Chapter Text
-Polly-
"He know you're up to something." Vandy said.
Vandy was absently leaning against the wall outside the castle, watching as Polly scurried about.
"Well there isn't much time for stealth. Maybe if he'd given us some warning we wouldn't be so obvious about it."
Polly had noticed that The King had been periodically looking out the window and investigating their activities. He had to know what they were doing by now, but he had made no move to stop it. Interesting.
"As if anyone had the power and force to stop you."
"Oh hush now and come help. If I don't do something about all the tension around here no one will."
Vandy laughed and happily followed every one of Polly's orders and wishes. She had already sent out invitations to half the forest, the entire kitchen has been worked into a state of frenzy and the gardens are just about restored to their former glory days.
-Belle-
Polly knocked on the door and when Belle answered she almost wished she hadn't.
"Belle, it's good to see you again!" She said, but there were others standing in the hallway that were a mystery to Belle.
"You too Polly. I've missed our conversations. Who are your friends?"
"Oh, these are just some ladies that I invited for a visit. They're here to help me with a little project. May we come in?"
Belle welcomed in Polly followed by about four other women.
"Adam was right. You are cooking up a scheme." Belle said after being introduced to everyone. The four women turned out to be elves who were all extremely shy and laughed at everything.
"I'm ashamed you ever doubted me. Someone has to keep everything together and right now that means fixing you up."
Belle laughed, Polly was forever looking over everyone.
"What are you fixing me up for Polly?" Belle asked.
"The ball!" One of the elves answered in reply.
"A Ball?!" Belle could not believe Polly's gumption. "Adam is going to kill you."
Polly laughed at that and grabbed Belle's hand, leading her to the wardrobe and began rifling through her dresses.
"Adam is not going to be killing me at the end of this night. He will be groveling at my feet because we're not fixing you up for the Ball deary. We're fixing you up for him." The elves exploded in a wave of giggles and Belle felt her face flush red
Despite all Belle's protests and reassurances that she was perfectly well prepared for a ball, nobody seemed to listen to her. She stood trapped and frozen being worked on all at once. Two elves, worked on her dress while the other two stood on stools and were braiding her hair.
They all took great pride in their work and they were experts in their crafts. When they agreed Belle was fit for a ball she ran her hands over the work of the elves and wished she could see the finery that they had created for her.
"I am in you debt." Belle said, obsessed with the light feel and fabric of the dress. She swayed lightly letting the fabric swirl around her legs. The four elves all left once they had fawned over their creations enough leaving Polly alone with Belle.
"Thank you Polly for setting all this up. I feel beautiful."
Polly took Belle's hands. "You've always looked beautiful, but now you're glowing."
Belle felt her eyes begin to well up and she sat down.
"What is it dear? I hope I didn't upset you by bringing the girls by."
Belle tried to still still her shoulders from shaking and reign in her emotion, but it wasn't working.
"No, it's not that. The problem is that I'm torn. Going home made me realize how much more different it is to be here."
"Good different or bad different?" Polly asked warily.
"Both I guess. My father isn't a horrible person, but he never knew what to do with me once my sight faded away and it made him bitter. I didn't think I'd ever find a place where I wasn't a burden until I came here. No one treats me different here, I'm the same."
Polly laughed, "The irony in all this is that we all like you so much because you don't treat us like monsters. I don't know if you know or not, but everyone here is a little different. You bring a little bit of humanity to all of us."
"but the other side of it is that I've never been more scared in my entire life."
"What are you so afraid of?"
"Those few days I was gone I felt nothing but homesickness for everyone here. I'm not preyed on here. I love you and Vandy like you were my own parents, but I can't stay here if he doesn't love me. I can't be a pity project. I can't" Belle laid all her feelings out into the open and she felt better in admitting them, but she also felt more vulnerable.
"That has got to be the craziest thing you've ever said Belle. Of course he loves you everyone can see that."
