A Tale That Could Not Be

“I am so sorry for this, Belle.”

Don’t be, Belle mentally replied. You were the victim of Gaphir’s magic. I know you’d have never done anything like that otherwise.

“I should have been stronger. I should have had the strength to resist him!”

Adam, your weakness is magic and you did as well as you could. I can wish to breathe underwater all I want but no matter how hard I try I’ll never do it. Don’t berate yourself over something you have no control over.

“But it is my fault that we have no future.”

Our future may end today but my love for you will pass on through the ages. I know not if we come back from death as something or someone else but if we do, I will find you again. I promise you that in that case, Adam, in this life or the next, we shall be together again. I enjoyed every moment of our relationship and cherished each minute of peace that we had.

“I only wish that we had had more of them…”

I wish for many things too, Adam, but this is the life that the gods have given us and I think we did as well as we possibly could.

“You are truly a wonderful woman, Belle. Even now, when the executioner’s blade thirsts for us, you can fill me with warmth. My deepest regret is that I was never given the chance to hold you and do the same for you.”

Your mere presence has always warmed me, Adam. You saved my life many times over and showed me that love can come from the most unlikely of places. Our situation may not be the most ideal but I would much rather die having known and loved you than having never met you at all.

“I agree with you with all that I am, Belle.”

The sound of footsteps could be heard down the hall, heading directly for Belle’s cell.

“They are coming for us,” Beast said with a sigh of deep sadness. “I love you, Belle.”

And I love you, Adam, Belle replied, meaning the words with all of her heart and soul.

A dozen guards appeared before the cell, led by Prince Aladdin. The guards were all heavily armoured and carried large, two-handed axes, prepared for anything. Prince Aladdin bore one of his enchanted blades in one hand and the keys to Belle’s cell in the other.

“Your final day has come,” Aladdin said behind the crimson shawl he always wore around his lower face. “These guards all possess enchanted axes thus I suggest you come with us quietly lest you wish to feel their bite.”

Belle, her head bowed low, sighed and nodded. “I will come without a fight, your highness. I accept my punishment and will offer no resistance.”

“Good,” Aladdin said before he unlocked the door and entered the cell. He then unlocked the shackles keeping Belle pinned to the ground and helped her rise to her feet. Without another word he turned and left the cell. Belle followed close behind, wincing as her aching bones, having remained in the same position for days, began to move.

“How can this man be related to Sinbad?” Beast asked with a snarl.

We killed people, Adam, Belle reasoned. We committed murder.

“We were set up! Gaphir manipulated us and turned me into nothing more than a raging animal and yet we are the ones getting punished!”

He did no such thing in Our Lady and innocent people died there too. We were only saving ourselves but the fact remains that innocent lives were lost.

“That is lie, Belle, and you know it. I was in full control in Our Lady and I made absolutely certain that I did not injure innocent bystanders. They wanted us dead and they despised us but they did not stand against us. Soldiers, guards, knights, and Artemian fought us and therefore I defended myself but I did not kill anyone who had no quarrel with us. You know this to be true, Belle. You saw everything happen.”

I…I don’t know, Adam. It all happened so fast…

“Do you think me a monster?”

NO! Never! Adam, why would you ask me such a thing?

“Why do you doubt my words?”

I don’t…

“I am a part of you, Belle, and I can hear what you think. You think that I perhaps killed an innocent life by accident but I did not, I assure you. I saw several of Artemian’s arrows miss me and strike innocent civilians, however. I also saw a few guards and soldiers turn tail and fight their way through the mob to escape me, sometimes using deadly force. You remember all of that too, Belle, don’t you?”

I…I don’t know…

“I take responsibility for causing property damage as that I am fully at fault for but I never killed an innocent life. Think back to all the other times I fought to defend us. Do you remember a single occasion where my claws shed the blood of an innocent?”

Belle began to ascend the staircase that would take her out into the street, the bright midday sun, and the crowd of hateful Sauradians. She pondered on Beast’s words and thought back to all the times he had revealed himself in order to save them both. He didn’t always end lives and fought hard not to do so but sometimes it couldn’t be avoided. Belle accepted that. The world saw him as a monster and the price on his head was substantial. Sometimes blood had to be shed and lives had to be lost to ensure that theirs continued. Had Beast refused to kill any of the many soldiers, guards, hunters, and assassins sent against him both he and Belle would have died long ago. It didn’t make killing right but at the same time those sent against Beast had no right to end his life simply for how he looked.

