Chapter Six
His grip on her arm ironclad, girl and beast stood silently, in awe, in fear, in anger, bathed in the light from the mid-evening sky. And a beast it was. Over seven feet in height, its shadow seemed to fill the room, engulfing all in sight. Thick, unkempt, brown fur covered it from its bear-like paws to its horned head down to its wolf-like feet. There was nothing human about it.
Then Gwen looked into its eyes. Silver-lined, green eyes. Human eyes, with human anger, and human disbelief.
Suddenly, its grip on her arm loosened and it set her on the floor. It stared at her in confusion, and she couldn't read the thoughts swimming through the beast's mind.
Pictures flashed through his mind like lightening. A girl, dancing. A crown made out of daisies. A rush through the woods. Swimming. Handing her bread. A kiss. As if her grip caused him pain, he tore himself away.
"I'm sorry, Gwen," he rasped. "I won't hurt you." His mind reeling, he stumbled from the dungeon, growling.
Gwen sank to her knees and burst into tears. There was nothing but terror now. Nothing but darkness. The sliver of light dimmed swiftly as Gwen tipped forward, letting unconsciousness take her.
How did he know her name? Her name was Gwen. Guinevere. Gwen. She lived on a farm. Near town. With her family. The beast paced his study, his feet pounding the floor beneath him, causing ripples in the windows overlooking his land. Most days this study offered him a comfort he didn't find anywhere else in the castle. The large windows opened onto a scene of endless snow, dotted with black evergreens. Sleek, solid snow. Beautiful and comforting. The books lining the shelves were dusty and old, written in a language long forgotten. When stoked, the ivory fireplace acted as a source of heat for the large room. Ancient carpets littered the floor and tapestries, dulled with age, hung on the wall.
Most days this study offered him comfort, but not today.
Her face. Beauty. An angel. A friend. He knew her. She was familiar, but…
His mind reeled. Dizzy, the beast lurched to his seat by the empty fireplace. The sun fell and rose again though he gave no thought as to its existence. He couldn't revive any more memories. The ones he had angered him. They connected him to his past. But how, when he didn't remember anything but this castle?
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"WHAT!" he roared.
The door opened a crack and Merric, in perfect health, entered meekly. "My lord, I was wondering what you meant to do with the girl."
The beast stared at his manservant. What was he going to do with the girl?
"No one leaves this castle."
Gwen scrambled to her feet. She's awakened some hours before, believing her experience to have been a dream. The realization that it was not had brought on another onslaught of tears. She was in this miserable castle with a horrific beast, a vicious man, and a dead father. She wiped at her tears and gathered her courage.
The beast glanced around the cold dungeon. Nothing had changed. The old man was dead and the girl sat still and silent, where he had left her. His heart softened just a bit at the fear in her wide eyes. "Don't be afraid."
Gwen looked up. Not be afraid? Is it serious? "I'm not," she lied, her heart pounding. The fangs jutting from his jaw were even more frightening than before.
His eyes were cold as he repeated his first statement. "No one leaves this castle. No one has for thousands of years. Do not expect to be an exception." He turned to leave, his monstrous shadow filling the room. "Come. I'll show you to your room."
Gwen scrambled to her feet, clutching at the stale, dry cloak around her shoulders. "My room?"
He glanced back at her. "Unless you'd like to stay here," he growled. Gwen trembled under his glare. She shook her head ever so slightly. "Well come on then." He led her up the narrow staircase she'd taken days before. With a sick feeling, Gwen realized she hadn't eaten in over two days. Her stomach rumbled loudly, and suddenly she felt faint with hunger.
The dust and grime and insects swarming around her, combined with her sudden hunger, hurt her head. She swayed, dizzy, and stumbled. Before she hit the stone steps, his arm swept under her. She clutched at his fur as her head spun and her stomach rolled. She was hardly aware when he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. She felt his heart beat against her temple, his musty, warm, scent filling her nose. Under her fear and uncertainty, he fascinated her. He could squash her with one hand, yet he carried her like a doll. Her head swarming, it didn't make sense.
