They arrived at their previous campsite in the pitch darkness; and Rapunzel was silent as Eugene started a fire. It was finally sinking in that she very well could have lost Eugene; and she had a bad feeling about her status as princess. She couldn't place it, but it was probably because whenever anyone mentioned it, Eugene got really quiet and withdrawn, and if he didn't like the sound of it, she shouldn't, either!
When the fire was going well, illuminating the entire area, Eugene yawned. "We'll settle here for tonight, and then go to the kingdom tomorrow. I'm going to un-tack Maximus, but you can sleep if you wish."
"Okay," Rapunzel said, nibbling her bottom lip as she considered her dress. Blood stains glared out at her from the purple fabric, and her sleeves were absolutely covered in awful, reddish-brown stains. She walked down to the nearby stream, dropping to her knees at the shore and swishing her arms in the cool water, trying to erase the blood stains from her sleeves and fingernails. When she couldn't get them out, and they remained there as reminders that Eugene could've very well died, her hands started shaking and she broke down crying. She hated seeing that blood...his blood...and it was all her fault!
When she heard footsteps crunching towards her, she whirled around fearfully.
"There you are - it's just me, don't freak out and clock me with your pan," Eugene teased.
"I don't have my pan," she muttered, hating that her throat was so tight with tears.
"Hey...what's wrong?" he caught sight of her puffy eyes and knelt beside her, concern furrowing his brows.
"I-I'm so sorry, Eugene...it was all my fault. I-I keep just waiting to turn around or wake up and realize that you're gone.." she whimpered, dragging her soaking wet sleeve across her nose.
"It's not your fault, Rapunzel - it's Gothel who stabbed me, not you. I'm still here, and I'll be here tomorrow, too," he added. He couldn't promise that he'd be there for her after tomorrow. They would likely hang him for stealing her crown and escaping prison, and would likely do so as soon as he set foot in the kingdom. But...he was fine with it. He'd brought the lost princess home safe, and she would be okay, and that's all he needed to worry about. He led her back to the fire, and they sat down on a log. The fire was already starting to wane, but he pulled her into a hug instead of going for more firewood. She buried her face into his vest a moment before pressing her ear against him, listening to his heartbeat through his shirt. Somehow, that calmed her down. Eventually, she pulled her head back up, looking at him with worry. "I never told you thanks-"
He laughed. "That hug and kiss back at the tower was enough," he reassured her. It killed him that he wouldn't be able to be there for her all the time, but that was why she would have her parents...her real ones. He was stuck in between distancing himself and enjoying his last few hours with her, but in that moment, he decided to enjoy being around her.
She smiled, kissing his cheek, and he snapped out of his thoughts. Realizing that the fire was almost out, he cleared his throat. "You okay here? I should get more firewood before it, uh, it goes out."
She nodded, and he stood up. The girl's emerald eyes met his chocolate ones, and he could hardly make his feet turn to walk away from her. His face reddened as he caught her shy smile, and that's when he hightailed it out of there - before he could get any more distracted. She turned her attention to Pascal and Maximus, talking idly to them as she waited for him to return.
When Eugene had returned and had rebuilt the fire, Rapunzel promptly asked him to tell her all he knew about princesses.
"I don't know anything about princesses, Blondie...outside of what I've read in books," he reminded her. He knew more than that, of course, but he didn't want to talk to her about princess stuff right now. He didn't want to think about her being a princess!
"Well...I don't care! Tell me what they're like in the books, then," she gave him a smile, and he grumbled under his breath. He couldn't say no to that face.
He told her all the stuff he'd read about, like how she'd have lots of banquets and celebrations to attend, how she'd probably have to cover up those bare feet of hers, how she'd wear fancy dresses and couldn't paint on walls.
"...and painting on walls is probably the biggest no-no for living in a castle. You'll have tons of room, though, and you could probably hang up canvases everywhere. You'll have lessons, and a lot more responsibilities...hey, you'll rule the kingdom someday! You'll have to learn about that, too, of course, and suitors, and you'll probably have to learn how to address people-"
"Suitors?"
Darn. He hadn't just said suitors, had he?
"Don't you know...no, you probably don't. They're princes from all over the place that will ask for your hand in marriage." he gulped. "You'll have to ask your parents about that, though, because they'll give you better information."
"Why? I have you! You could be a prince if we married, right? Or...did you change your mind?" her eyes clouded with frantic confusion.
Way to be an idiot, Eugene. "No! No, I didn't, Rapunzel. You're my new dream, remember? But princesses can't marry commoners. Good grief, can you imagine your parents letting the guy that stole your crown marry their long lost daughter? They'd be idiots to! I'll probably be sent back to prison, and that's okay."
"No, it isn't! I-I can't go. Can't we run away together or something? I can't go to the kingdom...I can't. I just got you back, Eugene - I can't lose you again - no, I won't! I-if you won't let me run away with you, I'll...I'll make a new rule! I-I could do that, couldn't I? All princesses can marry whoever they want!" She sat ramrod straight and met his eyes with a fierce, determined gaze.
"Whoa-whoa...wait up a sec. Don't flip out yet! Like I said, I don't know anything about princesses-"
"But you'll be sent to prison...and you know about that kind of thing!" she pointed out.
He sighed. "Yeah, well...let's not worry about that till the time comes. Don't give your parents trouble about me, though, okay? I'm no great prize, and your parents will know that."
She shook her head, her posture softening. "You are! You just got led down the wrong path. Remember, that was Flynn Rider," she smiled, and he wanted to kiss her...but he didn't.
He just tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and grinned. "Everything will work out, don't worry. I don't know about you, but I'm gonna crash. Dying is tiring work," he joked.
She swatted his forearm and shook her head. "You're horrible."
Eugene went to sleep on one side of the warm campfire; Rapunzel on the other side. Maximus dozed off nearby with Pascal clinging to his mane, emitting little reptilian-snores. At least, the thief tried to sleep. He really couldn't, and instead settled for watching the lost princess sleeping quietly on the other side of the dwindling fire.
