~Chapter 8~

Flynn

I was shown an office where Conwyn wanted me to dust and clean a couple of times a week, so when Rapunzel asked for help in where to write a letter, I took her there. It was on the first floor, the east wing of the manor, relatively private, so she wouldn't be interrupted at least. She eagerly followed me as a few corridor lanterns lit our way forward. I was in no hurry to get back to the kitchens. After a full rundown of my punishment and duties, nobody would seek me out until morning. The lights flickered a bit following some thunder. Rapunzel's shoulders and body language showed her distress. Once we made it to the office, she sat at the desk while I got her paper, a quill, and ink. Sitting up tall, she cleared her throat and dipped her finger in the ink.

"What are you doing?"

"Attempting to write,"

"Have you ever seen it done?"

"No, actually, which is why I need your help."

She wasn't kidding. I took her blackened finger and wiped it clean with the corner of my shirt.

"Try again, this time with the quill," I said.

She looked between the three objects in front of her and after a minute by process of elimination she picked up the quill holding it tight in her fist.

"Like this?"

I smirked, shaking my head.

"Loosen your grip and hold it between these two fingers."

I showed her and she copied what I did.

"Maybe you could write this letter for me. I want to get it to Conwyn by morning, so it can be delivered as quickly as possible. I've read these things can take up to a week to deliver letters to people."

"Won't your mother be alarmed seeing different handwriting than yours?"

"She won't know, I've never written before."

"Not ever?" I questioned.

She nodded.

"I'm sorry, but how can you know how to read, but not write?"

"Mother taught me. She said there was no value in learning to write."

I had only met the woman once and just by Rapunzel's explanations of her, she seemed to be quite controlling of her daughter. Clearly Rapunzel didn't know any better and how could she even question such behavior?

"Writing is just as valuable as reading." I said, "It puts your thoughts on a page and you can send and receive messages. I respectfully disagree with your mother."

"My mother knows best. She's taken care of me my whole life, but I too have taken care of her because of her illness. I've sung the song over her nearly every day."

Again reflecting on the woman I met in the woods, she didn't appear sickly at all. Though if Rapunzel continually heals her with her hair, I guess that made sense why she didn't look it.

"Well, you won't learn to write if I do it for you. Do you want to learn or would you rather stick to your books?"

Rapunzel bit her lip and I wondered if I was being too harsh. Not at all my intention, but she seemed to react to words in a deeper way. Depending on the positivity or negativity behind them, she reacts. I saw it in the forest with her mother and I saw it on the ship with Leeland and with Lord Conwyn. I think she needed some positive reinforcement.

"Please teach me, Flynn. I'm ready." She nodded with a look of determination on her face. I grabbed another quill dipping it in the ink and wrote out each letter of the alphabet on the paper. As I finished writing the final letter, I instructed her to copy each letter five times so she could get the quill format down. I looked over at her and her head hung down, her blonde hair had fallen in front of her eyes, but her cheeks were wet.

"Hey, are you crying?" I asked incredulously.

What the heck did I say? Rapunzel sniffled and quickly wiped her face.

"It's nothing, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, you did nothing wrong," I reassured her.

"I just want to go home. This place terrifies me."

"He's treating you well at least."

"I'm aware, but how long will that last? In my limited experience, it doesn't last forever."

From my understanding, she didn't have a lot of people in her life, so I wondered if she was referring to her own mother. I began to wonder if her mother was dangerous. Rapunzel copied the first three letters easily without difficulty. Though she couldn't stop crying, but I didn't make a comment on it. I didn't want to embarrass her. Soon something moved on her shoulder, at first I thought it might just be her hair, but it crawled down her arm watching her write. A green lizard that came out of nowhere.

"What are you doing with a lizard?"

"Chameleon," Rapunzel corrected, "This is Pascal. He's my best friend."

What world did she live in where her best friend is a cold-blooded reptile?

"You've had him this whole time?"

"He's a master of camouflage." She replied.

"Right, well, uh, nice to meet you." I said awkwardly.

Pascal stuck his tongue out at me glaring.

"Friendly creature," I said dryly.

I fell quiet as Rapunzel continued her way through the alphabet. Though when she was about halfway, teardrops fell and hit the page bleeding some of the ink. Pascal rubbed against her arm turning a blue color. I thought of something quick to distract her.

"So here's a random question, what's with the barefeet?"

"Huh?" She asked, sniffling.

"I mean, what do you have against shoes?"

My tone was light. It was an honest curiosity, but I wanted to lightly poke fun. Not to upset her, but make her smile. To my relief she held back a short laugh.

"Until this venture, I've had no use for shoes. Though my toes are feeling a bit colder here." She replied.

"Well, it is colder here. You should tell Evangeline to get you some nice boots. We're more north from Corona. It will get cold."

I began asking questions about her to distract her from crying and the situation. I had stopped her from leaving and I hoped she didn't resent me for that. It hadn't been a day here and if she was caught, I'd hate to know how her treatment here would change. It was easy to see how little Rapunzel knew about the world based on the depictions of her home life and controlling mother. I wanted to look out for her. Not because I had to, but I wanted to. I wish I would have had that upon leaving the orphanage. Leeland and Logan clearly never had my back and I wasn't about to do that to someone else when I could do something to help.

Rapunzel copied the letters perfectly and just since it was getting late, I wrote a short message depicting what Rapunzel wanted to say and had her copy it in her own hand. We wrote:

Dear Mother,

I hope this letter is finding you well. I'm writing to let you know that I am well and being cared for with such kindness. Don't worry about me, but please take care of yourself.

Your Daughter,

Rapunzel

As she copied her own name, she recognized it immediately and got excited to write out her name. Her immediate joy brought a smile to my face. She wished the message could be longer, but for the sake of time, I urged to keep the message short as it was nearing midnight. She folded the message up after letting the ink dry and I escorted her back to her room. Rapunzel turned to face me before she closed the door.

"Thanks for your help today, Flynn. I'll never forget it. You're a good man. Goodnight."

The trail of blonde hair took about a minute to get inside the room before Rapunzel closed the door as we said goodnight. As I went to my cot in the servants' quarters, I fell asleep soundly with images of her floating around my mind.