Oh, I love this chapter! It was so much fun to write and starts a whole new section of the story! :)

Disclaimer: If I really owned Tangled or Narnia I wouldn't be here. Nuff said. However, if I owned Flynn/Eugene or Edmund...I wouldn't be here either. I would be off with them. :)

Thanks for your reviews! Please enjoy this chapter and review! I'll try and update sometime this weekend.

Chapter VII – What Lucy Saw and What Edmund Found

Dear Lucy,

You won't believe our luck! Oh, and this is Ed by the way. Anyway, a girl has come to Cair Paravel! Her name is Rapunzel and she is from Corona! She was kidnapped as a baby and locked in a tower for eighteen years, never cutting her hair. It's about seventy feet long, give or take. Oh, yeah, she's my age. And she's the lost princess of Corona! Susan says she knows Flynn Rider, except Rapunzel is convinced that his name is Eugene Fitzherbert. She came to us the same day we got your last letter, which was yesterday. I can't believe that the lost princess of Corona has come to Cair Paravel! I think that Susan and I might bring her to you. We discussed that at dinner last night after Rapunzel left. Rapunzel needs to be with her parents, especially if they miss her.

How is Corona? We miss you here. Your friend, Hadassah, seems interesting. If she's so nice to you, you could bring her to Narnia for vacation. Now, I must warn you, there have been four letters delivered to you, all from Archenland. I don't think you were so successful at getting Prince Corin to stop trying to contact you. But I wouldn't worry. I wrote him a letter saying how you were now engaged to a man in Corona whom you've fallen madly in love with. Don't worry, I'm just teasing. But I did write him a letter saying that you were gone from Cair Paravel and wouldn't be back for a year or so (which I hope is untrue). Susan and I really hope that you and Peter will be home for Christmas! And by 'home for Christmas', I mean home as soon as possible. But I suppose you would have to leave now to get home in time if it took you three weeks to get to Corona.

And regarding falling madly in love, you absolutely cannot find some Coronan (?) man that you want to marry. It's not right. You're only sixteen! I will put my foot down. (Especially if you marry before me or Susan or Peter!) Susan is stressing, I think. I think she doesn't want to end up an old maid. Not that she doesn't have men practically throwing themselves at her. After the whole Flynn Rider incident, she has turned away every man. Why am I even writing about this? This letter is to you! Not for me to vent! But I digress.

Well, I must say, I do hope that you and Peter get sick of Corona and decide to come home early. Cair Paravel is very lonely without you two. While Susan is great company (and so is Rapunzel, I guess), I miss sparring with Peter and teasing you. (Which there will be a lot of when you get back, I promise). I suppose that this letter is long enough, and I need to send it so it can reach you within the next three weeks. I expect a letter in return. And tell Peter that it wouldn't hurt to write to us every once in a while! We haven't seen you in six weeks (which will be nine by the time you get this and twelve when you write back—and that will be Christmas!)

Love,

Edmund

P.S. Susan sends her love.

P.P.S. Rapunzel says hello.

P.P.P.S. Is it even right to include this many postscripts?—Anyway, tell Peter that there was another attack, up in the Western Woods. No one was hurt but we didn't catch who it was, either. I only received word this morning, and I didn't tell Susan so she wouldn't worry, but make sure Peter knows. I don't think there were giants involved. I honestly don't know who is attacking us. Anyway, love, Edmund.

Lucy put down the letter from Edmund. This Rapunzel girl was the lost princess of Corona. The lost princess. Lucy knew that she should tell King Harold and Queen Julia that their daughter was in Narnia, but she didn't know how they would react. Most likely, they would want their baby girl back, not some teenager who had seventy feet of hair! But in her heart, Lucy knew that they would accept their daughter with open arms.

The bedroom door opened. Hadassah walked in and said, "Hello, Lucy."

"Hi, Hadassah!" Lucy exclaimed. "I have a few questions to ask you."

"Alright," she said. Queen Julia had told Lucy that Hadassah was one of the most trusted servants in the palace. Julia thought of the orphan, Hadassah, as a surrogate daughter because of the missing princess.

Lucy brushed her hair as she asked, "How do Queen Julia and King Harold feel about their daughter?"

"They miss her very, very much," Hadassah said.

"What about the people of Corona?"

"She's like an idol to them. Everyone wants her home, safe and sound."

"Why?" Lucy asked, not liking the idea of idols.

"I think it's the whole concept of the princess being kidnapped and no one knowing what happened to her."

"What would happen if she came back?"

Hadassah thought for a moment. "I suppose there would be a huge celebration, and then things would go back to normal."

