“Yes, I am. I work in these woods,” I replied. My heart was thumping in my chest uncontrollably. I was actually having a conversation with my dearly beloved, and she knew who I was. It was everything I had hoped it would be.
“Do you live in these parts of the woods?”
“Just outside of them, on the edge of town.”
Her round little face lit up. “So do I. I only come through the woods to visit my grandmother. She is quite poorly and my company seems to cheer her once a week.”
“She is very lucky to have you.” I was grinning like a fool but I couldn’t stop. She was just as lovely in conversation as she was in looks. I could barely bear it.
Silence fell over us as we both ran out of things to say. I wanted to tell her how I felt but I was too worried she would reject me. Perhaps seeing her on the path once a week was good enough. Surely it had to be better than not seeing her at all? I couldn’t risk losing her forever.
“I should go,” I mumbled. Although I didn’t want to, I couldn’t stay there all day just to stare at the ground in embarrassment. Telling her how I felt was a lot harder to do than I imagined it would be.
I turned to leave, heaving my axe over my shoulder so it could rest there as I walked. It had been a good day, despite not winning Little Red’s heart. At least she knew who I was now.
Perhaps our talks could get longer over time. Perhaps she would slowly fall in love with me as she grew to know me better. Not all love had to be instant like mine had been. Sometimes it grows over time. If there was a chance, even just a tiny glimmer of one, I would return to the path every Friday without fail.
“Wait,” Little Red said quickly. She reached out to place her delicate hand on my arm to stop my forward movement.
“Yes, Little Red?” I turned to face her, my heart in my throat.
“I must confess something.” She hesitated as she had second thoughts about whether to tell me her big secret. All I could do was stand there staring. I didn’t want to frighten her off like she was a butterfly by moving.
Her gaze travelled over the ground, up the trees, toward the sky, and finally rested back on me again. She took a deep breath and let the words escape. “I’ve had a crush on you for the longest time. Will you allow me to repay your kindness by accompanying you on a date?”
I wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating, having a stroke, or if it was really happening. I wanted to sing and dance and shout, all at the same time. I desperately wanted to believe my dream was coming true right then and there outside Grandmother’s cabin under the three oak trees.
My breath caught in my throat as I answered. “It would be my pleasure to accompany you on a date, Little Red.”
She laughed, her voice tinkling as the birds sung on a nearby tree branch. It was quite possibly the most wonderful sound in the world. If I had my way, she would only ever be laughing in the future. I would ensure her happiness like my life depended on it.
CHAPTER6
It had rained overnight, leaving a fine mist of water and dew on the leaves and twigs. They crunched underfoot as we walked along the path.
“What a glorious morning for a walk in the woods,” Little Red exclaimed.
I gripped her hand tighter as we walked. The basket was heavy in my other hand as it held wine and muffins for Grandmother. I didn’t mind though, for I felt as light as a feather.
“It is you that makes it so glorious, my Little Red,” I replied happily.
She stopped, making my feet cease their movement too. Little Red turned to face me, her free hand resting on my chest. “I am so happy I have someone to walk these woods with. I love you so much, Will.”
“And I love you too, Little Red. In fact, there is something I would like to ask you.” Now was my chance, it was the perfect time and I wanted to seize it with both hands. Run away with the opportunity like it was an endless ribbon of hope.
Little Red gasped as I knelt down to perch on one bended knee. I looked up into her wide, surprised eyes and a rush of overwhelming love flooded through me. I never thought I could love anyone as much as I did her.
“Little Red, I have loved you from the moment I caught my first glimpse of you in these woods. Will you please make me the happiest man on earth and agree to marry me? I promise I will spend my entire life treating you like a precious jewel to be gazed upon with admiration and awe. I will be the light that ensures you always sparkle.”
She clasped her hands together in front of her as the hint of a tear filled her eyes. “Oh, Will, it would make me so joyous to be your wife. Of course I will marry you!”
I jumped up and took her in my arms, swinging her around and around in circles. I had never been happier in my life and I was certain I would stay that way for many, many years to come.
As I gently placed Little Red back on the path in the middle of the woods, movement caught my eye. In amongst the trees was Mr. Wolf. He had witnessed our engagement and had nothing but a large smile on his face.
I gave him a wave over Little Red’s shoulder as I hugged her tightly. He nodded in response and disappeared amongst the trees. I wouldn’t have had what I did if it wasn’t for him. I owed the wolf my entire happiness.
I released Little Red from the hug and took her hand again – the hand of my fiancée. We started walking again.
“Grandmother is going to be so excited to hear of our engagement,” she gushed. I wasn’t so sure about that, but I didn’t care. I could always pay Grandmother another visit with the wolf again.
The End
THEBEASTWITHNOBEAUTY
CHAPTER1
There was nothing more beautiful in the world than my reflection. Ask anybody, they’d tell you the same thing. I was known as the Handsome Prince, a term I liked to encourage throughout the kingdom.
