Chapter 7

Eugene was almost giddy with excitement at his new find. He couldn't wait to share the news with Rapunzel and pour through his new found information together. He didn't know when he'd have the time, the day had already promised to busy learning new things. Besides, the King had already told him to be ready in case anything should pop up.

"Eugene."

He heard Rapunzel call his name before he had seen her. He looked up and saw her running toward him with the same excitement that he had.

He wondered if Tara had visited her as well.

He reined Max in and jumped off the super intelligent white horse.

"Eugene, where have you been? Everyone is asking me where you went off to so early this morning," she said breathlessly as she ran into his arms. "Anyway, you won't believe what I discovered about birch trees. You see,"

"And you won't believe what happened to me either," Eugene said, as he reached for the saddlebags. He had stuffed the journals in there, hoping to keep them safe and hidden away from prying eyes. He assumed he was supposed to show them to Rapunzel alone; that they were to be kept secret.

It just didn't seem to be that way.

"Ah, there you are." Manny's voice came from behind him. "Well, since I have the two of you together, I'll make this brief. Rider, Rapunzel, we are postponing all business activities until further notice. So you two will follow me. The King and Queen must speak with you today."

"Any idea what's it about, Manny?" Eugene asked. "Oh, and the name's Fitzherbert if you don't mind. Just call me…"

"Let's go, Fitzherbert," Manny said, "You're extremely lucky to have their Majesties on your good side after all this time."

Eugene shrugged. "So you were telling me?"

Rapunzel smiled up at him, then stared at Manny.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Manny said, innocently.

"No, no," they both said, smiling cheerfully at him.

"Well, you'll be happy to know that I'm leaving you two here. It's a private meeting. I still have to train you…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Eugene said, "I think we know all about it. Training lessons on how to become a prince and princess of the Royal Court."

"And becoming part of the Royal Guard," a booming voice interrupted. The three of them looked around to find the King standing on the portico. He had seen Eugene pass and had been waiting for him after all.

Rapunzel ran up the staircase to embrace her father and noticed the Big Book of Trees clutched tightly in his hands.

He ushered Eugene and Rapunzel inside. "Your mother is waiting in the library," he whispered to Rapunzel, giving her the book. "We've got a lot to discuss."

Rapunzel looked at Eugene, grabbed his hand and led him into the library. Rapunzel let go of his hand and ran to her mother who welcomed her with open arms. She did the same with Eugene. He just wasn't used to all this love and affection, but given the chance, he could probably get used to it.

The three began to talk excitedly about everything. The Queen was curious as to how they were adapting to their new home and the first night in their new quarters. Everything turned quiet as the door opened.

"Well," the King said, shutting the door behind him. "We have much to talk about today."

He took the book from Rapunzel's hands and placed it on the table.

He motioned for Rapunzel to sit next to her mother and Eugene to sit next to him at opposite ends of the table.

"It's the birch tree," they all said in unison.

"You saw her, too?" Eugene asked, taking his seat.

Everyone stared at Eugene.

"What do you mean, Eugene?" Rapunzel said, her eyes narrowing. "Saw who?"

"I had a dream," the Queen said, "Her name was Tara. She reminded me of Rapunzel, long blond hair, beautiful blue eyes. She was as bright as the sun."

Eugene nodded. He placed the saddlebags on the table, much to the King's surprise and annoyance. He removed the journals, handed them to the King and took the saddlebags from the table.

"They're Gothel's journals," he said. "Tara wanted me to read them tonight."

"The tower was inside Fairy Country," the Queen continued. "That's why it couldn't be seen by anyone."

"Anyone who went looking the Princess," Eugene commented. "At least that's what she told me."

"No one knew it was Fairy Country," Rapunzel said, picking up the book. "I guess I should have realized it with all the books Mother gave me to read." She looked around the room a little shyly at first, but no one said a thing. She reached over, grabbed the book and opened it. She leafed through until she found what she was looking for.

"Birch trees," she said, "are associated with tales of fairies, deaths and ghosts returning from the grave." She closed the book. "The tower was surrounded by them. Mother used to visit the one closest to the tower. I saw her several times. She used to keep things in there, things she didn't want me to see. At night I would hear whispers and I'd run to the window to see if anything was there, but there was nothing."

"And of course, Gothel didn't want you to talk about it," Eugene finished. "No wonder that place is filled with magic. She kept you protected and well hidden, she did." He pushed the journals to the middle of the table. "These are them, Rapunzel. These are what she kept inside the birch."

No one moved, no one said anything. It was as if they were all afraid to touch them.

"Where did you get these?" Rapunzel said, looking up at him.

"Tara gave them to me," he said. "She told me to study this one first, her most recent. Did you ever see her writing in anything?"

Rapunzel shook her head. "She went out every day; she could've written in them at the time."

"The fairies want revenge," the Queen said. "Gothel was going to do something to them and that the answer would be in this journal."

Eugene was surprised. "How do you know,.."

The King smiled. "It's because of the flower, Eugene. It gives the Queen powers she never had before. She can see things in her dreams, sometimes in the past, sometimes in the future."