Chapter 4

Runaway Royal

Prince Ronald could almost feel the warmth of the sunlight as his servants opened the curtains, letting him know that the time to begin the next day has arrived. With ease, he sat up, letting out a yawn.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," his main servant took a bow, "and may I say, happy birthday!"

Prince Ronald beamed. "Thank you, Miguel."

"Your parents have something quite special planned for you," Miguel continued as he straightened up the curtains. "After all, you only turn sixteen once."

"Mmm hmm…" Ronald muttered as he thought of what that could be. He hoped it had nothing to do with him marrying a princess. Even though he knew he just turned that age, the prince felt he was not quite ready for that time of his life.

As the prince began to swing his feet over the side of his bed, Miguel immediately shook his head. "Oh, no, Sir, the servants are preparing you breakfast in bed. I insist you stay right there."

"Thank you, Miguel," Ronald said once again.

Moments later, the feast was delivered on a tray along with a vase containing a radiant red rose. Ronald helped himself to perfectly rounded eggs, sausage, and light fluffy bread. Once he finished, Miguel helped him assemble his royal attire and the prince was then shown to the king and queen's quarters. Even from the other end of the hallway, Ronald could hear the voices of his father and stepmother.

"I must say Gerda, I am quite glad this mania over those grapes seems to have blown over," King Harold spoke in a bold yet deep tone. "That rumor was driving the people in this kingdom to madness."

"Indeed it was," the young queen responded more softly. "I wonder whatever became of that poor girl. She would be seventeen years of age by now. Has there been any sighting of her?"

"As far as the kingdom knows, no such girl with hair that shines of gold has been spotted," the king responded. "I would not be at all shocked if it were a merely a rumor."

As the king and queen continued to discuss the matter, Prince Ronald thought of this prophesied girl. Her life must be dreadful in constant hiding of those whose hearts were filled with greed and desire for youth.

Once Miguel opened the curtains and announced the prince's arrival, he took a bow and made his exit. Prince Ronald, too, offered a small bow, waiting to see why his presence was requested.

"Happy Birthday, my dear boy!" The king clumped over and embraced his son, patting him rather hard on the back.

"Thank you, Father," Ronald choked out as he felt his breath forced out by the king's forceful pat.

The queen, too, embraced her stepson with much more grace and gentleness. Ronald took a moment to appreciate this. Queen Gerda had been married to his father for nearly a year now. His mother, the former queen passed away when Ronald was only two of age so his memory of her was quite faint. He did come to like his stepmother as a maternal figure even though she really is only a few years older than him. Ronald remembered when King Harold first introduced her to him, he had assumed the Princess Gerda was to be his bride. At instant, he had fallen in love with her soft fair skin, light blonde hair, and the sweet smile her pink lips formed. The moment he found that the bride was for his father instead, he sullied in disappointment, yet oddly at the same time, felt relieved, as he was not ready for marriage. Even now, the idea of betrothal perturbed him.

"Well, my son," King Harold announced as though he spoke to a large audience. "You are now sixteen years of age." He winked. "You know what that means."

Prince Ronald stared at his father dumbfounded. He looked to the queen who only smiled and shrugged.

"Will I have the opportunity to visit the outer kingdom?" the prince inquired in a small voice.

The king simply looked at him, oddly, for a moment and then chuckled. "No, my, boy that is not it. There is no reason for you to go there. Your place is here. Your duty is here."

"But I have never even been allowed outside the castle walls," Prince Ronald protested.

His father held up his hand. "I will hear no more of this, Ronald. Your job is to remain here and rule the kingdom. Now, the queen and I have brought you a very nice present that I am positive you will like. We will go to the main courtroom so it can be presented."

"Yes, Father," Ronald mumbled, bowing his head in submission.

Just as they prepared to exit, Jasper, the messenger appeared, pulling open the curtain.

"Your Majesties," he announced, "The sorceress, Rengonda, has requested more hunting supplies be sent to her."

"Yes, yes, give her whatever she demands," King Harold said, as he took the queen's hand and brushed passed Jasper and muttered, "Do not want to get on these sorceress's bad side."

The king then halted and turned to ask, "Did her sister, uh… oh, can never remember her name. Did she request anything as well?"

"There has been no word from her, Sir," Jasper replied.

"Good, good," the king muttered as he motioned for his sun to follow him to the courtroom.

Upon arrival, the three royal members assumed their usual thrones in the grand room filled with courtiers, who broke into applause. The king stood to announce this special day. He spoke of the moment Ronald was born he knew he was destined to be a great king, which lead to random childhood stories. Ronald found himself drifting off.

"And what is a king without his heartfelt queen to rule by his side?"

These words brought Ronald's mind back to the courtroom. He watched his father raise his arm up to the front door and nod.

"May I present, Princess Regina," King Harold announced as the doors opened.

A young girl, appearing close to Ronald's age, entered, surrounded by four rather tall guards. She wore a light blue-laced dress with silver puffed sleeves. On the princess's head, rested a thin-rimmed golden crown over her dirty blonde wavy hair. Princess Regina held her chin up high and proud but did not smile. As he looked at her, Ronald already felt a discomforting twinge crawl down his spine.

