A/N: Dear readers, I'm back! I know it took far too long, but life intervened and it's a complicated chapter! It also became a little bit too long, so I had to split it up in to two. At the beginning of the scene there is a time mentioned, it's about that time in the scene. Thanks again, Trudi, for beta'ing! So let's continue with: chapter 8.1!

Chapter 8

19:00

A few moments later Belle closed the door of her cell. But this time she was on the right side of the door! She was now almost out of here! Finally! Within the hour she would be sleeping in a normal bed, and tomorrow she would have a normal tasty breakfast, with bread and a cup of normal tea. Before she came here she had taken all those things for granted. Now she was looking forward to the simple things in life. No adventures in the great wide somewhere, but just a nice home and someone who would take care of her. That was more than enough.

Gaston was waiting for her, and she noticed his displeased expression. Oh no, what did I do wrong? she thought, distressed. "Is something the matter?" She smiled nervously.

Gaston raised his eyebrows and pointed at her. "Where is your red dress? The one I bought you."

Belle looked down at her own blue dress. There was nothing wrong with it that she could see. Due to the bad food in here she had lost a pound or two, so the dress was looser than before, but it still fit her. "It's cold outside?" she said, insecure. She held out the basket with the other clothes and soaps Gaston had gotten her. "I have it with me! Do you want me to change?"

"Not now. We're going back to the village as soon as possible." Gaston shook his head. He put his arm around her shoulder and started walking.

Belle walked along with him, but when they reached the main hall, she stopped. "Wait! I can't go!" she exclaimed. She removed Gaston's arm and took a few steps away from him.

"You want to stay?" Gaston asked in surprise.

"No! Of course not!" Belle reassured him immediately. More than anything she wanted to leave. But… "What about my father?" she asked. "I can't leave without him."

Gaston took her hands and sighed. It looked like he was not sure how to tell her something. He looked worried. Belle started to bite her lower lip. Her father couldn't be in such a bad condition, could he?

"Listen, Belle. Your father is not well enough to travel," Gaston said after a moment of silence.

Not well enough? What happened here? He can't be worse than when we left our house. All he had was a bad cold! Belle closed her eyes and blamed herself. From the moment she came here, she should have insisted that she would take care of her father herself. But all she had done was worry about herself.

Now that she was going home, she would take action. She took a deep breath and said, "If we take a carriage and keep him warm, he should be fine." She smiled again, trying to look confident.

"All I have with me is my stallion," Gaston answered dismissively. "And there is only room for you and me."

"I'm sure Monsieur d'Arque would be willing to lend us his carriage." Belle gestured to the head of the asylum standing behind Gaston. "It will take a little bit longer, but with a carriage, we should be safe."

Gaston turned away from her. Belle couldn't see his expression anymore. She hoped she hadn't offended him. It was hard trying to be a loving fiancée and a good daughter at the same time. It's good that I want to take care of my father. Gaston can't object to that?

"Mademoiselle," Monsieur d'Arque said. "My carriage is being repaired at the moment."

"Then we'll have to postpone the wedding," Belle decided. It was only understandable that she wanted to do what was best for her father. Gaston had to understand that.

"WHAT?" Gaston yelled out of the blue. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"I-" Belle stuttered. Gaston's sudden anger frightened her. The last time she had seen him angry, it was when he had brought her here. "I can't get married without my father. Who is going to give me away?" she tried to explain her feelings.

Monsieur d'Arque stepped forward. "Mademoiselle, it can take weeks, maybe even months before your father is well enough."

"Gaston, we've waited for a long time now," Belle said slowly. How could he not understand what she was going through? Of course Gaston didn't want to postpone the wedding, after everything they had been through. But leaving her father here was just as bad. "Would a week or two really make a difference?"

"Fine. Suit yourself. Whatever you wish," Gaston shrugged. All of a sudden he looked very calm again. He turned away from her and walked to the main door. "Paul, bring her back to her room. I'll hear it when she's ready."

"No, wait!" Belle exclaimed. Tears were coming to her eyes. Back to her room… He couldn't be serious! She dropped the basket and ran over to Gaston. She grabbed his arm and tried to make him stop walking away from her. "I don't understand. What is wrong?"

