Rapunzel

  “You were not exaggerating about how quaint this town is,” Jacob commented, admiring the flower decorating the window of one of the many little shops.

  “Oh, this isn’t even the best part. We are not quite to the town proper yet. That’s where things get ridiculous." She shook her head. "The people who live there are obsessed with preserving history and maintaining the integrity of historical sites. I used to make fun, but now I have a better understanding of what they are seeking to accomplish and why. It is a cool thing they are doing, protecting history from the sands of time. What better way to avoid repeating it than making sure all can learn from the mistakes of the past?”

  “I can certainly understand and appreciate the logic in that. I look forward to getting to explore some of these sights over the next few days." He turned his focus back to Rapunzel. "First things first, though, where are we staying? Or where am I staying? Is there a particular inn you recommend?”

  “No need for an inn. I happen to know of a safe house of sorts, an apartment where we can stay, and no one will bother us. It is attached to the estate of a rather eccentric older lady, who just so happens to be a retired Ranger." She sent him a stern look. "That piece of knowledge is going to stay between you and me, of course.”

  “I was not aware Rangers retired. The Table has not been around overly long, and I would imagine the travel between realms would have an interesting effect on lifespans, as well as the access to older magic.”

  “This was a bit of a special circumstance, and I am not familiar with the whole story. Not many are, on the request of the Ranger. Snow worked with her briefly during her training, so she was able to make me aware of the place," Rapunzel explained. "I have stayed there once, maybe twice since meeting Snow. The owner of the estate is a lovely lady if a bit of an recluse. She regularly offers parts of her living space to those who need a roof over their head, so no one will question our being there.”

  “Very well then. Certainly, sounds preferable to an inn. And we will have fewer questions to answer about what we are doing here and who we are. I also assume it is a safer location than an inn?”

  “It certainly is, and it is something that will never be noticed by my family.”

  “You still haven’t told me much about your family. They sound big but I must admit, I am unfamiliar with the name Ryder.”

  “It’s not a name most are familiar with,” Rapunzel replied, artfully dodging the first part of his statement by completely ignoring it. He sensed her unwillingness to share at this point, so he let the subject drop.

  They traveled the rest of the way in relative silence, occasionally exchanging small talk between themselves and with the people on the streets.

  Rapunzel took the lead as they approached the estate of the former Ranger. It was large and well kept without being grandiose. The garden was bursting with brightly colored flowers, primarily a brilliant yellow flower that resembled a sunburst. The horses plodded along the drive, perking up when they saw the small stable tucked just behind the house.

  They handed their horses off to a stable boy. Another boy had seen their entrance and quickly ran into the house, returning with a young woman who was a few years older and much less nervous.

  “Welcome, dear guests. My name is Matilda. Was our lady expecting you?” the maid said with a curtsey.

  “I am afraid we were unable to call ahead, due to some unforeseen circumstances with our holiday plans. We do hope this won’t pose an imposition upon our lady,” Rapunzel replied.

  “Oh, I am sure it shall be no trouble at all. Would you prefer one of the spare rooms or the guest apartment?”

  “The guest apartment, please.”

  “Very well, then. Allow me to show you to a sitting room. I will need to go and fetch our lady to retrieve the key for the guest apartment.”

  Matilda gestured for them to follow and so they did, through the yard and towards the back entrance to the house.

  “Wonderful. May I inquire, how is our lady doing?" Rapunzel asked.

  "It has been some time since I last saw or heard from her. Is she in good health and good spirits?”

  “Oh, I did not realize you were aware of her condition. Mother can be quite private about such things." Matilda smiled apologetically. "Her health has certainly been improving the last few years. The doctors finally found a treatment that leaves her with more good days than bad. There is still some debate whether she will be fully restored to how she was before the incident, but I have hope.”

  “Mother? I didn’t know...oh, Matilda! I remember now. You were traveling the last time I stopped in, so that is why I did not recognize you." Rapunzel’s smile brightened. "The way she spoke of you, I knew you were a beacon of light and hope in her life. I am so glad the two of you have each other.”

  “It has certainly worked out well for the both of us, even if it is not the most conventional of arrangements.”

  “Conventional isn’t always in the cards in our line of work.”

  “Indeed. If you would not mind waiting here while I go and fetch Mother. I am sure she will be delighted to see you.”

  Matilda bowed briefly before excusing herself from the room, leaving Rapunzel and Jacob in the sitting room. The seats were comfortable, and the decorations were stylish, but there were some elements one might expect in such a room that were noticeably lacking.

  Portraits. Mirrors. Any sort of familial symbology or crests. All things commonly found in such an estate.

  “Some Rangers do not maintain contact with their families after joining, especially if they come from old magic,” Rapunzel commented. "There are more than a few families out there who are not overly fond of the Table, or at least not overly trusting. I understand some of where they are coming from." Jacob nodded. "Knowing what I know of the reign of the old king, it makes sense that some would have a harder time trusting ruling bodies like that. Others lack the understanding of what the Table is and what they are trying to do. I know it's not a perfect system, but it is evolving and growing, and I say they are doing a damn fine job picking up the pieces after the last ruler.”

