Archive-name: Fantasy/beaubeas.txt
Archive-author: Raven St. Clair   (c) 1992
Archive-title: Beauty and the Beast


			As It Really Happened

	It's funny how time tends to distort history. And how we old 
men remember our youth with such clarity, when we can't even remember 
what we had for supper last night. Someday you boys will look back in 
fond memory on these days, sitting in the garden listening to an old 
man tell stories from his youth. But better the stories I tell you 
than the nonsense that foolish bard spouts every night. Like the one 
he told you about Beauty and the Beast last night.

	What? No, of course he doesn't know the real story. And 
wouldn't care if he did. His version of it is a nicer one, more 
acceptable to the common folk. They'd frown if he told the truth, not 
that he ever would, of course.

	Tell you the truth? You're both a bit young. How old are you 
now, Tony? Eleven? Well, I suppose that's old enough for you to hear 
such an adult story. In fact, we have to go back to when I was eleven 
to start the story.

	Eleven is such a tumultuous age for a boy. The body is 
beginning to change, and feelings awaken for the first time, making 
you look at women and sometimes men in new ways, longing for something 
you aren't quite sure what. Your grandfather and I went through that, 
just as you boys are now. He was a month younger than I was, and 
perhaps it hit me a little sooner than it did him. But I began to 
notice him in a different way.

	You see, I'd been placed in the cradle with him when he was 
born, destined to be his companion and servant. We grew up together, 
playing with the same toys, learning to love each other and fight with 
each other, just as you boys do. We learned the manly arts, and our 
tutor began the laborious job of teaching us such things as history 
and mathematics and geography and sorcery. Yes, the same things you 
boys are studying now. 

	Your grandfather -- Ian was his name, though I called him 
always 'Highness', as was proper -- disliked our studies, preferring 
to practice with his sword or bow. But I took to the study of sorcery 
well enough, and learned many things. Some healing, a little skill 
with illusion, warding, and a few other such things.

	Then we turned eleven, and suddenly I saw His Highness in a 
whole new light. I'd never before realized how beautiful he was. His 
hair was like yours, Tony, so black it looks blue in the sunlight. And 
his eyes were like yours as well, that deep warm brown flecked with 
gold. His body was beginning to take on some of the manly contours it 
would later have, and I found myself watching him at every available 
opportunity, with some strange longing in me that I didn't -- or 
wouldn't -- recognize.

	If he felt the same thing, it was never toward me, of course. 
I was but his servant and companion. Always along when he went 
anywhere, always taken for granted as simply as he accepted his horse 
and his dog. I was just a part of him, as were they.

	But he began experimenting then, with the noble sons who were 
here for training. They'd ride into the woods, with me along to guard 
them, and in some sheltered glen, they'd undress and teach each other 
about the joys of the flesh. And I'd ache inside, longing so to be a 
part of it. My young cock would harden against my belly and throb as I 
watched them. After a while I learned that if I stroked it as I 
watched, I could get release, with none the wiser.

	We were thirteen when I had my first experience with sex. One 
of the warriors took me behind the stables. It was nothing like the 
carefree experimentation I'd seen between His Highness and his 
companions. Instead the warrior urged me to suck him, and he held my 
head, making me gag from it. When he saw my reaction to it, he turned 
me around and took me. And it hurt, very much. After he left, I sobbed 
for a long time before taking myself to the baths to clean up. And I 
made sure none of the warriors ever got me alone again, though some of 
them tried.

	At night, it was my job to sleep across the doorway of His 
Highness' room. Sometimes he'd invite one of his friends to spend the 
night, or a wench, and I'd hear them playing in the bed. I cried 
sometimes, from the longing that filled me.

	We were seventeen when the invasion came. A foul sorcerer and 
his army conquered the kingdom next to ours, and then moved on into 
ours. His Majesty called us to him, and charged me with taking care of 
His Highness. Then he sent us flying in the opposite direction, to 
hide until His Highness was old enough and skilled enough to return 
and retake the kingdom.

	We fled for months, to a small kingdom far from home. There, 
with the money and jewels we'd brought with us, we bought a walled 
estate outside of a small city. And His Highness hired a sorcerer to 
continue our lessons in the craft, this time in earnest.