She didn't notice as he climbed more flights of stairs, or the large windows littering the castle walls. Her first recollection was of being laid on a cushion of pillows and blankets. She opened her eyes to find the beast standing over her. She cowered away from him in sudden anxiety.
A low growl escaped from his throat, telling he hadn't missed her revulsion. He disappeared from her view and slammed the door behind him. A moment late, his ferocious cry filled the castle, a cry full of despair and frustration and anger.
He raced down the hall as Gwen, inside her room, collapsed into tears.
A dark snowstorm awaited Gwen when she woke the next morning. Her head hurt much less, thanks to Mama's tea. Just in case, she decided she'd better ask her to make some more this morning. She smiled sleepily at the thought.
And then she remembered.
"No!" she cried, sitting up in a strange bed. "No, no, no!" Tears threatened, but she forced them back. Crying wasn't going to get her anywhere. Clenching her fists, she fought back last night's memories and looked around the room for the first time. Windows lined two of the red walls, letting in streams of gray light, bordered by heavy white linen curtains covered in dust. Her bed was large and dominated the room. From a rung connected to the high ceiling hung sheer red and pink cloth that fell to the ground, surrounding the bed in a mist of color. Various shades of pink decorated the covers and pillow on the bed.
The carpet beneath her feet was a shade lighter than the red that hung over her bed and a polished wooden wardrobe sat conspicuously in the corner of the room. Nothing else but a small beside table occupied the room. It wasn't large, but just seeing such every day objects made Gwen think of home, sending wave after wave of homesickness over her.
Gwen walked over to one of the numerous windows and sat at the window seat that ran the length of the wall, lined with cushions. It felt like years had passed. She sighed and pressed a long-fingered hand over a cold glass pane. The blizzard wind pressed so hard it threatened to collapse the sturdiest of the towers over the castle. Thick snowflakes turned gray in the shadows of the castle before heavily falling to the ground.
A tear slid down her cheek.
Oh, Dom. Come and find me.
I'm over here.
Where?
Come find me!
All was silent. The memory faded. Dom had saved her that day. She'd gotten caught in a tree. Her mother had warned against it, but little Gwen had decided she could do anything her older brothers could do. So she went and got stuck in a tree. Dom had climbed up and had helped her down. He was her protector.
Gwen pulled herself away from the memories to answer the knock on her door. She went to it, and opened it a crack after a moment's hesitation. Merric stood there.
He bowed slightly. Gwen opened the door a little more. "The Master has requested you join him for breakfast," he spoke quickly and in a tone that dared her to argue.
She grimaced and did anyway. "No thank you." She started to close the door.
"He also said that if you were to refuse to dine with him, you are to return to the dungeon and have nothing to eat."
Her father had once tried that trick on her. She had lasted not three hours, and had no wish to repeat the punishment. Gritting her teeth, she moved to follow Merric. He held up his hand.
"Lady, might you wear some other garment?" He gestured to her dirt, tearstained dress and boots.
"I have nothing else," she said softly.
"Might you try the wardrobe? There may be a few articles of clothing that fit you." He turned to leave. "I will return shortly." Gwen closed the door to his retreating footsteps. Scowling, she walked to the wardrobe and thrust the doors open.
He paced the length of the room, all four paws beating the rug in a hurried beat. A low grumble escaped from his throat. Patience was not a strong point of his rugged personality. Already the girl-stranger had upset his entire life. He'd been perfectly content to live alone, with Merric to serve him. He wanted nothing else. He had been content to believe that no maiden would find this hidden castle, content to live and die alone.
And then this girl appears out of nowhere and he finds his precious rose beginning to wilt! Hope had begun to invade his life, and he didn't know how to deal with it. Especially after considering the fear and revulsion he'd seen in her eyes. She could never love a monster such as him. Better just to kill…
Merric's footsteps drew him from his thoughts. "Merric!" he bellowed. "What took you so long?"
Merric let out an exasperated sigh. He'd been doing this too long. He needed a new job. He couldn't wait until this spell was broken. "The lady is changing clothes, Master. I will go back and collect her shortly."
