A/N I would like some suggestions from you guys! Let me know which way you want this story to go! I'm open to anything and I would love to hear from you guys! You can message me privately or drop an idea in the comments. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the second chapter of For a Single Rose.
Belle
The early rays of the day's first light peeked of the tops of pine trees. It was rather chilly for a summer morning, but Belle didn't mind. The chill kept her mind focused and aware. Everything was new. Not many people from the village had journeyed this way before unless they had to, which wasn't very often. The mare, Aura, that Belle was seated atop moved with a grace that seemed reserved to animals alone. Aura's movements were gentle like the breeze, steady in each step. The horse almost seemed to glide in her own way, much like a wolf would stalking its' prey. Her coat was the color of a pearl shining in the light, almost silver in its' appearance. Belle gently patted the mare's neck. She might not know it, but she was bringing Belle to her fate though neither of them really knew what lay ahead of them.
A cold gust of wind swept across Belle's neck. The coolness was a pleasant sensation, the very feel of it made Belle hum with content pleasure. It was almost a comforting feel. It reminder her of home, of the many winter mornings that her and Papa would sit by the window and drink tea, talking about the past or swapping stories with one another. She would miss those kinds of mornings. D'Arque had come for her before the light of dawn had even begun to show. Belle had been groggy when they first set out but that's what you would expect when you hardly slept a wink. Her clothes had been packed quickly but neatly, along with a few personal belongings. A tiny rose music box sat nestled between a few dresses in her trunk. It had been a gift from her father. The song was one she had known since before she could even remember. Papa always said that it was her Mother's favorite song. Belle had always cherished it knowing that it was a small part of her Mother that she could always carry with her. Perhaps it would be the only thing that would keep her sane during her stay.
The party rode on for another hour before that castle came into view. It sat like a crown on the horizon. Though it was merely a shadow above the tree line, a tall tower was visible above the over spires. The castle looked black from where Belle was and it was frightening in its own right. Each roof of the towers came to a sharp point. They reminder Belle of the icicles that hung from the roof of her little house during the coldest parts of winter, deadly and beautiful. Slowly the forest came to live. Birds began to sing and the squirrels started their chatter. As if the wind had just begun, trees rustled their leaves, bowing to the pull of the wind. It was almost like they were dancing to the music of nature. The new sunlight was their spotlight, the ground that held their roots was their stage on which they would dance. The thought of that brought a smile to Belle's lips. Maybe it was her imagination that brought such thoughts to her or all the books she had read. Whatever it was, it brought her a little bit of joy in a day that was bound to be filled with sorrow. Belle wasn't scared of what she would face in that castle or even nervous, but more
Soon enough their travels came to a halt. In front of them stood a gigantic iron gate. Each rod was twisted into an intricate pattern atop rods that simply stood vertically. At the very top of the gate was a design that vaguely resembled an arch. Underneath that arch was an iron outline of a rose in full bloom. It was a breathtaking piece of art. Belle found herself unable to look away from it. As they rode through the gate Belle stared at the rose until she would have had to turn around in her saddle. From there, they traveled into the courtyard. A large fountain sat in its middle. The water that came from it sparkled the diamond in the sunlight.
"Belle, my dear, follow Aldrick. Be warned girl, do not wander," D'Arque whispered to her. He offered her a hand as she dismounted her horse. Belle didn't want to place her hand in his, she didn't want to seem rude. His hand was surprising soft from his line of work. It startled her to say the least. When Belle placed her feet on the ground a male servant came forward, she could only assume that he was Aldrick, and ushered her forward towards the doors. Belle looked over the man. He was not much older than she was, twenty-two at the oldest, with ivory skin and enchanting hazel eyes. His black hair was combed back neatly in a very pleasing way. A well kempt beard decorated his face. He was maybe six foot, towering over Belle. The uniform he wore was a normal black suit that fit his form perfectly. It wasn't flashy but it certainly caught your eye. In a word he looked perfect. There wasn't a flaw to be seen.
