Rose-Part 1 (standard:fairy tales, 2322 words) [1/2] show all parts
Author: Eponine	Updated: May 27 2001	Views/Reads: 3815/2593	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Yes another Beauty and the Beast story....get over it, I think this one'll turn out rather well.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

whispered.  “There are thieves who will not hesitate to take you 
captive.  Run!”  We slid out the other doors.  I grabbed Lily’s hand, 
and led her to a nearby wood.  I figured we could hide in the brush and 
wait until the raiders left.  But one saw us.  He began to chase us.  
Lily’s hand fell from mine.  Her cloak was caught on a branch; I turned 
back to help her as the man drew closer.  “Rose, do not worry about me! 
 Leave!  Save yourself!”  And she pushed me away.  I had no choice but 
to heed her advice, and stole silent as the shadows into the wood. 

Most of the night I kept moving, until I was certain that I was far
ahead enough.  By the time I paused, I was thoroughly lost.  I sank 
down under an old tree, pulling my cloak closer around me.  In the 
moonlight, I thought I saw something glitter.  But I was tired, and 
assumed my eyes were playing tricks with me.  My leg ached from 
walking, running at times.  I noticed that I still had the book I was 
reading in my hand.  There were no sounds, no animals or insects in 
this strange forest.  I thought of a story one of Lily and my 
governess’ had told us.  ‘Far away from the city there is a forest in 
which nothing lives.’ Her voice came back to me eerily.  Well, I 
certainly was far from the city.  ‘There is a stream which runs through 
it, and that, coupled with the wind blowing through the trees are the 
only sounds which can be heard.’ Was that running water, somewhere?  
‘In the middle of the forest there is a great castle where a monster 
lives.  Only a few who have seen him live to tell the tale.  Generally 
it is said he is tall, extremely tall.  And black, with long claws and 
fangs...’ I stopped thinking.  My mind was playing enough tricks on me 
to be frightened of a silly ghost story.  The light I had seen was 
moving closer.  I sat still and shivered, and fought the urge to 
sneeze.  Wonderful.  I was lost, being hunted like a fox, and now I was 
becoming ill.  Finally I could no longer hold it in, and I sneezed.  
“Over here,” voices cried.  I stood and turned to flee my pursuers, but 
my leg gave out, and I was sent sprawling.  In front of my face where I 
landed appeared to be a giant paw.  But I was in so much pain that I 
did not think of it as unconsciousness swept over me. 

The next thing I knew was awaking in a large, comfortable bed.  I did
not open my eyes, but I tried to move, and could not.  I was sore, my 
right side was bandaged, and the arm wrapped tightly.  I thought that 
perhaps I had wound up at Madame’s Estate, but figured it unlikely.  
Probably I was with the men who attacked our caravan.  Then I thought 
of Lily as I opened my eyes.  A dark shadowy figure sat next to the 
bed.  There was very little light, and I could not make out the 
features of it, I tried sitting up, to no avail.  And it spoke:  
“Beauty, how do you feel?” 

I wanted to say, ‘In pain,’ but I knew this creature had saved my life,
and the words would not leave my mouth.  Instead I asked, “How did you 
know my name?”  “It was inscribed in your book.”  “You read, then?” I 
asked, not really sure if I was speaking to a man or something else.  
“I...used to read,” he said, offering no more explanation.  I said, 
“Well, I cannot move, but I am in one piece, at any rate.”  I could 
feel him look at me, or try to.  There were so many questions I had, 
but I knew I should not ask.  He said, in his gruff voice, “Yes.  You, 
uh, managed to rip your side open when you fell.”  Fell on what, I 
wondered.  I said nothing, though.  “You know my name, but what is 
yours?”  I said.  “Call me Beast,” he said, sadly.  “And I would prefer 
you to call me Rose, that is my given name,” I replied.  “I really do 
not deserve the name Beauty, though my father calls me that.” 

Beast seemed to consider this for a moment then said, “Forgive me, if
you will, but why do you not deserve the name?”  “I-I do not even come 
close to being pretty, let alone beautiful,” I said quietly.  He made 
no comment, but asked me further questions about my life, and what I 
read.  He mentioned nothing about the previous night.  He seemed 
genuinely concerned of my welfare, which surprised me.  After he left 
on the first night I wondered if he was the strange presence in my 
dreams, if I was in the castle, if somewhere within the walls that 
bound me was a long hall.... 

Over the next few weeks I began to feel better.  I could sit up, anyway,
and I always looked forward to Beast’s visits.  There was one night 
that he learned I never had seen a rose before.  The next night he 
brought me an armful, and said that hundreds of them grew in the 
garden, and when I was able to walk he would take me there.  I wondered 
how he managed to gather the flowers, and told him so.  He made a 
howling sound I took as a laugh, and said, “There are a great many 
servants here.  Invisible to the eye, but they are capable of doing for 
you what I cannot.”  Soon the short visits every night were not enough. 
 I told Beast, “The solitude is rather overwhelming, and while I do not 
mind reading the books your servants pick out for me, I would like it 
better if you would visit more often.”  And he did, saying that 
whatever I wanted he would gladly bestow upon me.  I had yet to see him 
in clear light, though my Sight dreams often revealed little parts of 
him.  He explained to me that it would be unfair for me to see him 
fully without being able to flee him if I wanted.  I had only laughed 
then, but I wondered what I would think when I actually saw Beast for 
the first time. 

I noticed a few days into my stay that I was not wearing the same dress
in which I had traveled.  I now wore a white sleeping gown, made of 
fine satin.  I was curious as to how the invisible servants-I assumed 
it must be them who had changed my clothing and not Beast-had gotten it 
on me.  And the bandages, too, for my wounds were always redressed each 
morning.  I thought often upon home, but never mentioned my longings to 
Beast, for I realized that he had no one to long for. 

One night my dreams revealed his entire being to me.  I was afraid for a
moment, but suddenly I did not mind his looks.  Except his eyes, which 
appeared to be human, and always had a look of gloom.  I suddenly 
understood that look, one that I had given many times to my father, 
fear that I would not approve of him.  There was one day which I awoke, 
and felt Beast by my side.  As far as I knew, he never came to me 
before sunset, as my room glowed with sunlight.  I did not open my 
eyes, but I asked, “Do you sit by my side often?”  Beast said, slightly 
taken aback, “Yes.  Do you mind?”  I told him that I did not.  Though 
my ears were not as sharp as my eyes, I could hear him edging his way 
out.  I rolled over, and with some difficulty sat up.  “Wait.  Do not 
leave me, not yet.”  To his knowledge, this was the first I had seen 
him.  He appeared ghastly afraid.  The need of approval was in his 
eyes, as in my dream.  “You are not horrified...?” he faltered.  I 
shook my head.  “I have seen you in my dreams.  I suppose I should have 
told you this before, but I have been-gifted as some might say, or 
cursed, as I prefer- with the Sight.”  I thought Beast was going to 
pass out.  Instead he came to my bedside, and sat in a chair.  Neither 
of us spoke for a long time.  “Beauty-“ he began at last.  “Rose,” I 
corrected him.  “Rose, I-are you sure that I do not frighten you?”  I 
nodded my head.  Our relationship changed from that day on; we were 
much more comfortable with each other. 


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