Hello! Well, here's another update! I probably won't be able to update tomorrow, so expect one either Saturday or Sunday. Well, this story has officially hit over 20K words on my computer, so this will be a nice, long, and hopefully epic story. Random side note: I had a great dream last night! It was me in the "I See the Light" scene, but I was just watching Rapunzel and Eugene. It was kinda great, but I felt depressed when I woke up because I was kinda wanting to be Rapunzel...

Disclaimer: I don't own Tangled or Narnia. Poop.

And please review y'all! I know that you're reading this! And I really appreciate getting reviews! Plus, I want to know what you like or dislike about the story! So enjoy and please review! :)

Chapter III – An Encounter

Lucy and Peter rode their horses through the woods along the Archen River, and away from the river itself. They were talking and laughing amicably with the soldiers who had come along with them. None were tired of the distance, even though they had been traveling for a little over a week. They had already crossed the Archen River the day before, and were heading along the mountain range that separated Archenland from Narnia, bypassing Mt. Pire and Anvard, which they had contemplated visiting for a few days, but decided against it because they wanted to get to Corona as fast as possible, and the King Lune would most likely insist on the Narnians staying for a month or two. Lucy knew that King Lune was fascinated by the four young rulers. After all, Peter was only twenty-one, Susan twenty, Edmund eighteen, and Lucy sixteen. They were very young to have already ruled an entire country and fought and won a war in only seven years.

Lucy laughed at one of Peter's jokes ("How many fauns does it take to screw in a light bulb? Don't be silly; there aren't any light bulbs in Narnia!"), even though she was the only one because no one knew what a light bulb was! She sighed and then looked down at her Horse, Emilia.

Lucy tilted her head to the side and glanced down, seeing Susan's horn resting on her side, opposite from her dagger and cordial. She felt slightly wary by taking Susan's horn. What if Edmund or Susan needed it?

She shook off her doubts by adjusting her skirts. Lucy hated wearing chain mail because it was uncomfortable for her, so she was wearing a plain traveling dress with a brown, leather jerkin over her chest to protect her in case there was a skirmish or they were ambushed.

Amidst the loud laughing of the men and women, Lucy heard a rustle in the trees. She would have just assumed it was an Animal or animal, but it seemed different, especially after she heard shushing coming from that direction. "Stop, Emilia," Lucy commanded. The Horse halted and the others soon followed.

"What is it, Queen Lucy?" a faun asked.

"I heard something in those bushes over there," she answered.

"Are you sure it wasn't just your imagination?" Peter asked, receiving a little laughter from the others, causing Lucy to roll her eyes at them.

"Of course I'm sure it wasn't my imagination." Lucy got off her horse and drew her dagger, just in case. She cautiously approached the bushes. Lucy pushed back one of the shrubs and saw an old woman and a young woman. The old woman was covering the young woman's mouth.

"Oh, hello," the older woman said, releasing the younger woman.

"Hullo," Lucy replied. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, we're just taking a mother-daughter walk," the woman replied.

Peter walked up next to Lucy. "I'm High King Peter of Narnia, and this is Queen Lucy. Are you from Archenland?"

"No, we're from Coro—" the younger girl began, but was cut off by a tight squeeze on her arm. Lucy noticed that the younger girl's eyes looked raw and tired, and her hair was long, and golden, and long…Lucy stared at the girl's hair. It had to be at least seventy feet long!

Peter pretended to not to notice that the woman was harming the girl. He knew that if this was a hostage situation, it was best to leave them for the time being and have someone follow to help later. The woman laughed and said, "Well, we best be on our way. Sorry to bother you!" She immediately dragged the girl off, with the girl's hair trailing behind them.

"Lillian," Peter said as he beckoned over a female faun, "follow them, but don't let them see you."

"Yes, your majesty," she said as she bowed and walked off.

"Let's keep going," Peter commanded. They climbed back up onto their horses and began walking.

"What was that all about?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know, but I didn't like it," Peter answered. "It's so obvious that the girl was being held captive against her will. Did you see the look on her face? Anyway, all we can do is keep going, and hope that Lillian does her job and helps the girl."

Lucy wasn't happy with how Peter handled the situation. "Why didn't you just help the girl then and there? We clearly outnumber them!"

"Yes, but I have learned from experience that it's best to follow and help later. Or the girl will escape on her own later."

"How could you tell?" Lucy snapped.

"Her eyes," Peter said knowingly. "She's smart and determined. She'll find a way out. If not, Lillian will send word and we will be able to go rescue her, or Su and Ed will. I promise. We'll help her eventually."

"Eventually," Lucy repeated with disdain. She tossed her red-brown hair over her shoulder and fixed her silver crown. She wasn't happy with Peter's decisions, but he was the High King and she was his younger sister. Plus, she had to be in Corona as soon as possible. There was no way she could do anything else.

The weeks had passed quickly. Gothel and Rapunzel had made it out of Corona with no problems and no interference until they happened upon that party of royals and guards. Gothel was sure that they were done for. Rapunzel had almost given them away.