Lucy considered the servant girl's words as she pulled her hair back with a pink ribbon. "Do you think that the lost princess will come back?"

"Honestly? No. I think that she is probably dead. Don't tell anybody I said that, but I don't think it's very likely that she is still alive."

Lucy thought that Hadassah was probably right, but then she remembered that the princess was, indeed, alive. And she was in Narnia. Lucy wondered if she should tell Hadassah…no. Lucy trusted Hadassah, but she felt that King Harold and Queen Julia should be the first to know that their daughter was alive and well. "I think I'm going to get some food," Lucy said. "I can just go into the kitchen, right?"

"Yes, Lucy," Hadassah said. "You can go through the dining hall to get there. It might be locked, but that's the easiest way to get there. If the door is locked, just come and find me and I'll take you the back way."

"Thanks, Hadassah," Lucy said, getting up and hugging her friend. Lucy's stomach rumbled. "Apparently, my stomach says 'thank you' as well." The girls laughed as they left the room.

Lucy turned left toward the dining hall and Hadassah turned right to go check on Queen Julia, who was supposed to be taking a nap. Lucy followed the long progression of hallways that she had memorized weeks ago. She knew where everything in the castle was. By now, Lucy even knew her way through the village outside. On one of her first days in Corona, she had gone to explore the city and a few little girls had showed her around. Those little girls had almost died of excitement when they found out that she was a queen. Lucy was only a few years older than them!

The Valiant Queen took her time walking through the halls, admiring the art and tapestries and busts and suits of armor. She passed an open window and paused to look out. She could see the forest in the distance and the sun beyond that. Lucy liked to think that she could see the mountains of Archenland and Narnia, and perhaps the deserts of Calormen, and even the great Eastern Sea, but she knew that all of this was her imagination. Really, she could only see forests and people.

After a few minutes, Lucy continued on her way. It only took her about ten minutes to reach the dining hall. She turned the handle of the left of the double doors. Locked. Sighing, and stomach growling, Lucy tried the right. Unlocked. She smiled as she swung the door open. The room was deserted. Lucy inhaled deeply, smelling the wondrous scents of food wafting in the air toward her. She slipped into the room, closing the door behind her.

Lucy saw that there was a table on the far wall that had snack foods on it, probably for the purpose of hungry royals seeking out nourishment. Lucy approached the table and grabbed a napkin. She unfolded it to act like a sack she could store the food in and began to pile food on it. Rolls, an apple, a Danish, and a banana. She was about to grab some more food, when the she heard the door handle turn.

The Queen didn't know if she was allowed to be in here (which was rather silly; she was a queen after all), so she looked for a place to hide. There was a wardrobe a few feet away (to keep the coats of the dinner guests in, Lucy figured). Smiling, Lucy gathered her food and ran to the wardrobe. She climbed inside and pulled the door behind her, not closing it all the way because she knew it was very foolish to shut oneself in a wardrobe. Lucy half expected there to be a snow-covered forest instead of a wooden wall in the back of the wardrobe, but there was nothing except the back of the wardrobe.

Since the door was open a crack, Lucy could see a little and hear well. She peeked out of the door and saw Peter enter. She almost climbed out, but stopped herself because following her brother was King Harold. They headed to the food table. Lucy realized that it was silly to be hiding because it was allowed to eat the food, obviously, but then it would look like she had been eavesdropping or playing around, and Peter might be angry with her, so Lucy decided to stay put.

"So, as I was saying, King Harold," Peter said, "Narnia has been attacked several times over the last few months. We don't know who the attackers are, but we are trying to find out. I want to know if you would be willing to help us. Since we have already become formal allies, it would be nice, though not necessarily required."

"Corona would be glad to help her neighbor," King Harold said. Lucy was immediately bored. They were still discussing trade and alliances? The men were silent as they took their food to the end of the table and sat down. Nothing was said for a few moments as they ate. "My wife would kill me if she knew that I was eating before supper." Peter laughed. "She's a stickler for eating three meals a day and then dessert." Both Kings laughed. "Now, tell me again, Peter. How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-one."

"And your other siblings?"

"Queen Susan is twenty, King Edmund is eighteen, and Queen Lucy is sixteen."

"I see," King Harold said, clearly thinking. Lucy could practically hear his brain whirring as he thought. She knew that she probably wouldn't like what he had to say. It was obvious that he had something devious in mind. Well, maybe not devious, but formal and had to do with the two countries. "Well, King Peter, you know that my daughter, Helene, turned eighteen about two months ago. I think that a marriage between my daughter and you would be nice, once we find her. While Helene and King Edmund are the same age, I don't know him and, frankly, I would love to have you in my family. You are a very kind and brave young man. What do you say?"