Belle shook her head. "I can't break his curse. I showed up too late for that. You said he fell in love with the queen years ago when she came here and he draws away from me-" Belle cut off, trying to weed out her insecure feelings from what she was saying.
"No you're right. You'll never be able to break his curse. He'll be part Beast for the rest of his life and he'll never be able to leave the forest, but if you think he draws away from you because he still holds a torch for the queen-" Polly interrupted herself with laughter. "You're sorely mistaken there." Polly wrapped in a hug.
"I need to go finish up all the preparations. Give us another hour and then we'll show you what a real party is."
Belle laughed, leaving they're serious tone behind. "It'll have to be obnoxiously over the top for me to see any kind of difference."
"Alright deary, don't say you weren't warned!"
Polly crossed the room and the door opened with a creak and then it swiftly closed.
"Oh and Belle, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Give him a hard time. He deserves it."
The door was opened and closed again, this time with Polly on the other side. Belle couldn't stop herself from smiling and she found that she could not wait any longer.
-Adam-
"Do you really think that I don't know what you've been doing in the gardens all day?" Adam asked.
"I'm not sure I know what you are talking about." Polly said innocently.
Polly liked to sneak around and make his life harder. He was beginning to think that it was her favorite past time.
"How many people are out there Polly?" Adam asked. His father used to throw Balls. Grand occasions for those who had shown loyalty to him. Mostly for special occasion, but they stopped when Adam was a young boy. It was time he could remember his father outside of his stern demeanor and when they stopped so did the rest of his fathers good nature.
"I told you, Vandy and I have got a small surprise for you and Belle. It's nothing special, just a little something to celebrate the end of the blood moon."
They were on their way to grab Belle from her rooms and then he was going to whisk her somewhere else so that they could avoid the ball together or whatever else Polly has under her sleeves.
"It's just outside in the gardens don't forget." Was all Polly said before stopping them both in front of Belle's door and knocking. Adam looked at the door, distracted for a moment, not even noticing that Polly had taken off faster than someone of her age should be able to.
"Where are you going?" He asked, starting after her before he was stopped by the sound of Belle opening up her door.
The least Polly could have done was prepare him for when Belle opened the door. His heart almost stopped when he turned and saw her. She looked perfect in every way and he allowed himself some time to look at the way her dress hung on her figure and the way her long brown hair was intricately braided. He wanted to reach out and run his fingers through her hair, but he had to hold himself back and force himself to just enjoy these few moments. He had her all to himself in her doorway away from every one else.
"Hello? Anyone there?" She asked, clinging on to the doorway.
"Uh- yes. It's me. The King. Adam." He said, less than eloquently.
She grinned, laughing at her own joke as if she knew she was the funniest person around. "I know, I was only kidding. I think half of the castle probably heard you yelling after Polly."
He laughed at nothing in particular. It seemed like he didn't really need a reason to laugh where Belle was concerned. Her smile always brought life to any room, but now he was fixated on her.
"You look-" He started the sentence without knowing what to say, but once every adjective flew through his mind he ended on "perfect."
She gave a quirky little curtsy, "Thank you. I hope you'll forgive me for saying that you look the same."
That garnered a good laugh from him. "I think I'd forgive you for anything right now." and that was the truth. He wondered if she knew the effect that she had on him.
"Well I'll try not to abuse your forgiveness too much, but it's not you that I'm scared of, it's Polly, and if we don't make out ways to the gardens she'll have both of our heads."
She held out her arm expectedly and Adam took it. He remembered his earlier thoughts of leaving so he wouldn't have to endure a torturous night of socializing, but the only thought of their last dance and how much he'd like to relive that dance. Plus, he didn't trust himself with her alone at the moment.
He led her through the castle she seemed almost as nervous as he was when they reached the doors.
"It's just through there?" She asked.
"Yes."
"You know it's going to be a lot of people and dancing right?"
"Yes."
"And you're okay with all of this?"
He let out a short laugh. She seemed worried about him.
