The Witch's Daughter

Sequel to Wolf's Eyes and The Second Sister

When Ailynn Gothel asked for a playmate, she never expected her mother to steal one for her, and she certainly
never planned to fall in love. Set against the backdrop of Amendyr's civil war, the young Witch must find a way
to free Rapunzel, confront her increasingly dangerous mother, and bring her lover to safety... if Rapunzel still
wants her when she returns.

Part One:

Recorded by Lady Eleanor Baxstresse, taken from the verbal accounts of Ailynn Gothel, the Witch's daughter

Chapter One:

My mother always treasured pretty things. When I was very young, she would take me into the treasure rooms
and show me all of the beautiful objects that she had collected, pointing out her favorites. She let me explore
them, too, allowing me to run my fingertips over the gold chains, the elegant satin gowns, and the finely woven
tapestries. I liked to go in her rooms as a child so that I could play with the jewelry and the handsome dresses.

Mother never allowed any of the men and women who visited our house to see the treasures. She did not like
people, but they were the easiest way to expand her collection, and so she tolerated them - sometimes. Whenever
someone came to trade a new pretty bauble for a magical spell, curse, or healing draught, she would give it to me,
and I would take it through the front room and into the kitchen.

Along one wall there was a small wooden door. The door was magic and if you asked politely, it would take you to
the treasure rooms, the herb rooms, the library, and a few other rooms I did not know about. The only four rooms
that were not connected to the magic door were the front room, the kitchen, and the two bedrooms that my
mother and I used. If the door was cranky or if there was a stranger in the house, it would simply lead out into the
forest

Despite the stories that the villagers from beyond the forest told, my mother was not a gruesome hag. She was
very beautiful, with skin so fair that it was almost translucent and thick brown hair that tumbled over her
shoulders in wild curls. I grew up to look almost identical, and I was blessed with an aptitude for magic as well.
Unfortunately, I also inherited a small portion of my mother's magpieish tendencies, but only towards one
particular treasure.

I had everything that a young child could have longed for. Anything that I wanted, I was given. The villagers knew
that the witch had a daughter and that if they brought something for me, a beautiful piece of jewelry or a gown
that would fit a small girl, my mother would take it favorably. I must confess that I was very spoiled, but it was not
entirely my doing. My mother's fondness for beautiful things was the cause of it.

I remember one of my requests very clearly. An old man came to our house one evening, his back bent and his
brown face weathered and burnt by the sun. He was poor, but had somehow managed to get his hands on a small
golden circlet. When my mother opened the door and saw the circlet, her lips curved upwards greedily, her eyes
picking up the glint of the precious metal as the evening sun reflected off of it. "What would you like?" she asked,
never one for fanciful words.

"I need a healing draught," said the old man, his eyes holding a mixture of fear and hope. I peered out at him from
behind my mother's skirt, studying his face. All people that came to our house interested me, and I had never seen
the same person twice. Except for the visitors that came to trade, I was kept in complete isolation.

My mother thought about it. I knew that she wanted the circlet; her trembling fingers and wide eyes gave her
away. With a richer customer, she might have pushed for more, but she could tell that the man was poor and that
he was giving her all he had. "Who is it for?"

"My son's young daughter. She has been ill for months."

"What are her symptoms?"

They talked for a few moments about things that I did not understand, and then my mother hurried back into the
house. I followed; holding bunches of her skirt in my small hands. She walked through the front room and back
into the kitchen, heading towards the magic wooden door. "Herb room, please," she said, tapping three times to
rouse the door from its rest. It swung open lazily, and I followed her inside.

The herb room was dark narrow and the walls were comprised of several levels of shelves, all of which were
crowded with baskets of herbs. My mother dug into some of the baskets, selecting the leaves and roots that she
wanted. I knew some of the herbs that she chose then, for she had already begun teaching me the art of healing
and poisoning. She talked to me whenever she made potions.

"Use only the root of belladonna, Ailynn," she said as she dug into the basket, "and occasionally the leaves, but do
not touch the berries." It was a mantra that I had heard before, mostly because my mother wanted to be sure that
I would not be tempted to eat them. She dug out a thick, fleshy white root with her hands and passed it to me
before hurrying over to another shelf.

"And aconite, my darling, to calm the girl's fever and pulse. But it must be prepared specially. It is also a poison."

"Mother, why are so many of your healing plants poisonous?" I asked.

"Because poisons are powerful," she said. "Poisons manipulate the body, and if you harness their power, the world
can be yours." I didn't understand her then, but those words stayed in my mind well through adulthood. I never
doubted anything my mother taught me about plants.

After she had collected the leaves and roots she wanted in her skirt, she hurried into the kitchen and began
crumbling and chopping, teaching me all the while. My mother had many faults - her greed, her pride, her
overconfidence - but for all her faults, she was wise, and she did try and do some good back then, as long as she
received payment for her services.

Eventually, she had concocted both a draught and a cream for the old man and carried them out to him. He was
waiting at the door. My mother never allowed people into her house. Everyone knew that she would hex you if
you invaded her privacy. She gave him the cream and the draught and told him what dosages to give. Then, he
handed her the circlet. She bid him farewell with a nod of her head and closed the door, grabbing my hand and
placing the circlet on my head.

"I love you. You are my princess," she said, stroking my cheek as she knelt down to gaze into my eyes, "my
beautiful girl, and you shall have anything that you want."

"Can the old man's granddaughter come and play with me when she is well?" I asked impulsively. At that age, I was
beginning to tire of the many treasures that my mother hoarded. The beautiful gowns and the precious jewels had
grown dull. Lately, I had been thinking more about the people that came to our house. I wondered what they
knew, what their mothers were like, and whether they would like me. I was starting to realize that what I wanted
most of all was a friend.

My mother did not answer. Instead, she stood up and headed towards her garden to work. "Go and play
downstairs with your new toy," she ordered, but I could tell that her mind was elsewhere. I think it was my request
that drove her to take her next treasure for me.

My memories of the weeks that followed were unclear. Days blended together in our house. Even at five or six, I
was already learning my mother's arts. She told me stories, too, and I continued to play with the circlet and my
other fine toys, but the feelings of loneliness grew in me and I think that my mother sensed it. Sometimes, in the
afternoon, she would stand in her garden amongst her herbs, looking to the sky and thinking deeply.

I learned later that she had been thinking about how to find me a suitable playmate. It would not be appropriate
for me to mingle with the village girls of my age, but I was growing lonely and my mother doted on me, though she
seemed to care little for the wellbeing of others at times. My happiness was incomplete, and she could not be at
peace until I was satisfied.

My next clear memory was of a crisp night in autumn. I was sitting on my mother's lap by the fire in the kitchen as
she told me a story and braided my hair. The warmth of the flames and my mother's voice were starting to lull me
to sleep when a muffled yelp drifted in from outside. My mother whirled her head around to look over her
shoulder and out of a nearby window, her chin tilting up as she listened harder. Someone was in the back garden.

"Stay here, Ailynn," my mother said, hurrying towards the back door while I sat on the rug next to the fire. As soon
as she was out of sight, I hurried over to the window, peeking over the sill so that no one would realize I was there.
Everything was quiet for a few moments and then I saw my mother, her face almost glowing in the moonlight,
holding onto a thin man by the scruff of his neck. My mother seemed as tall as an oak tree standing in front of the
intruder. She looked angry and fierce, just as the villagers whispered she was.

"How can you dare," my mother said in a low growl, "descend into my garden and steal my rampion like a thief?"

The man tried to speak, but fear filled his mouth like a gag. Only a small, strangled cry came out from between his
trembling lips. He was shaking, obviously terrified. I had seen the frightened, awed looks of the traders that came
to bargain with my mother, but none of them had seemed this afraid. Also, I had never seen my mother this angry
before. I knew that her garden was precious to her, but I had not expected her to be so furious.

"Ah, let mercy be taking the place of justice," the man stumbled, "I had to!"

"You had to?" my mother asked frostily, raising one eyebrow.

"My wife is carrying our first child," the man tried to explain, "and she felt such a longing for rampion... You know
that if a mother is not given the food she desires, the babe is cursed!"

My mother paused, looking surprised. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, and she looked once again at the
man cowering at her feet. "If it be as you say," she said slowly, "take away as much rampion as you will. I will even
spare your life and tend to the arm you injured when you fell over my wall. It is probably broken and the tissue is
already starting to swell. I mark only one condition."

"Anything, mistress," the man said. "If you spare my life!"

"You must be bringing me the child that your wife will bear. I will attend to the birthing myself. Your wife will not
die in her childbed. I will raise the girl and she will want for nothing."

"You know it is a girl?" asked the man.

"Yes, it will be a girl-child."

The man looked horrified. "You would take my daughter from me? Never!"

"If you do not give her to me," said my mother, "I will curse your entire family after I kill you for stealing my
rampion. It would be my right. Think on it, old man. This way, your daughter will have a sister, and I will give her
everything she could ever dream of possessing."

"But my only child..."

"You will have other children, as many you please. I promise that your wife will not die in childbed with the first. I
will be midwife for the others as well. I require no other payment except for your daughter. I promise you she will
come to no harm. Besides," my mother continued, "if you don't give her to me, I will simply take her, and then hex
your entire family."

My mother had backed the man into a corner. He had no other choice. I was too young to understand just how
threatening my mother's offer was, but I recognized the expression of terror on the man's face. "Take her, then,"
he said bitterly, "just give me the rampion and I'll be on my way."

"After I heal your arm," my mother insisted, grabbing the man's healthy shoulder and dragging him towards the
house. My mother had a price for everything. She was not above using threats and fear to get what she wanted,
but she was not entirely evil, not yet. Along with the fear that most villagers felt towards her, there was a measure
of respect as well.

I hurried back to the fireplace, closing my eyes and pretending that I had fallen asleep on the rug. "Up with you,
Ailynn," my mother said as soon as she came in. "You canna fool me." I got to my feet. My mother pulled me
against her belly while the man waited by the door, afraid to step inside the house. "What herbs would you use for
a swelling, dear heart?"

"Aconite?" I asked, remembering the cream that we had made for the old man several weeks before.

"That would be appropriate. Fetch me some for a poultice and bring some water to put over the fire."

I hurried to do what she had asked, my hands shaking with excitement as I ran to the small wooden door. "Herb
room, please," I said distractedly. I was going to have a friend! Someone to play games with and tell secrets to.
Someone to take care of. It was exactly what I had wanted. I knew that my mother had forced the old man to give
up his daughter for me, so that I would have someone to keep me company. And, selfishly, I loved her for it. I was
too young to understand just how much a parent might miss their child.

Chapter Two:

It was a little over a month later when my mother brought Rapunzel home. Her face was bright red, and she was
squalling like the newborn kittens that Diath, my mother's cat, had given birth to underneath our house that past
spring. I knew that this girl, my new present, was nothing like a kitten. She would grow to walk and talk, and
someday she would be able to play with me.

My mother hurried over to a beautifully carved wooden chair, payment for one of her spells, and sat down with
the baby. "Mother, may I see her?" I asked, reaching up to try and pull aside the blanket.

"Be patient, Ailynn. I have to feed her first. She is very hungry, and she is weak after coming into the world."

"Will we need a wet nurse?" I asked. Most other children my age understood little about newborn babies, but my
mother was a witch and babies often take ill. Many women had come to my mother's house with ill newborns, and
many more had come to buy herbs because they were dry and had no wet nurse in their village.

"I will nurse her myself. I don't want anyone else in my house. I've been taking the herbs I need for several days,
and I already have milk for her." My mother removed her cloak and handed it to me. "Put this away, please, Ailynn.
Then, you can come and see your new playmate."

I dashed off as fast as I could to put her cloak away, wanting to get back to the new baby as quickly as possible. I
skidded into the room, almost tripping over a knot in the wooden floorboards. "Hush, Ailynn," my mother said,
"she has finally stopped crying." My mother had pulled down her shirt and the babe was nursing. I felt even more
excited to see her now that she was not wailing loud enough to wake the dead.

"She is so small," I whispered, staring at the small child with wide eyes. "Was I that small once?"

My mother smiled and reached out to stroke my hair. "Oh, you were smaller still. You came several weeks before
you were supposed to. I went five days without sleep trying to keep you alive. This child will be much easier to care
for."

"May I help feed her when she is older?"

"Of course. You are going to have to help me be responsible for her, and see that she grows up to be as healthy
and beautiful as you are."

I reached out to stroke the baby's head. She had surprisingly thick hair for a newborn and her head was covered
with beautiful golden curls. My mother noticed that I was playing with the baby's hair and her smile widened. "Yes,
I noticed that, too. I wonder if, perhaps, the rampion that the man took from my garden might have something to
do with it. I have seen stranger things."

"Does the baby have a name?"

"No," my mother said. "Would you like to name her, Ailynn?"

I looked at the baby, trying to decide on a good name for her. "What if we named her after the rampion that her
father took?" I suggested.

"You want to name the child rampion?" my mother asked, looking surprised.

"No, but you've taught me that plants have many different names... is there another name for rampion?"

"The local villagers call it Rapunzel. Would that do for a name?"

"Rapunzel," I said, trying the name on my tongue. I smiled up at the child and nodded my head. "It is a pretty
name."

"Very pretty. And our Rapunzel will grow up pretty, too."

"Will she look like her mother as I look like you?" I asked. For all of my mother's faults, she never tired of
answering my questions.

"Yes. Most daughters look like their mothers or their fathers. Her mother has these same golden curls," said my
mother, tugging at one fondly. The baby squirmed for a moment and then went back to nursing.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. "Mother, may I give Rapunzel a gift?"

"Of course."

With my mother's blessing, I ran to the small wooden door. "Treasure rooms, please," I said. The door was tired,
and I waited anxiously in front of it for several seconds before hurtling into the rooms where she kept her
treasures. I hunted for the golden circlet that the old man had given to me. I found it sitting on top of a sheet of
fine glass. I picked it up carefully, not wanting to bend or dirty the soft metal. Strangely, it felt warm in my hands,
even though the room was cold. I went back up the stairs and returned to my mother. Rapunzel had finished
nursing, and she was sleeping on my mother's lap.

"Look, Ailynn, you can see her face now," my mother said, brushing aside the baby's curls. I was consumed by a
wave of warm, loving feelings as I looked down at the tiny little girl that would grow up to be my greatest joy.

I reached out and took her hand in mine, gently opening her small fingers and closing them around the circlet. She
pulled it to her chest, remaining asleep. "I love you. You are my princess," I said, repeating the words that my
mother had said to me when she had given me the circlet, "my beautiful girl, and you shall have anything that you
want."

Rapunzel was dearer to me than any of my mother's treasures. As she grew, so did our bond, and we were nearly
inseparable by the time she had reached childhood. Her first word was my name, "Ayn", and though she could not
pronounce it properly with her baby tongue, I was touched. Even though I was five years older than her, neither of
us seemed to mind. I enjoyed playing with her and teaching her, and she enjoyed learning.

I told her stories by candlelight in the evenings, and eventually taught her to read them herself in the many books
that my mother kept. I kept her entertained with shows of light, which I could conjure in my hands using my
magical blood. I showed her how to run through the forest and how to climb trees, and I was always there to patch
up any scrape or bruise she got when she fell off of a branch or tripped over a rock. I taught her to recognize the
birds by sight and song, and with my knowledge of plants, I made sure that Rapunzel always knew which were safe
to eat and which were poisonous.

As Rapunzel learned, so did I. By the time I was ten, my mother started allowing me to help her prepare the herbs
she used, and sometimes she would let me make simple healing draughts and potions by myself. Rapunzel was not
as interested in healing herbs as I was. She had a wonderful imagination, and she would often talk to herself and
play with her dolls while my mother and I worked in the garden.

She had a voice as light and golden as her hair, and my mother and I loved to listen to her sing. We taught her all
the songs we knew and when we ran out she made up new ones. When she adopted a kitten from another of
Diath's litters, she named it Sing, because singing, she said, was what she loved to do most of all. I told her that
Sing was not a proper name for a cat, because I was ten and much more sensible about that sort of thing, but she
did not care and my mother told me to let it be.

Despite the strange events that brought her to us, Rapunzel was an ordinary child except for one thing. The
beautiful curls that she had been born with had grown quickly and would not stop at her waist. Ever since her
second birthday, her beautiful golden hair had trailed on the ground behind her. My mother tried all of her herbs
and charms, but nothing could make the hair stop growing. I was delegated the task of cutting it to her shoulders
three times a day, a chore that I did not mind because I could not deny my Rapunzel anything.

When she was six, Rapunzel began asking questions about things she had noticed. "Why is it," she said to me one
evening as I brushed her curls, "that you and your mother have auburn hair when mine is golden?"

"What does it matter? Your hair is more beautiful than ours anyway. Come, let us go and try on some of the
dresses in the treasure rooms. You can be one of the princesses in your fairy stories."

And so I diverted her questions. She knew that my mother - whom she called Mother Gothel, the last name adding
more formality - and I were not her blood, but not much more. I could not lie to my Rapunzel and so I settled for
distracting her. I did not want to tell her that my mother had taken her away from her parents, because as I grew
older, I started to understand just how painful it must have been for Rapunzel's parents to lose their daughter, and
how painful it might be for Rapunzel to find out that we had taken her from her true family.

Even if I could not lie to Rapunzel, my mother could. Her questions finally came to a head one evening. She was
reading a book by the fireplace in the kitchen while my mother and I worked. I cut the herbs and crushed them
into a fine powder while she poured the correct dosages into the draught we were making. But Rapunzel's voice
floated across the room over the pages of her book, interrupting our work. "Do I have a mother?" she asked.

I looked over my shoulder, staring into my treasure's wide blue eyes. I silently pleaded that she would let the
question drop, or that my mother would dismiss her, but something told me that neither of us could put her off
any longer. "Why are you asking?" my mother said, sprinkling a handful of powder into a measuring jar.

"I want to know. Please tell me."

Rapunzel was bright, but she overestimated herself. She was still a child and my mother and I both knew it. If
Rapunzel had addressed the question to me, I would not have been able to lie to her, even though I might have
wished to in order to protect her feelings. My mother, however, was fully capable of making up a story to ease the
burden. "You had a mother and father," my mother admitted. "All babies come from a mother and father, but
sometimes they do not live with them. You know that."

"Then how did I come here?" Rapunzel wanted to know, her face eager now that she was finally getting the
answers to the questions I had been tiptoeing around for years.

"The forest gave you to us," said my mother. "One night in summer, Ailynn and I heard something crying near the
garden. You were a newborn then, and from the moment I saw what a precious girl you were, we decided to take
you in and raise you as our own. I was waiting to tell you until you were older, but nine is old enough, I suppose."

"Why did you not tell me sooner?" Rapunzel asked, sounding only slightly upset.

"I was waiting until you were old enough to understand."

I returned to slicing sneezewort leaves, afraid that Rapunzel might see the truth in my eyes. My hands shook and I
almost cut myself twice.

That ended Rapunzel's stream of questions about her past. Part of me was relieved that my mother had fixed the
problem so neatly, but another, deeper part of me felt guilty about the lie. Even though I had not been the one to
tell it, the falsehood began to eat at me from the inside out. Eventually, I learned to ignore it, but the feelings of
shame were still there, buried somewhere inside me.

Chapter Three:

Growing up isolated from the rest of the world, I did not have many opportunities to make friends. It was one of
the reasons that Rapunzel's company was such a joy to me, despite our five-year age difference. She was not like a
sister, but far more than just an entertaining playmate. I did not try to define our relationship. She was mine, and
that was all that mattered.

However, when I was eleven, I did have the opportunity to meet another child my own age. That experience,
looked upon with older, wiser eyes several years later, was probably the first glimpse I had of my mother's dark,
manipulative side.

It started one day in summer. The rain drummed on the roof of our cottage like thousands of tiny feet scurrying
over a wooden floor. Rapunzel was staring at the glass windows in the kitchen. Although we lived in a cottage,
some of the rooms looked like they belonged in a small palace. The windows were beautifully decorated and
perfectly fitted. My mother would never settle for anything less. Rapunzel giggled as the raindrops raced each
other down the clear glass surface, following them with her finger.

"No," I said, pulling her small hands away from the glass. "You might smudge it. Come away from the window and
we can play the fairytale game!"

The fairytale game was Rapunzel's favorite. We would dress up in the fine clothes and jewelry that sat in my
mother's treasure rooms and pretend to be the knights, princes, and princesses from many of Amendyr's famous
stories. I knew that many of these stories were at least half-true, but Rapunzel was too young to understand that I
was giving her a glamorous history lesson.

Since there were only two of us, we had to play multiple roles at one time, which I did not mind at all. Rapunzel
always wanted to be the princess or the lady. In order to please her, I gave her first pick. I found that my roles were
usually more interesting, anyway. I had played knights, old wizards, giant dragons, cunning thieves, burly dwarves,
and even Liarre, the half-human, half-animal creations of Lir the Shaper. Perhaps I was not much of an actress, but
I was a wonderful storyteller and Rapunzel appreciated my narration.

Personally, my favorite stories were the ones about Tuathe, soul mates, lovers that shared a bond so strong that
nothing could sever it, not even death. The word meant 'we two that are one' in the ancient Amendyrri language. I
was not surprised that the word had survived for so many generations. Secretly, I hoped that Rapunzel and I would
be Tuathe when we grew up, but I was far too shy to voice such thoughts aloud.

We played the fairytale game for a candle mark before I realized that my mother was not in the house. At first, I
had assumed she was in one of the rooms behind the magical door, perhaps the library. When she did not emerge,
I began to wonder and then I began to worry. Although I was used to looking after Rapunzel by myself, being
without my mother for such a long period of time made me uneasy. She did not usually leave us alone without an
explanation.

Rapunzel, drawing on my worries, abandoned the game to stand beside me, taking my hand and looking up at me
with trusting brown eyes and a concerned expression. I tried to reassure her, telling her that I would take care of
her while my mother was gone and that there was no reason to worry. Her faith in me was unshakable, and she
immediately wanted to return to our fairytale game.