  “I know some of the older people in my family liked to grumble about the Table and their branches and policies. I always thought the Table was doing a good job, given the circumstances.”

  The conversation stopped as they caught the sound of footsteps approaching the door. Matilda entered, followed by an older lady who looked nothing like her. Matilda was tan with dark hair, while the lady of the manor was pale with what once was blonde hair, now gone mostly silver.

  Time had apparently treated her kindly, as she was still rather beautiful, and her eyes shone with a liveliness that made it hard to pinpoint her age. Her pretty pink evening gown had embellishments around the collar, and she held onto Matilda’s arm while she walked. The gesture seemed to be more of habit than of necessity.

  Rapunzel stood as she entered, and Jacob followed suit.

  “Oh, dearest Rapunzel, how delighted I am to see you! And you have brought a handsome young friend with you. Is Snow soon to follow?” the lady cooed, holding out her hand to Rapunzel.

  Rapunzel took the proffered hand in both of hers, pressing it gently.

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  “It is wonderful to see you as well, my lady. Snow will not be joining us this time, as she is attending to other business, but she sends her best and promises that she will visit soon.”

  “Darling, how many times must I tell you? Call me Aurora,” she chided. "Tell Snow next time you see her to give me a heads up before she visits, and I will prepare dinner for her.”

  “I will pass that message along. We will be meeting up not long after I finish my business here.”

  “Ahh, so you are here for business then? I hope you have some time to visit, though I will not impose. Whatever you need that I can provide is at your disposal. Will this young gentleman be joining you?” Aurora gestured to Jacob.

  Rapunzel glanced at him, questions in her eyes. Without waiting for her to respond, he stepped forward and offered his hand.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Aurora. My name is Jacob Grimm, and I am here in the case that Rapunzel needs backup. Thank you for so graciously allowing us to stay in your home.”

  “Handsome and polite,” she commented, accepting his hand. “Not to mention strong and intelligent." She looked at Rapunzel. "He’s not Snow, but he is a good traveling companion." She let go of Jacob’s hand. "Any friend of Rapunzel’s is a friend of mine.”

  He blushed slightly at this appraisal and Rapunzel stifled a giggle.

  “He has proved to be a fine companion so far. We had quite a long journey to get here, and he made no complaints about how early we had to get up each morning.”

  “Oh my, where are my manners? You must be quite tired after your trip. Matilda, would you be a dear and show them to the apartment? I have some business of my own to attend to, but I do hope you will both join me for dinner.”

  “We wouldn’t miss it.”

  It did not take them long to get settled in their private apartment attached to the main house. Other homeowners may have used the space as a servant’s quarters to keep them out of sight, out of mind. Not this one. Either the lady herself or someone who owned the building before her had renovated the entire space to resemble a private apartment. The space showed more personality than the rest of the building, with pictures and paintings and letters pinned to the wall, along with other memorabilia.

  “Those of us who stay here bring her knick-knacks and pictures from our travels." Rapunzel opened the door to one of the private rooms and dropped her bag onto the floor, flopping backwards on the bed with a contented sigh. "It helps liven the place up a bit. Some pieces she puts out around the house while she keeps the rest here.”

  “I believe I recognized the name of our host. She wouldn’t happen to be the Aurora who oversaw the treaty between the pirates and the Lost Boys?” Jacob asked from the room directly across the hall.

  Rapunzel shifted around until she was propped up on one arm so she could make eye contact with him.

  “You know that story?”

  “I know pieces of it,” he admitted. “We were visiting one of the few cousins we actually like and there was some talk around the dinner table. I have only a passing familiarity with Neverland, and all of that came from reading certain history books that are not found in most libraries.”

  “I would say so. Most people aren’t aware of the other realms, or they don’t believe they actually exist. If one of your cousins knew what happened, they must have been hired to assist with that situation or know someone who was." Rapunzel sighed. "It certainly was a messy situation.”

  “It definitely sounded like it. She seems to be recovering quite well.”

  “It’s been a rough road and a long one. She was taken elsewhere for a while until she was able to function independently. She may never again be as she was, but it warms my heart to see she is doing so well." She shifted to face the door. "Matilda has helped a lot too. Aurora adopted her some time ago, and the arrangement has been very beneficial for the both of them.”

  “What is Matilda’s story?”

  “Once again, I don’t know the fine details of this story. At some point, Aurora was engaged or married to Matilda’s father, but when she joined the Rangers, their parents pressured him to break it off. Both sides were not happy with her decision, and he was not in a position to fight it." Aurora was far from the only person this happened to, but she had one of the more unique stories. "Things were different back then. So, he married another nice lady, and they were happy for a time. They had a little girl. Then his wife grew ill and passed away. He had fallen out of touch with Aurora at this point, so she was not aware when he remarried. He got married rather quickly, too, for there was a chance he would succumb in a few years to the same illness that claimed his wife. He died three years later, but the girl was able to escape such a fate. Everything was left to the stepmother, and it quickly became obvious that she had only married him for the inheritance.”

