Disclaimer: I do not own Tangled or any of its—Wait! I own it on DVD! Does that count?
Chapter 3: Formality
Many believed in the legends of the Lost Princess. They heeded the stories of the aged witch, who had stolen the child on the evening of her birth, and raised her as her own in a hidden tower deep in the forest. They cherished the accounts of the Princess's journey, how she saw the lanterns and heeded the call of Destiny, fulfilling the dream in which the kingdom had so long remained steadfast and hopeful. They honored the magic of the healing flower, the sun's gift, and understood why the Princess's hair was no longer the color of the sun: it had been cut, and though the color had departed from her, the magic had not. They celebrated Maximus, the noble steed who upon his back had carried the Princess home, and honored Eugene Fitzherbert, once called Flynn Rider, the lowly thief who humbled himself and gave his life to save the Princess, and by the grace of Destiny and the power of the healing flower, was brought to life again. Some believed in the path that Destiny had chosen.
Some believed. Others didn't.
"Announcing His Honor Sir Eugene Fitzherbert the Savior, Seeker of the Lost Princess, Knight of Corona." said the footman, Eugene felt bad for having so many tittles attached to his name.
As he thanked the footman and walked through the doors that were opened for him, he found himself in a great, red room of scarlet carpets and crimson tapestries. To his left was a winding stair case, leading up to other palace chambers. To his right was pair of heavy, sun-crested doors that lead out to a moonlit balcony; the balcony where the first lantern of the Festival of Lights was launched every year; the very balcony where he had once stood with Rapunzel, waiting for the King and Queen to meet them for the first time. The hallway that sat directly before him led to a soft, yellow glow of the castle dining area.
It was by some odd coincidence, or perhaps by something that wasn't coincidence at all, that he'd been invited to dine at the palace tonight. No doubt it was Rapunzel's idea; he'd acted as her escort to plenty of balls and banquets before. But only the highest in the royal court ever actually dined with the King, Queen and Princess in their own home. Maybe, just maybe, if his manners could pull through tonight, he was in.
The King, light in conversation with an unfamiliar dinner guest, turned to welcome Eugene as he walked in. "Ah, here's Eugene!" he said, striding over to shake the knight's hand, "Splendid of you to join us this evening."
Eugene smiled and accepted the King's firm handshake. "Thank you for inviting me Sir."
His Majesty laughed. "You're welcome my boy, but the credit's rightly due to Rapunzel."
Noticing that the King had called him by his first name, Eugene looked up and down His Majesty's figure. He was not wearing the royal crown, nor was he dressed the way he would be if he'd been going to a ball or another's palace. His attire was simple; he was still dressed like a king, but it was casual, normal dress, like he might wear in the library or during a meeting among Lords. Eugene had polished his boots, cleaned his linen, pressed his pants, put on his best black leather vest and sifted through an assortment of belts before he was ready, and he'd still been afraid of showing up underdressed. Formality, he guessed with relief, wasn't too much of an issue on nights like these.
The King glanced briefly at the clock. "Well, my wife and daughter should be down shortly." he said to both Eugene and the other dinner guest, "In the meantime, Eugene; you've met my trusted advisor Lord Bastion, haven't you?"
As the second man, who was dressed in much more formal attire than the King and himself came forward, Eugene suddenly noticed that this unfamiliar dinner guest wasn't unfamiliar at all. In fact, he was more familiar than anyone in the palace court.
"Ah, yes Sir." he said uneasily, "I think I do."
Lord Bastion was a tall, stocky man with a square chin that was emphasized by a thick, rectangular mustache. He was arrayed lavishly in long purple robes and gold accessories, so much so that one would almost believe he were the King instead of His Majesty. In this get up, Eugene hardly recognized his oldest nemesis, the man who'd wanted his head on a platter since he was twelve years old stealing rolls from the baker. All of the sudden, his hands were shaking again.
He hadn't expected to see the former Captain of the Guard here. He knew that Captain Bastion had been promoted to chief advisor shortly after he and Rapunzel had come to the palace, leaving the position of military general to Maximus. But there had been much less hype over the event, what with all the excitement about the return of the lost princess.
