Chapter 16: A Race Against Time
Thanks as always for all your kind comments. Love you all!
Phew, this is a long one so brace yourselves. There's angst as far as the eye can see in this one. A tiny moment of fluff if you squint, but it's like, a second so it doesn't even count. Anyway, enjoy!
How's one to know
I'd live an die for moments that we stole
On begged and borrowed time
(...)
Oh, goddamn, my pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand
Taking mine, but it's been promised to another.
Oh, I can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland.
~Ivy
The smell of rain was heavy in the air, earthy and brisk and damp against her clammy skin; strangely soothing to her troubled soul. A particularly hard gust of wind tangled in her loose hair and Rapunzel took a few large gulps, feeling as though she hadn't been able to breathe deeply for a long time. In a way, she actually hadn't, there had been a heavy weight in her chest since she had returned to Corona, pressing against her heart no matter how much she had tried to ignore it. This was the first time she'd had the chance to finally acknowledge it, and as the moist air filled her lungs she felt like her numb soul was finally awakening after a long slumber.
And yet she still felt like drowning. A part of Rapunzel wished she had remained dormant, blissfully blocking the emotional turmoil bubbling just beneath the surface. It stung like a blistering wound, a twisted blade between her ribs that just kept digging deeper and deeper with each quivering breath she took. She had hoped that time would be an ally to slowly heal the heartache left in her, but in her case, time only proved to be an unforgiving reminder of how awfully naive and reckless she had been.
Rapunzel's hands shook as her fingers tangled in a golden strand of hair, clinging to it like a lifeline. The clouds above her rolled as the storm approached, covering the usually blue skies of Corona in a grey blanket so dark it appeared to be almost nighttime. Distant thunder rumbled, shaking the very ground beneath her bare feet, and she found it strangely coincidental that the weather should perfectly mirror her current mood. Despite the harsh gusts of freezing wind that clearly announced the coming rain, Rapunzel was glad she was outside. She couldn't bare to be restrained inside the palace walls in that moment, reckless as it might be to be caught outside in the storm.
Her mind felt like a tidal wave crashing over and over with the memory of every event that had happened the past few months, culminating with the life-changing revelation she had received mere minutes ago, and Rapunzel felt her cheeks heating up in embarrassment as she recalled the Royal Physician's prodding questions. She felt like the world's biggest fool. How had she not realized?
In hindsight, all the hints had been so obvious. Granted, her cycle had never been the most regular, sometimes missing by weeks, but the clear absence of her monthly bleeding should have been the first red flag in the series of symptoms she had been experiencing. But Rapunzel had been so caught up in trying to forget, she didn't even consider the possibility of it, didn't even cross her mind for a second. How could it? This was the most monumental scenario that could've possibly followed her return to Corona.
Her unstable hands traveled from her hair down her body towards her midsection, hovering just above her navel. There was nothing particularly noticeable there, not yet anyway, still Rapunzel couldn't bring herself to place her hands over her belly, fingers shaking as they curled into tight fists.
The first drops of rain felt cold against her skin, yet Rapunzel remained unmoved as her mind raced, a million different thoughts crossing her brain in a matter of seconds. It must not be that big yet, barely the size of a relatively small seed considering her body hadn't changed all that much. It wouldn't remain that way, she knew, and Rapunzel wondered how long it would be before she wasn't able to conceal it anymore. Certainly the truth would come out long before she actually started to show, since the Royal Physician already knew about it. He wouldn't give her much time before he told her parents, Rapunzel's pleading gaze and watery eyes being the only thing that stopped him from fetching the King and Queen in that very instant. The pitiful glances the older man kept shooting her way were a clear indicator that he thought this whole situation had been cruelly forced upon her. How could it be any other way? The Crown Princess of Corona being with child before she was even married was certainly a ghastly occurrence. The timing was telling, the scandal imminent.
Little did the doctor know that far from being unwilling, Rapunzel had been an enthusiastic participant — an instigator even — in the events that lead to the conception of the tiny life now growing inside her. She was embarrassed to admit it, but she couldn't bring herself to regret it. Not really. For her it had been a cherished moment; an all-consuming love too big to even express with words, and the rising fear of the unknown, the realization that she wouldn't have a chance to experience it again, that led her to share that night with Eugene. Back then she had truly believed it meant something to both of them. How could she regret the product of a love so grand she still couldn't forget no matter how much she tried?
But he was gone, and she was still here, stuck between duty and honor and her own conscience. 'They will have to set a rather early date for the wedding, as soon as possible indeed.' The Royal Physician had mumbled under his breath as he ran over all her symptoms. The plan was obvious even to Rapunzel. Once the King and Queen knew about it they would surely have her married within the week in an effort to conceal the scandalous truth. There would be talk no doubt, but ultimately no one would be able to prove anything amiss, rumors would be just rumors as long as Rapunzel married sufficiently quickly, and time was already against her.
Still, the idea of such a deceitful scheme made her stomach turn. How could she possibly lie in such a way? It went against her very being. But what other choice did she have?
Rapunzel had never really entertained the idea of children. Sure, she loved kids, their never ending energy and childlike innocence a quality she found most endearing. But the idea of having kids of her own had been a very distant matter she would have to deal with in the far future. The very few times she'd pictured it, she imagined any child she would end up having would be the byproduct of a loveless arranged marriage, born from the necessity of having to produce an heir. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined herself in her current predicament. Instead her unborn baby was the child of the only man she had ever truly adored, an illegitimate child, and their actual father was nowhere to be found.
Rapunzel briefly allowed herself to wonder how he would've reacted if she'd had the chance to tell him, would he be happy, nervous, scared... disappointed? Would he even care at all? Part of her liked to believe he would considering he himself had been rejected by his own father, assuming anything he'd told her had actually been true. But then again, he had left her behind without a second thought, taking her crown and probably a rather generous ransom in exchange for her whereabouts. Why would he care about anything that happened to her afterwards?
The slight drizzle slowly became a downpour while she stayed frozen in the same spot, her thoughts spiraling, and as the heavy raindrops fell against her face Rapunzel felt her vision blur, not sure whether the water trailing down her cheeks was caused by rain or tears.
"Rapunzel!" A distant voice called as lightning illuminated the palace's gardens, immediately followed by a strenuous thunder that made Rapunzel jump slightly, startled out of her troublesome thoughts. She recognized Cassandra's voice, now closer as her handmaiden approached. "Are you out of your mind?! What are you doing out here in the storm?!"
"I've been looking everywhere for you for the past hour!" Cassandra exclaimed as she finally reached her, draping a large cloak around her already soaked figure. Rapunzel didn't trust her own voice to answer without breaking down, she remained motionless as Cassandra tried to coax her back inside with a clearly exasperated frown. "You were supposed to be resting in your room and when I came back with your tea, lo and behold, you where nowhere to be found!"
Rapunzel felt herself being dragged back into the safety of the palace, Cassandra's admonishing voice ringing in her ears in a meaningless echo as the raging storm thundered in the distance.
She ignored the brunette's questions as she dutifully helped her out of her drenched garments once they reached her bedroom, only muttering a meek apology and requesting to be left alone and undisturbed for the remainder of the day. Cassandra was evidently reluctant to leave her alone, but never one to defy orders, she left her be without much protest.
Feeling drained and lethargic, Rapunzel walked towards her large bed, hands treacherously searching inside her nightstand drawers until her fingers clasped the now familiar chain with the sun and moon pendant, the one and only reminder Eugene had left behind. She clutched it close to her chest, wishing it could give her an ounce of the comfort his presence had once brought, eyes closing as her back finally hit her downy mattress. The storm raged on outside, but not half as strong as the trepidation in her heart.
Somewhere between dusk and night Rapunzel drifted into slumber without even realizing. Nestled comfortably in the warmth of her bedsheets, the stormy outside seemed harmless. She let the pitter-patter of the rain against her windowpane carry her into a dreamless sleep as Pascal curled in her shoulder in a well-meaning effort to comfort her.
