Yay, guys, I remembered to post it today! Here is the next chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Rose

Maurice had gone into town to sell what few belongings he had. The music box gave him a rather good deal, with 100 francs, added with the 500 francs that the silver goblets, he was able to buy a few dresses for Félicie, a few jewels for Adélaïde, while the bag of gold would be for Ludovic. The paint kit was able to pay off for Jean's fishing rod. But none wanted the portrait. Although it was rather beautiful, they only wanted the case, not the picture.

Maurice was unable to sell the portrait. Even though Belle had asked for his safe return, he did feel bad that he would not be able to give Belle her gift. He rode through the woods, ignoring the warning that Belle had given him, feeling safer in the dark woods from robbers than in the open road.

As the night grew darker and colder, the merchant had looked for shelter, but instead found something worse. It was only howling, nothing that worried Maurice too much, as they had sounded far off into the woods. But his horse knew better, it neighed and whined, jumping up and down, but nowhere did Maurice see the wolves.

He had looked down and saw dark figures creeping under the dense fog. They seemed to have been circling him, and he had only thought that it was his mind playing tricks. But then a wolf jumped up and tried to attack Maurice. The horse blocked the attacker and rushed off further into the woods. They followed shortly behind, but the horse was faster and it had seemed to know just where he was going.

The horse led him to some gates. Maurice called out to someone to help him, hearing the wolves catching up to him. "Please good master, help me." The gates seemed to have magically opened and once Maurice and his horse had passed the gates, they shut closed before the wolves could get in.

Maurice had seemed to have fallen off his horse, as his horse rode off passed the gates. A wolf had taken hold of Maurice's leg through the gates, injuring him rather terribly, but before it could get any worse, an invisible force had pushed all the wolves away, as if the wind had carried them off.

Maurice sat there in shock, unsure if he should be afraid or thank the mysterious force. Maurice stood up, groaning as he stood, and limped toward his way into the dark fog. Once he was close enough, he found that there was a huge castle before him, a castle he had no idea was ever here.

Mesmerized, he limped up to the door and knocked upon the huge doors. They opened and to Maurice's surprise, there was no one to open the doors for him.

He called out to the master, hoping to hear an answer. "Hello? Kind master, I must ask for your hospitality. I am lost, cold, tired and badly hurt. I ask that you may help me for the night, as I am sure that I shall be home by tomorrow afternoon."

The dark hall stood silent, but the lights to the left all of the sudden were lighted and the merchant entered a grand dining room. It was finer than any other he had ever seen, even more so than his old one. He was surprised to find a table full of food and wine, as if someone had meant it for him.

Sitting cautiously upon the chair, he found that it was the most comfortable chair that he had ever sat upon. The merchant was so hungry that he forgot his wound and ate and drank. When he wanted a refill, it had suddenly appeared, without anyone pouring the wine. Maurice wondered just how this could be so, even looking under the table to see of any human was working the table. But there was no one. He raised his glass up and said, "I thank you kind sir, for your hospitality and for your home. I wish I had something that I may repay you with."

After a while, tired of being lonely, the merchant pulled out the portrait of his wife and looked upon her. "Oh dearest, you have given me the happiest years of my life, and gave me two lives to continue such happiness."

He placed the portrait upon the table and once he had finished with his dinner, he soon felt the urge to sleep and soon he fell into a deep sleep.

Late into the night, a shadowy figure had strolled through the castle, until reaching the dining room. The shadow found the merchant laying back upon the chair, sleeping rather soundly. It took the moment to help clean and wrap up the injured leg, making sure that the man's needs were met.

Once it was done with the leg, it stood up and found the small portrait. It opened it and looked upon the beautiful woman. It had never seen anything more beautiful, and with one look, it could not be parted with the small picture.

Once morning came, Maurice had awoken and felt something tight upon his leg. He looked down and found that it had been cleaned and bandaged. He smiled and felt a relief. When he looked upon the table, instead of seeing the breakfast that was left for him, he saw first the two chests of gold and jewels that replaced the portrait. Someone wanted this portrait, and paid rather handsomely for it, more so than he could have ever hoped. Surely these chests will bring his family out of ruin, and Belle will not have to marry Gaston.

Satisfied at how everything had went, Maurice ate his breakfast rather happily and once he was done, he carried out his chests and kept saying as he walked out, "Thank you kind master. I owe you so much, for you have given me so much in return. I thank you."

Once he stepped out, he found that there was his horse, waiting for him as well as a great garden before him, with beautiful flowers and greenery. Once he had packed the chest upon his horse, he started to lead his horse to the gate when he saw a rose bush, with beautiful roses. Feeling that his luck was truly changing, he smiled and reached for the flower in the back. "The most beautiful of them all hiding behind other roses, just like my Belle."

The moment that the flower had snapped, a heavy hand seemed to have landed upon his shoulder. "How dare you take what does not belong to you? This is my garden and no one is allowed to take anything from me here. Look at me!"

Maurice looked back at the voice and found a repulsive beast before him. He covered his eyes and tried to back away.

"I said look at me! Aren't I a handsome creature? How dare you take my most treasured belongings, my roses mean more to me than your life!"

"I beg pardon good sir. I had meant to offense, but you see, my youngest daughter had asked for the rose, and I would not come home without a gift for her."

"Your daughter? Well, since she seems to have such a great desire for my roses, then I propose that you keep the rose, in exchange for your daughter."

Maurice gasped. "I could never make such a deal."

"Then you shall die."

"Better me than my daughter."

"I promise not to harm her, but if she is to come, then let it be of her own free will, or else you will die."

"I will take my punishment, but allow me to leave and take care of my unfinished business, and I will come back, I promise."

"Can Man be trusted? Very well, take the rose and come back to me in three days, or else I will come after you. Now go!"

Maurice hurried to his horse, but another horse appeared. "Take this horse, he will bring you back to me, all you must say to him is 'Take me to where I am going. Go, go, go' and you will be here again."

The beast disappeared, leaving Maurice all alone. Maurice sat upon the horse and rode off sadly, thinking of his children. He would not let Belle go off to be killed by this monster; she still is young and has a life to live. It was best that he should go in her place.

Once he reached his home, he called his children out to him. The eldest were snatching their gifts off of the horse as Jean and Belle went up and hugged their father.

"Father, did you hurt yourself? What happened?"

"I am all right; it is only a small wound. But now gifts. Jean, here is your new fishing rail."

He gave the tall gift to his son, who gave him a hug and thanked him.

"And of course, I have for you Belle, the most precious gift of them all."

Once the sisters heard most precious gift, they hurried to see what could be better than dresses and jewels but were disappointed that it was only a rose.

"How could a rose be better than jewels and dresses?"

"Because it has cost me my life."

They all gathered around and heard him tell his tale of the beast, leaving out the part of Belle taking her father's place. They were unable to believe such a tale, but it was true, he was to leave them.

Thanks to lavadiamond10 and Sound of the Heavens for favoring and following my story, to XXPay4XtraShippingsXX, Sound of the Heavens for reviewing it, and to blackserenity for following Ten Days. I hope you all will continue to follow my story, I promise it will keep getting better and better.