Juliet chuckled, and gently took the basket from her, putting it on the table, holding her hands, "Breathe, Belle. We're halfway through the house, and the carts are getting filled up steadily. If we keep going at packing at our pace like this morning, after eating lunch, we might, with luck, leave by sunset. We can camp somewhere further back on the trail and get home in the morning. I doubt the wolves would bother leaving the forest beyond the open meadows, especially with the farms.".
Belle took a deep breath, "You're right...We're almost done...I'm sorry for ranting like that.", and Juliet reassured her, "Belle, you really needed to get that off your chest...Are you feeling better?".
"Yes...I'm better now, though I couldn't mind a kiss.", Belle smiled warmly, and Juliet smirked, "I never thought I'd say this, but seeing you rant at that idiot, it turns me on just a bit...".
Belle widened her eyes in surprise before smiling mischievously, whispering into the air, "When we get back home, show me what turns you on...Right now, I'd not mind a really good kiss for good measure.".
"Belle, you're going to drive me half insane with your teasing.", Juliet said as Belle smirked, "Turn abouts fair play since you do that to me too.".
Juliet laughed warmly before wrapping her arms around Belle, giving her an intense, smoldering, loving look, and then kissed her deeply, and Belle moaned softly, weaving her hands around Juliet's neck and hair, distracted in their own world, unknowing of the fierce, disgusted, and shocked pair of eyes peering through one of the slightly open eyes, having heard the rant and all.
Gaston's blood boiled as his ice blue eyes sharpened, and slipped away, appalled at the audacity of Belle doing such a thing with...that...that witch! Yes, she must be a witch! Belle should be kissing him and falling over heels for him, not that witch! She must be bewitching her!
There must be something to snap her out of it! Yes, he needs to get that witch out of sight somehow! A crowd mob! But how? Wait, the asylum...Or the threat of death...He needs to talk to Monsieur Artaque.
One thing was for sure, Gaston would not be rejected by Belle once again. In the end, he would have the final laugh and Belle would be his... by her own will or not. He quickly started to move away, making sure the couple never knew that he was there.
The two women panted lightly from the deep kiss, looking at each other, and Juliet smiled, "Are you all 100% better now?", and Belle giggled, "Oh, yes...Now, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry after all that ranting and all.".
Juliet nodded, "Sounds good to me.", joining her to eat the requested lunch together before heading out sometime later to resume moving stuff to the carts, with Juliet carefully placing her old hat on a place on the back of the cottage, facing the forest.
A few hours later, the cottage was practically cleaned out of things for Maurice and Belle in the carts, leaving other things for any other people to use, and the two women, needing a break before going to hitch the equines to the carts, is enjoying the leftovers of lunch for dinner, while reading a book together.
Juliet sighed deeply, hoping that Perla is nearby somewhere, praying that she and the cubs are safe, nibbling on some bread, and Belle looked up from her turn of reading out loud, "Okay, I know some of Papa's inventions were heavy on both of us, but something's really bothering you, Juliet...Are you homesick already?".
"That's part of it, but please don't be mad at me, but the other reason why I wanted to come with you is because of a mission Beast assigned me to do...", Juliet replied.
Belle looked confused, "A mission? Juliet, I would have helped...I mean, if it's in the village, like an old book or something, I could have asked around...", and Juliet exhaled, "No, it's not in the village...It's complicated...And I don't want to put you in danger if you heard things from the village...not that she would never risk herself like that...".
"She? What's going on, Juliet?", Belle asked in concern and confusion, and Juliet exhaled, trying to think how to say it, "Belle, it's a retrieval of a family, but it's even more dangerous than the stories of slavery...Beast wants to do good, like a revolutionary of sorts.".
Belle blinked in surprise before widening her eyes, "Your old hat...You are giving a signal for this family, so we can sneak them into the carts...", and Juliet nodded, biting her lip, looking at her.
"Juliet, I'm not mad at you...", Belle took her hands in hers lovingly, "If we must, we can wait a bit longer. After all, if we're doing a good thing, it's enough for me.".
Juliet smiled happily, whispering lovingly, "How did I get lucky to have you?", and Belle smiled, giggling, "You might have to thank Papa for that...But I'm even luckier to have you...", before kissing her on the lips tenderly and lovingly.
They kissed for a few moments before Juliet smiled, feeling better, going to eat a slice of bread, and Belle smiled, resuming her focus on her book, while grabbing a teacup to sip. A few minutes later, a knock came at the front door, and Belle frowned, "Who could be out at this time of supper?".
"Who do you think?", Juliet rolled her eyes. "Check your whole door viewer or whatever and see what Gaston wants.", she said. "You really think it's him?", Belle asked.
"More than likely...", Juliet replied with a hum. Belle replied, "You took the door viewer for Papa, and into one of the carts...The villagers wouldn't like that if they rent the cottage. But yes, I better get him off the property.", getting up with a sigh of annoyance.