Rapunzel finally felt the stirring of wakefulness hours later, her groggy eyes opening to the very dim, greyish-blue light that came as the darkness of night gives way to the day ahead, just before sunrise. She stretched her sore muscles, careful not to wake Pascal as she slipped out of bed, her bare feet padding across the cool floor towards the large glass double doors that led to her balcony, glad that her constant nausea seemed to have given her the day off.
The storm of the day before had finally settled, leaving the air crisp and musky in its wake. She let it carry her to the edge of her balcony, goosebumps forming in her flesh as she rested her forearms over the stone balustrade, overlooking the kingdom ahead. The streets of Corona were clearly still asleep in the very early hours of the day, shadows still prominent in every corner; probably the reason she didn't really notice the lean silhouette sneaking its way right below her balcony. At least not until it acknowledged her.
"Rapunzel!" The person called in a harsh whisper just loud enough to reach her ears, making Rapunzel jump with a startled gasp. "Rapunzel, let down your hair!"
"Wha..." Rapunzel whirled her head around, eyes frantically searching her surroundings.
"Down here!"
Her eyes adjusted to the faint darkness still surrounding the palace, only to widen as she recognized the shadow of the man below her, heart practically jumping to her throat. Even in the dim light, Rapunzel would recognize that trademark smirk anywhere.
"Hey there, Blondie." Eugene called, lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Mind giving me a boost?"
"Eugene...!" the air left her lips in a harsh exhale, hands moving on their own accord as she rushed to push her hair over the edge of the balcony without event thinking about it, the thick golden locks barely reaching the ground. Eugene didn't waste time as he quickly used her hair to climb his way up the walls of the castle. Part of Rapunzel wondered how the guards hadn't caught him before he could even cross the courtyard, but she was too distracted by the fact that he was indeed climbing towards her balcony to pay attention to her more reasonable thoughts.
"Y'know, this was easier the first time around." Eugene grunted as he reached the top of her balcony, swinging his legs over the stone balustrade with dexterous agility. He shook the hair falling over his eyes, smiling as his gaze finally settled on her. Rapunzel had to resist the urge to quite literally throw herself at him in a hug, her boggled brain alternating between confusion, joy and a hint of anger, before finally settling on the first.
"Eugene, h-how... what..."
Eugene chuckled, slowly making his way towards her. "I did tell you I would be back, didn't I?"
Rapunzel sputtered taking a step back, the indignant part of herself now taking precedence. "That was well over a month ago!"
Eugene frowned, as if he hadn't considered that particular fact before. "Well, I told you I had something to take care of."
"You never said it would take that long!" Rapunzel exploded, the pain and heartbreak he had caused her bubbling to the surface as tears welled up in her green eyes. "I waited for hours and you just left! Not a word, not a single note, not even a goodbye. You just took the crown for yourself and left me behind!"
"Did I?" Eugene tilted his head in thought, brows furrowing as he took another step closer to her. "Is that really what happened? Or is that what you believe?"
"I don't- well then what could've possibly happened?" Rapunzel frowned, she couldn't quite place it but something was decidedly off. "What could've happened that made you take over a month to come back?"
"Think about it, Blondie." Eugene's trademark smirk was back on his face in an instant. "Why would I take the crown and leave just like that? I had no interest in it when we came back, didn't even ask you for it. If I remember correctly, the plan was to take you straight back home, you were the one who left to look for it."
"I wanted to keep my end of the deal." Rapunzel defended, memories of that day playing back in her mind for the first time in heavens knew how long. "I thought it would make you happy."
"And did it?" Eugene questioned, now so close she could clearly appreciate the color of his vibrant brown eyes. "What happened when you returned?"
Rapunzel thought back on that day, how Eugene seemed utterly relieved to see her after frantically looking for her, how he didn't seem happy at all when she gave him the crown, how there had been clear apprehension in his eyes before he'd left her at the dressmaker's, almost as if he knew there was a good chance he wouldn't come back. She felt her heart racing as Eugene came to stand directly before her.
"Do you really think, after everything we've been through, that I didn't care at all?" Eugene asked softly as he placed a hand on her cheek, his calloused thumb tenderly caressing her skin, and Rapunzel felt herself melting at his warm touch, her own hand clinging to his wrist, afraid he would leave again.
"But then..." Rapunzel closed her eyes, a single tear escaping through her lashes. "What happened to you?
Eugene brushed her tear away, placing a gentle kiss to her forehead, his words whispered against her hair. "That's for you to find out."
"What?" She felt him let go, taking a step away from her. Rapunzel panicked, clutching his hand in hers even tighter than before. "Wait, there's something I need to tell you!"
Before she knew it he was already at the edge of her balcony again, the very first rays of sunlight illuminating his handsome face. He turned back toward her, sending her a dazzling smile. "You can tell me when you see me in person."
"What are you talking about? You're right here." Rapunzel felt the ugly weight of uneasiness settling once again in the pit of her stomach.
"Am I?" His smile turned sad then, soft brown eyes drinking her in. "Or is this just wishful thinking?"
She squinted her eyes as the sun finally rose over the horizon, its bright light blinding her for a moment, making Eugene's figure a blurry shadow against the blazing rays. When her vision finally adjusted he was gone.
Rapunzel woke up with a start, chest heaving and mouth dry, the telltale feeling of nausea lingering in the back of her throat. Her eyes searched her surroundings, realizing she was back in her bed, soft rays of sunlight filtering through her closed curtains illuminated her spacious room. There was nothing amiss; no balcony door open, not a trace of his presence left. Her heart sank, it had all been a dream. Well not all of it, she could recall the events of the day before, her upset stomach a clear indicator that that had been pretty much real.
Somehow, dreaming about a sweet and charming Eugene was much worse than her nightmares featuring a darker and cruel version of him. It left an aching hollow in her chest, knowing she would never see him like that again, not even to tell him what, in another world, should be wonderful news. The sting of his betrayal surfaced anew deep in her heart. Why must her mind torture her like this, giving her a glimpse of a dream she would never get to live?
A sharp knock on her door startled Pascal awake, snapping her out of her despondent musings, before the heavy mahogany doors opened to reveal Cassandra in her usual pristine blue attire. "Rise and shine, your highness. Your Prince Charming is still awaiting an answer to his epic fail of a proposal, so you better get up and ready for breakfast."
Her handmaiden abruptly snatched the curtains open, letting the sunlight filter unrestrained into her bedroom. Rapunzel groaned and buried deeper into her comforter, uncharacteristically reluctant to start the day. Noticing her complete lack of enthusiasm, Cassandra approached her and gently lifted the covers from her face.
"Are you feeling any better?" The brunette raised a curious eyebrow, her usually stoic voice tainted with a speck of concern.
Rapunzel sighed, after that bittersweet dream she certainly felt much worse. Nevertheless, she forced her lips into a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "I'm fine, Cass."
Cassandra tilted her head, shooting her a dubious look as she arranged her outfit for the day. "Well then, are you going to tell me what happened yesterday? What did the doctor say that apparently sent you running for the hills?"
Rapunzel pursed her lips as she slipped out of bed slowly so as to not unsettle her stomach any more than it already was.
"Ah, turns out it's no serious illness so, yay!" She hoped her attempt at a bright tone was enough to convince Cassandra. Pascal, who had been the only other witness to her conversation with the Royal Physician, let out a disapproving squeak as he gestured towards her stomach, evidently implying the doctor's verdict was very much something serious.
Cassandra's olive eyes turned back toward her. "Oh? What was it then?"
"Wellll," Rapunzel stretched the word while she padded over to her vanity table, taking her time to answer. She hated lying, but she was definitely not ready to reveal the truth to anybody just yet, so she settled for a very vague answer. "Apparently all those symptoms were to be expected considering what I've gone through in the past months..."
"So you were right then? It was just stress?" Cassandra raised a skeptical eyebrow as she approached her with the simple dress she would wear for the day. Rapunzel's only answer was a noncommittal hum.
"Alright..." She could tell that Cassandra was definitely not convinced, thankfully her handmaiden was not exactly a prying person, so she let the matter rest, opting for a change of topic instead. "Anyway, I've got some great news that hopefully will lift your mood a bit."
