Beauty and the Hunter

by anonymouslysmu77y, Heärtlock (anonymouslysmu77y)

Summary:

Belle runs away from home, to escape the treacherous choice her father had proposed to move into the grand city, and make her marry a man she never met to make more money shared by another rich family.
Just before dusk, she wanders into the forest to escape his decision, and unfortunately runs into Gaston, the damned hunter that kills for glory and greed, and owns a tavern somewhere in the city. After an explicit moment, Belle runs away once more and gets lost within a disorienting fog, only to arrive in a castle built from paradise soon turning out to be a dreamer's nightmare.
Now, forced to stay in the castle out of fear from the Beast thinking she'll escape and die trying, Belle tries to find her way out regardless, until Gaston, her life-long nemesis, comes in and confronts the Beast.

Notes:

From the French version of Beauty and the Beast, Belle lives with a big family, her dad a merchant, but this time she runs away because she doesn't want to go to the city and live a life there. :D

Chapter 1: I can't live here? Guess I'll live in the forest instead.

Summary:

Belle heard of the news her merchant father had proposed to her siblings.
Angry, she could do nothing but plan to run away and hope for the best before the unavoidable.

Belle stood at the edge of the farm, her hands clenched into tight fists as she gazed out at the fields she had come to love. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden light over the swaying stalks of wheat and the gently rustling leaves of the nearby orchard. She could hear the distant lowing of cows, the soft cooing of doves, and the laughter of the farmhands as they finished their work for the day.

Her heart ached at the thought of leaving this place, but her father's decision had been made. He had sold their farm, eager to return to the hustle and bustle of the city and reclaim his long-lost job. Belle could hardly contain her anger, her resentment simmering just below the surface as she tried to imagine a life confined by the city's walls.

"Why, Father?" she whispered, the words barely audible as the wind carried them away. "Why must we leave our home, just for me to marry a man I never met?"

She knew that she couldn't stay on the farm forever; eventually, she would have to face the reality of their new life in the city. But the thought of leaving the open fields and the sense of peace she had found there filled her with a quiet desperation. And so, as the first stars began to appear in the rapidly darkening sky, Belle made a decision.

She would run away, if only for a little while.

Her heart pounding in her chest, Belle hurried back to the small farmhouse that had been her home for so long. She packed a few belongings in a worn leather satchel and scribbled a hasty note to her father, explaining her need for solitude and promising to return.

As she slung the satchel over her shoulder and prepared to leave, she glanced one last time at the cozy interior of the house. The flickering firelight danced across the walls, casting a warm glow over the familiar furnishings and the memories they held.

With a deep breath, Bella stepped out into the night, her determination guiding her as she embarked on her journey. She knew that her time away from the farm could not last forever, but she would cherish every moment of freedom she could grasp.

And as she disappeared into the darkness, the farm and its beauty stood as a testament to the love and joy she had found there. It was a place that would remain in her heart, even as she faced the uncertain future that lay ahead.