Welcome back everybody!

Since some find Belle's curse confusing, she's indeed stuck at the castle and is unable to leave. If she wants to leave she and Beast have to forgive Gaston for attempting to kill her father and Beast. Not to mention every other rotten thing he's ever done against them.

This is a separate curse, this is because Agathe doesn't feel confident Gaston will break his curse and she likes Belle too much to trap her under such a technicality, especially after what happened to the servants.

And yes for now they are calm, they have their mind set on freeing the servants. But who knows how Gaston will test their patience.

Now on to the story!

Chapter 10

The curse had been active for almost a week now and Gaston stayed in his room as much as possible. While he still needed help to get anywhere in the castle, he could navigate adequately through his room. He still occasionally bumped into things, but that became more infrequent. He was sitting at the table by the window, the curtains remained closed. Feeling the warm rays of the sun was something he used to enjoy, now it taunted him. Knowing the sun was there, but never seeing it.

If he wanted to escape, he would have to know how to get out of the castle. Deciding he had nothing to lose, he got up and made his way to the door without bumping into anything. Carefully he opened it and took a deep breath. He knew that the dining room was on the first floor, and that he had to pass the entrance hall to get there.

He made his way down the hall and managed to find the exit of the East Wing where he was staying. Now for the hard part, the stairs. If he wasn't careful it would be easy to fall down, not wanting to experience that, he sat down on the floor. Dragging himself along using his feet to feel what was in front of him. He found the stairs and lowered himself one step at the time, till he reached the bottom. He got back onto his feet and tried to remember which way to go now, was it left or right? Or was it another flight of stairs down? He decided on going right. He walked about twenty paces before slamming into a door. Cradling his hurt nose, not to mention his bruised ego, he carefully made his way down the hall, but it was a longer walk than usual. Must have gone wrong somewhere, he thought. Just as he decided to turn around, he heard voices. They must be here, deciding to move on to find them and ask for help, as distasteful as that was to him. He didn't want any help, but he had to swallow his pride and ask them to take him outside. If he would go out everyday and paid good attention, he might be able to go out on his own soon.

The voices started to get louder and he started to hear their conversation. He smirked, time to eavesdrop.

"...then blamed me for not putting it in it's proper place." Ah yes, the drink incident, he remembered.

Belle and Beast were standing in an old study, another petal had returned earlier and Beast had heard sounds coming from this direction. A small part of the wall in the room that had crumbled down years ago, had suddenly returned.

"Looks like the castle will return to it's former glory either way," Beast remarked, "though I'd prefer to get the servants back one at a time, rather than a wall."

"It'll be alright, he's started to move around in his room. Besides I'm not really in a hurry to see him during a walk through the castle. But what I'm worried about is, how are we going to make him admit that he's wronged people in the past?" She sighed in expiration, "Yesterday he spilled his drink over himself and then blamed me for not putting it in it's proper place. I swear that man can be so difficult, even my patience is wearing thin," Belle bristled. "Then he even had the nerve to comment on the replacement clothes I brought to him."

Beast looked at the woman he loved and smiled, she did look adorable when she was angry, more so now it wasn't directed at him. Maybe he should accompany her more often, maybe he would be able to see the moment she unleashes her temper at the other man. That would be fun to watch.

On the other side of the door Gaston was starting to get irritated. What was she complaining about, that shirt was two sizes to big at least. Besides he put it on in the end.

He was thankful that the people in the village couldn't see him now, oversized shirt, his hair was a mess and he hadn't shaved in a week.

When he made his escape and could see again, he would first visit a different village, claim he was in some sort of accident and clean himself up. When he looked like the pristine man that he was again, he would make his glorious return to Villeneuve.

Done listening, he knocked on the door, might as well be polite for now.

"Hello?"

The pair in the room turned their heads in surprise. How did he manage to get here? Seeing the foul look on Belle's face, Beast decided to go help the man. He would love to see her knock the man down a peg or two, but seeing as the man had finally decided to wander around, it would be best to act nicely towards the man.

Opening the door Beast looked the man over and blinked. The man looked even worse than the last time he had seen him.

