Chapter 5-Confrontation
Even though Lottie had found a new friend in Tom, her life at the palace was still the same. She still was Dependable Lottie, and she continued to attend all the events that she needed to and she continued to teach Rapunzel too. Of course, that wasn't tortuous or anything, except when Rapunzel had this huge urge to babble on and on about Eugene or sketch him when she should be taking notes. But she discovered that she enjoyed teaching, and she loved all the time she had with her sister. Rapunzel was an incredibly bubbly person, and often she found herself laughing during the lessons. Yes, she couldn't be happier that Rapunzel was home.
But with Rapunzel came Flynn Rider, and she couldn't accept him like her parents had. So Lottie felt torn down the middle. She knew that Rapunzel wanted her to like Rider, she knew that her parents did like him. Yet she had such a hard time doing it. Every time she felt herself completely soften toward him, she remembered the devastated look on her mother's face when she discovered that the crown was gone. And then her walls would go back up again.
But as the days went by, the more she wished she could like him and completely accept him. It would probably make her life so much easier if she did. She was able to mask her dislike under her proper princess behavior, but it took a toll on her to act so much. She stopped making any barbed remarks too, so most of the time she thought that Rapunzel and her parents had no idea about her struggle. She thought that Rider didn't know either.
Yet the day came when she discovered that wasn't true. That particular afternoon, she decided to look up a fact about Corona law that she'd like to teach Rapunzel in their princess lessons, and she wanted to make sure she had it correct before she told her about it. So she went to the palace library. She opened the door only to see Flynn Rider there, sitting quietly and apparently reading a book. She glanced at the title. The Tales of Flynnigan Rider. How appropriate.
He looked up at her and she flushed. "Oh, I'm sorry," she stammered, backing away. "I think I'll…." Get out of here as soon as possible! She had no interest in engaging in small talk with him. Rapunzel wasn't here, and so she didn't trust herself to actually be nice. Besides, she could always talk about Corona law another day…
He shut his book. "Actually, I think you'd better not," he said. "I think we need to talk about some things."
"Really?" she said innocently. "And what do we have to talk about?"
"You," he said. "And how you can't stand me."
Immediately, she denied it. Princesses weren't the kinds of people who publically disliked people. They only did that in private. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Really," he said flatly. "Well, that's a surprise, considering you've actually made your disdain for me pretty clear."
She felt surprise that he'd noticed. Hadn't she vowed to herself that she wouldn't say any more barbs, for her sister's sake? "Really? And I was trying so hard to hide it."
"Well, I'd take acting lessons if I were you," he said. "Because you didn't fool me."
She flinched at the accusation, and her cheeks flushed. "Rapunzel doesn't know," she shot back.
"That's because Rapunzel is the nicest girl that ever existed," he said in a very matter a fact tone. "She thinks the best of people. And besides, you're always very subtle in your dislike of me."
Her cheeks felt hot. "I just….I just have a very hard time liking you," she said, which was probably the most truthful she'd ever been in her entire life. Maybe Tom's honesty was rubbing off on her.
He didn't look surprised at all. "I noticed. I just want to know why."
She just stared at him. Why? Was he serious? He wanted to know why? "Do you want the list alphabetically or in order of significance?"
"Whichever you prefer," he answered evenly.
Fine, she thought. She could play this game. If he wanted the truth, she'd give it. She said exactly what she was thinking in that moment. "Well, there's the minor detail of you're being Flynn Rider, who has caused nothing but headaches for Papa, and the rest of the Council. Then you stole my sister's crown, which practically broke Mama's heart. And now you're in a relationship with my sister? I'm sorry, am I supposed to be happy about that? I've heard nothing, nothing good about you ever."
"And what have you heard?" he said, his expression completely impassive. It infuriated her.
"That you're one devious and conniving little bastard," she answered hotly. "Who can't be trusted within ten feet of a vault." She blinked. She couldn't believe what she'd just said. She half-expected him to yell at her. He should yell at her. What she'd said was beyond rude. Her etiquette teacher from when she was a girl, Lady Gray, would have had a fit. Princesses shouldn't even talk to their enemies like that.