Much to Eugene's surprise, Lord Bastion gave something that looked like a forced smile under the caterpillar on his lip. "I believe we know each other quiet well in fact, You Majesty," he said in his low, gravelly voice, "But come, let's put the past behind us." he extend his hand to the young knight, "Pleasure to make your formal acquaintance… Sir Fitzherbert."
Eugene shook the Lord's hand, "The pleasure's all mine Sir." he said, smiling.
Lord Bastion's firm hand crushed his, but he refrained from wincing.
Presently, the queen came down, floating regally in her cream colored dress. "Well," she said, eyes smiling, "Rapunzel should be down in just a moment, and I see our company has all arrived. Good evening to you Lord Bastion." The queen greeted brightly.
"Ah, and good evening to you as well, My Lady Aurora!" Lord Bastion stepped forward chivalrously and he bent deeply to kiss the Queen's hand, "Thank you ever so much having me." He cocked an eyebrow and positioned his lips one over top of the other: a smolder that Flynn Rider would've envied.
"Not at all," the Queen said cheerfully, "Elias and I have been meaning to host a dinner for the two noblest men in this kingdom." with that, she turned to the young knight who was shaking in his boots. "And Eugene! Thank you so much for joining us!"
He tried to think of something impressive to say; to come up with something charming and killer; to put on just enough of his old Flynn Rider swagger to put Lord Bastion to shame. But all he could do was smile, and say "Thank you, Milady," as he bent to kiss the queen's hand.
"My daughter will be most happy to see you," she said brightly, "Though you will have to pardon her for the wait."
The King chuckled. "Patience is a virtue with women. They take so long to pretty themselves up."
"And men take no time at all, for they care not what they look like!" said the Queen, rolling her smiling eyes. "Elias…" she reached up to straighten the medallion on her husband's chest, and the king erected his shoulders with pride. It was the most adorable sight one could imagine, so much so that Eugene felt he had to look away.
Contrary to the Queen's plea for pardon, Eugene didn't feel very patient. All of the sudden he wished with all of his heart that Rapunzel would come down quickly. He hadn't realized he'd gone an entire day without seeing her, a mentally stressfully day at that, and he suddenly felt deprived of her smile. Maybe it was the way King Elias looked at his wife as she smoothed the lapels of his coat. Maybe it was the way Lord Bastion seemed to be looking at him. He felt so small, so awkward standing there by himself, an ex-wretch among royalty and nobility. He wanted his princess beside him now, some reason to hold his head high and feel like he belonged in the middle of this dinner party.
Then it happened, and he felt like it hadn't been any time at all.
"Announcing her Royal Highness Princess Rapunzel of Corona, to the glistening eastern sun."
The room went silent. The Queen smiled. The King's eyes went bright. There was a creek on the steps, then appeared the hem of a lilac colored dress, a skirt, a waistline, shoulders, a face, and the Princess of Corona was walking gracefully down the great scarlet staircase. A jeweled tiara rested in her perfect layers of brunette hair. He emerald eyes were as bright and smiling as her mother's, and she looked more regal and more beautiful than a thousand princesses in a thousand provinces could ever be.
For a girl who'd been raised in a tower her whole life, had never worn shoes, and was still learning to keep her balance with her new length of hair, it was an understatement to say that Rapunzel had come a long way. Only Eugene would've noticed her stiff demeanor, like she was focusing with all her might on not fainting back or tripping forward, and he was too busy standing slack-jawed and gaping in awe to notice.
When her eyes met his, they sparkled, and his heart went wild. She was excited; she'd been dying to see him too, so much so that she looked as if she wanted to burst with joy like she was so prone to do. He felt a playful grin spread wide across his face. She probably didn't even know how beautiful she looked right now, how bright she was shining. He winked at her, and a faint giggle that only he could hear escaped from her excited smile.
Of course, the moment was ruined when he heard Pascal, who was flattened and purple on her shoulder, make a small noise, and saw Rapunzel turned her head to the side and shush him nonchalantly.
"Oh Rapunzel," the Queen preened as she took her daughter by the hands, "You look like a dream."
The king chuckled. "Well now, I suppose it was worth the wait after all."
