Chapter 3
"You continue to amaze me Mr. Fitzherbert," Doctor Caldwell smiled as he checked out his patient not long after lunch.
"Glad to hear it Doc," Eugene smiled.
"Your progress is quite good and I believe now what is best for you is some fresh air. I don't want you walking about just yet but I do have a piece of equipment that will allow you to be pushed," Caldwell motioned for his nurse to bring whatever it was into the room.
"This my dear boy is what the Germans call a rollstuhl or if I may translate, a wheelchair. Now I wouldn't go rolling off the stone pathways with this thing but it will certainly allow Princess Rapunzel to take you about. It'll be good for getting around the palace as well. I'd like to see how you handle being up and about, well at least as much as you can," the doctor explained.
"The Germans?" Eugene was puzzled and not entirely up on his geography.
"A smart bunch that the King met at the last world conference. Their country is to the north, past Italy," he said.
"Oh, I see. Well I'm glad to be using their little invention, especially if it helps me get out of bed," the former thief smiled.
"Indeed. Now why don't we get you up and go surprise the Princess?" Caldwell wondered.
"Sounds fabulous," Eugene was excited and the two medical professionals helped him out of bed and into the chair. Then the doctor wheeled him out into the hallway. The next problem was the stairs.
"Give me a push Doc," his patient smirked.
"You already died once, I'll not be killing you again," Caldwell shook his head and took his time moving the wheelchair down the wide steps.
"Now if you get a narrower set of stairs you'll have to negotiate them on your own power using those legs of yours," the doctor explained.
"Not a problem. I need to stretch anyway," Eugene reassured him as they moved off the stairs and down the hall toward where Rapunzel was having her lessons. Caldwell flung open the door and wheeled Eugene in.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel bounded out of her seat and gave the man she loved a hug. He then set about explaining what the doctor had said.
"This is an unexpected surprise Doctor," Rapunzel's tutor, Professor Coch said shaking the man's hand.
"Well I thought she could use a little good news," Caldwell smiled.
"Indeed. Her mood has been a bit dour despite the fact she tried to hide it," Coch smiled back.
"Can we go for a walk?" Rapunzel suddenly interrupted the two men.
"Class will be dismissed for the afternoon but I expect you do your homework tonight and have it ready for tomorrow," Coch was firm as he smiled.
"I'll have it done," she promised and Pascal nodded to the Professor ensuring him that the chameleon would make sure she did what she was told. Not that he needed to because as everyone was finding out the Princess never went back on her promises.
"Off you go then," the doctor smiled and watched them leave. He said goodbye to his longtime friend and headed to find the King and Queen.
Rapunzel took Eugene outside into the warm sunlight and they wandered the paths for quite some time. However, she spent most of it in silence, which he found disturbing.
"What's bothering you Blondie?" He asked.
"Nothing," she faked a smile.
"Liar," he said. She half chuckled and pulled the wheelchair in front of a nearby bench and sat down, facing him.
"You're right. I've had a lot on my mind," she said.
"Tell me all about it. Leave nothing out," he smiled.
"I'm just… Well I…"
"Spit it out Blondie," he urged her.
"I wish we hadn't come to the palace," the words rushed out of her mouth incredibly quickly.
"Now where is this coming from?" Eugene wanted to know.
"If we had just slipped off into the forest after…" she paused at saying Gothel's name, "none of this would have happened. After I lost you the first time, I nearly died. The second time, I…" the words wouldn't come but he knew where she was going.
"Don't you worry about me. If I had to do it again I would. I love you Rapunzel and I won't let anyone hurt you or your family. You know we couldn't have just slipped away right? I was a criminal at the time. Eventually, I would have been caught and I would have paid for my crimes. This was the only way for us to be together and not constantly looking over our shoulders. Besides you love your mom and dad. Would you have been really ok with never meeting them?" He asked.
"No, you're right, again," she smiled.
"Of course I am," Eugene smirked and she gave him a light slap on the arm.
"Just promise me, no more dying, ok?" Rapunzel asked.
"I promise not until we're really old, ok?" He smiled.
"One question though. The doctor said he couldn't get a heartbeat. He tried all he could do to bring you back and nothing worked. Only after the guards forcibly pried me off you did you come back to me. Why was that?" She wanted to know.
"Like I said, I was having a nightmare and then all of a sudden I woke up. I wish I had a better explanation but I don't," he shrugged. Inside he knew that wasn't the whole truth but he also knew he still didn't have enough to prove otherwise so he decided to keep his mouth shut but he would soon find out that would be a mistake.
To Be Continued...