But all he did was raise his eyebrow. Maybe he was used to snide comments. He probably was as a thief, she thought. For the first time, she felt sorry for him. Negative remarks were never easy to hear even if you were used to them. "Is that what your Mama told you?"
"No," she said firmly. "Mama would never use words like that. I embellished a little." Mama would never even think something mean. She was much too good and kind, like Rapunzel. Not like Lottie was at all.
His lips twitched, and then he smiled. And for one second she could almost see what Rapunzel did: a man who, despite his past, had a good heart deep down. "You know, you're so much like Rapunzel. All spunk."
Somehow, she knew that was a compliment. "You really like my sister, don't you?"
He smiled, a soft and happy smile that she never would have associated with Flynn Rider. "Yeah," he said. "I really love her. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."
At his words, her heart opened another crack toward him. He sounded so sincere…. "Look," she said. "I want to like you. It'd make my life so much easier if I did."
"But you don't," he said.
"No," she agreed. "I want to though."
He sighed deeply. "Well, I guess that's all I can ask."
"But if you break Rapunzel's heart," she said, surprising herself once again. "I swear by everything holy I will break your face."
His eyes crinkled in amusement. "Well, I'll make sure that I don't then. Can't have anyone break this perfect nose, you see."
Her mouth twitched, and despite her efforts, she let out a hoarse laugh. She couldn't help it; it was such a ridiculous comment for him to make! "So, can you do something for me?"
He looked surprised, but he nodded. "Sure….." he said in a rather wary voice.
"Would you please tell Rapunzel to pay more attention during our lessons?" she asked. "It'd make it so much easier for me if she wasn't talking about you or drawing pictures of you all the time." She smiled. "And I know…she'll listen to you."
"I'll see what I can do," he said seriously, but his eyes were twinkling.
She continued to smile, pleased that they'd managed to make a truce. She was about to leave when suddenly the door swung open by a very eager looking Rapunzel. "Eugene, I've been…." Her voice trailed off when she saw Lottie and him together. "Oh. Am I interrupting something?"
"No, not at all," she said quickly. "Eugene and I were just having a pleasant chat, isn't that right, Eugene?"
He coughed. "Um…yes, of course."
A slow smile spread across Rapunzel's face, and Lottie could tell that she knew exactly what was happening. Her sister might be a bundle of energy that radiated innocence, but she was not an idiot. To prove her smarts further, Rapunzel said nothing to betray the fact that she noticed the change. "Well, I think that's splendid. Two of my favorite people both here together in the same room. Stupendous." She giggled happily. "Anyway, Lottie, if you don't mind, Eugene said he'd go for a walk with me."
"Of course, sweetie," she said kindly. "Go ahead and have fun." She gave Eugene a smile, and she was pleased to see him smile back. "Both of you."
XxXxXxXx
Soon thereafter, Lottie and Rapunzel grew to be closer friends. Eugene watched it happen, and he knew that it was partly because of his newfound truce with her. Clearly, that had been a sticky part between the two of them and now it was gone.
After that, it seemed like there was nothing that bothered Rapunzel about living here, except those occasional nightmares and they were growing less frequent.
He did not feel the same way. Oh, sure, Lottie didn't look at him like she wanted to strangle him anymore and that was a definite plus, but there were plenty of nobles here who did. They weren't…..obvious in their dislike of him, but he was a pretty good eavesdropper, and he had overheard their snide comments. Like…what did Princess Rapunzel see in him, and why didn't the King get rid of him already and find someone good enough for her? He tried to brush the comments off, but it was hard when he sometimes thought he wasn't good enough for her either.
There were other things that were hard about living here in the castle. Like how inactive he felt. He was used to life on the go, and now? Now he spent most of his days wandering around the castle, trying to figure out what to do with himself until Rapunzel was out of her lessons. It seemed like he never even did anything anymore. He did nothing all day every day, and he was decidedly inactive, which did not please him. Sometimes Eugene could swear that he was turning into a pansy.
