Chapter 12
King Frederic doesn't look over at his daughter as he is escorted by guards to the three thrones in the town square.
He instead stares pointedly ahead with a stern expression and doesn't say a word as Rapunzel and Arianna fill the other two thrones on either side of him. The two guards then step aside, and stand positioned on either side of the royal family. They are seated at the top of a short staircase that looks out at the gathering crowd below.
The sight of the gallows and the hangman's noose positioned in the distance makes Rapunzel uneasy. She can see it clearly over the heads of the crowd, who chatter quietly as they wait for the execution to begin.
She closes her eyes, exhaling slowly to calm her nerves.
Citizens fill the square entirely, all excitedly waiting to witness the death of Flynn Rider. The king had ordered the highest security for the occasion. Dozens of royal guards are positioned along the cobblestone roads that surround the clearing, outside the various shops and houses. Some are also peppered within the audience as they stand alert.
Rapunzel can't remember the last time she had seen so many people gathered at once. There hasn't been a public execution like this in years. With the most excitement the village has seen since then, they wouldn't dare miss such a long-awaited event.
The morning sun is beaming, and it makes it difficult for Rapunzel to breathe in the layered dress she is wearing. Despite the heat, her handmaidens had dressed her in white laced gloves, stockings, and an assortment of colored flowers in her curled golden hair.
She'd never favored royal fashion but being forced to dress up for Eugene's own hanging feels utterly wrong to her. Everything about this is wrong, and not being able to do anything about it leaves her anxious and practically writhing in her seat.
Frederic hasn't spoken to her since he had locked her in her room the night before. She hadn't slept a winked since he'd left – not with the anticipation of today. All night, the anxiety made her feel sick and it nestles heavily in her stomach still.
Even if Rapunzel did try to stop this, she would be defenseless against all of them. She is completely aware of her father sitting directly next to her as well as the number of royal guards. She can't do a thing, not on her own – which is why Cassandra is her only hope.
Rapunzel refuses to let herself believe that it is too late. Cass said she would be back as soon as she could, and Rapunzel trusts her more than anyone. So, she holds onto every last drop of hope that they can somehow make it out of this because she convinces herself it is all she has left.
Cass is still out there, and Eugene is still alive.
She'll be here. She has to be. Just a little bit longer.
Finally, after what feels like hours of waiting, everyone comes to attention when Eugene is walked into the centre of the square, accompanied by two royal guards who hold him by each arm.
A chorus of gasps and disapproving shouts breaks out among the crowd as they watch the thief be marched toward his death in silence.
Rapunzel feels her stomach drop at the sight of him.
His hands are chained in front of him, and his face appears to be bruised. He isn't struggling or trying to get away. He looks down rather than up as he lets the guards slowly guide him up the wooden stairs and onto the platform.
The executioner follows behind them, with a muscular frame and a black fabric draped over his face.
As Eugene stands up on the platform for everyone to see, Rapunzel notices his split lip and dried blood under his nose. It leaves her heart pounding as the audience continues to shout and holler at him from below. Whether their noises are from anger or excitement, she doesn't know.
Rapunzel feels her father tense up next to her at the rowdy scene unfolding before them. The king clenches his fists atop the armrests of his throne as his eyebrows crease over his glowering face. He raises his chin with a satisfied glint in his eyes.
As one of the guards loops the noose around Eugene's neck, Frederic leans next to Rapunzel and lowers his voice, "Do not interfere."
Her eyes don't leave Eugene as the princess feels a sense of rage and panic all at once. Remembering their argument the night before, she knows that's an order. Still, a fire flickers within her and it makes her body go rigid at the reality of what is happening.
One of the guards dressed in a red uniform and holding a scroll marches into the center of the platform, stopping in front of Eugene. He unfolds the parchment as he reads, "Flynn Rider! You have hereby been convicted for your willful commission of crime against the crown!"
The audience settles at the booming voice shouting over them and echoing within the square.
"These unlawful crimes are to be cited herewith: piracy, pilfering, brigandage, looting, poaching, smuggling, the thievery of the royal crown, and above all, the kidnapping of Princess Rapunzel of Corona. For these crimes, you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead."
Rapunzel's breath quickens nervously. Her hands are beginning to shake now and all she can do is stare expectantly at Eugene's face just wishing that he would look up at her.
Come on, Cassandra… Where are you?
The guard lowers the scroll, and steps formally aside. The executioner walks up to the lever next to Eugene, and the audience begins to shout and cheer again.
Any second now, Rapunzel is expecting him to make some sort of great escape. She wants him to run and fight, or make a stupid joke, or do anything but stand there and let this happen. But he doesn't. He looks defeated, and weak. Like he's accepted his death before it's even happened.
The executioner places his gloved hand on the lever.
Suddenly, all the hope she had been clinging onto deflates as she realizes in a panic that Eugene is going to die, and she has no choice but to witness all of it.
Rapunzel holds her breath.
Just before the man pulls back on the lever, his body jerks as a dagger is impaled in the center of his chest.
He freezes, and the audience gasps in shock.
After a moment, a strangled noise emits from the executioner's throat. He slowly falls to his knees before plummeting lifelessly to the floor.
The entire village stares deathly silent at his dead body laying motionless.
Then before anyone knows it, a horde of bandits are charging into the square with weapons in their hands and everyone falls into disarray. Chaos breaks out in an instant as the sound of clanging swords rings out among the crowd, the citizens fleeing and screaming in a panic.
The princess peers through the running figures with wide eyes, noticing Cassandra darting across the square with her sword in hand.
