I have wanted to write this story for along time, I have always thought that when Belle showed Gaston the mirror it was a stupid mistake. And I always wondered how, if that moment had played differently, things might have changed. I hope you enjoy it.
Please, Please, Please Review!
Prologue
Belle watched helplessly as they dragged her father away, locking him in a caged wagon like a common dog. They were taking him to the asylum.
Papa…
She had heard of that place, it was a fate worse than death. The villagers' cruel laughter rang in her ears, bitingly criticizing her father's description of a horrible monster that lurked in the woods.
Her father wasn't crazy! But how to make them see? They wouldn't believe her. They would think she was just as insane as her father. They would both be riding away in that cage or worse… Maurice was a man. He had some protection under the law, even an insane man would be allowed to live. But a woman, ff the town had a mind to they could claim her a witch and have her drowned in a dunking stool, or by some other means of enlightened medieval torture.
She felt a lurking presence behind her, engulfing her in its shadow. She turned to see the broad shoulders and expansive chest of a mountain! Her eyes quickly shot up to the surprisingly concerned face of Gaston.
In her moment of panic, Belle clung to the one sympathetic figure in the crowd.
"Poor Belle, shame about your father."
"You know he's not crazy Gaston."
If anyone could help her it was Gaston, the town's people worshipped him. Surely he could convince the asylum warden to let her father go.
"I might be able to clear up this little misunderstanding, if…"
"If what?"
Anything. She would do anything to keep her Papa safe.
"If you marry me!"
Belle reared back in shock.
Marry him! Marry Gaston! He must be crazy!
"What?"
"One little word Belle that's all it takes."
She wouldn't, she couldn't!
The mirror!
Belle grasped at the first idea in her head. Of course the mirror! It could show her the beast, it could show them. Then they would see her father wasn't crazy! Gaston would see the beast and…
And he'll kill him…if Gaston sees the beast, he'll hunt him down and kill him.
She couldn't show him the mirror. No matter what, Gaston must never see that mirror! He would kill the beast, her friend, her…she wouldn't let that happen.
"SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!" Maurice cried.
Belle turned to see the carriage begin to move, taking her father away.
What could she do? WHAT?
"YES!" she blurted.
Gaston raised a hand, the wagon stopped rolling and everyone listened to hear what she would say.
"Yes what, Belle?" Gaston leaned down so as not to miss a word.
She took a deep breath and with all the pride she still possessed she looked him in the eyes and said.
"Yes, Gaston, I will marry you."
Time froze for a moment and then regained its pace by the sound of Gaston's deep laughter.
"I knew you would come around. YOU, bring the old man back I can't have you mistreating my father in law!"
The crowd, that only moments before had been mocking him, now turned towards Maurice with words of congratulations and neighborly acceptance. How fickle is the crowd.
Roughly shoving her from behind, Gaston shooed her up the stairs of the porch commanding her to start packing. He would be back with a priest as soon as he could rouse the old man from his sleep.
Belle watched him walk back towards the village followed by the singing crowd boasting of his unsurprising success in winning her hand.
She felt like she was in a dream, or dead. She didn't feel anything. It was as if someone else was controlling her body as she opened the door and began laying her possession on the bed, preparing to leave her home forever. She heard the soft plunk of Maurice's stockinged feet scurry to close the door and then slowly approach her.
With concern and confusion etched across his sweet childlike face, he took her hand and turned her face to his, halting her packing.
"Belle?"
It was too much for him. She looked at the sweet old man with all the love in the world. All her Papa had ever wanted was for her to be happy and to keep her safe, but he couldn't. For the first time Belle realized how helpless her father was. He lived in his own fairy world where no one meant him any harm because he meant them none. Her poor papa, how others mocked and misused his honest trust in them. From now on their roles would reverse, though he would never realize it. Belle would spend the rest of her life protecting him from the coldness of the world. Where, if he had been capable, he should have sheltered her.
She knew her smile was wooden and false, but hoped it would be enough to deceive him.
"Don't worry Papa, everything is going to be wonderful. Gaston and I will marry and you will grow old spoiling your grandchildren. I couldn't be happier."