"What about?" Rapunzel looked through the reflection in her mirror, beginning the arduous process of brushing her impossibly long golden locks.
"Now, this is still confidential information mind you, my dad told me just last night." Cassandra set her garments for the day behind the changing screen, her voice muffling a little. "Turns out justice will finally be served concerning your kidnapping! Isn't that great Raps?"
Rapunzel's hand paused in the middle of her actions, hairbrush halfway stuck in a strand of hair as her eyes snapped back towards Cassandra. "What do you mean?"
"Apparently, after weeks of searching and following some leads, last night's raid on an illicit establishment at the edge of one of Corona's bordering towns turned rather successful." Cassandra's red lips lifted into a satisfied grin. "The culprits of your kidnapping were finally captured! No more worrying about this, Raps, they will not be able to harm neither you nor anyone else ever again."
Dread ran cold across Rapunzel's veins, like iced water poured over her head. Her hand fell limp over her lap, hairbrush crashing to the ground as Pascal shot her a worried look. "W-What?"
"It was almost a miracle they were able to find them, to be honest." Cassandra continued unperturbed. "With no clear suspects, no motive other than stealing the crown, heck they didn't even ask for a ransom. The whole thing was really bizarre, on top of it you never gave any description of your kidnapper."
Rapunzel's thoughts ran a mile per hour, trying to process the information currently being dumped on her and focusing on one very important detail. She whirled around to face Cassandra fully. "Wait, what do you mean there was no ransom?"
Cassandra's brow furrowed. "I thought you already knew that. That's exactly why your kidnapping was so puzzling. Everyone was dreading that it had been a political move against Corona rather than just an attempt to blackmail a fortune out of your parents."
Instead of calming her frazzled nerves, Cassandra's answer only served to make Rapunzel feel lightheaded all over again. "But then... no, it doesn't make any sense, how were the guards able to find me?"
"Well, according to what my dad told me, the guards on duty that day followed the lead of a very stubborn horse." Cassandra rolled her eyes, waving her hand as if the mere idea was ludicrous. "Ridiculous, I know, I think it was just sheer luck that they were able to stumble upon you on time. Heavens know what could've happened to you otherwise."
Rapunzel felt the air constricting her lungs, not even realizing she was holding her breath in an effort to stop herself from hyperventilating. Maximus had been so intent to bring her back home, even going so far as to get her back to Corona's capital without even waiting for her command. Could he have been the only reason why the guards came to find her that day? Would he go against her wishes like that? She shared a wide-eyed look with Pascal, who seemed just as shocked as Rapunzel at Cassandra's revelation.
But there was a far more pressing matter at hand than the knowledge of Maximus' possible betrayal. Had they caught Eugene? Was he arrested? What would happen to him if he was? Rapunzel could feel her legs shaking and she sat down in the padded stool before her vanity table.
"Rapunzel? You okay?" Her handmaiden seemed to notice her distress and hesitantly approached her, a hint of concern in her gaze. "There's no need to worry about this anymore. They will be brought to justice, my dad will make sure of it. They'll pay for what they did to you."
"T-they...?" Rapunzel mumbled, trying to brace herself for the answer Cassandra might provide to her next question. "Cass, who did the guards arrest?"
"They're known as the Stabbington Brothers. Twins, tall, redheads, very dangerous, on the list of the most wanted criminals in Corona." Cassandra explained, and Rapunzel felt an odd mix of relief and complete befuddlement.
"They were already suspects when a few witnesses spotted them near the palace the day you were taken, but yesterday they were caught red-handed trying to sell the very same crown that was stolen that day. Pretty damning evidence if you ask me. But you probably already knew that, don't they sound familiar to you?"
Yes, they very much did, but not for the reason Cassandra thought. In fact she'd caught a glimpse of them before. Those were the very same men that had been chasing Eugene in Cygnus, the ones dangerous enough to make him anxious. Rapunzel recalled her conversation with Eugene; they'd wanted the crown back then, possibly willing to go through whatever means necessary to obtain it if Eugene's words were anything to go by, and apparently they had got it in the end.
It was like slowly placing the pieces of a very complicated puzzle, the full picture still partially obscured as a few details remained elusive. A glimpse of her dream replayed in her head, Eugene's soft voice echoing in her thoughts; what happened when you returned?
Eugene had been clearly unnerved the last time they'd spoken, eager to get her to the dressmaker's shop after he'd found her in the woods. Something had evidently happened to change his mood into an almost frantic urgency and she now wondered if the Stabbingtons had anything to do with it. Eugene had been the last one to be in possession of her crown, and Rapunzel felt an ever growing horror clawing at her throat at the implications of Cassandra's news. How had the twins gotten that crown?
Instead of answering Cassandra's previous question, Rapunzel retorted with an inquiry of her own, chest heaving as she tried to control her breathing. It wouldn't do to faint now. "Cass, what will happen to the Stabbingtons now?"
"Well, they're going straight to the gallows I presume." Cassandra scoffed. "They committed high treason by stealing from the Crown Jewels, and to top it all they kidnapped the crown princess. They'll be lucky to even get a trial."
The air left her lungs in a shaky exhale. The Stabbingtons were the only piece of the puzzle she had left to find out what had really happened with Eugene, and they were going to die for a crime they hadn't committed. She needed to speak with them, as soon as possible. Her mind wouldn't let her rest until she figured out the truth.
"Cass, I need to ask for a huge favor, and you're not going to like it but it's very important to me that you help me." Rapunzel stood, now fully facing her handmaiden.
Cassandra raised a hesitant eyebrow. "What's this favor about?"
Rapunzel took a deep breath, bracing for the inevitable. "I need to speak with the Stabbingtons, in private."
There was a moment of silence in which Cassandra's eyes widened, as if she couldn't really comprehend her request. It didn't take long for her dark brows to furrow though.
"What are you, insane?" Cassandra exclaimed. "Why would you want such a thing?!"
"It's a long and complicated story, but Cass, it's urgent. I need to speak with them right away." Rapunzel pleaded, the urgency in her voice pretty evident. "You're the daughter of the Captain of the Guards, only you can help me get there."
"No, no, you clearly lost your mind." Cassandra shook her head, taking a step away from Rapunzel. Her olive eyes looked at her as if she'd suddenly spurted a second head. "Why would you even want to speak with the people who kidnapped you anyway?!"
"That's the thing! They didn't kidnap me, Cass, but they know who did and I need them to tell me how they got that crown." Rapunzel spoke with increasing urgency, pacing around her room as her mind raced with a thousand possibilities.
"Okay, okay, Raps, hold on." Cassandra raised her hands as if to physically stop her from saying anything more. "You can just let my dad interrogate them about that. If they know the real culprit of your kidnapping they'll spill it out right away. They'll do anything to avoid the gallows."
"But-" Before Rapunzel could continue, Cassandra interrupted as her brow furrowed further.
"Wait a minute, how would you know that they know who was the one who kidnapped you?" Cassandra questioned, eyes narrowing, searching Rapunzel's every expression as if to gauge the truth. "Do you know who it was?"
"I-I..."
"You do, don't you?" Cassandra's exclaimed, eyes widening at the appalling realization. "Rapunzel, oh my god, why wouldn't you tell anyone?! I thought you hadn't even recognized them!"
"Look, Cass, I told you it was complicated." Rapunzel sighed, trying to placate her handmaiden with a pleading gaze. "But please, I'm begging you, you have to help me get to them before your dad interrogates them. It has to be me they speak to first."
"Yeah, and risk your safety?" Cassandra scoffed. "Do you even realize what you're asking me? I could get fired for that! Heck, my father would probably disown me if he found out!"
"Pretty sure he wouldn't, he loves you." Rapunzel muttered under her breath. At Cassandra's narrowed eyes, she decided to approach the situation differently.
"You know your way around the guard's headquarters better than anyone, you can get us past them to the dungeons without even getting caught. Please Cass, you know I will do it with or without you, but it really would be much easier and safer if you help me."
