Antoine's aware of a presence in the bedroom but is too tired to push past his dreams and regain consciousness.

The sun drenching the room cause his eye lids to flutter. The grandfather clock announces its' nine o'clock the morning. Rising from the pillows, he's astonished to find a new suit in his size laid out to replace the damp one he's wearing that ripped from falling off Philippe in the forest. "Certainly, this palace belongs to someone, who has seen and pitied my distress."

He looks through a window, but instead of the ground covered in powdery snow, there are delightful arbours, interwoven with the most beautiful flowers that he's ever beheld. Antoine quickly freshens up and dons fresh clothes before returning to the great hall, where he had dinner.

This time he finds hot chocolate ready to be drunk on a side table with several pieces of brioche. "Thank you for breakfast, whoever you are," Antoine says aloud, "I am obliged to you for your hospitality."

Antoine drinks all the steaming hot chocolate, eats several pieces of brioche then goes outside to check on Philippe. As he walks towards the stable the blooming rose garden, displaying rainbows of colour reminds him of Beauty's request.

He's drawn to blood red roses in full bloom bathing in the sunlight. Antoine gathers a branch cutting with six long stemmed roses to be replanted on the farm.

A blood curdling howl breaks the silence. A figure Antoine cannot make out in a mirage, pounds towards him at forty kilometres. When it stops it is a brooding man at least seven feet tall, with rippling muscles and a deep menacing scar in his right cheek. His eyes glow liquid gold in colour. The beast growls towering over him like the wolves that attacked him yesterday. All colour drains from Antoine's face.

"You ungrateful man," Beast speaks in a thundering voice, "I saved your life by opening the gate before you and your horse were attacked. You had a sumptuous meal last night and again this morning. Your mount was sheltered and provided for. In return, you presume to steal my prized roses and shorten my life. Much as you must die for the transgression, it is humane to give you a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself. Say your prayers..."

Antoine cowers falling to his knees and trembling. He's baffled a wild animal can speak articulately or grasp the concept of humanity. Keeping his head down but lifting both hands in supplication he cries, "My Lord, I beseech you to forgive me, indeed I had no intention to offend you by gathering a rose for my daughter. She wanted no money, no jewels or other feminine finery. She desired but one rose."

"I loathe pretention. Don't call me Lord, I'm Beast. You say your daughter desired a rose yet you took a branch with half a dozen roses."

"I beg forgiveness," Antoine bows his head in terror and shame.

"I can be persuaded to forgive you, on one condition."

"Name it. Anything...," Antoine responds eagerly.

"Your daughter who requested a rose from my garden comes here willingly and agrees to be my mate. If she turns down my offer," Beast winces in anguish, "Take a month to say farewell to the people you know, settle your affairs and return here to be my companion for the remainder of my life." By Beast's calculation he had eleven months before the preserved rose in the back of the library wilted ending his life.

"With respect, I cannot leave my most beloved daughter, Beauty to a creature of the wild...to you Beast. I give you my word, I'll settle my affairs and voluntarily return one month hence."

"Go to the room where you slept. You'll find an empty chest. Fill it with whatever jewellery you like best and I will tele-port it to your cottage in Avon. Should you not return voluntarily," Beast sniffs his scent, "I'll hunt you down then drag you back here. I assure you, the experience will be uncomfortable," Beast growls menacingly.

"I'll do as you say Beast," Antoine says, "if I must permanently be separated from my family, I'll take comfort in settling all my debts and leaving my poor children a substantial fortune. They will live the rest of their lives without financial woe."

He returns to the bed chamber, and finds thousands upon thousands of broad pieces of gold. He puts these treasures in what looks like a pirate's chest, then closes the lid.

He makes his way to Philippe at the stable, then leaves the palace with a heavy heart.

Gone is the elation from escaping the pack of wolves the night before.

Philippe follows the well-travelled road out of the forêt de Fontainebleau.

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May, 16, 2015