Hola internet! I am back with more Gothel backstory!

I must admit, I wasn't expecting the kind of response from you guys! I'm so happy to see that so many people like my fanfic when it's only on the first chapter! *insert tears of joy here*

DISCLAIMER:

- I have written this mostly for the background of my roleplaying account mothergothell (if you are curious search me on tumblr!).

- This does not excuse behavior, it only explains. We all know and agree that what Gothel did to Rapunzel was terrible and should not be forgiven.

Anyways, enjoy!


Becoming Evil

A Fanfic by Cam L.

Chapter One: First Kill

The days that followed King Rupert's request were calm, but completely different from what Gothel was used to. It was like she was living another life.

Catharina was out from 5 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon, accompanied by a few selected knights, searching for the magical golden flower. Because of that, Gothel was in charge of her patients. Sure, she knew a thing or two thanks to watching her mother take care of a few people, but she had never really participated. It was completely out of her comfort zone, especially when it came to crafting medications. The thirteen year old had absolutely no idea which plants were meant to cure and which ones were deadly. She would go to Madge's every two hours just to learn the basics, and still she couldn't memorize most of them.

Of course, the blonde always had a smile on her face, even though Gothel would almost always ask the same questions. She didn't even show a sign of disappointment. Madge would just nod her head, giggling at her, and get the respective herbs all over again, making costumers wait and, most likely, losing a lot of them.

Gothel knew that all of her effort would be worth it. After that busy week, she and Catharina wouldn't have to worry about food, and, above all great things that would come from finding the sun flower, they would be authorized to use magic.

She couldn't be more excited about the last bit. Sure, having a stable life would be great, but magic... Magic was something Gothel always dreamt about. Every night, after the last patient had left her house, she'd go to her room and get the fairytales' book Catharina once gave her and reread all the stories, wondering which of those would be true, and which would she be able to copy.

Besides Madge, Gothel tended to visit Bran, the nice knight. He'd always stand on the same place, completely serious, until he laid his eyes on Gothel, and his huge, dorky smile would grow. Usually she'd ask stories about the Palace, and the most absurd things would come out of his mouth. Once, he told her, the King had to poop, but his chamber pot was so full that he sat on his own shit. They'd roll around laughing, losing their breaths.

Other times, Gothel would ask him about serious things, such as the kingdom's money, his job and, most of those times, about the sick Prince. Apparently, it was confirmed that he had the Black Death, even though some symptoms did not fit the disease's. Gothel had hoped that it was something else, given the fact that she thought no one should ever lose those they love to the plague. She knew exactly what King Rupert was going through and, because of that, she empathized with him.

Prince Alexander, according to Bran, hadn't left his room for over a month before the King had asked for her mother, which meant that the boy would most likely die without the flower. Gothel didn't like Rupert's reign, however she didn't want the Prince to die. Maybe, just maybe, he was different. Maybe he'd listen to them if, by any chance, he managed to survive.

Bran also told her about the little Princess. He did not know her name, but he did know that she existed. Most of the people had never seen her before, and according to Bran it was probably because she was also sick. She was like this since her birth and she'd barely leave her chambers, only to eat or visit her mother. The nice knight imagined that King Rupert was ashamed of her, and that was probably why no one in the realm ever heard about the girl after she was born. Most of the people thought that the Queen had lost her child.

Gothel would spend hours and hours talking to Bran, which constantly attracted many judgmental looks from all kinds of people. Peasants would glance at the pair, some finding it entertaining, some finding it weird. The nobles would stare at them, being completely annoyed by the situation. However, none of those were as terrible as the other guards' reactions. They would often give them a hard look of disapproval, whisper things to one another and leave. That was the only thing that would make Bran shut up and go back to his position. Gothel soon realized that he feared the other knights.

On the night of the seventh day of having thy routine, Gothel had all intentions of going home and falling asleep as fast as she could, since she was so exhausted. It wasn't what happened, though.

As she arrived at her place, the same two knights that once escorted her inside the Palace were standing on her porch.

"Good night Sires." She said, too tired to notice why they were there. "If you can't notice, we've already closed." Gothel tried to pass through them, but they had blocked her way to the door.

"You are requested at the palace." Said the one standing on the right. He was rather short (or, well, shorter than the other) but his muscles compensated his lack of height. The man was incredibly buff, his armor clearly too short for his arms.

"You shall follow us immediately." The one standing on the left commanded. He wasn't skinny, but because he was next to the guard on the right his muscles seemed to disappear. He had a common body type, nothing extremely strange. What made him different from the others (and more intimidating) was his face. With eyes completely black and no sign of softness, he could be easily mistaken by a werewolf. He had hair all over, from thick brows and beard to huge sideburns. Gothel feared him the most.

