This one is kind of short-ish...sorry 'bout that. Some of you are going to love this chapter, and some of you will probably hate this chapter. I almost put this chapter off until another point in the story, but after much consideration, I put it here. Please, please, please don't kill me!

Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or Tangled or Eugene or Edmund. :'( I'm going to go cry in a corner now.

Please enjoy and review! :)

Chapter VIII – Conflicting Hearts

High King Peter the Magnificent stood on the balcony adjacent to his room, admiring the view of the town. He knew that Christmas was fast approaching. There was nothing he wanted more than to be home with his siblings. Last year, Peter had been traveling at Christmas. He had not anticipated a snowstorm so bad that he could not get home, so he had been stuck somewhere between Anvard and Cair Paravel.

Peter mulled over his thoughts regarding the attacks on Narnia. Lucy had told him about the recent attacks right after he told her about his conversation with King Harold. Ugh. Why did he agree to marry a girl he had never even met? Well, at least she was probably dead. He would never have to go through with the agreement.

Suddenly, Peter felt the urge to write to his siblings. After all, they were probably very angry that he hadn't attempted to contact them. Of course, this was not the longest they had gone without contact, but they tried to write whenever possible.

Peter sat at the desk in his room with a sigh, and pulled out a sheet of parchment, quill, and some ink. Peter glanced out the window once more, and then turned to the parchment.

Dear Su and Ed,

Sorry I haven't written. I have been incredibly busy. However, King Harold and I have established trading routes and have each signed a formal alliance with each other. King Harold has also agreed to help us find the source of the attacks upon Narnia. Lucy told me about the most recent attack. Please write if anything else happens. Unless I am needed here for much longer, Lu and I will be leaving for Cair Paravel within the week. We will be pressed for time, but hopefully, we will make it back to Cair Paravel before Christmas.

There doesn't seem to be any snow here. I am assuming that Narnia is once again white. I guess it's too warm in Corona for the rain to freeze. It has been getting cooler, but not cold enough for snow. It's a pity. I bet most people in Corona don't even know what snow is. Of course, I will never appreciate snow like I did in England because of its associations with the White Witch. You don't think that some of her followers are behind the attacks, do you? It doesn't make much sense because I thought we eradicated all of her followers, but I suppose we may have missed some and they could have made a comeback, trying to take the throne back for their Queen. Well, too bad she's dead!

Lucy told me that you have a new friend at Cair Paravel. Does she really have seventy feet of hair? I assumed that was an exaggeration on Lucy's part, especially because she wouldn't let me see the letter that Edmund wrote. She was acting very suspicious at the time, so I can only assume that something was included in the letter that she didn't want me to see. Well, this Rapunzel girl seems to have made a good impression on Edmund, as Lucy said his letter made him seem very interested in her. Please, Edmund, do us all a favor and leave the poor girl alone. No one wants another angry mob of Archenland girls attacking her like they did to Corinne. I'm only teasing. We all know you weren't involved with Corinne… (cough, cough).

Well, I sincerely hope that you will write back to Lucy and me. Maybe in Susan's hand this time? I shall hope to see you by Christmas! And if not, then by New Year's! And if not by then, then I expect the entire Narnian army to form a search party for their beloved High King and adored Queen Lucy. Oh, Susan, don't get your knickers in a twist. I'm only teasing. (Except about the search party part. I really don't want to be killed by angry Calormenes.)

Your brother,

High King Peter

P.S. Lucy told me to tell you that she says hello to everybody, and that she wants Ed to know that postscripts are very appropriate, but maybe one shouldn't add a thousand. That's tiresome. (Her words, not mine.) –Peter

Edmund laughed as he read Peter's letter. "You were right, Su, Peter must be bored to death if his letters are this funny."

"Can I read it?" Rapunzel asked. Edmund handed her the letter. "He seems a bit…self-righteous."

"Oh, he's not," Susan said. "He just likes to tease us. As oldest brother, that is his job. Well, I'm going to go practice my archery. If you still want to learn, Rapunzel, you can come along."

"Oh, I will," the blonde said. "I'll be out in a little while!"

"Alright," Susan said. "Edmund can take you." She knew that Ed wanted to speak with Rapunzel for a little longer. Susan stood and left the private sitting room to go get her bow and arrows before heading out for the practice field, despite the snow that covered it.

