And welcome back, I've been absent for a long time I know. This due to a collaborated project I'm working on, which was supposed to be a oneshot…however things got out of hand, the other author knows I'm looking at her, and we're already at 200k words and nowhere near the end. To make up for it I do have managed to get two chapters done, second one I'll post tomorrow.
Mustard Lady, you've mentioned in a PM you were waiting and your patience is about to be rewarded.
Banzi, thank you for your continued support.
Child of dreams, yes he's her favorite. Why is in this chapter.
PumpkinHallow4814, hope you'll like this one and the one I'm posting tomorrow just as much.
ImagineATale, Agathe sure is good at staging things is she.
And for now all I can say is enjoy!
Chapter 37
Gaston sat in the tavern eating breakfast when LeFou walked in, seeing his friend sitting there, he quickly walked over.
"There you are, I came by yesterday to see how it went with Eloise, but you hadn't returned yet. How did it go?" LeFou asked, while taking a seat opposite from Gaston.
Gaston smirked. "It couldn't have gone better, do you remember the lake I once showed you? I took them there with some help from Belle. Eloise was quite enamored with the place, when the first deer showed, I wish I could have seen her face. She even admitted I wasn't completely useless."
"Congratulations, what are you planning next?"
"I was thinking of taking a day for myself actually, yesterday Sebastian returned, frightened the girls quite a bit. I talked to him and we've come to an understanding and he's moving to another village. Today I just want some peace and quiet, no curses or talks today. I need a day like this after eight months of worrying about such things."
LeFou laughed. "That I can understand."
Gaston suddenly heard some loud footsteps coming their way. "LeFou who is coming?"
Before LeFou could answer however…
"What did you do to Eloise!"
Gaston groaned, not now.
"I don't know what you did, but during breakfast I had to hear them drone on and on about deer and how *brave* you were. As you well know, you are the last person I want to hear about."
"My most sincere apologies for ruining your morning," Gaston said, but could not contain his smirk, "you came to return the favor and ruin mine?"
"Why you insolent…"
"Calm down…Pierre," he could only imagine the enraged look the headmaster was showing at the moment, "if all goes well we'll be family, wouldn't want to hurt Eliana's feeling by being resentful of one another, would we?" Gaston asked. "Maybe we should start over?"
Gaston stood up and held out his hand. "You may call me Gaston."
Since it was still early there weren't many patrons in the tavern, but those that were present watched with baited breath. The animosity the headmaster held for their former hero was well known.
"I will keep an eye on you, you will make a mistake eventually and I'll make sure she'll be there to see it." The headmaster sneered before turning away and leaving.
Gaston laughed. "LeFou, that was actually a lot of fun. I think he's starting to grow on me."
LeFou looked at his friend like he had lost his mind. "Fun is not how I would describe it, but if you marry Eliana you'll have plenty of…fun for the rest of your life."
Gaston looked thoughtful. "You just gave me a wonderful idea…"
"I did?" LeFou asked. Then he got excited. "Are you going to propose?"
"No, not yet..." Gaston started, "but when I do, I'll make sure dear Pierre will be there to see it."
LeFou cleared his throat, "Well, I think I'll leave you to enjoy your day."
"Will you be back later?"
"I have a very busy day, but maybe tomorrow we could do something productive, try to talk to our lovely shrew? Maybe that will entertain you just as much as the headmaster." LeFou suggested.
Gaston grimaced, "I doubt that that woman will be very cooperative, but we could try." He knew LeFou was right, the horrid woman did have a husband waiting after all.
"I'll try to come by this evening, otherwise I'll see you at noon tomorrow." LeFou told him.
"All right, enjoy your day and I'll see you tomorrow at the latest." Gaston said.
"Until then." LeFou said before leaving.
Belle was searching the village for Agathe, she had promised Eliana after all to ask if she had someone waiting for her. Perhaps they should have thought of that before, not just for her, but also LeFou. He had been helping them and had no idea. Finally she found Agathe sitting in an alley.
"I was looking for you, why are you hiding?" Belle asked.
Agathe smiled, "Eliana would see you speaking to me, wouldn't want her to find out would we?"
"You know?" Belle asked surprised.
"Yes to both questions." Agathe answered with a smile. "You did come to ask another after all."
Belle laughed. "Yes I did," then she quieted, "who is she missing, are they all missing?"
"A father."
Belle sighed, poor Eliana, missing a father and not even knowing it. "Will it be alright if I tell her, it has truly been bothering her."
