Chapter 12
It began as a normal morning, nothing strange or out of the ordinary.
Except that Eugene and Rapunzel were missing.
The King was about to send the Guards to locate them when Manny explained that he had seen the two of them ride off on Max earlier. He thanked him and told him to go check on the Queen. He was sure that she hadn't slept well, neither did he. He had been up most of the night wandering about the castle.
And he had no idea why.
His daughter had been returned to him and that should have made him happy. He was preparing for a homecoming celebration to welcome his daughter back and that should have made him happy. His wife had been in great spirits last night, but her tossing and turning all night worried him as did his lack of sleep. The King was unshaven, undressed and unmotivated. The King was angry for some reason and he felt as if he was going to lose it all.
So the last thing he wanted to hear was that his wife wasn't doing well.
The King wandered into his study and shut the door. He pulled his robe tighter around his waist and sank into the couch. He placed a hand to his forehead and rubbed it before he let it drop like a stone. He wasn't sure what was happening or why he was feeling this way. He had no idea what was bothering him. His eyes began to grow heavy.
The knock on the door woke him up.
It was the Queen's Lady in Waiting, Megan. Something was wrong with the Queen, she announced, she wasn't herself. She hadn't moved and wasn't responding to her own name.
"Did anyone go for the physician?" the King asked, getting up from the couch. He opened the door.
He looked into Meg's worried eyes as she nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. Manny has gone to fetch him."
It was at that moment that Eugene and Rapunzel entered the study.
"We've been looking all over for you two, man," the King said, frowning.
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Eugene looked around. He looked from Meg's blue eyes to the King's hazel ones.
"We've got some news to share with you, Your Majesty," Eugene said, gripping Rapunzel's hand.
"Not now, my boy. We have other problems to take care of."
"What's wrong, Father?" Rapunzel asked, staring into his eyes.
The King smiled, he always did when Rapunzel addressed him, but he quickly turned back to Eugene. "Come with me, I need your help, all three of you. We are going directly to the Queen's bedchamber. I'm sure the physician is there now."
The King was about to leave, but Eugene placed his hand on his arm to stop him. "You haven't been doing well yourself."
The King shook his head and smiled. "I'll be alright. I just haven't had much sleep is all."
Eugene nodded and took off after the King; Rapunzel and Megan right behind him.
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The King had been right, Manny and Dr. Riley were waiting for them. The two looked up as the crowd burst through the door.
"How is she?" everyone asked in unison.
Devon Riley smiled. "She's asleep, Your Majesty. She was mumbling something that I didn't understand."
"What was it, do you remember, doc? Eugene asked.
The physician gave a slight hint of a smile. "Yes, she did, Your Highness, just one word. 'Beware' was all she said."
Everyone turned their attention to him. "Alright," Eugene continued. "We've got to wake up the Queen, Your Majesty and we've got to keep you up as well. We've all got to get busy and forget about this odd feeling. We can't let her get the best of us."
The King frowned. "What are you talking about, Fitzherbert? The Queen has had a rough night as did I. I'm not going to…"
This is a spell, Your Majesty. We went to meet Tara this morning by the birch, only she wasn't there. Someone named Morgana was and I believe that she's pure evil. I'm not sure if Gothel's spirit has taken over her body or not, but we have to be wary of it. If we don't, she'll have succeeding in destroying this family and Gothel would have won. Do you that to happen?"
The King suddenly realized he was right. He told Megan to wake the Queen, which she did.
"We can't let Gothel's spirit use us this way. We've got to defeat her somehow," Rapunzel said looking into her father's face. "We've got to pull together and work as a team. And I know we can do it."
The King nodded. He turned to find Megan helping the Queen into the bathroom. Rapunzel followed the two of them inside.
"Can I do anything?" the physician asked staring at Eugene.
Eugene shook his head and clapped him on the back. "Just be yourself, Doc. That's all I can ask."
The King nodded. "Thanks for responding so quickly, Devon. We are all grateful for everything you do."
Dr. Riley bowed. "That's what I'm here for, Your Majesty, to serve you and anyone else that needs tending to."
He bowed again and strode from the room. Everyone watched him go.
The King turned his gaze toward Eugene. "And when am I supposed to get some sleep, boy?" he asked, a bit annoyed.
Eugene smiled. "Not now, Your Majesty, but I promise you before the day is out, you'll be exhausted. Believe me, when you start getting busy, you won't even realize that you're tired." He grabbed his arm and escorted him down the hall to his quarters. He sent Manny back to the Guard's quarters.
And if this keeps up, Eugene thought as he opened the door to the King's bedchamber, we'll probably have to burn what's left of that birch tree.
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Morgana waited. They haven't arrived back at the castle yet; she wasn't seeing a reaction yet. Her little fairy spell wasn't working and it should have been. Gothel guaranteed that when her spirit took over this beautiful fairy's body. And Morgana wasn't sure how long Gothel would let her live, either.
But the King and his family were finished, Morgana thought as she smiled. She was sure of it.
