Iron

3*

 Aune took a deep breath to calm her beating heart. It didn't make any sense, Nephele had told her not to escape! Perhaps she had forgotten about the journal already? Either way, Aune needed to return it. She sat, waiting for Nephele to return. But even after a lifetime of waiting, her patience was not great, and already she began to grow restless. She reread the journal, and reread it again. On the fourth reading, the name Rapunzel caught Aune's interest. She hurried to her own library, trying to find a book to tell her more.

Meanwhile, Nephele entered the castle library, making sure she was alone. She rested her hand on a statue of an archer. Grabbing the stone bow he held, she wrenched it forward. It slid out of the statue, revealing a door knob. Nephele turned it and clambered down the trapdoor that had opened. The small room inside was dark and musty, inhabited only by a thick volume. She snatched it and climbed back up. Putting the bow back into its place, she settled herself at the desk and delved into the expanse of pages, each one with a plan of some floor, room, or tower. This was a collection of blueprints and plans from when the castle was built, added onto by each librarian. She flipped to the back, where she knew Aune's tower would be. Turning past the designs for the new kitchen, and the plans for the central courtyard, she came upon what she was looking for. Aune's four rooms stood out, with a X where she herself had hidden her journal. Had Aune found it? Was the escape today a sign?

Nephele had no more answers than anyone else, except Aune herself. She would have to ask Aune about it later. Sighing, she studied the tower design more closely. A thin, well-like structure ran along the side, thin, but wide enough for a person to fit into. If her plan didn't work, she could smuggle Aune out. Hastily returning the book to its hiding place, she took another book off the shelves and went back upstairs.

She found Aune seated amidst piles of books and scrolls, her head in her hands. Scared, she rushed forward. "Aune, are you alright?"

Aune looked up, startled. "What? Yes, I'm alright."

Nephele knew when something was wrong. "What's the matter?"

Aune groaned and stood up. "Who's Rapunzel?"

Nephele smiled, knowing that Aune must have found the journal. Closing the door, she motioned to a seat. "Sit down. I have a few things that might interest you."

Aune sat with a thud on a chair, her curiosity aroused. "What?"

Nephele pushed forward the book she had been carrying. "This contains the story of Rapunzel. She lives in a tower like you, but the story is more complicated. No, don't read it now, I have more information. You must have found my journal, am I correct?"

"Yes, why-"

"Wait. There is more I need to tell you. I will try to get Their Majesties to let you go, but I have a feeling that the circumstances will not be as pleasant as we hope. Did you mean for that escape today to be a sign?"

Aune was feeling rather overwhelmed. "I, I mean, no I didn't, but I read your note right after. I do want to escape."

Nephele turned her face toward the glass windows. The sky was beginning to tinge pink, and soon it would be dusk. Without looking at Aune, she spoke. "Do you know what it's like in the world?"

Aune was forced to admit that she didn't know, for she had never left the castle, and until today had never left her tower. "It has to be better than in here." She concluded. "I've read stories about it. It's a nice place out there; there are people with kind hearts, and I'll bet that there are people like me who have never seen the outside."

Nephele shook her head, slowly, as if not wanting to tell her the truth. "No, it's not all nice. There are people there who would wish you harm and many people who don't, but it's tough. I'll try to find you some way to go there, but first you have to learn some manners." She stood up, with a little sigh. "Thirteen years ago, Aune, I was young and beautiful like you. Grief has aged me terribly and thirty-three is no longer young." With that, she turned and strode out, closing and locking the door behind her.

Aune stared at the journal on the other side of the room. She hadn't given it back. Suppertime came and went, and darkness fell. Aune sat, reading her new book. She didn't notice when Nephele came in and left both food and light on the table. She didn't notice when the clock softly struck twelve, then one. As she read, the soporific power of reading at night started to affect her and she began to drift off. By the time the clock struck two, she was asleep, waiting for the thrill of the morrow.

On the outskirts of the city, a man stood watching the castle. They would never recognise him when he entered it tomorrow. It was more for show than anything, to prove that they were a harmless bunch of duffers. And if it came to fighting, well, he was a champion at that. And what if he made it all the way to a conference with the King and Queen? He smiled to himself. It would be the perfect time to make his request. And if they refused, he had his own methods of bargaining. Tomorrow would be an exciting day.

Nephele lay in her bed, unable to sleep. Was she doing the right thing by encouraging this young girl? How could she convince Their Royal Majesties to let Aune go without putting all the blame on her? She shook her greying head in the dark. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day, to say the least.