"It's the only solution, Belle," Gaston explained to her as if he was talking to a young child. He replaced her hair behind her ear. "You don't want to get married till your father is feeling better, but you can't live alone and unmarried in your father's house without a chaperone. So it's better that you stay here."

"Gaston, no!" He couldn't leave her here! "I can't stay here!"

"Then which is it, Belle? You have to choose: Your father or me?"

How can he be so cold? How can he expect me to choose between him and my father? She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to stay calm and make a rational decision. Papa… what am I supposed to do? She couldn't make one now. Not as long as she didn't know how her father was doing.

"Can I see him before we leave?"

As they walked over to Maurice' room, Belle got more nervous with every step. She had no idea how her father would be. If he was indeed as ill as Gaston and Monsieur d'Arque said, then she had to leave this place without taking him with her. That was an unbearable thought.

Please let him be well enough to come home soon, she prayed in silence. Please let him be well enough. After the wedding she would ask Gaston if her father could live with them. Gaston couldn't object to that, could he? Not after the wedding. He wanted to make her happy. This would definitely make her happy. She couldn't let her father live alone, at least not as long he was still recovering. Her father needed her.

"Your father is staying in a private room in the hospital wing," Monsieur d'Arque said. They were walking through a hallway, where it was much quieter. Belle didn't hear anyone screaming. Maybe this was not such a bad place for her father. He would need his rest. "Mademoiselle, remember, your father is still very sick. I advise you not to upset him by talking about the reason for your own stay here."

"I won't," she answered. Monsieur d'Arque knocked on the door and Madame Beaumont appeared.

This is a good sign. If Madame Beaumont looks after Papa herself and not some ordinary maid, it must mean that he is properly taken care of, she thought with a smile. Gaston's money to pay for her father's stay here seemed to be well used. Once more she realized that she would never have another worry in the world.

"Madame Beaumont, how is our patient doing?"

"He has just finished his tea," Madame said. She stepped aside and let Belle and Gaston in. "Don't stay too long," she whispered as Belle passed her.

Oh, thank goodness! Belle was relieved when she saw her father. He was sitting up straight and he was reading a book. He didn't look as weak as when she was taking care of him, but he did look pale. She had to admit it could be worse; he could be unconscious or delirious from a fever.

Her father looked up from his book and let it drop to the floor. "Belle?" he said in surprise. "Is that really you?" He turned away the blankets and tried to get out of the bed.

"Oh, Papa!" Belle cried as she hugged her father tightly. She knew she missed him, but she hadn't realized how much till that moment. Only a week had passed since she had last seen him, but it seemed like years! "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now that you are here."

"How are they treating you?" Belle whispered as softly as possible.

"The doctor comes by every day," her father reassured her as he patted her on her back. "I'm finally feeling better. A few days more and the doctor says I can get out of bed for an hour. "

"That's good to hear," Belle said, swallowing away her tears. She had been worried for nothing. "I wish I could have visited you sooner. Only-" She stopped talking. She couldn't tell her father why she hadn't been able to visit him. Helplessly, she turned back to Gaston, hoping he could give a good explanation.

"Gaston?" her father asked as he looked over her shoulder. "Monsieur d'Arque said I have you to thank for the good care they give me here."

"Oh yes," Belle said, wiping her eyes. "Gaston has been very generous, papa."

"Thanks for all that you did, Gaston." Her father held out his hand to Gaston. "Madame Beaumont told me you have good news?"

When her father shook Gaston's hand he looked so grateful, Belle smiled. It meant a lot to her that her father and Gaston would get along. On the other hand, her father could get along with everyone. "Yes, Papa, Gaston proposed to me. And I said yes."

"Oh, my dear girl," her father smiled, putting his arms around her. Belle had trouble keeping back her tears when she felt how happy her father was for her. "Why the tears?"

"Only tears of joy," Belle said, letting out a soft laugh. She couldn't tell her father the truth. Not just yet.

"I will take good care of your daughter," Gaston said. "Just like I'm taking good care of her father."

