Chapter 7

Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time with a tremendous whack – Winston Churchill

The next day, I woke up to find that, once again, Emily had picked out the pink dress.

"I am not going to wear that." I muttered.

"Why not?" se asked. "It'd look lovely on you!"

"I will never wear that dress because I have a sense of pride and the neck line is so low that…never mind." I sighed.

"Well… you're really going to have to wear that dress." Molly said.

"And why is that?" I asked, a sinking feeling taking residence in the pit of my stomach.

"Because Emily hid all of your other dresses." Molly muttered.

"What?" I cried, jumping up and going to the wardrobe. Sure enough, there was nothing there. "You can't do that!" I said. "I won't leave my room unless you give me another dress."

"She's bluffing." Emily muttered.

"I am not." I said. "I will never wear that dress."

-

Three hours later, I sat on my bed and stared at the dress, my stomach growling. "This is cruel." I muttered.

"You could go out and eat if you got dressed." Emily said. "Come on, Torin is probably worried sick."

"Oh, come on, she's only five minutes late." Molly muttered.

I had bathed, put my hair in a loose bun, and donned the beautiful rose necklace that the Beast had given me while I waited for Emily to come to her senses and give me another dress, but it seemed that that would never happen.

"Fine." I muttered. "I'll wear the stupid dress."

"I thought you'd see it my way." Emily said, picking up the dress and handing it to me. I took the dress and put it on, wondering why Emily had to be so bloody difficult.

The neck, as I've said before, was low, leaving my shoulders bare. The sleeves were arm hugging until they reached the elbows, where they flared out and were so long that they practically covered my hands. The bodice was tight down to my hips, and then the skirt flared out like she sleeves did. The dress was light pink and silver thread lined the neck, waist, sleeves, and skirt.

I gave my room a defeated look, hoping that Emily would see. "There you go." I muttered. "I'm in the dress."

"And you look magnificent." Molly assured me. "Now… what are you going to do with your hair?"

"I'm going to leave it the way it is." I replied.

"What?" Emily asked, "But why?"

"Because yesterday we compromised and you got to do my hair. Today, you hid all of my dresses and forced me to wear this… this thing, so-"

"It's a dress."

I glared in her general direction. "I refuse to let you do my hair."

"Oh…" Emily muttered, "Please?"

"No." I replied, opening the heavy wooden door to my room and stepping outside…

…And running into the Beast.

"Hello, Adara." He said. He glanced once at my dress, noting the necklace that I was wearing, and then his eyes moved back to my face. "I was just coming to see where you are."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I said, closing the door. "I was just having… dress troubles…"

"As if…" I heard Emily mutter, "You're just being-"

I slammed the heavy door closed. "Shall we go?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied.

-

After we had eaten, the Beast led me to one of many doors in his castle and swung it open. I peered out to see thousands and thousands of rose bushes. This is where Father was captured… I thought, looking up into the Beast's face.

"Yes," he murmured as if reading my mind. "This is where it happened."

"Oh…"

The Beast looked out into the rose garden, and then back at me. "You may go out, if you wish." He said. "It's beautiful; you'd probably enjoy it…"

"But… what about you?" I asked, looking into his piercing eyes. "Wouldn't you come with me?"

He shook his head. "I rarely leave the castle. It only reminds me of…" his voice lowered so I could barely hear it, "… the freedom that I've lost."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well…" he sighed. "It's a long story."

"I have plenty of time…" I murmured.

"I…" the Beast sighed again. "I… I don't quite know… where to begin…" he murmured. "It… it will have to wait until another time."

"Please, Beast?" I asked. "It's such a beautiful day… come outside with me."

"I don't like leaving the castle." He murmured. "I'm sorry, Adara."

"Well then, I won't go outside, either." I said. I was struck with a sudden compassion for him, realizing how sad and lonely his life must be. "I'm not going to leave you all alone."

"You don't need to do that." He said quietly. "I've held you here like a prisoner. At least you could-"

"Enough of that." I said. "If you don't go outside, I won't go either. Now… there must be something that we can do inside."

