The Fearless Winds

Chapter Twelve

Merida awoke. She knew how she had died. Did that make any difference? Of course it did. Besides, she had seen the necklace that Mor'Du had torn off of her... It was in the castle...

Merida looked down. She was still in that blasted cage. Well, she would have to do something about that, wouldn't she. 

Gothel sat in a chair next to Rapunzel, whose hair was a light brown now. That hair was still in two braids, and one of them was in the shadows.

Gothel started singing that creepy song about flowers, and Rapunzel's hair started to glow. Merida looked over at where her two friends were. Both were asleep.

Merida looked up, and saw that several Nightmares were hanging by the chains that held the cage up. No... They were  the chains. That would prove problematic. 

Gothel ended the song, and Rapunzel's hair was now a slightly darker brown. Merida eyed the stone. Jack's staff was there, along with her and Hiccup's weapons. Rapunzel's satchel was nowhere to be found. 

Merida knew that she had to get her friends out of this mess, for, she had kind of put them in it in the first place. She had no plan, no means of escape, but the one thing that she did have was hope. And she knew that it would get her far enough.

She had  to get down there. It was the only way to do... well, anything.

Merida feigned sleep as she watched things unfold through almost-closed eyelids.

* * * 

Six hours. That's how long it took for Rapunzel's hair to recharge, anyway. It was back at it's mousy brown, but when Gothel started singing, it stayed the darker shade of brown.

They're using up all of her power, Merida thought. To do what?

Gothel waved her hand, and a Nightmare unlocked Merida's cage and none-to-softly carried her down to the stone floor. She was forced to kneel at the edge of the shadows again.

"Do you know who I am," they rasped.

Merida didn't want to say it, but she knew. "Pitch Black," she whispered.

The shadows cackled, as if amused by her accusation. "Indeed I am," Pitch said. "Look at what I have become. A mere three years has sapped my strength more than a thousand ever would. All because of that little sprite in  the cage above. Do you see him? Yes, the one they call Jack Frost."  He spat the name out as if it was poison. "But no matter. I have moved on from him, you see. Indeed, I have moved on from all of you, which is why I am going to let you go."

"What about Rapunzel?" Merida asked.

"Rapunzel? Oh, she stays here, but when her usefulness is done for, then she, like the three of you (and your animals too), will also be let go."

"When will that be?"

"When I have sufficient life force to destroy the ones that call themselves Guardians. But, as you are not a Guardian, then my quarrel is not with your or your friends."

"Then why keep Rapunzel, if your quarrel is not with her?"

"I already -- Oh. I see. You see, Monegunda needs to settle a score with dear Rapunzel."

"That's seriously Gothel's first name? Monegunda?"

"This conversation is... different," Pitch said. "From our last one. You left weeping and sobbing. What's so different..."