Hey, I'm really glad that you've liked my previous chapter.
Wow, at last we've crossed 200. Aha, I've never imagined that this story will get that many reviews. And I just gotten reviews from all the talented writers in this site who inspire me much (You know who you're guys!.) I feel honored, really honored. I mean it's really so much for me. Thanks.
But, I'm really disappointed with this chapter because I'm having a writer's block for this chapter (Ah, I hate that!) this one isn't up to the mark so don't hate me here. I also feel a little downed lately but I don't know why. I just want to get out of my writer's block. So be nice to me, ok.
I hope it doesn't ruin the story.
The chapter song is 'Pure love' by Arrash & Helena.
The royal family was sitting in the council room surrounded by the eleven councilmen. All of them were called here in an emergency meeting but now all of them were sitting like statues in their seats. An uncomfortable silence wrapped them all.
It had been almost four hours since the execution of the thief in the morning. And almost four hours had passed since the princess was missing from the castle. King Rupert was sitting in his throne burying his face between his hands. Only the faint sob of Queen Anne could be heard. The redness under her puffy eyes was telling that how much that poor woman was suffering inside. But the visiting Queen Rubina was indifferent about this whole matter. None of the lines of her face was distorted. She was still keeping her usual silent queenly grace before the council. No one could tell what was happening inside the silent queen.
But this uncomfortable silence was really annoying the visiting prince Eltor. He had already completed his fourth round of studying the faces of the people around him. Now he had almost memorized the gestures of the sobbing queen, grieving king, his stone faced aunt and the puzzled councilmen. But now he was at the edge of his patience. 'They all have come here to moan for a thief.' He muttered under his breath. 'It's disgusting!' but still he couldn't explain the events that took place in this morning.
The sun was shining bright in this morning & everything was perfect. People gathered in the public square to see the end of the wanted criminal who robbed them blind for last ten years. The prisoner was taken to the gallows & as usual the hangman tied the noose around the prisoner's neck. A moment later he pulled the leaver & the platform slipped under the prisoner's feet. The crowd cheered with excitement as he disappeared under the stage.
Eltor had never been so thrilled before. 'Now the thief is punished for his sin.' A smile of satisfaction crossed his face. He eyed at the king who was standing beside him, silent like a mountain. But still he could read the lines of sadness in the aged man's face. 'Poor old man.' He tried to hide his grin. He was about to turn his heels to go inside but the old kind remained in his place like a statue. He looked into the eyes of the old man. A few drops of tears were shining on his brown eyes. 'Sir!' the prince placed a hand over the shoulder of his future father in law 'We must go now.' The king tilted his head to meet his future son in law's eyes. 'Yes!' he rose from his seat. But his voice was husky.
None of them noticed the small ciaos forming in the square below. The prisoner was struggling hard to breathe as the noose was pressing his throat tightly but his arms were tied behind him. His whole body was jerking violently and the sick cheer could be heard from the crowd. The hangman was waiting for the right moment to ensure the death. Right then a sword flew from the crowd straight to the noose. The morning sunlight reflected upon its silvery body as it sliced the rope into half leaving the prisoner gasping on the ground. The crowd cheered with excitement.
In a blink of an eye two large men rushed near the prisoner & one of them picked him up from the ground while other men began forming a circle around him. They were armed with swords as well as frying pans which they raised above their heads & yelled 'If anyone tries to come near us, we'll cut you in pieces.'
The crowd began running for their lives while the guards were trying to catch the invaders. But they seemed running faster than the wind. Within a minute they vanished from the town square with the prisoner's body.
'I can't believe this can happen!' King Rupert was wearing a deep frown on his face while the joined him. 'They look like his old alleys. 'The captain said. 'Yes,' King Rupert agreed 'but I wonder who informed them?
Prince Eltor was wondering the same thing too 'Who informed them?'
Just then the worst news came like another flame to the fire. A guard came running from the castle, panting 'Sir, the princess is gone.'
