The Merchant's Daughter -Chapter 22 (Patreon)

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

When Beast awoke, the two shared their dinner together and made small

talk amongst each other.

“Beauty, why... I-I must ask—forgive me if it’s too forward but— why did you return here so quickly after going home? I’m afraid I do not understand.”

“I had to come back; I had to. I had to see you again; I had to make sure that you got well again.”

“Yes... But... but you were free to go home...” He paused; seemingly

lost for words. “If you wanted to see me, well... you could have said so; you

could have stayed. We could have delayed the letter to your father...”

“Yes I know but... Well, I... At the time...I guess I suppose we were honoring the arrangement and...I thought you might get better. I would have returned here anyway —begging your pardon— but I would have returned anyway after a short time back with my family. It’s just that...I had to come sooner.”

“Why?”

“When I got home... Well, I was recalling the illness you had and... My

family, well they told me what had happened to them while I’d been away I

likewise told them what had happened to me but... One of my sisters said

something rather curious. She said she grew ill and all of the signs of her

illness, they very much resembled yours! And when I asked her how she had

gotten over it, she replied that one of the traders from the south that my

father now did business with once more had noted it and referred her to the

physician –but not before giving her a pouch; a pouch of dried plant that she

made tea with. And after drinking the tea at least a couple of times –or so she

told me– she got well again. She said whatever plant the tea had been was told

by the trader that would reverse the effects of what she had and...

Come to think of it now, I... I wonder why it is that she got sick as

well as you... I don’t understand.” Beauty paused in consideration. “What

connects you and her but did not allow my family to get sick and likewise did

not allow me to get sick here with you? I know that some people are more

susceptible to illness but it sounds to me as though your manifestations of

your illness –though they resembled hers, yours carried on for much longer;...

became more extreme. I’m trying to think, and I’ve been trying to think, for so

long about what connects the two of you. And the only two things I can think of

are myself and my father!”

Beast was silent for a moment then suddenly his eyes widened a little

and his ears perked up. “I think I may know.”

“What is it?” she murmured softly in eager interest.

“My rosebush. Before I got ill, I was tending to the bushes when one of

the thorns pricked my finger. It did not hurt much, but the thorn came off and

since then, that branch had a bit of a sticky substance where the thorn itself

used to be. It didn’t really smell or taste very good. I accidentally got some

on my paw. And I sent your father home with one of my roses. Perhaps...perhaps

the same thing happened to her. Perhaps she pricked her finger or something of

that nature.”

“I’m sure she’d have remembered that and commented upon it. She’s very particular about that sort of thing.”

“Oh I see... Well then...I’m not sure.”

“Actually...” Beauty began slowly, “I’m starting to think you may be onto the truth of the matter of it. My sisters: they removed all of the thorns.

They still had the rose when I returned home. I commented and said ‘There are no thorns on this?’ and they told me they’d removed them. Do you think that could be the reason, I mean, the thorns?”

“I’ve never encountered such a thing before... I do not know. I do not know.”

“I could always ask the trader if and when I see him again,” Beauty murmured a few moments later.

He nodded; looking thoughtful. “Forgive me for changing the topic...”

he began timidly, “How did you get more of that dried plant? You spoke of the

trader—”

“Oh, actually my sister had a small pouch with a bit left that she didn’t use. I brought it with me, only–only I dropped it. Beast you’ll never believe what happened next.”

“What? What happened?” he pressed on; sitting up a little in the bed.

“Well, I...I tripped holding the pouch and it flew through the air and

landed and the contents were strewn everywhere across the garden. I thought all

was lost; I thought I would... Well I would...” Beauty gently shook her head to

dismiss the sombre thoughts that had resurfaced, “I was so scared. And then I

noticed what was truly inside the pouch. They were not leaves as I supposed

they were; they were petals of a flower –of a rose, Beast.”

“Rose petals?” he murmured almost reverently.

“The same colour as the one that I cut.”

“The...rose?”

“Yes. I-I could not believe my eyes, I... Yet I was scared, I...I thought what if I was wrong? What-what if it was a different flower altogether or what if it was

a rose but it was a different species of rose. But I had to try.”

He was silent for awhile in contemplation. “You... You used my rose...to save me?”

“Yes. I did.” Her voice was incredibly soft.

“How is that possible then? I must not be right about the illness coming from the thorns. How is it possible that a plant can be the source of...of a toxin but if you boil another part of it, it saves your life?”