"No! Not unless you tell me the whole truth, no more secrets Rapunzel. What is really going on with you?" Cassandra rounded on her, the set of finality in her harsh voice telling Rapunzel that she wouldn't budge, not unless Rapunzel caved. But she needed an ally now more than ever, and Cassandra would end up figuring it all out sooner rather than later, it's not like Rapunzel could keep the truth from surfacing much longer.
With a deep sigh, Rapunzel relented. Hoping her proposition would be enough to sway Cassandra. "Okay, fine. I can't tell you right now, we don't have much time. But if you help me get to the Stabbingtons, I will tell you everything you want to know, I promise."
Cassandra eyed her skeptically, but Rapunzel could tell her resolve was breaking, the promise of finding out the whole truth of what had happened to her too valuable to let it pass. With a thoroughly vexed look on her face, Cassandra finally let out a defeated sigh.
"Ugh, I can't believe I agreed to this." Cassandra muttered as they walked through a rather dark hallway, Rapunzel trailing closely behind, face obscured by a long cloak that perfectly concealed her identity.
Cassandra for her part, had exchanged her formal blue attire to a much more casual outfit consisting of a loose, brown blouse that tumbled past her hips, tight-fitted trousers and a pair of leather boots. Rapunzel had never seen her handmaiden in an outfit so informal, but she thought it suited her tough personality better.
Rapunzel was confident their plan would be successful, they had both planned every detail carefully. Cassandra had told both her parents and tutors that Rapunzel would be indisposed for the day, the Royal Physician had prescribed plenty of rest to alleviate her anxious mood, and so the princess would be resting for the remainder of the day. Rapunzel knew her mother would be paying her a visit later to check up on her, but not before completing her royal duties, which would most likely take her until late that evening. Neither the King nor Queen could give themselves the luxury to ignore their rather tight schedule for anything that wasn't short of life-threatening, and so Rapunzel was quite certain no one would bother coming to her bedroom anytime soon. They would be back before anyone could be the wiser.
Having had trained for the majority of her life with the expectation to one day join the Royal Guard — that is until her dream was rather unexpectedly crushed by having to become Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting — Cassandra knew the ins and outs of the Guard's Headquarters like the back of her hand. It helped, of course, that on top of that she was the daughter of the Captain himself. She knew most of the officers by name, and knew her way around every secluded passageway and deserted corridor that could successfully lead them towards Corona's prison.
No easy fit indeed, when they were attempting to sneak around in the middle of the day, but to Rapunzel's utter relief, Cassandra was also quite familiar with the guards' patrolling routes, often helping her father arrange the best strategies to keep the palace safe and protected. Rapunzel felt a tinge of guilt as she followed the brunette around. Cassandra would sure be a great asset to the Royal Guard, and she could tell her handmaiden had once had expectations to follow in her father's footsteps and become the next Captain. Yet here she was, helping Rapunzel sneak around like a bandit in the night, risking her job and good standing because Rapunzel had asked. She made a mental note to relieve Cassandra of her duties tying her as a handmaiden once this whole situation was resolved, it wasn't fair to keep her stranded when Cass clearly had potential for much more.
Before long they paused in front of a rather simple wooden door. Cassandra pressed her ear to the chipped surface, waiting to hear for any movement inside. Satisfied, she pulled away and knocked briskly. They waited for a moment, and after hearing no response, Cassandra turned the doorknob, opening the door to reveal the Captain's private office. The room was predictably empty, Cassandra knew his father was usually out on patrol at this hour of the day, but he would be back before long, especially with two high profile criminals waiting to be sentenced.
Cassandra stepped into the room, Rapunzel following close behind when she was stopped by Cassandra's hand.
"No, wait out here. I'll be back in a second."
Rapunzel watched as Cassandra slipped into the empty office, walking towards the large desk and rummaging through it, hands gingerly looking for the spare set of keys hidden in the far corner of the middle drawer, a location that only the Captain's daughter and a few high ranking officers were privy of. Her thin fingers clutched around the cool metal ring holding the set of keys together, lips curling into a triumphant smirk.
She was out of the Captain's office an instant later, just as promised, keys hidden in the pocket of her trousers. Cassandra spared Rapunzel a glance before tilting her head, indicating her to follow, and walked across the hallway without another word. Cassandra expertly led Rapunzel across hidden passageways and empty corridors, knowing exactly when to pause to let the guards roaming the hallways pass without them being noticed.
They descended a few set of stairs and before long their surroundings changed, the dismal stone walls and faint natural light filtering through narrow, barred windows indicating them they were now in the dungeons.
Cassandra paused at the corner of a deserted hallway. Without even turning around, she wordlessly extended an arm to push Rapunzel back, making her press against the wall to remain hidden in the shadows. Cassandra raised a finger to her lips, commanding Rapunzel to remain quiet before she rounded the corner, leaving Rapunzel behind without another word.
Rapunzel waited in the dark, listening intently to the conversation that followed as Cassandra executed the last part of their plan.
"Cassandra! Long time no see. What are you doing here?" A voice Rapunzel didn't recognize inquired.
"Hey Pete." She heard Cassandra reply without missing a beat. "I ran across my dad a few minutes ago, he asked me to tell you that you are relieved of your duty, Stan is on his way to replace you right about now."
Having had planned this ahead, Rapunzel knew what would follow. Cassandra had already coordinated the change of guard, telling Stan, the aforementioned guard, to come and relieve Pete of his duty. Only he was scheduled to come in exactly thirty minutes, giving Rapunzel some time to hopefully pry enough information out of the Stabbingtons before they had to leave.
Before Cassandra was made Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting, it wasn't exactly strange for her to deliver a few of the Captain's orders here and there when her father was too busy tending other matters. With her being his constant shadow and confidant, there was no one the Captain trusted more than Cassandra to deliver a message correctly, which is why it didn't take long to convince Stan of the legitimacy of the order. Rapunzel hoped Pete wouldn't be much different.
"Hmm, the Captain never said anything about a change of post." Pete mused, but there wasn't a trace of suspicion in his voice, only mere curiosity.
"Yeah, apparently something came up." Cassandra said dismissively. "Though you are scheduled to come back in about an hour."
"Oh, I was hoping I wouldn't have to come back." Pete complained with a slight groan. "You know who is in there? None other than the Stabbington Brothers! The Captain is supposed to interrogate them later in the day. They're even more intimidating in person, I definitely don't want to be there when the interrogation happens."
"Yeah, well Pete, I'd love to stay here and chat but you are wanted elsewhere." Cassandra hurried. "My dad wants you to stand guard in the eastern entrance and you are already late, so I'd hurry if I were you."
"But Stan hasn't-"
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry about it I'll stay here and keep watch until he comes." Cassandra interrupted. "Those two are already locked up and Stan is on his way, you have nothing to worry about."
There was a moment of hesitation before Pete reluctantly agreed. Rapunzel watched from the shadows as she heard footsteps approach, Pete's thin figure crossing the hallway perpendicular to the one she was hidden in without even glancing in her direction. She waited for a moment before she slipped around the corner, Cassandra was waiting for her, standing in front of a large, heavy-looking door.
"You have like twenty minutes tops to speak with them, not a minute more." Cassandra muttered as she used the spare keys to unlock the door, opening it to reveal a dark corridor with prison cells lining both sides.
Rapunzel took a deep breath, her pulse racing. She turned to face Cassandra with a grateful, if tremulous, smile.
"Thanks for everything Cass. I'll be back soon."
But Cassandra stopped her before Rapunzel could take two steps forward. "Wait, nuh-uh, you're not going in there alone, I'm coming with you."
Rapunzel hesitated, but ultimately agreed. She did promise Cassandra she would tell her everything when they returned, so she supposed it wouldn't make much of a difference if she listened to her conversation with the Stabbingtons.
They silently crossed the threshold side by side, the heavy door closing behind them with a resounding thump. The prison cells lining both sides of the dark hallway were thankfully empty, save for the very last one in the right corner. Two burly redheads sat in the shadows, their identical blue stares snapping towards the two young women as they stood a few feet away, separated by the sturdy bars of their dungeon.
"So you're the one they sent to interrogate us?" The twin with a long scar across his face spoke, voice gravelly with disuse. His question was clearly directed at Cassandra, as he eyed the young brunette with a bored expression. "I was expecting someone more intimidating."
