The month of June marked the third month of their acquaintance. Cedric had come up the tower with a little fledgling tucked in his coat. He found it lying in the Dryad Forest chirping sorrowfully because it had broken it's wing and could not fly. Rapunzel held it gently in her hands and spoke kind words to it. The bird spread it's wings and took flight but not before chirping its cheerful thanks to Rapunzel.
Cedric was dumbfounded. He looked at Rapunzel with amazement he had never seen such a miracle, her touch had healed that injured fledgling. He felt he needed to know more about the gift she seemed to posses. He went into town disguised as a common trader to see a good friend of his who knew about such things.
He stepped into a shop of sorts, filled with little trinkets. Robert Beck sat at his desk examining a few of his collections. As the wooden door closed behind Cedric with a little thud, Robert looked up and a smile spread across his face at the sight of his friend.
"Ah, Cedric! My friend. To what do I owe this honour?", Robert asked putting away his tools.
"Robert, my good man, I come to ask you for a listening ear and advice." Cedric replied while making himself comfortable in the wooden chair near the fireplace.
"Tell me then what is it that puzzles you."
Cedric gazed at his silhouette casted on the wall by the light of the fire with a smile on his face before he began. He told Robert all about Rapunzel and the way she was so extraordinary and unlike any other girl he'd met. Robert listened without interruption but he seemed to have a troubled glint in his eyes as Cedric talked about his love for Rapunzel. When Cedric finished, Robert began.
"It seems, my dear friend, that you have a fay on your hands, A half human, half fairy being, I believe she is locked away because of Medecka's animosity towards fays. You see, Medecka was once a fair maiden but one particular fay was fairer than her and that fay had stolen the heart of the young man Medecka fancied. Medecka was boiling over with jealousy and rage. She vowed revenge on both of them. And indeed she had her revenge for their child now resides in that tower you speak of."
Cedric looked wide eyed at Robert as he lapped up this knowledge.
"Robert, how did you come to know all this?"
Robert looked away his eyes glazing over with held back tears and answered wearily "I can still remember it like it was yesterday." Robert gazed into the distance as he recalled his memories. "Twenty years ago, a ball was held in honour of the engagement of Sir Garrett Hindsley and Liana, Rapunzel's parents. Medecka of course was not invited as she was jilted by Sir Garrett. The happy couple was having the last dance on the ballroom floor when Medecka came shrieking in. She told them that she would punish them for hurting her. She was consumed with anger, so outraged that she could not spare even a single glance for the man who had been with her closest friend and confidant, the man who loved her with the every fibre of his being." Robert now had the expression of a broken man but he continued on.
"I tried to make her see that revenge was not a solution for the pain she felt. I tried to make her see that she had to move on from the feelings that would no doubt blacken her soul. I tried to help her and I tried so hard to be a man she could love. But no. Medecka was blind to all feeling besides hatred. She was too far gone. She bid her time till Sir Garrett and Liana had a child and three years later Madecka patience paid off. She stole Rapunzel away in the dead of night and cast a spell of despair on the pair of them. And now this is the result, Medecka twenty years later, still filled with hate and a lonely girl who has never felt love. Cedric, you must save Rapunzel, you must." Robert pleaded Cedric looking ten years older than his four and forty years.
Cedric was stunned by what Robert had told him.
"Robert, I will, by God if its the last thing I'll ever do. Thank you for sharing this with me. I must go now."
"Wait Cedric! I must warn you, do not underestimate Medecka, she has a knack of turning innocent, beautiful things evil. Please be on your guard and may god be with you."
Cedric thanked Robert and hurried on his steed to the tower that held his love.
