A/N: Sorry, life has been hectic lately, with all the drama of the outside world. I promised that this chapter would be special— so I present to you— Rapunzel meets Elyse!

*Elyse*

I was currently in the middle of changing Gabriel's bandages when Cristiano, who was my Father— except I had no actual proof and neither did he— burst into my wagon yelling happily about hurrying or I would miss the Festival.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Elyse." Father chastised, "Princess Rapunzel's Festival that they have every year in Corona!"

I chuckled at how exasperated and excited he sounded, "Well all right, I'll hurry."

Father left, hardly drawing the curtains closed as he did so, a ray of golden sun peeking through.

It was strange to me how even adults could act like children sometimes when they were happy about something. Mother had talked to me once about visiting Corona in our travels— she had called it that before I knew that we were actually in hiding— she had been even more excited than Father had been just a moment ago. Even though we had ended up not going anyways.

Gabriel, who had been awake for most of the conversation, blew his brown bangs out of his eyes, "So…,"

"So?"

He studied me with his soft blue eyes while I finished bandaging him, and continued to do so until I met his gaze, "Anymore flowers?"

I glanced at the vase by my mirror, full of blooming tulips, bluebells, and purple and pink pansies, "Yes."

"Well no need to be vague." Gabriel scoffed jokingly as he was facing away from the flowers so I could bandage him, but at the same time only able to see the wall in front of him, "What colors?"

I gave him a mockingly stern look, "What has a boy need of flowers?"

Gabriel was silent and thoughtful for a moment, "I'm just keeping my eye on the most beautiful, black haired, grey eyed Flower— making sure none of the other flowers outshine this humble Lion's Paw."

I cracked a smile, "You're a Marigold, huh?"

"Of course," Gabriel snickered, "It's the only flower that can't dance."

We laughed and I listened to his, which was sort of a quiet gravely sound that reminded me of rapids and flute music at the same time.

Standing up I walked to the back of the wagon then looked back at him our eyes meeting briefly and despite what I knew about him my heart squeezed in my chest, "You're going to be okay?"

"Don't worry, Elyse." Gabriel smiled softly, "I am way more than okay."

I turned quickly and closed the curtains behind me, blushing deeply and hoping he hadn't seen. What's wrong with me? I asked myself. I knew that Gabriel was having direct contact with the people who wanted me dead but I was still… what? Did I like him?

Yes, my conscious whispered.

Great. Here I was, finally found my family and I'm falling in like with the guy who will more than likely get me killed. Just great.

Raffaello suddenly appeared at my side, his hulking shadow interrupting my internal conflict, "Elyse, are you okay?"

I turned to him still quite flushed about Gabriel and liking him, and then brushed my hair from my face, "I'm perfectly fine don't worry."

Raffaello seemed to think my blushing and nervousness was caused by him because he leaned towards me, his breath tickling my ear, "It is a beautiful day for travel, yeah?"

"Yeah." I shivered a little as a breeze picked up.

Again, Raffaello attributed this to himself and in what must have been a bold move of bravado, clasped my small hand in his large one. Honestly it felt like my hand was being smothered in his.

After about an hour or so of preparing to leave, Barbaro was hitched to my wagon his neck arched like he was royalty himself— a few delicious apples fueling this attitude— and the camp was setting off.

Raffaello climbed up onto the driver's seat and helped me up beside him. A little too close for my comfort so slide away an inch or so hoping he wouldn't notice.

Of course he did.

With his lip pouting slightly Raffaello snapped the reins against and clucked to Barbaro, who dutifully pranced along pulling us with him. Once the whole caravan was on the road, everything seemed so relaxed, with the forest idly rolling by. I leaned back against the wooden seat, and enjoyed the scenery.

At noon we stopped and ate lunch— Ptarmigan with a creamy sauce of some kind that tasted like butter and some mild form of goat cheese.

After Raffaello and I had eaten, I gathered a plate for Gabriel, and was heading back to give it to him when Raffaello stopped me.

"I'll give it to him."

"No it's okay," I shook my head and stepped around him, but he was following me, "Raffaello, he's been sleeping a lot lately, so I thought if I went in really quiet and fed him quickly, then there wouldn't be any harm in me going alone— just for a moment or so."

