Disclaimer: I do not own BatB or the characters therein.
At 6:00 AM, the Beast took his mirror in his paw. He had had no luck sleeping, truth be told he didn't even try. He just paced around his room worried about Belle, wishing she wouldn't throw away her freedom for his life. Sure, the Enchantress did agree to help, but it seemed that would take some time, and he did not want Belle to go through with a wedding to a man she did not love for his sake. He gazed into the mirror forlornly before softly speaking to it.
"I'd like to see Belle," he whispered. The mirror glowed, and when the green glow died down, Belle appeared, sitting on the edge of her bed. Lumiere was on the nightstand beside the bed.
"You didn't sleep all that long, and not well," the candelabra observed.
"How could I?" Belle asked. "Lumiere, if you want to know the honest truth, while this seems so much like what I did for my father, exchanging my freedom for his when the Beast held him captive...even if your Master hadn't changed and he remained an angry animal, I'd still prefer that than be the wife of Gaston. When I first came to the castle, before realizing how good the Beast was at heart, I figured at least I could just keep my distance, not associate with him. Gaston will expect me to perform my wifely duties and be endlessly devoted to him."
The Beast's heart sank when he heard this. She had just admitted that she'd rather be the prisoner of an angry animal forever than be the wife of Gaston. And that was saying something, because in his 'angry animal' stage, he could be downright nasty. Swallowing hard, he continued to gaze into the mirror.
"Belle, don't lose heart," Lumiere said. "We'll get you out of this."
"You know, honestly I can't have that. That would...if this enchantress helps to get me out of this...well I'd be going back on my word. It wouldn't be right of me to take the help." She sighed. "I just need a bit more strength to go through with this." She picked up her mirror that lay next to Lumiere. "I need to see the Beast, please. Seeing the one for whom I'm doing this should give me the strength I need to go through."
The Beast wasn't quite sure what to think. On one hand, he appreciated that Belle would draw strength from seeing him. On the other hand...he didn't want her going through with it. Suddenly, he realized something. If they were both looking at each other in their mirrors at the same time, then they should be able to talk to each other. After giving a moment for Belle's mirror to start up, he spoke softly.
"Belle?" he asked. "Belle, can you hear me?" He turned his mirror away from him for a moment, so that she could see that it was her he was looking at.
"Beast!" Belle said. "Oh, Beast..."
"Belle, listen to me," the Beast implored. "Back out of this."
"I can't," she said. "I promised I'd marry him. And if I back out...he'll kill you."
"Let him," the Beast responded. "Living my life knowing that you're prisoner to a man you do not love is no life worth living."
"But Beast...Lumiere is here...he said the Enchantress came. He told me all about the spell. He said the Enchantress would help get me out of this."
"That's right," the Beast said. "And you just told Lumiere that to accept that would be going back on your word and that you wouldn't do that."
"You...saw that?"
"Yes, Belle," the Beast replied. "I've been watching for a little while now. I also heard you tell Lumiere that being the wife of Gaston would be worse to you than being my prisoner, even if I had remained, as you put it, an angry animal. I don't want you suffering worse than that, Belle."
"There is still one thing worse than marrying Gaston," Belle said determinedly. "And that is living my life knowing you lost yours because I didn't."
The Beast sighed. He always admired Belle's strength and resolve, and how ready she was to always put others above herself. And that once she set her mind to something, there was no talking her out of it. But for once, he wished she would make her own wellbeing her top priority.
"Belle," he said. "Belle I love you. I want better for you. You deserve better. So, so much better than this."
"And you deserve so, so much better than death because of my refusal to marry the one who threatens your life."
The Beast thought quickly. He wanted to argue that he didn't deserve better than that, that he was just a Beast. But he knew Belle would have a ready comeback. He knew she probably would to anything she had to say, but he had to try.
"Belle, I care so much more about what you deserve than what I deserve."
Immediately he knew this was an open-mouth-insert-hind paw moment. That was no better than telling her that he in fact didn't deserve better. Belle promptly responded by saying exactly what the Beast hoped she wouldn't.
"And I care so much more about what you deserve than what I deserve."
Then the Beast had an idea. Perhaps he could play the 'I-don't-deserve-better' card to his, or more accurately, Belle's advantage.
"In that case," he said. "You won't throw your freedom away for my sake. Because I am just a lowly beast, and do not deserve to have someone throw their life away for mine."
"Beast!" Belle cried out in horror. "Don't speak of yourself like that! Are you honestly telling me that you believe you deserve to have your life end like that? Are you honestly telling me that you see yourself in such a dismal light?"
"Look at me, Belle," the Beast said. "What do you see? All you see is fangs, claws, fur, and horns."
"No, Beast!" Belle said, on the verge of tears now. "I see so much more than that! I see a very kind gentleman, one who saved me from wolves before we were even friends. One who did not mock me for my love of books...you even gave me your huge library. One who softened to the point that birds would eat out of your paws. One who tried so hard to master use of silverware. One who danced with me. One who let me go hours before the curse would become permanent, throwing away any chance at having it lifted, because you loved me. You gave up your freedom from the spell because of your love for me. I'm now giving up my freedom from Gaston because of my love for you."
The Beast knew he was fighting a losing battle, trying to get Belle to back out of her deal with Gaston. Perhaps she could be helped to see that allowing the Enchantress to help free her would not be going back on her word. Perhaps if it could be arranged so that Belle wouldn't get a vote in the matter, and therefore wouldn't be 'at fault' for not staying with Gaston...but for now there really wasn't much the Beast could do, and he knew it.
"Very well," he said sadly. "I suppose I should let you go and get ready."
"Thank you, Beast," Belle said. "Don't worry. I'll be okay. I love you."
"I love you Belle." the Beast said. He watched as she put her mirror down, and then put his down as well. He wanted to continue to watch over her, but he knew that she would have to do some things that required privacy. He would look back on her later, though.