My Name is Rapunzel

by K. C. Hilton

  My knees buckled at the thought of death claiming my existence the very night I’d found joy. Was that why she pursued me that night? Had she somehow known I was about to be made happy? Why did she care about me marrying Henry?

  And why did she continue to stare us down…pacing like a caged lion? Do something already. Or let us go.

  I trembled at the thought of never feeling another kiss. Of never marrying my love. My chin and lips quivered as another tear escaped my eye, then another, and another. Soon, steady streams ran down my cheeks and soaked my neck. I wanted to double over and cry like a little girl would do. I wanted to run home to my mother and hug her close. She would stroke my hair and rock me back and forth. She would tell me everything was going to be all right, then hum a soft tune.

  Gretta paced along the tree line, her eyes never leaving my face. Why didn't she just make her move? She played a cat and mouse game for my soul. We both knew who would win. Did Henry know? I stole a glance at his pale face, his eyes wild with terror. He knew.

  How would my death affect my family? They would lose their only child. How would it affect Henry? I was more than sure that his royal family would be touting another hopeful girl around before I was even in the ground—or wherever my body would end up. I was never the one they favored. They made sure to make that point known every chance they got. I was beneath them and not worthy of Henry's attentions.

  But, no. I was not supposed to die. Not now. Not this way.

  “Run!” Henry screamed and shook my shoulders as if to awaken me from a drunken stupor. “I said, run!” His nostrils flared and a bead of sweat slid down his temple. Henry shook me with ferocious intent. I'd never heard him bark orders at anyone, let alone me. I'd only known him to be kind and gentle.

  He’d make a great king one day. A great husband, too. Oh, how I wished I could see it for myself—to wear the pride of the crown and sit beside him at his rightful throne. But, and this was the part I should miss most of all, to bear his children—to leave a royal legacy, indelible through the ages that would live on forever.

  I used to think our love was written in the stars. I dreamed that we'd sit beneath those stars and recount our story to our children one day.

  But fate had other plans. And there she stood, panting at the tree line, her eyes fixed on her eternal prize. Me. Fate was enjoying her game.

  The witch turned her gaze to Henry and pointed her gnarled finger.

  No!

  I squeezed my eyes shut and felt a tightening in my already clenched jaw. Another mass of birds fluttered away, squawking loudly as they escaped the trees. Death was near and they could feel it. I wanted to escape, but Gretta’s powers had control of me now. I wanted to fly away just like they could. Yet, I remained still. Frozen.

  I couldn't move. I couldn't run.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Henry!” I sputtered leaves and dirt from my mouth as I searched the ground around me for signs that he was present. Nothing. No remnants of his body or his clothing. Nothing at all remained as proof of my Henry. What had happened? How had I come to be lying face down in the dirt?

  I lifted my head. How long had it been?

  The witch turned her face to the moon and let out a cackle that sent shivers through my bones. Was she coming for me next? She shifted her gaze from the moon and locked eyes with mine. The corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile. She’d won, and she knew it. But what did she want with me? I was no good to her. I couldn't help her. And all these years I’d thought we were friends.

  Should I go toward her? Try to reason with her? Maybe I could manage to convince her that she’d made a mistake. Maybe she could bring Henry back. I shifted my weight and raised my weakened body up on my elbows. What if she turned on me?

  What if she did to me what she’d done to Henry? Maybe she’d send me to the same hell where she’d undoubtedly cast him. But wouldn’t any hell be better than life without my Henry?

  The witch paced at the tree line, but came no closer through the small valley that separated us. She lifted her fist and pounded it into the air. What did that mean?

  I tested my feet. It seemed I was in possession of my body again. I could likely run in any direction, if I chose. Why now? Why was I able to run now, but I couldn't run to save Henry? But…running wouldn't have saved him anyway if a witch had it in her mind to do away with him.

