i was inspired and so wrote another chapter...just letting you know, it wont exactly be in chronological order of the film, just scenes that i get inspired to write...
forgive me, i feel that the first chapter was still the best...
That look in her eyes, it had been the same as when he first met her, filled with fear. Why was this look on every face he met? The answer was obvious but deep down he couldn't stop asking, why did he have to cause that look?
He could hear his heart racing as he leapt passed the gates that opened for him and then closed behind, ensuring no intruders would enter while he was gone. The gatekeeper was not as good as he used to be, for he had allowed that girls father into their presence, and then it had brought to him this foolish, nosey girl.
He hadn't exerted himself this much in a while, and he had to admit that this was quiet a work out, but he pressed forwards through the whipping winds and thick sheets of snow that fell down around him, against him. Everything seemed to be working against him lately but he fought back, he had to catch up with her. He didn't know why he ran after her now, it didn't matter, if he caught up to her, she would still look at him with those eyes, those terrified eyes.
"Get out!" he remembered himself screaming those words, and she had done just that, he too would have left if an enraged monster had told him too. Why had be been so cross? Why could he not listen to the advice of his servants who many times before had warned him to control himself, his temper. Shaking the thoughts away he then turned the tables on her, why had she disobeyed him? The nerve of her to enter his room and attempt to touch the wilting rose, the one thing he loathed and yet protected. She could have possibly ruined it all for him, and then she had the nerve to try and run away!
He was following her scent the best he could, the winds were wild and came from almost every direction, mixing up the smells, and causing the tracks left behind to become quickly hidden. He managed to catch sight of horse hooves and followed them with a quickening pace especially when he noticed more tracks, smaller but numerous paw prints. Wolves! The tracks ended abruptly ahead of him, looking up quickly he saw the frozen lake and the various breaks and openings amongst its surface.
Edging closer he glanced around, ignoring the cracking that was heard around him, it was only early winter, this was one of the first snowstorms they were having so of course this ice would not hold much for long, but this was not what troubled him now. As he tried to catch her scent a sickening thought lurked his insides... Had she fallen in? A painful feeling hit him hard as guilt racked through the beasts form, and the icy winds seemed so much crueler now as they whipped his fur around violently. For a long moment all he could do was stare at the ice, waiting.
He snapped out of this trance and quickly denied this thought, starting to search desperately for any sign that proved otherwise. If she was under these waters it was his fault! He would surely be a monster then… and then a sign came to him, a scream.
His ears perked upwards and he breathed out, now filled with a new, strong determination to find her and quickly leapt over the open waters with ease, his massive form ripping through trees and snow until he came upon another horrific scene.
Her horse was caught on a tree, and she was on the ground, about to be attacked by a wolf from the large pack that surrounded her.
A growl emitted from his throat and he narrowed his eyes, they would not have her. Lunging forwards, snow flying up behind him as he did so, the beast reached out quickly and grasped hold of the wolfs neck in his large claws. Bringing it forwards he let out a loud roar, a warning, a threat that seemed to say 'she is mine,' before tossing it aside with great ease. No they would not take her.
Looming over her protectively he watched with his ice-cold, blue eyes as the pack surrounded them both. These animals seemed unafraid of him, they would not give up but neither would he, and he would show them who they were messing with, how dare theytry harming what was his.
The girl, she looked up at him with her eyes and they were still filled with fear, but he noticed something else was held within those deep brown orbs. No she was not looking at him with fear, she was looking at him with a questionable gaze and a look of hope…of relief, it was the wolves she was afraid of now. She tore her gaze from his and turned now to the surrounding animals; they growled and bared their teeth angrily, hungrily. The thought that this woman was counting on him gave him a feeling of newfound strength and quickly he charged forwards, attacking the wolves. That look in her eyes was burned into his mind the whole while, even as they all leapt onto him at once. He ignored the shearing pain of their canines that tore at his flesh and fur, and their claws as they dug deep into his hide. She needed him now and he would not let these creatures harm her.
By whipping his form around and slashing his large, sharp claws at their unshielded forms he managed to get a few off of him, only to be dragged down from the cape that was tied around his shoulders. For a moment he wondered, why had be bothered to wear such a thing? Such a human need to cover ones self, it had only gotten in the way, but as he was bitten again, struggling to stand and flinging the creatures from his form, he concentrated his though on more important things then his desires to remain somewhat human, his thoughts now only on the girl.
He managed to hit the leader of the pack this time, his massive claw swinging out and causing the animal to fly straight into a tree. It whined and cried out, before turning and running away. The others quickly followed, realizing they were no match for this beast, this monster, and with a hate filled gaze he watched them leave not turning his eyes from them until they had all run away. The cowards…
He heard a noise behind him and turned, breathing heavily. The pain of his wounds finally being recognized as the adrenalin that raced through his veins faded. This girl, she was watching him in disbelief, staying close to her horse. His insides felt like they were sinking deeper within himself as he saw fear once more upon her…could he do nothing to rid her of that emotion when she looked upon him?
Thoughts raced through his mind as he let out a breath which vapoured before him, she was safe now, and what had turned out to be a capture to return her as his prisoner, had turned into a rescue to save her life. He felt his body shudder, and everything was being veiled by a blurred obscured view. He Reached out slightly to help stop himself from falling, but she was too far away, everything was so far away, distant, and then everything turned dark.
