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

[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.

[hisowninvention]

Yes, yes she is. That is fine by Rolan. She can cling all she wants.

[sundayfish]

"We swept the woods. How far out is deep?" asks Cearl.

[powershines]

"W-we walked here in a day and a half."

[hisowninvention]

"It's just shy of the Orimere border," says Rolan. "Maybe another half a day's walk. And it's not a big tower; you can't really see it until you're a stone's throw away."

[powershines]

"And she knows magic plants. She might have had something growing around when the search was going on. I don't know, I don't remember."

[sundayfish]

Now they are in the palace, still with guards around.

"You do look," Cearl murmurs, "very much like Ranae, and the hair..."

[hisowninvention]

"You could sing the song," murmurs Rolan. "If you want."

[powershines]

"Oh - yeah - there's a song and then it - glows -"

Rapunzel runs through the song, softly.

[sundayfish]

[hisowninvention]

"The glowing is what tipped me off," Rolan contributes. "That and the fact that it healed me of two broken legs."