Before we could start playing again, the front door slammed open with a loud crash, sounding as though a violent
wind had blown it against the wall. Mother stood silhouetted in the doorway, tall and draped in her heavy black
cloak, which she held closed at the neck to protect her face from the rain. Holding on to her hand was another
silhouette, one that I did not recognize. I realized with some excitement and some trepidation that this second
figure belonged to a child.

"Ailynn," my mother called, holding open her arms to me and letting go of the other child's hand. I ran to hug her
even though she was soaking wet. So was the strange child, who turned out to be a boy, and not a very impressive
looking one at that. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and a nose that curved up a little at the tip. He looked me up
and down, obviously examining me and making a judgment. I felt like a piece of livestock going up for auction.

Rapunzel, shyer than me, hung towards the back of the room, obviously uncomfortable with this new person in
our house. Although he was not much to look at, I was as interested in him as he seemed to be in me. I did not get
many opportunities to interact with children besides Rapunzel.

"Arim dei," I said, letting go of my mother's skirt to wave at the boy. "My name is Ailynn. What's yours?"

"My name is Byron Wylean-James the Third," he said, reaching up to wipe his nose with his sleeve. I did not blame
him, his face was dripping wet and he had no cloak to keep off the rain. He had a partially Serian name, and I later
learned that he was from a very well to do mixed family that boasted both Amendyrri and Serian noble blood. Like
me, he lived close to the border and his accent reflected the use of both languages. He seemed grateful to be
inside, and I stepped back from the doorway to give him and my mother more room.

"Why are you here, Byron?" I asked, also directing the question at my mother, who was undoing the clasp of her
cloak and drawing down the hood. She glanced to the left, pausing. Usually, she did not hesitate to answer my
questions, and I was suspicious.

"Byron will be visiting us for a little while, my beautiful princess. And how is my other girl? Come here, my pretty,"
she said, kneeling down so that Rapunzel, who had decided that it was safe enough to come forward, could give
her a hug, too.

"I'm bored," said Byron. Now that the attention was back on him, he seemed content to keep it that way. "When
do I get to eat? Where are the servants?"

"Servants?" I asked, looking skeptically around the cottage. Where did he expect us to keep servants in a place like
this? We had the magic door, of course, but Byron did not know about it.

Completely ignoring our guest's rather snobbish questions, Rapunzel asked, "do you want to play fairytale with
us?" Byron Wylean-James the Third looked at her, his expression just as skeptical as mine had been moments
earlier.

"That sounds like a good idea," my mother said before either of us could respond. "Go occupy yourself with Ailynn
and Rapunzel, Byron. I need to get in touch with your Papan and tell him where you are so that he is able to...
make arrangements."

That was when I realized that Byron would be staying for the duration, not just an hour or two until the storm let
up. I was both irritated by and interested in the young noble. On the one hand, I had a new playmate, a total
stranger. I could ask him questions about his life and the world outside of the forest. Perhaps Byron had been to
many interesting places. On the other hand, I was annoyed by the way Byron had simply come into my house,
unannounced, and proceeded to judge everything about it and me with only a glance and a few questions.

"We were playing fairytale," I said when it became obvious that my mother planned to leave us to our own
devices. "We were doing the story of Reagan and Saweya. Maybe you can be the knight that comes to rescue
Saweya from the tower?"

"I'm Saweya," Rapunzel chimed in, showing off the golden circlet that she wore on her head. In fact, it was the one
I had presented to her on the night she came to stay with us. Byron saw it, his interest obviously piqued by the
pretty bauble and the idea of the game.

"Who are you?" he asked, pointing at me.

"I'm Reagan." He did not recognize the name. "The dragon," I clarified. "Don't you know the story?"

He shrugged. "I like to play outside. I don't have time for stories. My father does important things."

"Well, Saweya lives in a tall tower in the middle of the forest. There is an enchantment on her, and she cannot
leave because a large dragon guards her..." At the time, I did not know that my mother was listening to every word
from the next room. It was sickeningly ironic - that I might have been the one to give her the horrible idea that
destroyed our lives six years later.

The game went well at first. I played the dragon that circled Saweya's tower to protect her from knights errant. In
the original story, the dragon was actually female, although later Serian retellings of the story edited this part. The
dragon, Reagan, was not a true dragon, but a human cursed to change form whenever the tower needed to be
protected.

Over time, Reagan falls in love with her captive. She offers to let her go, but Saweya decides to stay - with the
condition that she may occasionally leave the tower. On one of her journeys, her father's emissaries kidnap
Saweya and return her to his palace, where he intends to marry her off. Saweya uses her own cunning to escape
and return to Reagan, who, in a blood-rage, finds the strength to break the bindings that tie her to the tower and
flies to destroy the cruel king's palace.

At least, that is how the story was supposed to go. Ours ended abruptly before the interesting part.

Byron entered on his cue, playing the knight-errant as the first role. I had also offered to let him play the king later
in the story, even though I sometimes liked being the villain. Besides, I already had to play Reagan so that I could
destroy the palace. He was wearing a helmet that was far too big for him and a swirling silk cloak. In his left hand
he held a silver dirk with a jeweled hilt, another of my mother's pretty things. Except for the dirk, I thought he
looked rather ridiculous, but he seemed to think that the props made him dashing. I decided not to correct his
assumption.

"I challenge you, dragon, to mortal combat!" he hollered, waving the dirk around in a threatening manner. He was
actually doing well in his role despite the over-large helmet, and I gave him a smile of encouragement.

"Run," I roared, quoting a line from the story, "run, or I will feast upon your pathetic carcass and leave your bones
to bleach in the sun!" Bearing imaginary claws and teeth, I lunged at him and began the fight. It was more difficult
than I imagined, because I had to be careful of his swinging blade, and unlike the real Reagan, I had no leathery
hide, claws, or fire-breath to protect me.

"Okay," I said, swiping at him with my hand, "now you have to die."

Byron dropped the dirk, looking very disappointed. "I don't want to die. The knight should win the fight."

"That's not how the story goes," I told him. "Besides, you are still playing; you also get to be the tyrant king."

Crossing his arms stubbornly over his chest, Byron stood his ground. "No. The knight should always win the fight
and rescue the princess." He gestured at Rapunzel, who looked very confused. She had never seen me argue with
anyone before, although that was only because I had no one to argue with but her.

"Your parents only raised you on Serian fairy-stories, then," I said, unwilling to change the events of the story just
because of some strange boy that I had made every effort to include in our game.

Byron pouted, actually pouted, which made him look just as spoiled as I suspected he was. "My father is a very
important man. Byron Wylean-James the Second..."

"If you like him so much," I muttered darkly, "why are you here instead of at home?"

"I don't know. Your mother just took me away."

That statement stopped the argument. "My mother... took you?" I asked, not sure if I had heard him clearly.

Byron shrugged. "Yes. It happened once before. Father says that bad people sometimes take the children of
important men like him and ask for gold to give them back. He said it's called a ransom."

"My mother is ransoming you?" I asked, my voice growing louder and higher pitched with each question.

"Yes," said Byron. "She says if my father gives her what she asks for, she'll send me back and nothing bad will
happen. It didn't the last time, so I'm not worried. She knows better than to hurt someone like me, my father will
come after her if she does. He just thinks paying the gold is easier."

I was floored. I had been aware of my mother's greed from a young age, but never thought her capable of
kidnapping a nobleman's son. "We... shouldn't play anymore..." I stuttered, not sure what to say after such a
revelation. I had a lot of thinking to do.

Fortunately, my mother saved me the trouble of finding an excuse to leave the room.

"Reagan," she called out, "come into the kitchen and help me." I scurried away, leaving Rapunzel and Byron
behind, my mind awhirl.

I did not mention what Byron had said to my mother that night, or the next morning when she took him away,
probably to some meeting point where he was exchanged for the ransom money. When she returned, she carried
with her several bags of gold, a diamond tiara, a full set of chain mail armor (I could not see what use she had for
this), and a beautifully decorated golden shield. It was ridiculous, as shields went, since gold is a soft metal and
cannot be used to make weapons, but I did not comment. I also did not ask her where the new presents had come
from. I really did not want to know the details.

Chapter Four:

My mother's relationship with Rapunzel was different than mine. She took great pride in Rapunzel's
accomplishments as I did, and she praised Rapunzel's beauty and kindness, but there was a certain strangeness to
her affection that I could not quite place. Rapunzel did not call her mother, but addressed her by her name, Mogra,
which means 'wise one' in the old language, although it was always delivered with affection and respect. It was not
until Rapunzel was twelve and I was seventeen that I finally understood what it was.

We were searching the forest for Sing, who had grown into a sleek, well-fed cat over the years, and had given birth
to several litters of her own since she had reached adulthood. Diath was still very much alive, as she was bonded
to my mother, and could not die until my mother did. Sing, however, was a perfectly ordinary housecat, and she
had a special affection for Rapunzel, who doted on her pet almost as much as I doted on her.

It was autumn again, and the trees of the forest were starting to shed their leaves, although everything in my
mother's garden followed different seasons entirely. You might find a blossoming apple tree in one corner and
another ripe with fruit just beside it. Rapunzel loved autumn. She adored the colors of the falling leaves and she
loved to play in them with Sing.

"See how the maple leaves look like giant brown hands," she said to me that evening, pointing at a fresh pile of
brown leaves below a tall maple tree.

"They are giants' hands, reaching out to grab you," I teased, coming up behind her and tickling her sides. She
squealed with pleasure and wriggled to get out of my arms, but I held her fast until she stilled. I pulled her close for
a moment, and then let her go. Over the past year, my feelings for Rapunzel had been changing and I still wasn't
sure what to make of them. "Here," I said, "you look for Sing along that way and I will go the other way. We will
find her faster. I will meet you back by the maple tree at sunset."

I was not afraid of letting Rapunzel wander off on her own because I had taught her the ways of the forest.
Nothing that dwelled there would harm her and I would be nearby if she ran into trouble. Besides, she was getting
old enough to take care of herself. "All right, Ailynn," Rapunzel said cheerfully, grabbing my hand and standing on
tiptoe to kiss my cheek. I felt my face flush with heat, and I was glad when Rapunzel scurried off to look for Sing
without noticing.

I spent the next few minutes looking for Sing, but I didn't find her. I was peering up into the branches of a slender
ash tree when I heard a scream. My heart stopped as I realized that it had to be Rapunzel. Who else would dare
travel the forest this close to sunset? I ran in the direction of the sound, thankful that I knew the forest floor well
enough to traverse it in the near dark without falling. Rapunzel screamed again, and I adjusted my course, my feet
pounding in time to my racing heartbeat. My body felt no pain, and my mind was completely blank except for fear,
the fear that I would lose her, the fear that something might have happened to her...

After an eternity, I rushed into a small glade. The hulking back of a man rose above me, and I caught a glimpse of
golden hair over his shoulder. The man was as large as a bear, and looked to be about as strong as one. But he was
distracted with Rapunzel, whom he was holding by the throat, leering down at her with yellow, uneven teeth. I
drew the knife that I used to cut plants from my belt, lifted it, and rammed it into his back.

I had enough sense to hold onto the handle of the blade and pull it from his flesh before the man moved. He
dropped Rapunzel and twisted wildly in the air, nearly falling over himself and clutching at his back. Instinctively, I
raised my fingers and said a Word of Power. The man screamed again, toppling to the ground and writhing over
the bloodstained leaves.

I grabbed Rapunzel with my free hand and hoisted her to her feet, clutching her arm and dragging her away
through the trees. The screams of the man echoed behind us through the trees for several hundred yards until we
were well away. Neither of us stopped running until we reached my mother's house.

"What happened?" my mother asked as we stumbled in through the door. "Ailynn, you have blood on your hands,
and Rapunzel, your dress is torn..."

I nearly wept when I saw my Rapunzel clutching what was left of her dress together. It had been ripped down the
front. "I don't understand," she cried, hurrying into my arms, "what happened? What happened? Why did he..."

"Hush, dear heart," I cooed, rocking her against my chest. "You are safe."

My mother instantly realized what had almost happened. "Did you get there in time?" she asked coldly, staring out
of the window.

"Yes, mother," I said, still holding Rapunzel tight and letting her cry into my shoulder. I stroked her tangled curls,
trying to calm her down.

My mother's next question made my body ripple with fear. "Did you finish him?"

"No," I said. "I stabbed him, and used a Word of Power, but he is not dead yet."

"Put Rapunzel to bed. Don't let her out of your sight." My mother stormed out of the back door, not even
bothering to grab a cloak. I knew what she was going to do. Part of me was fiercely glad. Anyone that would dare
attack a twelve-year-old girl deserved death. Another part of me, though, felt sickened by the whole thing. My
mother was going to take someone's life away, and that was something I couldn't quite stomach.

I scooped Rapunzel into my arms and carried her to our bedroom. Sing, who had found her way back home,
uncurled from the foot of the bed and made room for the two of us. I set Rapunzel down gently on top of the
sheets and left her there, still weeping silently, while I hurried to the dresser to find her a fresh nightgown.
Lifelessly, she let me strip the torn dress off of her and slip the nightgown over her head. Then, with Sing in her
arms and both of them in mine, Rapunzel drifted off to sleep while I waited for mother to return.

She was gone all through the night and did not return until high noon the next morning. Rapunzel was still resting
and I had stayed awake guarding her. Strangely, I did not feel tired. My thoughts stirred restlessly, denying me any
sort of peace. I had almost let that man hurt Rapunzel. I had protected her ever since she was a baby and now I
had finally failed her.

"Ailynn," my mother whispered, opening our door a crack and peering in at us. "Is she all right?"

"Still sleeping," I said, automatically looking down at the precious girl in my arms to make sure that she was well.

"Come with me." Torn, I slowly unwove my arms from around Rapunzel's thin body and bent down to kiss her
golden hair before leaving her to rest with Sing. Her curls had grown to her calves during the night, as I had not
bothered to cut them the evening before. The cat opened one eye to watch me as I stood, but didn't move. I crept
towards my mother on silent feet, slipping into the next room without moving the door so that the hinges
wouldn't creak and disturb Rapunzel.

My mother hurried me over to the kitchen table, forcing me to sit. I wilted against the back of my chair, completely
drained of energy but too afraid to go to sleep. I heard my mother preparing something behind me, and a few
minutes later, she set a warm mug of tea in front of me. "Mother..."

"Drink your tea, Ailynn, and listen to me." I lifted the tea to my lips, both of my hands trembling with fatigue and
fear. I was too exhausted to protest. The warm drink was strong, and it wasn't one of my mother's usual brews.
Immediately, I felt my body tingle with warmth, and some of the tiredness left me.

"I took care of the man that tried to rape Rapunzel," my mother said. We had our backs to each other while she
fixed herself a cup of the tea that she had made. "He will not bother anyone again, but that won't stop others from
trying. Rapunzel is a beautiful woman."

"She is only twelve. She's still a child..."

"Twelve is not a child, Ailynn. At eleven, you had already memorized all of the antidotes for the poisons in my
garden. Rapunzel cannot defend herself as you can. She does not know Words of Power or magic."

"I do, I can protect her..."

"Like you did today?" my mother snapped, stalking over to the chair opposite me and slamming her mug down
onto the table. "You did well in saving Rapunzel, but how many more times can you expect to escape without a
scratch?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"I have called in several old debts. A tower will be built about half an hour's walk from the house."

"For what?" I asked, still blind to my mother's purpose. She took a sip of tea and sighed, resting one elbow on top
of the table. I brushed my curls away from my face, waiting for her to explain.

"For Rapunzel's protection. The tower will have no doors or stairs and only one window."

"If there are no doors or stairs, how will she get in or out?"

"She will stay there and let down her hair to us so that we can climb up to the window."

I leapt to my feet, sending my chair crashing to the floor. "What?" I roared, forgetting that Rapunzel was asleep in
the next room. "You would keep her locked up like one of your pretty treasures?" I shook with rage, listening to my
own words echo in my head. That was when I understood. My mother loved Rapunzel, but not as I did. The
motherly part of her saw Rapunzel as a person, but the greedy part of her saw only another bauble, a fetching toy
that she had to hide lest someone steal it.

"I will not let you do it."

"And risk her life?

"Rapunzel is a girl, mother," I said, lowering my voice slightly. "You cannot lock a human away inside of a tower for
the rest of their life... you cannot hide her from the world."

"What other choice do we have, Ailynn?" my mother snapped, clearly too unbalanced by fear to see reason. "I will
not see her hurt in any way. Look at what almost happened! If you hadn't been there to save her..."

"Very well," I said, kneeling to right my fallen chair and sinking into it wearily. I took another sip of tea, closing my
eyes as the warm brew curled around my tongue and slid down my throat. I would not be able to talk my mother
out of it. The tower would do to protect Rapunzel until I could find another way to keep her safe. Then, I would set
her free.

Chapter Five:

My mother left me to watch Rapunzel while she went to supervise the building for a few hours each day, and it
was the only time that both of us were not with her. Rapunzel had not complained; on the contrary, she seemed
glad of the extra protection. Even though my own emotions were muddled and unclear, I tried to be a steady
source of comfort for her, holding her more than usual and letting her fall asleep with her head in my lap.

All of us spent much of our time in introspection, our eyes darting about the rooms of our cottage with an
unfocused glaze to them. None of us seemed to be in the here-and-now. While my mother brooded and paced
around us like a lioness guarding her kill, I stared at blank spaces on the wall and wondered why our peaceful
routine had been so harshly interrupted. Rapunzel seemed especially distant, and the fear emanating from her thin
frame was almost palpable.

I had not cut her hair since construction on the tower had started, and when Rapunzel asked about it the first day,
I told her that mother and I would explain in a few weeks. I still hated the idea of imprisoning my innocent
Rapunzel at the top of a tower, but I couldn't think of another solution my mother would accept. Her extreme
paranoia was growing worse, and she double-checked all of the doors at least once an hour to make sure that no
one was outside.

Rapunzel had changed, too. The beautiful, laughing child full of questions and stories had faded into a shadow of
herself and all of her smiles had disappeared. She spent most of her time crying, and patches of my clothes were
soaked with her tears more often than not. As well read as she was, Rapunzel did not fully understand why the
man had attacked her, and I was thankful that she did not ask any questions. I was not sure if I would be able to
explain it to her.

I told Rapunzel many stories during those long days, and though she was only listening with half an ear most of the
time, I knew that the sound of my voice soothed her a little. Sing, keen enough to sense that something was very
wrong, stayed close to her mistress at all hours, tailing her like a faithful dog as she wandered from room to room
and curling up with us as we sat in front of the fire while my mother watched from her high-backed chair.

The tower was built at a surprisingly rapid pace, and after only two tedious weeks, the last of the stones had been
stacked at the top. My mother took me to see it one night, casting several charms about the house to keep out any
intruders. It was the first time that we had left Rapunzel alone since her attack and both of us were wary, but my
mother felt the need to show me the tower.

Reluctantly, I followed my mother out of the house and into the nighttime forest. It was well past sunset, and only
hints of silvery moonlight managed to penetrate the thick canopy of autumn leaves that had not yet fallen to the
ground. Soon, except for the regal pines, all of these trees would be stripped bare for the winter. My heart ached
at the thought of how desolate the forest always looked in winter, even when it was covered in a clean, crisp
blanket of white snow. I lived for green things and the earth.

Insects buzzed from their hiding places in the tree branches, and the other night sounds almost covered our soft
footfalls as we trod silently over the leaves that covered the ground, which was still wet from an early afternoon
storm. Finally, we reached a very small clearing in the forest surrounded by young ash trees with thin branches.
Rising through the middle of the trees was a tower, its stones cracked and covered with ivy and creeper.

"You aged it?" I asked, lifting my eyes to the high window near the top of the tower.

"It looked strange with fresh-cut stones," my mother said, following my gaze. "A new tower in an ancient forest
would be too noticeable."

"The ash trees," I said, gesturing around, "you chose them because the branches are too slender to hold a man's
weight."

My mother nodded her approval, following my gaze up the trunks of the thin ash trees that surrounded the tower.
"No human can climb to the top of the tower unless Rapunzel lowers her hair. The cat should be able to come and
go as she pleases, though. It will be good for Rapunzel to have some company while we are at home."

"Then let her stay with us," I pleaded, trying one last time to sway her. "It is foolish to lock a child in a tower."

"Not foolish, cautious. She will come to no harm this way."

"She will waste away up there, mother; treated like a prisoner, and for what? She has done nothing wrong."

"Would you rather see her raped, perhaps murdered? That is the fate beauty comes to in the world. Unless it is
guarded, it will be destroyed."

I held my eyes shut, my fingernails digging viciously into my palms, keeping a well-practiced blank expression on
my face. I felt anger twist in my belly like a keen knife and I pressed my lips together, seething inwardly until the
edge of my rage had dulled. "There is a hook at the top of the tower for Rapunzel to wrap her hair around," my
mother continued. "Then, we can use it as a rope. How long is her hair now?"

"Perhaps twice her height, maybe more," I said darkly. "I have been washing and braiding it every day."

"Good," said my mother. "We will have to take care of her beautiful hair if we want to visit her."

"How will you get her into the tower?"

"There are footholds carved into the rock," my mother explained, pulling aside a patch of creeper to show me. As
she said, there were several stone pegs on the side of the tower. There were two rows, and the pegs were a
comfortable reaching distance apart. "I will get rid of them as soon as she's up there, of course. Then, no one will
be able to climb up."

I did not mention that Rapunzel could easily be tricked into letting down her hair for a stranger. My mother's logic
was deteriorating, and I was growing fearful. "The hair will do," I said. Without a word, I turned and started back
through the trees, not wanting to look at the tower any longer. I had seen enough.

