CHAPTER 3
Autumn Afternoon
"If we follow these footprints and perfectly placed in this little swatch of mud here, we might catch the thief" Eugene Fritzherbert, also known as Flynn Rider called to Rapunzel.
Rapunzel knew what was going on. She had spent six months within the Castle grounds, exploring her new home, meeting the people of Corona, and just generally getting to know her parents. It wasn't that she was scared to leave the Castle walls, there was just so much to be done within the Castle and she didn't want to miss a moment of it. She loved being around people, watching men and women at work, and observing relationships they formed amongst each other. She also loved taking part in spinning and weaving with the women of the town, they told her fantastical new tales of magic and adventure. She also genuinely enjoyed learning about the mannerisms and politics of court and her family's role in it all.
The first few months of adjusting to her new life, however, definitely involved culture shock. Flynn had been there for her every step of the way, giving her guidance in how to navigate her role as Princess of Corona. She had many embarrassing moments that she'd like to forget. With her friend's easy manner and discrete way of calling her attention her faux pas, they had managed to laugh off most of her blunders together. However, there were still nights where Rapunzel had tucked herself under her covers and silently weep for all her shortcomings throughout the day. Her mind would drift in circles, and then she would weep for the loss of her long, golden hair. She always hated when her thoughts drifted to her hair – it made her feel vain and reminded her of the mother who had raised her, Gothel. Despite everything that had happened and how awful the woman who had kidnapped her had been in the end, not all her memories of mother Gothel had been bad ones; and the cycle of weeping would start again until exhaustion kicked in.
Today had start out as many other days recently, with the news that a precious jewel or some valuable artifact in the castle had been stolen. Each day, Rapunzel, Flynn, and the palace guard would parade about Corona for the thief. Each time the clues has led beyond the Palace gates, and after the third time, Rapunzel saw the pattern.
For the past five months, Flynn had been pestering her to step outside of Corona's gates, even just for a walk about the Woods. Rapunzel always said no or found some excuse not to go. Each time she thought of going beyond the walls, her throat would tighten and her breath become short.
When the guards have found each of the precious artifacts and jewels discarded in visible places about the Woods just outside of the castle gates, Rapunzel had suspected Flynn had been creating the ruses just to get her beyond the gates. When confronted, he denied it with a smile on his face. She'd play his game. However, this time the "thief" hadn't just stolen a jewel or precious vase, but rather her crown. It was a step too far on Flynn's part and she was annoyed.
Rapunzel huffed with annoyance "this is my crown we're talking about, not just some necklace or figurine."
"Oh, and your crown is more precious than your great grandmother's necklace or the diplomat's gift from 50 years ago marking peace?" Eugene asked with sarcasm.
He was right, of course. Just because something was more valuable to her didn't mean the other items that had been mysteriously stolen and recovered hadn't been valuable to someone else.
"I know you're right. But please, this is the last time you use thievery to try to get me outside the gates. I'll go out for a ride with you one day, I promise" Rapunzel looked Flynn straight in the eyes.
"Wonderful, Rapunzel! Because I'm calling in that promise right now" Flynn grinned and winked her way.
Everything had been so perfectly planned. The palace guard had two white horses at the ready for them right outside of the gates. Rapunzel recognized them as part of the special squad of horses Maximus had taken into training.
"How convenient" Rapunzel stated flatly, eyeing Flynn with the side of her eyes.
He smiled sheepishly and overdramatically offered her his hand to hoist her upon the horse.
Rapunzel ignored the gesture and leapt upon the horse with a running start, gave her knees a squeeze, and started off on a quick trot to spite Flynn. She could hear Flynn scurrying behind her to catch up and let out a laugh of joy – her attention distracted as she went through the gates.
"Wait up, blondie" Flynn called out, using one of many nicknames he'd come with up for her. Of course, she was no longer blond. That nickname had usually left a mild bitter sting in her heart, but out among the woods and birds, it just made her giggle even more. She shook her fingers through her short and wavy brunette hair, making it stick up at odd angles.
Last week she had spent 30 minutes just staring at herself in the mirror and tying her collar-bone length hair into a variety of braids. She looked like a different person every time she saw her reflection. Ever since Flynn had sliced her locks off to save her, she had avoided looking in the mirror for more than a second. She didn't know what possessed her last week, but while sitting in front of that mirror, exploring her knew growing hair, she felt the sudden urge to change it. She'd never been able to do anything but braids when her hair had magic powers. She'd first snipped bangs, then hacked off the rest of her hair to above her ears. She loved it – the control to change. And now her hair was shorter than Flynn's! Everyone had been surprised by her actions. However, she had finally felt confident for the first time since coming to Corona.
"Rapunzel stop!" Flynn shouted from behind.
Rapunzel halted. A man with a large golden gown tucked under his arm was sleeping in the shade of a giant, gnarled oak tree.
"Your thief awaits, my lady" Flynn remarked and jumped to the ground with a frustrated scowl, startling the sleeping man.
"Hey Johannes, thanks for playing along. Game's up though. Crown please?" Flynn opened the palm of his hand expectantly.
"Here ye go," the man tossed the gown to Flynn.