Juliet smiled at Belle, "You got this, Belle. Remember, this is your cottage, not his.", and Belle nodded, and then headed across the cottage floor, to the front door as the knock increased, "Yes, yes, I'm coming.", before opening the door cautiously, growing confused to see an elderly man, yet being polite, "How can I help you, Monsieur?".
"I've come to talk with you, on the concern of the village.", the man responded, and Belle looked surprised, "The village? What for?".
"They are worried about your state of mind, Mademoiselle, considering the fact that you never notified any of them your whereabouts, and to return with the pretense of taking all your belongings, accompanied by not your father, but a woman, ensnaring you of your common sense, and disobeying the law. Don't worry, Mademoiselle, we will help you.", the man replied with a reassuring smile on his creepy face, revealing a wagon, with a crowd, holding torches and such as the skies had turned dark.
There was nothing for the next few moments. No words, no sounds, no movement. Belle quickly slammed the door hard in front of them as she ran to Juliet. "We need to leave, now!", she shouted.
Juliet nodded, "Right! Let's go!", realizing the look of horror and urgency on her love's face, and they ran to the back door, opening it as Belle and Juliet was about to call for the horses and mule when four men came out of nowhere, two grabbing Belle, and two grabbing Juliet.
"Juliet!", Belle shouted, struggling in the tight grasp of the two men as Juliet fought, trying to use everything she used on the streets, struggling against the other two men, shouting back, "Belle!", as they were dragged around the cottage to the crowd who's watching it all.
Juliet shouted and snarled, "Get your filthy hands off me!", kicking at the men, punching them in the face when they loosened up, and ran to Belle, "Don't touch her, bastards!", before one of the big villagers slammed her into the ground.
Belle's eyes teared up, "No! Juliet!", as Juliet rolled over, groaning in pain, blood on her lip, three men grabbing her upwards, and the man, Artaque, the owner of the asylum tsked, "Such a mighty hold. Gentlemen, what do you say for this witch who has ensnared one of our innocent women?".
"Witch?", Juliet chuckled as she groaned with pain, "What is this, the 1600s?", with a scoff. "She is no witch!", Belle tried to argue. "She's just a friend that was helping me move our things! I thought many of you would be happy that my father and I were leaving.".
Artaque raised an eyebrow, "Haven't you forgotten what I have said earlier on the village's concerns?", with a sneer, "No two women or two men are to be together intimately. It's blasphemy, am I right, gentlemen?", looking at the crowd.
"Yeah! Kill them! Throw them to the wolves! Jail them up!", the crowd clamored angrily and disgusted. Belle was shocked and horrified as Juliet spat out blood, "What's your proof?!".
Lefou, Gaston's right hand shouted, "I saw them holding hands and kissing in one of their carts! I was coming up to ask if I could have one of the goats, and I saw them!". Gaston, in the shadows under the front window of the cottage, smirked to himself, having made sure plenty of his followers were coincidentally seeing instances of the couple, finding his old telescope from his old army supplies.
They all adore Gaston a lot, and aren't tattlers on him, and they all knew that Gaston was primarily focused on things he wanted, and Belle is one of them.
Juliet laughed again, "Are you serious? Of course, you'd say that sort of thing! You and your buddies are all Gaston's followers, and he wants Belle... seems pretty convenient, wouldn't you think?!". That actually got the crowd to stop for a moment as that was a good point. They very much knew about Gaston's posse.
Artaque replied, "And they are citizens, concerned citizens of this beloved village, holding up the law, and they want the village to be safe from any kind of blasphemy, but you're not. Friends, how can you explain why're they struggling, and from the earlier actions of this woman, running to Mademoiselle Belle? Friends don't certainly act like that.".
Murmurs and gasps filled the crowd, nodding in agreement to Artaque's words, and Artaque replied, "To save one of our people, we must reveal the truth. Boys, take Mademoiselle Belle so we can cure her of her dilemma.".
"You touch her, I'll castrate the lot of you!", Juliet shouted as she got a second wind and was trying to fight off those who were holding her down. Gaston laughed at the sight of things, "Pity she wasn't born a male... she has the fight of many of the men I served with in Algeria!".
Belle screamed, knowing the stories and rumors behind the asylum, "Juliet!", as she struggled from the hold of the men dragging her to the wagon, tears falling everywhere, "Please let me go!".
Juliet's heart tore at Belle's screams, and she knew Maurice would be heartbroken if he heard about Belle being thrown into the asylum, to be abused with those people's ways of curing, and she shouted, "Tell them to stop! Please!", looking at Artaque.
Artaque replied, "I can if you repent.", and Juliet looked shocked before she heard Belle's struggling screams and sobs, and she gritted out, "Yes, yes, we are intimate! Please don't hurt the love of my life!".
