The Beauty and the Monster (standard:fairy tales, 2098 words)
Author: Eponine	Added: Apr 12 2001	Views/Reads: 4275/2574	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This is a story which I wrote based upon a 1775 play by a French noblewoman which I have read. Currently I am unable to locate the exact address of the play, but contact me, or use the title I have provided (they are the same). As following notes, this

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case she needed to flee.  But at the sight of Phanor, she immediately 
sat again, suddenly weak-kneed.  "Sabina, at last we meet," said he. 

"Phanor," she replied, barely audible.  But Phanor's unhumanlike ears
picked up every sound, and his heart skipped a beat as she spoke his 
name. 

He asked the usual questions one would ask a new acquaintance, but
received one word answers, and very few questions in response.  After 
that first meeting, Sabina tried her hardest to avoid Phanor, and 
Phedima chided her for it.  "He really is not all that bad, once you 
get to know him," she would say. 

Now, throughout the girls' stay, Phedima had gathered that Phanor was in
love with Sabina.  And being his friend, she would try to push them 
together.  Sabina was reluctant, at first, and the beast did not want 
to do anything against her wishes.  But alas, they almost became 
friends, too.  Phedima and Phanor's relationship stayed ever strong, 
but Phedima felt something changing within her, though she could not 
describe what.  But she had never met anyone who shared so many 
interests with her, even Sabina. 

Finally came a day when Phanor said to Phedima, "There is something I
must tell you." 

"There is something I must tell you, too Phanor," she said, slowly. 
Then she continued, "I know that you love Sabina.  Really, it has 
become quite obvious to me.  But I have found something within myself, 
and, so I must leave you." 

"Leave?  Yes I do love Sabina, you have correctly noticed, but I do like
you, you are my friend.  Why leave?" 

"Because I know that you can never love me as you do Sabina, but I love
you," she blurted. 

Suddenly, the floor shook under her feet, and lights, it seemed, were
flashing everywhere.  There was an empty feeling in her stomach, but as 
soon as the movement started, it stopped again.  A tall, handsome man 
stood by her side, and Phanor was no where in sight.  His skin was 
fair, as though it had been long since the sun had touched it.  He had 
brown hair which was neatly tied at his neck, and though there were a 
few strands of gray, he appeared fairly young.  "Phanor...?" Phedima 
asked, tentatively.  This man's dark eyes seemed oddly familiar to her. 


"Yes, Phedima, it is I, Phanor.  Centuries ago a faery came upon this
castle, and placed an enchantment on me.  I was to be a Beast until a 
maiden could learn to love me.  I will admit that I was hoping Sabina 
would break the spell," he said, carefully, "But it matters not, we two 
shall be married as soon as we can be."  With those words he reached 
out to touch the girl in front of him. 

But she moved quickly.  "Don't touch me, " Phedima whispered.  "I - I
think you would do best to marry Sabina.  I will leave this place soon, 
and eventually you both will forget me."  The prince started to 
interrupt, but Phedima continued.  "No, you owe me nothing for breaking 
you spell.  You would be miserable if we were wed, and that would make 
me miserable.  It is better this way," and she fled to her room, 
leaving Phanor shocked. 

Sabina had heard the noise downstairs, and by the time she reached the
sitting room, Phedima was gone.  "Sir," she said, "who...are you?" 

"Sabina, it is I, Phanor.  I was under a spell to live as a Beast, and
just now was broken." 

"How?" 

"I'm not really certain," Phanor lied, thinking it most wise not to tell
his love how the spell was broken.  Sabina seemed to accept this, and 
so Phanor continued on, "I have loved you for a very long time, Sabina. 
Will you marry me?" 

Back in her room, Phedima threw herself across the bed, weeping.  As
smart as she was, she could not understand what had happened.  Phanor 
had been hers, for a moment in time, but she had given him up?  Why?  
No answers would come to her.  The rest of the day wore on, and a maid, 
recently awakened by the unenchanting, had brought food, once at 
dinner, and again at supper.  Neither meal Phedima ate.  The maid 
wanted to have a doctor fetched, but Phedima forbade it.  "Tell neither 
Phanor nor Sabina that I am...ill," she commanded, and the 
servant-woman, being simple-minded, obeyed her requests. 

The proceedings of the following days are relatively unimportant. 
Phedima never left her room, and Phanor and Sabina had all but 
forgotten she was there, so in love were they.  Two days before the 
wedding, and one day before Phedima had decided she should leave, 
Phanor was outside of Sabina's door.  He raised his arm to knock, but 
heard voices inside. 

"My love, I cannot believe he has not figured this out yet, " said an
unknown male voice. 

Another voice, Sabina's, chimed in, "Well what would you expect, dear. 
He thinks he's in love with me.  I swear, mortals are the most gullible 
creatures.  And then there is poor Phedima, who is nearly dead from a 
broken heart, and all he can do is dote over me.  Really, he ought to 
be turned back into that monster." 

Phanor turned away.  He wanted to hear no more.  Sabina, his Sabina, was
unfaithful?  And, from the scrap of conversation he overheard, had 
never loved him to begin with.  As for Phedima, well, he had been cruel 
to her.  But was she truly dying?  She had always seemed more strong 
than to let her emotions get to her.  There was only one way to find 
out.  Phedima's maidservant was walking down the hall.  Phanor stopped 
her.  "Liz, is Phedima all right?" 

"She told me not to discuss her health with you, sir," the woman
replied. 

Phanor left her.  Liz would be of no use, she took orders to heart.  He
rapped on the door which said "Phedima's Room."  There was no answer.  
He knocked again, and again was met with silence.  "Phedima," he called 
desperately.  He had never had this feeling that he had now, ever, at 
the thought of loosing someone.  He turned the handle, and burst into 
the room.  In his anxiety, he glanced about, lastly looking at the bed, 
with a small figure in it.  "Phedima, Phedima," cried he, and ran to 
her side.  She opened her eyes, slowly and carefully.  "Phanor, you are 
hear..." 

"Yes, yes Phedima.  But are you all right?" 

"I am fine.  Blessed with the sight of you before I go," her eyes
fluttered, and her breathing was laboured. 

"Phedima, no! You cannot die now.  I have realized I was wrong, that I
love you, not Sabina.  You are the only person who ever cared for me, 
while I was in my previous form.  I do not deserve you, but I would be 
more than honoured if you would be my wife." 

"No, you do not deserve her, Phanor," a voice said from behind.  "But
she will marry you anyway, perhaps the only foolish thing she will ever 
do in her life."  Phanor turned to see Sabina, but not the girl he 
knew.  Rather, she was in the form of an enchantress, the same who had 
transformed him two hundred and fifty years back.  "She will live, 
Phanor....Ah, yes, now you recognize me.  I hope that little 
conversation you overheard helped.  I had just about lost hope for you. 
 What I wanted to teach you is that Beauty lies within, not without.  I 
almost feared having to turn you back into an animal.  I would have 
thought that your appearance alone would have proved that, but I 
apparently had to play the part of a beautiful fool to get it through 
your head.  But I think Phedima will be good for you," and with that, 
Sabina was gone, never to be seen again. 

Phanor married Phedima, and they lived happily ever after, becoming King
and Queen, and ruling with fairness.  Sabina they never saw again, but 
they knew the faery was not far from them.


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