A/N: Did I ever mention that I hate writer's block. It's now nearly 6 months and it seems that I can't create anything worthsome. It's a pain, I can tell you.

Nevertheless I somehow was able to write down this chapter and - surprise, surprise - I dosen't suck as much as I thought it will while writing it. :)

Many thanks to my awesome reviewers: pureangel86, lilyluna13 and Anonymous. It wouldn't be the same without you! Thank you for the support, this really helps to at least try to create a new chapter.

That's it, folks. Nothing more to say, except I hope you enjoy and reviews would be lovely. I'm craving for them. ;)

Hugs & Kisses! *waves and jumps out*

Disclaimer: Not mine. Disney's the genius.

Chapter 11

Nearly a day had passed and there was still no answer from his uncle. He sat at the desk in his royal office, loads of paperwork overflowing the surface and his generals waiting outside. After nearly eight years he had a lot to catch up on. Still, his thoughts were occupied, faltering between joy and worry. His chin rested in one of his hands, his eyes drifting out the window without realizing what they saw, the back turned away from his table.

"Adam …" Her soft voice brought him out of his reverie and made him turn around. It still sounded strange, his name coming from her mouth, but made him smile every time nonetheless.

"Belle …" He smiled at her, but when he saw the worry on her face it slipped away fast, "What's the matter, love?"

The young woman stepped nearer and finally stretched out her hand. She held a letter, but her face was showing concern.

"This letter just arrived, but it's not from your uncle. The messenger said it's very urgent and needs your immediate attention."

He stood up and took the letter from her hands, surprise washing over his face when seeing the royal seal of Corona, but only for a second before tearing the envelope open to retrieve the letter. It was written in a neat, very feminine script and the message it contained was disturbing. At the end stood the words 'remaining in deepest friendship, yours sincerely Queen Lilian of Corona'.

Adam had to reread the letter twice, but finally his hands dropped to his side and his face showed determination. He turned around, rushed over to his desk and rang a small bell. A moment later Lumière stood in the room.

"Let the bags be packed, Lumière, and the fastest horse should be saddled. I'll leave within the next hour."

The servant looked surprised, but bowed nevertheless, and was gone only a second later. All the while Belle stood in the middle of the room and observed the whole scene. When the man didn't make an effort to explain his behavior, she stepped up to him and stopped him searching furiously through some papers by taking his hands in hers.

"I know it's none of my business, and I also know I'm way to curious for my own good, but I'm also worried, Adam. Please don't leave me in the dark. What did the letter say? Is it news from Eugene? Did something bad happen?" Her eyes were wide and curious and the worry in her voice made him wrap her in his arms.

Then he told her what he just learned. And what he was about to do.

oOo

Rapunzel sat in her chambers, starring out the window, overlooking nearly all of the Fennimore Estate. She was deeply engrossed in her thoughts while observing Flynn and one of the Fennimore-boys train.

When she arrived at breakfast this morning it seemed everybody was in a bad mood. And after what she learned from Pascal just the day before she probably could figure out why.

Flynn sat in his chair at one of the heads of the table, she herself at his right. Viscount Fennimore occupied the other head seat, to his right the Viscountess. Nobody looked really hungry.

The plate in front of Flynn was still untouched, and he seemed absentminded. Still, when spoken to him he was polite and charming and very, very handsome. Rapunzel hadn't missed the looks Hendrik's only daughter Lorraine gave him. Every time she saw it, it felt like a little stab in her heart and she really had to concentrate to not glare at the other one. Rapunzel had not the right to do that, she wasn't Flynn's betrothed and all the Fennimore's were very good-hearted and nice people. It wasn't fair of her. Still, every time it felt like someone was ripping her heart out.

Shortly after breakfast the young man excused himself, nearly storming out of the room, not giving her the chance to talk to him. It was Lorraine of all people who came up to her and offered to spend the rest of the morning in each other's company. Rapunzel smiled a little and then nodded.

They spent the morning in the library, hardly ever concentrating on any words, before Rapunzel couldn't take it anymore and excused herself, nearly fleeing back to her chambers. She needed to talk to Flynn.

She always thought when she finally escape the tower she would be happy. She would be free. She never really felt like she belonged to her Aunt. Now looking back she realized it never felt like home, like family. Rapunzel was always sure that at some point she would leave that tower, find herself a nice home, a nice man. Live a happy life.

But today everything felt like a burden. Her freedom. Knowing who she really was. The things she learned the last couple of days. And not knowing how Flynn was doing was the worst burden of all.

oOo

"He will be safe?" The worry in her voice was unmistakable.

"I wish I could promise you that, dear."

