Honey and Venom

Bathed in Light

Her princess had really risen up. Taken on, so much. And now, she was about to marry that Fitzherbert, who had so affectionately, out of nowhere, had told her, that she was like a sister to him...

'A sister, to us'... Rapunzel included, she supposed.

Things were rocky... at least to Cass. How, quickly, they had all gone back to accepting her- the, people who counted, anyway. It... almost made her uncomfortable. What was Cassandra meant to do, to actually provoke these people, to the point they forever hated her? Nothing she did, was that severe?

She betrayed them, and kicked herself for it, every, single, day, and yet? Rapunzel, still looked at her, with smile, reposed in such clear, caring. Love- a, kind of love, at least- and caring.

An, amplified version of the way the princess looked at everybody. With love. How this kingdom did so long without her? Cass would never know. She was light, in darkness. And... in all her time, spent, trying to go against Rapunzel... somehow, that light... it was still trying to guide her out. She could feel it, every, single time she saw raps, during her campaign to tear the princess down...

Even when feeding into hatred... That light- her, light... tugged at her. Pulled her back, to love. Being loved. Pulled her back, so daringly, to those she loved.

Her home. Her father. Her friends... Fitzherbert. And... back, to her. Back in her luxuriant light, shining smiles upon all the faces of corona. Like a glaringly bright beacon that showered hope, and caring, and connection like an obnoxious wave over every person in vicinity of the whole kingdom...

Her light, that shone for all, but so, special, for Cassandra... and, horribly? Cass had, almost thrown that all away...

Her light, of warmth, and cool, and everything splendid and comforting. It made her want to cry. It made her want to cry, so much, at times, she... nearly couldn't contain it. She felt such guilt, looking into her bright, happy, bubbly green eyes- elated! Every time she saw Cass... her eyes filled with an insurmountable elation, only heightened by the sight of Fitzherbert. How she ever got in such high regard, she never knew, and how she could remain...? She'd never know.

Today, as she watched from afar, as Friedborg, dressed the princess in her exquisite wedding gown... Cass was caught. Like a spider, in a silken web... Her, silken web...

Her glow, was cooler than usual... Her brightness, so content... looking upon herself in a mirror set up in the middle of her chambers. Cass, stood, in the doorway... just out of view of the angled mirror... watching such a silly thing, as the way Rapunzel's hair tended to nearly curl by her ear, now it was short again...

Fitzherbert, she had overheard a few times in the past, talking to some of his friends- rambling over dramatically, really- about how fascinating it was, that she never lost her long strands of hair... going on about when they first met, he'd wondered about it, too...

'Robust' he called it, 'at the best of times- now? Indestructible- but you know, I do prefer a brunette, but she is quite the looker in any colour, and I tell you? Did miss it-' and droned on more until one of his ruffian friends had taken the opportunity to rant about his own sweetheart. Much, to the dismay of the other men.

She wasn't sure why it had stuck in her mind... but looking at Rapunzel, hair severed, free from its weight... its burden... She thought, of how strange it would have been to meet her, first, when she had just left that tower. Her first memory of her... long hair...

She had found herself at times, missing the brown. The short... now it was back, and Rapunzel was stronger than ever. So accustomed to everything- she was marrying her groom, today, and everything- so sure... no longer the girl that had to leave, worried about the idea of being tied down. No longer the girl declining proposal...