Chapter 7
The grand ballroom was decorated and sparkling with chandeliers and champagne glasses. Everyone was dressed in their finest. King Daniel and Queen Elizabeth were greeting people at the entrance; Rapunzel was mingling with new guests. Eugene finally made his way to the ballroom. He ran up to the double doors still trying to pull his boot on and clasping his black vest shut at the same time. Elizabeth walked up to him.
"You're late." She scolded him as she fixed his collar.
"I know, I know I'm sorry." He said in a sheepish tone.
"Rapunzel is over there talking with the duke and duchess of Devonshire."
"Ok thanks." He trotted down the steps towards Rapunzel. He approached her from behind. Just as he was arm's length of her the duke and duchess said their goodbyes and left. Rapunzel's back was still facing him. He tapped her left shoulder, and as she looked to her left, he came around to the right and stole a kiss on her cheek. Rapunzel turned around, and slapped him playfully on the chest. She tried hide her smile with a scowl but ultimately failed. Eugene just laughed at her.
"Hey Blondie."
"You're late." Eugene rolled his eyes.
"Yes I know. Your mother already scolded me."
"Why are you late?"
"Uuuuhh I forgot."
"This has been planned for months. You're gonna have to give me a better excuse than that."
Eugene shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "I'm a guy? I don't what do you want me to say?"
Rapunzel just stared at him with her arms crossed. She narrowed her eyes at him and moved her mouth to the side.
"I love youuu." Eugene puckered up his lips at the end of "you" waiting for her kiss. She gave in, got on her toes, and kissed him.
"Fine, just don't let it happen again."
"Yeah, Goldie, I can't promise that."
Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by one of Eugene's "friends" belching right into his ear. Lenard Kane was a son of one of the nobles in Corona, an only son at that. He was a bit of a rebel and rambunctious like Eugene, but he was a more obnoxious about it.
"Hey Rider what's up?! Hello Princess."
"Hi Lenard." She tried to sound as polite as possible.
"Hey Rider you should go out to the balcony with the rest of the guys, we got something we want to show you." Eugene paused for a moment to inspect Lenard.
"Are you drunk already?" A smile crept of Lenard's face.
"Maaaybe."
Eugene just shook his head and rolled his eyes. "I'll be out there in a minute."
Lenard sort of skipped/stumbled over to one of the other young girls that had been talking with a friend. Eugene looked back to Rapunzel who looked a bit repulsed by Lenard's actions towards the girl. Eugene read her look.
"I know he is kind of an idiot, but he is one of the few that don't walk around here with a stick up their ass and shy away from me like I'm the devil himself."
Rapunzel gave a short chuckle. "Ok well you have fun with your…..friend. I am gonna go entertain some people." She gave a sarcastic look of excitement, which in turn made Eugene chuckle.
Eugene quickly glanced up at something that caught his eye. There were three men standing by the king, three men he had never noticed before. One was very tall and slender. He walked with a bit of poise and class. It almost looked like he had his nose slightly in the air and he looked down as he talked with people. He held a champagne glass in his hand with the stem of the glass in between in his middle and index finger. The second one was a bit shorter but much larger around. He rested his hands on top of his protruding belly. It jiggled as he laughed which was low and seemed forced. The third one just seemed like a follower. He was about the same height as the second one but not as big. His weight was somewhere in the middle compared to the other two. He was on the other side of the king leaning over trying to hear what was being said. Eugene lightly grabbed Rapunzel's arm before she walk off.
"Hey who are those guys?"
"Which ones?"
"The three standing by your dad."
Rapunzel stood on her toes trying to see. "Oh, they are ….part of the council….I think. The really big fat guy is Sir Grantham, the one on the other side of Daddy is Sir Ivan, I think, and the tall one…..I can't remember, but I think he is originally from Constantinople. Why?"
"Oh, just wondering I have never seen them before."
"Yeah, I don't see them very often, but they are like Daddy's main right hand men that he goes to, apparently." She shrugged her shoulder.
"Huh, interesting." Eugene wasn't sure why but he had a funny feeling about them. He decided to ignore it for now.
"Well I'm off, I'll see ya later." Rapunzel gave Eugene a kiss and she ran off.
Eugene gave the three men another glance before he turned to head to the balcony where the rest of the guys were. A waiter passed by him with tumblers filled with brandy. He quickly grabbed one off the tray and head out.
Eugene was greeted by his group of friends. There was Lenard, Conner, and William. Conner and William were brothers and were sons of someone important. Eugene never really paid any attention to that stuff as it never really mattered to him were anybody came from or what their last name was. So long as they were a decent person for the most part, and didn't act like they were gods, to him they were alright in his book.
"Heeeeyyyyy!" They all three cheered as Eugene made is entrance.
"Well, if it isn't Flynn Rider himself. Watch out ladies, he could steel everything you own including your honor all in the same five minutes." Carissa Romanov; she hated Eugene, with a passion. She was originally from Russia who married into the royal family from France. She had her little group of cronies that followed her everywhere.
