What Once Was Mine

Chapter 3

I awoke to you shaking my shoulder softly.
"Rapunzle.." You whispered. I opened my eyes just a crack and saw your silhouette in the candle light. You breath was warm against my cheek. It had a faint smell of rum and barriers. I turned chest up and sat up slowly.
"Wh-why did you wake me up?" I asked as I stretched my arms.
"I know a royal like yourself needs beauty sleep, but if you want to get to the palace then we need to get going. I made you breakfast for you to eat, then we will be on our way." I saw you smile a fuzzy smile right before I wiped my eyes. My vision then became clear.
"Uh..okay." I sighed and threw my sore legs over the mattress. I counted to three in my head and tried to stand up. My legs wobbled beneath my thin figure and I plunged back on to the straw.
"Here, my lady, let me help you." You put your arm under my forearm near my armpit. Your contact shot adrenaline though me. I snapped my eyes open. With your hand firm on my arm, you helped me stand up.
"Thanks.." I snapped as I shook your hand off of me.
"Mhm." You replied softly as you lead the way into the kitchen. The narrow, short hallway we were making our way through was made completely out of wood. I drug my hand against the firm lumber as we walked.
"Oi, I hope you like crow eggs." You chucked as the kitchen came into view. I looked around the small room and tried to take it all in. The cabinets looked like birdhouses nailed together. The sink was a bucket and a hose that went out through the window and connected to something, which I guess would be a well. In the center of the room was a small wooden table. There were three trunks that acted as stools to sit on while you were enjoying your quality meal. On the table was a small plate with golden-brownish, fluffy, steaming eggs. They looked delicious.
"I hope I do, too." I forced a small smile on my lips. You lead me over to the table and I took a seat on one of the trunks. Once you made sure I was seated and I had everything I need, you sat on the trunk directly across from me. I glanced up at you and smiled, then looked down at my eggs. I picked up the fork that you gave me and started pecking at the food. After I got a good piece on my fork, I put it in my mouth and let it sit there. The warmth was comforting.
I swallowed just as you started to speak.
"So, did you sleep well?" You asked and leaned on to the table. It creaked under your weight.
"As well as I could in a dress." I joked and looked down at my gown. It was ripped and falling apart. You could see part of my pink bra under it. I pulled and tugged until the pink fabric was hidden from your sight.
"Hm..well that's good...I think." You said.
"Yea." I said in almost a whisper. I picked up another chunk of egg and gobbled it down. I cleared the whole plate in less than a minute. As soon as I put my fork down, you stood up.
"Better get going then." You said and starting walking towards the door. I took a deep breath and stood up. I looked through the small window where the hose was being fed to the well. I saw a slightly pink tint through the thick canopy.
"Why are we leaving so early?" I asked.
You turned to me as you grabbed your fur coat off a small coat rack near the door that you carried me through last night.
"The palace is a good hour away by walking. Don't you want to be reunited with your royal family as soon as possible?" You challenged me.
No, I thought, I want to spend as much time with you as possible. "Of course." I smirked. You turned back to the door and threw it open.
"Well then, Rapunzle, lets be on our way!" You took one long stride and you were out the door. I soon followed, leaving the cottage behind.

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We were about half way through our journey when you spoke to me again.
"So, if you're a royal, then why are you out in the forest in the first place? Surely the king and queen wouldn't let you come out here on your own."
"It's complicated."
"How so?"
"It....it's not what you think, that's all." I hugged myself.
"Oi, and here I thought that all princesses were the same."
"What do you mean by that?"
You smiled at my tone. "You know, the stereotypical type. Perfect life, perfect family, riches galore, that kind of thing."
"Ha, that definitely isn't my life." I sighed.
"And why is that?" You slowed you pace so it matched mine. We were now walking side by side. Your satchel brushed against my hip when our steps matched.
"Well...the king and queen don't exactly know I'm a princess.....yet." I admitted.
"I'm sorry, come again?" You sounded confused and taken aback. "They don't know their own daughter is a princess?"
"Well, that's the thing. They don't know I'm their daughter."
You didn't respond to that. I could hear the gears working in your mind, trying to figure out what in the world I just said.
"So, I guess that would make you the lost princess that the whole kingdom is buzzing about?"
Oh, so you do have common sense after all!
"I guess so, yea." I chuckled slightly as I spoke.
"Ahhh..." You turned to look at me, "I see it now."
"See what?" I asked.
"I see it. Your story." You looked straight ahead as you spoke.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Your shoulder brushed mine. I flinched at the contact, but then relaxed. You said, "It's all making sense. You have your perfect happy ending written out for you. You started out lost and confused, but now you are going on a road trip with a thief to reunite with your royal parents. How charming." You continued to look straight ahead at the rising sun. I didn't tell you that you missed one crucial part to my story, Eugene's death.
"Is that what you think?" I asked and put my hands on my hips.
"No, that's what I know. All the pieces to your puzzle of a perfect life are falling together. All you have to do is walk into the palace and the final piece will be put into place."
"So what does that make you then?" I asked. My hands slowly faded from my hip and returned to my side.
"Well, I'm just a small piece of the rest of your life."