That was the moment that part of me started hating my mother. I had never experienced hate as a child - Rapunzel
and my mother were the only humans that I had ever known and they did little to anger me. The emotion growing
in me was new and frightening, not just the mere restlessness of an adolescent challenging her parent. My mother
was threatening my dearest treasure, and even our shared blood could not make me forgive her. I never stopped
loving my mother, some caring feelings remained even until the end, but I never stopped hating her, either.

...

Rapunzel stirred as I sank back onto our bed, clutching at the sheets in her sleep. She tossed her head, her long
braids curving through the folds in the covers like winding golden rivers. I stroked her cheek with the back of my
hand and marveled at how frail she looked in her white nightgown. Her eyelids fluttered, and she parted her lips
slightly as she gazed up into my face. "Ailynn?"

"Sleep, dear heart," I whispered, feeling guilty that I had awoken her.

"Where were you?" she breathed sleepily, her arms circling around me so that I would not leave her alone in bed
again. I was surprised that Rapunzel had managed to rest without me at all. We had been bed partners for over ten
years; she had started sleeping with me as soon as she had outgrown her crib. Usually, she would not fall asleep
unless I was beside her.

"It doesn't matter."

"Ailynn, where did you go?" Rapunzel insisted. She knew that something was out of the ordinary- why else would I
leave her in the middle of the night?

"Mother took me out." Since I was already worried about Rapunzel and ashamed of keeping secrets, the pleading
look in her eyes made my stomach twist, breaking my defenses almost instantly. "Mother is building something to
keep you safe," I said hesitantly.

"She thinks that I am still in danger from that man?" she asked, pulling her warm body away from mine so that she
could look at me.

"Not from that man, but from others like him. The world is often cruelest to the innocent."

Rapunzel stared at me, her expression confused and unfocused. "And she is trying to protect me?"

"Yes," I said. "She has found a place where no one can hurt you."

"Oh... where no one can hurt me..." she mumbled, burying her face into the crook of my neck and breathing
against my skin. She was asleep almost instantly.

Something felt wrong with Rapunzel's dazed responses. I held still, idly stroking the crown of her head as I thought.
Surely the attack had not completely extinguished the inquisitive spark that endeared her to me so. Something
else was making her dull and pliant.

Slowly, I untangled myself from the sleeping Rapunzel's arms and padded into the kitchen, the grain of the wooden
floor scraping roughly against the bare soles of my feet. My mother was sitting in her carved chair. Anyone else
would have thought that she was sleeping, but I knew that she was alert behind her closed eyelids.

"What did you do to her, mother?" I asked in a cold whisper, leaning against the doorway.

"Nothing." She opened her eyes, staring at me too innocently. My mother was a masterful liar, and I could seldom
tell when she was spinning a falsehood, but this time I was sure.

"You've drugged her, haven't you?"

Mother moved fluidly, tossing her curls over her shoulder as she rose from the chair. She tilted up her chin,
drawing herself up to her full height. I did the same. Already well into my seventeenth year, I was almost as tall as
she was. "It's for her own good, Ailynn. I thought about what you said to me and you were right, a girl locked away
in a tower would go mad. This will calm her."

"You've taken her will away!"

"I'm doing it because I love her," my mother protested, reaching out to touch my shoulder. I shrugged her hand off
of me.

"You're insane."

"Cautious, not insane. What I'm doing might seem cruel, but it's what's best for her."

"Then why not lock me away?" I spat. "Would that be best for me, too?"

My mother looked towards the slightly cracked door to the bedroom and glared at me. "Keep your voice low. Do
you want to wake her? And of course I won't lock you away, you foolish girl. You can defend yourself, but
Rapunzel..."

"I can protect her, mother."

"Perhaps you are strong enough to defend yourself, little one, but you're weak in matters of the heart. You are
letting your feelings cloud your judgment."

"My feelings?" I asked softly, creeping away from the doorframe. "What do you mean?"

My mother's lips curled up in a chilling smirk. "You shouldn't underestimate my powers of observation, daughter.
You are of my blood, and I know how you think. How you feel."

"I don't understand..." I said, my anger draining out of me and leaving only a panicked confusion.

"Either you are a better liar than I thought, or you are still naïve," my mother said thoughtfully. "Perhaps you have
not realized it yet."

"Realized what?"

"That you are in love with her."

The words struck me like a physical blow, clawing into me. I winced with pain and shame as I realized that what
she said was true. I did love her. I had sworn to care for her since the first night she spent in our home. I loved the
joy she brought into any room she entered. I loved the way her lush imagination created stories and pictures out of
simple, everyday things. I loved how she saw beauty in everything. I loved her innocence and kindness.

"But I- she's..." I stumbled, shaking my head.

"A girl? Twelve years old? Almost a sister? Take your pick."

"I'm not," I said, leaning against the wall for support. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm not..."

"If you're not, then why are you crying?"

I reached up to touch my cheek with my fingertips and felt hot tears on my face. "No," I mouthed, but my voice
was completely gone.

"Darling, beautiful girl, come here," my mother cooed, drawing me into her arms. I did not protest as she rocked
me gently, rubbing my back as I shook with sobs. "It's all right. She isn't really your sister and she will grow. She is
going to be a beauty in a few years, more than she is already. She is yours if you want her."

"You're doing it again!" I screamed, the words tearing from my throat, too angry to care that Rapunzel was
sleeping in the next room. "You're treating her like a present that you can give to me."

"She was a present that I gave to you. I took her so that you could have a playmate, remember?"

"I wish you had never brought her here," I said, my voice trembling and unsteady. "None of this would have
happened."

My mother was silent for several beats. Finally, she spoke, but her words didn't seem to be directed to me. "You
truly do love her, Ailynn," she said softly. "You love her enough to give her up for her own happiness."

"I want her to be happy, and I know that no one can find happiness in a locked tower."

"That's what the herbs I gave her were for, to keep her content."

"They make her dull. She isn't fully aware of what's going on around her; she talks and moves as if she's in a
dream."

"She probably wouldn't object to becoming your lover in a few years, you know," my mother said, changing the
subject. "You are the only person she has ever known aside from me."

"I won't take advantage of her, especially not now. I'll wait. I'll wait until she's old enough to understand. Then, I'll
offer myself to her. If she wants me, I'm hers. If she doesn't, I'll help her find whatever else she wants instead."

"You are too kind," my mother said. "You could easily make her love you with all of the knowledge I have given
you. But you won't do it, even for your own happiness. You would be good for her, Ailynn."

"Addling her brain to win her love goes against my principles," I said, staring at my mother coldly. "I had thought it
went against yours as well."

"Principles be damned," my mother said with a sigh, shaking her head. "Love has made you weak. Someday, you
will thank me for protecting our little girl so well. Think, Ailynn! Rapunzel will never know pain beyond what she
has already seen. She will be completely unspoiled by the world. Pure, trusting, innocent... everything that the girls
in the village aren't. Protection is the greatest gift that I can give to either of you."

"You've gone mad, mother," I said forcefully, turning away.

My mother put her hand on my shoulder again, and I was too muddled and confused to bother removing it. "Here,
I'll fetch you some tea," she said, working busily behind me to prepare a new kettle. Tea was my mother's solution
to all of our arguments. I took a long draft, hopping that the warm brew would calm my nerves. If I had been a
little more sensible, I might have noticed that my mother wasn't drinking any.

"You should rest, daughter," she suggested as I took another sip of the heady drink. "Rapunzel might wake again."

"We have already shouted loud enough to summon spirits. I'm shocked that Rapunzel is still asleep."

"She needs her rest," my mother said simply. She took my mug away from me before I was finished, and I didn't
think to protest. "So do you, my beautiful princess. Now, go to bed."

Strangely, I wasn't angry with my mother anymore. I didn't feel anything except a strange, heavy tiredness settling
over me like a thick blanket. "Perhaps," I yawned, hauling myself out of my chair and across the room to the door.

"Rest well," my mother said. I didn't have the strength to answer her as I stumbled through the door and collapsed
onto the bed.

Chapter Six:

When I woke the next morning, Rapunzel was not resting in my arms. All that remained was a warm indent in the
mattress where she had been and a pile of rumpled sheets. After a few blank minutes of staring at the place where
Rapunzel should have been, I guessed what had happened. Mother had taken her in the night after I had fallen
asleep to make sure that I did not interfere with her imprisonment.

A strange taste lingered in my mouth and I swallowed, trying to identify it. I realized suddenly that my mother had
drugged my tea the night before. My tongue felt thick and heavy and my head ached. At this stage in my
education, I could detect almost any poison or sleeping draught by taste, but my mother knew far more about
herbs than I did, and she had probably found some way to trick my senses.

I blinked my eyes slowly, trying to think. I knew that I had to do something to stop mother, but I was still too dazed
to figure out what actions I should take. However, there was something that I did remember, something that had
been drilled into me since childhood, one of the most important herbs any healer needed to know: the properties
of Wormwort.

Used in small doses, Wormwort cleared your body of unhealthy substances. The only problem was that it was a
slow-working drug, and some fast-acting poisons killed too quickly for the Wormwort to take effect. The only way
to speed up the process was to take a large dose, and too much Wormwort was just as fatal as any poison it might
be used to block. Wormwort was what I needed to cleanse myself of whatever my mother had given me, but I
needed to find Mother and Rapunzel as soon as possible.

I thumped out of bed, feeling as though a net woven with stones had been draped over my shoulders. Somehow, I
managed to drag myself into the kitchen. There, waiting on the table for me, was a small container of ground
Wormwort root and a fresh mug of tea. Knowing that it would be pointless for my mother to drug me twice, I
poured the some of the Wormwort powder into the drink and drained it in one gulp. Then, I slipped the vial into
my pocket, slumped into a chair, and waited.

After a few minutes, my head began to clear. My body still felt drained and heavy, but my mind was responding
more quickly and I could move a little more easily. I picked myself up out of the chair and hurried towards the door
on unsteady legs, grabbing a shawl to wrap around my shoulders as I slipped outside.

The morning forest was oddly quiet, as though the birds and insects could sense my unease. I picked my way over
roots and dried leaves, the sense of urgency never leaving me. I already knew that it was probably too late to stop
my mother from imprisoning Rapunzel in the tower, but a small part of me still hoped that I would arrive in time to
do something.

Far too late, I burst into the clearing. The pegs that had been carved into the tower wall were gone, leaving only
smooth stone behind. I ran up to the tower, pressing my hands against its side, hoping that I was wrong. I felt
nothing save a few strands of ivy and creeper.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stared up at the stone balcony above me. "Rapunzel!" I called, forcing my
words out past the tightness in my throat, "let down your hair to me!" At first, nothing happened. I waited, my
heart hammering against my breastbone. Then, a small, pale face peered over the edge of the balcony.

"Ailynn?" said Rapunzel. Her voice seemed small and frightened, even from so far up.

"You came!"

"Wind your hair around the hook," I said, "then, let it down to me."

Rapunzel moved to another spot on the balcony and ducked her head down. Seconds later, a heavy braid of thick
golden hair thudded onto the ground at my feet. I tugged on it once to make sure it would hold and began to pull
myself up.

Scaling the tower was very difficult, although bracing my feet on the stones helped to ease the burden of hauling
my own body weight thirty feet into the air. Only desperation allowed me to complete the task as quickly as I did.
Finally, I managed to clamber over the balcony, falling onto my hands and knees as Rapunzel hovered over me.
"Did I hurt you?" I panted, pulling myself up.

"The hook took most of the weight," said Rapunzel, hauling her braid back over the balcony's edge. She finished,
and I took her into my arms, holding her tight against me.

"Oh, Rapunzel, I'm so sorry..." I said weakly. "I tried to stop her, but mother won't listen to reason..."

"Will I stay up here forever?" she asked, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.

"No," I said, trying to ignore the stinging in my own eyes and hold the rest of my tears at bay. "I will find a way to
free you. Mother drugged me so that I would not see how she performed the binding spell, but I will find a way to
undo it, I promise you."

Remembering the drugs that my mother gave to me, I checked Rapunzel's eyes. They were clear, and there was no
sign of the dreamlike film that had covered them earlier.

"Can you be brave for me, beautiful girl?"

"Y-yes," she sobbed, still crying into my shoulder.

"Mother has been giving you herbs to make you calm. Answer me truthfully; do you think that you can stay here
without them? Being confined to a tower might drive the sanest man out of his wits."

Rapunzel thought about it, chewing on her bottom lip. "I-I think I can..." she said. "I will read my books to keep my
mind busy."

"You can help me search mother's books for a way to free you," I suggested.

"Alright. Will you give me something to make mother's drugs stop working?"

A small portion of my panic had eased. I had underestimated Rapunzel. Already her tears had faded and she was
accepting the situation calmly. I forced a smile and stroked Rapunzel's damp cheeks. "Yes, my heart. She can take
away your freedom, but I won't allow her to take away your will."

Mother was sitting in the kitchen when I returned to the cottage. She looked up when I stepped through the back
door, watching me as I hung my shawl and stepped out of my shoes. "Where were you, Ailynn?" she asked,
standing to greet me as I closed the door.

"Visiting Rapunzel," I said coldly, not wishing to speak with her. The hate was rising in me again, and I wanted to
get away from my mother before it surfaced. I walked over to the small wooden door, trying to dismiss her, but
she followed me.

"I know what you are looking for in there," my mother told me. "You shouldn't waste your time searching."

"I'll spend my time however I like." I tapped on the door three times. "The library, please." The door was in a good
mood that day, and immediately took me to the library. Thankfully, my mother did not follow me in.

My mother collected books along with the rest of her treasures, and she stored all of them in the library. Like the
treasure rooms, the library was completely disorganized. Books on history and affairs of state were crowded next
to bestiaries and recipe books. Volumes that did not occupy the vast number of shelves lining the walls were
stacked on tables and chairs that were spread haphazardly throughout the room. Candle stubs littered the floor
where there were no stray scrolls.

The library had a cramped but comfortable feeling, and its high, wide windows made it the brightest room in the
house. None of the furniture matched, and there were three fireplaces, but I was attached to the room despite its
haphazard appearance. Some of my best memories were of being read to by my mother in the library, or later, of
reading to Rapunzel.

I settled myself down in an overstuffed, faded blue chair and grabbed the nearest spell volume, flipping through
the pages rapidly. There were hundreds of books to search, and I knew that it might be months before I found the
binding spell that my mother had used to keep Rapunzel in the tower. Somewhere near the middle of the book, I
found the edges of two torn pages near the binding. Mother had torn out the spell I needed. Refusing to let myself
grow angry, I picked up the next book in the pile.

Seven books later, I had found three more references to the binding spell, but in each book, the pages that I
needed were ripped out. My mother's actions did not surprise me. Her paranoia had probably driven her to
destroy all the pages about the spell. I was not overly disheartened, however. There were hundreds of books in my
mother's library, and surely she had missed at least one copy...

I woke up in the library the next morning unable to remember falling asleep. There was an open book in my lap
and sunlight was streaming into my eyes from one of the high windows. I squinted and uncurled myself on the seat
of the chair, stretching my arms and yawning to clear my head. The book fell to the floor with a thud, and I didn't
bother to pick it up. "This is going to take an eternity," I said to myself, staring up at the library shelves.

I decided that looking at all of the books that I needed to read would only dishearten me more, and I grabbed a
short stack of four volumes and headed for the door. Before I left, I grabbed a well-loved volume of fairytales off of
a table and placed it at the top of the stack for Rapunzel. She had always loved reading fairytales, and I thought
that reading them to her might improve her spirits.

The kitchen was empty when I stepped through the magical door, and I set my books on the table. I started to
head for the door again, so that I could find some Wormwort in my mother's herb room to give to Rapunzel, but I
remembered the vial of powder that my mother had left for me the morning before and reached into my pocket.
The vial of powdered Wormwort root was still there. I grabbed my shawl from the hook next to the door, wrapped
it around my shoulders, and picked up the books.

The walk to Rapunzel's tower was uneventful. The bright colors of the leaves were starting to fade, and most of the
trees were already bare. Winter would come soon. The thought brought a wave of sadness with it, and I quickly
shook my head to dismiss the feeling. However, some of it lingered even as I approached the grove of ash trees
where Rapunzel's tower stood.

"Rapunzel," I called up, "let down your hair to me."

A few seconds later, I saw Rapunzel's pale face gazing down at me over the railing. "How are you going to climb up
with all those books?" she asked, staring at me curiously. I looked down at the books in my arms, realizing that I
would not be able to climb Rapunzel's hair carrying the heavy volumes in my arms.

"Could you tie your hair to a basket and lower it down for the books?" I asked.

Rapunzel nodded and disappeared for a moment. I waited, ignoring the soreness beginning to creep down my
arms as I held the stack of books. Finally, she dropped her hair down with a basket knotted to the end. I dumped
the books in it and waited while Rapunzel hauled the books up onto the balcony and lowered her hair again for
me.

"At least I don't have to pull you up," she said, unwinding her hair from the hook as I swung my leg over the
balcony railing. "Those books were heavy."

"When you're free, I'll carry everything for you," I promised.

"Oh, Ailynn, you brought my favorite book," Rapunzel said as she scanned the contents of the basket. "I love the
illustrations." She rushed into my arms for a hug and I kissed her forehead.

"I thought you would enjoy having it," I said, feeling my heart lighten a little. Then, I remembered the Wormwort in
my pocket. "I brought something else for you, too. Did mother bring you anything to drink?"

"There's a pool of fresh water inside and a dipper," Rapunzel said, leading me inside the tower for the first time. I
had not left the balcony the day before, fearing that I would grow upset seeing the prison that Rapunzel was
confined to, but the room was what I expected. There was a beautiful vanity set, a large, canopied bed, and a large
number of my mother's beautiful treasures.

"She thought I would like them," Rapunzel said, following my gaze. I could hear the distaste in her voice and I put
my hand on her shoulder. She led me to a corner of the room where there was a pool of clean water and a dipper.
I took the dipper and scooped up some of the enchanted water, pouring some of the powdered Wormwort root in
it and passing it to Rapunzel.

"Here, drink this. It will stop mother from drugging you."

"She left food for me, but I didn't eat it," Rapunzel said, pointing to a plate at the foot of her bed.

"It's probably drugged," I said, not bothering to go over and examine it. "You should be able to eat now. The
Wormwort will keep your mind clear."

"Good. I'm ravenous."

Chapter Seven:

Time passes differently in the forest. Weeks become months before you realize that the days have slipped away. I
was no closer to finding a way to release Rapunzel from her prison, but the two of us had settled into a bearable, if
not happy, routine. Every day, I would bring books to Rapunzel's tower and spend as much time as I could with her.
We enjoyed reading together. Rapunzel preferred stories of adventure in the outside world, while I usually kept my
nose buried in some ancient spell book, always looking for a way to break the enchantment that surrounded the
tower.

I could sense the magic my mother had used whenever I approached Rapunzel's prison. It trickled over my skin like
warm rivulets of water falling from my hair, trailing over my arms and belly and giving me gooseflesh. Before I
knew it, Rapunzel's thirteenth birthday had passed and I was no closer to freeing her.

One day, frustrated by my lack of progress, I decided to abandon my books and examine the framework of the
magic itself - the woven aura of power that surrounded the tower like a net. This was called shape-magic: using the
senses to 'see' the energy that made up a spell.

Relying on the knowledge that I had gained from my advanced reading, I could almost see white tendrils of magical
energy forming a chain from Rapunzel to... where? After hours of pacing and examining, which my treasure bore
willingly because of the hope that she might be freed by my efforts, I was no closer to discovering the root of the
enchantment. I was severely disheartened, but Rapunzel, ever the bright candle flame that illuminated my dark
thoughts, reassured me.

"I know you will find a way to free me, Ailynn. I believe in you."

My mother, however, was less than pleased with me. Ever since she had imprisoned Rapunzel in the tower, a great
rift had grown between us. No longer did she call me her beautiful princess, and whenever she gave her approval
for a successfully brewed potion or newly acquired skill, the praise rang hollow in my ears. Perhaps that was more
my fault than hers, but it hurt to have one of the only two connections nurtured during my life begin to unravel.

"You will thank me someday, Ailynn," she told me one afternoon while I was cleaning the dishes. I did not turn to
look at her, continuing to stare at the pot that I was scouring with a carefully blank expression on my face. I was
grateful that the heavier cleaning work, washing the cauldrons, was already done. "I am only keeping your bride
safe for you until she is old enough..."

My temper flared and I slammed the copper pot back into the washbasin with a loud bang that startled the birds
outside the window. "Mother, she is a person, not a pet," I snarled, too angry to address her respectfully. I still
cared for her despite what she had done to Rapunzel, but I no longer worshipped her and wanted to become just
like her. Besides, my mother had been acting strange lately. She often left our cottage in the middle of the night,
coming back at dawn the next morning looking very tired, but refusing to offer any explanation. I knew better than
to ask. I also knew that she was not visiting Rapunzel, because sometimes I slept at the tower with her to keep her
company.

"Of course she is not a pet. She is becoming a woman. She will be very beautiful in a few more years."

I shuddered, partly from pleasure and partly from disgust. Having feelings for such a young girl frightened me,
although I was comforted by the fact that I was not drawn to her present body, but to the future image of her I
secretly carried in my mind. I had imagined it often - what she would look like at eighteen or twenty, even at forty
or sixty. I was sure that she would age beautifully, but I would love her no matter what she looked like.

"If she is becoming a woman, why do you keep her in a cage like a dog or a bird?"

My mother sighed, shaking her head and taking the pot from my limp hands. I allowed her to set it aside and draw
me into an embrace, although I remained somewhat stiff in her arms. "For all your intellectual knowledge of the
world, girl, you are disappointingly naïve. Have you ever killed someone?"

The thought made my stomach tie itself in knots. She knew I had never killed before, although I had injured the
man who attempted to hurt Rapunzel. I probably would have killed him if I had to, I thought. Part of me wanted to
blame him for our misfortune instead of my mother, whom I still loved, but I was too logical to lie to myself.

