Before Everything Falls Apart
By- An Unknown Foreign Beauty
.
.
I am so lonely broken angel
I am so lonely listen to my heart
.
.
Everything felt so cold.
It was not even winter. But the cold inside him was sending shivers to his bones. He felt a small hand cradling his head, another clutching his right hand to a mess of now brunette hair. She was singing, her voice broken and there were tears on her cheeks.
She was crying….for him. Never in his life had he imagined somebody crying over his body. He imagined dying before, in many ways, mostly heroic- but not like this. Not like being stabbed in the back and the girl he loved crying over his dying body. He wanted to say something. He wanted to let her know how much she meant to him. He was fighting hard to stay conscious. He coughed, and even the slightest movement sent a thousand daggers through his body. There was so much pain. His hand began to slip from her grip.
"Eugene!" He heard Rapunzel's cry. His eyes opened to a slit.
"Rapunzel…" He whispered almost inaudibly. His throat felt parched. A thick curtain of fog was threatening to obscure his vision. He could feel his lifeblood seeping away slowly through the wound. There was blood everywhere- on the floor, on his clothes, on Rapunzel's hands… Every intake of breath was a struggle. No matter how much he wanted to stay conscious, he couldn't do it anymore. His eyes began to drift close.
"No!" Rapunzel gasped and tightened her grip around his hand. She couldn't let him go…not like this.
"Eugene…" He felt her hand gripping his and shaking his shoulder. He had not much strength left to open his eyes. His body felt so heavy. Darkness was pulling him deeper and deeper into the realm of unconsciousness. "Eugene…" She shook his shoulders so hard, that he coughed into consciousness.
"Rapunzel?"He asked wearily. "Here," She cooed, placing a hand along his cheek. It felt so good, so warm against his cold skin.
"Stay with me." She said. Eugene nodded. He felt so exhausted to speak.
Rapunzel gazed worriedly at Eugene's wound and the blood still seeping slowly from it. She tore a piece from her purple skirt and wound it around his wound. "Don't go to sleep." She said when she was done. Eugene nodded again, but he didn't know how long he could stay awake. His eyes felt so heavy.
The cold wind blew through the window, sending chills to his bones. Eugene looked at Rapunzel, she was shaking too. Not from cold, but from fear and worry…of losing him.
What would he do now? Yes, he had saved her from the woman she called mother, but he couldn't save her from the heartbreak. Nice work, Fitzherbert, he thought wearily, you have screwed things up again.
But there was one more thing he could do.
"You are my new dream." He told her, summoning all the remaining strength, wishing these to be his last words before death.
"And you are mine." She whispered back, her tears soaking his shirt. She was suffering. He hated to see her suffer. If there was any way to keep her pain away…
.
.
Don't, don't be afraid
I'll be by your side, leading the way
.
.
Blood was still seeping through the makeshift bandage. Rapunzel's hand hovered over his wound, thinking about trying the incantation again. But the way the cough rattling in his chest, the way his lungs struggled with every labored breath, she dared not to rely on hope. Under her palm, his heart was fanatically beating, trying to keep him alive. A faint moan escaped from his lips when she carefully settled him on the floor, almost breaking Rapunzel's heart again. She could not leave Eugene's survival on chance, not when he was fighting so hard. She couldn't waste the precious time they had in crying.
She had not much idea about the outside world. But there might be ways to save people without magic. She heard the term sometimes….Healer…Yes that was it.
All she needed to carry him to down and then to the city perhaps….find a healer, except she had no idea where to find one.
She looked at the manacle still chaining Eugene to the pillar. She could think about the ways to find a healer later. First, she needed to break this chain. Fortunately, there was a hammer in her so-called mother's room. She never thought about its use before. But now she knew.
Her eyes never left Eugene, watching the strained rise and fall of his chest as she worked on the chain. Finally, when she was able to break the shackle, she was sweating, chest heaving from exhaustion. She ran near Eugene, still lying on the floor, unresponsive. In the faint light of the sun outside, she could see the paleness of his skin. Almost like a ghost. She would think him dead, if not Eugene's eyes opened to a slit again. His lips moved as if to form some kind of word, but Rapunzel placed a finger over his lips and shushed him. She could not let him waste the last bit of precious energy he had. Her eyes darted to the blood flow which now slowed down to a trickle, she decided to tie another layer of bandage before moving him. Then she slipped one hand under his torso and made him sit. He had not much energy left to keep him upright. Rapunzel's heart bled with every whimper and cries of pain escaped from his lips as she slipped his arm over her shoulder and hers around his waist. With another swift movement, they were standing up.
"Sorry," Rapunzel whispered as Eugene let out another cry of pain. His knees buckled, but Rapunzel almost draped him over her body to keep him from falling. He was heavy, but she did not know where she got such energy to carry him downstairs. Every step was a struggle. Eugene was panting and moaning with every step they took, and Rapunzel kept apologizing, not knowing what it was for. Fortunately, Maximus was waiting for them at the end of the stairs. He looked horrified when he saw Eugene's bleeding form barely hanging from Rapunzel.
