Chapter One

Rapunzel

It was quiet that night at dinner. Rapunzel smoothed out her dress under the table as they waited for the servants to bring their meal out. Eugene looked fidgety, but she didn't know why. Baelfire, her father, and Soledad, her mother, the King and Queen, said nothing.

Eugene coughed. "How was your painting today, Blondie?"

She chuckled a bit under her breath. She didn't dare tell him, but Rapunzel loved it when he called her that, especially since she didn't have her blonde hair anymore. "Painting was nice. I'm almost done with my canvas piece."

Soledad spoke up. "That's wonderful, dear," her mother cheered before she took a sip of her white wine.

Rapunzel nodded. "I'm really happy with it, too. It's coming out beautifully, I think. Javert agrees."

"Javert was always the most artistic in the town, even when we were kids." Soledad and Javert had grown together, unrelated of course. Corona's long time art teacher had fled France at a very young age with his older sister, who has since died of Consumption. Javert never talked about it, and Rapunzel could understand why.

The King had yet to speak, and Soledad glanced at him. "How was your day, darling?"

Baelfire grunted and was saved by the dinner bell. Donald, the head butler at the Castle, came out with a rolling tray and placed the food on the table: roast pork with a side of twice baked potatoes, fried noodles, bread rolls, and salad. As he went to cut the pork, the King interrupted him. "I would like to do the honors, Donald."

The butler looked up, a bit astonished at what he just heard, but then quickly regained himself and bowed formally. He held the knife out to the King and left soon after. The Queen's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as she witnessed her husband carve the dinner for the first time in four years.

The rest of the evening consisted of Rapunzel, Eugene, and Soledad talking about their day and affairs with Corona. Eugene brought up an excellent point that Denmark seemed a very good place to trade with considering they had an influx of crabs the past two seasons. Rapunzel agreed and Soledad said she would send a letter to King Eric to request a meeting about trade.

The King said nothing on the matter. Rapunzel grew angry at this - her father was normally such an open person and loved to talk, but this evening was different. He wasn't just quiet, he was reserved. He didn't even attempt to make eye contact with anyone. Were her parents arguing? She doubted it, they almost never argued; and when they did it was over trivial things like, 'Where should we put the candelabra, dear?' 'No, I don't like it there.'

"I heard the most fabulous news, and I think it would be a lovely thing if we all went for a visit to Dun' Bro—"

Just as the Queen was talking, the dining hall doors burst open and one of the servants came rushing in. He was out of breath, like something had been chasing him. There was an envelope in his hands.

"My Lord," he choked out, trying to regain his normal breathing. "An urgent letter has come for you."

Baelfire's expression didn't change as he took the letter and dismissed the servant. He popped open the seal - a quaint purple looking rose with a green stem – and read it.

After a moment of silence, Soledad asked, "What's so urgent?"

The King didn't look at her; he just kept rereading the letter. Rapunzel noticed his face became a bit steelier. "It seems," he started, still not taking his eyes off the parchment, "that the Sultan of Agrabah has fallen fatally ill."

"Oh no," the Queen whispered, her hand going to her chest.

Rapunzel' eyes narrowed. She had heard from him just two weeks ago – after all, they had just gotten in the supply of noodles from their trade route. Now he had fallen… ill? She looked over at Eugene, noticing his face was as devoid of all emotion. What was going on?

"Ali is now the acting Sultan until he is either pronounced healthy or dead." The King's voice was about as empty as his expression was.

Prince Ali Ababwa and Princess Jasmine were two of the most well renowned people in the whole Middle East. Rapunzel - as soon as she had heard of their existence when she was brought back to her family - had immediately sent for them. The two royals had accompanied the Sultan during their almost fortnight stay where she and Eugene worked out a trading agreement with the Prince and the Princess. Ali had been very kind and had taken a considerable liking to Eugene when her husband had shared his backstory of being the infamous Flynn Rider. Jasmine and her bonded over the sometimes idiocy of their new husbands. The two couples were thicker than could be.

The Sultan was Jasmine's father; he had been a nice guy, too. He mostly spent his time with the King and Queen, but nonetheless was always a joy to be around. And he had fallen ill? How tragic. Rapunzel frowned a bit, hearing the news. Jasmine was probably drowning in her tears right now.

"Well," Eugene started, standing up. How rude, right in the middle of her father's urgent news. "I feel as though we should all keep him in our prayers, and hope for his health to return."

Her father watched as Eugene stood and Rapunzel saw his eyes squint. What was that about? Why were they suddenly being so rude to each other?

She stood up as well as her mother replied, "Yes, let's hope for good health."

Eugene took Rapunzel's hand and said, "If you don't mind, I will be excusing us. I would like to talk to my wife." He gripped her hand a bit tighter and pulled her away from the table. Before they rounded the corner, Rapunzel was able to call out a quick, "Excuse us!"

Eugene's hold on her was rough as he moved from her hand to her wrist and dragged her out of the dining room. She stumbled along behind him, shouting an angry "Hey!" from time to time. Eventually though, he let go of her hand and pushed her into a room.

