3-Sep-2001
Yeah! Chapter 8 is done and now I can get started on chapter 9. Hopefully I'll have that ready by the end of the week. I've been pretty good about one chapter a week thus far, let's see if I can keep on schedule, ne? ^^
Author: Tigress Pern
Title: Beauty and the Beast
Archive: GW Addiction
Type: Drama/fairy tale
Warning: Une + Treize, slight OOC
Disclaimer: GW isn't mine, never was, never will.
Night had fallen and Une knew she was lost. She couldn't see much in front of her, but she kept going. Sooner or later she would find the gate and she'd be home. Yes, the chateau was her home now and perhaps forever. She had to hurry though, there wasn't much time to get there, ask and then return before the enemy appeared at the village green. Aries snorted and tossed his head nearly pulling the reins from her hands. He lurched forward and broke into a canter. She was about to haul back on him when she spotted the silhouette of the gates. Relieved to see them she allowed him to run up to them. The chestnut waited patiently for them to open as did. It took them a moment or two to wake up and realize that she was there before they did so. As they swung open Aries took the bit between his teeth and ran. Une had to hold on tightly as the horse raced for the stables. Trowa and Heero must be using some special feed or he wouldn't be this eager, Une thought as Aries broke into a flat out gallop. Normally she wouldn't have allowed him to race all the way to his stall, but she was in a hurry too.
A shape was just leaving the stable as Aries whinnied a greeting. The figure looked up and was nearly run over by the zealous horse. Une almost fell off as he came to an abrupt halt in front of the figure.
"Lady Une?" Trowa asked grasping Aries' reins as the animal rubbed up against his chest.
"I'm back early, it is a bit of an emergency." She said hurriedly. "I need to speak to the Beast immediately." Une dismounted and turning to face the stable hand, found herself looking into a pair of green eyes. Her heart nearly stopped. She could see all of Trowa. Not just his hands or feet, but all of him from his brown hair swept over one side of his face to his black boots. Just then a second young man with darker brown hair and blue eyes exited the stable. Shaking her head, Une forced herself to accept the fact that she could now see all of the servants and that she really needed to speak to the Beast.
"I leave Aries in your capable hands." With that she bolted for the large wooden doors of the chateau. Heero looked at Trowa then after Une.
"She's back." Heero stated. Trowa nodded. "She seemed a bit startled."
"Yes, she did. I wonder why." Trowa replied.
Racing up the stairs she nearly knocked over a young man with black hair pulled back tightly in a ponytail. He was so startled that he nearly dropped the candle he'd been using to light the candelabra by the hall to the library.
"Lady Une?"
"I'm sorry Wufei." Une apologized. "Where is the Beast?"
"Sitting in the middle of his room where he has been since you left keeping the binding spell at bay. What are you doing back so soon?"
"I'll explain later, can you light my way?"
"Of course." Wufei replied and quickly lead the way. On the way they passed more servants who looked startled by her arrival. She hadn't been due back until tomorrow evening. Several fell into step behind her, curious as to what she was doing. Une surmised that she must have a look of grim determination on her face or they wouldn't be following her in such a manner.
Upon reaching the Beast's room, she turned around and addressed them.
"I want to speak to the Beast alone. I promise everything will be explained as soon as I am done." They nodded and stepped back giving her room to breathe. She opened the door and surprised a tall man with long pale blond hair. She motioned for him to leave the room and as his gaze fell upon the other servants outside, he understood.
"Master, Lady Une has returned early." Zechs stated in a clear voice. "I shall leave you alone with her." Zechs escaped quickly as the Beast turned to stare at her.
He was sitting on the floor a circle drawn around him. He looked tired, but still alive so the spell hadn't been too taxing on him at least she hoped not. Behind her the door clicked shut and Une was left alone with him.
"Lady, you are back. Why? Did your father die?" The Beast was truly concerned about her family and that touched her.
"He still lives, but not for much longer if we don't do something."
"We?"
"The enemy has come across the border in an attempt to flank the Queen's army which is waiting by the border for them. A runner has been sent to alert the queen, but it will not be in time to save our village."
"You wish to remove you family here, am I correct?"
"No, not just my family, but the entire village. That's about one hundred twenty men, women and children. I don't mean for them to all stay inside the chateau, but perhaps on the grounds? I know I'm asking a lot, but they are my friends and I'm afraid of what will happen to them when the enemy comes." The Beast stood, shaking a bit as he did. Une quickly grabbed one of his large chairs and shoved it under him so that he would sit before he collapsed. "I know it is a lot and that I have no right to, but I must. I can't save just my family, I must save as many as possible."
"It is a noble thought and if I were something other than what I am, I would answer yes immediately, without hesitation. But I am a beast and as such must take into consideration my safety. You cannot guarantee that they will not try and kill me."
