Rapunzel, the One With All the Hair (14 page)

I ride Snowflake right up to the base of the tower and hop off. I grab my satchel and call up, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.” Then to be clever I add, “So I can get you out of there!” Ah, good poetry never goes out of style.

Rapunzel lowers her braid and I climb up faster this time than before. It figures: I find the one physical activity I am not half bad at, and this will be the last time I ever do it. I hop in the window and can't wait to show her the ladder that I finished in the wee hours of the morn. But there is no girl at the end of the braid. There is only an ugly, angry, scary witch. I frantically search the room, but Rapunzel is nowhere in sight.

“What have you done with her?” I demand. I stand straight and tall and give her my most royal glare. She is not impressed. With one swing of her arm, she knocks me clear to the wall. My ears ring from the blow, and my glasses are knocked all the way across the room.

“Do you think that just because you are a prince you can do whatever you like?”

Her words sound fuzzy to me. All I can hear are
prince
and
whatever
. Do I nod or shake my head? I do not know what will bring her wrath. Nodding is the easier solution because my chin is already resting on my chest from the blow. So I lift it slightly and nod once. That apparently was the wrong answer, because the next thing I know, I am flying through the air. The witch has tossed me out the window!

I grab blindly for the braid as I fall, but when I catch hold of it, the force rips it from the hinge and it falls right along with me. It is true what they say about your life passing before your eyes when you are about to die. There I am at two, taking my first steps across the Great Lawn (I was a late bloomer). There I am at seven at my birthday party. I choose Andrew to sit next to me, instead of Elkin. Interesting. Perhaps Elkin was right and I did not treat him well. I shall have to apologize. In the next life, that is. There I am at ten, the day the midwife showed me Annabelle for the first time and she grabbed my thumb and wouldn't let go. And finally, there is Rapunzel with her glowing eyes and bright smile. My last thought shall be of her, and how I have let her down.

I fully expect to break my back as I hit the ground, but to my astonishment, I find myself upright in my saddle. I cannot believe it! Snowflake has broken my fall! The witch
is screaming something from the window, but it just sounds like noise to my ears. I can make out Snowflake's neck, but without my glasses, I might as well have my eyes closed. “It is up to you, old friend, to take us home. It would probably be a good idea to move quickly before the witch decides to put a curse on us.”

I drop the reins and hold on tight to his neck. I close my eyes and Snowflake takes off at a gallop. Hours pass. I spend the time imagining that Rapunzel returned to her family this morning and has forgotten all about the prince who let her down. The forest seems so quiet, but I know that is because of my damaged ears. Snowflake stops for water and I join him at the brook. I splash some on my face and neck. Nothing looks familiar, but then again, everything is a blur, anyway. I have to trust that Snowflake knows what he's doing. What choice do I have?

 

DUSK

Although the sun has not fully set, there is no light left in the forest. Surely we should have been back at the castle by now. My ears have cleared considerably and the croaking of the bullfrogs has joined the howling of the wolves. I might as well have died from the fall, since the wolves will soon be upon us.

We trudge ever onward, farther into the forest. I am
about to reconsider the wisdom of letting the horse lead the way when I hear something that does not sound like either croaking or howling. It almost sounds like a ditty I once heard when Father took me to an alehouse with some of the barons. I listen as hard as I can. The sound is getting closer. It is definitely that song!

Rapunzel! I would recognize that voice anywhere! But how could she be here, in the middle of nowhere?

“Rapunzel!” I call out. “Can you hear me?”

The song stops. “Prince Benjamin? Is it truly you?”

“Where are you? I cannot see anything.”

“I am in a ring of tall bushes. Do you see them?”

“The witch broke my glasses. I can see nothing.”

She doesn't respond for a moment. When she does, there is a catch in her voice. “She found you, then. I am so sorry. It was my mistake that led to all this.”

I continue to let Snowflake lead the way. He must have been drawn by Rapunzel's voice this whole time. We were
never headed toward the castle at all. With more confidence than I feel, I proclaim, “Fret no more, Lady Rapunzel, for I am here to rescue you. Again. But I mean it this time.”

She laughs. It sounds like music. I really AM getting soft, as Elkin said!

“I see you!” she says excitedly. “I can see your head above the bushes. I cannot come to you, because the bushes are full of prickles and we can't risk drawing blood.”

