Hi everyone! My latest chapter for your perusal. Hope you like it. Thanks and hugs to all my reviewers, and thanks to Trudi for her continued help :)

Chapter Ten: The Interrogation

Chip had never felt so tired, had never welcomed the idea of sleep (regardless of the trouble it brought him) as much as he did upon his entrance into the castle that afternoon. Everything was suddenly too bright and too loud as he was helped through the gates into the courtyard by Francois and his men. The sun made him wince as it hit his face on their emergence from the cool shade of the stone wall onto the unsheltered cobblestones. Chip longed for the cold shadow to continue so he'd never have to feel the hot stickiness of summer on his already aching head again. He wanted his bed and the bliss of sleep. Surely now, the nightmares were not necessary. After all, his visions had seemingly all taken place earlier that day. Things could only get better.

Suddenly, it struck him. He'd beaten it! He'd won! He'd saved Raisse. This was what all those years of sleepless nights and anxious days had led up to. It was over! Relief washed over him and he looked gratefully at the guards. He even managed a weak smile.

Unfortunately, the smile did nothing but earn him a stern look and a stronger grip on his left arm. Chip's face fell as it dawned on him. The guards weren't helping him, they were escorting him. Something must still be wrong.

The castle was eerily silent as they stopped in front of the grand staircase. Where was everybody? Normally, the castle was a hive of activity at that time of day. The midday meal would have been served and the servants would be running all over the place to ensure prompt delivery and a smooth meal. Cogsworth ran a notoriously tight schedule, and luncheon had to be served, then cleared away quickly, and with acute precision, to make way for the afternoon's cleaning tasks, one of which was polishing and waxing the dining room table, but Cogsworth and the household staff were nowhere to be seen. Something was definitely wrong.

The grip on Chip's right arm loosened as Francois spoke to his second-in-command, Andre Tatou.

"Go tell Cogsworth we've got him, and be quick about it. I have duties to attend to," he barked.

"Yes, sir."

The man hurried up to the eastern corridor where he knew Cogsworth would normally be conducting his daily inspection of the suits of armour. This left Chip alone with Francois. They stood in silence, which did nothing for Chip's already fragile nerves.

"Francois?"

It hurt for Chip to talk. He wondered just how long he'd slept with the inside of his mouth exposed to the sun. Francois said nothing. He did not even grunt in response.

"What's going on? I don't understa…"

"Hold your tongue, boy. You're in no position to be questioning me."

The loud harshness of the guard's tone easily drowned out Chip's dry whispers. Chip closed his eyes and took solace in the darkness behind his eyelids. Any minute now he'd wake up. Any minute now.

He heard three sets of footsteps descend the staircase in front of him. The heavy boots of Andre, supposedly hard-wearing for the constant night patrols the guards were required to take part in, were nearest and followed by the unmistakable measured steps of Cogsworth's well-maintained shoes. The third set of footsteps was unexpected. He opened his eyes to see the tall, imposing figure of the King of France behind the two servants. His blue eyes were fierce even from a distance. They had not lost their intensity over the years. The King was still able to silence men with a look. The current expression on his face, one that exuded power and silent anger, filled Chip with dread.

"Your highness?"

It was Cogsworth speaking.

"I must advise against this. I am not sure whether you are in the right frame of mind to deal with it. Please, allow me to undertake…"

"Cogsworth."

Vincent's voice resonated throughout the hall, although he was hardly raising his voice. He cut Cogsworth's chatter off sharply, as he meant to, without losing any of his decorum.

"As much as I appreciate your expertise, this…matter is mine and mine alone to deal with. You may leave us."

"As you wish, sire."

Cogsworth turned to march back to the eastern corridor but not before meeting Chip's gaze. He looked at him with a mixture of disappointment and pity, then walked up the stairs with his arms folded behind his back in the way he'd always done, even as a clock when folding his arms had been difficult.

The icy blue eyes of the King burned into Chip's own. He addressed Francois.

"Take him to my study. I shall join you shortly."

"Not to the tower, sire?"

"No, not just yet."

Chip gulped. The tower? What on earth was going on?

"Yes, your majesty."

Ten minutes later, Chip sat in Vincent's private study, looking at the paintings on the walls. He'd never been in here before. It was a room that had been created after the enchantment when the Beast had become the Prince and received all manner of royal duties and paperwork along with a human skin. The chair Chip sat in was comfortable and he felt himself having to once again resist the temptation to slip into unconsciousness. To say he was confused was an understatement. Right then, he would have given anything to wake in his bed again that morning and just stay there. No horse rides, no Raisse, no waterfalls. It had been a bad day…and it was about to get even worse.