But he put all those thoughts out of his mind. Right at the moment, he had to meet Rapunzel and her family for breakfast and he was running late. He hadn't even put on his vest yet, and he hastily buttoned it.
He frowned. Something about it didn't feel quite right. It felt….sort of tight, or at least tighter than it had in the past. Had he….somehow gained weight or something? Surely he'd been eating more, but he still couldn't believe it. So he tried on another vest, and then another and another. They all felt the same.
He walked over to the mirror and started examining himself. Sure enough, his face did look slightly rounder. Disgraceful. Great, he thought. So not only was he turning into a pansy, but he was a fat pansy too.
How the mighty have fallen! Flynn would have been disgusted.
Eugene was pretty disgusted too. He kept looking at himself this way and that, grunting all the while.
"Eugene, what are you doing?"
He turned to see Rapunzel standing in the doorway, staring at him with a bemused expression on her face.
"No…nothing," he stammered. "I'm just getting ready for you know….breakfast."
"Right," she said with a raised eyebrow. "And that usually involves you standing in front of your mirror for twenty minutes?"
Had she really been standing there that long? How embarrassing! Of course he spent time on his appearance, but it was supposed to look effortless- like he just woke up in the morning with superb looks. That was part of his charm. He was so busted. "Well, not usually."
She crossed her arms. "So why is it longer today?"
"No reason," he said. "I just wanted to look extra good for your family."
"I see." She cocked her head thoughtfully. "You know, Eugene, you're a really bad liar."
"What are you talking about, Rapunzel?" he said innocently.
She went over to his bed, and gathered up all the vests there. "Normally, I'd believe you about that, but it's not like you to try on every single vest in your closet. So, want to fill me in on your secret?"
He sighed. He found it very hard to lie to her, and today was no exception. "Do I look….bigger to you?" He refused to say the word fat.
Now Rapunzel looked as stunned as if he'd hit her with a frying pan. She dropped the clothes back on the bed and stared at him. "Do you look…what?"
He stared at the floor and shifted his feet. "More round?"
He saw her blink when he looked back up at her. "More round?" Then understanding dawned on her. "Eugene….are you asking me if you look fat?"
"Um….." Um wasn't a yes, but he knew she'd take it as one.
She did. "Why, Eugene Fitzherbert, I believe you're vain."
She just now noticed that? "I'm not," he mumbled. "I just don't want to be fat."
An amused expression crossed her face, and she giggled. "Well, most people don't, Eugene," she said. "But if you really care that much, I'll consider it." She started studying him, cocking her head this way and that. He watched her as she did, wondering if he should feel uncomfortable. He didn't. "Okay, Eugene."
"O…kay?" he repeated.
"Yes, I have your verdict," she said. "And yes, you have filled out-…"
He groaned. "Ugh…."
"You didn't let me finish," she said. "But you look healthier. Before you were…probably skinny because you didn't eat very much, right?"
She was absolutely right. Usually it'd be like bread and cheese here, an apple there… "Right."
"And now you eat more, because you can," she said. She squinted at him."That's what I think anyway." She smiled. "But you look good."
He smirked at her. "Yeah?"
Her cheeks turned pink. "Yes. But you should know something."
"What's that?"
"I don't know why you're so worked up about it," she said. "But you should know that you could get fat and it wouldn't matter to me."
His heart warmed at that. Of course he had no intention of getting fat, but it was nice to know that it wouldn't matter to her. "Really?"
"Yes," she said. "I love you. That's just the way it is."
"Well, I love you, too, Rapunzel," he told her. He looked at her thoughtfully. "You look exactly the same though."
She laughed. "That's because I had food, Eugene. And I ate it. It wasn't like Mo-" She stopped herself and he noticed that she frowned slightly. "I mean, Gothel didn't let me go hungry."
Well, at least that was one thing she did right. "Glad to hear it."
She nodded briefly. "So can we go eat now? I'm starving!"
He chuckled. "Sure. Lead the way."