Cassandra bristled at his dismissive words. "Oh I can be intimidating alright, buddy. But lucky for you, I'm not the one who will be asking the important questions."
Rapunzel took that moment to slip the hood of her cloak off her head, revealing her identity to the two burly men. Their scrutinising gazes snapped towards her, eyes widening for a second before an ugly identical smirk curled their lips.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Rider's little plaything in the flesh." The more talkative of the twins chuckled darkly. His voice sent an uncomfortable shiver down Rapunzel's spine.
Cassandra took a warning step forward. "Careful how you speak to the princess Stabbington, you're already on thin ice."
"My apologies, your highness." He returned with a mocking bow, clearly unfazed with Rapunzel's status. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
Rapunzel decided to ignore the man's sarcastic comment, cutting straight to the chase. Straightening her back and channeling all of her self-confidence, she tried to speak in as much of a commanding voice as possible.
"I need to know how you came into possession of that crown."
The Stabbingtons exchanged a glance, clearly unwilling to reveal anything to her. Rapunzel continued unfazed. "I know you didn't steal it from the palace, you weren't the ones who kidnapped me. But the guards believe you guilty and they won't give you much of a chance to explain. I need to know how you got that crown, please."
"You'd do well to listen to her." Cassandra spoke, voice much more intimidating than Rapunzel's rather soft tone. "You know the evidence is enough to send you straight to the gallows without much of a trial. You better start talking, and maybe the princess will have mercy on your sorry souls."
The redhead with the eyepatch nodded to his twin, and the other one spoke at his brother's agreement.
"The pretty boy had the crown, obviously." He directed towards Rapunzel. "He owed us a rather invaluable debt, it was only fair we took our due."
Rapunzel felt her heart hammering in her chest, but she willed her voice to remain steady. "Did you steal it from him?"
"Oh, no. No it wasn't necessary. He gave it to us quite willingly." The redhead man chuckled, his smirk sinister as he looked Rapunzel up an down. "He obviously had a much more valuable prize on his hands."
Rapunzel's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would he give you the crown just like that? It doesn't make any sense."
The twin barked out a laugh, the sound echoing around the deserted room, making Rapunzel jump a bit. "He's always been a sly son of a bitch. Probably thought giving us the crown would take us off his trail. But we had our eyes set on something far better."
"Alas," the redhead continued. "He was quite reluctant to part ways with his most valuable possession. I assume he had great plans for you, your highness. A rather large ransom after having his fun with you, perhaps?"
"I told you to watch your mouth." Cassandra snapped, clearly offended on behalf of Rapunzel. But Rapunzel was much too worried trying to connect the dots of what had happened the night she was found to be much offended by the redhead's slight to her honor.
Her lips trembled for an instant before she uttered her next question. "What did you do to him?"
"Is that concern I detect, your highness?" The twins exchanged another glance, complicit smirks splitting their features. "Well, Rider did always have a way to charm the ladies. I have to say, scoring a royal princess is a new high though, even for him."
"Are you going to answer the question?" Cassandra asked, her patience evidently running thin.
"We only did what was fair. He's a double crossing bastard, he had it coming anyway." He answered, his previously amused expression taking on a bored disinterest. "We're far from the only enemies he's made over the years. There was someone offering a rather generous reward in exchange of his whereabouts, and we took it upon ourselves to deliver him to them."
Rapunzel suppressed a loud gasp, her heart sinking as her mind flooded with horrible possibilities. "What happened to him? What did you do?"
"I don't know." The burly redhead shrugged. "They wanted him alive, and that's how they took him. Whatever happened to him afterwards was of no interest to us. We only took the crown that we were owed."
Rapunzel felt the dizziness coming back with a vengeance, she took a few calming breaths, determined to not have a repeat of the day before in the middle of the dungeons. Cassandra would surely kill her if that happened.
"But where did they take him? What did they want with him?" She was aware of the shrill note her voice was taking, but she couldn't seem to care enough. There was an ugly feeling settling in the pit of her stomach at the uncertainty of Eugene's safety, and the Stabbingtons didn't seem remotely close to taking pity on her. Her time was running out.
"We don't know where they took him." The more talkative of the brothers continued. "They seemed to be foreigners, we found them in Cygnus. Never said what they wanted or what they would do to him, there was only a great interest in taking him alive. I told you this already."
"When did this happen? How long has it been since they took him?"
"A little over a month ago."
Rapunzel hadn't felt despair like this clawing at her insides since the day she had waited for hours only for Eugene to never come back. How on earth would she find out what happened to him with no information whatsoever other than this?
Cassandra seemed to notice her spiralling state and thankfully continued the interrogation for her, probably worried that Rapunzel's pale complexion was an indication that she would faint at any second, just like she had done the day before.
"There must be something else you can tell us. A discernible accent, some characteristic features? Anything to know where those people came from?"
The twin shrugged. "They were two men, rather slim, not that tall, they wore cloaks the entire time we were with them, never once saw their faces."
The Stabbington with the eyepatch patted his twin on the shoulder, gesturing towards his hand as if to communicate something important. He took a sharp rock from the dirty stone ground of his cell, using the edge to carve a figure on the floor. Rapunzel watched carefully as the silent twin drew; a circle with three parallel lines crossing it from one side.
"Ah yes, they had quite the distinctive symbol on them." His brother spoke, gesturing to the mark now carved upon the stone floor. "A tattoo on their hand and this symbol on their belts. That's all we know."
Rapunzel was about to enquire further when Cassandra clutched her arm, pulling her away from the cell. "That's it. Time's up, Raps, we have to go."
Rapunzel directed one last glance at the strange symbol marked on the ground as Cassandra quite literally dragged her out of the dark hallway, her heart beating a mile per hour as fear settled in her chest. What exactly had happened to Eugene?
As soon as they came back to her bedroom, Rapunzel sprinted towards her nightstand, where her sketchbook rested just where she had left it the day before. She flipped through it until she found a blank page, immediately setting into drawing the strange mark the Stabbingtons had provided her before the details became fuzzy in her mind.
Pascal was nowhere to be found, but that was to be expected. Rapunzel had sent her little friend on the very important mission of interrogating Maximus about the events of the day she was found. One way or another she would piece every ounce of information together until she figured out the truth.
Her handmaiden, however, had other priorities for the moment.
"Alright, spill, what the hell is going on?"
Rapunzel sighed, not entirely ready to open up about what she had been through. But Cassandra had helped her despite her reluctance, and Rapunzel was not one to break a promise. However, Cassandra continued before she even had a chance to begin explaining.
"They mentioned the name Rider. As in Flynn Rider? The wanted thief? Was he the one who kidnapped you?" Cassandra paced around the room, the bite in her voice indicated Rapunzel the young handmaiden did not at all like this turn of events.
"Yes- no! Well, he did initially, but everything that happened afterwards was all my fault." Rapunzel rambled. Cassandra whirled towards her, olive eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Explain."
Rapunzel bit her lower lip, dreading the older brunette's reaction. "Cass, I haven't been entirely truthful about what happened."
Before she could lose her nerve, Rapunzel launched into a long and detailed explanation of everything that happened since she was taken from the palace. How Eugene had only planned to steal the crown, how he'd wanted to return her home as soon as possible, the subsequent deal she'd made with him once she realised she could take advantage of her predicament, and every single thing that happened afterwards. Well, not everything, she excluded the night she'd shared with Eugene when they returned to Corona for obvious reasons and the fact that she had found out the strange power her hair possessed. Cassandra listened quietly the whole time, her expression remained impassive and cool during Rapunzel's explanation, save for the occasional purse of her lips from time to time. By the time Rapunzel had finished, it was well into the afternoon.
There was a tense silence once Rapunzel finished her tale. Cassandra remained quiet for a moment, her calculating eyes searching Rapunzel's face, and after what felt like a lifetime her thin dark brows furrowed as if she couldn't quite comprehend the whole thing.
"There must be some kind of weird name for the disorder you clearly have in the head." Cassandra muttered, looking at her closely as if she expected her to declare she had in fact lost her senses.
