Rapunzel

1

The forest creaked as the girl tumbled her way through the underbrush. Her once long blonde hair was now ruggedly cut to her shoulders and snapped behind her as she ran. Wind whipped violently at the treetops, but never reached her due to the dense woods around her. Blood was splattered across her simple peasant's dress, and one hand had it dripping from her fingers. Tears slowly fell from her eyes and she wiped them away, grimacing when she smeared blood on her cheek.

Pausing, she looked around her in confusion and dread. She knew of the beasts that lurked in the forest, especially at night. Having never been out of the tower was a curse to her because now she had no idea how to maneuver the maze of trees. She knew that she had to get to the castle soon, but she didn't know where it was. 

The sound of a horse's braying had her walking towards where she thought it came from. Hands suddenly grabbed her from behind and she screamed. She was forcefully turned around and was met with harsh green eyes very similar to her own. His head glowed with a halo of darker blonde hair that curled slightly out from under a hood. 

His eyes widened and his grip on her loosened drastically. She raised her hands and brushed her hair from her face before looking back at him.

"Who are you?" she asked, peering into those green eyes that mirrored hers.

"I am Eldric, Prince of the Kingdom of Eren," he muttered, the words coming out with a sense of awe.

"Why are you watching me so intensely, Prince?"

"I'm sorry, it is only- Rapunzel? Is that your name?"

She slowly nodded her head. "Yes, how do you know of me?"

The Prince didn't answer, instead grabbing the girl and pulling her into a tight embrace. After a minute, he let her go and then lifted her onto his horse. He pulled himself up into the saddle, gripped the reins and told her to hold on tightly. Pulling on the reins, the horse took off at a gallop, flying through the trees at a faster rate than she was used to. She wrapped her arms tightly around the Prince's waist and pressed her face against his back.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked loudly so he'd hear her over the noise of crunching leaves, snapping twigs, and the wind.

"To the castle. Mother and Father will be overjoyed to see you."

"Why?"

"Because their daughter is finally home."

Her eyes widened and before she could say anything, her eyes caught sight of the looming castle. The main gate lowered at a signal from a soldier who sat up in a guard tower. The Prince slowed the horse to a trot and crossed the entryway to the castle's grounds. He brought the horse to a stop as the gate closed behind them, and jumped down from his mount. Gently, he eased Rapunzel off the horse and handed the reins to a stable boy who had appeared out of nowhere.

"This place is huge," she whispered in awe.

The Prince led her forward with a proud smile. "That it is. Welcome home."

Her brow furrowed and she glanced over at him. "Earlier, what did you mean when you spoke of a daughter?"

"You. Rapunzel, you are the lost daughter of the royal family."

She blinked in shock. "I never even thought I was royalty. I knew that the witch wasn't my family, but I had imagined that I was an orphan she took."

The two of them reached the castle door and he pushed it open, watching Rapunzel enter slowly, her wide green eyes dancing about and taking everything in with a sense of wonder. Once inside, he gently shut the heavy oak door and led her towards the throne room.