," she begged, blurting out her apology, her words sounding clumsy and blunt as she kept her gaze fixated on the heavily laden supper tray she had brought them from the kitchens. Isabelle did not immediately know what to say if she should perhaps excuse herself so that Prince Adam and Princess Belle could continue their romantic moment or if she should stay the course and do as Monsieur Lumiere had asked. He had taken it upon himself to corner her downstairs in the hallway as she was heading towards the kitchens and had asked her to speak with the master of the castle regarding an incident. Embarrassed, Isabelle decided on the latter.

"Monsieur Lumiere, sire, he sent me here. The Beast we brought back from the woods, he's in a considerable amount of pain, and he's... ah…temperamental, at best, Your Highness, and will not allow the good doctor anywhere near him when the physician attempts to tend to his wounds…"

Belle stiffened and cautiously eyed Adam out of the corner of her gaze as the Prince moved forward to take the supper tray bearing two bowls of delectable smelling pumpkin soup and chalices of chilled wine from Isabelle, setting the tray down onto a small side table and as he was doing so, he shot his wife a look.

A warning look, she realized with a heavy heart and knew that someone else would have to venture down into the dungeons to tend to Gaston.

She would have to keep her contact with Gaston to a minimum for the time being until the man healed. She supposed she should just be grateful Adam was letting him stay.

Belle let her gaze linger on the young maid in front of her for perhaps longer than was necessary, remembering how she had mentioned once that she possessed considerable skills in healing.

Perhaps…Isabelle could be the one to venture below into Gaston's cell and calm him enough that the doctor could perform the necessary work that was needed to ensure no infection set in.

Gaston always did tend to react more favorably towards women, and she really was quite pretty. There was a chance that her idea would work, with a bit of persuasion. She knew Gaston had guards posted outside of his door and that they would have likely chained him.

He would likely stay chained in the dungeons with a pair of guards assigned to monitor him until Gaston had proven himself to Adam that he meant no one here in this castle any harm and that he could be trusted, even if his personality left much to be desired. Belle had to believe Gaston could change. The Prince had graciously given Gaston one month to recover from his wounds before he would be evicted from the castle and its grounds, and Belle would likely never see Gaston again following that.

For reasons she could not explain, that idea hurt, and she felt a little nagging pull to do whatever she could to try to help the hunter break himself of this witch's curse before his allotted time here in the castle was up.

Belle knew she had to try. Belle stared at Isabelle. The maid a year or two younger than her liked her, she knew, especially since she had begun to teach her to learn how to read. She was respectful towards her and even when Isabelle already knew what Belle would be about to tell her whenever they spoke, she remained quiet and polite and listened patiently and she showed the utmost respect.

She noted Isabelle's shiftiness as she all but squirmed under the scrutiny of Belle's gaze and Belle instantly flinched. It was not her intent to make the maid feel uncomfortable. Belle paused as she thought out her words carefully.

She knew that what she would be asking Isabelle would be a lot for her new friend to take in, but Gaston's weakness was pretty women, and Isabelle was perhaps one of the prettiest maids that Babette had under her employment as a maid. Belle knew she did not want to pressure her friend into this, but she knew she wanted to phrase her request for the woman's help in such a way that Isabelle would be more inclined to make her own decision to help her. She looked down at her hands for a few minutes as she gathered her thoughts and finally, she broke the heavy silence between them.

"I was hoping that I could convince you to go down into Gaston's cell, Isabelle, just for a little while, while the doctor tends his wounds. I would take myself if I could, but ah, Gaston and I have…history," she announced after a brief pause. "I think if I were to go to him, I would only upset him. Adam and I think...that it would be best if the separation between the two of us were to be maintained. Gaston seeing me right now would only stoke his anger further. All I would need for you to do is for you to be in the cell with him and talk with him, keep him distracted while the physician tends to him. Please, Isabelle, would you do this for me?" she begged, chewing on her bottom lip in her hesitation.

Both the maid and her husband were looking at her now like she had lost her mind, and for all Belle knew, perhaps she had, but neither did Isabelle outright refuse her request for help, and Belle felt some hope swell in her chest. Isabelle's face went pale and her lips slightly agape in disbelief as she stared at Belle. Isabelle's eyes went wide as her mind struggled to process the nature of the Princess's request. She took a staggering step back and clutched at the skirts of her dress as though in defense, shaking her head vehemently to herself as Belle suspected imagined scenarios of Gaston in his monstrous form as a Beast ran through her imagination. Isabelle felt as though she had been gut-punched. She suddenly wanted nothing more than to turn in a twist of her skirts and flee the room, or for a hole in the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

The dread in her tone was obvious as she pleaded with the Prince and Princess of the castle.

"Oh, my lady, please." Isabelle cringed. "Please, no, what you ask of me is...is inappropriate!"

The Prince made an odd noise of dissent through his nose as though he agreed with her words, which surprised Isabelle, though she had no time to ponder it as Belle smiled, albeit nervously, and awkwardly shifted her weight between her feet.