"If it wasn't I wouldn't have told you, but I think Gaston should be the one to tell her." Agathe said smiling, "even so do not tell her who I am, that is something I wish to keep secret."
"I won't say a thing, you're right, he should be the one to tell her. Does he know?" Belle asked her friend.
"Not yet, I'll visit him when I leave."
Belle nodded. "I hope he tells her, she deserves to know." She turned away to leave, before turning back to say goodbye. However as she turned back, Agathe had already disappeared.
After Gaston had finished his drink, he had moved upstairs, opening his closet door to see the rose. It helped him think.
"Still admiring my gift?"
Gaston laughed. "And a lovely gift it is. In a few weeks I'll end this, might as well enjoy the sight while it lasts. Which reminds me…favorite am I?"
"Of course you are, for someone I once deemed hopeless, you exceeded all expectations. Getting cursed a second time to help others, you have my eternal admiration. Yes, you are my favorite in that regard."
"Why have you come?" Gaston asked, she never visited without a reason.
"Belle came by, asking questions on Eliana's behalf. It seems she has trouble handling the truth, it might be wise for you to speak to her." Agathe said.
Saying he was surprised was un understatement, why hadn't she come to him with whatever question had been plaguing her?
"What was it she wanted to know? I thought I had explained everything clearly."
Agathe just said one word. "Family."
Of course, she had asked about it right after he had told her the truth. But he didn't know the answer, looking back on it, he wondered why he hadn't asked Agathe. He knew she held the answer to that question.
"Does she?" Gaston asked, getting curious himself.
"A father." Agathe informed him. "I told Belle the same, but that you should be the one to tell Eliana."
Gaston looked down, a father, they had all figured he had died. But no one ever thought further than that. That spell was a little harsh, pulling families apart.
"I have a gift for you." Agathe pulled out a ring. "Put this on, it can give you your sight back temporarily. One day, no more."
Gaston felt the object, quickly identifying it as a ring and slipped it around his finger. "Nothing is happening, not that it matters much to me."
"I know it doesn't, but you'll figure it out, use it to show Eliana the answer she seeks."
Gaston smiled, "I will, she'll like it."
"It's not just for her, you have no desire to see again. When you break the curse…"
"My sight returns, I know." Gaston finished. "For her I'll give it a serious try, but if it doesn't quite work out…would you be willing to take it one more time? Permanently, no time limits."
"Are you sure you truly want that? It would mean there is no going back."
Gaston snorted. "As you know, I was reluctant to break the spell the first time. This time less so, because I know what is at stake. Truthfully, if I hadn't met Eliana, I would have asked you to take it away right after breaking it."
"Very well, should she so desire it'll be taken forever."
It was strange, Gaston thought, in those early days he'd had tried to find a loophole to get his sight back. Now he felt relieved to know he had the possibility to have it taken away forever.
"Thank you Agathe." Gaston replied gratefully.
"You're welcome, you truly love her don't you?" Agathe said with a smile.
"I do, I wish I had paid her attention before all of this," Gaston couldn't help but smile brightly, thinking of her, "LeFou mentioned proposing to her, and the idea sounds good. But I think she should see what her life will be like before I do it. Though what girl wouldn't like being tended to like a princess?"
"You take her there, I'm sure she'll love it."
"Thank you Agathe, for everything."
Agathe couldn't help laugh, "Thanking me for cursing you, twice, you never cease to amaze me."
Gaston laughed with her, "Remember, I'd hate to be predictable."
"And you're anything but." Agathe finished. "I'll see you again soon." She turned and moved to the door to leave.
"I look forward to it." Gaston called after her as she left
After Agathe had left Gaston took a little nap to pass the time and enjoy his free day. When he woke up he heard a lot of commotion downstairs and he decided to see what was going on. As he walked down the stairs he heard a few hushed whispers, but nothing he could make out. What was confusing him even more was the quiet that took over when he entered the room. They were all quiet, he knew they were there and he was wondering what was going on.
"I know there are people here, I may be blind, but I'm not deaf and you just made enough noise to wake the dead. Would any of you be so kind as to get me a drink?" Gaston asked.
Sure enough people started talking again and he shrugged, he'd let them be for now, but he'll find out what is going on.
Once his drink had been given he took his usual seat and decided to listen for any clues as to what was going on. After a while footsteps came to him and he turned his head to greet whoever it was.
"Good evening Gaston, how have you been?"
"Adam, where were you these past few days? And Belle? You really should come by more often." Gaston told the other man.
"I know but we've been busy, however would you like to join me outside?" Adam asked.