Raffaello looked as though he would object but nodded sourly, "Just a moment."

In all actuality I spent the rest of the trip to Corona talking with Gabriel quietly feeding him his lunch since he could hardly lift his arms they were so swollen. When I had finished feeding Gabriel his meal, we sat quietly studying each other for a few moments thinking.

"Elyse?"

"Yeah?" I met his gaze for a second before guiltily looking away.

Gabriel appeared not to notice, "Where are we heading to?"

I realized that no one had bothered to tell him what was going on, and a feeling of mild guilt washed through me, "To Corona…."

"But?"

I bit my lip, "I have to meet Princess Rapunzel, and no one else can know."

So why on earth did I feel compelled to tell him?

Gabriel arched one of his eyebrows then shrugged letting it go— which I was very thankful for. I reached out and gently grabbed his wrist, lifting it so as to be able to examine his arms carefully, and all the while I never felt Gabriel's curious and kind blue eyes leave my face. I saw the veins hiding just below Gabriel's skin like blue ribbons wrapping down his arm, disappearing here and reappearing farther along, making a barely visible roadmap on his arm. Gabriel's muscles were just definable beneath the swelling and it made me wonder just how strong Gabriel was. Was he strong enough to help break my curse, my conscience amended and I felt like kicking myself.

Attempting to distance myself from Gabriel I tried to lay his arm back down beside him, but Gabriel grabbed my arm, and held it delicately is his hand now tracing the veins on my arm. When I tried to pull away slowly so as not to hurt him, his grip tightened on mine ever so slightly, "Abbiate fiducia in me."

Trust me.

"I do." I murmured and realized I had understood him— the lessons he had been giving me when Raffaello was away were paying off. At the same time I realized I had just place my trust in the hands of the man who would lead me to my death.

By the time we had reached Corona it was afternoon. Well technically we hid our wagons before crossing the bridge, and then went on our merry way, excited for the up and coming celebration, but what difference did it make? We were happy and had arrived.

Gabriel walked along beside me, his swelling having gone down enough for him to attend the celebration, and to enjoy the festivities. Already Corona was covered in its little purple and gold sun flags which were hung from house to house, across shop windows and some were even being worn on sleeves or as little bandanas.

While lingering a little too long over some beautiful bluebells, Gabriel grabbed my hand and pulled me along acting secretive and holding a single finger up to his lips— smiling like he had suspicious truth to tell me— keeping his back to me. Then when we had reached the edge of the market he stopped and I could see the ocean; it was so blue it was hard to tell where the sky began and the sea ended at the horizon.

"Spin for me?" Gabriel grinned holding my hand up high for me to twirl under.

I spun around slowly taking in my surroundings such as the grey stone walls, the colorful floor tiles, and the open market bustling with excited people.

By the time I had spun back around to face Gabriel he was holding out a single yellow flower that faded to red at the tips of the petals, and placed it gently in my hair, before saying anything, "Yellow is for happiness, and this little Gladiolus means strength— and something I think you already know."

But did I?

Did I want to know?

Gabriel gingerly placed his hand behind my head the bent my head forward— for a few panicking moments I thought that he would kiss me, my heart hammering in my chest— but I guess I was partly right, as Gabriel placed the sweetest kiss on my forehead.

His lips were slightly rough from weeks of rough weather, but to me they felt smooth and warm, and just a little inviting; I tossed that last thought into some dark recess of my mind so that I could feel the sudden light of this moment splash across my conscience.

I wanted to tell Gabriel that I knew what was going on— knew that he was still working with the man he called 'Captain'— but half of my heart just didn't care. Half of my heart wanted me to scream 'traitor' in Gabriel's face and run as fast as I could, but then half of my heart wanted me to kiss him and hold his for a moment until the walls came crashing down on me; pretending to be oblivious even from myself.

I ever so slowly leaned in to kiss his cheek but he leaned away from me slightly, looking me in the eyes then grabbing my hand and walking away, pulling me along behind him.

"Il mio più fidato e amato." I whispered just loud enough for Gabriel to hear, a feeling of fire slowly filling me thoroughly as a zephyr teased his hair.

Gabriel stopped midstride so suddenly I almost ran into his back and looked at me over his shoulder, "What did you say?"

