The Merchant's Daughter -Chapter 20 (Patreon)

CHAPTER TWENTY:

When Beauty saw her new home some two and a half days later, she felt a small pit in her stomach. While it was true she was accustomed to life in a castle, that castle had not provided the lifestyle of its station and rank. She now wondered how she would adjust to living in a manor with a few serving staff once more since Beauty was used to helping prepare the food and take care of all chores with a companion by her side.

She felt nervous too about seeing her sisters once more. How would they receive her? Were they much changed in heart? Would they look any older? It had only been several months but the thought crossed her mind all the same.

Beauty and her father dismounted their horse and a young man whom she presumed to be a gardener or some similar person rushed forward and offered to take the horse back to its stable. She sighed softly from her nose; this would take some getting used to once again.

Beauty and her father made their way to the door. No one opened it to them and after her father made use of the handle, he gestured her inside.

Immediately, she heard her sisters’ voices; Celene and Linnette. “Fergus is that you? Can you—OH!”

The two stopped at the sight of their father and youngest sister standing there in the entryway.

“Beauty! Father! Goodness gracious!”

They swept forward and embraced their sister and she hugged them back; pleased and relieved to see them once again despite all in their history together.

Her sisters ushered Beauty inside to their parlour room and she soon learned that their oldest sister Annaliese had recently married just over two months previous and was living in a manor across town. Her sisters immediately sent word to fetch her and it was indeed not long before Annaliese pulled up to their home in her carriage and embraced Beauty to her with lamentations, tears and words of relief that their sister was safely home. Beauty quickly discovered that Annaliese was also with child when she shamelessly made a declaration of: “I do not know what I would have done if my child did not know his or her Aunt Beauty when it arrived into this world!”

As happy as she was for her sister, Beauty got the sense that Annaliese and her other two sisters’ grievances over her did not appear to be solely about Beauty’s plight but about her sisters’ feelings themselves. She tried not to take it much to heart. They had always been more than a little self-centered for the majority of their lives. She knew they meant well even when they were being a little insensitive.

The rest of the evening and its encompassing reunion seemed to pass by like a blur to Beauty’s mind. Though she was grateful to be back with her family, a piece of her –she realized– still longed to be back at the castle with Beast. She felt distracted by it –and especially when her sisters spoke of their good fortunes.

They still seemed to be unappreciative of what they had despite having gone through a time of hard work and sacrifice. They did not appear to be truly thankful for being well-accepted and a little wealthy once again. They were more boastful and proud than demure and meek when they spoke of their newfound blessings and happiness as a result of such things. Beauty found it hard to be happy for them knowing that they had not quite learned a lesson from the year and a half of hard work they endured and, not that it should matter much but, losing their sister to a beast as well. Yet they still seemed to be pretentious and haughty as they had been before –even if their manners were a little improved and they thanked the serving staff on a couple of occasions that evening. Beauty had never once heard any of them do that in her entire life.

Though the evening was filled with conversation about their lives while Beauty had been away, she found that as she was falling asleep that she could not recall many specific details of what her sisters had told her or what she had specifically told them. But she was content with the knowledge that things seemed to have turned around some for her family now and that hopefully soon her sisters would have the lives they had always so long desired to now follow in Annaliese’s footsteps and be married and of good standing and wealth.

The only thing Beauty found herself faced with now that made her stomach churn some with anxiousness was: what was it that she now desired for her life?

The next morning was a bit odd for her. She at first had forgotten that she was not at the castle and had panicked when she heard the sound of a fire crackling in the fireplace.

At least in the inns she and her father had made use of upon their two day journey home they had been within a private chamber and had not been woken to a stranger in their room. In fact, Beauty had not slept much those two nights anyhow and she attributed her deep sleep now this past night to such a fact.

Over breakfast with her sisters, she found herself longing for less idle chatter. By lunch, she had managed to feel a bit more comfortable again and the three discussed openly more about their lives since Beauty had departed.

Linnette was describing an illness she had incurred shortly after Beauty’s departure. “At first we attributed it to you leaving us dear sister,” she began to explain, “and the fact that Father too was away. But he returned and my tiredness and cough got a little worse. It seemed there was naught to be done about it until it would pass on its own. But then one of the traders from the south that Father had reconnected with inquired after me and my health when he had heard of my malady. He offered free of any service or charge a pouch full of a dried plant to make tea with and encouraged me to see the physician. Before I knew it, within two days I was right as rain again dear Beauty! When the trader returned three months later after his sea voyage he was glad to hear I did not die to which I was naturally shocked,” Linnette went on, “Apparently I had caught an illness of a potential fatal conclusion if it was not treated with such care and time and that tea he had offered. Can you imagine? Dying of a simple cough?”

Beauty’s face paled.

“Do not worry dear sister!” Celene exclaimed as she saw this.

