~Chapter 26~

Noella

It had been a few days at the castle and in that time, snow started falling covering as far as the eye could see in deep blankets of white. The grounds were so massive, I wish we had a sleigh to move around outside. Belle and I had yet to explore all of it top to bottom. If that brutish beast came around, we would go out of our way to avoid him. Though those situations were few and far between, he definitely kept to himself and Belle and I figured he was in the West Wing most of the time. If we got curious about that place, we would stop at the base of that staircase and just look up, but it wouldn't last long before Cogsworth or someone else moved us along. What was up there that we possibly couldn't know about?

Joel would be coming tonight and I was more than ready to see him again though I felt bad that he had to climb the side of the castle to do so, but at least I would get to talk with him again. Last he was here, he seemed pretty darn insistent to get Belle and I out of here. I could only hope for the best with what skills I knew Joel had, but in the end, I kept my thoughts realistic. Besides, I really didn't believe the beast would hurt us. He came off as a brute, but giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'd say there was more to the story there.

"Tonight he returns right?" Belle asked me as we finished eating our dinner in our room.

"Uh huh." I replied with a nod looking out at the balcony impatiently.

"Ooh, please let me dress you!" Violette insisted pulling open her wardrobe drawers.

"Thanks, but that's not necessary." I replied. "What are you going to be doing tonight?" I asked curiously changing the subject.

"I asked Cogsworth where the master was during the evenings…" Belle replied.

"And why are you asking?" I asked raising a brow.

"I'm going to explore the West Wing." Belle said excitedly. I appreciate her adventurous spirit that appeared sometimes out of nowhere, but I didn't want to poke the bear that is the beast's anger.

"Belle…" I whined, "Let me be the voice of reason here...we're prisoners here and yet we are fed, clothed, and not kept locked up. With the freedom to go anywhere on the premises. Why do you insist on exploring the one place we aren't supposed to go?"

"Because I want to know what he's hiding up there."

"Or there is nothing up there." I shrugged.

"And I intend to find that out, but what if I find the mirror for you?" Belle asked raising a brow.

"Well if you do, I'll thank you then…" I smirked. "Just be careful."

"I'll leave you to it then…" Belle said as she gestured out the balcony doors. Joel was just finishing climbing his way up as he threw his legs over the stone railing. Belle winked at me as she left the bedroom. I smiled broadly as I opened the balcony doors to greet him.

"You're early." I called out.

Joel just looked at me with a cheeky smile crossing his arms playfully.

"That's the greeting I get after climbing up here?" He complained.

"Stop." I said lightly slugging him in the arm, "You know what I meant."

"How are you and Belle holding up?" He asked growing serious.

"Fine." I shrugged. "I just wish I could find the mirror and go."

"I even tried looking at it from my mirror and I think mine can only show people, not objects." Joel answered glumly.

"I appreciate you trying." I said putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I detest you being here, so I'll do whatever I can to get you out the quickest and safest."

"Aw you do care." I teased playfully.

"Of course I do." He replied gazing into my eyes in a way that made me forget how to breathe for a second.

"How's Maurice?" I asked changing subject again.

"Worried about Belle and he's had a nasty cough the last few days."

"That's something I won't pass onto Belle." I paused, "Do you think he's okay?"

"I'm sure he's fine, but if it progresses, he'll definitely be making a visit to the town physician."

"For Belle's sake, thanks for looking out for him."

As we continued to talk, small snowflakes began falling from the sky and I stuck out my tongue trying to catch as many as I could. Joel just laughed at me.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"It's a game...I try to see how many I can catch in thirty seconds."

"Sounds a bit childish...besides I bet I can catch more than you."

"Alright hot shot, you're on." I challenged.

For authenticity, it would have been great to have Cogsworth referee but of course nobody knew about Joel aside from Belle. I couldn't risk anyone else knowing about him. So our challenge began and after thirty seconds or so, I beat him by five snowflakes.

"You cheated!" He accused.