"I'm not crazy!" Rapunzel exclaimed with a hint of indignation.
"I'm not saying you are, Raps. But you do realize how this sounds, right?" Cassandra asked, pacing the room once again. "You pretty much sound like you fell in love with your kidnapper!"
"He didn't keep me captive the entire time, and so what if I did?" Rapunzel returned rather defensively. It's not like Eugene had locked her up in a tower like a prisoner and somehow she had come to care about him. But Cassandra was having none of it.
"You're kidding me right? Tell me you're kidding." The brunette pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "You cannot be in love with Flynn Rider of all people! You know, my dad has spent several years trying to catch the scoundrel, he is a wanted criminal!"
"He is much more than that. He's changed! I told you everything that we went through, does he sound like a bad person to you?" Rapunzel defended, a part of her trying to convince even herself that Eugene had in fact changed, that he had most likely not left her behind of his own volition. That it had just been a huge misunderstanding.
But Cassandra was nothing if not skeptical. "I think you're being biased."
"I'm not! He risked his life more than once to save me. Now he's in trouble, and I need to find out what happened to him." Rapunzel was determined to do just that, even if it was the last thing she did. She hadn't had this much resolve since she had decided she wouldn't come back to live the life of a princess, and the slow return of her spirits felt both daunting and relieving.
"Okay, I get it. You're clearly smitten with the guy, he's rumored to be very charming and he's the first man you've ever been close to in that way. I can see how a crush could've developed." Cassandra rolled her eyes and scrunched up her nose, as if the mere idea of having feelings for one Flynn Rider was rather repulsive. "But what's a first love in the grand scheme of things? Everyone eventually gets over their puppy love. I mean what are you planning to do about it anyway? He's still a wanted criminal and you are a princess. Plus, need I remind you that you are in fact engaged to Prince Whatshisname?"
"I never said yes to that proposal." Rapunzel muttered, her heart sinking at the mention of her imminent betrothal.
"That was just a formality and you know it."
"I can't marry him, Cass."
"You can't or you won't?" Cassandra raised her eyebrows, like a chastising mother scolding a particularly petulant child.
"I can't! There's more that I haven't told you." Rapunzel mumbled the last part, not looking forward to Cassandra's reaction once she revealed her deepest secret.
Cassandra's face fell, evidently worried there was even more to Rapunzel's story. "Do I even want to know?"
"Probably not."
"Alright, let's hear it." Cassandra sighed. "Can't possibly be worse than you being enamored of the man who kidnapped you."
Rapunzel was willing to bet it was. But she could do this, she just needed to be brave and not hesitate, quick and sharp, like ripping off a bandaid.
"I'm pregnant." Rapunzel finally blurted out, feeling as though saying it out loud for the first time made the situation all the more real.
There was a silent pause, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife, and then Cassandra slowly turned to face her, mouth agape as her red lips curled around silent words that couldn't seem to make it past her throat.
"You're pregnant?!" The handmaiden finally asked, eyes widening almost comically. "Like... with a child?!"
Rapunzel's only answer to that was a deadpan stare.
"Oh... oh! Oh, dear Lord, I take it back, this is much worse. You're pregnant with Flynn Rider's baby aren't you?" Cassandra groaned, flopping down to sit on the edge of Rapunzel's bed as if the news had been entirely too much to hear.
"How long have you known?" Cassandra asked.
"Since yesterday."
"And how far along are you?"
"Like six weeks." Rapunzel scrunched up her nose as she counted in her head exactly how long it had been.
"Okay, okay, this is bad, terrible actually, but it doesn't have to be the end of the world." Cassandra stood, preferring to move around the room in an anxious pace. "We just need to tell your parents, and you'll be married right away. The Royal Physician won't tell on you, he'll probably help you with it all since he clearly already knows, that baby is just going to come 'early' and no one has to be the wiser. Let's just pray the kid doesn't come out looking like a carbon copy of Rider."
"No! Cass, I can't marry, not like this." Rapunzel exclaimed, refusing to even accept the possibility.
"You don't have a choice, Rapunzel!" Cassandra snapped, her hard stare willing her to see reason. But Rapunzel was adamant.
"I won't lie about something so important! It's not fair to Prince William, and neither is it to the baby, they don't deserve to be lied their entire lives about this." Rapunzel replied.
She refused to deceive everyone in such a blatant way. A child was something that was supposed to be cherished, protected, loved, and as much as she was indifferent to him, Prince William didn't deserve to be fed the lie that he had fathered a child that wasn't actually his. Rapunzel couldn't possibly bare to watch another man come to care about that baby, love it like his own, while she knew for a fact its actual father was another. It was selfish and downright cruel. Her ever pragmatic handmaiden, however, was of another mind.
"Are you even aware of what this means, Rapunzel?" Cassandra asked, rubbing her brow in agitation. "Your child, your firstborn, is supposed to be the next heir to the throne, and turns out that baby is the bastard child of none other than Flynn Rider!"
"Don't call my baby that!" Rapunzel exclaimed, feeling a surge of foreign protectiveness deep within her chest.
Until that very moment she hadn't really thought of the baby as her own. She'd been too busy trying to wrap her head around several other things, too heartbroken by Eugene's apparent betrayal, that she hadn't had the emotional strength to really focus on what the news she had received entailed. It was so tiny still, not even big enough to cause a big change in her midsection, but the moment Cassandra uttered the same derogatory term that Eugene had clearly hated to refer to her baby, she felt something primal and fierce swelling within her. Cassandra's eyes widened slightly at her uncharacteristically harsh tone, pausing for a moment before nodding with evident contrition.
"Fine, sorry, I won't say it again, promise." Cassandra apologised, voice softening into an almost pleading murmur. "But you have to see reason, Raps. If you care about that baby this is the only choice you have to protect them and yourself."
"There has to be another way that doesn't involve me marrying and lying about the baby's father." Rapunzel ran her hands through her hair, fingers curling anxiously around a strand.
Cassandra hesitated for a moment. "I mean there is another way, but it's way worse and you definitely won't like it."
"What is it?"
"You aren't the first, nor will you be the last highborn lady who has... slipped up so to speak. I've heard of young noblewomen whose families have sent them to secluded places until the end of their term, so as to conceal the entire pregnancy and avoid a scandal." Cassandra explained with a slight grimace. "But it comes with a price."
"What kind of price?" Rapunzel asked, a feeling of unease creeping up her spine.
"They cannot keep their baby, Rapunzel. You cannot be a mother out of wedlock, much less when you are princess. The council would never accept an illegitimate child to be the next in line for the throne."
Dread pooled in her stomach with a vicelike grip, making her blood run cold. Rapunzel had only known about her pregnancy for a day, half of which she had spent trying to avoid thinking about it, but she knew in her heart that was definitely not a price she was willing to pay. Whatever happened, she would protect her child, she felt it in her bones, the fierce protectiveness of wanting to spare an innocent life from suffering in a cruel and harsh world.
Sensing her resolve weakening, Cassandra pushed on. "You have to marry, Raps. As soon as possible, while you still have a chance to conceal this."
But Rapunzel wouldn't settle that easily. Eugene was still out there, taken by god knows who, and Rapunzel's mind wouldn't rest until she found him. If Eugene hadn't lied, if he had really cared about her at all, he deserved to know the truth. And if he was in danger it was up to her to help him.
"I need to figure out what happened to him first." Rapunzel said softly, making Cassandra sputter in disbelief.
"Heavens, Rapunzel, this is insane! He's a criminal!"
"He's the father of my child and the man I love." Rapunzel replied with firm determination. "He's in danger and I have to help him, and I won't rest until I find out what happened."
A moment passed in which Cassandra seemed to assess her, eyes narrowing defiantly as she appeared to consider her options. Rapunzel hoped she wouldn't betray her trust. She feared Cassandra might take it upon herself to break the unsavoury news to her parents in an effort to have someone disuade Rapunzel. But after a few tense seconds, the young handmaiden let out a defeated huff.
"Ugh, fine!" Cassandra groaned, throwing her hands up in defeat. "I just know being your handmaiden is going to result in my premature death."