"Good." She took his hand and they started walking toward the dining room. Rapunzel started smiling in her typical happy way, but he kept thinking about one of the things she said:
I love you. That's just the way it is.
Surely he was the luckiest person in the world to have someone as sweet and loving as her.
XxXxXxXx
For Rapunzel, she quickly found that Eugene's presence was a huge help to her adjustment to palace life, especially when she continued with her princess lessons and when she had her horrible tower nightmares. Because of him, she managed to settle into a new normal after a few weeks. During the week, she spent most of her days in lessons: geography lessons, government lessons, arithmetic lessons, history lessons….it never ended. There were also her "princess" lessons with Lottie. Truthfully, that was probably one of her favorite ones. The content didn't particularly interest her, but she did enjoy the time spent with her sister. Besides, Lottie was fairly patient, and she seemed to agree with Rapunzel that most of it was really silly, though she'd never say so outright. She was perfectly schooled as the diplomatic princess.
After lessons, Rapunzel usually met Eugene for a while before dinner. She looked forward to those meetings in the gardens a lot. Although her lessons were okay sometimes, she missed the time that she could have spent with him. Those two hours before dinner were probably the best and happiest times of her entire week. He always managed to make everything…better and he was often in tune with her moods. Like if she was happy, he was. If she was discouraged, he would cheer her up. She didn't even know if she could express how much she appreciated him.
One particular afternoon, he seemed a little more serious than usual though. She tried to feel him out as to what was wrong, but he wasn't offering anything. So she changed the subject and just talked about her lessons while he listened quietly. But she decided to ask him something. Surely he couldn't not answer this one. He'd answered it when Lottie asked it. "How do you like it here, Eugene?"
"How do you like it here?" he threw back at her.
She wanted to roll her eyes in aggravation. Was that question too hard to answer for him or something? She decided to answer his anyway, despite the fact that he hadn't answered hers. "I like it!" she said. "Well, everything except the lessons and shoes. But everything else is stupendous!" He laughed at her use of his word. "How about you?
"Oh, same as you," he said quickly. "It's….stupendous."
Rapunzel wasn't convinced at all. If he did believe that, he would have answered it the first time. "Is that what you truly think, Eugene?"
"No," he said slowly. "It's…not."
She was pleased that he told the truth this time. "Okay," she said. "So do you want me to ask that question again? How do you like it here?"
"Um well?" he said. "Sometimes….." He paused. "Sometimes it isn't fun to be around some of the people in the palace, with the…ways they look at me."
She nodded, and raised her eyebrows. She hoped he'd continue. This was the most honest he'd been in a while. "I just….I just don't belong here, Rapunzel. Everyone's just …so, so noble, Rapunzel and…" He sighed. "I'm not."
Rapunzel said nothing. His almost deflated shoulders and sudden interest in his hands reminded her of the campfire when he told her about his childhood. He'd looked positively sorrowful then, and his appearance was the same way now. Apparently he was miserable here, and she had been so completely wrapped up in her princess lessons that she hadn't even noticed. A rush of remorse swept over her, but she had no idea what to say that could make him feel better. So instead of reciting many platitudes, she put her arms around his waist in a loving embrace. He let out a tense breath, and wrapped his own arms around her, resting his chin lightly on her hair.
Rapunzel still hadn't said anything, but she hoped he knew that by hugging him she was telling him that it didn't matter whether he was noble or not. She loved him just the same. In fact, she wasn't entirely sure that she liked nobles anyway. Most of them weren't noble of heart.
The way her Eugene was.
After a few moments, she broke the silence as what to say finally came to her. "Eugene," Rapunzel said quietly. "Do you know what your name means?"
Eugene assumed that wasn't a rhetorical question. Rapunzel wasn't the kind of girl who asked a question for no reason, even if it did seem rather odd. What did his name have to do with anything? In any event, he knew what Eugene meant. His mother had made sure of that. "Um….well-born?"
She smiled. "Yes…" She pulled away slightly, and put her hand on his cheek. "It also means noble, too."