"There's a lot of people out there who deserve to be happy. It's been too long since we've done anything fun around here."
"What do you want Adam?" She asked.
That was an impossible question. There was a hunting party of humans trying to kill him, the werewolves hadn't made their final move yet and that meant the kingship was at stake. Every creature outside those doors relied on him for their safety. Everything would descend back into chaos if he failed. He wanted to not fail. He wanted the blood moon to finally be over and most of all he wanted her.
"You cannot bore me out of my answer. I am a very patient woman. I will wait."
"I want you to be happy." He said finally.
"That doesn't count."
"Of course it counts. You can't go dictating what I can and can't want."
She was getting ready for an argument. She had the same self-sure look in her eyes and smile.
"Well you can't want someone else to be happy. What does that have anything to do with you getting what you want?"
"Sometimes I forget that you're a little blind." He moved her closer, stopping the words that formed in her mouth. "Blind to my intentions."
"and what intentions are those exactly?" She asked with a challenge in her voice.
He felt like a king having her so close to him and smiling up at him. His intentions when they came to Belle were everything. Vandy was right, if he didn't tell her the way he felt tonight he'd torture himself for being a coward.
"I told you. I want to make you happy." He said simply, she was annoyed that he wouldn't play her game, but he didn't need to play her game. He was hers already.
"I think we've stalled long enough. Are you ready?" He asked.
"What's waiting for us out there?" She asked.
He regarded the large door that was looming over the both of them.
"A battlefield." He said simply before he pushed the doors open for the both of them and they opened up into the gardens that were lit by faerie lights and the crowd was small enough to be confined to castle staff and close allies. Every eye turned their way and whispers went around the room.
He had to admit to himself that Polly had done an amazing job with the place. All the flowers were in bloom, even the ones that weren't in season. There was tables piled with food and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
He led Belle down the walkway of lights to the grand opening where he was handed a drink by Vandy. He passed it to Belle and then reached for another one and he lifted his glass up in a toast.
"I am not one for speeches so I will just say how great it is to be surrounded by friends once more. To the end of the bloodmoon."
The crowd chanted, "Long live the Beast King." before taking in their wine and He then nodded to the Nymphs to begin to play. It was his responsibility to open the dancing and he led Belle to the center of the dance floor passing off her drink to someone else.
"Will you dance with me Belle?" He asked.
She gave a grinning curtsy and he pulled them together. The music began to play as he placed his left arm lightly around her waist and grabbed her right hand.
Her left hand snaked up to his shoulder when a pretty piece of jewelry caught his eye
They began circling, beginning the dance and other couples took their places on the dance floor before Adam took his arm from around her back and grabbed her left hand.
"Is this new? I wasn't aware that you were engaged" He teased, playing with the ring placed ceremoniously on her ring finger.
Her blush betrayed her before her words did. She pulled her left hand out of his and placed his arm back around her waist.
"I forgot all about this stupid ring. I suppose the engagement is probably off by now. I hope my father takes it alright."
Adam's heart pricked with jealousy. "You're teasing me. That's not really an engagement ring."
Belle smiled and she relied on his arm around her waist to steady her in the dance so that she could slide the ring off her finger. Her left arm went back to his shoulder and her right hand played with the ring .
"It was. I should probably give it back to Lord MonteVerde. It was probably a family ring." She said.
"You were gone two days!" He huffed out in disbelief, "I didn't think you would move on that fast. I wasn't aware that you had left a beau behind. I beg your forgiveness for not inviting him."
She laughed which was the opposite of how Adam felt. He wanted to go find whoever gave her that ring and throw him to the werewolves.
"You sound jealous Adam." She said, and that felt like the final straw. The last time he was rejected played before his eyes and he distanced himself from Belle. She would reject him before he could even get the words out it seemed.
"Of course I'm jealous. I-" He stopped himself. This dance in public with couples casting them sideways glances was not the place. He desperately hated crowds. He felt trapped and surrounded by every pair of eyes that turned their way.
