Was It A Dream?

Prologue-Beauty and the Beast

Hey!!!!! So......I'm putting a hold on my other story. Long story short, the other one makes me think a lot more.....and I HAVE NO FREAKIN' TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so i wrote this......

It's a prologue-this book is NOT fantasy. The prologue just tells the story of beauty and the beast-my way. Her mother is reading to Campbell (the main character) as a child.....it's just set up for the story.

vote! comment! anything!!

love ya all!!!!!!

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Prologue

"Once upon a time there was a merchant who had been blessed greatly in life with many riches. He and his wife and children lived peacefully along the edge of a forest, rumored to be filled with savage animals and wizards. While the merchant and his youngest daughter were away on a trip into town, the house was attacked by rabid wolves, which devoured his family and knocked over a lantern, which set fire to his whole estate.

"The merchant was devastated and sank into a deep depression, leaving his only remaining family, the youngest daughter, to be keeper of the house. She was only sixteen years of age, but she possessed a beauty far beyond her years. In fact, not even she knew her true name; for ever since she was a toddler she had been called Alayne, meaning beautiful in Irish, her mother's native language. Alayne wrote daily in a journal made from charred scraps of leftover paper, and one day her father found it and read her secret longings.

"Alayne's one wish was to have a rose on their rough kitchen table, to maybe revive the spirit in her father, for she loved him dearly. Upon reading her words, her father set out on a journey to find a rose; a perfect rose for the perfect daughter. He stumbled into the woods, and after a long search, found himself lost. He kept wandering, for he was not in his right mind, and he happened to come upon a castle with mighty gates, seemingly set apart from time itself.

"There were roses in the garden, so he picked the most unblemished one he could find, and turned to head back home to his beloved daughter.

"But he was stopped; his way blocked by a horrid beast, and was taken captive.

"Alayne was terrified for her father, for she had heard the stories of the beast in the forest. Rumors stated that the only way to save a person from the beast, one had to sacrifice themselves in their stead. With fear gripping her heart, she set out in search of the mystical fortress.

"Three long days later she found the massive gates wide open, as if waiting patiently for her to arrive. She wandered into the castle and found herself face-to-face with the most frightening faces she had ever seen. The beast was more hideous than she could have ever imagined, but she stood as tall as she could, plastering on her face what she hoped was an unafraid expression. Without even once speaking, the beast clapped his paws and the merchant appeared outside the now closed gates, and without a backwards glance, her father began the trek back to their cottage.

"Alayne released a quick sigh when her father appeared safe from harm, but she gasped when she felt herself somehow transported to a different room. She frantically looked around in terror, but she was only in a bedroom fit for the queen herself. A rich, charming voice spoke from someplace behind her but when she spun around on her heel, only the beast was there. The beast's mouth moved, and the handsome voice sounded again. Alayne was sure the shock appeared on her face when she realized it was the beast himself who possessed the voice of an angel.

"Every day the beast visited her, and slowly she became accustomed to him. She learned that his outer appearance did not express his personality. He was constantly kind to her, and eventually he began to let her roam the castle freely. It soon became a habit for them to sit on the balcony overlooking the forest every night after dinner together, and they would speak of their lives. And every night after the beast returned Alayne to her room, he would ask her to marry him. She would politely refuse, and he would leave her be until the following morning.

"After a season of her refusals, the beast asked her why she would not marry him. She replied that if she could only visit her father first, she would consider his offer. It was then that the he agreed to let her go, for a month's time, but then she must return. He gave her a ring that, when placed on her finger, would return her home, and when taken off, would return her to the castle.

"When Alayne magically appeared at her old cottage, her father was ecstatic. While she had been gone at the castle, her father had been anonymously receiving a gift of jewels every month, and his wealth was now restored. He had also married again, and they were expecting a new child soon.

"Alayne had no doubt in her mind that the jewels had been secretly sent by the beast, and she constantly longed to go back to the castle. The joys and entertainments of her past seemed hollow and childish, and before two weeks were done, she took the ring off her finger and returned to the beast.

"She found the beast lying on the floor of her room, seemingly dead. She wept freely, and to her amazement the beast's eyes opened. She gasped, and then declared her love for him, and how she was frightened for his life. Suddenly, before her eyes, the beast was transformed into a handsome prince, and he explained that he had been cursed. Alayne's love had broken the spell, and they lived happily ever after. The end."

"Good night, Campbell. I love you."

                                                                                                                                         so........ how was it??

                                                                                                                                       vote? comment?     :P