“Yes do not worry! I am quite alright and have been ever since! In fact, the whole ordeal has brought about the most wonderful prospects,” Linnette continued on, “I met the trader’s son as he was bringing him home from some foreign school and I do believe that a marriage may be spoken of quite shortly. The trader’s mercantile business is quite larger than Father’s ever was and should the match be agreed to, I will be married into such wealth as any of us cannot even imagine I am sure!”

But Beauty was not quite listening to her sister –even as she went on about reassuring them that she would make sure her new home would not be across the sea or too many days’ journey away. Beauty instead was thinking of Beast. She was thinking of how her sister’s illness seemed to match that of his and her mind was frightfully stuck upon the words ‘fatal conclusion’ that her sister had uttered.

She made Linnette tell her more about her illness and what manifestations she had noted during it. It soon became gravely clear that the illness her sister had contracted was in all likelihood the same that Beast had.

This sent Beauty into a bit of hysterical behaviour which her sisters could not understand –most especially when Beauty finally explained her conclusions.

But their sister could not be persuaded down from her sudden exclamation that she was returning to the castle to see Beast well again. She was rushing off to gather a warm cloak and boots as well as changing her frock into something more practical for riding the long distance.

Then when she inquired about where to find the trader and his remedies for the malady, Linnette showed her the pouch which had a little of the dried plant left over. Beauty took it and tied it with an eager vigour around her neck to hang under her garments. She placed a few provisions into a small cloth bag and began to rush to head outside.

“Beauty please do not be so irrational! He is a beast and not of your concern any longer! Besides, he probably shan’t die anyway! The illness I’m sure is only fatal to young, sensitive maidens with delicate sensibilities such as myself!” Linnette exclaimed.

“Yes she is right! He will be fine! You said he was getting better before you had left the castle! And besides all of that, you cannot ride alone for days back to him! It is...it is simply preposterous and foolhardy!”

“I must go back for him!” Their sister began to head for the front door once again.

“But Beauty! The winter is approaching—You may die of cold out there if it comes on!”

“And he will die if I do not try!” she exclaimed. “I am going to his aid!”

“Beauty!” her sisters cried out desperately as she made her way to the door and flung it open; hurrying out into the yard and off towards the stables to fetch a horse.

“Tell Father I am sorry but I will return to you all when I see to it that my dearest Beast is well once more!”

Unable to stop her, her sisters watched Beauty go. They hoped she would reach the next town safely and before nightfall without any trouble.

Though her journey lasted less than two days before she was at the forest’s edge, Beauty felt as though each minute of each day was a day in itself with the amount of anxiousness that she felt. She hoped and prayed that her beloved Beast had not suddenly succumbed to the illness.

But she was determined to save him –almost to the detriment of her horse’s health.

At last she arrived at the gates before the clearing to the castle and its grounds and she urged her horse onward until she was at last in front of the castle once more; her heart racing fiercely in her chest.

Beauty dismounted her horse in one swift movement and rushed to the castle doors. She pounded her fists upon them and called out for Beast. “It is I, Beauty!” But he did not answer. She had not wanted to simply barge in and alarm him but it now appeared she had no other choice.

She pulled open the door and rushed inside. “Beast! Beast it is I, Beauty!” She rushed to their regular sitting room but did not find him there. She checked the kitchen and the dining room –to no result. There was no evidence that he had used the fireplace recently in either space. It was disheartening. She rushed up to his chambers but found them open and empty. Beauty checked several more rooms before it occurred to her to perhaps check her former chamber. Yet, he was not there either.

By now she was both breathless and feeling a pit building in her stomach. She was reminded of the first night he’d begun his illness when he had not shown up to prepare dinner and she’d scoured the castle for him. She tried the room she’d found him in upon that occasion but this time, there was no sleeping figure curled in front of the hearth.

“Oh Beast! Where are you?” she exclaimed aloud.

She would have to try outside. Instead of walking, she mounted her horse once more and set off at a trot; looking over the castle grounds and calling out his name. But the horse did not shy away and she did not hear or see her Beast anywhere. She tried the stream, the courtyard, the empty stable and finally she circled back around and spotted one entrance to the garden.

Dismounting once more, she rushed inside and called out for her Beast to no avail. But she hurried onward; deeper and deeper into the hedges and plants until she came close to the area of the rose bushes.

And that’s when she spotted the pile of fabrics that could only be her beloved Beast collapsed to the ground upon his side. She gasped and ran as quickly as she could over to him; calling him again and again.

Finally after what seemed to be ages, she was at his side and came to a dead stop to gaze upon him. Was he alright? Was she too late?

Like a heaven-send, she saw his chest still breathing and a moment later, she heard something: “Beauty...” The Beast’s voice was very low and quite breathy. But it was enough to let her know he was alive.

“Beast!?” She fell to her knees beside him in concern.