"Uh, Monsieur, my trunk is still back there," Belle protested gently as Aldrick started up the steps. He paused ad gave her a smile, informing her that it was all being taken care of. Though she was still uneasy about leaving her personal belongings to the care of strangers, she followed Aldrick without further comments. The doors opened to reveal one of the most extravagant things Belle had ever seen. Everything in was polished and primed to perfection. Not a single speck of dust could be seen anywhere. Crystal vases sat on the tables, every flower in full bloom, at their most beautiful. Belle swore she could see her own reflection in the floor. Nothing was out of place. It was all perfect just like Aldrick. Just perfect. Servants rushed around doing their various chores. None of them bothered to look at her. All of them wore similar outfits, women were dressed in black and white maid uniforms with skirts that came down to their knees. The other men were dressed exactly like Aldrick, to perfection. Belle took in everything as she was lead through the hallways. Every little thing caught her attention. She was nearly certain that her mouth was hanging open the entire time.
The hard knock on a door drew Belle out of her daze. Aldrick was stopped in front of an oak door, his hands folded neatly behind his back. A moment passed before the door opened to reveal a man. Alrick offered the man a quick bow, Belle noticed and scrambled into a shallow curtsey, but the man didn't bother to look at her.
"Aldrick, what is you need?" The man glanced at his pocket watch. Aldrick stepped to the side a bit to give the man a better view of Belle, who was practically hidden behind him. For the first time since she stepped into the castle someone looked at her. The man looked her over with a curious eye. It was like he was inspecting an animal, a piece of meat. She had become an object under his gaze. Belle forced her gaze to the floor, she couldn't help but feel small. For the first time in her life Belle didn't have something to say. After what felt like an eternity, the man took his eyes away from her and back to Aldrick, "Who is this young girl?"
Aldrick opened his mouth to answer but then realized that Belle had never told him her name. Belle flushed and dipped into a curtsey, "My name is Belle, monsieur," She said in the politest voice she could manage. Silence ensued for a moment after she spoke. Belle began to panic, had she already screwed up before she had the chance to prove herself? Then, something Belle didn't expect happened. The man chuckled at her. It was a warm, welcoming sound, something that reminded her of her Papa's laugh. Belle looked up, shock written on her face. Her jaw dropped even farther when she saw that he was smiling at her. Before Belle could ask or even say a word, the man chuckled again, "Well, miss Belle, I am Cogsworth, head of the household. Please, come into my office." Cogsworth swept a graceful had towards the doorway of his office. Belle nodded her head and walked past Aldrick and into the office. As she sat down she heard Monsieur Cogsworth dismiss Aldrick and close the door as he reentered. He took the seat in front of her, behind his desk. Monsieur Cogsworth folded his hands neatly, laying them on his desk, then he smiled at her.
"Please tell me about yourself, mademoiselle," Cogsworth coaxed warmly. Belle hesitated for a moment before launching into how and why she had come to the castle. She told him about her father, his debt and his worsening health. She spun tales about Gaston and his enamor with her, about his obsessive need to marry her. She couldn't help but smile at the face Monsieur Cogsworth made while she talked about the villages favorite brute. It was one of utter discontent and disgust. After that, Belle listed the odd jobs she had taken around town. All the while he listened to her, he watched her with intent. It was like he was studying her every word and weighing its' merit, like she would make up a story to get a job. He never interrupted or asked her to stop. When she finally finished, Cogsworth spoke in a calm, even tone, "Well, Mademoiselle, do you have any hobbies?"
"I love reading, Monsieur Cogsworth."
"Well my dear, I don't believe we have any openings that could accommodate that but, we do have a maid position open, if you're interested."
Belle nearly cried. She had a chance to save her Papa, she could do something right for once. For a moment, Belle couldn't do anything but nod. Eventually she was able to choke out her thanks and appreciation for the job. Monsieur Cogsworth smiled, "I'll show you to your room. Now, if you'll follow me please." The pair set off at a brisk pace down the hallway. As they walked, Belle took in Monsieur Cogsworth. He was a short man, not much taller than Belle herself, and rather… plump. His copper colored hair was pulled back into a small ponytail at the back of his neck just above his collar. Unlike the rest of the servants that Belle had seen, Cogsworth wore a brown jacket with golden trim on the collar and sleeves with black pants, and brown shoes. White socks came down at the knee. Though, Belle's favorite part about him was his moustache. From what she had learned from her books, it was in the English style. It was rather funny to her. They came to a staircase leading down. Belle could only assume it lead to the kitchen's or servants quarters. They ventured forward. At the bottom of the stairs, Belle was greeted by the morning hustle and bustle of the morning rush. There was another set of stairs leading upwards toward what could only be the dining room and the rest of the castle. Next to that was a door, which Monsieur Cogsworth headed for. He showed her to her room and left with nothing more than instructions to get settled in because she would start tomorrow morning at five.