"Max, can you help us to find…um…" for a moment Rapunzel struggled to find the right term, "A healer, perhaps?"
Maximus neighed and kneeled on the ground. Rapunzel half dragged, half carried Eugene to the horse and nudged him awake. He didn't look much conscious now, but he followed her command anyway, trying to slip his legs over Maximus' saddle. It was a futile attempt, but Rapunzel was relieved to see him still moving. Then she sat behind him, carefully settling his head in the crook of her neck. Maximus stood up with a jolt, tearing another cry of pain from Eugene.
She saw her mother's cloak lying at the bottom of the tower, holding nothing but a handful of dust. She blinked. No, she wouldn't look at it, wouldn't think about it. A drop of tear threatened to gather at the corner of her eyes. Rapunzel blinked it away; instead, she gathered her concentration on Eugene who was shivering violently against her.
It was a long journey; incredibly slow for Rapunzel's taste. Maximus too was not a fan of slower speed. But with all the horrible sound that Eugene was making with each jerk on the bumpy path, they considered taking it slow, and it did no good to Rapunzel's accelerating anxiety. She tucked a spare cloak she brought from her mother's room around him, and pulled the hood over his head, carefully hiding his face from the curious crowd they draw along the way. Maximus ignored everyone and marched straight to the first human habitation they found.
The Snuggly Duckling.
Maximus kicked open the door, earning an annoyed look from the people inside. But soon they recognized the girl with now short brown hair (surprise), and a bleeding Rider in her arms.
She almost cried at the sight of familiar faces.
"Rapunzel?" It was Attila who recognized her first, and soon rest of the pub gathered around her, asking questions.
"Please." She cried, unable to stop the tears flowing from her eyes, "He needs a healer first. He is dying."
"I know a healer." Big nose said, and rushed out of the door. The rest of the thugs crowded around her and Eugene, helping her to dismount, and carry Eugene from her arms. Rapunzel felt a surge of panic when they took him away and settled him on a counter. Their faces turned grim at the sight of his wound. Bright red spots began to appear over the second layer of bandage she tied around the wound.
Rapunzel's anxiety increased with every second that passed, as she held Eugene's hand, waiting for the healer to arrive, counting each rise and fall of his chest silently. Every moment felt more agonizing than the last. Eugene was now too quiet for her liking. The only thing she could feel the faint beat of his pulse under her thumb.
The rest of the pub thugs remained around her. Hookhand rested his good hand over her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Rapunzel. Rider has a strong heart." He whispered.
Rapunzel tried hard not to cry.
.
.
Feeling in love, don't want it to end
Less in a dream, it's breaking my heart
.
.
It was midnight, and the only source of light was the moonlight coming through the window. The pub thugs carried Eugene to a dingy room upstairs when the healer finally arrived after an agonizing hour.
Rapunzel was slightly taken aback by the appearance of the healer. The man looked ancient, with a pair of spectacles hanging over his nose. His hand trembled with every movement he made. Rapunzel didn't meet a healer before, but somehow she couldn't find much confidence. But in the current situation, he was the only hope.
She could still remember the angry wound in Eugene's side, gaping wide enough to offer a view of some of his innards. She almost puked at this unsightly appearance of the once handsome thief. He was so pale, panting, and even though it was only the cooling off, he was shivering. With a trembling hand, the healer widened the gap with a small knife (Scarpel, she learned the term later). Rapunzel let out a cry when she saw the knife in the healer's hand, making Attila drag her out of the room. She stayed downstairs for another hour, shaking violently against him.
She was allowed to see Eugene another hour later. Fortunately, his wound was stitched and bandaged, so she had not to suffer that horrible sight again. He remained unmoving in the bed, paler than the sheets under him. "Eugene," Rapunzel almost panicked again, fearing that he had died during the surgery. But soon calmed down when the healer explained about the strong painkillers and sleep medicines he was given.
Shorty offered to stay with her for the night, but now he was on the floor, snoring loudly. Pascal was sleeping over his balding head. Eugene's clothes laid discarded at the corner of the room, so much caked with blood that she couldn't even make out the original color of his shirt. Rapunzel turned her gaze away from them. No, she didn't want to see them anymore, not any more of Eugene's blood.
The cold night wind blew, and Eugene stirred. Though he was under some strong painkillers, there were lines of pain around his eyes. "Eugene?" Rapunzel scooted closer, placing one hand over his shoulder. He was murmuring something that Rapunzel could not understand, except her name repeated over and over. Whatever nightmare was plunging him in his unconsciousness involved her. "Eugene." Rapunzel placed a hand over his shoulder, trying to shake him awake. His eyes snapped open, but there was no indication that he could recognize her. His hands frailed aimlessly on the bed, as he called out for her again.
