Steel Roses

To Dine Again

It was another week before Beldon could stand before the full length mirror in his dressing room. The bandages were finally removed– whatever tonics and creams Jasper used on him while he slept healed his body a great deal quicker than anything he would have found at home for such a cruel attack.

But he was scarred.

He looked over his shoulder at the reflection. His once smooth back was now marred with three scars that ran from the top of one shoulder blade to the bottom of the other. They wouldn't heal. He only hoped the damage to his face would. He had been scraped and bruised from his falls and collision with the ice river and of course from being crushed under his horse – he was lucky he hadn't broken anything. His face and body had looked like he'd been in a boxing match, but he was healing. The gash on his forehead was still there though. He fingered it slowly, hoping it would leave no trace. He didn't want it.

He looked at it for a moment, then straightened and threw his shirt over his shoulders.

"Beldon," Vanessa said gently from a nearby mirror.

Beldon glanced at her as he tied the cravat into place.

"You can stay here if you would prefer," she said, her expression almost eager for him to do so. "You could eat here, in bed, stay and relax some more."

Beldon looked at her for a moment, then picked up his waistcoat. "It is nearly seven and time for dinner," he said calmly, turning his gaze back to his reflection, his chin lowered and a shadow formed across his eyes as a darkness descended over them.

"Beldon," Vanessa said. "Please."

"I shan't leave again," Beldon said, picking up a white coat, "I am trapped by the forests that will kill me." He swung the coat into place and looked at Vanessa. "And since this is now my home for good, it's now fair game."

"Beldon!" Vanessa said, exasperated, following him into the main room.

"Saviour he might be, but I am going to confront him," Beldon said, tying his hair back before turning to her. "So how do I look? Presentable for my first dinner back?"

Vanessa looked at him, then sighed. "You look beautiful—Ah, I mean handsome."

Beldon smiled at her slightly, making her smile back, before Iago knocked at the door and Beldon left to meet him.

Beldon dropped his coat on the back of his chair and took his usual seat at the end of the table. It felt like it had been months since had had last sat at this table, yet it had been barely more than a week.

The distant clock struck seven and the hidden door at the back of the room opened, The Beast entering right on time.

He took his usual seat, on the edge of the darkness, his cloak and hood in place, his back to Beldon and silence descended as Beldon ate.

The entire meal neither of them spoke. It wasn't until Beldon finished and set his knife and fork neatly on the plate, did he intertwine his fingers, rest his elbows on the table, rest his chin on his fingers and lock his gaze on the back of The Beast's hood. 

"Will anyone else be joining us?" he asked coolly. He saw The Beast shift at the start of the usual four questions.

"No," was the cautious reply.

Beldon's eyes narrowed. "Are you eating?" he asked.

"No."

"Will you tell me what you have been doing today?"

"No."

"Would you like to know what I have been doing today?"

For the first time, there was no reply to this last question.