"No, but perhaps there is a glamour you can place on yourself to appear more human, even for a brief time. It would ease their minds."
"And yours?" Une shook her head.
"I don't care what you look like, I know who you are inside and that, as my mother would say, is what counts. You are a caring and thoughtful soul and should not be judged on looks alone."
"But I am."
"And it is a shame, but it is how the world works. Although once people got to know you they would understand as I do how caring you really are."
"Lady, Une." Words failed him at that moment until only one phrase came into his mind. He trembled inside fearing the answer. A single yes or no would change everything. "Would you marry me? This wretched creature who although against better judgement will grant your request, even if it is his downfall?"
She hesitated for a moment. His heart hammered inside his chest with anticipation, she'd never hesitated before. Perhaps there was hope, perhaps….
"Yes, I will marry you. Not because you asked me night after night, but because I love you."
"Thank you." He smiled, exposing all his teeth. "You have made me very happy and no matter what happens I know that I have your love and you will know that you have mine. I love you Lady Une and am honored to have you as my wife." Leaning over, Une touched her lips to the Beast's. It was awkward, but she managed to kiss him. Part of her was expecting bright lights and perhaps a chorus of angels, like in the tales her mother had told, but nothing like that happened. Instead as she straightened and found herself staring into the Beast's light blue eyes. They were so human looking that it had frightened her father. At one point they had unnerved her as well, but now they were part of him. Still, although they had just confessed their love to each other, they looked sad. It was as if he was expecting something to happen too, but was disappointed because it hadn't.
"You should go to bed Lady, you look tired."
"You do too, but…" she paused. Something was suddenly very wrong. Her eyes darted to the floor as she saw tendrils of mist creeping up toward them. The mist twisted and formed into snakes, all which lunged for the Beast. "Look out!" She cried. The Beast cursed and leapt out of the chair. The mist snakes turned and followed him. Backing up, the Beast looked as confused as Une. Looking for something to kill the snakes with, she grabbed a metal bowl full of roses. Dumping them on the floor, she hurled it at them. It passed through the snakes without injuring a single one.
"They're magic." The Beast snarled. "That villain! After all this, he still wishes to keep me prisoner!"
"Who wants to keep you prisoner?" Une cried as she looked around for something that might have an impact on the mist snakes. It was too late though; they sprung upon the Beast and imbedded their fangs into him. As their venom filled his veins, he began to realize what was happening.
"Une, I apologize for not telling you the truth, but it was not in my power to do so." His voice sounded hoarse as he spoke. He began to waver and his eyesight was failing. Une rushed forward and grabbed one offending serpent. He was tired, so tired. The snakes vanished as the Beast collapsed. Une hurried to his side as the door opened and Zechs hurried in. His face was ashen when he saw the Beast on the floor.
"Beast, please don't die. Who has kept you prisoner? Was it my agreeing to marry you that broke the spell and he knew it, that is why the serpents were sent?" Une knew she was babbling, but she didn't care. She didn't want to loose him. He couldn't die, no, he just couldn't. Tears were filling her eyes. She wiped them away on her sleeve and tried to keep herself from completely breaking down.
"Lady Une, it will be all right. This is how the spell started so it is only fitting this is how it ends." Zechs said taking her arm and urging her to stand. "We will wait and see if we are all totally free." She stood slowly and allowed herself to be lead away from the Beast's still body. She walking as if in a dream, Une felt as she had when her mother died. No, she didn't want to feel like that again, the emptiness was painful. Grasping Zechs' jacket she turned and buried her face into his shoulder. Startled by her, he slowly drew his arms around and held her. "Can you see me Lady Une? All of me?" She nodded as she sobbed. Zechs sighed, relieved that he was no longer invisible. Une gently pushed herself away from him, wiping her eyes with one hand as she did.
"I'm sorry, I'm getting your livery all wet." She choked.
"It's all right. He's been my friend for a long time, I understand." He led her out of the room towards the rest of the worried staff. As she gazed upon the sea of concerned faces, she suddenly felt lost. She wasn't sure who was who and that it would probably take some time for her to recognize them.
A woman with wavy reddish hair stepped forward. "Lady Une, don't worry, things will work out." Catherine said hoping that it would bring a smile to the woman's face. Une tried to smile, but couldn't. Instead she decided that it was time to take matters into her own hands.
"Everyone, please. I need your help."
A tremendous weight pressed down on him. The air was thin and it was hard to breathe. He didn't know where he was, the last thing he remembered were the snakes and Une. Poor Une, she was probably worried. Zechs and the others hopefully would have explained things to her, but they may be waiting for him. At least he was still alive to explain it all to her, he first thought he might be dead. Of course, he'd thought this the last time the snakes had bitten him. That bastard of a wizard appeared to simply adore the creatures. Personally he preferred birds. This wasn't the time to be thinking of that; he needed to get out of where ever he was for his air was running out. Struggling he pressed his back against the top of the darkness. To his surprise it began to give. Quickly he applied more pressure and was rewarded by a cracking sound and a whoosh of fresh air. Rolling over, he stared up at the thread of light that outlined the fissure he'd created. There was just enough room to slip his fingers into and pull. Holding firm, he used what strength he had to rip open the darkness enough that he could crawl out.
