The Golden Braid

by Melanie Dickerson

  “Get my rope out of my saddlebag,” he said.

  She hurried to open the leather bag attached to his saddle and pulled out a length of rope.

  Sir Gerek tied Gothel’s wrists together in front of her, then tied her wrists to the donkey’s halter, which was still around its neck. Next he tied the donkey’s halter to his horse’s saddle.

  “I am going to put you on the donkey now,” Sir Gerek said to Gothel in an even voice. “You can either stay on the donkey”—he lifted her up and put her on the donkey’s back—“or you can be dragged by its side.”

  Rapunzel held her breath. Gothel simply stared straight ahead and remained on the animal’s back, unmoving.

  Gerek turned to Rapunzel. He took her hand in his and led her the few steps to his horse. “We’ll have to ride together,” he said near her ear, then placed her hands on the pommel, took hold of her leg, and boosted her into the saddle. Then he propelled himself behind her, wrapped an arm around her, and allowed Donner to move at a fast walk, pulling on the rope that connected them to the donkey.

  They skirted around the village until he reached the road back to Hagenheim.

  Rapunzel held on to Sir Gerek as she sat sidesaddle, but she turned so she could press her face against his chest. He was so warm and solid and strong.

  Perhaps it had not been wise to capture Gothel and take her with them. What if, while they were traveling on the road, Gothel somehow got the upper hand, the way Balthasar had? What if she slipped a sleeping potion into their water or killed Sir Gerek in his sleep? She shuddered, pressing her face harder against his chest.

  Sir Gerek said softly, “You’re safe now,” and he caressed her hair with his hand.

  She was almost afraid to breathe, not wanting to ruin the moment. If he made a jest or said something flippant or gruff or grouchy like he used to, she didn’t think she could bear it. So she kept silent, holding on to him, pretending he loved her as much as she loved him.

  What would he do when he found out she was Duke Wilhelm’s daughter? She was too terrified to tell him. After all, look at what had happened when she told Moth—Gothel. She had nearly destroyed Rapunzel, turning her life into an unholy nightmare.

  But surely nothing bad would happen if she told Sir Gerek. In fact, once she told him, perhaps he would want to marry her.

  What would Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose say? Would they believe she was truly their daughter? They might not think the scar was enough proof.

  She wouldn’t think about that now. It was enough that she was free and safe and that Sir Gerek had come looking for her. She sighed and felt herself smiling against his chest. He had come for her.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  When Gerek had steered his horse onto the road, Rapunzel put both arms around him and lay her cheek against his chest. The feeling she created inside him, tucked against him, her arms around his back, was better than winning a tournament, better than a hot bath after a long journey, better than anything. He wanted this feeling to last forever . . . at least the rest of his life.

  After almost two months of looking for her, the warmth of her in his arms was all he could have hoped for. She was safe.

  But her look of fear when she’d seen her mother again worried him. What had Gothel done to her? He knew she had dragged her away from Hagenheim, taken her on a long journey against her will, and locked her in the tower. She had obviously gone to great lengths to make sure Rapunzel never escaped from the tower prison. And she would have had to physically harm Rapunzel in order to do all that.

  The woman was truly mad.

  Rapunzel was sure they had been traveling for at least two hours when Sir Gerek said, “Do you want to stop and rest for a few minutes? I need to water my horse and the donkey, and I have some food for us.”

  “I brought some food too.”

  Sir Gerek took out both of their bundles. He helped Gothel off the donkey and managed to dodge her foot when she tried to kick him. He set her down beside the donkey, her hands still tied. When she demanded to be untied so she could go to the woods to relieve herself, he told her, “No, not yet.” But he did eventually allow her a little privacy, and Gothel did not try to run away.

  Rapunzel shared her mince pie and fried apple pasties and Sir Gerek shared his cheese and bread, apples, walnuts, and raisins. Her fingers touched his when she gave him a portion of the pie. His hand brushed hers as he passed her the bread, but it didn’t feel awkward. It felt . . . good.