"You have no concept of the depth of human cruelty. The world is a terrible place, Ailynn," she cooed, stroking my
hair. I bore the touch, disliking the physical link between us, but unwilling to brush her aside. "There are so few
trustworthy, honest people. But you can always trust me, Ailynn. I want what is best for you." But I knew that she

was lying. Perhaps she was not even aware of the lie, so skewed was her perception of the situation. Mogra
Gothel, Witch of the forest, only wanted what was best for one person: her.

At that moment, I realized that my mother would never let Rapunzel go. She was the jewel in her crown, the prize
of her collection, and my mother wanted me to have her. Perhaps it was because she loved me in her own way.
Perhaps it was because being able to provide me with what I wanted most of all gave her a feeling of power over
me. Maybe it was both. But I needed to free Rapunzel, even if it meant alienating my mother. My heart, not to
mention my conscience, would not let me do anything less.

...

"Where were you?"

My mother, who had been trying to sneak in quietly through the back door, set her sack down on the floor and
looked up at me. I was waiting in one of the wooden kitchen chairs, a book open on my lap. Mother rolled her eyes
when she saw the title. "I told you not to look for a way to break the enchantment," she said, half-scolding and
half-annoyed. "I expected better of you."

"I expect nothing of you," I muttered, setting the book on the table and standing up to face my mother head-on.
"Where were you last night?"

To her credit, my mother did not try to fabricate one of her usual lies. She knew that I was far too old to believe
them. Instead, she bent down and reached for the large, lumpy sack that she had discarded moments before.
Picking it up, she showed it to me. There were several books inside, and I studied the titles curiously. The Art of
Transmogrification, Lir: A Biography, and A History of Magical Creatures and Their Creators.

"More books for the library," my mother offered by way of an explanation. I knew that there was more to tell, but
did not push her. My mother had stopped telling me the truth a long time ago. "Ailynn, I have been thinking about
you recently. You are almost a grown woman now, nearly eighteen. It is time for you take on more responsibilities
here."

Although I still helped my mother whenever she prepared magical cures for the men and women that came to our
house, I had been neglecting my duties lately. I felt slightly guilty, but brewing potions and making charms did not
hold my interest like it used to. I wanted to spend all of my time with Rapunzel.

"What kind of responsibilities?" I asked.

"I have decided to leave my practice to you. You are knowledgeable enough and skilled enough to take over for
me. I have other magical projects that I want to pursue." Again, I resisted the temptation to ask her exactly what
these were. Perhaps they were part of the reason that she had been disappearing lately.

Although I knew it would take up more of my time, part of me was flattered that my mother thought I was skilled
enough and responsible enough to continue her work. For the first time in several months, I felt a surge of genuine
affection for her, and gave her a tight hug. "I will, mother," I said, giving her a genuine smile. She smiled back,
pleased that I was pleased.

"I have thought deeply about this," she told me. "I know that you do not want to go out into the world on your
own yet, even though I would encourage you to do so. You are as stubborn as an ox when it comes to Rapunzel
and nothing I say will convince you to leave her." My mother was right. I was relieved that she had not suggested
this option. Although I was interested in the outside world, I did not want to be apart from Rapunzel. "I am not
sure whether such devotion is admirable or foolish."

"Probably both," I admitted.

And so I took over my mother's business, which kept me occupied during most mornings and evenings, but
allowed me to spend the afternoons and some nights with Rapunzel. Despite the new workload, I did not give up
my search for the binding spell that imprisoned Rapunzel. I often sacrificed hours of sleep to pour through books in
the library, always with the same result - pages referencing the spell were torn out and destroyed.

Rapunzel, who was quickly changing from a shy girl into a beautiful and brave woman, did not take out her
frustrations on me. She knew that I was trying to help her as best I could. I admired her grace and strength as she
stayed in that tower month after month. She refused to allow her mind or body to become weak, and although
being a prisoner often made her depressed, she fought her feelings of helplessness and frustration so that they
would not overwhelm her. I did not know if I would have been able to bear her troubles half as well.

Before I knew it, Rapunzel was fifteen years old and I found myself admiring her body as well as her kindness and
perseverance. These feelings made me extremely uncomfortable. I was an academic and a loner, both by
circumstance and by choice, and knew next to nothing about romantic entanglements. Although I had started
puberty at twelve, my sexual development was delayed, to put it kindly.

I was aware that other girls my age were already taking lovers, sometimes several, or even marrying and starting
families in a vague sort of way, but did not pay much attention. At twenty, I was almost an old maid by the
standards of some. I researched the subject - my mother had books on non-magical topics - and was surprised to
discover that most other girls felt these strange stirrings much, much earlier than me. Perhaps it was because I was
not interested in being with anyone but Rapunzel and she had still been a child during my teenage years.

Although I had been in love with Rapunzel for years, my daydreams were mostly ambiguous, innocent ones about
marrying her, starting a family, and living happily ever after: my own personal fairy-tale. Sexuality was not a major
factor, even though I often imagined how beautiful she would be when she grew up.

Now, things were beginning to change and I was not sure if I liked it. I began to have dreams, waking and sleeping
ones, about what it would be like to kiss her. These dreams made me very frustrated. The more her body matured,
the more involved these dreams became to the point where they embarrassed me. Just kissing no longer seemed
like enough. I wanted more. I wanted everything.

The blossoming feelings of love and desire that I was experiencing came with a price: frustration and guilt. I was
certain that some fifteen year olds took lovers or married older men, but I still considered Rapunzel far too young
to be exposed to such things. It was difficult for me to stop seeing her as a child that I needed to protect and start
seeing her as a woman, although my body had certainly noticed and responded to the change.

I could be patient, I told myself. I could wait for her to finish growing up. But when I woke in the middle of the
night with a hand trapped between my legs and my body covered in sweat, it was difficult to push down the desire
I felt.

Chapter Eight:

In addition to my frustrating desires, my mother's deterioration worried me constantly. There was no other word
to describe it. It was as though locking Rapunzel away was only the first step, and once that step had been taken,
continuing down the wrong path became easier and easier with every stride.

She hardly stayed in the house anymore, and when I did see her, she looked exhausted. Dark bruises hung in half-
circles under her eyes and lines covered her once-beautiful face. Her body was also deteriorating.

I tried not to think about it, tried not to notice, because despite everything that had happened, a small part of me
still loved my mother and the relationship we had once shared. I could not help it, although I also felt guilty for
holding on to a small piece of that love. Rapunzel was a balm to my soul and eased some of the guilt, but it always
resurfaced.

Once, I followed her on one of her late-night journeys, determined to discover where she went and talk some
sense into her. I wrapped my green cloak around my shoulders, bolting all of the doors and windows and making
sure that the enchantments of protection were secure around the house. My mother was too distracted to pay
attention to that sort of thing.

My mother started off into the forest, not following any of the usual paths, but I knew this place like the palm of
my hand and it was easy to follow her. I could sense that she was concentrating on her progress through the trees
and undergrowth, not really paying attention to her surroundings, and so it was easy to follow her. Perhaps it was
because she was so confident in her abilities, or maybe it was another sign of her mental instability. The mother
that raised me never would have put herself in such a vulnerable position.

As I followed a good distance behind her, I began to notice a change in her. Her steps did not slow, but her gait
became more shuffling and less forceful. Her back began to bend, and once I thought I saw white hair whipping
around a tree instead of her glossy brown curls. Had she cast an illusion over herself to change her appearance?
Why? But this was only one more question to add to the long list already in my mind.

Even though she was not watching behind her for followers, I muttered a spell of disguise and protection around
myself, feeling the magic spark on my tongue like mint. The taste was familiar, and a comfort to me. Although
some people were frightened of magic, I greeted it like an old friend. I felt some of my energy leave me as it wove
itself into the spell, fading my outline against the shapes of the trees and stones. If my mother looked back, she
would not see me, although she might be able to sense the spell I had just cast.

After she had walked a good distance, we were in a part of the forest that I had not often explored, although I
knew in a vague sort of way where we were. It was a place that few visited, and I suspected that was why Mother
had chosen it. She valued her privacy. As I crept closer, I confirmed the presence of an illusion surrounding her.
Instead of standing straight and tall, she was curled over like a dying fall leaf, and her skin was wrinkled and thin
like old yellow paper. Her hair was white as snowdrop petals. She looked like a harmless old woman, but I knew
better.

Quickly checking over her shoulder, mostly out of habit, I suspected, she hurried past a curtain of leaves and
disappeared. Worried that I would lose her, I followed as fast as I could without drawing attention to myself,
carefully picking my way over stones and twigs and crackling leaves. When I reached the place where she had
vanished, I could not see where she had gone at first. After a few moments of careful inspection, I realized that she
had not gone forward, but down. Below me, covered by a carefully woven mat of greenery, was the entrance to a
cave. As I peeled the mat backwards, the smell of damp limestone rose from below. My mother was spending her
time in a hidden cave? Why?

A high, keening howl jerked me from my thoughts, sending a shiver shooting up my spine like an arrow from a
bow. I was not afraid of wolves. They were not aggressive unless you invaded their territory or tried to take their
kills. But something about the voice of that wolf - the voice of the forest - warned me of danger.

I sighed, chiding myself for my unfounded fears. "You're a woman now, Ailynn," I mouthed, careful not to speak
aloud just in case my mother decided to come back out of the cave, "not a child." But I could not shrug off the
feeling of foreboding that coated my skin and seeped into my lungs like the cold air rising from the cave. Following
my instincts, I turned back and left the cave. I would not discover anything if Mother was already down there, and I

did not want to get caught. I would come back later when I knew that the cave was empty. I could conduct a
proper search then.

...

Rapunzel's sixteenth birthday came, and I had no idea what sort of present to give her. My mother gathered
several pretty trinkets to bestow on her, but I was not taken with any of them, and I knew that she would not be,
either. Although my mother liked to pretend that nothing was wrong, Rapunzel had noticed the change in her just
as I had, although she did not comment on it except when we were alone. She had every reason to keep Mogra in
a good mood. She was, after all, Rapunzel's jailer.

But I wanted my present to be different, special. Of course, the best present I could give Rapunzel was her
freedom, but I had searched Mother's library from top to bottom with no success. An awareness was growing in
me, a realization that I did not want to face because it meant leaving behind what I cared about most in the world.
I knew that soon I would have to leave Mogra's cottage and go out into the world in order to find the spell I
needed. I stalled as long as I could, not wanting to leave Rapunzel alone with my mother, but I knew that the time
was coming for me to leave. One of my reasons for waiting was also selfish. I did not want to leave the woman I
loved.

And she was a woman now, as much as it frightened me to admit it. Her hair, despite its amazing length, was
healthy and strong, the color of golden summer wheat, and very thick. It took hours of care, but the results were
magnificent. Her thin, lanky child's body had softened and curved, narrowing at the waist and flaring at the hips.
The softness of childhood melted from her face, giving her a thinner, more adult appearance and wiser eyes.

While walking to the tower, inspiration struck me. I knew that what Rapunzel longed for most was to visit the
world outside her prison. She missed the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the forest that she had experienced
in her youth. I could not remove her from the tower, but perhaps I could bring a bit of the outside world to her. I
hurried back to the cottage for supplies, grateful that I was only a few minutes in to my walk, and went out into my
mother's garden.

I quickly found what I was looking for: a small butterfly bush lined with soft pink flowers. A Tiger Stripe butterfly
was perched on one of these flowers, but flew away when I approached. It would be perfect for Rapunzel's
balcony, and she could prune it when it became too large. Perhaps the birds and butterflies that visited the bush to
drink its nectar would cheer her up.

As I took up the trowel I had brought from inside and began to loosen the earth around the bush's roots, I
wondered if Mother would be angry at me for disturbing the plants in her garden. I dismissed those thoughts. This
garden was as much mine now as hers, anyway, since I was the one who used it to help the villagers when they
came to me with their problems and I was the one who tended to it most these days.

Soon, part of the butterfly bush had been carefully removed from the earth and placed in a rectangular clay pot. I
patted the dirt around it so that the plant would not shake loose, brushed my hands clean on my working skirt, and
straightened up with the pot in my hands. Now, it was time to deliver my gift.

The walk to see Rapunzel was always shorter when I approached tower instead of leaving it. Perhaps this was
because I was excited to see her. I must have been even more anxious to visit her on this particular day, because
the journey seemed to take no time at all. Far sooner than I had expected, I was standing at the base of the tower,
leaning against the slender trunk of an ash tree.

"Rapunzel! Let down your hair to me, please." Although the ash tree might have been able to hold my weight, I
decided not to risk it. Rapunzel could easily lift Mother Gothel, who was taller and heavier than me. Then I
remembered the bush in my arms. "Wait, tie a basket on the end first!"

I smiled as a rope of golden hair spilled over the edge of the balcony, a basket firmly attached to the end of her
braid. I had wanted to make the bush a surprise, but there was no way to hide something so large, and she would
have to pull it up herself. Carefully, she began to raise the basket. "What did you put in here, Ailynn?" she shouted
down at me, her voice sounding muffled because of the height difference. "It's heavy!"

I smiled. "You'll see when it gets to the top."

I heard her gasp in surprise as she pulled the basket over the balcony railing, listening to the scrape of clay on
stone as she removed the pot from the lifting basket and set it carefully on the ground. A few moments later, she
flipped her braid back over the balcony so that I could climb up. My arms, strengthened by my frequent visits,
carried me quickly up the side of the tower.

As soon as I found my footing on the balcony, Rapunzel threw her arms around my neck and wrapped me in a tight
hug. I smiled over her shoulder, proud of myself for coming up with a present that she liked and secretly enjoying
the way that her curves melted into mine. I sighed, savoring the intimate contact. We fit together perfectly.

Slowly, I forced myself to pull away, not wanting to make Rapunzel suspicious of me. Although I was deeply in love
with her and secretly desired her, I would never dream of making her uncomfortable. I still had no idea whether
my attention would be welcome. I knew that Rapunzel loved me as a childhood friend, but I had no idea if her
feelings ran deeper.

"Thank you for my birthday present, Ailynn," she whispered, keeping hold of my hand. I blushed, pleased and
embarrassed.

"I thought you would like it," I stuttered, stumbling over my words. "I wanted to get you something beautiful, since
- since I think you're beautiful. And I - I hoped you would like the butterflies..."

Rapunzel laughed, pressing her finger to my lips so that I would stop talking. The simple touch made my skin burn,
and I could feel a fierce blush crawl all the way up my face and over my scalp. "Shh..." she whispered, leaning
closer to me. "It's perfect."

And then she kissed me.

It was not a kiss between friends or sisters, a simple, soft meeting of lips that lingered for a few seconds. Against
my will, my eyes closed. Neither of us deepened the kiss, parting slowly instead and taking several moments to
open our eyes and calm our racing hearts. I had suspected before, but now I was absolutely sure. Rapunzel was the
other half of my soul, and I was lost to her for the rest of my life. We were Tuathe, two souls that are one, in the
old language.

Nothing else happened between us that night, but Rapunzel's hand did not let go of mine for the rest of the
evening. We did not discuss the change between us, but I received a second magical kiss, just as sweet and
innocent as the first, before I left her later that night. The last thing I remembered before I went to sleep was
Rapunzel's beautiful face hovering close to mine, leaning in to touch my lips with hers as a Tiger Stripe butterfly
landed on the tiny pink flowers of the butterfly bush.

Chapter Nine:

Even as Rapunzel and I enjoyed the added depth to our relationship, my mother grew increasingly restless. She
spent less and less time at the cottage, sometimes not coming home for days. Consumed by thoughts of love and
happiness, I did not worry about her. Later, I regretted my lack of awareness, but by then it was too late.

I had all but forgotten the secret cave where my mother sequestered herself. In truth, my forgetfulness was
deliberate. Whenever questions about my mother flared up in my mind, I stamped them out. Rapunzel proved to
be a very pleasant distraction. It was much nicer to think about the new, shy love growing between us. I continued
to ignore all signs of my mother's instability until they became too pronounced to overlook.

I was walking home after a visit to Rapunzel's tower when I nearly collided with another passerby, dodging to the
right just in time to prevent an accident. "I'm sorry, did you need something?" I panted, wondering if a visitor
seeking my help had found the cottage empty and gone searching for me. Only then did I realize that I was staring
at my mother.

She was in the shape of an old crone again, but there was no recognition in her eyes as she gazed up at me. There
was something else in her expression, however, something that I could not label. It frightened me. Pulling her black
cape tighter around her shoulders, she hurried away from me without a word, leaving me behind with the
crackling scent of her magic. Threads of the spell drifted off of her like loose strands of hair brushed from a
shoulder.

I stood there for several moments, startled and confused by what I had seen. Why had my own mother not
recognized me or spoken to me? Could whatever magical experiments she was working on be eroding her mind? I
tried to remember the last time my mother had acted normally and realized that she had not been herself for over
a year, although the past few weeks had clearly been the worst of all. Where had the time gone? Why had I not
tried speaking to her earlier?

It did not take me long to reach a decision. I needed to find out what she was doing in that cave. Something was
consuming her thoughts and poisoning her actions, and I had to find the cause. Perhaps there was a chance for
things to return to normal.

Imitating Mogra and pulling my own cloak tighter about my shoulders, even though the trees sheltered me from
most of the breeze, I followed the path she had taken to the cave. I realized that there was indeed a path to follow
this time. She had traveled it so often that her feet had worn a thin impression into the ground. My feelings of
unease grew stronger. The mother I had grown up with never would have been so careless. It was further evidence
of her deterioration.

My thoughts grew increasingly frantic and I began jogging to release the excess energy, the sides of my skirt
flapping behind me. I was grateful for my comfortable shoes. The closer I came to the secret entrance of several
weeks ago, the quieter the forest became. There were no birdcalls, no rustling leaves, only the loud, crunching
sound of my own footsteps on the forest floor. My heart began to beat faster.

I had never believed that mere thoughts and actions could taint a particular place, although I had read essays on
the subject, but as I approached the woven mat that covered the gaping maw of the cave, I began to doubt my
assumptions. Perhaps it was because the sun was sinking below the tops of the trees, but there was definitely an
essence of... something... not magic, because I recognized the taste and scent of raw power, but something else,
something dark, cold, and unpleasant.

Burying my feelings of foreboding, I gripped the edge of the mat in my hands and pulled it back. A puff of air came
from inside the dark pit, rising up despite its cold temperature. For a moment, it seemed as though the cave was
breathing. I released the breath that I had not known I was holding and started my descent.

The cave was very dark and cold, not a pit after all, but a steeply sloping tunnel that stretched down, down, down.
It smelled of limestone and black places, and I realized that Mogra had created it with magic. Who ever heard of a
limestone cave in the middle of a forest, even this close to the mountains? I moved forward carefully, not wanting
to slip on the soft, damp stone under my feet and hit my head. No one would come to my rescue if I fell.

The entrance to the cave did not stretch as far as I had imagined, although it was uncomfortably steep. Soon, the
light from the surface had vanished. I murmured a Word of Power, letting the taste of mint break and crackle on
my tongue, enjoying the refreshing jolt to my skin and muscles. The release of magical energy also served to warm
me, as did the small globe of light that appeared above my right shoulder to light my way. I smiled. The added
warmth had been a nice touch.

Soon, the cave rounded out into a basin-like chamber. To my surprise, there were shelves of books against one
wall. Not bothering to examine the rest of the room, I hurried over to the first shelf, pleased by the smell of wood
and old leather. Perhaps, I thought excitedly, the spell that I needed to free Rapunzel was somewhere among
these books? Had my mother been hiding it from me here all this time?

As I scanned the titles on the spines, some embossed in gold, some written with white chalk in my mother's
familiar scrawl, I realized that these books did not have what I was looking for. I recognized three of them: The Art
of Transmogrification, Lir: A Biography, and A History of Magical Creatures and Their Creators. There were others,
too - Men from Clay and Beasts and Their Gods. All of these books had one subject in common: the ancient
practice of Shaping.

Shapers used magic to change, alter, or even create living beings. It was an old magic, very difficult to learn, and
very powerful. Although some ancient Shapers had created the kind spirits of the forest and other good creatures,
many of them were infamous for creating monsters. The Liarre, half-animal, half-human hybrids that lived past the
western border, were the result of a magical accident that occurred while the Shaper Lir (or Lyr, in some texts) was
experimenting. Some even said that Amendyr, which had originally been called Amen Thyr, was named partially for
him.

What on earth was my mother doing with such books? I wondered. Although she had a great deal of power and
magical skill, I had not known that Shaping was one of Mogra's interests. Above all, why was she keeping her
research a secret from me? Unless...

I turned away from the books, examining the rest of the underground chamber. A crowded square table stood in
the middle of the room. Mixing bowls, cups, and measuring implements covered its surface. Ladles, knives, and
other cutlery were scattered between the bigger items. There were herb pouches, grinding pestles, and several
lumpy packages that I could not identify. Whatever Mogra was working on, she had certainly taken a long time to
gather her materials.

Only after I had finished examining the table did I notice the other piece of furniture in the circular room. Tucked
into a crevice, mostly hidden by shadow, was another square outline. I crept closer, the hovering ball of light
guiding my way. In the darkness, something glinted.

Cages! That side of the room was lined with Cages! What could my mother be keeping in them? I took another
cautious step forward. There were three of them, rusted, twisting things made of dull metal. Although there were
chips in the bars, none had been bent and they looked strong. Each cage had only three sides, with the cave wall
making up the fourth.

My stomach began sinking as though I had swallowed a handful of heavy stones. Although they were empty now, I
could guess what my mother had been holding in those cages. The only question was: where were they now?
What were they now?

The sound of footsteps echoing from the entrance to the underground chamber startled me. Instinctively, I ducked
underneath the table and extinguished the globe of light with a frantic whisper. The tiny sphere winked out like a
dying star, leaving me in total darkness.