"I am here," Feeling helpless, Rapunzel wrapped her arms around his shoulders, with a hope to soothe his nightmares. Eugene thrashed again, one elbow managed to clip her stomach and Rapunzel fell beside him over the mattress. His other arm encircled her waist.
In the faint silver light of the dying moon, Rapunzel noticed a few drops of sweat on Eugene's lips. Placing her hand on his forehead, she found him burning up. The cold air was pricking her skin, sending goosebumps wherever her skin remained uncovered. Rapunzel sighed and tried not to jostle him too badly as she sat up. Not that it seemed possible to even move him at this point, what with the death grip his arm had around her waist. She reached for a bowl, which she found thankfully on the bedside table, and dabbed a piece of cloth in the cold water. She smoothed the hair around his face. It was so soft and thick. Carefully she placed the wet cloth over his burning forehead. He shuddered, face twisting with pain. Her eyes remained on Eugene's chest, straining with each intake of breath.
With a sigh, Rapunzel poured the pain medicine given by the healer in a cup. He was in so much pain, that it hurt her to see him like this. Maybe...maybe, mother was right all along. It was her fault. If only she listened to her and healed him first... no, she pushed the thought aside. Lowering the cup to his face, she prodded his mouth open, pressing the rim closer. He frowned and tried to move his head. Rapunzel held him still, a careful hand on the side of his face. As he protested again, she murmured a low reproach, "Come now…"
Finally, still looking pained, he began to drink.
The first gulp was sloppy, most of the draught ending up on the side of his mouth. For a moment she feared that he wouldn't be able to keep it down. The next was a little better, but only just. She massaged his throat with her free hand, trying to get him to swallow as much as he could.
Fortunately, he took in more and more, until the cup was empty. Lowering the cup Rapunzel watched him anxiously.
Slowly and very slowly his breathing began to become even, his eyes closing, lines of pain in his face smoothing.
"Thank you for everything you did for me," She whispered to him, knowing he was not able to hear her. But it was a strange kind of comfort- holding him, watching him breathe. An emptiness threatened to engulf her whenever she wanted to imagine his absence in her life. It was like a string that kept two of them together.
Suddenly a warm feeling engulfed her mind, along with a surge of protectiveness for Eugene. She never felt like this for anyone before. What was this feeling called? Love? She claimed that she loved her mother. But this? She was not familiar with this feeling. She remembered the last words he said in the tower.
She looked down at him. Somehow his head ended on her lap, cheeks pressing against her thighs. He had slipped into unconsciousness again. His warmth was pricking her skin under her half-torn skirt.
After the healer was gone, they had cleaned him up and changed him in a loose white shirt opened in the front. Attila said it was convenient for tending his wound and changing the bandages. Now it was closed with two ribbons tied haphazardly in the front, giving Rapunzel a glimpse of his chest. Feeling a bit courageous, she slipped her hand under his clothes, and pressed her palm over his chest, counting each beat of his heart. Eugene shuddered slightly. Rapunzel blushed and withdrew her hand. But his hands clutched at the fabric of her blouse in the back, fingers almost digging into her sides. She resisted the urge to wriggle away from the strange heat of his body. She doubted he'd let her, first of all.
She looked back at his sleeping face. He had a hint of stubble growing around his jaw. Curious, Rapunzel poked it, tracing the rough skin around his cheeks, lingering a longer over the goatee on his chin. Warmth began to fill her core. She had never touched a man in this way. Again she was unfamiliar with these feelings… The way he curled up around her, he looked so young and peaceful. He startled at the cool touch of her hands on his neck, eyes snapping open, wild with fear.
"Rapunzel?" He blinked in confusion.
"Hush… I am here." Rapunzel placed her cold hand over his eyes, closing them. "We are safe now."
"Safe..." Eugene repeated and closed his eyes, his voice sounded stronger than before. There was a smile on his face, almost content.
.
.
I know you are more afraid
Then I`ll say I will wait
.
.
Rapunzel watched over Eugene as he fell back to sleep. She checked his bandages- no more blood. A feeling of peace began to settle over her for the first time in the day. She knew this was only the beginning. There were so many things left unresolved- a long way to Eugene's recovery, informing him about her true identity (hopefully without freaking him out), meeting her parents, moreover sorting out a way to deal with his criminal past…. But for now, Eugene being alive was enough for her.
She curled up in his embrace, slipped her hand under Eugene's shirt, and fell asleep with the steady beats of his heart.
Everything else could wait.
Reviews? Faves?
I wanted to give it a sad ending, but somehow it turned out to be a bit happy. Anyway, leave your thoughts about the story.
English is not my first language, so please consider the errors.
The story is inspired by two songs from Arash feat Helena- "Broken angel" and "Pure love".
The original plan was to make this a multi-chapter story where Rapunzel guides Eugene through his recovery as well as deal with being a lost princess. But it is abandoned now. So I am leaving it here.