p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Chapter 7: A single wish/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He did not know how long he had been out, but he knew one thing for sure:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He was sick as a dog./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"His head ached, his lungs burned and every little movement triggered a dizziness. Groaning lightly, he closed his eyes and tried to suppress the nausea rising from the lightheadedness. Heavens, he was in a bad way.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Well, he had to admit to his own shame that he probably didn't deserve it any better. Why did he have to leave his bed and his room despite all the warnings, just because no one had told him immediately how Cogsworth was doing...?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere was suddenly wide awake at the thought of the majordomo. He remembered what he had done, what he had seen... But... What exactly had happened? What had happened to Cogsworth and why was he injured? And badly injured, as far as he could tell. He had to know what had happened, no matter how!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"However, he would have to wait until he was no longer nauseous.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"So he lay there quietly for a moment and only now realised where he was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"This was not his room, but the living room of the majordomo!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"And he was lying on his sofa, covered with a thick woollen blanket./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Oh great, I'm sure the old Englishman won't like that..."/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';", he thought, albeit slightly amused. He couldn't deny it, he enjoyed teasing the older man. And that he would be annoyed when he found out that Lumiere was lying here on HIS sofa was as sure as the amen in the church!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He chuckled to himself, but the moment of merriment did not last long. The image of the majordomo lying there in bed came back to him. Silent and deathly pale and with that bandage covered in blood.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The thought was too much! Pressing a hand on his rebelling stomach, he turned to one side with a groan so that his head was half hanging off the sofa. If he had to throw up, he didn't really want to do it on the expensive sofa. That the no less expensive carpet would be damaged was bad enough.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Not to mention the embarrassment of the whole thing!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Oh, Cogsworth would bear him a grudge for years to come, that much was certain.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""...And you didn't deserve it any better Lumiere! You didn't deserve it any better..."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"So he lay there quietly for a while, each gasping breath accompanied by a painful stab in his chest, and he had the unpleasant feeling that he might fall off the sofa at any moment. But at least the nausea seemed to subside a little, so Lumiere finally dared to turn onto his back again. But even this small movement seemed to use up his strength completely and again he was overcome by dizziness. Groaning, he closed his eyes, but not for long. Now he was aware of voices in the next room, he heard footsteps approaching quickly. A door opened, footsteps again, someone approached. A hand gently rested on his shoulder, Lumiere opened his eyes and looked into the worried face of the prince, who had bent over him and was now smiling at him with relief./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Lumiere! You're awake at last! We were worried about you!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere smiled faintly. For a prince to worry about a simple servant was more than unusual. But what was usual in this castle?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"His voice was rough and raspy and speaking strained him Incredibly. But he had to know!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""What... what happened?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Don't you remember? You were sick and weren't supposed to leave your bed! But you had to..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"A wave of his hand made Adam pause. He looked at Lumiere, who shook his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Cogsworth..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The prince was silent and looked at Lumiere for a moment, deeply saddened. Then he turned his head and looked questioningly and anxiously at someone standing outside Lumiere's field of vision. Only when the person approached a few steps could Lumiere see that it was the doctor, who looked down at Lumiere with an expression of no less concern, before turning to the prince. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Any excitement may still aggravate Monsieur Lumiere's condition, so it would be better if for the time being..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Please..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"There was so much desperation in that one word that Adam had to swallow. And when he felt Lumiere take his hand and clasp it, he knew he couldn't keep the truth from him any longer. He sighed, looked once more at the doctor, who only shrugged his shoulders uncertainly, then he pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Lumiere. But the prince was silent at first, not knowing how to begin. Only after a while, which seemed like half an eternity to the visibly restless Lumiere, did the prince begin to talk. And with all that was dear to him, never in his life had he wished so much to be someone else as he did at that moment.