AN: Sorry again for the wait! As you may have noticed I've been working on a little side project rather than this. Please check it out! It's a series of one-shots for Tangled based on different prompts I find online, and it's called "A Thousand Ways To Fall In Love." Anyways, I decided that I've put this one off for too long and I might as well work on it while I've got time! Some parts of this are filler, but I kind of used them as padding for the more actiony bits. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

It was very late when Rapunzel finally snuck back out of the prison and hurried back to the castle. Or rather, it was very early. When she glanced at the dark horizon, she could see a slight tinge of purples and pinks and oranges, signifying that the sun was beginning to rise. She tried to memorize it quickly to paint later - whenever she felt inspired enough to paint again. Sadly, she had no idea how long that might take.

She entered the castle the way she had left - through the back entrance that lead immediately to a staircase. She paused at the top of the staircase to catch her breath and check for guards. Seeing and hearing no one, she hurried on and back to her bedroom. She was exhausted and her bones ached from the lack of rest, but she knew she would do it again.

Rapunzel rounded the last corner and made a beeline for her bedroom, too enticed by the prospects of sleep to notice a figure leaning against the wall beside her door. When she did, it was too late - he had seen her. A sneer spread across his pointed features, and even in the darkness she could make out a dark bruise covering his nose. She skidded to a stop, her breath catching in her throat.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded when she recovered from the shock.

Rowan merely chuckled - a low, dark sound - before saying, in an even tone, "Why, Princess, I could ask you the same thing." Through her anxiety and panic, Rapunzel was unable to think of a response. Her heart hammered in her chest so forcefully that she was sure it must be audible. Rowan pushed himself away from the wall and took a step towards her before saying, "What's a good girl like you doing out of bed?"

"I was...I was reading in the library," she lied, stammering. "That insomnia, it sure is a pain!" She attempted a laugh, but it came out as awkward and forced as the rest of her lie had.

He knew she was lying. She could tell by the look on his face. He took her lie in stride, continuing without pause. "I see. And I suppose it must be very drafty in the library for you too need such a heavy cloak." He had come even closer to her, and lifted a hand to lightly touch the edge of the hood as it spilled over her shoulders.

She gulped. "Well, I'm sure you know how drafty these castles get." He took another step closer to her, close enough to cause her to automatically take a step backwards. He pressed in further, and she recoiled accordingly, until she was pressed against the wall and there was nowhere left for her to go. She was trapped, like a mouse in a lion's den.

Very quickly, before she could even react, Rowan's hand flashed up to grab her firmly by the jaw. His bony fingers pressed into her skin painfully. With his face mere inches away from hers, he spoke in a quiet voice. "I sure hope you aren't lying to me, Princess. Because it seems an awful lot like you crawled out to visit your little boyfriend in prison." Her eyes widened in fear and her mouth dropped open, but still he continued. "Why, wouldn't you know it, I saw someone running from the castle wearing that very same cloak as you several hours ago! My, that certainly is a coincidence, isn't it?"

She knew better than to attempt another lie. He could see right through her. Instead, she looked up at him with hatred in her eyes and hissed, "Last I checked, Prince Rowan, you weren't in charge of keeping track of me. What I do is my business."

He laughed again, and the sound chilled her down to the bone. "I'd be careful if I were you, Princess, your body guard isn't around to protect you this time."

"I can defend myself from the likes of you just fine on my own," she retorted, but she didn't feel as confident as she sounded. She was terrified, but she tried not to let it show.

Rapunzel braced herself for his next move, but he merely released her with another detestable chuckle. She scrambled away from him, tripping over the hem of her long cape and falling backwards in the process. On instinct, she threw out her hands to catch her fall, and the pain that erupted from her injured hand was enough to cause her to cry out.

"I simply cannot wait until we are married, Princess. It will be so much fun to break that spirit of yours." With that, he turned on his heel and left without so much as a backward glance. A few moments passed before Rapunzel was finally able to collect herself and stand, cradling her throbbing hand to her chest.