"I always knew Belle would find herself a good husband," her father said with a smile, caressing her hair. "Remember when I said to you that you should think about Gaston?"

"You were right, Maurice! Belle couldn't get a better husband," Gaston answered, placing a hand on her shoulder.

All Belle could remember was that her father had mentioned that Gaston was a handsome fellow. Now she realized that Gaston was much more than just handsome. He would be there for her when she needed him. Her father had probably already seen something in him that she hadn't seen before. She took Gaston's hand and squeezed it. She had made a good decision in accepting Gaston's proposal.

"Well, children, when will the wedding be?" her father asked with a smile.

"First thing tomorrow morning," Gaston said before Belle could open her mouth.

"Gaston thinks we should get married as soon as possible." Belle sat down on the bed and took her father's hand. For a moment she didn't care about Gaston getting angry or not. "I wish you could be there, Papa."

Her father shook his head. "Nonsense, Belle. You shouldn't wait for me." He put her hand in Gaston's. "Get married and get happy."

"Oh Papa!" Belle cried, hugging him once more. She hadn't had any doubt about getting her father's blessing when she would get married. Only now that it was finally here, she was more emotional than she had expected, especially when her father wished them to get happiness.

Gaston looked out of the window. "Belle, we have to go. I want to be back in the village before dark."

"I'll come to see you as often as I can, Papa," Belle whispered when she kissed her father goodbye.

"We'll see each other soon, my dear," her father said with a wink. "Now off with you two love birds! Gaston is right, it will be dark soon."

Belle closed the door to her father's room and started to cry. "How can I leave him here?" she sobbed. She leaned against Gaston's chest. The guilt was going through her like a knife! No matter that her father was happy for them. It hurt!

"You heard your father: he wants you to get married," Gaston said impatiently. He started walking away from the hospital's wing. Belle just followed where he was going. "Belle, are you ready or not?"

Am I ready? How can I be ready without my father there? No… she shouldn't keep thinking that. Her father wanted her to get married, and he didn't mind that he couldn't be there. He just wanted her to be happy. But how could she be when he was not there? She wiped her eyes, swallowed and tried to stop crying. "Yes. Yes, I'm ready."


20:00

About an hour later, they arrived back in the village. Gaston rode over the bridge to the center square. Belle was leaning against his chest. She had stopped crying when they had left the asylum, but she was shivering when he lifted her onto the horse. In the asylum, there had been moments where he had been worried that Belle might actually favor her father over him! If she had done that, he would have left her in the asylum for the rest of her life. But fortunately, Belle had finally realized what the most important thing in her life was now. Him.

"Home at last," he sighed as he looked around the empty village square.

"Why are we here? I thought we would go to your house?" Belle said with chattering teeth.

"You will not stay in my house till we are married," Gaston smiled at her. He started to rub her back. He couldn't have the little woman getting sick before the big day!

"Oh, but shouldn't I then go to my own house?" Belle asked, confused.

He shook his head. "Like I told you earlier: a woman shouldn't live alone without a chaperone."

"Then where am I going?"

How many questions can one girl ask? With some difficulty, he kept smiling at her and stroked her hair. "Enough with the questions, Belle. I know what's best for you."

"I know," Belle said, but she looked at him in confusion. "But I just don't understand! You said we couldn't put off the wedding until my father recovers because I can't stay alone in my own house. But now it seems you're taking me somewhere else…so why couldn't I stay there until Papa is better and can come to the wedding?"

Gaston gritted his teeth. She was really pushing him close to the edge. "Stop questioning my decisions!" he snapped, no trace of a smile now. Belle shrank back from his glare. "It is NOT a wife's place to question her husband. And the sooner you learn that, the better!" He took a deep breath, getting control of himself. "The simple fact is that we are getting married tomorrow, so you will only be staying at someone else's house for one night. We couldn't impose on anyone to let you stay with them for months on end while we wait for your father to get better. All right? Are you satisfied now?" he added sarcastically.

"Of course, Gaston," Belle said in a small voice. "I'm sorry." He could see she wanted to phrase a next question, but was looking for a way to make it not sound like one. "It's just…only if you don't mind…I'd like to know where I am going."

