Second Chance

Chapter 11 Stables

Belles POV

I tugged on the reins the whole ride home.

Faster. 

Get away faster. 

He was obviously in the room. Otherwise the spinning wheel would be still. 

Invisible?

Quickly I whipped my hand to my face, wiping the tears coming down, making me unable to see and guide the horse. 

He spins to forget. 

To forget me.

He said in the letter -he  never would, but he will. 

He lied.

Of course he wont remember me, i'm nothing to him. Bringing me back was only to clear his conscience as he felt like it was his fault how i died. Not to actually have me back.

He never loved me. Never.

Even after everything, everything that has ever happened, which i thought proved it was true love...

Well, it was for me, I'm sure of it - but him. Maybe I was being a silly girl, naive like everyone says. Thinking I could see behind his mask, when really I'm just too blind to see the darkness. To stupid in the hope he can be rid of it. He can never be rid of it. He is it. The darkness and him have become one. And I thought I could be the one to bring him into the light - silly. Silly girl. 

I tugged on the reins towards the orange fire flickering a few metres ahead, the fire posts lighting the gates to the Charming's castle. 

The guards stood up. 

I recognise one of them. 

Yes. He was the man that let me and R- ... that was on gate duty before...

"Ah, i hoped you'd be back, when I saw you rush off earlier I thought you'd be long gone," he said, shocked, but not unhappy- the opposite.

"Please may you let me through..." I whisper, not looking at him, not letting him see the tears firm in my eyes. 

I gripped the reins as he took a step forward, his hand brushing my leg, made my whole body twitch.

Not breaking eye contact his hand reached the horses back. 

"Nice, horse, you got here," he said, we both knowing full well that his hand brushing my thigh was no accident and that he wasn't talking about the horse. 

I cleared my throat and shifted my weight away from him. 

"Fine...if you're going to be like that..." he grumbled, stepping back, opening the gate for me.

After that interaction I didn't even bother to even nod my head to say thank you. 

He doesn't deserve my thanks.

Once I heard the gate firmly shut behind me, I knew I was safe and slid off, my stead and guided him into the stables. 

I led her into the stable I found him in, and shut the gate behind me. 

Sighing, I stand on my tip-toes and reach up, taking off his bridal,  hanging it on the iron hook, huffing and puffing a little as I did the same with the heavy saddle. 

I step over back to the horse and reach up and stroke its neck.

Thanks for looking after me, and for letting me borrow you, I'm sure it might have shocked you, me coming in in the middle of the night...