"He didn't kidnap anyone. This is his betrothed," Merida said, checking if her mother didn't kill the one man who was different from all the others.

"Well, that's not entirely true," Belle said, bursting into tears.

"There, there, my dear," Queen Elinor said, hugging her comfortingly without a doubt in her mind that she had done the right thing.

Yet, Merida wasn't as convinced. There was something off about Belle, and she didn't trust anything she said. Merida was good at reading people, and all she saw Belle feel towards Henri was disgust, not fear.

Besides, Henri himself wasn't some mindless monster. He was a person who had the misfortune of being different from others. Although it was clear that Henri could be dangerous, she didn't believe, even for a second, that there was cruelty in his heart. During all their interactions, Henri was the one trying to make peace, to help both sides.

"Secure the prisoner," Queen Elinor said when the guards arrived.

"That's hardly necessary," Merida said, determined to stop the madness.

"Merida, don't be naive. That man is a monster. Just look at him! He is an animal," Queen Elinor said sternly.

"If I remember correctly, you were an animal, too. As a matter of fact, you were almost murdered because dad and the others couldn't see past your animal nature to who you really were," Merida replied angrily.

It always annoyed her how easily people forgot things. So, she was determined to remind her mother that looks could be deceiving, hoping that she would realize Belle was putting on an act.

"That is different! I wasn't a monster, and that thing is. Just look at this poor innocent sweetheart," Queen Elinor said, cooing at Belle as if she was a small child.

So, despite Merida's protests, the queen's orders were followed. The guards tied Henri so firmly that a human would have had trouble breathing. As it was, their rough treatment only served as a wake-up call for the confused werewolf.

"What...who...how?" Henri said, disoriented.

As he moved his head to assess his situation, Merida noticed a trail of blood trickling down the side of his head. She hurried towards him despite her mother's protests and tried to see how bad the injury was.

"I am so sorry. I had no idea this would happen, or I would have never brought you here," Merida whispered as she checked his wound.

Henri nodded slightly, realizing that she wished not for others to hear her words.

"What is happening?" Henri managed to ask.

"What is happening is that we have caught you and saved this poor girl from your evil clutches," Queen Elinor said.

"What are you talking about? She is my betrothed," Henri said, confused. "Belle, tell them."

"It's true. I am his betrothed," Belle said, looking at the ground coyly. "But I never agreed to marry him. He kidnapped me and forced me to accept his marriage proposal."

Merida was close enough to Henri to see his pupils dilate as his brows furrowed in confusion. She could see it clearly even under all the thick wolf hair sprouting everywhere. He shook his head a few times, trying to understand if he heard her correctly.

"What are you talking about?" Henri finally asked.

"Don't pretend with me. My daughter might be naive enough to not see the monster you are. But I am not. That nice fellow, Gaston, told us everything about you," Queen Elinor said with righteous anger.

"Gaston?" Henri asked, confused. "Is that what's going on here? You conspired with Gaston to do what? Get rid of me?" Henri asked, looking at Belle.

"We don't have to listen to this. Let's go, my child. You can rest in my chambers," Queen Elinor said, pulling Belle away from Henri. "Come along, Merida! You shouldn't be here either. Let's leave the beast for your father and Gaston to deal with."

"I need to take care of his wounds. You wouldn't want him to die before they can properly judge him, do you?" Merida said, dripping with sarcasm.

"Very well, tend to its wounds and retreat to your chambers until your father gets here," Queen Elinor said, quickly retreating hand in hand with Belle.

Merida didn't fail to notice the strange gleam in Belle's eyes as she turned her back on Henri. It was a look of triumph.

Moving quickly, Merida got a bowl of water and a cloth and started cleaning Henri's wound. As she did so, he growled lowly at the wave of pain that washed over his head.

"I am sorry, but I have to clean this to stop it from getting infected," Merida said calmly.

"Aren't you afraid?" Henri asked.

"Of what?" Merida asked distractedly.

Henri was once again surprised by her answer. Hadn't she heard her mother say the worst possible things about him? Yet, she still stood by his side without fear. All he could see was compassion and determination.

"Of me," he said, showing his large teeth that glistened in the candlelight.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous and put those away. You might hurt yourself," Merida said offhandedly.

Despite everything, Henri couldn't help but chuckle softly at her words.

"What?" Merida asked.

"You sure are a brave one, aren't you?" he asked.

"Most of the time," Merida replied as she finished dressing his wound.

"Alright, I need to get you out of here before father comes back. I don't think he will be any more reasonable than mother was," Merida said, looking at the ropes and how best to untie them. "Besides, that fellow Gaston has them wrapped around his little finger."

"No, I have to stay," Henri said.

"What are you talking about? They will kill you," Merida said, looking at him with a strange emotion that he couldn't identify.

"I am a werewolf, Merida. I am not easy to kill. I need to know what Belle and Gaston have planned so that I can stop them," Henri said. "Plus, this is as good punishment as any for being unable to see that no one can be that perfect. Furthermore, a woman as beautiful as Belle could never fall for a monster like me."

"Never call yourself a monster," Merida said reproachfully.

"Then, how should I call myself?" Henri asked, surprised by her outburst.

"Special," Merida said as she ran her hand through the fur on his cheek.

He unconsciously leaned into the touch, appreciating the warmth that was rarely offered to him. Moving his head like a dog eager for more pets, Henri realized it was the first time a non-werewolf touched him in such a manner, so freely and with affection.

"Thank you," Henri said.

"For what?" Merida asked, moving her hand away, realizing that she was stroking the cheek of a guy she barely knew.

"For not seeing me as a monster. For trying to help me although I can take care of myself," Henri said.

"Then why don't you just escape, leave everything behind?" Merida asked.

"I might just do that after all this is over, but I first have to make sure that my pack is safe," he said.

"I can help you," Merida said.

"Why? Why would you trust me instead of her?" Henri asked.

"Because I have good instincts," Merida said, smiling at him for the first time.

"Alright then, here is the plan," Henri said and proceeded to explain.

Moments later, they could hear the approach of two pairs of feet, and they broke apart from their hushed conversation quickly, putting their plan in motion.