A/N: I do not own any of the stories that are related to Beauty and the Beast or Beauty and the Beast itself. Please read and review.
"...there lived a very powerful enchanter and his beautiful daughter enchantress. The enchanter loved his daughter more than life itself and desired only her happiness. However, in order to protect his daughter from mortals and the heartbreak they could bring, he forbid her to leave their home.
"You see, the enchantress's mother had been a mortal and had died from a terrible illness while the enchantress was only a baby. Her death had hurt the girl's father more than he could express. He never wanted his daughter to feel the pain he had felt when his one true love left him for all eternity and he was unable to do anything to save her. His only joy in life grew to be the love of his little girl, who had grown into the most beautiful woman imaginable. Every time he looked into her large, brown eyes he was reminded of his wife.
"While the enchanter lived off of old dreams and did his best to make his daughter happy with expensive gifts and magic tricks, the girl began spending more and more time wandering in their garden. She grew tired of being forced to stay at their home always, as she was not even allowed to explore the vast forest that surrounded them. All she had for companionship other than her father were the animals that would gather around to listen to her sing. Everyday the enchantress would walk along the enormous hedge keeping her from the outside world and sing songs of love and escape. Small animals like rabbits and squirrels would find their ways through the thick shrubbery and brambles to follow her and birds would hover above, providing accompaniment.
"Saddened by the melancholy of his daughter, the enchanter decided to disguise himself and travel to the nearest village, intending to find something new to engage her interest. While at the village, the enchanter bought all sorts of ribbons, trinkets, baubles, perfumes, fabrics, and fancies. Still viewing the enchantress as a little girl, he believed these treats would quickly bring her out of her sad reverie. On a whim, the enchanter also stopped in the bookstore to find some history text for himself. Finding a storybook full of intricate, beautiful artwork, he decided to bring it home to his daughter. He thought she had never cared much for the spell books he had shown her at home, but perhaps the artwork would intrigue her.
"Little did the enchanter know that the reason his daughter had never shown much interest in his spell books when he showed them to her was because she had already read them. As soon as the girl had learned to read, she began sneaking into his library and devouring whatever books she could get her hands on. There were no storybooks, but the spells and history she found hidden in those dark, leather-bound masterpieces thrilled her. They, more than anything else, showed her that outside the walls she so well knew, there existed another world full of people and excitement.
"It was after the enchantress had read every account, conjuration, and formula she could find within the house that she had taken to walking around the garden, hoping her father would allow her to experience some of the things she had read about.
"When the enchanter returned home, he called his daughter to him, sure to see her smile again. He did not notice her back straighten a little more when she saw the many over-extravagant riches he bought for her, nor the way her smile became slightly harder and her responses more pure politeness than joy. What he did notice was that her 'thank you' was not as ecstatic as he had hoped for.
"But then, as all of the enchantresses new presents were sent to her room, her father remembered the gift he bought in a small book shop. Not expecting much gratitude, and only thinking of the storybook as an afterthought, he showed his daughter his last offering.
"At the sight of new material to read, her eyes lit up with a glow they had long been lacking. After giving her stunned father a rather unexpected hug and kiss of thanks, the enchantress ran off to discover the adventures her new leather-bound happiness possessed."
Enraptured by the story the old man was telling her, Adèle's forehead wrinkled slightly when Pascal stopped. She knew this could not be the end of such a tale.
Pascal slowly sat up straight and surveyed his surroundings. The sky had darkened since he began speaking to the little girl with large brown eyes. She was the first one he had ventured to tell this particular tale to. He only wished he would be able to finish it. Most likely the little one would become bored with his rambling and not care enough to hear the finish. Such a pity. She reminded him so much of his past…
"Excuse me, Pascal? The story isn't finished is it?"
Grinning slightly at the look of worry upon her face, he softly replied "No, it is far from finished."
Pausing for a minute, Adèle considered everything the old man had said. There seemed to be something missing.
"Pascal, did the enchanter and his daughter have names?"
The old man looked intently into the little girl's big brown eyes. He knew what was coming. "Yes."
"What were they?"
He could have easily come up with new names for the characters of his account. Telling the original could have several effects the old man wouldn't enjoy. The young girl could be startled and, after having a conversation with her parents, not come back. Or, she could be flattered and believe the fairy tale was made just for her pleasure. But somehow he knew these things wouldn't happen. For some reason, he just had to know what she would think.
"The enchanter was named Pascal, and... his daughter was Adèle. Named after her mother."
Adèle's eyes narrowed slightly, as if evaluating the old man's motives. Apparently satisfied, she nodded.
From down the street a young woman with brown hair stepped out of a doorway and yelled. "Adèle! Come in! You have chores to do and it's almost time for dinner!"
Surprisingly, the woman's voice wasn't scolding. She even smiled at the old vagabond sitting with her daughter.
Popping up from her seat, Adèle brushed herself off. "Au revoir, Monsieur Pascal." She curtsied politely and began trotting home. Hesitating after a few steps, she turned around. "Tomorrow?"
Pascal grinned to himself and nodded to the little girl looking at him expectantly. That being the only reassurance she needed, he watched her continue her way home. Yes, this one was definitely special.