  A loud roar sounded overhead as the moon blackened. I ducked and fell back to the earth. I tugged my coat around my ears to block out the sound and scrunched my eyes closed against the sight. Who was that? Or the better question, what was that? A conjuring from the witch.

  The form flowed and billowed like a cloud. Then the lights caught it just right, and I saw the reflection of piercing gold and green eyes. I watched for a moment more as he slithered through the sky. A long serpent-like tail snapped against the skyline. The beast opened his mouth and roared flames that licked the dry earth in the valley between the witch and me.

  Gretta stood tall and proud, confident, as she glanced from me to the dragon.

  The dragon belonged to her. A pet. He was warning me. Trust me, beast, I have no intention of getting close to that witch. I glanced in every direction. What now?

  The beast slowed to an almost standstill float against the moon and watched my moves.

  I pulled myself to my feet and ran. The sound of the witch’s laughter sped my feet. Should I go to Henry's parents? Or to my home? Where would I find help? Even as I asked myself, I knew the truth. There was no help to be found. I was on my own. After all, who could help against forces such as these?

  I looked up at the dragon-filled night sky. A dragon and a witch? No one would believe me. They would think I killed Henry and made up a crazy story as a distraction. Maybe I should make up a story.

  Oh, my Henry.

  I stumbled over a tree root and tumbled down a ravine. My arms instinctively rose to shield my head, but my face took a whipping from the pebbles and twigs. Finally, the rolling ended and I lay still in the bramble.

  Silence.

  I lifted my head a few inches and sputtered the dry leaves from my mouth. No Gretta. No dragon. Where were my captors?

  I clambered to my feet. If I ran right, I’d reach the ocean in very short order. To my left, I'd run right into Henry's parents’ estate. I turned toward the tree line. I gasped as my gaze locked with the witch’s, inches from my face. How had she gotten to me so quickly from so far away?

  “Gretta. What have you done? Why have you taken Henry from me?”

  She cackled. “Stupid, stupid child. You made a promise to me long ago, and marriage would have ruined the whole deal. I couldn't allow that to happen. You must understand.”

  A promise I made as a small child? She’d hold me to that, even now? I’d had no idea what I was agreeing to, or who I was dealing with, when I promised I would always stay near her. Children say things like that all the time. How could she think it would hold true for my entire life. And why would she want it to? I pressed my palms to the sides of my head as if to still the questions.

  There had to be a way out. “But, what if I promise…? Can't you just…? I’ll do anything.” If she wanted me to shave my head bald so she could have my hair again, fine. Anything. If she wanted to live with us…fine. Though I didn’t understand it, she could have anything she wanted from me.

  The witch raised her arms above her head as though drawing power from the moon. “No. The spell has been cast. The deed has been done. Henry is no more. And you are…forever.”

  ***

  I raced up the cobblestones to the front door. I pulled it open and thrust my body through. Please, don’t let Mother and Father be home. I tugged the door shut behind me and slumped against its wooden frame then slid to the floor. Sobs rose from my belly and squeezed the life from my chest. My shoulders quaked and my stomach threatened to revolt.

  What had happened?

  Henry.

  Henry.

  I dropped my
head into my hands and rested it there as I emptied myself of tears. Thank heaven no one was home. How would I explain this to them? There was no going back from this moment. Henry was gone and people would ask questions. Maybe this was my chance to expose the witch for who she was. But if I did…I shuddered at the thought of that dragon. That warning. If I went up against Gretta, I would be taking on a witch and a dragon.

  Not to mention a community of people who would know a witch had cursed me. They’d see me as spawn of the devil and exile me—or worse. But maybe exposing Gretta was worth risking whatever they might do to me.

  Laughter and footsteps approached the doorway. Mother and Father were home. I scrambled to my feet and scurried to the washbasin in the back room. Anything I could do to make myself presentable so I could go try to ward off their questions. I scrubbed my face and splashed water on my arms to attempt to rid myself of the sticky, dewy scent of fear and grief.

