A week passed, and Rapunzel was still locked in her room, as promised by her wonderful mother. She thought it would be easy to adjust back into life as a captive, but then they had a blacksmith create a set of bars for across her window, preventing her from climbing out and preventing anyone from climbing in. She supposed this whole move was to make her desperate enough for the outside world that she would have to accept this next prince's proposal, merely so she could live a normal life once more. Well...if she had to run away the second she was left to tour the town square with this prince, she would. No matter what it might take...and without Eugene. She couldn't risk getting him hurt.
Her ankle had healed and was back to its normal size, but she herself was growing thinner; unhealthy. She hardly ate any of the food that maids brought to her room, and constantly fretted and worried about Eugene. When she wasn't worrying, she was plotting her escape plan.
Rapunzel sighed listlessly. She didn't even have any books; no paints, nothing except for Pascal. She strode to the window in her room, peering longingly between the bars. Was this what it felt like to be imprisoned? She tugged at a short lock of her hair, welcoming the small twinge in her scalp. Any feeling at this rate was good: any feeling aside from desperation, loneliness, and hunger for the outside world and for affection. She couldn't bring herself to cry anymore, and Pascal was a constant shade of blue. She missed his happy shade of green, and wished she could bring herself to be happy enough to let him go back to his normal color. Even he was depressed. He'd tried to escape the window, to go get help of some sort, but he couldn't slip through.
The door clicked, and she swung around, looking hopefully at the door. She hadn't seen her father in days; at this rate, even his company might be welcomed.
Her mother.
"Hello, dear. The prince's arrival is early; he is coming to meet you in half an hour. Get yourself ready, hm?"
Her heart thundered with anticipation. She'd get ready, alright. She'd get ready to leave this bloody place! "Okay. Thank you, mother."
"That's my good girl. Now, I want you to be happy and eager to meet him. None of your negative attitude, got it?"
"Yes, mother." she nodded, forcing a smile.
In half of an hour, she was ready. Her face was washed, her hair combed and her dress changed. She waited eagerly for the door to open, to be left out of her cage.
The door handle jiggled and clicked.
Her heart rate accelerated, and her stomach twisted with excitement - or fear.
The door opened.
She prepared herself to stride calmly from the room, but instead, a strange man came inside, shutting the door behind him.
"Pleasure to meet you, Princess Rapunzel of Corona. It is an honor to meet you. I am Prince Raphael of Ireland."
The man towered over her; he was taller than Eugene. His red hair and green-grey eyes gave him a sharp look of authority, and his nose was that of a sharp ski-jump. He looked down the pointed edge of it at her.
She curtsied politely, but stared at the door. Her hands shook - she didn't like this. Not one bit. Pascal growled under his breath. He knew this wasn't good, either.
"It's a pleasure t-to meet you, Raphael. Why don't we-why don't we go for a walk around town? We'll-"
"Your mother has requested you stay in here. Sorry," he flashed a smile that wasn't the least bit apologetic. He strode to the other end of the room, casting a glance towards her unkempt bed. He peered out of the window, and turned back to her. "With our marriage, you'll be freed from your prison."
"I know," she nodded, smiling.
"And you do understand that there is no way around it, yes?"
She nodded. Manipulation was a dangerous game to play, but oh, she'd had the best teachers. "I want to know just one thing, Raphael. Why do you want me?"
He turned with a smile that sent chills up her spine. "I, unlike most of your other suitors, have a country that is on its feet. I need no financial aid. I do, however, need heirs to my throne. None of the other princesses I have met thus far will accept my offer of marriage. A simple life, it would be: simply childbearing and rearing. Much easier than most lives as Queen; I'm the only one who could properly run the kingdom, anyway."
She tried to gulp, but her mouth had gone dry. She took a deep breath to calm her shaking hands. No way was she becoming a-a broodmare. "I see," she nodded, her false happiness slipping. "Why don't we-ah-" she backed up slowly when he strode towards her, and she felt the door bump into her back. She left her hand travel to the door handle, trying it silently.
Unlocked.
The man bent to try to pull her into a kiss. "I-I refuse. I mean...I refuse your marriage proposal. I'm...I'm-"
"It's all settled, Rapunzel. There's no way you can get around it."
She heard quiet voices coming from the other side of the door. Her father.
Make him mad. Show him. Show your father. Show your father Raphael's intentions!
"No. There is a way, and I've no intention on marrying such a filthy...filthy-scoundrel as you!" she gathered every scrap of her being to create such an insult. "No wonder you've yet to marry! How could anyone-"
He slapped her, and she headbutted him, but he grabbed her, twisting her around so he could put her into a choke hold, growling threats into her ear.
She pushed down on the door handle before he could drag her from the door and then she kicked it open.
Her parents, two maids in passing, and Raphael's parents were in the hallway.
The maids gasped as they rushed away, filled with terror.
Rapunzel's mother gaped, the smugness in her eyes melting to be replaced with horror. Raphael realized the audience and dropped his hold on Rapunzel. She collapsed to the ground, coughing and wheezing. She'd succeeded. She'd done it. Pascal raced from the room, sniffling at her face until her father knelt beside her, grabbed her up into his arms.
"My darling girl, are you okay?" he searched her face, but she couldn't drag in a breath to answer him yet.
"She-" Raphael's eyes glinted with anger. "She tried to...she..."
Rapunzel's mother swung around to see the King and Queen of Ireland. "You may leave this kingdom straight away. Thank you." she signaled for two guards, and they came to escort them from the castle.
Rapunzel's chest heaved as she caught her breath. When she finally did, she broke down, sobbing. "Please don't-don't make me-"
"We won't." her father's gaze left her face to look at the Queen. He pulled her into a hug, letting her bury her face into his shoulder. "You're safe. I am so sorry, my dear girl."
"He was merely one suitor, though; one out of four that has shown such aggression. This changes nothing, and you mustn't-"
"Not now, Imelda." the King gave his wife a sharp look, and she was silenced.
But it was enough to devastate Rapunzel. She'd done all this...risked her life, for goodness' sake...and it wouldn't alter the vicious cycle.
"Please," she rasped. "Please stop this...I can't take one more suitor!"
Her mother faltered, but gave her no response. She pulled away from her father, scooped Pascal up from the floor, and went back to her room. She'd rather die of loneliness and imprisonment than be in the presence of those fools.