The corners of Rapunzel's lips lifted in the hint of a hopeful smile. Cassandra walked towards the bed and snatched Rapunzel's sketchbook, the foreign symbol the Stabbingtons had drawn perfectly depicted on the white parchment. She promptly walked towards the door, her harsh footsteps indicating her utter displeasure with the whole situation.
Cassandra turned to face Rapunzel, nodding her head towards the door. "C'mon then, let's go to the library and look for any clues that might clear up whatever the hell this means, the sooner we figure where this came from the sooner we can settle this ridiculous matter."
"Oh, Cass, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Rapunzel sprinted towards her handmaiden, hugging her tightly in exuberant gratitude.
Cassandra tensed beneath her hands, uncomfortably disentangling herself from Rapunzel's tight grip. "Nonono, no hugging, just a thank you is enough, Raps."
Rapunzel sighed tiredly as she closed another book, her researching attempts futile. Her tired eyes roamed the pages of old tomes without success, there was absolutely nothing similar to the strange symbol in her sketchbook, not in any book she looked in. The sun had already set over the horizon, and her stomach grumbled uncomfortably, suddenly realising she had missed supper.
Pascal chirped worriedly beside her, extending towards her the bowl of grapes he had been munching on. Her friend forced a grape into her hand before he patted his own belly, his meaning quite clear to Rapunzel; you have to eat for the baby. Rapunzel smiled at his sweet concern, popping the grape into her mouth.
The chameleon had returned hours earlier, his own mission successful, Maximus' testimony was the last piece of the puzzle Rapunzel needed to set her resolve on stone. Apparently Eugene had left Max with clear instructions to fetch the guards by nightfall all those weeks ago, only after hours of him not returning like he'd said he would. A hint of doubt simmered in Rapunzel's heart at the knowledge; Eugene had wanted her to be found, but why wait for hours to call the guards? With every bit of information she had pieced together, she could only hope he asked Maximus to wait until nightfall because a part of him had wanted to return, even if he believed there was a good chance he wouldn't.
There were still so many unanswered questions roaming in her head, and after the umpteenth book she closed without finding anything of substance, she was beginning to lose hope. She could tell Cassandra was way past her limit already when her handmaiden let a bunch of heavy books fall over the table Rapunzel was sat in front of with a resounding thump.
"Found anything useful?"
"Nothing!" Cassandra groaned. "We've been at this for hours, and not a single book has anything remotely resembling that thing."
Rapunzel tried to keep her voice upbeat, even against her own misgivings. "Well, the palace's library is quite big, we still have more than half the books to search in. I'm sure we'll find something useful eventually."
Pascal flopped over the table with a dramatic sigh, while Cassandra crossed her arms over her chest, raising un unconvinced eyebrow. "Why are we trusting those two goons again? I mean what if this is just a nonsensical doodle and we're wasting our time?"
Rapunzel shook her head. "Because this is our only clue, and they had no reason to lie."
Cassandra rolled her eyes, her mouth opened ready to reply when she was interrupted by the sound of the library's doors opening, heavy footsteps following a soft thud. They both whirled their heads, only to find the now familiar silhouette of none other than Prince William illuminated only by the candlelight. The young Prince stopped on his tracks once he realised the library wasn't empty, blue eyes widening in surprise for a second, before he recovered quickly with an awkward cough.
"Your Highness, Miss Cassandra." Prince William greeted with a polite bow. "What a pleasant surprise."
Rapunzel hesitated for a moment. Remembering her manners, she quickly stood from her seat, stumbling over a rather clumsy curtsey. "Prince William., good evening."
"I didn't have the fortune to see you during the day. I heard from your parents that you were feeling rather tired." The young prince shoot Rapunzel a tight-lipped smile. "I hope you are feeling better?"
"Oh, yes! Much better, thank you." Rapunzel nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
"Your mother mentioned you had a visit from the physician." The prince continued with his polite small talk. "I hope it was not anything serious."
"No, absolutely nothing to worry about." She heard Cassandra snort beside her, and Rapunzel tried to cover it with a nervous chuckle.
Not really in the mood for an awkward conversation, Rapunzel tried to gently coax the prince into revealing his intentions. "So, what brings you here, if it's okay to ask?"
"Oh, I was just coming for a book." Prince William replied, rubbing the back of his head in an awkward gesture. "I'm a rather avid reader, you see. I find I cannot really sleep without reading a good book first. Are you fond of books yourself?"
"I am, actually." Rapunzel replied, surprised the young prince was being quite so talkative all of a sudden. Perhaps it was the late hour, or the rather informal setting. Either way he seemed much less stuffy and more approachable than Rapunzel had ever seen him before.
"I can see." Prince William chuckled softly, gesturing towards the large pile of books over the table in the middle of the room. "Were you looking for something in particular?"
"Just some research." Rapunzel replied vaguely, not really kin on revealing too much. The prince's newfound interest was unnerving her a bit and she hoped he would just take his book and leave as promptly as he had come.
To her dismay, he did just the opposite.
"Do you need any help?" He offered politely, taking a step forward.
"No, thank you."
"Actually, yes."
Both Cassandra and Rapunzel blurted at the same time. Rapunzel turned to face Cassandra, wide eyes sending her a warning look, but Cassandra wasn't too interested in paying her any attention.
Walking towards the prince with an air of easy confidence, Cassandra extended a few books his way. "We need all the help we can get at this point. Thank you for offering, Your Highness."
"My pleasure." The prince offered her a friendly, if small smile. "What are you looking for?"
"Are you by chance familiar with this symbol?" Cassandra inquired, showing him the mark etched in Rapunzel's sketchbook. Prince William's eyebrows furrowed as his blue eyes inspected the drawing with careful interest.
"It looks a bit familiar, but I can't quite recall where I've seen it." He mused, narrowing his gaze in thought. Rapunzel perked up at his words, her curiosity piqued.
"Really?"
"It appears to be rather ancient given its simplicity." The young prince continued inspecting the drawing. "I've read a lot about ancient cultures and dead kingdoms, but this isn't quite well known as far as I can tell."
Rapunzel felt herself deflate, but before she could be too disappointed, Prince William shot her a reassuring look. "But I can help, if you'd like. I know just the right books to look for."
Before long, the three of them were deep into their research, with Prince William directing them towards the volumes that would most likely contain the information they needed. Occasionally, Rapunzel and the prince would exchange polite conversation, while Cassandra preferred to be left on her own in the corner of the room accompanied by Pascal, her own pile of books getting bigger as the hours passed.
Rapunzel found she quite enjoyed the young prince's company, much to her surprise. Without the formality of having to be stuck in a room together with the clear purpose of courting, Prince William seemed much more friendly, albeit a bit shy. Rapunzel suspected he had some difficulty getting comfortable around new people, and the prospect of having to court Rapunzel was probably a bit daunting to his rather quiet demeanor. Nevertheless, his shy politeness and gentle manners were surprisingly endearing, making Rapunzel giggle slightly at his occasional awkwardness.
In another life, Rapunzel wondered if they might have grown to be good friends. If their arranged marriage could've become a sweet and friendly union. She suspected even if she had never met Eugene, she would've never grown to love him, at least not romantically. His quiet nature and soft-spoken conversation was too composed to appeal much to her more passionate spirit. But she thought they might've grown to respect and understand each other, even if their marriage lacked love.
However, as she spent more time with the young prince, Rapunzel grew more and more convinced she couldn't ever marry him. He was too gentle, too kind. How could she ever deceive him in such a cruel way? She knew just from speaking with him in the last few hours that he had a tender soul, he helped them graciously without even asking the purpose behind their research, seemingly content to just spend his time engulfed in books. He didn't deserve to be betrayed in such a way. Rapunzel couldn't do that to him, she wouldn't.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by Prince William's abrupt exclamation. "Aha! Found it!"
Rapunzel was by his side in an instant, looking over his shoulder as the prince pointed towards the yellowing page of a rather old and battered book. Indeed, the symbol was there in faded ink, identical to the one Rapunzel had drawn before. Cassandra walked toward them too, snatching the book to bring it closer to herself for better inspection.