	I didn't trust the sorcerer he hired. There was something 
about the man which rang untrue to me. However, it wasn't mine to 
judge, but to protect and to learn. I told His Highness of my 
distrust, and he merely shrugged it off. We studied with the sorcerer 
for a year, and I carefully hid from him how much I was learning, 
pretending that it was as difficult for me as for His Highness. 

	Then one day, he asked why we wished to learn sorcery, since 
we were obviously so unsuited for the craft. His Highness told him of 
the invasion of our kingdom, and that he had to learn sorcery before 
he could return and defeat the evil sorcerer who now controlled our 
kingdom. His Highness had no way of knowing what a terrible mistake it 
was to reveal himself to this sorcerer, whom it turned out was a 
brother to the one who'd conquered our land. When he learned who His 
Highness was, he placed him under the foul spell, that by day he'd be 
a horrid beast, and only by night would he be a man. Having no fear of 
me, a poor servant, he left me there to guard the prince. He warded 
the walls of the estate so the prince couldn't leave it, knowing I 
wouldn't leave without him. 

	Oh, it was a most horrible day. His Highness went quite mad, I 
think. He rampaged through the gardens, killing his own dog, 
destroying half the flowers. But when night came, he collapsed near 
the garden door, a man again, though exhausted and dirty and beaten.

	I took him inside and bathed him as gently as I could, then 
put him into bed. He slept the sleep of the damned, too deep to suffer 
from nightmares. And just before dawn, he woke, and returned to the 
garden, where he again became the horrid beast.

	The next few months were a living nightmare. I arranged for 
seven sheep to be delivered to us at the beginning of each week. We'd 
learned quickly that one sheep was what the beast needed for 
sustenance each day. I dismissed the servants, and took care of our 
needs myself. Whenever I had to go into town for supplies, I locked 
and warded the door carefully, both to keep him inside and to keep 
strangers out.

	After a month or so, we'd settled into a routine of it, and I 
began to search for a way to save my master from the spell. It was a 
long and laborious process, since I had to tend to all our needs in 
addition to whatever I did in the way of study. Nearly a year after he 
became the beast, I finally discovered a simple spell which would 
allow me to sleep but one hour and still have the benefits of a full 
night's rest. After that, it went a little faster, since I could tuck 
him into bed and then go straight to the study, working most of the 
night.

	I was still working there one night when he appeared in the 
doorway.

	"What are you doing?" he asked.

	I bowed my head. "I suppose it's foolish of me, Highness," I 
admitted. "But I'm trying to find a spell which will free you from 
this curse."

	His expression flickered through a number of emotions, and 
then he turned away and left me without comment. I took a deep breath, 
and continued what I'd been doing.

	The rampaging of the beast during the day so totally exhausted 
his body that he'd been sleeping much of the night prior to this. But 
perhaps he was starting to get accustomed to it, for the next night he 
returned to the study again, shortly after midnight.

	"Do you sleep during the day to make up for working all 
night?" he asked me.

	I told him of the spell I'd discovered to allow me to sleep 
less. He looked at me for a long time, then nodded. "Teach it to me," 
he said.

	I did, and after that, though he still needed more sleep than 
I did, he worked with me at night, trying to find the answer.

	During this time, when I bathed him at night, I couldn't help 
noticing that he was suffering more and more from the lack of any 
sexual outlet. At last, one night, as I bathed him, I washed his cock 
carefully, then left my hand around it, moving it gently. When his 
only reaction was to close his eyes, I moved with more assurance, soon 
giving him the release he needed. Afterward, I simply continued 
bathing him as though nothing had happened. He said nothing of it, and 
neither did I.

	Each night after that, if his cock was hard, which it usually 
was, I did the same for him. And neither of us mentioned it.

	When he'd been the beast for two years, the strain told on 
him. He went quite mad again, and tore through the garden all day long 
like a crazed animal. When dark came, he collapsed at the garden door, 
his body shaking and trembling. I had to carry him to the bath. I 
washed him tenderly, then helped him out and dried him off. He leaned 
on me as I helped him to the bed. When he collapsed face down, I got 
some scented oil, and began giving him a massage.

	He sighed with appreciation. He'd always loved massages. I'd 
never given him one before, but I'd seen the bath wenches do it, and 
just did what they'd done. When I finished with his back and legs, I 
asked him to turn over. He did. His cock was standing up hard and red, 
and I had to stifle a moan when I saw it.

