Umm… I'm really, really sorry? I had no idea it had been so long since I updated! I've been super busy lately, not to mention tired and unmotivated… So, yeah…

I don't do much research for… well… anything. But I specifically checked out a book on arctic birds for this chapter. So, everything about the gyrfalcon is accurate.

Chapter 6

Rapunzel wasn't sure how she knew that Jack was afraid. His expression remained drawn and serious as he moved around his room, gathering up the few items that had gotten scattered in the short time they had been there.

But somehow she knew: He was terrified.

She had felt it from the moment he read the note the guard had handed him.

For now, all her own concerns were forgotten.

"Jack?"

He looked up from his backpack. "Yeah?"

She hugged herself a little tighter as she stood in the doorway between their rooms. "Are you okay?"

The answer was obviously "no". But she didn't know how else to ask.

She half expected him to brush her off, or say that everything was find. That was how her mother had reacted every time Rapunzel had asked a question the woman didn't want to answer.

But his expression didn't harden, the way she expected. Instead, the edges softened, though he still looked wary.

"No, it's not," he admitted. "I thought we had time, but everything's changed."

"What do you mean?"

He ran a hand through his already messy white hair, clearly trying to think of the right way to answer. "The cold season is usually the one time of year that peace is guaranteed. No one wants to fight each other and the elements at the same time. But something's changed, and the war is going to start again. Soon."

"Why?"

She knew what war was. The concept, at least. It was a lot of people fighting… but she didn't fully understand how or why it was fought. She had asked her mother, but Gothel had rolled her eyes and said something that effectively put an end to the conversation.

Jack looked at her intently, his blue eyes searching her face… and for some reason, she got the sudden feeling that the answer was: "Because of you."

He didn't say it. But she heard the words in her head, resounding through her mind. A shiver shot down her spine.

She almost missed Jack's answer.

"I'm not sure yet," he said, adding something else to the backpack before he stood up straight.

Picking up the backpack, he brought it over to her. "I have to go talk to Marian. Pack your things in here, and we'll leave at first light."

"Okay." She took the backpack and carried it over to the bed in her own room.

"Lock your door," he said. "I'll be back in a few minutes." On his way out, he grabbed the last letter from the desk.

When Marian had found out that Rapunzel had next to nothing, she had brought up a nightgown, a warmer dress, a hair brush, and a few other personal items. Rapunzel hadn't known how to thank her. The dress was a little big, but that hardly mattered. It was more suited for the journey than the purple one Rapunzel had made for her sheltered life in the tower.

She did feel slightly guilty as she slid her feet back into her mother's boots. Since she had never been allowed out of her tower, there had never been a reason for her to have shoes of her own. When she had left, she had had the sense to grad Gothel's boots from where they had sat by the fireplace. After yesterday's hike, she was glad she had.

There was just enough space for her things in her backpack, and it took only a few moments to get them packed. She did think about throwing away her dress from the tower, wanting to get rid of the reminder. But that seemed wasteful, so she put it in as well.

With that done, she looked around the room in search for something to do. Returning the backpack to Jack's room, she made his bed (since the messy blankets bothered her a little), and tidied up what little there was in both impersonal rooms. If she hadn't been so tired the night before, she would have found it hard to sleep in the bare-walled rooms. In her mind, she found herself thinking about what she would paint on them, if she could.

She walked around her small room again, searching for anything that might had been missed.

As she passed the small window, something outside caught her eye, and she paused to look out.

Jack was just coming out of the stables, and perched on his arm was a gyrfalcon. A female, judging by the size.

Rapunzel tilted her head to the side as she watched him tie the letter to the falcon's leg.

As soon as the letter was in place, the falcon spread her speckled white wings to their full, four foot span. Jack had to tilt his head back to avoid getting smacked with the fathers as she flapped, and took off from his arm.

They both watched as the messenger rose into the air, arcing above the inn. She circled through the cloudy sky twice, before she turned toward the southwest. Towards Autumn, if Rapunzel remembered Jack's map correctly.

After a moment, when the falcon was almost out of sight, Jack bought his gaze back down from the sky, and turned back into the inn.

The sky grew steadily brighter, though the sun was mostly hidden behind the clouds. She looked at the clouds, trying to determine whether or not there would be another blizzard. It didn't appear as though there would be, she thought. But she had thought the same thing, when Jack had predicted yesterday's storm.

