Rapunzel ♔ n.h.

Chapter Four

i realise it's been more than a year since i updated this story but i have all of these drafts left over so i might as well post them but you should know there won't be anymore after this:( thank you so much for reading this story though and i'll be starting a new story soon! xx

Chapter Four

The next morning when I woke up Mother wasn't home and I didn't look as though she'd returned at all last night. The tower was still a mess and the doors to the balcony were still wide open. A small collection of leaves had gathered at the base of the door. Maybe she had just forgotten to shut the doors?

I tip toe over to the door that leads to Mother's bedroom. If she's sleeping I'd feel awful for waking her but I have to know she's alright. 

The door creaks as I push it, causing me to let go of the door. It swings wide open and all I see is an empty bed.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair to me." someone calls from down below. I look down at my wrinkled night dress and un-brushed hair. I don't look presentable in the least!

I scurry to my room and quickly change into my satiny pink dress with the flowers stitched onto it and attempt to run my fingers through my hair as I make my way to the balcony.

If it were Mother and I was still in my bed clothes she would have been very angry at me. More than she was last night.

Before I swing my hair through the loop, I'm sure to check and see who it was that was calling me. Ever since my encounter with Niall the other day I'm quite careful towards whom I let up.

"Good morning Rapunzel." Niall calls from the foot of the tower when he sees me on the balcony.

I'm about to swing my hair through the loop when I remember what happened yesterday. He came in here and talked awfully about my mother and how she 'abandoned me'. He's never even met her and he seems to think he's an expert.

The moment I remember yesterday's events I turn and walk back into the tower, shutting the doors behind me.

"Rapunzel?" his voice sounds through the wooden doors. "I'm sorry for what I said about your mother. It's just I don't think it's right that you spend all your days in that tower."

He's not wrong my subconscious reminds me.

And maybe he's not. I'm sure that not many mothers leave their daughters alone in an old, empty tower all day. Perhaps my mother does have me trapped. I'm nothing but a prisoner to her. The thought causes tears to spring into my eyes.

"Please Rapunzel. Open the doors. I'd like to see you." he calls again.

I quickly wipe away the tears and cautiously open the doors.

"Good morning Rapunzel." he smiles up at me.

"Good morning." Just because he's right doesn't mean I'm just going to let him come up.

"How are you today?"

"I'm well. And you?" Damn my manners!

"I'm doing wonderfully." his smile grows. "May I come up?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"I'm sorry for yesterday. It wasn't my place to say those horrible things." he bends over and picks up a basket. "Which is why I brought berries!"

Mother never brings home berries.

"Have they been cleaned?" I have to keep my guard up.

"By the cleanest hands in the village." he smiles again. Is he ever not smiling?