Gallimaufry

Writing Prompt: Fairy Tale Ending?

Prompt: Change the Direction of a fairy tale.

After decades of imprisonment in the castle, Adam had taken several months to re-establish himself as the regent and commander of his kingdom. He had maintained a great deal of wealth in his own banks, not to mention the international banks where his investments there had grown exponentially over the years.  But he was a Prince only in name until he had his garrisons restaffed and the taxation and justice systems running through his country, which also required that he pull in outside help to get caught up on everything that had changed since the night of the spell. 

Belle had given him his space, returning to live with her father in the village, though their home and station within the community had changed overnight. They were considered amongst the high echelons, her father had been contracted by Adam to pursue up to date urban plans, which gave them a steady income. 

She had visited the castle when she had time, sometimes seeing Adam while he was moving from one task to another, but usually she would enter the library, exchange a book and be gone without seeing more than the foot guard that patrolled the grounds.  Belle couldn't complain, she may have realized she loved the man but there was now time for them to truly appreciate what that meant. 

Belle was in a corner of the library after several months of that routine when Adam found her one evening, grinning up at her as she climbed down the ladder she had been on, only to reach up to pluck her off of it once she got within reach. 

Belle laughed soft and turned to face him once her feet were on the ground. "I could have made it down." 

"Another book? They tell me you're here every day, but I see you twice a week at most." Adam still grinned, offering her book a curious look, before letting his eyes drift up to her. "You and your father should move in here." 

"Father likes his home. And the clutter would drive you insane." she shook her head, blushing gently and glancing to him out of the corner of her eye. He was handsome, as a human, she loved his smile but he seemed to have continued to refine his manners in the last few months. Gone was the well meaning beast who had forgotten how to be a human. 

"Then you should." Adam offered simply, laughing and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her in closer to him and kissing her when she opened her mouth to object. "I've got things, as sorted as they ever can be, I will be crowned soon and I need to remind people what a court is. We need to have balls. Start participating in the world." 

Belle winced ever so slightly at that, her brown eyes meeting his blue ones, eyebrows raising, "it is too soon for me to move in with you, and about the world..." 

"Well, the first ball we'll have, we'll have soon, they're already planning it, to celebrate our engagement." Adam cut her off, grinning wider to her and  pulling away to lower himself down onto one knee, "I want you to be crowned when I am. We should be married soon." 

"Soon." Belle blinked a couple times, looking down to the ring in his hands, then back to his eyes, watching him for a long while. "The world. I've always wanted to see the world, to explore, to experience everything there is out there. I love you... but you seem to think that means that I'm... going to forget who I am." 

"But you have the book... to travel..." he motioned around the room, "you have the library. And once everything is settled, I'm sure we could travel to Paris, to see more of the country side." 

She glanced around the room, smiling as she took in the rows and rows of books that she couldn't possibly finish in her life time, but her eyes stopped on the windows, taking in the strip of land that disappeared beyond the castle grounds, "part of the point of seeing the world is the journey, not the destinations, Adam." 

Adam frowned at that standing slowly and giving her a careful look that belied his confusion, his hurt. "But you said that you loved me. The kiss worked. I love you. I would have died for you." 

"I do love you." She murmured softly, tilting her head up to look at him, offering a half shrug, "And you love me. But most of our relationship took part under stressful conditions, some of which I was a prisoner of yours. And you love me.  Me. Who wants to travel the world." 

"I can't travel the world. Not like you want to." Adam shoved his hands in his pockets, half turning away from her, glancing towards the window as well, heaving a sigh. "My duties are here." 

Belle nodded, following his gaze, feeling a pain in her heart as she realized what this meant. "I don't intend to be gone forever." 

Adam didn't look at her, merely sighing softly, "Both of us will change, while you're gone. But you will at least allow me to provide you one of my Guard's, for your protection while you travel? See the world, be who you're  meant to be, but keep in touch." 

"Of course." Belle nodded at that, turning to look at him once more, "will you wait for me?" 

"We will both try, I presume." Adam finally looked at her, the expression on his face breaking her heart, though he managed a half-smile, "but don't stay gone too long. You're always welcome here." 

Belle smiled, nodding and reaching out a hand to rest on  his forearm, giving it a squeeze, "I love you." 

Adam turned and brushed his lips across her forehead, "And I you."