Chapter Two
It was several days before Henry
finally settled down to tell his three distraught daughters exactly what had
happened to him on his journey. The
mood was perfect for a story such as he had to tell; a moon-less night with the
wind howling like a pack of wolves outside.
It was the frighteningly familiar sound of that wailing that made the
farmer shiver despite the roaring fire in front of him and the heavy blanket
about his shoulders.
"This may sound more like one
of Beauty's fairy tales than an actual event, children. But I tell you in all seriousness that this
extraordinary event most certainly did happen." he began, pausing for a
deep breath. "I am not mad. I am not making this up. I know of no way to tell you these things
other than straightforwardly."
The sisters' eyes all widened as
their beloved father began his tale that would change their lives forever.
"There is nothing to tell of my
journey to the city or my stay their.
It is the trek home that concerns me.
As you know, few entourages will travel this far north during the winter
months for fear of bad storms. Knowing
this full well, I set out anyway... as I was missing you all terribly. Perhaps that was my first mistake. The first of many, I suppose."
"A week into my journey, I ran
into a blizzard. It was a fierce one;
I'd never seen anything like it. I
couldn't see my hand in front of my face for all the snow and wind. The cold was simply awful, penetrating every
single bone in my body and nearly freezing both the horse and me. Certain we were going to die from exposure
before we ever reached home. I let the horse pick its own way through the
snow."
Henry looked up, a strange light in
his eyes, as if seeing everything he told all over again. "Then, suddenly... everything
changed. I don't know how I knew, for
my face was buried into my scarf. But I
felt this inner warmth and I heard the wind cease. When I looked up... I was in a completely different world!"
"A courtyard... with flowers of
every shape, size, color, and fragrance growing as if it were the height of
springtime! Trimmed and seeded lawns of
green grass, winding pathways of smooth cobbles, marble fountains of clear
water! I figured I had to be at the
threshold of a fairy's palace! For only
one with great magic could possibly ward off a harsh winter like this. And perhaps this fairy had taken pity on my
plight in the woods."
"I dismounted and led my horse
down the path I was on, not taking any turns for fear I would quickly lose my
way in this labyrinth of a garden.
After what seemed like forever, I came upon the doorway to a great
castle... but not just any doorway!
There were five doors of such massive size that our entire house could
fit through! They were made of some
highly polished wood and gilded with pure gold on the hinges and
reinforcements. Not knowing what else
to do, I tied my horse's reins to a nearby bench and went in."
He
paused and shuddered, though whether from the cold or the memory of his
experiences, the girls had no idea.
They all leaned forward in their seats, anxiously awaiting more of this
strange tale. Beauty sat at her
father's feet, beckoning the house's resident mouser with a quiet hissing sound
through her lips and sweeping the old queen onto her lap... the suspense was
killing her!
"Inside I found an enormous
foyer with vases of flowers everywhere... and I don't mean just any
flowers. Jasmine, morning glories, huge
tropical blooms... plants that you can never find in our corner of the
world. More and more, I was becoming
convinced of great magic at work... and you all know how skeptical I can be
regarding such fancies. But that's
neither here nor there... as I kept walking, I felt as though some mysterious
force were driving me forward, leading me down the correct corridors and
passages, for I never hesitated as I found my way to a somewhat smaller drawing
room."
"There was a fireplace large
enough to roast a whole cow in, with a similarly huge and warm fire roaring in
its mouth. A single chair was seated in
front of it, with a dining table nearby.
Still guided by that supernatural force, I sat myself in the chair... it
was velvet-cushioned, more like a throne than a chair, with a high, carved
back. As I looked at the bounty on the
dining table, I was once again stunned!
Lamb, veal, turkey, pudding, roast pheasant and grouse, juices and ales
and beers from all over the world, fruits and vegetables of every kind I've
ever seen and many more that I'd not!
Plates and bowls and carafes filled with more food than all of the
King's armies could possibly consume in even three years! I was overwhelmed. With all of this happening, I thought that nothing more could
possibly surprise me... but I was sorely mistaken."