Maurice studied her face. Apparently, a father's desire to believe in his child's happiness can blind him to a poorly concealed lie. Beaming, he scuttled up the stairs, his little legs straining to carry his rotund frame up the narrow stairway.
"D-Don't look BELLE! I have a gift for you!"
Despite the horror of the situation, she smiled at her father's excited flight.
She returned to her packing, feeling her heart drop a little more with each item. A small clicking sound distracted her from the unpleasant task at hand. Turning, she saw a forgotten little friend staring up at her.
"CHIP! I had forgotten you, oh no, no, no!"
"What's wrong Belle?" The small tea cup asked.
Kneeling she picked him up carefully in her hand. "Chip, you must go back to the castle, right now!"
"Are you coming too?"
Belle felt fresh tears in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "No Chip, but you must do as I say. If the villagers find you I am afraid what will happen, and I am sure your mother is very worried about you. You didn't tell her you were coming here, did you?"
If he had had feet Chip would have looked at them in shame. "No I didn't, but won't you please come back, your father can come too, I am sure the master wouldn't mind."
For a moment she let herself imagine how wonderful life would be, spending the rest of her life in the castle with Maurice, and the Beast. But she couldn't, Gaston would never stop looking for her. He would hunt them down, no matter the cost, and that was something she just couldn't risk.
"No Chip, but you must go." She carried him outside to the edge of the wood, setting him down in the snow and watched him disappear into the darkness. Turning, she ran back into the cottage with renewed speed. Gaston would be there any minute and there was still one thing she had to do.
As she closed the door behind her she could hear the stomping of Maurice's feet on the upstairs floor as he rummaged around for whatever it was he was searching for.
I have to hurry. Gaston is coming.
Running to the small table next to the bed, she retrieved the saddle bag. Inside she found it. The magic mirror he had given her. Belle slumped down on the floor by the fireplace, cradling the mirror in her arms.
This time when the tears came she didn't hold them back. Staring at the polished smooth surface, she thought of him, the Beast, and her heart broke. He was the kindest, most gentle being she had ever known. He was no monster, and he had shone her that neither was she. He had loved her for herself. Never once criticizing her love of books, or ideals. But more than that, she had seen the kind, understanding soul beneath the villainous appearance, and she loved him for it.
The tears came unbidden and uncontrollable. She couldn't even bear to ask the mirror to show him again, she just cradled it close and whispered to the one who could never hear her.
"I love you."
With those words she raised the mirror high above her head and brought it down on the hard stone hearth smashing it into a million pieces, breaking her last link to him.
No one must ever know. They must never find him.
Gaston could never be allowed to know the truth of Maurice's words. The great hunter would never rest until the head of the beast was mounted on his wall. No hunter, no villagers living in fear of the monstrous villain in the woods, waiting to attack. And no way for her to ever return. This was the only way to keep them all safe, all those she loved; Beast, her friends in the castle, even Papa. They must never know that it was all real, never know that she remembered.
The sound of breaking glass sent Maurice flying down the stairs. Seeing his daughter sitting in a pile of glass, he rather clumsily tried to help her stand and move away from the hazard. Gracefully, Belle rose from the destruction. Taking her Papa's large, clammy hand in her small slender one, she allowed him to lead her away from the hearth.
"Now Belle, you must be more careful!"
Looking at her face, Maurice's concerns returned. She wasn't crying anymore. She had reverted back to the living dead, but the remnants of her feelings were still apparent on her face.
"Belle, are you sure…"
"What's that Papa?"
She couldn't bear to hear his questions. If she thought about it she would scream.
Her question had been to throw him off, but once it was spoken she realized that he was holding something.
Maurice looked down with a small smile, unrolling the cloth in his hand he revealed a dress. The style and cut were clearly from a fashion long since passed, but the dove grey gown had obviously been well stored and showed no signs of wear. The old fashioned sleeves were edged with lace that was just beginning to discolor with age. It was not an expensive dress, even in the time it had been procured, but it had been none the less very special to its original owner.
"Your mother wore this when we got married, and I had always hoped you would too. When the right man came along."
The right man, oh Papa, if you only knew.
Finding a genuine smile, if only for a moment, Belle took the gown from her father's hands.
"Thank you Papa."
