AN: This is going to be my last update for a little bit whilst I work on some other stories 😊 It was really fun to write so thank you for your support
Chapter Seven - Return
"Mistress," Cogsworth said as he approached Belle who was looking through a pile of books on enchantments that she had pulled from the library. There was a lot of information packed inside of them but nothing about how to break Adam's spell. She bowed her head as she continued to scan the pages, there had to be something, somewhere. "Is there anything you require."
"You know you don't have to call me mistress," Belle said as she looked up from the book. She sighed and bowed her head, "He doesn't know what he's doing. There has to be some way of just…opening his mind and giving him the power to break free."
"Something like that is easily said but not so easy to achieve," Cogsworth told her regrettably and Belle nodded. She looked up at the sky.
"I hate that part of me is actually afraid of him now. I think if I was in danger, he'd be able to break free of the curse but I'm not certain. I don't want for him to be hurt and if somebody was to see him right now, they might get the wrong idea on his behavior."
Cogsworth sighed and sat next to her, "As traumatic as it might sound, the master is in the best place for him. He knows that he needs to be tied up if he's acting so much like…the outside appearance."
Belle sighed and stood up from the pile of books, "Could you let Isabella know that I'm thankful for her patience and I'll be with her in half an hour. I think that if I got more perspective on the situation, I might be able to come up with a plan to save Adam." Without another word, Belle started to walk through the courtyard of the palace.
However as she was reading, a book ripped out of her hands and she looked up. The book slid until it hit a pair of fancy dress shoes and Belle looked up to someone who looked like a gorgeous fairy, she dropped down into a curtsey instantly but the woman walked forwards, handing her the book.
"You don't need to bow to me, you're as royal as I am and you were the one who broke my curse, correct?" she asked and Belle nodded. The enchantress sighed, "I was a bit cruel that night. I had just had a horrible encounter with someone who had taken advantage of a spell I had cast in their favor and I just wanted to see the good in somebody else. I should have realized that a young boy opening the door by himself didn't deserve to be turned into an animal for so long. I thought that if his parents had shown him love and kindness that…."
Belle paused, "Adam doesn't dwell on the past. He thinks about the future," she said before looking away, "Or he did….I don't know where his mind is exactly any longer."
The enchantress nodded. "It's come to my attention that he's been cursed again and though I can't save him entirely, I can give you either something to restore the body or…"
"The body doesn't matter that much to me," Belle said as she bowed her head, "I fell in love with him in his beast form, I can stay with him whilst he holds that form. It's his mind. If you can give me something that will cure his mind, make his head and his heart work with the true him. It just…I don't know if you can imagine how hard it is seeing him not thinking like a human, eating dead rats," she shivered.
"Hold out your hand," the enchantress seemed to command and Belle looked at her curiously before raising an eyebrow suspiciously. She knew about curses of course but she was a little reluctant to do anything further to Adam's body. The enchantress placed some berries in her hand. Four in total. "Give him these and make sure that he eats every one of them. His mind will unlock after that and it will stay unlocked. That is my apology to him unless the physical is more important."
Belle cupped the berries to her heart and curtseyed again but when she rose, the enchantress was gone.
…
…
Belle knelt outside the cage with the berries in her hand, she knew that she was taking a risk by putting her hand into the cage. Even Adam himself had told her to leave and that he might do something that he would reject. Still, Belle steadied herself, the enchantress's words in her head. He just had to eat four berries and his mind would get unlocked. She saw Adam approach her and sniff at the berries before he ate them, nervously looking at Belle in the same way an animal might. He ate all four before retreating to the corner again.
However it was when he was there that he growled painfully and started to roll around whilst clutching his head. There were a few sparks showing the magic was having some effect and after a little while, Adam was on his back taking count of his inhales and exhales.
Belle nervously stood, pulling the key out and then saw those blue eyes flash towards her and he smiled gently.
"Thank you," he told her and she gasped using the key to get into the cell. She reached out and caressed his cheek, placing her hand at the side of his horn and letting her fingers run up it. He laughed as she did so. "My mind is back" he told her and Belle nodded. She gently kissed his mouth, placing her hand over it to keep him from talking too much.
"You need some rest, okay?" Belle told him. "As soon as you're able to stand, let's get you into some warm clothes and get you back to bed." She started to unlock the numerous chains that had been holding him and saw him close his eyes tightly. She froze as she studied him. He looked to be in so much pain and sadness and this was the opposite she had wanted for him. She hadn't wanted him to feel tortured.
