The Dreamer and the Hunter - A Beauty and the Beast Story

A Friend in the Village

Gaston joined them for dinner that night, again upon Maurice's request.

"How was your trip?" Gaston asked the inventor politely. Belle kept silent.

"Oh fine, a success. Until the end of course! I was looking for some pieces for my latest invention." The hunter nodded and concentrated on his plate as Maurice continued to ramble on. "You'll never believe those rumours going around our neighbouring towns, about that creature who's been preying on farmers' flocks – it must be a bear or wolves or something but everyone's going on about how it's some demonic beast. Ha! Here in France? The stories these people come up with!"

Following dinner, this time, although invited to, Gaston didn't stay for their evening tradition. This was much to Belle's relief.

"Things seemed different between you tonight," Maurice observed once their guest had left.  "More cold and closed off."

"No more so than usual," Belle insisted as she cleaned up the dinner dishes.  Though of course, they knew of the whole wedding ordeal while Maurice did not.

The next morning Belle made a trip into town to the chapel.  Père Robert smiled when he saw her come in.  "Ah Belle, good to see you.  I admit I was a little nervous that the events of the other day and my part in them may have frightened you off."

"Not from the person in the village who has been the friendliest towards me." She smiled.  "And like you said, you really had no choice, it wasn't your fault."

He smiled his thanks. Then he nodded to the book tucked beneath her arm, the collection of fairy tales.  "You have your new book I see."

"Yes, Gaston delivered it, said he 'found it'.  Though I guessed where. I figured it was you I should come thank."

"My pleasure.  I was going to deliver it myself but he was most insistent.  Guess I should have known he'd take credit for it."

"Yes, he's got quite the nerve that's for sure." She sighed.

"Yes," he agreed. "And it would seem you've caught the eye of our local war hero."

She scoffed. "Yes, he's made that obvious enough." Again she sighed.  "I thought I made myself quite clear, but apparently not.  He just will not take 'no' for an answer.  Madame LeBlanc is right, he is extremely stubborn."

He chuckled.  "Yes, and she would know, she's known him longer than anyone else in the village."

"Yes, she said she's known him since he was a child."

"Yes indeed. She's the closest figure he has to a mother."

Belle was becoming more and more curious. She had noticed that while he loved to boast about himself, Gaston never spoke of his past, at least not pre-war. "And his father?"

Père Robertsighed.  "No one mentions his father.  Not a very popular figure with Gaston himself I gather." She nodded.  "Now Belle," he said, switching back to their previous topic. "I sense that you are troubled by all this with Gaston, understandably.  I just want you to know if you would ever like someone to talk to, a friend, I'm here."

She smiled at his offer.  "Thank you, Père Robert. That's very kind." She headed towards the door.  "And thank you for the book, I'm most excited about it."

He returned the smile.  "You're most welcome. I had a shipment in from Paris – a dozen volumes to add to my collection. 

"Ah, they should keep me busy for a while."

"A week perhaps, judging by how quickly you finished the others."

To this she chuckled. Then with one last smile she called goodbye and left the chapel.  With a dreamy far-off look and her nose stuck in her book, she headed for home.

(Maybe the song reference is kind of cheesy, but I liked it ;) and sorry, the title's kind of bad, but I couldn't think of any title names for this chapter! Thanks for reading!)