As soon as Susan was gone, Edmund turned to Rapunzel and asked, "Do you want to go for a walk?"

"Okay," Rapunzel said, standing from the comfortable arm chair. She slid her feet back into the pink shoes that Susan had given her. Once they were in the hall, heading to the gardens, Rapunzel turned to Edmund and said, "Are your brother and sister going to be home soon? And the King and Queen of Corona won't be coming, will they?"

"They should be home sometime this week," Edmund said. "And I don't think so."

"Do you think they'll like me?"

"Who? Peter and Lucy? Of course. Why wouldn't they?"

"I don't know. I just thought that they would have this expectation of me because they've been with the King and—my parents. It's still hard for me to think about them like that. You said that they know?"

"Yes. But since Peter didn't mention it when he was writing about you, I have a feeling that Lucy didn't tell anybody in Corona."

"I guess that's just as well," Rapunzel said. "I don't think that I want to go home just yet. I still have so much to do before becoming a princess."

"Like what?" Edmund asked.

"I have to find Eugene, Pascal, and Max, assuming that they're with Eugene; I have to find Moth—Gothel before she can hurt them; I have—"

"You shouldn't worry so much," Edmund said.

"I don't try to."

"I know, but…but I'm sure you'll get everything on your checklist done. You might actually find Eugene more easily once you are a princess, and I'm sure Gothel will be looking for you. I'm actually surprised she hasn't come here and lodged a complaint about somebody kidnapping her daughter."

"Do you really think so?" Rapunzel asked. "I don't ever want to go with her again. And the worst part is…is that I still love her. Is that so bad of me? I love the woman who kidnapped me and stabbed the man I lo—stabbed Eugene."

"Rapunzel…" Edmund said quietly. "You shouldn't worry about Gothel. I don't think it's bad that you still love her. She did raise you as her own for eighteen years. That's a long time. She could've just killed you."

"She wouldn't have," Rapunzel said softly. "She would have killed herself if she killed me. She was relying on my hair to stay alive. It was keeping her young. But I've already told you that."

"Yes, you have," Edmund said with a deep breath. "Please, Rapunzel, don't worry so much. It makes me worry when you worry so much."

They were in the gardens now, wandering around as the snow fell. The two friends were silent for a while. Rapunzel and Edmund had become very close over the last few weeks, ever since Edmund comforted Rapunzel in the garden. Rapunzel would never admit that she had begun to develop feelings for the Just King, but she knew that she had. He was just so kind, caring, and understanding. He was always there for her, especially when she was feeling upset about Eugene. Rapunzel still cared deeply for Eugene, but she was worried that she was starting to forget him.

Rapunzel was lost in her thoughts until she felt Edmund slip his hand into hers. She looked up at him with a curious look in her eyes, and Edmund said, "I knew that you were thinking about Eugene. I just thought I would start the comforting before the tears."

"You know me so well," Rapunzel laughed. She immediately turned somber again. "I'm just worried because I'm starting to forget his face. It's been so long. I know that three months isn't that long, but…I only knew him for two days. I should've worked harder to remember his face, his voice…I can remember the things he said to me, but I can't remember his voice! I can't remember! I can't…" Rapunzel was interrupted by a sob, sending the tears down her face.

Edmund immediately enclosed her slender body in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shoulder. Edmund pressed his nose against her forehead, thinking, This is how it ought to be. "Hey," Edmund said, placing his hand under her chin and lifting it up. "Don't cry. You're just going to upset yourself more. Let's sit down."

Rapunzel allowed Edmund to lead her to a bench. The very bench, in fact, that they had sat on that night he found her in the garden. He brushed off the snow and sat down, pulling Rapunzel down next to him. "Thanks," she mumbled through the tears.

"I'm always here for you, Rapunzel," Edmund said. While Rapunzel may not have been able to admit her feelings for Edmund because of her conflicting feelings for Eugene, Edmund had nothing holding him back. He watched Rapunzel's downcast eyes spill tears and took her hands in his. Edmund didn't know if he should make the first move or not. He thought that Rapunzel liked him as more than a friend, but he didn't want to push her boundaries if she wasn't ready. However, Edmund had been comforting Rapunzel for what seemed like forever. She would never get over Eugene if he didn't help her. So Edmund made up his mind.