And so, instead of actually getting some rest, she followed the two towards the Palace. Eventually, by overhearing their conversation, she found out their names. The short and buff one was named Kyland, and the tall one was Adolph. Gothel secretly named them Bull and Wolf.

By the time they got to the throne room, Gothel wasn't so tired anymore. She was now frightened, and the scenario only made things worse. King Rupert was once again sitting on the central chair, this time holding a yellow flower, the knights that accompanied her mother on the quest making a circle around the whole area. Catharina could be found at the middle, right in front of the King. She didn't look happy, and neither did Rupert.

Bull grabbed her arm and started to pull her, Gothel only now noticing that she was standing still. All eyes were on her, watching the girl as she was dragged to the center. Bull only stopped when she was next to Catharina. He then let go of her and went back to stand with the other guards.

"Well, we brought your child just as you asked." King Rupert began, staring at her mother. "Can she confirm your statement?"

"Yes, your Grace." Catharina took Gothel's hand and held it tight.

"Okay then." Her mother's confidence seemed to shake his own. "Now, child, if you could, please look at the flower I have in my hands and answer me if this is or not the flower that is supposed to cure my son."

Gothel analyzed the blossom, looking at every single detail she could find. She noticed that this one, unlike the sun flower from the stories, had a green center instead of a purple one. Its color was also a bit lighter than it should be, and the root was slightly brown instead of emerald green.

"This does look like the sun flower…" She said slowly, which made the King's eyes glow for a second. "… but I don't think it is the real one."

Rupert seemed both disappointed and angry. A red headed guard stepped forward, desperation in his tone of voice.

"It is the one, your Highness! It's just like what the witch described! It will save your Prince! Please, believe me. The witch lies! She doesn't want the Prince to heal so that way your reign can end! It is true, my King. I heard her!"

The King seemed satisfied by his words, and turned his head to him.

"Where did you hear her saying thy words, Sir?"

"Well, it wasn't her really, since the witch was always with us." The red headed lowered his voice. "It was her child. I heard her talking to another guard about your son. Who would ever be interested in his health if it wasn't to murder him?"

"Is it true, my dear?" King Rupert was now asking her.

"Yes, your Grace." She admitted. "I've been asking about your son. But it's NOT because of treason. Your Grace, I just wanted to know if he was getting any better."

"SHE LIES!" Wolf screamed with a smirk on his lips. "She's been saying terrible things about you, my Lord. Things that make peasants laugh at your image. Clearly she's been planning to cause a rebellion, my Lord. She and Brandon. HE is the one that is giving the information. It's obvious that they want your throne, my Lord."

"And Brandon would be..?" The King asked.

"The other guard, your Grace." Answered the red headed.

"What?! Bran did nothing! Mom, tell them. Tell them Bran is the nice guy! TELL THEM!"

Catharina didn't move, or say a word. She seemed to be in a trance, not hearing or seeing anything that was happening. She could be a statue.

"Mom?" Gothel shook her mother. "Mom?!" She was worried, and had tears on her eyes. "MOM DO SOMETHING PLEASE!" It was only when she started sobbing that Catharina woke up.

"I lied, your Grace." Her mother said. "This is the sun flower. I can see it now. If you allow me, I shall go to your son's room by the sunset and cure him, just as you wished."

Gothel didn't understand a thing. The blossom was clearly not the sun flower! What was her mother doing, lying to a King?

"Well, good thing that you've admitted your mistake, dear." King Rupert had a huge smile. "But, because you lied to me, I will not give you what I promised nor you will be allowed to use magic. In fact, you should be glad that I'm not banishing you and allowing your family to stay."

"Yes, your Grace. Thank you. Now, if you don't mind, both me and my daughter must go home to rest."

"Yes, yes, go on. But remember that if you don't show up tomorrow..."

"I will be dead. I know." Catharina bowed and took Gothel on her arms, carrying her away to their house.

She tucked her in, giving a slight kiss on her forehead before Gothel was brave enough to ask her something that she had in mind since they left the Palace.

"Mom, why did you lie to the King?"

Catharina sighed. "Sometimes, a King's truth is a lie. Now sleep, dear."


Gothel woke up in the morning with loud screams.

She got up from her bed and looked outside her window. Because her house was located on the top of a hill, she could barely see what was all that about. All that Gothel saw was a huge crowd on the center of the market.

She dressed up quickly and ran downhill towards the mass, not even eating her breakfast and forgetting to lock the door.

As Gothel arrived, the situation began to clarify. It was obvious what was happening, even though she had only seen something like that one time, and she didn't remember much of it. Someone was being hanged.

She took advantage of her thirteen year old height and passed under people's legs just to get to the center. Gothel regretted to do so, since the person that was in the gallows was her nice knight, Bran.

"No." She whispered, already feeling the tears stream down. Apparently Bran heard her, because he looked down and gave her a soft smile, his eyes showing how sad he actually was.

