The Forêt Woods

"I hate it..." She quipped cheerfully, "Too many people. It's not this." Belle took a deep breath and found a place to sit, setting the basket down. She didn't seem to care if her skirts got a little grass stained as she descended to her rump. She crossed her arms over knees that she raised up, looking thoughtful. "It's much quieter here, and you are less likely to get some sort of illness that anyone else can pass along." Belle moved to set her chin upon the knees and watched him, her dark eyes focused on his face.

"Walking, or collecting?" She asked, letting her legs flatten. "I stopped collecting because my basket is full, and I stopped walking because I like to pause and admire the view. It's a very lovely day today and I don't want to go home... Not yet anyway." Her eyes regarded his seriously now, "My father has been particularly adamant that I meet some son of some merchant because I'll be an old maid if I wait any longer. Hah, because marrying some son of some merchant is going to make my life grand!" She snorted and shook her head. "More like I am a cow to be sold to the highest bidder so my father's life can be enhanced."

"Not all of them... Just the ones who have money, mostly... Unless they are unconventional or nontraditional. My father scoffs at those people. I just want to choose my own path and love who I love." She sighed, "He is probably babbling on and on right now to the poor man as we speak, apologizing that I've disappeared and he promises I'll be there any moment!" She gestured with her hands animatedly, and then laughed at the very idea... "Meanwhile, if he knew I was walking with a man, human or not, such as yourself... He would lock me in my chamber for a week while he made sure to patch up my possibly torn reputation."

"Because young ladies of good social standing do not tarry with men if they do not have a chaperone," she recited with a mocking air toward the saying. "Young ladies like myself should not even be off on their own. It isn't proper. It doesn't matter that nothing happens, I could be branded with ill-repute and be cast out of my home in disgrace." She tucked a strand of hair away and grabbed her basket in some disgust, hauling herself to her feet to reluctantly walk in the direction that they came from. "I wish I didn't care, but my work is important and I've no other place to go. Never mind that I do not think anyone wishes to marry someone like me for who I am instead of how rich my merchant father is."

"It is... complicated." She replied, not really sure if there was even an answer to the question. For the first time sine their meeting earlier, she was faltering. "Perhaps because he is right and the only way I can find love is to learn to love a husband in an arranged marriage." She shrugged some and kicked at a loose stone, looking down and away from him because she didn't know if she could handle his incredulity if she saw it for that reply. "I suppose now is as good as any time to make the long journey home, I've been gone for long enough." Belle sounded depressed at the notion.

She whirled to look at him with a spark of indignation, planting her hands on his hips, "I have responsibilities to the people who depend on my medicine. I am the only one around who cares enough to help ailing people without wanting their money. If I lose my home, then what? People will perish and it will be my fault. My path is as a healer." She lost her bluster, though. "If I have to sacrifice my happiness for them, then so be it. I am sorry I brought it up to you. It was rather silly."

"And why do you care?" She asked, lifting her palms up in a shrug. "I thought perhaps I was sounding irrational, but we humans only have a short time on this earth and perhaps I would like to know what being kissed is like before I go off on some random tangent with my life. I just... hate that he is probably right." And she hadn't particularly raised her voice at him, even if she had spoken firmly. She stood there with her chin lifted in pride, perhaps he would understand better now why she reacted with wounded pride. "I already apologized for my bringing the subject up."

"Unfortunately, humans have many rules and standards as to what is acceptable... I don't know what to do.." She was honest. She looked around, then, and figured out she had taken a different path or something, for the foliage was much different. She felt a bit disoriented and scratched her head. She then looked at him in confusion. "We did.... come from this direction, didn't we?" She turned every which way with a frown. "I thought... yes, we... No... wait." She sighed in obvious frustration.

She slapped her face. Well, that could be worse, right? She started walking that way, then stopped and looked at him... "If I didn't go back... Where would I go? If I stay here, someone will send a party... So... Suppose I did run away from home to start over... Where would I go?" Belle watched him curiously for a moment, then closed the distance again, searching his gaze with her dark eyes. She waited for a reply... something.... anything...