The King - The Widower (Closed)

[Lady_Jade666]

Prince Leon
45 (Looks Younger)

Belle
19

It was almost like yesterday that the village of Riquewihr was beautiful and full of life, no one was going hungry. It was beautiful because it was ruled over Prince Leon and he was madly in love with his wife Juliet. Unfortunately within the darkness of the villa something bad was going on, his wife had fallen in love with a simple stable boy and tried to keep it away from her husband the prince. Leon unfortunately found out by his spies that she was having an affair and the baby may not be his. Problem was his spy was actually working for his cousin a woman who Leon is trying to marry off but she only wants to marry Leon, she wants what is his but most of all she just wants him happy or unhappy. So on the night he speaks to his wife about it there is a big issue, I mean a huge one. He grabs his wife out of bed grabs her by the throat against the door. His wife was begging to let go of her, to let them go but she grabbed a dagger and cut his face up pretty good. He let her go scream and he bumped into fire and his face was burned and even the right side of his body was badly burned. Then somehow his wife ended up dead and everyone said that the prince did it, but there was so much more.

Belle was in love with the Prince they did not see much of one another but when she saw him he was beyond kind to her, Belle never understood him but he was okay with it. The whole situation that happened to the Prince and the wife she was the only one that knew the whole story, its why how everyone outside the castle was against him. But due to the facts she saw she stayed on his side, his servants whispered things and one night Belle actually heard a woman groaning and crying but she left it be for a log while. Belle was a young woman with a lot to do, she didn't know how to do much accept clean, cook and read, but she had a healing ability that she never told no one, perhaps one day she was hoping she would be able to tell Leon but she needed and wanted his trust before she said anything, because she needed to tell him what really happened once she gained his trust, his cousin who wants him to herself was a vile woman who treated her like trash when the prince wasn't around, and he wasn't around much. Until one day out of the blue one of the servants told her their master was waiting for her by the stables, she wasn't sure what he was doing there, but she put on her simple Dark Brown Cloak

There he was all in blue and his mask was black, she had never seen the side of his face after what happened, but she was careful never to stare or ask questions. "Sire forgive me I was now told you needed me, what can I do for you?" She bowed her head and curtsy

 

[Mr_Positive]

Pain.

It was all he had felt for the previous twelve months. Physical pain, emotional pain, psychological pain. His world was dark, with no sign of light.

Except one - Belle. The traumatic experience and the conditions of his wife’s death had turned him into a cold hearted man, one he didn’t recognise himself. He was mean and cruel to all around him. Except Belle. He could not understand why, but something in his brain stopped his harsh ways when it came to her.

She summoned her to the stables, a place on his estate that was almost isolated from everywhere else. The forests beyond offer even more isolation, something he craved even more.

He was readying his horse when he heard her voice behind him. He turned to meet her gaze.
“Join me for a ride into the forest. I believe you and Talia over there are well acquainted”, pointing to the grey mare a few stalls down.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle finally found Leon and could not help but smile at him, he had a good heart that seemed to be going back and forth about its battle. The inner battle between him and his mind and memory. She nodded to him and went to the horse he mentioned, she was already set to go, she figured one of the other servants helped get her ready to go. She waked the horse over to the prince and bowed her head, she went over to an apple tree he had in the courtyard and smiled. "May I your lord?" She asked before plucking the fruit off the beautiful apple tree. After an ever so slight nod she plucked it and then from her boot she removed a small blade, she cut the apple in her hands and gave half to her horse and offered the other, to Leon's horse which he gobbled up right away.

