Quiet As A Mouse... Chapter 1

    There was silence except for the soft padding of two small plush pink paws against the slick hardwood flooring of the castle. An equally pink, as it was just as bare of fur, tail dragged along behind, making the faintest whisper was it did so. Along with the paws and tail, furless felt ears moved in awareness of any noises other than the ones created by the creature walking along. A small pink nose twitched every now and then for no particular reason, causing the whiskers near-by it to quiver.

    Now, one might not find it so strange to find a mouse wandering around in a castle as large and nearly desolate as this one. In fact, it was probably expected. But what was strange about the creature was that it was walking on its hind legs like a human might and had its front legs crossed like an agitated person might cross their arms. However, humans have a knack for brushing anything out of the ordinary away. The mouse was probably just on its hind legs looking around nervously before it would scamper away on all fours like most mice do. And its legs weren’t really crossed; it had just been a trick of the eyes.

    In this particular castle, however, things much more abnormal in origin had and would continue to happen so it was not so odd to see the female mouse walking around like a human being. Nor was it unusual that, if one inspected her, they would find she was not truly a mouse, but a plush mouse. Her caramel brown fur with the slightest red tint was not real fur, but fake. The whiskers were plastic. Nothing but stuffing resided in the body. Yet, most unlike most stuffed animals, this one happened to be able to move quite easily and on her own accord. She could speak, laugh, cry. And intelligence resided in the dark pools that were her eyes. But this was a castle like no other. An enchanted castle where a curse resided that had turned all of the residents into objects. All except their master, whom had been morphed into a terrifying beast.

    So a plush mouse walking slowly down a deserted hallway with her small arms crossed and looking quite unhappy was not altogether all that out of the ordinary.

    Pink ears pricked suddenly, standing to attention when they picked up the soft clinking sound of glass hitting the floor behind her. Not crashing mind you. More like… hopping. Before she even turned around, she knew it was too late to run or hide. She’d probably already been spotted. “Rosalie!” her name being called confirmed this as she turned to face whomever was approaching.

    It was a small teacup. But much like the plush mouse, it was no ordinary one. For its handle appeared to be a ‘nose’ set in the middle of two eyes and just above a now broadly smiling mouth. There was a chip in the white ceramic that made the cup, which was fitting as that was the boy’s name. At least, he had been a young boy before the curse had descended upon the helpless residents of the castle. A young boy that Rosalie had known, and still knew, quite well.

    “There you are! I’ve been lookin’ for ya all over the place!” Chip’s cheer diminished slightly as he came to a stop in front of her and took in her morose expression, whiskers drooping and eyes glistening with unshed tears. He frowned in concern for his friend, and confusion on what could be bothering her when things were currently going so well between the master and Belle, the key to their freedom. “What’s wrong?” he inquired.

    “Nothing Chip, I’m fine.” Rosalie replied softly, a lie and a not very convincing one at that. ‘Fine’ was not the best word to use to describe one’s state of being, as it was used so many times when one was lying that it was a dead giveaway. But when one was in the state of being ‘fine’, they usually were too busy being focused on whatever was really bothering them to come up with a better excuse. Another testament to the fact that she was not being truthful was that her eyes were on the floor, refusing to meet the gaze of her eager young friend.

    Chip’s ‘lips’ twisted in dismay, finding himself in an awkward position. He was young, but he could tell that something was really upsetting her. But if she didn’t want to tell him, which she obviously didn’t, he didn’t want to distress her even more by pushing the subject. At the same time, he wanted her to know he cared and she could talk to him. It was quite confusing, especially for someone so young who had not been in this predicament many times. “Are you sure?” he asked slowly, uncertain as to if this was the right response but it was the only suitable one he could come up with on short notice.

    “Yeah, I’m okay. Really.” She forced a smile, but it was most definitely not persuasive. “I’ll… see you later.” She finished uncomfortably before turning and continuing on her lonely, depressed walk. Chip watched her go for a moment, concerned as well as confused to her mood and how to go about changing it. It was then it occurred to him that he knew someone perfect for cheering up his dismal friend. In fact, she was known for being able to stir anybody out of any slump they happened to be in. His mother.

    This thought putting the spring back in his hop, he quickly bounced off back down the corridor, keen to find his mom as fast as possible so she could quickly get about consoling the gloomy Rosalie. He had known Rosalie for most of his life, he having been the reason she’d gotten a job in the first place. Rosalie’s family had neither been particularly poor nor particularly rich either. In her search for a way out of her small little town and the means of getting more money for her family, she’d wound up looking for a job at the castle. Back when they were all human, of course.

