Tangled Fairytale: Chapter 7

He needed to be more careful, he thought, but it was too late. Because he already had crushed the vase at the corner, and it was lying on the floor at this moment, broken into thousands of pieces. The crushing sound made her to turn and when she turned, she was looking right back at him. He strode toward her, ready to take her in his arms. She did too but there was something in her face that he couldn’t fathom. It was that look she gave when she was angry or anxious or perplexed. He remembered that look when she kicked him while he was trying his smolder on her.
"Rapunzel! I can explain," he breathed. But then she landed a sturdy fist in his ribs. He didn't expect that he would double over and his knees would buckle at the force but he did just that, with unintelligible gagging sound coming from his throat.
“Eugene!” She whispered like the way they talked when he first abducted her.
“What’s that for?” Eugene gasped as he managed to get back on his feet again. “I’ve never heard of a woman welcoming her husband with a punch.”
“Ah, you…” Rapunzel was still shaking with the fake anger. “You son of a…Ah, forget that.” Then she raised her eyes and after a long time they met the deep chocolate pools before her. “You scared me.” her voice softened and her arms unknowingly found their way around his plane torso.
“You can curse me Blondie.” Eugene moaned at her soft touch brushing his rough skin. The cool air was playing with the purple curtains, so with their bodies. The coldness of the air sent chills through their spines. He shivered, and the girl too.  She moved closer to him, sending the toasty warmth through his skin. “But I’ve no other way except breaking into your room.”
“You thief!” At last she withdrew from the hug and stared into his eyes “You shouldn’t not come here.”
“Why?”
“It is the enemy home.” She whimpered “It is a death trap.” Fear clouded those clear emerald eyes; Eugene felt the tears rolling along her cheeks.
“It isn’t enemy home.” Gently and carefully Eugene touched the single tear still shining on her cheek, wiped it away, cupped her chin and titled her face so that she was looking at him. “It is my heaven, when you are here.”
“But…” she stopped. Taking a deep breath she withdrew herself from his touch. “You shouldn’t stay here, Eugene. If anyone knows that you are here….” She was cut off in the midsentence with his finger on her lips.
“Hush, hush…Blondie…” Eugene smiled, sealing her mouth with a kiss and wrapped his arms around her thin waist. He pulled her closer so that she fell straight against his wide chest. “How can you tell me to leave, Blondie?” He approached closer. She could see his deep, sorrowful dark eyes and read the pain of the separation written there. She could ignore Rider’s smolder but she couldn’t escape from Eugene’s invitations. “Will you be happy sending me away?” He touched her arm and placed another on her shoulder. “Tell me, were you happy all the time of our separation?” His face was only an inch away from her; his dark eyes were locked into hers. She knew she couldn’t escape from her feelings, like the way she couldn’t ignore the truth. She read the sorrows in his eyes and he was doing the same.
“I saw you in my dreams in every night.” At last she confessed, lowering her eyes, so that she had not to meet his piercing gaze “Still, I…I….” Rapunzel really hated this moment. How much she wanted him to stay, to kiss her on full mouth, but she couldn’t. The wall of rivalry between two families was so thick, so strong that none of them could break it. Suddenly her guards broke, her emotions overtook her. She couldn’t finish her words because she jumped on his lips and caught his with her and they span in a half circle of a maddened struggle. She only stopped when she was out breath.
"Why are you here?” she seethed with sorrowful anger “Don’t you know it…it is dangerous? She continued breathing heavily. “Don’t you know.. Don’t you know…”
“I..Know…but..” he tried to breathe, grinning mischievously. His notorious grin set her anger on fire again. Her small fists grabbed his collar and her burning eyes met his gaze. “Don’t you know I can’t live if something happens to you.”
Before he could answer, she kissed him once more, spinning him around. Eugene touched her face, her cheeks, her nose, her lips, her brows as if he was a blind man trying to remember a face that he had touched many years ago. He collapsed into the crook of her neck and kissed her there, taking deep breathes, drinking in her aroma.

"I miss you so much," he sighed.
"Don't," she said, partially in anger and partially in regret. Her eyes lit up, suddenly she remembered something. She took his hand and led him to her bed. She pushed him onto it and made him to seat like a good boy. Even with her strange mood swings, her touch made him to tingle in the pit of his stomach.