Rapunzel grabbed her wrist and glared at him. "What was that for?" she asked, taking a few steps back. Eugene had brought them to the den, where there was a fireplace and some bookshelves. The fire wasn't needed now – it was warm outside, a good July evening, and the setting sun lit up the stained glass in the windows.

He shut and locked the door, then turned to her. "The Sultan isn't 'fatally ill'."

She glared, still rubbing where his hand had forcefully grabbed hers. It really wasn't like Eugene at all to do that. "What are you talking about?"

"Your father was lying," Eugene continued, going over to the windows and shutting the drapes. It instantly became darker, and Rapunzel walked over to the gas lamp and turned it on.

"What reason would he have to lie?" she asked him as she sat down on the chair in the corner of the room. She fixed her dress and leaned her head against the chair.

He pulled a chair from the desk in the back and sat next to her. "I don't know, but something is wrong. I could tell he was lying – I've lied plenty in my days to know what it looks like."

Rapunzel reached a hand out to his, stroking the palm with her index finger. "I think you might just be over reacting. The Sultan was a very good man, and I know you—"

Eugene grunted and pulled his hand back, angry. "I'm not over reacting, okay? Something else is wrong, but it's not the Sultan. Don't you think Jasmine would have given you a letter as well? After all, she thinks of you as a very dear friend."

Rapunzel blew it off, scoffing. "Please, Eugene—"

"No, Rapunzel. Think about it. Baelfire was quiet all this evening, like he was thinking about something. And then he really shut up when that letter came. Think about it."

But she didn't want to think about it though. How could her father lie? He was such an honest man, good and kind… it just didn't seem like him! "I have a hard time believing," she told her husband, "especially with such little evidence."

Eugene stood and stalked over to the desk, slamming his hands down on it. "I know a lie when I hear it Punz, and that was a lie if I ever become deaf."

He seemed really adamant on it, and Rapunzel had to give him credit. In his days as a thief, he had told plenty lies and seen enough of it to know it by heart. But how could her own father do such a thing? It was just inconceivable, unrealistic—

"I know that it might seem… fishy to you, but I think my father is telling the truth, Eugene." Rapunzel got out of the chair and walked over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. He wouldn't look at her. "He's never lied to me before, and there's no reason for him to lie now; at least, nothing that we wouldn't know about, right?" She leaned into him more and whispered, "The Stabbington Brothers are still out there, right? Making sure everything's okay?"

Eugene nodded. "Yes, they've got from France to Denmark covered. Anything in our vicinity we'll know about."

She smiled. "See? Everything's okay." He still didn't look at her. Rapunzel made a face and continued, "Alright, here's the deal. We'll go to the post master: if he says if the letter came by land, it's from Agrabah; if it came by sea, then we've got something to worry about, and I'll bring it up with my father. Does that sound okay?"

The ex-thief looked up at her then, and gave her a soft smile. He looked a little relieved. "Sure, Blondie, that sounds okay."

Rapunzel smiled back and took his hand. Together, the two made their way out of the door. Eugene went on about something he had witnessed in the town when there was suddenly a rather large clomping sound behind them. They turned around and running up behind them was a castle guard.

"My Lady," he said, fixing the helmet on his head. "The King has commanded me to inform you that he requests an audience with you and your husband in his study."

Rapunzel looked up to Eugene, who stared straight ahead. "We shall be there in a moment," she replied. The guard nodded and left them alone.

Eugene instantly turned to Rapunzel and said, "I told you there was something more."

She grabbed his hand and started toward the study. "He might just want to talk about how rude you were at dinner." Rapunzel gave him a pointed look.

"Ha, ha, ha," he said. "I doubt it. I'm telling you, there's something going on."

"We'll see," she replied.

Once they reached the study doors, Rapunzel knocked twice and entered. Eugene stayed by her side as the two walked towards the desk where her father sat. He looked dismayed.

"Papa?" she asked quietly. Rapunzel gripped Eugene's hand tighter.

Baelfire sighed. "My Darling, please have a seat. Yourself, as well, young Lord."

They took a seat on the couch and waited for the King to say something. Rapunzel sat forward, Eugene sat back, and after a few minutes they switched positions.

"Your highness," Eugene started, "Why did you call us here?"

The King sighed again and stood before walking over to the happily wedded couple. "I have done something unspeakable."

Rapunzel was a little confused. What did he mean 'unspeakable'? "I'm not sure I understand." Eugene took her hand again, intertwining their fingers. What? Did he think it was something so bad?

"My Dear, I—" Baelfire stuttered. "I have lied to you." He shook his head. "Eugene caught on very quickly, but I only hoped your mother didn't see through my rouse. It was her I tried to keep it from. This is not something she will take easily." The King knelt down on his knee and grasped Rapunzel's other hand. "The letter was not from Agrabah; the Sultan is fine. The letter was from one of our neighboring Kingdoms, Arendelle. The new Queen has come of age, and her coronation is exactly a week from tomorrow."