𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫

Leta woke up the next morning and walked out to the garden. As she made there way through the garden she saw Theseus. A smile appeared on her face, seeing that he was there and was reading a book. Once she reached him, she stopped "What are you reading?" Theseus looked up from his book and immediately closed it "No good
morning" He joked "Good morning" She chuckled and went to sit next to him "You never answered me question" "Nothing" He told her, as he tried to hide the book. She looked over to the book, head almost resting on his arm "Gwynevere and Lancelot" "Well actually, King Arthur and the Round Table. Knights and men and swords and things" He tried to tell her. Leta wasn't buying it and laughed a little "Still, it's a romance" Theseus locked eyes with Leta "Alright" "I never thanked you for saving my life"'She placed her hand on top of his fur covered one "Well I never thanked you for you not leaving me to be eaten by wolves" They held a calm gaze before Leta laughed. Her laughing caused a smile to appear on Theseus' face. He loved seeing her happy. In the background they could hear laugher and cheer. Ever since Leta saved Theseus, everyone in the castle felt more relaxed. Leta was breaking through Theseus' shell and Theseus fell more in love with
Leta every moment they were together "They know how to have a good time" Leta noted "Yes, but when I enter the room, laughter dies" Theseus practically rolled his eyes "I understand" Theseus looked at her, puzzled "I had one friend back in my village. Her name is Belle and she's the only one who understands
me. The villagers' say that I'm one of the funny girls in town. I'm not sure
they mean it as a complement" "I'm sorry. Your village sounds terrible" Leta let out a breath "It's not so bad. I have a loving father, a supportive friend, and her father who is always there. What more could I need" "Love" Leta gave him a questioned look "You need someone who loves you" Theseus secretly hoped that Leta would tell him she loved him back, but it was unlikely. Leta could see in his eyes that he was trying and she felt her heartbeat speed up. No one ever thought about what she needed, it was always about them. Something about Theseus make her question things in a positive way, seeing things in a whole new light "No one loves me the way I need to be" Leta broke eye contact. Theseus lightly lifted her chin so that she could look up at him "Maybe you just haven't noticed it yet" His comment reminded her of Gaston, but he seemed to mean it in a
more genuine way. He was someone who wanted love because he didn't have it. Gaston was someone who wanted her love and demanded it when there were other girls willing to take him. Something was different about Theseus and she wanted to figure out why she felt the way she did "What do you say we run away? Find new places, explore just a little more" Leta was confused.
Theseus stood up and held his hand out for her. She took it and Theseus led her into the library. Leta stood at the end of a table while Theseus went to grab a book off the shelf "Another little gift from the enchantress" The mention of that sparked another memory of sorts for Leta. All she could see was that she was clinging onto someone's back and
telling him to let the woman stay, Leta backed up a little bit and nearly fell over. This caused Theseus to place the book down and grab Leta "Are you alrignt?" Theseus asked. He looked her in the eyes, tear evident in them that he thought she was hurt "Yes. I just thought of something that startled me"She half lied. All the things with the blue eyes, enchantress, the castle, the servants were starting to fit oddly together. Theseus knew somewhat that the memories of the night he lost her were coming back. He was hopeful that when it did all come together that she
would remember the care she had for him. They both walked back over to the book and Theseus unlocked it "This is
a book that truly allows you to escape"He blew the dust off of it and it showed a map of the world. Leta looked at it in awe "Amazing" "It was her cruelest trick of all" Leta didn't notice, but Theseus was staring longingly at her. The other cruel trick the enchantress did was make Leta forget him "It was just another curse. The outside world has no place for a creature like me, but it can for you" Leta gazed up at Theseus, seeing the sorrow of his words emit to his face. The two held there hands out and clasped their fingers together.
Theseus took control by placing their hands on the book "Think of the one place you've always wanted to see. Now find it in your mind's eye. Then feel it in your heart" Leta thought of the one place she wanted to be, in the place so long ago she called home. Theseus looked around and noticed they were in an old windmill "Where did you take us?" "Paris" "Oh, I love Paris. What would you like to see first? Notre Dame? The Champs-Élysées? No? Too touristy?" Theseus didn't seem to recognize the look on Leta's face and stayed by the window "It's so much smaller than I imagined" She commented. Leta began to look around, seeing the drawings around the room.
She saw one of an older girl holding two smaller girls. It was her and her
sisters.