"Yes?"

"I need Belle. I want to go outside, get some fresh air," Gaston stated.

Beast growled slightly, "You don't need her, though you may request her help instead of demanding it." He stared at Gaston, who stood there gritting his teeth.

Why that! Fine if that's how he wanted to play this game, "Is Belle available to help me at the moment?"

Looking at Belle, Beast had an idea. Why not have some fun with the man?

"No, she's very busy at the moment," trying to control her temper, Beast merrily thought.

"What are you talking about? I heard the two of you talking in this room! That's how I found you, now I want her to help me go outside." Right, badmouthing him isn't busy. They could be doing more useful things like help him get outside!

Beast sighed, they could add common curtesy to the growing list of things to teach the man. "Even so, she is unavailable. Perhaps I could escort you today?" Into a snowbank, he mentally added.

"Fine," he grudgingly agreed. If that monster wanted to get under his skin, he would return the favour.

Making a silent apology to Belle, Beast took hold of Gaston's arm and led him back to the staircase.

As it turned out, Gaston thought, he wasn't very far off. He just forgot one smaller staircase and then it was to the right, before reaching the entrance hall.

Beast opened the door and helped Gaston reach the garden. "Is the air fresh enough?" He sarcastically asked.

Gaston grinned, time to rile the monster up a bit. "Isn't there some bush to go relieve yourself in?"

"I could always use your boots for that." If Gaston wanted to play games and insult him, he would play along. "Let's make something clear, you don't like me and I loath you. But for the sake of breaking this curse, let's try to get along."

"I am getting along just fine, with Belle. What, jealous? It's only a matter of time before she comes to her senses Beast."

"You are so full of yourself, and that's your problem. And have you forgotten, yet again, that you only have one year to change your attitude?" This man was impossibly thick-headed. How he would love to toss him over the gate, Beast grumbled. "We keep telling you everyday at dinner about the consequences of not breaking the curse, but I'm beginning to think you are as deaf, as you are blind."

"My hearing is just fine Beast." He heard a noise behind him. That sounds like a horse, he thought. "There's a sound coming from behind me, what is that?" He hoped he was right, if that was a horse, it could help him in his escape.

"That's Philippe, Belle's horse, his stable is behind you."

Yes, that would work, "Do you think Belle would mind if I come here and feed or brush him sometimes? It would give me something to keep busy with."

Beast was speechless, did Gaston really want to care for a horse? Something just didn't seem right, but would he risk losing the little progress this could bring? "I'll have to ask Belle," he replied. Maybe she would know what to make of this man, she has known him a lot longer than he had.

Gaston nodded, "Of course, would you mind taking me back inside for now?"

Beast guided him back inside, Belle just coming down the stairs as they entered.

"I was just heading your way, is everything all right?" She looked closely at Beast, noticing his strange look. When she was about to ask more, Gaston stepped forward.

"Belle, I know this might be strange, but I'd like to tend to your horse every once in a while. It would give me something to do in this godforsaken place," he reasoned. "You know, a reason to get out."

This was very surprising to her, he wanted something to do? I guess it could get quite boring here, at least I have Beast and the library, she pondered. Then she realised that yes, he must be bored. There wasn't anything he could do beside sitting in a room, either alone or with people that despised him.

"You know, why not. It would give you a sense of normalcy and I know you're good with horses. How about you start tomorrow, I'll help you the first time setting everything in place. So you can find everything you need a lot easier." Seeing a big smile in return she knew she had made the right choice.

"Could I ask for one more favour. I want to try to find my room on my own, but could someone follow me should I go wrong somewhere?" Those fools were easy to deceive. Once the horse trusted him, he'd be out of here. His eyes may not work, but the horse could watch for the both of them.

Once he was back in his room, he lay down on his bed and ran over his plan one more time.

Playing on their pity was easy, especially Belle.

Now he had found his means of escape with the horse. He just needed to do two more things, first make sure he could find the way to the stable on his own. Then he needed to get the horse to trust him. When all was said and done he would slip out while those fools were asleep and he would take the horse and leave. But for now he would play nicely.