From somewhere to my left, a soft humming began. A wordless, keyless tune stretched into the empty space
between us. I recognized the timbre of the voice, the silhouette that I could just barely make out as she lit a
scented candle on the other side of the room. The weight of dread settled over my shoulders as I accepted what I
had been denying: my mother was completely insane now.

"I see you, Ailynn, my beautiful princess," the old woman cooed, although she was not looking beneath the
worktable. I shuddered, hardly recognizing my mother, but unable to deny that it was her. Her presence, her aura,
was familiar. "Come out... stop hiding from me."

Praying that my legs would continue to support my weight, I crawled out from under the table and stood to my full
height, noticing with some surprise that I was taller than Mogra now. I was not a little girl anymore, and it was
time for me to confront her. "Mother." Mogra did not react. "Maman," I tried again, hoping that the informal,
childhood name would stir some feelings of love in her. There was no spark of recognition, no glint of warmth in
her cold, metallic eyes.

"I will have to punish you for coming here," she said. Although her body was old, leathery and twisted like a
knotted piece of sea rope, her voice was clear and strong, the voice of a much younger woman.

"Oh, Maman," I murmured to myself, "what has happened to you?"

"I have been making things," she said, staring at the empty cages with frosted eyes as though she had forgotten I
was there. "Wonderful things. Terrible things! I have been making things for Her."

I swallowed, trying to ease the dryness in my throat. Nevertheless, my voice cracked as I asked, "who?"

"Her," Mogra repeated. "She needed an army, and paid me well to build it for her."

I interrupted her, sure that my mother was speaking nonsense. "Mother, whatever Shaping magic you have been
doing, it needs to stop. It's changing you..." A terrifying thought flitted through my head, forcing itself to the
forefront of my mind. Fear's frozen hand squeezed the warm blood from my heart. "Have you - have you... done
anything to Rapunzel?" Although my question was only a whisper, the walls of the cave amplified the words to a
shout.

"Rapunzel?" At first, she looked confused. Then, her eyes cleared for a moment and she almost smiled. "My
treasure? No. Rapunzel... she must stay with me forever."

'Forever', the ghostly, echoing voice of the cave whispered in my ear. 'Forever'.

Mogra would not try to harm Rapunzel. She did not think of her as a person anymore. She was just a pretty toy, an
ornament to be admired, a decoration. I could not decide whether to be frightened or relieved. In my mother's
eyes, Rapunzel was not even human, but at least she was not a potential experiment.

Tears needled my eyes, threatening to spill over the brim of my cheeks and roll down my face. There was little
more I could do for my mother now. She had lost herself to whatever insane magical forces she had been
experimenting with, or had this darkness been inside of her all along? I was not sure. I could not be sure of
anything anymore.

"Yes, Rapunzel is your treasure," I said soothingly, slowly backing towards the mouth of the cave. "I will go to
Rapunzel now." I wove a hint of magic into my voice, mesmerizing, calming. If my mother's mind had not started to
go, she would have noticed what I was doing at once. Instead, she just stared blankly at me as I retreated. For just
a moment, I thought I saw her back straighten and a glimpse of brown in her snow white hair.

"Stop." The voice halted me in my tracks before I could edge out of the cavern and back up the tunnel. It was full of
overtones, echoing without the help of the cave walls. "Who told you to come here? Did they send you?" Mogra
seemed to grow larger, her disguise flickering in and out. I saw glimpses of my mother's young face before the torn
patches of the spell repaired themselves. She was caught between two different shapes, unsure which she wanted
to take.

We both moved in the same moment. I ducked back into the tunnel as Mogra lifted her hand, cradling a crackling
ball of flame in her palm that was much larger than my tiny globe of light had been. Too startled and frightened to
shield myself, I turned and ran for the surface as fast as I could, stumbling up the steep slope of tunnel and
bursting out into the forest.

The sun had set while I was underground, leaving everything dark, but I continued running, not stopping to see if
Mogra had actually thrown the ball of burning magic after me. I suspected she had not. Perhaps part of her still
recognized me as her daughter. I knew one thing for certain - it was too dangerous for me to stay near her any
longer.

Chapter Ten:

Feet pounding over the uneven forest floor, I crashed blindly through the darkness, hurrying towards the tower
where Rapunzel slept. I threw my arms out like the wings of a bird, trying desperately to keep my balance. Several
times I thought I was running in the wrong direction, but miraculously my legs had memorized the path. My pulse
hammered wildly like the heartbeat of a frightened mouse hiding from a night owl.

I needed to leave. Mogra had become too dangerous, too unpredictable to deal with. Although I had managed to
escape this time, I might not be so lucky again. Trapped in her high tower without any magical powers, Rapunzel
was no threat, but Mogra could turn on me at any time if she felt paranoid.

Painful lances of guilt pierced my stomach, making me flinch and forcing me to slow my run to a jog. It was easier
to think of my mother as Mogra now, easier to separate myself from her. My mother, the same beautiful woman
who had thrown me in the air so that I could pretend to fly. The woman who had taught me which herbs restored
health and which caused sickness. The woman who had given me Rapunzel.

Despite our long estrangement, I had still loved her when she locked Rapunzel away. Even now, a small part of me
could not help but love her. Or, at least, it loved what she had once been to me. I had no love for the madwoman
that I had just seen in the cave. She was not my mother. She was someone else, something else.

I stopped short as I came upon the tower. It loomed up out of the dark, its silhouette impossible to miss even at
night. The night-sounds of the forest were loud here, not like the eerie silence that had surrounded Mogra's cave.
The view was familiar. I released some of the tension from my muscles, clinging to the semblance of normalcy.

Staring up at the high balcony, I wondered if Rapunzel was asleep. I rarely came to visit her in the middle of the
night, although I often shared her bed. She was probably asleep already, curled up in a tight little ball under the
covers, rolling from one end of the four-posted canopy bed to the other because I was not there to hold her still. I
felt terrible for disturbing her, but I was frightened.

I glanced at the slender ash trees that grew around the tower. Mogra had picked them deliberately, stating that
they would not carry a man's weight, but what about the weight of a young woman?

Deciding to try my theory, I hooked my elbow over the lowest branch of the nearest ash. It groaned, swaying a
little as I lifted my feet off the ground and began to scale its trunk, but did not bend and fall. Holding my breath, I
carefully navigated the thin branches, locking my muscles whenever the tree began to move beneath me.

Hoping to end the climb before I lost my balance, I shoved myself through the rest of the dying fall leaves and
snatched at the balcony railing, holding on for dear life. For a moment, my damp fingers slipped, but I fixed my grip
and tugged myself up and over the balcony wall, landing on the soft soles of my shoes and listening intently to
make sure that Rapunzel was still asleep. The last thing I wanted to do was startle her. I already came bearing bad
news.

The door to the inner chamber had been left ajar to let in the breeze, and I crept inside the room without making a
sound. "Rapunzel," I whispered as I approached the bed, keeping my voice soft. I could just make out her form
beneath the sheets. She looked beautiful in the silver-gray moonlight streaming in from outside, although perhaps
I was biased. Her impossibly long braid was coiled above her head like a great golden snake, piled in strange curved
patterns over her pillows. "Rapunzel," I repeated, louder than before.

This time, her lashes fluttered and I watched her stretch her jaw, rubbing at one eye with a tired hand. "Ailynn?
Wha- why are you here?" she asked, her voice breaking with sleepiness.

"Shh... I had to come see you..."

"Something is wrong," Rapunzel guessed immediately, reading the emotions in my voice since she could not see
my face in the darkness. Reaching out blindly, she groped for the candle and match on her bedside table. After a
few moments, faint light filled our corner of the room.

Rapunzel gasped as the light fell on my face, illuminating the hard set of my lips and the uncomfortable stiffness in
my jaw. I bore no visible injuries from my encounter with Mogra, but the fear and disappointment were just as
easy for her to see. Rapunzel had a gift for judging people's actions and responses, especially mine. This puzzled
me, because she had been isolated for most of her life with little chance to develop these skills.

I tried to speak, to explain why I had climbed up to her bedroom in the middle of the night, but I could not find the
words. Her small, soft hand reached out, two fingertips caressing my cheek in a half-circle. "Don't leave me,
Ailynn... please don't leave me here with her."

"She attacked me today," I said, forcing my voice past the tight ball in my throat until it cracked. "She is completely
insane now. I think she's conducting some kind of experiment in the secret cave she hides in."

"She attacked you?" Pulling me frantically onto the bed, Rapunzel began pushing aside my clothes to search for
bruises or cuts. "Did she hurt you?" For once, her touch did not make my heart pound and my hands tremble. I
could only remember that I was leaving. Who knew when I would get the chance to feel Rapunzel's touch again?

Do not think like that, I ordered myself. I buried all of my negative thoughts, afraid that Rapunzel would sense
them and worry even more.

"I have to leave," I said, not able to meet my love's eyes. I stared at the headboard of her bed instead, following
the patterns in the grain of the wood. The flickering candlelight gave the illusion of movement. "I have been
through every book in the library twice. With moth- Mogra... gone... there is no reason to stay."

Rapunzel's hands lingered for a moment, and then fell away. The loss of her touch left a gaping hole somewhere in
the middle of my chest. I felt as though part of my soul had been sucked out. Instead of looking surprised, she
seemed resigned. Rapunzel was never one to indulge in self-pity or hysteria. I admired her inner strength, but part
of me wished that she would burst into tears or start screaming at me, ball her fists and beat my chest, something.
Selfishly, I wanted her to prove that she was as consumed by love as I was.

"I will wait for you," she promised instead, the edge of her leg just barely pressing against mine. She leaned closer,
allowing our shoulders to brush as well. "I will wait for you if you promise to come back."

For a fraction of a second, I sensed her fear. I could not see it in her face, but it radiated from her body in one
short, sharp pulse, so strong that I could almost smell it. She was terrified that I would leave her here to rot, that I
would forget about her.

Slowly, careful not to startle her, I pulled Rapunzel into my arms, sighing as our bodies met and recognized each
other. "I promise," I whispered against the crown of her head, placing a kiss on top of her golden hair. She
squeezed tighter. "It would be impossible for me to forget you. I have to come back." She murmured something,
only a few words, but I could not make them out because her face was partially buried in my shoulder. "What was
that?"

"I love you," she murmured. A soft, hesitant kiss brushed against the dip in my throat where it ran into my
shoulder. I knew that she could feel my heart speed up and my breath catch. "Stay with me tonight..."

"I will stay with you forever, if you let me." I blushed, hoping that the candle was not bright enough to illuminate
my red face. Rapunzel began to draw away from me, but I held tighter, not wanting to let her go. "I love you, too,"
I said, pleased when my words came out stronger, more confident. I believed in those words with all my heart.
"We are two-souls, Tuathe. When I come back, I want you to marry me."

Something wet seeped through the material of my dress and I realized that Rapunzel was crying. "No, please don't
cry. I didn't mean to make you..."

"Is it silly that this is one of the happiest nights of my life, even though you're leaving in the morning?" Slowly
lifting her chin, Rapunzel loosened our embrace enough to look up at me, her brown eyes glistening with tears.
Before I could process the change, two gentle hands cupped my face and brought our lips together.

I had kissed Rapunzel with joy before, with love, and even with restrained desire. But until that moment, I had
never tasted sadness in another person's lips. When she pulled away, only an inch, I was not sure if the kiss had
left my heart empty or full. It was not enough, so I kissed her again. She opened her mouth against mine, allowing
my tongue to stroke hers as her hand curled around my hip.

Both of us knew that we could not go any further. Not tonight. I wanted the memories to be beautiful, not the
beginning of a painful goodbye. Without asking, I sensed that Rapunzel felt the same. Neither of us slept much that
night. We spent most of the long, dark hours crying, kissing, and listening to each other's breathing. Even while we
held each other close, loneliness, love's companion, began to creep over us like a thick gray fog.

The next morning was dark, a reflection of my mood. Birds sang outside nonetheless, not discouraged by the sickly
gray pallor of the sky. I had hardly slept at all during the night, but Rapunzel, at least, got a few hours of fitful sleep
beside me. I was content to hold her, trying to memorize how she felt in my arms, just in case... just in case I never
got the chance again.

Carefully peeling myself from her tight embrace, I crept out of bed without disturbing her. When her empty arms
reached out for me, I eased a pillow into the empty space. It must have carried my scent, because she buried her
face in the fabric and pulled it closer to her chest.

My insides tied themselves in slippery knots, the nauseating feeling of fear growing stronger by the second. For
several minutes, I could only stare at my love as she slept, guilt tearing at my soul. Even though I knew that Mogra
would not allow me to stay, even though I knew that I had to find a way to release Rapunzel from the
enchantment that kept her prisoner, I felt like a coward. What kind of protector and provider was I, running away
like a frightened child?

As I forced myself to turn away from Rapunzel's sleeping form, the room's colors seemed to fade right before my
eyes, fading back into dull browns and grays. I realized that I did not know how to say goodbye to her. Perhaps it
would be easier to leave before she woke up. Maybe it would be less painful for both of us.

Creeping quietly over to her small writing desk, I searched for a piece of paper and an inkbottle. Choosing a quill, I
ran the soft edge of the feather along my cheek, searching for the right words. Eventually, I gave up. There is no
good way to say goodbye to someone you love.

Rapunzel,

I love you. I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you, and that love has only grown with you. Sometimes, the
depth of this love frightens me. I have never felt anything so strongly before in my life.

It seems that most of my memories are of waiting - waiting to tell you my feelings, waiting for you to become a
woman, waiting for you to be free so that we can begin a life together. I would wait until the end of the world for
you, but the time for waiting is done. You deserve to be free and reclaim the world for your own.

This separation will not be forever. Soon, we will walk away from this place together, and I will hold your hand.
Please do not hate me for leaving you behind. I promise that I will always come back to you. I pray that you will still
love and want me when I return. You are my life's greatest blessing and my one true joy.

Wait for me. Please. I know that I do not deserve someone as wonderful as you, someone with such beauty inside of
them. But even though I am unworthy of the gift of your love, I am asking for it anyway. Wait for me. I will find a
way to free you, no matter how long it takes.

Forgive me.

I did not sign the letter, too ashamed of myself to put my signature on it. She would know that I had written it. Sick
with the knowledge of what I was about to do, I carefully folded the letter and set it beside the guttering candle on
her night table. Before I left the tower, I took one final look at my sleeping love, my Tuathe.

I moistened my fingertips with my tongue and put the candle out.

Part Two:

Recorded by Lady Eleanor Baxstresse, taken from the verbal accounts of Ailynn, the Witch's daughter

Chapter One:

One year. Twelve torturous, lonely months apart from my beloved.

I do not like to think of that year. Like the seemingly endless plains, the villages I stayed in and the people I
interacted with blurred together. I missed Rapunzel terribly. A year of my life - our life together - was gone, and I
grieved its passing. Although the search was a part of my life, it was never a part of my story.

My memories of that time are gray, colorless recollections of little importance. They did impart one important
lesson to me, though, and it was one that I never forgot. Living without Rapunzel was not really living at all. I
existed, I breathed and slept like any other person, but I did not feel the full spectrum of emotions. I was a cracked,
brittle shell of myself.

Alone for the first time in my life, I sank into a deep depression. Only thoughts of my waiting love kept me from
complete despair. I refused to give up hope that I would find the spell I needed to free Rapunzel. I became a
wanderer, traveling across the central part of the kingdom, seeking out everyone who studied magic. Someone, I
knew, would be able to help me. I could not bear to think of the alternative.

But the Kingdom was changing.

There were whispers of black sorcery rising up from the darkness to consume the white-cliffed city of Kalmarin. A
proclamation was issued, and it was so startling that even I, in my haze of pain and loneliness, took notice.
Amendyr had a new Queen. The King had died under mysterious circumstances, and his second wife (whom most
of Amendyr had not even known about since the marriage was so recent and so sudden) took over his duties to
the crown.

Then, strange things began to happen. Tales of weird, twisted creatures began to spread. Giant, demonic dogs with
eyes of green fire were attacking villages. No one had ever seen their like before, but they quickly earned
themselves a name - the Shadowkin.

The Shadowkin did not hunt alone. Sleek, brown creatures made from mud and dust and human ashes
accompanied them. They were the Kerak, a much more ancient creature, but just as deadly. They were almost
human, but their limbs were stretched grotesquely and they could run on all fours. Their hands bore scythe-like
claws perfect for ripping open the abdominal cavity or slitting throats.

There was talk of rebellion. Everyone was sure that the Queen was behind the terrible massacres that were
happening across Amendyr. She did not bother to hide it. Wherever I went, I saw able-bodied men leaving their
wives and children behind to head for the Rengast Mountains where the rebels made their camp.

Fear blanketed each city and village that I visited. As I traveled along the border of the forest and over the flat
plains at the heart of the kingdom, I felt its choking grip settle over my shoulders like a heavy cape. Fear has a
taste; a dry, bitter taste that clogs the nose and throat and cuts off the breath.

Three times, fate chose the town I was passing through for its next cruel blow. The first time, I barely escaped with
my life. I awoke to the unforgettable scent of burning flesh and the coppery smell of blood. My heart jerked in my
chest and it took me a moment to remember to breathe. Scared and confused, I looked out the window to see
what was happening. When I opened it, the smell crashed over me in a powerful wave, almost sending me to my
knees. Then I heard the screams.

The shouts and cries of men, women, and children blended together into an inescapable wall of sound
accompanied by the crackling of flames and the roaring of great beasts. I was beyond fear now - I was panicked
and terrified.

But I had not been raised a fool. I was smart enough and quick enough to realize that they - whoever they were -
wanted everything burned to the ground. It would only be a matter of time until they got to the boarding house
where I was staying.

I used a Word of Power, almost putting too much magical energy behind it because of my fear. My skin began to
flicker and shift, bending to the shadows. I opened the door to my room, not bothering to be quiet because of the
loud, unbearable noises coming from outside. It was a difficult spell, one that required a good deal of focus and life
force, and I hoped that I would not have to use much more magic.

I crept down the stairs and out the back door. None of the terrifying creatures or the men in black armor with
torches in their hands saw me, or if they did, they chose not to pursue me. Perhaps they thought they would round
up the escaped villagers later. Not me. I was too clever, too skilled for them. At least, that was what I told myself. It
was less frightening to believe that lie than to admit that I had just been lucky.

I still carry the memories of that night. Images of it, flashes really, haunted my waking hours as well as my dreams
for the next several weeks. Memories of a hand, detached from its host, lying in the middle of a road, and a child
with half of his face gone. I wished that I could do something to help, but there were too many. The villagers put
up no resistance. They were totally unprepared. Although my heart screamed with guilt, I reminded myself that I
needed to stay alive - if not for my own sake, than for Rapunzel's.

Despite the increasing danger, I continued traveling. The going was rougher now. People were less hospitable to
strangers, fearing that anyone they did not know - or even those they did - might be a spy for the queen, or one of
her soldiers come to burn them out of their homes. I did not blame them.

The second time that I encountered the Queen's forces, I had time to prepare. I was already leaving the village and
I saw them coming as I stood on a high hill, a large dark block of them against the horizon line in the south. With
hatred and regret stinging in my eyes and on my tongue, I turned away and urged the horse I had bartered for into
a run. I knew there was nothing I could do. The villagers had seen them, too, and warning bells rang from the
church towers, so there was no need for me to go back. I ran as fast and as far as I could, but not far enough to
escape the flicker of burning houses in the distance later that night or the screams in my mind.

I regained some of my honor during my third encounter with the Queen's creatures. It was only three weeks after I
saw them marching across the downs from my hilltop perch. I had been traveling quickly for most of that time,
hardly stopping to sleep. I stayed in the small villages and towns I visited for no more than one night, only long
enough to ask them where the most knowledgeable magical person in the area was.

Some of these people knew what I was speaking of when I mentioned the binding spell, but could not help me.
Unfortunately, many of the powerful magic-doers had left to join the rebellion or gone into hiding. I considered
that maybe I, too, should go to the Rengast and seek out the rebellion. As the Maker would have it, they found me
first.

It was the scent that I recognized first; the clawing, biting scent of blood and fear and hopelessness that burned
through the throat with each breath. I smelled it over the meat in my stew and all thoughts of dinner in my room
for the night were forgotten. I felt it congeal in my chest and prepared to run, barely pausing to grab my pouch of
jewels and gold. But this time, I was too late.

I noticed the heat as soon as I opened the door. It coated my face and hands, and I pulled back immediately and
ran to the farthest wall in my room. There was no visible fire, but I could hear, smell, and feel it only a few rooms
beyond mine. It was somewhere across the hall. Even though I was on the second floor of that particular boarding
house, I knew that my only chance was to climb out the window.

Grabbing my cloak in case I needed to cover my face and protect my lungs from smoke, I tossed it over my
shoulder and unlatched the window, pushing it open and gasping for fresh air. It was not much better outside.
Other houses were burning and the streets were filled with screaming masses of people all trying to run away at
once. Mothers called for their children and the old were shoved and pushed aside by the more able-bodied. It was
pandemonium.

Ignoring the rest of them, I put one foot over the windowsill and looked down, reeling with vertigo as I realized
how far I would have to jump. There was nothing for it. I swallowed, took a deep breath as though I was about to
submerge myself in icy water, and hopped over, gripping the windowsill with my hands and hanging as far as I
could before dropping to the ground.

I hit the hedge beneath the window with a rustling crash, but the chaos around me prevented anyone from
noticing. I tried to get to my feet, but a wave of dizziness and nausea made me clutch at the wall. I cried out when I
realized that my shoulder was throbbing - probably the cause of the dizziness. I gritted my teeth, pushing the pain
to the back of my mind and focusing on survival.

They were everywhere, the men in black armor, with swords, maces, clubs, and axes drawn. I wondered where
they had come from. Some said they were enchanted Amendyrri, others said they were mercenaries from across
the sea. I did not care. Many of them held torches. I was cautious, but not as frightened of the men as of the
demon Shadowkin and the Kerak that I knew had rushed into the town ahead of them. I caught a glimpse of a
giant, hulking shape further down the street chasing after a pack of villagers and quickly turned to run the other
way.

