"La Bella Luna et la Bête" (Part 1 of 4)
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine.
Title: La Bella Luna et la Bête
Characters: Luna and whoever the beast turns out to be (and no, it isn’t Neville. It’s a surprise)
Summary: Based on the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
Rating: G
A/N: Last night I watched part of the 1946 French film “La Belle et la Bête”. It was subtitled, and in black and white, and the magical effects were wonderful. I missed the beginning, but if it comes on again, I want to see it.
Once upon a time there was a wealthy merchant named Xenophilius Lovegood. He had three daughters: Frederica, Adelaide, and Luna, who was nicknamed Bella Luna because she was so beautiful. They lived a comfortable existence, until one day Xenophilius received a letter that one of his ships had gone missing in a storm. Telling no one, fearing a lost ship would be their ruin, Xenophilius prepared immediately to go to the port town and wait for news. Frederica and Adelaide asked him to bring them gifts, Frederica wanted an emerald necklace and Adelaide wanted an embroidered gown.
“And what do you want, dear Bella Luna?” Xenophilius asked as he climbed onto his horse.
“Only your safe return, father,” said Luna.
“There must be something you would like,” Xenophilius persisted. “A hat, or some slippers?” (He was hoping the ship would be found by the time he reached the town, and he would be able to grant all these promises he was making.)
“Well,” Luna said thoughtfully. “If you should see one on your travels, I would like a rose.”
“Surely there must be something else?”
“A rose,” Luna insisted, not noticing her sisters rolling their eyes at the simple request.
“A rose you shall have,” Xeno promised, and he rode away. The sisters went back to the house, and only Luna remained, waving until he was out of sight.
Now as it happened, the ship was indeed lost, and it was with a heavy heart that Xenophilius was returning home with the news, with no gifts for his daughters. As he was traveling through the deepest, darkest part of the forest, however, a terrible storm began to brew, and he became very worried. A crack of lightening and a roll of thunder sent his poor horse plunging off the road, and Xeno could only hold on for dear life for several minutes. When the horse finally stopped, Xeno looked up and found they were standing in front of a great gate, set in a wall covered in vines.
The gate slowly swung open, but Xeno didn’t see anyone there. This frightened him, but the storm was so close he thought maybe it was the wind, and that it would be more prudent to ask for shelter from whomever lived inside than to go looking for the road. Besides, he was a naturally curious man. The horse ended his indecision by hurrying inside. They followed the path, and Xeno soon saw a huge castle, with lights glowing in the windows. There was a barn, full of straw and buckets of oats and water, and as soon as Xeno dismounted, the horse rushed inside with a whinny, and the barn doors closed fast.
Xeno walked up to the castle door and watched it swing open. He went inside, and found a table beautifully set for one, and a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace. There was a note on the table, that said “Be My Guest.” No sooner had Xeno sat down than all the dishes filled with food and drink, with roasted pheasant and potatoes, wine, bread and cheese, and fruit. Xeno ate and drank while the storm raged outside the windows, and when he was finished, the table disappeared, and there was a bed with a soft duvet waiting for him.
The next morning dawned clear and bright, and Xeno walked outside to find his horse all groomed and saddled, and waiting for him on the path. As he rode towards the gate, they passed through something he hadn’t noticed the night before, the path was lined with beautiful rosebushes. There were dozens of them, full of flowers of every color. Remembering Luna, and thinking it would be nice to be able to grant at least one of his daughters’ requests, Xeno reached out, and broke the stem of a magnificent rose. Its petals were as pure white as Luna’s hair, and it was covered in dew, it was truly the most perfect rose he’d ever seen.
As soon as it was in his hand, however, he heard a terrible roar, like that of a fearsome wild animal. He and his horse both froze, and then a figure rushed onto the road in front of them. Xeno gasped. The figure was dressed like a man of noble blood, but his face and hands were that of a beast. He had claws like daggers, and a great black mane like a lion, and wild golden eyes.
“You dare to steal from me after the hospitality I have given you?” the creature roared.
“It’s…it’s just a rose,” Xeno stammered. He was shaking so hard he was surprised the petals weren’t falling off.
“JUST a rose?” bellowed the beast. “These bushes are the most precious in my garden, they were imported from all over the world and planted by my ancestors and I’ve tended them with my own hands.” He held out his great paws with their curving talons, and Xeno quaked harder.