"Just as I was about to make up
my mind where to start on this feast, birds and bats came from out of
nowhere! They used their beaks and
claws to lift servings of the exact foods I desired most onto my plate, without
losing a single feather or disturbing a single glass in the process! Enchanted, they were! For they spoke to each other... and to me! A large parrot with brilliant blue plumage
asked if I wanted red wine or white. A
tiny sparrow had a minor spat with a similarly tiny brown bat. A two-meter-tall, odd-looking bird with
black-and-white feathers and huge eyes pulled a napkin neatly over my lap. Ravens and nightingales and doves lifted
covers off of dishes further down the table.
I tell you, I was beginning to think that I'd fallen asleep and was
having a very realistic dream while riding atop my poor horse!"
"As I ate, I was aware of more
animals/servants scurrying about. Two
cats, one ginger-striped and the other some pointed exotic, were busily
attending the fire. A large wolf and an
equally large mastiff stood guard at the entrance mumbling back and forth to
each other. A slick, green frog hopped from
what I assumed were the kitchens to check on how I was doing. A brown beaver with a paddle-tail brought in
wood from outside for the cats to place on the fire. Squirrels, raccoons, and skunks used their bushy tails to dust
off the mantle and any other furniture.
This was no dream... this was alarmingly real! But any attempts to divine information from these devoted
creatures was met with a shake of a shaggy head and a mumbled variation of 'I
can't say, sir'."
"At length, the activity around
me lulled to a stop as everyone finished what I assumed were assigned chores
and I was approached by an old bloodhound of a dog with a dignified air."
"'Sir,' he said in the tone of
a British butler. 'I have been told by my master to show you to your rooms
where you may sleep through the storm outside our gates. Tomorrow morning, it should've blown itself
out and it will be safe for you to travel again.' Dumbfounded by the strange combination of animal and man, I could
nothing but follow the old fellow down another corridor, which led straight into
one of the most beautiful bedchambers I'd ever seen. A thick carpet covered the floor from wall to wall in rich
sapphire... the bed curtains, blankets and sheets were of luxurious velvets and
satins in more jewel tones... all of the furniture from the bed frame down to
the tiny footstool in front of a monstrous chair were of fine polished ebony,
carved into designs of exquisite detail... a bath was already drawn for me in a
porcelain tub the size of old Apple's trough.
Still feeling led by some invisible spirit, I bathed and dressed in a
nightshirt of clean, white linen.
Without even quite knowing how, I fell asleep, with no recollection of
climbing into the immense bed."
The old man paused again, taking a
deep breath, as if preparing himself for the remainder of the story. Beauty had closed her eyes, trying
desperately to picture what her father described with accuracy and seeking to
divine what on earth could've been so terrible to follow. She stayed at the foot of her beloved
father's chair, her hands absently stroking at their old firewood cat's ragged
and singed fur, distracting herself momentarily with the dilemma of the old
cat's lack of a proper name... Everyone simply called her Mama, for all the
kittens she brought into the world every springtime. She was so immersed in that off-track thought, that she was
slightly startled by the continuation of her father's voice.
"I awoke the next morning,
distinctly aware that, although this castle was ensconced in some sort of
eternal summer, the winter blizzard beyond it had ceased as well... true to the
old hound's promise. I rose and found
that my old traveling clothes had been replaced with a new set of clothes. Fit for a duke or an earl, they were! Made of the same lavish materials I had been
accosted with thus far; velvets, satins, and linens of beautiful colors... and
fine gloves and boots of soft leather... and a deliciously warm cloak and hood
of fine wool. I was beginning to accept
the extravagant generosity of my host and changed into these clothes without
question."
"With little thought as to how
to proceed, I ventured forth from my bedchambers while another host of animals
made the bed and generally straightened the room; butterflies and bees for the
most part this time, with two or three squirrels chattering along. Again, that feeling of being guided came
upon me as I walked steadily towards the outer door. My horse stood waiting patiently outside, the saddlebags bulging
full of items I have yet to discover.
For the first time, I noticed a large pouch hung on my belt, bearing
sweet breads and a bottle of fine wine... a breakfast on the road, if you
will. Determined to be home before this
place tempted me back, I set out towards the gates, only barely noticing that
the flowers that surrounded me were different from the previous
night's."
"Just as I reached the
threshold of the castle gates, I saw them... roses... but not just any
roses! There were hundreds of them...
mostly pinks and yellows... two whites... and only one red rose... so beautiful
that it just demanded to be admired. It
was them that I remembered your request, dear Beauty."
