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

'Friends'

"I say we put our past behind us and start again, fresh," Gaston had said. As much as Belle would love to forget all about it, their past, she knew she couldn't. And now she had allowed them to be friends... She would just continue keeping him at a distance, or as much as she could with his constant persistence.

A couple of days later while she was running errands in town he caught up to her. "Good morning Belle."

"Gaston."

"What d'you say we head over to the tavern to see my medals – Madame LeBlanc just gave them a fresh polish last night so they're bright and shiny, perfect for display!"

"I have to finish running these errands–" She had been about to protest, but she had gotten herself into this. There was no way to excuse herself anymore. He just wanted to spend time as friends... "Very well. But just let me finish buying what I need."

He grinned. "Splendid!"

Once all the errands were done he proudly led her to the tavern. When he opened the door and led her inside a dark entryway she grew uncertain, but walking down a few stairs it opened up into a wide, dimly-lit, cozy room. There was a long counter against the back wall, a large fireplace off to the side, and many tables of all shapes and sizes.

"Hello dear," Madame LeBlanc called from behind the counter. Belle smiled back.

"Hello Belle," said LeFou coming over. "So nice to see you."

"Hello LeFou, nice to see you too." She smiled politely.

"Can you believe LeFou that Belle has never been to the tavern?" said Gaston.

"No! Well welcome."

"Thank you."

LeFou grinned. "Well, I'll leave you. Enjoy!"

Gaston watched her as she looked around. "Well, what do you think?"

"Different than I expected," she admitted.

He chuckled. "My medals are this way."

As it was close to lunch time now the tavern was pretty full. Belle caught many of the townsfolk staring at her and whispering to one another. The triplets were staring daggers at her the whole time.

Gaston led her to a display case over by the fireplace which was full of medals of silver and gold. He began explaining each one's significance, boasting proudly. Belle had to admit he had done some heroic things, judging by his stories. She wasn't sure how much was exaggerated, knowing Gaston, but the medals were proof. He really was a war hero.

After spending a long time with the medals, he turned her attention to the antlers and animal heads that hung about the tavern.

"Did you really hunt all these animals?" she asked, staring around her at the many that lined the walls.

"Most of them," he said proudly.

That was when she noticed it, painted on the wall up above the fireplace: a portrait of a man in a red coat with black and silver hair with a sword. "Is this your father?" She recalled him saying his father had left him the tavern.

"Yes."

She looked at him and then back at the portrait. "I can see the resemblance."

"There is no resemblance," he said gruffly.

She noticed his sudden change in mood. He looked hurt, angered. Had this been brought on by her observation? Before she could apologize he was talking again, "you see these antlers over here..."

Belle then recalled what Père Robert had said about Gaston's father not being a very popular figure with Gaston himself. That much was evident, and she found herself growing increasingly curious about it, Gaston's past in general. However, she guessed she would have to learn of it from a source other than the man himself.

(Me: I'd love to write a sequel to this story.
Also Me: You're not even close to finished this one yet!!! Let alone all the other ones you're writing!
Haha! Me all the time! 😅 Thanks for reading!)