  They still had not said much to each other as she sat cross-legged on the grass and Sir Gerek lay on his side, propped on one elbow.

  Rapunzel studied his face. “How long did you search for me?”

  “Since the day you were taken. I realized what had happened when Frau Adelheit came and said you had disappeared. I actually saw your mother in the castle yard during all the confusion after we took the castle back from Claybrook and his men.” There was an intense look in his brown eyes. “What did she do to you? Did she hurt you? How did she make you go with her?”

  “She forced some kind of sleeping potion down my throat.” Rapunzel described some of what had happened those first few days.

  He sat up and shook his head slowly. “I wish I could have saved you from all of that.”

  His compassionate words made her heart stutter. Thank you, Sir Gerek. May God bless you for caring about me.

  They packed up the rest of their food. There were so many little touches—when he took the food bundles from her, when he helped her into the saddle, when his arm brushed hers as he took the reins. How strange it was to be so near to Sir Gerek, letting him touch her, with Gothel watching them the entire time. And yet neither of them could exactly help it, since they were sharing the same horse. And this was Sir Gerek. She trusted him.

  As they rode along the north road to Hagenheim, Rapunzel said, “I still have your books.”

  “Perhaps you can read from them later,” he said.

  “It’s good they are in German, because you never finished teaching me Latin.”

  “We’ll have to get back to it, then, won’t we?”

  “Yes.” Would he really want to continue teaching her? She glanced up at him and he was looking down at her. His hair was so dark and thick. What would it feel like to touch it? He seemed to be staring at her lips. Was he imagining what it would feel like to kiss? Because she was.

  Would Rapunzel do what Gothel had done, which was to give in to whatever the man she loved asked her to do?

  She shuddered. Even though she was silent, it was as if Gothel was still controlling her thoughts. Didn’t Rapunzel know Sir Gerek well enough to know he wouldn’t hurt her, and certainly wouldn’t desert her? But how could she know that? How did a person ever know another person well enough to trust them, to absolutely trust that that person wouldn’t hurt them?

  “You can relax,” he said. “I don’t mind.”

  “Are you sure?” Her lower back was beginning to hurt from holding herself upright in the saddle.

  “Of course.” He put one arm around her as before, his hand clasping her upper arm.

  She leaned her shoulder against his chest. “How far are we from Hagenheim?”

  “We can make it in three days.”

  She almost said, “There’s no hurry, is there?” but then he might realize how much she was enjoying being with him.

  When the sun went down, Sir Gerek said, “I may not be able to find shelter for us every night, but I know of a castle not far from here where we can sleep tonight. It might keep us from getting our throats cut by your mo—by Gothel.”

  “That is good. Whose castle is it?”

  “My brother’s.”

  Gerek felt a weight pressing on his chest as they came into view of his family’s ancient seat of power, Castle Rimmel. The van Hollans had controlled this region for over a hundred years, and now his brother, Mennek, controlled it. He had not seen it in nearly twenty years.

  The castle seemed smaller than it had when he was a
boy, and the region was rather small as well, especially compared to Hagenheim. Would his brother also be different? He shouldn’t count on it.

  The light from the sun was quickly disappearing altogether as he walked the horse and donkey closer to the castle gatehouse.

  The guard approached them. As soon as Gerek told him that he was a knight in Duke Wilhelm’s service and that he was escorting a prisoner back to Hagenheim, the guard let him in and sent a younger guard to walk them the rest of the way.

  He would not allow his brother to stir his anger. He couldn’t afford to since he did not want any harm to come to Rapunzel, or even Gothel, for that matter. Perhaps he would not have to tell his name and his brother would never know. After all, they had not seen each other since they were both children.

  A stable boy took their horse and donkey, and Gerek led Gothel by her rope as she grumbled under her breath. A guard met them at the enormous wooden door.

  The guard who had accompanied them told the other one that the bound woman was a prisoner being taken back to Hagenheim, and he agreed to take her to the dungeon and feed her.