"Patience is a virtue," Gaston said as he patted her on her nose. He dismounted the horse and lifted Belle off. He took her hand and walked across the square to the largest house in the village. Well, almost as large as his own house, of course. "We are here."

"The mayor's house?" Belle asked. He looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. She was a quick learner, immediately correcting herself. "I mean, the mayor's house!" she repeated with an exclamation.

"Better," Gaston said as he knocked on the door. Seconds later the door opened and the mayor's maid stood in the door opening. "Yvette, you look lovely tonight," he said suavely.

"Gaston!" the girl swooned. The moment she saw him, she started playing with her hair and fluttered her eyelashes. "Is there something I can do for you?" she said with a deep sigh. Gaston smirked. He still had it.

"Who is it, Yvette?" a voice came from inside.

"It's Gaston!" the maid yelled. Then she noticed that there was someone standing behind him. "And… Belle?"

Not a moment later, the mayor and his wife were standing in the door opening. "Gaston, Belle, welcome to our home," the mayor said, opening the door to let everyone in.

"Belle, you look very pale and thin. Have you eaten yet?" Madame Chantil said as they walked into the house. She didn't wait for an answer. "Yvette, get Belle something to eat."

"I've just cleaned the kitchen," Yvette complained, but one look from the mayor was enough to make the maid take Belle with her.

As Belle was eating, Gaston softly spoke to the mayor's wife. "Madame Chantil, I would be most grateful if you could prepare Belle for tomorrow's ceremony."

"Oh of course, I'll tell her everything she needs to know," the mayor's wife nodded. "I'll teach her the vows and talk her through everything that will happen."

Gaston hesitated for a moment; there was one more thing Madame Chantil had to take care of. "And I want her prepared for tomorrow night," he added meaningfully.

"Tomorrow night?" the mayor's wife repeated. She looked embarrassed, but Gaston decided to ignore that. "Shouldn't somebody else-" she started.

"There is no one else. I am her world, all she has. But this is not up to the groom," Gaston said determinedly. On my wedding night I'm not going to waste any time talking. "I don't want her to be afraid, I don't want her to be nervous," he explained. His wedding night had to be as perfect as the rest of his life would be. And one thing he couldn't use in his perfect life was a wife who was unprepared. "I don't mind it if she's curious, but I don't want her to ask too many questions. I don't want her to talk at all. Except words of admiration. And awe.

"I'll tell her what she needs to know," Madame Chantil agreed.

"Good, that's all I ask," he said, favoring her with one of his special smiles. He turned to Belle, who was walking back into the room. "Here she is. Belle, this is your last night as a single girl. Tomorrow afternoon you will be my wife."

"I hope I can wait that long," Belle said.

"Patience, honey," Gaston whispered as he kissed her. "One more night and then you'll be all mine."

Her lips were soft and he could feel she had never been kissed by anyone but him. Just the way he wanted it. Admittedly, the thought had occurred to him that the strange nobleman from the woods might have kissed Belle too. But now, he could say for sure that Belle had been his and only his.

When Madame Chantil coughed, he had to break the kiss. Reluctantly, he let go of Belle. "I have to go. I'll see you in the church tomorrow."

He was almost at the door, when Madame Chantil coughed again. "Gaston, aren't you forgetting something?" she asked.

"Like what?" Gaston shrugged. His plan was absolutely perfect! There couldn't be a thing he could have left out. Everything was arranged.

"Belle's wedding dress?"

A dress? Is that all a woman can think about? "I'm far ahead of you, madame!" Gaston snapped his fingers and beckoned Belle to come closer. "Belle, show Madame Chantil what I've bought you."

"Of course, Gaston!" Belle said quickly, as she took the package out of the basket and unwrapped it. She held the dress out in front of her body. Gaston smiled, it already looked good on her now. He would hardly be able to focus on the ceremony tomorrow.

"Oh no, Gaston! That won't do!" the mayor's wife gasped.

Now what? He turned to the woman and gave her another smile. "What's wrong with it?"

