Belle woke the following morning in her massive new bedroom, alone. The silken covers were draped over her naked form and the sunlight flittered across her. Her mind recalled the previous nights evens, shuttering with feeling she sat up to gaze about the room. On the tea table sat a breakfast tray, gentle steam rose from the tea pot. Belle smiled to herself as she went to inspect what had been given her. Lifting the silver tray lid she discovered a bowl of what smelled of oats and honey. Bread, butter, and three little bowls of different jams! The smells caused her mouth to water and peak her sensitive tongue. She eagerly took a seat completely oblivious to her own nudity for the first time in her young life. Turning the tea cup over she used the cloth pads to pour the hot water into it, then she added the little bag of what looked like dried herbs to the hot water.
Her nose detected the sweet earthy scent that the herbs produced as she watched them excrete their essence from within the cloth bag, darkening the water to a grassy green hue. Next she took the silver spoon and scooped a small bite of the warmed oats, raising to her lips she hesitated before putting into her mouth. A pleasant smile crossed her face as the new tastes hit her, she decided she liked this new meal so she eagerly ate it and sipped her cooling tea. It was only once she had finished that Belle was overcome by a sense of loneliness. In the mere day or two that she had been at Beast's home, the girl had come to like his presence, even for the basic need of companionship; simply being comforted at there being someone else nearby. She quickly grabbed a short slip to put on and made her way out of her room.
The outer hallway was empty of any soul, so Belle shut her door and made her way down the staircase that was just to the right of her room. The stairs were long and carpeted beneath her bare feet as she tiptoed down. She noticed a small chandelier once she had reached the second small landing. From this vantage point she could just make out the ceiling of the third floor. A rounded archway presented itself as she finally came to the bottom of the staircase. Paintings of dragons and knights lined the massive walls on either side of her, landscapes of castles and battles waged as she continued her slow trek. There was so many things to look at that she hardly noticed which way she had turned once she had landed the marbled floors.
The castle was cool in the early morning and a slight shiver coursed across Belle as she finally glanced forward greeted by a mass of radiant sunlight. The hall just in front of her was window panels on either side allowing for maximum bit of natural light, she squinted a bit as she wandered forward trying to see beyond the bright light. A makeshift door made of golden beaded strands that hung from the door frame blocked her sight. Suddenly Belle glanced to her right and noticed how far off the ground she was! She had just crossed a see-threw bridge that led to the second wing of the castle. She was at least three stories up and she saw nothing except the winding paths of a hanging garden below her. The outer walls of the different sections of the stone castle could be seen behind and to the sides of her.
Belle inhaled deeply before she peeled back the golden beads, stepping through she gasped aloud.
A completely glass dome swept upwards at least twenty feet high and in every direction was greenery and plant life. Sweet fragrances accosted Belle, she staggered a bit the once marble floors had turned to a soft sand beneath her feet lending a gentle turf as she caught herself on her palms. Raising her face she scanned the rounded room amazed at the beauty of the exotic plants inside the hot house. She had never seen so many different types of wildlife centered in a single place. It smelled wonderful and at every angle there was something new to see. Flashes of color popped from every which where and numerous hues of green filled her gaze. Belle stepped further into the room loving the velvety sands between her toes. As she walked she noticed that the path seemed to widen as it got closer to the center of the space. Brushing a large fern out of her eyesight Belle was shocked into stopping at what lay beyond the fern.
The path did widen, into a large circle before adjoining again on the opposing side but lining the outer ring lay rose bushes of all types while at the center was a circular stone alter, at least eight feet tall. She stepped towards the stone alter to try and peak at what may lay atop it's surface. The top was at least the width of a small dining table. Belle wrinkled her forehead in frustration, what was at the top? She was too short to even begin to see over the edge, she gave a little hop in hopes to see; not even coming close to peering over. She looked about herself to see if anything might assist her in a stepping stone. After wandering around in the mass of leafy greens she came across a small ladder meant for pruning. Excitedly Belle moved it over to the alter and clamored to the top rung.
Silvery white light lit her face as she came to see what lay atop the stone alter. A large crystal dome covered the most gorgeous single rose that Belle had ever seen. The rose seemed to drift just above the surface of the alter as if it had it's own wings. Crystal sparkles and silvery light was cast from itself. Transfixed Belle leaned over to get closer to the lovely thing, seemingly unaware of anything else surrounding her and oblivious to her own actions. The girl had unknowingly climbed onto the alter and had removed the crystal dome. Unable to look away Belle moved even closer to the rose, fascinated at it's raw almost dangerous beauty that seemed to beckon her closer still. Suddenly the desire to find out what this ornate creature felt like Belle's hand timidly began to reached for the outer petals of the flower. Her hand trembled with pure excitement as she just barely graced the nearest petal with the pads of her sensitive fingertips.
"Belle." A dark fear shot through the girl and she snatched her hand away instantly, her ears and eyes shot upward in sudden fear, she searched out the voice. Franticly she glanced about herself having the trance sliced apart by whoever had said her name. Her green eyes focused on the big shadowy form that lay hidden just beyond the alter opposite the way she had entered the dome. Immediately she cowered; Beast. His feral gaze was locked on her as if she were a rabbit running scared. She had never feared her would-be host until this very moment. Her eyes spoke to her awoken fear and embarrassment at being caught. Belle couldn't move, every fiber of her body screamed at her to move yet she couldn't make her muscle react, she was frozen. Beast stepped from beneath the canopy of plants.
For the first time Belle saw Beast, his massive body loomed over her. His eyes pierced her inner soul as he gazed down at her. His face was that of a wolf almost yet slightly wider then a bear's. His ears were curved at the tips and wide towards the base. Dark brown long fur surrounded every visible inch of the creature. His jaws settled neatly together, his lips were large and dark. Beast wore a silver and brown cloak with matching trousers and a long sleeved shirt. At nearly ten feet in height he towered over Belle, his form casting a shadow over her. Belle licked her lips unconsciously as her eyes flitted towards his groin, then instantly returned to his gaze. Those animal eyes held fire in them.
"Belle." he said again, his voice washed over the girl and she visibly shivered at his mixed emotion in it. He seemed upset and yet his tone depicted nothing of it, but rather a firm questioning. She felt it so strongly deep within herself she didn't even let him ask the question.
"I'm sorry. I was just... I mean, I." she stammered in an attempt to say something for her actions. His gaze didn't let up as she watched him, wide-eyed and trembling.
"Put the rose dome back, please." his words were punctual and very firm. Belle reached for the little crystal dome and placed it back over the floating plant. When her hands lingered on it Beast promptly plucked her off of the alter and carried her out the other side of the garden dome.