Prince Ronald then found that he was expected to have tea with the princess that had been given to him as a birthday gift. The two were shown out to the garden, still surrounded by the castle walls. The small rounded table rested on a platform next to the lilies. The royal server presented the tea in a silver pot and poured some into each of their teacups.

As the princess took a sip of her tea, she crinkled her nose. "This tea is cold." She then sharply turned her head around and ordered, "I want the person responsible for this immediately flogged!"

At first, Ronald merely sipped his own tea, until the impact of her words gave him a swift kick. He choked out his drink, waving up his hands.

"Wait!" he coughed, shaking his head. "Do not carry out that order." The prince then shot his betrothed horrified look. "We do not flog our servants for simple mistakes such as that."

Princess Regina tilted her head, curiously, and spoke in an utterly calm tone. "How then do they learn?"

"Um…" Ronald thought quickly, "We simply inform them of what they did wrong and hope they get it right the next time."

"Well," the princess set her teacup down firmly, "that is going to change when I become queen."

Prince Ronald spent the rest of the afternoon listening to the ghastly punishments Regina would give her servants to their mistakes. The worst was having one poor girl publically flogged just because she forgot to change the sheets on the princess's bed that day. Ronald could not imagine being married to this woman for the rest of his life. There had to be a way out of this.

The moment their afternoon tea ended, Prince Ronald quickly offered the Princess Regina a clumsy, awkward bow, and dashed off in search of his stepmother. Being close to his age, Ronald hoped that Queen Gerda would be sympathetic to his situation and assist him in dissuading the king against his union with Princess Regina.

After taking every possible hallway turn in the castle, Ronald finally found the queen reading outside in the garden, on the very same table he sat just an hour ago.

Ronald stepped in front of the table, taking a brief clumsy bow. "Er… Your Majesty?"

The queen smiled warmly. "Darling, I have told you when we speak alone, you may simply call me Gerda."

The prince offered a brief smile at the gesture. "I was… um, wondering if you could perhaps do me a favor."

Gerda continued to beam, sweetly. "And what might that be?"

"It's just that…" Ronald started to nervously pace around the table, fidgeting his fingers, "I do not think I can go through with this union to Princess Regina. She is… she is, kind of a monster."

To add to his horror, the queen merely giggled. "Oh, I doubt she is that bad." She then gently took his hand and spoke in a more hushed tone. "Let me tell you a little secret, Ronald. When I first met your father, I was utterly appalled by his boisterous mannerisms, clumsiness, and… well, you know how he can be. But, I did learn to love him and I am sure you will do the same with Regina. It may just take some time. That is all."

Ronald sighed as he nodded, easily able to see that his stepmother would be no help in ending his inevitable royal wedding. As the desperate prince walked away, he tried to think of another way. His entire body froze as one idea crawled into the back of his mind. The only problem, he may not have the guts to go through with it. However, as Ronald rationalized his plan, he realized it would indeed take more boldness to wed Princess Regina. Breathing heavily, Ronald gradually made his way to his room and gathered a few needed possessions, as he planned to leave his castle for the very first time.

xXx

Gothel sat alone at a table in a town tavern, waiting. This was the exact place the letter had specified. She wondered why, after seventeen years passed, Frederick suddenly wished to meet with her. Gothel could only assume, he was doing Ren's bidding. Perhaps, her old friend finally broke away from her sister's ruling, at last seeing her for what she truly is. The sorceress sighed, knowing that was indeed too much to hope for.

Sipping her ale, Gothel looked around at the common villagers, who kept their distance. All the tables near her were empty. Even the waiter, dashed away the moment her cup touched the table without even taking his tip. As she set down her drink Gothel sighed as she just wished, at this moment, she could be home with Rapunzel.

"Gothel?"

The sorceress tilted her head up, her eyes stumbling upon her old friend. Her joyfulness in seeing him utterly took her by surprise.

"Frederick!" Gothel rose to embrace him. "It is good to see you after all these years."

He hugged her warmly. "It is good to see you too, Gothel."

"How have you been?" She asked as she slowly broke away from her friend, still holding his hand.

Frederick shrugged. "Oh, about the same I suppose."

Gothel pulled her hand away. "The same as in you are still with, or well, working for Ren."

Frederick's eyes moved down, filling with some shame. "Actually, Rengonda is part of the reason I am here."

"Of course she is." Gothel folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "What does she want?"

"She only wishes to see you, Gothel," Frederick insisted, placing his hand on her arm. "It has been seventeen years since you last spoke."

Gothel raised her eyebrow, though she felt slightly ashamed. "Are you sure that is all?"

"She did not mention any more," her friend assured, even with a look of slight doubt.

They were silent for just a moment before Gothel sighed. "Well, I am afraid I am unable to visit. I cannot leave Rap… uh, my garden that long."

As Gothel began to turn and walk away, Frederick added, "Your sister figured you would say that, and she said if that be the case she would come visit you."

Gothel's feet came to a dead halt as beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. What does she want?

Dreadfully, her body turned back around and huffed. "Fine, go tell Ren I will see her in three days."

Before Frederick even finished nodding, she was gone from the tavern, feeling her frustration burn. After all this time, why did her sister suddenly insist on seeing her now? What could she possible want? Gothel could only assume from past experience, nothing good. The worst part is for the first time she had no choice but to leave Rapunzel, alone.