Belle usually avoided watching the battles but she could still feel them. She knew Beast well enough that had he accidentally killed an innocent life that he would have reacted to it and he had never done so. Could it be true then that Beast had never ended a single innocent life? The more she thought on it, the more Belle began to realize that it might indeed be the truth of the matter.

King Charming was misinformed, Belle said in realization.

“Is that so surprising?” Beast replied. “I assume he asked Frollo about the events of our escape before Quasimodo eventually revealed the truth about his involvement. By then it was probably too late and the king had already branded us killers of the innocent. I am grateful that he did something about Frollo but that foul man’s last gift to us was blaming all the deaths on me. The king had never liked Frollo but he would never believe our word over his, despite his distaste for him. Our execution is as much Frollo’s fault as Gaphir’s. The only difference here is that Gaphir isn’t getting punished.”

Belle sighed forlornly. Why is the world so unfair?

“Because men like Frollo and Gaphir make it so.”

The trek through the streets was as horrible as Belle had imagined it to be. Much like in Our Lady, rotten food was thrown, saliva was launched, rocks were tossed, and expletives were unloaded in abundance. Belle kept her head low and took it all in stride. If she gave the abusers a reaction it would only fuel their passion for hatred. At one point she tripped on one of the thrown rocks and fell to her knees. A guard following close behind prodded her with the butt of his axe handle and Belle rose up as quickly as she could. With her heart heavy, her eyes on the verge of tears, and her soul beaten, Belle trudged on.

The execution had been scheduled a few days after the trial and it had given the citizens of Arababyl much time to prepare for it. Thousands stood along the street, crowding it heavily and barely giving their prince enough room to lead Belle and the guards behind her. The going was slow and in such cramped quarters it was a simple thing for onlookers to throw in a few quick punches and kicks into Belle’s sides before the guards could react. She could feel Beast growling in anger but they both remained strong and ignored the hits as best as they could. Transforming in such a crowded area with enchanted weapons so near would only result in an early execution. As futile as their situation was, both Belle and Beast desired to remain together for as long as possible. They would die with dignity, showing everyone watching that they were not afraid of death. As long as they were together, they would take whatever fate awaited them.

After what felt like hours later, they finally reached a huge, open city square. A tall obelisk stabbed the sky at one end and before it stood a wooden platform. A crowd of thousands filled the rest of the area. Some onlookers were positioned on the roofs of nearby homes and buildings, standing or sitting comfortably. In the massive crowd she saw men, women, and even children watching her with interest. It appeared as if the entire city had gathered to witness the execution. Belle wondered what fascination people found in observing someone else’s life end. Was killing truly such a wonderful spectacle?

“And they call me a monster,” Beast growled, thinking the same thing as Belle.

Prince Aladdin guided Belle to the wooden stage and ascended the steps protruding from its side. The guards that had followed her positioned themselves around the platform like a protective wall. Once upon the stage, Belle noticed a large block of wood thrusting up from its middle. Aladdin pointed to the block with his sword and Belle walked over to it, already knowing what to do.

This is how it all ends, she thought as she knelt down before the block and rested her neck on its top. Looking into the crowd of silk and cloth wraps, shawls, and robes, Belle searched for any familiar faces. Seated on luxurious chairs and surrounded by guards were King and Prince Charming as well as Sultan Ali Baba and Princess Balaura. They sat at the very front of the crowd and were given the best view of the coming execution. The Sauradian princess was in tears and couldn’t meet Belle’s gaze directly. Prince Charming seemed concerned and discomforted, as if he didn’t approve with the execution. Both king and sultan were stone-faced, their expressions unreadable, as if this was something they dealt with on a daily basis.

Belle looked beyond them, hoping to catch a glimpse of her friends. She began to worry when Prince Aladdin started to speak and she hadn’t spotted them yet.

“Here kneels the vicious creature we all know as Belle and the beast within her,” Prince Aladdin said loudly, his voice carrying over the crowd and hushing it into silence. “Today we avenge the lives of all those whom they have slaughtered needlessly and give their restless souls peace. No more shall these two terrorize the lands and endanger the lives of the innocent. Today, we have justice!”