"How on earth would I do that?" I laughed not taking his accusation seriously.

"I have no idea." He smirked, "You're the criminal mastermind, not me."

"Sore loser." I smiled.

As we started laughing louder, a thunderous roar was heard and it was close...very close. I watched as the beast burst through the bedroom door and out joining Joel and I on the balcony.

"What are you doing here?" The beast roared standing tall on his back legs towering over Joel and I.

"I'm here to see Noella...that is all." Joel said moving in front of me defensively. "I'm a friend. I just came to see her."

"Y-You're trying to take her away aren't you?" The beast roared.

"No…" I screamed.

With a ferocious thrust, the beast in a quick motion grabbed Joel by his shirt and threw him over the side of the balcony. I screamed loudly and in a higher pitch than I knew I was capable of. I quickly looked over the side of the balcony and I didn't see Joel. My heart sank and I couldn't even think for a second.

"Now, you really should think twice about making plans for an escape. I gave you an out and if you didn't take it than that is your loss." The beast said.

When I finally turned to face him, I felt no fear, but just mad with hate. I walked right up to the beast and began pounding my fists into his chest as hard as I could.

"He was an innocent man! You had no right! What did he ever do to you, you animal! I'll never forgive you for this!" I yelled.

The beast didn't really react to my words, but just let me have it out with him. After I kept repeating that he killed an innocent man again and again. He apparently had enough and his ears perked up as he flew out the door returning inside the castle. My heart was racing more now that I got that initial anger out, but now all I felt was grief and sadness. I tried my best to try to stuff it inside as I stood there cold in the snow, but then I heard someone yelling my name. Curiously, I peered over the balcony down below and there was Joel in the snow waving at me showing me his climbing tools. Thank goodness he was okay. I swear I felt the pain lift off my heart and the shear relief that he was alright. I told him to wait for me as I left the balcony to head downstairs to ground level. I grabbed a coat from Violette and headed for the stairs, but something loud and angry stopped me in my tracks. Clearly it was the beast and it was coming down the stairs from the West Wing area of the castle. Belle was running full sprint at me from that stairwell.

"Belle? What's wrong?" I asked quickly.

She didn't even acknowledge me as she ran passed, but continued down to the main hall. Lumiere and Cogsworth were on the bottom step trying to stop her. All of us completely confused.

"Where are you going?" Lumiere asked.

"Promise or no promise...I can't stay here. I'm sorry." She muttered.

She grabbed her cloak from the coatrack who helped her into it and she opened the main door blowing some snow inside and then she was gone. Lumiere and Cogsworth's faces both sank looking sad.

"Did anyone else hear the yelling?" Chip the teacup chimed in joining us with his mother.

"What in heaven's name was that about?" Mrs. Potts asked curiously.

I glanced up to the West Wing stairwell looking angry.

"I think I know." I replied.

As the staff looked at me confused, I stomped my way upstairs going into the forbidden West Wing. I had had enough of the beast's antics hurting people I care about. At the top of the stairs, there was a long hallway leading to some narrow double doors. I walked briskly up to them, but I didn't get a chance to push them open because the beast came out first. When he turned and saw me there, he looked irate.

"What are you doing up here? It's forbidden!" He growled.

"You know someday your anger is going to get someone in this place killed…" I accused, "Oh wait, it almost did as you threw Joel off the balcony."

"He was trespassing...as was Belle...and so are you!" He said grabbing my arm and yanking me down the hall to go back downstairs. Surprised by my strength, I yanked my arm free of his grasp. I was so done being bullied by him.

"No, I don't care what the reason. Belle just left without saying goodbye in a blind panic."

"Belle left?"

"Yeah, she's gone." I confirmed.

"But it's a blizzard out there." The beast muttered looking somewhat remorseful.

"I don't think she cares and I don't blame her, but she could get hypothermia…" I said looking concerned. I could tell the beast was starting to put the urgency together in his head. Slowly, but the wheels were turning. I wanted him to choose to do the right thing.