“Please, my lord, I only meant to take it home to my youngest daughter. She is very good and kind and asks for so little,” and Xeno poured out the whole story to the beast.
“I will let you go,” said the beast at last. “Under one condition. Your youngest daughter must come and be a guest of mine, here at my castle, for one year. She will not be harmed in any way, and will live in all the luxury I can provide, which is considerable, and she will have free roam of all the grounds, which are extensive. At which time she will be free to leave.”
Xeno begged and pleaded and wept, but this was the only condition the beast would accept, and so Xeno reluctantly agreed, and was allowed to continue on his way.
When he returned home, Frederica and Adelaide were most aggrieved that he had neither the necklace nor the gown, but Luna wrapped her arms around his neck and asked him what was troubling him.
He had to tell them, of course. Frederica and Adelaide were distraught over their impending poverty, but Xeno was only upset about Luna having to go stay with the Beast.
“Don’t worry, Father,” Luna said calmly. “I think it would be most interesting to be the guest of a Beast. He sounds like a creature of his word, and if he says I will come to no harm, then I believe him. Thank you for the rose.” She held it to her nose and breathed in the delicate fragrance with her eyes half closed. “Lovely," she sighed. "I trust it is free of wrackspurts, the beast sounds like he would be careful about that sort of thing.”
At this moment, they heard hoof beats in the courtyard, but when they all rushed outside, Xeno didn’t see anything, and Frederica and Adelaide were looking around in confused annoyance. But Luna walked forward curiously and reached up a hand.
“Oh, look at this amazing creature,” said Luna, petting something that was evidently a bit taller than she was. “It must be here for me.”
“I don’t see anything,” complained Frederica. “Is it a very grand horse?”
“With a jeweled saddled and a bridle of gold?” asked Adelaide, also a bit covetously.
“It has very wise eyes,” said Luna, which was a rather vague answer, but then Luna was often very vague so they were all used to it.
Xeno hugged his daughter tightly. “My Luna, my Bella Luna,” he murmured.
“Don’t worry, Father,” she said serenely as she drew away. “It promises to be a grand adventure."
And she climbed aboard the invisible steed, and floated off into the sky.
Continue…
Title: La Bella Luna et la Bête
Characters: Luna and whoever the beast turns out to be (and no, it isn’t Neville. It’s a surprise)
Summary: Based on the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
Rating: G
A/N: Last night I watched part of the 1946 French film “La Belle et la Bête”. It was subtitled, and in black and white, and the magical effects were wonderful. I missed the beginning, but if it comes on again, I want to see it.
Once upon a time there was a wealthy merchant named Xenophilius Lovegood. He had three daughters: Frederica, Adelaide, and Luna, who was nicknamed Bella Luna because she was so beautiful. They lived a comfortable existence, until one day Xenophilius received a letter that one of his ships had gone missing in a storm. Telling no one, fearing a lost ship would be their ruin, Xenophilius prepared immediately to go to the port town and wait for news. Frederica and Adelaide asked him to bring them gifts, Frederica wanted an emerald necklace and Adelaide wanted an embroidered gown.
“And what do you want, dear Bella Luna?” Xenophilius asked as he climbed onto his horse.
“Only your safe return, father,” said Luna.
“There must be something you would like,” Xenophilius persisted. “A hat, or some slippers?” (He was hoping the ship would be found by the time he reached the town, and he would be able to grant all these promises he was making.)
“Well,” Luna said thoughtfully. “If you should see one on your travels, I would like a rose.”
“Surely there must be something else?”
“A rose,” Luna insisted, not noticing her sisters rolling their eyes at the simple request.
“A rose you shall have,” Xeno promised, and he rode away. The sisters went back to the house, and only Luna remained, waving until he was out of sight.
Now as it happened, the ship was indeed lost, and it was with a heavy heart that Xenophilius was returning home with the news, with no gifts for his daughters. As he was traveling through the deepest, darkest part of the forest, however, a terrible storm began to brew, and he became very worried. A crack of lightening and a roll of thunder sent his poor horse plunging off the road, and Xeno could only hold on for dear life for several minutes. When the horse finally stopped, Xeno looked up and found they were standing in front of a great gate, set in a wall covered in vines.
