Chapter 17

Rapunzel Fitzherbert wiped her eyes one last time as she followed the guard down the long hallways. With all the tears gone from her eyes, she set about straightening her hair and smoothing her dress. She was headed for an audience with the King and Queen; it didn't do well to look unkempt.

Already, she felt embarrassed about the state that the queen had seen her in. Granted, she was immensely grateful to Queen Marie for her comfort and gentle words. But that was almost two days ago. She had pulled herself together and was going to be strong. Not just for herself, but for Eugene and Jacques.

The guard showed her into the throne room, and she approached the dais where the king and queen sat. She dropped into a curtsy.

The queen smiled down at her. "Rapunzel," she greeted warmly. There seemed to be an extra glow to the queen's skin and a sparkle in her eye; Rapunzel vaguely wondered why. Even the king, she noticed, was looking at her in a different manner.

"How are you feeling?" The queen asked.

"Better, Your Majesty, thank you," Rapunzel replied, hating how her voice quivered slightly.

The queen nodded, took a deep breath, and continued to stare hard at Rapunzel for a moment, clearly searching for words. "Rapunzel," she said again, and then paused. Her lips moved silently for a moment before words were heard. "Tell me, do you believe in magic?"

Rapunzel was clearly shocked by this question. Her eyes grew wide and she stammered her answer. "Uh – I – yes, yes I do." Her hands wrung in the folds of her skirt.

Marie nodded. "I didn't. Not for many, many years. And then, twenty-three years ago, I became pregnant. I was about to have the child when I became very, very sick. The doctors couldn't help me. I was slipping away before their eyes. No one knew what to do until someone remembered a legend that they had heard.

"I myself had heard of this legend before. I didn't believe it. They said that a drop of sunlight fell from the heavens and landed on earth. That this drop of sunlight grew into a golden flower, and that the flower possessed unheard of healing properties. So the kingdom searched for this flower. And just when we were giving up hope, the flower was found." Marie reached out and grasped her husband's hand, smiling wistfully at him, clearly remembering the terror and uncertainty of that time.

"They prepared a drink from the flower and I drank it. Within seconds I felt like I had never felt before: strong, calm, empowered. I was no longer weak and sickly. I delivered a healthy baby girl. I believed in magic that day.

"Our baby had long, beautiful golden hair. Extremely unusual for a newborn. But she was born under extremely unusual circumstances. Unfortunately, Anna Maria was taken from us only two nights later." Marie placed a hand over her chest as her eyes began to water. Rupert gave her hand a comforting squeeze. She smiled weakly at him, and then turned back to Rapunzel.

"Rapunzel dear, Eugene told me everything. The tower; your mother; you and Eugene; Eugene's death…and your hair." Marie stood now, slowly descending from the dais. She held Rapunzel's terrified gaze. "I've had a feeling for these past four years that we've known each other. Deep inside my heart, I've known. I pushed it away because I told myself for nineteen years that I was never going to see my daughter again. But something pulled me to you; fate perhaps. Or magic. Because I believe in magic."

"What – I – I don't," Rapunzel stammered, wondering if her ears were deceiving her.

"It all fits," Marie insisted, standing several feet from Rapunzel. "You have the same birthday as Anna Maria. You are the same age. You've lived in a tower all your life – never allowed outside! You once had long blonde hair, Rapunzel, which possessed incredible healing magic! Tell me, where could the magic possibly come from, but from a flower that once healed myself?"

Marie stopped, suddenly breathing hard. She'd laid all her cards out on the table. All the evidence, everything she'd been holding back had been laid bare. She was terrified of how Rapunzel would react. She'd been waiting for this day but also dreading it. She wanted her daughter back so much, but she also feared what her response would be. Would she believe her? Would she deny it all? Would she love them? Could she love them?

Rapunzel was left speechless. She stared open-mouthed at the queen. "I – you mean – I –" she lowered her voice to a shocked whisper. "I'm the Lost Princess?" Somehow the statement didn't shock her as much as she thought it would. It felt…right. Completely and utterly right to be saying it. As if it was a truth she had known all along but never dared to say aloud.

Queen Marie nodded, tears unabashedly filling her eyes as she looked at her newly recovered daughter. She wanted to hug her; hold her tight and never let go. But she held herself back. She didn't want to overwhelm the girl.

She needn't have worried, for Rapunzel suddenly threw herself into the queen's arms and let out a loud sob. Marie held her tight as tears leaked from her eyes. Rupert, tears staining his cheeks, got up from his chair and joined the group hug.

There was a light feeling in Marie's chest that hadn't been there for twenty-three years. A hole had suddenly been filled. Her daughter was back. They were a family again.