"I-I didn't mean to scare her...she just surprised me."

"Could have fooled me. All of us heard the yelling from down here."

"Maybe I should go find her and bring her back…" The beast said pondering his thoughts further. His anger was gone after thinking things through more.

"Better than hypothermia." I shrugged casually trying to get him to move urgently.

He gave a throaty growl that seemed to come from the depths of his gut and then he took off ahead of me. I chased after him and I watched with pride seeing the beast fly out the castle door after Belle.

While the beast went after Belle, I told the servants not to worry, but in the meantime, I went to find Joel. My coat was already on, but Sultan the ottoman dog brought me my shoes. As I opened the door, Cogsworth grabbed my pant leg.

"You aren't leaving too are you, mademoiselle?" He asked nervously.

"I'll be right back." And threw open the doors running outside into the pale brightness of the snow.

The wind was brisk as I threw up the hood on my jacket. I could barely see the balcony from my room to pinpoint Joel's location from below. The scenery was different down here vs. up there plus the intense snowfall. I called out for Joel as I walked around the castle wall outside and after a few minutes I found him. My mind still on high alert even seeing him there alive and okay.

"Joel!" I exhaled in a sigh of relief and I threw my arms around him hugging him tight.

"I'm alright, Noella. I promise."

"Course you are." I smiled weakly pulling away, "I wouldn't expect anything else."

"And this is why I didn't want to leave you here." Joel replied looking agitated.

"Look, we'll talk about that later. I think Belle is in trouble. I gotta find her."

"Good then we can leave." Joel pressed as I rolled my eyes.

"Again, we'll talk later." I replied.

It was then by now I realized to my surprise and embarrassed that I didn't even realize we weren't alone.

"Hi." The stranger waved at me sheepishly," I'm Eugene. A friend." He nodded.

"Noella. Nice to meet you, but gotta go. Joel?"

Joel and Eugene ran up to their horses hopping into the saddles. I looked around for another horse, but there was none.

"Here, Noella." Joel said offering his hand as he helped me up onto his horse behind him. Nervously, I wrapped my arms around his torso for security.

"Hold on." Joel yelled trying to be louder than the wind howling around us and the three of us took off. It was going to be hard following horse tracks in the snowstorm, but it ended up being easy following the roars of the beast, which led us straight to our destination. We passed by a frozen pond that had a big chunk broken out of the ice and near that pond, I heard Belle yelling for help. We followed her calls and found Belle with Phillipe and the beast face planted in the snow barely breathing. I got off the horse as Joel and Eugene went to inspect the beast.

"He's breathing." Joel confirmed.

Belle threw her arms around me tightly and as we pulled away, her face was as white as a sheet in panic mode.

"What happened?" I asked curiously looking around at all the numerous pawprints in the snow.

"A pack of wolves...the cornered me...spooked Philippe. Noella, I almost died, but the beast fought the wolves and won."

"He what?" I said in complete amazement.

"Though he took a chomp to his back and several gashes on his arm." Belle pointed out.

"Let's get him back to his home." I instructed.

Joel looked over at me shocked by my direction.

"He'll be easier to lift with all of us." Eugene pointed out, "C'mon teamwork."

Over the next few minutes and after a few failed attempts, we got the beast up on the horses and it took longer than anticipated, but we got ourselves back to the castle. The guys helped get the beast inside and comfortable in his chair by the fireplace in the den. The beast was awake, but definitely not all there. Bandages and first aid items were brought and Belle began tending to the beast. I pulled the boys outside the den to talk.

"So can we go now, please?" Joel pressed.

"There's a blizzard outside, nobody is going anywhere. It'll be dark soon so you might as well stay the night. There are tons of rooms."

"Stay the night here?" Eugene replied looking around.

"With him?" Joel grumbled, "It's probably because he tried to kill me before, but I don't think I'm welcome here."

"You're welcome here because I say you are." I smirked.