Gaston banged on the front door with a brutish energy, impatient to collect his new bride. The door opened, and out walked a beautiful young woman in a dove grey dress. Her face calm and resolved, like a beautiful wooden doll who feels nothing. He offered her his arm, and they walked down the stairs to the wedding waiting below.
In the Forest
The tiny tea cup hopped through the snow. It would take hours for him to get back, maybe even longer.
Why wouldn't she come back? He thought.
Doesn't she like us anymore? Did we do something wrong, why did the Master let her go?
Poor Chip struggled with the weight of his unanswered questions. With the hope of a small child, he thought that naturally everything in life turns out the way it ought to. So, when they didn't, he couldn't reconcile it to his way of thinking. And instead of realizing that sometimes things don't happen the way they should with no fault to the participants, he decided that he must have done something wrong in convincing Belle to return and it was his fault.
He continued on, saddened and confused, lost in the world of thought. He was brought back by a bright light. It was blinding, everywhere he looked all he saw was the blinding white light. It engulfed him and was oddly soothing. Chip felt as if he was floating, higher and higher far away from the cold snowy forest. Up above the world, flying through the clouds surrounded by the light.
In an instant, it was over and the light vanished. He was again in the dark forest covered in snow. But something was different…did the trees shrink?
He stared at the forest around him. What was different? Chip scratched his head in contemplation…
Scratched my head?
You had to have hands to do that, and a head. DID HE HAVE HANDS?!
Chip stared in shock at the two perfect hands in front of him, THERE WERE FEET TOO!
The little boy jumped joyously up and down. His wildest dreams had finally come true! HE WAS HUMAN AGAIN!
Mama! I wonder if she's human too.
With an unboundable energy he ran through the forest, eager to see if the rest of his family and friends had shared in his good fortune, completely forgetting about Belle back in the village.
Castle
Cogsworth ran through the castle corridor…on his new legs! Sliding to a stop in front of the large double doors of the Master's rooms, his rotund frame nearly pushing over Lumiere and Mrs. Potts.
"Eh watch it fatso."
"Lumiere not now." Mrs. Potts reprimanded.
"Where is the Master?" (Cogsworth)
"He's still in there." (Potts)
"Well why doesn't he come out?" (Lumiere)
"Now we must be patient, this is a lot to take in." (Potts)
The three continued to wait outside the door until their curiosity got the better of them. Cogsworth took the initiative (he was blackmailed) and knocked on the ancient door. When no response came, he hesitantly pushed it open and the three cautiously entered.
On the other side of the expansive room, staring out the led-pained window sat a handsome man with long red hair.
"Master?" (Cogsworth)
"Leave me."
"But Master, the spell has been broken. We are human again!" (Lumiere)
"What does it matter?"
Mrs. Potts pattered over to the young man whom she had known his whole life. She had been more of a mother to him than his own mother, and now she looked at him with all the love and knowledge any maternal figure could offer.
"Dear, don't you realize what this means? Or have you forgotten? In order for us to be free now you must have learned to love another…and earned her love in return." (Potts)
She watched as realization struck in his blue eyes. "Earned another's love, BELLE LOVES ME!"
"Why of course she does, you Casanova!" (Lumiere)
"Master may I take this opportunity to offer my congratulations." (Cogsworth)
"I have to go see her!" The Prince jumped to his feet and ran towards the door, only to be stopped by a surprisingly agile former candle stick sliding in front of said door blocking his exit.
"Not so fast! You can't court a girl looking like THAT!" (Lumiere)
The Prince looked down at the oversized shirt and trousers that drowned him.
"You need to sweep her off her feet!" (Lumiere)
"Lumiere does have a point Master. You love this girl and she you, it wouldn't hurt to clean up first." (Potts)
"And, might I humbly suggest, a rrrrrrrrrrrr-romatic gesture." (Cogsworth)
"Oh YES!" (Lumiere and Potts)
"Like what?" (Prince)
"You could ride to zee village on a great stallion!" (Lumiere)
"Perhaps bring the lady a gift." (Cogsworth)
"Oh Roses would do nicely." (Potts)
"Zen you get down on one knee." (Lumiere)
"Wearing a fine suite of clothes." (Potts)
"A-And with a ring!" (Cogsworth)
"You confess your Love!" (Lumiere)
"She says it back." (Cogsworth)
"You take her in your arms." (Lumiere)
"Bring her back to the castle." (Potts)
"And Live HAPPILY EVER AFTER!" (Lumiere)
The sheer excitement emanating from the group was electric, and the Prince found himself caught up in it. They spent the rest of the night planning to the last detail the grand day (the morning) when he would go get the woman he loved.