The crowd erupted into a great cheer that made the stage rumble and rattle Belle’s teeth. She could feel Beast squirming in disgust and couldn’t blame him. Every single one of these onlookers had been fed lies and now eagerly anticipated the death of an innocent, the very thing they sought justice for. It was pointless to argue the matter, Belle knew. It was something most real criminals fell victim to and doing so now would only make everyone believe the exact opposite of what they claimed. Beast could possibly escape but he wouldn’t get far. In her search for her friends Belle had discovered the presence of dozens of fire mages and many times that number of ranged soldiers, bearing large and powerful bows.

“I don’t see Gaphir anywhere,” Beast noted. “I expected him to be here.”

Maybe they imprisoned him for a short time simply to show that acts of manipulation had consequences, Belle offered.

“How unfortunate for him…” Beast replied dryly.

Belle had nothing to say to that. She hoped that she was wrong and that Gaphir had been severely punished, perhaps by lashings or dismemberment, but she had her doubts. The man was a hero of the people now, at least in the eyes of common Sauradians. Sultan Ali Baba may even want to punish Gaphir severely but if he did so he risked the ire of his people.

“There!” Beast mentally called out. “There they are!”

Belle followed his mental cues and felt her heart flutter at the sight of her true friends, one of the very few she had experienced in her life. They stood atop a rooftop some distance away, watching her closely. Judging by their postures, they all appeared terribly miserable and it pained her heart to see them this way. Cindy stood stiffly but her head was bowed. Red and Jack’s shoulders were slumped, defeated and helpless. Hook had his tricorn hat over his heart and his gaze lowered. Sinbad had his arms folded over his chest and though he faced her general direction his gaze appeared to be on the man beside her, his cousin. Marjeneh was there as well, dressed in her colourful silks and staring at the ground. Bigbad’s large shape stood behind them, the huge wolf’s gaze staring intently at her.

“Cindy wants to fight her way to us,” Beast said suddenly.

How do you know? Belle asked.

“Bigbad told me.”

He…he told you? You can hear him from here?

“You know of my connection to forest predators such as wolves and bears. We can speak to one another from great distances through mental voices. He is telling me that Red and Jack curse themselves for not being able to do more. Hook carries a heavy heart and blames himself for not leaving the city sooner. Sinbad is full of hatred toward his cousin and is as eager as Cindy to fight for our freedom. Bigbad does not know Marjeneh well but he says she weeps for us often.”

Belle was comforted to know that her friends cared for her so much but she did not want them to act rashly. She loved them all dearly and wanted them to all live long and happy lives.

I wish you could let them all know that they shouldn’t do anything foolish for our sakes, Belle said to Beast.

“I just told Bigbad and he assures me that he will keep anyone from leaving the roof. He himself wishes to act but I told him to remain where he is. Our fate is unfair and unfortunate but it is no reason for them to ruin their futures.”

Thank you, Adam.

“Now is the time,” Prince Aladdin said after speaking to the crowd about the fate of criminals and murders and how Sauradia valued justice above all else. “Now is the time for these dangerous murderers to meet their fates.” The prince then raised his sword, lowered it slowly, tapped the top of Belle’s neck to take his aim, and then raised it once more. “May the gods have mercy on their tainted souls.”

“I love you, Belle,” Beast said quickly.

I love you, Adam.

The crowd silenced. Belle held her breath. Thousands of eyes watched intently. The prince’s enchanted sword began to fall. Belle closed her eyes and remembered every wonderful memory she ever had, from childhood until now. Despite all the terrors she had experienced, Beast had always been the light. He had always been there for her. He had always been her soulmate. From beginning to end, from birth to death, he had been there, as he was now.

A fearsome howl suddenly rent the air and paused the prince’s sword just as it touched Belle’s neck. The howl had come from the north, sweeping over the city like a cold wind and sounding like crashing thunder and the roar of a raging forest fire.

Belle opened her eyes and looked beyond the crowd, across the city, and saw the source of the roar. There, soaring through the sky and diving down toward the open square, was a huge creature of black scales, leathery wings, a horned head, a spiked body, and terrible red eyes.

“Dragon!” cried out Sultan Ali Baba, eyeing the approaching menace with fear.

“This isn’t any dragon!” shouted King Charming, standing up and unsheathing his sword. “Rhiannon has come!”