Alternately Tangled: Chapter 3

It hurt the king of Corona to see this young girl in so much pain.

It was strange that this girl shared a similarity with the lost princess. That hurt the king more. He took a closer look of the girl again. Her messy long hair was still sweeping the floor below. The fear in her eyes mingled with her tears. Her tired body was unable to bear all the storms that sweeping over her in one single day. Her tired body wanted a little rest.

"Don't be afraid." The King touched her shoulder, eyes tender with love. The dried tears still stained her cheeks. The moonlight reflected upon the side of her face. Every drop of tears that rolled down from her eyes, gave the king a sharp pang of guilt inside. If she was really the lost princess could he do that to her?

He really wasn't sure.

The queen encircled her motherly arms around her, kissing her forehead "Let's go to sleep." Rapunzel blinked once, not willing to move.

"I'm worried." She whispered at last "I can't…" her words trailed "Sleep alone."

Her words startled the royal couple. The queen wrapped her arms around her tightly again and pulled her closer. "Why so worried darling? We're here."

Her words couldn't convince the blonde girl. There was a clear denial in her large green eyes.

"I'm worried about Eu.. err.. Flynn. The prison is not good place." Her voice trembled with an unknown fear "He is alone there."

Her words made the royal couple shiver a little. The queen threw a helpless gaze to her husband. Her big eyes were teary. She was perfectly aware of the rules of the prison. The condemned prisoners weren't allowed to have any visitors. There she broke the rule once. Not again…. Yet the pain of the young girl made her almost cry. She couldn't bear to see her in this way anymore. But she was helpless.

The old king remained as silent as before. The words, the young girl just utter made him to think again. He was a man of justice. But if she was his own daughter, then what would he do? Even though he wasn't sure about the depth of relationship between Rapunzel and Rider but he could feel their souls were interlaced.

They were like fire and powder. They kissed and consumed.

The old man raised his blue eyes to see his wife. Slowly he uttered his words "Anne, can you please take her to see Flynn? She is free to visit him."

Rapunzel's face lit as she heard the words from the highest man of Corona. Without any warning she rushed near the old king. Suddenly she did something that she shouldn't do. She threw his arms around him and kissed him on his bearded cheek "Thank you."

The kiss was so full of gratefulness that made the king to look at the girl once again. No one ever dared to behave with a king like this before. But this little girl just broke all the rules. No, not only the rules but also opened the door of his fatherly heart. Unknowingly he wrapped his arms around Rapunzel and placed a soft kiss on her blonde head. Her joy was contagious, filtering through the stone heart of the king too. "It's alright, sweetie." He whispered.

()()()

Flynn Rider was worried, really worried.

He sank to the floor, leaning against the wall for support, beneath the window through which the silvery moonlight filtered in, casting shadows. He began to allow his mind to wander, from one subject to another.

But one thing remained constant on his wondering soul- what happened to Rapunzel?

From the experiences all the other times he had interacted with her since his meeting three days prior, Flynn knew she would be upset, still he couldn't predict her next action. She was soft hearted, sweet girl, but too fierce with her invincible frying pan. Without her trusty frying pan how she goanna do with a bunch of strong, armed guards? The captain seemed not much happy with the act of the strange girl, visiting a sentenced criminal in the middle of the night. What if they took her to the king? What if she was thrown in the prison? Those thoughts made his blood freeze in his veins. No, surely she never deserved that punishment. No!

He walked near the iron grills, only to find it locked. He tried to look outside from the tiny window where the castle was shining in the shimmering moonlight, only to find the tiny lights in the window. The shackles around him made a harsh rattle, reminding him that he was in the prison, soon to die, no way to escape.

No! He collapsed into the floor again. He needed to stop thinking about Rapunzel. He had no right to love her.

"Eugene!" the silence of the night was broken with a sweet voice at his prison door, the dream voice. At first he thought he was dreaming again but right then the harsh shout of the guard guarding the door made him to understand the reality.