"Isn't that my gown for the Autumnal Equinox party?" Rapunzel inquired, confused.
Her dress had been placed on a model in her dressing room, next to her crown and jewels she'd be expected to wear to the party. She hadn't liked the gold color – it reminded her too much of what she had lost, but her mother was so pleased with how the dress had looked on her she hadn't dared disagree.
"Um… we need the crown too" Flynn remarked.
"Yes, I just gave you the gown" the man laughed.
"No, not gown, CROWN," Flynn spoke louder and slower, overatriculating each sound in the word.
"Oh! Crown. You know, I think my hearing is getting bad. The missus is always getting upset with me lately and I have to ask everyone to repeat what they're saying."
"Oh, that must be awful, I'm so sorry" Rapunzel interjected. Losing her magic hair had been hard enough, she couldn't imagine losing a sense too, like hearing.
"Much appreciated, I'll learn to make do somehow," the man dipped his head with a nod of thanks, "Afterall, that's all any of us can do."
"Yes, yes. Must be hard," Flynn snapped a little too impatiently, "can we please have the crown?"
"Right, I don't have the crown," the man answered.
"Well, where is it?" Flynn directed to the man.
"How should I know? I thought I was tasked with fake-stealing Rapunzel's gown. It was hard to miss – being in the center of her dressing room and all."
"Did you see a crown besides the dress?" Rapunzel piped up.
"Nope, there were plenty of pretty jewels though and such a long gorgeous gold and pearl necklace – it was hard to not actually steal it."
Rapunzel knew what the man had been talking about – the string of pearls was so long it went to her thighs. Her father had to twist in three times about her neck when he first presented it to her, a gift passed down from his great-grandmother.
The gown had been missing this morning, but it had also had an appointment with the tailor, no one thought twice about the missing gown. It was the missing crown that had surprised her.
"Johannes, my man," Flynn placed his hand on the man's shoulder, still speaking loudly, "did you see anything unusual or anyone unusual about while you were sneaking into the palace."
"Oh yes!" the man answered, "I hid behind the curtains in Rapunzel's room for a least three hours before venturing out to snatch the gown. You know, just listening to servants and guards especially. There's a very regular routine check every 20 minutes."
Flynn nodded knowingly and Rapunzel scowled.
"What did you see?" Rapunzel asked, the suspense gnawing at her.
"Right before I was about to make my move, there was a sound like thunder followed by a blue flash of light. It scared the living daylights out of me! I thought for sure my screech had given away my position. I waited no more than a minute after that. I grabbed the gown and got my butt out of there! I could hear the guards' armor clanking down the hall searching for the commotion.
"A blue light?" Flynn repeated with skepticism.
"Not only that," the man edged closer to Flynn, "but I saw a blue flash again, coming from that direction through the trees once I got to this spot under the big oak that we'd agreed upon."
"You can't be serious," Flynn was turning pale and beads of sweat were dripping down his forehead.
Rapunzel smiled, she loved when Eugene was nervous. Sure, she was a bit upset her crown was gone, but she was more excited that the "pretend" thievery had just turned into an actual adventure.
Flynn paid the man for his fake-thievery service and they headed off deeper into the woods, golden gown in tow. Flynn chatted nervously alongside Rapunzel, every other sentence an apology. Rapunzel leaned across her horse and placed a kiss on Flynn's cheek.
"Eugene," Rapunzel sang his real name out, making him blush. "Thank you for enticing me out of the castle. Whether we find the crown or not, it's nice being out here on a quest with you again."
Flynn smiled slowly, ear to ear. However, a moment later his brows furrowed together.
"What is that?" Flynn questioned, directing her gaze to a mound beyond the trees.
Rapunzel approached slowly; the birds had gone quiet. They came across a clearing with a giant circular hill in the center. At the top of the hill, a circle of stones reached just barely above the tree tops.
"Race you to the top?" Rapunzel shouted over her back as she sprinted up the hill, laughing.
"I don't like this place" Flynn gasped, out of breath from the run.
Rapunzel loved it. The long grass making a pillow behind her head and neck while stared at the long shadows the circle of stones cast against the trees.
"I've heard stories of places like this," Flynn whispered, "some say the dead live beneath the hills. Worked with a man once who told me stories about human sacrifices in places like this too. Others say friends and family have disappeared in such places. I don't want to stay and find out how."
"Where's your sense of adventure" Rapunzel rolled her eyes, "do you think the dead will awake and maybe help me find my crown?"
"Excellent question, but you know I don't want to find out."
Wildflowers twisted their way through the grass. Rapunzel plucked a little blue one and sang to it "Flower gleam and glow, let you power shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine…"
"Ha ha very nice, Rapunzel. Please, something doesn't feel right. It's too quiet." Eugene hastened urgently.
Rapunzel kept singing, not because she wanted to brush off Flynn's warning, but she was feeling a tingling sensation throughout her body, a sound like a tuning fork was echoing from the stones as she sang. She kept singing and approached the tallest stone. Laying her hand upon the cold surface, she expected to feel it vibrate. Instead, thunder roared and a sting of electricity pulsed throughout her body. She blacked out.