	I massaged the front of him with the same thoroughness, then 
moved back to his cock at last. I massaged his beautiful balls gently, 
loving the feel of them in their giant sack. Then I tenderly touched 
his cock.

	He moaned. It was the first time he'd made a sound when I gave 
him release. I stroked the cock with my hand slowly, and then 
hesitantly lowered my mouth to suck the head. His pelvis arched up to 
me, and I took more of it, losing all control of myself. It was his 
cock in my mouth, my beloved master's, the one I'd wanted to suck for 
all those long years. I sucked greedily, and all too soon the hot 
fluid spurted from him, filling my mouth and throat. I swallowed 
hungrily, loving the taste of him. And very slowly, I released him and 
then drew a sheet up over him.

	His eyes were closed. I stared down at him for a long moment, 
knowing from the even movement of his chest that he'd dropped into 
sleep the instant the release had come. Tears fell from my eyes then. 

	I leaned over and kissed his forehead lovingly, then slipped 
from the room to go to the study.

	It was well after midnight when he joined me, more relaxed 
than he'd been in a while. Common sense told me it was the beast's 
rampage which had purged him of the wildness which had been steadily 
building up in him. And yet a part of me persisted in thinking that it 
was my love which had given him a little of that peace.

	The bard tells that the merchant came into our garden and 
stole a rose. I've already told you that such was impossible, since 
the entire estate was sorcerously warded from intrusion. The truth is 
that he came there having heard that we were selling some of the 
treasures from the estate. The money which we'd brought with us was 
disappearing rapidly, and I saw no recourse but to sell some things to 
get money for us to continue living there. He arrived around noon, as 
I was eating my midday meal. But I brought him inside and served him 
some wine, then showed him the things we were considering selling.

	He bought three of the items, and paid a decent price for 
them, though I knew well he'd sell them for far more. He wanted a 
fourth, but offered much less than I felt the piece was worth. We 
haggled for a time, and then he made his offer. He had three 
daughters, and would allow one of them to come to serve me for a year, 
if I'd agree to his price.

	I thought about it for a while. It would be nice to have 
someone to take over some of the household chores, leaving me free to 
do more studying. And His Highness would be grateful to have a wench 
again. At last I agreed, with the reservation that he had to bring her 
to me for my approval before taking the vase.

	He brought Anna the next day, a comely fifteen-year-old with a 
ready smile and reasonably decent manners. I accepted her, with the 
provision that if she left before the year was up, he would pay me 
fifty gold pieces to make up for it. He beamed happily and took the 
vase with hardly a backward look at her. So much for her being his 
favorite and beloved daughter.

	I showed the girl the kitchen and her room, then explained 
that we kept wild animals in the garden and she must never go out 
there, under any circumstances. She agreed, and went to reheat my 
lunch.

	Things went along well for a week or two. I enspelled her to 
make sure her courses stayed regular, and then gave her to my master 
for a sleeping companion. This meant I had less opportunity for 
pleasing him now, but he was happier, and that's all that mattered.

	She'd been there for a month when she saw him change. She was 
standing in the garden door looking out when the beast staggered near 
her and collapsed, slowly becoming my master. When I got there, she 
was standing wide-eyed, her hands over her mouth to hold back her 
screams. I harshly ordered her to her room, then helped him to the 
baths.

	When he was in bed, I went to her room. She was lying across 
the bed, weeping.

	"So now you know the truth," I said.

	"I've been sleeping with that monster," she sobbed.

	"No. The beast is the result of a foul spell. His Highness is 
fated to suffer that during the day, and only at night may he be his 
own true self. You've given some solace to him. Are you to withdraw it 
now?"

	She sat up, drying her eyes. "Do you swear it?"

	"Yes."

	"No one must ever know that I've done this," she said firmly.

	"No one will ever know unless you tell it yourself."

	"All right," she said. "I'll go to him then. But you must pay 
me extra for it."

	They say she slowly fell in love with him during the months 
she was with us. In truth she bedded with him and kept house for us, 
and just bided her time waiting for her year to be up. And when it was 
up, she left without even saying goodbye to him.

	That night, I gave him a long slow massage.

