Fair warning: Stuff is about to get real serious and real dark next chapter (Chapter 27). I've fully dived into the point by now that Rapunzel is dealing with something intense, mental-health wise. There will be another pre-chapter warning when I post #27.
1. There's a little Easter egg to one of my favorite songs from the TV series in one of the character's dialogue here in this chapter. Leave a review if you think you've found it ;)
2. This is something that's been on my mind for a little bit... but for the best reading experience, this story is meant to be read in chronological order (order the chapters are posted). I know I said on the first chapter I wrote that this story is compiled of one-shots/short stories but this piece of writing has evolved so much since then to the point that, really, skipping chapters will only confuse things further.
3. This is an edited version of this chapter. Check author's notes at the bottom of the page to see what's changed.
3. As always, apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes that fall through the final cut. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 26 - The Chains of Her Sorrows: Part 3 of 4
Subtitle: His way
Type: Four-shot
Description: Eugene takes a shower and is met by Arianna and Frederic when he exits. He and the King have a little one on one 'battle of the wits', and he receives their permission to go along with his proposal.
Eugene slipped back into his bathroom and took a lengthy shower, but only after he finished up the shave job he had made slight progress at before being interrupted by the Queen's frantic movements and her sudden outburst out of his room. He can't lie, he looked like an absolute maniac and clown with a half-shaven face, and he even contemplated about whether or not he should go see Rapunzel looking like that.
But he then came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn't be the best idea, though. If anything, he might make her feel worse, and that's the last thing he wants to accomplish.
As the hot water poured onto his battered skin, he groaned and felt his muscles tense up. Working with sailors all day is no joke. He made sure to wash every part of his body.
Every part of his body. Emphasis on the every.
It took him twenty minutes until he was finally content with his cleanliness, and he stepped out to dry himself off. He slipped on the new clothes he picked out, and while they aren't the same from the days of his travels with Rapunzel during that little crown-heist incident and mishap, they are strikingly similar.
He made this decision for a reason, wanting to remind Rapunzel of the good times, specifically the time they met; he needs to show her that nothing's changed about the way he feels about her since then.
Eugene wiped the steam-covered mirror off with the backside of his hand and inspected his face, feeling the odd sensation of bare skin under his mouth and on his neck. He was originally skeptical of growing a full out beard, but after a while, he felt himself becoming more and more accepting of it. After all, it has helped him out during these cold, autumn days.
He also confirmed his suspicions that yes, his facial hair game is pretty gnarly.
His hair was long enough that it drooped down to his neck, if not a little past it. And he felt this time might be the best to try out something new, something he's never done before. He threw open one of the cabinet doors that rested next to the main mirrors and grabbed a small hair tie. He pulled his hair back and with some maneuvering and a lot of fidgeting, he finally was able to get all his hair into one space, wrapping the tie around it.
Clean-shaven. Ponytail in the back. It's almost like he's a completely new man.
Next, he grabbed his toothbrush and grazed it with toothpaste, and afterward he gurgled some of this horribly-tasting stuff called 'mouthwash'. It apparently would make his breath smell better, or something. He's not going to argue, especially not now because he has to ensure that everything is perfect.
He has to show Rapunzel his dedication for her. He has to show her that no matter what she thinks, no matter the way she sees things right now, that he will go to the ends of this earth to show how much he loves her.
Steam poured out of the bathroom when he opened the door. Through it, he could see the two faint figures sitting down by his fire. A larger one, he presumed to be the Frederic, and a smaller one, which was of course her majesty herself, Arianna.
He bowed. "Your majesties,"
Frederic turned his head up and stood. Arianna stayed seated and watched her husband approach the young man with a solemn look on his face. Eugene clenched his jaw and kept his gaze locked onto Frederic's eyes, feeling the strength and power this man simply emitted from only being there. His presence is definitely one of a king; intimidating, but also loving if you're given the chance to get to know him.
