The Princess and the Beast

Chapter Four

Adam's POV

I walked into the dining room and sat down at my spot, looking in front of me to see a place setting for Camille. I sigh longingly, happy to see my beloved again, but not wanting her to see me in this form. I growled as I looked over to Camille's left to see a place setting for the girl that accompanied the princess, "Lumiere!" 

I stomped into the kitchen, "You're making her dinner?" Lumiere looked baffled, "Well, we thought you would appreciate the company. Besides, I thought you were excited to see Her Highness again."Cogsworth started to ramble, "Master, it was his idea to give her room back to her. I had no part in this! The other girl also got a suite in the east wing."  I looked confused and then groaned, "No! Not Camille! The other one. You gave her a bedroom?!" Cogsworth shook his head, "No, he gave her a bedroom!" Lumiere sighed, "But if the Princess is the only one who can break the spell-" I looked at Lumiere, "Camille is the only one who can break the spell! That's what the enchantress said." 

Lumiere smiled, "Then what is the problem? The Princess loves you! The spell will be broken at dinner!" I sighed, "But she has to love me for what I look like now." Lumiere sighed, "But you have to try, Master. With every passing day, we become less human." I groaned, "She's the daughter of the King and Queen of France!" Mrs. Potts sighed, "You can't judge people by who their father is, now can you? Besides, this is the Princess. She came back after all this time. You didn't lock her up and she could have left. What does that tell you?" 

I smiled softly, "That she cares." Lumiere nodded, "She always cared. She told us that she'd been trying for years to find you, didn't she? If someone didn't care that much, she wouldn't be here. All we ask is for you to make friends with the best friend."

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I ventured up to the east wing to the girl's room and banged on the door, "You'll join Her Highness and I for dinner. That's not a request." Mrs. Potts spoke up, "Gently, Master. The girl lost her father and her freedom in one day." Lumiere added on, "Yes, the poor thing is probably in there, scared to death." 

Mrs. Potts nodded, "Exactly." I sighed and knocked on the door, lighter than before and the girl called out, "Just a minute." Lumiere held his arms out, "You see? There she is! Now, remember, be gentle." Mrs. Potts added, "Kind." I looked at the door and sighed, trying to sound upbeat, "Will you join Her Highness and me for dinner?"

The girl scoffed, "You've taken me as your prisoner as well as Camille and now you want to have dinner with me as well as forcing Camille to? Are you insane?" I grew angry at her insinuations of me forcing Cammie to do anything and started banging on the door, "I told you that you will join Camille and me for dinner!" The girl sternly said back, "And I told you no. Camille will not as well! I will speak for her so you don't have to go ask her! We'd starve before we'd ever eat with you."

I yelled back, "Well be my guest! Go ahead and starve!" I looked at the servants, "If she doesn't eat with us....then she doesn't eat at all!" I stomp down the hall to Cammie's room and sigh, regretting my actions towards Cammie's friend and wondering if what she said was true. Does Camille not want to eat with me?

I mustered up courage and lightly knocked on the door, hearing Cammie call out, "Just a minute!" I grew nervous, but as soon as Cammie opened the door, all of that left, "Your Highness." Cammie smiled and sighed, "Adam, please don't use my title, we've known each other far too long for you to be formal now." 

I smiled and looked at my feet, "Do I have the pleasure of escorting you to tonight's dinner?" Cammie blushed and nodded, "I would love to join you for dinner." I held out my arm and escorted Cammie to her seat for dinner. 

Once we were both seated, I was too ashamed to look Cammie in the eye. 

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Camille's POV

I frowned as I was seated so far away from Adam, but decided to move. I avoided Adam's eyes as he watched me move my glassware to sit next to him, amused. I sighed and got comfortable beside Adam, "Adam, I have to ask. What happened?" Adam huffed and looked away from me, "I'd rather not talk about it, Your Highness." 

I growled in anger and stood up quickly, walking around my chair and cupping Adam's face, "Adam, I didn't stay in Villeneuve, searching for years to find you, just for you to not look at me like you used to. What happened?" Adam sighed, "After you left, I grew upset, not knowing if that was the last trip you would make to me or if you were coming back. I grew heartless and when the enchantress came to seek shelter as an old woman, I turned her away, causing her to place a curse on the castle. It's been five years and you just now come back to me."

I sighed and sat back down, "How does the curse get broken?" Adam sighed and looked away from me, "It's you. You have to be in love with me." I smiled, "Adam, I've been in love with you since we've been children. Nothing has changed. Why are you still cursed?" Adam growled and stood up, "Because you have to love me as I am now! And no one can love a beast, not even the Princess of France." Adam stomped off and I sighed, watching him walk away, "I don't care how you look, Adam. I love you for you, but you have to love yourself as well." 

I looked at Lumiere, "The enchantress informed him of self-love correct?" Lumiere looked sheepish, "No?" I sighed, "I've always loved Adam, beast or no. But this isn't the Adam I remember." I stood up and smiled at Lumiere, "I have a feeling he won't want to see me anymore tonight. Goodnight, Lumiere." 

Lumiere sighed as I walked back to my room, "Goodnight, Princess.