"Oh Carissa, didn't anyone tell you? We have no use for street walkers here, so you can leave and take your trainees with you."
Carissa scoffed, "Trust me, if that were true, you wouldn't be able to pleasure me anyway."
"Oh, no, trust me I wouldn't want to catch anything that you might have."
"Why don't you jump off this balcony and rid us of your presence."
Eugene offered his hand out motioning toward the ledge. "Ladies first."
"I hope Rapunzel realizes what a snake you are, leaves you, and orders the death penalty you were supposed to have years ago."
"And I hope to watch you get run over by a runaway cart, but we all can't get what we want."
Carissa stared Eugene down. Eugene starred right on back as he took a sip of his drink. That's when Lenard extended his arm with his palm facing Carissa and said in a loud holy type voice, "BE GONE DEMON!" Eugene spit part of his drink out as he started to laugh.
Carissa scoffed once more and mumbled something in russian as she and her friends stormed off.
"What a bitch."
"Why does she hate you so much?"
"I don't know, because she has nothing better to do with her pathetic rich life than to treat everyone who doesn't worship the ground she walks on like they are inferior of her presence."
"Preach on brother."
Eugene gave a chuckle. "So what is it that you wanted to show me?"
"Ah yes, the goods." Lenard pulled out a flask, "Take a swig."
Eugene unscrewed the cap and took a sip. He let the liquid sit on his palate for a minute and then swallowed.
"Oh my God. Is this what I think it is?"
"Yup, bourbon straight from King Louie the XII made to perfection."
"Fuckin' hell how did you get ahold of this?"
"My dad knows a guy who knows a guy who is part of the black market. He had it imported last week. I have another bottle up in my room."
"Shit no wonder you are wasted. Hey that stuff isn't for getting drunk off of that's for occasions like you… saw God or something. Do you have any idea how rare and expensive that is? Just in that one sip I took is worth more than your life."
"Don't be such a tight ass Rider it'll be fine."
"Ugh, you guys seriously have no idea when you have a good thing do you?"
"Enough talking more drinking! Hey let's get up on the roof. Rider, I'll race ya."
"Yeah, what do I get out of it?"
"I will give you… the other bottle of this fine concoction."
"Wow you are either a lot more drunk than I thought or you seriously are too stupid to know what you have, but I will take it."
They shook hands binding their agreement, and Eugene finished off what was in his glass and placed it on the balcony rail. They both took their places on either side of the entrance into the ball room and got ready. William got in the middle to start them off.
"On your mark, get set, go!" They both bolted up the side of the building. Lenard was fast but Eugene proved the he was more skilled and more agile. Eugene was on the roof right above the entrance to the balcony. He sat cross legged waiting on his friend. He finally made his way up about thirty seconds after Eugene.
"It's about time you got up here, I thought you slipped and fell of the side."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. One of these days, Rider, I'm gonna beat you."
"Well, keep dreaming about that day. Just make sure you have my prize in my hands before you leave."
"Yeah I'll give you a prize," he followed with a punch to Eugene's arm. Eugene laughed it off.
The other two, William and Conner finally made their way up. They all sat in silence sharing the flask enjoying the taste of the rare liquid. It wasn't long before their silence was broken from someone calling from below.
"Hey guys, you up there?"
"Three groans came from Eugene's friends.
"Don't answer back." Conner warned.
"Why what do you have against him?"
"He is so annoying and he whines a lot."
"Hey guys?"
Eugene looked at the three narrowing his eyes in annoyance. "You three are whining right now."
Eugene got up and walked to the edge of the roof. Lucas Dalhart was a 15 year old boy from a wealth family from England. His father was head of the church but died due to a stroke when Lucas was only 9 years old. It was up to him to take care of his mother and little sister because he was the man of the house. But because his mother was so headstrong, she brought him up to take orders, especially from his little sister, and he was lacking in the "becoming a man" department of his life. Eugene felt the need to help him out anyway he could. Eugene knew what it was like to be on his own.
"Hey Luc, can you climb?"
"I can climb a tree."
"Well that's a fuckin' start." He sighed for a minute. "Just try and climb half way, reach up, and I'll help pull you the rest of the way."
The other three witnessing just sighed and shook their head. William laughed a little at Lucas's struggle. Eugene was successful in getting him up the rest of the way. Eugene took his spot back between Lenard and William and Lucas sat on the other side of Lenard. Lucas leaned into Lenard wondering what it was he had.
"What are you drinking?" Lenard slowly turned his head, feeling a bit uncomfortable for how close Lucas was.
"Nothin' for you, Kid." Eugene elbowed him in the arm.
"Ow, what?"
"Just let him have some; you're wasting it anyway by chugging it all. If it means that much to you just take it out of the bottle you owe me." Lenard rolled his eyes as he gave Lucas the flask. He took a sip, and made a sour face but tried to hide it.
"Thath…pri-ie good."
They all laughed at him. Lenard slapped him on the back. "Don't worry, Kid, you'll get used to it one day."
