Hello! Welcome to Chapter 5! We're about halfway through (sorry, I'm not amazing at long writing in general. I think the length of some of the fanfiction on this site is insane (in a good way)), so this will probably be 10-12 chapters long. Why? Because they are nice, even numbers to stop at. (One of my pet peeves is when books end at chapter 23, or some other random number).

Anyways, on with the-!

DISNEY: Hold it!

ME: What?!

DISNEY: You're forgetting something

ME: You mean the disclaimer? Well, I've been reading up about that, and it is not actually required, so I have decided to not give it to you!

DISNEY: *Piercing Glare*

ME: Fine! I don't own Beauty and the Beast! Or any other Disney movie! Or Disney! My dreams are crushed!

DISNEY: Thank you. *Walks off*

Yeah, I'm afraid I don't own Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Belle sat, pondering. She knew she had to get back to the castle. She had to get back to Adam. Leaving him wasn't an option; even if every annoying dignitary prevented her marrying him, she would still stay close to him, and she would always love him.

Which was why she had to join him. Her feet almost got up of their own accord, and she calmly began walking back to Villeneuve. Back to Adam.

oOo

He would not cry. He would not cry. Adam de Beaufort told himself adamantly. She was just a girl. A silly thing.

No.

He couldn't get back into that mindset. He couldn't let himself think like that. Belle had shown him how to love; something he would cherish and never forget, however painful.

He almost didn't believe it. But the note was written by Belle, no doubt about that. And it was convincing. It told him that whilst she did feel an affection for him, she did not love him in the way he was hoping, and thought it would be best if she just left. Because she wanted adventure.

It was horrible, worse than being transformed into a beast could ever be. But she had loved him. The curse had been broken.

But nobody ever said it had to be romantic love.

He groaned and took a swig straight from his wine bottle, trying to drown his sorrows. And he had a bloody ball tonight that the dumb dignitaries had cooked up. What was he supposed to do?

oOo

As Belle hiked determinedly on, she remembered back when she was exploring the castle. Something that had a lot to do with Roses.

oOo

Belle walked down the corridor of the dark castle, further than she had ever before. She came to a deserted hall, which was freezing. She pulled her jacket down her arms even more and began to explore.

A trace of red paint attracted her attention. It led on to a green strand. Eventually, after a lot of cobweb sweeping, Belle saw a painting, which trailed along the floor, walls, and ceiling, of many, many roses.

She never told anyone about it. She'd tried to mention it to Adam, then Beast, but he refused to talk. So she'd left it. She had almost forgotten about it until now.

oOo

Belle was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the ragged, short figure making it's way towards her.

"Hello, Peasant." He grinned nastily, showing several rotten and yellow teeth.

He suddenly lunged at her, and Belle screamed and began to run, heading back towards the forest. She could see the river ahead. He was right on her tail. She felt him grab the back of her dress, and she kicked him away. But it did nothing.

Suddenly, Belle felt herself being pulled away and swung on a vine over the river. She almost breathed a sigh of relief. She was alive!

Then the vine snapped and Belle, along with Rose, was plunged into the ice cold river.

Swimming in the water, Belle felt Rose guide her towards the cave. They both swam until they got there, and collapsed, exhausted.

"What-the-hell-were-you-thinking?!" Rose choked out, coughing and spluttering.

"I-" Belle felt slightly embarrassed, "I had to go back!"

Rose stared at Belle in complete disbelief.

Belle sighed. If Rose was going to understand, she would have to know the whole story. But she had just saved her life, so Belle owed her the truth.

Maybe even more than that.

oOo

So the whole story poured out. How Adam had been turned into a beast. How she had saved him with love. How they would have been living happily ever after if it weren't for those stupid dignitaries.

When she finished, Rose just sat for a minute with an extremely amused expression on her face.

"He got transformed into a beast?" She said and, after Belle nodded, burst out laughing.

"Don't worry," she assured Belle, "I believe you. It just is so strange!"

"I know," Belle nodded, as a thought occurred to her, "Rose, did you know Adam?"

Rose dried her eyes and sighed.

"Yes. I was a ward at the palace - a child who they raised. It was his mother who arranged it. Thought it would be nice for him to have a playmate.

"His father didn't agree. He hated me, and wasn't afraid to show it. So, Adam followed suit, treating me like one of the servants.

"Princey wasn't so bad when he was on his own. We used to read together in the Rose Garden. Under that twisty tree."

The same place Belle sat and read with Adam.

"But one day I got charged with a crime. It normally would only be worth two days jailing, but he was feeling cruel.

"He charged me with banishment. For life. That's how I ended up here. That's why I don't do backstory. I hate even thinking about it."

"I'm sorry." Belle said humbly, "If we return, I promise he'll apologise. He has changed, honestly. But I understand if you have changed your opinions of us now."

"Of course not!" Rose hugged Belle, "You're the closest thing I'll ever have to a sister!"

Belle smiled. This was almost worth being attacked by the crazy guy.

Almost.

oOo

Adam sat back and moaned. The ball had been a complete disaster. Augustus was pushing women towards him, so much that Adam had began to think that Augustus considered a moment Adam wasn't with a lady was a moment wasted.

He groaned and collapsed in one of the armchairs of the library. Theodore had sat reading a book the entire ball, and Adam had been envying him the entire time. And Ralph-

Adam buried his head in his hands.

"Well, I would consider that to have been an exemplary party, wouldn't you agree?"

"Think of the devil," Adam muttered quietly, which Ralph took as agreement.

"It was very fun." Sir Augustus, Sir Rebus, and Sir Theodore had all entered behind Ralph. Couldn't Adam have one moment of peace?

"I cannot have imagined a better way to spend the evening," Sir Rebus bowed dramatically.

"Well, I doubt you have much of an imagination," Adam involuntary thought of Belle, and the wonders her mind could create.

"Sorry, didn't catch that." Crux turned to Adam.

"I said," Adam spoke in a clearer voice, "It was certainly beyond my expectations." Though definitely not in a positive way, he added silently.

"Oh, brilliant!" Augustus said so merrily Adam began to suspect that he had been at the wine.

"I think we should do another one!" Theodore said very unenthusiasticly.

"Bloody brilliant idea!" Augustus boomed in an irritatingly bouncy way whilst Ralph clapped his hands with glee.

Adam tried not to bang his head against the wall. They were obviously set on torturing him. Why? Losing Belle was a huge emotional blow to him, and now it felt like he was partying about it. Why did he have to be royal? Why did he have to gain these people's approval? Why?!

Above the sounds of Ralph and Augustus dancing very drunkenly, Theodore loudly stacking books and Adam obviously resisting the impulse to get down on his knees and question his life and sanity, something he had done before (though for very different reasons), Crux held up his hands to call for quiet. In the way people without this natural gift can only dream about. There was a brief silence.

"How about tomorrow evening?" Crux smiled in a way so evil it sounded almond as though he was planning a murder.

Little did anyone know, he was.

Dun! Dun! DUN! No prizes for guessing who he's going after (though I might just surprise you!)! Hope you all are looking forward to Chapter 6 as much as I am!

Also, sorry for the light swearing in this chapter. :)

DISNEY QUESTION OF THE DAY: What's your favourite villain song? I love Ursula and 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' way too much! :D

Oh, and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE FAVS AND FOLLOWS! I know 8 favs and 14 follows might not seem like a lot to some people, but it's massive for me! (You can tell that I've never shared any of my work before, can't you :D) THANK YOU! :D