Mr. Chapeau led me to a carriage at the road down the street from our farm. He told me that I would be riding inside the carriage while he would lead the horses up front. They were two beautiful white horses with fine groomed hair and golden hooves. I could tell that the master of the castle I was going to must have been quite rich. But I could hardly think about this, I was in too much grief. I felt numb to the world but it still hurt. My mother and the love of my life were gone and it was all my fault. And not only that but my father had given me up to some strange people I didn't even know. I was leaving behind my entire life. I couldn't think of anything to do so I pulled my knees to my chest and began to cry. It felt as if my life was over, as if I would never be happy again. Sometimes when the pain gets to feel like too much it feels as if I would never feel happy again.
The carriage ride took a few hours. I could see out through the window that we were headed through the forest. It was dark and spooky out in the forest, I would have felt scared if I didn't feel oddly protected by Mr. Chapeau. He was just such a strong and confident person I had a feeling that nothing bad would happen to me.
As we rode through the forest I continued to think. My life felt as if it were actually over. I would never be able to flirt with boys anymore. Never be able to draw the flowers in the garden. I could never listen to the music the musicians played in the town. I would never again spin wool at my spinning wheel. There were so many things I could never do again. My chest hurt, it felt like a broken heart but worse.
I closed my eyes and tried not the think about it but the bad thoughts just kept coming back. After I don't even know how long the carriage stopped. I couldn't tell if I had fallen asleep or not because everything as a blur. Mr. Chapeau opened the carriage door for me and I looked up the the beautiful shining castle. It was probably the biggest standing building I had ever seen. It had towers here and there, beautiful fountains. The tall stone walls seemed to glow. Every window was stained glass which illuminated gorgeous hues of color.
I couldn't help but gasp when I saw this amazing castle which seemed to stand more for looks than protection.
"Beautiful, isn't it? Only the best for Prince Adam." Mr. Chapeau told me.
"Prince Adam?" I exclaimed.
My outburst seemed to take mr. Chapeau by surprise because when he heard me raise my voice he turned and raised his eyebrow.
"Oh, I've very sorry, Sir. I'm just quite surprised." I said meekly.
"Of course." Mr. Chapeau turned away from me and knocked on the door of this beautiful castle.
The pitter patter of feet could be heard on the other side of the door and a few moments later the door creaked open.
When the door opened we were greeted by a shorter fatter man with long brown hair, tied back and a short mustache.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Chapeau." Said the shorter man.
"Good afternoon, Cogsworth." Mr. Chapeau responded as he stepped into the castle.
Cogsworth didn't look at me and he began to close the door on me. Instantly a thousand thoughts were running through my head. Is this all just a joke? Did they just take me out here to lock me out of the beautiful castle? I was so scared but before the door was completely shut Mr. Chapeau stopped him.
"Oh! Cogsworth, this is our new maid, Babette."
Cogsworth looked confused, he opened the door up completely and when he saw me he went flush with embarrassment.
"Oh my dear, pardon me for my rudeness. I did not see you there." Cogsworth said with dismay.
I noticed that Cogsworth had a British accent.
"It's quite alright." I said quietly, I was so worn out after all the changes that had happened that day.
Cogsworth let me inside and I was free to look around the castle.
The castle floor was made of wood and more wooden furniture scattered the floors. Beautiful tapestries hung from the ceilings and the same stained glass windows I had seen on the outside looked even more beautiful on the inside. Under one of the wooden tables in this room was a big fluffy dog with it's tongue hanging out.
"Babette, Cogsworth here will show you to the servants quarters while I go attend to the master." Mr. Chapeau told me.
I nodded at him.
Cogsworth lead me down a long hallway and as he did he spoke to me very sternly.
"You will begin working here as a scullery maid. Your duties will include cleaning after every meal, you will spend all your time in the kitchen with Cook." He told me.
"Understood."
"Very good, in time you will be given more rights, privileges, and above all work."
This was beginning to sound like a prison to me.
I nodded at Cogsworth and we finally reached the end of the hall where he opened the door to the servants quarters for me.
The walls of the room looked more like a prison cell than a room, and there were many very very small beds. At the center of the room was a small wooden table. Sitting around the table was a woman who looked to be in her late thirties.