    She probably would have been told to leave immediately except for the fact that a very small Chip had taken a liking to her right away and wanted to play. His memories of this were vague of course, he’d barely been a toddler, but his mother had told him about it when he was older. He’d been causing quite a fuss recently, as Mrs. Potts needed to work to keep herself and Chip fed with a roof over their heads, but Chip constantly wanted someone to pay attention and play with him.

    So, after much convincing and near-begging on the poor Mrs. Potts’ part, the master finally agreed to hire Rosalie to be a nanny for Chip, and any other children that were brought if royal families visited upon the castle, though it was admittedly not often. Thus, Rosalie found herself with a job, Mrs. Potts with the relief that Chip would be taken care of while she worked, and Chip had a new best friend besides Sultan.

    Rosalie had been carrying a few of Chip’s toys when the curse was cast upon the castle and was transformed into a plush mouse because of it. Chip had heard his mother speculate to Belle once that the mouse portion of the change had come from Rosalie’s diffident ways, though he wasn’t entirely sure what that had meant. Maybe because his friend was shy? Real mice always seemed incredibly shy, skittering away before one could even try to inform them that they meant no harm.

    Because of thinking all of this over and being very focused on getting to his mom so he could, hopefully, help his close friend, Chip did not see the set of legs in front of him until moments before he crashed into them. He yelped in surprise, his small form being caught and cushioned briefly by sky-blue material before it cast him back the way he had come like a fisherman tossing back a too small fish. He landed in a roll and was left lying dizzily on his ‘back’. “Chip!” gasped a female voice in surprise and worry “Are you alright?”

    Chip felt himself being lifted off the ground by soft, gentle hands and put that with the voice to realize who it was  “I’m okay Belle, honest.”

    He shook himself to clear away the light-headedness and looked up into the kind; slender face of the woman that everyone in the castle was currently hoping would fall in love with the master to break the curse that bound them. Big brown doe eyes flitted over him with slight worry before meeting his gaze and scolding softly “You should be more careful, flying down the hallway like that. Where were you going in such a hurry anyway?”

    “I’ve gotta find Mama!” Chip, suddenly becoming invigorated by the thought of his mission, hopped up and glanced around; realizing that he was much too high and Belle would have to put him down before he would be going anywhere.

    Belle’s brow furrowed in puzzlement, her full pink lips twisting downward in concern “Why? Are you alright?”

    “Not me, Rose!” Chip replied in exasperation, as if Belle should already know this by some means “I found her lookin’ all sad n’ droopy for some reason. She wouldn’t tell me why so I need ta find Mama so she can make her feel better!”

    Belle was even more perplexed by Chip’s answer. What had happened to make Rosalie unhappy? The plush mouse was usually quiet, yes, but always happy. Belle had never once seen her looking sad in any way. If anything, Rosalie was usually spreading her good-nature to others by helping them whenever they asked and being there if they needed someone to talk too. Now, it seemed, it was Rose that was in need of someone to be there for her.

    “Alright then, I’ll help you find your mother.” Belle said resolutely, turning on her heel and going back down the corridor she’d been coming from. Hopefully, between herself and Mrs. Potts, they’d be able to discover what was bothering the young woman turned mouse and how they could be of help.

    While Chip and Belle commenced their search for Mrs. Potts, Rosalie continued to wander aimlessly, unaware of her friends’ worry over her. She was not concerned about getting lost; she knew the castle like the back of her… well, paw. She’d often chased the ever-playful Chip down these very winding hallways back when they were both human, calling after him to stop but a smile gracing her lips as she felt the rush of amused happiness at pursuing the young boy.

    But part of Rosalie wished she would get lost. Perhaps then she would also lose the event that had occurred earlier that day, the one that had been stalking her every step like an ever-present shadow. No matter how hard she tried to keep the memory from her mind, no matter how many times she attempted to convince herself that it really didn’t matter, it refused to release its constricting hold on her mind, its many tentacles wrapped so tightly around her thoughts that she felt it may never leave. Much as it pained her, the scene kept replaying over and over again in her mind’s eye.

    She was just adjusting the cloth runner on a small table when she heard humming. It was a deep, alluring sound, the melody winding around her like a warm, comforting blanket. She closed her eyes and listened, going completely still except for the smile that curled her plush lips without her consent. She knew that hum, knew the powerful voice behind it. And she knew the melody so well that she herself could easily hum along to it except she didn’t want to drown out the relaxing tone already gracing her small felt ears.

    Opening her eyes, she climbed down the leg of the table and onto the floor, moving as silently as she could. Following the sound of the hum, she padded over to the near-by doorway and cautiously poked her head around it, tiny pink nose twitching with interest. Her assumption of who it was who was humming was correct and a familiar mix of warmth and regret washed over her, as it did every time she saw him.