As soon as Gothel convinced them that they were fine, they walked away as fast as they could, aware that they were being followed. However, Gothel and Rapunzel lost the shadow quickly and easily. Once they were alone, Gothel slapped Rapunzel saying, "How dare you tell them where we're from? They might find out who we are!"

"Good," Rapunzel snapped. "I hope you're happy!"

"You promised you would come!"

"I promised I would come, but I never promised to be happy about it!" Rapunzel cried.

"Not so loud!" Gothel said, suspiciously calm.

"Why? They already know we're here! We don't even know where here is!"

"Shut up," Gothel ordered, and Rapunzel knew that she was fighting a losing battle. There was no way that she could go on and continue arguing with Gothel. She wasn't strong enough. Gothel had raised her to be perfectly in obedience to her mother. Even though Rapunzel had learned so much on the outside of her tower with Eugene, she would never be able to fight with Gothel. They loved—and hated—each other too much.

Rapunzel followed Gothel through the forest all day, even using her long hair to swing across a large river about an hour after their encounter with the royals. Eventually, nightfall arose and Gothel and Rapunzel had to stop to make camp. Gothel built a fire while Rapunzel rested, nibbling on some bread that Gothel had given her. After long, Gothel fell asleep, allowing Rapunzel to stare up at the stars. She was reminded of her night in the forest with Eugene. It seemed so long ago, but it was only a week and a half, or was it two weeks? Rapunzel lost count.

The stars looked so different here. She had charted stars, and while she could still see the same constellations, the stars looked closer and brighter here. Rapunzel took in a deep breath and inhaled the air. It felt different than before, in the woods of Corona.

The King, Peter, had mentioned that he was from Narnia. Maybe that's why it felt different…Rapunzel felt tears form in her eyes as she thought of her journey with Eugene. She felt so many emotions for him. Silent sobs wracked her slender body as she cried and cried and cried about her predicament. For all she knew, Eugene had starved to death in that tower. He had probably eaten Pascal because he was so hungry! They didn't like each other…Oh, Pascal…Rapunzel missed her best friend and the best chameleon in the world.

Rapunzel continued to cry as the night went on. But after an hour or so had passed of Rapunzel's crying, she felt a deep voice say, "Everything will be alright."

Susan tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep because she was so worried about Lucy and Peter. They had left a week ago and she hadn't heard anything from them. Surely they were going to send word of how their journey was going!

Eventually, Susan accepted that she wasn't going to be able to sleep for a long time. She got out of bed, pulled her dressing robe over her nightgown and walked barefoot to the open doorway that led out to her balcony overlooking the Eastern Sea. The curtains in the doorway billowed in the breeze, the moonlight shining through the white gauze in an ethereal way. Susan felt at ease here. She had always been a night owl. Even back in—oh, where was it?—England, she had been happiest late at night when she could stay up and read.

Susan walked through the doorway and onto the balcony. The crisp night air made her shudder, but it was comforting, too. Susan loved summer nights in Narnia because they weren't hot, but they weren't cold, either. She walked to the marble railing and leaned against it, resting her cheek on her hand. Susan just watched the waves roll and crash along the shore. She thought she saw a small light in the distance, but that must have just been her imagination.

Something on the beach caught Susan's attention. She couldn't be sure, but it looked like paw prints. If they were large enough for her to see up here, then that could only mean one thing. "Aslan!" she gasped.

"Yes, child," Aslan's voice said from her right. Susan turned and saw the great Lion. He seemed bigger than the last time she saw him. Susan immediately sunk to her knees in a reverent bow. "Rise Queen Susan the Gentle." Susan stood and approached Aslan with a smile growing on her face.

"Oh, Aslan," she said, "I've missed you."

"I've been with you, daughter," he said.

"I know, but…I guess I just forget sometimes," she said. "Forgive me, Aslan."

"Susan, your faith must be stronger if you are going to survive the upcoming events. You must learn to trust in me."

"I will. I'll try harder," Susan said. "What upcoming events, Aslan?"

"There are dark forces growing in Narnia," Aslan said slowly. "You must be ready to fight them."

"We're always ready to fight, Aslan," said Susan.

"You won't be prepared for this because it is not a fight like you are expecting. While there will be physical battles, a betrayal of the worst kind will come from within. You must be ready."

"What kind of betrayal?" Susan asked.

"That is not part of your story yet, my child," Aslan said knowingly. Aslan knew that Susan was keeping something from him. "Say what is on your mind, daughter."

Susan took a deep breath and asked, "Why are you telling me this? Why not Peter or Lucy or even Edmund? I'm probably the least helpful in this situation."

"Susan, you must learn to trust me. You will be extremely important during this time. At one point, the fate of Narnia may rest in your hands."

"Oh, Aslan," Susan said, "I'm not strong enough for that."

"You will be, my child," Aslan said. "Trust in me. Have faith in me. Now, I must go. Do not tell anyone what was spoken tonight, Susan. It is not their story."

"Yes, Aslan," Susan said softly. She looked out to the sea, and when she looked back, the Lion was gone.