Thank you all for your comments in the reviews. I have made a small change in what I had written down already and hope you're all satisfied. Bella Disney, I don't know how to write in your language, but I could understand most of it. ImagineATale, sorry couldn't resist torturing you again XD. Leefa and banzi, thanks for the support! Mustard Lady, what can I say? The pet thing just popped in my head and I couldn't resist. only Gaston can come up with the most illogical conclusions.

I think I've kept you all waiting long enough, enjoy!

Chapter 8

Back in the West Wing, Belle and her father watched everything unfold in the mirror. She had to give it to Agathe, she could be very scary when she wanted to. Her heart ached for Beast, the terror he must have felt when he was cursed all those years ago. And yet he was pleading for her and her father to be spared from the curse Gaston was to receive. Her father put up a brave face, but he couldn't hide his trembling hands. Scared of what this curse could bring.

"Papa, are you alright?" She didn't get a reply. Her fathers trembling got worse, and she made a decision. "Follow me, we have to hurry." She grabbed her father pulling him along and held the mirror in her other hand. Checking the mirror she saw Gaston begging Agathe to let him go. She was nearing her destination and swung open the doors of the library. Quickly finding what she needed she opened the book on the right pages.

She placed her father's hand and her own on the moving pages. "Think of home papa and the book will bring us there. We can return the same way after we've seen it's safe in the mirror," she explained. Taking a quick glance at the mirror she saw Agathe holding out the rose stem, it was beginning. "Papa it's starting."

Maurice did as told, he closed his eyes and thought of home. Him and Belle, safe.

Belle felt the magic begin transporting them and she quickly withdrew her hand and shoved the mirror in her fathers pocket, "I sorry papa, but I can't leave him to face this alone. It was my idea and shouldn't suffer alone."

Before Maurice could react, he was back in his home in the village. He held the book tightly and took the mirror out of his pocket. Why Belle, why did you do this again? He held up the mirror, "Show me Belle." He would find the courage to at least see what would happen to his daughter.

Belle was running as fast as she could, she wanted to hold Beast as the curse was cast.

In the hallway, the enchantress faced Gaston. "It's time you learn a lesson of your own, hunter." She heard the faint sound of footsteps in the distance, and saw Belle running into the hallway.

Beast had noticed her as well, "Belle, go as fast as you can. I don't want you caught up in this, please," he wasn't above begging at this point. "Enchantress, please let her leave first!" He begged her, "She doesn't deserve to be cursed. I'll do anything you want, curse me any way you want!"

Belle just shook her head, "It'll be alright, trust me." She took one of Beast's paws in her hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She wished she could have explained her plan to him before.

The enchantress shook her head at the Beast and began, "Hunter, your heart is filled with hate to all that oppose you. Though you have a marksman's eye, you're blind to see what is front of you. Therefore you will be cursed to be blind and you'll have no choice but to rely on those you have harmed. You have one year to learn to truly see what's in front of you and be the hero you perceive yourself to be. Fail however and your sight will be gone forever and this castle will become your prison. You'll have till this stem reaches full bloom once more." Now came the hard part, she turned to Belle and Beast. "His life will be your responsibility, and true forgiveness must be given to him for you to be set free from the castle grounds."

This is as light as I can get it for them, Agathe thought, though I don't envy them for having him as a 'guest'. It would not be easy for them to forgive him. The man had attempted murder, kidnap and not to mention all the harassment. She send the stem back under the bell jar and the crumpled petals would float back up during the year and bring the rose back to life.

Suddenly Gaston started screaming, his eyes were burning and everything turned dark. He wanted to open his eyes, but realised they were wide open. "What did you do! I can't see!" He really started to panic now. In his panic, he tried reaching for something to hold on to. But he lost his footing and his the wall with his head, losing consciousness.

Beast turned to the enchantress, who chose that moment to turn back into Agathe.

Beast turned to Agathe, "Why did you do this! You should have let Belle and her father go first. They did nothing to deserve being cursed by you!" Then he turned to Belle, "Why did you stay? Now you're stuck here, with him."

"No, I'm not stuck with him. I stayed here for you, I couldn't leave you. Father did leave though, I gave him the portal book and the mirror." Belle took a deep breath, "There is something you should know, casting a new curse was my idea." She confessed silently. "Agathe did warn me though that casting the curse would mean getting cursed myself."

