Chapter 3

"For the first time that he could remember, Flynn Rider was bound to a chair and could not free himself. He stared at the beautiful princess sitting opposite him, asleep, or at least she appeared to be. She waited until the intruder came over to her chair, an evil grin playing on his lips."

Eugene had brought the book as promised. The two went riding into the woods and heard a rushing of water. Following the swift moving river, the two finally came upon a beautiful waterfall by a clearing. They led their horses over to a tall birch tree and secured them. Eugene removed the Tales of Flynnagan Rider and a blanket from his saddlebags and spread it out while Rapunzel brought out a well packed lunch of bread and cheese. The two had spent most of the day taking turns reading to each other.

"'You will go first, and then he will go next,' the intruder told the princess, pointing out to everyone. He wasn't sure if the princess had heard him at all, she seemed to be asleep.

It didn't matter; he'll get everything he wanted from her. The sooner, the better, he reasoned as he drew his sword.

But the princess was faster, drawing her knife out of her boot and knocking the sword from the intruder's hand. Rider watched, amazed at the quickness and timing.

He watched as she broke from her already loosened bonds and tackled him to the ground. Then pressing her knife against his throat, she asked him gently to release Rider from his bonds. The intruder nodded and performed his duty. Rider was able to free himself, grab his sword and chased the intruder out the door, laughing as he did so. The beautiful princess ran toward him and they embraced. Flynn couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be to have her by his side. Together, they could make an excellent pair, the swashbuckling playboy and the beautiful princess. What a perfect blend.'"

Rapunzel stopped reading and looked up at Eugene who was staring at her. He was speechless. Children's tale or not, he was thinking how true that story might turn out to be in real life. It was just coincidental that she just happened to turn to that story in particular.

"That was a great story, Eugene. I can see why he's your hero. He's such a wonderful guy, rescuing all these women in distress, except maybe this princess who freed him up Shall we read another?"

When he didn't answer, she looked into his eyes and shook her head. She smiled.

"Something wrong or has the cat got your tongue?" she asked playfully. "

Eugene was in a daze. Those eyes, those large beautiful green pools as lovely as the mountain river. He could get lost in those eyes.

He hadn't heard a word she said.

"Did you know that you are beautiful, Rapunzel, especially when you're lost in a story?"

"I love books, Eugene, you know that." She grabbed his vest and pulled him closer, but he was having none of it.

He stood from his seat on the rock, turned his back on her and headed for the wooded area behind them.

"Eugene?"

He stood there shaking his head. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't go through with this.

"Rapunzel, listen," he said, turning toward her. "I've got something to tell you. You see…"

"No listen to me, Eugene. I know everything. You were hired by my stepmother to kill me, weren't you?"

He turned around to face her, a look of confusion and relief on his face. He frowned.

"How in the world…"

"I overheard her last night, Eugene. She was talking to Bastian Smyth, the groundskeeper. They're having an affair, although he's much younger than she is. She's got him wrapped around her little finger. Sometimes he does errands for her and delivers messages. Apparently, you're taking too long to get rid of me."

"You know she wants to be the fairest in the land. As long as you're alive, Rapunzel, she will do anything regain her title and that includes killing you."

Rapunzel stared at him. "You're being paid to this job, Eugene, do it. We're out in the middle of the woods, if that's what your intentions were."

Eugene shook his head. "I'm not the one who does the killing. Besides, I led you in the wrong direction. We were supposed to go south, not north. The Stabbington boys are waiting there. I don't know if they still are."

Rapunzel regarded silently for a moment. "So what are you telling me, Eugene?"

He looked into her eyes. "I've fallen in love with you, Rapunzel. You have a great way of calming me down and making me feel good about myself. No other woman has ever treated me the way you have. You're different and special."

When no answer came, he continued. "That's why I'm letting you go. You've got to get out of here. I'm no good for you. You're a princess and I'm a criminal. This cannot end happily."

Rapunzel stood next to him. "How much do you love me, Eugene? Do you want to be with me the rest of my life, because I'll tell you something? I'm nothing without you, Eugene. I'm a princess in name only. I can't go back to that tower. I'll have nothing. You opened up a brand new world for me and I don't want it to end. I need you; Eugene Fitzherbert, I love you. You're my hero, my Flynnagan Rider."

Eugene stared at her not knowing how to react to that. Tears began to fall from his eyes as he scooped her up into his arms. He released her and stared into those eyes and brought his lips down to hers. He didn't release her until they heard the sound of a pack of wild dogs.

"Quickly," Eugene said, "I think we're being hunted. Grab what you can and follow me. We'll follow the river so the dogs will lose their scent."

Rapunzel nodded and grabbed up everything but the picnic basket. Together, they made their way upstream heading north away from everything that had been familiar to them.

It was indeed going to be a brand new world for both of them.