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Everyone was aware that it was a shock for Lumiere. But no one had expected such a reaction. Adam had assumed that the emotional, quick-tempered, exuberant Lumiere would burst into tears. That he would reproach the prince, or even shout at him. That he would jump up in the middle of the story and rush to Cogsworth's bedside to stand by his best friend. But he did nothing of the sort. He lay there completely still, his shock-widened eyes unable to take of off his counterpart, his trembling hands clasped in the blanket, and remained silent./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"And that was what scared Adam more than anything else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere remained silent./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Even when the prince had finished his narrative, he remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the prince, not really looking at him. Adam was trembling with excitement and also with fear. Had it all been too much after all? He looked at the doctor, who seemed equally concerned about his patient's behaviour. The latter was still staring into space and had begun to tremble with anxiety. The doctor went to Lumiere, carefully put his hands on his shoulders and tried to get him to look at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Monsieur Lumiere. Monsieur Lumiere, look at me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"It took a moment and a slight but determined shaking of his shoulders for Lumiere to find his way back to the present./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"But he said nothing, only looked silently from the doctor to Prince Adam, who could not meet his gaze. He turned away in despair, feeling so guilty about everything that had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"If only he had allowed someone to get the doctor earlier!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"If only he had supported Monsieur Cogsworth in his efforts to help Lumiere instead of threatening him!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"If only he had.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The hoarse voice snapped him out of his thoughts and made him whirl around./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince, may I... Ask you something?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Of... Of course!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere turned uneasily, seeming to find it difficult to ask the question that was obviously burning on his mind. On top of that, speaking, indeed everything that was happening, was incredibly stressing him out. But after all he had heard, he had to know one thing. Gathering all his strength and courage, he looked at the prince and asked, barely audibly:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""You wouldn't 'ave let me die, no?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The doctor gasped in shock and hastily took a few steps to the side when Prince Adam suddenly leapt towards the sofa with a strangled cry. And the next moment Lumiere found himself in the arms of the prince, who had pulled him to him and was now holding him tightly. Completely perplexed by this reaction, Lumiere did not know what to do. He looked confusedly at the doctor, who seemed at least as shocked as he was, if not more so. A prince hugging a servant! He had seen many things in his life, but THIS? But the shock of what was going on increased a lot more when Lumiere noticed Adam pulling him even closer... And cried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Never!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The prince's voice was clenched, whether from the tears running down his cheeks or the fact that he had his head pressed against Lumiere's shoulder Lumiere couldn't tell, but it didn't really matter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""I would never have let you die, Lumiere! I would have found a way to help you, no matter what, and if I myself..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He broke away from the embrace and looked at Lumiere, his blue eyes full of tears, his ginger hair dishevelled and visibly searching for words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""I'm so sorry, Lumiere! I didn't want all this to happen... I didn't want Monsieur Cogsworth to... I didn't want anyone to..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince... I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... Reproach you, or... Imply... Anything..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice under control, but all this was getting to be too much for him now. He felt himself getting dizzy and it did not escape Adam either./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""It's all right, my friend, it's all right..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Carefully, he put Lumiere back on the sofa and took a step aside to make room for the doctor. The latter only looked at the patient for a moment, then said with a smile:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""You should rest, Monsieur. Everything else can wait."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"But Lumiere shook his head One thing could not wait! The reason for all this, the reason why he had thrown all advice to the wind, the reason why he was here in the first place./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Doctor... Monsieur Cogsworth..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He couldn't get any more out, he was simply too exhausted. But no more words were needed either./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Well, the majordomo..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He hesitated for a moment, and in that the prince stepped to his side and, turning to Lumiere with a slight smile, said, "He will be all right, I'm sure of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He squeezed Lumiere's hand, who in turn smiled at him before closing his eyes and falling asleep shortly afterwards./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The smile on the prince's face disappeared as he now headed for the door, the doctor behind him. In the hallway, he leaned against the nearest wall, sighing, while the doctor just stood silently beside him, looking at him questioningly. Then he broke the silence with a clearing of his throat and said timidly, "You... You lied to him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Adam hung his head and ran his hand through his long hair before throwing his head back and staring at the ceiling. So a few moments passed before he said anything, his voice flat and rough with grief and worry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""It wasn't a lie... It was a wish."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"And even more quietly, barely intelligible and probably speaking more to himself, he added:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""My only wish..