  “Rapunzel? Rapunzel, are you home?” Father’s voice called through the house, his cheer booming off the walls.

  I let out a deep sigh. It was time to invite them into my nightmare. But from that moment on, nothing would ever be the same. When I told them, I would cross a threshold, and I’d never be able to go back. The blissful unknown. Purgatory between what was and what would be. I stepped around the corner. “I'm here.”

  Father took one look at my face and bounded across the room in two strides. He grasped my hand and looked into my eyes. “What happened? What's the matter, daughter?”

  I shook my head. The tears formed again. It was hard to believe any remained.

  Mother joined Father at his side and placed her palms on my cheeks, forcing me to look at her. She searched my face. “You've been crying. What happened? Did you and Henry have a fight?”

  I shook my head. “It was more than that.”

  Father's eyes turned to flames. “More than a fight? What has that young man done to you?”

  “He's done nothing to me. It's just…that he…”

  “Did he leave you, my dear?” Mother reached forward and pulled me into an embrace.

  I nodded.

  “Is your…honor intact?” Father’s eyes flamed with rage.

  “Father! Yes. Please…”

  “Where did he go?” His body strained to the door like he could bolt at any moment. “Let me search for him. I'll pound some sense into that boy.”

  Mother shook her head. “This isn’t your fight, dear.”

  “No. Father.” The less searching the better. “There is no sense causing more problems. He has the right to choose his wife. It's just…not me.” The words sounded hollow as I said them, but hopefully Mother and Father would believe them to be true.

  Mother laid her hand gently on Father’s forearm and patted it. “She's right, dear. Sadly, this sort of thing happens all the time. Especially…” She cast her gaze aside.

  Father's expression saddened. “Especially among people like us? Is that what you were going to say?”

  Mother closed her eyes and sighed. “No, dear. That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know I haven't provided you the most opulent existence here in the valley. And I know you’ve resented that I didn't bring my family's wealth with me when I left home. But I’ve provided well for you, haven’t I? We’ve been happy, haven't we?”

  Mother opened her mouth to speak, the protest evident on her face.

  Oh, lovely. Here they went again. Why did they insist on this same bickering over and over?

  I interrupted. “Father, yes. You’ve been a great provider. We are a happy family. You made the right choice when you left your wealth behind. No one is judging you, or blaming you, but the fact remains…” I scrunched my eyes closed to ward off an onslaught of new tears, though one slipped through. I’d let them believe the most likely scenario about Henry. The one that would keep the witch hunt at bay.

  “Yes, the fact remains, Henry's parents got to him. Convinced him that he needed to marry within his station in life. Right?” Mother knitted her hands together in her lap.

  “Yes.” I hung my head. That was close enough to the truth, or to what could have been the truth to make it completely plausible.

  “So where is the boy?” Anger and regret danced in Father's eyes.

  I shook my head. No point in sending Father off like a hound on a hunt with no pheasant around. “He's not to be found. He left for points unknown. He wants to explore. He’s looking for adventure.”

  Mother gasped. “We all know what that means.” She fanned her face as though blowing away the untoward images her mind conjured.

  Not Henry. He was the most chaste, honorable man I’d ever known. But there was no sense defending that now. “He’ll have his fun and then return with a bride equal to his position, I imagine.” I shrugged. It was best to let them think I was moving on already, but my trembling surely gave me away.

  Mother pulled me to her chest. “My dear, dear girl. I'm so sorry you have to endure this trial. No girl should lose the love of her life. Not in this way.” She stroked my hair from my head to my waist like she’d done since I was a child.

  If she only knew. I let tears soak Mother’s dress as I enjoyed the warmth of her embrace. Nothing compared to what it felt to be held by Henry, but this was the best I had coming.

  Forever.

  CHAPTER THREE

  1773

  I forked a bite of spice cake into my mouth. It was my favorite. Mother glanced at Father and shrugged her shoulders. They exchanged questioning glances, like they had something to say, or maybe to ask.