"Più fidati e amato?" I gave Gabriel a small smile, "I thought you were the one that spoke the language not me."

Gabriel turned around the rest of the way, giving me a serious and steady look, "You shouldn't say that unless you love the person— trust me, Elyse, what you feel is infatuation, not love." Still Gabriel gripped my hand harder, "Today is wonderful, beautiful, and magical. Don't let it confuse you."

A feeling of regret and reprimand flooded through me for being silly, "Sorry?"

"Don't be."

I smiled on the inside, knowing that in some part of me, I really was at least beginning to love Gabriel.

That feeling kept growing as the festival began. We ate lots of delicious foods with names I couldn't pronounce, danced to the music that added to the feeling of merriment, and wandered the darkening streets holding hands just to talk about out past lives. I couldn't have been happier. Currently I was dancing to an upbeat song that had hints of Gypsy influence to it; Gabriel spun me around once, then twice.

Then I saw her.

In mid-spin I stopped, my dress floating back down gently in a slight twirl of silky fabric, and I couldn't help but stare.

This girl wore the crown of the princess on top of her brown hair that flowed past her shoulders, her bright green eyes shone in the lantern lit night, and her long baby pink dress shimmered. Her escort wrapped an arm around her waist as they waved to the people who bowed, then shouted, "Long live Rapunzel!"

I bit my lip as grief and disappointment crashed through my whole being threatening to drown me.

Gabriel was studying my face and gently used his thumb to pull my lip out from under my teeth, then spun me back around to finish the spin Rapunzel's arrival had interrupted, "Don't worry about meeting her— I have heard she is kind and wise for her young age."

"I," briefly I thought of telling Gabriel why I really was biting my lip, but then realized that it would be pointless, "I'm just nervous."

He would try and stop me.

They all would.

Rapunzel and her escort, Eugene Fitzherbert, stepped into the crowd and danced with the people without guards— unafraid of the people who loved them so dearly. I smiled thinking of how I knew exactly how they felt.

A waltz song came on and immediately Gabriel placed his hand on my waist holding up my right hand and sliding directly into a style of waltz we both knew well. In FaLeon, King Fleischer's kingdom, the waltz had a slight bounce and bob to it and yet it was as smooth, fluid, and majestic as a marble cherub water fountain.

I looked into Gabriel's blue eyes and felt like I was floating along in a reluctantly flowing stream that would carry me on and on forevermore.

Gabriel's jaw tightened and he tried to steer me away from something that was behind me, but his timing was off and my back brushed up against whom other than the Princess Rapunzel. Both of us stopped and curtsied to one another, our partners bowing, offering our sincerest apologies to one another.

Prince Eugene took a look at me and held out his hand. When I placed mine in his he raised it to his lips and breathed a few words of apology.

I nodded and murmured mine in what I hope was a disinterested way— I prayed with all my heart he couldn't detect the wild tint to my demeanor that came from living on the run— everyone knew that the Prince came from a less than honorable background being a thief and all. My heart squeezed with fear when he looked straight into my grey eyes with his hazel ones and gave a small smirk.

Rapunzel caught it and smiled with genuine interest, "I don't believe I have met you before, I am Princess Rapunzel of Corona, and this is my husband Eugene Fitzherbert."

When she offered her hand for me to shake I shook it firmly, "I am Princess Elyse of the Gypsies," then I gestured with my other hand to Gabriel, "This is my linguist Gabriel."

Rapunzel and Eugene shared a brief look and I knew I was sunk— they knew just from one look into my eyes— I was a criminal. Rapunzel caught my arm in hers lightly, "Would the two of you join us for supper? I've actually never met another princess before." Then she grinned at Gabriel, "Or a linguist."

"We would be delighted." It was out of my mouth before I could think.

Eugene slid his arm into my other one, "Then off let's go."

I was so dead.

sheep1215: I actually keep pronouncing it "El-is" but you can pronounce it any way you want. Oh and by the way- I'm kinda crazy myself so I don't really mind it.

PampleMousse07: things are getting interesting now huh?

Hedgi: thank you- I will try to keep the happy endings coming.

LiveLoveWrite-93: Thanks I'm sure other people have thought of it but I'm just glad your reading mine.

sammieyap: I always thought Elyse was about 18 to about 20 years old.