The gate slowly swung open, but Xeno didn’t see anyone there. This frightened him, but the storm was so close he thought maybe it was the wind, and that it would be more prudent to ask for shelter from whomever lived inside than to go looking for the road. Besides, he was a naturally curious man. The horse ended his indecision by hurrying inside. They followed the path, and Xeno soon saw a huge castle, with lights glowing in the windows. There was a barn, full of straw and buckets of oats and water, and as soon as Xeno dismounted, the horse rushed inside with a whinny, and the barn doors closed fast.
Xeno walked up to the castle door and watched it swing open. He went inside, and found a table beautifully set for one, and a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace. There was a note on the table, that said “Be My Guest.” No sooner had Xeno sat down than all the dishes filled with food and drink, with roasted pheasant and potatoes, wine, bread and cheese, and fruit. Xeno ate and drank while the storm raged outside the windows, and when he was finished, the table disappeared, and there was a bed with a soft duvet waiting for him.
The next morning dawned clear and bright, and Xeno walked outside to find his horse all groomed and saddled, and waiting for him on the path. As he rode towards the gate, they passed through something he hadn’t noticed the night before, the path was lined with beautiful rosebushes. There were dozens of them, full of flowers of every color. Remembering Luna, and thinking it would be nice to be able to grant at least one of his daughters’ requests, Xeno reached out, and broke the stem of a magnificent rose. Its petals were as pure white as Luna’s hair, and it was covered in dew, it was truly the most perfect rose he’d ever seen.
As soon as it was in his hand, however, he heard a terrible roar, like that of a fearsome wild animal. He and his horse both froze, and then a figure rushed onto the road in front of them. Xeno gasped. The figure was dressed like a man of noble blood, but his face and hands were that of a beast. He had claws like daggers, and a great black mane like a lion, and wild golden eyes.
“You dare to steal from me after the hospitality I have given you?” the creature roared.
“It’s…it’s just a rose,” Xeno stammered. He was shaking so hard he was surprised the petals weren’t falling off.
“JUST a rose?” bellowed the beast. “These bushes are the most precious in my garden, they were imported from all over the world and planted by my ancestors and I’ve tended them with my own hands.” He held out his great paws with their curving talons, and Xeno quaked harder.
“Please, my lord, I only meant to take it home to my youngest daughter. She is very good and kind and asks for so little,” and Xeno poured out the whole story to the beast.
“I will let you go,” said the beast at last. “Under one condition. Your youngest daughter must come and be a guest of mine, here at my castle, for one year. She will not be harmed in any way, and will live in all the luxury I can provide, which is considerable, and she will have free roam of all the grounds, which are extensive. At which time she will be free to leave.”
Xeno begged and pleaded and wept, but this was the only condition the beast would accept, and so Xeno reluctantly agreed, and was allowed to continue on his way.
When he returned home, Frederica and Adelaide were most aggrieved that he had neither the necklace nor the gown, but Luna wrapped her arms around his neck and asked him what was troubling him.
He had to tell them, of course. Frederica and Adelaide were distraught over their impending poverty, but Xeno was only upset about Luna having to go stay with the Beast.
“Don’t worry, Father,” Luna said calmly. “I think it would be most interesting to be the guest of a Beast. He sounds like a creature of his word, and if he says I will come to no harm, then I believe him. Thank you for the rose.” She held it to her nose and breathed in the delicate fragrance with her eyes half closed. “Lovely," she sighed. "I trust it is free of wrackspurts, the beast sounds like he would be careful about that sort of thing.”
At this moment, they heard hoof beats in the courtyard, but when they all rushed outside, Xeno didn’t see anything, and Frederica and Adelaide were looking around in confused annoyance. But Luna walked forward curiously and reached up a hand.
“Oh, look at this amazing creature,” said Luna, petting something that was evidently a bit taller than she was. “It must be here for me.”
“I don’t see anything,” complained Frederica. “Is it a very grand horse?”
“With a jeweled saddled and a bridle of gold?” asked Adelaide, also a bit covetously.
“It has very wise eyes,” said Luna, which was a rather vague answer, but then Luna was often very vague so they were all used to it.
Xeno hugged his daughter tightly. “My Luna, my Bella Luna,” he murmured.
“Don’t worry, Father,” she said serenely as she drew away. “It promises to be a grand adventure."
And she climbed aboard the invisible steed, and floated off into the sky.
Continue…