    Lips curled in a wide grin, what appeared to be a very alive candelabra continued to hum the lively tune as he twirled about the floor, as if dancing with an invisible partner. The three flames he bore made brief streaks of fire through the air before dissipating into little curls of deep grey smoke that stretched outward as if desperately trying to touch something before it too vanished into the air. Rosalie watched his dance, unable to help the smile already in place on her mouth getting slightly bigger and slightly more affectionate. Nor could she do anything about the rising feeling of sheer bliss that snaked through her stuffed form, starting from her chest and worming its way through to every single part of her body. She may not be human, but that did not stop her from feeling. Nowhere near.

    Suddenly, the candelabra’s eyes opened just as he was facing her again and caught sight of her before she could duck back behind the frame of the door. He paused in his whirling movements to beam at her and open his arms up invitingly “Rosalie! I did not see you there mademoiselle, forgive me.”

    His voice, rich with his French accent and flowing smooth as silk through her, seemed to twine itself around her in a soothing yet binding hold, keeping her rooted to the spot so she couldn’t flee. “I-I’m sorry Lumiere, I didn’t mean to intrude-“ she began apologizing embarrassedly, knowing she’d be blushing right now if she had blood to do so with.

    “No no no, no need to apologize my dear, it was no intrusion at all! Come-“ he hopped forward, taking her paw in what were his ‘hands’ and gently tugging her forward to where he’d been dancing moments before “Celebrate with me dear Rosalie!”

    She would have protested if her mouth was working properly, but seeing as it wasn’t she obediently followed his lead. Her paws were snug, each held between a candle and its holder that acted as Lumiere’s hands. Her mind was dizzy with emotions as Lumiere began to spin them about, humming once again. She could feel the vibrations of his unsung melody pulsing in her chest and all throughout her body and she shivered slightly at the exhilarating sensation, dumbly realizing that she’d never really been this close to him before.

    As he led them in their twirling waltz, she worked up the courage to look up at his face. He was still smiling broadly, as if he were the happiest man in the world right then and there. Without a doubt, Rosalie knew if she had a heart right now it would be hammering. This all seemed far too good to be true.

    She’d first met Lumiere while panicking her first day being Chip’s nanny. He’d seemingly disappeared and the castle was hugely intimating and she hadn’t the faintest clue where to look. Fear of losing her job and that Chip could be hurt plaguing her brain, she’d nearly rammed into Lumiere while pelting through the halls. A combination of his charm, humor, and soothing tone had managed to calm her down and he assured her that together they’d find the boy before anyone found out about it. Looking back, Rosalie was quite sure it was then, in that moment of him being her knight in shining armor, that she’d let herself fall for him. She hadn’t, of course, known that he was quite the flirt or that he was already with a maid named Fifi, but by then it was too late.

    Rosalie had tried to squash the feelings she had for the enchanting maitre d’, even sometimes forcing herself to watch he and Fifi together despite the fact it felt like someone was slowly squeezing the life from her heart. But nothing had worked. So she simply pretended it didn’t exist. Which worked… most of the time.

    But now, now she was in his arms. Spinning and dancing away like the both of them were human again and at some exquisite ball. His deep, silky tone was wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth and happiness as it reverberated inside her. He was beaming, his flames bright with life, and she felt hope start to poke its head up within her. Perhaps she really did have a chance with him. Perhaps years or watching him out of the corner of her eye and silently wondering ‘what if’ were finally coming to a close.

    In a final flourishing move, he brought her down into a dip, their noses brushing briefly. She gazed into his eyes, whiskers quivering and mouth open slightly in vague shock before saying breathlessly “You’re very happy.”

    “Well of course I am!” Lumiere laughed, grin widening while he pulled her up and spun her a final time away from himself, releasing her paws. As she spun to a stop, he finished with a heartfelt air “I ‘ave a date set up with my darling sweet Fifi tonight.

    Those simple, jovial words are what unintentionally smashed the hope that had budded inside her, like an oblivious child tramping a newly awakened flower. All the excitement and bubbling happiness that had built up within her vanished, leaving her feeling empty and cold. His words were still sweet and as luscious as velvet, but they were no longer meant for her. They never really had been.

    Rosalie finally ripped herself free from the memory, tears burning in her eyes once more. She did not blame Lumiere, not at all. It was not as if he was hurting her intentionally. He had no idea about how she felt towards him, that every charming, flirtatious word spoken to her was like dangling a juicy steak in front of a starving man. Taunting and so very painful. But if he did not flirt as he did, he would not be the man that she had accidently fallen for that first day when he told her that everything would be okay and kissed her on the hand. She would never want him to change who he was, even if it meant less pain for her already battered heart.

    Emitting a small sigh, she tightened her arms across her furry chest in a vague attempt to hug and comfort herself as she continued on her trek through the empty, mostly unused halls of the castle, slowly and grudgingly making her way back towards where most of the inhabitants of the castle resided.