  “Be very careful of that one,” Gerek told him. “She is much more dangerous than she looks. But treat her well or Duke Wilhelm will not be pleased.”

  The guard grunted, but nodded and took her away.

  He might have breathed a small sigh of relief if he didn’t know he had to face his brother. “Is Lord Rimmel here?”

  The guard nodded. “They are having supper in the Great Hall. I shall take you there now. Knights are always welcome at his table.”

  At least Mennek had that much courtesy.

  They followed the guard through the dark corridor the short distance to the Great Hall. Rapunzel kept close by his side.

  The guard walked in ahead of them and stopped, facing the table on the raised dais. The man at the head of the table looked down at them, then nodded at the guard.

  “Lord Rimmel, this is a knight in the service of Duke Wilhelm, who is traveling with this woman and another woman who is his prisoner, now in the dungeon.” The guard bowed.

  He stared at Gerek. Mennek’s hair was a bit darker and his face had grown quite plump, nearly unrecognizable from the skinny boy of fifteen who had yelled at Gerek, “It is your fault she’s dead!” He had then picked up a large pottery pitcher next to him and threw it at Gerek. The pitcher had just missed his head and crashed into pieces on the floor. Had it been in this very room?

  “And what might the name be of this knight in Duke Wilhelm’s service?” Did Mennek suspect he was his brother?

  “I am known as Sir Gerek of Hagenheim.”

  Mennek’s eyes seemed to draw together. “Gerek?” He continued to stare, then slowly rose from his chair. “Gerek? Not my brother Gerek?”

  Gerek bowed slightly. “The same.” Gerek no longer felt small in his brother’s eyes. His brother had grown soft and paunchy while Gerek was battle-ready, muscular, and well trained. Mennek might have a title, but Gerek was strong. He would not feel inferior.

  Mennek continued to stand, and now the Great Hall had grown hushed. “What brings you here?”

  “I am seeking shelter for the night for my prisoner and this lady.” He said the word smoothly, not wanting Mennek to know she was but a maidservant.

  Mennek nodded. “You are very welcome here. Please, come up to my table.” He snapped his fingers at a passing page. “Bring these two guests a trencher and goblet. Quickly.”

  Gerek held out his arm to Rapunzel, who took it and walked beside him up the step to join Mennek.

  His other guests made a place next to Mennek. Gerek found himself sitting opposite an older couple who looked vaguely familiar.

  “Gerek, you may not remember your aunt and uncle, Hinrich and Ursel.”

  Gerek nodded politely to them. Ursel smiled and said, “You were such a handsome little boy, and you are still quite handsome.”

  His uncle Hinrich said, “You have grown into a fine knight, as we all have heard of your tournament exploits with Lord Hamlin.”

  Gerek bowed his head respectfully. He could not remember, but he was fairly certain these were his mother’s sister and her husband.

  “This is Rapunzel Scheinberg,” he said as formally as possible. He turned to Rapunzel. “And this is my brother, Mennek van Hollan, the Earl of Rimmel.”

  Rapunzel inclined her head in the most natural way, as if she had been greeting earls all her life. “Very pleased, Lord Rimmel.”

  They had been traveling all day, but Rapunzel still looked beautiful. She wore a very becoming pink gown. Her thick, golden braid lay over her shoulder, as she had nothing to cover it with.

  Hinrich and Ursel chatted with them in a most friendly way, with Mennek chiming in occasionally while they ate. But Gerek was very aware of his brother sitting, nearly silent, beside him. Did he still hold a grudge against Gerek?

  The food might have tasted good, but he didn’t notice. His uncle asked him questions about his life and about Duke Wilhelm and Valten, who would one day be the ruler of Hagenheim. Rapunzel, meanwhile, seemed to make a good impression on his aunt, as Ursel laughed at each of Rapunzel’s jests, no matter how slight, and called her “a delightful girl.”

  When it was finally time to retire for the night, Mennek said, “I shall show you two to your room.”

  Had he said “room” or “rooms”? Gerek wasn’t sure, but if his brother dared insult Rapunzel or make lewd insinuations, he would not let him get away with it.