The beast growled. Seizing the opportunity, Merric spoke out. "Master, have you considered how this girl will affect your future? She could be the one to break the spell."
"Of course I have thought of it, Merric!" the beast shot back. "But I'm not stupid enough to assume that she and I…" He resumed his furious pacing. "She's beautiful and innocent. I'm…" He paused, and then glared hatefully at Merric. "You know what I am."
Merric shrugged. Struggling to dig up enthusiasm, he replied, "Then show her who you really are. Make her see the Do…" he cleared his throat, nearly revealing his precious secret. "The real you," he finished quickly.
The beast covered his face with a large brown paw. "I don't think I can."
Merric didn't answer and decided it was time to go to Gwen. The beast settled, leaning two large paws on the mantle of the fireplace. What am I getting g myself into?
He couldn't help but wonder.
Gwen glared at herself in the mirror. She'd found but one gown that fit her in the wardrobe, but how it fit. It was as if it were made for her. But…she didn't want to wear this! It belonged to that monster!
Besides, Gwen told herself as she examined the blue and white silk, it was at least one hundred years out of fashion. The neckline sat almost off her shoulders, playing into half sleeves of fine blue silk. Her shoulders felt unnecessarily bare, but no matter how she pulled the silk, it wouldn't cover anything more. The bodice, although made with a corset that laced up the front with white ribbon, was slimming, and the white skirt played nicely against the side skirt of the same blue as the sleeves. Everything was edged in gold.
With a small grunt, Gwen had to admit that this gown was beautiful, even in its old age. Scowling she loosened her hair, brushing out the tangles and braided it once again, wrapping it around her head once and tucking it securely in place.
Why should I have to look nice for this…thing? He'll probably just eat…
Merric's voice jolted her out of her thoughts. "Are you ready, my lady?"
"Merric!" she cried. "I didn't hear you come in." With a sudden frightening thought, she added, "How long have you been there?" She hoped desperately that the room light was dim enough to hide the fiery blush that spread across her cheeks.
"Only a moment, I promise," he said with a knowing smile. He repeated his first question.
Without a last glance in the mirror, Gwen sighed. "Yes, I guess I am."
She followed Merric down a series of long winding halls. Just as in the dungeon, long thin streams of green and white moss hung from the stones and slime stains patterned the stone with mold. Critters and insects skittered across their path every now and then. Looking down at her pristinely clean gown, she couldn't help but wonder at it. If this castle was in such disrepair, how had a gown, hundred of years old, survive such decay?
Leaving the thought for a later moment, her eyes were wide as she glanced at her surroundings. The apparent age of the castle amazed her. Her mother's father's father had lived in their small cottage back on the farm and never once had Gwen ever heard of an ancient castle hidden in the forest. It was all very strange.
For a long while, as Merric led Gwen through the castle, the only sound echoing was that of her sandaled feet on the brown stone floor and the drip drop of slime. Merric moved so quietly, if she hadn't seen him before her, she would have though he had disappeared altogether.
He stopped at the end of the magnificent hallway, near a grand staircase, not unlike the one she had seen when she'd first stepped into the castle. Merric opened a door to her left and stepped aside. "The master is waiting."
It took all of Gwen's willpower to keep from replying that the beast wasn't her master. But focusing on the great beast inside, all thoughts but those of fear suddenly flew from her mind. She took a breath, and paused for so long, Merric all but pushed her into the room.
The dining room was the most beautiful she had eve r seen. Cloths of gold covered the chairs and the floor. Freshly polished crystal tableware decorated the gold and ivory tablecloth. The window shut out the snowy setting with thick scarlet curtains. The tiled floor beneath the gold carpets glittered and reflected off the polished wooden furniture.
"My Lord?" Merric called from behind her. "The Lady is ready."
The beast stood at one of the windows, the scarlet curtain pulled aside. Every bone in his body radiated impatience and Gwen suddenly knew a moment of terror. There was no food on the table. She put a hand to her throat where her pulse beat wildly against her fingers.
Did the beast intent to eat her!