A Rose for the Beast

A Father's Love

"Papa?"

Rosalie ignored her bruised ribs as she reached for her father. He pulled away, grabbing the arms of one limp guard to drag him out of sight. When he returned, he disposed of the second body behind the treeline. Victor quickly shoved his hands into a pile of snow nearby. He scooped up several handfuls and scrubbed the blood away with fervor.

"I'm fine. Go check on your friend," he said rapidly.

She hesitantly looked away to examine the wolf, which lay on its left side. He whimpered when she touched his fur while searching for his wound. The blade had sliced through cleanly, making a two inch long gauge on the animal's back leg that.

Rosalie tore off a long strap from her tattered dress. The beautiful gown had been rendered to dirty rags after her capture and subsequent escape through the woods, but she used it regardless. Taking a little bit of snow, she put the lump of ice onto his wound, then tightly wrapped the makeshift bandage around it.

Other than his labored breathing, the wolf didn't react. She needed to get him into the castle. Luckily, the cold air would slow his blood loss. Rosalie peered back up to where her father had been. He was moving back along the trail where he carefully cradled the rabbit into his arms.

When he returned, she saw the poor animal's battered body. A sickening feeling spread through her as she stood to examine his injuries.

"Madame LaFleur! You've returned?!," Dubois said from the ground, causing her father's mouth to fall open, "It would be a happy occassion if not for the circumstances at present. The Queen is visiting with Lord Michel. Her guards are residing in every single one of the corridors and halls."

"First...a wolf. Now, a turtle. What's next? A babboon?!"

Rosalie tried to ignore her father's rambling mumbles. She looked down and gave Mr. Dubois a weak smile in greeting, then her eyes bulged. Sweeping the tortoise up quickly, Rosalie gazed at him desperately.

"Monsieur Dubois, do you know a way into the castle? Away from prying eyes?"

He blinked a few times while she spoke and shook his head. Rosalie brought him closer until their faces were nearly touching.

"Surely, your staff has used other entryways when they were out and about? Haven't you seen anyone coming home late after sneaking past you or Michel?"

Monsieur Dubois huffed indignantly and wiggled uncomfortably between her hands.

"Of course not! No servant ever leaves without informing me. And as of today, not one has ever approached me. For you to insinuate that I would neglect my duties as sire's--"

"Back...gate."

The rabbit wheezed out each word, struggling to form the sounds. She gasped and leaned over her father's arms to look at him. Speaking softly, she asked him to repeat the words if he could. He did that and more.

"Back gate that leads...to the staff... quarters...," his head lulled as he finished speaking.

Rosalie looked pointedly down at the tortoise again. His green brow rose in response.

"That gate is locked, surrounded by thorned rose bushes, and there are pointed ends placed on the top to deter intruders. It is impossible for anyone to climb over, even a woman as," he coughed slightly as a blush rose on his cheeks, "petite as you."

Glaring at the tortoise, she attempted to come up with some sort of plan. She glanced at her father still holding the rabbit, then to the wolf which lay limp on the ground, then back to Monsieur Dubois. Nothing seemed to inspire a strategy, until she gasped at a sudden idea.

"If I can't climb over, could I go through the gate?"

Monsieur Dubois sighed dejectedly.

"I doubt you'd be able to squeeze through the bars. The iron curves in some places to form designs on the gate. You just can't do it."

"But, you can," her father chimed in, pointing straight at the tortoise.

He raised his front legs to slap away Victor's finger.

"It is quite rude to point, Monsieur."

"Shelldon!," she said, raising her voice to call the servant by his first name, "Can you get us in or not?!"

Monsieur Dubois lifted his head out from his shell, where he'd cowered into because of her shouting. He peeked at her cautiously before poking his head out further to nod at her.

"Good," she said as she placed him on the ground, "Go around back and we will meet you there."

The tortoise turned slowly and waddled toward the castle, using the treeline to cloak his sluggish form. Rosalie turned back to her father, whose sunken eyes and weary brow had her concerned. She gently took Monsieur Carrote from his arms.

"You need to go home now, Papa."

Victor's gaze hardened in an instant as he swept past her and kneeled before the wolf. She shook her head at her father's stubbornness.

"You've done enough, Papa. Please, just--"

"No!," he said in a commanding voice, "Are you still in danger, Rosa?," he asked more softly.

She peered at the dead men on the ground by the trees. The snow had already begun covering their bodies beneath its cold white blanket. Her heart sunk, knowing there were dozens more ahead. And if their standards matched their fallen brethren, they would be just as menacing.

"Yes," she answered him honestly.

Victor nodded as he hefted the wolf's body up, sheltering him in his arms like he'd done so many times when she was young and had fallen asleep away from her bed. She couldn't force him to flee, but she didn't want to endanger anyone else. That didn't seem to matter as he faced her again.

"Then, I haven't done enough. The job is never over, not for a parent such as me, Rosa. I would kill a hundred men if they threatened you. And I won't be losing sleep over it, either."

Rosalie knew that the sin he had committed weighed more heavily on him than he would ever admit. But, she could also feel the truth in his words. He had protected her for so long, she should have known he wouldn't give up the mantle. Her eyes watery with emotion, she touched his arm in a small show of gratitude.

Before they made their way to the gate, her father kissed her forehead gently and smiled. They shared a moment of intimacy, a father's love and his daughter's pride, that no one would ever take away.

Then, they quickly snuck through the forest behind BelleMontagne Castle, heading straight for the gate that they hoped would be their key to entering the castle unnoticed.