The Invisible maiden

Tangled: Before Ever After pt. 1

So here we are.. were it all started.

I was with Faith cleaning the halls with her friend Suzie, (don't think that's an actual name of one of them, but whatever) when we heard the news that princess Rapunzel was back and we could all take a 5 minute break to greet her.

I was so excited, what would this be like, is she nice? I sped walked with my sister and the rest of the maids outside the castle. I saw her; and she was beautiful as expected; but I was immediately confused. Though I wasn't alive when Rapunzel was kidnapped, Faith had told me about it, and the whole magical Sundrop flower saved the queen, and healed her, and gave Rapunzel long golden blonde hair, but Rapunzel now had short brown hair. I quickly curtsied, and started to talk to her, "Hello your hi-" Faith cut me off by nudging me. I looked over to her and she shook her head and gestured that she was curtsying and so was everyone still. I understood I wasn't supposed to speak unless spoken to, so I quietly went back into a curtsy. 

"Oh hello to you all, it's so great to meet you," Rapunzel said with a smile on her face. She was about to say more, until Cassandra came, 

"Sorry everyone, meeting's over, I gotta take the princess." she said unapologetic, more like she was a bit annoyed. 

"Aw already Cass? I just got here?" Rapunzel said still smiling.

"Sorry, but your dad's got you packed, we don't have time to spare." Cassandra said dragging the princess away. I looked around to the rest of the handmaidens and they all just nodded, stood up straight and head back to the castle. I just stood there, wondering why no one else was asking why we didn't get more time to be there, or even talk to her. My sister snapped me out of my train of thought,

"Y/n, we gotta get going," Faith said softly.

"But-" I complained.

"If we're lucky we might be able to help the princess get ready."

"Ok," I sighed.

We mopped floor for about an hour until we were told to help the princess get ready. We rushed to the hall Rapunzel was in, we brushed her hair, tightened her bow on her corset, and put makeup powder on her face, until she was obviously overwhelmed and Cassandra had to pull her away. 

We then continued cleaning while Rapunzel was introduced the the ladies, lords, duchesses, and dukes. Then it was getting late and Faith the others maids and I all went to our servant chambers. 

The next day, was Rapunzel's day off, and she was allowed to walk the town. Us handmaidens unfortunately weren't allowed to go out, we had to clean, clean, clean! Later, we heard that Rapunzel got back from her walk about the town. 

That night Faith and I were lucky to get a break and be invited to the royal banquet. I quickly accepted, but Faith politely denied. "Faith, why don't you want to come? This is our chance to get a break from cleaning and handmaiden duties," I inquired.

"Sure it would be nice, but my place is here, this is what mother and father wanted for us, that's why they left us here to go overseas," Faith replied.

"Are you sure?" I confirmed.

She smiled and nodded her head.

"Ok, well I'll make sure to tell you everything that happens," I interlocked pinkies with her and then hugged her. I then waved to her and sprinted to the throne room, I didn't even look back to see her tell me not to run.

I got there on time, I knew running was a good thing to do. Eugene was making a speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen, dukes and duchesses, barons, and baronesses, marquis and, you know, the female version of those, may I share a moment of history with you?" he announced.

"Princess, would you join me up here?" Rapunzel walked up there to him.

"Tonight, we celebrate our love for the princess. I can think of no better way to celebrate the love I have for this women than this," Eugene then gets down on one knee, and I gasp.

"Oh Eugene! Wait did you drop something?" Oh boy, she doesn't even know what being proposed to is, this is going to be a tad bit awkward.

"No. Rapunzel, from the moment I first met you, and you knocked me out with that frying pan, I knew it was love." Eugene said trying to lighten the mood a little, I giggled. "You're my light. You're my best friend and I want to be your partner in all things. I can't wait to laugh with you and share with you. I see us raising our children here, and our children's children. And celebrating banquets of our own in this very hall for many, many, many, many years to come."

Though I wasn't right in the front of this scene I could see that Rapunzel looked very distressed and upset. At first I didn't understand, didn't she want to marry him? Then when I thought about it, especially with Eugene's words, it has to be a hard decision for her, I mean on one hand, she loved Eugene dearly and wanted to marry him, but on the other, she did spent 18 years of her life (from what I've heard) trapped in a tower, and now she has to settle down and be trapped in the castle.

"I want to ride our horses together, each and every morning, until we're both very very... old and grey." I cringed a bit.

"I love you Rapunzel. And I want to spend the rest of our lives here, together."

"Here, in this... castle," Rapunzel sighs upset. "...Forever?" 

"I mean unless you want to rent, but I hardly see how we're going to top this. And I want to spend my life with you here, and it doesn't get any better than this, this castle..." Eugene commented. Honestly he was just rubbing salt into the wound at this point.

"Princesses need to be protected at all times." said the king. "Rapunzel? Rapunzel?"

"I've... wow! I love you Eugene, but... But I cant! Just not, not right now. Um I need some air." She then runs off. 

A little later/ that night I couldn't sleep so I snuck outside to watch the stars. I then heard some noise coming from around the corner, I hid myself in case it was an intruder. I peek my head around to see Rapunzel and Cassandra sneaking out of the castle and having this owl follow them, specifically Cassandra. Then they were getting on Maximus and Fidella. I wasn't thinking and decided I wanted to follow then, not to be nosy, but I look up to them, Cassandra has her awesome sword fighting skills, and Rapunzel is just liked by everybody. I just wanted to know more about them.

I ran as fast as I could in my nightgown, and when they stopped I managed to catch them without being too close that they would see me. I saw them go through forests, fight (or in Rapunzel's case, rub the belly of) a wolf, go to a pond with many fireflies and frogs. The fireflies kept up with them throughout their journey, which looked magical. 

Then Cassandra showed Rapunzel some secrets rocks that apparently just sprouted up here. Oh no! I wasn't supposed to see this! I feel horrible, this was a secret and I just found out about it. Why? Because I wanted to know more about them? Come on!  I saw Cassandra try to break the rock with her sword and instead of the rock breaking, the sword shattered into a million pieces. And apparently that spot where the rock was, was the exact spot that the Sundrop flower was found to heal the queen and save her and Rapunzel.

I was about to leave, when I heard this huge explosion, I turned around to make sure they were alright, when the rocks started chasing them! When they finally got away, Rapunzel saw her hair was back!!! 

They quickly rushed back  and so did I. And I ran back to the servant chambers and begged myself to forget what I just saw. I vowed to myself to never speak of this to anyone.