Getting on her horse with grace she smiled wondering where they were going, sighing happily she looked at him "Lead the way my lord"

 

[Mr_Positive]

Leon watched Belle walk her horse to the apple tree, giving his permission without saying a word. He waited patiently on his horse until she climbed aboard hers. Once they were both ready, he took off at a gallop. They quickly departed his estate and into the dense forest.
They rided at a good pace in silence for a good ten minutes, before coming across a clearing. In the middle was a small lake, full of clear & still water. It was very peaceful, the silence only punctuated by the odd birdsong.
Leon got off his horse and went to the water's edge. He stared into the abyss, almost forgetting Belle was with him.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle was happy he was so patient with her, it was funny how she knew he gave permission, it was ever so slight but it was a nudge of his face. She would have thanked him but he hated trivial stuff so she got off her horse and tied her to the post Leon walked to the edge and it was so beautiful she couldn't help but gasp. Belle at the corner of her eye could tell that she was happy it was beyond beautiful. It was beyond beautiful and couldn't help but be really happy about anything, she couldn't help but notice a slight. Belle walked over watching him look at the water, she knelt down carefully as not to touch him, it was so beautiful but she broke the silence by her beautiful voice as she recited some of a poem that fit what she saw her favorite poem of al times.

"On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
The yellow-leaved waterlily
The green-sheathed daffodilly
Tremble in the water chilly
Round about Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens shiver.
The sunbeam showers break and quiver
In the stream that runneth ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four gray walls, and four gray towers
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott..."

She opened up her eyes looking at him unsure what he would say.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Leon did not expect the tranquility of the moment to be broken by something so hauntingly beautiful. He listened intently as she spoke, hanging on every word. Nobody had spoken so beautifully to him since his wife died. He needed reminding that her cheating only came at the end, and most of their marriage was full of love. He wondered would he ever find that again.
He brought his gaze to Belle, your young, fresh, beautiful face. His lips gave a hint of a smile.

‘Thank you’.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

She was surprised by how tender he made her feel Belle could not help but smile and nodded "Of course L..." she almost called him Leon which would have been beyond disrespectful "Forgive me your welcome Prince Leon" She wondered what was so scary behind his mask she had wondered it a few times but to her even with the mask on he was very handsome to her, she had her own wants that she had pushed down. Her older sister was able to get married now because of going into service to the Prince and thanks to the Prince her father was at sea, she owed him a lot but not the way most would think.

They have known each other for only about a year and a half, she smiled at him "I maybe just a peasant my lord I do not know everything but you can talk to me if you ever need, I would never talk like some of the younger servants do, whatever was said or did would be between the two of us, I want to offer you my friendship my prince because I can feel your heart, you need something..."

 

[Mr_Positive]

Belle’s words, while melodic and soft, scared him. Talk? How was he supposed to convey his deep rooted hurt, both physical and psychological?
Of course he knew most of the servants talked and gossiped. They either weren’t very discreet or thought he was an idiot and couldn’t hear them.

But she was offering friendship and she seemed genuine.
“Thank you Belle. You are the first person to offer such kindness in the past year. You are a very kind young woman”.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle smiled and knew it really wasn't much to offer "I know it's not much to offer but sometimes talking to someone you trust helps. And I hope in time I earn your trust my Prince. And in all honesty you have earned mine already, I know we have barely known each other two years but I can see so much the others cannot. Your pain physical and emotion is so strong I can feel it when I am around you, I will not say I understand your pain because I hate when people tell me that." She bit her lip and looked down. "Forgive me my lord I am rambling' Belle sighed softly her eyes down to her hands.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Leon was puzzled - why was she being nice to him? She saw how he had been in the last year, he didn't deserve her affection. Though she wa the only one he did not snap at so freely. She had an aura about her, that spoke to something unseen and unknown presently. It drew him to her, like she was to be trusted. But he had fear - the last woman he trusted betrayed him.

"It's fine Belle, it is nice to talk with someone like this. But you see how I am. Why are you offering me this?"

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle was not so sure herself but this setting helped see the human inside of him, come on dammit move I'm trying to do this for your fucking father gets home or gets in leave me alone and she knew the situation that he got himself in before with Juliet. She was not sure why Juliet would marry one man, have happy times and then lay with another. Maybe she just did not understand because she was a virgin and did not understand because she had no life and no love.

"Because you are human my Prince, you can be difficult but at times, I have seen it. You can be so kind and I have seen you happy. Alot has happened to you, many things have happened in such little time. Besides its the way my mother raised me till she died. She told me everyone deserves help, no one is unworthy of friendship, understanding and love" Belle looked back up at him her heart racing like a horse.

