A/N: This is my shortest chapter yet – 8 pages. I was going to make this chapter longer, but if I ended it where I wanted, it would have been 21 pages long. I really appreciate the 500+ views I have already! You guys are the best :D
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Soon, they reached Loki's room. The door opened and light spilled in.
"Now, if there's anything you need, my servants will attend to you." Master Thor said tenderly.
"Dinner-invite him to dinner," Lumiere suggested.
" You...will join me for dinner. That's not a request!" The Beast said harshly, slamming the door behind him. Loki, terrified, ran over to the bed and flung himself onto it, finally breaking down and crying.
. . . . .
Gwenevere sat slumped at a table inside the tavern, very drunk, "Who does he-hiccup-think he is? That boy has tangled with the wrong-hiccup-girl. No one says 'no' to Gwenevere-hiccup-Évangélique-hiccup-LeGume!"
"Darn right!" agreed an equally drunk Larissa.
"Dismissed. Rejected. Publicly humiliated. Why, it's more than I can bear," she sniffed and turned her chair away in disgrace.
"More beer?" Larissa offered, not being able to comfort her friend in any other way.
"Yes I like this drink. -hiccup- Another!" she shouted, the glass shattering as she threw it against the floor.
"Gosh it sure disturbs me to see you looking so down in the dumps, Gwen. You know, - hiccup - every single guy here'd love to get a chance to be with you, Gwenny, even if only for a night," cheering was from the gallery, "There's no woman in town as admired as you. You're everyone's favorite gal. Everyone's awed and inspired by you, and it's not very hard to see why!"
"What a re you -hiccup- talking about, La?" Gwenevere slurred.
"No one's as beautiful as you, -hiccup- no one's as quick witted as you, no one else's bust line is incredibly thick as yours, Gwen!" Larissa had stood up and was walking over to an onlooking man, "I mean sure, there's no man in town half as manly as Loki, but there are -hiccup- so many men who try to be, just for you!"
Larissa pulled the man's belt off, whose pants fall to the ground. Larissa waltzed over to Gwenevere and wrapped the belt around Gwenevere's waist, pulling her up and out of the chair. Larissa continued to dance around in her drunken state. As she mover herself over to the crowd of males who were gathering, they picked her up and swung her around.
"C'mon, you old cronies! Help me out!" Larissa prodded them on.
"No one's been disappointed when he's been with her!" one man piped up.
"She's quite the catch!" said another.
"No one's got such wonderful cleavage as her!" an especially risky one added.
"As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating!" Gwenevere laughed.
"My, what a gal, that Gwenevere!" Larissa mocked, deepening her voice like a man and elbowing one, and he nodded enthusiastically.
Larissa glided over to Gwenevere, smoothing out her dress and fixing her hair, "See? There's no reason to be upset!"
Gwenevere stood with pride, "You're exaca-ticaly right, La! As you see I've got room in my bed to spare…" Gwenevere winked at an on looker.
"Not a bit of you is scraggly or scrawny." Added Larissa
"I'm especially good at expectorating!" Gwenevere spat at a pan across the room, hitting it with a small "clink."
"Ten points for the pretty lady!" the tavern cheered.
"I've never seen a girl be able to hunt like that, you know?" the barista chimed in.
"She's awfully muscular for a female." Added a bus boy. After a glare from Larissa, he added, "A-a-and it's not a bad thing! No, not at all! In fact, it's-it's delicious!" the barista smacked him upside the head for his choice of words.
"You know, when I was a lass I ate four dozen eggs every morning to help me get large! And now that I'm grown, I eat five dozen eggs, so of course I'm the size of a barge! In more ways than one," she flaunted herself as she said the last sentence.
"I use antlers in all of my decorating! It reminds me of how I bested all of those weaklings!" She stood on a chair with one foot on the table, a perfect picture of achievement and leadership.
Larissa tossed her a shotgun and she fired three shots at a beer barrel, which begins leaking into the mugs of waiting men.
"My, what a gal, that Gwen!" the men all cheered.
Some men picked up the chair Gwenevere was perched on and carried her around in it. In this moment of energy, it seemed as though it would never break, until Laufé burst in through the door.
"Help! Someone help me!" he pleaded as all attention was taken away from Gwenevere and placed onto him.
"Laufé?" asked an old man, "What's got your knickers in a twist?"
"Please! Please, I need your help! He's got him. He's got him locked in the dungeon!"
"Who?" asked Larissa.
"Loki. We must go, we haven't got a minute to spare!"
"Whoa! Slow down, old man. Who's got Loki locked in a dungeon?" Gwenevere chuckled.
"A beast! A horrible, monstrous beast! You all must come, quickly!"
Laufé went from person to person, pleading his case, until he was thrown at Gwenevere's feet. A moment of silence, then the tavern's occupants began to laugh and mock him.