"Were there another way, I would take it, Isabelle, but I can't think of any other way that we could get him to remain calm to let the doctor look at him. He—he's not so bad, once you get to know him, and…if I could learn to look past Adam's exterior when he was…changed," Belle said slowly, careful to choose her words correctly, "then I hope the same for Gaston. He…he really is an honorable man. Deep down," she chuckled nervously as she brushed a tendril of her hair that had fallen over her forehead out of the way as she tried to appease Isabelle and plead her case to her.

Isabelle looked sick and her stricken expression was one of utmost disbelief as she regarded her monarchs with no small amount of surprise in her eyes.

Surely, Princess Belle was not at all serious. However, during her time spent with the young woman, she had known few precious moments when the master's wife was anything but serious. She wanted her to…willingly spend time with that…creature?

An involuntary violent chill went up and down her back at the notion and Isabelle was hardly able to veil her reflexive gasp of disgust at the idea.

She wanted nothing more than to outright refuse the Princess's request, to turn on her heels and quit the scene altogether, to pack her belongings and return to the village and not look back. However, visions of her Pop-Pop's tired and careworn face flitted in front of her mind, and she was reminded of how good the Prince and his new wife had been to her when she had first arrived here. Her heart sank to the tips of her toes as she realized that despite the ridiculousness of Princess Belle's request, this was one such request from her dear friend she couldn't refuse.

Her grandfather needed the money she earned from this position to be sent to him faithfully every week or else they would lose their home. Her Pop-Pop would not survive even a few days on the streets of their village before he would succumb to his ailments. They were barely able to sustain the roof over their head as it was, which was why she had desperately sought work in the castle.

Almost as if in a dream, recognizing her defeat, Isabelle heard herself answer the Princess in a flat voice devoid of emotion. "I will do it, Your Highness, right away, I will not keep the castle's physician waiting, my lady," she sighed.

Stiffly, before either Belle or Adam could say a word and before her resolve could fail her, she turned on her heels and promptly exited the room, leaving the Prince and Princess to stare after her, watching her go.

Isabelle was stricken with the cold feeling of dread as she made her way hastily down the corridor of the West Wing and towards the grand staircase. She was grateful at least that there were no other souls wandering about as she made her way down to the dungeons. Her thoughts were reeling. Princess Belle should have known that Isabelle's answer would not have changed, but she could have been better prepared. She felt rather blindsided.

She let out a heavy sigh as she stopped in front of the door that would take her down the worm way of the castle's dungeons. She awkwardly shifted her weight to rest on her left leg and huffed in irritation as she folded her arms across her slender chest.

She could not believe she had agreed to do this for Belle, their friendship notwithstanding. She put a hand over her mouth. Isabelle toyed with a lock of her red hair and chewed on her lip as she glanced furtively at the doorhandle she knew she needed to grab.

"I really am a stupid woman, a stupid girl with stupid dreams who never learns her stupid place in this world," she whispered hoarsely to herself.

She was not doing this. She was not doing this. She. Was. Not. Doing. This. Oh, but surprise! She was. Why? Why was she so stupid? She should have been firm with Belle and stood her ground and staunchly refused her ask.

Isabelle wished she could retreat back into the sanctuary of her private room in the servants' quarters, but she had given the Princess her word that she would do this, and it was too late to turn back now. Though every fiber in her being wanted her to. But her stubborn legs wouldn't let her and refused to budge. The flustered young redhead wished her mind would quiet, for five minutes. What on earth was she doing down here? She pressed a hand to her forehead in annoyance and thumped it against the panel of the door, once, twice, and then three times.

It didn't help. She knew she had to go. She exhaled deep shaky breaths in the form of long exhales. She was nervous, yes, but she had given her word. She had promised Belle she would do this task for her. She could not, would not, turn away now.

She paused to re-do her plait and with a tug of her apron and an irritated huff, she stretched out a trembling hand towards the knob of the door.

She knew she could not stand out here forever. As much as she would have liked to, the other servants here in the castle would notice if she did, and rampant gossip would start to spread.

The overwhelmed maid recited a quick prayer to God under her breath as her unblinking eyes gazed numbly at the door she knew she needed to twist and pull in order to open the door.

Her hand seemed to have a mind of its own as she shakily rose the delicate appendage to the door and her slender fingers curled around the chipped handle.

"Uh, I really am a stupid girl," she whispered to herself for a second time in barely a whisper.

And then, with a twist and firm push, the massive door to the dungeons creaked open loudly, likely alerting the monstrous Beast within and the guards assigned to their post she was here.

She grimaced as through the barely cracked door, delicate catlike green eyes peered nervously into the darkness of the hall. Isabelle breathed a heavy and scattered breath as she slipped in through the door and vanished into the darkness of the dungeons.

She prayed that trusting Belle's judgment wasn't a mistake…