King Rupert couldn't see the face of his fair Queen Anne because she was hiding her face behind her handkerchief. But from the sight of her slightly trembling figure Rupert could say that she was crying. She was crying since this morning. All he wanted to do now, to take her in his arms & kiss her tears away. But the ice between them hadn't melted yet. He could neither see her face nor her expressions. But he knew that she hated him. Yes, he was worth for this.
But inside his heart he also loved his daughter more than his life. He also liked that brave, remarkable young man. He always wanted her to be happy. But the law was blind & he was bound to that. He had to bury the father inside him under the mask of a dutiful king. But no one knew how much he hated to do that. Now he was worth to this punishment. But his wife didn't.
The painful silence wrapped the council room again. Everyone was waiting for one man with one news.
At last the silence was broken by a metallic click at the door. A middle aged man in iron armor walked inside. His body was covered with numerous cuts & bruises. The bright red blood had stained his white shirt. 'Captain!' King Rupert automatically rose from his seat at the sight of his battered captain 'What happened?'
The captain was shivering inside. He had practiced those words in his mind all along his way. But still he wasn't brave enough to speak that. He closed his eyes to take a deep breath. 'Captain, tell the truth.' His eyes flew open with the voice of the queen 'What's wrong?'
'We lost them.' at last the captain managed to speak 'Those men were too much dangerous than I thought. They knocked our men with frying pan. And then an eagle attacked us….'
Before he could finish his words Eltor stopped him 'How on earth you became a captain? You can't fight a few men to retrieve a body of a dead thief.'
'I tried sir.' The captain tried to avoid Eltor's cold dark eyes 'But…..'
'But we can't be sure about Rider's death if we can't find his body.' Now Lord Denvan joined the conversation 'We must hang the body in the public place to show the people about the punishment of the crimes.'
'I agree with you, Lord.' Eltor nodded turning his head towards the captain 'I think you should resign from your post if you can't retrieve Rider's body. As the future ruler of Corona I've power to fire you.'
The heated conversation between the captain & her future son in law was making the queen sick in stomach. But as the time passed she was at the edge of her tolerance. 'Enough!' the sudden bellow from the queen made both the captain & the prince to fell silent. 'Shouldn't we concentrate about finding the princess instead of debating over a dead thief?' her usual gentle eyes were now burning with anger & sadness. She turned her head towards Prince Eltor 'Prince Eltor, how can you imagine to be the future king of Corona when my daughter is missing? Aren't you crossing your limit?'
Eltor didn't dare to meet the queen's eyes. He lowered his head searching for answer. Now he hated that woman. But he needed to keep his mouth shut.
'Please Anne,' King Rupert gently pressed Anne's shoulder with an attempt to calm her down 'Please, this is a council meeting. Please calm down.' Anne turned her eyes at her husband and there was nothing but pure hate for him in her eyes. 'Why should I clam down!' her slender body was trembling with uncontrolled emotion 'My daughter is missing & you've hanged her savior. 'She quickly rose from her seat 'I hate you Rupert. I hate the law which destroys people's lives.' The next moment she rushed out from the council room.
A sigh ripped King Rupert's throat as he watched his wife going. How could he tell her that he was broken inside just like her? But he was helpless. He took a deep breath to pull himself together & looked at his council men 'We must find the princess as soon as possible.' Then he looked at the captain who seemed tired with all of these 'You may rest for a while.' Then he turned his gaze towards Prince Eltor 'You'll lean an army of guards to find the princess.'
"I'll sir.' Eltor rose from his seat & bowed. That old man just spoke the words from his heart. But at first he needed to be sure about Rider's death. If he remained alive, then the crown of Naldora would not remain on his head for long time.
()()()
'Is he dead?' Big nose asked Vladimir as he settled down Eugene's body on the nearest counter. Vladimir gazed at his former alley for a while. The always animated youth was lying strangely still as a stone. The other thugs began to join them in the pub. Their bodies were still covered with sweat & some of them were still holding their swords or frying pan. Their breaths were heavy from the frantic rescue attempt. But they were strangely silent instead of celebrating their victory. 'I don't know.' Vladimir sighed as he tried to fell Eugene's pulse 'But I can't find the pulse. He isn't breathing either.' A silence wrapped the other thugs. Queen Rubina sent her eagle Gale with a message to rescue Rider but what would they answer to her now.
