28-Aug-2001
Yeah! I'm over my writer's block. That means I finally finished chapter 7 and am well on my way to finishing chapter 8. ::prays she doesn't loose her momentum:: Anyway here is the next bit to be put up on Gundam Wing Addiction. Thanks ^^
Author:Tigress Pern
Title: Beauty and the Beast
Archive: GW Addiction
Type: drama/fairy tale
Warnings: Une + Treize, some OOC
Disclaimer: I don't own GW.
"You want me to meet the Beast?" Hilde asked turning to face Une. The brunette nodded.
"He's become a very dear friend and he is the master of this castle and…" Hilde held up her hands.
"You're babbling. Yes, I'd like to meet this Beast of yours and thank him for putting up with my older sister." Hilde winked and smiled. Une smiled back.
"Thank you. Let us go to dinner then. I'll have Duo or Quatre request that he join us." Following Une's lead, Hilde wound her way through the maze of corridors to the dining room. Two places had been set at the long table making Une frown. "I'd like a third place set and could someone find the Beast and tell him he is welcome to dine with my sister and I." A cloaked servant obeyed her order and hurried out the door. Une wasn't sure who it was, but was confidant that the message would be delivered. Offering Hilde the seat directly to her left, she sat down at her position at the head of the table. They talked politely while waiting for the Beast.
"He normally doesn't have anything but a glass of wine." Une told Hilde. "He'll eat later because he does not want to offend us with how he eats."
"That is very kind of him. I wish some of those suitors you had in the city were that polite. I swear a few of them didn't know what a napkin was!" Hilde paused. "So, do you like him?"
"What?"
"The Beast. Do you like him? I remember this one fairy tale Mother told about a princess and a frog. Once the princess kissed the frog he turned into a prince."
"Hilde!" Une exclaimed flabbergasted. "How can you compare this situation to a story?"
"Easy, this is a magical place. Remember our conversation before you left?"
"Yes and I have found nothing to confirm your hunches. As far as I can tell the Beast is a prisoner here as are his servants. I doubt he's some prince in disguise."
"You don't know that." Hilde pointed out leaning on the table eagerly. "Magic plus strange creature equals a fairy prince or at least a mortal prince."
"Oh, and what do you suspect he really is? Our prince was abducted by the enemy seven years ago, so it most certainly isn't him."
"Maybe he's older than that." Hilde said a twinkle entering her eyes. "Maybe he's been like this for centuries."
"Okay, this is just ridiculous."
"Well, have you ever asked him about it?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not proper!" Une snapped. Hilde sighed realizing the Une had it set in her mind that he wasn't some enchanted prince. Although the way she kept defending him made Hilde suspect that Une liked the Beast. Maybe she was even in love with him! According to all the fairy tales she could remember, true love conquered all. So perhaps the way to end the Beast's confinement was to have Une fall in love with him. Of course there was no way of confirming any of this until both parties got their acts together.
Hilde had been silent too long, which worried Une. She had that sparkle in her eye that meant she was thinking up something that might get her in trouble. Please, Une thought, don't do anything impolite. Suddenly the door opened and Zechs walked through. At least, Une thought it was Zechs, she couldn't tell for sure. Well, she could never tell for sure who anyone was until they spoke anyway. He walked over to her and spoke.
"The Beast would to enter if it is all right with your sister." Zechs smooth voice said.
"Hilde is looking forward to meeting him." Une replied. Zechs bowed low and retreated to the door. Leaning over to Hilde she whispered quickly. "Please don't be too frightened by his appearance."
"I won't." Hilde assured her. As she finished the last word, the Beast walked in. He was taller than Hilde expected, but he wasn't as hideous as Father kept insisting. Despite the elongated canines and the ram's horns that curled around his ears, he reminded Hilde of a gigantic lion, like the one in the coat of arms of the royal family.
"Good evening Lady Une, Lady Hilde." The Beast said. His voice was deep and sent chills down her spine, but Hilde didn't appear frightened. Instead she was amazed by him as he covered the space between them and the door in only a few strides. He sat down hesitantly at Une's right. Hilde never took her eyes off him the entire time. "It is a pleasure having you here Lady Hilde."
"Wow! You're not at all what Father makes you out to be." The words were out of her mouth before she realized it. "I'm sorry! That didn't come out right." Une was staring at her little sister as if she's just sprouted a second head. The Beast looked just as shocked. Suddenly his features softened and he began to laugh.