"The dress is red to begin with!" Madame Chantil pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. It will match my Sunday outfit," Gaston shrugged. He let his fingers trail over the dress, slightly touching Belle through the fabric. "We will look like the perfect couple," he mused.

"A woman can't wear red on her wedding day," Madame Chantil explained. Not that Gaston understood what she meant. Who cared that the dress was red? Belle would look great in it that dress. "Red dress symbolizes a certain kind of women?" she continued.

He pointed at the dress Belle was still holding. "That dress was very expensive!"

"Gaston, do you want me to put the dress on?" Belle asked. "I can show you how it looks, Madame."

"Do that, show Madame Chantil how good it looks on you," he said with a smirk. "You will be impressed." You'd better be, or I'll teach you to be impressed.


Oh my, this dress is tight! Belle thought as she put the dress over her head. And she hadn't even tightened the laces on the bodice yet! It would be terrible if the seamstress had made a mistake with her measurements. What would Gaston say if she couldn't wear the dress he wanted to see her in! He had had it specially made for her.

There was no mirror, so she couldn't see how the dress looked on her, but it was something Gaston picked out for her. It must be good. It would at least be something Gaston liked. He had said he wanted to see her in this dress. He wanted her to get married in this! It has to fit!

She inhaled before she stepped back into the room, immediately realizing that breathing was not possible in this dress. If Gaston wants me to wear this dress at the wedding, please don't let me faint when I walk down the aisle!


"Now that's how my wife should look," Gaston said pleased when Belle walked back into the room. He had to admit that the triplets had done a very good job. They deserved more than a pat on the head for this.

Her blue dress apparently hid more than he had expected. The dress fitted Belle like a glove. Maybe she wasn't as voluptuous as the triplets, but the bodice of the dress was certainly well-filled. He would almost say it was beyond his wildest dreams.

He circled around Belle, looking at her appreciatively. Back or front, it was both perfect. "You look good," he said. And he meant it, he couldn't wait till tomorrow night.

Gaston grinned in approval as Belle smiled shyly and twirled. Not only was she now dressed like his wife, but the look in her eyes was exactly what he had always wanted from her. She was looking at him with admiration, wanting to please him. It wasn't official yet, but she was already his wife. That dress made her his.

Behind him he heard Madame Chantil gasping. He rolled his eyes before turning back to the woman. "Yes, Madame?"

The woman had pressed her hand against her chest and exclaimed: "It's terribly low cut! Gaston, you simply cannot let her wear that dress! What will the people say!"

That I'm the luckiest man in this village! Gaston wanted to shout, but he saw the look in the eyes of the mayor's wife, he decided not to. He rubbed his eyes with one hand. So much for showing off his wife. Even though the woman might have a point: the men in the village would be jealous, but the women might not like it. He sighed. He had been looking forward to looking at Belle in that dress for the entire day! "Fine!" he finally said, raising his hands in defeat. "Get the seamstress out of her house and make something else. You have till ten o'clock tomorrow morning."

The mayor's wife shook her head. "A wedding dress in one night? That's impossible!"

Gaston had a very hard time controlling himself. The mayor's wife was pushing him over the edge. "Then you'll get some help! I'll go to the tavern and send the triplets over!"


23:00

It was getting late. Adam was still in his study. He hadn't used it for as long as he was under the spell, but now he had to use it. He was standing behind a large table with the map of the region in front of him. Now that he finally knew where Belle could be, he could take action. At the table sat Lumière, Cogsworth, the driver of the carriage and the captain of the guard.

"Is everything clear?" Adam said as he rolled up the map and gave it to the driver.

The man stood up and said: "I'll go take care of the carriage. It'll be ready first thing tomorrow morning, Your Highness."

Adam nodded and turned to the captain. "Captain, you can go instruct your four best men. I know it has been a long time since they had any practice and I hope we don't need their services, but prepare them to fight."

"You are acting like a true prince," Lumière said as he gave him a glass of wine.

