Chapter 2

I forced back the tears, something my father was unable to do as he sat grasping my mothers hand so tightly it was as if he never wanted to let go.

"I thought I asked you to keep her away," my father whispered gently looking past me and at Eugene.

"You knew." I said it before my brain had even registered the question. One look at Eugene and I knew I was right. How could he? We never keep secrets from each other; it felt as if someone had ripped my heart straight out of my chest. The pain must have showed on my face because Eugene spoke almost immediately.

"I'm sorry, but I just didn't want to hurt you, I wouldn't have even known if I hadn't come in earlier, after hearing a strange noise, I thought it was for the best," he stared at the floor, looking hurt and upset. Part of me wanted to run into his arms and tell him that it was fine and I wasn't mad. But I didn't. I couldn't. Eugene had lied to me and seemingly every one else had too as I looked around and saw guards and servants crowding the room.

"We were trying to protect you," my father spoke softly, as he cast his gaze onto me.

"Protect me from what? Do you think I didn't want to know that my own mother was ill? I can look after myself; I think I've proved that over the last few weeks." I knew I was hurting my father and Eugene, but I was just so sick of everyone treating me like a child. I needed answers. What was wrong with mother and when was I going to be told?

As if reading my mind my father dismissed the crowd of servant's until there was only, himself, Eugene and I left in the room. I walked over and stood in front of him.

"Your mother is very sick, Rapunzel the illness she suffered whilst carrying you has returned and we fear that we might not be able to help her," my father, had tried to keep his voice even however even he still couldn't stop his voice cracking towards the end. For the first time I looked at my mother and began to take in how ill she was, it was times like this I wish I still had my magic hair. That's it! My hair, well more precisely the flower that had given my hair its magic.

"Well, it's obvious isn't it?" I couldn't help the excitement that was creeping into my voice as I thought of how we could save mother.

"All we have to do is find another sunlight flower, why didn't you think of that before?"

"We have thought of it, only the chances of finding one is practically none-existent, if there is a chance at all, nevertheless we have still sent a band of officers to try and locate one." Father spoke flatly as if he didn't believe anything could save her now. How could he just give up and why wasn't Eugene supporting me? Well if they weren't going to help me I would have to go myself.

"I don't care what the chances are, but I have to do something, I'm going to find one," I spoke with confidence that I certainly didn't feel.

"No, it's too dangerous there are already officers out there. I realise your good intentions but I've already lost you once, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I knew this is how you'd react."

"But-" father cut me off before I had a chance to speak.

"No buts Rapunzel, what I've said is final," as he said this he summoned the one remaining guard in the room and told him to take me to my room. All the time Eugene had been stood there looking close to tears, but had never said a word. Until we got outside and saw me looking at him expectantly.

"I'm so sorry; I wanted to tell you-"

"I trusted you and you betrayed me." There, that was all I said. Tears were streaming down my cheeks now and I made no effort to hide it.

"I was just trying to do what was best, you've got to know I'd never hurt you intentionally," Eugene's voice came out in a whisper as he squeezed my hand before turning and walking away. I opened my mouth but no words came out. There was nothing left to say. I let the guard escort me to my room without making a fuss, for I knew that there was no way I could stay confined to the palace while mother was dying.

As soon as I got into my room I began to pack, grabbing Eugene's satchel off the side of the bed I placed a few pieces of bread that had been left by the servants in case I got hungry, along with a small bottle of water. Finally I picked up Pascal whose large eyes were fixed on me and placed him on my shoulder. Then quickly before anything could go wrong I slipped out onto my balcony

and started to climb down to the floor.

One thing that living in a tower had prepared me for was heights. Even though I no longer had my hair, the bricks jutted out and I was able to find a route down.

Then finally I glanced back at the palace and then at Eugene's room. Eugene. I didn't mean to hurt him like he hadn't meant to hurt me, but there was nothing I could do. No way could I reach him now, if I even wanted to. The picture of his faced seemed imprinted in my mind when I had told him how he had betrayed me. Once again I found myself fighting back the tears as I started my long journey into the unknown.