"You've a visitor, Rider!"

With another rattling sound, the door was opened. He quickly got up on his feet just to find Rapunzel standing at the prison door, green eyes shining with pleasure. "Eugene!" her little feet carried her near him, her soft arms encircled his neck, her tears began soaking his dirty white shirt. Pascal climbed on his shoulder, cricking happily.

Flynn was at first shocked, and then wrapped his arms around her unknowingly. Her touch on his skin made him to forget all the worries. He forgot that he was a condemned criminal, waiting for his death. The world around him disappeared, leaving only her. He buried his face in the mess of long golden hair, severing the fact she was near him again.

At last she pulled out from the hug giving Flynn a concerned look. 'Are you alright, Eugene?"

Her question made him chuckle. It was her who was dragged by the furious guards few moments ago, and now she was asking him this question.

"I should ask you that same." Flynn threw her a mischievous glance. Rapunzel's eyes were knitted together to see whether he was trying to hide something or not. When she was sure that Flynn was in one piece then she smiled "I'm alright."

"Then how did you come here?" Flynn touched her hand, anxiously "Tell me the truth, Blondie that you're not thrown in the prison?"

Rapunzel could feel his anxiety, his worries for her. She looked into his chocolate orbs. They didn't belong to the same thief she met three days ago in her tower who tried to shook her off by frightening her. Instead she could see something else, a change. But she couldn't explain what feelings that made him change, made him worried for her? But what happened to her too? Why she kept dreaming of a man she just meet three days ago? Mother said men were hideous creatures with pointy teeth. Then why she was feeling for one?

Was he her new dream?

She didn't know.

She had no idea what made her change too, throwing her into the dangerous paths. She wrapped her arms around him again, shivered, not sure whether from cold or fear or grief. All that mattered to her that she was near him, right now, in his arms, alive….

That meant that Flynn wasn't dead!

Yet…

"The queen brought me here." She whispered 'I'm afraid of sleeping alone."

Sleeping alone? The words made Flynn to shiver a little. Was she feeling safe with the wanted man like him? So was that called love? He had been in arms of many women. But nothing could made him to feel like this as Rapunzel made him to feel like..

Hopeless lover!

"I'm sorry, Blondie." He whispered.

"Please, don't tell me to leave." Rapunzel whimpered "I'm worried…"

Flynn hugged her close, tightening his grip around her.

"I won't."

Rapunzel nestled herself closer to him, relishing in the warmth his body provided.

"But this is prison." Flynn whispered in her ears "Place full of bad people. You shouldn't stay here."

Rapunzel knew he was right, but she really didn't want to leave him. Not just yet. Not when he was warm, and she was safe in his arms. Not when he was safe in her arms. Not when she was getting so sleepy… not when she was having a nightmare.

She closed her eyes and she was asleep, free of nightmares.

Flynn could feel the soft rising and falling of her chest as she slept in his arms. "Sleep Blondie." He kissed her forehead.

()()()

The queen slowly walked back to the castle, to the royal bedchamber where she found her husband King of Corona standing by the window, watching the prison hall at a distance. The silver moonlight had created a strange pattern upon his bearded face. The queen walked closer and settled her one arm around her husband.

"Is she asleep?" The old king turned his blue eyes to his wife.

"Yes." The queen nodded "I took her to meet Rider. She looks so happy with him. When she was asleep the maids took her in."

"Ohh.." The old king fell silent again. The royal couple gazed into each other's eyes searching for one answer. They both knew that they were sharing the same thought together.

'She will be very alone after Rider's death." At last the queen broke the silence.

"I know." The king nodded "But the law is the law…"

The queen's eyes were teary. She knew that her husband wasn't in the complete charge of the royal court. The decision was taken by the whole council, the selected men from all over the kingdom.

"Can't we lessen Rider's punishment?" she whispered at last.
'We can't." The king's voice was grim "If we do then we'd do injustice all the others who were sentenced before. Even he has no reason to be pardoned."