"I've never been greeted like that before." He admitted causing Hilde to turn red. "It's all right, I'm sure your father does not have.. ah..fond memories of me."
"Not in the least." Hilde admitted a smile threatening to spread across her face. "Of course I like to see things for myself before I make judgement."
"That is a good philosophy to have." The Beast stated beginning to like her already. Une looked visibly relieved, as were the servants. Une called for the first course and the servants snapped into action. The conversation between the three was pleasant and most certainly entertaining. Hilde regaled them with tales of village life and the antics of its inhabitants. Une and the Beast traded off tales of getting lost in the chateau and other places. The dinner was over before any of them realized it. Standing the Beast said that he would start his counter spell at dawn and keep it up for as long as Une was gone. Une assured him she would be back in three days time and resume her place as lady of the house. Hilde hoped that she could get Une to admit she was in love with the Beast by that time. Then maybe they could all be together as a family, plus one.
They left early the next morning. Once off the enchanted grounds they stumbled about for a couple hours before finding their way out. Racing across the fields towards home, Une felt a great sense of urgency. They had to reach her father. Hilde informed her that she'd been telling everyone that Une had been called to go and take care of an old friend of their mother's. Une nodded and agreed to stick to the story, she would say that she was on her way back for a visit when she'd run into Hilde the day before. That was why they were there only a day after Hilde had left.
Bypassing the cottage, they headed straight for the Noventa's home. Their arrival startled Sylvia who had been outside tending to the chickens. She hurried over to them, spilling all the seed that she had been holding in her apron.
"You're back! Une, it's been a long time!"
"That it has." Une replied dismounting Aries. "I was on my way here actually when I ran into Hilde. How is my father?" Sylvia looked grave.
"The physician doesn't know what to do. He is completely baffled. He says it may be a sickness of the heart." Une understood the meaning. Her father missed her. Without another word she headed inside.
"Father." Une whispered as she sat next to his bed. He opened his eyes slowly.
"You should be in bed." He croaked. Une shook her head and pulled his blankets up around him more.
"No, I'm right where I need to be." The old man smiled and closed his eyes again. He'd heard his daughter's tale of adventure in the enchanted chateau earlier that day. Although he wasn't happy that she had but three short days with him, he understood. Magic was a funny thing. He worried though, when he was gone how would Hilde survive? Perhaps the Beast would allow Hilde to live with her sister, but then they both would be prisoners. He didn't want that for either of his daughters. Une had made her choice to live with the Beast; Hilde was still young and full of energy. The chateau would wear on her and eventually cause her mental harm. Still, she couldn't be left alone in the world. The Noventas would take care of her for a time, but the safest place for her was with a husband. Yet he didn't want to force Hilde to marry, it was her decision after all. He'd tried that tactic with Une and failed, he wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"When I am gone,"
"Father don't say such things." Une said sitting up rigidly. "You will get better, especially now that I have put your mind at ease. I am fine, the Beast is a kind soul and would do nothing to harm me."
"Une, listen to me. I do not know if I will recover. If I do die, I want you to let Hilde make up her mind about what she wishes to do. Whether that means living alone here or returning with you to the chateau. It must be her decision though."
"I know Father. I will try not to influence her decision."
"Thank you." He said. "I'm an old man, I worry about such things as my children's happiness." He paused for a moment, opening his eyes to look at Une. "Are you happy Une?"
"Yes, although I did miss you and Hilde. I tried to come home for her birthday, but I couldn't. The magic was already too strong and the Beast didn't know how to hold back the spell. He's been working on it since then and the fruits of his labor are what is allowing me to be beside you now."
"He sounds like a good creature."
"He is." Une said with enthusiasm. "Father, he is kind and cares about me. All his servants regard him highly and not because he is their master, but because he is a tolerant, caring soul. He has made my stay enjoyable and…"
"Do you love him?" he barely got the words out of his mouth before he shuddered involuntarily. His memory of the Beast was not pleasant and he found it hard to care about something so terrifying. On the other hand, his daughter had lived with the creature and gained its trust. She appeared to care deeply for him and perhaps even love him and he wasn't going to jeopardize her happiness with his own prejudice.
"I..well…I." Une stuttered. Her father smiled.
"You sound just like you mother when I asked her if she loved me. Not quite sure of her own feelings or how to express them, you're just like her. Don't think too hard about it and the answer will come to you. Your heart always speaks the truth when you stop and listen."