I had the perfect life. I was next in line for the throne, I had my own castle, and I managed to fill it with women just as gorgeous as I was. Every day was a party and my future was as bright as the sun.
My castle was also full of mirrors. What was the point of being handsome if I couldn’t admire myself wherever I went? I loved to practice my smile and get my poses just right. It took up a great deal of my time.
One night, an evening just the same as all the others, I was looking into one of those mirrors when I heard a knock on the door. Unless it was some stunningly gorgeous princess, I wasn’t interested.
But that damn knock kept going.
I tore myself from the mirror, seeing my exasperated look as I moved away. I picked up my reflection again in the hallway, and once more in the foyer. I checked my hair but it was perfect, it always was.
Unlatching the door, I pulled it open. The rain was pouring down, threatening to come inside. An old peasant woman was on my doorstep, her ragged cloak dripping on my floor.
“What do you want?” I asked curtly. I had no time for beggars. Someone as beautiful as I was should not have to deal with the ugly. I would make that a law when I became king.
“Please, I need shelter from the rain,” the woman said. She was crouched over with age, her face a mess of wrinkles.
Ugh, and she was covered in dirt too. It just got better and better. Perhaps she needed some time in the rain.
“Go away. I don’t have time for you and I certainly am not going to let you come inside,” I replied. The nerve of her to even ask!
“Please help me.”
“I said no. What are you, deaf too?” I went to close the door so I could get back to my mirror. There were much more important things to do than stand there catching a death of cold from the peasant.
With surprising strength, the woman placed a hand on the door before it could close. She held it open, throwing off her ratty old cloak and standing tall. All her wrinkles smoothed out as she aged in reverse.
Standing before me was a beautiful woman, one almost up to my standard. Whatever magic she was dealing with, I wanted some.
“You wouldn’t even help an old lady in need, what k
ind of a prince are you?” She asked. No, demanded. I didn’t have to justify myself to her. I was the prince.
“A handsome one,” I replied. I tried to close the door again but she continued to hold it open.
All of a sudden a swirl of magic started forming around her. She was surrounded by a rainbow of colors – yellows, pinks, blues, and greens, they spiraled and sparked through the air.
“Prince Francis,” she started. I was only listening because the lights were so pretty. I wanted them for my next party. “I curse you for your indulgency. You are a beast and should be treated as one. The only way to break this curse is for someone to truly fall in love with you.”
And just like that, she waved a stick at me and my entire life changed.
I became a beast.
CHAPTER 2
Before my very eyes, my hands grew fur and became paws. My feet exploded into a mass of claws. My perfectly tailored clothes ripped and tore at the seams to accommodate my large chest. And my face… my beautiful face. What had she done to it?
I ran to a mirror and saw my reflection for the first time. I was covered in brown hair, the same color my locks used to be. My teeth were long and gnarled, I had horns. Horns! They marred my face like a fading sun on the horizon. How on earth was I even going to eat with them?
The only things remaining of my own were my eyes. At least she hadn’t changed those. One part of me was recognizable. And they were still just as lovely as they were before.
The witch had disappeared so I couldn’t shake some sense into her and force her to undo the damage she had done. Oh, how I would have liked to. She had robbed me of the beauty that the world deserved. The beauty that I deserved.
I remembered her curse like it was seared into my memory. I would change back if I had someone fall in love with me. That didn’t seem so bad. After all, every woman I ever met swooned into my arms if I even glanced their way. Surely making one of them fall truly in love with me couldn’t be that hard.
One glance in the mirror told me otherwise. The old me could have managed it. But this? I was as ugly as the peasant had been. No, even more so. Nobody would be able to fall in love with a beast as the one I now resembled.
I had to do it though. I had to return to the prince I was. There was no way I could live like this. I would lose everything, nobody would want to attend my parties anymore. I was to be king someday, who would follow the orders of a beast?
Nobody, that’s who.
I went to bed shortly after, frustrated that I barely fit on the furniture anymore. It would take a long time to get used to my new body and I prayed I wouldn’t have to. I must change back.
Sleep evaded me all night long. My best friend, Gus, was due to arrive for a visit in the morning so I paced the floor until he knocked.
“Gus,” I said simply when I opened the door. He stood there, looking at me curiously. It took a moment to remember I was a little… different. “It’s me, Prince Francis. I was cursed by some wretched witch.”
“You’re a beast,” Gus said, stating the obvious. He never was the sharpest pencil in the box. “You must have been quite wretched to her first.”
I shrugged. “You know witches. They do whatever they like. Come in, please.”
As we sipped tea in the library, I explained the night’s events to my best friend. He listened intently to my tale. Gus was one of the only other people in the world who understood how difficult it was to be beautiful. All the girls loved him almost as much as they loved me. Indeed, he had several women chasing him just that morning alone.
“I can’t believe the nerve of that witch,” Gus spat out the words with outrage. “To curse you, Prince Francis? She obviously has many mental issues to contend with.”