  Hinrich and Ursel wanted to walk with them, so they all tramped through the Great Hall and the corridor to the stairs.

  “I hope you will not be leaving too early in the morning,” Ursel said. “Perhaps you could even stay a few days.”

  Gerek opened his mouth to answer her, but Rapunzel beat him to it.

  “I’m afraid we must leave very early. I must get back to Hagenheim. But if you are ever traveling to Hagenheim, I will hope to see you there.”

  “Would you like an escort?” Mennek asked. “I can send two of my guards—”

  “No, I thank you. But I would ask if you would do something else for me.”

  Mennek stopped and stared at him. Strange that Gerek was now taller than him.

  “If you could keep my prisoner here until I can get Rapunzel back to Hagenheim, Duke Wilhelm will send guards to fetch her.” Gerek stared him in the eye, challenging him to say no.

  “I can do that. For Duke Wihelm, and for my brother, of course.”

  “Will you ask your guards not to mistreat her?” Rapunzel said in a quiet voice.

  Mennek seemed a bit startled by her request. “Ach, but of course.”

  “She is very devious,” Rapunzel said, “so you mustn’t let her escape. But I do not want the guards molesting her in any way.” Rapunzel smiled at him.

  Mennek smiled back, obviously charmed. “My dear, I shall see to it.”

  Mennek slowed at one door. “Here is your chamber.” He looked at Rapunzel. “Gute nacht.”

  “Gute nacht.”

  “I shall show her around and make sure she is comfortable,” Ursel said and followed her into the room.

  Hinrich clasped arms with Gerek. “You are an honorable man, Sir Gerek, and have brought honor to your family name.”

  His words actually made Gerek’s eyes sting. He didn’t trust himself to speak, so he simply nodded.

  “I hope I see you again someday. Fare well, Sir Gerek.”

  “Thank you. Fare well.”

  Hinrich continued down the corridor.

  Mennek had stopped at the door nearest to Rapunzel’s. “Here is your room. I thought you might like the one adjoining the lady’s.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Gerek looked him in the eye.

  “I don’t mean any disrespect, but the way you both looked at each other, I simply thought . . . You are human, are you not?”

  “Whatever you think being human is, she is a virtuous maiden. But I thank you for putting me near
enough to her that I can protect her should anyone in your household impose on her. I shall have her bolt her door just in case.”

  Mennek glared back at him. “No one in my household is allowed to do such things. But that is probably wise, no matter whose household you are in.”

  The tension gradually left his face and he said in a milder tone, “Gerek, I don’t know if you remember, but I said some things to you, after what Father did . . . after Mother died. I hope you do not begrudge me my foolish accusations. You were only a child and what I said was . . . unjust.”

  Whatever Gerek had expected him to say, it was not that. Gerek cleared his throat.

  “And if you ever need anything, you can depend upon me. You are always welcome here, and I hope you will visit often, whenever you are able.”

  Gerek thought of all the pain he had carried around because of what his brother had said to him. What Mennek had said was unjust. Truly unjust. But Gerek didn’t want to hold that against him anymore. Besides, Jesus commanded forgiveness.

  “I forgive you, Mennek, and I shall try to come more often.” He wouldn’t promise him Christmas, however.

  “I have a child now,” Mennek said. “He is almost one year old. Would you like to see him?”

  Gerek actually took a step back. “I didn’t know you were married.”

  “I am not. The child’s mother . . . I did not marry her. She was a girl from the village. When she was dying, I promised her the child would be my heir.” Mennek shrugged. “I don’t think I will ever marry, especially now.”

  Gerek stared at his brother a moment, then said, “I would like to see the child.”

  Mennek smiled, the first time he had smiled all evening. “He’s probably asleep, but you can see him.”

  Gerek followed him down the corridor and up another flight of stairs. He halted in front of a door, then opened it. Inside a candle burned beside a baby bed, and a woman slept on a cot next to it. The woman awakened and sat up as they walked inside.