The Princess and the Hunter

A Tangled Story based on Snow White

Prologue

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful young woman by the name of Greta Gothel. She was a Lady by birth, but she was also known as Mother because she helped raise some of the local children in town. Every eligible young bachelor wanted to marry her, but she only had eyes for one man and that was King Roland.

Losing his wife, Queen Emily, in childbirth, he had a young daughter to raise, the Princess Rapunzel. As the ever overprotective father, Roland placed her in the nursery which was located in the highest room in the castle where no one could disturb her. The excuse that Roland gave was completely different and possibly a true one; he couldn't raise her on her own, not at this young age. The tower just happened to be where the nursery was.

Rapunzel wasn't alone however, the princess had constant care, nurses and nannies fawned over each day, making sure she lacked for nothing. Two wolves guarded the tower entrance and barked when anyone got too close. Roland even set up a will leaving everything he had to his loving daughter.

Seeing that Gothel's reputation with raising children, Roland hired her to help raise Rapunzel, but soon Gothel wormed her way into the King's heart and they married.

And that's when Roland first learned of Gothel's true nature.

She was a vain spoiled woman who wanted nothing except to remain young and beautiful. Greta had a special flower, one she kept separate from everyone else. Every night, while the entire castle slept, she entered into her sunroom and pulled out the flower from its hiding place. She bent closer to the flower and began to sing.

Golden Flower in this hour

Give to me your all

Golden Flower, share your power

Never ever fall

Some magic dust exited the flower and she fanned that dust up to her face. She could feel everything changing, right down to her fingertips and toes. She lost the wrinkles and sallow skin, everything tightened at her touch. To confirm this change, she pulled out a hand mirror to check.

Mirror, mirror in my hand

Show me is the fairest in the land

And she would look into it and see herself.

All was content and Gothel was happy.

Some time had passed and now Rapunzel was a beautiful young lady of sixteen. Her father had grown older, but her stepmother hadn't aged at all. Wondering why this was, the King became suspicious. He began to follow his wife around just to see what she was up to. One night, Roland couldn't sleep. He saw a light on in the sunroom and went to investigate. Sure enough, his caught her working her magic. Shocked and horrified, he bolted from the room and ran to the stables and, in an effort to calm down, rode until he could ride no more. A sudden rainstorm only compounded to his troubles and he was burning up with fever upon his return. He died of pneumonia shortly after, leaving her alone with his daughter. Finding out that everything in the will belonged to Rapunzel, Gothel went on a rampage. Out of revenge and spite, she would continue to keep Rapunzel locked up in the tower for another four years, away from court and away from her. She fired all the nannies and nurses, letting Rapunzel die on her own. This way, Greta would finally be rid of her and everything that reminded the Queen of her.

Besides the mirror had shown her another face when she asked who was the fairest in all the land. For the last eight years, it had been Rapunzel, who, the mirror claimed, was fairest all along.

But something or someone helped her because Rapunzel continued to thrive and grow.

She had to do something, but what? She had to get rid of her somehow, but how?

She was running out of time and ideas until she learned of 3 hunters she could hire. 3 great hunters who would be able to do her bidding and at any price she asked.

And so, she trudged through the deep freshly fallen snow to their tiny cabin in the woods. They mustn't not know who she is, she must take steps to hide her title. These 3 hunters were worth the trip, she decided. Their reputation was known far and wide. These 3 were the best in all of Corona and she was going to take advantage. They listened intently and were only too eager to do her bidding.

Not to mention she had promised to pay them well, more than what they asked of her.

Three nights later, she was back with the money and to confirm that they had followed her instructions to the letter. She wanted no slip ups, no confusion, no talking. Do the job and do it right. There would be more in it for the the three of them if they did it quickly. She didn't need proof, she told them, she would know right away.

"You sure you know what to do?"

The beautiful woman shook off her snowy hood. Her dark middle length curls exploded from it.

The 3 of them moved in closer, although the handsome one held the other two back. "We know exactly what to do and how to do it. It won't be that hard if you say this woman is as naïve as you say she is."

Gothel smiled and nodded her head. All was well.