A.N. Okay. Next chapter. Whew! Took long enough. Sorry about that. I feel like I'm always apologizing for taking so long. I suppose you're all aware of that. So thank you for being so patient. I would write a slew of other things but my mind is slightly hazy at the moment with fatigue so I'll just skip ahead for now with another profuse extent of gratitude for staying tuned and staying invested and for your enjoyment may I now present Chapter seventeen :)
Chapter Seventeen:
They had convinced her to leave Eugene. It had taken a long time and a slew of persuasive words but, in the end, they had succeeded. Now, they were galloping along at a quickened pace, the horses pushed to their limit, trying to make up for lost time, and her heart was heavy with regret.
They had promised again and again, that he would live, but that he needed to be cared for by medics, and that that was something they could not do. She had tried to tell them about her tears, but Vincent had been adamant, and anyway, Eugene wouldn't want that. Not that.
Another guard had been injured in the scuffle. She had seen him from a distance. He had looked worse than Eugene. She took some comfort in that. Maybe it was wrong for her to, but she could not help herself. She needed assurance that Eugene would be alright.
Atilla and Big Nose had been left to care for the injured and transport the captured back to Corona along with two other guards, leaving Rapunzel to be protected by Vincent, Lord Devon, Hook Hand and Vladimir. They had been whittled down slowly, but it was for the best, or so they liked to think. And they would protect her, they were sure. And they would save her, they were certain of that too. But she was not.
She was not certain of anything, not of her survival, not of Eugene's survival. In her heart, she wished this was a nightmare. In her heart, she wished that she would wake up. But her mind knew this was no nightmare, knew that there was no waking up. And she had to keep going, and just hope that Eugene would be okay.
"I'm glad you weren't hurt, Princess."
Rapunzel inwardly groaned as Devon came up beside her, trying to guide them in another bout of conversation. Didn't any of them understand that she needed silence; that she needed to think and pray. "Stop calling me Princess." She should have added please, but at the moment she did not believe that he deserved it.
Devon seemed to sense the cool tone in his voice and frowned slightly. "I know you're worried about Rider, but I can guarantee he'll be fine."
"His name is Eugene," she told him, the iciness in her voice growing. "And I don't see how you can."
His brow furrowed deeper. "The other guard suffered worse than he. It's his life you should be praying for."
She glared at him then, an action she did not like committing, but her emotions were angered, and she couldn't conceal it. "I'll pray for both of them if I wish. Come on, Max."
He did not need her to say any more. With a loud harrumph, Max pushed himself forward, leaving Devon in the dust behind him.
Vincent came level with her as they went, his expression softer than Devon's. Rapunzel did not want to talk to him either, would probably prefer to talk to Devon more than this man. She had seen—though she had not questioned him about it yet—Vincent watching that horrid man leaning over Eugene with the knife. He hadn't done a single thing, hadn't seemed interested in doing a single thing. She hated him because of it. Maybe not hated—it was too strong of a word—but severely disliked. She severely disliked most of the men who worked for her father.
The Captain of the Guards spoke not a word as he rode beside her, only glancing now and then to glance at her, as if to assure himself that she was still alive.
On her shoulder, Pascal squeaked anxiously.
She peeked at him and smiled, but it was half-hearted and he knew it. He rubbed his face against hers.
Her heart ached something terrible.
She wasn't worried about dying in the moment. All she wanted was Eugene.
chapterseventeen
Some miles away, Eugene woke up to a throbbing pain in his shoulder. It did not hurt as much as it had before, but it was still there, still persistent.
Gingerly, he reached for the place where he knew the wound had been. There was gauze there, protecting the broken skin.
"Good to see you awake, Rider."
Eugene blinked a few times and glanced to the side to see Big Nose grinning at him toothily. Tents had been erected behind him. His mind reeled.
"Why have he stopped?" He tried to stand up, but found the effort too strenuous. He accepted sitting back against a nearby tree trunk. "We have to keep going."
"They have kept going," Big Nose assured him, warily watching him.
"They?"
Big Nose nodded. "The guards continued on with Rapunzel. Hook Hand and Vlad are with him. We've been instructed to take you back to the castle with the prisoners." He tilted his head to the left.
Eugene followed his gaze to where four men were chained to a trunk. Among them was Hunter. The thief caught his eye and winked.
"I have to go after her."
Wobbling, he tried to stand. He felt dizzy.
"You lost a lot of blood," Big Nose said warningly. "I don't think you should be running after her."
"I said I'd protect her. That's what I'm going to do."
"You're injured."
Eugene frowned. "I don't need you to state facts that are already obvious to me. I need you to get me a horse."
