THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER -CHAPTER 21 (Patreon)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:

That evening and the morning after felt like the longest Beauty had

ever endured as she waited to see whether Beast’s condition would improve.

He slept soundly through the night and when he woke once Beauty had

more hot water steeping the rose petals for more tea. He drank it tiredly

though he did not say much and soon was fast asleep once more.

Beauty noted to herself that his breathing did not appear to be as

shallow as it had once been but she prayed it was not her hopefulness that was

making it seem so.

Beauty cared for him as best she could while still taking time for feeding

herself and tending to her personal toiletries. By the following afternoon,

Beast seemed a little more cognisant when he woke and by nightfall required

minimal assistance in moving about some to attend to his own needs. But before

long he would gently collapse back into the bed and fall soundly asleep again.

When he woke as she ate breakfast the next day, he spoke to her but

briefly as she gave him more tea and it seemed to her that he was not entirely

awake and aware of his current situation. “Thank you again for the tea milady,”

he murmured as his eyes closed, “It tastes better each time you prepare it.”

She sincerely doubted that. The petals by now had lost all aroma and

when she sampled some of the brewed tea it tasted much like water.

If he did not seem to improve by the evening, she would go clip another

rose.

It appeared however that she may not need to. That late afternoon,

Beast woke again and this time Beauty could immediately tell that whatever

drowsiness and sleep-like state he had been in previous upon waking had not

overcome him this time.

“Good day Beauty,” he murmured softly.

She smiled tenderly at him and moved her chair closer. “Good day

Beast.”

“I seem to recall sending you home. Yet you have returned to share tea

if I am not mistaken...” His voice sounded stronger than it had in the past

days and it gave Beauty hope.

“I had to see you well again Beast. You were... I fear that you were

quite ill. I had to come back to you. I do not wish to alarm you but... I

learned of information that led me to believe the illness that had overtaken

you would turn fatal. I could not allow that to happen.”

He paused and then his face bore some recognition to something within

his mind and he gave a short nod to himself. “Beauty... You saved my life...?”

“Of course I did. How could I not?”

The two looked at one another for awhile in a comfortable silence.

“Thank you, Beauty,” he finally murmured.

“You are welcome,” she whispered shyly.

He smiled a little. “You... You are more beautiful than the last time I

saw you...”

Beauty gave a short chuckle, “Don’t be absurd.” She absently touched

her hair which was in a simple plait as she hadn’t spared herself time to do

much else. Beauty was certain her hair was sticking out in odd places too from

all of the exertion she’d exhibited in her work that day and from the hurried

manner in which she’d assembled her hair that morning to begin with. She

thought too she likely had dark circles about her eyes from her lack of proper

rest and her abundance of worry over his condition.

“It’s true. You are. Don’t...argue with me either. It reminds me of

when you first came to the castle. Heaven forbid we go through that again.”

“I see I have not apologized enough for my words and actions at that

time,” she chuckled softly. “I am so sorry.”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous. You apologizing once was enough. Twice was kind.

Three times made me know you meant it, but all the times since... quite

unnecessary my...my fr— my dearest Beauty.” He gently reached out his paw and

took her hand with a gentle smile.

She felt shy but returned it.

“It is time you get some rest now Beast. Close your eyes and sleep.”

“I feel like I have slept decades –or more. And yet here you are: telling me to sleep... even more.” He sounded bored by the concept.

“I can see the way your eyelids are fluttering and your eyes are rolling slowly in your head. It does not take a scholar or a genius to understand and to recognise the signs that you are still tired.”

“I’m not. I’m just recovering. And I’m just waking up is all.”

“I thought you said we shouldn’t argue,” she shot back lightly; amused.

“Well, we shouldn’t, but what I say is true.”

She laughed softly to herself. “Well, maybe to you it is, but... I must

disagree with you—politely...and calmly. Your body needs rest. I know you may

not think it but trust me when I say it will be best. I will be right here; you

don’t need to worry.”

He let out a soft groan of disapproval. “I couldn’t– I couldn’t have

you do that for me, Beauty. You must have other things to attend to. Go

along... Not to mention, you must be hungry or tired yourself...” he added.