“Wait there.” She said, disappearing to the other side of the room. Eugene sat there, training the walls around him. The walls were decorated with thousands of murals, mostly of Rapunzel herself and her family. With one look you could say the life story of the girl living there. A small smile crossed his face when his eyes caught a particular mural in the ceiling, right above the bed, showing two small children playing around the royal fountain. One of them was easily distinguishable withthe long golden hair and another one…His breath caught inside his chest- it was the younger version of him fourteen years ago. The mural was carefully painted in such place, so that one could easily see it while lying on the bed. She was tending this memory for the last fourteen years, this little precious memory. He couldn’t think anymore. She loved him so much, always. Then why they couldn’t be together? It was not justice, it was not fair. Eugene shook his head. Why the whole world was standing between them when they wanted to be together?
Something slimy stuck inside his ear, jolting him up from his thoughts. His eyes caught the tiny chameleon sitting over his shoulder, watching him with his tiny beady eyes. He furred, unsatisfied when their eyes met. Not so amused, Eugene tried to brush him away from his shoulder only to have another tongue attack inside his ear.
“Pascal, leave him.” Just in time Rapunzel’s voice rang across the room, making the tiny chameleon to jump from his shoulder. She was back with a tray full of cupcakes and orange juice that she had managed to get from the kitchen. She set the tray on the bedside table and sat down with him. Pascal looked not much happy with the intruder. “Go away, Pascal.” She instructed him. Pascal nodded, unhappily. Rapunzel winked at Eugene, scooped Pascal in her hands and set him out of the window. “Pascal, I and Eugene need a little time alone.’
Pascal creaked unhappily before leaving the bedroom window. When he was gone, Rapunzel turned to Eugene and sat across him. Eugene threw a bewildered look at tha food infront of him. “Rapunzel.” At last he managed to whisper “What is this all about?”
Rapunzel smiled simply, she took a cake and held it out to him. “Take it. You look famished.” And Eugene really was. He had forgotten he had eaten nothing after the breakfast. But her feeding him, it looked much more appealing. Had he even imagined this morning? Her anger was gone and she looked somewhat… ok.. He chose to go for the food first.  Cautiously he took a bite from her hand, it was amazing.
“Thank you.” He smiled. Then he took another piece and held it to her, “It’s your turn Blondie.”  She turned red with his mischievous tone. “Ok, I can have it myself.” She was about to take it from his hand, Eugene quickly bolted away from her, holding it above his head. “If you ever want to eat, Blondie, you must have it from me.”
‘Hmm…” A huge grin spread across Rapunzel's face. "So you leave me no choice, Rider!" Without warning, she sprung forward and tackled Eugene, who, caught completely off guard, tumbled to the ground, holding Rapunzel in his arms.
‘You can’t escape from me, Princess.” He grinned devilishly.
“Then stop me.”  Laughing, Rapunzel tried to scramble out from his tight hug, but somehow Eugene was able to keep up with her struggle. And at one point, he stuffed the whole cake into her mouth.
“There you go, Blondie.” He gave her a victorious grin.
“You must be punished.” His grin didn’t offend her either; instead she took another cake and stuffed into his mouth, stopping the grin. “Who wins now?” she laughed, raising one eyebrow enthusiastically.
But Eugene didn’t answer. Instead he leaned forward and moved aside a piece of her stray hair with his sticky fingers.
“Now tell me, why you’re crying earliar?”
Had he read her mind? She thought. Couldn’t she ever hide anything from those breathtaking brown eyes? She tried to put the things into perspective and realized it would be ridiculous to keep him away from the problems of her life. Their lives were tangled together; she couldn’t keep him away from it as much as she wanted.
“I tried to talk with my parents.” She told him “But it seems that they will never accept our marriage easily. And if you were spotted, things could have been much worse.”
He nodded and kissed her cheeks “It could.”
“And Edward is unbearable. He keeps talking about his money and donations. He even says….”
With the name of Edward, Eugene’s body stiffened. Rapunzel felt the small beads of sweats appearing on his forehead. That really surprised her. Why on earth Eugene reacted in this way with Edward’s name? What was between them? She snuggled closer to him and placed her chin on his shoulder “Don’t worry I crushed his nose with my frying pan.”
