Mother is Here

Witch

"No, this is a bad idea." She said as they got closer to the castle. "I—my mother—she's probably so worried, and—oh, but Eugene..." She looked anxious. "He didn't really trade me for the crown?"

"The ruffian said it himself." Ulla assured her. "Trust me, this is how you will save him."

"Pascal? Where's Pascal?" Rapunzel looked around and then breathed a sigh of relief when a chameleon poked out of her hair. "Pascal, I-I don't know what to do. We can trust these people, right? But, Mother is probably so worried..."

"Who is 'Mother'?" Varian asked.

"She..." She paused. "She's Mother. I don't know her name." She admitted.

"Why isn't she with you?" Ulla asked as Quirin spoke quietly with a guard, who opened the door for them to enter.

"Well, I, uh, I left the tower with Eugene after he snuck in with the crown in his satchel. I asked him to take me to see the floating lights—lanterns—and then he'd return me to my tower before Mother found out. But then she showed up last night and told me that he was only interested in me because of the crown, but I think he likes me, do you think he likes me?" She tugged at her hair anxiously.

"I mean, from what I saw from a distance?" Varian shrugged. "I didn't talk to him."

"Anyways, she was saying that I was delusional and then she gave me the satchel I'd had hidden away to force him to take me to see the lights but when I gave it to him he didn't seem interested, and then, oh, then those men showed up and said he traded the crown for the girl with the magic hair a-and how did they find out about my hair being magical?"

"How is it magical?" Varian asked.

"Come on." Ulla coaxed her as they walked down the hall.

"Eugene, I need to see Eugene." Rapunzel looked around.

"It's going to be alright." Ulla said gently. "Quirin, why don't you go on ahead? We'll take her to the dungeon to see him and I'll explain the situation."

"I would prefer if I go to the dungeon alone and get him released and you take her onward." Quirin frowned.

"You just don't want Varian to go near the dungeon." Ulla said, smirking.

"I very much do not." He nodded firmly, then walked to a guard and spoke quietly. He nodded and stepped forward. "Alright, I leave them in your care." He walked off.

"Come along, Lady Ulla." The guard said.

Rapunzel looked frightened. "No, I...I have to go home!" She cried. "What do they want with me?!"

"Rapunzel!" Varian took her hand in his, the other hand still holding the glowing vial. "Rapunzel, look at me! Do you remember the mural I showed you? Do you remember the little girl on it? The Princess?"

"Wh-What?" Rapunzel's brow furrowed.

The doors of the castle burst open and a wind rushed in. Ulla moved in front of them protectively as a woman stepped into the doorway.

"I've come to bring you home, my darling!" She declared.

"Mother!" Rapunzel looked at her.

Varian squeezed Rapunzel's hand gently. "Rapunzel, please! That isn't your mother, she doesn't even look like you!"

"Unhand her!" The woman ran forward and Ulla pulled out a vial and threw it at her. She stepped back as a black smoke rose into the air. "Rapunzel!"

"Mother!" Rapunzel pulled her hand free and ran to her around the smoke.