In my haste, I did not notice the group of five that broke off from the sea of marching men to pursue me. I hurried
back the way the invaders had already come, crawling along walls and over several still, bleeding forms, some alive
and some already cooling with death or left to burn. "There is nothing I can do for you," I panted breathlessly, not
to the dead and dying, but to myself. "Be peaceful, brothers and sisters... but there is nothing I can do..."

When a black, gloved hand clamped tight over my mouth, I could not scream or speak a Word of Power. All
strength left my body, and there was a strange silence all around me. The only thing I could hear was my
hammering heart and the scraping voice that shouted,

"Ay! I've got a fresh one."

My eyes veered wildly in their sockets and for a moment I could only see blurred streaks of dark color. There were
more of them, all around me, then a flash of white skin. I bit down, hard. My captor, who had been moving his
hand, pulled back and swore. To my right, another man drew his sword. I stared directly into his cold blue eyes and
prayed for a swift death. My last thought was of Rapunzel, who would wait for me in vain and never learn my fate.

Red... a red-black gush spurting from the man's throat. He crumpled to the ground like a limp doll, the life snapped
out of his neck. The creature I saw behind him was even more frightening.

She was tall, taller than all the men and covered in red fur. I could only tell it was a she because of the small, high
breasts perched on her torso just below a mane of red fur at her neck. But my eyes, for the most part, stayed
focused on her huge mouth and the long, dagger-like teeth smeared with thick black blood. The other four men
began shouting, quickly deciding to turn and run back to the main group. That was when I noticed there was no
main group.

The creature I was facing was not alone. There were others like her, at least two score of the giant beasts, and they
were not the only ones pouring into the village. Among them were men and women, some of them armed, some
of them using magic. The smell of it did little to cover the gore and smoke, but the humming energy was a comfort.

They were fighting the army, and the army was actually retreating into the gutted buildings, trying to find positions
of defense. I suddenly realized that I was not going to die.

I looked back at the red beast, which had pointed ears like a fox. No, a wolf. Still, there was something
overwhelmingly human about its green eyes. I was amazed when it - she, I reminded myself - inclined her head. I
was frozen stiff and did not move to respond.

It was only then that I noticed the area around us was clear. There were still a few scuffles going on, and corpses of
all kinds littered the streets, but a little of the unbridled panic that had swallowed the little town was receding. A
few wary faces peeked out from behind piles of unburned wood and stone, trying to make sense of what had just
happened. I could not make sense of it myself, and I had witnessed it. How had everything happened so quickly?

I suddenly found myself flat on my behind in the middle of a puddle. Someone had tried to stop some of the fires
that were spreading. I was wet, covered in ash and blood, and shaking all over, filmy-eyed and half-delirious. Who
were these things, these people?

A low moan startled me from my daze and my head snapped up. I looked in time to see the creature begin to...
change. It was a sharp, cracking, jerking process, but also smooth like the blowing of melted glass. The last thing I
remembered before darkness swallowed me whole was a fiery-haired naked woman and a pair of bright green
eyes staring down at me.

Chapter Two:

"Wake up, Ailynn."

I breathed deep, a smile twitching at the corners of my lips as Rapunzel's golden voice spoke to me. Her soft white
hand touched my shoulder, gently pressing against my sleeve. "Rapunzel?" I murmured sleepily, turning toward
the sound of the voice, seeking it, seeking her.

"Ailynn... wake up..." She was farther away now, as though calling to me from a great distance. "Wake up..."

I tried to lift my hand, but my arms and legs were coated in lead and could not move. Once again, I tried to reach
out to her. My hand hit something soft, and then it was gripped firmly. "Wake up..."

Finally, I opened my eyes. My heart cracked and splintered when the hair that I saw was the wrong color, the
shape of the face was more pointed, and the tone of the skin and the color of the eyes were different. Tears welled
up, pressing out against my eyelashes. "I thought we had lost you," said a voice that was not Rapunzel's. "You
breathed in a lot of smoke, Ailynn. You are lucky to be alive." It was the woman that I had seen before I... what had
happened to me? Where was I? I tried to sit up and realized that I was on a bedroll inside of a tent.

I suddenly noticed that I was holding the hand of this strange woman - was she a woman at all? - and quickly let
go. She did not react and simply allowed me to reclaim my arm, although she did put pressure on my upper chest
and forced me to lie back down. It was a wise decision for my head was spinning and my shoulder ached terribly.

Despite the strange surroundings, my instincts told me that I was not in danger anymore. The smell of fear and
blood had faded, and I could only smell the good, strong scent of a human camp with cookfires.

Knowing better than to try and rise again, I remained lying down on the bedroll and stared up at the stranger who,
if I remembered correctly, had saved my life. The startling green eyes were familiar, as was the color of her wild
red curls, but they were confined to her head this time and did not cover her entire body. "Who are you?" I asked.
"What are you? How do you know my name?"

"My name is Cate," she said, giving me a tired but genuine smile. There were dark half-circles under her eyes and I
wondered when she had slept last. "My mate, Larna, leads the Farseer Pack. We fight with the rebellion."

I suddenly realized what manner of creature this strange woman was. I felt a little stupid for not guessing
immediately, but there had not been time to analyze her during the chaos I last remembered. "You are a Wyr," I
said, blushing at the breathless wonder that I heard in my own voice. I had read enough bestiaries and magical
texts to recognize a Wyr now that I was no longer running for my life.

Cate nodded, lifting the hem of her shirt slightly to reveal a thin strip of fur around her hips. Because of the
enchanted wolf skin belt that was permanently attached to her flesh, she could transform into a wolf or take half-
shape, the half-human, half-beast form that she had rescued me with.

"I owe you my life. Thank you," I said, meaning it. Seeing death in the eyes of that soldier and imagining the
afterlife without Rapunzel had terrified me, and I was relieved that my time had not ended.

Looking surprised, Cate blushed, the shade contrasting with her red hair. "You are welcome, Ailynn." Her accent
was similar to mine, an unusual mix of Amendyrri and Serian. Perhaps it was a product of the border between the
two countries, like my own, or perhaps she had lived in both countries.

"How do you know my name?" I asked again.

Cate thought for a moment, searching for the words to explain. "I am a shaman, a daughter of the Seventh
Daughter. I was supposed to rescue you that night... the spirits showed me in another realm." There was power
and magic in her voice, and the force of it made me gasp.

I knew the history she was speaking of, the seven siblings that had begun the Amendyrri tradition of magic
centuries ago. The Wizard, the Shaper, the Enchanter, the Oracle, the Druid, the Necromancer, and the Shaman:
seven of the Blood that were called to spread high magic, for both good and evil purposes, throughout the entire
known world.

"What do you know of me?"

Cate pressed her lips together, looking unsure of herself again, and I realized that she could not be much older
than me. She was only a young woman again, and if I had not seen differently with my own eyes, I would not have
believed that she was a Wyr and a shaman. "I know your name, Ailynn Gothel. I know that you are seeking a spell,
one that will free the mate that waits for your return. I can help you."

That, perhaps more than anything else, shocked me. My heart swelled with a fierce joy and laughter bubbled up in
my chest as I processed what she was saying. "You have it?" I blurted out, unable to hold the questions back. "You
can help me? What kind of spell is it? Where..."

"So many questions," Cate sighed. "Wait, stay on your back. I will show you what you want, but please hold still. I
worked hard to fix you and I do not want your body broken again so soon."

Quivering with excitement, I tried to see what my host was doing without lifting my head or neck. Frustrated and
unsuccessful, I contented myself with listening, all sorts of thoughts running through my head, but one standing
out above the rest: I can go home! I can go home to Rapunzel!

When Cate sat back down beside my bedroll, she was carrying a large leather-bound book. "I have carried this with
me for months," she said. "Its owner, a dear friend of mine, risked much to have it smuggled across the border
from Seria. I knew that you would need it, and she gave it to me when I asked, despite how protective she and her

wife are of their library. It is yours." She passed the book to me, and I almost dropped the heavy tome as I took it
from her with trembling hands. "What you want starts on page one ninety three."

I flipped through the yellowed pages so fast that I almost tore them, but Cate did not complain. Perhaps she
considered the reason behind my urgency a valid excuse. The object of my search was on page one ninety-three,
just as she had said. My heart leapt into my throat as I read through the spells and enchantments necessary to
bind a person's aura to a place or an object. No longer caring what the book said now that I had it, and too frantic
with my success to read the words anyway, I threw it aside and sat up despite Cate's protests, throwing my arms
around her neck and squeezing her tight.

"What is this?" a low, teasing voice called out from the open flap of the tent. "Do I see my mate in the arms of
another woman?" Startled, both of us pulled back. Blushing an even deeper shade of crimson than before, Cate
adjusted the front of her tunic and turned to look at the newcomer. One of the warmest, loveliest smiles I had ever
seen broke across her face as she stood to greet the tall, lean figure entering the tent.

They melted in to each other, embracing tightly, with Cate's face buried in the warmth of the taller woman's neck.
I must have been staring for a long moment, because both of them realized that they were being watched and
turned back to look at me. "Ailynn," said Cate, not leaving her lover's arms, "this is Larna, my mate."

"Arim dei," I said politely, even though I was not sure whether the sun was out or not. In fact, I realized that I did
not even know what day it was. I decided that I was too happy to care. After a year of grief, frustration, and fear, I
had finally found what I was looking for. Although the sight of Larna and Cate, who were obviously a closely
bonded pair, would have made me sick with loneliness only a short time ago, now the sight of them reminded me
of the woman I would be returning to. "My name is Ailynn. I promise that I was not trying to steal your wife."

Larna smiled at me over top of Cate's head, brushing a kiss over her mussed curls. "Good. I am honored to meet
you, but I think I will be staying over here. When she is in a sickroom, Cate hates it when anyone comes near her
patients."

"You have her well trained, Cate," I joked, feeling so light that I thought I would float through the top of the tent
and touch the moon. Both of them laughed and soon I was laughing with them, tears spilling freely from my eyes
and my shoulders heaving with release as I sobbed into the traveling blanket draped across my lap.

Concerned, Cate hurried over to comfort me, Larna following. I sensed rather than saw their movements because
my vision was still blurry. Soon, soon, the voice in my head kept chanting. Soon, you will be home. Home. Home
with Rapunzel... All of the emotions that I had locked inside myself for over a year came spilling out, flooding me
with so many sensations at once that I could not make sense of them all.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice breaking as Cate handed me a proper cloth to dry my eyes. I did not ask where she had
produced it from. "I'm just... I'm so happy... I..."

"It's all right," Cate whispered, rubbing small circles on my back until my heaving sobs calmed to small hiccups. "I
do not know all of your story, Ailynn, but I hope you will tell it to me someday. For now, I am glad you are happy
and you do not have to explain anything."

I smiled at her, grateful, for I had no words. Not only had she saved my life, she had given me back my soul.

I stayed with the rebellion for several days, regaining my strength and learning about the people that I was
traveling with. There were almost two hundred in our group and this was only one part of their force. I had not
suspected that the rebellion was already so large and so well organized from the rumors I had overheard.

Larna was obviously one of the leaders of the group. Although she was young, Cate explained to me that she was
the Alpha of all the Wyr in camp - and there were several. I could always tell which of the many humans around me
were Wyr. There was a quickness in their movements, a primitive aura that surrounded them. They were powerful,
connected to the earth in ways that I did not understand. However, I was not afraid of them. After all, I owed them
my life.

Cate revealed that they were marching to Kalmarin, trying to cut off the Queen's probing forces before they could
ransack villages. When they could, they stopped the men and creatures before they reached their targets, but
sometimes they arrived right in the middle of the destruction. That was how they had found me.

"We were fated to meet," Cate told me. "It is part of the Maker's web. We cannot see the strands as they are being
woven, but they form a pattern that connects everything to the center."

"Wise words," I said in my most serious voice. "Do they teach all shamans deep, meaningful sayings when they are
apprentices?" Cate rolled her eyes and tapped my shoulder, the one that I had not dislocated in my fall from the
second story of the boarding house. I tapped her back. Days after my discovery, I was still in a state of ecstasy. I
could joke, laugh, and smile again. Colors seemed brighter. Food tasted better. The air was sweeter. Since
Rapunzel was not with me, I rejoiced with my new friends, comforted by the fact that I would soon be reunited
with my love.

Chapter Three:

We stopped to make camp for a few days while the rebels helped the villagers to rebuild their town. Larna spent
much of her time working in the city itself, leaving Cate to tend to the injured, including me. Now that I was mostly
well again, I helped her, since I also possessed a good deal of magical, herbal, and medical knowledge.

For the moment, we were taking a short afternoon break outside. Cate even found a patch of grass for us to sit in
that the fire had not destroyed. Over the past few days, I had opened up to my rescuer and nurse, telling her some
of my history. Rapunzel was foremost in my thoughts and I found myself talking about her frequently. To my relief,
Cate accepted my rambling with polite interest and did not try to discourage me.

"When will I be well enough to travel?" I asked her. "I want to see her again as soon as possible."

Setting down her mug of tea, Cate ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to bring some order to her wild red
curls. The color of her hair and her bright green eyes made her look like a true child of Amendyr. Although my hair
was not the same rich hue and I was far taller, we did not look entirely dissimilar. "Soon, I hope," she told me. "I
know you are anxious to return to Rapunzel."

I had not touched my own tea, which Cate said would help me to sleep more peacefully, and she nudged it
towards me, a not-very-subtle reminder.

"I am," I said with a sigh, accepting the tea and taking a small sip. The taste was not unpleasant, but I was too
preoccupied to enjoy it. "It's been so long... I wonder if she has changed. Part of me is absolutely certain that she
will welcome me when I return, but I am still afraid. What if something has happened to her? What if she blames
me for leaving?"

Cate took another long drink of her tea, closing her eyes and enjoying the warmth. The steam rising from the cup
washed over her face, bringing more color to her freckled cheeks. "Rapunzel is a woman now, Ailynn. You cannot
always be her keeper." Confused, I waited for her to elaborate. "I know that you blame yourself for abandoning
her, even after all these months, but I think you needed to leave."

I felt uncomfortable with the conversation, but did not try to change the subject since I had introduced it in the
first place. "I know I needed to leave. I had to find a way to break the binding spell..."

"That wasn't what I meant," Cate interrupted. "I'm going to give you some advice. It has nothing to do with
clairvoyance and everything to do with your own descriptions of your relationship."

Feeling defensive, I almost told Cate that her advice was unwelcome, but her attitude was open and relaxed, not
aggressive or irritated. Since she was offering the guidance in a calm, friendly spirit, I relented. "All right," I told
her.

"Don't allow Rapunzel to become swallowed up in you, Ailynn. She was only a baby when you first met her, and
you became her whole world. Give her a chance to grow up and become a person apart from you. Granted, that is
difficult to do while you are trapped in a tower, but she is eighteen now."

I flinched at the mention of Rapunzel's age, acutely aware of the year that I had lost with her. "She has had to
stand on her own for a year without you to guide her and protect her. You have been her sister, guardian, friend,
and mentor in addition to courting her, and having so much of yourself wrapped up in another person can be
frightening."

For some reason, I sensed that Cate was not just talking about Rapunzel and me anymore. The past year had
taught me many things about social interaction, and I could tell that she was speaking about something she had
experienced in her own life.

"Is that what happened with you and Larna?" I asked hesitantly, not wanting to pry.

Cate nodded. "To a small extent. We fell in love quickly, and I was still emotionally weak after recovering from
painful events in my past. My friend Ellie, who owned the book I gave you, had just started to show me how to be
my own person with my own wants and needs. Then I went and fell in love before I had a chance to discover who I
was." She smiled. "I was consumed by Larna. I was deliriously happy, but a small part of me was still discontent."

"But you worked through your problems?" I asked.

"Yes. Our love was more than strong enough, but there were a few times when I had to remind myself that I was
more than just half of a whole. It was difficult finding a balance at first, and Larna and I had our fair share of fights,
but she was supportive and attentive to my needs."

Secretly, I was relieved that Cate and Larna, who seemed like the perfect pair, sometimes fought and struggled. It
made me feel more confident. "Maybe being Tuathe doesn't guarantee that everything will be perfect," I said
aloud.

Cate leaned back onto the grass, her hair spreading out in an auburn fan behind her head. "Nothing can guarantee
happiness, Ailynn, even a soul mate. You must seek it within yourself. But being Tuathe, having a love that you can
depend on and draw strength from, should be a help instead of a hindrance." Cate sounded wise far beyond her
years, and I was struck once again by the strange, ageless quality of her knowledge. Perhaps it was connected to
her Sight and shamanistic powers, or perhaps it was a personality trait.

"So, you are telling me not to stifle Rapunzel's growth as a person, even if I feel intimidated by it?"

Cate turned her head to look at me and grinned. "And once again, you have summarized several minutes of
complex advice into a single sentence. You make me sound foolish, Ailynn."

Her good mood was contagious, and I found myself grinning back. "Shamans can't help making long speeches
when they impart their sage advice to unwilling recipients."

"Both of us use too many big words," Cate sighed, staring up into the sky, which was a brilliant shade of blue.
White clouds floated across the landscape of the sky, carried by the breeze. "Oh, that one looks like a hare!" she
said, pointing excitedly.

I was amused by the sudden change of topic and mood. "As long as you don't try to eat it." The first time I had
seen Cate devour raw meat had been both shocking and unpleasant, to say the least.

"No," she said. "I am happy with my tea for now. You, however, still haven't finished yours. I made it just for you so
that you would be able to sleep well tonight."

Guilted in to action, I took a second, longer sip from my mug before returning to my contemplation of life and the
clouds.

...

Although her manner and words were much simpler, Larna also imparted some knowledge to me on the night
before I left camp. We were cleaning up after a large dinner, gathering bowls and simple traveling cutlery to be
washed.

"Cate tells me that you are leaving us tomorrow," she said, breaking the silence between us as we worked. I
adjusted the weight of the dishes in my hand, turning to face her. Although I had formed a quick friendship with
Cate during the past several days of my recovery, Larna and I were not able to spend as much time together. She
was always busy organizing something or helping someone, the responsibilities of leadership.

"I need to go back," I said, allowing Larna to relieve me of my stack of dishes and set them beside a large black
cauldron. An hour ago, it had contained stew, but two strong young men had refilled it with water for washing.
During dinner, I had observed Larna picking out the bits of meat in her stew to eat first, reminding me of a child
that started with their favorite thing on a plate.

Together, we began rinsing out the bowls, using some damp rags to wipe them clean. The simple chore, almost
automatic, reminded me of home. Although I missed Rapunzel terribly, I was surprised to discover that I also
missed the mother who had raised me. A different creature entirely than the present Mogra, if she was even still
alive, the mother of my memory had taught me everything I knew.

"Ailynn? Be you all right?" she asked. I looked up at her, staring into concerned brown eyes. I found it touching
that someone who did not know me very well was concerned about my happiness. Despite the horrible things I
had seen, perhaps humankind still possessed a core of goodness.

"I am worried," I admitted. "How did you know?"

Larna shrugged. "You were after washing the same bowl three times." Her accent was much more pronounced
than Cate's or my own, indicating that she had grown up somewhere along the coast or closer to the center of
Amendyr, away from the border.

"I don't know what is troubling me," I lied, not really wanting to discuss it. Truthfully, I was thinking about Rapunzel
and how I had left her. Cate's conversation from earlier in the day played in my head. Although I wanted to return
to my Tuathe with all my heart, I did not know what kind of welcome I would receive. Perhaps she would be
furious with me for leaving without a proper goodbye, even though I had been trying to spare us both the pain of a

final farewell. What if she felt cheated of her final moments with me? What if she was upset that I had been gone
so long? Worse, what if I had been wrong, and Mogra did find a reason to hurt Rapunzel. Did a madwoman really
need a reason?

Larna shrugged a second time, seeming to dismiss the subject. Relieved, I picked up a new bowl, dirty this time,
and began cleaning it. "You feel guilty." Again, Larna's voice made me look up, although I did not stop the motion
of my hands. I chose not to answer her. "Well... stop." The rest of her comment remained unspoken, but I still
understood. You did what you needed to do. She will understand. I could only hope that Larna was right.

...

"You look tired," said Cate, brushing back a lock of my hair and tucking it behind my ear in an affectionate gesture.
"There are dark circles under your eyes. Will you be all right on a horse?"

"More than all right," I assured her. I had been unable to sleep during the night, too preoccupied with what the
morning would bring. Of course, the passionate sounds drifting over from Cate and Larna's tent, which was beside
mine, had not helped my situation, but I was too embarrassed to mention that.

Studying me doubtfully, Cate handed over the reins of a middle-aged quarter horse, patting him affectionately on
his rump. The horse twitched, uncomfortable with Cate's touch, and she sighed. "Horses have not liked me since
the change... I wish that my friend Ellie were here. She can speak with animals. She might be able to convince the
horses that I only want to ride them, not hunt them."

"He still lets you handle him," I pointed out.

"They are even more frightened of us when we change. They start whickering all through the camp. Sometimes it
takes an entire candlemark to calm them down." I could not blame the horses, I thought to myself. I had only seen
Cate's half-shape form once and I still remembered the terror it stirred in me.

Careful to move slowly so that she did not startle the horse, Cate began checking my saddlebags and traveling
packs. "Do you have everything?" she asked, reminding me of a fretting mother.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes," I sighed. "This is the third time you have asked."

"You have the book I gave you?"

"Yes."

Cate frowned as the horse stomped one hoof uncomfortably. "Well, I went through a lot of trouble to get it for you
and I don't want you to leave it here." A curious look crossed her face. "I am sure that Ellie will forgive you if you
lose it, however." I rolled my eyes at Cate. That book was the answer to my prayers. I seriously doubted that I
would be careless enough to lose it after only a few days.