“I shall toss my cloak over to you. If you lay it over the lowest bush, would that cushion your climb well enough?”

“I think so!” Rapunzel says. “Have Snowflake move a few feet to his left.”

I follow her instruction and then toss the cloak up to the top of the bush. It takes a few tries before it does not simply fall back on my head. “Do you have it?” I call out.

“Yes!” she replies. “I've got the end of it.”

“Start climbing,” I tell her. “I shall hold on to the end that is hanging over on my side so that it doesn't slip out from under you.” I find the ends fairly easily, with only a puncture or two to speak of. Then I dismount and stand at Snowflake's side.

“When you reach the top of the bush, you can slide down the cloak and Snowflake will be right there.”

“I'm on the top,” she says gleefully. “I see you and Snowflake now.”

“Be careful,” I warn her. “Go slow so you don't fall through.”

A minute later she has landed in the saddle with a quiet plop. She hugs the horse's neck and then jumps down and hugs me. A girl is hugging me! What can a boy do besides hug her back?

She pulls away. “I have something for you,” she says. “Hold out your hand.”

I do as she says. Is she going to give me a berry? That would be nice and refreshing, but we really should be hurrying back. I can only imagine the insanity at the castle right now. But she doesn't give me a berry. She places a pair of glasses in my hands. MY glasses! I put them on my face, and the world suddenly comes into focus. I can see by the moonlight all the things Rapunzel was describing.

“Where? How? When?” I stumble over my words.

She laughs. “You left them in the tower on your first visit after you, er,
fell
and they broke. I had them tied around my neck like a necklace so the witch wouldn't see them. I bent the stems back into place for you. At the rate you break your glasses, you should have a spectacle maker on the castle premises full time!”

Now it is my turn to hug her. “You are so right! I shall appoint an official spectacle maker as soon as we return. I know just the one!” I could singlehandedly keep Other
Benjamin's father in business year-round! I am certainly old enough to appoint officials now. I could have simply done that in the first place. Of course, then I would not have wound up on the treasure hunt, and I would not have rescued Rapunzel.

Or has she rescued me?

A weary Snowflake finally leads us out of the woods. In the distance I see a huge castle. It is blazing with lights. It looks more like midday here than midnight. To get to the castle, we have to pass across a huge lawn. A group of men on horseback are gathered in a circle. One of them catches sight of us and gallops over at top speed. As he gets closer, I see he has a crown on his head. I know I'm supposed to bow to a king, but can one do that on a horse?

“Benjamin!” he says in a booming voice full of love. “Rapunzel! Thank goodness you are both safe!”

Did he just say my name? I lean forward in the saddle and whisper, “How does he know my name?”

Benjamin shakes his head. “I have no idea, I swear.”

The king alights from his horse, and we dismount as well. He gives the prince a long hug to the point where I doubt the boy can breathe. A woman comes running across the lawn, holding up the ends of her long dress, and practically
throws herself at him as well, sobbing. The prince's face reddens and he finally disentangles himself.

“Mum, Father, this is my friend Rapunzel. She was trapped in a —”

“In a tower,” his mother finishes. “Yes, yes, we know all about it.”

“But how?” the prince asks. “The only people who knew about her were …” he trails off. “Right. I should have known. Elkin!”

“Do not blame him, son,” his father says. “When you did not return, he went to look for you. When he saw your markings and found the tower abandoned and a screaming witch inside, he hurried back to alert us. Between Andrew and him, we learned the whole story. Elkin led the castle guards back there and boarded up the place for good — with the witch inside. She will never bewitch anyone again.”

“You trapped the witch in the tower?” I ask the prince in awe. “You are truly brilliant.”

He blushes again and kicks up a little dirt with his toe. “It was an accident, really. Just some good luck for a change.”

I have embarrassed him with my compliment, but his mother beams and turns to give me a closer look. “You must be exhausted, child. Come to the castle and let us fix you a
warm meal. We have sent a courier to your parents' house. He will bring them back here in the morning.”

I am too happy for words right now. I let her lead me through the castle gate and into the Great Hall, where a huge feast is hurriedly being laid. Word of our return must have traveled fast. I see roast pheasant and turnips and a pig glazed with honey. My mouth waters.