Jack's door opened a few minutes later, carrying a tray of food, which he set down on the desk. The smell wafted over her, and her mouth began to water. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was until that moment.

"Here." He held one of the bowls out to her.

She accepted the steaming bowl of oatmeal, mixed with raisins and nuts.

"When do we leave?" she asked, blowing on a small spoonful.

Jack swallowed a bite of his own, his nose scrunching up in distaste. "I hate oatmeal," he muttered, before turning back to her. "As soon as you finish eating."

She sat down in the armchair, focusing on her food while Jack unfolded the map and spread it out on the bed. After a moment he paused and looked over at her.

"Did you make the bed?"

She nodded.

He grinned a little, despite the worry that was still obvious in every line of his face. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," she said, smiling as well. It was nice to have her work acknowledged. Her mother rarely ever said anything, since she said it was Rapunzel's job.

"Jack?" she asked, after a few bites. (She didn't have a problem with oatmeal, and this was better than even she could make.)

"Yeah?" he didn't look up.

"If you're a prince, why do you spend so much time in caves and inns?" she asked. "Why not stay in the palace?"

"Because I get restless," he said, folding the map back up. "And the council likes when I'm out of the way. They'll never admit it, since I usually cause them trouble when I'm gone. But when I'm there, they ignore me anyway."

"But you're the prince."

"A prince," he corrected her. He returned the map to his backpack, and shrugged into a dark blue jacket that was lined with black fur. "My brother is the heir, and he's already engaged, so he'll have an heir in a few years. Even if he doesn't, and something happens to me, my sister is better suited for the throne, anyway. They're all convinced she'll marry an upper nobleman, too."

"You don't think so?" she asked, going off the tone of his voice.

"It's possible," Jack shrugged. "But I know my sister. Her soul mate will probably be a stable boy or something. A guard, if the council is lucky."

Rapunzel was about to ask what a "soul mate" was. But something about the way he said it, she knew that would show just how ignorant she was. Maybe it was a political term?

"But it won't come to that," Jack went on. "So I'm just the younger prince, and no one knows what to do with me."

"That's sad."

"Frustrating is the word I use," he said, smiling dryly. He finished off his breakfast, and set the bowl on the bedside table. "It's part of why I don't spend more time at home."

Rapunzel looked down into her oatmeal, which was mostly gone. She still thought it was sad, for some reason. Her mother had turned out to be… But Rapunzel had never felt unwanted in the tower. The exact opposite, really.

"Hey."

She looked up, meeting Jack's vivid blue eyes.

"It's not that bad," he said, smiling a little. "I love my family. It's the council I have problems with. But I would rather be out here anyway." His grin turned playful. "Besides. I wouldn't have found you if I had been holed up in the palace."

"I guess that's true."

She focused on finishing her breakfast, since the conversation made her feel slightly out of her depth. "Family" felt foreign to her. Even growing up with a woman who claimed to be her mother, that felt different from a family with two parents and multiple siblings.

When she was done eating, she set her bowl aside and stood up, hearing Jack coming around the bed towards her.

Before she could look over at him, she heard the snap of blue fabric, and her vision was momentarily filled with dark blue. She squeaked in surprise, and felt the fabric settle around her shoulders. The cloak, she realized, as the white fur tickled her jaw.

She looked up at Jack, who chuckled as he tied the cloak around her shoulders. Her cheeks warmed, as she realized he was only inches away from her. In her chest, her heart fluttered, in a way she had never felt before. A warm, pleasant shiver shot down her spine. Jack watched his own fingers as he tied the cloak, and she suddenly wished that he would meet her eyes.

When he did, however, she felt as though all the air had been pulled from her lungs, and she had forgotten how to breath.

If Jack was affected, he didn't show it. He still grinned.

"W-won't you need it?" she asked. Though she suspected his answer would be the same as every other time she had asked.

"I'll be fine," he said – just as expected. He pushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. "Come on. I don't want to travel after dark."

There it was again. Something inside her shuddered with a fear that she somehow knew was his. Was he afraid of the dark? Or did it had to do with the note? If she were braver, she would have asked.

As it was, Jack was already moving again. Grabbing the backpack, he slung it over his shoulders.

