hello, all! look, i know that you guys want me to finish my other two stories. believe me - i do, too. but i don't want to give you guys something i don't approve of, or put my soul into. i have started working on them. i promise i have. but runningracingdancingchasing on tumblr prompted me this and i am forever grateful because i just could not come up with something to help me get back in the zone. i have a couple ideas for this story, but we're going to see how it goes right now.
A Prince to a Princess
Chapter One
This was the weirdest morning of his life.
Sure, he's had some weird ones. Flynn Rider had had his share of really weird mornings. Many of them were after nights that he really doesn't remember anymore. And a majority of them, he now sheepishly admits, were spent next to women he hasn't thought twice about since.
Well, there was that one blonde from the inn, and that redhead from the docks, and-
No. No. He didn't want to think about those women. He didn't want to think about them, because they weren't his memories to remember. They were Flynn's. And Flynn is dead.
He put his pillow over his head with a huff. He was thinking too deep; confusing himself. This wasn't him. The old him would've been long gone by now. The old him would've had a sack full of whatever that would buy him his next few meals and would be onto the next place; onto the next adventure.
But he didn't know where his next step was, and he didn't like it. He didn't feel like he was in control, and most importantly, he felt trapped.
Yeah, he was free to go. The King had given him a full pardon, as long as he promised not to mess with Corona anymore. He figured that was a pretty good trade off. It kept him alive. He was worried about how he'd make a living, though. He didn't have a lot of money on him and he didn't really know what he was going to do if he couldn't steal. Sure, he could lie and continue doing it. But he promised the King he wouldn't. And for once, he felt like he had to keep this promise. And not just because it kept him alive.
He didn't know who he was anymore.
To be completely honest, he couldn't wrap his head around the predicament he was in. The kingdom that had wanted him dead 24 hours ago had now given him a bed, clothing, food, and a roof above his head. It was hard to believe it was even real, if he was being honest. He was still waiting for somebody to pinch him and wake him up. But it never happened. He had even resorted to pinching.
He took the pillow off his head and stared into the dark of his room. It was no room for royalty; just a bed, table, and a bathtub behind a curtain. He knew where it was in relation to the castle, though. He had taken note of his entire route here, and every place he could've escaped at. It was a force of habit now.
He had a window that overlooked the kingdom in front of him; a view he wasn't used to seeing through a window. He hadn't looked out the window last night, for he was afraid the confinement would swallow him whole and he'd run. But he couldn't run. He couldn't leave her.
He didn't know what came over him, or who he even was for that matter. The man he was last week was not the man he was today. He felt different in the way he moved and the way he spoke and treated people. And all these changes honestly scared him. Despite that, though, there was one thing that was crystal clear in his mind.
He knew he was in love with Rapunzel, and he had never been more sure of anything in his life.
The sudden thought of her made his heart lurch forward in the sense that he longed to be with her. Was she okay? How was her first night alone? She had seemed okay last night when they parted for the evening. She had been very engrossed in a conversation with her mother about Pascal and he felt bad interrupting them. Not to mention he felt like he as if he was walking on eggshells around the people who had originally put a price on his dead body, but the King had assured him there was nothing to worry about. So he had kissed her on the cheek and retreated to his room, which was strategically placed far away from hers, and her parents, for that matter.
He did miss her, though. And that was another feeling he wasn't used to.
You've only known her for three days. He got that.
She doesn't even know what love is. He tried not to think about that.
You have no place in this castle except the gallows.
He wished he could turn his brain off.
He threw his covers off and welcomed the cool rush of air as he slowly got up. He felt like he would go crazy if he had to sit there any longer. He didn't know what time it was but he had an inkling that it was still very early. The night was going excruciatingly slow.
His footsteps creaked on the wood below him as he walked over to the window to take a look at the kingdom that had literally changed his life overnight. His hands shook as he pushes the blinds aside and his eyes rested on the soft horizon. The sky was a soft pink filtered with purple and dark blue; a sure sign that he had slept most of the night and, he relaxed a bit, that meant it was morning.
Which meant he was closer to seeing her again. Sure. That was a plus.
Or an hour closer to your ultimate demise. There had to be a switch to turn that part of his brain off.
He leaned out the window, enjoying the cool breeze and welcoming it to calm the panic that has been churning in the pit of his stomach.
He needed to calm down. He needed to remember the words that they had said to him; the promises they had made him. He just wasn't used to all this and, who was he kidding, he needed her. He knew she'd calm him down. He knew if he could just be by her, all the silly, irrational fears would disappear.