"Yeah,...?" He had to confess that thoughts of his nobility (or lack of it) and his name were far from his mind now. Instead, he was wondering what she'd think if he closed the small gap between their faces and kissed her. She was so tantalizingly close…
"And you are, Eugene." She blinked. "You might not be of noble blood, or anything like that, and you might not have a title, but you are anyway." She took her hand and put in on his heart. "Here, where it counts. Don't you know that?"
"I do now," he said. He leaned forward, put his own hand on her cheek, and gently kissed her. Sweetly, she twined her arms around his neck and kissed him back. For a few moments, the only sounds were the birds chirping in the trees. Eventually, though, he broke away and looked at her.
A happy smile lit up her face and he felt himself smile too. "Do you feel better now?"
He knew that she meant after her kind words, but he winked at her suavely instead. "Oh yes."
Her cheeks turned pink, but she giggled girlishly. "I meant after what I told you," she said. "You know, about being noble."
He had known that's what she meant, yet he still felt some twinges…of something, despite what she'd said. "Yes," he answered. "But it's still hard sometimes. I mean…." He paused. "Some nobles aren't exactly subtle in their dislike of me."
Rapunzel frowned thoughtfully. "That's true….." She sat up straight. "Well, there's only one thing to do, Eugene."
"And what's that?" he asked.
"Be in your own bubble."
He laughed. "My own….bubble?"
She nodded enthusiastically, warming to her idea. "Yes! Remind yourself of how much we all love you, and just let their negative comments bounce right off you."
"Bounce….off me?" He knew he sounded sort of silly, but he was having trouble completely understanding what she meant now.
"Yes!" she said. "They're wrong, and besides that, who cares what a bunch of rude nobles think anyway?"
The way she said it made him want to stop caring about what they thought. But he couldn't. He knew that they didn't think he was good enough for her. It was hard to knock out those voices when he sometimes thought the same thing himself. He was a thief. She was a princess. It didn't take a Socrates to see that one of these things was radically different than the other.
Rapunzel looked at him in concern. "Right, Eugene?"
It would be so easy to smile and say yes. "Rapunzel…" He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's….not that easy. They don't think…" They don't think I'm good enough for you.
Rapunzel's eyes widened and then she breathed out heavily. "Have you been listening to anything I've said, Eugene?"
"Of course I have."
"No, you haven't," she said. "You've heard, but you haven't listened!"
There was a difference between hearing and listening? He could easily recite what she just said. "I haven't?"
"No," she insisted. "You haven't. So you're going to do something for me. It's very easy."
He hoped it might involve kissing her again. She was so adorably attractive when she was riled up about something. "Okay…"
"You're going to repeat after me these sentences," she said. "I am Eugene Fitzherbert." He stared at her. What in the world was she talking about?
She huffed out a sigh. "Come on, Eugene. I'm not going to let you go have dinner until you do this. So?"
He was rather hungry. "Fine," he said. "I am Eugene Fitzherbert."
"I am smart, sweet, and wonderful…"
That was easy. He was definitely all those things. "I am smart, sweet, and wonderful…"
"I am noble of heart, and I have proven that. So I am good enough for Princess Rapunzel…"
"I am noble of heart, and I have proven that. So I am good enough for Princess Rapunzel…"
"….I will not let my past define me, and I know that Rapunzel will never ever want to marry someone else because I am her new dream and she will love me until the day she dies…" He looked at her sideways. She wanted to marry him? His heart warmed to the thought of it. "Just say it, Eugene," she said softly.
"….I will not let my past define me, and I know that Rapunzel will never ever want to marry someone else because I am her new dream and she will love me until the day she dies," he repeated.
"Good," she said, pleased. "Now you say that to yourself every morning when you wake up until it gets through that thick head of yours. Okay? Promise?"
"I promise."
She smiled and stood up. "Excellent. Now let's go have dinner, all right? I'm starved!" She held out her hand.
He took it. After all, he couldn't turn down an offer like that.
