"You will lead me to where you found the princess," Robert told Eugene after shoving him deep into the forest.
"Yeah, okay. I'm working on it," Eugene replied haughtily. Robert pointed his sword at Eugene's chest and said, "I won't hesitate on killing you, Rider. Now show me how to get there." He gestured for Eugene to head forward. Eugene most definitely would have run, but he had no idea where he was. And the sword digging into his back wasn't helping either. Eugene squinted in the darkness, looking for something familiar.
"Why exactly am I bringing you here, again?" he asked.
"Is that really your business, Rider?" Robert said, gripping his sword tighter.
"I don't know… do you think?" Eugene rolled his eyes and blindly led Robert through the forest.
"Rapunzel, I'm sure he's fine… just a little hold up is all," Jonathan said to his concerned daughter. She wanted to believe him, but Eugene had said he wouldn't take long. He couldn't have…? No, it was impossible. Eugene wouldn't take the crown. What if something bad had happened to him?
Rapunzel looked at her father blankly before grabbing a cloak.
"I'm going to look for him," Rapunzel said quietly. Jonathan placed his hands on her shoulders, stopping her from leaving.
"Oh, no you're not. Dear, if he's not back by morning, I'll send the guards out, okay?"
"I'll go look for him." Kathryn had appeared from behind the King and smiled sadly at Rapunzel. "Really, I want to help. I'm sure he's just over the bridge somewhere."
"Kathryn really… I'll send the-" Jonathan began to say.
"Your highness, please. It's the least I could do." She reached for the cloak Rapunzel was holding and swung it over her shoulders.
"Kathryn, are you sure?" Rapunzel asked, "It's already dark outside."
"I'm sure," Kathryn responded, bowing, "Your highnesses." She swiftly left the room and hurried from the castle.
The sun was rising and Eugene still had no idea where he was.
"Rider, where on earth are you going?" Robert asked, irritated.
"Good question," Eugene said. He glanced around him and felt as though he had been here before, with Rapunzel. He quickened his pace and then he saw it; The Snuggly Duckling.
"Robert!" Eugene whirled around and saw a woman racing toward him and Robert. She reached them quickly and was out of breath.
"Robert… King and Queen… looking… the princess…" she panted. Placing her hand over her chest, she took a deep breath.
"Kathryn, what is going on?" Robert asked.
"I've been looking for you since last night. The King is going to send out his guards to find Rider," Kathryn answered. Eugene looked between Robert and Kathryn, confused. Robert rubbed his head and then grabbed Eugene firmly by the arm.
"Come on. We're going back," he said.
"Back? Then what was the point of coming out here in the first place?" Eugene protested. Robert pulled out his sword, silencing Eugene and said, "Don't ask questions." He quickly pulled Eugene away from the Snuggly Duckling, whispering hurriedly to Kathryn. Eugene listened closely, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Would somebody mind telling me what on earth is going on?" Eugene asked.
"Rider, keep your mouth shut," Robert snapped at him.
"No, I won't. First, you surprise attack me, then you tell me to lead you to where I found the princess, and now you want me to go back? What is up? In case you haven't noticed, I'm not your-" Eugene said loudly before Robert suddenly slammed his fist into Eugene's stomach. He doubled over and grabbed at his stomach, coughing.
"Keep your mouth shut," Robert said, enunciating each word. Eugene resisted the urge to punch Robert right back. Robert violently yanked Eugene behind him and they quickly headed back for the castle.
"Rapunzel! Where is Rapunzel?" Kathryn sprinted into the castle and shouted for Rapunzel. Guards were standing around and they all looked curiously at her. "Where is Princess Rapunzel?" Kathryn asked again. Apparently none of them had seen Rapunzel since last night because they all stared at her. Throwing her arms in the air, Kathryn ran up the stairs, toward Rapunzel's room.
By the time she got there, she was out of breath.
"Rapunzel, open up!" Kathryn banged on the door. Rapunzel quickly flung the door open, wanting to know what was going on.
"Kathryn! What is it?"
"Rapunzel… I found Eugene… and so did the captain. Rapunzel, you might want… you might want to come see him. The captain… is bringing him in…" Rapunzel furrowed her eyebrows before truly understanding what Kathryn had said.
"Eugene? He's here?" she asked. Kathryn nodded and Rapunzel quickly ran from her room.
