Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Twelve: The Mirror

Evening had come and the inhabitants of Castle McKay were rushing here and there. They had a magical evening to prepare in order to get two people to fall in love. Ford and Bates were with Rodney instructing him on how to behave, eat, and dress. Soon the evening began and John and Rodney met at the center landing. Both of them were dressed to the nines. They looked at each other, approval lighting their eyes. Rodney was dressed in a gorgeous blue velvet suit which highlighted his beautiful blue eyes. John was wearing a black velvet suit that emphasized his slim frame.

In unison the two of them stepped down the stairs, heading for the dining room and supper. They sat down and Teyla swept in and critically eyed the table then stated, "Supper's ready and Ronon says don't complain about the food or he'll set his knives after you."

John, who had been taking a sip of water, choked a bit and wheezed out, "Is it normal for the cook to threaten the dinners with bodily harm if they don't like the meal?"

"No." Teyla replied calmly.

"But . . ."

"Ronon's not really the cook. He's one of Rodney's personal body guards." Teyla interrupted.

"Ah, then why is he cooking?" John asked in confusion.

"Because he's now the oven," Teyla smirked.

"Why is he the oven?" John muttered in horror. Remembering how some of the food tasted kind of off.

Rodney smirked at John from across the table. "Ronon has an unhealthy obsession with knives which is followed by his obsession with food. Somehow the curse translated that as Ronon as controller of the kitchen." He chuckled and then continued, "My real cook is now a ladle and is none to happy."

"Well that's kind of weird, don't you think?" John said, a peculiar look in his eyes.

Teyla smiled serenely and said, "None of the bodyguards and armsmen were turned into weapons of any kind, the closest was our huntsman, Lorne. Who is, as you know, an axe."

Rodney nodded and sighed, "Then there is poor Stackhouse and Markham. They're my coachman and footman, they were combined together as the coach. We're calling them Markhouse, just to make it more efficient."

"Those poor bastards," John muttered in horror. Now he really wanted to help break the curse. Two people in one body must be kind of confusing.

John watched as assorted cutlery and dishware came out of the kitchen, laden with food. A ladle came out, giving the impression that it was stomping, muttering under its breath. John realized that, that was the actual cook. "So what's the cooks name," pointing at the ladle.

"Something Parrish, I think." Rodney muttered and frowned, "You should ask Lorne. He would know, they're together."

"Oh," John's brow furrowed as he tried to wrap his mind around an axe and a ladle being 'together'.

He shrugged, they were probably together before the curse hit. That explained why they both were so pissed with the world. If he was in their shoes, he'd be pissed as well. John and Rodney began to eat their meal, it wasn't too bad. The gravy had a slightly singed taste though. After dinner, he and Rodney walked to the balcony and sat down on the ledge. They talked about math and certain mathematicians theories. "Lewis Carroll, he's mad as a hatter!" Rodney sputtered indignantly.

John smirked, "But what about his theory on . . ."

"No, no, no, no, no!"

After awhile John decided to ask Rodney about something that had been bothering him for awhile. "Rodney how exactly did you and the rest of the castle get cursed?"

Rodney frowned in thought and then finally answered, "It was a couple of years ago. I had been working on the Grimm problems . . ."

"Those are the ones created by the Brothers Grimm, right?" John eagerly questioned and leaned forward. "Aren't those supposed to be almost impossible to solve?" John leaned back into his chair, "Didn't someone solve them a year or so ago?" John looked at Rodney and smirked, "It was you?"

Rodney beamed his approval of John's knowledge and insight. "Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Now may I continue? Good. Now as I said, I was working on the Grimm problems and the Lady Allina arrived here at the castle. She started pestering me, yammering on and on and on. Distracting me from my very important work, after awhile I got irritated with her. I then proceeded to express my irritation with her succinctly and perhaps a bit rudely." Rodney paused and then shrugged his broad shoulders. "Okay, maybe not a bit rude. I was very rude. I insulted her, her family, and her families' pets."