XxXxXxXx
That night, Lottie thought about how much she liked to sleep. Maybe that wasn't entirely accurate. It was more like Lottie loved to sleep. It was one of the few times in her life when she didn't have to worry about acting like the perfect princess or saying appropriate things at the appropriate times. She was finally free. She relished sleep, and she hated it when her sleep was disturbed. Lottie soon dozed off.
She was deep in slumber when a scream woke her up. She groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. Yet she heard it again, and this time she knew it was Rapunzel. Her sisterly heart couldn't bear to hear it. So she jumped out of bed, and pulled on her robe. She opened her door, and rushed down the hallway to Rapunzel's room. She would normally knock, but she didn't in this instance. Instead, she went right in and saw Rapunzel sitting up in her bed, her face buried in her knees. And she was sobbing.
Lottie's heart went out to her and she sat next to her. Reassuringly, she patted her back, trying to make her feel better. But she soon found that no matter what she did, she wasn't able to stop Rapunzel's tears. She tried to hug her, say calming things, everything. Nothing worked. She could only watch her sob, completely helpless. It was the worst feeling in the world.
Get Eugene.
She stroked Rapunzel's back, ignoring her gut feeling. "Please, sweetie," she coaxed. "Talk to me." Rapunzel just shook her head and cried.
Get Eugene.
Finally, she gave in to what her heart was telling her and stood up. Maybe Eugene would be able to help her better than she could. "I'll be right back."
She flew down to the halls to his room, and as soon as she reached it, she started banging on the door. She didn't want to, but it was the only way to wake him up without having to go inside.
She kept banging until he opened the door, looking slightly annoyed. "Lottie, what-…"
"I'm so sorry to wake you up," she said hastily. "But it's Rapunzel. She's crying and no matter what I do, I can't get her to stop!"
The annoyance vanished and was replaced by concern. "Where is she?"
"In her room," she answered and he started walking down the hallway with quick strides. She hastened to keep up with him. "I heard her screaming and I went to her, and then she was crying and-…." She realized she was babbling, and she made herself stop. "Anyway, I thought you could help her." He nodded, but he didn't say anything.
Soon they reached her room, and Rapunzel was still crying- almost wailing. It broke Lottie's heart to hear her like that. She glanced at Eugene, but he seemed completely calm. It bewildered her. Had this somehow happened before and she'd just missed it?
He walked over to the bed, and sat next to her. "Rapunzel…." She looked at him with teary eyes, and Lottie saw how her expression immediately brightened. She still looked sad of course, but the worst was clearly past. "What happened?" Eugene asked her softly.
She let out a sob and put a hand to her face. "I was in the tower and-…."
At that one word, Eugene had pulled her into his arms and started stroking her hair. "Shhh, I'm here."
"Eu-Eugene…" she whimpered, clinging to him.
He drew her closer and Rapunzel buried her head in his shoulder. "It's going to be okay," he assured her.
Lottie looked at them with a mixture of confusion and relief. Eugene was calming her down, just like she hoped he would, and Rapunzel would be all right.
But what was the tower? What had happened there to make her sister so upset?
She continued to watch them for a few more moments before she went back to her own room, leaving them alone to comfort each other from a horror that only the two of them knew.
XxXxXxXx
At breakfast the next morning, Lottie wasn't surprised to see Rapunzel and Eugene looking tired. Rapunzel's eyes-even now- were still slightly red, and Eugene's haggard. Her parents noticed, but they didn't say anything, once again showing their wisdom. Instead, they talked about the weather, and their plans for the day. Rapunzel and Eugene didn't say too much, and so Lottie tried to fill in the gaps. But it was hard talking for three people, and she was relieved when the meal finally ended and they could now go their separate ways. She watched Rapunzel leave the room, but she caught Eugene before he left too. She needed to tell him how grateful she was for his help last night. "Wait, Eugene," she said. He stopped and turned to look at her questioningly. "I just…" She hesitated. "I wanted to say thank you. For last night. And I'm very sorry for waking you up."
He smiled slightly. "That's okay," he said. "I'm glad you came and told me."