"Will he return?" Worry mixed with fear.

"I may not know much, but this I can guarantee: Nothing in the world will keep him from returning."

"I'm not sure he knows how much I love him …"

"Trust me, dear, he knows. The broken curse is proof enough."

Belle saw Adam riding off, knowing sleep would be scarce the following nights.

oOo

Flynn's sword shot down and his opponent – Karl, Hendrik's oldest son – was only able to react in the very last second. They sparred for nearly an hour now, and the young man knew that it wouldn't take much longer before he was overpowered, Fitzherbert seemed unstoppable.

The reason behind it was rage. And hurt. And the feeling of defeat.

Rage when he thought about the fact, that his uncle was held prison in the castles dungeons. That the King – their friend and the man they promised to protect – sentenced him to death. When he thought about Rapunzel being promised to this sly scumbag Erevan. His Rapunzel. Sweet, innocent, gorgeous, wonderful Rapunzel.

And hurt, when he couldn't come up with a plan to rescue either of them. When time seemed to be running out.

Defeat, when Rapunzel smiled at him with sparkling eyes, unaware about the plans which were made for her future, without her knowledge. Without a choice. And he couldn't do anything about it. When she wanted to return to the royal court – to her family – he needed to assure that nobody ever knew that he was the one who found her, who brought her back. Nobody could ever know that they were acquainted to each other. He was the public enemy number one, so clearly no proper association for a princess.

Karl raised his hand, showing Flynn that he gave up. There was no chance to win this fight against the Prince of Laventie. Both men's breath was heavy from exhaustion.

"You're sure this plan will work, Eugene?" Karl bent down under the water-jet of the well to wash away the sweat on his face and in his hair.

"It has to." Flynn copied the other man's actions. When he looked up afterwards his eyes fell on the dark haired figure in one of the windows. He excused himself and hurried away.

oOo

"No!"

Never before in her life was Rapunzel so vehemently against something. Never before in her life, she stood her ground. Never ever before was she so afraid.

"This is my only chance, Princess. You need to stay out of it."

After he discovered her in the window and excused himself from the sparring, he made his way into the Fennimore-estate and up to her chambers. His heart was beating fast, and he was actually a little afraid of the things he needed to tell her shortly, for Fennimore and himself came up with something close to a plan the night before, although way too many uncertainties came along with it. Normally a plan way too risky for a Flynnigan Rider, but this time he had no other choice. It was risky and dangerous, and most probably doomed to fail, but it was also a chance to safe his uncle. His only chance.

So he came to her to tell her about it and ask her to stay out of it. He tried to make her see, that he wouldn't – he couldn't succeed if he knew she wasn't to return safely to the royal court. Flynn was worried about her and he tried to make her understand.

Rapunzel refused vehemently to understand. She herself was worried about his well-being and this rescue-plan was more of a suicide-plan than anything else. And if she saw just the remote chance for him to stay well and alive she would take it. Without hesitation.

"Didn't you hear me? I said no! I put my veto in!" She crossed her arms in front of her, eyebrows knitted. Her grass-green eyes literally shot daggers at him. If Erevan wouldn't kill him, surely Rapunzel would have the honors.

Flynn frowned, "You have no veto!"

Rapunzel gasped, "I sure do!"

"You don't!"

"I do!"

He grabbed her shoulders, their noses nearly touching. "NO! YOU! DON'T!"

She tried to struggle free, but his grip – although not painful – was like iron. This made her furious – and at the same time worried sick. She nearly choked up, her gaze determined, but her heart sinking with a bad feeling the longer he tried to stare her down.

"Don't you dare …" In the very last second she held in a sob, tears glistering in her eyes, needing all her willpower to not let them fall.

His grip softened, but he didn't let go of her, while his face changed from angry to pleading. He started to talk again, this time not with rage, but softly begging, "Rapunzel! Please! Promise me! You need to promise me not to intervene, no matter what! I need to know that you are safe. If anything happens to you …," he cut himself off, taking his eyes from her for a mere second, before his gaze returned, his eyes boring into hers with determination, "Please, sweetheart! Promise me."

He addressed her with one of the endearments he so often used in the last days and she hated him in this moment, for she couldn't deny him this promise, even if everything screamed at her to not let him get away with this, to not cave in, to stand her ground. For his sake, and only his. Because this was everything that was important to her, knowing he was safe.

But Rapunzel saw his face, saw the worry for her wellbeing, the fear for her not being able to return safely to the royal court. How could she disappoint him in any way? He was looking at her so desperately, how in the world could she deny him anything he asked for?

"I promise."

He released the breath he was holding and she stepped forward and embraced him tightly.

TBC