Chapter 3

"Did you hear that?" asked the candelabra to the clock.

Both of them grew still to see if they could hear where the odd noise was coming from. The clock made a face when he figured it out where it was coming from.

"It is coming from outside" he announced proud he had the answer before his friend.

The candelabra raised an eyebrow "You don't think anyone has found the castle after all this time?" His eyes lit up upon saying this. Cogsworth knew why; Luimere never gave up hope that a girl who come and release them from the spell.

"No one makes noise like that," Luimere's face turned into a frown, "I do wonder what it is."

"Let's go find out!" the candelabra was then off before the clock could stop him.

He hopped around the castle moving towards the foot doors. With great effort he pushed it open and raced outside. He went to the gates and then stopped at seeing the source of the noise.

The clock had rushed after him and was close behind.

"Lumiere!" the clock called moving towards his still friend "What is it?"

The clock finally reached the candelabra and saw why his friend had become so still. Lying on the floor a few feet from the gates was a baby. It was very small and swaddled in a pink cloth; no doubt the baby was a girl.

Lumiere approached the baby with caution. He looked down and saw the baby's beautiful crying face.

He reached his candlestick hands towards the baby and slowly rocked it back and forth "Now, now little one, stop your crying"

The clock held up his hands in protest "Lumiere don't touch it! You don't know where it has been or whose it is!"

"Now now Clocksworth have a heart! It is a baby girl all alone and crying! We must do something!" Lumiere carefully picked up the baby. It was surprising he even could in his current state; thank goodness the baby was small enough.

Luimere carried the child back to the castle with Cogsworth giving him warnings behind him "Maybe it is one of the Enchantress's tricks!" he said, "What will the master say?"

The candelabra ignored his friend and took the child to the kitchen where he knew he would find the motherly teapot, Mrs. Potts. She was washing her youngest son in the tub when the two men and baby came in.

"Mrs. Potts!" Luimere exclaimed, "Look what I found outside the castle gates!"

"What you found? Hum, hum, hum. I think you are mistaken, old friend, for it is I who found the child!" He stuck out his chest proudly.

The candelabra gave him and sharp look but ignored his statement. He turned towards Mrs. Potts who was hobbling down the table to met Luimere.

"Goodness Me!" the teapot gasped "What on earth would a child be doing outside the castle gates all alone?"

"I don't know" Luimere replied "She was all alone. We have to help her."

"Of course we do dearie! This child needs care! Bring her over to the table. I'll get her washed up." She hobbled back over to the table.

"But the master! What will happen when he sees this?" the clock started rubbing his hands together.

"When I see what?" said a dark voice.

Everyone in the room grew still and silent. Cogsworth slowly turned around to see the owner of the voice, the master of the caste, the beast.