Somehow she had a feeling that this had happened before. Eugene's lack of panic last night made her sure of that. Poor, poor Rapunzel…. "Does…last night happen a lot?"
He let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "More often than I'd like."
She looked at him in surprise. She had no idea how Rapunzel could stay so perky with nightmares like that. "Really?"
"Yeah," he said. "But usually it isn't so….bad. And usually she comes to me first."
"And what do you do?"
He shrugged. "Just try to soothe her and stuff."
She wasn't sure what 'stuff' was. She wasn't sure if she should be concerned or not. "Um…stuff?" she asked, looking closely at him.
He laughed a little. "You don't have to look at me like you want to hit me with a frying pan. All I mean is I hold her until she falls asleep."
"Oh…" she said. That was fine; she'd seen him do that last night. The thought occurred to her that Rapunzel was lucky to have somebody like Eugene in her life, to comfort her, help her….Sometimes-no often-she wished she had a person like that too. She bit her lip. "You know, Eugene, I haven't said this before, but I'm glad that Rapunzel has you. You're….good for her. She's lucky."
He smiled then, a smile that went all the way to his eyes. "Thank you."
"It's true," she said. "And you know….whatever happened it the tower…Well. I'm sorry about that too. It must have been horrible."
At her words, a shadow passed over his face. "It was. But you know, I don't really want to talk about that."
She blinked. "Oh, of course." She was incredibly curious now at his reaction, but she respected his wishes. She had to go anyway, and prepare for Rapunzel's lesson. "Anyway, I have to go now, but I'll see you at lunch, right?"
The smile returned to his face. "Yes, of course. Bye Lottie."
She gave him one more smile before she left.
XxXxXxXx
During the day, Eugene couldn't help but be a little concerned about Rapunzel. Her nightmare last night had been particularly bad, and he had to wonder what had prompted it. She hadn't had one in at least a week, and he'd thought she'd been improving. So that afternoon, when Rapunzel met Eugene, he couldn't help but ask her about last night after they greeted each other. "What happened last night, Rapunzel?"
She sighed. "I had my nightmare again, Eugene."
He knew that. He'd been there, had hugged her until she stopped crying, held her until she'd fallen asleep. "Did anything prompt it?"
She shook her head. "No, I don't think so…." Then she paused thoughtfully. "Well, I did hear two nobles talking yesterday about how they wished Flynn had been hung."
That could do it, he was sure. "That's probably why, Rapunzel."
"Yes, I guess so," she said slowly.
Her face grew sad, and he scrambled for something to say that might cheer her all, he hadn't brought it up because he wanted to see her cry again. "You know, Lottie said something really nice to me today."
"What did she say?" she asked.
"She said she was glad you had me because I was good for you. And you're lucky to have me." At the memory, he smiled. It had meant a lot, coming from Lottie, especially when she hadn't even liked him at first.
She nodded. "I am. She's right about that." She stopped for a minute. "She was so nice to me last night. She came to my room after my nightmare and tried to make me feel better."
"I know. She came to get me too."
"Is that why you came?" she asked. "It seemed like I was wishing that you would, and then there you were."
"Yes," he said. "She came, pounding on my door, telling me that you were crying." He looked at her, remembering her anxious face . "I think she was really worried about you."
Her expression was serious. "Yes," she said. "She probably was. I remember her being there, but I just couldn't stop crying until you came."
He sighed. He wished more than anything that he could stop these dreams for her. He hated seeing her look so sad. "Rapunzel…" he said. "Why do you think you keep having these dreams?"
Her eyes grew misty. "Because…because I'm so afraid that I'll lose you, Eugene."
He immediately put his arms around her, and held her close. She buried her face in his shoulder as he tried to come up with the right thing to say. "You won't lose me, Blondie," he whispered in her ear. "I'll never leave you."
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "You promise?'
"I promise."
She hugged him again, putting her hands around his neck. But he thought that she felt better now.
Because surely she knew that when he promised something to her, he wouldn't break it. Ever.