It was a couple of hours, plenty of time to give the man as much help as he could get from his rescuers, before he finally slowly started to wake up.

The man heard a faint voice, "Leila, how's he doing?", and a feminine voice replied, "He hasn't gotten a fever, thank goodness, but he needs plenty of rest, especially for his leg...It's not broken in half thankfully, but it's badly sprained...I thought you were watching the twins, Jules.".

"I was, but they woke up, had a bit of good behavior while I changed them and played with them, and now they are calling for you, my love.", the male voice, Jules, chuckled softly.

The feminine voice, Leila, teased him, "Are you sure of that? Are you trying to get me out of this room, to give this man the husband look? Jules, he's old enough to be my father!", with a laugh.

Jules's voice replied, "What? You know I heard stories about men in sickbeds falling in love with nurses, while in war and such.", and Leila's voice giggled, "Never change, Jules. Just let me steep the herbal tea for the poor man, and then I will go feed the twins, okay?".

"Alright.", Jules chuckled as the man looked to see Leila starting to walk towards her before she noticed that his eyes were open.

"Oh... you're finally awake.", Leila said as she smiled. "Thank goodness... for a little while, we thought that maybe something was much more serious with how long you were asleep.".

The man looked around, "Wha-what happened?", and Leila gently replied, "You were chased by wolves, into a hard fall that sprained your leg...", before the man's eyes brightened in horror, "Oh! My horse! Phillipe, he ran off when the wolves got close...We were trying to head to another village where the fair was happening...Wait, hold on, my leg?! But I promised my daughter I would get back when I was done with the fair, for a few days!".

Leila replied sadly, "We can't send you back with that leg, monsieur. You need to lay it off for at least a few weeks, it's that bad. You're very fortunate to be alive. If it wasn't for my friends, you've would been...".

The man exhaled as he realized the implications of Leila's words, and bit his lip, "Did you find my horse?", and Leila replied, "We haven't heard the wolves catch anything, so your horse would've gone back the way you were going, probably back to your village, if he's smart. Now, my name is Leila.".

"Maurice...Maurice's my name...my daughter...Belle, she would be worried when she discovers that I'm missing...Are you the mistress of this place?...Where are we? I think...I think I saw a castle before I blacked out...", Maurice responded with a confused look.

"You are correct... you did see a castle... as for me... no, I'm not the mistress of this place. I'm a guest as well, a much longer guest almost to a point of being an occupant but...", Leila chuckled as Maruice nodded as he winced in pain from his leg.

Leila handed him the tea, "Relax, have some herbal tea, it will help.", with a gentle smile, and Maurice sipped it slowly, smiling gratefully, "Thank you, Miss Leila...I hope I'm not intruding.".

"Oh, no, you're not. The master is rather glad to be of help...It's the least he could do...especially after we...we lost the mistress of the castle months ago...", Leila shook her head before she gave a little sob, realizing that the staff has truly respected Perla so much, listening to orders, referring to her as the mistress of the castle, not that Perla knew, but it was obvious.

Maurice frowned softly, "I'm sorry to hear that. I promise not to be any trouble if my leg needs to heal for a few weeks like you said.", and Leila smiled warmly, "I appreciate that, Maurice. You need plenty of rest for a few days before you can be on your foot, we're making crutches, and you're very lucky that we have plenty of medicine and strong bandages for a cast.".

"Very well...May I thank the master for his hospitality?", Maurice asked, and Leila sighed, "I'll pass on the word to him...He's relieved that you are alive and all, he'd be glad to know that you have woken up with nearly no fuss...And for seeing him, he's not up to socializing those days...he's been in grief and depression, and he barely manages to come for dinner, trying to be with us for a bit before it gets too much...Memories and such...And I can't say much of what happened as he's been sensitive, blaming himself. So, please understand that he's just a bit wary, especially when you're essentially a stranger.".

Maurice nodded. "I suppose that's alright... I would probably be food for the wolves right now if not for you... well, maybe not exactly you, but...", he blushed as Leila chuckled.

"It's alright... and just to quickly let you know, I'm married with a young daughter and twins waiting on me right now and my husband's also here.", Leila told him as he nodded.

"Oh, don't worry, the thought wasn't crossing my mind... I'm much too old for love now... especially after losing my wife some years ago myself...", Maurice reassured her.

Leila nodded softly, "I don't blame you there. Now, you must be tired. Don't worry, tomorrow's a new day, and in case if we have another visitor, what does your daughter look like?".

Maurice smiled softly, "Dark brown hair, fair skin, and dark hazel eyes, and of course, I said that Belle's her name...She's more than what she looks like, trust me, not that many people know her truly like I really do.".