Belle glanced over at his unconscious form, and for a moment she hesitated, turning away and clutching the saddle of her horse tightly, what was she to do? She could run, run away and never look back, even he would not be able to find her, but that look in his eyes as he fell, that desperate and disappointed glance as he collapsed into the snow made her feel obligated to assist him.
He had saved her life, whether or not it was because she was his prisoner was not a matter to be debated now, for he had assisted her in her time of need, risked his own life to fend off the creatures of these woods and had fallen because of it. She quickly turned and rushed towards him, her eyes glancing him over as she kneeled down and reached out to touch him, though she retreated her hand and bit her lower lip. The rise and fall of his back was an obvious sign that he was still alive, and this made her sigh in relief, not knowing why, she made a small gesture of thanks by unclasped her cloak and lay it on top of him, perhaps to help protect from the bitter cold of the winds, and then stood headed towards her horse.
It took many attempts and failures to get him on top of the horse, but the beast soon stirred and even in his exhausted state, assisted the girl by not only allowing himself onto her horse but helping to climb on board. Phillip gave a distinct, worried snort as the monstrous form was laid upon his back, but belle reassured him, petting his nose lightly and gently ushering him forwards to make the long and slow trek back to her imprisonment.
It was eerily silent once they arrived back at the castle, the beast slipped himself off of her mount and gave it a slight sideways glance as thanks for carrying him, the horse was sent to the stables, and he and the girl entered the castle, neither saying a word to one another.
The servants escorted them to the room where their master's chair was stationed in front of the large fireplace, and belle asked for a cloth and some hot water, Mrs. Potts obliged gladly and soon the girl was wringing out the water from the cloth and edged her way towards the Beast, going to tend to some of his wounds.
"Here…Don't do that" The beast was licking his wounds as any animal would and she thought for a fleeting moment, that this was to be expected, he was a beast after all. Reaching out she tried to touch his arm, as though to stop him, but as any injured animal he emitted a low growl in warning and retreated his arm away from her.
This did not sway the girl for she simply regained her composure and quickly tried to press the cloth to his wounds in attempt to clean it.
"Just hold...still!" half cut off by her quick movements, the two played a quick game of what appeared to be tag, until she firmly pressed the cloth to his wounds, having caught him. Unfortunately, her quick action had applied too much pressure to his wounds in an attempt to keep the cloth firmly against them, and a large roar filled the room and the castle halls, echoing for a short time.
"That hurt!" the beast shouted to her, enraged. His voice was deep and rugged; the air formed from his shouting had caused her to back away, and her hair to waver slightly.
"Well if you'd hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much!" she shouted back, giving a quick retort to his comment.
Her brown eyes were narrowed at him as he then stared at her with contempt and grit his teeth, all the while still cradling his wounded arm.
"Well if you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened" a smirk formed on his lips or what appeared to be lips, and he motioned towards his wounded arm seeming to think he had won this argument.
"Well if you hadn't of frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!" She crossed her arms as she said this, turning away from him no longer interested in this argument, feeling as though she was trying to fight with a child.
The beast opened his mouth, about to reply but found that his thoughts had wandered away from him, but he quickly recovered himself and replied with the same dignified and accusing manner.
"Well you…shouldn't have been in the West wing!" He was still shouting, and again seeming to take pride in his response for his lips seemed to curve as though attempting to smile, baring his large canines.
Belle wondered a moment if a Beast could smile, or if she had just been seeing things, but certainly, if one could that probably would have been it. Though this only caused her to become angered now, and quickly defend herself.
"Well you should learn to control your temper!"
Again, the beast was stumped. He had been told this countless times before in his life, and now this girl who sat before him, daring to speak back to him and seeming not so afraid of him was telling him he had a temper. He actually preferred for a moment, when she had been afraid of him. At least he always seemed to have the last word.
Adverting his eyes fromher he mumbled to himself and almost seemed to sulk, resting his cheek on the palm of his uninjured claw, giving in and giving up for she was right.
He hardly noticed as his servants began to come out from their hiding, apparently they had been terrified by his yelling and watched eagerly by the mantle at how this scene would turn out.
"Now hold still," Belle began, he glanced towards her as she moved his injured arm carefully and gently, and then glanced away once more, still sulking and seeming uninterested but not arguing or denying her access to his wounds "this might hurt a little".
He quickly glanced to her at the mention of pain and seemed slightly panicked. As she dabbed the cloth onto his wounds once more he grimaced and turned his face away from her, eyes shut tight and jaws clenched, that had been an understatement.
"By the way…" She started, stopping her words hesitantly before continuing, all the while still cleaning his wounds "Thank you…for saving my life." She was silent after this, and he turned to her slowly, watching her a moment.
Had this been true? Was he just given a sign of gratitude for his actions? Their eyes met, and for a second he contemplated what to say in response. He had been granted his wish; her eyes were not filled with fear, anger or hatred for him. No, now they were filled with gratitude and slight hesitation.
"You're welcome…" the words slipped passed his tongue without him having to think any further about it, and as she tended to him both found comfort in their silence.