Belle pulled her self closer towards him and he wasn't strong enough to keep her back. "You have invited him." she said.
"What?" he asked.
"My betrothed. You have invited him to the castle, in fact he'll be on his way in the morning. He's part of the hunting party."
It was his worst nightmare with history repeating itself. His mind was spinning with the possible outcomes, but Belle reached up and pulled his head down until his forehead was touching hers.
"Adam I'll only say this once and I want you to understand every word I say. Can you do that?" She asked and he nodded. "Good."
"The man who gave me this ring is the most vile person I've ever met on this planet, and he is far more interested in killing you than he will ever be with me. I love you Adam, but I mean it when I say that if you let this man kill you tomorrow and come to the castle for me, I will never forgive you. Do you understand me?"
She loved him. She said it. His mind explained her confession away. She couldn't have meant it like that. There was no way.
"Are we clear?" she asked again.
"Yes." He responded. The person who gave her that ring would be the first one to die.
"Good, now we can enjoy our night and not let wastrels like him come between us." She said happily and he finally settled down, letting some of his jealousy and anger die out.
He wrapped his hand around hers grabbing onto the ring. "May I?" He asked and she let go of the ring. He inspected it, it was a beautifully large emerald stone set in an ornate gold frame. This is the ring he had to beat. He'd find a better one. He took the ring and chucked it over the walls and into the forest and finally felt free when he watched it fly into the nothingness.
"I hope you're finally happy that poor old man who donated his ring will never get it back now." She said laughing.
"I do feel a little better." He said.
The rest of their dance was spent recounting her two days home and Adam felt lower than his boots thinking of how he just left her there unprotected at the will of everyone else. He made another promise to himself that he'd never let her leave the forest again.
After their dance Belle forced him to ask others to dance. Her reasons were that she would look like she were hogging their King all night if he danced with no one other than her, but truth be told, it was probably more obvious with him staring at her from across the gardens all night long.
He danced with Polly and with nymphs, elves, vampires, and a centaur. He danced until he didn't think he could physically stand dancing any more, and he kept a watchful eye on Belle the whole time, especially whenever someone built up the courage to ask her to dance.
The Nymphs switched out intruments so that everyone had an equal time to dance, but then just as it was his responsibility to start the Ball, it was also his responsibility to end it.
"Thank you all for coming. You've all been great allies to me as we wrap up this blood moon season, tomorrow will be a tense day so try and stay out of trouble." He said and the crowd gave another, "Long live the Beast King." Before they began to file out.
Everyone eventually left and Polly sat with Vandy at a table across where Belle had found her favorite garden chair after it had been moved. Adam had found his place leaning against the arm of the chair right next to her.
"I told you it wouldn't be that bad." Polly said triumphantly.
"Speak for yourself." Adam said, folding his arms. He did have fun, but he'd never admit that to Polly after all his complaining.
"Well I thought it was brilliant." Belle said smiling. After a night of dancing and feasting her hair had become loose and strands of hair willed themselves free from the loose braids, and with a flushed face and a huge smile Adam had decided that he'd never seen a more beautiful sight.
"Well, maybe it wasn't so bad." Adam said. Everyone laughed at that and when there came a lull in the conversation Polly stood up with a wide grin and dragged Vandy up next to her.
"Well that's enough excitement for these old bones!" Polly said with an exaggerated yawn. "I think Vandy and I will be calling it a night!" Polly said.
"Goodnight Deary!" Polly said walking to Belle and wrapping her in a hug.
"No goodnight for me?" Adam asked Polly while Vandy bid Belle good night.
"Of course dear." Polly said, pulling Adam into a short hug, "You better be good to that girl or it'll be your head in the morning!" Polly whispered quickly into his ear.
Adam laughed and Vandy just pat him on the back and nodded back to Belle. Vandy didn't have to voice his silent message.
Finally after all night, he finally got what he wanted. Belle to himself.