"Erebos?" Cassandra read the title on the page containing a limited amount of information, her words hesitant around the unfamiliar word.
"It means deep darkness or shadow." Prince William explained, apparently familiar with the word if not the place. "Apparently this was once known as The Dark Kingdom."
"So it's an emblem then?" Rapunzel inquired, her eyes avidly reading the information on the page as if it contained all the secrets she needed to find. An ancient kingdom, long since forgotten.
"Perhaps it fell under dubious circumstances." Prince William mused as if reading her thoughts. "It's not part of the Seven Kingdoms, and I haven't heard of it before, so it cannot be all that relevant in international treaties, if it even still exists at all."
"Well, it's rather far-off." Cassandra pointed out, inspecting the small map on the page next to the simple symbol where the location of the foreign kingdom was marked. "Perhaps the distance makes it a bit irrelevant to have any treaties with kingdoms so far away from it."
"How long do you suppose it would take one to get there?" Rapunzel asked no one in particular, flinching as Cassandra fixed her with a withering glare. "Hypothetically speaking, of course."
"Probably at least a month, give or take." Prince William replied. "Pretty interesting though, that it should be so secluded few people even know of its existence. Why did you need to search for this again?"
Rapunzel started at his sudden question, but before she could think about an appropriate answer, Cassandra interrupted somewhat abruptly.
"Well, look at the time! Rapunzel, you shouldn't push yourself. The doctor advised you to sleep plenty and rest for a few days, it's time for us to go back." The brunette quickly ushered Rapunzel towards the doors, looking over her shoulder towards the confused prince. "Thank you very much for all your help, Your Highness. Have a good night."
Before Cassandra could push her out the door, Rapunzel managed to slip from her grip and walked back towards Prince William, who had been watching them with a look of utter bewilderment at their sudden rush to leave. She rested a hand over his shoulder, lips lifting into a grateful smile.
"Thank you for everything." Rapunzel spoke softly. "It really does mean a lot to me."
Rapunzel squeezed his shoulder in a friendly gesture and waved him goodbye, extending her hand for Pascal to climb back atop her shoulder before she followed Cassandra out the door, leaving a dumbfounded and somewhat flustered prince behind.
"No." Cassandra spoke with finality before Rapunzel could even utter two words. As soon as they were back in Rapunzel's bedroom, her handmaiden had turned towards her with her arms crossed over her chest in a firm gesture.
"I haven't even said anything!" Rapunzel defended.
"You didn't have to. I could practically see the wheels turning in your head back there." Cassandra frowned. "You're planning to go look for him, aren't you?"
The situation might have been a bit different a few weeks ago. Rapunzel had fully resigned herself to forget about Eugene and their time together. Even a couple days back, she had accepted the fact that she would have to marry someone else. And probably if she hadn't ever received the news about her pregnancy, she wouldn't have ever considered leaving again. But everything was different now.
Rapunzel sat heavily on her bed, directing a pleading look at the brunette. "He might be in danger and I'm the only one who knows where he could be. I can't just do nothing!"
"What you should be worrying about right now is yourself!" Cassandra snapped, looking pointedly to Rapunzel's still flat stomach. "You known what you need to do and you're running out of time."
There was a sharp pang in her chest. Rapunzel hated to think about it, but a part of her worried she might have already ran out of time. There was no clue as to what those people might've wanted with Eugene, he could've already been hurt by them, or worse. After all, Eugene had been gone for weeks now, and she had spent the better part of that month trying to learn to forget him. What if she was already too late to save him?
What was she supposed to do? On the one hand her mind wouldn't rest until she could see Eugene safe and sound again, but on the other Cassandra had a point. She had a baby to think about too on top of it all, and the innocent life now growing inside of her didn't deserve to suffer the consequences of Rapunzel's actions. The overwhelming war within herself made her lips quiver as fear clung to her heart, eyes blurring with unshed tears.
"Rapunzel, that baby is not going to stay a secret much longer." Cassandra interrupted her train of thought with an exasperated sigh. "If you leave now, by the time you come back you won't be able to conceal it anymore, it'll be too late."
"Even if I did marry, people would still talk, Cass, you know that." Rapunzel argued, trying to suppress an anxious whimper as she slowly came to the bitter realization that her baby wouldn't be spared from the cruel rumors that would surely follow them as soon as her surprising pregnancy became public knowledge. "The timing is too obvious, they will always question the baby's paternity behind my back."
Rapunzel wouldn't have that. She could clearly recall the pain and resentment hiding behind Eugene's usually laid-back mask when he'd recounted his backstory over the glinting warmth of a firelight. She wouldn't let her baby suffer like he did, always chased by the shadow of the pain of being and unwanted and illegitimate child.
"I'd prefer not to have my child grow up surrounded by people who would judge them for their parentage rather than their character." She said firmly, determined to protect the innocent sensibility of a life that was not fully formed yet.
"And what's your plan then?" Cassandra raised a questioning eyebrow, hand resting over her hip. "Just sneak out of Corona like a fugitive and go on a quest all on your own to the middle of nowhere in the off chance you might find Rider?"
Rapunzel had to admit she hadn't planned that far ahead yet. Sensing her hesitation, Cassandra continued.
"You don't even know if that place still exists anymore! And even if you do find him, there's no guarantee he would want anything to do with the baby." The brunette's voice softened slightly, as if trying to sooth the blow of her scathing words. "I mean he might've been abducted at some point, but the choice to leave in the first place was all his own. Maybe he felt he was way in over his head and decided to get rid of the crown and set you free before hightailing it out of Corona before he was found and his plan just backfired spectacularly."
It was a possibility Rapunzel didn't want to entertain. There had been more than enough suffering and heartbreak in her soul as it was. She'd like to believe Eugene wouldn't be so cruel as to reject his own child, not after everything he went through in his own childhood.
"Well then, if that's the case I'd rather hear it from himself than spend the rest of my life wondering what might've happened if I had just tried harder." Rapunzel replied, voice firm despite the fear hiding just beneath the surface.
"You've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Cassandra heaved a dejected breath, rubbing her temples in evident exasperation.
Rapunzel could do nothing but stare, but her silence was answer enough for the handmaiden, who pursed her lips in annoyance.
"This is so going to get me fired." Cassandra muttered crossly before throwing her hands up in defeat. "Alright then, if you are determined to go and be a reckless fool, I might as well come along with you."
Rapunzel's eyes widened in utter surprise, words failing her for a moment as her tired brain tried to comprehend what Cassandra was offering.
"Cass, you don't have to. You've done so much already, I can't ask that of you." She finally answered after recovering from her momentary speechlessness. But Cassandra waved her off with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, my dad's always said our most important duty is to protect the Crown. He can't exactly fault me for following his example." The young handmaiden shrugged. "Plus, your father did hire me to keep an eye on you, after all."
A tear rolled down Rapunzel's cheek, but for the first time in ages, her tears came out of overwhelming gratitude rather than hopelessness. She didn't feel as alone in the world, knowing she had one more ally other than Pascal.
"Thank you." Rapunzel whispered softly, voice thick with emotion, a tremulous smile gracing her lips.
Cassandra seemed at a loss for a moment, clearly unsure on how to react to Rapunzel's sudden burst of emotion, but she recovered quickly by waving it off as if it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Don't mention it. Ever. Seriously if we ever come back, I was just following your orders." Cassandra warned with the hint of a smile on her lips, making Rapunzel let out a watery chuckle. "Oh and if we do end up finding Rider, I'm punching him in the face, that's the least he deserves."
For the first time since she'd returned to Corona's palace, the air in Rapunzel's lungs didn't feel quite as heavy. There was still so much uncertainty in her near future, but she was determined to find Eugene again, learn the truth from himself, and protect her baby from whatever harm may come their way. She just hoped time wouldn't be the cruel enemy to snatch away her chance to make things right again.
So now Rapunzel is adamant to go to the one place she should be avoiding right now. What do you guys think will happen now? Will Eugene be able to find her on time? Let me know what you think! Your reviews always help to keep this story alive, so don't hesitate to leave a comment on your way out! Until next time :)