Taking a few deep breaths, he stepped forward, testing his ability to walk. He found he could do it, though his shoulder still seemed to contain a heartbeat of its own.
Big Nose looked impressed. "I suppose you won't take no for an answer."
"I suppose you're right."
"Fine then," Big Nose accepted with relative ease. He stood then and walked over to where the horses had been tethered.
"Hey, Rider!"
Cringing slightly as he looked too quickly to his left, his shoulder burning with a sudden spasm of pain, Eugene met Hunter's gaze once more.
"Say hi to the Princess for me."
Swallowing thickly, Eugene stormed over to the man he once considered a friend and knelt down beside him. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in close. "Is that what your stunt was all about? Going to kidnap her? Money running thin?"
Hungter shrugged, his expression revealing an excitement with the fury burning in Eugene's eyes. "Things are slow at the moment. And I can only imagine the money the Royals would willingly dispense with for the return of their beloved Princess. A pretty hefty sum, don't you agree?"
Eugene swung forward without thinking and as his fist collided with Hunter's face, a new, stronger pain echoed in his shoulder. He fell backwards, breathing heavily.
Hunter laughed as blood billowed in his nose, spilling into his mouth. He spat it out, unabashed. "If she makes it back, tell her I'll see her again soon."
"You'll be in prison," Eugene muttered in between heavy breaths.
"And we both know handcuffs can't keep me bound." He winked and Eugene shuddered.
Yes, he knew that very well.
chapterseventeen
They reached the mountains.
Rapunzel felt overwhelmed by the great sight that rose up before her. The peaks, capped in snow, seemed to stretch for the heavens. She wondered, if you stood at the very top, if you could touch the sky, touch the clouds. She wanted to. Maybe after the Fountain, she would climb to the highest with Eugene.
Her heart dropped as she thought of Eugene. She knew now that he would be fine, but she wished he could be with her, to stand with her. She knew the four men flanking her would protect her, but they did not know her, not like Eugene did. They couldn't speak to her like Eugene did. They couldn't love her like Eugene did.
"We'll have to go forward on foot," Vincent was saying as he clambered down from his steed's back. He looked anxious, his eyes burning with purpose as he stared at her. "Except for you, Princess. Maximus will carry you as far as he can."
"I can walk," she assured him, preparing to descend. She did not want to be treated like an invalid, dying or not.
"But it'll be faster. I promise you, it's for the best."
"Listen to him, Princess," Devon agreed, speaking up now.
She didn't even look at him. As if his word could make her change her mind.
"I don't want Max to get hurt."
Max neighed in protest, as if assuring her that he'd be fine.
"Maximus is stronger than most horses. He'll be fine."
There was no real love in Vincent's voice as he said it, just cool assurance.
She wanted to argue, but it would only be a waste of energy. She did not want to waste any more of it on petty matters like this.
Nodding, she showed her agreement.
Consulting the map then, Vincent stepped forward, leading them to a rocky path that looked relatively unstable. Looking down on it, Rapunzel suddenly felt glad that she was not expected to walk along the uneven path.
And so they went, Vincent leading, followed by Devon, Max and Rapunzel, with Hook Hand and Vladimir bringing up the rear. The thugs did not seem impressed by the way matters were being handled, but continued on in silence nonetheless, doing this task for Rapunzel, not the other men.
As they went, her mind wandered in thoughts, moving away from concern for Eugene to pure, unadulterated awe at the vast grandeur of nature that stood around her. Isolated from the world for eighteen years had left her mind free to envision the life that moved around her. Now, seeing the majesty of it, she felt a sort of elation, a humbling wonder.
These emotions raced through her, like adrenaline coursing through her vein, drawing her mind away from the weariness of her limbs, away from the gravity of the situation.
For hours they climbed, but for Rapunzel it did not seem quite so long. She was too enthralled by the beauty about her to be consumed by the passing time. Max passed with relative ease through the craggy terrain, treading along at a careful pace. They would not attempt to go too fast here, especially as the path thinned out, and chasms of rocky peril opened up to their right.
Every now and then, Rapunzel would sneak a glimpse down into the abyss that waited them should they fall. She knew falling was not an option, and that the sheer drop should have terrified her, but there was no terror in here, just more wonderment at the enormity of the mountain world. More than once, Hook Hand had leapt forward to stop her from teetering too far off Max's back. It had never been necessary. She grasped too tightly to the horse to allow herself to fall, but she appreciated his concern nonetheless.
The others did not seem as mystified by their surroundings, their expression worn with unease and silent panic. Only Pascal seemed to delight in the mountains as she did, the small chameleon looking upon such sights for the first time in his short life.
