Sleep

Jeanne

Panic mode had set in.  I was getting married soon.  I was getting married really soon.  I was getting married really really soon.  Oh yeah, I was getting married soon.

Every ounce of time I spent preparing. 

"Miss, we have arranged a cake testing area for you to decide on which flavor is best.  Right this way,"  a maid lead me to a long table with at least 25 little sampler cakes.  Each one had a little label for the flavor.  Just to the side of the cakes were plates as small as a fist with samples of icing.  Even glancing at the cakes gave me sugar rush. 

The next hour I spent trying cake after cake, until all the flavors blended together and I didn't know which was which.  They all tasted like cake.  Except one that was made from spinach.  It tasted like salad.  Another one was very stiff, it was practically a biscuit.  When I swallowed the biscuit-cake, it scraped my throat.  I was pounding the table, and the guards had thought I was choking. 

"I can't do is any more," I said after eating the biscuit-cake. 

"Oh but miss, we need to know soon, the guests are arriving tomorrow, your wedding is in a week!" A petit chef said.

"How many more cakes do I have to try?" I whined.

"Two.  But you still have to try fourteen icing samples," the chef said. 

"I can't do this," I got up. 

"But Madame, you wedding is in a week!" He squeaked.

"I'll just take a little break and I'll be back soon.  The stress has really piled up," I said.  I didn't wait for him to reply, I was already halfway to the courtyard.  Then, I bumped into Carmen. 

"Darling, are you okay?" He asked, furrowing his brow in a cute little way.  He wore a nice white suit, but dark circles shadowed his eyes from days of preparations.  I'm sure I had a matching set of dark circles myself.  I wanted a nap. 

"No, I need a break," I sighed.  If I didn't get a break, I might break. 

"How about we have a little break in the evening.  During supper?" He proposed.  He delicately held my hand, and with his other hand, he cupped my cheek.  The smile on his face warmed my insides, like a gentle, kind fever.  Although, after so much cake, maybe I was getting sick. 

"I would love that," I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek before heading back to the kitchens.  Here we go.  For the duration of the day, I sampled food, picked the meals, and sorted out table center pieces.  Quite frankly, I was too full for supper.  So when the time came, I walked to Carmen's door.  I straitened my dress and corrected my posture before knocking. 

"Why hello, my darling," Carmen swung open his door.  He held out his arm for me to hold onto, like a true gentlemen, as he escorted me to wherever he was going.  We strolled outside, through the courtyard, and finally stopped at the river's edge were a little boat was docked. 

"Carmen! It's beautiful," I said. 

"That's not all," he walked over to the boat and picked up a basket.  Inside was a little meal consisting of chicken, fruit, and roasted chestnuts.  I smiled brightly as he spread out a blanket and set up a picnic.  I started with little bites, but I found that eating anything besides cake and icing was great.  At one point, we took turns tossing little Pericles of chicken into on another's mouths.  However, we decided to end that game when I almost choked.  Once that was done, I nestled into him and ate and talked for at least and hour. 

"We're getting married in a week," I said.

"I know. Hard to believe."

There was a brief pause while we let that sink in even more.  The thought had sunk in so deep, it was well below the surface.

"What cake did you decide on?" Carmen asked casually. 

"With so many to try, I couldn't remember half of them.  But I ended up choosing lemon with a buttercream frosting," I said.  " there were some wild flavors.  There was green tea, spinach, a really grainy almond that felt like sand, oh my, and a biscuit cake, and even a really spicy cake that would make half of the guests perspire!"

We laughed and discussed some ridiculous castle dishes for a bit.  Then, we ran out of things to talk about and just sat in silence.  I didn't mind though.  I just stared at my surroundings, taking it all in.  How did I end up here?  Not too long ago I as a slave in my own home. 

"Do you want to kiss?" Carman said.

I replied wrapping my arms around him and planting one, then another one, and another one.  Neither of us pulled away until we were out of breath.

"Yeah, I do want to kiss," I giggled.

"Your smile fills me with joy, you love makes me feel like I could fly," he said. Oh yeah, he was getting another kiss, but I wanted to get on the boat first.

"Thank you, Carmen.   I am so lucky to have you," I said. 

"As am I," he replied.  I was seated across from him, so we could stare directly into one another's eyes.  I leaned in, and so did he, until my nose touched his.  Then, he leaned in just a little further and I felt his soft lips on mine.  The stress that was piled on me was thrown out the window, just this moment existed right now.   Then, it was killed, when our boat scraped along something and jostled us.  I looked down to see what it was, and when I did I let out a scream.   Carmen looked too and he was shocked.  He opened his arms and I buried my face in his chest, quietly crying.  The image couldn't get out of my mind no matter how hard I tried. I tried to think of the kiss, but that moment had evaporated into water vapor. My supper crept up my throat. Who did this? How did this happen? I dared to look down one more time, and instantly regretted it.

In the water Rapunzle floated, dead as a door nail.

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Author's note
Sorry I haven't written in a bit.  I've been away for a while.  And I will be away for another week soon.  I will try to publish another chapter before then.