"Thank you, Lumière," Adam answered gratefully. He appreciated the compliment. For the first time in his life he was planning his actions instead of rushing into things impulsively. When he had started the meeting, he had felt insecure. But in the end he felt comfortable with planning and preparing for everything that could happen tomorrow. Everyone had listened carefully to everything he said and without fear of him in their eyes. In return he had also listened to their suggestions without thinking why they had the nerve to speak to him. It was refreshing and it felt good.

Cogsworth coughed. "Your highness, do you think it is necessary to go to Montville with four guards?" he asked with a slight tremble in his voice. He was still sitting on the other end of the table and he hadn't said much during the meeting.

"As I said to the captain, I hope not," Adam answered. "In Montville there is a man who lied to me about Belle. If he dares to lie to nobility, he is probably capable of worse things."

That was Adam's second worst fear, besides Belle not wanting to return to him, that this man had something to do with Belle's disappearance. He didn't want to think about what that man could have done to Belle, but he would find out tomorrow. If he didn't find her tomorrow, he feared he would never see her again.


0:00

"I'm so tired," Belle sighed with her eyes closed.

"Come on, Belle. One more time," the mayor's wife said impatiently.

Belle was standing on a stool, while Madame Chantil, the seamstress and the triplets were trying to make her a wedding dress in one night. She knew that she was supposed to be grateful, and she really was, but now that she was out of the Maison, she felt like she could sleep for a week. If she wasn't careful she would fall off this stool!

"You can go to bed the moment you've memorized your vows," Madame Chantil dismissed Belle's tiredness. She adjusted a few pins on the hem of the skirt. "If you don't remember your vows you will make a fool out of yourself in front of the entire village. And what's worse, you will embarrass Gaston. He will think you're not serious about your marriage." She looked up to Belle with an accusing look on her face. "You don't want that, do you?"

No. I don't want that. Belle breathed in deeply. She opened her eyes and repeated her vows out loud. "I am ashamed that women are so simple. To offer war where they should kneel for peace, or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway. I am bound to… to… Serve, love and obey."

'Serve, love and obey', then what? What comes after that? She couldn't remember it! Come on Belle, you must know this! Damn! She had to get this right! There was so little time left. "What comes after 'serve, love and obey'?" she asked with a desperate sigh.

"Why are our bodies?" Madame Chantil helped.

Of course. "Why are our bodies soft and weak…" As Belle continued, she could hear the triplets chattering softly in the back.

Belle had never been good friends with the triplets, or at least, she didn't remember it. She wasn't even sure about their names. She believed that Michelle was the one in the red dress, working on the veil, Simone was the one in yellow, working on the bodice of the dress and then the one in green was Veronique, who was working on the sleeves.

Why are they here? she wondered. There were probably women in the village who were better with a thread and needle. Maybe Gaston wanted her to become friends with them? Why else would they be here? When she was married to Gaston she would have to become a more social person. Women would look up to her, because she was the wife of Gaston de Soleil. The triplets were her own age; maybe he thought that would make it easier for her.

She had to make a first step. Show interest in whatever they were interested in. "What are you talking about?" she asked friendly.

"Nothing, Belle," Michelle said with a smile. "Don't pay attention to us."

Veronique put down the sleeve she was working on. "It's no secret. I was wondering why you, you of all the girls in town!"

"I'm sorry?" Belle said in surprise.

Michelle shared a look with her other sister. "Veronique, don't start," she warned when Veronique stood up and walked over to Belle.

Belle didn't really know how to react. She had no idea what to say to that. She knew she had to feel honored because Gaston had chosen her. Only she hadn't realized that he had to disappoint other girls. Veronique was one of those girls. Who else?

Veronique's lower lip started to tremble and within a second she started to sob uncontrollably. "Why did Gaston pick you? A prudish bookworm!" she yelled as she pushed Belle. "He should have picked me! It's not fair!" She pushed Belle again, who now almost fell of the stool. It took both her sisters to pull Veronique back.

"Veronique!" Madame Chantil reprimanded her. "Control yourself!"

Belle stepped off the stool and wanted to walk over to the triplets, but hesitated. Now that she realized that she was Veronique's problem, she hoped there was a way she could comfort the girl. And if Gaston wanted her to, maybe she could be her friend.

