Tangled in a Knot

3. Anything But Platonic

The next morning....

"Good morning, sleepyhead. You missed breakfast," Cassandra said, running her fingers through Rapunzel's tangled bedhead. 

She smiled. "Also looks like someone forgot to brush their hair this morning after getting out of bed so late," she said with a light chuckle and a blush on her face. 

Rapunzel tried to get out of her grasp. "I haven't brushed it because I haven't had the time. I just woke up and here you are just trampling into my bedchambers like you own the place," she said.

"Well, technically I was assigned to be your lady-in-waiting, so that is my responsibility," Cassandra said. "But I abandoned that shit the night before. It just wasn't resonating with me. I wanted to focus more time on our relationship and my swordsmanship skills." She put a finger on Rapunzel's chin in an affectionate manner. "And I'm allowed to go wherever I please. This isn't your castle, Princess. It's your parents'. The King and Queen of Corona's castle. One day it will be yours, but not at this moment." 

"You needn't call me, Princess, Cass. It just seems too formal. After how we met and had pleasant conversation that was totally platonic. I mean, what wasn't platonic about it last night?" 

"Everything," Cassandra replied. "The way we called each other beautiful, your remarks on how this outfit made me much more 'hot'. Yeah. If that's not platonic, I don't know what is." 

Rapunzel quickly changed the subject. "Why are you giving more time to practice swordsmanship?" she asked. 

"I wanna be part of the Royal Guard," Cassandra said. 

"You? The Royal Guard?" Rapunzel said. 

"What? You doubt me, Raps?" Cassandra contradicted. 

"N-no, no! Not at all!" Rapunzel said. "I guess that j-just kinda came out wrong. Sometimes I just speak before things are filtered by my brain. That doesn't mean I'm stupid or anything. Actually, far from that. But you understand, right? What I meant to say is, 'Why is that'?" 

"Well, in that case, my father is Captain of the Royal Guard. Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. I suppose he saw that and decided to train me once I came of age," Cassandra said. "And I didn't disappoint." She looked out into the distance. "But now that I'm grown, I can make him proud! I can be part of the Royal Guard, kind of like Stan and Pete, but better. Think of it, Raps! I could be an actual warrior in the Royal Guard! Wouldn't that be awesome?" 

As Cassandra talked, Rapunzel couldn't help but doze off. 

"Are you even listening?" Cassandra said, knocking on Rapunzel's head, but not hard enough to seriously hurt the young woman. "Your head is quite hollow now, you know. Are you braindead or is your head just full of air?" 

"I'm neither of those things. I was listening. I was just lost in the thoughts of looking at you. You were so beautiful that I guess I just zoned out for a bit. I'm really sorry, Cass! I'll try my best to listen more carefully next time!" 

Cassandra laughed. "I'm not mad. I kinda expected that out of you," she said.