What Once Was Mine

Chapter 2

I don't know what happened.

The last thing I remember is me crying on that log. I don't remember you seeing me, picking me up, and taking me to your cottage in the back part of the woods. I don't remember, but I wished I did. You must have heard me crying........heck a dead person could have. I was screaming Eugene's name, calling out to him. I wonder if he could have heard me from the tower if we were alive. I wonder if he would have come running for me....

My thoughts were interrupted by you walking into my room in the back of the cottage. I looked around the room you had put me in. The bed I was on was made of straw. There was a small trunk beside me that acted as a bed side table. The whole cottage had a rustic smell of dirt and lumber. There wasn't any light, besides a few candles that would catch the whole cottage on fire if were tipped over. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the new lighting and environment.
"How are you feeling?" You asked as you walked into my room. I pulled myself up into a sitting position as you walked in carrying a wooden tray full of bread and water. This was the first time I had ever seen you, my rescuer. You were handsom, well built, and very tan. Your brown-red hair was hidden behind a toboggan, and your cheek bones were very pronounced when you spoke.

I looked around some more before I thought about answering your question. The cottage looked to be made up of dirt and clay. I saw a few fingerprints in the walls. Did you make all this?

I finally got around to answering your question. "I'm fine, just perfectly fine." I sighed. My sore legs ached as I tried to stand up to leave. I didn't like the fact that I was attracted to you. I just lost Eugene, and I wasn't going to let you come in my life.
"Where do you think you're going?" You chuckled at my struggle to stand up. "You're out of energy. If you go any longer without eating, you're going to pass out."
"I just need to go." I insisted and tried to stand up again. I fell back down in a matter of seconds. My rear end sunk into the straw mattress. I put my hands by my sides to steady myself.
You held back your chuckled this time, and held the tray out to me.
"Here. Eat!"
"No thanks. I need to get to the palace."
"The palace? Why would you want to go there? It's just full of rich, cocky, greedy people, especially the king and queen." You smiled a smile that I could write a novel about.
"Well, as a matter of fact, those cocky royals are my parents." The words felt weird rolling off my tongue. I was so used to calling Gothel my mother. I wasn't used to being associated with the king and queen. I glanced up at you awaiting your response to this new information I just presented it with. Were you going to be snappy and kick me out of your hand made clay cottage, or were you going to shrug it off and be cool?
"OHH so you're one of the cocky royals too then?"
Snappy it is.
"No..not exactly." I tried to grab my long hair to play with between my fingers, but it was gone. It was with Eugene back at the tower.
"What do you mean by that? Your either a cocky royal, or a poor common folk like me. Make your choice." You crossed your hands on your chest. You tried to look big as you stared me down. I noticed that you had a slight British accent that wasn't always prominent. You only used it when you said something very boldly. I shifted on the mattress.
"I'm more of a common folk than a royal, trust me." I looked up into your big hazel eyes. They looked like Eugene's.....
I took my eyes off of yours to try and hide the fact that they were getting watery.
"Is that so?" You asked, and I mentally sighed of relief because you didn't see me (almost) start to cry again.
"Yes." I relaxed my shoulders and looked down at the tray. The bread seemed to be calling out to me. Eat me eat me.
I picked at the bread and licked the crumbs off my fingers. I heard you chuckled at my longing for the bread.
"I brought you that for you to eat, not to pick at you know." I felt your gaze on me. I shrugged my shoulders and picked up the bread. I took a small bite at first, but after a short while, shoved the role into my mouth. The rich dough was cooked perfectly. I closed my eyes as the puffy bread made it's way down my throat.
"I'm guessing it's good?" You joked.
"Yea.....it's pretty good." I tried to hide my appreciation for your bread making skills. I swallowed and took another piece in my hand. "So," I started, "you name is...." I took a bite of the brown heavenly loaf while waiting for your reply.
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. My name is Robin."
I froze, and the bread in my mouth became soggy with my saliva. I struggled to swallow and look at your hazel eyes once more. I then took note of your rugged looking clothes and brown leather satchel hanging lazily on your shoulder. It looked like Eugen's; it was a thief bag. I knew at once what you were.
"Robin.......Hood? The thief?" I half gasped half asked.
"Oi, so you've heard of me," you smiled, your British accent suddenly present again. You stood tall and proud and looked very handsome in the dim candle light of the cottage. I have heard of you from Gothel. She told legends about you, and told me that you were the reason I was locked in the tower. She said you tired to take my hair when I was a baby. I glared in your direction.
"Yea...I guess you could say that..." I shifted uncomfortably.
"So, what was a delicate flower like you doing in the harsh outside world passed out on a a log? Did you spend to much time shootin' at the Cuddly Duckling?" You leaned closer to me.
Oh, so your judgmental too. That's just great. "You think I was drunk? Is that why you think I was passed out on that log? Ha, I pity you. I pity those like you who have no brain or humanity." I crossed my arms and snapped.
"Aye! I never said that. I was just guessing.." You trailed off. "But....if you weren't drunk like you say, then why were you out there like that?" Your hazel eyes searched mine.
"I-" I stopped. I wasn't going to spill out my past 2 hours to you. I just looked up at you. Once you saw that I was clammed up and wasn't going to tell you what happened, you started to walk over to me.
You sat next to me on the bed. As soon as you sat down, I shifted away from you.
"So, I told you my name, so what's yours?" You asked calmly.
"Pun- I mean Rapunzle." I answered.
"Rapunzle....that's cute," you smirked over your shoulder at me.
I shrugged.
There was a long pause without anyone saying anything. It was slightly awkward, and you could feel the tension in the air. After about a minute or two, you stood up off the bed.
"I know you said you wanted to go to the palace, but it's midnight. You can stay here tonight and I will take you to the palace in the morning. Deal?" You gestured towards me with your hand.
"Fine." I snapped, ignoring your hand gesture.
You moved your hand to the back of your neck and rubbed it.
"Fine-.....okay......see you in the morning then."
You turned and walked out the door, leaving the bread.

I ate it all then fell asleep.