Just then another thug Killer stepped forward from the crowd. 'But we can't give up hope.' He pressed Vladimir's shoulders 'Let me try.' A ray of hope danced in his eyes. Killer had worked as the apprentice of the royal physician in his early age. Sure he knew some trick.
For next half an hour the thugs watched their companion with anxious yet hopeful eyes as he tried to restart Eugene's heart & to bring the air back into his lungs. Beads of sweats began forming on his forehead & his expression was turning grimmer & grimmer. At last the surprised thugs found a stray tear shining at the corner of the stone hearted man.
'I think we're a bit late.' He whispered with a voice heavy like dark cloud. No one uttered anymore words. Slowly they began forming a circle around their former companion. The eyes of these stone hearted men were blurred with tear. This young man was too young to die & he died in a wrong way. The world hated him. But still he deserved a few drops of tears from his friends.
But the silence was broken with soft footsteps. The thugs turned to find a young woman appearing from the darkest corner of the pub. Her face was covered with a thick veil of sorrow. She was about to fall when she noticed the man lying unmoving in the centre of the crowd.
'Princess!' Big nose rushed near her to support the grieving young girl.
()()()
Rapunzel didn't know when she had walked into the light from her dark secluded shelter. She didn't know when she was taken near the still body of her beloved. She had no idea when she fell on her knees beside him. But now she was sitting beside him, her beloved & savior lying still as a stone, silent as a mountain. After a long time she had seen him not in the dark shadows of the prison but in the freedom of the outside world. But nothing could bother him anymore.
He looked extremely peaceful as if he was sleeping. His breathtaking smile was still lingering to his lips as if he was dreaming. The front of his shirt was open due to the resuscitation attempt of Killer revealing his tragically beautiful body which she had never seen before.
The princess sat there enchanted by his unworldly handsomeness, unable to resist the urge of touching him. The world around her disappeared, even the people around them leaving only two of them alone.
Her shaky fingers at last met Eugene's handsome face, tracing the lines of his perfect nose, inviting lips & outlined his strong jaw line. He felt strangely alive & warm under her fingertips. Her fingers traveled down to his neck where the hangman's noose had left a blue bruise on his fair skin. Her body shivered with the thought of his pain when that noose was tied around his neck. Her exploring fingers reached his collarbones which met his wide shoulder bled like the wings of an eagle. She had never seen his enchanting beauty before & now she wanted to explore him for the last time.
Her curious finger traveled over his bare chest & then reached the pale scar in his side which Gothel gave him on that fateful day in the tower. But the magic of her tear brought him back to her. But the magic had left her forever & nothing could bring him back to her.
Her trembling fingers reached the tattoo o a tiny eagle above his navel. It was soaring it's head high with pride. Rapunzel could see the refection of Eugene's cocky nature in the proud eyes of the eagle. But she had never known about that tattoo on his body. But this art on his skin made him more irresistible.
But she had never imagined seeing him like that. She wanted him to guide her to his deepest secret in her wildest dreams. But when the chance came to her, he was far away from her reach.
She had many things to ask him, many questions to be answered. But it was late, too late for everything. But she had to answer his last question before he was taken from her forever. She lowered her head to place her lips near his ears & whispered 'Do you want to know the answer of your question, Eugene? It seems ridiculous but I need to tell you now. My answer is yes. Yes, Eugene Fitzherbert I'll marry you.'
She had dreamt for this moment for many nights. She imagined the smile would light his face & the silvery starlight dancing on his brown orbs. But the dream was gone. She woke up in the cruel reality.
Her lips gently met his lips for the last time. His body hadn't cooled dawn yet. Still he felt so alive & warm in her lips as he was always.
She placed her right hand flat on his chest where his strong heart used to beat once. She settled her head over his heart with a faint hope to hear his fluttering heartbeat again. Still she was hoping for a miracle.
All she wanted to cry her heart out. But her eyes were dry, strangely dry as a desert.
Aha, here it is. Now I know where to go & what to do with this story. Hope you'll stay with me in this crazy ride.
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