All the abandoned houses were to be checked, any old barns, any pubs - anywhere. Eugene was going crazy - it had been three days and Rapunzel had yet to be found. He couldn't help the guards any - he was kept under close surveillance and he became a mother hen-type to the kids. They weren't taking it well, either - obviously. Aisling had attempted to run away in search of Rapunzel already, so he had to keep an eye especially on her.

Rapunzel wasn't beaten yet. They were planning it, though; she could hear them talking about it in what used to be Gothel's room. This was one of the rare moments that she was completely alone, allowed to think of a plan that gave her freedom and her family safety. Her morning sickness reminded her of yet another reason why she needed to get out of here somehow. Yes; she was a month and a half expectant, and had gone to the doctor just a few days before she had been captured. She hadn't told anyone, and had asked him to keep quiet until the whole 'plot to destroy the royal family' thing had blown over. Her sickness had been more severe than usual for the past few days and she felt off. When she threw up - loudly, unfortunately - Priscilla came rushing out along with the woman from Al'vae.
"What did you do that for?" the raven-haired woman snapped.
"I'm sorry," she bit her lip and tried to cover up her embarrassment.
"You've hardly eaten anything, how are you throwing up? Did you do something to yourself? Did you?" the other woman, Jess, asked, getting in her face.
"No," Rapunzel turned her face away to avoid Jess' face (and her terrible breath).
They left her alone for the rest of the morning and some of the afternoon, until Rapunzel fell even more ill and was terrified. She was fairly certain by then that she was having another miscarriage. When she ended up fainting, she caught the attention of the Stabbingtons.
"What do we do now? Has she fainted? Did she die?" the Stabbington brother who always spoke for the pair said.
The entire group gathered and stared at her. "No. She's still breathing. Get me a pail of water from our basin, Jess," Priscilla ordered. She was the faster-thinking of the bunch. The wiry woman, Jess, did as she was told and came back with a small pail full of tepid water.

Priscilla dumped it unceremoniously over the princess' head, and Rapunzel came to; spluttering, gasping, and choking. "Wh...what...ugh!"
"I'll ask you one more time," she leaned down to say, "and if you don't answer, I'm going to find Jo again and this time, she won't be left safe and sound. What did you do to yourself?"
Rapunzel considered her circumstances. Of course she had to tell them. What use was hiding it, anyway? She knew she was miscarrying and she'd never get out of this wretched prison anyway. "I'm pregnant," she said quietly, "or at least, I was. I think I'm having a miscarriage. That's why I'm sick."
Priscilla stepped back, surprise on her face. Jess looked almost empathetic, but then her face hardened. "Good, then - we needn't any more children of yours or your husband's running about!"
Rapunzel's eyes widened with surprise from the harshness. "What's it matter to you, anyway?"
"Our country suffered greatly from your husband's actions-"
"It-" Rapunzel bit her tongue to keep from answering. A wave of nausea flowed over her, and she considered projectile vomiting at the woman.
"Wait, didn't you have this problem before?" Priscilla asked.
"Why do you need to know?"
"Comply, darling, or your life will be ruined. I promise you that."
"Yes. I did." she looked down at her lap.
"Atta girl." Priscilla left surprisingly fast, nodding for the rest to follow suit.

Rapunzel collapsed up against the post she was shackled to, slamming her head up against it a few times. If she had a headache to begin with, she may as well make it worse. She didn't want to go through this, not again. She couldn't. At least Eugene didn't know - he wouldn't be upset.
When the Stabbingtons walked past, heading out of the tower to get more food and supplies, they each spat at her as they walked by. She didn't lift her head; didn't give them the satisfaction of her desolate expression. When they didn't provoke a response from her, the one stopped and turned back, scuffing his feet right up to where she sat. "Useless filth as you are," he growled. His deep voice terrified her. She could remember it plain as day from when she'd first met them. How much do you think someone would pay to stay young and healthy forever?
"I'm not useless, and I'm only filthy if you let me get filthy." she couldn't fight back, but she could still speak out verbally, and she was upset enough to do it.
He shook his head and then pulled back, kicking her knee before jerking his head towards his brother.
"Come on. Burnin' daylight."

The disjointed day finally focused sometime during the night. Rapunzel couldn't sleep - that wasn't altogether unusual, however - and was finally thinking of what had happened today.
She had her back to the door in which her captors were behind, and she was curled up into a ball, trying to figure out if she could somehow maneuver her arms and shackles so she could have her arms in front of her. If she was extremely flexible, it was possible; but then she'd be nearly flat up against the post. She could, however, still choke someone if need be. A shiver filled her. ...kill someone if need be...she shook her head vigorously. She knew it was the only chance she would have, but she could barely bring herself to as much as consider it. She sighed, her headache worsening, and gave the chain a good, frustrated yank. It didn't give way, of course. Rapunzel blew her hair out of her eyes. What had Eugene taught her? Two hair-pins? Did anyone even have hair-pins around here? She couldn't ask, obviously. Otherwise, she could pick her lock and be on her way!

She finally pushed it out of her mind for the evening, promising herself she'd figure something out in the morning. When she stilled, though, all she could think of was the miscarriage.
She sighed. "I was looking forward to meeting you, baby. You might've been so little and still unborn, but you were already taking a place in my heart," she didn't know who she was talking to.
A candlelight filled the room. "Who are you talking to?" A man with a thick Al'vae accent asked roughly. She quickly pinched her eyes shut and made herself relax, hoping to appear asleep. It didn't work. "Look at me when I enter the room, and answer me. I know your tricks!" he growled, and before Rapunzel knew what was going on, a searing pain ripped through, of all places, the calf of her right leg.
"I-I..what did I do? I was talking to myself! Nobody's here! You're the one with the light, why couldn't you figure that out by yourself?"
"What I thought," he snorted smugly, pocketing a small blade. "New rules. You face the door when any of us enter, or you'll get a nice little slice like what I just gave you. Honor your captors."
Rapunzel nodded, widening her eyes and trying to look scared. Maybe she was a bit scared. He grinned, revealing quite a few lost teeth, and then stalked off.
"Twisted fool," Rapunzel breathed, turning her back once more and ignoring the throbbing pain in her leg.