Let's dare to dream

VI

Danielle was still walking along the trail hoping it would lead her somewhere.She didn't even know if that path was leading her back to the city, but she just followed it to get away from Varian's house as soon as possible.She stopped several times to ask directions until, luckily, she found a middle-aged man who was carrying firewood and he offered to accompany her since he was also going there.Danielle accepted and walked with the man until they reached the kingdom. Upon reaching the bridge that connected the forest with Corona, she thanked the man for his help and they separated. From that point she did know how to continue and she only had to walk to the castle.She still had Varian's words replaying in her head and she wanted to forget about it, but no matter what she did she couldn't and even she wanted to share it with someone.Unfortunately she would have to wait for Rapunzel to arrive before she could talk to her.Danielle entered the stables and snuggled into the spot that was already meant for her.She wanted to appear listless even though she was actually feeling depressed that the portal hadn't worked and that Varian had let her down on her abilities as an alchemist.She tried to sleep to forget about her situation for a while but she couldn't, so the rest of that afternoon she dedicated  to drawing with charcoal on the wooden walls of the stables or wandering around the castle.Thus the hours passed and the sky darkened.Danielle was already tired of waiting for Rapunzel and everything indicated that she would arrive in the middle of the night. The guards had already finished a long day of testing and Eugene was getting all the new obstacles ready for the next day, but he didn't seem like an option to talk to either.Running out of people she knew, Danielle finally went back to the stables and resignedly put on the shirt Rapunzel had given her a few weeks before. She made a few scratches on the wall behind her until she fell asleep.The next morning, Rapunzel woke her up because she was bringing her breakfast. She looked sleepless, though genuinely calmer and even happy.

-Good morning Danielle!

-Well, did you have fun at your meeting?

She asked her with a clear tone of indignation

-Danielle I know you're probably upset because you were alone with Varian, but look on the bright side! Now you are closer to returning home.

-Oh, that sounds very nice princess, but unfortunately, your friend shattered all my hopes that that could happen.

-Why? Oh, something went wrong?-

-Ha! wrong is too soft a word for the gigantic mess that "great mr. perfect" caused-

Rapunzel put the tray of food on Danielle's bed and sat next to her.Danielle told her everything that had happened, of course, with her classic exaggeration of the facts, although she recounted for the most part with what had actually happened.

-I don't get it! Varian is usually very careful with these things. Something must be wrong.-

-Yes, well Rapunzel I think we both trusted too blindly in that. You know what is the worst thing? That after almost burning me alive, he told me that... You won't believe it. He said: that I have to start working to get what i want-

Danielle said in a shrill tone placing a hand on her chest as if she found it somewhat outrageous.

-Actually, I don't think it's a bad idea.-

-WHAT?!-

She yelled in surprise that Rapunzel agreed with Varian.

-Yes, it can even be a good thing. Look, Danielle, I'll go see Varian later to try to better understand what happened, but if the portal was destroyed, we don't know how long you'll be here, so maybe you can try to adjust to this world until you can get back-

-You can't be serious princess, why would I?! No! I refuse!-

Rapunzel sighed and got ready to do something that she didn't like but that she knew she would have to do at some point: Confront.She'd tried to empathize with Danielle ever since she'd arrived, but she'd always known that if she complied with everything she asked of her, it would do her more harm than good, and that's something she didn't want to do to her.