"You ran like FOOLS!" Gaston shouted in an angry moan from his place at the local tavern, now converted to his personal inn and town hall. His bed—made completely from various animal bones, furs, and horns—was surrounded by timid men and tending nurses. "Don't try and apologize!"
"But Gaston," the blacksmith, Lucky, interrupted, "those knives flew right out of the drawers! And the drawers threw them!"
"Shut up," he yelled while tossing a pan of soup aside. One of his blonde fans squealed and struggled to wipe up the mess. "Give me my gun…I'm going to have the head of that beast on my wall if I have to kill every cursed thing in that castle first!" He tried to stand but winced and immediately fell back against the pillow.
"Gaston!" Bambi squeaked. "Stay in bed until you're better!"
"You can't tell me what to do!" He tried again and failed with a painful scream.
"Fine," she pouted. He scowled, folding his arms. "Go get your beast," she taunted, "but I'm not dragging your half-beaten—"
"You won't have to," he icily bit. "You'll be dragging that monster's head back to my wall."
* * * * *
Belle stared blankly out of the grand picture window, watching the rain fall across the abandoned garden. Her head ached in lull numbness, and she couldn't remember how she got to the oversized bed in which she was bundled with blankets and tea nearby. She only recognized her surroundings as a part of the beautiful castle she had grown to love caring for, although she had never seen this part before. It was clearly untouched by her; she would have cleaned the heavy curtains and gray spider webs lining the rich woodwork. The dankness of the room scared her, but still the strange magic of the palace seemed deeper than ever. Although this was foreign, she knew she was safe. Lightning flashed again across the gray sky, and she blinked. A reflection remained in the glass, and curious, she stood to try and find it. She rubbed her brow; she had been hit, she remembered now. The Beast! With a gasp, she flew to the door. It was locked.
Fighting tears of not knowing how her savior faired, she threw a weak punch into the heavy wood. Her eye caught that misplaced light on the window. It came from the far corner of the room, centered in an orb of glowing luminance. It enchanted her. She slowly moved towards the small glass cover, seeing that same rose she had found before. Her eyes widened—it was no longer red, but turning a deep burgundy. The bright crimson petals had fallen and turned rigid. A new flower was blooming, black as coal. A rolling rumble was echoing down the hall; the Beast was returning. She flew back to the bed, trying to fall asleep before he could rattle the door loose. She remembered all too well the last reaction he had in discovering her discovering the strange rose, which seemed to be the source of the castle's enchantment.
Silence fell before the door very quietly creaked open. She could hear his heavy breath and feel his bright eyes checking to see if she was indeed still sleeping. Belle shut her eyes tight as she heard his heavy robe sweep across the dusty floor. With a sigh, he knelt at her beside.
"Ange courageux," he muttered, "what have I forced you to bear? I took your father from you, then your freedom—now I jeopardize your very life." Her eyes narrowed again with tears as she heard his empty weeping. Seeing nothing but darkness, hearing only his quaking voice, she would think him to be a man with a true soul. "I…I am more selfish than before…you could never…" Her heart ached as his words trailed. "Never love…"
Love? Belle tried to keep her breath steady. Love? He…loved her? She heard a shuffling in the hall once again and immediately, the Beast stood. A smile was fighting to curl her lip; he loved her. She had never known such compassion as love, but who else would save her from her own? Of course, he had been cold and cruel, but she could see a side of him others could not. This was that very face of his many faces. It was changing as his servants entered.
"Master," she recognized as Lumiere, "I came as fast as…Belle!"
"Where is her father?" the Beast asked.
"He's safe, he's safe! A few friends are watching him." Belle released a sigh of relief. "How is Madame?"
"Still asleep…Lumiere, I can't keep her here. What she did this night…"
"We can't send her home, Master," Cogsworth added. "Gaston will not return soon, but when he does, he will take her hostage for sure!"
"Never," the Beast growled. He looked back to her sleeping body, now slowly stirring. "She cannot leave. You all must make her comfortable here so that she will not try and return home." Belle frowned slightly in her sleep.
"A pleasure, Master," Lumiere replied, "but have you thought of perhaps asking that she stay until you both might…"
"No. No, she stays for her own safety, which is all…"
"Master," Cogsworth muttered, "have you lost all hope?"
"Hope…" he moaned. There was an odd pause before he spun towards the door. "Take that out of here," he commanded darkly. She could hear them shuffling towards the rose. No, she thought, it was the only source of light she had. "When she wakes, which will be soon, make her dinner. Give her a new gown—let her have the castle again." In a moment, he was gone.
"He can't give up now."
"You should see the bond between them!"
"They're both so close…we're all so close!"
He loved her.