hey guys, such a bad today, so i thought id cheer myself up and get this out.
im so glad you all joined me in a group "aw"
princess shahrazad: i thought that building up the relationship was better than plunging straight in, as i wanted to show everyone the love and respect, but dont worry there will be smut soonish
aimakichan: i know, the thought of Gothel finding out scares me too, but i think i may have some fun with that
le champignon: thanks that was so sweet.
disclaimer: as always i own nothing but a email account with some very horrid, rude emails from many tutors for some very trivial things
Chapter Eleven
"Rapunzel! Let down your hair!" Came the sickly sweet voice of Gothel, just short of an hour after Eugene left the tower. Rapunzel rushed around the tower making sure everything was in order and that there was no visible sign that she had left or brought someone back.
"Rapunzel, I'm not getting any younger down here!" Gothel yelled up again.
"One moment Mother!" Rapunzel yelled down as she once again hooked her hair up before throwing it down. As she began to pull Gothel up she realised how much easier it was to help Eugene up, he did most of the work himself, whereas Gothel relied on Rapunzel to pull her up.
"Welcome home Mother! How was your trip?" Rapunzel said as she hugged her mother.
"Hello dear," Gothel said with a sigh while removing her cloak and hanging it up on the hook by the window.
"The trip was long dear and exhausting, but I did what you asked. I finally found you those paints. It was so much hassle though, I have no idea why I went so far for paint." Gothel said with her voice dripping with sarcasm, which Rapunzel of course confused for actual sincerity. Gothel smiled to herself as the girl looked down at her hands, obviously looking guilty. Sometime Gothel thought it was really too easy to keep this girl in the palm of her hands.
"Rapunzel, will you sing for me, to help me get my strength back." Rapunzel of course nodded and began rushing around to find the chair and the brush that Gothel always used.
After Rapunzel sang to Gothel she finally got her paint. She looked down at it thinking that her mother had been so wonderful to go so far to get her this treasure. She shouldn't have asked her and how no idea why she asked for such a feat, then she remembered Eugene and the floating lanterns. She must have been smiling far too much as Gothel said.
"I had no idea something so simple could cause so much joy. Oh well, simple minds, simple amusements, as the saying goes." Gothel giggled at the dig she made towards Rapunzel, but was quite surprised to see that Rapunzel had not risen to it.
"Rapunzel, dear, are you alright? You look a little flushed."
"What? Yes Mother, I'm fine. I'm just so glad you're back." Rapunzel exclaimed quickly.
Gothel seemed to take this answer, as she had no reason to doubt Rapunzel. Gothel could not imagine such an extraordinary event as her adoptive daughter meeting a man and having him spend the night.
"Did you watch the stars then?"
"Yes I did mother and they were… amazing," Rapunzel said dreamily, thinking back to her night on the lake with Eugene and the kiss they had shared.
"Rapunzel, I can't help but notice you seem a little distracted. Is everything alright?" Gothel asked coming closer to Rapunzel as if to peer into her very soul.
"I… I had… a dream." Rapunzel stuttered out, trying to hide the truth from her mother.
"A dream, what sort of dream?"
"Well," Rapunzel thought quickly. She had no idea what to tell her mother.
"Rapunzel, was there a man in this dream?" Gothel asked, starting to look horrified. Rapunzel merely nodded thinking that the best way to get out of this situation was to allow mother to have her rant at her.
"Rapunzel, sit down." Gothel said motioning for her daughter to join her, which Rapunzel immediately did, "tell me about this dream."
"I was with a man and we were… in bed, together,"
"Rapunzel, you wicked child!" Gothel yelled, coming to her feet, "What else have you not been telling me?"
"Nothing mother!" Rapunzel yelled.
"How many times have I told you of the evils of men! They come in and they hold you down and rip apart you private area to plant their wicked seed. That's all they want. To use us for their perverse pleasures. They cause so much pain and they leave us to bleed to death or worse, they make us grow their wicked seed inside of us. Then this will burst from us, almost certainly killing us!"
"What about father?" Rapunzel eventually asked, though quietly.
"Your father? Your father! Your father almost destroyed me. If I hadn't known what to do, then I would have been lost too. I do not want you to go through the same thing Rapunzel. Is that what you want, to end up like the countless lost women out there?"
Gothel continued like this for another hour and a half, after which Gothel sent Rapunzel to her room to reflect on her wicked behaviour. After tidying her room and putting her new paints away she lay down on the bed and looked at Pascal, who had decided to hide in Rapunzel's room once he had heard Gothel shouting.
"Eugene wouldn't do that, would he?" She eventually asked, but all Pascal could do was shrug.
"I don't think he would. That morning he was so sweet and loving. Is that what he was doing? Trying to steal my virtue?" Again another shrug from Pascal.
"But I wanted it to happen. Its not stealing or tearing or forcing or destroying if I let him?" A strange face and shrug this time.
"I don't know what to do or think! I wish he was here to ask or someone else. I can't possible ask mother." Pascal just gave her a sad face while he climbed on her shoulder. Rapunzel meanwhile had pulled out the small square of cloth that held the kingdoms sun symbol. She looked at it lovingly then held it close to her chest while turning over to look out of her bedroom window.
"I hope he comes back soon."
Meanwhile Eugene and Max were making their way through the forest back towards the Snugly Duckling. Both had no intention of returning into the bar but had no idea what to do with their time now that Rapunzel was back in her tower.
When they arrived they both looked further down the road which would take them back to the kingdom. Then they both looked at the satchel which no longer held the crown.
"I gave it to Rapunzel, I thought that would be the safest place for it. I don't plan on selling it yet." Eugene admitted to Max, "But, I will eventually. It will help me and Rapunzel have a normal life. And I know you want the best for her. So what do you say Max, you willing to let me go this time?"
Max looked back towards the kingdom, where he swore he would serve, protect and uphold the law. The he looked in the direction that would take them to Rapunzel's tower. From what he had heard this girl needed a new life and the money that the crown would generate would greatly help that. Finally he looked at the man in front of him. He saw that he was not the same man as he started chasing three days ago, he seemed changed somehow.
Max then looked at Eugene to say "You going to keep stealing?"
"I have no other way to make money. Wait a sec, did I actually understand what you were trying to say?" Eugene said looking completely horrified. Max only nods.
"I promise once I get her out of there we'll go somewhere far away and we won't bother you or any of the guards again." Max then nods again.
He then looks at Eugene as if to say, "You hurt her and I'll hurt you in ways you can't possible imagine."
"Kind of expected that."
Max looks at him again to tell him that if he gets caught he can't help him out again.
"Understand completely. It won't be for long, I want to get her away from that tower as much as you do." Max then nods again before turning away from Eugene to continue on his way back to the palace while Eugene has to enter the Snugly Duckling. He had to find a new job to do so he could raise enough money to retire. His dream now consisted of him, Rapunzel and a cottage somewhere in the country. This still needed money, but hopefully some good jobs over the next few months would get them well on their way.
as always reviews are wonderful, and id be interested to know where everyone thinks this is going or if you have ideas that i may be able to incorporate, even know im three chapters ahead of what ive published.
