Nothing's in my way

Chapter 3

'Food. I should have brought food. I couldn't think a bit and prepare four survival things before going out, nooo; I had to go wildly to starve hanging around all night without a clue of where to go or what to do...'

It was late at night and the guests had been kindly dismissed from the castle hours ago. Some had already set sail for their home countries and others were spending the night in their cabins waiting to sail in the morning. The villagers, who had spent all day waiting to see the queen appear, returned to their homes without actually seeing her and without understanding what had happened. And I... well, I didn't even know which way to go.

The guard didn't seem to be looking for me, but I couldn't walk around so calmly either: I didn't know what I was up to. Also, I didn't want to be recognized by the people of the kingdom, but the dress did not help and I didn't have access to other types of clothing nor money to buy it the next day... nor anything.

I thought about looking for Kristoff, but I had no idea where he lived nor whether he had returned or he was spending the night in the mountains. And, to be honest, walking into the forest alone in the middle of the night, didn't seem like the smarter thing to do. So, lost in my own kingdom, I approached the cliffs and sat on a rock waiting for some sign of destiny.

"So the gossips are true!"

A familiar voice behind me made me take such a leap that I almost took a flight down the cliff. When I turned around I saw with surprise the excited face of which a few hours before I had discovered that was my cousin Rapunzel and, a few steps back, her husband Eugene. He must have been in his early thirties and she was in his early twenties, but from the beginning, I was treated like an equal. The age difference was hardly noticeable. However, at that moment, Rapunzel's gaze resembled that of a five-year-old girl.

Would they want to take me back to the castle? How unfair! It was a two against one!

"Oh, I..." I tried to buy time while I figured out how to sneak away.

"Tell me, is it true? Have you escaped? Everybody talks about how you yelled at the queen and ran and how the queen seemed to panic and ordered closure."

"Well yeah. Kind of."

"Good for you!"

"You think so?"

"Of course! I also know what it's like to be locked down for years and feel lonely and misunderstood... I'm sure you've done the right thing. Even now that I'm not confined, there are days when Eugene 'kidnaps' me and we run away from the castle to have a day to ourselves."

"What I still do not understand is why I have never gotten a lecture about it," he added.

"You know you have an advantage. You saved her daughter and returned her to her home. They will never be mad at you!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the peculiar bond between them. In addition, their support made me relax in their company, but, despite their words, I couldn't be sure that I was doing it well. How would Elsa be? Would she be very worried about me? 'Wait! It was she who told me to leave! This is no time to hesitate!'

"Rapunzel, how about you giving her what you brought her?" Eugene proposed to his wife with a tender smile.

"Oh, yeah! We have brought you this!" she said offering me a basket full to the top. "We thought that it would be useful to you."

I opened the basket without a single clue of what I was going to find in there and, to my surprise, I found myself with a lot of food and a costume from the castle service of the kingdom of Corona.

"Is it really for me? Thank you very much... Really, I don't know how to thank you."

Rapunzel smiled with satisfaction.

"And what's the plan? What are you going to do from now on?" Eugene asked sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"Oh, yeah, I... have no idea."

I wasn't particularly proud of my plan, but there was no point in lying either.

"I guess I'll spend the night in the open and tomorrow I'll take advantage of these clothes to infiltrate the center of town to see if I can find the only person I know from outside the palace. Although I do not know very well for what..."

"Well, friends are there to help in difficult times, right? Maybe you can figure a solution out together," Rapunzel said trying to cheer me up.

"Friends, huh? We don't know each other that much. We only chatted for a moment this morning."

"And, are you still going to go to that person?" Eugene asked surprised.

"I have no one else, and... Kristoff has inspired trust in me."

"I see... So he is a he..." he replied in a mischievous tone.

"And only an acquaintance.

"That's how we started too, right, blondie?"

Eugene winked at his wife in which I didn't see anything blonde, and she sighed rolling her eyes.

"Come on, Eugene, stop bothering her. This is not the time for that. Anna..."

"Tell me."

"Do you want to come and spend the night in a cabin on our ship?"

"Really?"

"Yes! With those clothes, you won't attract attention on the way. But... it's a one-night stay, sorry. Tomorrow at noon the ship leaves and we return to Corona, so, since you don't want to come with us, you'll have to find another place and other clothes."

I had no idea from where I could get clothes to be inconspicuous, but I didn't have a better plan either.

It turned out that my cousin and her husband were wonderful people. The kingdom of Corona was lucky to have her as their heir.

"Alright. If it's not too much disturb, I accept your offer. Thank you very much."

"Great! That's what family is for! Eugene, let's let her change her clothes! We wait for you on the bridge, okay?"

"Sure."

Rapunzel and Eugene went down the road playing with each other as she climbed on his hump and I was briefly able to feel the joy of having a family.

'It would be nice to get mine back...'

I changed my clothes feeling tremendously awkward behind a couple of trees and, later, joined them on the bridge. We walked discreetly to their ship where they guided me to my cabin and wished me sweet dreams.

That night I didn't sleep much. I was sleeplessly excited. It had been the most incredible day of my life! I had no idea what even the next day was in store for me, but it was horrible waiting to find out. Only for that day, for the people I had met, and for all the new things I had experienced, it had already been worth fleeing from the castle.

The next morning, my cousin woke me up sweetly and, after recovering a bit, we shared a delicious and restorative breakfast during which they told me their super exciting and incredible story and during which I told them about my little adventure the day before. Later, they accompanied me to the dock and we said goodbye until next time, hoping there would really be a next one.

"Believe in yourself, okay? It is all you need," Rapunzel said giving me a nice hug that almost made me cry.

"And good luck with the iceman," Eugene tried to bug me to ease the tension of parting.

I gave him a hug too and, after thanking them like a thousand times more, I left for the town aroused at the idea of a new and exciting day.