Disclaimer: I don't own beauty or, in fact, the beast :(

Unwelcome Courtesy

EPOV

I can see as we walk through the halls that Arianne isn't enjoying my company in the least. I feel, rather than see the dark clouds of hatred emanating from her. It would be for the best to show her to her rooms, I decide, leading her up the grand staircase of the southeast wing.

Not even our footsteps break the chilly silence; the thick rugs muffle them. At the landing we turn into a hallway. The door at the end of it leads to her personal chambers. The door at the right leads to mine. My mother designed them before her death. Even the tapestry hangings of paths and flowers and faeries are a comforting reminder of Isabeau.

She died when I was only ten years old. My memories of her mingle with a time when my brother and I were the best of friends. Two years my elder, I worshipped the ground he walked on. He taught me how to shoot my first sling shot. We discovered all the secret passageways of the estate together. We were inseparable, always competing and having adventures. Now Stefan and I couldn't be further apart.

How long have we been standing here? I Snap out of my reverie and hold the door open for Arianne, she cautiously enters, as if the room might swallow her.

"Your belongings have already been unpacked."

I wait for her to say something, anything, but her expressionless eyes are filled with condemning icicles. Each one seems to pierce me individually and I receive the distinct impression that she does not forgive easily. That is an interesting thought to ponder…

I tell Arianne dinner will be at seven o'clock. She nods and I take this as an opportunity to leave. I am looking forward to my hunt. Regardless of her manner towards me, it's good to be home. APOV

"Your belongings have already been unpacked."

I wonder idly if my wardrobe can fill the closet he indicates. He waits for me to respond, but I refuse to acknowledge him. He does not seem irked by my immature display. He only seems preoccupied and he mutters something about dinner as he leaves.

Now that I'm alone, I examine the rooms leisurely. There is the bedchamber and a small parlor and even a bathing area. There are windows reaching to the ceiling with thick blue curtains, the color of cloudless skies. The four poster bed is covered in lavish blue of the same shade, all the wood is gilded gold. In a corner stands a gold birdcage inside are two little soft brown birds with long tails preening each other. I decide to get dressed…I have nothing better to occupy my time with.

(A/N: the thing is their rooms do connect, but Arianne hasn't found the door and Edward hasn't mentioned it. Think like in the movie Marie Antoinette, they each have super big and fabulous rooms that discreetly connect. ;) And if Arianne hates him now then they're not really going to be getting it on Edward isn't the type to go all rapist-y…yet…jkjk. Just get back to reading.)

When I open the door I am shocked to find not only all of my dresses hung, but even finer ones put alongside my own. The flamboyant gowns make my wardrobe look plain in comparison. I wish I could say I was not tempted to slip into some of the magnificent clothing, but my stubborn streak won out. The smallest taste of retaliation is worth more than any finery.

I don a particularly drab, dovegray dress that is old and worn. The wardrobe captures my attention so much that a short, round woman manages to approach me from behind, startling me.

"Welcome dearie, welcome! I'm Miranda, your maid," She smiles up at me with wide hazel eyes. She is petite, but not in an unhealthily thin way.

I smile my thanks. Then she helps me dress, looking slightly disappointed at the sight of my dreary choice of attire but nonetheless efficiently pins my waves into a somewhat tamed bun. She keeps up cheerful monologue the whole time, her speech touched by a northern accent.

"Lady Arianne, I am to be showing ye to dinner." I nod my consent and she leads me through a labyrinth of hallways to the dining hall. Edward is sitting at the end of a long table. A place is set for me at his left. The table is full of steaming platters of meats and breads, soups and vegetables. He stands and pulls the chair out for me with a barely veiled smirk. No gentleman's manners shall change my feelings for him! I briefly glare at him before covering my plate with vegetables and fish.

"You didn't wear them."

Although I know exactly what he means, I feign ignorance. "I didn't wear what?"

"You did not wear the dresses," He glances at the one I am wearing, "the new ones, I ordered for you. Why?"

"Because I do not respond particularly well to bribery."

"I simply wanted-"

"You, least of all, cannot entice me to be happy. I shall be as miserable as I please to be! No matter how many gifts I may receive."

"Then it shall be my mission to please you". He still has that ever present smirk on his face. The one I have come to recognize when he is only humoring my tantrums. Now I am too livid to enjoy eating anything at all, even if I am hungry.

Ω

I walk out of the room while Edward sits at the dining table, alone among untouched platters of food.

He taunts at me, "Where are you going so soon? Don't you enjoy my refined company? There's just about no one else that lives here. Did you think of that before you make your personal enemy."

"As far as I know, you aren't "refined company," just a bratty boy who's had his ego inflated far too much."

I sit in my room for a while, but I am too restless to sit still. First he openly admits to attempting to bribe me, then he jeers at me and expects me to keep him company. I don't know what it is about Edward that makes me want to fight with him. No, no that isn't it. I want to show him that he… doesn't own me, he can't order me around. I guess it's what I've always tried to prove to everyone, to the world. But that still gives him no reason to disrespect me. Now I can't help but fume again.

I decide to go exploring. I wander aimlessly, yet another aggravating storm has trapped me indoors. The lower level of the house, the servants' quarters, is a melee of sounds and smells, and not all of them pleasant. I meander through cramped living apartments and pass a ragtag band of barefoot children. I stroll unnoticed, quietly absorbing the sights. That is, before I encounter Miranda with a baby in her arms. She starts to turn away before she realizes who I am.

"Lady Arianne! What in God's great green earth should ye be doin' here?"

I hold my hands out hopelessly. "Erm…I was…exploring."

She chortles, "Come along wi' me lassie, we'll get ye back upstairs safe and sound."

After a moment, it dawns on me that Miranda is the first person in this hellhole that I like. I smile for the first time and take her hand. "Thank you."

Ω

A/N: What do you think? What am I doing wrong? What do you hate? Or what am I doing that makes your day? If you don't leave a review I'll never know. I'm open to any suggestions. EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS WITH COOKIES TO: phantomrose93, my beta

ALSO, thanks to: Treebrooke, Dazzled Journalist, buggage, SpikeMalWesley, Brooke6404, lilmizz3vil, and Aurora Starwing!!! For your awesome reviews and favoriting.

Peace out until (insert drum roll here) chapter 6

Btw, Happy New Year... yeah 2010