	"Where's Anna?" he asked.

	My hands stilled for a moment, then continued their movements.

	"Her father sold her to us for one year, and the year was up 
today. She's gone," I told him quietly.

	He was silent for a few moments, then buried his face in the 
pillow. "I see," he said, voice muffled.

	I massaged his buttocks particularly well, letting my finger 
slide down into the crack to stroke his anus. And at last I told him 
to turn over.

	He did so. The pillow was wet, but his tears had stopped. I 
massaged his front slowly and thoroughly, then lowered my mouth to his 
balls, sucking them gently. Then I moved to his cock and sucked it as 
I'd learned he liked best. Slow and easy at first, then getting more 
passionate as his pelvis began moving rhythmically under me. I'd 
conquered my gag reflex at last, and could take him all the way to the 
root, and now I did so, sucking feverishly, wanting all of him that I 
could have for the time that he could be mine.

	He fell asleep at once, his body drained. I watched him 
sleeping for a while, the longing in me bringing tears to my eyes. I 
knelt by the bed then and kissed his hand.

	"If only I could take your place," I whispered. "What would it 
matter if I were a beast? Oh, my beloved prince, if only I could find 
a way to save you from this."

	I wept then, more than I ever had, silently so as not to wake 
him. When the tears stopped at last, I kissed him gently and went back 
to my studies.

	It was scarcely two hours before dawn when he woke and came 
out to the study. 

	"Have you made any progress at all?" he asked.

	"Perhaps," I said. "This ancient manuscript I bought from the 
merchant has some information about similar spells. It seems to say 
that they feed on the hate and anger and bitterness inside the person 
enspelled. That the only way to overcome them is with true love, which 
will overcome those emotions."

	"True love?" he said sarcastically. "And how am I to find true 
love when I'm a beast all day long?"

	He wheeled sharply and left the room. I bowed my head and wept 
again. The true love was there waiting for him, if he could only see 
past the veil of servitude through which he saw me. 

	The next day, I went back to the merchant and contracted for 
another year of Anna's service. The price was another of the 
magnificent vases, but I thought it would be worth it if she could 
grow to love him.

	He seemed a bit happier, at first. Then he asked why she'd 
returned. I told him the truth, and he went silent again, as he did 
sometimes.

	She stayed for a month, then refused to stay any longer. He 
wasn't nice to her anymore, she said, and she wouldn't tolerate it. 
She packed her things and left. I sat in the study the rest of the 
afternoon, unable to concentrate, wondering how he was going to react 
to the news that she was gone.

	I gave him another massage that night, to try to make up for 
it. When he turned over onto his back, his cock was throbbing and red. 
I could hardly complete the massage for wanting it. When I moved to it 
at last, I looked up at him. Always, his eyes were closed when I 
touched him. But this time they were open. He was watching me. I 
swallowed hard, not sure of what to do. Then slowly, I lowered my 
mouth to his balls and sucked them gently. He closed his eyes for a 
moment, then opened them and continued watching me. I couldn't bear 
it. I closed my eyes as I lowered my mouth to his cock, sucking it 
gently, as he liked, then slowly increasing the pace, allowing myself 
to suck it as greedily as I wanted to. When he exploded into my mouth, 
I swallowed it all hungrily, licking the last residue from his cock, 
and then my eyes opened.

	He was still staring at me, and when my eyes met his, 
something happened to me. I began very slowly moving up to his face, 
like a fish being pulled in on a line. When my head was directly above 
his, I started to lower my mouth to his. And he closed his eyes and 
turned his head away.

	It was like chilled water in my face. I drew away from him, my 
back to him to hide the sudden tears which poured from my eyes. He was 
silent, and I stayed silent as well.

	When I regained control of myself, I surreptitiously wiped my 
eyes, and then turned to help him to the bed. He was already there, 
asleep.

	I stumbled into the study and dropped my head onto my arms, 
sobbing helplessly. How could I have been such an utter fool, to think 
that a prince would want to kiss someone like me? It would be like 
kissing his dog or his horse!

	I don't know how long I cried there that night, but at last 
all the hurt was washed away, replaced by a dull ache deep down 
inside. I looked at the manuscript, and then suddenly hurled it from 
me. Who was I to think I could learn enough sorcery to counter the 
spell of such a strong sorcerer? I was just a servant, not a sorcerer. 
I got up and went to my pallet across his door, and fell into a deep 
sleep, in which dreams of him kissing me alternated with dreams of him 
shoving me away.