The Beast looked away. "I don't know…"

"Well… what did you used to do?" I asked. "Before I came, that is."

He was silent for a long while. Finally, he murmured, "I waited…"

I gazed up into his eyes. He waited? For what? His voice had a melancholy ring to it. I decided that it was safer if I didn't press the subject.

"Adara," he suddenly said, "Would you like to go to the library?"

My eyes lit up. "Of course!"

For the first time since I'd known him, the Beast smiled. It was a frightening expression, but I was beginning to find that I was used to him and I wasn't as scared as I had been.

"I'm glad that you appreciate it so much." He murmured.

"I've always loved reading."

The Beast offered his arm. "Shall we?"

I put my hand on his elbow. "Let's."

-

"The dress wasn't that bad, now was it?" Emily asked when I entered my room a few minutes after sunset.

"I'll admit it- I can stand the dress." I muttered. "But don't you dare ever pull another stunt like you did this morning."

Her voice grew serious. "I make no promises."

"Oh, Emily…" Molly sighed. "So, Adara how was your day?"

"Marvellous." I replied, slipping into the other room to change into my nightgown. "That library has so many books… and some of them are hilarious! And the Beast- he read the funniest story out loud, and one character had such a high voice-"

"Dear lord - that was you two?" Emily asked. "I thought a family of crazy rats had taken residence in the castle."

"Ha, ha." I muttered as I came out of the room. "Very funny."

Molly began to braid my hair. "It is good to hear that you had so much fun."

"Oh, I'm exhausted from laughing." I replied.

We were silent for a long while. My hair was braided, and I began to get into bed. As I drifted to sleep, I heard Emily and Molly murmuring softly to each other.

"Do you think that she's the one?" Emily's voice whispered.

"Well… they seem to enjoy each others-"

"Molly! Please, answer the question."

After a few moments, Molly's voice answered, "I'm sure of it."

When I woke up, a beautiful yellow dress was laid out at the end of my bed. The neckline was higher than the pink one, and the sleeves and skirt were slightly looser. A tiny silver tiara was laid beside the dress, as well as matching yellow slippers.

"Ah, she's awake." Molly said. "Good."

"Morning." I yawned. "I see you picked a dress that I'll actually wear."

"Well, we felt as though you earned it." Emily said mysteriously.

I got out of bed, rolling my eyes. "I'll get ready for breakfast… and don't pull any dress tricks while I'm gone."

Emily laughed. "Like I said, I make no promises."

-

The Beast stood happily in his room, studying the view from his window. As he watched, the wind gently blew the rose petals from his garden.

Adara wasn't the only one who had enjoyed their time together. The Beast had loved every singly moment that they had been together.

Perhaps she really is the one. He thought.

-

I stood in front of my mirror, gazing at my reflection.

My hair was in braids on either side of my head, decorated with yellow ribbon, and the simple tiara stood graceful on my head. The dress was a perfect fit and, I had to admit, I felt like a queen.

"You look beautiful." Molly murmured. "There's no denying it."

"I'm not sure about me being beautiful," I said, "But thank you."

"Wait until the Beast sees you." Emily exclaimed.

There was a sudden knock on the door.

"Speak of the devil…" I murmured. I ran to the door, making sure that everything was in place.

"You look fine." Emily muttered. "Just open the door."

I blushed. "Oh… be quiet." After a second, I unbolted the door.

The Beast stood before me. "Good morning, Adara." He murmured.

"Good morning, Beast." I replied.

"Are you-" he stopped, his eyes locked with my own. "You look beautiful."

Something in his voice made my face burn the deepest shade of red imaginable. "I… um… thank you…" I replied.

He offered his arm. "Are you ready to go?"

I put my hand on his elbow. "Yes." I let him lead me down the hallway.

-

Ah, the slutty pink dress. How I love it.

Poor Adara. Any who, this song is Lucy Meets Mr. Tumness from The Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack.