"Rapunzel?"
A familiar voice called through the heavy oak door. Rapunzel had been standing for what seemed like hours, but she didn't mind at all. Her arms were held outward as one of the palace seamstresses measured and re-measured every inch of her. Rapunzel smiled at the mirror in front of her. The dress was beautiful; simple yet elegant, just like she wanted.
The door knob gave a twist and a small click before swinging open to reveal the Queen of Corona, Rapunzel's mother. Rapunzel jerked her head towards the door with a grin.
"Hi, mother!" Irritated, the seamstress tugged on one of her outstretched arms to get her attention. Rapunzel half-shrugged and returned to her original position.
The Queen smiled warmly at her daughter. There she was, her little baby, in her wedding gown. Just months ago, their lost princess was returned to them after 18 years of faltering hope, and now she was getting married. She felt her eyes growing misty as she stared at her beautiful little girl.
"Oh, Rapunzel. You look breathtaking," she said as she joined her daughter by the mirror. "Absolutely breathtaking, darling."
The small brunette giggled. "Thank you, mother. It's not finished yet, though. Right, Marie?"
The seamstress who had so diligently been hemming the bottom of the gown looked up with pursed lips. She forced an overly enthusiastic grin and nodded her head before quickly ducking back down to her work.
The Queen gave an airy chuckle. She ran her hands through the back of her daughter's short, brown hair. "Oh, dear. Eugene will be speechless," she cooed as she wrapped her arms around Rapunzel's shoulders in a light embrace.
Rapunzel beamed at her mother's reflection in the mirror. "I'm so excited, mother. But-," she hesitated a moment, biting her lip in thought. "I'm also a little nervous."
"Oh, that's perfectly normal, dear. I was nervous before I married your father, as well. Very nervous in fact. I'd say you're handling it all very well, my love." She smiled reassuringly into the mirror before clearing her throat in a dainty manner. "Now, Marie, I came to ask how much longer you'll be needing the Princess for?"
The seamstress' head popped back up from where it was buried in work when she was addressed by the Queen. She gave a weak smile and pushed her wire glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Ah, well, I think I'm about finished now, Yer Majesty. I just need to get the Princess out of 'er dress now. Lift yer arms, deary." Rapunzel did as instructed, lifting her arms high above her head. The old seamstress worked quickly as she unlaced the back of the gown and tugged upwards on the bodice. The Queen helped to gather the skirts above Rapunzel's head so that she was free from getting tangled in the dress. With an appreciative nod, the seamstress gathered the gown in her arms and left through the door.
Rapunzel was left standing in front of the mirror with her underclothes on. She smiled sheepishly at her mother before hurrying through the bathroom curtain to redress herself in her day things. Moments later, she returned in a very familiar lilac colored dress. She smiled up at her mother as she tugged down on one of her pink, lace sleeves.
The Queen smiled down at her daughter as she rested a hand at the base of her back, leading her toward the hall.
"So, where are we going, mother?" Rapunzel asked.
"For tea, dear. We have some things to discuss."
Rapunzel quirked an eyebrow. "What sort of things?"
Her mother laughed as they walked together through the corridor. "Wedding things, my darling. I have some people that would like to meet you."