When Rapunzel finally made it into bed, shivering and shaken, she prayed for sleep. However, her eyes seemed almost incapable of relaxing from her wide eyed, petrified gaze, and her nerves were too on edge for her to relax. It wasn't long before she gave up on the prospect of sleep entirely and moved to sit by the window and watch the sun rise, her blankets draped around her like a cocoon.

Somehow, watching the kingdom become slowly illuminated was relaxing to her, and she managed to doze off until she was woken by a knock on the door and Penny's familiar voice calling her name. She called for the young girl to enter, her voice coming out much raspier than she had expected.

"Oh Miss, you don't look so good," Penny said, her voice tinted with genuine concern. Penny placed a cool palm to Rapunzel's forehead and with a small, almost imperceptible wink, continued, "I believe you have a fever, Miss. I'll tell their majesties that you'll be staying in bed for the day."

Rapunzel was so grateful she could cry. She gave the maid a small smile and whispered, "Thank you, Penny."

"You're very welcome, Rapunzel."

Penny left and returned with a small pitcher of water and some bread, leaving them on a table close to the window where Rapunzel was still curled up. After a sympathetic look and a small smile, she left Rapunzel alone. Again, she began to drift out of consciousness, before a sudden thought caused her to leap up from where she was sitting and drag a chair over to the door. She then propped the chair up under the knob so that the door couldn't be forced open. She tugged on the door several times to be certain before dragging her blankets back to the bed and collapsing upon it, losing consciousness almost instantly.

Rapunzel slept through the rest of the day, waking only to eat the supper that Penny brought up to her room in the evening before promptly going back to sleep. She was completely exhausted, and sleep kept her from having to think and worry about all of the troublesome things in her life. After sleeping off the initial exhaustion however, her deep, dreamless sleep turned into fitful nightmares. Most of these nightmares were vague, yet so deeply unsettling that she woke up shaking. The last nightmare Rapunzel had before giving up on sleep entirely, however, was frighteningly clear.

It began like the nightmare she had been plagued with since her return to the castle. She struggled to escape, but ropes bound her arms. She tried to shout, but her mouth was covered. She felt suffocated by panic and confinement. Around her was the familiar painted walls and furniture of the tower, but her childish paintings morphed into sinister creatures with gleaming red eyes. A voice called her name. "Rapunzel! Rapunzel, let down your hair!" A dark, shadowed figure gathered her long, golden hair, and tossed it through the window. Her panic grew. Her heart beat so quickly that her chest ached. A familiar silhouette appeared in the window, and she felt a moment of relief before the panic returned. Again she struggled against her restraint. A knife glinted in the faint light, and Rapunzel watched helplessly as the man she loved was stabbed. The dark figure loomed over his body a moment before stepping into the light.

"Now look what you've done," Rowan sneered, the knife slipping from his fingers and clattering to the floor.

Rapunzel awoke instantly, a scream caught in her throat. She sat bolt upright in bed, her body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. It was then that she abandoned any hope of sleep. Again she returned to her window seat, wrapped in a blanket, with a book in her lap and a candle casting a small amount of light. She tried to immerse herself in the novel, but found herself easily distracted by her thoughts.

For the thousandth time, she recalled the scene in the hallway. Rapunzel hadn't felt physically threatened by him until that point. Sure, he had power over her in more ways than one, and she had been unable to pull away from his kiss in the garden the other day. But it wasn't until his fingers had gripped her jaw tight enough to leave marks that she realized that he could hurt her. And it hadn't been until her latest nightmare that Rapunzel realized he could hurt Eugene, too.

She had to do something, soon. Rowan was pretentious and manipulative, but also clearly not afraid to get his hands dirty, so to speak (she guessed that he probably was legitimately afraid of actual dirt). She didn't want to guess what he might do to her if she went through with the marriage. But she had no way of stopping it. She couldn't simply refuse to marry him - she'd already voiced her rejection, but neither he nor her parents would accept it. What other choice did she have?