They left the inn trough a backdoor, heading for the stables. The yard had been cleared of snow, so the ground was a trampled mix of mud and dry grass, save for the stone path that they followed. A boy of about fifteen waited for them at the door of the stables, holding the reins of a white stallion that pawed the ground impatiently.

Rapunzel stared at the horse, faltering a step behind Jack. It was larger than she had expected. And it's brown eyes made it clear that it had a mind of its own.

"Thanks, Jamie," Jack said, taking the reins.

The boy nodded. "My mom filled the saddle bags with supplies. It's probably more than you'll need."

"Better safe than sorry," Jack said, stroking the horse's nose. It seemed to have calmed down a little as soon as Jack took it's reigns, and it nuzzled into his hand.

"Yeah, but it's only a day's ride to the border," Jamie said.

Jack glanced at Rapunzel, and she felt suddenly self conscious. Even on horseback, she would slow him down, she realized. Jamie looked over as well, which didn't help. His brown eyes were appraising, as though he were trying to figure her out.

Was it so obvious that she was different?

"We'll probably reach the border tomorrow," Jack said. "We'll have to stop to let the horse rest. I'll have one of the border patrols bring him back."

"Okay." Jamie nodded.

Something about the conversation suggested that it had happened before.

Jack exhaled, running a hand over the horse's dappled neck. "Tell your mom I said thanks. When I get back, we can talk about you staring guard training next thaw. I'm sorry I didn't have time last night."

"I know I can do it," Jamie said quickly, standing up a little straighter. "I just need a noble's support to enter the royal guard, since I don't want to join the reserves."

"Like I said, we'll talk about it when I come back." Getting one foot into the stirrup, Jack swung into the saddle with a single, fluid motion.

"Okay," Jamie said, though he sounded a little disappointed. "Stay safe, Jack."

"You, too," Jack said. "Look after your mom and Sophie."

Before Jamie could ask the question obviously burning on his tongue, Jack looked at Rapunzel again.

Jamie knelt down, forming his hands into a step for her, while Jack held one of her hands to help her maintain balance. Her mounting was nowhere near as graceful as Jack's – she knew that much. She barely got her leg up over the horse's back, and she ended up half on the backpack tied behind the saddle. It took another minute or so to adjust her position, and get her hair and cloak arranged somewhat neatly.

When she finally stilled, Jack glanced back over his shoulder. He seemed to be fighting back a grin, and not doing very well at it.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded, feeling a bizarre mix of nervous and excited. She had always wanted to ride a horse, but never thought she would actually have a chance.

Jack tapped his heels against the horse's sides, and it didn't need to be told twise. Tossing his head, the hose took off down the path at a brisk walk. Rapunzel gripped the folds of Jack's jacket as she adjusted to the movement.

"It'll be easier if you grip with your knees," Jack said, touching her knee with a fingertip for emphasis. "That way, even if I fall, you won't."

It took several minutes for her to adjust to the sensation of riding.

"Can I ask a question?"

They had reached the road, which was mostly cleared of snow. It was the same road they had walked the night before, though they were now going in the opposite direction.

"Sure."

"Do you not want Jamie to join the guard?" she asked. There had been some reluctance in his tone – just enough for her to pick up on, but not enough for her to interpret.

Jack glanced over his shoulder, and she saw that her question surprised him. He looked forward again quickly, but it took another moment for him to answer.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "His mom needs him more than he realizes. And he romanticizes the guard."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not as glamorous as people think," he said. "But what happened to that guard last night, the one you healed… that's not unusual. If it's not war, it's bandits. Or it's…" he trailed off, and she could almost feel him decide not to say whatever had come to mind. "It's a dangerous, and it's more work than anything."

"You don't think he can do it?"

"He probably can. I just want to make sure he knows what he's getting into." Jack exhaled. "I'll probably say yes."

Rapunzel lapsed into thought. She wasn't entirely sure what the royal guard was, though she thought it was fairly clear just from the title.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked after a while.

"Hmm?"

"I can practically feel you thinking," he said. "Is everything okay?"

She considered the question for a moment, trying to find the proper words to express the myriad thoughts swirling through her mind.

"The world is a lot more complicated than I thought," she admitted finally.

Jack chuckled darkly. "You have no idea, Rapunzel."