The Next Morning, Path to the village.
It was like a scene from a story book, the handsome prince riding towards the village in his blue coat and holding a bouquet of roses, atop a white steed.
His heart was light and he looked around at the scenery with a new sense of wonder, the birds sang happily, the sun shone brightly, and the grass had never looked so green. Everything appears grander when you're in love.
As he exited the forest he could see the tiny village in the distance. With a burst of energy the horse galloped across the clearing towards the nearing town. This was the happiest day of his life, and with the good cheer of one who is in love and knows he is loved in return, he wished the whole world know of his good fortune, and to feel just as happy as he.
As he entered the village, he found it abuzz with excitement, there seemed to be a giant celebration taking place that everyone had been invited to.
His curiosity piqued, riding along the edge of the crowd, he approached a stout man with a ruddy face, and long white apron covered in flour.
Clearly the baker.
Pulling his horse to a halt, he greeted the villager warmly while trying to avoid his horse bolting from the strain of so many people being pressed together in the square.
"Excuse me good sir, might I ask what all the excitement is about?" he asked.
The baker turned to the richly dressed stranger with a hearty smile.
"Of course Monsieur, the whole town is celebrating a wedding, the biggest I've seen!" the baker replied.
With a heart full of good cheer and thoughts of his own hopeful upcoming wedding. The Prince wished to congratulate the couple and wish them all the happiness he hoped to share with his own beloved.
"Why that is wonderful! Tell me sir, where might I find the happy couple?"
"They should be coming out of the tavern any minute now, though I doubt they slept much." He chuckled crudely.
"There they are now" replied the Baker.
The Prince turned his eyes towards the direction the Baker pointed. There he saw a very tall and handsome young man and on his arm was….Belle?
No, he thought it can't be.
He felt as though his heart was breaking in two. But how? Why? She wouldn't, she CAN'T!
He watched as the groom put his arm around Belle's waist. The Prince could taste bile. That was supposed to be him!
Why Belle, WHY?! He silently screamed, wishing some magical force would let her hear him and answer.
Belle's face scanned the crowd of well-wishers. Finally she glanced at the stranger on a horse near the rear of the mass of onlookers.
Please Belle, Please look at me…. Look at me, Please, I came, I came for you. Please you have to see me. Just LOOK AT ME!
For a moment their eyes met, and his heart stopped beating.
He held his breath, waiting, hoping, for the recognition of the woman he loved.
….It's me, Belle. Recognize me, you have to recognize me, I love you, I love you Belle. Please love me too! See me, SEE ME! Please, you have too…
She looked away….. And in that moment he felt more pain then he could possibly bear. The man hunched forward clutching his heart as if he would rip it out of his chest, maybe then it would stop hurting.
No….no, no, NO! Why Belle?...WHY? You can't! I love you…..I came…please…I came….too late….I came too late…
The Baker turned back to the stranger seeing him hunched over his horse clutching his chest.
"MONSIEUR! What is wrong shall I call the doctor?"
The stranger struggled to shake his head no. He straitened as much as he could and turned to watch the newly married couple walking away.
With an unsteady hand he handed the Baker a bouquet of red Roses.
"Please," he said between sharp breaths. "Please….. Give these to the bride….and tell her…tell her….I wish her happiness."
The Baker took the flowers from the shaking hand and was shocked when he looked up, the face that only moments ago had seemed so young and full of life, was now aged ten years and racked with pain.
"Please Monsieur, let me get a physician. You are not well."
The stranger shook his head and turned his horse to leave.
As he rode away, the prince could not stop the tears from flowing down his face, he felt as though his world had darkened forever. The one he loved could not be his; no pain in the world compared to this agony.
Be happy Belle, please be happy for me. Let me at least think of you always….as happy….Goodbye, oh my love.