“Well, from what I’ve learned of the world at least, I don’t see how it’s not entirely possible.”

Beast bowed his head in consideration. “I do believe the time for lighter conversation is at hand,” he went on softly with a smile after several moments. “Did you bring anyone with you?”

She shook her head.

“You came alone?”

“I...I had to, yes,” she responded quietly, “I didn’t think I had much time.”

“Well, we shall have to... to send word to your family that you have arrived safely and will return soon.”

“Oh yes I suppose that would be best. I did leave in rather a hurry but...”

“But?” He raised a brow.

“I promised I would not return until I saw you well. And, you are still bedridden good sir.”

Beast smiled at the sentiment. “Well I cannot stop you I suppose but I assure you I feel already considerably better. My chest presently feels lighter.”

“I am glad to hear of it,” she expressed with a smile.

“Let us give it a few days. Then we can send our second letter detailing whether you are to come home or will stay here a time longer.”

She nodded. “That is sensible and fair. I shall compose my first letter and ride off with it tomorrow after breakfast as quickly as I can and return here once more.”

“Good,” Beast murmured. “Very good indeed.”

As the next few days passed, Beauty could see that Beast was quite well and recovering quickly. Within a day he insisted on being let about the chamber on his own and by the next day assured her he would be fine to assist her again with meals and to now reside in his own chamber again.

Beauty took up her former room once more and by the third and fourth days following, it felt surreally almost as though she had never left the castle in the first place.

But Beast reminded her of the reality of the situation before she had a chance to succumb to losing herself in the feeling of the suspension of time.

“Now that I am quite well again Beauty, we ought to send off a second letter,”

he told her at breakfast on the fifth day.

She looked down at her bowl a bit shyly. “I have been thinking, Beast,” she began softly, “Why don’t I just stay the winter here with you at the castle?”

He looked mildly surprised. “You wish to...stay here?” he repeated softly. “For the winter season?”

“Yes.”

“But why?” he asked her incredulously. “Surely you wish to spend time

with your family once more and... and certainly you have a life to return to

now that your father’s station has once again improved.”

“That is just it,” she murmured, “When I returned home my sisters all

spoke of their lives and their new prospects and I came to realize... I did not

have any; at least not to the same inclinations and amount of desire as they

do. I do not have much of anything to return to in an immediate fashion besides

my father himself. Everything else could wait until spring and... I am sure

Father would understand if I were to remain here...”

Beast considered her words for awhile in silence. His face betrayed

several emotions as he thought: curiosity, skepticism, seriousness and also

fondness. But at last his face softened considerably and he spoke to reply,

“Beauty... I can understand all that you have said and I acknowledge it. And I

would not wish to offer resistance to any of what you have said as I am

actually fond of the idea of sharing in your company for the wintertime.

However, I am concerned that it shall not be an easy time seeing as the... When

we made preparations for food stores and the like, you and I were under the

guise that we were storing food enough for just myself. I... I know that even

were I to ration my food in order that you would live comfortably that you

would protest such things and... As we have stated previous, we so detest

wandering into disagreement with one another!” he chuckled.

She laughed softly with him and then sighed. “I...I did not consider that part of it.”

The two ate in some silence for awhile and Beast felt the need to

apologize for turning Beauty’s proposal down until she spoke up again first:

“What if I were to return home for a short time to gather provisions?”

He frowned and encouraged her to go on.

“What if I went home and got a boon from Father then made my way back and purchased a cart and more provisions in the nearest town before returning here?”

He looked mildly surprised again. It seemed Beauty was rather resourceful as he so often forgot to give her due credit for. “Well, I... I would not wish you to...to inconvenience your Father to—”

“It would not inconvenience him. I...I suppose it may make him a little heartsick to be away from me again but... I am certain he would understand and wish to honor my wishes. And I would return home for spring.”

“If there is one thing I have learned of you Beauty it is that you are determined and will not easily be swayed. If you wish something to happen, you see it through. Therefore I shall facilitate... relinquish you as well. If those are your wishes, so be it. I shall be...honored to have your company here for the winter.”

Beauty’s smile spread across her face. “Then I shall make arrangements to leave for home again tomorrow. I don’t see any point in delaying the situation and as you have stated that you are much restored, I can go in the reassurance that you will fare well during my absence.”

With this, he could not protest.