The marble doorknob turned and the figure of Vincent entered the room. His long legs strode over to the other side of the desk but he did not sit down. He stood, apparently lost in thought. Chip found the silence unbearable, but he knew better than to break it. Vincent may have been human again for the past seventeen years and the King of France for the past twelve, but he still had some of the Beast in him. He lost his temper very rarely these days but when he did, he was no man to mess with, and Chip could tell he was troubled. The grey hairs and lines around his eyes had become more prominent these last few years. Today, they were more noticable than ever. He spoke, but only to Francois.

"You may wait outside. I would like to talk to Chip in private."

Francois nodded, and did as he was told. Chip was suddenly aware that he was alone in a private room with the King of France. He could not remember the last time that had happened, if in fact it ever had.

"Chip."

The King's voice was controlled and steady, though his stormy eyes gave away his true feelings. The feelings of a man rather than a monarch. One of them unmistakably anger. He did not wait for Chip to answer.

"Are you aware of why I have brought you here?"

Chip could only tell the truth.

"No, sire."

"What happened by the lake earlier today?"

Chip started. That question was much harder to answer than the previous one. Suddenly, he knew that whatever he said or however he tried to explain things, it would go against him. Still, he had to answer Vincent as best he could. He cleared his throat.

"Rai…The princess and I went for a ride through the fields. We stopped by a lake and she...she started to climb up the rocks."

"Where were you when this was happening?"

"I was standing by the horses on the ground."

"Why did you let her climb up the rocks?"

"With all due respect, your majesty, I did not let her. We…had an argument and she climbed the rocks. I guess she did it to annoy me."

Vincent felt his heart melt a little. That certainly sounded like Raisse. She was her father's daughter, there was no doubting that. He wondered what the rocks had to do with what he had deduced from the situation already.

"Continue."

"She kept climbing higher until she was near the waterfall."

"Why didn't you stop her?"

"I…I couldn't, sire. I tried to move but…I couldn't."

"You couldn't move?"

"No, sire, I...cannot explain further. I don't know what happened."

"For future reference, Chip, if my daughter is in danger and under your supervision, you WILL move. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sire," said Chip meekly.

"Continue."

"She started to come down again but then something happened and she started to walk backwards."

"'Something' happened?"

The sharp mocking of the King's tone suggested he did not care for Chip's vagueness.

"Your highness, it…it is my belief that we were both under the control of something indescribable. I think it was some sort of spell."

"What happened next?"

"She fell into the water."

Vincent's eyes widened. That at least explained Raisse being soaking wet.

"I jumped in after her."

"I thought you couldn't move."

"I...couldn't sire, but then I could again. I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth, I swear."

Vincent did not move or speak.

"I jumped in after her and I found her and managed to get her out of the lake, but when I looked, she wasn't breathing. So I tried to revive her…"

"How?"

"Well, first I used the techniques my mother taught me when I was small, but they didn't work."

Chip paused. This was the part that he was still unsure of himself. How on earth could he even begin to describe what happened next? He begged his brain to come up with some answers, but everything was failing him. He still did not know why he was being interrogated."

"I…don't remember exactly what…"

He was cut off by Vincent's voice, as Cogsworth had been earlier. The King had come round to Chip's side of the desk.

"Let me try and help you remember. At approximately midday this afternoon, my daughter ran into the castle soaking wet and completely hysterical. She was also half-naked and the only sense we could get out of her was something about you attacking her!"

Chip was flabbergasted. In his confused and nervous state, he made a series of strange noises before he could manage a full sentence.

"Attacked her? That's ridiculous…that's…"

"Are you calling her a liar?"

Vincent's temper was dizzying. He was almost snarling.

"No…no…sire…no, but that's not what…I mean…I did not attack her. I saved her."

"You saved her?"

"Yes. I don't know how exactly, but…but I knelt over her and I felt…some sort of power…and I touched her…and she glowed….and then she was alive again."

He wanted to hit his head on the desk. He could not have made less sense if he tried. He felt panic rise up inside him and struggled to sound more coherent.

"I would never attack her. I'd rather die than hurt her."

He looked Vincent straight in the eyes, pleading with him to believe him. It seemed to work a little, as he seemed to calm down slightly.

"How would you describe your relationship with my daughter?"

Chip thought quickly yet carefully.

"I respect her as the Princess of France and I serve her as I would serve any member of your family, your majesty."

"But it is not just a professional relationship, is it? You have been close for years."

"Yes, sire…in that case, I suppose I see her as a younger sister a lot of the time."

"So you have no…romantic…interest in her then? Even I am aware that she is becoming a beautiful young woman. Do you not agree?"

