Rapunzel: The One With All the Hair Read online

  “We are going to have to judge by feel,” Andrew whispers, reaching out his hand and unfurling the ends of one of the rolls before going on to the next.

  I start on a different shelf, rubbing one material after the other between my fingers. I can recognize the rough ones like wool or leather, but the rest feel the same to me.

  “We don’t have time for this,” I tell him. “Just pick one that you think is strong enough, and let’s get out of here.”

  “Okay, okay,” he says, hurriedly testing two or three by yanking on them in both directions. “I think this is the right one.” He pulls at a roll, and I help him bring it down from the shelf.

  “We should only take what we need so that no one gets suspicious,” I tell him.

  He picks up the lamp and shines it around the room. I follow him to a table with some cutting shears. Starting at opposite ends, we cut the material into thick strips until I think we have enough to cover the distance. I put the rest of the roll away and we hurry to rejoin Elkin, who is sitting outside the doorway, sound asleep! Andrew closes the door behind us, and Elkin wakes up with a start. “Mommy?” he says, rubbing his eyes. “Have you come to tuck me in?”

  Andrew and I have to stuff our fists in our mouths to keep from screaming with laughter and waking the whole castle.

  When the witch comes this morning, I have to remind myself to look downcast and despondent. It isn’t too hard, considering all the practice I have gotten this past fortnight. Usually she leaves as soon as she brings my food, but of course she chooses today to hang around. She has one of those huge flying bugs circling her hair, the first I have seen of them since that day in Father’s garden. It makes me think of Steven and how I hope he made it to a secure hiding place.

  I am hungry so, not knowing what else to do, I start eating the potatoes and beets that she brought me. She watches me eat, seemingly fascinated. I glance up for a second and I swear her wart wobbles of its own accord. I think I may toss up my food. I keep my head down after that.

  Eventually she speaks. “I do not blame you for what you and that … that underground cave creature tried to do. I understand why you wanted to escape.”

  I do not respond.

  “You might think that life is better out there, but you are wrong. I know what is best for a growing girl. You will learn that I am right.”

  It takes all my willpower not to scream that I will not be learning ANYTHING from her, because soon enough I shall never be laying eyes on her again. She finally leaves, and I hurry to tidy up the place before the prince comes. There is not much to tidy. I push the chair under the table and straighten the blanket on the “bed.” I tuck in the wisps of hair that have come loose from the braid. My scrapes have all healed, and I am pimple free. There is nothing I can do about the sorry state of my dress, though. I will be leaving the trunk behind, so I pull out the few things I will bring with me — the spoon and, even though it is nearly ruined, the shawl Mother knitted for me. Sir Kitty will be coming, too, of course. The rest the witch is welcome to.

  Finally I hear the call from below and hurry to the window. I pray it is not the witch returned to tell me again that she knows what is best for me. Thankfully, it is the prince! He reaches into his satchel and holds up a big pile of purple silk.

  I grin down at him and toss out the braid. He climbs faster this time, but he is still much slower than the witch.

  “Was it any problem getting the silk?” I ask him when he climbs in.

  He shakes his head and smiles. “Nah. I’ve got people on the inside.” He turns the satchel upside down, and we both get busy tying the ends together to make one long rope. It moves quickly, and when we are done, he asks, “Shall we test it?”

  I nod and we go to the window. The prince ties one end to the old hinge and lets the rest drop. We both squeeze into the window frame to watch.

  “Huh,” he says.

  “Hmm,” I say.

  “Not quite long enough, is it?”

  I shake my head. “I think it would’ve been, had we not needed to tie all those knots.”

  “I think you’re right. I had not taken that into consideration. I shall get the rest tonight, and we leave tomorrow for certain. I’ll take this piece with me and finish the job at the castle.”

  I nod and tell him that will be wonderful, but truly I want to cry. “Will you take Sir Kitty back with you today as well? Then at least I’ll know she is safe.”

  “Of course,” he says. I can tell he feels bad, too.

  I pick Sir Kitty up from where she has been sunning herself on the floor and kiss her on the nose. “Don’t stir up any trouble in the castle, Sir Kitty. These are good people.” She puts her paw on my chin and I feel like crying again. Before I embarrass myself further, I hand the cat to Prince Benjamin and he puts her gently into his now empty satchel and secures it over his chest.

  “Do not worry,” he says as I lower my hair for his descent. “You shall see her before you know it.”

  I nod, unable to trust myself not to burst into tears if I say anything further.

  Elkin has promised to stay awake this time. Just to be sure, we have instructed him to stand with one leg raised at all times. That should keep him focused. I feel very stupid for not considering how much the silk ladder would shrink once the pieces were tied together. It barely reached halfway to the ground. Rapunzel put on a brave face, but I know she was disappointed. I have set up Sir Kitty in the royal pet room, where she will get cared for and fed at all hours of the day and night. I told the royal animal handler that I am watching her for a friend and to keep a special eye on her. He bowed and asked no questions. I gave him an excellent head-bob, if I do say so myself.

  Andrew is grabbing at the rolls of material, muttering, “Where is it? It was right here last night!”

  I hold the lamp up so he can see better. The purple roll is definitely not on the shelf where I stashed it. “You’ll have to search on your own,” I tell him. “I have to get down to the sitting room to meet Mum. Do you know what she wants to talk to me about?”

  Andrew shakes his head. “You go on — I’ll find it.”

  I hurry out, saluting Elkin as I pass him. Good to his word, he is balancing on one leg. I run through the castle to the sitting room. Mum is waiting in front of the fire, her knitting needles flashing so quickly, my eye can barely follow. Annabelle is spinning a top at her feet. Does the child not have a bedtime?

  “Have a seat, Benjamin,” Mum says, gesturing with her elbow to the seat beside her.

  Could she have found out about my trips to the tower? I do not see how. Something is going on, though. She rarely asks to speak to me in such a formal manner. “Is something troubling you, Mum?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “Quite the opposite. I have good news. You are now engaged to be married, Benjamin. We have selected your future bride, a lovely princess who lives three kingdoms away. The wedding will take place on your seventeenth birthday.”

  Annabelle pops her head up and squeals, “I engaged, too, Benjy! We bof engaged!”

  I should be stunned by this news. Flabbergasted and appalled. However, I have just noticed the beautiful purple silk robe that Mum is wearing.

  “May I be excused?” I ask her.

  She nods.

  I jump out of the chair and run back down the twisting hallways to the workroom. In my brief absence, Elkin has switched to the other foot. Andrew has made a mess of the place and is still muttering to himself. “No silk, no silk anywhere!”

  “You can stop your search,” I announce. “Mum is WEARING it! Oh, and I am now engaged.”

  At that, Elkin comes running into the room, and Andrew hurries over to me, knocking aside one of the dressmaker’s mannequins.

  “You are engaged?” Elkin asks, eyes wide.

  Hearing him say it, Mum’s words finally sink in. “I am engaged,” I repeat, sinking to my knees. “How can I be engaged? I just met the first girl I have ever liked.”

  LATER EVE