The queen said nothing but turned her gaze towards the portrait of their lost daughter hanging on the wall. The king's eyes followed her. It was really strange that an ordinary peasant girl changed their lives in a single day.

"Then what will happen to Rapunzel?" She threw her husband a questioning glance.

The king remained silent as before. His eyes kept scanning the portrait of the baby princess. He never felt so fatherly for any girl before. He hated to see her in pain. "But what I can do?"

"Does she remind you of someone?" the queen's words made him to turn his gaze towards his young wife.

"What do you mean?" the king whispered.

'Can't we adopt Rapunzel?" the queen's lips moved dreamily.

()()()

Flynn was thinking the sleeping angel in his arms. She certainly was beautiful when she slept, The maids took her to her room in the castle in the queen's order. It was almost two hours ago. He mused when remembered her sleeping face as the moonlight filtered through the bared window, creating a strange pattern on her face. Her round face was relaxed and gentle, free from any worry.

She never deserved to be in the tower, with the over protective mother who kept her away from the all the joys of life. She really deserved something better. Something more…

He glanced down at her face once more; she was so gorgeous, so royal…

No wonder the queen grew a soft corner for her. But was it only the reason? Rapunzel wrapped her sleeping arms around him once more. Now he could see her face completely.

Realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He never realized how much similarity she shared with the queen of Corona.

He wanted her to know the truth. If the fate decided his death, then he wouldn't object that. But he would never let the fate take the same chance on her. He knew she deserved this, after all the imprisonment in the solitary tower by a half insane mother.

Rapunzel was worth it.

()()()

A smile laced Queen Anne's lips as she drew back the royal blue curtains, peeping through the large oak doors engraved with thousands of tiny suns, royal emblem of Corona. Being the woman of highest position in the kingdom, she spent her days planning everything about the castle- not less than running a kingdom like her royal husband.

But today was different. After her request of last night the king promised that he would talk with the council about adopting Rapunzel if no one came to claim her by the sundown today. And she would to be a mother again.

Her heart soared higher as she looked upon the girl wondering around the library, long unbraided hair trailing behind her, the giant bookshelves casted their shadows upon her slender figure making her smaller than she was. Her large green eyes were travelling across the rows of neatly arranged books & at last they settled upon a particular one. The queen's smile grew wider as she noticed the cover of the book –"The tales of Flynnigan Rider". It was her favorite book too when she was a child. Somehow they shared almost same taste. She could already feel a bond growing between them. Could it strengthen the new bond she was going make with this girl? She wondered. Possibly only the time could tell.

So she needed to wait.

Until the sundown…

Rapunzel settled herself upon the floor, her lavender gown made a perfect circle around her. Her eyes were running across the lines of the book that she never noticed her majesty standing just behind her, watching her with identical emerald eyes.

"Like this book?" Rapunzel's head shot up with the queen's soft voice from behind.

"Your highness!" before she could stand up the queen stopped her with a gentle pressure upon her shoulder. "It's alright, darling." She smiled "Can I sit with you?"

Rapunzel tilted her head so that she was looking into the queen's green eyes. The royal woman took her seat beside her upon the floor, smiling, throwing a curious look at the book in her hand.

"Can I see the book?"

"Yes." Rapunzel handed the queen the book. The queen stared at the printed pages for a while & inhaling the sweet fragrance of the old book. "My favorite one!" her voice was dreamy "And sure I like this story of Flynnigan Rider."
"You do?" Rapunzel casted her a surprised look, unable to believe her. In fact Eugene read one volume to her in town library yet it was unbelievable that the highest woman of Corona shared the same taste. Rapunzel remembered her mother Gothel who used to say that reading book was nothing but wastage of time. Only the lazy & idiots read them. She gave her only three books to read in her whole life.

"Can you read this to me?"

"Of course!' Rapunzel was happier than ever. How much she loved reading the story.