Rapunzel beams at the sight of her in the distance, and an excited smirk reaches her lips.
Instantly, Rapunzel bolts to her feet and pulls the cutlass off the guard standing next to her. She kicks him square in the back and he falls forward down the steps before he can even process what's happened.
The next thing anyone knows, she is running and pushing her way through the crowd with determination and a thrill that makes her heart pound.
"Rapunzel! Come back here!" She ignores the shouts of her father calling out to her from afar as she disappears into the clamor.
Meanwhile, Cassandra sprints towards the gallows and up the rickety wooden steps.
The guards instantly take a swing at her, but she dodges and knocks one of them out with her blade. She grunts as she whips around to kick the other one off the platform, who lands with a short scream and a thud below.
Cassandra wastes no time in running toward Eugene as people fight and shout below them. She pulls a copper key out of her cloak pocket and begins unlocking his shackles.
"She better be right about you after all this," Cass mutters as the chains fall at his feet. She cuts the rope above his head with her blade, and Eugene quickly throws the noose to the ground.
"Flynn! Catch!"
Eugene peers down to find Lance running by, chucking a sword up at him.
He catches the handle effortlessly, chuckling with a wide grin, "He-hey, look who decided to join the party!" Eugene exclaims with his arms out.
"Where ya been?" Lance jokes, shouting over all the noise and sword fighting a guard at the same time.
"Eh, you know. Just staying out of trouble as always," Eugene comments casually.
Eugene and Cassandra snap their heads around when three more royal guards come racing up the stairs behind them, wearing angry scowls with their swords bared. They stalk toward them slowly, leaving the two completely cornered.
Cassandra ducks out of the way as one of them swings at her, however the guard's cutlass nearly hits Eugene in the process, and he stumbles back in surprise. As Eugene regains his footing, Cassandra swoops in from behind the guard and knocks him out with a blow to the back of the head.
Another guard steps up and Eugene clashes his cutlass against his, blocking every strike until the guard loses his footing and is thrown off the platform.
At the same time, Cassandra swings her blade at the third guard with a grunt. He whips around from the force, his weapon clattering to the floor. Eugene knees him in the head as he is doubled over, knocking the final guard to the ground all within a manner of seconds.
Eugene and Cassandra share a surprised look before Cassandra leaps off the platform and Eugene follows suit.
They blend into the chaos breaking out in the village square, fighting alongside each other.
Most of the citizens have already fled the scene in a panic. Figures are darting in all directions while bandits and guards battle against one another. All that can be heard is the sound of swords clanging along with people shouting.
Eugene grunts as he knocks another guard to the ground with a heavy swing. He whips around just in time to clash swords with someone that he feels is behind him.
However, when he opens his eyes and peers through their crossed blades, he sees Rapunzel standing on the other side with wide eyes.
"Eugene!" she exclaims, lowering her weapon. She clearly hadn't expected to find him standing there either. There is so much going on around them that she didn't even realize he'd been behind her.
"Hi," he smirks breathlessly.
She almost smiles at him, before her eyes widen at something behind him and she shouts, "Look out!"
Eugene ducks, dodging the guard behind him. They begin to battle as Rapunzel announces to him over the clamor, "Eugene! I'm sorry for what I said. I was just afraid—"
"Hey, blondie?" He interrupts, "You think we could talk about this when these guys aren't trying to kill us?!"
"I just wanted you to know!" she calls out to him as she swordfights alongside him, "In case we don't make it out of this."
After a while, the loud sound of boots running along stone can be heard nearby. Bandits begin to flee as they notice the party of additional royal guards rushing toward the scene.
"We gotta get outta here," Cassandra tells Eugene and Rapunzel, a panic beneath her tone.
They all stop and stare at the army in the distance. There are dozens of them coming now, leaving the bandits completely outnumbered.
Without wasting a moment, the three of them fight their way through the crowd as they begin to run.
They sprint across the square and down the cobblestone road of the town, with shops and houses lining either side. However, they don't get very far when Eugene, Cassandra, and Rapunzel find themselves bounding directly toward a dead end.
They nearly bump into each other as they all slow to a stop at the end of the road, panting for breath. The sound of running footsteps and rattling weapons are approaching quickly behind them, becoming louder by the second.
There's nothing but a half stone wall in front of them. As they all peer over the edge, all they see is a frighteningly high drop down to the ocean. There's no way they'd be able to survive the fall over the cliff.
When they all whip around themselves, they find a horde of guards rushing around the corner and slowing to a stop. They all point their halberds and bayonets directly at them, forming a half circle around the trio.
They freeze, finding themselves with no where left to go and unable to do a thing.
Three guards run up to Rapunzel, Cassandra, and Eugene, clasping each of their hands behind their backs.
After a moment, the wall of guards disperses down the middle as a figure emerges from within.
King Frederic walks slowly through them all. His chin is held high, and his hands are clasped formally behind his back. It goes silent as the man stops in front of them, inhaling deeply.
Rapunzel shrinks immediately, wincing at the look on her father's face.
She swears that despite everything, she has never seen him look so angry. He has lost his temper many times, but never has she seen him fume with so much rage that she actually fears him in this moment. The fact that he isn't saying anything and is instead just standing there silently makes it all so much worse.
Despite all three of them at his disposal, Frederic only seems to scowl at Rapunzel.
Without taking his eyes off her, he commands to the guards with a disturbingly level tone, "Take him to the dungeon."
A/N:
This entire story in a nutshell:
Frederic: "Rapunzel no"
Rapunzel: "Rapunzel YES"