"Ain't that the truth.", Leila agreed, "Many people assume things off appearance which is ridiculous. And there's others here as well, in case if they check up on you for me as I'm...I'm the current healer...which is necessary around here. Juliet, my eldest daughter, and Jiminy, my dear friend...And how do you feel about slavery and free men?".

Maurice gave her a look. "One of our closest friends... actually, they're pretty much family, is a freed black man along with his son. I only ask you because I hope there's not going to be a problem.", Leila explained.

Maruice nodded and smiled, "No issue with it... considering our village... slavery and all that is such a distant concept.".

Leila looked relieved, "That's very relieving. Ray, along with his son, Naveen has been through a lot themselves. He was actually the one who carried you as he's the strongest one in the family.", careful not to mention Beast, through he's part of the family unintentionally.

Maurice chuckled, "Ah, I must thank him then in the morning.", before a yawn pierced the air, and Leila smiled, "Rest, Maurice. You need it more than you know. You have gone a long way.".

Maurice nodded before replying, "And before you ask, I and my wife taught Belle to respect everyone's situations, looks, and all that involves. Belle never, ever says a deserving bad word against anyone in the village, even if one of them is...what did she say when I asked about Gaston? Oh, that's the word, conceited.".

Leila hummed lightly, "Well, either way, she's welcome here if she comes looking for you, especially when the master needs to know if it's good or bad, and Belle sounds like she's good, so, he wouldn't have a problem.".

"I don't blame him as I'm a guest, after all, and this is his home.", Maurice replied before yawning again, "Good tidings, Leila, and have a good night.", as Leila smiled, "Of course. Good night, Maurice.", watching him carefully lay back, closing his eyes deeply as he went into slumber, clearly exhausted after a long day, and left the room, closing the door with a satisfied nod to see the fireplace on good power as she closed the door.

She gasped softly as she saw Beast, "Oh, by Jesus Christ, you're really quiet when you want to be. Oh, I'm alright.", waving a hand at Beast's look of concern, and Beast nodded before replying, "Maurice sounds like a respectable and kind elder. So, only one person who cares for him.".

Leila nodded as she started to walk, and Beast walked besides her, "Sounds like it. From the clues I can see, is that he has a grown daughter, old enough to be seen by suitors, and his wife died many years ago. So, his daughter, if the horse is soon to be back in the village, she will see that he's missing, so she would come here, worried for him. Yet I know you heard everything, thanks to those ears of yours.".

"I did...", Beast nodded. Leila gave him a look. "Something wrong?", she asked as he sighed. "Just worried how they'll take things when they eventually learn the truth... I can't hide myself or the servants' conditions forever from them.", Beast said.

Leila nodded, "I don't blame you there, my friend, but you heard him. He clearly has no issue with freed black men, and he taught his daughter, Belle, to respect opinions and all of everyone. But, yes, best to be careful, still. Maurice can't warn the village without risking himself in danger with that leg of his...And for Belle, if we give her a bit of time to get used to things after dashing her worries about her father, she couldn't warn the village, if we explain some things around here.".

"You think so?", Beast asked quietly, and Leila gave him a sad smile, "What did Perla say often?", and Beast exhaled, "Believe in faith, believe that help can be found within faith, and faith can be found from hope.".

Leila gently nodded, "So, we must trust in faith that they will see you as the person you are, like we do, never what you are, hmm?".

"Easier said than done...", Beast sighed as Leila smiled. "Don't worry, it'll be alright.", she assured him. "Now come on, let's give him some room for the time being. He still needs plenty of rest."

Beast smiled, "And you have twins to care of as well.", and Leila chuckled, "I swear Tiana is the ringleader, and Jacques follows her.", as they kept walking on, with Beast heading off to bed, and Leila to go nurse the twins.

Ray and Jiminy checked on Maurice here and there over the night, but he slumbered on, seeing that they truly had succeeded on stopping the worst of the rain from making Maurice sick, thanks to their relief, and had upkept the fireplace as well. It may be coming into late summer, but the nights are soon to be chilly, with autumn around the corner in the future.

About perhaps a couple of hours after sunrise, Maurice woke up, and was lost for a moment before seeing a note on the nightstand and pulled a rope. A few minutes later, Maurice saw a woman that's familiar to Leila, but younger, carrying a tray of breakfast, medicine, and she smiled, looking at Maurice, "Good morning, Monsieur Maurice. I'm Juliet. Do you need aid to the bathroom before you eat breakfast and have a bit of medicine?".

Maurice gave a small smile as he slowly tried to sit himself up. "I could probably make it myself if I had something I could use as a crutch for me to move...", he told her.

"Ray and Jiminy's working on that. We have never had a guest with a badly sprained leg before, and well, we want the crutches to be perfect to fit you, with no splinters or anything, but I believe I have something to help with.", before pulling a tea cart from the door.