Frederic slowly eyed Eugene up and down before finally resting them back on his brown orbs he has for eyes. He tsked his tongue and placed his left arm on Eugene's shoulder.
Eugene did not flinch, nor did he react; he only kept his eyes locked onto that which was the King's face. He's a foot or so shorter than the King but he intends to not relent or give up as easily because of that minor disadvantage.
He clenched his fists at his side, not angrily, but in a way of authority. "I'm going to propose to your daughter."
Frederic narrowed his eyebrows, "I know."
Eugene raised one singular eyebrow, "And do you know that I intend to do so without being in possession of a ring?"
Frederic slowly nodded his head, the gaze still locked in place. "I have heard such rumors."
"Good. And they're not rumors."
Arianna felt the pure and utter tension the room now possessed because of these two men. She doesn't quite understand what they're doing. Is this a battle of strengths? A battle of their wits? Are they trying to see who will break first?
"Do you have anything to say about that, your majesty? Do you oppose the way I intend to proceed?"
Frederic tilted his head ever so slightly to the side, darting his eyes upward before almost immediately throwing them back down. He shook his head.
"So be it, then."
"Welcome to the family, Prince Consort - Eugene Fitzherbert."
"It's my humble pleasure, father in law, King - Frederic Helmsworth."
"Don't call me that. Never call me that."
"..Noted."
As if both men had the same thing in mind, both of their hands extended to one another and they grasped each other's wrists, both keeping a stern and strong grip for a few seconds before retracting. Their gazes were still locked onto one another as Arianna approached them from her seat, wrapping an arm around her husband's waist.
"We both talked it over, Eugene. We will allow you to propose to her without a ring, but if she accepts, you will take her into town and let her pick out any ring she may want. We will provide you the necessary funds."
He hates this idea. He hates it so, so much. But deep down inside he knows that the bigger, lurking reason that he wanted to work so badly so he could afford the ring on his own, is because that would've been the first time in his life he bought something of value. Something of worth that isn't for himself, but for someone else, with actual valid and legal money he's earned rightfully.
But all bets were called off after he learned about how much Rapunzel is hurting. He cannot wait a minute longer. He will show her that he wants nothing more than to give his every ounce of his very damned soul to her in all ways possible. He will show her that he wants nothing more in this world than to be given the privilege, the honor, of being called her husband.
He still has some questions, though. "Is it really that important?"
"Hm?" Arianna looked up to him.
"The ring, I mean. I'm not opposed to taking her out to pick one on her own, and excuse my language here, your majesty, but I want to know why you're hell-bent on her having one almost immediately afterwards. I know it.. represents the bond, I know it's a symbol of connection, the thought of a bond between two people who love one another, but at the end of the day, it still is an inanimate object nonetheless." Eugene darted his looks between Frederic and Arianna throughout his little dialogue. "I don't need a ring to represent all the love I have for her, nor do I want it to."
"It is of much importance for greater reasons you may soon learn when you become an official Prince Consort," Frederic chimed in.
"I'm guessing that means I don't want to know why, then, until the day comes." Eugene received a nod in response and shrugged his shoulders. "Fine by me."
Frederic and Arianna watched as Eugene walked over to his bed and knelt down, extending his arm underneath it before pulling out a small box.
"What's that?" Arianna asked.
Eugene held a toothpick in between the bridge of two of his teeth, and he grabbed at it before sticking it into the little lock that was keeping this box sealed shut. He fiddled with it for probably a minute before hearing the sound of a *POP* and a creak as the little thing opened its lid to reveal all its contents.
"Some items from my past." Eugene held an arrow in both of his hands, reminiscing on the day he met Rapunzel.
Arianna looked up to her husband and met his gaze, before turning back to look at Eugene. "Eugene, we're not so sure that's the best idea-"
"It is the only idea, your majesty." He closed the container's lid and shoved it back under his bed, not caring to lock it this time. He stood up and brushed the few specks of dirt off his kneecaps. "My apologies for the interruption, but if she has barricaded herself in her room with that dresser of hers like you've said, then there is only one other way of entry." He paused for a second before continuing. "Trust me, your majesty, this is the last thing I want to do... but I just don't see any other option."