John grinned wryly, "Why am I not surprised."

Rodney just shook his head and continued, "I didn't know at the time that the bitch was a witch. Hey, I made a rhyme. Anyway our dear Lady Allina, didn't take kindly to my words and cursed me and the entire castle."

"I see," John stated softly. John looked into Rodney's eyes and whispered, "Perhaps it was fate. We probably wouldn't have met each other if it wasn't for the curse."

Rodney nodded, John was right. Radek had been chased to the castle by Wraith Wolves. John had followed after him. The Wraith Wolves could only exist in cursed areas. No curse, no wolves. No wolves to chase Radek to the castle meant that Radek would have had his journey continue in peace. No Radek arriving at the castle and being subsequently imprisoned by Rodney meant that John wouldn't have shown up looking for him. Rodney gazed into John's hazel eyes; he never would have met him if it wasn't for the curse. Perhaps . . . perhaps he could convince his parents to take the price off of Allina's head. She had in the long run, done him a favor. Rodney looked down at his hands and then back up at John. "John?"

"Yes, Rodney?"

"John, are you happy here at the castle with me?" Rodney asked quietly.

"Yes. Yes, I am except . . ." John paused, longing filling his eyes.

"Except?" Rodney prodded.

"Except I miss Radek. I wonder how he is doing. If he's alright." John whispered.

Rodney took a deep breath and nodded. He stood up and gestured to John. "Come with me."

John nodded, stood up, and followed Rodney up the stairs to the West Wing. They entered the lab and headed to the table with the rose. Beside it lay a mirror and Rodney picked it up and handed it to John. "It's a magic mirror. It will show you anyone, anywhere. All you have to do is ask."

John looked down at the mirror and then demanded, "Mirror, show me Radek!"

The mirror glowed brightly for a moment when the glow had faded it showed John a startling and worrying picture. Radek was struggling through wind and snow, calling out for John. After a few moments, the determination that had been fueling him in his search drained out of him. He collapsed into a snow bank in exhaustion; he struggled to get up but failed and then fell into unconsciousness. John gasped, "Radek!"

"What is it John?" Rodney questioned worriedly.

"Radek, he needs me. He's unconscious in a snowdrift. He could die." John whispered out.

Rodney closed his eyes. For a brief moment in time he had truly been happy. He opened his eyes to see another petal from the rose fall. There were not too many petals left. He knew John would eventually come back to the castle to see him but by that time it would be too late. Rodney hadn't cared before about his current form. But now, he did. He could seriously hurt John in this form. He knew when John returned that all he would ever allow himself to feel for John was friendship. Sorrow filled his blue eyes as he said good-bye to what could have been. He turned to John, "Go!"

"What?"

"Go, leave now! You no longer have to stay here. Go to your father. He needs you more than I do." Rodney harshly whispered.

John smiled at him brilliantly, "Thank you, I'll return once Radek is well, I promise."

"I know."

John turned to leave and paused. He turned to give the mirror back to Rodney. Rodney shook his head, "Keep it. Consider it a gift. You need it more than I do. The mirror can help you find your father."

John smiled, nodded, turned and rushed out of the lab. He quickly changed to his regular clothes. Jinto, hopped into the room as he was grabbing the last of his things. "You're not leaving are you?" he plaintively asked.

"I'm sorry, Jinto. I have to go. Radek needs me."

"Oh," Jinto watched as John packed and he looked at John's bag, an idea struck him and grinned impishly. A few minutes later, John ran out of the castle, bag over his shoulder. He ran into the stables where Puddlejumper was being kept and let him out of his stall. John clambered aboard and urged Puddlejumper into a gallop as the gates that led out of the castle opened. Rodney watched as John left, sighed sadly, and turned back to the experiments in his lab. They would help him forget what could have been. They always had after all.

TBC