Cautiously, Edmund pushed Rapunzel's hair out of her eyes. He let his hand linger there for a few seconds as she looked up at him. He knew that she was fully aware of what he was about to do. It was now or never. Edmund gently placed his hand at the nape of Rapunzel's neck, under that huge braid. He carefully pulled her toward him and tilted his head to the right. He saw her follow his motions and close her eyes. He followed suit and hesitated for the briefest of seconds before he pressed his lips to hers. The two remained that way for what seemed like eternity, but was really only a few seconds.

Edmund pulled his head back and embraced Rapunzel, grinning like an idiot. He was really glad that Rapunzel (or anyone, for that matter) could not see his face.

Rapunzel was in shock. She had realized what he was about to do just before it happened. And now her heart was at war. Part of her said to move on from Eugene and listen to Edmund. Part of her said that what she was doing was wrong because she loved Eugene and Eugene loved her. But does he? she asked herself. Rapunzel had heard of the expression 'Listen to your heart', but she didn't know what to do because her heart was telling her two different things. Rapunzel knew that she had to make up her mind quickly, because, if she wanted to wait for Eugene, she would have to stop anything with Edmund. She felt tears come to her eyes as she tried to decide what to do.

"Edmund," Rapunzel said softly, pulling out of his arms. The Just King grabbed the lost princess' hands and smiled at her. "I…I…" Rapunzel took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to prepare herself for telling him that she wasn't ready yet. Before she realized it, Edmund's lips were on hers again. Rapunzel's emotions were thrown out of balance and she almost gave in and lowered her guard, but her mind was screaming at her to stop.

Rapunzel pulled away and said, "Edmund, I…I'm sorry, but…but I…I just can't do this right now."

Edmund's eyes darkened and his smile disappeared. "Oh…Don't be sorry, Rapunzel. I'm sorry for all this. I moved to quickly and I shouldn't have moved at all. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault, Edmund," Rapunzel said. "I…do have feelings for you, but…I just don't understand them right now. I don't want to do anything yet because…"

Edmund finished for her, "Because you think that he'll come back to you." Rapunzel nodded slowly, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Well," Edmund said, "Eugene Fitzherbert is a lucky man. But, if he doesn't come, Rapunzel…I'll be here."

"I know," she whispered, looking at her hands, which were still in his.

Edmund suddenly felt awkward and unwanted. Rapunzel's hands in his suddenly felt heavy and uncomfortable. He was embarrassed. Edmund felt the blood rush to his cheeks. What would Peter and Susan and Lucy say? Edmund dropped one of Rapunzel's hands and said, "I'm very sorry, Rapunzel. I…I have to go." And Edmund dropped her other hand, and ran out of the garden like a coward.

Rapunzel stared after him, another tear sliding down her cheek. What have I done? she wondered.

Eugene Fitzherbert lay on the forest floor, staring up at the stars. They seemed different here than in Corona. He had forgotten that from his time in Narnia before. Eugene wondered what Rapunzel was doing at this very moment. She was probably singing to Gothel, allowing her to pull youth from Rapunzel's magical hair. That made Eugene so angry. He hated that old woman!

Once he found Rapunzel, he would kill Gothel for what she did to Rapunzel. Getting revenge for his nearly fatal wound would be an added bonus. Eugene wondered if he would ever find Rapunzel and Gothel. Surely they were shivering in the snow. He was.

Maximus snorted in his sleep, causing Eugene to jump. His heart rate slowed as he realized that it was just the horse. Eugene shivered. Why did it have to be so cold in Narnia? That was why he had made his permanent residence in Corona. Not too hot, not too cold. Eugene wondered where they were. Considering that they had been walking for months, they knew that they were in Narnia. Just where in Narnia, though…Eugene had his suspicions.

He thought that they were up near Lantern Waste, but he couldn't be sure. They might be closer to Cair Paravel than he thought, but they also might still be down south or west. There wasn't an exact way to tell for sure.

Eugene watched the stars. One seemed considerably brighter than all the others. He felt that the star was speaking to him, as absurd a thought as it was. The star seemed to be saying in a deep voice, "Do not worry. Sleep." The voice made him feel warm, despite the freezing temperatures and snow.

And Eugene Fitzherbert could not help but follow the star's advice, falling into the first peaceful slumber in months.