Chapter 1

Princess Rapunzel stared through the tiny slits that served as her window. It was a beautiful day and she longed to be outside again. It was warm and most of the snow was melting. The afternoon just couldn't come fast enough. She hurried into her riding clothes. Since she was 10 years old, she had been permitted to go outside for four days a month. Now that she was 18, she was allowed 7 days, but they could never be consecutive. Only one day at time, her stepmother said, and she had to use them wisely.

The rest of the time, she cooked, cleaned and helped out her stepmother as best she could, not that the woman needed helping. Well, those were her stepmother's words, not hers. Rapunzel often felt as if she were her servant. And this age thing confused her just as it did her father, but she backed off fearing that she would end up as her father did.

Rapunzel still had her suspicions about the way her father went. She loved her father very much and

So for the first time this month, Rapunzel was going to spend her day riding. Suede would take her anywhere she wanted to go, he was a trusty and loyal steed and would gladly take her anywhere.

Somehow, she could feel her stepmother's eyes watching her from her window of her sunroom, where she sat day after day doing who knew what. Rapunzel was never allowed in there, no one was. It was fiercely guarded so that no one would make the same mistake as her father had.

Rapunzel shook of the feeling as she rode. The snowfall two days ago had not been deep, but just enough to cause problems. She wasn't allowed outside the castle gates, but today she wasn't going to follow rules. Today she would do what she wanted, what no one else expected her to do.

Except now she wondered if she was doing the right thing. Had she ever considered that this might be what her stepmother wanted her to do?

No, she shook her head. What could have put a silly notion like that into her head?

She was outside the castle gates before she realized where she was. She was about to turn around and head back when she was knocked off her saddle by a fast moving white stallion.

"Are you alright?" the tall man dismounted and ran over to where she lay on the ground. He extended a hand to help her up, but she ignored it, deciding to stand on her own.

Rapunzel's eyes were blazing with fire. "What the heck made you pull that? Don't you ever watch where you're going?"

The handsome young man smiled and shook his head. "Not when I see a pretty little lady like you. Maximus is one smart horse. He also has great taste."

The white horse whinnied as if he understood exactly what his master was talking about.

Rapunzel smiled and walked closer toward him. She rubbed behind his ears. "Well, he does seem as if he listening to every word we're saying. It's as if he knows we're talking about him."

The young man nodded. "Good observation, my lovely lady. You seem to know horses well."

Rapunzel laughed. "I've been riding since I was 10 years old. My father taught me to ride, although I haven't gotten out as much as I'd like."

"Your father must be proud of you. You are an excellent rider, um..."

"Rapunzel," she said quietly. "And my father died of pneumonia right after I turned 12, but yes he was proud of me."

She stared back at him. "And you are?"

The young man bowed. "Eugene Fitzherbert at your service, my dear Rapunzel. Would you mind a little company?"

And so the two of them spent the warm winter's day together, smiling, laughing and joking as if it were summertime. They even raced together for a time, with Suede coming in first, which Rapunzel could have sworn that he lost. But it didn't matter; she was having a great time. She hadn't had so much fun in her entire life.

With reluctance, she allowed herself to be escorted to the castle gates, but she would go no further.

"If you allow me, I could take you home," Eugene said. "I would love to see you again, if you'll let me."

Rapunzel smiled and shook her head. "I'm very busy so I get a limited amount of time in the outside world."

Eugene frowned. "What does that mean?"

Rapunzel shook her head. "I'm a servant here at the castle. I'm afraid it would be unfair to the both of us if I were to make a commitment."

Eugene shrugged. "Well, maybe we can run into one another again."

Rapunzel smiled. "Maybe, Eugene, we'll see." It was starting to get dark, she wasn't supposed to be allowed out the entire day, but no one came after her about it, and she was surprised.

"Goodnight," she said. "I'll see you when I see you."

She walked Suede into the castle gates as Eugene watched her disappear inside. Everything was going according to plan. The Princess was already interested, he could feel it. It wouldn't be long before she was completely his.

Eugene Fitzherbert would bide his time. All his hard work was falling into place.