Only when she tried to walk, she was held back by the seamstress. " You'll hurt yourself! There a hundred pins in this skirt!"

"Gaston has decided. There is no need for any further discussion." Michelle rubbed her sister's back as she gave Belle an apologizing look. "I think it's better that I take Veronique home," she mouthed.

Madame Chantil shook her head and helped Belle on the stool again. "You will do nothing of the sort! We have a lot of work to do! Veronique, clean your face and go back to your work."

"It's not fair," Veronique muttered, more to herself than to the other women in the room.

"Remember what Gaston said the other day," Simone said softly to her sister as she took the bodice on her lap again.

"What did Gaston say?" Belle informed curiously.

"That we should help you," Michelle said, she gave her sister her handkerchief and went back to working on the veil. "And that's what we are doing."

Somehow Belle felt that it probably wasn't the total truth about what Gaston had told the triplets. There was something Michelle wasn't saying, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Of course Gaston would have told them to help her with the wedding dress. Maybe tomorrow she would see things more clearly, when she wasn't so tired anymore.

"Belle? Your vows?" Madame Chantil asked.

"Why are our bodies…"


The following morning, 08:00

As soon as the rooster crowed, Gaston opened his eyes and jumped out of bed. This was the day! The day he had been waiting for so long. Within a few hours, Belle would be his wife and he would get rewarded for his patience. It had been a long hunt and as usual, he had won. Not that he had ever any doubts about the outcome. He smiled at his reflection in the mirror. How could a girl ever be able to resist him forever? They all gave in sooner or later. Belle was no exception.

He had to admit with Belle he had had to use more power of persuasion to get what he deserved, but he was pleased with how things had developed. Belle certainly had learned to appreciate him.

As he went downstairs he was pleased to see that the maid had already made him his breakfast. Tomorrow, he thought, self-satisfied, Belle would bring him his breakfast in bed. From that day forward, he would be woken up by her soft voice. Her soft lips. The lips he would kiss within a few couldn't wait! Patience, man. Just a little bit more patience.

He looked out of the window and saw the mayor's house. He had to restrain himself from going there to check if everything was going according to plan. He would have done it if it wasn't bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.

Then the solution came walking through the door. "Lefou, right on time! Everything ready in the church and the town hall?"

Lefou nodded. "The church is decorated. So is the town hall. Everyone is helping out to make this the biggest wedding ever!"

They'd better be helping out! "Well, it's only once that the town's hero is going to marry," Gaston smirked. He pushed the plate away. "I want you to go to the mayor's house and make sure that Belle is getting ready."


09:00

Adam kept looking out of the window of the carriage, trying to find a sign of Belle. They had reached Montville, and he hoped he would see her walking around somewhere. "Ride slower," he said to the driver. He didn't see Belle, but he did see a man with a bucket walking toward a small cottage next to the bridge.

He had planned to question every man, woman and child in this village till he found Belle. He leaned out of the window, but hesitated before he spoke. He had never associated with his subjects. Not before and certainly not during the spell. How did you address the regular people?

"Good man, do you know a girl named Belle de la Vallière or her father, Maurice de la Vallière?" he said, trying to sound confident.

At first the man didn't answer. He did look up, but seemed to think about something. He emptied the bucket in the trough next to the house, before looking back to the carriage again. "You're standing in front of their house," the man answered after a few more moments.

"Stop the carriage!" Adam yelled the moment the man had finished his sentence. He jumped out of the carriage and ran up the stairs, over to the door. "Belle! Open up!" he yelled, banging on the door. "BELLE!"

"I wouldn't bother to knock," the man said. He put the bucket next to the stairs. "They are not home."

"Then where is she?" Adam came down the stairs again. He resisted the urge to grab the man's collar and demand answers. He was so close now. He was not going away without answers! "Where are they?"

The man narrowed his eyes and looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you looking for Belle? What do you want from her?"

Adam had to take a deep breath to stay polite here. He had to, otherwise he would never get the answers he needed. He needed the man's help. "She is the woman I love and I want her to be my wife." He paused for a moment. "If she still wants me."