Juliet replied, "I realize that it's lower than your height in a way, but if we work together, I can get you to the bathroom to the side of the room. I know it makes you feel helpless, but you got a injury, monsieur.".

Maurice nodded, "I suppose that certainly is fair. Alright, then. Let's try it.", before he carefully placed his good leg down, with the tea cart to hold into, with Juliet at the other end to keep it solid, and with a bit of work, he held his bad leg up as he limped slowly, and then made it to the bathroom, getting used to the new situation.

Juliet waited outside the bathroom as Maurice used the facilities, and smiled in relief as he came out, "Well, you're careful yet stubborn, that's good.", as she helped him head back slowly to the bed.

"Years of practice, young one.", Maurice smiled, "My wife was usually the one who took care of me when my projects go astray, and after she passed away, my daughter, Belle took care of me steadily as she grew up, and let's say that my wife would have been proud of her as she's a remarkable healer, thanks to reading books and such, though she got my stubbornness, I have to admit.".

"Projects?", Juliet asked as Maruice nodded, "Yes... I consider myself an inventor, though obviously the town doesn't really like me since quite a number of them tend to not work and cause quite a commotion.".

Juliet chuckled, "You know, there used to be a motto from my pa...He used to say when you feel down after trying something, 'try again and again until you get it right'.".

Maurice blinked in surprise, "You actually sound like my daughter.", and Juliet replied, "Is that a bad thing?".

"No, course not. She always encouraged me one way or another, and I wouldn't have done anything without her...Some of my projects worked out gratefully...", Maurice commented. Juliet looked at him curiously, "Like what?", as she gave him the medicinal tea.

Maurice looked at her, "You sure you want to know?", and Juliet replied, "I never met an inventor before, though I have met a woodcarver and toymaker who was the father of Perla...".

Looking at the sad look in Juliet's eyes, not knowing that she's sad that Perla's not home yet, Maurice said gently, "I take it that Perla was the mistress...", and Juliet gave a little sigh, "The master loved her so, Monsieur Maurice...My mother, Leila gave birth to my baby sister and brother, the twins, and Perla...she was the best healer of the family...She intended to look for herbs to help Leila have more milk for the twins...What followed...I...I can't say as it was horrible, but the master came into grief and depression since that day, staying on the promise to take care of their son, Carlo.".

"I'm sorry...", Maurice simply said as Juliet nodded, "It's alright, not your fault or anything...". She then decided to turn the conversation elsewhere. "So, you think that your daughter will find her way here?", she asked.

Maurice smiled softly, "She is smart, and she will know how to get Phillipe to head back here if she asks urgently yet politely...Phillippe has been our horse for a long time, and he adores Belle. Probably by afternoon, she'd be here, if Phillipe ran the whole way home.".

Juliet nods, "Makes sense as horses are fast. What kind of horse is Phillipe?", and Maurice replied, "He's a Belgian Draft.".

"Oh, yeah, he will be fast, alright, with his long strides.", Juliet replies, before smiling, "So, care to talk about those inventions you've made, successes and failures? I want to hear, honest.", as she placed the breakfast tray on his pillow above his legs, after receiving the empty medicinal teacup from him.

She feels a connection with him, almost like a father or a grandfather in a way. Maurice chuckled, "Alright, if you insist, young Juliet.", seeing something of Belle in her in a way before starting, "Well, my most favorite invention I succeeded in, is this telescope seeker, except it's not a telescope, but like glasses, it connects to this hose, and you can see who's on the other side of the door on the outside of the house...", starting to happily chat.

Several hours later, a young woman in a dark cape came up to the front gates on her horse, Phillipe, staring at the castle in awe and shock, "Oh, my...What's this place? I don't remember a castle in the maps of the books.".

Belle certainly was feeling very worried about things. The weather was horrible in terms of being a very overcast day with dark clouds that looked like they were ready to rain at any moment. Belle had to go and find her father the moment Phillipe returned home without him on the saddle, but the horse seemed to have been smart enough to remember where he last saw his owner and Belle found herself practically spirited away until she finally came across the castle.

It was strange. It was so nice and clear this morning back in the village, and Gaston was the only bad spot in the day...And now, she literally went through many miles before coming into this dark forest even if it was summer.

Phillippe snorted and neighed anxiously, and Belle urged him, "Easy, boy! Steady, Phillippe...I'm here...", as she came off, patting his snout to reassure him, and he heaved into her hand, "That's it, Phillipe.", before noticing a familiar sight that came off Maurice in the chaos of the rescue, his hat, and she gasped softly, working to open the gate, and picked it up, "Papa!".