Hey, everybody. I know it's been a very long time. After working on such deep Belle/Beast scenes in There IS a Beast Running Wild, I was so burned out for this story. So, I'm going to speed things up a bit and this chapter will take place the night of Belle and Beast's dance. Remember in the movie Gaston said he'd been searching for Maurice, for 5 days!? Well, although that isn't very realistic, I'm going to use that timing for this story so that I can move on the chapters I've had waiting for ages.
Gaston and Lefou were dismounting their horses, planning to go relax at the tavern. They'd been riding and traveling all day and were looking forward to some rest. Gaston was still annoyed and confused about where Belle was and what had happened to her. Since he obviously didn't believe Maurice's wild tales about a beast and a dungeon and talking teacups, he'd made up his mind that Belle, always anxious for adventure, had run away to find some excitement. All he had to do was sit tight and wait for her to return, then Ella would convince Belle to marry him, and everything would be perfect.
Lefou was tagging along of course, same as always, but he was still going on and on about Maurice and Ella, how maybe they should still go try to save Maurice and bring him home. Gaston was flustered that his sidekick wouldn't stop talking about that. In Gaston's mind, it was over and done with, so it was time to drop it.
The two of them were walking toward the tavern when they heard other voices who were also approaching the tavern. But it was their conversation that stopped the hunter and his pal in their tracks. "Do you really believe Maurice?" One of them asked. Gaston and Lefou froze. What were they talking about? Did they just say...Maurice?
"I don't know." Fredrick shook his head. "I know Gaston can be cocky, but I find it hard to believe he'd do something like that!"
"Me too. But how do you account for Maurice being out of sight all this time after Gaston tried to help him, Maurice returning alone, and saying those things?"
"It does sound fishy." Fredrick agreed. "But still..."
"Oh, let's just go." Frances groaned and they walked into the tavern.
"Wonder what that was about." Lefou remarked. Gaston didn't say a word. He just stood there, clenching his fists. This was not good for him. According to his two friends, Maurice was alive and in town! And, he'd told everyone what Gaston had done! But that couldn't be! Maurice was dead! He was dead! He had to be. However, Gaston wasn't going to take any chances. "Gaston?" Lefou spoke up, actually wishing his friend would just say something. It was eerie when Gaston got mad but was this silent. Gaston didn't answer Lefou, nor did he even look back at him. He angrily marched away, heading straight for Belle's house! "Where are you going? Wait!" Lefou called after him.
Gaston was on a mission. His eyes narrowed with poison as he saw the light in the window. He growled and made his way up to the door. Dead Maurice or no dead Maurice, Gaston had one witness that he couldn't let take a chance on telling on him!