“I know. But now I need someone to fall in love with me or I will stay like this forever. Who would be so stupid as to love an ugly beast?” I asked. Surely nobody was that stupid. I mean, really, I was a beast. I certainly wouldn’t fall in love with myself in this form. And I knew how awesome I was.
“Speaking of stupid,” Gus started. “I saw Belle in town today.”
“The girl that’s always reading?” He had mentioned her on several occasions. She seemed to be the only woman in the village immune to his charms.
“That’s the one. I asked her out on a date and she refused. I swear, she’s just like her crazy father.”
“So why do you want her anyway?” I asked. Surely a woman horrible enough to turn down Gus was not someone he should pursue. It was her loss anyway.
“Because Thomas said I couldn’t get her.”
“But you don’t really like her?”
Gus shook his head with a scowl. “Of course not. It’s only that I have never been denied what I wanted before. It’s a challenge.”
At the mention of the word challenge, a thought popped into my head. Perhaps together we could make the situation more interesting. After all, I was faced with certain challenges myself.
I had only seen Belle on a few occasions. She had never been invited to any of my parties before. Her father kept her close to home, he was very protective of his daughter. Not that he should have worried, the girl didn’t like anyone.
And she was always reading a darn book. Instead of choosing pretty dresses and giggling at handsome men like all the other girls in the village, she chose to be alone with her books. That was not what a lady was supposed to do. Not in my kingdom, anyway.
Belle was a challenge, which is exactly why my thought was so brilliant. It would occupy my time, and help me with my beastly problem.
It was perfect.
CHAPTER 3
“Gus, how about we settle this Belle issue once and for all?” I started.
“Oh?” He replied, his eyebrows raised with curiosity. “Do tell, Prince.”
“How about we make a bet? The one who gets the fair maiden Belle to fall in love with them first, wins.”
Gus looked me up and down, taking in my beastly appearance. “That hardly seems fair. Of course I would win her heart first. You don’t even look human. Belle may be stupid, but she’s not blind.”
That did not concern me. Gus had already failed to win Belle over. I had just as much of a chance as he did now. In fact, I probably had more of an advantage. I was the prince, after all. “Are you chicken?”
“Not at all. What does the winner get?”
“Isn’t Belle’s heart enough?” At that, we both burst out laughing. Neither of us wanted the girl, she would be too much trouble. We needed something more substantial to compete for. “How about the golden rose in my ballroom?”
Disbelief washed over my friend’s face. “But that’s worth a fortune. Are you sure you’re willing to give it to me?”
“Of course. In exchange, if I win, you will come visit Father with me.”
“But that’s a treacherous journey.”
“Afraid?” I mocked him. Gus was never the bravest of souls. He didn’t have to be with looks like his.
He leaned forward, holding out his hand for me to shake. “It’s a deal.” We shook on it, his hand in my giant, ugly paw.
The challenge had been laid out. Now all I needed to do was have Belle fall in love with me. The moment Gus left, I got to work.
Normally all I would have to do was look at a woman and she would fall for me. With my new appearance, it would not be so easy. I would have to trick her. I would need to think of the best scheme in the world.
Perhaps I could rescue her from a dragon? Or buy her a hundred new books? I could bestow an award for best reader on her?
It all sounded like too much hard work. I wasn’t used to trying so hard… for anything. If that witch ever returned, I was going to order her head cut off. It was all her fault I was in that position in the first place.
Then it came to me, the best scheme possible for winning the bet. Belle loved her father. I would get to her through him. And I could do it all without leaving the grounds of my castle.
I wrote a let
ter, requesting her father attend the castle as quickly as possible for official royal business. I sealed it, sending it immediately with a messenger. All I had to do was sit back and wait for him to come to me.
It was almost too easy.
“Lantern,” I said, getting the attention of my servant. “Prepare the dungeons. We are about to have a guest.”
My servants and maids scurried about carrying out my orders. They were nothing more than the furniture and decorations of my castle, animated by some magic spell I had spent a lot of money on. I couldn’t have real people work for me, I would have nobody compete with my handsomeness. Plus, it always impressed the ladies when a lamp delivered their drink.
“Your Majesty, he’s approaching,” the wardrobe said from the window.
“Excellent, let’s get this show on the road,” I exclaimed. I hurried outside, taking my post so I could watch Belle’s father meet his doom.
He rode in on a grey horse, sitting atop it without any indication of the fate that was about to befall him. My loyal staff immediately got to work. They created a thick mist around him, instantly spooking the horse and causing disorientation.
The grey steed bucked him off, leaving Belle’s father sprawled over the ground. My servants threw him onto a cart and wheeled him back to the castle. With a nod of my head, they let go of the horse and allowed him to run in the direction he had come.
Ah, the trap had been set and was now full. I had Belle’s father in my dungeon and it would be no time before I had Belle herself. Everything was going exactly to plan. All I had to do was wait.
“Lantern! Bring me some tea!” I yelled. Why not wait in comfort?
CHAPTER4
Belle was so predictable. Whatever nonsense was filling her head from all those books she read, clearly wasn’t doing her sense of self preservation any good.
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