	It was after dawn when I awoke, and he was already gone. I 
made breakfast and did the morning chores, then dealt with the 
merchant when he came to call. He insisted that he owed me nothing 
since the girl had been mistreated. When I insisted that she hadn't 
been mistreated, he made her bare her back and show me the wicked 
scratches on it. I sighed then, and gave in. It didn't seem to matter 
anymore.

	That evening, I helped my master to the baths, but I made no 
move to pleasure him, even when his cock bobbed hard and red as I 
washed it. I bathed him carefully, then helped him to the bed and 
wished him a good night. Then I curled up on my pallet and tried to 
sleep myself. 

	When sleep refused to come, thanks to my own throbbing cock, I 
went out to the gardens, thinking a walk would help to relax me. I 
walked through the flowers close to the house, coming to a small 
fountain with a stone bench around it. I sat down, wondering what was 
to become of both of us. Would he kill himself at last in one of his 
crazed fits? Or would he come into the house and kill me? Would the 
girl tell what she'd seen, and bring the authorities down on us? Would 
things go on as they were, and if so, how would I get the money for 
supplies? There was a limit as to how much could be sold from the 
estate. Perhaps I could get a job in the city. But doing what? I had 
no skills worth selling.

	I sighed and buried my face in my hands, the tears coming 
again, along with helpless sobs of pain and fear. I'd been charged 
with taking care of him, and I'd failed. His father was probably dead 
now anyway. His whole family was gone, most likely. No one would know 
I'd failed him so. Only me.

	I don't know how long I sat there, long enough that the night 
chill soaked into my very bones. I was shivering when I sought my 
pallet at last, still with no answers to any of my questions.

	The next morning, I woke with a fever, and cursed myself for 
the too-long excursion into the night air. I staggered into the 
kitchen and made a brew of herbs and honey to fight the fever.

	All day long, I chilled, unable to get warm in spite of fires 
built high and hot drinks one after the other. When darkness fell, I 
staggered to the garden and was unable to lift him, and him in too 
much of a stupor to help himself, as he sometimes was. I pulled him 
onto a rug and dragged it through the house to the baths, rolling him 
into the hot water, and then stripping and following him in. I passed 
out for a few minutes, and when I came to, he was staring at me.

	"What's wrong?" he asked hoarsely.

	"Chills and fever," I whispered. "I'll be all right soon."

	He shook his head and lay back in the water. "We're a fine 
pair, aren't we?" he said huskily.

	"Yes, Highness," I whispered, unable to fight the hot tears 
which filled my eyes.

	He sat up and washed the filth from himself. Then he began 
bathing me, though I protested. When he finished, he dried both of us 
off, and then we helped each other over to the bed.

	"Get in there and cover up good," he ordered. 

	"Highness, I can't take your bed!" I cried. "Where would you 
sleep?"

	"Right here next to you. The warmth of my body will chase the 
chills away. Lie down. That's an order."

	I obeyed, and he stretched out next to me, holding me close, 
all the covers pulled up over us. I went to sleep almost at once, but 
it was a feverish sleep, with dreams coming and going, dreams of him 
holding me and loving me as much as I loved him. And nightmares of him 
turning away from me, making me sob helplessly.

	When I woke, it was past dawn and he was gone. On the table 
next to the bed was a pot of herbal tea, with a candle to keep it warm 
for me. Tears filled my eyes as I poured it into a cup and drank.

	I got up at noon and staggered into the kitchen to make more 
of the tea. The fire was out, and I had to struggle to rebuild it. I 
had finally succeeded, and put water on to boil, when I felt eyes on 
me. I looked up, and the beast was standing in the doorway, staring at 
me.

	Every muscle in my body went limp. I knew I couldn't escape 
from him even if I was well, and I certainly couldn't do it now, in 
this condition. I closed my eyes and bowed my head, accepting the 
inevitable.

	When several minutes went by without a sound, I slowly lifted 
my head. He was gone. I stared at the empty doorway in shock, 
wondering if I'd dreamed it.