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He did not know how long he had been out, but he knew one thing for sure:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He was sick as a dog./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"His head ached, his lungs burned and every little movement triggered a dizziness. Groaning lightly, he closed his eyes and tried to suppress the nausea rising from the lightheadedness. Heavens, he was in a bad way.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Well, he had to admit to his own shame that he probably didn't deserve it any better. Why did he have to leave his bed and his room despite all the warnings, just because no one had told him immediately how Cogsworth was doing...?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere was suddenly wide awake at the thought of the majordomo. He remembered what he had done, what he had seen... But... What exactly had happened? What had happened to Cogsworth and why was he injured? And badly injured, as far as he could tell. He had to know what had happened, no matter how!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"However, he would have to wait until he was no longer nauseous.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"So he lay there quietly for a moment and only now realised where he was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"This was not his room, but the living room of the majordomo!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"And he was lying on his sofa, covered with a thick woollen blanket./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Oh great, I'm sure the old Englishman won't like that..."/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';", he thought, albeit slightly amused. He couldn't deny it, he enjoyed teasing the older man. And that he would be annoyed when he found out that Lumiere was lying here on HIS sofa was as sure as the amen in the church!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He chuckled to himself, but the moment of merriment did not last long. The image of the majordomo lying there in bed came back to him. Silent and deathly pale and with that bandage covered in blood.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The thought was too much! Pressing a hand on his rebelling stomach, he turned to one side with a groan so that his head was half hanging off the sofa. If he had to throw up, he didn't really want to do it on the expensive sofa. That the no less expensive carpet would be damaged was bad enough.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Not to mention the embarrassment of the whole thing!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Oh, Cogsworth would bear him a grudge for years to come, that much was certain.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""...And you didn't deserve it any better Lumiere! You didn't deserve it any better..."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"So he lay there quietly for a while, each gasping breath accompanied by a painful stab in his chest, and he had the unpleasant feeling that he might fall off the sofa at any moment. But at least the nausea seemed to subside a little, so Lumiere finally dared to turn onto his back again. But even this small movement seemed to use up his strength completely and again he was overcome by dizziness. Groaning, he closed his eyes, but not for long. Now he was aware of voices in the next room, he heard footsteps approaching quickly. A door opened, footsteps again, someone approached. A hand gently rested on his shoulder, Lumiere opened his eyes and looked into the worried face of the prince, who had bent over him and was now smiling at him with relief./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Lumiere! You're awake at last! We were worried about you!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere smiled faintly. For a prince to worry about a simple servant was more than unusual. But what was usual in this castle?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"His voice was rough and raspy and speaking strained him Incredibly. But he had to know!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""What... what happened?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Don't you remember? You were sick and weren't supposed to leave your bed! But you had to..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"A wave of his hand made Adam pause. He looked at Lumiere, who shook his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Cogsworth..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The prince was silent and looked at Lumiere for a moment, deeply saddened. Then he turned his head and looked questioningly and anxiously at someone standing outside Lumiere's field of vision. Only when the person approached a few steps could Lumiere see that it was the doctor, who looked down at Lumiere with an expression of no less concern, before turning to the prince. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Any excitement may still aggravate Monsieur Lumiere's condition, so it would be better if for the time being..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Please..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"There was so much desperation in that one word that Adam had to swallow. And when he felt Lumiere take his hand and clasp it, he knew he couldn't keep the truth from him any longer. He sighed, looked once more at the doctor, who only shrugged his shoulders uncertainly, then he pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Lumiere. But the prince was silent at first, not knowing how to begin. Only after a while, which seemed like half an eternity to the visibly restless Lumiere, did the prince begin to talk. And with all that was dear to him, never in his life had he wished so much to be someone else as he did at that moment.