She let out a gentle sound of amusement. “I appreciate your concern,

but... When your eyes are closed, and when you are sleeping, you are not able

to tell me what to do and therefore, I—”

He was laughing quietly –a gravelly sound almost, what with the

sickness still upon him some. “You really are going to argue with me, aren’t you?”

“Now let me finish, please,” she laughed at his light-heartedness. “When your eyes are closed, and when you are sleeping, you are not able to tell me what to do and when that time comes I do much. Although it may not seem like it because, well...” she sighed softly, “I am at your bedside for the majority of the time, but... I have all the

provisions I need right here; nearby for both you and myself; for you

and

I so...fret not.”

She gently grabbed his other paw and stroked the back of it with her

thumb in reassurance.

“So, close your eyes; sleep awhile longer. I’ll wake you when I deem

it’s time for both of us to eat.”

“B— Wh—For both of us to eat? You’ve...prepared something?” His golden

eyes were wide as they gazed upon her now.

“Well, it’s not much but, yes.”

“I don’t understand you,” he mused, “You wish me to sleep but yet you

say we will eat together.”

“Just because I went home does not mean that now that I am returned

that we must break our traditions. Or, am I wrong in wanting to upkeep them? Do

you think it would go against propriety or decorum?”

This made him laugh softly and she joined in until they were both

laughing happily together; smiling at one another. For a brief moment she

forgot all about any sickness or ailment either of them faced for so natural

was the moment she was swept away in it.

“You are not wrong Beauty.”

“Thank you.” She smiled in fondness and appreciation of his reassurance

to her.

“Now, enough with this talk. You must close your eyes; sleep. I’ll be

right at your side. Should you wake and need anything, I will be right here. I

promise.”

“We have much talking to do when I awake again. Perhaps we can discuss

it over the meal you said we will share. Out of curiosity, would that meal be a

breakfast, a lunch or a dinner? I am afraid I, uh, well I seem to have lost

track of the hour. Forgive me, dear lady.”

She chuckled gently. “It’s quite alright Beast. No, breakfast was some

time ago. It will be supper soon.”

“How long have I been asleep? Not a decade, I hope, for you look just

as young as when I last saw you.”

That amused her. “Definitely not a decade. You have been asleep for

about a day since...since we last spoke anyhow.”

“Oh. I see.”

“Don’t worry about it. It is simply a body getting its rest to mend

itself.”

“How long has it been since...since the rose garden?”

Her face softened. “Oh. Well, I...” She felt a bit shy and anxious to

tell him but did anyway for she had no reason to hide the truth, “It’s been...

three days actually. Actually, no; perhaps four now.”

He exhaled audibly in a bit of shock over that news. “I have been

unwell for that long?” He was slowly incredulous at this information.

“Again, Beast, we will discuss all of this later,” she reminded him, “You must rest. Relax; it’s alright. You’re... You seem to be on the mend and I’m right here. I promise.”

“As you’ve said more times than I can count and yet... I feel as though

each time you say it I am told anew. Thank you, Beauty. I will do as you say

now. I am closing my eyes. I’m drifting off now...to sleep. But, if I wake and

you tell me to go to sleep once again, we perhaps may have a slight

disagreement.”

She scoffed good-naturedly. “We shall see about that when the time

comes. Shh.”

He pulled the blankets around him a little. “Beauty?”

“Yes?”

“I know you said your sister is the one who carries a tune best of all

of you and your sisters but would you mind singing me a little something?”

“Oh, um...”

“Please...” he urged softly, “Just a small something. It-it doesn’t

have to be anything grand or difficult, but...” he let out a sigh, “Just,

something tugged at my memory. I’m thinking that I may fall asleep easier with

a song... I’m not sure why.”

“Of course.” Beauty gave it a moment’s thought. “Um, alright...” she

mumbled quietly before she sang a song she’d so often heard Celene singing

softly. The song was about a young woman who soared over the seas; her soul

free. Beauty had always loved the melody of it and the words were lovely as

well whenever she considered them.

At the conclusion of her small versed song, Beast was breathing evenly

and she knew he was off to sleep once more.