Her words made him relaxing a little. Rapunzel felt his breath becoming more even.
“Can we just ignore that Edward matter?” Eugene whispered, his voice was still hoarse.
“Yes, we can.” Rapunzel hugged him tightly. “Who cares him when we are together?”
“Nothing can tear us apart.” After a long moment, Eugene smiled. His smile was blinding and he began kissing her thoroughly. “I care nothing.”
“Me neither.” Rapunzel laughed, letting him lay her down onto the floor, right on the carpet. It did sound strange, since she really didn't want to have him around her even a few days ago, but without him her story felt incomplete. They waited for the long fourteen years to have each other and at last when they were together, they couldn’t wait.
Eugene laughed but his eyes blazed. His weight pinned her to the floor and he stared at her."Thank you for the punch."
"Want more?" She whispered, caught up in the heat of the moment. They kissed again. First, light kisses like the flapping of linnet's wings. Then the kisses turned into hungry, passionate manipulations of lips and tongues.  His fingers found their way to the laces of her gown, but then he stopped with her frightened voice. “What are you doing, Eugene?’ she asked innocently.
Looking into her innocent eyes, Eugene smiled. “What do you think?”
“You are acting strange.” She replied. Eugene watched the naïve girl standing near him, and asked, “Don’t you have any idea about how babies are made?”

“Of course.” Her eyes lit up with the question “I know. Husbands kiss their wives and the babies are born.”
“That’s all?” Eugene asked as he smothered a smile “Finished?”
“Yes.” She looked puzzled “What else could be?” Her answer made Eugene sigh. She was too innocent for her age and it hurt him to ruin that innocence. He kissed her temple and pulled her closer “That’s not all my darling, there is more.”
“What?” Rapunzel’s eyes glittered with the curiosity “Will you tell me?”
“Not today.” He kissed her again.
()()()


He thought that he was dreaming. But no, the sound was growing stronger and stronger. Someone was knocking at the door.
He tried to move, but he couldn’t feel his arm. His angel was sleeping on his arms, face pressed against his chest. Her face was wet with tears. She cried in her sleep. Last night she begged him to stay with her, cursed the fate that separated them from each other. They didn’t consummate their marriage last night because Eugene found that she was totally unaware about that. He carried her to the bed, laid her gently, pulled the cover up to her chin and stayed awake by her side wondering about this strange relationship. What would be their future? Nothing. Nothing could bring them together until the war continued.
The knocking continued which jolted the princess awake.
"The servants! Quick, Eugene. You have to go," Rapunzel said while she moved disoriented around her bed.
"Rapunzel, I'm not going anywhere," he said in respond to her frantic.
"What?" Rapunzel was aghast. Eugene smiled at her comfortingly.
"We can’t go on like this. We are married legally. It isn’t fair that they are marrying you off with some other prince, and we can’t be together until they know the truth." Eugene explained as he started to put on his clothes. He looked at his single boot and sighed. Rapunzel looked at him with unblinking eyes.
“No,” She jumped and hugged him around the waist and buried her face in his chest.
"I know how much you love me, Eugene. But I can’t let you take this risk," she sighed.
“But…”
“You must go. It is still dawn. No one can catch you now.”
“Listen, Rapunzel…”
“I order you to go.” Rapunzel pleaded. Eugene looked at her big green eyes and sighed. He could never ignore her requests. Slowly he put on his cloak and pulled the hood over his face, so that it obscured his identity completely.
Rapunzel hung her hair along the window like a rope which guided him to the ground below. The sun was rising, shading the eastern sky with rosy red. Rapunzel blushed when their eyes met for the last time. She blew out a kiss to him as he looked up to the window.
The contact made his senses reeling, he couldn’t even think properly. The morning was still young, darkness wasn’t gone yet. There was a strange peace around here. Wearily he made his way to the boundary wall with a hope to find the lost boot. It might be somewhere here. The palace guards were still sleeping, so he had enough time to find it.
"Ah! I see, I’m not the early riser here!"
A slender figure with curly dark hair greeted him. It was the voice he never expected to hear. He gave her a blank look; an uneasy feeling crept up inside his body. She was the last person he wanted to meet on the earth. What was she doing here?
“Hey, you…” the lady kept calling behind him “Wait. Guards! Guards!”
Few booted footsteps could be heard from behind. He couldn’t wait another moment.
