Chapter 6: The painful truth

It was maddening!

Annoyed, Lumiere turned on his side and closed his eyes, but it was no use, he just couldn't find rest. And that was mainly due to the fact that he felt exactly that something was wrong. Cogsworth had not left him alone for a moment when he was seriously ill and now, when Lumiere was feeling much better, the majordomo had not let himself be seen even once. And as if that wasn't unusual enough, everyone else was behaving absolutely strangely. Prince Adam, Princess Belle, Madame Potts, they all avoided his gaze, fussed or suddenly changed the subject as soon as Lumiere asked about his friend's whereabouts.

"But surely not Plumette!"

Yes, Lumiere was sure that his beloved Plumette would tell him what was going on. After all, she had gone out especially to see where Cogsworth was.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door and only a moment later Plumette entered the room, a tray of food in her hands.

"Lumiere, mon amour! I bring you... Lumiere, sacre bleu, what are you doing?"

She almost dropped the tray in shock when she saw that Lumiere was about to get up.

"Oh, mon cherie! Such profane words from your lovely mouth?"

The woman paused, completely perplexed by these words, before continuing outraged: "Lumiere! I mean it! You're not supposed to get up yet! The doctor said..."

"...that I should stay in bed until 'e's sure I'm strong enough.", Lumiere finished his sweetheart's sentence, rolling his eyes theatrically. But seeing her angry face, he smiled and relented in a soft voice: "Mon amour... I will not leave the room until the doctor allows it, you 'ave my word."

Plumette puffed contemptuously, set the tray down rather noisily on a nearby table and said firmly, arms folded in front of her chest: "I would advise you to do so, Monsieur!"

Lumiere laughed before rising with obvious difficulty, struggling for a moment to keep his balance. Already Plumette was at his side supporting him, not taking her worried gaze off her beloved. He smiled before leaving a gentle kiss on her lips.

"But I need to move a few steps before my legs completely forget what they're for."

Now it was Plumette's turn to roll her eyes, though she couldn't help a soft laugh.

"Very well, but really only a few, oui?"

"Oui.", he whispered lovingly before making his way to the table with slow and very shaky steps. He didn't like it at all, but when he reached the table and dropped onto the chair rather than sitting down, he had to admit that the few steps had made him very tired. Lumiere had to take a few deep breaths before he could turn his attention to the food. Plumette looked at him almost punitively.

"See, I told you! You're still too weak to walk around 'ere!"

Lumiere said nothing, just smiled placatingly and began to eat. He noticed himself that he lacked the energy he normally seemed to have almost too much of. And even though his breathing was much easier and his coughing attacks had decreased, he would have to admit to himself that it would take several more days until he was back to his old self. But he had time, so there was no need to worry about that. Something else did worry Lumiere, though. Or rather, someone else.

But should he really ask Plumette? Would she answer him or would she be as evasive and defensive as the others? The worry about his best friend was unbearable. He hesitated, but he just had to know what was going on.

"Plumette... 'ave you...? Did you actually find our majordomo's 'iding place?"

He laughed, but when he saw the expression on her face, the laughter abruptly faded. She had suddenly gone pale, her posture stiff and tense. She stared at him for a moment before averting her gaze and nervously tugging at her apron.

"Plumette, what..."

"I... I'm sorry..."

She looked at Lumiere for a moment, tears in her eyes, then suddenly turned on her heel and dashed for the door.

"Plumette!"

Before Lumiere could even react she was gone, having pulled the door shut behind her with so much momentum that it slammed loudly into the lock.

Lumiere remained sitting thunderstruck, not knowing what to do, or even what to think. Confused, he stared at the plate in front of him and tried to understand what had just happened, but he could not. Only one thing was absolutely clear to him: Something had happened, something that had to do with Cogsworth. And the way everyone around him reacted, it had to be something bad. But why didn't anyone tell him anything? Why did everyone keep him in the dark?

Everyone in the castle knew that the cook and the majordomo were like cats and dogs.

Everyone knew that when the two of them were in the same room, there was bound to be a quarrel.

Everyone knew that the two men simply could not live in peace with each other.

And everyone knew that neither of them could live without the other.

Everyone knew that the two were bound by an intimate friendship.

Everyone knew that they loved each other like brothers.

Everyone knew that they would do anything for each other.

So why? Why didn't anyone tell him what had happened? Were they just afraid he was still too weak for bad news? And if so, did that mean that not just something bad had happened, but something really bad?

Lumiere began to tremble. Was his best friend in danger? He noticed how his heartbeat and breathing were getting faster and faster. He had to know what was going on! Immediately!