Placing my foot in the stirrups, I swung my leg over the large creature's back, shifting in to a comfortable position
in the saddle. Riding was another skill I had gained during my year away from home. I still remembered the first
time I had dismounted a horse and discovered that the most difficult part of the process was walking on sore legs
afterwards.

"Larna and I will be traveling to the west, past Catyr Bane, on a diplomatic mission. Jett Bahari wants us to ask the
Liarre for help. If you need to find me, that is where I will be." The curious expression of secret, guarded

knowledge had remained on her face, and I wondered for a second time if Cate knew something I did not.
However, I knew better than to ask.

"Have you seen the Liarre before?" The half-human, half-animal hybrids had always fascinated me from a historical
standpoint as well as a magical one. They had their own territory to the west, and although they were not
aggressive towards humans, they were not overly friendly, either.

"No, but we have been in communication with them for a while. We think that they will receive Wyr diplomats
better than human ones."

"Aren't you a little young to be a diplomat?"

Cate grinned. "Were you picturing an old man with a gray beard?" I shrugged sheepishly. "One more thing," she
said, squeezing my thigh affectionately since I was too high up to give her a hug. "After you finish playing the
knight-errant and rescue the maiden, you might consider coming back to join us. We have need of skilled Ariada in
the rebellion. You would not need to see combat directly if you wished, I promise that you would be more than
welcome in my sickroom... to help," she added quickly as an afterthought.

"I cannot leave Rapunzel again," I said, although the idea of joining the rebellion intrigued me. Although we had
only known each other a short time, Cate and Larna already seemed like friends and I did not have many of those.
Besides, I liked the idea of helping to undo some of the damage caused by the Queen.

"Bring her with you. There are several women and children with us now that stay away from the scouting parties
and fighting units. Honestly, there is no safer place for you to be. With the Queen burning cities and destroying
villages, you stand a better chance with an army to protect you."

"I will ask," I promised. I would follow Rapunzel wherever she wanted to go once she was freed, but mentioning
the idea seemed reasonable. "Cate... thank you. Thank you for giving me back my soul."

Cate accepted the words with a small smile. "You are most welcome, Ailynn Gothel. Let the Maker watch over you.
I am sure that we will meet again." I prodded the horse's sides with my heels and urged him into a brisk walk,
turning around to give my friend a last wave goodbye. Although I had no trace of the Sight, I also suspected that
we would see each other again.

Chapter Four:

The journey home was surprisingly short and thinking of Rapunzel made it seem even shorter. With a clear
destination, I could ride in a straight line instead of traveling in zigzags from village to village. The quarter horse
that Cate had given me was not very quick, but what he lacked in speed he made up for in strength and endurance.
I struggled far more than he did after a long day of riding. The extra hours that he was able to travel quickly added
up and within six days I found myself nearing the edge of the Forest.

The sights, sounds, and smells of the Forest were like a welcoming embrace to me. Suppressing feelings of
nostalgia, I dismounted and led my horse carefully through the trees. Clearly uncomfortable in such close quarters,
he shuffled forward and back nervously, resisting when I tried to guide him with a tug on his reins.

"Sorry, boy," I murmured. "I promise we won't be staying long."

Traveling on foot was much slower going and it took me most of the daylight hours to penetrate the Forest's outer
edge. Once he became accustomed to the terrain, the horse began to pause near trees that he found appealing,
stopping to munch on the leaves. My scolding had no effect on him.

The deeper into the Forest we went, the more familiar it became. There were the giant's-hands trees where the
evil man had attacked Rapunzel over six years ago, and there was the small brook where I used to gathered
watercress.

Before I knew it, I was following the familiar forest path that I had traveled so many times before, the one that led
to Rapunzel's tower. I had created the path during my frequent visits, finding it convenient to travel the same way
every time. I realized, sadly, that Mogra had been too consumed by whatever dark energies lived in her to notice
or object. That is, if she still lived in the forest at all.

As I approached Rapunzel's tower, I battled feelings of disbelief and doubt. After waiting so long for this moment,
it almost seemed impossible that I was finally here, finally home. It looked no different than when I had departed
on that gray morning over a year ago. The same slender ash trees surrounded the magically aged tower and the
same ivy crawled up the familiar stone walls. Hands shaking, I tied my horse's reins to the branch of a tree. He
seemed content to wait.

With my hands free, I opened my mouth, trying to call out, but my voice would not come. Clearing my throat
nervously, I tried again. "Rapunzel!" There was no answer. "Rapunzel, let down your hair to me." I waited for
several heartbeats, hearing loudness in the silence and stillness.

Perhaps she was asleep, I thought. For one brief moment, I wondered if Mogra had taken her somewhere else so
that I would never see her again, but I wrestled that fear into submission. I would not worry until I climbed up to
the tower and saw for myself.

The ash trees, though slender, had supported my weight once before. Determined to climb to the top of the tower
and silence the frightening questions racing through my mind, I hooked my fingers over the sturdiest looking
branch I could find and hoisted myself up. It was not too difficult to scale the trunk.

Balanced carefully in the branches, I leaned over to grab the balcony and look inside. I nearly fell out of the tree.
Rapunzel was there. She was not alone.

A nightmare. It had to be a nightmare, some twisted construct of my imagination.

A man was on top of her. The pale skin of his naked back burned into my eyes. Hips pumping and thrusting in a
jagged rhythm, his head was thrown back, eyes closed, blonde hair tossing as he moved. I realized that I was crying
when I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks.

It was disgusting. My head spun and I wanted to vomit. My hands clenched tighter and tighter around the slender
branches of the ash tree, wishing they were his throat. Then he said her name. Her name... my heart cracked and I
wept all the harder.

I could not watch it anymore. It was done. I hated him. I hated myself. I hated the Maker for forcing such a vile,
unnatural image on me. The broken pieces of my heart sank to the bottom of my chest and I realized that I would
carry that image with me for the rest of my life.

As I reached for the lower branches and began to climb back down, the trunk of the ash tree swayed, leaves
rustling. Below him, I saw her jerk as she looked towards the noise, towards me. Our eyes met and locked, her
perfect, pink mouth forming an 'o' of surprise. Color bled into her pale cheeks. She screamed. He stopped moving
and looked as well.

I have no idea why I climbed onto the small balcony of the tower. I wanted to leave, to run as far and as fast as the
winds took me. Twenty-three years. Twenty-three years I had waited for this moment, for this woman. He had
stolen it. He had stolen it and I hated him.

For the first and only time in my life, I wondered if my mother had been right to lock Rapunzel away from the
world. She should have been mine. She should have been kept safe for me... for me only.

I did not realize that I was speaking aloud, screaming, until I felt her hand on my cheek. She was touching me for
the first time in a year, her face a painting of surprise and confusion, as though she was staring at a ghost. I
shuddered; jerked my face away. She had betrayed me. I did not want her touch anymore.

He stood there, stupid as stone, not even bothering to cover his manhood. The sight of it, of him, sickened me and
I trembled with rage. My mother would have killed him. My mother would have cut off his hands. That was a
punishment fit for a thief. I could always adapt it to suit the circumstances and cut off something else.

He must have read my murderous intentions in my eyes, or I was still shouting my thoughts aloud, because he
shoved me aside and leapt, naked as a dog, over the side of the balcony and into the tree I had just vacated. He
practically slid down the trunk because it refused to bear his weight, and I hoped every twig peeled off skin on the
descent.

That left me alone with her, my Rapunzel. But no longer mine, not anymore. She was speaking, but my ears were
filled with the loud, wordless roar of anger. I watched her lips move, mesmerized and furious, still shaking terribly
and crying a river of tears. They coated my cheeks and chin, running down because I did not bother to wipe them
away.

"Ailynn..."

"Don't..." My voice broke. I swallowed against the burning dryness in my throat.

I gripped the hair at the back of her neck, dragging her head forward and taking her lips with mine. The kiss was
hard, bruising, possessive. She melted under my touch, falling into my arms, quivering with what could have been
pain or fear or love - I had no idea anymore.

"I hate you," I whispered, biting the plump curve of her lower lip with my teeth, tasting the tang of blood. She
flinched against my chest, but did not pull away.

"As long as you feel something."

I felt... I felt too much. Those eyes. Her face.

I turned her around and shoved her in the middle of her back, sending her sprawling onto the bed stomach-first,
unable to look at her. I tore off my clothes, ripping the fabric, but she did not turn. She held completely still,
waiting for a kiss, a blow, something. I hated her for making me love her. I wanted back the piece of me that she
had stolen. I raked my nails down her back, tearing overheated skin and not caring. She whimpered as my breasts
pressed into her shoulder blades, pushing her down into the mattress.

I took her throat in my teeth and nipped the white, unblemished skin, making her gasp and mewl like a kitten. I
would leave my mark on her, the woman that should have been mine. As my lips claimed her throat, my fingers
claimed the rest, thrusting inside of her with one rough stroke, remembering every touch I had seen him give her
through that window.

"I wasn't good enough to wait for... am I good enough now?" I tried to hurt her, I wanted to hurt her, but though I
handled her roughly, I could not cause her any real pain. Something in my heart blocked me from satisfying that
fearsome urge.

"Ailynn..."

I hated the way Rapunzel's hips moved against me, the way her warmth spilled over my hand, the way her wetness
clutched my fingers. I hated that I wanted her, that she wanted me, that she was taking pleasure while I released
my anger. But I could not continue touching her in anger. I loved her.

My hand slid underneath her torso, caressing a breast, twisting its peak hard enough to make her draw in a short,
sharp breath, her body bucking violently beneath mine.

"Tell me." I recognized my own voice, but not the command. What did I want her to tell me? Clear gloss traveled
down her legs, coating my thigh as I pressed tighter against her.

"I love you. I'm yours."

My heart stopped.

"Tell me again."

"I love you, Ailynn. I'm yours."

Drowning. I was drowning. I thought I felt the pain of my heart breaking all over again. Or was it mending? I did not
care. Shockwaves rippled through my entire body, radiating from the aching pool between my legs to the very tips
of my fingers and toes. I wrapped my fingers in her hair, feeling the silk of it, noticing with surprise that it was only
to her shoulders, but dismissing it immediately.

Mine. I floated in the sensation, soaked in the pleasure of owning this woman. I would make her forget. Erase him
from her memory and sear myself into her until she could not part herself from me.

Her face. Before, I had not been able to look. Now, I wanted her eyes. I wanted her to see my face whenever the
lids closed. I flipped her over easily, tossing her like a rag doll and climbing over her, settling myself tightly in the 'v'
of her thighs and grabbing the backs of her knees, wrapping her legs around my waist. My fingers thrust back
inside, gentler this time, as I kissed her breath away, making sure that her eyes were open so that she could see
and remember exactly who was making love to her.

"Ailynn..." she whimpered, but I refused to give in to her, swirling the pad of my thumb around the throbbing
bundle of nerves without stroking its tip. I increased the speed of my hand, using my thigh to press harder against
her, deeper inside of her.

Her body went rigid as her release came crashing down. She clung to me as though I was her only tie to the world,
her small, soft hands leaving grip-marks on my shoulders. Her hips stopped their rolling motion as she panted
heavily against my neck, her face buried in the curve of my shoulder. Our hearts beat together.

She looked up at me, lips curved in a wide, relaxed smile, eyes bright and shining. It was a truthful face,
overflowing with love and joy. "I never loved him. I love you."

I buried my face in her hair and cried, allowing her to cradle me in her warm arms and stroke my back. There
would be time for explanations later. For now, I lost myself to the love and wonder of being with Rapunzel again. I
would not be foolish enough to lose her a second time.

Chapter Five:

I was not sure how long we lay there together, just breathing, just being. A large part of me was overjoyed to see
Rapunzel again, amazed that she was finally here, solid and real, in my arms. But I was still haunted by what I had
seen. It burrowed into my mind like a parasite, eating away at me from the inside out and leaving me hollow.

"Why?" I asked, the lonely word hanging above us in the silence and stillness. I loosened my grip on Rapunzel's
naked form and she turned to look at me, refusing to let me pull away.

"I had to find a way out," she said, pushing back a lock of brown hair that clung to my cheek and tucking it behind
my ear. The tender gesture almost made me break into a fresh round of tears, but I swallowed them back. "I
thought if Byron..."

Byron. The image of a small blonde boy with a turned-up nose came flooding back to me. The memories stung.
Him? How had he even found her after all these years? Why had Rapunzel chosen him over me? "What?" I
whispered, feeling empty. "What about him made you... Why couldn't I..." Hard as I tried, I could not form
sentences. The questions were a painful tangle in my mind and I could not pick out the knots.

"I thought you were dead." The quiet statement stole the breath from my chest. Rapunzel thought that I was
dead?

"What on earth made you think that?" I asked, unsure whether to be surprised or angry. Even if I had died, it hurt
to know that Rapunzel had let go of my memory so quickly. Had I meant anything at all to her? Did she still feel
something for me? I knew that I still loved her, as much as I wanted to deny it. I wondered if returning had been a
mistake. Maybe I should have left her for Byron. She might have been better off that way...

"Mother Gothel told me. Ailynn, she's... gotten worse..."

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears leaking out despite my best attempts to hold them back. I did not want to know
what was happening with my mother. I would deal with her as little as possible. She had lost my respect and trust
long ago. I still felt guilty for leaving Rapunzel, trapped and alone, in her power.

"She told me that you were dead, that you were never coming back," she continued. "I couldn't stay in this tower
forever. When Byron found this place, I hoped... I hoped I could convince him to buy off Mother Gothel. You know
how she is about her treasures. If he offered her enough..."

I swallowed down the lump that had risen in my throat. "So - what I saw... was..."

"Me trying to negotiate for my freedom." There was a long pause, more melancholy than awkward. "I don't love
him, I never loved him. I'm not proud of letting him... it was not indescribably terrible, but I took no pleasure in it.
It was uncomfortable, so I tried to imagine you... You are the only one I ever wanted, Ailynn, I promise."

I had no idea whether this made things better or worse. I was relieved that Rapunzel still loved me, but disgusted
at the means she had used to try and secure her freedom.

But could I blame her? If I was locked away in a tower with almost no hope of escape, and believed my love and
only possible savior was dead... The logical part of me understood that Rapunzel had seen a chance and taken it,

but my heart... My heart did not understand at all, and I was still deeply hurt and betrayed. I also felt pain for
Rapunzel. It must have been terrible, waiting in the same room day after day, knowing that she might have to
spend the rest of her life here. Just the thought was almost enough to drive a person insane. Lying with Byron was
probably also horrible.

"I... I don't know what you want me to say," I mumbled in a confusing, sensitive mess of words and feelings. I had
no idea what to think or what to do.

Rapunzel cupped my cheeks with her small hands and kissed me with a light, soft brushing of lips. It was a contrast
to my violent taking of her, which I was beginning to feel guilty for instigating. "Don't do anything. Don't think
about the future. Just tell me that now, in this moment, while we are alone together and there is no one else to
come between us - tell me that you love me."

"I love you," I told her, and it was the truth. But I did not know if love would be enough. I kissed her. Properly this
time, as gently as I could. A year's worth of pain, worries, and tension drained out of Rapunzel's body, leaving her
limp. Her cheeks were wet, but this time I knew that she was crying tears of happiness. In that moment, looking in
to each other's eyes, our souls recognized each other.

She loved me. It was enough.

Cautiously, my hand caressed her bare side, amazed at the warmth of her body and the softness of her skin. Even
though her appearance had not changed much during my absence, there was something different about her. Cate
was right, I reflected. While I was gone, Rapunzel had become a woman.

"I want to spend time getting to know you again," I whispered.

As always, Rapunzel was in tune with my thoughts and fears. "Oh, Ailynn... please don't be afraid. We aren't
children anymore, but my feelings haven't changed."

"What do you dream of?" I asked her. "What do you want for your future?"

"I want to see places," she confessed shyly, almost embarrassed by the admission. "I have always wanted to visit
Kalmarin, the city of white cliffs. I want to draw all the plants, animals, and people of the world."

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. "You want to draw them?" I repeated, making sure I had heard her correctly.

"Yes." She shifted beside me, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing up. I could not help admiring
her retreating form as she walked over to the writing desk where I had left my goodbye note. Her figure was
rounder, fuller, with a slight curve to her belly, which I found strangely attractive. It had been over a year since I
had left. That day seemed a lifetime ago now. Holding something in her hands, she turned around to face me.
"Here, look," she said, holding out several loosely bound sheets of paper.

I took them from her and examined the first page, surprised to see my own face staring back at me. The detail with
which she had sketched out my features was amazing. Carefully, I turned to the next page. Another drawing of me,
all of my body this time and there was a forest background behind my figure. My heart stuttered.

I flipped through the pages eagerly, unable to stop myself. There were a few other drawings - a butterfly, a sunset,
and some landscapes. Aside from them, the entire collection featured me. "These are amazing," I breathed in
wonder. "I can't believe you drew all of these."

Rapunzel gripped one elbow awkwardly, embarrassed by the praise. "I didn't want to forget your face. I was so
terrified of that... I had nightmares about it." She blushed.

"There are, um, more drawings on the bottom of the stack."

Curious, I turned to the last few drawings, my mouth falling open. These pictures were also of me, but they were
clearly not from any memories of our shared past. Me - unclothed, posed on my side and smiling. Me - sleeping,
sheets tangled around my ankles, revealing everything. Me straddling Rapunzel, holding her wrists over her head
as my hand worked between her legs. It was the first time Rapunzel had appeared in her own drawings. She was in
the next one, too, with her head buried between my thighs. I looked at image after image of us laughing, touching,
making love. It was beautiful.

"Oh my." I blushed, embarrassed by my own surprised exclamation and acutely aware of the fact that both of us
were still naked. That embarrassment quickly transformed into something else. I was sitting in bed, naked, with
the woman I loved only a few feet away from me, and I was looking at drawings? Wonderful, fabulous, beautiful
drawings, but nevertheless... Oh my, indeed.

Shyly, I snuck a glance at Rapunzel, who was staring at me with a longing expression on her sweet face. Although I
knew that it was not a good idea - what we had already done was not a good idea - I could not say no to her. Not
now, when we were finally together again. Not when we loved each other, wanted each other so desperately. The
rest of the painful discussions and soul-searching could wait. It would take time to repair the damage that had
been done, but for now, there was only us.

I opened my arms, welcoming her as she slid gratefully into them, her clever fingers weaving in my hair and pulling
me into an eager kiss. "I love you," she murmured over and over against my lips. Each time she said those words, a
tiny part of my broken heart began to heal.

Our mouths collided in another urgent kiss, one that quickly spiraled beyond our control. As our lips played
together in an endless game of tease and taste, my hands explored the soft, smooth landscape of her back, every
caress an exciting new discovery. I memorized every inch of skin I could reach. With my hands over her hips, I
pulled her on top of me, letting her straddle my waist. I gasped as a pleasant warmth pressed against my lower
belly.

Rapunzel was on top of me, but her shuddering breaths and half-closed eyes revealed that she felt as nervous and
unsteady as I did. Wordlessly seeking permission, she traced the curve of my breasts, seemingly in awe. Her
curious, hesitant touch was too frightening, too powerful. I pushed her away. She was disappointed until I cupped
a hand between our bodies, finding her with my fingers. I smiled, the proof of her desire coating my hand, spilling
over my fingers, and filling me with pride.

Struggling for balance, Rapunzel was forced to lean back. Locking her arms and using them to stay upright, she
hovered over my stomach, rocking urgently against my hand and setting a much faster rhythm than I expected.
This was an exorcism, I realized as two of my fingers probed forward, swallowed by a heated silken glove. Just as I
had tried to claim Rapunzel roughly before, wanting to drive out the memories of Byron's touch with every thrust
inside of her, she was reclaiming herself with each tilt of her hips.

For the moment, the painful memory was eclipsed by pleasure and love. Seeing my Tuathe taking her pleasure
from me, giving herself to me, was breathtaking. I could think of nothing else. Nothing else mattered. Watching
Rapunzel impale herself over and over again on my fingers made my heart skip and my mouth go dry. She was
beautiful, her hair streaming in a golden river between her shoulder blades, halfway to her hips already even
though it had been trimmed to her shoulders before. With her chin tilted back, I could see the curve of her white
throat and the purple shadow that pooled in the dip of her collarbone.

The most amazing feeling, a tide of warmth in my blood, rose in me when my lover stiffened; tight, slick inner
muscles clutching at my fingers and fluttering wildly. She let out a choked sob, legs trembling, and almost
collapsed. Her back arched, pushing her breasts forward, and I could not resist taking a pink nipple between my
lips. The new sensation, enhanced by the thumb that rolled over the swollen pearl just above her entrance, was
too much. She screamed, releasing for a second time, the sound making heat rush between my legs.

Drained, she fell on top of me, trying to catch her breath while I stroked her hair and murmured sweet words
against the pink shell of her ear. Slowly, I coaxed her down from her high. As she came back to the world, her eyes
focused on my bare form, running over my breasts, stomach, and legs. I observed her in return, pleased to notice
that she looked disheveled and very well loved.

"You needed that," I said, letting my hand rest over the swell of her bottom as she curled up against my side. The
weight in my chest already seemed a little lighter.

Rapunzel smiled, tracing patterns against my thighs with her fingertips that made my legs twitch. "I did. But now I
want to please you."

Her hand crept higher, but I caught her wrist, stopping her. "Ailynn... Oh, Ailynn. Let me touch you," she pleaded.

"I-I can't," I stuttered, ashamed of myself. The look of disappointment on my lover's face was a knife in my heart. "I
want you to..." I tried to retrace my steps and erase the damage, but it was too late. "I'm still hurting. Give me...
give me some time. Please."

Although she did not pull away from me, Rapunzel turned her head so that it was buried in a pillow, hiding her
eyes. Her hand found safer territory, wrapping around my waist instead. "I'm sorry..." I said.

"No, I'm sorry," Rapunzel sighed. "I hoped..."