"Eugene?" Another voice called from below.
"Ah… damn it." Eugene got up again and walked to the edge and saw that Rapunzel was calling him. "Yes, Blondie?"
"Can you come down for a minute? I have someone I want you to meet."
"Um…alright I'll be down in a second." Rapunzel smiled and walked back into the ballroom. Eugene sighed. "Damn it I just got up here."
"Haha, you're whipped, Rider."
"Haha, at least I have a girlfriend." Lenard quickly shut his mouth.
Eugene quickly made his way down and met Rapunzel back into the ballroom.
"Sweetheart, I would like you to meet Sir Grigor Bachev." It was the tall slender man that was with the king earlier.
"Well, Eugene Fitzherbert, it is a pleasure to meet you." They shook hands.
"Pleasure is all mine." Eugene caught a glimpse of the Sir Bachev's hand and noticed he was wearing a ring. It was not a wedding ring. It was on the wrong hand. It was a simple gold band, but it had a symbol on it. The symbol was a cross. Not like a normal cross where the bottom portion was longer and the top was short, but all four lines were even, and they came to a fancy tip, like an arrow head or a fancy clock hand. It was a red cross. Eugene had seen this symbol before; he looked straight into Sir Bachev's eyes and forced a smile.
"Well, I must be getting on my way, it is quite late. Thank you for introducing us, Princess. Eugene, I feel we shall meet again." He bowed slightly to the both of them, turned and left.
"So that's his name." Rapunzel turned to Eugene smiling.
"Yeah I guess so." Eugene still continued to stare in the direction Sir Bachev was walking.
All of a sudden there was a ruckus that came from the balcony. They both turned to see Lenard, Conner, and William laughing hysterically trying to keep Lucas form falling down on his face.
"Bloody hell." Eugene ran over to the four and quickly caught Lucas before he hit the ground. "What the hell did you guys do? I said give him a sip, not get him trashed."
"He wanted more, what was I supposed to do deny a man a drink?"
"Ugh, you guys are complete morons. Come on Lucas I am taking you to your room."
"Oh come on…we were just starting to like the kid." The other two joined in with laughter. Eugene didn't bother to turn around. He just stuck his left hand up in the air and flipped them all off as he nearly dragged Lucas up to his room.
Up in Lucas' room Eugene laid him on the bed, pulled his boots off and threw a blanket over him. Lucas was mumbling something but not all of it was coherent.
"Those…..those guyssss were…'burp' fun."
"Yeah I'm sure they were; now it's time to sleep your condition off. I suggest you don't move too much when you first wake up." Lucas grabbed Eugene's hand before he left.
"Hey, I know I….I'm not like those other guys…and I can 'yawn' behee annoying, but thanks you fffor being there when no ones else will." And with that Lucas's hand dropped with a clunk hitting the side of the bed.
"Yeah." No one ever thanked him like that; no one ever looked up to him like that. He took one more look back at Lucas, smiled and head out the door.
Eugene went back to the ball room, but most of the party was gone except for a few diplomats that decided to stay and have a few more drinks. He figured Rapunzel had made her way to bed, so he decided to do the same.
Eugene changed into his night clothes and threw his others onto a chair in the bedroom. He would take care of them later. He crawled into bed, and judging by how exhausted his body felt, he figured he might actually get some sleep this time. Just as he slipped into sleep he was abruptly woken up by a blood curdling scream. He would have fallen out of bed when he rolled to his side so suddenly had he not smacked the side of the bed frame to keep his balance. He knew where the scream was coming from. Eugene threw the covers off jumped out of bed, threw his door open, and ran into Rapunzel's room. The guards didn't even bother to come running anymore. They knew the drill. She would wake up from her reoccurring night terror, Eugene would come running through, and calm her back down to sleep.
"NO, NO EUGENE! NO DON'T HURT HIM NO!" Rapunzel thrashed in her sleep.
"Rapunzel, RAPUNZEL!" He shook her awake. "Honey its ok it's just a dream. I gotcha, I'm right here."
Eugene picked her up and crawled into bed with her and placed her in his lap and held her tight as she cried into his arms. This had been worse than most nights, but nothing he wasn't used to. He continued to rock her and hold her tight. He stroked her head softly as she held tight. He placed the blankets back over her to keep her warm. Eugene continued to sooth her to get her to calm down. He even hummed a lullaby he once heard as a child. His voice was soft and comforting. After nearly thirty minutes of crying, she finally calmed down and her sobs slowly turned into hiccups. Eugene knew he was wrong for thinking it, but he could help but think she was adorable when she hiccupped after crying like she does. She just seemed so vulnerable in his arms, but he knew she was so much more than that. She was one of the bravest people Eugene had ever met. He admired that about her, especially after what she went through growing up. Because she was so strong growing up and having to deal with a living nightmare, anytime she broke down he wanted to be that rock for her that she could lean on until she could stand on her own again. He liked being needed; it gave him purpose in life. His thoughts slowly drifted away as sleep found the both of them.
