A/N: I did not expect to go on such a long hiatus. Inspiration has been tough to come by, but I am hoping my next updates will be much sooner. I plan on posting two more chapters of this story and wrapping it up as neatly as I can :) It will be a noticeably shorter chapter, but the next one will be longer, I promise!
Without further ado, here you go! :)
Chapter 8
Lance's POV
The days following their most recent escapade passed by in a whirlwind, and before Lance knew it, he'd found himself enjoying the salty sea air of Corona and the spires of the castle in the distance. The group had anchored their ship behind a tall cliff outcropping, hoping to somewhat conceal it from prying eyes. It had been too risky to consider leaving their ship in the kingdom's main port, for it wouldn't have taken long for the authorities to realize something was wrong. There was a reason Lance and Flynn had actively avoided Corona's capital for all these years―that is, until now.
They'd all unanimously agreed to camp out in the forested island across from the kingdom, in order to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Their shelter consisted of fallen tree branches stuck into the mossy grounds with linens borrowed from the ship's hull to create protection from the elements. A makeshift fire roared a few feet from their tent, providing much needed warmth. They weren't far from shore, but they seemed hidden well enough from the outside world.
Lance directed his gaze towards the twilight skies, watching as the stars came into view. He closed his eyes, inhaling the forest air and feeling overcome with a sense of gratitude for being alive. He'd come nose to nose with death just over a week prior, and could hardly believe he managed to slip out from its clutches. The sound of twinkling laughter caught his attention, and he glanced over to see Rapunzel and Flynn sitting on a log together outside the tent. It would take a blind man to not see the flirtatious manner in which they interacted with each other. He watched as she leaned towards her companion with a sly smirk playing about her mouth, and Flynn cocking his head towards her while he shrugged. His honeyed gaze only sweetened the more he looked at her, and Rapunzel's cheeks grew pinker. Cassandra, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and pretended to gag while she stoked the fire.
A knot of worry twisted Lance's stomach as he looked at the happy pair. It had always been just him and Flynn, two found brothers against the cruelty of the world. They'd dreamt of escaping to a distant island one day and leaving their thieving days behind for as long as they'd known each other. What would happen to the plan they'd made as impulsive young men? There was no doubt that Lance had grown fond of Rapunzel and their friendship, but that tiny seed of resentment in his chest refused to budge. Flynn and Lance shared a brotherhood, and the last thing he expected would be for Flynn's romance with Rapunzel to steal it all away.
When they'd all arrived, there were no other souls on the island, and the air had been eerily still. Now in the distance, he could hear foreign voices and upbeat music emerging from the forest. Curious, Lance walked further down the pebble beach and saw the most eclectic group he'd ever encountered. At least ten people had accompanied their horse-drawn, rickety caravan. Each man and woman wore colorful, vibrant clothing with handwoven patterns and intricate designs of true artistry. Some of the women wore golden bangles around their wrists and ankles, which twinkled in time with their movements. Others were adorned with beaded necklaces and dangling copper earrings. The men played their fiddles with such an intense delight, the music filling the air with joyous melodies and singing. He watched as the women's bare feet touched the ground and their velvet skirts shone in the fire's light.
Lance found himself mesmerized by the sight, unable to tear his gaze away. The scene before him seemed almost like a dream, with the hazy silhouettes and carefree expressions. A woman emerged from the crowd and approached Lance, her frizzy brown curls bouncing with her movements. Her yellow dress offered a beautiful contrast against her warm ochre skin and swirling white mandala tattoos. He vaguely wondered why her presence made his heart quicken in his chest.
"What is your name?"
Lance's throat suddenly felt drier than sand. "I'm…I'm Lance."
"Call me Vienna. Come dance with me, handsome stranger."
Disregarding his own volition, Lance obliged the request if only to hear her smoky voice once more. Her hands were smooth, with the exception of small calluses lining her palms. She guided his large hands onto her hourglass waist and placed her own onto his broad shoulders. Their movements flowed naturally while they danced; her soulful hickory gaze never strayed far from him, and the intensity of it threw Lance off-kilter.
Time became irrelevant as the darkness of the night sky became obscured by the glowing light of hundreds of paper lanterns. Moving as one body, the group of gypsies ceased their rowdy dancing and directed their gaze toward the heavenly display above. Reverent silence fell amongst the crew, for it was impossible not to be transfixed by the simplistic beauty of it all. Lance didn't know―nor did he care―when Flynn and Rapunzel had joined and taken a seat amongst everyone.
Blankets, pillows, and soft words were passed around as men began to slumber and women lay themselves down by the dwindling firelight. Lance felt his own lids grow heavy watching the lanterns slowly disperse and reveal the star-studded canopy. He allowed himself a moment of selfishness in drawing comfort from the warmth of Vienna's form, knowing he might never feel it again. There would be many things to worry about come dawn, but for now, everything was perfect.
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