"Father, I…"
"You don't need to tell me anything, just do what you feel is right. Seeing you safe and alive is all I care about right now. Thank you for coming home."
"I'm glad to be back Father, I missed you." Une leaned down and wrapped her arms around him. She stayed thus for several minutes before finally letting him go. "Get some rest, perhaps you'll feel better in the morning."
"Perhaps I will." He replied closing his eyes once more.
On the afternoon of the second day Une was home some disturbing news found its way into the village. The enemy had crossed the border in an attempt to flank the Queen's army, which was located to the south. If this was true then their town could possibly be over run by them. The elders held an emergency meeting and decided that the safest thing for everyone was to evacuate as soon as possible. Their homes and farms would be easy pickings for the experienced and probably hungry soldiers. There was great fear that the men would be killed and women raped then killed. The people had heard the rumors of what atrocities the enemy army had done to villages that sat along the border. Many were now abandoned and rotting. There was a problem though, where to evacuate to? If the rumors were true then the army would be at their doorstep in a few days, which didn't give them much time to act. Mr. Noventa relayed all this information to his wife and Une when he returned from the meeting.
"We are worried that if we relocate to the nearest town then the enemy will follow and it will give them even more reason to destroy us. I am sure the other villages are in just as much panic as we are."
"Has anyone thought of hiding in the Bloodwood?" Mrs. Noventa suggested, but her husband shook his head.
"Too many rumors about monsters and magic. Most people are afraid."
"But it may be the best place to hide!" His wife exclaimed, her voice raising an octave. "It is deep and at one point the one of the noble families built a summer chateau in it!"
"That thing was swallowed up by the forest decades ago." Mr. Noventa snapped.
"Still! It would provide some sort of shelter." Mrs. Noventa argued. "I don't want Sylvia, Une or Hilde injured. Not to mention all the other young ladies of this village."
"Dearest."
"No, it is the best place."
Une listened to the argument for a few minutes longer before making up her mind. She wasn't sure if the Beast would approve, but she couldn't stand if the people that had become her family's friends and supporters after their fall to be killed. She had to try at least.
"I'll go into the Bloodwood and find this chateau and ask whatever inhabitant magic or not that resides there if we may evacuate to their property. I will even offer myself if that is what it takes to receive their blessing." Mr. and Mrs. Noventa turned as one to stare at her dumbfounded.
"My dear…"
"No, I've made up my mind. You have been so good to my family in my absence that I have to do something! I cannot let you all die." Without another word Une hurried from the room. She grabbed her saddlebags and quickly filled them. Hilde heard the noise and appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.
"Une?"
"The enemy is coming to the village, the elders realize the need to evacuate, but not to where. I'm going to ask the Beast if he will allow the villagers to stay at the chateau until the Queen's army comes. I think we can hold them off if they can't find us." Hilde was shocked by her sister's words.
"Une, I don't think the villagers will be as open minded as I or Father are." She whispered. "They will try to kill him for his kindness."
"There is always that risk, but I don't think it will happen if I explain things to them or if he hides. Perhaps if he could cast a glamour on himself until the ordeal is over. I don't know! I just want everyone to be all right, including him!" Une shook her head in frustration. "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing or even if he'll agree, but I have to try. Lives are at stake and our retched queen doesn't give a rat's tail about her subjects! All that matters to her is getting her son out the enemy's dungeon. Well I don't care about him! I care about my friends and family, both old and new. I don't want to see anyone die!"
"Do you love him Une?"
"Why is everyone asking me that!"
"Because if he were just a beast to you, you wouldn't ask his permission to bring an entire village to his estate. You wouldn't worry about him risking his life so that you may visit your family and you certainly wouldn't be worried about the villagers killing him." Hilde's words reverberated inside her like an echo in a canyon. For several moments she was very still then slowly she reached for her almost full saddlebags. Lifting them off the table they had been resting on, she held them as her mind carefully took in what her heart told her was true.
"I do love him." she whispered. "I do love him." She repeated louder for Hilde to hear.
"Then tell him that when you get back! You don't know what sort of power those words have on a man, or at least that's what Mother used to say." Une nodded and smiled.
"I better go if I'm to make it before nightfall."
"Well you don't have much time, so I'll go saddle Aries for you while you say goodbye to Father." Hilde turned and headed outside. Throwing the saddlebags over her shoulder, Une walked to her Father's room to tell him of her plan.
End Chapter Seven
Tigress Pern