Written by sukura123. We apologize deeply for the long wait. We will both try to update quicker next time. Enjoy!

Chapter Ten:

"M-m-marry you?!" Rapunzel stuttered again still in the state of shock and disbelief. She felt numb and out of place until her the combination of Eugene's and her father's angry voices brought her back to reality.

"Absolutely not!" they yelled and Eugene went onto add, "Rapunzel is my girlfriend and I just went through hell and back to save her. There is no way I'm letting her marry—"

The Baron's hand quickly dropped from Rapunzel's waist as he rushed over to Eugene and pulled him by his shirt collar, forcing his body to slam into to the metal bars in front of them. Eugene's nose was sticking partway out of the cell as he looked into the Baron's steel glaring eyes. "That doesn't matter! She will marry me if she wants to see you pathetic people walk free and survive!"

"Leave Eugene alone!" Rapunzel shrieked as she grabbed the Baron's arm and tried to pull it back. The Baron's cold, angry eyes looked at her and in that instant she wished she had her trusty frying pan. His intense gaze made her shiver and although she was scared she didn't loosen her grip on his arm. Before Rapunzel could process what happened next, she found herself on the ground looking up at him as he towered over her menacingly.

"Get away from my daughter, I'm warning you!" the father hissed and added, "She hasn't done anything wrong except trying to save the one she loves." His wife stood beside him as they narrowed their eyes at the evil man before them. Eugene could do nothing but watch in horror.

"You call yourself a man but you should never put your hands on a woman you bastard," Eugene said in fury as he angrily reached for the Baron, managing to grab part of his cloak. He pulled on the fabric trying to knock the man down or something when the Baron turned around and grabbed Eugene once again by the collar of his shirt but this time slamming his face against the bars several times to the point where Eugene nearly went unconscious that he barely registered Rapunzel's cries and at the last moment, he roughly threw the ex-thief to the but the Queen caught him just in time and placed his head on her lap. Eugene's face was scrunched up in pain and agony and he kept his mouth shut in order not cry out. At least he knew that he wasn't bleeding as bad as he thought. Only some large bruises and a few open cuts that lay across his face, one in particular rested on the bridge of his nose was the worst because of the painful stinging sensation.

"Answer the question unless…" He reached for the King next before Rapunzel called out to him.

"Wait! I….I—"Rapunzel quickly responded. She glanced at Eugene's painful state and the looks of worry on her parents' faces. She had to protect them; it was the right thing to do even though she was signing her life away to some cruel so-called human being or in other words a monster.

"Rapunzel…d-don't do it," Eugene said, trying to keep the pain out of his voice. Rapunzel's heart broke for him. He needed treatment and the only way those three could be safe was if she married the Baron. With nothing but grief and doubt in her heart, she said the words that had Eugene's world turned upside down.

"Yes, I'll do it."

~Line Break~

Gothel couldn't believe her ears with what she just heard: Rapunzel agreeing to marry the Baron. What about the thief she loved more than life itself? Gothel wished she had heard all of the conversation that took place a hallway down from her own prison. Unfortunately, she had only heard the last few sentences; Rapunzel's horrified cries abruptly brought her out of sleep. She was yelling at the Baron to stop hurting Eugene. Maybe that's why; she was forced to marry him in order to protect the one she loved.

A horrified look drifted across Gothel's face. the Baron wanted to use Rapunzel for her powers! Although, she didn't have her seventy foot long golden hair anymore, her power lived on through her tears. Whether or not if the Baron figured that out, what would he have Rapunzel do?

Oh she wished she was young again so she could use her magic to slip through the bars. She could have saved Rapunzel but would she be able to face the Baron? After a moment of pondering, Gothel wrapped each hand around the bars and tried to separate them with all her might until she heard a pop from her elbow and let go, rubbing the sore area gently.

Then Gothel heard faint footsteps growing closer to her cell and quickly sat on the worn out bench with her face facing the wall. She pulled her old worn out cloak around her head and pretended to sleep. She didn't want to risk being seen by Rapunzel just yet. It wasn't the right time, especially when she had the weight of the Baron on her shoulders.

"…My family will go free and unharmed right?" Rapunzel asked as the Baron let out a chilling laugh that made a chill run down Gothel's spine; she was sure Rapunzel had the same reaction.

"Ah yes of course, but they should be present for our wedding which will take place soon," the Baron replied and Gothol could practically hear the corners of his mouth twitch to form a devious smirk.

"Um…When will…" Rapunzel began but was tuned out by the sound of a guard sliding a cold metal tray with something that looked like stale bread, a good sized piece of cheese and a metal cup of water. By now the two were gone and Gothel rose up and faced the front of the cell. In only a few minutes, she had eaten everything on the tray and already forming a plan of escape in her mind. She knew she had to get out of here but what would she do afterwards…

The guard appeared moments later to collect the tray and instead found Gothel whining over a sprained ankle. The man felt pity for the old women; he opened the cell and asked if he could take a glance at her ankle to see how bad the injury could be. Secretly Gothel smiled to herself, and as soon as he was distracted, she knocked him unconscious with the metal tray. As he lay sprawled out beside her, she searched him quickly finding the keys, thinking how easily that plan worked. Guards weren't paid for their intelligence, after all.

Gothel knew he wouldn't be out long. Locking the cell door behind her and placing the keys in the pocket of her cloak, she silently slipped down the hall and around the corner, being careful to watch her surroundings. She had no time to waste. She was going to take back her Rapunzel. She wouldn't dare let another use her powers for youth.