"Where is he? Where is Eugene?" Rapunzel asked the guards. By the time the question had left her lips, she had already seen him. "Eugene! What happened to you? Why were you gone for so…" Rapunzel froze. Her eyes landed on the crown he was holding.
"Your highnesses, I found Rider in the forest, running with the crown!" Robert yelled to the King and Queen, who had just appeared from hearing all the noise.
"Rapunzel, no! Don't believe h-" Eugene began to say before Robert sent another punch directly to his jaw.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel shouted, beginning to run to him. Jonathan held her back, looking directly at Eugene.
"Robert, is it true?" he asked.
"Yes your highness. I saw it with my own two eyes," Robert replied, "That's why he didn't come back last night, I'm assuming."
"Rapunzel, I didn't, he's lying! He had the crown! I couldn't find it. He's had it this whole time!" Eugene cried. Robert yanked on Eugene's arm. Rapunzel stared at Eugene in disbelief. He certainly couldn't have… He promised…
"Rider, stop lying and be quiet," Robert whispered. Kathryn had just made her way down the stairs and quickly made her way to Rapunzel, holding onto her arm.
"Oh Rapunzel, I'm so sorry. I found the captain, and he told me he had found Rider and-"
"No!" Rapunzel yelled, breaking free from Kathryn's grip, "No, I don't believe him! Eugene wouldn't do that. He wouldn't." Eugene let out a small sigh of relief.
"Rapunzel, it only makes sense…" Jonathan said quietly.
"What, you don't believe him either? He wouldn't take it! He promised me, Father. Eugene isn't a thief anymore. You saw! You saw how he's changed! Mother…" Rapunzel turned to Eleanor, hoping for some back-up, "Mother, you believe him, right?" Eleanor looked from Eugene to Rapunzel, thinking. Before she could answer Rapunzel, Robert stepped in and said, "Look, Rider obviously found the crown last night and decided it was better off to leave with it so he could make loads of money off it! He's tried it before, so why wouldn't he try it again?"
"You're lying!" Rapunzel said, stepping toward Robert and Eugene, "I don't believe you." She looked at Eugene and saw his jaw already swelling. Kathryn quickly stepped behind Rapunzel and placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Rapunzel, I'm sorry but-" Rapunzel pushed Kathryn off her.
"Stop! Stop trying to make me believe that Eugene took the crown. He didn't!" Rapunzel said, getting tired of repeating herself.
"Robert, I'm sorry, but we just can't be sure you're telling the truth," Eleanor said, standing next to Rapunzel.
"Eleanor, would he lie?" Jonathan asked bluntly, "He's the captain. I don't think he would lie to us." Eugene looked incredulously between the King and Queen.
"Thank you," Robert said, bowing his head slightly to Jonathan, "Now, shall I take him down to the dungeons?" Rapunzel blinked several times before whirling around to face her parents.
"No… no, you can't!" she shouted, tears forming in her eyes.
"Rapunzel, just for…" Jonathan began to say, before Eugene had started yelling.
"What are you doing? No, I'm telling the truth!" Robert begun to pull Eugene away before the King and Queen could answer.
"No, Eugene!" Rapunzel raced to him, but was pulled back by the guards.
"Rapunzel, don't listen to him!" Eugene said once more before being pulled into the dungeons. Rapunzel stopped for a moment. The guards continued to hold onto her. Why was nobody doing anything? Feeling anger boiling inside her, Rapunzel tried again to make it to the dungeons.
"Eugene!" she yelled. The guards held her back.
"Stop that!" Eleanor said loudly, "Let go of my daughter." The guards instantly dropped their arms and Rapunzel stood there, tears beginning to fall down her face.
"Mother, why did you do nothing?" Rapunzel asked, turning on Eleanor.
"Rapunzel, he's going to be fine. It's your father. I'm going to talk to him later. Eugene isn't going to be punished, okay?" Eleanor told Rapunzel quietly. Rapunzel looked at her mother, then her father. She then quickly glanced at Kathryn, who smiled sadly at her. Without saying anything, Rapunzel turned and ran for the dungeons, and this time, nobody stopped her.
There you have it! How was it? Good, bad, awesome, horrible? Let me know. Hey, guess what? This chapter had 1,560 words :) That's like a record for me! Next one should explain a lot. And hopefully be even longer. So don't forget to review :D