The Ghost of Gaston
Part Four
The next morning, the Prince waited for Belle to join him in the dining
room for breakfast. He waited and waited. Time dragged by, and when
Belle continued to be absent, the Prince grew worried. Belle had never
been a late sleeper.
"Where is she?" he asked Mrs. Potts.
"She was sound asleep the last time I checked, the poor dear!" she
replied. The Prince had an awful feeling that something was terribly
wrong. He abrubtly stood and raced to Belle's room, not caring if his
poridge became cold.
He knocked on her door. "Belle, are you there?" No response. "Is
something wrong?" he called. Still nothing. With his heart pounding
furiously, the Prince turned the knob and swang the door open. He saw
Belle lying deathly still on her bed. Her face was pale and her hair
had become dull and limp. Her chest didn't gentley rise and fall. Her
breath seemed to have been knocked out of her. "Belle! Oh, Belle!" The
Prince's eyes blurred with tears as he tenderly caressed her. As he
pressed her body against his own, he felt a faint heartbeat. She was
miraculously still alive.
Behind him, he heard a gasp. He turned to see Mrs. Potts standing in
the door. He slowly stood up and looked at her with a tear stained
face. "She's not breathing!" he exclaimed. Mrs. Potts was stunned.
She had grown to love Belle like her own child.
"Then we must send for a doctor at once!" she exclaimed, struggling to
keep her composure.
The Prince nodded in agreement. "Watch over her Mrs. Potts. I'm going
to the village!"
"But Master, you haven't been to the village since before the spell was
cast!"
"I'll take Phillipe, Belle's horse. He'll know the way!"
"Do be careful , Master!" Mrs. Potts called out, but the Prince was
already racing to the castle grounds. As word of Belle's illness
spread, the entire castle became frantic. Many sevants were crying for
their beautiful princess. Maurice and Mrs. Potts stayed at Belle's
side.
Meanwhile, the Prince mounted Phillipe and nudged him to go forward.
"To the village, Phillipe! Belle needs help!" Sensing the urgency in
the Prince's voice, the majestic animal set off in a full run; the
pounding of hooves against the ground echoed through the forest.
Soon, they arrived in a quaint little town where Belle had lived before
the two of them had met. Belle had often encouraged the Prince to come
to the town with her, but he had been too shy to go back among the
townspeople after so many years. However, now that Belle's life was in
danger, he wouldn't let anything hold him back.
He pulled Phillipe to a halt, dismounted, and tied the horse to a
nearby tree. Frantically, he looked around for someone who might help.
For the most part, the villagers were just minding their own business.
Being a stranger in the town, the prince had no idea who to approach.
He decided to check out a tavern up ahead. Surely someone in there
would know where to find a doctor. As he yanked the door open, the
people in the room fell silent.
To Be Continued
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