"Is it a big beast?" someone asked humorously.
"Huge!" Laufé said standing up.
"With a long, ugly snout?" another added.
"Hideously ugly!" Laufé said truthfully.
"And sharp, cruel fangs?" said a third.
"Yes, yes. Won't you help me?"
"All right, old man. We'll help you out." Gwenevere mocked.
"You will? Oh thank you, thank you!"
Some large men grabbed Laufé by the arms and helped him out by throwing him through the
door.
"Crazy old Laufé, always good for a laugh!" was the last thing Laufé heard before the door was slammed in his face.
"Crazy old Laufé, hmm?," Gwenevere thought, "Crazy old Laufé… Larissa, I'm afraid I've been thinking.
"A dangerous pastime." Larissa responded.
"I know," Gwenevere said dramatically, "But that wacky old coot is Loki's father, and his sanity's going out the door," Gwenevere giggled, as it made her think of what just happened, "Now the wheels in my head have been turning since I saw that loony old man. You see, I promised myself I'd be married to Loki, and right now I'm evolving a plan!"
Gwenevere whispered to Larissa, "If I... then I..."
"No, would he?" Larissa gaped.
Gwenevere whispered to her again.
"Oh, now I get it!"
"Let's go!" they said in unison.
They began to waltz around the floor as they sung to the flute player that had begin to play, "No one plots like Gwenny, takes cheap shots like Gwenny, plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Laufé!"
"So this marriage we soon'll be celebrating!" Larissa sung, terrible out of key, "My, what a trickster you are, Gwenevere!"
. . .
Laufé was thrown out of the tavern and into a puddle that was starting to freeze, "Will no one help me?" he said pathetically to no one in particular.
. . . . .
Loki wiped his eyes when he heard a 'clink clink clink' at the door. He got up and walked over to the door.
"Who is it?" his voice cracked.
"Mrs. Potts, dear," she said tenderly, "I thought you might like a spot of tea."
Loki opened the door, and was surprised to find the tea set already on the ground in front of the door, along with a selection of other household appliances. He took a closer look and realized that they had faces, "But you...ah...but...I-" Loki walked backwards and bumped into the wardrobe.
"Oof. Careful!" came a female voice from inside the wardrobe.
Loki stumbled to his bed, "This is impossible-"
The wardrobe leaned her 'shoulder' on the bed, "I know it is, but here we are!"
As sugar and cream are being poured into him, Chip told his mother, "Told ya he had pretty green eyes, mama, didn't I?"
Mrs. Potts rolled her eyes, "Yes, all right, now, Chip. That'll do."
Chip hopped over to Loki, who had dropped to the floor, "Slowly, now. Don't spill!" Mrs. Potts guided her son.
"Erm, thank you..." He picked up Chip and was about to take a sip of tea.
"Wanna see me do a trick?" Chip asked excitedly. He took a big breath, then puffed out his cheeks and blew bubbles out the top of the cup.
"Chip!" Mrs. Potts scolded admonishingly.
"Oops. Sorry." Chip apologized.
"That was a very brave thing you did, my dear." Mrs. Potts said to Loki.
"We all think so." The Wardrobe added warmly.
"But I've lost my father, my dreams… everything." Loki said, his shoulders slumping.
"Cheer up, child. It'll turn out all right in the end. You'll see," Mrs. Potts comforted Loki. She looked up, startled, "Oops! Look at me, jabbering on, when there's a supper to get on the table. Chip!"
"Bye!" Chip said, hopping away.
Loki stood and the Wardrobe approached him, "Well now, what shall we dress you in for dinner? Let's see what I've got in my drawers," The doors flew open and moths fluttered out. She slammed them shut, "Oh, how embarrassing. Here we are," one door opened, the other serves as an arm. She pulled out a pink dress. She looked at the dress, then at Loki, "Ah, maybe not," she put the dress back and took out a green short sleeved shirt and black pants, "Ah! There, you'll look ravishing in this one!"
"Are there a King or Queen or parents living in here?" Loki asked curiously.
"Oh, no. They left us long ago." The Wardrobe said longingly.
"What is a Prince living on his own doing with a wardrobe with women's clothing in it?"
"Erm-" the Wardrobe thought for a moment, "I'm actually not sure, dear…" She shoved the clothes at Loki.
"Thank you, but I'm not going to dinner." Loki declined politely.
"Oh, but you must!"
Cogsworth waddled in before Loki could decline again, "Ahem, ahem. Dinner is served."
. . .
Master Thor was pacing back and forth, while Mrs. Potts and Lumiere watched.
"What's taking so long? I told him to come down. Why isn't he here yet?!"
"Oh, do try to be patient, sir," Mrs. Potts told him, "The boy has lost his father and his freedom all in one day."