Rapunzel giggled. "Thank you mother," she said sweetly, then turned to her dinner guest, "And this must be Lord Bastion?"
The old advisor put on his flawless smolder again, but this time it was for Rapunzel. "Ah, my lady," he said suavely as he kissed the princess's hand, "Wonderful to finally meet you face to face. I must say you are twice as beautiful in person as I have heard."
Flynn Rider cried out for mercy.
Much to the knight's amusement, Rapunzel didn't seem too impressed by these pick-up lines; she didn't even blush. A nod and a smile were her only gestures. "Thank you my Lord," she said brightly, "I've heard much of you, and of how you've helped my father over the years."
"Well, I do what I must for the good of our kingdom."
"I also heard that it was your idea to call off the searches for me when I was a child."
Lord Bastion's smolder disappeared.
Eugene stifled a snort of laughter. Epic win baby.
Finally, the Queen decided to intervene by suggesting that the party "away to the dining room before the meal grew cold" and took her husband by the arm. Rapunzel, following her mother's example, took the arm of her own escort. Though he felt proud, noble, like a true knight in shining armor whenever Rapunzel took his arm, the gesture was still something that Eugene hadn't quite gotten used to. It was all so… formal. Definitely not a word that described his relationship with the Rapunzel. It wasn't that he minded playing the part of chivalrous escort, treating the Princess with all the respect she deserved; quite the opposite actually. As close with Rapunzel as he was, which was closer than any man in the kingdom (he hoped), the humble page-boy vs. wealthy princess scenario just felt… different.
But when the King, the Queen, and Lord Bastion went on before them, and they followed arm in arm slowly behind, all formality disappeared, and it was just the two of them: Flynn and Blondie; Eugene and Rapunzel.
Rapunzel grabbed Eugene's arm with both hands. "I can't believe you actually came!" she whispered excitedly, bouncing up and down a little.
Eugene grinned, "What, did you think I was gonna skip out on free food and the bragging rights of dinning with royalty?"
Her eyes rolled, but her smile didn't disappear. "No. I mean, I knew you would come, it's just I'm so glad you actually did! It's so much more fun with you."
"Oh really?" his eyebrows went up, "Then how come I don't get invited more often?"
At this jest, Rapunzel's face fell. Immediately, he wished he could take it back.
"I'm just kidding." he reassured her with a warm smile.
She returned the smile sheepishly with a shrug of her shoulders, but then looked straight forward without saying anything. Taking it back wasn't enough; something else had to be said.
As tenderly as he possibly could, he learned in close to her, and whispered softly into her ear.
"You look great, by the way."
He could have chosen more sophisticated words. He could have said that she looked beautiful, lovely, unbelievable, all of which she was. But those kinds of words wouldn't have sounded right coming from Eugene Fitzherbert. They would have been too chivalrous, too sophisticated, too formal. He knew that a word like "great" was exactly what Rapunzel wanted to hear.
She smiled again, and hugged his arm affectionately. "Thanks."
Making absolutely sure that King nor Queen, nor advisor nor servant was observing, the ex-bandit dared to reach over and kiss his princess on the forward briefly. He'd given up on thieving for the rest of his life, but there was one that he would always have to steal.
Hello again, all you wonderful, creative people! If you happen to review this chapter, I love you. End of story :)
Just as I promised, Rapunzel makes her appearance in this chapter! Originally there was going to be more to this chapter, but it was taking extremely long to write. So rather than rushing the writing process and keep all you lovely people waiting, I've decided to go ahead and post it into two parts. So just as a heads up, the dinner party will continue in the next chapter. Stay tuned!
So, what did you think of Lord Bastion? In case you may not have figured it out, Lord Bastion in actually the Captain of the Guard who is tracking Flynn and Rapunzel in the movie. He doesn't have a name in the credits, so I took the liberty of naming him myself, as well as Rapunzel's parents, King Elias and Queen Aurora. Here's a little fun fact for you all to chew on: all three of these people were all named after a specific person that has something to do with Disney. Any guesses? Please leave them in reviews or send them to me in a message, and maybe… just maybe… I'll give cameos to the people who get them right :)
I feel that this chapter is very rushed, so honest opinions please!
Thank you all for reading once again! God bless!
-Story