He jumped to his feet and would have fallen at the same moment if he hadn't supported himself on the table. He squinted and tried to keep his balance while the whole room seemed to spin around him. Only after quite a while did the dizziness subside and Lumiere dared to let go of the tabletop. He remained standing for a moment before he staggered to the door. When he got there after what felt like an eternity, he stopped again, not only to catch his breath, but also to suppress the nausea that was rising. But he had no time to lose! He was already grasping the door handle when a thought made him pause. Hadn't he just given Plumette the promise that he would not leave the room? Sighing, he lowered his arm. He could not...

...

But then again...

They lied to him. Every one of his friends lied to him, in that no one told him the truth.

Wasn't it right and proper for him to break a promise in order to learn the truth?

He still hesitated, noticing how he trembled more and more, whether from excitement or exhaustion, he could not say.

Finally, Lumiere shook his head resolutely, grabbed the handle, opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. He could always ask Plumette for forgiveness later...

Lumiere did not know where to go at first.

He looked down the corridor, where room after room was lined up, most of which were common rooms, but only occupied by male employees. He himself, as a cook and thus a higher-ranking servant, had the privilege of occupying a room for himself alone, even if it was quite a manageable size.

The female servants also had their quarters on the lower floor of the castle, but on the other side of the wing.

Lumiere considered. It was quiet in the castle, probably lunch was just over and those who were not busy cleaning up in the kitchen went about their duties elsewhere, or had retired for a short lunch break. Cogsworth also used to take such a break, usually in his office, which was right next to his private quarters. There he sometimes drank a cup of his favourite tea and looked out of the window while enjoying the silence before throwing himself back into work. Lumiere smiled as he set off at a slow pace. Yes, he knew his best friend and his habits all too well.

Always bracing himself against the wall, the young man finally made it to the large staircase, which he climbed slowly and only with great difficulty. He really had to struggle, but finally he made it to the upper floor. At the beginning of the corridor, at the end of which were the private rooms of the prince and princess, was also the majordomo's quarters. Lumiere was about to knock on the door behind which Cogsworth's office was located, when his gaze fell on the next door.

Lumiere paused in surprise, for the door leading to the majordomo's private quarters stood ajar. That was more than just unusual, because Cogsworth never left this door open! So someone must have been there, but... No one was allowed to enter these rooms without explicit permission, everyone in the castle knew that! And even if the servants liked to disregard the orders of the majordomo, they all kept to this rule, without exception, Lumiere included. Yes, even the prince kept to it, so who had had the cheek to break the rule and leave the door open to top it off? While Lumiere was still thinking, he heard a voice in the room approaching the door. The cook prepared to give the person who had so obviously invaded his friend's privacy a good telling off, no matter how weak he felt. For he was, he had to realise with horror, already at the end of his strength. He was leaning more against the wall than standing, his breathing fast and strained, his hand on his chest clutched in his shirt. But he didn't care! And so he picked himself up and tried to maintain an upright posture when the door finally opened.

"'ow dare you enter the private rooms..."

That was as far as Lumiere got when the person turned to him, startled, and he realised who it was.

"Doctor? Mon dieu, what do you want..."

In mid-sentence he was struck dumb as his gaze fell on the doctor's arms. They were full of used bandages, cut, crumpled and... Bloody.

Lumiere stared at the bandages, at the blood. Cogsworth's blood...

"Monsieur, I think it is better if you... Monsieur, where are you going... STOP!"

But Lumiere was unstoppable. With a strength he did not know where it suddenly came from, he stormed past the doctor into the quarter, through the room that was set up as a living room, through the next door into the bedroom. He stumbled with agitation and was just able to hold on to the foot of the bed. He came to a halt there and gasped for breath before looking at the bed.

He was frozen for a moment before he walked around the bed as if remote-controlled until he was standing next to the person lying there motionless.

"Cogsworth..."

He didn't notice the doctor approaching him, didn't hear the soothing words or feel the hands trying to pull him away gently but firmly.

He let his gaze slide over his best friend, the pale skin, the deep-set eyes, the sunken cheeks, the thick bandage on which a deep red stain was spreading once more.

It was as if time stood still. For a moment Lumiere didn't know what to think, say, do, or even feel. But then he felt his heartbeat quicken and his breath become shorter and more hurried. Then a gasp, which quickly became a cough that grew more violent and painful with each breath, until Lumiere felt he could no longer breathe. Panic-stricken, he struggled for breath, one hand pressed to his chest, the other clawing at the bedclothes. But he did not take his eyes off his friend, not even as his vision grew blurrier and darker. He did not hear his own gasping, or the doctor's words, only the rush of his blood sounded in his ears.

" Cogs…worth..."

His legs gave way to his weight and while he was still falling, everthing went black.

"Henry..."