"If you truly love her, then you must be able to answer this question," the man said, more to himself than to Adam.

What? A "question"? I have to proof I love Belle? This man is out of his mind! I don't have time for this! Adam was about to strangle the man. What if it was one specific detail about Belle's life here? How was he ever going to answer that?

"What is her favorite book?" the man asked.

"I know that!" Adam exclaimed excitedly. He and Belle had spent hours reading in the library! He then realized that Belle had a lot of books she called 'her favorite'. Would the man let him guess? "One of her favorites is 'King Arthur', but she also likes that one about… oh God, what's the title?" He looked helplessly at Lumière, who raised his shoulders. He looked back at the man. "Can you give me a hint? It's about far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells-"

The man raised his hand and Adam stopped talking. "Is your name Adam?" he asked.

For a moment, Adam didn't know what to say. "Yes, how did you know?" he asked, astonished. The man could not have recognized him. No one knew how the prince of their country looked now. The last time he had had a portrait made it had been years before the spell. This man couldn't know exactly who he was. Not even with the royal arms on the side of the carriage. The man couldn't be sure. "Who are you?"

"My name is Dijon. I have a bookshop in the village," the man answered. "Belle and Maurice are my friends. Ever since they disappeared, I've been taking care of their animals."

"They disappeared?"

The man beckoned them to follow him. "Let's go inside," he said as he walked to the back of the house. All of a sudden he stopped and pointed at the carriage. "Let your driver hide that thing behind the shed where no one will see it."

"Why so secretive?" Adam asked worried.

Unfortunately, Monsieur Dijon didn't answer. Nothing to make this easier. He opened the back door and let Adam go in first. Cogsworth and Lumière followed in silence.

Carefully, Adam walked through the kitchen into the living room and couldn't help smiling when he saw the walls covered with bookcases filled with dozens of books. It was a small, but decent house. Properly taken care off. He walked to the front door and studied the weird object hanging next to the hall. He could see who was on the other side of the door with it. Probably one of her father's inventions.

This was it. This was Belle's house. Breathless, he walked through the room. This was where she lived. She had been sitting on this couch, reading her favorite book. He could easily see her with her feet curled under her, totally absorbed by the story.

Monsieur Dijon coughed softly and Adam came back to earth. He straightened his shoulders and put his hands behind his back. "How do you know my name?"

"Because of the letter."

"Your Highness," Cogsworth said before Adam could ask for more details. He was standing at the table, holding a piece of paper. "You'd better read this."

Adam grabbed the letter out of Cogsworth's hands and quickly read it. "Belle made it home after leaving the castle! She was planning to come back!" he shouted. He couldn't be more relieved. Belle wanted to come back to him! He knew it! He looked at Monsieur Dijon. "Where is she?"

"You may want to sit down," Monsieur Dijon said as he sat down himself on one of the chairs. He waited for Adam to sit down as well. Lumière and Cogsworth stayed in the back and sat down at the table. "I must be honest, I don't know exactly what happened," he started. "It was shortly after Maurice left for the annual invention convention in Rouen. Shortly after that, Belle disappeared. I hadn't seen them for days."

"Then what happened?" Adam asked. He didn't want to interrupt the man, but he didn't want to lose too much time on talking.

"They returned." Monsieur Dijon explained briefly what had happened: how Maurice came back to the village one night, how he disappeared again, and then that night when the village had assembled at Belle's house.

"He has sent her away. To the Maison des Lunes," Monsieur Dijon sighed. He looked like he'd rather not explain anymore. "This region's asylum," he said softly.

Adam was almost too afraid to ask, but he had to. "Why did he send her?"

"The story around town is that Belle is having a nervous breakdown," Monsieur Dijon looked up to Adam and gave him a slight smile. "But if you know Belle, you know she would never have one."

"No, she's too strong for that," Adam agreed, but didn't smile. He had learned about Belle's strong character the moment she offered to trade places with her father. It had confused him. Later it was what he appreciated in her…and in the end, the reason for him to let her go. "She's still there?"

"Once you're in, you can never get out," Monsieur Dijon explained. "At least, not without help."