Dusk began to settle quickly, but there was a sense of pride in the distance covered. They continued on as the sun disappeared over the peaks, leaving the sky a canvas of pinks, oranges and blues.
Vincent called the group to a halt as the light faded in the horizon. They had reached a level space within the mountain range, not very large, but big enough to allow some relief for structural soundness. Another, separate mountain stood near them, towering over them. Further down the way, a rocky bridge stood connecting the two, a work of Nature, not Man. Rapunzel knew they would have to cross it, though no one had said as much yet.
"We'll stop here for the evening. That bridge is our starting point tomorrow. I'd prefer not to sleep out in the open. Hook Hand and I will venture forward to see what we can find while you wait here. Protect her." He met her gaze then, as if searching for approval.
She nodded. "Thank you, Vincent."
As the two men headed out into the distance, Vlad set to helping Rapunzel dismount from Max. It was only as she found herself on solid ground again that she realized how uncomfortable it had been to be astride a horse for a great period of time. She was extremely grateful to stand and when Devon tried to convince her to sit, she blatantly refused.
"I'll sit when I'm tired," she told him directly, though her voice was not unfriendly. He nodded, and took a seat for himself, while Vlad stood a bit of a distance from the two, weapon at the ready. Somewhere in the distance a creatures howled out.
"Wolves," Devon spoke aloud, the statement intended for Vlad.
Vlad glanced warily about. "They sound hungry. Be at the ready."
Devon nodded, drawing forth his sword. He laid it across his lap, his hand resting on the hilt.
"Ever seen a wolf before?" He directed this question at her.
She shook her head as a slight breeze blew through her then. It was getting colder now, with the light of day fading. The mountainous area had already proved chillier than the forest, but with night coming, it was proving more noticeable. She shivered.
Devon noticed and quickly unwrapped the cloak around his shoulders, draping it gently about her. "Not what you're used to?"
There was a gentleness in his voice, a more genuine tender tone that she had not heard since their first meeting. She accepted his offer gratefully, the heat immediately dispelling the chill, and replied in an equally warm tone. "These days it feels like every single moment holds something new for me."
He smiled understandingly. "It's a different life."
She nodded. "It's almost like starting anew. I've spent all my life hidden away. I haven't gotten the chance to experience anything but the world outside my bedroom widow. And now here I am, a tiny being in face of a mighty mountain."
He laughed. "You're not alone. I've never been this way before. The need just never arose."
"And everything you do is based on need?" There was intrigue in her voice as she posed her question.
He considered it. "Not need. No. Duty. I told you, remember? We live a different sort of life. More is expected of us. We don't have time to pursue dreams."
It was a depressing notion, but Rapunzel tried not to dwell on it. She thought instead of the lanterns and Eugene, dreams that had already been fulfilled. "And if you could pursue a dream, what would it be?"
Devon gazed at her, surprised, as if the question had never been asked of him. He turned away from her pensively, his gaze falling out into the distance. "I don't know."
She didn't trust his reply to be truthful, sensing that the real answer was somewhere buried deep within him, and that he preferred it to remain that way. She did not press him further, allowing silence to fall between them instead, as the stars slowly perforated the velvety sky.
chapterseventeen
Eugene rode with a fury, as if possessed by some violent spirit—in truth, he was possessed by a burning need to see Rapunzel again and to protect her as he had sworn to do. He was fortunate that the horse he sat upon was not especially worn out, and allowed him to push it to such lengths, coaxing him to the breaking point.
The forest flew by him and in no time he found himself at the mountains. He jumped down from the horse, knowing that the creature would not make it up the rocky terrain without injury. The rest he would have to do by foot.
His back ached something terrible as he began his climb up the steep range, his feet stumbling often upon the rough undergrowth. He pushed through the pain, though, until he reached a sudden fork in the cliff and resigned himself to break.
Falling against the rock face, he stared at the roads before him, his chest heaving from exertion, his breath coming in short gasps. He did not know the way. His map had been taken by Vincent, and without it he could not discern the true path.
Frustration erupted in his mind, though his heart would not let him give up. Intuition would have to guide him, or perhaps tracking skills…
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a small discrepancy on the left road. Standing, he made his way towards it. He paused a few inches away as he realized what it was. Though the sight left him feeling slightly queasy, a small grateful thought flitted through his mind: thank you, Max.
Continuing on with certain resolve, Eugene thought of the past few days, of Hunter's reappearance, of Rapunzel's deteriorating health, and of his own place. It was something he had promised he would not consider until she was safe, but in the silence of the mount, he could think of nothing else.
