Chapter Six
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair to me."
I make my way over to the balcony and loop my hair through the loop at the top of the doorway. Without looking down, I drop my long hair to the grassy floor beneath me. I feel a tug and begin to pull. The muscles in my shoulders burn and I feel as though my lungs are going to give out at any moment.
Whoever is coming cannot be Mother yet I continue to pull despite the thoughts swarming in the back of my mind over who's at the other end of my hair. At last they arrive and I see it is Niall.
"How do you do Rapunzel?"
"I'm doing well. And you?"
"Oh come on," he rolls his deep blue eyes. "Do you honestly give a damn as to how I'm doing?"
When I don't respond he takes a step towards me.
"Do you honestly think I give a damn as to how you're doing?"
"Niall," my voice wavers, full of fear. He is looking at me now with some sort of menacing look in his eyes. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just having fun." he takes a step closer. "This is how the people in the village have fun. You wouldn't know of course, you've never been."
"What- What are you doing?" I repeat.
"Nothing." he says before attaching his lips to mine. This kiss isn't like the last time we kissed. This kiss isn't soft or gentle. His mouth is eating away at mine.
"Niall," I pull away and put my hands to his chest. "Stop." His hands grip my hips harshly, sure to leave a mark. He pushes me backwards until my back hits the cold wall. He continues to kiss me as I try to get him off of me.
"Don't talk, Rapunzel. Bad things will happen." he moves his lips to my neck.
"What kind of th-"
"Bad things." His lips move back to mine and his hands begin to roam my body. I place my hands against his chest again only to have him shake them off.
"Stop." I manage to say between kisses.
"That's it." he pulls away finally and looks at me. His eyes a burning with anger and his mouth is contorting into one of a madman. "I warned you. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"What are you-" I begin to say before a knife plunges into my chest.
I wake up covered in sweat, heart pounding, frantically looking around the room. I'm safe. I'm in my bedroom and I'm safe. It was only a dream.
"It was only a dream." I say out loud to myself, trying to calm my pulse to a steady beat.
It felt so real. The kiss, the way his hands held my hips, the look in his eyes, the feeling of the knife meeting my skin. But it wasn't real. It was all a dream.
After a few moments of deep breathing it hits me; I'm in my bedroom.
Last night when I fell asleep I was not in my bedroom. I was in my chair reading. I remember having read some of Mother's books or rather attempting to read them. I had been just sitting there and reading until I dozed off. So if I fell asleep in my chair, how did I end up in my bedroom?
What if Niall's here? What if that dream was a warning? That must be what Mother has always tried to protect me from and now I've gone and practically invited the evil into my life. I'm the worst daughter ever.
I'm not supposed to have boys in or even know them at all! I'm supposed to cook and clean and read all day. I can talk to myself not some strange man. I have to tell Mother.
After last night's awful dream I understand. I'm blessed to be living in the tower, out of harm's way. No one can hurt me here.
What if Niall finds a way to get up?
No, that's ridiculous. He could never climb all the way up. The tower has got to be at least 100 feet tall.
Shaking my head, I climb out of bed. My clothes have even been changed since last night. I'm actually wearing my pajamas.
I make my way into the dining area for some tea. Tea should help to clear my head.
"Good morning darling," Mother greets me when she sees me. She's currently having her own tea. "How did you sleep?"
I immediately begin to cry at her question.
"Rapunzel?" she gets up from the table and wraps her arms around me.
"Mother," I sob into her shoulder. "I- I have to tell you something."
"First have some tea." she guides me to a chair and goes to make me some tea. She returns a few moments later with a steaming cup of tea in her hands. "Now, tell me what's the matter."
"You're going to be very cross with me Mother." I sniff. "I did something awful."
"Rapunzel, tell me."
So I proceed to tell Mother about how one day Niall had come and found the tower and how I let him up. I tell her about how he kissed me and how he brought me all those different berries. I tell her everything from start to finish, ending with my dream.
"A boy has been coming here?" Mother crosses her arms and I nod my head sheepishly, not bothering to try and speak. "What have I told you Rapunzel! The men from the village are not to be around! Your dream was a warning and I do not want to hear of this boy coming here any longer."
"I don't want him to come back but I don't know how to keep him away from the tower."
"That is the problem, my dear, because he knows where this tower is and how to get up."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, it's time you moved towers."
"Moved towers?"
"Yes, somewhere far away where he will never find you. I'll find you a new tower by a new village."
"Will you be coming with me?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot. I have things I must do here. That's where I go everyday and that's why only you shall be going."
"So I'm going to be alone?" I can feel the fresh tears beginning to well up in my eyes.
"You've brought this upon yourself, Rapunzel."
"Mother, please no!"
"Rapunzel, I'm afraid you've sealed your fate. We shall be leaving first thing in the morning. I suggest you pack up the things you'd like to bring along with you as you will never return here again."
"Please give me one more chance? I don't want to leave. I don't want you to stay here." I sob. How can she do this? How can Mother, sweet, kind, caring Mother, be so cruel?
"It's too late for that. Now, come help me get down and gather your things. And if that boy comes along, do not even think about making a sound. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Good, now come help me."
I follow her to the balcony and swing my hair through the loop.
"I don't mean to upset you but you've done this to yourself." she says as she gets a good grip on my hair. "I love you!" she calls up to me as I lower her. Honestly, I'm through speaking to her about this. I know now that it's happening and I can't help it. I'm leaving. I'm leaving Mother, the tower and Niall.
Forever.