Without another word he hurried to the boundary wall, climbed onto it and fortunately found Maximus still waiting for him on the other side. He jumped and landed straight on his back, pulled his rein which jolted the horse awake.
“Maximus hurry.” He whispered. Maximus was puzzled but he understood the urgency in his voice. Still he couldn’t believe whom he had just met.
Queen Gothel of Cocorneupia, Edward’s mother and his mother’s…But what was she doing here?

()()()

Had she ever imagined seeing him again? No. she confessed. Alright, after her return she thought everything would be settled and her life would return to normal. It was an accident; she tried to reason herself since the marriage, even when she threw the frying pan on Edward’s face yesterday. He would never return, she expected. She thought he would forget her like all the other girls the famous Flynn Rider dated until last night when he decided to break into her room. She could never shake out the sweetness of the night she had spent in Eugene’s arms. The memories of his passionate kisses, of his whispered words of praise and passion, kept coming back to torment her, and she couldn’t prevent that. She didn’t try…even now she wished to see him again, of the way he looked when that lazy smile swept across his tanned face and..
“Princess, your parents are waiting for you at the dining hall.”
To answer her parent’s summons, Rapunzel dragged her thoughts from the memories of the handsome, brown eyed intruder who still haunted her days and night. Laying the embroidery down, she gave the maid-servant a puzzled look, then pulled her purple mantle closer over her shoulder and left her bedroom. An unknown voice along with her father’s raised in debate made her to pause on the corridor and glance down into the hall. Her parents, Edward, and a dark headed elderly woman were gathered around the dining table, their faces were grim to death. The councilors were there too and the sight of their stern, icy faces made Rapunzel cringe with a combination of alarm and fear.
What was the whole council was doing here in this late evening? Did they found out what she had done? She remembered that Eugene had lost his boot while climbing up into her room. Did they found that? Or caught Eugene while escaping? She didn’t know.
She jerked her mind away from such thoughts and stepped into the hall, her reluctance to face the men assembled around the dining table growing with each step she took. The queen smiled sympathetically when she entered. Edward raised his eyebrows enthusiastically although his nose was wrapped with a huge bandage. The curly haired lady whom she had never seen before gave her a welcoming smile but it couldn’t assure her. She felt like entering into the court for a trial and from Edward’s grinning face she knew it was.
The king was standing at the end of the table, his back to the guests.
“You wished to see me, father?”
The king turned, gazed at his daughter sympathetically and sighed. He had no other way. Edward complained to the council about her outrageous behavior with him and the council decided this meeting. The king tried to stop them, but when it was the question of their kingdom’s image to a foreign one, the council decided not to compromise.  Even they summoned Queen Gothel from Cocoreupia, to make the judgment fair. All the king could do to make this as unofficial as he could. So he decided to arrange this meeting in the dining hall.
‘Sit down, daughter.” He spoke and Rapunzel looked into his eyes. She could see the look of guilt there but she knew her father was forced to do that. The queen nodded to take the chair beside and the sympathetic gesture took her by surprise.
“Is it true that you have thrown a frying pan on Prince Edward’s face?” Lord Gregory asked and Rapunzel looked at him in amazement because his voice was so soft and gentle that she hadn’t expected.
“She did.” Edward said from beside.
“Edward,” The dark haired lady snapped “They are talking. You shouldn’t talk in the middle.” Edward cringed with the tone of his mother’s voice “Where are your manners?” The lady turned at Rapunzel and smiled gently “Don’t be afraid. I’m Edward’s mother, Queen Gothel. You can tell your reasons. We are here to listen to you, darling.”
“I..I did.” She whispered, looking at her with her heart in her eyes “Because he was teasing my family. He was complaining about everything we have, even he teased our army. I was just trying to protect our honor.”
“I think she did right.” One of the councilor commented quietly.
“Yes.” Another added.
A fleeting thought passed her delighted mind, despite her father’s worried look and her mother’s frightened face. May be this incident would make them to consider their decision about her marriage with that pathetic prince.
“It’s not fair that you teased the princess in that way, Edward.” Queen Gothel spoke up, her voice guff as she issued an apology on behalf her son.
“But mother, I just wanted to teach her how to be a proper princess.” Edward looked troubled “She is not acting like a well born lady since we met.”