"I couldn't control my actions," he told her and Belle nodded, her fingers going through his fur. "I really wanted to control my actions. I acted like an animal."
"And that animal wasn't you," Belle said as she kissed his forehead. "I love you."
"Belle," Adam said gently, "Could you give me a little time alone? I'll be okay," he told her and Belle nodded nervously. She kissed the top of his head again and placed a hand on his chest before getting up and leaving his side. She felt that there was a lot of pain that he was holding in that she wasn't seeing. It had been Gaston who had left him with these psychological scars.
…
…
Belle looked sadly at the dinner that had been prepared for them. She hadn't seen Adam since she had given him those restorative berries despite unlocking the chains for him. That had been hours ago. He had tried to protect her, tried to protect the people that he loves and now he had seemed to disappear from them. Maybe he was just exhausted, it wouldn't surprise her.
"Dinner looks yummy!" Isabella grinned as she walked to the dining table and climbed up on her seat. "Is Daddy eating too?" she asked and Belle looked sadly over to Adam's seat. He had always done his best to raise Isabella with love rather than materialistic wealth. He had definitely learned the important things in life and she could see the two of them interacting with Adam in his human form.
Was he trying to keep his distance from the two of them?
"Daddy might eat a little later," Belle tried to comfort her daughter but she wasn't so sure. She absolutely detested Gaston for not being able to leave their small family alone. If he had done some permanent damage then she would read all of the spell books that she could to get her revenge for their family. Belle sighed as she sat down opposite her daughter and smiled gently.
I think that Bella is starting to look more and more like her gorgeous mother every day. She's smart too, have you seen her interest whilst you're reading those books to her. I wish that I had had that when I was a child.
You know, I really don't mind looking like a fool as long as my two princesses are happy. I don't mind that you two are smarter than me because it makes me the most happy to be in the presence of two strong and independent girls.
Belle blinked as she saw the memory of her husband disappear to just the empty chair and uneaten plate of food that was covered to try to maintain the heat. She saw Isabella gazing in that direction and leaned forwards. "So, how about we read something fun after dinner?" she asked, "I uncovered a new fairy tale," she said and Isabella tilted her head to the side.
"Really?" she asked before looking down, "Does Daddy not eat 'cause I laughed at him?" she asked with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered and Belle shook her head.
"Daddy is going to be okay. He understands that you laughed because he acted a little silly, right? Whenever Daddy does something silly he laughs too, right?" Belle asked as she took her daughter's hand. She didn't know how to explain what was going on but Isabella needed her father in whatever form he was in.
"I love Daddy," Isabella sighed and Belle nodded. She loved him too and she was scared of what would happen were he to distance himself further. She sighed as she looked at the untouched plate. "Bella, I'll be right back," she told the little girl. She stroked her hair back and kissed the top of her head. Hopefully someone could see to it that Adam was okay.
When she returned she saw that Isabella had finished her plate and she went over to her, stroking her hair back and kissing her on the forehead. "Let's go to the library. I'm sure that Daddy will join us in there afterwards, he likes hearing you read," she tried to encourage the little girl but Gaston must have caused much more damage than she had originally imagined.
…
…
Belle was just fishing up with the second story with Isabella and was about to put her to bed when she saw one of the maid's at the doorway. She kissed the top of Isabella's head and went over to the maid. "What have you found out?" she asked and saw the hesitation on the maid's face.
"It's too horrible, ma'am" the maid said and Belle paused, her heart hurting her. What were they talking about? She paused nervously.
"What is?" she said and the maid looked at Isabella.
"Please don't make me say it in front of the little princess," she said and Belle wanted to grab her, desperately ask her what the problem was but she knew that that wasn't in her nature. She nodded and looked at Isabella maybe after she put her to bed she could find out.
Belle placed her hand on Isabella's back and gently smiled at her though her mind was screaming over what could have happened to Adam. "Let's get ready for bed," she said though she was terrified. She wanted to be by his side but taking care of Isabella was more important to him. At least she would be following his wishes.
…
…
Belle smiled weakly as she looked at the newborn infant daughter that the doctor was holding. She saw the doctor pass the small girl over to Adam who was gazing upon her as she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She saw him nervously position her in his arms and then move next to her. He had changed so much and Belle laughed gently as she saw the happiness and excitement that was rushing through him.
"She's amazing, Belle," Adam said as he gently held his daughter. "She's so precious. Thank you for giving me this gift of being a husband and a father."
"Well, thank you for being my husband," Belle grinned happily as she let her body rest in the bed, feeling blessed.
End of Chapter Seven
Thank you for reading and thank you for your support
