Rapunzel, Eh? {To Be Continued Soon!}

~Chapter 7~

It took a while to get there, but hours of confusion (and Matt getting annoyed at Al for not bringing a map) later, we arrived at a fancy-looking town.

I could immediately tell that Alfred and Matthew felt safer here. They had a certain shine in their eyes, and a small smile that lit up their features every few seconds. I could see that they felt at home.

"So, this is your hometown." I broke the silence that had befallen us, standing awkwardly in between the content brothers.

"U-uh, yeah, it is," Matt smiled, cheeks a bit flushed. He always seemed to be blushing, or stuttering, and speaking quietly.

'He's so cute when he's shy!' I smiled back to the tall blonde, and Alfred began to ramble off as usual about something or another from the past, a few memories from their childhoods here.

I took the chance to look around the town, from where we stood. It was almost sunrise, light not yet peeking over the forest that lined the area. Hundreds of houses, all made of beautiful wood and stone, were in messy rows, all leading up the side of a mountain. At the base of said mountain stood a tall, grey castle, surrounded by a wall, a black gate, guarded (I assume), attached. The windows were beautifully painted, nothing I'd ever seen before, trapped inside that stupid tower.

"It's beautiful," I mumbled, taking a step closer. Taking the whole scene in would be impossible, but I still tried.

Al sighed, and I turned to look at him. "Growing up around here can get boring, though. It's so guarded, it's almost like you're tra-"

He got cut off by Matt slapping his hand over his mouth. "I-I'm sorry, he really doesn't have a filter, so stupid things just seem to come out of his mouth sometimes..."

Al looked offended, yet didn't say anything about it. I could see it in his eyes, though; both of theirs, actually. Whenever they looked at each other, they had this look of...almost jealousy, I guess.

'They are brothers...'

We walked down the path to the town silently, our boots clicking against the smooth stone. Yes, yes you can wear black boots with a long dress. Don't judge the look, man.

Anyways, once we'd reached the town, I asked, "So, where do you guys live?"

The two looked at each other, a bit hesitant, and then pointed. I looked towards where their fingers were pointing, and...

Oh my god.

You've gotta be kidding me.

WHAT?!

"Y-you guys live..."

They nodded in unison. I stared at them; I should have known. They were both dressed nicely, better than any commoner you'd see on the streets. The fabric on both of their robes, though a bit dirty and torn around the edges, couldn't have been cheap.

'I was saved by two princes. Two sibling princes.'

"Uh, dudette? Are you alright?" I blinked, since Al was waving his hand in front of my eyes.

"I-I guess, but you two...you two are..."

Matt sighed. "Ooh boy."

***

We reached the castle gates soon enough after Matt and Al were done explaining. 

They were princes.

Real-life princes. 

Like, the kind I'd read about in children's books while bored in the tower. I didn't know how I hadn't seen it coming; they were, after all, incredibly handsome, and, at most times, very charming, too. They dressed nicely, their clothes made of finer fabric than peasants.

Peasants like me. 

For the rest of the walk, as they spoke, I listened, looking down at my feet. Suddenly, they had a different presence. They seemed more powerful, more important than anyone else, including me. 

Especially me. 

They were born into royalty. I was born to...someone. I didn't even know who my parents really were, all I knew was that whoever it was was pretty stupid. Who just leaves their child with an evil sorcerer?!

My parents, I guess. 

We stopped walking, and I looked up once again. Getting a closer look at the castle, it wasn't just gray stone. The stones were painted silver, black, and white, making a creating a beautiful masterpiece upon each wall. The glass on each window shone with the brilliant reflection made from the sunlight, and the roof, a dark purple shade, shimmered from the same source. 

 "Woah..." 

 "It's pretty lame to me now, seeing as it's been, like, nineteen years that I've lived here." Al was looking up at the tall towers of the palace, and I felt a an envious ping shoot through my body. 

 'He...they've both lived like this their whole life. Never having to work their way to anything, free to wander a kingdom they can call theirs.' I glanced at the brothers, who had walked forwards, nearing the silver metal of the gates. 'I've worked to get nowhere, it seems. What do I have to call my own?' 

 Nothing. 

And while walking through those gates, becoming familiar to this new setting, I reminded myself of that. That this life, the life these boys were living, weren't lives that I could ever understand. 

Because I had nothing. 

I bowed my head once more as we entered the gates, out of place against the rich aura that came from the castle. I hid, shadowing my face under my still long hair, as we stepped into the entryway, facing the thrones where the kings sat. 

My head only rose when I heard the echoing noise of running feet from further away. 

 "Where the BLOODY HELL have you two been?!"