And then it hit her. Why hadn't she thought of it before? A clear and simple solution to her problems. Well, it wouldn't be easy, but now that she knew her main goal, it wasn't long before a more detailed plan formed. She spent the pre-dawn hours in silent thought, going through every step of the plan in her mind over and over until she was sure that there could be no mistakes. She belonged to the richest family in Corona and yet, mistakes were something Rapunzel could not afford to make.

Once the sun had risen, Rapunzel got dressed for the day. Now that she had a plan, she found herself relatively calm. When Penny knocked on her door to wake her, Rapunzel was already awake and dressed. She cast one last look in her mirror and tucked her necklace into the collar of her dress before turning and leaving.

Rapunzel had imagined that she would be nervous to have breakfast with just her parents and Rowan, with Eugene's comforting presence missing, but she was not. Silently, she entered the dining hall and took her usual seat across from her mother. She was not irritated when Rowan arrived fifteen minutes late and sat in Eugene's seat. In fact, Rapunzel didn't even acknowledge him. Instead, she pretended to be fascinated by something just outside the window.

She felt his cold eyes bore into her, and although it made the hairs on the back of her neck raise, Rapunzel didn't give him the pleasure of seeing her cower. She ate her breakfast as quickly as was considered polite, and refrained from participating in the light breakfast small talk. In fact, she was so focused on her meal that it took her mother clearing her throat several times to grab Rapunzel's attention.

Rapunzel jolted to attention and blinked in shock. "Yes, mother?"

A small, empathetic smile graced the queen's features. "Are you still feeling ill, darling?'

"No, I'm fine," Rapunzel managed.

The queen's gaze bore into her daughter for a long moment, assessing her response. "Well then if you're feeling up to it, dear, I was thinking that maybe you and I could go shopping in town today. Just the two of us. What do you say?"

Guilt twisted in Rapunzel's stomach. She thought of the plan she had come up with in the early hours of the morning. She couldn't go through with the plan until the evening, so what harm could it do? She didn't have plans otherwise, since her tutors had been dismissed for the week. "That sounds wonderful," she finally said, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

Once breakfast was finished, the queen sent for a carriage to be prepared for them. Rowan was not pleased - Rapunzel couldn't begin to imagine what his plans for the day had been - the arrogant prince wore a very unbecoming scowl on his pointed features. Soon enough, the carriage was ready, and the queen and princess donned their heavy cloaks before departing the castle.

The pair made their way from the palace to the town in an awkward silence. Rapunzel hadn't spoken much to either of her parents in weeks, and she felt guilty for it. Sure, she was angry at them and that probably wouldn't change. But she knew that, deep down, they loved her and thought they were doing what was best for her. If they only knew...

Once they had made it to the center of town, the queen asked the driver to stop and let them out. They day was warmer than it had been in weeks, and the mother and daughter left their heavy cloaks behind them in the carriage. Spotting her daughter's favorite bakery, the queen smiled, grabbed Rapunzel's hand, and pulled her along.

Rapunzel and her mother both selected a slice of pie - the queen chose rhubarb, while the princess chose chocolate pie with a thick layer of whipped cream on top - paid the baker, and found a place to sit by the large fountain, which had been shut down for the winter. Another awkward silence. Rapunzel had no idea what to say to her mother, especially in light of what she planned to do that evening.

The queen paused in her eating, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief before speaking. "Dear, I know that the past few weeks have been hard on you. And I know that sometimes it might not seem like it, but I want you to know that your father and I love you very much." Her expression was soft and her eyes warm, and stark contrast from the cold expression she had worn lately.

Rapunzel swallowed hard. "I know," she said quietly. "I love you, too."

"And Rapunzel," the queen continued, "I know that sometimes we may not say the right things, or know what to do. Even though you're eighteen, we've only been parents for just a few months. We're trying, I promise. And I know that all of this may not seem fair - everything with Prince Rowan, and Eugene - but please remember that there are things that we have to do. Being the monarchs of a kingdom means making sacrifices for your people, even if it means that it is at the cost of those you love."