"I'm sorry." She mouthed, realizing that he already knew it was because of her that he was there, waiting to die. As the royal executioner read the sentence, Gothel started to feel sick. She wanted to run, but how could she leave Bran? No, she'd stay until the very end.

Gothel was the only one crying, her sobs loud enough for the whole square to hear. She felt a hand on her shoulder and, when she looked back, she saw Madge. Gothel hugged the blonde, not letting go until the merchant whispered in her ear that it was all over. She looked at her old friend, now a corpse hanging with a rope around his neck. She asked Magde to put her up the platform, and so the woman did without asking any questions. Gothel looked up at Bran, tears still falling down. She grabbed his cold hand and then gave him one last hug.

"Come on now, sweetie. The hangman can come back at any moment." Madge said, pulling Gothel by the hand. She said goodbye to her friend and went home with the blonde.

"You want me to stay?" Madge asked after they arrived. She shook her head and closed the door on the woman's face, knowing that she would understand. Gothel just wanted to be left alone for the whole day.

Of course, that didn't happen.

Near the end of the sunset, her mother returned from the Palace, heavy breathing. Gothel wiped away her mourning tears and got up from the chair she was sitting.

"Is everything okay mom?"

Catharina was running around the house, packing more food than what she ever did before. She went to Gothel's room and then hers, gave Gothel the backpack and knelt down. By the time she spoke, the girl knew it couldn't be good news.

"Run, run and don't look back. I'll be fine, sweetheart. Just go as far as you can from here and I will find you."

Gothel had so many questions to her, but a knock on the door made her go to the back's entrance. She ran away to the top of the hill as fast as she could, trying her best not to leave clues to where she was. However, she disobeyed her mother and looked back to her place, watching the whole scene.

From what she could see, Bull and Wolf were back and they weren't happy. Gothel couldn't hear a thing from their conversation with her mother, only one thing that Bull screamed:

"YOU KILLED THE PRINCE!"

By that time, a mob was already gathering around her house, torches being lit. They began to chant:

"WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH…"

She watched as her mother, her only family, tried to escape the royal executioner's hands, but being held back by Wolf and Bull. She screamed something in a language Gothel couldn't understand, but it made the chant grow stronger, many townspeople stepping back, others running away and mad ones stepping forward. And then, out of nowhere, someone had thrown a torch on the woman. Gothel screamed of horror as she watched Catharina burn, the flames spreading to their house. Her cry revealed her location, making both Bull and Wolf, amongst other guards and a few townsmen look at her.

The chase started, torches being lit while the night sky went darker, death threats being thrown at her as more people joined the guards. Gothel didn't know what to do but run. She didn't even know where she was heading, she just ran the fastest she could.

She entered the dark forest, leaving her village forever. Gothel turned around in order to see if she was still being chased by the angry men. She could see some torches in the distance, and they were just getting closer - so her legs began to move once more.

After some time there was no light, bringing her an advantage and a disadvantage. The good thing was that people could only see her if she was under their light. The bad thing was, as she sped up, Gothel didn't see a root and fell down, twisting her ankle. The pain was absurd, but she had to keep moving. She got up, limping as she tried to run again.

She looked back one more time, noticing that the number of torches had lowered. However, when she looked back forward she saw a black silhouette.

"Found you, you little brat." It was Bull's voice. He grabbed her neck and lifted Gothel from the floor. She was dead, she knew it. She could feel his hands tightening on her. But, when she felt her life escaping, the moon shined on the man. Bull looked up, not understanding what was happening. Gothel saw the dagger hidden inside his coat and, by the time he looked back at her she already had it. She stabbed him in the chest, making him drop her as he fell to the ground. She kept stabbing him one, two, three… ten times, crying like a mad woman.

Gothel would've kept doing it if Wolf hadn't arrived, looking at the scene in front of him.

"You killed Kyland…" He began, incredulous. Wolf knelt down and Gothel started to walk away, pulling her cloak up. "YOU KILLED KYLAND! YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT YOU BITCH!" Gothel was already far away, half running, half limping to her freedom. Apparently Wolf didn't run behind her because, when the sun rose on the horizon, she could tell that no one was following her anymore. She was alive, and all alone.


I gotta admit I felt like George RR Martin on this chapter. Jebus. Also, if you're wondering, yes I was more sad with Bran's death than with Catharina's. He was my baby ;-;.

I'll probably post a chapter next month, but if I manage to post earlier I promise I will.

How will Gothel survive? Is wolf ever getting his vengeance? Is Gothel going to kick some ass now that she killed her first man?

Also, a little curiosity: Kyland means Bull and Adolph means Wolf. Both are German names.

© Cam L.

This story can only be posted on other websites with Cam's permission. Gothel and all Tangled characters are owned by Disney. All original characters belong to Cam L.