“Beauty...is that...you?” His voice sounded a little stronger than before and it gave her hope somewhere inside her.

“Oh goodness. Let’s see you.” She gently rolled him over from his side. Only, he didn’t stir. Beast’s eyes were closed and she could not tell now suddenly whether he was even breathing or not anymore. “Oh my stars! Oh no. Please wake up! Wake up please!”

Within just a moment, his voice whispered again, “Beauty is that you?”

“Yes! Yes I’m here,” she assured in a soft voice. Relief flooded over her as she watched his eyelids flutter open slowly. “Oh...Oh goodness. I’m here now.” She could not describe the feeling she felt knowing that she was not too late.

“Where are we?” he asked; eyes slowly darting around to take in their surroundings.

“The rose garden. We’re in the rose garden.”

He seemed to relax for a moment in that knowledge. But in his silence she could hear his breathing which was ragged and heavy. Beauty watched him carefully as he continued to breathe as evenly as he could for awhile.

“I...I’m so tired,” he admitted softly; eyes struggling to remain open. He began to breathe in a laboured manner which alarmed Beauty.

“I know...I know, it’s...it’s alright. Everything will be fine, I just... I just need to get you medicine. You’ll be alright.” She hoped her words would soothe him since she was also in part attempting to reassure herself of her own words.

“I...I thought at first that this was a dream but...I...I could not dream the scent of my roses nor do I think I could imagine the tenderness of your touch Beauty.” He sighed softly as she smiled fondly though a little sadly.

“Well I’m here now. You don’t need to worry. It will be alright. I’m going to get you well again.” She had to believe her own words; she had to. They had to come true!

Beast’s voice was barely audible as he spoke next in such a low tone that she barely caught it, “I just wanted to see my roses...”

“Shh! Don’t talk. I’m going to find a way to get you back into the castle and to bed and we’re going to make sure you’re well again. I’ve brought something to help you get well...”

“I... I was assured...I would never see your face again. And yet, here you are... You’re so beautiful... And...” Beast let out a sigh. His paw reached up to gently touch her face. She felt humbled and shy and felt tears coming to her eyes and she did not know what to say.

“I’d like to see my roses...one last time... If you please...”

Despite the situation; despite the fact that he was incredibly weak and holding onto the last bits of strength he had in staying alive, he still asked her for this last boon with such formality. Beauty was not sure how to respond.

When she remained unmoved for those few moments, he spoke again softly, “You should...” He paused briefly, “I can barely see them from here, you should...you should pluck one. Bring it to me...”

“No, I couldn’t do that,” she murmured desperately. “They’re too precious to you. I...I won’t kill them. Not to bring it to you. I...I’ll bring you to it instead.”

“I fear I’m too weak...too heavy...too tired... Please, Beauty, I give you my permission. Bring me a rose. Please...” Beast’s tone was lowering and grew weaker with every word he spoke.

She felt torn on what to do.

Beauty watched as he closed his eyes for just a moment and took a breath in. When he opened his eyes to connect with hers, he asked again, “Please, bring me a rose. Look and find your favourite one...and bring it to me... Please... Please would you?”

“If I do you must promise to let me help you,” she whispered.

“You would be helping me just by...bringing me...my boon, Beauty,” he reassured her softly; his eyes seeming to smile.

She could not refuse him. She would not however allow herself to believe that this was his dying wish. ‘He is not going to die. You will get him well again! You will!’’

Taking the dagger at his belt, she went to the rose bush and looked each of them over; her face a little sad. However her favourite rose had to be the bigger one of the two that had grown in the span of her time at the castle. It had a wondrous, deep hue and its petals seemed almost innumerable. Beast had asked for her favourite, and this was it. With regret, she cut the rose gently from its branch leaving a small stem without thorns and brought it back to him.

Immediately she saw a relief pass over his face. “Thank you, Beauty,” he whispered; his paw gently cradling the stem and holding the rose up. She had not yet removed her own hand.

“Beast... I... You are welcome. Now I must get you inside. I came here to...to get you better.”

He appeared not to have heard her.

“Can you help me a little? Can you raise your head for me so I can help hoist you up into a sitting position?” She hoped and prayed that she would be strong enough to help him to his feet and support him on their way back to the castle.

“I’m so tired, Beauty...” he repeated softly; his gaze moving from the rose to her face once more.

She made a decision, then. “I know,” she whispered soothingly. “But all will be well in time. I will need you to wait here a short while and I shall return with some tea to drink to warm you up and to help you get well,” she told him; standing and unhooking her cloak. She lay it overtop him to keep him warmer than he was in this cool air.

“I fear I may fall asleep before you return,” he told her honestly; his tone very faint now.

“You can sleep a little but you must promise me that you will wait a short while first. Do you remember that poem we memorized together? The one that I noted had a melody to go with it back in my hometown?”

