One: The Negotiations
There was a moment after the Queen, Rapunzel's birth mother, had brought me down into the embrace of reunited family. That moment was the horror that flashed in the King's eyes when he recognized me as the notorious thief, Flynn Ryder. The King scrambled backwards, his hands grabbing Rapunzel's shoulders. He pulled her and his wife away from me where I was kneeling on the ground. Rapunzel wrenched her shoulder out from the grip of the King and ran back to me, helping fme up and holding onto my hands. Her whole body was shaking. I tried to steady her.
"Helene-" The King snapped, his eyes never moving from my face.
"My name is Rapunzel." She stood up as straighter. The King and Queen's eyes both moved to her face, full of hurt. "I think we have a few things to discuss." She looked to me for reassurance and I gave her hand a small squeeze.
Rapunzel and I were led to a large room with a long table. At the head of the table was a high backed chair. There was nothing on the table except for three candelabras which were unlit. A chandelier hung over the table but it was also unlit. All of the light that was needed was spilling in from a wall of windows where sunlight flooded through.
"Take a seat. The King and Queen will be in shortly." A guard said, bowing to Rapunzel and curling his lip with disgust at me. At every door there were at least two guards standing as still as statues.
"It's alright."I whispered. I held a chair out for Rapunzel who smiled a goofy smile and took her seat. I couldn't help but smile a small smile as I took my place next to her.
The heavy double doors on one side of the room opened. The King and Queen looked regal and diplomatic with no signs of overwhelming emotions that they had shown only a few minutes ago. They walked in slowly and a maid moved the chair for the Queen to sit while another maid did the same for the King.
"What have we to discuss, Helene?" The King's voice was steady.
"My name is not Helene." Rapunzel said in a voice that could cut glass. "My name is Rapunzel." The Queen said nothing but hurt flashed for a moment in her eyes."This is Eugene." She continued.
"That is Flynn Ryder." The King's voice remained steady but there was definitely anger that cut his words. "He is a thief. He stole your crown."
"He rescued me." Rapunzel interjected, her voice rising. "He brought me to the lanterns. He saved me from Mother. He brought me here."
"She was not your mother." The Queen said in a small voice.
"She was the only mother I ever knew. She was the only person I ever knew. Before Eugene, that is."
"He was going to be hung and he caused a riot at the jail. He stole a guard's horse." The King continued, ignoring the remarks about Rapunzel's isolation.
"He saved my life!" The whole room stilled. My head had snapped up and everyone in the room was staring at Rapunzel who had stood up abruptly mid yell."You wanted your daughter. You wanted a princess. You want an heir." No one moved to say anything. "I don't know how to be a princess. I don't know anything about this world."
"We can have you take lessons." The Queen said. "No one is born knowing. You'll take the lessons you were always meant to take."
"I will."She nodded and her small hand gripped mine. Her hand was shaking. "If he does, too." Their faces had filled with hope for all of two precious moments. "His 'crimes' will be erased. Flynn Ryder will be forgotten. Eugene Fitzherbert will be by my side or you have no heir."
The room was frozen. The only sound was Rapunzel's breathing. My heart pounded, anticipating the guards dragging me out of the room and Rapunzel being taken hostage. The Queen turned pleading eyes on her husband whose hands were splayed on the table. "Fine." The single word was almost a breath.
"What?" Rapunzel looked from me to the King.
"If you will be trained to be the next ruler of Corona, he will remain here. Flynn Ryder will be a forgotten ghost and Eugene Fitzherbert will remain here." The King said evenly without looking at me.
After the negotiations had ended and tension had left the room, Rapunzel and I were whisked out. I was brought to a different room than her where a massive bathtub waited and servants were pouring boiling water into it. Someone with a measuring tape came running in, instructing me to strip so they could take my measurements for new clothes. After the measurements were taken I was ordered into the hot water where servants used soap to scrub away the dirt on my skin and in my hair. I was dried quickly and given different clothes: a pair of dark pants, a shirt, and a coat. Then I was brought to a massive reception all to wait.
Rapunzel looked surprised as she was ushered into the room. She was wearing a full gown that covered her feet and the crown I'd stolen was resting on her head. She half ran to me and held my hand, looking around the room with wide eyes. The doors opened again and two servants came in. One was a man and the other a woman.
"This is your ladies maid." A woman I hadn't noticed before said to Rapunzel. "Gaelle." The maidservant curtsied. "You're butler." The woman said, turning to me. "Gustav." The man bowed to me.