The crowd went silent, and Artaque gave a signal, and the first two men stopped, releasing Belle, rubbing her arms where bruises will show up later on, tears flying as she half ran to Juliet before stopped by Gaston, "Belle, would you want the guilt of her death on your heart if you ran to her like that?".
Belle widened her eyes in horror, "Please, she hadn't done anything in harm to the village, Gaston!", looking at him desperately, and Gaston replied, "That's true...But she has done a crime, against the law. However, I might lower the severity of your Juliet's sentence, to put her in the asylum, if you don't want her to be shot to death.".
"There has to be a way!", Belle shouted desperately, wanting to run to Juliet, her heart breaking at the thought of her first and only love shot to death, and Gaston nodded, "I can do that for you, Belle. One word from you, and I will talk with Artaque and the crowd to lower the sentence if you marry me.".
Belle's look changed from fear and sorrow to one of anger as it quickly clicked, "You... you saw us, didn't you?...". Gaston chuckled.
"You didn't give me much of an option with things...", he said as she growled at him, "The only option to you was me marrying you and nothing else. You never take no for an answer, you brute!".
Gaston glowered at her, "Say it, say yes, or your Juliet will be shot to death for the crime.", and Belle stared at him in shock, and looked over to see Juliet struggling in the grip of the three men, staring at her, mouthing, "I love you.".
Belle's eyes watered at the soft declaration, and looked back at Gaston, "I'm waiting...", with a smirk, thinking that he got this in the bag. SLAP!
Everyone was shocked when Belle slapped Gaston right in the face, "Never! I will never marry you no matter what you do... if you plan on killing Juliet, then line me up for the next shot because I will be dead before I ever give you the satisfaction!".
Juliet's heart soared, seeing the fire in Belle's eyes, yet it broke at the same time, realizing that Maurice couldn't know what happened to his daughter, but she knew Belle couldn't budge from anything when she firmly makes a decision, and they'll be together in the heavens as Evangeline would help with that.
"Way to go, Belle, I knew you had it in you somewhere! How does it feel, Gaston?!", Juliet laughed, smiling proudly, loving Belle even more, slightly sad at the fact that she would never show Belle what she looks like when she's turned on, in their bedroom, but their love is enough for her as she knew that she loves Belle, and Belle loves her.
"Gaston... she's clearly bewitched, we'll make sure to heal her and help her see the light.", Artaque tried to tell him as Gaston smacked him. "NO! Kill them both! There's no saving her!", he roared.
Lefou shouted, "You heard him! Let's get them lined up! Take them to the paddock!", as Gaston grabbed Belle's wrist, and threw her back into the hold of two men, gripping her tight again, and the crowd roared in agreement as the men dragged the women, struggling and fighting, looking at each other with deep love and desperation.
The horses and mule neighed in horror and shock to see their mistresses, and went to defend them, rearing and snorting, stomping their hooves, but a gunshot was fired at the ground, terrifying them, seeing Gaston shout, "Close the middle of the paddock!".
Several men went to grab the inside middle fence of the paddock, containing the horses and mule, hurting themselves as they tried to ram into the fence as Belle cried out in worry, "Phillippe!", as Juliet shouted, "Major, Arnaldo, don't! Don't hurt yourselves!".
The horses and mule neighed sadly, snorting in fear for their mistresses, watching as the two women were dragged to the outside of the paddock, forced to their knees, tied to two separate posts of the paddock fence, close yet so far apart as Gaston prepared his gun, with the crowd tittering in anticipation.
"WAIT!", a voice shouted that was loud enough to get the attention of the mob. Gaston stopped himself as everyone turned their attention towards the one who shouted. Surprisingly, it was the local drunk who often would be found at the tavern, getting his fill of ale and wine.
The local drunk panted as he made it to Gaston, with horror and fear on his face, "G-Gaston, I found something in one of the carts! It was g-glowing, and it was-was horrible! A monster!".
"A monster? Claude, you're babbling and drunk!", Gaston scoffed, and Claude protested, "Look! Look for y-yourself!", as he shakily held up a mirror, "The monster, a beast!", revealing the Beast who's roaring, unknowing that Beast was trying to call for Perla, hoping that she hears him if she wasn't near the village.
Much of the village was frightened to see that. A monster? And could be seen in a mirror? A perfect example of witchcraft! Gaston took the mirror out of his hands and looked at it, "Well, speak up then, Claude... what does this monster have to do with us?"
Claude shakily replied, "W-what if Belle lied to us? Because of this Juliet being a witch? And witches have pets! I bet i-if we kill th-that monster, that w-witch w-would lose power over Belle!".
Juliet shouted, "No, that's not true! He would never hurt anyone! He's our friend!", and Belle shouted, "He's not a monster, you are, Gaston!".
Gaston held a hand up as the whole mob went silent. "Friend?", Gaston smirked as he looked to Juliet. "You mean to tell me this monster is real?".