Lady Helena had everything- beauty, fame, aristocracy. Her wealthy mother always wanted her to be the main attraction of the party, a good trap to hunt good looking wealthy men. In one ball she met him- the rich, arrogant, swashbuckling rouge Flynnigan Rider. That handsome youth asked her in a dance.He caressed the back of Helena's head, and her jade green eyes gazed lovingly into the stranger's. Before she knew what was happening, Rider gently laid a hand on the nape of her neck and pulled the young woman in for a kiss.

As soon as their lips touched, Helena felt the passion surge through her, and she gently wrapped her arms around Rider's neck. For that moment, it was just him and her…No one else. No one was around to hurt them; no one was around to pull them apart. No longer did she feel she was in a man hunting party. But now she was somewhere heavenly: in Rider's arms. It was just the two of them…And…It had been so long since something felt this perfect…

When the kiss ended, Helena let out a breath, feeling like she had been flying. She smiled up at Rider, her whole being floating on air as she gazed into her true love's affectionate eyes. His voice was enchanting, his look was maddening. And the first sentence he spoke to her, a weird proposal "Come with me?"

Lady Helena was fed up with her boring party life. So she decided to escape with the unknown man.

It sounded like the story of her life. Flynnigan Rider just sounded like Eugene. And she escaped with him. But what those things about the heavenly feeling, kisses, hearts soaring higher?

She didn't know. But somehow she could feel those words written in the book fitted for her & her thief. She felt the same when she stood under in the town square, dancing with him, when their eyes met, when his fingers brushed against her or the night she hugged him in a dark dump prison, their faces only an inch apart…

What those feelings called?

She had no idea. Still she could feel the blood creeping up to her neck giving her cheeks a faint rosy tint.

"Rapunzel…" the queen's hand over her shoulder broke the thread of her thought.

"What?" she mumbled "I…."

The queen's emerald eyes studied the young girl before her for moment. Her long experienced eyes didn't miss the rosy tint upon her cheek. She could feel what she was imagining, when her companion shared the very name of the hero of the book.

Still she could read the confusion in her eyes- the confusion of the first love.

'Wondering?" she smiled "What they are doing?"

Rapunzel blushed. "I.. I just …." She stammered "I can't get them…."

The queen placed a finger under her chin so Rapunzel was looking at her. A meaningful smile was playing upon her lips "Why don't you just ask Flynn about that? I assume he knew this book better than me."

Rapunzel's heart did a small tap dance with the sound of Flynn's name. Again another tint of crimson veiled her face. She was ready to fly near him, eager to ask about this weird feeling. Shyness consumed her.

"I…" she lowered her head.

This time the queen came in her rescue. She gently took her hand aiding her to stand. "Yes, darling, he can only give you the perfect answer, about the weird feeling."

Rapunzel gave her a doubtful look. The queen smiled wrapping her supporting arm around her shoulder "I can assure you. But before I think you need a little make over."

Rapunzel escaped a glance to the queen who moved closer, her motherly warmth wrapping her from head to feet. Rapunzel wanted to jump in her arms, stay there forever.

But why? Mother Gothel never smelt like that.

Even she could never read her mind this way. She hated when she mumbled. But the queen seemed not much annoyed with her hesitations, mumbling. She knew what she exactly wanted. Why this strange bond she was feeling with her?

"I hate mumbling!" Mother's voice was so harsh. For a moment Rapunzel felt she did the right thing escaping from the tower.

And Eugene showed her the way.

Possibly, he was her Flynnigan Rider. There was no wrong to feel about him in this way. Probably she could …kiss him too.

The queen felt a silent joy surging inside her as if she was sending her own daughter to her first date. She looked into the young girl's confused eyes. She was so naive. She remembered the ending of the story where Lady Helena found her true mother.

And here was a lost girl, one Flynn Rider, one grieving mother…

She could only wish for a fairytale ending.