“You can’t tease them, Edward.” He was cut off in the mid-sentence with his mother’s stern voice “And I think she is just trying to save her pride.”
“Even your mother thinks my daughter did right.” The king nodded, sending a smiling gaze to his daughter “Now you can’t blame her anymore, Edward.”
In the other times, she would run and hug him but in the hall full of guests she wasn’t allowed to do that. So she replied softly “Thank you, father.”  Beside her, the queen gave her a sideway hug. “You don’t know, how much worried I was.” She whispered in her ears “Last night when they talked about this I thought they would declare you as an improper princess. And you know how much disgracing that will be for both of us.”
“I’ll never disgrace you.” Rapunzel whispered back, surrendering to her mother’s hug while her eyes moved over the other people in the hall. Even the councilors looked relived except Edward. He continued to regard her as he always did his face filled with cold malice.
“I don’t know how your highness thinks it is right for a princess to support her captor.” He continued. With his words the whole hall fell silent once again. The king turned abruptly with some expressions that were beyond Rapunzel’s delight.
“How do you come to that conclusion, Edward?” He spoke bitterly “What have you seen?”
Rapunzel raised her face from the queen’s shoulder, terrified. She casted a glance to her mother who turned pale too. “What did you do?” The queen asked huskily. “Mother I…” Rapunzel stammered but Edward continued.
“She has…”
“Edward, stop.” Queen Gothel placed her arm on her son’s shoulder, truly disappointed with his behaviors. “We are here in friendly terms. You are going to marry her soon. Why you are telling these to her father, ruining her reputation?”
“Mother…” Edward cringed in front of his mother’s glare but it was the king who placed his arm on her shoulder and turned his stern gaze at him “Ah, Gothel. Let him say. He has right to say.”
“Thank you.” Edward bowed respectfully before the king and continued “I’ve only teased her highness, but what about her acts during the abduction? She always took Rider’s side. She jumped off a cliff with him so that I couldn’t arrest him; even she stopped the captain from arresting Rider’s companions. She helped him to escape right before our eyes. Isn’t that a crime, your highness?”
The hall became deadly silent, except Queen Gothel whispering to her son “Ah, Edward. That is enough.”
“No.” It was the king who thundered and turned his furious eyes to his daughter and asked “Is that true?”
For a sick moment, Rapunzel wondered if Edward knew more about her and Eugene’s relationship, but judging from her father’s furious look, nothing mattered now. “Tell me, it’s not true.” The queen pleaded, her face was as pale as ghost. Last night from Rapunzel’s question she suspected that something was wrong and it really was. What a disgrace!
“It is true.” Rapunzel’s head hung to her chest.
“And how far your relationship has gone?” The king seemed unable to continue.
For a moment, she wanted to scream truth in front of the whole council but then something crossed her mind. She wasn’t sure if Eugene was still in Corona but if he was then her confession would be his death sentence.
“Nothing.” Rapunzel tried to act innocent “He treated me nicely while I was his captive, saved me from his murderous companions. In return I showed him some favor. Was that wrong, father?” she asked when the king looked at her with pure shock. “Was that wrong?’ Rapunzel turned to the council and asked “What wrong if we become friends?”
Across from her, the queen flinched and other men began to look at their hands. “What have you done?” the queen was about to cry.
“It is wrong.” Lord Gregory spoke after a long silence, his voice was full of sadness “And I’m sorry to say befriending an enemy of the state is a crime. And you’ve done that princess.”
Rapunzel’s heart sank.  All she wanted to make things right. How could it be a crime? She looked at her parents who remained silent. The king was rubbing his temple and the queen was at the verge of tears.
“Will they punish me?” she was almost afraid to ask her mother.
“I don’t know.” The queen said to her daughter “But it is a punishable offence, darling.” She gently took her hand and rubbed her arm softy. Rapunzel watched her father rising from his seat and saying something to Lord Gregory. Both of them talked for a while and nodded in unison.
“I think it’s not entirely her fault, it’s Rider who had bad influence on her.” The king looked at his councilors “I can suggest a better option.  She must have training on how to be a proper princess before her marriage.
