Rapunzel sat in the bushes right outside of the entrance to the hidden valley the tower was in. She'd been about to enter when she had seen a horse standing next to the leaves that held her secret. She had recognized the horse as Maximus, and hoped he didn't have as good of a sense of smell as he'd had eighteen years ago. Somehow, he hadn't smelled her, and she'd watched silently as the rider dismounted and fell through the curtain of leaves.
She thought she knew who the rider was. It would make sense that he would be looking for her. Actually, the whole kingdom was looking for her. She was very careful every time she left the tower. She dressed in her mother's big cloak, which was a bit large on her as her mother had been taller than her. But she was glad of that, as the cloak hid her hair and face. She also only left at night, and avoided people as much as she could.
She had once tried to plant a garden in the hidden valley, but she wasn't any good at gardening, unlike her mother had been. All the plants had wilted and died soon after she had planted them.
Now, she was waiting, still and silent, hoping that the rider hadn't found Sunflower, hoping that if he had, Sunflower hadn't told him anything. She really hoped Sunflower hadn't decided to leave the tower. She didn't think her daughter would do something like that, but after all, Sunflower was her daughter.
Rapunzel remembered the day she had left her tower. Freedom had been fun at first, but had turned sour. She remembered that horrible day, the last day she'd seen her mother. And she remembered the lonely days in the castle, when she had longed for her mother.
Yes, she knew from experience that the tower was best. But Sunflower didn't have that experience. Rapunzel hoped she would never have to have that experience.
Just then, the rider came out of the hidden valley with someone. They got on the horse and rode off, the other someone's long, blonde hair flying in the wind.
"Sunflower!" cried Rapunzel, but they were already too far to hear. Rapunzel stood up. She would follow them. She had to make sure her daughter returned home safely. She walked after the end of the long, flowing hair, trying to shrink even further into her cloak. She hoped that she would not be recognized.