The first sensation he felt as he pulled his body free was a great chill. Shivering, he sat on the floor of his room and looked about. It was empty of people, which came as both a relief and disappointment to him. He'd half expected Une to still be there, but the others would have taken her off to allow him some privacy. Abruptly he worried how long he'd been unconscious. Hopefully it wasn't long. A second worry crept into his mind. What had that wizard turned him into now? Glancing over to his left he finally got a good look at where he'd been. The furry hide of the beast he'd been lay ripped where he'd broken through. It was as if he'd shed his old skin and been reborn with another. Just like a snake, he thought. What irony as it had been snakes that had bitten him each time he'd transformed. Which lead him back to the question of what he was currently. He studied himself and with great relief found himself to be most certainly human.
"Now, if I can only figure out where I left my human clothes." He muttered to himself as anyone who happened to walk in right now would find him quite nude. That wouldn't do, besides without his fur he was getting really cold. Leaving his old skin lying on the floor, he stood, wobbled a minute on not secure human legs then headed for a wardrobe that had been shoved into the corner away from everything. If he was lucky, everything in it would still fit.
"Careful with that Quatre." Une called hurrying over to help the blond young man. Together they moved the ladder to another section of the great hall. After leaving the Beast's chamber, Une had gotten the staff ready to accept the villagers. She was bound and determined to bring them to the castle for their own safety. As such, they needed to prepare. Currently they were making sure that everything was presentable, that enough candles, blankets, pillows, food and other necessities were ready for their arrival. Une would ride back the next day to fetch everyone, hopefully they would already be packed for evacuation. It wouldn't do to have guests and not having the place look nice. Not that Une was trying to impress anyone, it was just that it made her feel better. Besides, it kept her mind off the Beast and whether he would recover or not. She wasn't sure what was going on, but Zechs had assured her that everything would be explained later. Sally had told her that the Beast had been under a spell and the snakes meant that most likely they had broken the spell.
"It was a snake's bite that first made him the way he is." She pointed out as she led Une to her room for a nap. Catherine had added to this by saying.
"The longer you stayed here, the weaker the spell got and when you finally realized that you loved him it broke! Otherwise you couldn't completely see us." She was very excited and twirled around once to prove her point. Une still didn't know why the spell had been placed on the Beast and his servants or how they had come to the Bloodwood, but when the Beast awoke, she would ask him. If he awoke, she wasn't sure he would. Everyone else was confident, she wished she were.
"Do you think these are enough candles and oil lamps?" Duo asked coming up behind Une with a wooden box of them.
"More, we'll need more. And I want them over there by Relena. She's in charge of distribution of them. I want everything ready for tomorrow."
"Yes Lady Une." He replied hefting the box and lumbering over to where a young lady with sandy brown hair was working. Zechs was talking with his younger sister and she seemed to be informing him of something. Apparently Relena got the upper hand because Zechs suddenly came over to Une.
"My Lady." He said bowing. "I was going up to check on…the Beast. My sister informs me that it would be rude not to ask you if you want to come."
"You'd be more than rude!" Relena called giving him a dirty look. "She's his fiancée." Zechs sighed while Une smiled at them.
"Of course I want to come." She said. Telling the others to carry one, she and Zechs made their way upstairs. They opened the door and Zechs stepped into the room first. He planned on shielding Une in case the snakes had altered his master's form to something more hideous. Une allowed him this, but refused to be kept outside. She followed him cautiously into the chamber. On the floor was what looked like poorly laid bearskin rug, but Une quickly realized that it was the Beast's hide. It was as if he'd shed his skin, just like a snake. There was no blood or mucus, just the hide and the clothes he'd been wearing. But if the skin was here, where was the Beast?
"Sir?" Zechs called hesitantly as he peered about the room.
"Beast?" Une chimed in. She wanted to find him, no matter what had happened.
"I fear that he may have been transformed into something worse." Zechs muttered. "That wizard is just the sort to do so."
"Perhaps not." Une said hopefully. Zechs suddenly looked doubtful. Where was he?
"The wizard who first cast the spell was an evil man, he wanted to use our master for his own gains. When the master refused to join him, he sent snakes to his room. The venom changed him into the form you know. Afterwards he dragged him here to our master's summer palace where he cast a spell that bound us here. The spells were linked and could only be broken by a woman who loved our master. But she had to have know knowledge of who he had been."
"Who is he?" Une asked.
"I am Treize Khushrenada." Said an unfamiliar voice.
End Chapter Eight
Tigress Pern