Chapter 1

 

The birds flew through the air and I sang of their path, the way they ebbed and flowed in flight. My voice carried, the tune mimicking the birds’ motion. I leaned out the window, smiling at the way they moved as one dipped, twisted, then flew right next to my window, making me duck inside.

The bird warbled as it landed just out of reach, the sound entirely too much like my name.

Rapunzel.

Rapunzel. 

I giggled as it flew off again. 

The seasons were finally starting to crest. Flowers bloomed in the forest, the color illustrating the twist of the season as it moved toward the long-awaited brightness of spring. I let out a sigh, for as beautiful as the world outside was, I was not part of it. The birds and the lightning bugs zipped through the dark blue expanse of sky. How amazing it must be to be so free, to fly wherever one wanted. Even as the evening began to fall, the colors outside shone in the setting sun and I envied the animals living in the woods.

They could walk among the flowers, feel the grass under their feet without any care in the world, not realizing how lucky they were. I could not imagine what grass felt like–would it be cool, hot after a day in the sun, would I sink into it, would it be prickly? I knew not, for I had never felt it and never would. I had not even touched the ground of the gardens at the base of my tower. I did not know what the flowers smelled like, how their petals felt against the skin–moist and soft, or rough to the touch, like the ones Mother brought home, already dried and only fit to be hung up and used in her potions.

Such beauty existed outside the tower walls. If only I could experience it, just once, I would know true joy. To walk among the trees, to feel the bark on their sturdy trunks, to sit upon a branch like a bird. Oh, what a pleasure that would be. To be able to touch the leaves I have only watched for so long–how I longed for the freedom. More birds soared through the sky. As they climbed I sang higher notes, as they darted down, my song lowered with them.

A blue jay dove to swipe at a berry on a tree far below. I followed its path, singing, when I saw something new out the corner of my eye. A flash of royal blue near the wall, just below the bird’s branch of berries.

I turned, facing the new shining blue, my breath caught in my throat.

It billowed in the breeze, and I squinted to see exactly what it was in the darkening sky. Fabric. Brilliant blue fabric. I could not help smiling, for I had never seen such a bright piece of cloth. It truly was beautiful but, as it flapped in the breeze, I realized it was not just stuck on a branch. It was attached. 

Attached to a boy!

He stood atop the wall surrounding my tower, staring. His black hair glistened in the setting sun, shiny and almost blue in the light. He did not look away, instead taking a few steps along the wall so he was more directly in front of my window. I gasped, ducking below the windowsill, my heart hammering in my chest. My fair blond locks pooled around me like a blanket and, absentmindedly, I began stroking them, pulling the braids over my shoulders and wrapping them around me. Their heavy weight felt safe and warm.

I stroked the weave of the braids, trying to understand why he was outside. Why did he stare at me so? Why look this way at all? What would he do? What could he do from there? Did he have a rope, could he climb the tower wall?

Would he?

I had nothing here worth stealing. I stroked the braids on my lap, and realized there was one thing of value in the tower. My hair. 

Suddenly I felt nauseated.

Mother had told me of the horrors of the world. That someday, outsiders might come and wish to steal my hair, to cut off the locks. That I must be wary of anyone approaching the wall, for if they saw my hair, they could very well want it.

I pulled it tighter around my body, hoping he would leave, disappear into the night and never return.

For I was alone, and I knew that a maiden alone in a tower could be tempting to someone with evil on his mind.

If only Mother were here.

With my heart pounding, the heat in the pile of hair felt suffocating. I pulled the braids open to allow me to take in a few cool breaths of air. I forced myself to slow down, to breathe, because I needed to hear, to know if he tried to climb.

A chirp made me jump, and I paused, trying to listen. Was it a bird fleeing in fear, warning the others, or was it merely flying and enjoying the night? I strained to hear again, to be certain, but it did not sound like the terrified warble birds made when panicked. Inhaling a breath, I slowly let it out to calm myself, yet it did not help.

I closed my eyes, on the brink of tears. I stayed huddled in my hair, terrified of what this boy could do, yet too scared to peek to see if he had departed.

Where was Mother? It had been almost a full moon cycle since she had left on her last mission…any coming hour could bring her return.

In my mind’s eye, I could see the boy standing there, his blue cape swirling around him. Was he still there? The need to know clawed at me, but I could not risk another glance out the window. Even now he could be drawing back an arrow poised for my reappearance. He could have climbed the tower…

No. That was impossible. Mother had sworn no one could scale my sanctuary without assistance. And yet, Mother had also promised the surrounding wall was too high to ascend and he had certainly managed that. How long would he stay? Would he remain?

What if Mother returned? Would he attack her?

What would I do?

What could I do?