Lucy knew what Peter was going to say. "Well, King Harold, I think that your proposition is a good idea. However, there is one problem. I'm not trying to be rude, but we don't exactly know where your daughter is."

"True," Harold said. "But she is bound to return someday. And if you are still unmarried and wish to marry, would you wed my daughter?"

Peter thought about it. "Yes."

The men's conversation continued, returning back to politics, but Lucy wasn't paying attention. The Valiant Queen was in shock. Peter and Princess Helene—Rapunzel—were betrothed! Now, Lucy knew that she wasn't a very selfish person. She could be, but she wasn't normally. However, Lucy loved Peter with all her heart; she loved Peter more than Susan and Edmund, even though she loved her sister and other brother dearly. Peter and Lucy had always gotten along the best and everyone knew it. But this was just wrong. Lucy felt jealousy rise within her as she thought of her brother marrying and loving someone else more than her!

And so Lucy knew that she had to keep the news of Rapunzel being Princess Helene to herself.

Rapunzel walked out to the gardens. She looked around the gardens, searching for a fountain. There was only one. She sat on the bench opposite the fountain and stared at the falling water. Rapunzel felt her heart crumbling into pieces as she knew that this was where Susan and Flynn had been. This was their spot.

But Rapunzel felt comfort knowing that this was where Eugene been. He had sat here, on this bench. She just had to be somewhere that had a connection to him. And as she couldn't go back to Corona, this was the best she could do.

Rapunzel closed her eyes. She was back on the boat with Eugene, waiting for the lanterns. Rapunzel had been extremely excited and nervous then because of her feelings for Eugene. She didn't understand them at the time. Rapunzel remembered the feeling in her stomach when Eugene had taken her small, delicate hands in his large, calloused hands and held them there. Rapunzel felt herself hold her hands out, imagining them being held by Eugene's.

She remembered how the feeling had intensified as he had brushed some of her hair away from her eyes and slowly lowered his hand, trailing his fingertips down her neck and jaw. He had carefully placed his hand at the base of her neck and leaned in toward her, still holding her hand with his other hand. He tilted his head, and she followed his motions, since he obviously knew what he was doing. Rapunzel had closed her eyes and waited for his lips to press to hers.

But the kiss never came.

Rapunzel's eyes shot open, tears falling from her eyes as she looked at the fountain. Yes, Eugene Fitzherbert and Flynn Rider had experience. He had kissed Susan at this very spot. The tears fell faster. Rapunzel rested her elbows on her legs and put her face in her hand, sobbing as silently as she could. Did Eugene ever really care for her at all?

Rapunzel heard someone walk up to her, but she didn't look up or acknowledge them at all. She felt them sit down beside her and place their arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. It was a large arm, well, larger than hers. The arm was heavy, so Rapunzel knew that it must belong to a man.

Tears still streaming down her cheeks, Rapunzel looked up, half expecting to see Eugene's face. But it wasn't there. Instead, King Edmund sat beside Rapunzel. "Are you okay?" the King asked.

"No," Rapunzel sobbed. Before asking permission, Rapunzel threw her arms around Edmund and sobbed into his shoulder. Edmund wrapped his arms around the crying girl in a comforting embrace.

"What's wrong?" Edmund asked.

Rapunzel turned her head so she could speak, but didn't pull away. "I was just thinking about Eugene."

"Eugene? Oh, Flynn Rider. You know, I caught him and Su—"

"I know," Rapunzel snapped. "Susan told me."

"Oh," Edmund said, realizing that his words, meant to make her laugh, had caused her more anguish and heartbreak. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Rapunzel pulled out of his arms. She turned her face away from him and looked at the ground. "I just know that I'll never be able to see him again. And now I don't even know if he ever loved me. He was probably just using me for his own reasons."

"Did Susan tell you the whole story?" Edmund asked. Rapunzel nodded. "That idiot. She's still bitter about it, you know. She really cared about him. Susan probably wanted to make you doubt yourself and your feelings for Fly—Eugene."

"Well, it worked," Rapunzel said, crying again.

"Hey," Edmund said, taking one of Rapunzel's hands in his. "I'm sure that Eugene really did care about you. From what I've heard about him from you, he seemed different than when I knew him. And if he isn't different and really was using you, then he was missing out. You are a great person, Rapunzel."

Rapunzel bit her lower lip and said, "Thanks, King Edmund."

"Come on, I know that you don't call Susan 'Queen'. You don't like it when I call you 'Princess'. You can just call me Edmund. "

"Thanks, Edmund."

Edmund took Rapunzel in his arms again, and for the first time, noticed that there was a certain feeling in his stomach that was tugging at his heart.