"My mom was a healer and was teaching me how to be one, I only got so far with her. I truly wish I could take away your physical pain, but my ability is nothing to even talk about it. The only reason I am telling you is I have seen all sides of people and have seen wonderful things but also terrible things. I want to see you happy again." Before she even knew it a hand was on one of his and she looked into his eyes a tear falling down her a cheek.

The tear was not that of pity but of the fact she saw him and felt for him.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Leon gave Belle an intense look, hanging on her every word. Heearing her reveal that she is a healer was very surprising. He had heard of these people - in fact, he was sure he encountered one when he was a young boy. But he thought the practice had died out. Apparently not.

"Have you ever practised your healing on anyone?", feeling her hand on his. It was feeling he had not felt in a long time. It was familiar, yet new and exciting because it came from someone so young, and admittedly quite beautiful.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle saw the way he was looking at her and could not help but have an idea why he had ask such a question, she does try to heal things when she can most of the times animals that she sees at the side of a road hurt. "Once a woman gave birth to a dead infant, I took the babe in my arms and no matter what I did the babe would not breath, until something inside me changed. I don't know what that was that change my lord but the baby started to breath then cry. I can heal animals but people, I have not tried again"

Bell looked down not wanting to disappoint him if he ever asked her " I still practice but my mother told me being a successful healer takes two things. Years of practice and love"

 

[Mr_Positive]

He pondered her response - he wondered if she could help him with his pain. He knew life like this was not worth living. He felt he had nothing to lose.

"Perhaps you could practise on me? I can't imagine pain being worse than what I feel now".

Could her healing him help relieve the air of darkness around him, and help to see the wonders around him that he was currently blind to?

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle was shocked by what he asked of her, and she couldn’t imagine failing him, but he was willing to be her guinea pig so to speak, then again there really wasn’t anything he needed to do, being a healer was a natural gift not anything you need herbs or anything.

"My Prince I..." She could see the look her gave her and did not want to fail him

"Of course I would try but there is no guarantee it will work like I said a baby is not the size of an adult but I can try all I need is skin contact it wouldn't hurt and it wouldn't make it worse"

 

[Mr_Positive]

Leon afforded himself a smile.
"Like you said, you could not make it worse. So if you can make it better, I will be forever grateful".

He looked back at the water, the black abyss reflecting his inner pain. He knew he could not continure like, something had to change.

"Let's return. I would like you to join me for dinner this evening, and we can discuss your healing powers".

 

[Lady_Jade666]

The way he smiled was actually very sweet she knew that it was for himself not for her but it was still sweet to see "of course" she said softly to him. Belle got up and offered up her hand to him to give him a hand, she had no.idea what she was doing or what she would wear she only had one dress that belonged to her mother. For now one step at a time and when they got back on their horses and back to the castle.

Even if she could just take away his pain at least it would be something. She wanted to make him promise he would not get dissapointed if it did not work but she was scared, she did not know what to do or say. Two stable bpys came for there horses and she slid off her back.

"Well I guess I will see you at dinner, I only have one dress I will warn you now" she smiled weakly.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Once they arrived back at the estate and had handed the horses over to the stable boys, he smiled at her dress comment. He called for his head of staff, a plump woman in her fifties.
"Please show Belle to the dressing room". Turning his attention to Belle, "Please pick a dress you like and wear it to dinner".

He then turned and retired to his chambers until dinner.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle was shocked.

"Thank you my lord" She was surprised if only she knew what tonight would mean she was shown into Juliet's old quarters that did belong to him but he left since she died for reasons that were easy to understand. She grabbed a nice long bath and saw all the dresses that he never gave away and it was beautiful, but one just made her grab it, it was such a beautiful Gold Dress. She saw it get there in time and by the time the clock was going off she was heading down the steps slowly. Her hands in golden gloves lifted up her gown as not to fall.

Then before she knew it she saw him in a dark blue outfit which he was very handsome and she was shocked when he offered his hand out to her, when she took it she felt something strong between them and her hair was up and out of her face, looking into his Icey eyes there was something there. "Good evening" She saw the table full of beautiful food, why all this for two people? he could feed a village.

Not that she would ever say that, she knew to old her tongue of course.