“Y-yes,” he whispered.

“Good. I wish you to recite it to yourself once and then attempt to sing it another time. You may do so in only your head if you wish but can you promise me not to sleep until you have done so?”

His head nodded ever so subtly.

“Good,” she murmured in relief, “I shan’t be long; in fact hopefully before you are asleep shall I return!”

“B-Beauty...” he muttered softly.

“Yes Beast?” She came in close to be sure she could hear him and that he would not over exert himself to speak.

“Th-ank you...for...returning...to me if just...for a short while,” he managed to tell her; a fondness in his eyes as he gazed at her face again.

“You are welcome,” she whispered softly. Upon a sudden instinct, she leaned in and gently kissed his brow.

And then she hurried away; hoping that she could make the medicinal tea for him in time. Anxious, she pulled out the pouch and not watching now where she stepped, Beauty tripped and fell forward. The pouch and its contents went sailing through the air and landed several steps away. She got up hurriedly and her heart sank as she saw the pouch’s contents strewn across the garden while a gentle wind was also blowing a few of the pieces further away. “No! No!” she cried out in despair.

Desperately, she began to gather up the dried plant in her hands but realized it was of little use. She was crushing it in her haste and she worried that she could not make a potent enough brew if she did not collect it all. It felt like a fool’s errand especially with so little time to spare.

Beauty was about to weep. All this way and now she may only be able to comfort her dearest Beast as he succumbed to the illness that had overtaken him.

And then a piece of the dried plant leaf that was fluttering just within reach caught her attention. It appeared to be a deep maroon colour. She reached out and gently took it into her hands only to realize a short moment later that what she held was not a leaf at all, but a petal of a flower. Her eyes widened as she gently turned it in her hand. It looked like the petal of a deeply coloured rose.

Her breath caught. Could it be?

She inched forward to collect more of the spilled pouch’s contents and discovered that she was indeed correct; the pouch had contained rose petals of varying sizes.

Beauty felt her heart soaring. “Roses! A rose tea!” She felt tears of joy now come to her eyes as she stood up and ran back towards her Beast and his most precious treasures.

“Beast? Beast?” She fell down beside him and looked him over. His eyes were closed and although he did not respond to her, she could still see his chest rising and falling evenly from beneath the fabric of her cloak. She gently stroked his head before pulling back the cloak ever so slightly to take the rose from his fingers. “I am going to save you; your roses and I will save you,” she whispered softly to him; pressing another gentle kiss to his temple before she got back up and ran out of the garden and headed into the castle.

There, she prepared her tea as quickly as she could. Luck it seemed was on her side for in the fireplace of the kitchen it did not take long to start the blaze to heat the water.

While she waited, Beauty gathered a goblet and then gently pulled the petals from the rose in preparation to place them into the small kettle. When she saw the water steaming, she threw the petals in and covered the lid then gently took the kettle off the fire and grabbing the goblet, she set out of the castle and back towards the garden.

Along the way, she found the wheelbarrow and manoeuvring as carefully as she could not to spill the tea, she brought the barrow with her to help her take him back to the castle later on. At least she hoped she would be able to lift him easier once he was in it...

At last, she was at Beast’s side. She looked and thankfully saw that his appearance did not appear to have worsened in her absence. Then, she undid the lid from the kettle and immediately could smell the scent of the rose inside increased it seemed now tenfold. She poured some of her tea into the goblet and turned her attentions to him once more. “Beast?” she murmured; shaking him gently to see if she could wake him.

It took a few tries but eventually his eyes rolled from behind their lids and they opened slowly to gaze upon her.

“I’ve brought you some tea. It is going to make you well. You must drink up,” she told him softly. “I’ll help you...”

She placed the goblet down and as gently as she could, she pulled his head into her lap to help him sit up a little. “Here...” She raised the cup to his lips and let him drink very slowly. It took some time but eventually he finished what was in the goblet.

“That is...rather good... What is it?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

“It is tea... Here. Drink more,” she offered; pulling the kettle over and pouring a little more for him.

He obliged. “This tastes even better. I should...very much like to...have this more often. Is... that all there is for now?”

She shook her head and poured the last of the rose tea into the goblet for him which he drank the entirety of a few moments later.

“Now I should very much...like to...sleep,” he whispered.

“Let us get you into the wheelbarrow first,” she urged.

This task took much time and considerable effort but with a little from Beast himself soon she had him inside of it. When she grabbed the handles and began to move him, she found the task to be considerably less difficult than she’d anticipated it to prove.

Once through the castle’s front doors, Beauty wheeled him to the nearest room with a bed that she knew of and, after waking him to let her help him into the bed, he was safely tucked underneath its blankets.

Pulling up a chair, Beauty took his paw into her hands and watched his face nervously. Now all there was do to was wait.