Beauty's head jerked up at her
name. "My request, papa? For a rose?
You know I was only playing... roses don't grow in the winter."
"Yes, I know, sweet. But I know how you love roses... you work so
hard to grow then here, but the soil just isn't hospitable for such a delicate
flower. And I wanted badly to bring you
a small present... a sort of apology for being away from you for so long."
Father nodded gently, gripping her hand for a brief second. Beauty was well aware of some horrible thing
to come, for her father's hand was trembling and cold.
"Without stopping to consider
that my gracious host might very well object to the cutting of his only red
rose, I withdrew my knife from it's sheath on my horse's saddle and sliced it
through the fateful rose's green stem.
Suddenly... an unearthly roar filled the air around me... so loud and
intense that I couldn't even deduce where it was coming from! It was an unholy sound; a cross between a
man's scream and an animal's howl!
Before I knew it, I was at least a meter off of the ground, being held
at the throat in a strangling grip! It
was a demon! A monster from Hell! He had razor sharp fangs and claws, thick
fur, the mane of a lion, the horns of the very devil! I tell you, I was certain that I was done for. He growled ferociously as he breathed in
ragged gasps; but then... he spoke! A
deep rumble that froze my blood; it was terrifying!"
"'Ingrate!' he snarled at
me! "I save you from a treacherous
blizzard and you thank me by stealing from me?
For this you shall pay with your wretched life!' I was so horrified by the notion that he had
a man's intelligence and cunning that it took me nearly forever to think of a
reply to his accusation."
"'Pardon me... g-good sir...
but I-I hardly think that death is an... an appro-propriate punishment for the
theft of a little rose.' I stuttered, aware that I was only succeeding in
angering him further."
"'That rose was not little to
me, farmer!' he growled, tightening his grip on my throat. 'Please!' I cried, beginning to
struggle. 'It was only a present for my
daughter... I've been away from them for a long time... and little Beauty loves
rose, but is unable to grow them at our cottage... my intentions were
good!'"
"He stood back, slowly letting
his arm drop until my feet once again touched ground. Again I noticed how gigantic he was... at least twice my own
height! He released my neck, seeming to
consider my plea. 'Farmer... that rose
has cost me much... it's death can lead to my own...' He then changed the train
of thought quickly, 'Did you say that your daughter's name is Beauty?'"
"'Yes, milord.' I shook,
dreading where this might be going."
"'Then I offer you this
chance... you may return home to your family and in one week's time, either you
or your daughter must return to me.
Should your daughter choose to take your place, no harm will come to
her, this I promise. Go, now!'"
"Too scared to refuse his
offer, I leapt back onto my horse's back and kicked him into a gallop, fleeing
the castle South until I found my way back home. And now, I have only four days left to be with you until... I
must go back to meet my death."
Beauty's gaze wandered from person
to person; Alice and Elizabeth were staring into the hearth wide-eyed, their
faces pale as the moon and her father seemed exhausted from his story and
slumped in his chair. With careful
thought, Beauty sorted out her feelings in this matter. Se couldn't let her father go, that much was
plain to her. It was her fault, no
matter what anyone said... she'd asked for the stupid rose. However convincing her father and sisters to
let her fulfill the monster's request would require some magic in and of
itself.
No one said a word for the rest of
the night, meanwhile Beauty's head was spinning with plans. They'd never agree to her wish voluntarily,
so she had to give them no say in the matter.
Her father was quite apparently terrified of ever returning to the
castle, hopefully that fear would keep him from following her.
Tonight... she'd have to make her
move tonight while everyone slept.
Claiming extreme weariness, she went up to bed early, busying herself
with packing once alone. She had only
two other dresses besides the one she had on; the one Alice had just sewn and a
pale green one that she used only for special occasions. A few books were thrown into her rumpled
pack, along with the necklace that had once belonged to her deceased mother, as
well as her combs and a brush. For good
measure, she gently placed an old rag-doll on the top of the pack... her
constant companion since the day of her birth.
With a heavy, yet determined heart,
Beauty sneaked her way out to the stables and saddled Apple's cider-colored
back. She turned back only once, right
before entering into the dark trees of the Northern Forests, to take one last
glance at her home. With a sigh, she
gently nudged the puzzled but obedient Apple into a canter towards where she assumed
the castle would be.