	I drank more of the tea, and sat before the fire, trying to 
recover my strength as rapidly as I could. But when darkness came, I 
was no better. I staggered out to the garden. He was just changing, 
and I turned away, unable to bear watching. 

	When I turned back to him, he was on his hands and knees, 
trying to stand. I staggered over to him. 

	"Lie down on the rug, Highness, and I'll drag you to the 
bath," I said, my voice hoarse beyond belief.

	He shook his head, and managed to get to his feet, swaying a 
little. I put my arm around his waist, and he put his around my 
shoulders, and together we staggered into the bath.

	After the bath, he was a little stronger, and helped me over 
to the bed. Then he disappeared, and came staggering back with a pot 
of the herbal tea. I wept again.

	"Highness, it isn't your job to wait on me," I tried to 
protest. 

	"Shut up," he said quietly. "Who'll take care of me if I let 
you die of this? Drink it, then lie down and let me get you warm."

	I obeyed, and again I slept in his arms, the torture of it 
almost more than I could bear.

	Again when I awoke, he was gone, and the tea was on the table 
for me, with some bread. I hadn't eaten anything the day before, but 
the bread reminded me that I must, to keep my strength up as much as 
possible. I forced it down and drank the tea, then fell asleep again.

	This went on for five days and nights, until the fever broke 
and left me. I felt unbearably weakened, but whole once more, and 
began eating again to try to regain my strength. That night, he 
started to help me to his bed, and I told him, almost reluctantly, 
that the fever was gone. He hesitated for a moment, then continued on 
his way.

	"Nonetheless, you don't have your strength back yet. You'll 
sleep here until you're completely well again."

	Three nights later, when I was well again, I decided to have 
one more night of the closeness of him, and I let him take me to the 
bed. He snuggled me close, my back against his chest, and his hard 
cock pressing against my bottom, making gooseflesh ripple across my 
buttocks. One of his arms was under me, and the other around my waist. 
As my cock swelled in response to him, I felt the tip of it touch his 
arm. I didn't know what to do. If I tried to move away from his arm, 
it would send my buttocks back harder against his cock. And if I 
didn't, he'd know I was hard from being so close to him.

	Then his arm moved, and his hand slipped down to encircle my 
cock. My breath stopped for a moment. He'd never touched me before.

	His breath was warm against my neck as he whispered, "May I 
take you?"

	I nodded, unable to speak.

	He took his hand from my cock and lifted my leg, spreading my 
buttocks, and positioning his cock against my anus, which was 
pulsating wildly. He smeared the fluid from the tip of his cock over 
the head, and then slipped it inside me. It hurt, but I gritted my 
teeth and tried not to tighten up on him. He withdrew a little and 
then moved a little farther in, continuing until he was completely 
embedded in me. When he was fully inside, he stopped moving, giving my 
body time to adjust to him. I sighed, feeling almost dizzy from the 
pleasure which was replacing the pain. 

	It was my beloved master whose cock was splitting me. If only 
he'd touch me again. But even as I thought it, his arm came around me 
again, and his hand encircled my cock. A low moan escaped from my 
lips, and he started moving then, slowly and easily. By the time he 
started moving rapidly, the rapture had overtaken me, and I was 
soaring high above the room. When he drove into me and I felt his cock 
pulsating, his hand tightened on me, and I came, harder than I'd ever 
come in my life.

	His arms tightened for a moment, then relaxed, and he 
whispered, "Good night."

	Incredible peace washed through me. "Good night, my beloved 
prince," I whispered.

	I realized what I'd said just before sleep claimed me, but it 
was too late to call back the secret name I'd never said aloud before.

	When I woke, less than an hour before dawn, he was asleep, but 
hard again with a morning erection. It had almost slipped from me, but 
I moved down on it, capturing it fully, and slowly began moving on it, 
my hips pumping up and down. He came awake then, with a low chuckle, 
and his hand came around me to capture my cock and take me with him to 
bliss. When we came, he held me for a few moments, then slipped out of 
me and quietly left. I lay there in the bed, unable to believe what 
had happened the night before.

	Maybe he didn't love me as I did him, but this was as close as 
I was going to get to that love. And as long as he wanted me, I was 
going to be available for him.