"This is the Paris of my childhood. These were the waters of my life. In this crumbling, dusty attic, where an artist loved his wife. Easy to remember, harder to move on. Knowing the Paris of my childhood is gone"
Leta walked over to the bed that she used to share with her parents. She picked up a rattle that belonged to one of her sister. It was a Rose, Rosetta's rattle. Theseus walked over to Leta and kneeled down in front of her "What
happened to your mother?" She began to cry "I don't know. Nor do I know what happened to my sisters" "You had sisters?" Leta nodded "Two. Rosetta and Elizabeth. They disappeared. It was
the one story papa could never bring himself to tell. I knew better than
to ask. I was so young" Theseus wiped the tears from her eyes and began to walk around the small space. On a chair against the wall he saw a mask. He picked it up "The doctor's mask" Leta stood up and walked over to him. She placed her arms around him and her face in his arm "The plague" "I'm so sorry" All the memories of that night came flooding back to her. Leta sat by her father, watching as the doctor examined her mother. They told them
to leave. Her two younger sisters were crying in their crib That night, Phillip and Leta left. Elizabeth was given to Lord Tremaine while Rosetta was given to Lord Beaumont. Leta knew she
would never see her sisters again. Leta crumbled down to the floor, Theseus holding her in his arms. She cried in his arms "I'm sorry I ever called your father a thief" "Please. Let's go home" She whispered. The thought of hearing Leta say that never passed Theseu' mind
until now. She was happy with him whether she would admit it or not,
though the current time was not the best to ask. Theseus lightly smiled and nodded. Back in Villanueve, it was raining. Gaston and LeFou were walking as they made their way to the tavern "This is some storm, huh?" LeFou attempted conversation "At least
we're not tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by blood thirsty wolves. You know it's not too late. We could always turn back" Gaston stood in front of the pub's door and gave LeFou a dirty look. This shut LeFou up before Gaston opened the door for them to enter "It's just...every time I close my eyes...I picture Phillip and Belle
stranded alone. And then when I open them...he's...Phillip!" LeFou
gasped "Belle!" Gaston said, trying to hide his true emotions. The man from behind the bar came out "Gaston, did you try to kill Phillip and Belle?" The two that were mentioned stood up from their seats. The whole tavern started to listen in. Père Robert shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Belle has told him the whole story and the motive he had with Leta. The priest cared about
the two girls, seeming as they were the only two that ever came to visit
him "Phillip! Thank heavens! I've spent the last 5 days trying to find you and
Belle" "You tried to kill us!" Belle raged "And you left us to the wolves" "Wolves? It's one thing to rave about your delusions, probably from those books you've been reading" The people in the tavern giggled "And it's another to accuse me of attempted murder"Monsieur Jean said from the corner "Belle, Phillip? Do you have any
proof?" Maurice barged in "I do! My daughter and Phillip were missing for days and neither came back. Isn't that proof enough?!" Phillip answered "Ask Agathe, she rescued us" Gaston laughed "Agathe? You'd hang your accusations on the testimony of a filthy hag? No offense Agathe" Being the man of pride Phillip Lamoureux was, he looked for his next best option "Monsieur LeFou, he was there" "He saw it all" Belle said with a sly smirk. By that time, Maurice had come behind her to make sure his daughter was safe. LeFou was afraid "Me?" "You're right" Gaston said, holding onto his shoulders "Don't take my word for it. LeFou, my dearest companion. Did I, your oldest friend and most loyal compatriot, try to kill the father and friend of the only
woman I've ever loved?" "Well, it's a complicated question on a number of accounts" Gaston gripped onto LeFou's shoulders tighter and gave him an angry look "But, no" Phillip was surely angry, but he kept it to a minimum. On the other hand, Belle was enraged. She hated Gaston and wanted the village to
see the truly vile man he was "No he did not" LeFou said firmly "Why you!" Belle went to go attack the tiny plump man, but Maurice held his daughter back "Liar!" Though Belle may not have been able to go at Gaston, Phillip gained the
courage to slap the man right across his face. Before he could, Gaston grabbed his hand "Out of all the most noble men Phillip, it pains me to say you have
become a danger to yourself and others. No wonder Leta ran away" "She didn't run away!" Belle yelled "You need help sir" Gaston then turned to Maurice and Belle "All of you. A place to heal your troubled minds" Thomas, Dick and Stanley were motioned over to grab ahold of the three, It didn't look good for them.