Frederic watched with his wife as the former thief walked over to his balcony, seeing him as he gazed upon the starry night sky. Not a cloud can be seen, and the stars are shining as brightly as they ever have.
"..What do you think she'll say?" Eugene looked through the glass into the night.
Frederic and his wife stood there in silence for a moment, unaware that Eugene's question was directed to them. Eugene turned to them after what felt like minutes. "I've wanted to propose to her for so long." He swallowed the lump in his throat, "But I've never thought of the chance she says no. I've never thought of the chance that this is too early, and that I'll do more harm than good if I act now instead of waiting." He looked down to the side as he clenched his jaw and fists, holding back tears as he imagined himself hurting Rapunzel more than helping her.
Arianna released herself from her husband's embrace and slowly walked over to the young man. She looked up to him, and wiped away the few stray tears that had fallen down his cheek with her thumb. "Eugene," she whispered calmly to him. His gaze was kept onto the floor, directed away from her. She said his name again.
"Eugene," she whispered, now tilting his head so it faced hers. She smiled and looked up into his strong, yet troubled eyes. "No matter what she says now, no matter what answer she gives you, this should not affect or change the way you feel about her. I've come to know my daughter in ways that I never thought I would, because you acted selflessly in her honor. Because of something you did. And one thing I've been able to learn about my daughter during these first few months is that you, not me or my husband - you...are the most important person in her life." She watched him as he coughed out a half sniffle - half chuckle. She leaned into her pockets and pulled out her handkerchief before handing it over, stepping back as he blowed his nose into it.
"I...I have to do this."
Arianna looked at him with her emerald green eyes that shined brightly with absolute contentment.
Eugene wiped his face one final time and placed the handkerchief on the table beside his bed. "Rapunzel needs me now more than ever. You both did not do anything wrong by going to her this morning, and I'm... I'm sorry about the way she lashed out at you. I wish I was there...but I understand why you made the decisions you made." He sighed and pried open the doors out to the balcony, feeling the cold rush of the chill of the November night.
"Your majesty, do you remember what I told you that night you woke me up?" He turned his body ever so slightly to the side and looked over his shoulder at the two monarchs. "I told you that I would do anything for your daughter." He took a deep breath. "And that statement, that declaration has not yet changed. I promise you both that I will do everything in my power to break these chains of darkness that have taken her hostage."
He then turned back to the door and continued with his eyes clenched shut. "I promise you, both, that I will make you proud."
Frederic, by this time, had already walked back up to his wife and she had already re-wrapped her arm around his waist. They both gave him gentle smiles in response and he nodded more seriously.
"She needs you now more than ever, son. Go to her." Frederic's soft voice still held immense power to its name even in his current, saddened state.
"Please go help my sweet girl." Arianna's voice was as soothing and calm as it had ever been.
Eugene nodded to them again before taking his first steps out into the darkness. He tightly clenched the two arrows at his side and looked to his right. He saw the faint shape of what he knew was Rapunzel's balcony, and the only thing separating them now was a seemingly endless road of brick walls he would have to climb on and over with all his might.
It will be hard, and it will be challenging. It might even be his most trying climb yet.
But this is something he has to do in order to reach her, to finally hold her close... to finally love her with all his being again, as he's always wanted to.
By the end of this night, Eugene hopes to be an engaged man.
But he hopes even more that he is able to break Rapunzel out of the cage and chains of sorrows that have taken hold of her heart.
A/N: Can Eugene free Rapunzel? Will she accept his proposal? Find out the answers to these questions and many more next time on 'Living the Dream'.
As for edits, nothing changed, just refined dialogue/sentences.
Edit History (MM/DD/YY):
1. 6/12/20