Once Upon a Time there was a girl named Belle. She was the only child, born to a wealthy merchant and his beautiful wife. Both of her parents were hard workers, from hard working families, and despite their wealth they did their best to teach Belle the value of hard work. At the age of eight she started helping her father in the market at his stand, being the only child selfless enough to do such a thing in the rich town they lived in. Belle was adored by all of her father’s customers, something that soon he started to use for his own benefit. Belle was a common sight in the market place as she grew older. When she turned seventeen however, her mother Madam Leclair grew sick. 

Over the next two years Belle's father spent almost every bit of their wealth to get his wife the treatment she needed, including Belle's dowry. But the doctors were unable to figure out what was wrong with her mother, and without their former wealth the three were forced to move to a small a farm house in a country side town. With barely enough money for them to live off of, Belle’s father took both the money for her dowry and education to reopen his market and restart their life. As he hunted for the furs and meat for the new stall, he left his young daughter to care for his dying wife, until the sad day she died. 

After the death of Madam Leclair the two tried hard to get their life back together, and soon things started to even look as if they were getting better. Until one day while Monsieur Leclair was out hunting a great storm hit, driving him farther into the forest until he became lost. Belle of course was worried about her dear father, as he was the only person she cared for left. Not to mention that he was quite old at the time, and could easily die in the terribly cold rain. When he returned the next evening, she was so overjoyed, that she ran to greet him. When inquiring where he had been she got a dreadful story.

Cold, soaking wet, and still being driven father from home, he came upon a large castle. Where he found food laid out for him and shelter for the night however, never despite his looking could he found the master of the castle. In the morning when he went to leave, he picked but a single rose from the rosebush outside to bring to Belle, when a horrible beast rose from the bush. Claiming him to be ungrateful, despite the fact the beast had given him a shelter from the storm. As he begging for his life, claiming the rose was for his daughter, the beast made a deal. He would have his life, if he gave up her daughter. 

Horrified, but given no chose, Belle was lead to the castle by her father. That is when she first met Beast, and despite his frighting appearance, he was quite kind to her. Over the four years she stayed in the beast's castle he did his best to make sure her every need was catered to. Food, clothing, the finest jewels, and whatever else she could want. Yet everynight he would ask her to marry him, and every night she would insist she could not. 

One day after they ate dinner, he took her out to the patio of the castle and asked her to marry once more. This time however, the Beast asked Belle she could not give her hand to him in marriage something he had never thought to do. Causing Belle to pause, for there really was no true reason behind her refusal, she give him without hurting his feelings. As much as she liked beast as a friend, that was as far as her feelings went. The seer idea of marrying someone who looked as he did, was unthinkable to her. [color=Crimson]"It is that I cannot do such a thing, without my father’s blessing."[/color] She lied to him, knowing that if her father were ever to be asked he would refuse as well. Much to her relief he said that he understood, and the subject was dropped. Until the next morning over breakfast the beast gave Belle an offer she couldn't refuse, a chance to return home. If she asked her father to give him her hand, and she return that night. 

When she returned home, her father was happy to see her, having made up our fortune while she had been staying at the castle. Belle was enjoying being home so much that as she laid her head down in her bed that night she completely had forgotten about her promise to return that night. As she slept she had a nightmare which woke her of the beast laying next to rosebushes, begging her to returning to him as he died. Grabbing one of her fathers horses, she made hast to the castle to found him by the bushes, and as she cried over his half dead body, saying she loved him and would marry him. 

She broke the Beasts curse, one that had been laid upon him by an evil witch before he was even born. The next few weeks things were almost wonderful for the new lovers and were over ran with the wedding plans, the food, dress, and music as well as deciding who would be safe to invite to their wedding. Although Belle became as much an outcast as Adam, everyone wanted to see the Beast they before declared to be a monster, whoever was crazy enough to marry him get married. All that is besides her father, whom disowned her after she ran back to Adam. 

The day before the wedding however, she woke by herself to strangely quiet room, compared to the normally loud room next to hers belonging to the prince she was going to marry. To her shock she could find Adam nowhere in the castle, not even the the servants knew where he could have possibly could have went. Both she and the servants searched the village looking for him, until nightfall when they were forced to return to the castle. 

[color=Crimson]"Surely, he will return. There would be no way that Adam would leave me the day before our wedding."[/color]  Belle said to Amelia one of the head servants of the castle, as she accompanied Belle to her room, holding the candle to light the dark halls. Worried as to where her love could have gone, she needed him. After all, he was the only one she still had that wanted to be in her life.

[color=Khaki]"Of course Madame, perhaps he has just gotten a case of cold feet. Surely you will awake in the morning, him in his bed. With a reason as to why he had left without a warning."[/color] Amelia reassured Belle shaking her head slightly as she laughed trying to lighten the mood. As Belle got to her room, the candle lit on her bedside table was blown out. In the early morning while Belle was eating her breakfast, the servants gathered out in the garden to discuss what could be done to found the Prince, as without him not only would there be no wedding, but they would all be out of a job. As Belle was not the mistress of the castle, she had no way to ensure their jobs.

“I couldn’t blame the Beast if he left to find a new wife. As I think we can all agree Belle is a dense in the head at times.” One of the male servants said rather loudly to the others. Only for one of the others to shhh him.

“Surely he would at least give the poor girl warning if he was to do such a thing Markus. I would think three weeks would give him the time to tell her.” The cook said crossing her arms at the man.

[color=Khaki]“Do none of you think that he is simply gone to one of the far away villages? The Master maybe a little cruel, but I doubt he would do such a thing as leave, Belle.”[/color] Amelia said her tone almost shaming the others before she sighed. [color=Khaki]“The poor thing hasn’t even said a word this morning.”[/color]

The strange sudden voice pulled the servants from their conversion making them to turn and look at the young blonde girl as she asked if there was anyone there. At first the five of them couldn’t not quite understand why she was standing but a few foots away, by the roses, yet couldn’t see them standing there. Markus was the first to realize she was blind. “Careful with your footing girl! Those roses were planted for the Mistress!” He yelled towards the stranger harshly, being the gardener he didn’t want to replace them.

[color=Khaki]”Markus have you no manners!”[/color] Amelia yelled at his rudeness before turning to the girl. [color=Khaki]”Greeting Madame, please do excuse him. Are you lost? Would you like some breakfast? We have plenty.”[/color]