Hello Friends,
So I must apologize real quick for my absence and also for this somewhat awful chapter. I hope you guys like it but just keep in mind I've been rather sick. I just wanted to post something for you guys.
Thank you to disneyisbeautiful, Ashlierthw, Reverend Lovejoy, PampleMousse07, SilverParahutes, DarkRose2006, and . Thank you guys so much for your reviews! They make me feel so much better!
We will see Tristan soon and I promise the story will get better. Just bare with me right now.
Thank you guys!
Her eyes flickered for a moment. In her first seconds of waking, she smelled a combination of sweet flowers and wood. She crinkled her nose at the unfamiliar scents.
"Rapunzel? Are you awake darling?"
She heard a beautiful voice that sounded like the birds chirping outside her tower window. She shot up after having the terrifying thought that the whole ordeal she went through was just a dream.
"Shhh. Shhh. It's alright."
Rapunzel turned and saw the Queen of Corona next to her. They were lying in an enormous bed with the softest sheets she'd ever touched piled on top of them. The Queen was watching her with great concern in her eyes.
"Hello. I'm sorry but we never got a chance to speak together. I'm sure that this is quite an awkward way to wake up." The older woman moved to get up out of the bed to give her more space but the Princess grasped at her hand and held on tightly.
"Please don't go." Rapunzel smiled, "I'm so sorry."
The Queen got back in bed immediately, "For what, my dear girl?"
"For the way I behaved earlier. I was completely out of line. Please understand that I would never harm another human being or myself but I was so tired."
"Oh my sweet girl," Her mother pulled her into an embrace and Rapunzel accepted by closing her eyes, "Please do not apologize for anything. You're home and that's all that matters now. I'm sure you've been through so much. Not just in your lifetime but from what it sounds like, in the last few days."
They held each other close and Rapunzel noticed movement off the bed. She strained her neck to see the repetitive breathing of the King on a small cot next to them. He was still fast asleep.
"He missed you very much."
Rapunzel turned back to her mother and saw a small tear rolling down her cheek, "We both did. It seems as though we will wake up and you will still be missing."
The Princess rested her hand on her mother's hand, "I'm not going anywhere. It's strange. This whole time I thought I had a mother but I never felt as close to her as I feel to you now."
The Queen placed her hand on her daughter's cheek and smiled, "I'm so happy to hear you say that. I need you to know that we never stopped searching for you. And every year on your birthday, we sent a lantern up in the sky just for you. We hoped that if you were still al… well we hoped that you would see it. We love you and hope that someday you can love us too."
Rapunzel's head tilted against her mother's touch, "I already do."
As Rapunzel sat in bed with her mother and told her stories of her life, including her childhood and Eugene, the King smiled with his eyes closed. He didn't want to interrupt their talk so he lay next to them and smiled. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He didn't wipe it away for it was a long awaited happy tear. His family was home at last.
Down in the dungeon, Eugene rolled and twitched in his sleep.…
Eugene sat in the stone cell waiting to hear news of anything when everything went dark. The man he despised stepped out of the shadows toward him.
"Hello Flynn Rider." Tristan grinned evilly.
"You! No…. no… nope, this is just a dream. This isn't real. You can't hurt us anymore!"
The dark man chuckled, "This is very real. I am using your dreams to communicate with you."
Eugene's left eyebrow shot up in skepticism.
"You don't believe me." Tristan's smile faded and he was suddenly holding Eugene against the stone walls of his cell by his collar, "You will soon see that this was all real and a warning."
The younger man started to panic, "What warning?"
"You and the 'Princess' have destroyed everything I've worked so hard for! Everything is gone now because of you!" He smiled and spoke through his teeth, "Well I'm going to take back the only thing I have left… You know that bonding ceremony was almost complete. There is only a small amount left to it."
"No." Eugene began struggling.
"As punishment for what you've done to me, I am going to take Rapunzel from you. I will forgive her acts in helping you after all, she is such a trusting girl and obviously fell for your conniving charm. Those sins are yours alone and you will pay."
"No! You can't! She is well protected here! You can't touch her!" Eugene felt his back hit the wall behind him. 'Huh. I thought dreams couldn't hurt.'
Tristan put his face right next to Eugene's, "They can't protect her. When the time is right, she will come to me. When that happens, I will complete the binding ceremony and she will become mine forever."
"If you come near her, I swear I'll not stop until you're dead." Eugene said with just as much hatred.
The evil man smirked, "Oh I'll do more than just come near her… She will be my wife after all. I bet she's never even been taught what consummating a marriage means, what with being locked in that tower all those years. I can't tell you how much I'll enjoy educating her."
Eugene lost it. He pushed as hard as he could against the man holding him. He punched the air as he found Tristan disappeared. He saw red as he heard laughter fill the walls of the dungeon, "Come out and face me!"
He turned constantly as he heard the laughter everywhere.
"This was your warning, Flynn Rider. You have taken everything from me and now I will return the favor. Go, be with your Princess because she won't be yours for very long."
The laughter filled the walls again and Eugene clamped his hands over his ears.
"NO!"
Eugene woke up with his hands over his ears. His breathing was sporadic and sweat glistened down his temple. It was a dream but he knew not to take it lightly. He couldn't let the warning come true. He had to protect Rapunzel. But how?