"If I may my lord you are very fetching tonight"

 

[Mr_Positive]

Leon watched Belle enter the room, a smile playing across his lips as he saw how beautiful she was.
"You look very beautiful, Belle", returning the compliment. "Please, sit".

They both sat down at opposite ends of the table. The array and variety of food was exquisite. They began to mostly silence between them.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

Belle blushed normally she was not one to be complimented. Then again she wore the clothing of a peasant most of the time. Belle had never tasted such wonderful food before. Even the food the servants eat was simple, but this was grand? Leon needed someone to cook him a meal that was made from love. As corny as it may sound, it was what makes any dish taste wonderful. But that was something maybe one day she would have a chance to do. No one knew what this could turn into, if anything since she knew she was here to heal him.

Sadly there was something Belle did not tell him about being a healer. Being a healer could be dangerous even deadly. Even thought the ability being deadly is very rare. The thing about being a healer, someone has to pay the price, the price to keep balance. Depending on the wound or the pain what happens to the healer depends on what's going on with the one who needs healing. But to Belle she was willing to do this for him. She was not to sure exactly what would happen but she wanted to help. Looking up at him Belle was beyond pleased, and after sipping some wine Belle spoke making sure all food was out of her mouth to remain lady like.

"Thank for allowing me to have a meal with you my prince, I understand why you have asked me here tonight, but it's still nice and its a pleasure." Belle was very sweet and it was in her nature. Even the animals seemed to like her, back in the village she would even feed horses even if the person didn't have a lot of food for their horses, even fed a couple of dogs. Her pureness was something that was rare and it was easy to see her purity just by looking into her eyes. She never lied, she was a friend to all who needed her.

 

[Mr_Positive]

"You are welcome Belle. So please, tell me about your journey as a healer and what makes you think you can heal me?"

Leon knew he was taking a chance on Belle as a healer, but he also knew he could not continue like this. If she could lift the dark cloud from his life, he would be eternally grateful.

 

[Lady_Jade666]

She watched Leon and could hear the bitterness which she could understand. He was tired of looking and feeling like he had. She looked down a moment and then back at him. But this was also something he wanted as well, he wanted Belle to try. Belle found it hard not to watch him suffer. No one should have to pay a price like this especially because the night he supposedly killed her he didn't.

"My Lord I honestly don't know if I can heal you. like I said I'm still young, and I only had a mother's guidance for 5 years. But it's not fair for someone to feel the way you feel like everyday, like there's no hope. It's not fair, I know life is not fair I know I'm just a young person to you but I feel for you. If something does not change I worry for you" She worried for him.

"I know the the medicine you drink does not completely cover the pain anymore and there will come a time you will have to drink more and more till it will no longer work" She said softly.

 

[Mr_Positive]

"Belle, I know you're young, but you understand more than most. You're right, I am tired of the pain. Tired of this endless fight for a glimmer of hope that seems so far out of reach. The medicine? It's barely enough now, a temporary escape from something much darker that I can't run from. But I never expected a miracle from you. I just... I just wanted to believe, even if for a moment, that there's something, or someone, who can help.

You don’t need to carry this burden. What I want most is for you to keep trying because the world needs your strength. Even if I can't be healed, knowing you're out there, doing your best—that's enough. Don't worry about me; I’ve survived this long. But if there’s a way to change this fate, I’m willing to follow it, even if it’s not meant for me."

 

[Lady_Jade666]

What he said broke her heart and tears could be seen in her eyes and staying there, looking down at her gloved hands she closed her eyes and made a silent prayer that she can help him. When she opened up her eyes she looked up at him and gave him a soft smile. Leon may act like a monster but she knew mostly its because of the pain, but the medicine has its own issues as well. Its based off a wine with very weak healing properties. She wanted to do better even if she could not heal him she wishes to least take the pain away from him, she removed her gloves and slowly stood from her chair and slowly walked up to him, kneeling down as she lifted her dress a little so her bare knees braced herself on the ground and her gown pooled around her.

Her brown eyes looked up into his stormy eyes and placed her bare hand on his leg and wasn't sure what more to do but take a deep breath, then let it out silently "Whenever you are ready my Prince"