It's too early in the morning for Belle to interpret what she's seeing. Actually, it's too early in the morning for anything besides caffeine (or sleep, preferably sleep) but she'd been so exhausted after defense lessons the night before she forgot to close her drapes and her room is apparently situated in such a way that the morning sun shines directly on her sleeping face. After the castle's apology consisting of a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun, she felt it only polite not to return to sleep. Which brings her to the present situation.
It's not even seven in the morning and the library is overrun by giggling beauty contestants.
And, she realizes as she looks around, the prince isn't even present (though she's not all that surprised to find her sisters are not there either).
Maybe she's not actually awake and this is just a really vivid dream? And then she's bowled over by a girl carrying a stack of books taller than her head.
"I am so sorry." The girl moans.
Belle struggles to hid her wince and the bruise forming on her arm. "Don't worry about it, no major damage. Are you alright?" She asks as she helps the other girl collect her books.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you. I-" But she breaks off, looking at Belle properly for the first time. "Oh! Your that girl, the one the others think is attempting to steal away the prince.' Her hand covers her mouth. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"Uh." Belle responds.
The girl still looks terrified and continues apologizing, speaking so quickly her words melt together.
Belle reaches out to stop her erratic hand motions. "It's fine. I already heard the rumors." She smiles softly at the other girl. "How about we try a proper introduction? I'm Annabelle, but most people call me Belle."
"Oh." The girls says, calming drastically. "I'm Beauty."
"Nice to meet you, Beauty."
"You too." She gives Belle an apprehensive look. "Um...Are you trying to win the prince's love?" She states softly, eyes avoiding Belle.
"No, I'm not."
"Then why have you been talking?"
She shrugs. "We were discussing magic theory." It's not exactly a lie. They did discuss magic, although it's not why he sought her out. She's pretty certain the half lie is preferable to explaining (and to one of the contestants) that the prince talks to her because he finds them annoying and clingy.
"Is that why you're here?"
"Huh?"
"Well the prince was asking a lot of questions about dragons yesterday so I thought you might have decided to look them up. It's why all of us are here."
"Oh." She's not sure whether she should be more surprised by the prince's sudden interest in dragons (although, she supposes she should have realized he'd be interested after introducing him to one) or the contestants' desperate desire to impress him. Instead she studies the girl in front of her. So far she's been nice, and not too upset about Belle's unplanned involvement with the prince. Belle decides to help her out a bit. "There are very few accurate books on dragons, in fact the only completed work in our language is exceedingly rare, so I'm not certain the library will have a copy. Let's ask the castle."
"Ask the castle?"
"Yeah, she's sentient, or semi-sentient depending on which version of the Laws of Life you're using. If you're nice and she likes you enough she'll bring you things and lead you to people you want to find, things like that." The other girl watches her with a strange mixture of awe and doubt as Belle gently taps the bookshelf beside her. "Do you have a copy of A History of Dragons and the Mountain Caves in Which They Dwell?" There is a shuffling noise and the book drops into her waiting hands. "Thanks Sweetheart." She turns back to the girl, who's staring at her with her mouth open.
"That was awesome."
Belle smiles self consciously and hands her the book. "Thanks. Um, this is the most accurate information on dragons outside of the dragons themselves. It's very informative, but not necessarily an easy read...or a fun one."
"Thank you." The other girl responds quietly.
"Of course." Belle nods, "And if you have any questions you can come find me. I'm working here as the seamstress, so you know where my chambers are, but if I'm not in my room, the servants all know me. Just ask them if they know where I am."
"I will. It really was nice to meet you Belle."
Belle smiles back. Perhaps she's made an ally.
!
"I'm not really up for talking at the moment Highness." she grumbles as he settles in the chair across from her. "I had some self defense lessons last night and am still a bit sore. Cogsworth is deceptively fast for a man his size." She rubs her shoulder, grimacing. "And it took me an hour to get feeling back in my arm after Lumiere decided to demonstrate the use of pressure points in a fight. I don't think I can handle any antagonism from your fan girls today." She whimpers when she moves her arm back to the letter she's penning to her aunt. "In fact, I'm not sure I can handle anything today."
"What are the self defense lessons for?"
"Defense," she deadpans.
He rolls his eyes at her. "Defense from what?"
She sighs and sets her pen down in acceptance of his continued presence."It's just an extra precaution against your fan girls. Which brings up another point." He shuffles guiltily in his chair. "Didn't I suggest we not see each other as often?
"Well yes." He tugs on his mane nervously (she briefly wonders how this habit would translate to his human form, before deciding it doesn't matter). "But I thought we could try something else instead."
"Like what?" Suspicion laced interest.
"Come to dinner with me tonight."
She blinks at him. "What?"
"There's a feast tonight, come with me."
"Wouldn't that just cause more problems?"
"No." He assures. "They would see that you are protected by me and no longer want to harm you."
"Uh huh," Belle leans back, arms crossed skeptically. "Pretty sure that's not how it would be interpreted." She unlaces one arm, elbow on the table palm pressed to her chin as she eyes him. "Wouldn't it be easier to just ignore me?"
It's his turn to stare in confusion. "But I don't want to."
She removes the hand from her face to wave in some sort of bewildered gesture. "Why not?"
"Your my friend. I don't want to ignore you."
"I...since when?" She realizes it the wrong thing to say when his expression falls. Mrs. Potts words from the day before echo accusingly through her head and she stumbles over an explanation.
"I hadn't really considered the possibility. I just assumed you were using my rhetoric as an escape from your stalker contestants." She glances up at him, but can't quite interpret his expression. "We can be friends," She says softly. "If you want."
"I want to." He pauses, considering. "What about the contestants?"
She sighs. "I can handle them. I just..." She sighs again. "I was hoping to avoid this."
"What"
"I..." she considers explaining that she's the daughter of a Duchess, that within the next month she may very well be a Duchess herself, but she doesn't. Decides to wait until she confirms her decision before she mentions anything. "Nothing, it's not important."
He eyes her dubiously, but doesn't question it. "So, now that we are friends, will you come to dinner with me?"
"Nope."
"It will be fun," he says with a winning smile.
"Discussing fashion accessories with women who believe me beneath them is not my idea of fun."
"You wouldn't have to talk to them, you could talk with me and Sir Thomas."
She quirks an eyebrow in dry amusement at the idea of Tom and the prince holding an actual conversation. "As much fun as that would be, I actually can't. In fact, I'll probably have to work. Three of the servers are ill, and I offered Mrs. Potts my assistance."
"Oh."
"And you might want to be prepared for a dinner conversation revolving around dragons."
"But I thought you weren't coming."
"I'm not. Apparently you were overheard asking questions about them yesterday, so the contestants raided the library for information this morning. There's one girl, named Beauty. Her knowledge should be interesting and accurate. At least it will be if she actually managed to read that book without wanting to rip the pages out and set them on fire."
"Um." He eyes her apprehensibly. "What book?"
"A History of Dragons and the Mountain Caves in Which They Dwell." His eyebrows raise incredulously. "It's the most accurate and informative book about dragons written in our language and not actually owned by dragons." She pauses for a moment, he still looks doubtful. "It's also the most boring, dry, pretentious and obnoxious piece of literature I have ever read."
"That certainly explains the title."
She laughs.