()()()

The rays of the morning sun flooding through the tiny square window couldn't even win over the darkness prevailing inside the prison hall. It was sure a crazy idea but Flynn Rider admired the architect who invented this plan. The effect of darkness was so strong here that left the guard at the prison door, snoring peacefully even in the eleven o' clock in morning. Even this left other prisoners sound asleep in the nearby cells. A perfect situation of jailbreak.

But it didn't help Flynn Rider much!

At last he stopped pacing. Sure it wouldn't be much fruitful if he wear out his only pair of boot this way. He had only three days before the execution. He checked everything, all the locks of the chains around him, the gate, the window bars. It needed almost two giants to break. And Flynn Rider was sure no giant.

Not even as big as Stabbington brothers.

Flynn sank in the ground, scratching his head restlessly. But it didn't give him any solution. He needed to find a way- to walk before the council with Rapunzel & tell them about her true identity. But he needed enough proof for his claim.

But what?

Stacking in a tiny cell, waiting for the impending death couldn't give any effect. He needed to do something, something before his death…

Or before Rapunzel's insane overprotective mother found her.

Time was running quickly. Still he couldn't do anything.

Even he couldn't die peacefully.

He had no idea when he passed into a slumber until a soft voice whispered his name.

"Eugene!"

The voice was so soothing that made his head snap. Flynn stood up to meet her face but the chain around his foot didn't allow him to walk far. Still he ignored the pain when the chain cut through his skin while he approached near the prison bars just to be near her.

'Rapunzel!' Flynn could feel her small body at last. He could see her chest rising & falling gently with her each breath. Oh, how much he missed her. He was so afraid, so afraid of the dark but at last she came in his world like sunshine. His fingers traced her small face, her perfect lips, and long eyelashes. Rapunzel closed her eyes to keep her believe that he was real, still alive. His touch upon her skin sent a chill though her spine, making her shiver. The blood kept creeping up to her neck, making her cheek deeper shade of bright red.

Possibly she blushed a little more than usual. Even Flynn could feel her cheeks turning warm.

'You feel so warm?" Flynn threw a concerned gaze at her "Have you a fever?"

'No! No!" Rapunzel tried to protest but Flynn's anxious hands flew to feel her forehead. He felt her forehead, checked her temperature few more times. But still he wasn't so sure. He slipped his hands behind her neck & pulled her closer, pressing his rough cheeks against her. His uneven beard tricked her smooth skin, but the touch made her more feverish than before. She kept shivering, until she managed to whisper, 'Eugene!"

"What!" Flynn pulled away instantly, throwing her a puzzled look.

"I' don't have any fever." She tried to sound firm.

"But you.." Flynn sounded confused "Much warm."

With his last sentence Rapunzel wore the brightest shade of crimson. Her chin touched her chest. Her long eyelashes dropped to veil the emerald eyes. "I read a book…" she stammered "About something…." her voice choked "Some weird feelings…."

She sounded like she was taking about some conspiracy.

"Which book?" Flynn was still puzzled.

"The tales of Flynnigan Rider- Lady Helena & Rider." She paused in the middle.

A crooked smiled laced Flynn' lips when took a look of her innocent face. Even her words made him to forget about the worries he had moments ago.

"Which part?"

"When Rider …kissed Helena. And there was some feelings.."

"You came to ask me about those feelings of a kiss?" it was really hard for Flynn to resist the laughter.

'I… felt like them when we were dancing…" Rapunzel muttered taking a careful glance of the sleeping guard "I'm confused. The queen told me to ask you.."

Flynn was really happy that the guard was still sleeping or the captain was nowhere nearby. Sure this conversation would give him a heart attack.

His eyes adjusted the dark as he casted a look at the young girl with crazy long hair before him. The elaborate purple gown hugged her perfect body while her eyes were shaded with same color, the long hair was tied in a neat plait adorned with beads, emeralds but her tiny feet were still missed the shoe. That made Flynn smile. Sure she was as silent as a kitten, not even disturbed guard. She was so gorgeous, so royal….

Like a princess.