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Everyone was aware that it was a shock for Lumiere. But no one had expected such a reaction. Adam had assumed that the emotional, quick-tempered, exuberant Lumiere would burst into tears. That he would reproach the prince, or even shout at him. That he would jump up in the middle of the story and rush to Cogsworth's bedside to stand by his best friend. But he did nothing of the sort. He lay there completely still, his shock-widened eyes unable to take of off his counterpart, his trembling hands clasped in the blanket, and remained silent./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"And that was what scared Adam more than anything else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere remained silent./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Even when the prince had finished his narrative, he remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the prince, not really looking at him. Adam was trembling with excitement and also with fear. Had it all been too much after all? He looked at the doctor, who seemed equally concerned about his patient's behaviour. The latter was still staring into space and had begun to tremble with anxiety. The doctor went to Lumiere, carefully put his hands on his shoulders and tried to get him to look at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Monsieur Lumiere. Monsieur Lumiere, look at me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"It took a moment and a slight but determined shaking of his shoulders for Lumiere to find his way back to the present./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"But he said nothing, only looked silently from the doctor to Prince Adam, who could not meet his gaze. He turned away in despair, feeling so guilty about everything that had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"If only he had allowed someone to get the doctor earlier!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"If only he had supported Monsieur Cogsworth in his efforts to help Lumiere instead of threatening him!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"If only he had.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The hoarse voice snapped him out of his thoughts and made him whirl around./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince, may I... Ask you something?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Of... Of course!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere turned uneasily, seeming to find it difficult to ask the question that was obviously burning on his mind. On top of that, speaking, indeed everything that was happening, was incredibly stressing him out. But after all he had heard, he had to know one thing. Gathering all his strength and courage, he looked at the prince and asked, barely audibly:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""You wouldn't 'ave let me die, no?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The doctor gasped in shock and hastily took a few steps to the side when Prince Adam suddenly leapt towards the sofa with a strangled cry. And the next moment Lumiere found himself in the arms of the prince, who had pulled him to him and was now holding him tightly. Completely perplexed by this reaction, Lumiere did not know what to do. He looked confusedly at the doctor, who seemed at least as shocked as he was, if not more so. A prince hugging a servant! He had seen many things in his life, but THIS? But the shock of what was going on increased a lot more when Lumiere noticed Adam pulling him even closer... And cried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Never!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The prince's voice was clenched, whether from the tears running down his cheeks or the fact that he had his head pressed against Lumiere's shoulder Lumiere couldn't tell, but it didn't really matter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""I would never have let you die, Lumiere! I would have found a way to help you, no matter what, and if I myself..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He broke away from the embrace and looked at Lumiere, his blue eyes full of tears, his ginger hair dishevelled and visibly searching for words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""I'm so sorry, Lumiere! I didn't want all this to happen... I didn't want Monsieur Cogsworth to... I didn't want anyone to..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Mon prince... I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... Reproach you, or... Imply... Anything..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Lumiere cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice under control, but all this was getting to be too much for him now. He felt himself getting dizzy and it did not escape Adam either./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""It's all right, my friend, it's all right..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Carefully, he put Lumiere back on the sofa and took a step aside to make room for the doctor. The latter only looked at the patient for a moment, then said with a smile:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""You should rest, Monsieur. Everything else can wait."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"But Lumiere shook his head One thing could not wait! The reason for all this, the reason why he had thrown all advice to the wind, the reason why he was here in the first place./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Doctor... Monsieur Cogsworth..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He couldn't get any more out, he was simply too exhausted. But no more words were needed either./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""Well, the majordomo..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He hesitated for a moment, and in that the prince stepped to his side and, turning to Lumiere with a slight smile, said, "He will be all right, I'm sure of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"He squeezed Lumiere's hand, who in turn smiled at him before closing his eyes and falling asleep shortly afterwards./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"The smile on the prince's face disappeared as he now headed for the door, the doctor behind him. In the hallway, he leaned against the nearest wall, sighing, while the doctor just stood silently beside him, looking at him questioningly. Then he broke the silence with a clearing of his throat and said timidly, "You... You lied to him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"Adam hung his head and ran his hand through his long hair before throwing his head back and staring at the ceiling. So a few moments passed before he said anything, his voice flat and rough with grief and worry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""It wasn't a lie... It was a wish."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"And even more quietly, barely intelligible and probably speaking more to himself, he added:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';""My only wish..."/span/p