Rapunzel's head jerked backwards to a familiar pulling sensation on her scalp. As she turned around to identify the source of entanglement, her eyes widened at the sight of Gothel's foot planted firmly on a thick section of her blonde hair.
"Get. Off." Rapunzel demanded, attempting to yank herself free from Gothel's grip.
"Oh darling," the dark figure laughed, "you're not going anywhere."
"I already told you. I will never let you use my hair again!"
"Fine," Gothel exclaimed, "have it your way."
And with that, she relinquished her hold on Rapunzel, sending the young girl's petite frame tumbling backwards across the floor. Heart pounding, Rapunzel inched back toward the kitchen and gathered up the remainder of hair in her hands. Her eyes desperately searched for some tool she could use to escape.
"I've spent the past eighteen years feeding you, caring for you, protecting you," Gothel said "and this is the thanks I get." With each step closer, the pit in Rapunzel's stomach deepened until the wicked woman she once called mother stood towering over her trembling body.
"If you refuse to come willingly," Gothel hissed, digging her sharp nails into Rapunzel's wrist, "then you will come by force."
At that moment, Rapunzel glanced up and saw the handle of a black cast iron skillet, peeking out from over the edge of the stovetop. Her hand inched up to grab hold of the handle, and, before Gothel was fully aware of what was happening, Rapunzel sent the full force of the frying pan swinging against the side of her captor's head. The blow knocked the old woman over, leaving a clear pathway between Rapunzel and the window.
Rapunzel scrambled to her feet and bolted towards freedom. With trembling hands, she wrapped her hair around the same hook she had used to hoist Gothel up into the tower all those years past. Every second felt like a lifetime, so that by the time the princess managed to secure her hair in such a fashion that she was sure would hold, she spared no glances back. Feet first, Rapunzel slipped her body over the window ledge and jumped for it.
"I'm actually going to make it. Just a little bit–" Rapunzel's thought was cut short as her body came to an abrupt halt midway through her descent. Her eyes looked up to confirm what her heart already suspected. Leaning out the window, Gothel glared down at Rapunzel with locks of golden hair between her fists.
"You ungrateful brat! How dare you disrespect me like this!" Gothel screamed, her eyes ablaze with fury. "If you won't let me use your hair, then what use is it?" Mad with rage, the woman pulled out a silver dagger from underneath her cloak.
"Mother," Rapunzel pleaded, "no, please–"
By the time the words left her mouth, it was already too late. The lost princess watched in horror as Gothel sliced through the last strand of hair anchoring her to the tower. Waves of blonde and brunette came falling down around Rapunzel and the sensation of cool wind enveloped her body. Her hands reached out to try and grasp hold of the stone wall, but the speed of her fall rendered any such attempts futile. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing to hit the ground when–
Rapunzel shot up from her pillow, gasping for air. Her pajamas stuck to her body with sweat as she stared blankly into the dimly lit bedchamber. Gradually, she began to orient herself with her surroundings. To her right, Pascal slept curled up into a ball on the oak bedside table. To her left, the shadow of footsteps paced outside a large set of double doors leading into the castle's corridors.
"I'm…home," she told herself.
But, the words felt like a lie coming out of her mouth.
The cool marble floor of the terrace pressed up against Rapunzel's skin as she lay gazing into the heavens. It was the same sky she had spent her whole life looking at through the window of her tower.
"Everything has changed but the stars," she thought.
The constant nature of the stars was a source of comfort for Rapunzel within the walls of her new home. She knew it was foolish to think about, but there were moments she longed to be back in her tower, sleeping underneath the familiar blue sheets of her bed, inhaling the warm, comforting scent of hazelnut soup. No handmaidens, no schedules, and absolutely no shoes.
Daydreams aside, there would be no returning to the life she had previously known. She often reminded herself that the tower she spent the first eighteen years of her life in was a prison, not a home. As Rapunzel's mind wandered, thoughts of Gothel began to surface. Her body tensed, tired of reliving the same horrific day.
"Not now," she pleaded.
"Well if that's how you feel I guess I'll just be going," a familiar voice chimed out.
Rapunzel's whole body softened as she recognized Eugene's voice nearby. She pushed herself up off the ground and quickly spotted the handsome rogue perched atop the terrace railing, still slightly out of breath from ascending the stone wall. Eugene's feet barely made contact with the ground before Rapunzel met him with open arms.
"Eugene!" She wrapped herself around his neck while Eugene's arms found their way to Rapunzel's back, pulling her in closer. With the trauma of almost losing each other still fresh, they held each other with no intention of letting go.
Eugene inhaled the delicate flowery perfume of Rapunzel's hair, convinced that there could be no better smell in the whole world.
Still embraced, Eugene asked, "So, what were you really thinking about when I arrived?"
"The same as always." Rapunzel started. "Whenever I'm alone, I start thinking about Gothel, and, and–"
Realizing the topic was upsetting, Eugene took Rapunzel's hands in his.
