The Miracle
A/N: In this chapter Eugene tells the sad tale of his nightmares and the visitation. Additionally, Amanda and Rupert learn something that will prove vitally important in the future…
A/N#2: This story "kind of" follows my other stories, so you might recognize a few of my OCs here that are still awaiting their full development there… I am also providing this spoiler alert. That said; I hope not to spoil things too much.
A/N#3: This is my own tear transference story. I hope you enjoy it. And, oh yes, I do not own Tangled or its primary characters, though I do own mine and the idea…
Chapter Three: The Visitation Revealed, Part Two
The five, led by Rupert with Amanda and Catherine gently holding the despondent Eugene while William brought up the rear and ensured that no one was following them soon made their way to a rock outcropping that had seen much history in the past 20 years of Coronian history…
"So, Eugene," Amanda compassionately began as she gently embraced the troubled man as he sat on a familiar outcropping of rock, "please tell me what is troubling you so much."
"It is hard to even know where to start, Amanda." The obviously quite worried Eugene sighed.
"Well, Eugene, do you think it would be best to start at the beginning?" Amanda encouraged, with the others nodding their agreement.
Eugene, seeing the mutual agreement of the others, began his sad tale of lost sleep. It all began ten days ago at around two in the morning…
Ten days previous…
"Eugene…"
Eugene, forever a light sleeper due to his ten year career in thievery, instantly came to as he heard is true name called out. He darted up, and as his eyes adjusted to the dark, looked to his left and right to see who was there. Seeing no one, he sighed and laid his head back down. As he drifted into a troubled sleep he began to dream…
The present…
"I am sorry Eugene," Amanda compassionately stated as she gently interrupted him, going on to ask, "What was it that you dreamed?"
"I do not know if I should tell you because you might think less of me…"
"…Eugene," William interrupted, "There is nothing, repeat nothing that would ever have me think less of you. You are the hero of Corona who restored the Lost Princess to her rightful place. And you will always hold a special place in Catherine and my hearts."
"Thank you, Your.., I mean William."
"It is obvious to me that you are much too troubled by this to have to endure it alone. I therefore will withhold all judgment until I have all the facts." William calmly concluded.
"Thank you again. As I stated, after I was stirred awake and then saw that no one was there, I fell into a troubled sleep; a sleep interrupted by the most awful dream I have ever dreamt…"
Ten days previous…
As Eugene fell back into his troubled sleep, he began to dream of sick and dying all around him. All beseeching him to help as he and he alone was able to help.
"Eugene… It will soon be time. The pestilence you see in your mind's eye will soon be upon you."
"Who is there? And, what do you mean, the pestilence?" Eugene asked, frantic, as he could see no one in his bed chamber.
"Who I am is not important. I have been allowed to give you this warning."
"WARNING?" Eugene harshly whispered, ever mindful of how easily the tiniest noise traveled throughout the palace at night.
"Yes. For soon to strike the kingdom is a pestilence that will leave many dead."
"DEAD?!"
"Yes, if you allow it."
The present…
"I don't understand." William blurted out, incredulous.
"I do not either." Eugene replied.
Amanda and Rupert, closely watching Eugene, soon noted something unusual about him as he sighed in defeat of the inevitability of what was to come and his overwhelming fear that he would not be able to prevent whatever was coming. They both, as they linked their minds together and spoke through these very thoughts, had the same idea come to them, almost simultaneously.
"Do you see what I see?" Amanda suddenly asked Rupert as she thought she saw something in the persona of Eugene.
"Yes, I do." Rupert confirmed as he too saw the exact same thing.
"I think I know who visited him and why." Amanda replied, trying to contain her excitement of the reality of what was to come.
"Is it what I think it is, Mandy?" Rupert, also quite excited, asked in confirmation.
"Yes, Rupe. But, I need to ask some critical follow-up questions.
"Agreed, Mandy."
"Eugene," Amanda began as she firmed up her line of questioning, "Please let me know what you know of who visited you."
"Well, after this went on for nine days. You can imagine how upset I could be. So, last night, after about ten minutes of silence, I asked, no, make that demanded, again who was there and if they would show themselves…
The previous early morning…
"Who are you? Could you please show yourself to me? I am not sure I understand you or what you need of me..." Eugene began.
"…it is of paramount importance that you believe me, so I will now show myself to you." The disembodied voice replied, before continuing, "Please look behind you."
As Eugene stood there facing the chamber door, dressed only in sleep pants, he slowly turned as he sensed something or someone right behind him. What happened next was to leave him speechless and even more distraught.
As he stood there, trying to contain his amazement, a woman of about 36 or at least the semblance of a woman roughly in her thirties stood before him at the foot of his bed. She appeared to be dressed in a fine black or navy blue flowing gown with white floral lace at the neckline and sleeves. Her gown flowed out from around her as if she was outside on a blustery spring day. She had flowing black hair, with light grey streaks throughout, done up in a body braid that moved in time with the ruffles of her skirt. Finally, she had perhaps the most piercing blue eyes that he had ever seen on any woman; eyes that seemed to fluoresce on their own in the darkness of his room. He would later swear that they glowed with some sort of internal fire.
The present…
"Eyes that glowed like…" Amanda interrupted, inwardly exalted that she indeed did know who the visitor was, but waiting for more information.
"She had eyes that glowed as if stoked with an internal fire of some sort. I had never seen anything like it before." Eugene insisted, amazed at the calm manner in which Amanda was taking all this.
"And, did these eyes glow blue, Eugene?"
Eugene, freaking out completely, fainted unceremoniously as the others, Rupert included, looked on with mouths gaping open so wide that their chins were literally on the ground. Fortunately for Eugene, Catherine and William were there to catch him before he smashed his perfect nose into a very hard outcropping of rock…
A/N #4: What does Amanda know? And, how?
A/N#5: Please Review…