Unable to think of a response, Rapunzel took another bite of her pie and chewed silently.

"Your father and I are just thankful that, once you marry Rowan, you won't have to leave Corona." Rapunzel looked up to meet her mother's eyes, which showed a deep, motherly love that she hadn't known until recently. "We've only just got you back, my dear. We don't want to lose you, like my parents lost me when I married your father."

That phrase echoed through Rapunzel's head. We don't want to lose you. She tried to swallow, but her throat was too tight. She felt as if she were choking on her bite of chocolate pie. But no, it was the sudden rush of guilt and sadness that caused her throat to close. We don't want to lose you. She blinked back tears and forced herself to swallow the food in her mouth.

She managed to smile at her mother, and the queen believed her when she said, "You won't lose me, mother."

When Rapunzel and her mother returned to the castle, it was nearly supper time. Rapunzel quickly brought her purchases upstairs - a small glass figurine of a cat and a small sketchpad - before washing up and returning to the dining hall. Everyone was already seated and waiting for her, and again Rowan was in Eugene's seat. Rapunzel ignored her irritation and sat at his side once more. If she could just make it through this meal, if she could just keep quiet and ignore him...

Rapunzel choked down her meal as soon as it was placed in front of her. Her parents exchanged a look, but neither said anything. Rowan tsked and mumbled something about manners, but he was ignored. As soon as she had finished her meal, Rapunzel asked to be excused.

Her mother gave her a puzzled look, but seemed to accept it. "Very well. Are you sure you're feeling alright, dear?"

It took Rapunzel a long moment to answer. The truth was that no, she was not. She was wracked with feelings of panic and guilt and nervousness. But eventually she managed to choke out, "Yes, mother. I'm just tired."

Before leaving the dining hall, Rapunzel rounded the table and stood beside her parents. "I love you, mama," she said softly, leaning down to kiss her mother's cheek. She moved to her father, and planted a kiss on his cheek as well before saying, "I love you, papa."

After a confused "We love you too," from both monarchs, Rapunzel slipped away from the dining hall, feeling the suspicious gaze of Rowan hot on her back.

Rapunzel hurried to her room, locking her door behind her. For what seemed like the thousandth time that day, she reviewed her plans in her head. They were simple, really, but she was sure to account for every way they could go wrong and every obstacle she would face.

Step 1: Pack.

Step 2: Sneak out of the castle.

Step 3: Break Eugene out of prison.

Step 4: Flee Corona.

That was as far as she had gotten. The first two steps should be easy, though she would make sure to leave later, to assure that Rowan wouldn't see her leave. She didn't know exactly where his bedroom was, but she knew it had to be one of the guest suites in the wing directly below her bedroom.

Step three would be the most difficult. Part of her princess training had involved getting to know each member of the royal guard. By now, she knew them all by name, as well as their favorite colors and hobbies. Regardless of this familiarity, she knew that they wouldn't just allow her to leave with a prisoner. Only the king had that authority, and he had been the one to authorize Eugene's arrest in the first place. This part of the plan would have to be made up as they went along. Eugene had escaped prison before - Rapunzel was confident he would know how to do it again.

And as long as they escaped unseen, the last step would be easy. Easy, but not simple. Rapunzel had come to see Corona as her home. She loved the town and everything in it, and it would be hard to leave. It was harder still to think about leaving her parents behind. She knew it would hurt them. For eighteen years, they had waited for their daughter to come home, fearing the worst. And she was finally home once more, but they had no idea what was about to happen.

Rapunzel felt guilty when she thought about the pain she was going to cause her parents. Even with everything that had happened in the last few weeks - the arguments, Rowan, and Eugene's imprisonment - she loved her mother and father dearly. And she knew that they loved her, but they were bound by their duty. In another life, one where she was not a princess and they were not the king and queen, things could be different. But this was the reality she faced.