"Uh, master. Have you thought zat, perhaps, zis boy could be ze one to break ze spell?" Lumiere dared to ask.
Master Thor snapped at him, "Why would I? He's not a girl. Why would I love him? I'm not a fool."
"Lumiere, why would you ask something like that? That was very rude." Mrs. Potts scolded.
"But ze rose 'as already begun to wilt..." Lumiere said despairingly.
"It's no use. I'll never find someone. Just look at me!"
Lumiere shrugged his shoulders and looked at the teapot.
"We'll find some way… Maybe he can direct us to a beautiful young lady?" Mrs. Potts offered.
"At least try to befriend ze boy."
Master Thor sighed, "How would I do that?"
"Well, you can start by making yourself more presentable. Straighten up, try to act like a gentleman.
Master Thor sat up, then straightened his face very formally.
"Ah yes, when he comes in, give him a dashing, debonair smile. Come, come. Show me ze smile." Lumiere added. Mrs. Potts smacked him with her handle.
"We don't want to frighten the poor boy."
"Impress her with your rapier wit." Lumiere said, determined to get this to work.
"Be gentle." Mrs. Potts said encouragingly.
"Shower him with compliments!"
"Lumiere! Must you continue to say things like this?" Mrs. Potts said angrily.
"And above all, you must control your temper!" Lumiere had a point there.
The door creaked open, and Master Thor looked expectantly to the door.
"Here he is!" Lumiere said excitedly.
"Uh, good evening," Cogsworth said as he entered alone.
Master Thor went from expectant to mad, "Well? Where is he?"
"Who? Oh! The boy. Yes, the, ah, boy. Well, actually, he's in the process of, ah, um, circumstances being what they are, ah..." he stumbled to find the words.
"Oh, spit it out, Cogsworth." Lumiere said.
"He's not coming."
"WHAT?!" Master Thor practically screamed. He flew to the door and swung it open. He ran on all fours with the candlestick, clock, and teapot chasing after him.
"Let's not be hasty now, Master Thor! We need to think rationally!" Cogsworth shouted after him.
The Beast ran up to Loki's room and banged on the door.
"I thought I told you to come down to dinner!" he yelled.
"I'm not hungry."
"You'll come out or I'll... I'll break down the door!" he threatened.
"Master, I could be wrong, but zat may not be ze best way to win the boy's affections." That earned him a smack from the teapot and clock.
"Please! Attempt to be civil." Cogsworth pleaded with the Beast.
"But he is being so... difficult! How can a boy my age be so difficult?"
"I can't imagine why…" one of the objects said.
"Gently, gently." Mrs. Potts prodded.
Master Thor turned his attention back to the door. Dejected, he said, "Will you come down to dinner."
Loki didn't answer.
The Beast looked at the objects, very frustrated.
"Be suave. Genteel." Said Cogsworth.
Trying to act formal, the Beast bowed at the door, "It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for dinner."
"Please." Cogsworth added.
"...please." he grumbled.
Loki opened the door a crack and looked at the Beast standing before him, "No, thank you."
"You can't stay in there forever!"
"Yes I can!" he argued.
The Beast huffed and rolled his eyes dramatically, "Fine! Then go ahead and starve!" to the objects, he said, "If he doesn't eat with me, then he doesn't eat at all!" he ran back down the hall. After a moment of silence, they heard the sound of a door thudding shut.
"That didn't go very well at all, did it?" Mrs. Potts sighed.
"Lumiere, stand watch at the door and inform me at once if there is the slightest change." Cogsworth commanded.
"You can count on me, mon Capitan." Lumiere said, standing guard at the door.
"Well, I guess we better go downstairs and start cleaning up." Cogsworth said as he and Mrs. Potts proceeded slowly to the dining area.
. . .
The Beast charged into his room, destroying whatever was in his path.
"I ask nicely, but he refuses. What a... what does he want me to do, beg?" he paced the room.
The Beast picked up a Magic Mirror, "Show me the boy."
The Magic Mirror glowed green and revealed Loki in his bedroom, talking to the Wardrobe.
"Why, the master's not so bad once you get to know him. Why don't you give him a chance?"
Loki thought for a moment, "I could get to know him… But why would I want to? He's keeping me prisoner."
Master Thor set down the Mirror, "I'm just fooling myself. I'll never be seen as anything but a monster. And… he's… he's… he's a he! Not a she! The spell will never go away now," he whined, "It can only go away if I find love," he sunk to the ground and thought in silence for a long time, "Well… The spell never specified that I must love a woman to break it..." The Beast only lived around female appliances, so he never learned much about real women. He kept to himself most of the time. He was a man, and he knew what men liked… Ever since the Enchantress cast the spell on him, he was convinced that women were horrible, evil creatures.
A petal fell off of a rose concealed in a glass dome, "Maybe..."
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