"Must be a spell - some kind of spell -"

"Should I take you to the library?"

"Don't think I'd better move." She swallows. "Water?"

The food tray scurries up to them. Beast fetches down a cup.

"I fear what will happen if I leave you alone," he says.

"Mm?"

"Do you remember falling?"

"...Vaguely."

"Chelise was there."

"...I don't remember that."

"She said she'd startled you."

"I don't remember." Pause. "You don't believe her."

"I think she pushed you," says the Beast.

"...Maybe. I can't remember. I don't even remember why I was on the staircase."

"I want to kill her," he growls.

Belle doesn't have a reply to that.

He sighs.

"You think she'll come back and finish me off if you leave me?"

"I don't know."

"Where did she go? Could she even tell if you went to the library?"

"Upstairs," he says. "I worry if she comes back."

One of Belle's arms is not broken. That one fumbles for Beast's paw and clasps it. "Can the kitchen bring - medicines, at all? Maybe if I were only a little better, I could move, and finish the job with magic..."

Belle closes her eyes and concentrates on breathing evenly. Her hand clutches at the Beast's paw; she's weak and trembly yet clearly holding on as hard as she can.