Chapter 2

Rapunzel awoke to the persistent growling of her stomach. Upon waking, she discovered it was dark outside and the fire had gone out. Surprisingly, it was still very warm under the quilt. She had slept quite well, the sound of her mother's heartbeat lulling her to sleep. Now Rapunzel gazed up at her mother, expecting to see her awake as well. Instead, Rapunzel saw that she was still fast asleep. Rapunzel sat there for a few more minutes, unsure if she should wake her or let her sleep. Her growling stomach decided for her. She reached up and tentatively shook her mother's shoulders. When that didn't work, she simply shook them harder.

Mother Gothel was becoming aware that someone was shaking her. For a moment, she wondered who would dare do such a thing, and then she remembered Rapunzel was on her lap. Ever so slowly, she opened her eyes. And became painfully aware of how horrible she felt. All her senses were in overdrive, especially her sense of touch. Her head ached, her throat hurt, and her nose was stuffed. The room, even under the thick quilt, felt twenty times colder. Gothel shivered and coughed quietly, then proceeded to look at Rapunzel. Her daughter was looking at her with worry and fear, and Gothel knew she needed to calm her down.

"Rapunzel, what's wrong?" There it was, her voice was hoarse. Rapunzel looked at her mother with fear-filled eyes.

"You're not going to die, are you Mommy?"

Gothel blinked in shock. "Of course not Rapunzel. Why would you ask such a thing?"

"Because you're making weird noises and shivering and...and..." Rapunzel couldn't go any further before breaking into sobs. She buried her head in her mother's chest and sobbed loudly, her hands clinging to the fabric of her dress. Gothel, while shocked, tried to comfort her. Rapunzel cried for a little while longer, until her mother succeeded in calming her down. She sat quietly for a moments before voicing her thoughts.

"Mommy, why are your hands so warm?"

Gothel, who had previously been rubbing Rapunzel's back, stopped immediately.

"And why are you blushing?" asked Rapunzel as she noticed her mother's dark red cheeks.

Gothel put a hand to her cheek. She immediately felt the heat radiating off of her face. Wanting a second opinion, she told Rapunzel to touch her face. Slowly, Rapunzel extended her hand and placed it on Gothel's cheek. Her hand lingered for a split second before she jerked away with a gasp.

"Mommy! Your face is on fire!"

Mother Gothel sighed. "No Rapunzel, I'm not on fire. I have a fever."

"What's a fever?"

"A fever is when you feel bad and you're hot or cold or both at the same time."

Clearly, Rapunzel still didn't understand, but pretended to so that she wouldn't upset her mommy. In fact, she didn't think it was possible to be hot and cold at the same time. It appeared as if Rapunzel was going to ask another question, but her stomach growled before she got the chance.

Gothel got the message. "All right, I'll go cook something," she said with a small laugh.

As she attempted to stand, she was overcome by a sudden bout of dizziness. She quickly sat down, doubling over and holding her head. Rapunzel was afraid. She had never seen her mother like this before. Rapunzel lightly laid her hand on her mommy's arm, bringing Gothel's gaze to her.

"Mommy, you're scaring me."

"It's alright Flower. I'll be fine. Now, about dinner, do you remember the leftover bread and cheese?" She nodded. "Go and have the rest of that then."

"What about you Mommy?"

"I don't want anything. I'm going to bed. When you're finished you go to bed, too. Do you understand?

"Yes Mommy."

"Good girl."

So Gothel left Rapunzel alone and went to bed. She now remembered why she had used the flower over the years. Not just for youth, but to keep herself healthy. She really couldn't remember a time when she felt this miserable. By now, Gothel was in the grips of a high fever, something she hadn't experienced in centuries. She was just glad she had done the song that morning so at least she wouldn't age while this was going on.

When Rapunzel was finished with her little dinner, she did as her mother said and went to bed herself. But it wasn't too long until a crashing noise was heard, waking Rapunzel up. She was extremely scared. What if someone new, a stranger, was in the tower? She quickly ran downstairs to the main room. She found it strange that there was no one down there. Then the sound came again, closer this time. Rapunzel looked in the direction of the sound, and realized it came from her mother's room. 'Oh no! Mommy's in trouble!' she thought as she ran into the room. There, on the floor, was her mother.