Two boys around the prince's age come bounding into the room and throw their arms around him. The red-haired one I know to be Elkin, and I figure the other can be no other than Andrew the page. When they are done with the hugging and merrymaking, Andrew comes over to me and, bowing slightly, says, “I believe this is yours, Lady Rapunzel.” He steps aside and I see Sir Kitty behind him, happily chasing a mouse. I was about to tell him I am not of noble blood and therefore do not deserve the title of lady, but I am too happy to see Sir Kitty. I sweep her up into my arms and twirl around singing the “Dipsy Doodle” song. (In my defense, I am truly a bit loopy from what has been the craziest day of all the crazy days). After a while, I realize everyone in the room is watching me. I stop twirling and singing, and bow clumsily. The prince starts clapping and everyone else joins in. He pulls out a chair for me and I gratefully sit.

Serving maids dish out helping after helping of everything on the table until I cannot eat even one more kernel of
corn. Sir Kitty is enjoying all the scraps that wind up on the floor, and she is not alone. There are dogs, cats, mice, and I think I even see a hare or two. At one point, I could have sworn Benjamin was peeking under the table and talking to one of them, but I must have imagined it. Why would he be talking to a hare?

It is wonderful having Rapunzel safe in the castle. Mum herself showed her to the room where she'll be staying, and I heard the squeal from down the hall when Rapunzel laid eyes on the soft canopy bed. I know it was Andrew's investigative skills that led my parents to send the courier to her parents' house. I am truly lucky to have such friends as these. The only thing that dampens my spirits is having to tell Rapunzel about my engagement. She may not care at all, but I sort of hope she does.

I do not recall my head hitting the pillow. The next thing I know, I am awakened by singing. But the song is not “The Lovely Lass,” and the voice is not Rapunzel's. In fact, it is not even female. I open my eyes to see the sun well risen. Where is the singing coming from?

I follow the sounds and am led to my window. I push apart the drapes and see what must be fifty boys between ages nine and twelve. The only one I recognize is Other
Benjamin. He is leading the crowd. These must be all the
other
Other Benjamins! When they see me, they sing even louder:

I finally have a song written about me! Okay, so it's not the world's best song, but it's the thought that counts. I wave down to them and they wave back. Mum walks into my room and smiles when she sees the boys. They bow when they catch sight of her and slowly start to dissipate back through the fields.

“That was lovely of them,” she says as I beam. “I wanted to come up before breakfast to talk to you.”

“What is it? Is anything wrong?” I notice that the bandage on her hand is gone and there is only the slightest pink flush left.

She shakes her head. “I want to tell you I am proud of you for the bravery you showed rescuing Rapunzel. I am not happy that you went behind our backs, but I understand your reasons. Under the circumstances, I feel that it would
not be right to ask you to marry someone you do not know. It is going against tradition, but I feel strongly that you deserve to make your own choice when the time is right.”

I throw my arms around her like I used to when I was a little boy. “Thank you, Mum! Thank you!”

“All right, all right,” she says, pulling me off and laughing. “Just get dressed and come down. Rapunzel's parents should be here any moment.”

Joyfully I wash my face and put on my most comfortable clothes. After being in those constricting riding and hunting outfits for the past few days, it is a relief to be back in my regular clothes. When I get downstairs, I find everyone is sharing my merry mood. Mum has invited many of the neighboring lords and ladies, and they are already feasting at the table. Or perhaps they never left from last night! Jugglers are juggling real apples this time, and children are running around with streamers trailing after them. I wave at Rapunzel, who is dressed in a new green gown, her newly shortened hair clean and brushed. She looks like a different person from the girl with the frightened eyes and the dusty dress. Two ladies-in-waiting sit on either side of her, so I have to sit a few seats down.

Before I fill my belly, I ask one of the stewards to get me a piece of parchment and a quill. I write my first official letter of appointment and ask the steward to pass it to a
courier. I tell him to be sure he delivers it to the dung heap cleaner in the village. The steward seems surprised, but bows and takes his leave. I give the head-bob, but he is already gone and doesn't notice.

“Lovely,” Elkin says, clapping appreciatively from across the table. “Much less chickenlike.”

“Ha-ha,” I reply, digging into my raspberry porridge. Rescuing damsels in distress builds a hearty appetite.