	For a while, this renewed my energy and my interest in trying 
to find an answer to the puzzle. I didn't work at night anymore, 
though, preferring to sleep in his arms for as long as he allowed me 
to remain in his bed. He always took me like that, with us lying on 
our sides, my back to his chest. And he was always kind enough to 
stroke my cock and give me release, too. Though I'm not so sure I 
couldn't have come just from having his cock in me.

	Two weeks went by like this, and then one morning, I woke near 
dawn, to find him hard inside me, his cock moving slowly. I snuggled 
back against him, welcoming him, and his arm came around me to 
encircle my cock.

	"Do you think the change would take me if we were still doing 
this at dawn?" he asked thoughtfully.

	My blood chilled. "I don't know," I whispered.

	He held me closer. "But what do you think would happen?" he 
insisted.

	I closed my eyes, knowing that tone of voice. "I'm willing to 
try if you want to, Highness," I whispered.

	"This is such a peaceful thing. I don't see how the change 
could come upon me during this."

	I surreptitiously wiped away the tears that filled my eyes. 
"Neither do I, Highness. Certainly it will work."

	He slowed his movements. "Then we must make it last," he 
murmured.

	I closed my eyes. "Highness, may I beg a favor of you?" I 
asked.

	"All right. What is it?"

	My voice came out husky. "I've been in love with you for 
years. And I've longed for you to kiss me. When the moment comes, will 
you kiss me, please?"

	"Can you turn over enough for that?" he asked, after a long 
hesitation.

	I shifted my shoulders enough to bring the back of my head 
onto the pillow.

	"Can you do it like this?" I asked.

	He lifted himself a little and checked, his lips very lightly 
touching mine. "Yes."

	I closed my eyes, my heart pounding. Who'd take care of him 
with me gone? Who would arrange for the sheep he needed, and all the 
other little details of life? But that would have to be his problem. 
He was willing to trade my service to him for a crazy experiment which 
would cost my life. In spite of the love he'd shown me lately, I was 
still no more to him than his horse or his dog. The ache in my chest 
was so strong I didn't really mind dying, just to get rid of the hurt.

	The window lightened, and I felt the first hint of the change 
in his skin. He felt it, too, and lowered his mouth to mine. His kiss 
was skilled and deep, making me dizzy. Oh, by all the gods, if I had 
to die, let it be like this!

	My anus began stretching then, as the beast cock began 
expanding. My breath quickened as the pain built. Soon it would 
stretch to its limit, and then it would tear, my blood spilling down 
over those giant beast balls. A sob caught deep in my throat and I 
threw my arm around him, feeling not my beloved master, but the thick 
fur of the beast.

	The pain overwhelmed me then, and merciful darkness carried me 
down.

	I woke up there in his bed, feeling weak and dizzy. The sheets 
were stiff under me, and I knew it was my blood which had made them 
so. I hadn't died then, but I'd lost a lot of blood, or I wouldn't be 
so faint. I tried to sit up, but the room swirled around and blackness 
threatened again. 

	By the sun through the window, I knew it was near noon. I had 
to have something to drink to replace all the blood I'd lost. I tried 
again to sit up, but couldn't. I slumped back against the pillows.

	Then the door opened. I stared, not believing it. My master 
was coming toward me, with a tray containing food and drink. He smiled 
at the look on my face.

	"You look like you're seeing a ghost," he said cheerfully.

	"It's daylight out. You're not --" I stopped.

	He sat down on the side of the bed, and lifted my head, 
holding a cup to my lips. I drank thirstily. It was the herbal tea, 
thick with honey.

	"No, I'm not," he said when he took the empty cup away. 
"Thanks to you."

	"Me?" I whispered.

	"Yes, you," he said tenderly. "You loved me enough to risk 
your very life for me. And when I felt that love washing through me as 
I kissed you, the hatred and bitterness all washed away, and the beast 
started losing his hold on me. He wasn't able to take me. And I don't 
think he ever will again."

	Tears washed down my face. "Thank the gods," I sobbed. 
"Highness, I'm so happy you'll never have to go through that again."

	He wiped the tears away. "Why did you never tell me before how 
you felt about me?" he asked, his voice gentle.

	My face burned. "I had no right. I'm but your servant, and 
you're my prince."

	"I know. Your beloved prince," he said softly. So he had heard 
that. He took my hand in his. "But this morning, you told me. Why?"