But the last thing he needed to do right now was to disobey the rules and get caught sneaking into the princess's room. Even if he was the one who rescued her.
No. He didn't rescue her. She rescued him. In more ways than one. She stopped him from doing the petty crap he was barely getting by on and caused him to open his eyes and see the world around him. That lantern festival was a turning point for both of them. She found her new dream, he found a purpose in life, and then he went and screwed it all up. He should've just stayed with her and kept the crown. His mind wandered to how that night would've ended up, and how differently things would've been right now.
The sun was visible, now, and he could see the kingdom slowly starting to come to life as everyone woke up to the most interesting day this kingdom was ever going to have. The King and Queen had decided to not tell the townspeople until this afternoon, for by the time they had all caught up, it was late into the evening and the town had already long settled into bed. They figured that everyone should use the night and rest up for the big reveal tomorrow. Rapunzel said that she would be okay going in front of everyone, and that she was actually excited to meet so many new people at once.
He was afraid, though, that it would be too much and she wouldn't be able to handle it. To take a girl who had only known one other person her entire life and shove her in front of an entire kingdom that knows and loves her and has so many questions could end in disaster. He had wanted to pull her aside and talk to her alone, but he had never gotten the chance. She wanted to learn about her parents, not be taken from them again by the guy who brought her back and had had the past three days with her.
Still, he hoped he could at least get some time to talk to her alone today and make sure she was okay. He imagined she was surrounded by people she didn't know, and was probably given a handmaiden, and he hoped she was okay. She needed something familiar, and she had Pascal, so he figured that would be enough.
It's not like she needs you.
Ugh.
He decided a bath would help him relax, as well as waste time until it would not be unreasonable to go wander the halls in search of something to eat. That is, if he could stomach anything. He let the water fill the tub as he paced about his room, making his bed and folding his clothes. All things he really wasn't used to doing, but the act of doing something as opposed to sitting down helped him keep his peace.
The water was warm and he allowed himself to really enjoy the feeling. He couldn't remember the last time that he had taken a bath this nice. The tub was clean, the water clear and warm, and the soaps that were left for him were the best money could buy. It was like staying at the nicest inn in town, and he chuckled at the thought. He laid his head back, hanging over the edge of the tub, as he sank lower and took a deep breath and closed his eyes…
A loud knock woke up, and the cold water of the tub was shocking. How long had he fallen asleep for?
"Mr. Fitzherbert," a cautious voice came from outside his door. High hopes of it being Rapunzel drifted quickly away and was replaced with annoyance.
"Uh, I'm in the tub. I'll be there in a second," he called out, scrambling to get out and grab a towel. He dried himself off and cursed as he stared at his pruned fingers. How long had he been in there?
He grabbed a pair of pants and tugged them on as he hopped over to the door. Pulling it open, the guy at the door seemed...almost frightened. He was a guard, and by the looks of it, looked like a new guy. Eugene would recognize almost any guard, since he had had a couple run ins with them. This guy, though, was probably new, and he was surprised he was even hired. His helmet seemed too big for him and he kept pushing it up. Eugene swore he could see his hands shaking.
"M-Mr. Fitzherbert," he stuttered, looking anywhere but in Eugene's eyes. Part of him was offended - he wasn't that bad of a guy. But the other part found it humorous that they had sent this guy, probably after telling him stories of how awful Flynn Rider was.
"That's me," he replied, wrapping his arms around his bare chest as the breeze through the corridor blew past him. "What's up?'
"Y-Your presence is requested i-in the dining r-room," he stuttered, then turned on his heel and practically ran down the hallway. Eugene chuckled as he went back into his room, a fire lit in his stomach as he rushed to get dressed. He didn't want to admit that he spent a little more time than normal to fix his hair in the mirror, but he had an impression to make.
His outfit stared back at him in the mirror, though, and he felt despair in in the pit of his stomach. He definitely wouldn't fit in here with this outfit, but he felt hopeless, because he didn't have anything else to wear. Perhaps later he and Rapunzel could go to town and get something to wear…
Who was he kidding. She's a princess! She isn't like normal girls or like a normal girlfriend, for that matter. They wouldn't be able to just go hang out in the city without a second glance, or run off together or spend the night together. For goodness sake, he wasn't even sure if she understood what a boyfriend was, or if he was even that to her.
He took a deep breath and left the room, knowing that he wouldn't really be able to bring that up to her. She had way bigger things to deal with today, and even if she didn't need him, he needed to be there in case she did.
His heart pumped in his ears and his stomach tied in nervous knots as he neared the door to the dining room.
let me know what you guys think! lazf, over and out.