Quickly, Rapunzel packed her most important belongings. She picked a few plainer dresses from her closet and folded them neatly, placing them in the bottom of her bag. She added a comb and a bar of soap. She also added her new sketchbook and her pencil set. Remembering the oncoming winter, she added a few thick pairs of socks and a pair of leather boots to her bag. Satisfied that she had everything, she went next to her window seat knelt on the floor, her fingers searching for the loose piece of wooden flooring. When she found it, she pried it up and grabbed her hidden stash of money.

Every time Rapunzel had asked for permission to go into town, her parents had given her a small amount of money for spending. She usually bought something small, but never felt that she needed to spend all of it. She had tried a few times to return the left over money to her parents, but they had waved her away. So she began saving it. It wasn't until recently that Rapunzel had felt the need to hide her stash.

She counted her money quickly, estimating that they would have enough to hold them for about a week. She would make sure to stop by the kitchen on her way out - that way they could hold off on buying food for a while and make the money last longer. Rapunzel decided to add most of her jewelry to the bag as well for good measure - they could sell it or use it to barter. She did not, however include the crown or her ring. The ring was much too precious to her, and the crown would be a dead giveaway to her identity. And if she was being honest with herself, she wanted to leave it behind for her parents.

Rapunzel surveyed her room one last time, making sure she wasn't forgetting anything. A quiet squeak from the window drew her attention, and she rushed over happily when she spied her best friend.

"Pascal!" She exclaimed, picking up the chameleon and hugging him close to her. "Where have you been?" Thinking back, she hadn't seen the reptile in weeks.

He merely shrugged and, through a series of complicated squeaks, communicated that he had gotten lost looking for the kitchen. She shook her head, but Rapunzel was relieved that he had turned up. She had been worried that she would have to leave without him.

Quickly, Rapunzel reviewed what had happened in the last few weeks before proceeding to detail her plan to Pascal. The chameleon nodded and climbed onto her shoulder before giving a thumbs up. Rapunzel slung her bag over her shoulder and donned her thickest cloak. Before leaving, she grabbed her old cast iron skillet from where it was stashed under her bed. And with that, she snuck out into the quiet palace.

First, Rapunzel headed for the kitchen. Hours had passed since dinner, and the kitchen was now empty of cooks and maids. She grabbed a few loaves of bread, along with some cheese and wrapped it all in a large handkerchief before stashing them in her bag. At Pascal's insistence, she grabbed a few oranges and some apples and added those too.

It was then that she realized she hadn't packed anything for Eugene, aside from some food. Cursing her carelessness, she hurried through the dark corridors, hoping she could make it to his room unseen. Since he wasn't in the castle, his bedroom was unguarded and unlocked, and Rapunzel made it in without incident.

Rapunzel knew all of his hiding places, and was able to locate his trusty old satchel and load it quickly. She grabbed a thick shirt from his wardrobe, along with another vest and another pair of pants. She found some thick, winter socks in a drawer and added those, too. She hoped the boots he was wearing would be enough to keep his feet warm in the winter, because there wasn't room for another pair. And, although it made her uneasy, she packed a knife that he had stashed under his mattress. She grabbed his cloak and bundled it in her arms before sneaking back out of his room, closing the door softly behind him.

Eugene's room was located at one end of the guest wing. She had never realized it before, but his room was so close to Rowan's. The thought made her shudder, but she only allowed herself to pause briefly before continuing. Quickly, she located his room.

It was late enough in the evening that there were no guards patrolling outside the prince's door. No light escaped beneath the door, so Rapunzel took this as a sign that he was asleep. If he spotted her leaving, she was sure he would alert the guards and it would all be over. Rapunzel glanced at Pascal, but the chameleon looked uncertain and anxious.

"Calm down," she whispered to him, stroking his head with a gentle finger. "We just need to wait a few minutes and make sure he's asleep. Everything's going to be fine."

Before either could react, the door to the bedroom was thrown open. Pascal squeaked in fright, turning an alarmed shade of yellow. Fearfully, Rapunzel looked up from where she was crouched, her eyes wide with shock.

"My, what a pleasant surprise," Rowan sneered, his cold gaze like daggers as he loomed over her.