mother knows best

[powershines]

Rapunzel doesn't sleep well, and she does wind up wrapped up in her hair overnight like a golden-cocooned butterfly. She's still dozing fitfully when the sun comes up.

Comments

[powershines]

"Thank you."

[hisowninvention]

"You're welcome, miss!" says the girl. The others echo her in chorus. One of them adds, "Happy princess's birthday!"

...Rolan giggles.

[powershines]

"...Happy princess's birthday to you too," echoes Rapunzel.

[hisowninvention]

The girls wave goodbye, and Rolan waves back, and he leads Rapunzel away.

"Well, that was adorable."

[powershines]

"Yeah." Rapunzel picks up the end of her braid and looks at it. "Are we almost there?"

[hisowninvention]

"We're - let's say, almost almost there. There's just one more busy market to avoid."

[powershines]

"Okay."

Rapunzel is noticeably happier.

[hisowninvention]

So is Rolan!

[powershines]

Rapunzel espies a pair of people walking down the street with one hugging the other's arm.

After a moment's thought she hugs Rolan's arm.

[hisowninvention]

Well. Okay then.

Their route around the final busy market takes them onto a narrow street with absolutely no one else on it, and when they emerge from that, they're at the edge of an open plaza directly in front of the palace. He heads for the extremely large doors.

[sundayfish]

There is a man in a crown speaking with some of the guards near those doors.

Rapunzel's hair, even braided up and beflowered, is - eye-catching. She catches his eye.

And he stares at her.

[powershines]

Rapunzel hugs Rolan's arm tighter.

[hisowninvention]

Rolan pats Rapunzel's shoulder with his free hand and keeps walking toward the king.

[sundayfish]

The king breaks away from the cluster of murmuring guards.

"Who are you?" he asks the two of them, mostly Rapunzel.

[powershines]

Rapunzel finds herself completely unable to reply.

[hisowninvention]

"I'm Rolan, and this is Rapunzel, and I'm pretty sure she's your daughter, your majesty."

[powershines]

"H-hi."

[sundayfish]

"Where - how?"

[hisowninvention]

"I found her locked in a tower in the deep woods. She's been raised there her whole life by a woman named Gothel who lied to her about her name, her birthday, and who her parents are. But I guessed who she might be, and I invited her to come to the city with me and find out for sure, and now here we are."

[sundayfish]

"Mm."

[powershines]

"I - can I - can we come in - I'm worried she's going to find me again."

[sundayfish]

King Cearl motions to the guards. They open the doors.

[hisowninvention]

Okay, in they go, then.

[sundayfish]

Closely flanked by guards, in they go.

[powershines]

Rapunzel is still clinging to Rolan's arm.