  There was no doubt in my mind that time was closing in on my secrecy. They would start asking questions soon. How could they not? Though ten years had gone by, I had not aged a day. People around me had birthdays, got older, got sick, developed wrinkles around their eyes, even died. But not me. It was a wonder it had taken them so long to inquire.

  I waited for the inevitable.

  Father cleared his throat. “Rapunzel?”

  “Yes, Father?” I looked down at my cake and sliced off another bite with my fork. Pretend nothing was wrong. That tactic had worked well for me so far.

  “Well, your mother and I, we…oh, I don't know.” He shrugged at Mother.

  He didn’t know? Should I tell them the truth and put them out of their misery?

  Mother chewed her lip. “Rapunzel, what's going on with you? What has happened to you?”

  “What do you mean?” I stopped short of batting my eyelashes in innocence.

  “Something happened to you. We need to know what.” Father spoke up.

  I looked into their eyes—those two parents of mine who loved me so very much. “You mean, you have no idea?” Surely, deep down, they knew. And I was done with the lies and the pretending.

  Father lowered his eyes, “Well…it would sound absurd if I were to say what I believe.”

  “What, Father? Trust me with your thoughts.”

  Mother squeezed his arm and nodded. Father opened his mouth then shut it again. He shook his head. Took a deep breath. “I think the events of that day, ten years ago, are perhaps a bit different than you’ve shared. I don't believe Henry left you the way you said. I think something happened.”

  Here we went. “That's not much to go on for me, Father. What do you think happened that day?”

  “Well, just based on what you've said since and things I've seen, I think it has to do with that old lady next door. I think…I think she hurt Henry and put a spell on you.” Father averted his eyes and squirmed in his chair.

  “So you believe she's a witch?” That was better than thinking I was.

  Mother nodded. “I've always known it, but I couldn't prove it.”

  So that's why she never wanted me around Gretta. If only I'd listened from the beginning.

  “And now, well, you’re special. There's something about you…”

  Father put his hand on Mother's shoulder and silenced her.

  Something about me. Now to
find out how much they knew.

  Mother shook her head. “No, I just mean you’re special. Gretta obviously saw something in you. She put a curse on you, didn’t she?”

  “Yes.”

  “You haven’t aged, Rapunzel.” Mother wasn’t asking a question. They knew. Of course they knew. Finally, my secret burden would come to light.

  “Your curse…is it eternal life? Eternal youth?”

  I nodded.

  Father exhaled heavily. “Well, there could be worse things.” He searched my eyes.

  My shoulders sank and I sighed. “Eternity without the man I love? Watching my loved ones grow old and die around me while I stay young with no hope of escape? I can't think of much worse.”

  ***

  Father stormed from the house. He raced across the yard. Mother and I ran to the window and watched him power across the yard and hurl his body over the fence into Gretta's yard. What was he thinking? Was he just going to go confront her? To what end? He bounded up to the front door in a few strides and pounded on it with all his might. “Get out here, you nasty witch.”

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  He pounded and pounded. I could almost see Gretta inside deciding his fate. What was he thinking? He would be no use to any of us if she cast a spell on him.

  The door inched opened. We could hear the creak from where we stood.

  I looked at mother and she looked at me. I could see the fear in her eyes. Oh no. It was too late. Mother knew it too. Oh, Father. What have you done?

  “Can I help you?” Gretta offered a sinister grin.

  “I want you to reverse whatever you have done to my daughter. Now.”

  Gretta chuckled. “Or what?” She leaned back on the doorframe and crossed her arms. “What exactly do you think you can do to me?”

  “I’ll think of something.” Father's shoulders shifted down a few inches. He knew he had no power over her. Fear washed over his face. He must have realized he stood before a witch. That he had just threatened a witch. “Tell me what it is you want with her. What is it Rapunzel has that you want?”