On The Edge

Chapter One;

Queen Primrose held her daughter in her arms, her tired face shining with joy. The baby was asleep – but she had been awake long enough for them to see that she had wide, green eyes like her mother.

“She looks just like you,” Thomas declared, his booming voice proud.

The queen smiled. “Except the hair.”

She was right. Primrose’s hair was a dark brown – like her sister’s – and fell to just below her shoulders. Rapunzel’s, however, was golden and, unbelievably, already flowing to her shoulders. It was extremely unconventional and strange, but the new parents didn’t care.

“Rose – do you know what this means?” Thomas folded his arms, his worry lines becoming more prominent. “Rapunzel can save us all.”

Primrose looked up, her eyes wide with confusion. “Save us?”

He sighed, his large shoulders rising and falling. “Rose, dear, there’s no denying it any longer. The Southern Isles are going to declare war on us any day now.”

Her smile faded. “I know, Thomas, but has nothing to do with Rapunzel.”

“My dear… I think it does. The King and Queen of the Isles have a young son – the same age as Idunn’s girl. Two.”

“What are you getting at, Thomas?”

He clasped his big hands together, his eyes betraying his fear and anxiety. “We need something to… Unite Corona and the Southern Isles. Something to, say, ensure a happier future.”

“And?”

“We’ll set them down to marry each other as soon as they’re of age. They’ll be betrothed. Rapunzel… and Hans.”