	"I thought I was going to die. I couldn't die without a kiss 
from you, and I knew you'd never do it unless I told you the truth."

	"Why did you think I wouldn't do it without that?"

	I turned my face away. "Why would you ever want to kiss me?"

	"I've wanted to kiss you many times, and I never let myself do 
it."

	"Why?" I gasped.

	"Because I was afraid," he admitted honestly.

	"Afraid of what?"

	"The depth of my feelings for you. And fear that you didn't 
return those feelings."

	My head whirled, and I fell back against the pillow. 

	"Don't die on me now," he whispered. And lifted my head to 
drink more of the tea.


	"I think I must be dreaming," I said, tears racing down my 
face.

	"Don't cry. You've lost too much fluid already. Just drink 
this and then sleep some more. We'll talk later."

	I obeyed him, too weak to do anything else.

	Every time I woke during the next two days, he was there to 
take care of me. And finally the time came when I was able to make it 
over to the bath with his help. I settled back into the hot water with 
a sigh of relief. He left me there to go change the sheets on the bed, 
then when he'd finished with that, he joined me in the water.

	"I did remember a little of my sorcery," he said quietly. 
"Enough to stop the bleeding and heal the tears in your body. But even 
so, I think I ought to wait a few days before trying to take you, if 
you'll ever trust me to do that again."

	His hand was very close to mine, and I took it, lifting it to 
my lips to kiss. "I trust you completely, Highness. In all things."

	He shook his head. "You shouldn't. You warned me that damned 
sorcerer wasn't to be trusted, and I ignored you. Don't let me do that 
again. None of this would have happened if I'd only listened to you in 
the first place." He took a deep breath. "You told me that you loved 
me. Did you mean it?"

	I bowed my head. "Yes, my prince."

	"How long have you felt that way?"

	"Since we were eleven."

	"I wish you had told me a long time ago."

	Tears were running down my face. "I had no right to tell you 
anything like that. I'm but your servant, Highness."

	"You're more than my servant, and you know it. You're brother, 
confidant, friend, companion, lover. And for the past two years, you 
were mother and caretaker to me as well. I don't know if I'll be able 
to reclaim our kingdom or not, but if I do, I swear to you that I'll 
give you the highest title in the land, and treat you always as my 
first adviser."

	I hesitantly moved a little closer to him, and he put an arm 
around my waist and drew me close to him. "Do you --" I began, but 
stopped, unable to ask the question which tormented me.

	He tilted my face up and kissed away the tears, then kissed my 
lips gently. "Do I love you?" he asked softly. "Is that what you want 
to ask and are afraid to hear the answer to?"

	I swallowed, eyes closed, then slowly nodded.

	"Look at me," he commanded.

	My eyes flew open and I looked up at him. He grinned.

	"Old habits are hard to break, aren't they?" he teased. "The 
answer is yes. I do love you."

	I felt as though my heart would burst from my chest. I laid my 
head on his shoulder, and he held me close to him, his arms warm 
around my body. He loved me. Oh, by all the gods, he loved me!

	And you boys know the rest of the story. We sold the estate, 
and returned here to do battle with the foul sorcerer who'd taken over 
the kingdom. Between the two of us, working together, we were able to 
overcome him, and restore the kingdom to its rightful rulers again. 
His Majesty was in a dungeon, his health nearly broken. But he 
recovered enough to rule another ten years. Then His Highness took the 
throne and ruled for another forty, before abdicating in favor of his 
son, your father, who rules today.

	And here he comes now, still handsome even in his old age. Sit 
here beside me, old friend, and help me amuse these boys. They've been 
having me tell them the tale of Beauty and the Beast, though I told 
them that indeed Beauty was no beauty, and won not your heart.

	You boys stop laughing and pay him no mind. I'm no beauty now 
and I was no beauty then! 'Tis only in his own eyes that I look good. 
Here comes your tutor and you must go to your lessons now. Learn them 
well, lest another foul sorcerer come to take what is rightfully 
yours.

	Look at them run, my beloved prince. They do remind me so of 
us when we were that age. I wish we still had some of that boundless 
energy.

	Why, yes, my heart, I do believe I could get up enough energy 
for that, if we do it slow and easy. Let's go to my room. No one will 
disturb us there.
--