"Thanks Noella, but I think Eugene and I can get back to town tonight. We can brave any storm." Joel winked.

"Speak for yourself." Eugene commented rolling his eyes. He put a hand on Joel's shoulder, "Meet me outside when you're ready." He said turning to leave.

Now it was Joel and I and honestly, I detested the thought of him leaving again already. He almost died today and that freaked me out.

"You sure you won't stay? I can find you a room as far away from the beast."

"It's best we return to town. Check on Maurice things like that, but I'll see you in two days." Joel nodded assuring me of the promise.

"And you'll have tell me how you met Eugene." I smiled.

"Definitely a story for another day." He replied grabbing my hand giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'll see you soon."

"You'd better." I replied as he walked over the door.

"Be safe."

"You too. Stay away from Gaston okay?"

"No promises." He smirked.

I shook my head as he opened the door looking back at me one more time and finally closing the door behind him. I returned to the den and I saw that Belle was prepping the beast's arm to clean it up. However, before she began, he apparently had been licking it with his tongue. The image made me choke back a laugh as I pictured the beast as a giant cat. The servants were gathered around, but looked nervous as Belle dipped her cloth in water.

"Don't do that...it might infect it." Belle warned.

The beast growled at her. Belle sighed heavily, but persisted reaching for the gashes on the beast's arm, which he maneuvered around her dodging her cloth cleaning.

"Hold still, would ya?" She complained as she chased the beast's arm.

Looking at this was kind of adorable. It was like watching a game of cat and mouse. Though the fun stopped as soon as Belle finally caught his arm. The beast roared in her face though neither viciously or loudly. It was definitely tamer than what he usually did.

"That hurts!" The beast growled.

"Well, if you would hold still it wouldn't hurt as bad." Belle retorted.

"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't runaway ." The beast smirked proudly thinking he had the last word on the matter. Of course, I watched Belle and I could tell she wasn't going to let the beast have the last word.

"If you hadn't scared me, I wouldn't have left." She replied.

"You shouldn't have been in the West Wing." He challenged.

"Well, you should control your temper." Belle snapped right back.

The beast leaned back in his chair frowning knowing he didn't have any other comeback. Belle exhaled slowly tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. She rewetted the cloth and wrang it out once more.

"Now, please hold still. It will sting, but not for long." She warned.

Belle gently put the damp cloth on the wound and the beast looked away gritting his teeth.

"By the way, I never thanked you for saving my life." Belle continued.

The beast looked at her dumbfounded by her remark and immediately his body language relaxed as Belle continued to dab to his wounds.

"You're welcome." The beast replied.

Everyone began to gather around now realizing the animosity had now diminished. Mrs. Potts brought hot chocolate in on her tray. I took mine to go heading up the stairs to my room. I stared out upon the snowy landscape as I sipped my drink. Immediately thinking of my mom. She had a delicious hot chocolate recipe she would make whenever it got cold back home. I missed her terribly and I desperately wish I could see her. As I got lost in my thoughts staring out into that vast mountainous winter wonderland, there was a knock on my door. I opened it and was stunned to find the beast there. His eyes were soft and looking the least angry as I had ever seen them.

"Noella?" He said.

Not gonna lie, I didn't even think he knew my name.

"What is it?" I asked crossing my arms going into defensive mode preparing for anything.

"I'm sorry about everything. You were right about me. I guess it took a few lectures for me to see that. Look, I know I'm not your biggest fan at all and I know this won't fix everything, but I invited Belle for dinner downstairs and she accepted. I would like to extend the invitation to you as well.

His voice was calm and sincere. This change in behavior definitely gave me whiplash. I think what Belle and I said to him over the last few days struck a chord. Surprised, but glad something worked.

"I dunno. The hot chocolate from Mrs. Potts made me pretty full." I shrugged.

Just then, my stomach growled like I never had heard it growl before. Loud and proud. The beasts' ears perked up as he smirked.

"I'll be down in five." I nodded.