The council looked at each other’s eyes and nodded. “But who will take this job?” Lord Gregory looked worried “All the finest teachers of the kingdom have already taught her. Now she has…”
“I like to take this job.” At last Gothel spoke “Since she is going to be my daughter-in-law, I think I can make her proper bride for my son. I’ll try to erase all the bad influences Rider had on her.”
At last it was Lord Gregory who turned and spoke to Rapunzel, “And yes, Princess we also want you to spend rest of your times with Prince Edward. We think that will help to make the things better between you two.”
Rapunzel gripped the arms of her chair so that her knuckles turned white “WHAT!”
Her father jerked his head in a nod and Rapunzel stared at him in a confused shock. And the reminder of her color drained when the council declared “And the council proclaiming an arrest warrant upon Rider for the abduction of our princess. We want him alive or dead.”
Gothel’s lips twisted in an odd angle as she heard the last line of the king’s declaration. Her eyes met the queen who seemed too much shocked.
Shock and fear combined to send the princess surging to her feet. “But father…”
“Daughter.” The king silenced her ignoring his wife’s icy glare “I think you’ll not make me and your mother laughingstock in front of the guests like this anymore.” Rapunzel’s head hung to her chest, she couldn’t speak anymore. She heard her father saying to Edward to escort her to her bedchamber.  
“You never told me.” The queen opened her mouth as the princess left the hall with Edward.
“What?” The king was puzzled.
“That Edward is Gothel’s son.” The queen casted an icy glare at him “You want to defeat Naldora, so you want to find out Rider and you are making alliance with Gothel’s kingdom? How funny, Rupert!”
King Rupert studied his wife’s expressions for a moment, and then slowly a smile crossed his lips. He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders “You still don’t like Gothel. We had an affair in the past, is that the reason?”
“No.” The queen replied sharply, brushing his hands away from her shoulder. “There are other reasons.”
()()()
“At least my mother made your punishment milder.” Edward jerked his head in a nod, but his voice and expression took on an odd note of triumph as he escorted the princess to her room “She is a good teacher. And soon she will be your mother-in-law that means your mother too.”
Rapunzel remained silent. She had no intention to talk with this man right now. He ruined her whole reputation, her parent’s honor in front of the council. “Soon we’ll grow together, princess.” Edward took her hand when they reached the door of her bedroom.
“Edward, I’m really tired.” she tried to free her hand from Edward’s grasp but Edward seemed not to give up easily. He pulled her hand so hard that she let out a yelp and fell straight against his chest “I won’t let you go until you say something.” his eyes were blazing and Rapunzel was afraid that he was going to kiss her.
“Edward..” she squirmed in his iron grip.
“Princess, I’m sorry. I’m just jealous…” he whispered as he descended his mouth to her.
“Edward, it’s not fair to kiss a lady when she is unwilling.” The kiss froze in the midair with Queen Gothel’s voice ringing across the corridor. “I don’t want the council declaring you as an improper prince too.”
“Mother..” Edward seemed troubled. Gothel was by her side in that moment and glared at her son “I think you better go now, son. Tomorrow you’ll have your time with her.” Her tone was so gentle that amazed her. To her surprise, Edward obeyed his mother’s command and left the room.
“He is a bit spoiled.” Gothel smiled as she followed her into her room “May be that is my fault.”
“Yes, ma’m.”Rapunzel nodded, as Gothel had her seated before the dressing table. Then she gently smoothed her tangled hair “Look what you’ve done to yourself. Let me tame this beautiful mess.”
When she finished binding the seventy feet long hair in a neat braid, Gothel smiled at the princess, “So Rapunzel, we expect you to join us in the dinner.” Rapunzel was about to deny her offer but her cordial smile stopped her from doing so. May be she wasn’t that bad as her son.
“Alright, ma’m.” She nodded “I’ll be there on time.”
“Alright.” Gothel pressed her hand and turned to leave. “And, Rapunzel, next time you may call me Mother Gothel.”
What a tiring day. Rapunzel shut the door behind her. The thought of having dinner sitting next to Edward really annoyed her.  But she had no other way. She was feeling so ashamed and embarrassed with everything. Everything happened because of Eugene. If he hadn’t abducted her in the first place then nothing would happen. She had not to face the council and her family wouldn’t be disgraced. All she wanted to find him and yell at him right now. That would lessen her anger. Unfortunately he was nowhere to be found to yell at.