"Good afternoon, Cogsworth," She said with a smile, "And who might this be?"
"This is our new maid, Babette." Cogsworth introduced me.
"Hello, I'm Anna Tasses, you can refer to me as Ms. Tasses. It's very nice to meet you." She said.
"It's nice to meet you too." I said quietly.
"Now now, let's not be meek." Ms. Tasses said.
Her voice sounded warm and kind, she was probably the kindest person I had met in a long time and we had barely even spoken. I looked at her and she smiled the warmest smile I had ever seen. I couldn't help it, I could feel the tears begin to slide down my face and I broke down crying.
Ms. Tasses shooed Cogsworth out of the room then she held me by my shoulders.
"What's wrong love? Why all the tears?" She asked.
I shook my head and tried to wipe away my tears.
"Come along, dear, I'll show you around the castle." She told me.
I was trembling but Ms. Tasses held me up and walked me out of the quarters.
"Now I know this place seems rather scary but trust me, it's a wonderful life here with Prince Adams."
Ms. Tasses walked me down the hall and showed me the different rooms.
When we entered the great hall, the room I was first introduced to when I entered the castle, I could see Cogsworth feeding the dog under the table while Mr. Chapeau furiously cleaned.
"Cogsworth is the castle's majordomo and Mr. Chapeau is the butler. They're both quite good friends." Ms. Tasses said.
She walked me down more of the castle's halls and past each of the bed chambers. She stopped at one particular bed chamber with the fanciest door and knocked twice on it.
"Bonjjjjooouuurrr!" Sang a voice from the other side.
Ms. Tasses opened the door and on the other side was a girl about my age. She wore her brown hair up high in curls and had way too much makeup on. The girl was also wearing a huge, poofy, pink dress with curls and frills here and there.
"Babette, this is Madam de la Grande Bouche, and Madam, this is our new maid Babette." Ms. Tasses introduced us.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Madam said with a bow.
Madam and I exchanged the normal small talk. She was the lady-in-waiting of the house.
After Madam and I had been introduced Ms. Tasses continued to walk me down the different halls of the castel. She showed me the kitchen, the gatehouse, and storerooms, the icehouse, and the gardens, and last but not least the chandlery.
Inside the chandlery was a tall skinny man who looked to be about the same age as me. He had a long pointed nose, and long brown hair tied back.
"Babette, this is Lumiere." Ms. Tasses introduced me to him.
He looked at me and smiled, "Enchante Mademoiselle!"
Lumiere took my arm and kissed all the way up it with lust before Ms. Tasses pulled me away from him. Normally I would have been happy and flirted back with but I was much too shy to even speak.
"Lumiere, I believe you've frightened the young girl." Ms. Tasses said quietly.
"Ah pardon moi, Mademoiselle." He said to me in a very thick french accent.
"It's quite alright." I peeped out.
"Babette, Lumiere is the castle's Maîtred, and Lumiere this is Babette our new maid." Ms. Tasses introduced us.
What a funny man, I thought as I looked up and down at Lumiere. I didn't find him very attractive but he had enough confidence to make anyone find him good-looking.
We exchanged introductions and small talk then Ms. Tasses led me down to through a few more rooms.
Ms. Tasses walked me back through the castle and through the great hall where instead of Cogsworth and Mr. Chapeau, was a young boy and a very handsome, older man. The young boy had short orange hair and pretty blue eyes. He would grow up to be a very handsome man. The older man, who looked about the same age as Ms. Tasses.
"Hello darling." Smiled the older gentleman to Ms. Tasses.
"Good afternoon, love." Responded Ms. Tasses sweetly.
They gave each other love eyes for a few moments before snapping out of it.
"Oh! Gerard this is Babette, our new maid, and Babette this is my fiance Gerard Potts. He is Prince Adam's regent."
"It's very nice to meet you, and please call me Mr. Potts." Smiled Mr. Potts.
"It's nice to meet you too." I smiled back, he and Ms. Tasses gave of the same warm feeling, I could see why they were suited for each other.
Then i realized something, why would Prince Adam need a regent? I looked over at the young boy who must have been only ten. Oh.
"This little man is our very own Prince Adam." Mr. Potts said as he kneeled down next to the young boy.