The Return of the Princesses

Chapter 10

Aside: Hello everyone!! I've been getting a lot of requests to continue with this story... so after one year of waiting...here is chapter 10!

We finally arrived in my kingdom after what felt like years of travelling. I guess everything here goes much slower when travelling by horse then by sports car. I hadn't seen any of the village yet, but I was being pulled through a forest on a dirt path. The dirt beats the uneven, and rocky ground we had been travelling on before. The carriage jerked to a stop before I could finish my thought, I shot my hand out to steady myself immediately. 

" My lady, we have arrived." Said my driver.

"What? We are in the middle of a forest!" I exclaimed, trying to look around outside but only seeing green.

" Your lack of memory is amazing me, dear. Hold on, I'll grab your door." He said, jumping down from his seat.

" Naw, I got it." 

Naw I got it? Good job at trying to blend in, Beverley. 

I pushed open the door and tried to take a step out.

" My lady!" My driver exclaimed, trying to rush over to me to catch me. But he was late. My heel dug into the soft ground, I rolled my ankle, and face planted into the mud.

" Argh!" I screamed, " Of course this had to happen!" I sat on my knees trying to brush off the mud, but every inch of me, up to my nose, was covered.

" Oh my lady! Let me help you up!" My driver grabbed my forearm and heaved me back onto my feet. 

" I hate high heels, I'm never going to wear them again." I mumbled. 

My driver laughed, and guided me to the other side of the carriage, where, stood a giant, dark castle. 

" What the-" I started.

"  Here, is your home, Belle." He said, extending his arm out to show off the castle.

" Woah, it looks like one giant dungeon."

" Do not tell your husband that!"

" My what?"

" Your husband... you poor child, must've hit your head so hard." He reached to touch my head, but I jerked away.

" I'm fine. You're dismissed. I'm perfectly capable of walking from here."

 He was taken back by my sudden rudeness, " as you wish, Belle."

I didn't hesitate to turn back, I pulled my my muddy dress and trudged through the mud, listening to the gross noise of my feet being absorbed by wet dirt, and the heaviness of my breathing. It took a lot of muscle to stay steady, and I wasn't the strongest person in the world. 

I finally made it up to the front of the castle, I couldn't see much, because the sun had already set. I could see lights on through a few windows, and there was a single candle burning on each stair leading up to the grand, but dark, steel castle doors. 

" Well, this is it." I said, determined to figure out what is going on.

I pulled up my dress one last time, and walked up the stairs.

Do I walk in? It's technically my house... But I don't want to scare anyone right now, I just want to sleep.

I decided to knock on the door, three times. 

I heard it echo loudly inside, and I stood and waited.

My heart started picking up, I hadn't planned this far ahead.

Who is going to greet me? My so called husband? Another maid? Fairy? Dragon?

My completely unrealistic imagination stopped when I heard something from behind the door, someone unlatching locks.

Suddenly, the door flung open, and I was greeted by a young man.

Taller then me, slender, but clearly muscular. He had fair skin, and hints of freckles painted his nose, and down his neck. His long auburn hair waved down to his shoulders, looking messy.

"Belle." He mumbled, dropping the book that I didn't notice was in his hand, and he reached out and hugged me.

This must be him, my husband. The beast.  But now, a man-beast? An ex-beast who is now a man? I only watched Beauty and the Beast when I was younger, and couldn't think of what his real name was.

There was something extremely comforting about his embrace, it was warm, and felt safe. 

I felt subtle, cold tears hit my shoulders, I couldn't imagine the pain he went through, his wife gone missing, out of the blue, to suddenly return out of no where with no explanation. 

" Hey there, it's okay, I am home safe now." I said, rubbing his back.

" I missed my wife more then anything in the world, I'm never letting you go again." He said, pulling me closer.

" Why would I ever leave such an enchanting place, ever again?" I lied, but it made him laugh under my grip. 

He pulled away, but still holding onto my shoulders, analyzing me.

" Why are you all muddy?" He inquired.

" I kind of had a mishap trying to exit the carriage..." I started, feeling my cheeks start to burn up.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, clearly asking for me to explain better.

" I fell right into the mud."

He looked at me, dropped his arms of my shoulders, and irrupted into ear-shatteringly loud laughter. 

I didn't know what to do except stand around awkwardly until he had finished laughing. 

Thankfully, two young ladies dressed like maids jogged to the front door.

" Prince Adam we-" They took in the scene, and their eyes landed hard on me.

" Princess Belle!" They exclaimed in unity, racing over and engulfing me into a three-person hug.

" Oh hi there," I looked around desperately for any clue to their names, luckily, they had shinning silver name tags pinned to the top of their dresses, " Lucy and Marlee." I sighed, happy to know at least their names.

And now my husbands, since Lucy and Marlee referred to him as Prince Adam.

I pulled out of their eager grasp, " Sorry for the loud noise ladies, Adam here just found it humorous that I fell in mud." I looked over at Adam, who was slowly recovering, and gave him a fake hurt look.

" I am so sorry my dear, let me help you to the shower to help you get cleaned off." He said, playing along.

" No," I looked away, " I am mad at you, I would rather Lucy and Marlee help me get ready for bed, if you may." I asked, looking in their directions.

They both nodded, and each took one of my arms, escorting me away from the front door.

" Bye-bye" I waved at Adam over my shoulder, giving him a flirty wink, only to receive one right back. 

I couldn't take my eyes off him, there was something about him that made me want to fall into his arms, but I had only just met him. 

But it felt like I've known him for years.