"You shouldn't ask that a thief like me." Flynn smoldered 'Or even visit me in the prison. "

"No!" Rapunzel's hands flew to cover his mouth "Don't say like that. You're not a thief."

Flynn looked inside her jade green eyes. A tiny ray of sun was dancing upon her iris- like the lantern. The sadness replaced the shyness in her face. "But you'll never end up here if I pulled you in the town." Her voice trembled "Or sentences to death". Tears threatened to fall.

Flynn hated when she cried. He lifted his thumb to wipe her tears away "It's not your fault."

Rapunzel shook her head, tears springing into her eyes. "So it's my fault." She said, softly. " All of this is my fault!"

"No." Flynn immediately reached out and pulled her close, burying his face in hair, pressing a kiss to her cheeks. "No! No! It was never your fault, not even mine. Not ever. Stop blaming yourself, Rapunzel."

Rapunzel clutched his shirt in her hands, hiding her crying face in the safe nest of his chest, not worrying much about her ruined make-up.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry, Eugene."

He held her closer. "Don't be."

Then she was so close. Flynn could feel the salty taste of her tears. Her lips trembled with the wave of her cry. He walked closer, leaned against her as much the chains allowed him…

Passion surging through Rapunzel's entire being, she just couldn't resist it. Before Flynn could respond, she leaned in close and kissed him, and her heart soared for about the five millionth time as he returned the kiss. It was hardly a true kiss; their lips barely touched each other, barely holding each other. Still her heart began flying. She forgot that she was in a dark dump prison. Still holding him tighter, the kiss continued…Rapunzel never wanted this to end…It was just so magical… it was so perfect…

The queen was right. She had her answer.

Yes, it felt so right to him too. It was the kiss that averted many times. Flynn never expected to have it in this prison. Yet her every move told him how much her emotions were true. Then another wave of sadness consumed him. But he wasn't worthy of this, he was a thief & she was a ..

Princess!

He knew it was true. The poor girl was unaware about the fact. His execution was only three days away. He needed to prove the truth before that.

Rider watched his companion, beautiful lady Helena. "She is the princess!" he announced before the council.

" What's the proof of your claim?" Queen of Laventia demanded. Rider smiled. Slowly he unwrapped the golden package in his hand. It revealed a crown. Slowly he placed the crown top of Helena's hair. "Look at her, your majesty!"

And the council gasped.

With the crown atop her head Lady Helena was the perfect image of the lost princess in the painting on the wall.

The realization was striking. Flynn's eyes flew open.

Yes! The crown was the answer. It would complete her likeness with the lost princess. They needed to get it again before presenting her in the council. And he needed to break the prison right now.

"Blondie!" he pulled out when she was out of her breath" I need to break this prison."

'How!" Rapunzel gave him a puzzled look.

"Can you give one of your hair pins?"

Quizzically Rapunzel handed Flynn one of her hair pins. Flynn inserted that into the lock and the chains snapped open.

Rapunzel's eyes widened but she appreciated his skill. Her heart danced with the realization that her Eugene would be free in a moment. Then with a snap the prison door opened too.

But the guard next to Flynn's door jolted awake, clutching at his sword.

Suddenly a little green thing jumped over his shoulder from the ceiling, stacking his sticky tongue inside his ear.

"What's the hell?" the guard swore as Pascal changed into the color of his silver helmet.

And then, suddenly, something heavy came down on the guard's head, and the next time he hit the ground with his eyes wide with surprise.

"Thanks Pascal!" Flynn grinned at Rapunzel's chameleon friend.

'You found my frying pan!" Rapunzel squeaked with joy.

'You left it here last night." Flynn grinned " We must get the crown."

"Why?" Confusion marred Rapunzel's face.

"I'll give you the answer later.' Flynn took her hand "Now run."

He knew it would cut his short life shorter but he was ready to take the risk. He couldn't let her fall, especially when she confessed her love for him.

<<TO BE CONTINUED>>>