Chip stifled a laugh, although he knew this was deadly serious. What a question! Should he lie and risk offending Vincent or should he admit that he had noticed, of course he had, but it would no doubt bring him under even more suspicion.

"Your majesty, I do not look upon Raisse that way. First and foremost, she is the Princess of France and secondly, I have known her since a few minutes after she was born. We… have been close in the past but only ever as friends, if that."

He decided now would be a good time to repeat his point.

"Your highness, I would never hurt her. Never. I don't know what happened earlier but Raisse was unconscious. When she woke up, she must have been confused and disorientated. I wish I could explain better but what happened today…there was something behind it…something that tried to kill her and then helped me to save her…I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth. Please, your highness, ask her…ask her when she's feeling better. I have been in your service all my life, sire, have I ever given you reason not to trust me?"

Vincent's mood softened. He had studied Chip all through that last speech and there was nothing about him that appeared deceitful or dishonest. But…but he had his daughter to think about…

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the door.

"Come in," he shouted.

Two guards appeared in the doorway. Francois stood behind them.

"Yes?"

"Your majesty, we have completed the search of the boy's room as you requested."

Chip felt himself stiffen. They'd searched his room? He was certain he had nothing to hide but why on earth had that been necessary?

"And…?"

"It was clean, but well…I think you'd better take a look at this."

They brought Chip's handheld mirror forwards; the one he stared at every night to convince himself of his own reflection. The guard continued.

"I believe this is the magic mirror which the enchantress left with the rose seventeen years ago. We found it in his room. I instructed the mirror to show me what it had last seen."

A heavy feeling of dread suddenly hit Chip's mind like a rock. He knew exactly what was about to happen. How could he have been so stupid? That was it. He was done for.

The guard repeated the command and adjusted the mirror so Vincent could see the image within. First it showed his reflection, tall and regal in a simple shirt and trousers, then it sparkled and flashed as the image changed to one of Princess Raisse sleeping in her bed from a few nights previously. Chip kept his eyes on the floor, not daring to look. He could almost feel the change in the air as the King's temper began to rise once more.

"Chip, I will give you two minutes to explain this before I send you to the tower."

Chip sighed wearily. He no longer had the energy.

"I have been concerned for Raisse's safety recently, your majesty, so I have been checking to make sure she's safe in her bed at night. I have no excuse for it, but I meant no harm by it. My only concern was for the welfare of the princess."

The King had heard enough.

"Take him to the tower...but do not formally charge him yet. I will speak to the princess and get to the bottom of this matter. Leave me."

He turned away from them and bent over his desk, leaning on his hands for support. He stayed like this for some time, trying to absorb all of the information he had just heard, until he felt the door open behind him. Only one person was permitted to enter without knocking.

"Oh, Belle," he sighed as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned to face his Queen. Her beautiful face was etched with concern.

"Am I to assume you know of it all?"

She nodded.

"I believe him."

"You do?"

"Yes. He adores Raisse. I do not believe he would harm her, not intentionally. Everything's going to be fine, you'll see," she said reassuringly.

He managed a weak smile. When Belle said everything was going to be fine, she was usually right. He put his arms around her, and then gently stroked the side of her hair before leaning down to kiss her.

"What would I ever do without you?"

A twinkle appeared in her eye.

"Well, you'd still be big, hairy and ferocious," she remarked.

He grinned.

"You mean I'm not anymore?"

Belle smiled.

"Why don't you get some rest? I'll go and see if Raisse's ready to talk yet."

He smiled in agreement and nodded. She kissed him again and left the room, making sure to shut the door quietly behind her. Francois still waited outside.

"My lady?" he enquired.

"You may return to your patrols, Francois. The King is not to be disturbed for a few hours. Thank-you."

"Yes, my lady."

Ever the optimist, Belle found herself humming as she ascended the stairs towards Raisse's chambers. What a nasty business! She was sure of Chip's innocence, however. She had watched him grow from a chirpy teacup to a cheerful boy to a charming young man, raised well by his mother. She was certain the truth would out soon, and she knew of Raisse's tendencies towards melodrama. She was proud of her intelligent and talented daughter though.. Soon, she would be married with a family of her own no doubt. The thought saddened her a little, but she knew her daughter was growing up. It was just something every mother had to accept.

She knocked on Raisse's bedroom door with a delicate but firm hand.

"Raisse?"

She turned the door handle and entered without waiting for permission, as mothers are allowed to do in these sorts of circumstances.

"Raisse, sweetheart, are you awake?"

Her brown eyes drifted towards the bed where she had left her only child, distraught and silent, a mere hour before, but it was empty. She gasped.

Raisse was gone.