“You look weird, Blondie.” A familiar voice spoke and a pair of brown eyes peeped through the darkness of the closet.
“Wha.. you…” instead of yelling, Rapunzel stared at him with pure shock. “What are you doing inside my closet?”
“Nothing.” Eugene replied casually stepping out of the closet “I was just counting how many dresses you have.” Then he moved closer, studying her face as he imprisoned her in his strong arms “You look angry. What happened, Blondie?”
“Stop.” she pushed him away, her face grimed with the memory of the entire day. Actually she was angry with everything that happened today and now the anger found its way on him.  “That’s none of you business. You better oil your own machine.”
“Ok.”He said as he removed his mantle and settled himself in the nearby chair, gazing at her silently. She really wanted to yell vicious things at him right now. But instead Rapunzel watched her husband with a silent admiration. In the early spring, he was clad in a simple white undershirt, dark blue doublet, brown hose and boots. He did look a bit tired from the journey he made from Naldora to Corona but Rapunzel felt an absurd spurt of happiness that he crossed all the way, took the risks just to see her. Moreover he looked haunted by her, like she was thought the day. She felt a pang of guilt for being so rude with him.  Since she was completely uncertain about how to act or feel, she stayed where she was until his speculative silence unnerved her.
“I told you to oil your own machine.” She decided to break the silence at last. Instead answering her question, Eugene raised an eyebrow with her words and asked back “How do you feel?”
Flustered by his odd mocking tone, she waited and then said “Why?”
“Now that’s a question.”
“Are we having a conversation?” Rapunzel demanded darkly and to her complete confusion, Eugene threw back his head and shouted with laughter, rich, full of life. “No, no.” Eugene held his stomach as he was laughing so hard “I was just oiling my own machine.  So something happened with your prince?”
“My what..?” she bit her lips, her expression quizzical. Eugene sobered, taking pity on the innocence that made him laugh at the same time it made him want her more than he had a night ago.  
“Your prince- Edward.” Eugene loved the fact that the name made her angrier “I think you’ve a lovely time with him?”
The question seemed to discomfit her and, as if stalling for time in which to compose the answer, she gazed into his smiling brown pools which were twinkling with mischief, then blood crept up to her cheeks with the realization of his game with her. Sitting in the comfortable chair, Eugene thought she looked incredibly desirable- an angry blonde goddess with the crazy long hair, clad in a purple gown and a braid. She was an absolute desire and it was a real fun to annoy her. “Is the question too difficult for you?” he tried hard to shift his laughter “Shall I try to frame an easier one?”
“Do you know I’ve to face the council because of you?” at last she busted out. She moved closer and punched his chest with her small fists. “Do you know how embarrassing it was? And you find it funny?” Her wide green eyes were swimming with tears and shoulders shaking helplessly, she said “Everything happened because of you.”
“I don’t know that.” He was still panting from the laughing spell but now he felt genuinely sorry for her embarrassment. He rose from the chair and moved near her, gazing into her eyes sympathetically, “I’ve no idea about that. I’m so sorry.” Dimly Rapunzel was aware that he was reaching for her; she felt his hands closed around her upper arms, drawing her nearer and slowly his mouth descended to her.
“Don’t touch me, Rider.” Angrily she turned her face away a scant instant before his lips touched hers, her breath coming into rapid gasps as if she was running.  He kissed her temple instead, trailing his lips over her cheeks, pulling her nearer, brushing his lips down to the sensitive column of her neck while Rapunzel turned liquid inside. Unknowingly, she clutched at the fabric of his vest, clinging to him for support as the world began to reel. “Don’t.” she whispered as he kissed her ears and said “You can yell at me, Blondie if that tames your anger.”
She tilted her face, to meet his warm brown, sensual eyes and her anger evaporated. Drawing a shattered breath, Rapunzel buried her face into his tunic and said “They told me that I did wrong befriending you. And they told me to spend my times with Edward. They said I’m not a proper princess. And Queen Gothel will be my teacher from tomorrow…” her voice trailed off as she felt Eugene’s body stiffening with Edward’s name. She hesitated “Well, I shouldn’t tell you that I’ve broke..”
“No, I need to hear everything.” Eugene took a deep breath to ease his nerves.