Agathe intervened, "Let me explain the conditions more clearly to both of you. Breaking this curse could lift the other one, both curses are connected now. I just don't know how much will be lifted. Gaston will have a hard time. He will be helpless and will have to learn to trust you. He will have to let go of his pride and any prejudices about beauty. To break the curse he'll have to see the man behind the Beast and let go of the idea that Belle belongs to him. He'll have to admit to himself that he was wrong about everything.

As for the original curse, as more petals return to the flower, the castle will rebuild itself to it's former state. You Beast are connected by having to forgive the man for trying to murder you and threatening the woman you love. I did very little against Belle, her only consequence is being unable to leave the grounds. I tried to be as gentle as possible, but I had to include all on the castle grounds. And last but not least, the servants. Gaston has always seen himself as a hero, breaking this curse will actually make him the hero he thinks he is by releasing them of their curse. Though it would be best to keep that from him. He has to change for himself, not because he wants to be a hero." Agathe concluded, "There is one complication to you sending your father away Belle. I have to remove all traces of your and Gaston's existence to make sure nobody will come looking. This includes your father, but I will make sure to send him this way when the year has passed. I'll return his memory to him when the time comes. Also I'll retrieve the mirror and portal book from his possession and tell him about you. He at least deserves to know what happened to his daughter." With a flash she vanished from sight leaving them alone with the fallen man.

"Belle, why did you do this? You should have left with your father. Now you've possibly condemned yourself to an eternity with that man."

"I could never leave you alone, I love you. And no matter how unpleasant Gaston might be, it's also an eternity with you." She smiled at Beast to reassure him. Then she turned her attention to the newly cursed man. "We need to move him, we can't leave him lying on the floor."

"I was thinking of putting him in your room. The West Wing has been damaged too much and he could seriously harm himself, should he wander. You can move to one of the rooms in the West Wing," Beast reasoned, he could watch the man with the mirror. He lifted the unconscious man and carried him to the East Wing.

The walk to the East Wing was quiet, each pondering what this curse would bring. Could this man change for the better? Agathe may have had her doubts, but they would try.

They reached Belle's old room and put him down on the bed.

"Thank you," Beast began uneasily. "For finding a way to get the servants back."

"I'd do anything for you and you're not the only one who wants them back. This is for them as much as it is for you."

A silence fell between them. Today had been a long day. Finally they had found a way to get their friends back, and they would succeed, Belle vowed to herself.

"Beast, I know it is very improper, but would it be alright if I stayed with you. The room is big enough and I don't want to be alone," she asked him. Truth was even though she put on a brave face, she was scared. Not knowing what would happen now.

Beast put his arm around her and led her to the West Wing. He couldn't care less about things being proper at the moment. They were stuck with a vindictive man, one that had tried to harm them on more than one occasion. Besides who was there to see it? Their unwanted guest was blind and on the other side of the castle.

"Of course, if that's what you want," he reassured her. They reached his room, no their room now. He released Belle and walked to the balcony. On the table he saw the book and mirror. He was afraid to take a good look at the rose, but curiosity won out. He almost wanted to cry, one single petal clung to the rose.

"Belle look."

She walked up to him and saw the rose. Thank you Agathe, she thought. It was really happening! Then she took the mirror off the table. "I'd like to see my father." As though nothing had happened, he was working on a music box. Please forgive me papa. She put the mirror back and released a few tears.

"What is it Belle?"

"It's nothing, I just realised he has really forgotten all about me. He was so scared and trembling when we were watching Agathe getting ready to curse Gaston and I knew I had to send him away. This must be what it felt like for you in the beginning, losing everything you've known. At least I know he'll remember me in a year time and return here. It is just so hard seeing him so carefree." Now she sobbed in earnest, "I'm truly stuck here this time, last time I knew I could try to escape if I wanted to. But now he's really been taken away from me and I'll miss him so much. Tell me you won't leave me."

"Never."

Belle didn't know one word could hold so much power. She wrapped her arms around Beast, "Thank you," she simply said.

Exhaustion took over and she moved to lie down on the bed. Closing her eyes she fell into a deep sleep.

Beast watched over her for a while, he wouldn't sleep next to her, should one of his claws accidentally scratch her. Tomorrow he would move another bed to his chambers, but for now he opted to take the bed he used before Belle came to the castle. He had let himself become an animal after losing all hope and had made a nest of torn cloth and broken furniture. He would get rid of it tomorrow and place his new bed here. He lay down at glanced at Belle one more time before falling asleep himself.

I decided to at least let Maurice go. As ImagineATale pointed out, Beast would have to be tied in to the curse. Belle would never leave him alone to deal with this. Especially since she was the one who came up with the idea.

Next chapter Gaston will wake up to darkness.