Rose-Part 2 (standard:fantasy, 2409 words) [2/2] show all parts
Author: Eponine	Added: May 27 2001	Views/Reads: 2748/2057	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
2nd part (duh) of Rose. Read part 1 first (it can be found in fairy tales).

Hello, readers!  I would just like to take a moment to encourage you all
to at least vote, if not write comments, to the authors.  We all 
appreciate it...please, don't make us feel dejected.  Thanks  ~ 'Ponine 


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 been given many times by 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. 

Days passed, perhaps weeks even.  I had stopped counting how long I had
been living with Beast.  And I tried not to think of my family, not 
because I did not miss them, but because they would not approve or 
understand my relationship with Beast.  Come to think of it, I was not 
sure that I understood it, either.  But in the end, I concluded we were 
only best of friends. 

There was one morning when Beast was not near.  I worried for a moment,
but thought he must have good reason, after all, this seemed to be 
quite a large castle.  I was bored with reading - that was how I spent 
most of my time when Beast was not near.  An idea struck me.  I knew 
not HOW long it had been since I had been out of this bed, but I 
decided I would try to stand today.  I folded the bedclothes over, and 
peered down.  The drop from the mattress to the floor was much longer 
than I had anticipated.  Not that THAT was going to stop me.  I slid 
off the bed, and landed somewhat clumsily, but on my feet.  A dizzy 
spell washed over me, and I immediately fell to my knees.  "Great," I 
thought.  "What am I going to do NOW?"  I must have been on the floor 
for five minutes when I heard the door open.  I flushed, knowing who 
was there.  "Rose, what are you doing?!" he half demanded.  In less 
than a heartbeat, Beast was by my side.  He lifted me off the floor, 
which I had failed to notice was chilled.  I gratefully pressed into 
him, absorbing the warmth.  "I only wanted to see if I could stand..."  
I looked into his eyes, and he looked just as deeply into mine.  I had 
never felt the way I did right then.  I could not, for a long while, 
understand what it WAS I felt.  And then he spoke. 

"Beauty, will you marry me?" he said, as quiet as his harsh voice would
allow.  I was so surprised, I did not even think to correct my name.  
Our gaze lingered for what must have been eternity.  Then I looked 
away, for I could not, COULD NOT, face Beast.  He laid me down on the 
bed with great care.  For another eternity, he and I did not speak.  He 
had his back to me, and right when I thought no words would be spoken, 
he said, "I should have known better than to ask that of you.  Forgive 
me."  "No, Beast, do not apologize...I would make a wretched wife, 
really I would.  Nothing good could come out of my marrying you."  
"No?"  Beast mused.  He continued, "I think you would do more good than 
you know, Beauty."  I had to speak.  I knew I should have kept quiet, 
but I blundered on.  "Rose.  Please, call me Rose."  Beast was startled 
by my request.  "I think you deserve your name more than you believe," 
he replied. 

If ever there was a time to stop talking, now was it.  But I had to ask,
"Is there no other name I might call you, rather than Beast?"  "No, no 
there is not.  I am a Beast, and so Beast I shall be called."  I 
regretted that I had spoken, for Beast's words were horribly 
remorseful.  But if I regretted those words, I loathed what I said 


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