When this was over and done with, would he be embraced for his actions? When this was over and done with, would people's perceptions of him be changed? He could not know for certain. Even if the king and queen accepted him, he could not know that the rest of Corona would feel the same. And he could not blame them. There was also the matter of Kaylee to consider. He had promised his services to her upon his return. He could only begin to imagine what she wanted, none of his ideas proving benign.
He had made too many promises. This was a clear notion in his mind, unlike the fuzziness of his perception of the future. He had worn himself thin, and in the end he might suffer for it.
The road was craggier up where the path was thin, and he pressed himself against the wall to ensure that a misstep did not lead him to the bottom of the ravine below. The cool air was keeping him awake, but with the sun setting quickly beside him, he was slowly losing hope of catching up with the group before the time the moon claimed the sky.
His misgivings proved well-placed as the sun finally disappeared from view, leaving only darkness and very limited light to guide him through it.
He paused as he tried to adjust to the settling night, glancing about to see for a viable place to camp out. There were some crevices, but nothing incredibly secure or stable looking. Perhaps he should not stop. The thought ran through him as he considered his options. If he did sleep now, chances were he would never be able to catch up. If he wanted to find Rapunzel, he should not stop. That much was clear. He could not stop.
If he was tired, he did not know. Adrenaline ran through him as he pushed on cautiously, moving at a slower pace than before. One misstep could sell his doom. It was better not to tempt fade.
The hours moved on, but he did not notice. The pain in his back and the racing thoughts of his mind kept him preoccupied the entire way.
When he at least reached a levelled plateau, he paused to breathe, to marvel in the wonders about him. He had not crossed through these mountains before, and it enthralled him to observe their mass from this proximity. He wished he could have delighted in it with Rapunzel—she must have been awestruck. The image of her drinking in the sights filled his chest with a sudden longing and he stood again, prepared to continue on.
Steel fell across his neck a few feet later, the edge of a blade pushing into the back of it.
"Take another step and I'll cut you through."
The familiar voice replaced the panic that had flitted through Eugene at first.
"It's Eugene."
The blade retracted and Eugene turned to face a surprised looking Hook Hand. He regarded him with wary eyes.
"You should be in Corona by now."
"That might be where I was wanted, but it's not where I should be. This is where I belong at the moment."
Noises echoed beside him and he caught a glimpse of Vincent's disapproving expression. A small crevice stood behind the two men. He had missed the sight in the darkness.
"We sent you back so you wouldn't slow us down."
"I won't slow you down. Bet on that," Eugene replied coolly to Vincent's equally condescending statement.
"We'll leave you behind if you do."
"You'll discover you won't have to."
"We'll see."
Vincent made no other comment as he slipped off past Eugene.
Hook Hand grinned then. "I'm glad to see you. The nobles were draining."
"Vincent's not a noble," Eugene corrected him, hoping the guard in question was too far away to hear him. "But I'm glad to see you too." He glanced towards the cave again. "Rapunzel?"
Hook Hand sighed heavily. "As well as we can hope. The Lord's been chumming her."
Eugene stifled the ache of jealousy, reminding himself that Rapunzel cared for him, and that the annoyingly rich boy might be a more suitable candidate for her than himself.
"And she's asleep?"
Hook Hand nodded. "I think so." He gazed out into the distance. Vincent had disappeared from view. "I think we're covered for tonight. You should get some rest."
Eugene agreed and, thanking Hook Hand, retreated into the small aperture. It was not very big, hardly large enough to contain himself with the three already strew across the floor. Vlad was propped up against a wall, his head lolling on his shoulders. The lord was stretched out near him, using his cloak as a small blanket to use against the floor.
Rapunzel slept by herself, wrapped in blankets. He crept towards her and settled beside her thin frame. She did not stir once, even as he lay beside her against the rocky floor, keeping enough distance to not draw Vincent's wrath.
He did not fall asleep easily, his eyes constantly drawn to the growing whiteness of Rapunzel's hair. When dreams finally found him, they tormented him with images of Hunter wielding a bloodied dagger, a body lying crumpled behind him. He could never see their face, but he knew who it was.
He awoke panting. Rapunzel was still asleep, unaware. He breathed deep as he reassured himself that she was very much alive.
It took him a good few minutes to calm his heart, but it was not enough. He would get no more sleep that night.
A.N. Okay. Not much. Sorry. More filler than anything. A little development here. A little string of thought there. Just some little moments while I wait for the climatic action of the next few chapters. We're almost at the end.
If you're so inclined, please leave a review to let me know your thoughts. As always, they are appreciated.
Love to my readers.
Faith