Gaston raised his eyebrows, "Wouldn't you like a drink first? What is so special outside? It's not like I'm going to see anything."
"Humor me." Adam told him.
Gaston sighed, "Fine, but it had better be important. I was doing some much needed relaxing after these last eight months."
"It'll be worth it." Adam chuckled.
Adam took Gaston's arm and directed him outside, once outside Gaston gave a sour face.
"Thank you Adam, it's very nice out here. Exactly as how I remember it, nice and dark. And the silence I could have enjoyed inside as well."
His words send laughter through the village square as people started laughing. He heard another set of footsteps coming his way and he sighed, what now? They were behaving strangely ever since he woke up.
"Congratulations Gaston!"
Gaston gave a rather confused look. "Eliana? Congratulations for what?"
The people all laughed.
"Yes, keeping a calendar must be difficult for him, it's your birthday." One villager shouted.
"My birthday? That's today?"
"Yes my friend it is," said LeFou, "We wanted to surprise you, though why they took the trouble to decorate is beyond me."
"They decorated…they decorated for a blind man? Who's bright idea was that?" Gaston asked.
"Mine," Adam said, "I know you can't see it, but it is for a different reason."
Adam turned to the crowd, "We have thoroughly surprised him, my thanks to you all. Now let us all grab a drink and enjoy the festivities."
The crowd murmured their agreement and soon noise filled the square.
"Would you now please tell me what the use is for all of this?" Gaston asked confused.
"Of course," Adam said, "A few days ago LeFou came to visit us and asked if we were getting you something for your birthday. We were surprised to hear when it was, but I quickly came up with the idea to use it as a way to discern the number of people on your side. That's where the decorating came in. Except for a handful of villagers, everyone wanted to help make this day special for you after such a difficult year."
"Yes," Belle agreed, "it was a lot of fun to do. But now we have an idea who we still need to focus on. Those that helped are probably all on the safe side, but those that expressed no interest or other arguments of not wanting to help may need more attention if we want them to get their memories back."
"That is pretty clever, well since they took the trouble to decorate, could someone please explain to me what it looks like?" Gaston asked.
"May I?" Eliana asked excited.
"Of course, tell me." Gaston encouraged her. He listened as she excitedly talked about ribbons, colors and apparently even a few flower arrangements. Yes the trouble was unneeded on his account, he wasn't be able to enjoy it, but she did and it made him happy.
"It sounds wonderful," he told her, "how about we get something to eat?"
As they went back inside the tavern he passed many well-wishers and he thanked them all. He was happy that so many people would have their memories returned. Although he was slightly concerned who were all absent, he could name a few, Clothilde and Uncle Pierre. He gave an inward laugh, he should definitely call the man that to his face. Preferably when he can see again, hopefully he'd still look just as sour.
The group seated down at one of the tables and ordered their meal.
Gaston cleared his throat, "I would like to thank you all for all you've done for me these last few months. Belle and Adam, I know I haven't been the easiest but thank you for not giving up on me. LeFou you have been there for me since we were children, I know I haven't always been a good friend to you, but you stayed with me and I want to thank you for that."
Gaston then turned to Eliana, "I want to thank you for being an angel and showing me that I do deserve to be loved. You've brought back the light to my dark world, thank you for that. Today a certain someone visited me and gave me a little gift," he lay the ring on the table, "this little thing will allow me to see for a day and I would like to ask you Eliana if you'd like to accompany me tomorrow to the castle, hopefully meet someone if we can find him."
Eliana looked confused, "Meet someone? But I don't know any…" Then her face lit up, "you found a relative? That's it isn't it?"
"Yes," Gaston laughed, "I don't know who he is exactly and I won't tell you his relation to you until we get there. Will you come with me?"
Eliana quickly hugged him, "Yes, I'll come with you."
"Perhaps it would be best if Belle and I accompanied you. You could wait using your gift until after you've arrived giving you more time at the castle." Adam suggested, "Perhaps Maurice and monsieur LeFou would also like to join us?"
"We wouldn't want to impose on Gaston and Eliana." LeFou said.
"Nonsense," Gaston interrupted, "you're all welcome. Besides it's big enough to explore on your own if you're concerned. It will be fun, you do need to dress warm though, permanent winter and all."
Eliana couldn't wait until tomorrow, how big was the castle? What did it look like? Most important of all, what would her relative think seeing her after so many years. Would she recognize him?
The festivities continued for a few more hours until it was over and they all parted having agreed to rendezvous in the morning.