  “Poor girl, to lose both parents like that and then to be left with someone she barely knew,” Jacob said. "I am assuming that since she is no longer with the stepmother that things did not go well. Or did I miss a piece of the story?”

  “No, you assume correctly. I don’t know the details of what happened because I have yet to hear Matilda’s side of things. Plus, that is her story to share, not mine.”

  “Of course.”

  “Aurora had retired and was beginning to settle in this estate around the same time the girl’s mother died. She knew nothing of it, of course. But somehow the girl found out about her, perhaps finding some of the letters Aurora exchanged with her father or perhaps through her father’s personal diary. I personally think it was when Aurora attended her father’s funeral." Snow shared the same theory. "At that point in her recovery, Aurora was able to function out in society for periods of time. She spoke briefly with Matilda before leaving, sharing the story of their brief engagement and her friendship with the girl’s father. She offered if she could ever be of assistance, that Matilda needed only ask. Sometime later Aurora received a letter from the girl’s former maid. The woman had been let go by the stepmother but promised Matilda before she left she would send a message to Aurora. The letter explained how the stepmother was treating the girl poorly, using her as a pawn or a piece of property. Many of the servants had to take the mementos of her father with them as they left to prevent them from being thrown out or destroyed. Matilda needed a way out of that house, but she would not be able to leave without help.”

  “How awful,” Jacob muttered.

  “Indeed. Aurora was furious when she learned of this. She immediately saw to it that Matilda would be hired as a maid to tend to her house. The stepmother did not disagree with this, as in her mind it likely meant more money for her pocket. Once the girl was out of the house, Aurora was able to work out a plan with her to give Matilda a life of her own, free of her stepmother." Rapunzel respected Aurora greatly for this, as few would have been willing to do such a thing. "She used her connections to pull some strings so she could legally adopt Matilda, and then purchased from the servants the items that were once her father’s.”

  “That is a truly impressive act of generosity and clever thinking. I imagine adopting a child away from a stepmother is easier said than done.”

  “True. I’m not entirely sure how she managed it, but then I have never really asked. Not all mysteries need solving. She basically treats Matilda as if she were her biological daughter. Matilda chooses to work because she knows there is work to be done, but she is also free to travel and study and live how she chooses.”

  “Sounds like a wonderful life.”

  “It sure does.”

  Neither knew what to say after that, so they let the silence fall over the apartment. Rapunzel rolled back onto her back, slowing her breathing, and relaxing her muscles. There was not enough time for a nap, but that did not mean she could not get some rest in. A shifting sound in the other room told her Jacob was likely doing the same thing. She normally was not one for sharing stories with people who were not Snow, but she found talking to Jacob surprisingly comforting.

  Perhaps it was because he understood what it was to come from old magic, or perhaps it was because when he looked at her, he did not yet see her family name. And he would not see it if she had anything to say about it.

  Rapunzel had nearly drifted off to sleep when Jacob broke the silence.

  “I know you are not keen on discussing your family, and I promise this will be the last time I bring it up. But if you ever wish to just talk, I don’t mind listening and keeping my opinions to myself. I can sit and nod for as long as you need, or I can attempt to provide some sort of advice. I make no promises on how helpful that advice is, but I will try.”

  It was such a gentle, earnest suggestion that Rapunzel could not help but giggle as he made it.

  “I appreciate that, and I may take you up on that tomorrow night. For now, I just want to relax and enjoy some time with friends.”

  “Fair enough. I won’t push. Just know the offer is open.”

  “I know, and it's very sweet of you to offer.”

  “I will ask, though, what is your plan for the rest of this week?”

  “Tonight, I am going to enjoy myself and not think about it. Tomorrow, I will begin what will likely end up being an awkward series of conversations." Rapunzel returned her gaze to the ceiling. "Once I get what I need from them, we can leave.”

  “Would you like me to provide backup tomorrow, or would you rather I wait until later? I want to help, but I also don’t want to intrude on any conversation you would rather have privately.”

  “I will go alone, at first, but I plan to leave you with an empath stone. I’ll have the other half. It's a bit unconventional, but it is a surprisingly effective method of communication that my family will undoubtedly fail to notice. They’re pretentious like that.”

  “Do you think they’ll cause trouble?”

  “Oh, without a doubt. They’re a suspicious bunch, prying into everything. Even if they don’t try anything, some of the older ones may catch wind of my appearance and try to pull something. That’s why I want you on the outside, so you can give me a heads up. The empath stones go both ways.”

  “Ahhh, that makes sense. Sounds like you have it all planned out.”

  “Just because I know I can handle my family doesn’t mean I trust them all. " Her tone became grim. "Let’s just say it wasn’t the Rangers who taught me to be prepared for anything.”