“Everything.” She echoed uncomfortably as she knew Edward wasn’t a pleasant topic between them especially when he tried to kiss her. She always wondered what actually happened between these two or what link they had but she swallowed the desire instantly.
“Well,” She sighed “But it is not a pretty story, especially when I broke his nose with a frying pan.”
“What?” Eugene began to grin “How does he look like today?”
“Well, he was wearing…” her shoulders rocked with mirth as she gasped “He was wearing the biggest bandage on his nose I’ve ever seen. His face was swollen twice of its size.”
“Like a puffer fish.” Laughter, rich and deep echoed from his chest, joining the lilting music of Rapunzel’s. When at last he caught his breath, he gazed at Rapunzel with his mesmerizing chocolate eyes. Hypnotized by his gaze Rapunzel tilted her face and watched him with pure admiration. Fear clutched her heart when she remembered rest of her father’s declaration. “But my father decided to have you arrested alive or dead.” She whispered. “You must not come here anymore. The council has proclaimed an arrest warrant upon you.”
Now her words made sense. He feared that from the moment he met Gothel. They were planning something, he was sure. And he was not sure if they were up to what he feared…. What if… oh, no..
Memories flashed inside his mind- the day when he found his parents dead in the bed chamber and a mysterious figure vanishing through the window. The scene shifted to the day when his uncle, the new king appeared with his new bride and then to the day when they quarreled with his coronation as crown prince and at last the fateful day flashed into his mind when his uncle assigned a challenge to his newborn son and nephew. At last it led to divorce between his uncle and aunt. But the challenge remained unchanged. Hard it was but it was the only key to the Naldora throne.
He tightened his grip around Rapunzel which almost puzzled her. She raised her beautiful eyes to meet his lost gaze. “Eugene…” she whispered “What happened?”
Startled he gazed down to the beautiful girl in his arms. Accidentally or fatefully she was the bull’s eye. All arrows were pointed towards her.
“Nothing.” He tried to smile and gathered her in his arms. “But Eugene,” Rapunzel sounded urgent “I think you must stop visiting me. You’re wanted now. What if they…” she was cut off in mid-sentence as his hand tightened in an abrupt command.
“Stop. Not now.” His voice was urgent and commanding. Helpless to deny either his urging or his command any longer, Rapunzel slowly lifted her face to receive his kiss.
His hand plunged into her thick hair, holding her captive while his mouth seized hers in a plundering devouring kiss that sent her spiraling off into the darkness where nothing mattered except his seductive urgent mouth and knowledgeable hand. “Eugene.. it is important..” she tried to protest weakly but couldn’t. Sliding her arms up his chest, she twined them around his neck, completely surrendering to his command.
When he finally dragged his mouth from hers, he held her clasped against his chest, his breathing harsh and rapid. “Do you want me to go away now?” he asked voice still husky from the lack of air. Rapunzel wasn’t sure. The way he made her to feel, the way he made her life complete, she never dared to lose him again. But the impending danger hanging upon their heads, she couldn’t tell him to stay. Unable to find what to say, she remained on his chest, her ear pressed to the heavy beating of his heart, the princess drifted between total peace and a strange joy. Her world shifted to the place where no one could separate them from each other.
After a long silence, she raised her face from his chest and murmured “I don’t know.”
Her confusion brought a smile to his lips. He held her closer and kissed her temple before saying “Then don’t let me go.”
In return he received another passionate kiss from her which made his senses reel dizzily. The passionate moment was interrupted with a knock at the door. It was the maid who came to fetch the princess for dinner. It was Rapunzel who pulled away from the kiss and smiled “It’s time for supper. I think Edward expects me. You must leave now.”
Eugene gathered his boots as Rapunzel hung her hair along the window. “You better join the dinner.” Eugene teased “At least I’m not that lucky to have a dinner with you. If I die tonight, I’ll die with the unsatisfied wish to have a dinner with you.”
His tone made her laugh. And her laughter made the tension lighter. A warm fuzzy sensation filled his beings. He forgot the danger waiting for him outside, instead his need to be here remained vigil inside his mind. He had to protect this innocence by any means. Tonight he needed to talk with his uncle; he really needed to find a way.
“You.” She replied, with every ounce of scorn she could put into her voice “Are  unspeakable!”
He chuckled before leaving. “That bad?”
<<<<TO BE CONTINUED>>>