Chapter Two

The witch stood there in the doorway, swathed in a black nightdress, her long black hair dishevelled. Her dark eyes went wide as she saw Lancelot standing there and she gave a small gasp. Then she regained her composure, her dark green lips came tightly together and she glared at him. "How dare you break in here!" She rumbled, her voice taking on such a scary tone as Rapunzel had never had to hear before.

"He did not break in, I invited him," squeaked Rapunzel.

The witch turned to her daughter. "You are not hurt?" she asked, anxiety evident in her voice.

Rapunzel felt emboldened. "You said you wouldn't speak to me, so I needed someone to talk to," she said truculently. "And Lancey here will take me away with him on his fine black mare, to his wonderful kingdom. .."

"Silence!" Snapped the witch, her tone conveying there would be trouble for her defiant daughter later. She swept over to Lancelot and gripped him by the shoulders. He had not moved or spoken, he only stared up into the witch's face as if transfixed.

"Hmm, you are a mere boy," murmured the witch staring into his sky blue eyes. "I'm letting you go with this warning. Don't think to be a hero, understand? Don't meddle in things which don't concern you." She clutched him by the chin with one hand and brought her face very close. "I might not let you go a second time," she whispered, staring unblinkingly at him. He began to tremble. "Oh pull yourself together," she sighed. "Here, sit down first and have a drink to calm you down," she pulled out a chair and sat him down on it. Neither of the children spoke as the witch busied herself preparing boiling water and an infusion. Rapunzel frowned at Lancelot. She had expected him to take charge of the situation. Was he not really a hero? The witch had said before that the idea of man's superior strength was just a myth. It would be a shame if she were right.

"Drink that," said the witch, pushing a mug of a sweet smelling infusion towards Lancelot. He hesitated. "Don't be ridiculous," said the witch. Lancelot sipped at the brew. Apparently finding no ill effects he finished it off. The witch sat by Rapunzel without saying a word. When Lancelot had finished his brew, she took him by the hand and marched him out of the room. She watched dejectedly through the window as Lancelot rode away into the night and the witch stood there, tall and silent, watching him go. Rapunzel felt apprehensive as she waited for her mother to return. How angry would she be?

Soon enough, the witch came sweeping back into the room. "I'm a little worried about him riding around at night," she said, half to herself. She sat back down at the table opposite Rapunzel and fixed her daughter with her penetrating stare. "I think you know why you are in trouble now don't you dear?" she said. "Look at me," she added, her voice remaining calm. Rapunzel sulkily stared at the witch's chest. "At my face," said the witch, a note of warning in her voice. Rapunzel reluctantly looked up into the green face before her. "I know what you've been up to so don't bother to say anything," said the witch. "You were filling that silly boy's head with nonsense. You are never to take advantage of any simple boy, understand, I won't have it." To Rapunzel's amazement, it seemed her mother's voice was trembling. Her eyes were oddly bright. "I think I know what you told him about me," she said. "I am you mother – frankly I think it would have been better if you had inherited my green skin." The witch smiled. "A little lesson is in order, don't you think?" she reached out and started rubbing a rag of strongly smelling material into Rapunzel's face. Rapunzel gave a little cry. The rag felt wet and cold. "Hush darling, there it is done," said the witch, removing the rag. "Here, take a look," she held out a little mirror. Rapunzel gasped. Her own face was now a vivid green, just like her mother's. Her lips were that same darker green, almost black. Her extremely long dark hair and her bright brown eyes were unchanged, but her face was now like that of a stranger. "What have you done?" said Rapunzel weakly.

"I will take that spell off when you've learned to be a loving daughter," said the witch serenely. "Only I can do it. Water won't work." Rapunzel began to cry. The witch held her close, sitting her on her knee and rocking her. "It's for your own good little lamb," she murmured. "How do you think I felt when the one I love most in the world insulted me, hmm? You don't have to stay like this forever, you just have to love me as much as I love you. I on the other hand can never have a natural complexion. Think of that." Rapunzel pressed her face into her mother's nightgown, soaking the material with her tears. "Let it out," breathed the witch. "I'm here sweetheart."

"You are yes," Rapunzel found herself saying thickly as she wept.

The witch cuddled Rapunzel tightly to her. "Oh Rapunzel why did you ever have to hurt me with your words?" she moaned. "How could you think of clearing off with that young simpleton?" she choked. To Rapunzel's astonishment it seemed that the witch was crying too. She blinked back her own tears and boldly reached up, brushing a tear away from her mother's bright green cheek. She peered into those black eyes which now shone bright with tears.

"But I did not leave, did I mother?" she said. "I might say things, but it's not as though I'd ever do them. My whole life is here with you." She laid her head on her mother's shoulder breathing slowly to get her sobs back under control.

"Oh come on, let's get to bed," said the witch standing up and lifting Rapunzel in her arms. "Come on my little rascal," she gave a chuckle. "I cannot refrain from speaking to you for long, whether or not it does me good." She carried Rapunzel to her bedroom and they sat together on the bed.

"Tell the story about that silly old knight, Don Quixote," begged Rapunzel. "He was old, but I think he was just like the funny boy who burst in on us."

The witch dabbed at her shining face with a lace handkerchief and gave another chuckle. "They'd make such a sweet and funny pair," she said. Rapunzel curled up in her lap and listened as the familiar story washed over her. The witch had such a soothing story-telling voice. When she had finished she didn't leave. Rapunzel snuggled into the folds of her nightgown and drifted off to sleep. When she awoke the next morning, she found her face was returned to its normal pink and white complexion and her lips returned to their natural rosy hue.