<div style="text-align: center"><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
<button class="bbCodeSpoiler-button button" data-xf-click="toggle" data-xf-init="tooltip" title="Click to reveal or hide spoiler" type="button"><span class="button-text">
<span>Spoiler</span>
</span></button>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--spoiler">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json">
			{
				"lightbox_close": "Close",
				"lightbox_next": "Next",
				"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
				"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
				"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
				"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
				"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
				"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
				"lightbox_download": "Download",
				"lightbox_share": "Share",
				"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
				"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
				"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
			}
			</script>
<div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg&amp;hash=1422b6358dc9a4f0da90a8dba43f92ca" title="125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg">
<img alt="125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg&amp;hash=1422b6358dc9a4f0da90a8dba43f92ca" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="" title="" width=""/>
<noscript><img alt="125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F125111c2282bbc6c17e25172eaf33dbd.jpg&amp;hash=1422b6358dc9a4f0da90a8dba43f92ca" style="" title="" width=""/></noscript>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div><br/>Basile Alard Trouvé was the last remaining Trouvé, tucked safely away in his noble family chateau, at least so long as he stayed put. It was a lonely, predictable sort of life. His remaining servants resented him for their situation. The curse was the fault of the vain family, and eventually, their wish turned into their worst nightmare. For most, it was a slow descent into madness. Immortality was no gift, and the expansive castle would be their last, and only prison.<br/><br/>“I will grant you immortality for your hospitality,” the traveler had said, not that they'd offered any sort of comfort. It was blown off as the ramblings of an old madman until they realized that immortality only extended to what resided within the estate perimeters. A gift, they thought. They could be young and beautiful forever, and now Basile was, just alone and miserable. His mother had been taken with guilt, and then his father followed soon after her. His brother was the last, and Basile the youngest, and most resilient to his life of solitude apparently. It had been at least a hundred years since he'd lost his brother, but Basile adjusted. Travelers came and went upon occasion, some Basile had learned of why it was good to be wary, and others that he'd enjoyed for a short while. He didn't know what drew someone to his home, only that not everyone seemed capable of finding it. Most likely only those the withered traveler saw fit to let see, come to torment him in some way or another.<br/><br/>Basile looked no different than the day he'd been cursed, aged not a single day over twenty years old. He was tall, with dark curls, and alabaster skin. Beautiful in every way imaginable, and had been the interest of many back when he entertained at court. He had most of the mirrors covered now, tired of seeing himself after all those long years. The servants avoided him. He was always a temperamental child, but he was even more foul now, and best left to his solitude. Prone to outburst, and a deep-seeded rage that was anything but beautiful. He'd made his bed. He could now lay in it.<br/><br/>Basile had been reading in his study when he heard a sort of commotion outside. He set the book flat and trotted down the winding stairs, and out the front entrance way. He no longer took kindly to intruders. He'd taken in folk before, thinking it might have been a test, but it hadn't always gone favorably to do so. Easier when he had his family to back him, but he was alone now. Caution had to be taken, and he was far too cynical at that point than to think he was ever going to be redeemed in his curse. He stopped in his tracks at the sight.<br/><br/>A bulky man astride a dark horse, brown hair drawn up, wearing a black coat. He had an arrow notched, and pointed it directly at Basile, before seeing straight away it was not his target, and dropping the arrow down. He had two dogs with him, barking like mad, sniffing around to try and relocate what they were looking for. All of it had given Basile a start before his beautiful face turned to one of fury. Strangers were not permitted to hunt on his land without express permission.<br/><br/>“What are you doing here?” Basile demanded.<br/><br/>The man sat blinking and then put his bow and arrow away before dismounting.<br/><br/>“I came looking for a beast. Followed it's path here. You have not seen anything unusual come this way?” the man questioned, walking closer to the young man, eyes raking him.<br/><br/>“I have not. I heard you easy enough. If a beast had been about, I think I would have known just as well,” Basile snapped.<br/><br/>“My apologies,” the man said, giving a mock sort of bow. He came close enough to reach for Basile's hand, but the young man jerked it away, uncaring for his overly friendly demeanor considering he'd just pointed an arrow at him. The man ignored the snub. “My name is Gauvain,” he said instead as if that should mean something. He was smiling. “Might you invite me in for refreshments? I am far from home, you see. Hunting is hard work.”<br/><br/>“No,” Basile said, unshaken. “You should leave. Take your horse, and go.”<br/><br/>Gauvain looked truly shocked at the easy rejection. No one was so quick to tell him no, man or woman. True, perhaps this young fellow didn't know who he was, but he would. Gauvain would see to that.<br/><br/>“As you wish, but I shall return,” he promised, “Perhaps with a pretty set of scales to gift you in hopes that you might change your mind, and allow my company.” He seemed confident, but Basile's expression was unchanged, standing stiffly at the top of his stairs as he watched Gauvain gather up his dogs and head out on his horse. The man was handsome, but he was presumptuous, a characteristic Basile knew to be leery of. He didn't give thought to the possibility that whatever he'd been hunting had taken refuge on his estate.