When morning came, Eugene was led out of the dungeon by the Captain of the Guard in silence. He knew this day was coming but he just wished he could give warning to them to help protect Rapunzel. He stood tall as he thought about the end and how it would feel. As they came to the end of the breezeway, Eugene's breath caught in his throat. There it was… the rope that would hang him on top of the scaffold.
Just as he thought they would lead him up the steps, the guards pushed him toward another door that led through to the palace.
"What's going on?" Eugene huffed out.
"The King of Corona asked to see you before any sentences were given." The Captain said without looking back.
Eugene gulped. He was going to have it now. The King wanted to personally sentence him to death for his crimes. He only hoped Rapunzel wouldn't have to watch.
They came to a different set of oak doors and the Captain pounded on it just like the night before. The massive doors were opened revealing a roomful of people. He recognized some of the villagers and he had to double take as he saw the thugs from the pub in the corner. His breath hitched as he looked up at the throne. There were three thrones on the steps. And on those thrones sat the King in the middle and the Queen beside him. On the other side of the stern looking monarch was Rapunzel. She was cleaned up and her newly brunette hair had curls in it. She wore an emerald green dress that fit perfectly against her form.
The King cleared his throat when they came to a stop in front of the royal family. He could see Rapunzel grasping onto her throne pillow nervously. The thought that she was so close but he couldn't hold her was punishment enough.
The King began, "Flynn Rider. You are charged with multiple counts of thievery. What have you to say for yourself?"
Eugene looked from him to his Princess and cleared his own throat, "Your majesty. Every charge that has been put against me is true. I have done many things in my past that I am not proud of and I accept whatever punishment I am to receive. All I ask is that Rapunzel remain protected."
The King's eyes stayed on him for a few moments and he turned to look at his daughter. Her eyes pleaded with his and he finally winked at her. Her surprise made him chuckle.
"It has come to my attention that Flynn Rider is not your true name."
"You are correct, your majesty. That is my outlaw name and one that I am not proud of. My true name is Eugene Fitzherbert."
"And Eugene, it has also come to my attention from several witnesses that you single handedly saved my daughter and returned her crown. Is this also true?"
Eugene wasn't expecting this at all and was quite surprised, "Well… I… I was…" He was overwhelmed.
"It is true, your majesty." A voice came behind him. Eugene turned and saw the Captain of the Guard standing there addressing his King, "I saw it with my own eyes."
Eugene was touched. He mouthed thank you to the older man.
"And I saw it too!" The big nosed thug jumped up from his seat.
"Aye! He saved her! I saw it!" A guard shouted.
After a while everyone that was witness to the graveyard was standing and claiming they saw him save her. Eugene and Rapunzel looked around at all the men standing before them and they couldn't help but let the emotions swell in their bodies. It was an amazing moment.
"Well then, Eugene… I believe I owe you for giving my daughter her freedom. From this moment forward, Flynn Rider is no more." The King said proudly, "You are hereby pardoned of all your crimes and are granted a new and blessed life."
A high-pitched squeal was heard next to the King as Rapunzel hugged the older man.
Eugene stood stunned as the Captain undid his shackles and everyone in the room cheered. He couldn't move. He looked down at his free hands. This meant the world to him. He could finally make his mother proud wherever she was and be a good man to Rapunzel.
The Captain clapped his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "You deserve this Fitzherbert. But don't disappoint my King or you'll find me there waiting."
Eugene nodded and smiled at him.
He was suddenly knocked backward by a force he wasn't expecting. He found his footing and looked down. Rapunzel had practically made him fall over with her hug and he enveloped his arms around her shoulders. The King and Queen held each other as they watched the younger couple's embrace. Their daughter was returned to them and now they gave her the biggest gift they knew to give.
For the first time since their journey started, Rapunzel and Eugene were finally free and happy together. They were not being chased by guards or the Stabbingtons. They were given a chance, at least for a while, to just be together. Eugene kissed the top of her head.
"You're free, Eugene! We're free!" Rapunzel laughed.
Eugene let the joy in and took her by her waist and spun her in the air. She giggled and as he lowered her slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. They just stood there looking into each other's eyes.
When all the subjects and thugs left the throne room, Eugene parted with Rapunzel and stood in front of the King. He suddenly fell to his knee and bowed his head.
"I wanted to thank you, your majesty, for what you've done for me today. I will not let you down and I promise to protect your daughter from this day forward."
The King stepped down and pulled Eugene up from his arm. He took both of his hands and placed them on Eugene's shoulders. He commanded attention with his stare, "Just make her happy. And if I hear that you've ever hurt my daughter… well let's just say your pardon will be revoked."
The older man's laugh boomed throughout the room and Eugene chuckled nervously.
"I'm kidding with you, my boy!" The King smiled at the younger man's sigh of relief, "Now, let's get you cleaned up."
Eugene looked down and for the first time, noticed his appearance. His clothes were filthy with dirt and dried blood. His cut arm needed mending and he could see bruises on his body. He felt a little embarrassed as the King led him to his new room.
Rapunzel jumped up and down with excitement around her mother as they left to change into a less formal outfit. This was a new day and she couldn't wait to begin the rest of her life.
If only she knew the hardships ahead of them.
Well this is all I can give you guys right now. Thank you again!