"Well, I'm here now," he said, looking directly into her eyes, "you're not alone anymore."
Without replying, Rapunzel released his hands and retreated to her bed. Eugene followed close by, noticing the sadness in her usually bright and cheery green eyes.
"It's just," she continued, "all of my memories are from inside that tower. Every thought or daydream about the past brings me back to what happened. I try to shut it all out…to force myself not to think about it, but even when I sleep, I can't escape the nightmares."
With that, she began to sob and Eugene knew that there were no words he could say that would help take the pain away. Her body crumpled into his, and for a long time, the two remained saying nothing at all.
Eugene cursed himself for not being able to save Rapunzel in the same way that she had saved him. For an orphan who grew up with nothing, life couldn't have turned out any better for him. Gothel's death was a relief because it meant she would never be able to hurt Rapunzel again. In less than three days time, he went from being a wanted criminal to the king's honored guest. Best of all, he and Rapunzel were together.
Still, he knew that for Rapunzel, the demands of being royalty created a different weight to bear. And, well, as for Gothel, she was the only mother Rapunzel had ever known. Adjusting to life in Corona would take time.
After her cathartic release of emotion, Rapunzel sheepishly glanced up and untangled herself from Eugene's arms.
"I guess you should be getting back to your chamber."
"Well," he paused, looking her in the eye, "I was thinking…what if I stay the night with you just this once?"
Sensing her hesitancy, he added, "And before the sun comes up, I'll sneak out from the terrace, and voila, nobody has to know."
The corners of Rapunzel's lips lifted at the idea. Eugene leaned back a little, placing a hand over his chest in mock hurt.
"But if you want me to leave, just say the word Blondie and I'll be out of your hair."
Normally Rapunzel would have rolled her eyes at Eugene's teasing, but tonight she stayed entranced on the handsome rogue sitting across from her, dressed in nothing more than a white linen tunic and some worn out brown pants. His chestnut brown eyes, tousled hair, and broad shoulders accented by flickering amber candlelight. They had only known each other for a few days, yet it felt like a lifetime.
Logically, Rapunzel knew that her father would be furious if he ever found out that Eugene had been sneaking into her room at night. But to be honest, her mind wasn't really thinking that logically right now.
How could she send away the one person in the world who made all her troubles melt away when spending another night alone with her nightmares seemed like too much to bear. Especially when he was looking at her the way he was tonight.
"Well," Rapunzel said, grabbing Eugene by the collar of his shirt, "I guess what my father doesn't know won't hurt him." She went to pull him in for quick kiss, but Eugene intertwined his hand in her short brown hair and reciprocated with such passion that Rapunzel let out a small breathy moan that surprised the both of them
Eugene froze for a moment, reveling in her warm breath before he continued, moving his kisses from her soft lips to the crook of her neck. His free hand instinctively found its way to the small of Rapunzel's back to pull her in closer, hungry for more.
"Eugene–" Rapunzel gasped.
"Sorry, sorry. Got a little carried away." He cleared his throat and sat back on the bed. By Eugene's typical standards, he and Rapunzel were taking things slow, but he knew that she was different than any girl he had been with before.
"You don't have to apologize." Rapunzel curled her knees up and looked down at her bare feet, "It's my fault. I mean, I want you to stay but I just can't stop thinking about what my dad would think if–"
"Hey," Eugene interrupted, lifting her chin so that her eyes met his, "you don't have to explain anything to me."
"Thanks, Eugene."
A light summer wind wafted in from the open terrace doors, making ripples in the sheer tulle canopy of Rapunzel's bed as two sat for a moment, simply enjoying the familiarity of each other's presence in their strange new home. Finally, Rapunzel broke the silence.
"You know, you called me Blondie again."
"Did I?" Eugene smiled, taking a single lock of Rapunzel's brunette hair between his fingers, "I don't suppose you'd fancy the nickname brownie?
She scrunched her face at the suggestion.
"I didn't think so, but it was worth a shot." Eugene laid back, interlocking his hands beneath his head. "I guess- I'll just have to think of something more fitting." He closed his eyes and let out a long deep sigh.
"Eugene…" Rapunzel started.
"I'm not sleeping," he swore, "just resting my eyes."
"Actually, I was thinking that maybe you could stay the night."
Eugene's eyes flit open at the idea.
"Wait, seriously?"
"But you have to promise you'll be out of here before Cassandra arrives to dress me in the morning.
"She will never know I was here." he promised, crossing his finger over his heart.
Eugene extended his hand to seal the deal, but, instead of shaking her hand, he drew Rapunzel directly on top of him in a swift but gentle motion. As their bodies pressed tightly against each other, Eugene brushed his hand along Rapunzel's face, moving her hair behind her ear and tracing his way down her chin before allowing their lips to meet once more.
"I love you, Rapunzel," he said.
"And I love you, Eugene."