Debbie Banna - Shattered Dreams, New Beginnings
The darkness surrounding them was broken by a patch of light far ahead. Loyalina walked on, keeping her eyes straight ahead but still holding the hand of the beast. Doubt began to assail her as she neared the area where the light pushed back the darkness. What if the beast was so horrifying that she could not endure it? How could she betray the trust he had placed in her and the flame of hope that she had allowed to begin flickering in his heart? If she turned from him now, she would wound him deeply and she would be ashamed of herself for doing so. Loyalina cried out to her heart not to betray him and searched for the courage needed to look without fear upon his face.
The two walked steadily toward the light, each looking straight ahead. Then, the beast stopped and heaved a heavy sigh. “Do not turn yet, little one. First, let me speak. If you are indeed afraid, run straight ahead down this path. It will lead you home. If you wish, you may remain in my cottage and I will go. I will not return to bother you. The house will be yours to keep, so that you will have a home when I am gone. Take it as a gift from me to say thank you for all that you have done to bring joy into my life these past few months. I will remember your beauty and your kindness to me always.” He paused and dropped Loyalina’s hand.
A tear trickled down her cheek as she thought of remaining in the cottage without the love of her friend. The house would mean nothing to her without him. It had been his warm and loving presence that had caused her to look upon the place as her home. Suddenly she realized that she didn’t care how the beast looked. In her heart she began to realize that she really did love him. “Oh, Beast”, she cried, turning toward him. “I will never run from you. Please say you not will leave me. I need you.” She thought to look upon his face as this wave of love washed over her but he quickly turned his back. Loyalina reached out her hand and touched the arm of his robe. “Please, Beast. Trust me,” she pleaded.
Slowly he turned so she would not have to bear the full effect of his ugliness at once. Loyalina stared and bit back a gasp. Truly he was indeed ugly. But she firmly fixed her gaze upon his eyes. There was something within them that revealed to her his soul. She continued to gaze into his great, golden brown orbs until she felt she was looking at a magnificent, courtly, handsome young man. Her mind reeled, as her confused thoughts fought with the vision her eyes were seeing. “What is this that I see, Beast?” she asked in confusion. “Who or what are you? My mind is confused with this trick of my eyes. You are horribly ugly and hideous yet you are beautiful and noble and wonderful. Please help me for I think I am losing my mind.”
The beast steadied her with his paw, tucking it into the crook of his arm and began to lead her out of the forest. “I know not what you are seeing my sweet one. But my heart is content that you are still here. It is more than I could have ever hoped for. Something has melted in my being that has been frozen for years and I dare to hope, no, I truly believe that something wonderful awaits us. Let us continue on home.”
Tony woke and stretched stiffly, trying to recall where he might be. His back ached and his hips felt as if they had been squashed between two stones. “Oh my lord, what did I do to myself?” he complained trying to get up. “It must have been the beer.” With a tremendous effort he managed to roll onto his side and get his knees under himself. Then he pushed his way to his feet, shaking them to restore circulation to the numbed extremities. He reached around and began to rub his back, glancing about the room as he did. Suddenly he remembered. The girl! He turned his gaze toward the bed expecting to find his beautiful guest from the night before but the bed was neatly straightened and empty. Disappointment filled his thoughts as he realized he must face another day alone. Turning toward the kitchen, he bumped his toe on the pail he’d left in the middle of the floor and fragrant fish water slopped over the side and onto his socks. “Great. Here we go again,” he grumbled as he stumbled toward the door and opened it, looking out on the dawning of a new day.
Wolf had finished his second bowl of stew and was trying hard not to look in the direction of the half empty pot. He was sure that if he waited just a bit longer, at least one of his new friends would return to help him with the meal. But if they didn’t come and soon, it just might be his duty to prevent such a luscious meal from going to waste. He got up from the table and decided to go to his room to keep himself from falling victim to temptation when his nose told him he would soon be joined by the beast. Sitting back down, and only slightly disappointed, he waited patiently for his friend.
Presently, the beast entered the house, his massive frame filling the door as he did so. Wolf turned to greet him and found himself surprised to see that he was not alone. On his arm, looking dazed and confused, leaned Loyalina. Wolf jumped to his feet to make room for her in the chair he had recently occupied. She settled in quietly, almost trance-like, while the men continued to talk.
Raising his eyebrow in surprise, Wolf looked at the beast. “What is this that has taken place, my friend?” he asked. “Do I see what I think I see? Have you really shown yourself to the girl?”
“Yes, dear Wolf. That I have. And the result is more than I could hope for. She has agreed to stay with me. The goodness of her heart is stronger than the ugliness that I possess. Truly there is not such a woman as she anywhere in all of the kingdoms. Help me bring her to her room. She is in need of rest.”
“Allow me,” Wolf said as he bent down and lifted her from her chair and into his arms. With the beast leading the way, he carried her to a small room off of the kitchen and set her down on the pieced quilted comforter, which topped a carefully carved oak bed. Once sure she was comfortably settled, they left her alone, quietly closing the door behind themselves. Back in the kitchen again, Wolf was overflowing with questions.
“So what happened out there? How did you know she had run away? What did she say when she saw you?” he prattled and expressed his astonishment with excited gestures.
The beast sat on a bench by the fire and smiled mysteriously at his friend. “Amazing things have happened, Wolf. Absolutely amazing. I think I may yet see my deliverance. But I have a question for you. Did you say she was running away?” he asked.
“Uh, yes,” he answered sheepishly. “We were talking and…I think I must have said something to upset her. I might have hinted that maybe you might think of her as more than a friend and she…well… she was overcome by it,” Wolf embellished. Embarrassed, he turned from the beast so he would not have to look into his eyes.
“Yes, I think I know how she might be overcome by such an idea,” he laughed wryly. “And yet, she stayed Wolf. She looked me in the face and she knew. Somehow she could see the real me behind this horrible curse. I believe, my friend, that this curse may be broken and my kingdom restored to me yet. And I will make her, this gentle, perceptive, brave young woman, my queen. But help me, for I have yet to win her love,” he pleaded. “Tell me how you won the hand of your precious Virginia and how she came to be your bride.”
Wolf’s thoughts returned to the days of happiness he shared with his one and only love and a powerful wave of pain seared his heart. But for the sake of his friend, he composed himself and moved to sit near him by the fire. “It all began in a prison in the Fourth Kingdom…” he started while the beast listened carefully, considering carefully every perfect and painful memory his friend relived as he sought to offer him advice.