"That everything would be all right now," I finished for her. "I hoped that would happen, too. I still love you. I want
to try and be with you. But I need some time." I paused, wondering whether to give voice to thoughts that I knew
were true, but had not yet accepted in my heart. "I know that you only did what you thought you needed to. It was
not your fault. But..."

"But..."

"But it still hurts."

Raising her head from the pillow, Rapunzel looked me directly in the eye. I could tell that it was difficult for her. "I
will do everything I can to ease your doubts, Ailynn, no matter how long it takes. I want to spend the rest of my life
proving how much I love you."

Chapter Six:

I awoke, startled and bathed in a cold sweat. For a moment, I did not remember where I was, but the memories
came flooding back as something warm moved against my side. Rapunzel was still next to me, sleeping peacefully.
Leaning over, I brushed my lips across her forehead and stroked her hair, which was past her hips now. She did not
move, and I decided not to disturb her. The sounds of the birds outside told me that it was early morning, and I
shifted across the mattress, trying not to wake Rapunzel.

"The only bird I want to hear right now is an owl," she mumbled into the pillow, trying to loop an arm around my
waist and pull me back to bed.

I did not let her. "No," I said sadly. "It's a nightingale. You can stay in bed, darling. I need to get something."

Rapunzel had not asked about my search for the binding spell during the time we spent together. We had been
distracted, but I was surprised that such an important subject had not come up. My eyes widened as I realized
something further. Rapunzel considered me more important than her freedom. She had been so afraid of losing
me that all thoughts of my quest seemed unimportant in comparison.

Shivering as my feet touched the cold floor, I stretched my arms up to the ceiling, popping the vertebrae in my
back with a loud crack. Rapunzel opened one eye to watch me. "Where are you going?" she asked, still groggy.

"Go back to bed," I repeated, bending over to pick up my discarded clothes. They were in poor condition. The
waistband of my leggings was stretched out of shape, and one sleeve of my shirt was torn.

"But I am enjoying the view."

I snorted, secretly pleased. "I am only going outside." For some reason, I did not want to tell Rapunzel about the
book yet. Although I had skimmed the relevant section several times, I still needed to examine the specific spell
linking Rapunzel to the tower. In theory, I understood what needed to be done, but putting magical theory into
practice is not always simple. I was relieved that Rapunzel did not question me further. Perhaps she sensed my
reluctance to talk about it. I was confident that, given a little time, I could release her from her prison, but I did not
want to raise her hopes only to disappoint her if I failed. Both of us had already been through enough already.

As I put on my shoes, one of which had been kicked into a corner, Rapunzel's breathing evened out as she drifted
back into a light sleep. I could not help glancing over my shoulder to smile at her. Soon, I thought. Soon, I will be
able to take you away from this place. And then...

And then what? Where would we go? What would we do? I was not sure, but I wanted to leave the tower as soon
as we could, before we attracted unwanted attention. As I approached the balcony, I noticed a pile of colorful
material near the edge. Bending down to examine it, I discovered several skeins of silk. Moving them aside, I
realized that some of the silk had been fashioned into several linking pieces. I unrolled the bundle, its softness
reminding me of Rapunzel's silken hair. To my surprise, the interwoven strands took on a familiar shape. A ladder!

At first, I wondered why Rapunzel had bothered weaving a ladder of silk. Where had she gotten the silk in the first
place? Since Mogra's magic still trapped her in the tower, the ladder was not for her use. My stomach flipped as
understanding dawned. The ladder was for Byron. The reminder of him made me feel ill, and I almost threw the
ladder over the side of the balcony. Then, thinking better of it, I unrolled the rest of the silken ladder. I might as
well make use of it, I decided. I was here to make sure that Byron Wylean-James the Third stayed far, far away
from now on.

Using the hook that Rapunzel wrapped her hair around, I secured the silken ladder and tugged it, making sure that
it would hold weight. It was very cleverly made, the connecting triangular pattern lending more support to its
structure. Rapunzel had probably designed it herself in addition to piecing it together. I forced myself to forget the
ladder's original purpose as I swung my leg over the balcony railing and began my descent.

My faithful quarter horse was waiting for me, and since I had left him plenty of rope, he had been able to graze
and move around during the night. "I'm sorry, boy," I said, stroking his nose and allowing him to lip at my fingers. I
felt guilty for neglecting him.

After I had fed and watered him with my traveling supplies, I searched in the discarded saddlebags for the thick
book that Cate had given me. Feeling the texture of its binding as I pulled it out strengthened my resolve. I would
be able to free Rapunzel. I had come too far to fail now.

I took a moment to trace the flaking gold lettering that named the book's title - Elementary Majicks. It was a book
that I was familiar with. Mogra's library contained a copy, but the pertinent pages had been torn out and burned.
As I flipped open the book to page one ninety three and began reading, a strange sound came from behind me,
startling the horse and making me look up after a few sentences. However, the noise did not continue for more
than a moment. Seeing nothing, I decided that it was some small animal moving in the undergrowth and bent back
over the page.

Linking spells, or Binding Spells, are used to create a magical 'chain' between two objects, forming a strong bond
between them. There are several variations of this spell, which may be used to transfer the properties of one object
to another, or may act as a physical tie to make two objects inseparable.

I frowned, not wanting to think of Rapunzel as an 'object'. Unlike Mogra, I still remembered that Rapunzel had a
soul. Maybe... maybe it was the other half of my own soul. I blushed, dismissing those thoughts. Skipping a
paragraph that referred to linking two magical objects together, I read on.

A binding spell may also be used to make an object immovable - a famous historical example being the Sword of
the Templars, which cannot be removed from its monastery home in the Northern Sweep. No single Ariada has
been able to break that binding spell, because it was made using the combined skill of several monks.

To create a binding spell, the magic-worker must take part of the first object that they wish to bind, and combine it
with part of the second object. In the aforementioned example, a jewel was taken from the hilt of the Sword of the
Templars and submerged in melted glass from the monastery's famous stained-glass windows. Pieces of glass were
taken from windows in all parts of the monastery...

I stopped reading, scanning the page for more relevant information.

... must use shape-magic, the art of 'seeing' magical auras with the senses, to tie a knot of magical energy around
both small pieces of the objects to be bound, and place these objects in a safe location so that the knot may not be
untied. The location must be close to the bound objects...

My frown of concentration twitched, the corners of my lips curling upwards in a smile. It seemed that undoing a
binding spell was not as complex as making one. If I understood the text correctly, Mogra had taken something
from Rapunzel, perhaps her hair or clippings from her nails, and combined it with something from the tower. Then,
she had woven knots of magic around them like a tangle of string. All that I needed to do was untie the knot.

I felt strangely confident. Although Elementary Majicks said that the spell binding the Sword of the Templars to its
monastery had not been broken, I doubted that Mogra had enlisted the aid of other Ariada to create Rapunzel's
binding spell. She was a loner, and did not like associating with other magic-doers unless it was absolutely
necessary. Also, the sword and the monastery were sacred historical objects and landmarks, respectively. I
doubted that anyone wanted to break the spell, considering its historical significance.

Shape-magic was a concept that I was familiar with. With some effort and practice, an Ariada could learn to 'touch'
magic with their senses. Although everyone that used magic sensed it in some way, feeling the vibrations of its
energy, tasting its tart flavor, smelling its warmth, those who knew shape-magic could manipulate the patterned
'threads' that wove together to make up spells. I had used a rudimentary form of shape-magic to feel the ropes of
magic that bound Rapunzel to the tower. Now, I knew how to untie them.

Closing my eyes, I opened the rest of my senses, paying attention to the vibrating hum of magic that always
surrounded the tower. It was like soft music, a sound that you could not distinguish from other noises unless you
made a conscious decision to focus on its unique timbre.

I took a step towards the tower, tucking the heavy book underneath my arm and preparing to climb up the silken
ladder. As I came closer, the buzzing sounds of magic grew louder. Very carefully, I began to scale the tower's
stone wall. Because I also needed to balance the weight of the book, it was slow going.

When I had climbed half way up the balcony, I noticed that the hum of magic was quieter. Its warmth, which had
brushed over my skin like a caress as I opened myself to it, had faded, and I felt colder. Thinking carefully, I started
to climb back down again. After a few steps, the vibrations felt stronger. They continued to increase in speed and
power as I returned to the ground.

When my feet touched the forest floor, I tossed the heavy book on top of my traveling sack. I felt slightly guilty for
handling it so carelessly, but I was excited. Stretching my hands out and extending my fingers, I tried to feel for the
strands of magic that swirled around the tower in a cloud. To any observer, I might have looked like a blind man
groping along the tower walls, but I was too focused on my task to worry about looking foolish.

Whatever the source of the magical energy was, it had to be near the base of the tower, where most of it had
collected. It was like a game of blind man's bluff, following the voice of a hiding playmate with closed eyes,
listening carefully to choose the right direction. After I had circled the tower three times, I decided that the magic
felt strongest at its back-left corner. The entire tower was a square shape that narrowed closer to the top,
although the sharp edges had been softened into curves.

I ran my hands along the smooth stones, pushing aside crawling ivy to feel the rock beneath, which was
surprisingly warm. I paused, considering. Slowly, I bent my knees, following the side of the tower down, down,
down with my fingers. The texture changed, becoming rougher and pockmarked, as though tiny sparks of...
something... had eaten away at the stone.

I buried my hands in the soft earth. The magic felt even stronger. The game of follow-the-voice was almost over. I
began digging with my hands, pulling up clods of grass and tearing ivy roots, using the cracked earth around the
foundation stones to work my fingers deeper into the soil.

Soon, my pants and sleeves were dirty and there were black lines under my fingernails. I had made a shallow,
sloping trough of a hole, but I still found my lack of progress frustrating. Unwilling to give up, I brushed myself off
and ran back to my supplies. They remained where I had left them, undisturbed beneath one of the ash trees. The
quarter horse whinnied a greeting. I began rummaging through my saddlebags, searching for the small shovel that
I used to dig fire pits when I slept in the open.

When I found the shovel, I hurried back to the humming cornerstone of the tower where I had been digging,
holding the handle high above my head. As I drew closer, I was doubly sure that I had chosen the right place to
look for the binding spell. The going was much faster with the help of the shovel, and soon I had dug an even hole
almost three feet deep. The shovel's blade was coated in damp earth, and since it was small, I tapped it against the
tower's stones to clean it and continue digging. A pile of dirt grew steadily beside the hole, and I began to worry
that I would have to move it when, finally, the edge of the shovel collided with something. Tossing it aside, I
returned to using my hands, tossing aside earth and brushing the soil away from a flat wooden surface.

As I exposed more of the wood, the pulses of magic grew stronger, vibrating in the air around me like a deep,
calling voice. Hunched over the small pit that I had made, I finally managed to reveal the smooth edges of a little
square box. Filled with excitement, I tugged until the box came loose, pulling it out of the hole and setting it in my
lap, not caring about the dirt that clung to its sides. The wood of the box felt warm to the touch, almost like heated
skin. There was an old lock on it, but a few sharp taps of the shovel's blade (which came away dented) broke the
lock's rusty neck. Triumphantly, I pulled open the box.

Inside, perched on top of a soft purple cloth, was a lock of golden hair wrapped around a piece of gray stone.
Automatically, I untied the hair, which looked as fresh and healthy as the locks attached to Rapunzel's head. The
shade was identical - I would recognize that color anywhere. It came loose from the stone, but the steady, insistent
hum of magic pouring out of the box did not cease. Closing my eyes again, I reached out with my smudged and
dirty hands, trying to feel the threads of magic that bound the hair and the stone together. It felt like a tangle of
yarn after Diath, my mother's cat, had made knots and loops playing with it. Sighing, I went to work and began
untangling the magical strings.

After a minute, my fingers began to grow sore, but I ignored the stiffness in my joints, wishing that I had some
invisible scissors to cut through the knots. Not wanting to use magic, just in case it set off some kind of energy
reaction, I carefully untangled the mess of knots and twists. At last, the final knot came undone and I felt the
humming vanish. My head started to ache from the sudden lack of comforting magical energy and I realized that I
was exhausted. Using shape-magic to feel out the threads had tired me.

Filled to bursting with excitement, I threw off my weariness and dropped the chipped stone and lock of hair onto
the ground, forgetting them completely. "Rapunzel!" I shouted from below even though I was not sure that she
could hear me. "Rapunzel! I've done it!"

Immensely pleased with myself, I brushed my messy hands on my shirt and found the silken ladder that Rapunzel
had made. It was just as I had left it, still dangling precariously down from the balcony, its soft texture belying its
sturdy design. I scrambled up the ladder like a spider running along a wall, eyes fixed on the balcony railing above
me. My wide grin made my cheeks ache, but I did not care. Everything was going to be all right now. None of the
bad things that had happened in the past mattered anymore. Rapunzel was free and I was going to take her away
from her prison forever.

"Rapunzel!" I called again, swinging onto the balcony with a surge of energy. "Come here!" There was no answer,
but what I saw almost made me stumble backwards and fall back down to the ground.

My beloved was not alone. Mogra was waiting for me inside of the small room. In her hand was a knife and it was
pressed against Rapunzel's throat.

Chapter Seven:

"Ailynn," she purred, her black eyes cold and unfeeling, "I am not surprised to see you here." She was in her
youthful form, and even though I wanted nothing to do with her, seeing my mother's familiar face made my heart
stop.

"You would fetch your dearest," she continued, mocking me, "but the beautiful bird is no longer singing in the
nest." Rapunzel trembled in Mogra's arms, her brown eyes pleading with me to do something, anything.

My jaw and hands clenched so tightly that I began to shake with rage. "Let her go," I demanded, raising my fists. I
had almost no experience with physical fighting, but I was not a Witch's daughter for nothing. My mind ran
through spells of disabling, spells of pain, and protective spells.

Mogra laughed; a deep, throaty sound that made my stomach flip and my skin prickle. I shivered. She was beautiful
again, like a poisonous frog with its lurid colors. In fact, now that I looked more closely, her form was not exactly as
I remembered it. It was a little like a caricature painting from memory, with the details exaggerated.

"Oh, no, no, no... I don't think so. The cat has caught your bird and will scratch out your eyes as well. Rapunzel is
lost to you. You will never see her again." If I had any hope left that my mother would regain her sanity and her
honor, the last of it was snuffed out like a dying candle. But that did not matter. My first priority was Rapunzel.

Remembering the time that Mogra had raised her hand and conjured a ball of fire, I spread my fingertips, watching
as cold blue flames engulfed my hand like a gauntlet. I felt no pain, only a cold, stinging sensation. Conjuring fire
and light was one of the first things I had learned to do - it had amused Rapunzel when she was a child. Now,
maybe it would serve to protect me.

Mogra looked surprised, but not at all afraid. "You dare to use magic? Against me? You foolish girl... I am more
powerful than you will ever be!"

Tired of her posturing, I charged, prepared to burn Mogra's face or arms with my hand in order to take the dagger
from her. Inches away, I rammed into an invisible wall, unable to move forward. The gauntlet of fire that coated
my hand flickered and my wrist throbbed with pain, the old injury making itself known.

She laughed again, but this time the sound only served to make me angrier. I tried once again to press through the
invisible barrier, but with no success. After another push, Mogra appeared to grow bored with me. "You are
becoming an annoyance," she said dryly. Rapunzel began to struggle against her grip, pressing into Mogra's side
and causing a startled look to cross Mogra's face. "You can't possibly..." she muttered to herself, and then turned
back to me.

"Hold still!" she shouted at me, lifting her hand and pointing it at me, palm facing outwards. The air was driven
from my chest as a heavy force tossed me backwards, pinning me against the far wall of the bedroom. Dazed, I
tried to move my arms, but my weak attempts were useless.

"Now, about you." Mogra began a curious examination of my lover, checking her pulse, her temperature, and even
looking under her tongue and into her eyes. I tried once again to free myself as she cupped Rapunzel's breast in
one hand, the other trailing along the strip of skin between her hips. Even though the touches did not seem sexual,
they infuriated me. I did not want Mogra to touch Rapunzel for any reason.

"I thought so," she said to Rapunzel, all of the dark amusement gone from her voice. "I was going to separate you
from dear, precious Ailynn forever, but I think I will keep you together. It will be much more satisfying when she
realizes..."

Finally, she turned back to me. I made one last attempt to free myself, but I was still helplessly stuck to the wall. It
felt as though a giant boulder was sitting directly on top of my chest and it was hard to breathe. "I have decided to
let you keep your little whore after all. She is tainted and worthless to me now. Both of you will be gone soon. I
can't leave you here to disrupt my plans." Again, Mogra lifted her hands and dropped the knife, her lips forming
ancients Words, Words of Power that ran together like a song. Finally free, Rapunzel ran to me and clutched my
hand.

Before I could move to defend myself, a loud howling sound exploded in my head. Both of us were whipped across
the room, over the balcony, and up, up, up into the sky, carried by a strong gust of wind. Rapunzel screamed, but
the sound was lost in the cold air blasting across our faces and arms. She squeezed my hand, which had
miraculously stayed in hers, and I squeezed back, unable to do anything else.

I turned my head down and saw... nothing. There was no sign of the ground below us, just an endless expanse of
blue, only broken by the occasional wisp of white cloud. I panicked and started to struggle away from Rapunzel,
but she pulled me closer. 'Don't look down!' she mouthed, keeping her eyes shut tight.

Too late, I thought. I followed Rapunzel's example and closed my eyes so that I would not have to see how high up
we were. If we were going to fall to our deaths, I did not want to watch. Slowly, the howling tongues of air that
licked at my skin and tore my clothing like claws began to soften, drifting farther and farther away. I sank deeper

into the darkness behind my closed eyelids. The last thing that I was aware of was the tight grip of Rapunzel's
hand.

...

I awoke next to a river, my face warmed by the bright sun above me. The grass was soft and comfortable, and I
took in a slow breath through my nose, enjoying the sweet, earthy smell. I could not remember losing
consciousness, but the aches and kinks all over my body told me that I had probably fallen here.

Some adventurer and rescuer I am, I thought, disgruntled and irritated with myself. This is the second time I have
passed out now... first when I saw Cate in half-shape and again after that terrifying flight. The flight... Rapunzel!

Frantically, I opened my eyes flung out my arms, searching for Rapunzel. I was relieved when I felt a warm body
pressed next to mine. I sighed gratefully when I felt her even, steady heartbeat against my shoulder. My frantic
movements had not roused her.

Slowly, I pulled myself up into a sitting position and looked around. We were in some kind of beautiful hidden
clearing. There was a bright, clear river that gurgled cheerfully along beside me. The grass and sky were beautiful,
too, and the colors were vivid. There was also a small, neat little cottage nearby. "It's beautiful," I whispered to
myself. I could think of nothing else to say as I took in the wondrous scenery, which was tinted with the excited
hum of spellwork.

Finally, I felt strong enough to try and stand up. I stumbled to my feet, ignoring the painful stretching of my
muscles. Suddenly, a voice called out to me, and I whirled around to see who was there. Standing several feet
behind me was an old man wearing shabby brown rags. He grinned and I noticed that he had only a few of his
teeth left.

"Arim dei," he said, greeting me politely. I glanced worriedly at Rapunzel, who had not yet opened her eyes.
However, the stranger did not seem threatening, although the scent of magic clung to him strongly. "Isna every
that two lovely girls are falling into the middle of my back yard. No indeed, not every day."

"Well, it certainly wasn't a pleasant experience," I mumbled, not sure of what to say.

The old man laughed, but it was not a cruel laugh. His eyes crinkled at the corners, further reassuring me of his
good intentions. "Flying in the sky is for birds, not young ladies. Dinna worry. I will be seeing to you and your
friend. I was after knowing your Maman."

My eyes narrowed. "I would appreciate that," I said, wondering whether I should mention that it was my mother's
fault that we were here in the first place. I finally decided that he deserved to know, since Mogra might come
looking for us at a later date, although I could not fathom why she had sent us here to meet this strange man. "You
should probably know that she is... not the same. She sent us here."

"Ah, no, she wasna sending you here. I was doing that my own self."

I frowned at him, confused. My aching back did nothing to improve my mood and I was still worried about
Rapunzel. "What do you mean?"

"Your Maman was trying to send you to the timeless sands of the Old Desert. I stopped the great wind and called it
here instead."

My eyes widened. Bordering the southwestern part of Amendyr, the Old Desert, much like the Forest, was so large
and well known that it did not need an official name, although many colorful descriptions, like the timeless sands,
were often attached to it. Although I knew many advanced magical spells, conjuring something from nothing was
impossible, and if Rapunzel and I had landed in the desert, which was inhabited by nothing but rolling grains of
white sand, we surely would have starved without food or water.

He seemed to sense my nervousness, because he said, "dinna worry, er... sorry, I am not knowing your name."

Questions swirled wildly in my head, almost reminding me of the wind that had carried us here. I studied the
strange old man, trying to remember if I had ever met him when I was very small. "My name is Ailynn. You knew
my mother? She never told you about me? Should I know who you are?"

"I loved her once," he said, a shade of regret darkening his features, although he still seemed far from menacing.
"Many, many years ago. But she would not have me. She would not have anyone. She was a great woman. I am
sad to be seeing her consumed by the darkness."

He noticed the surprised, almost pained expression on my face and reached up to pat my cheek with a twisted old
hand. I accepted the gesture of comfort, feeling leathery skin touch me briefly before pulling away. "The fault was
not all hers, little one. Her only sin was greed. That was the doorway through which the darkness was entering her.
It overpowered her."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," I admitted, but paused when I felt a cool shadow pass overhead and
looked up into the sky. Dark clouds were beginning to drift in front of the sun, blocking it from view. Immediately, I
sensed the loss of it and gave Rapunzel another worried glance.

"Will you help me take her inside?" I asked, gesturing at the cottage. "I assume you live there."

"Of course," he said. "Rain's comin'."

"Rain?" Rapunzel asked, stumbling over the word as though it tasted strange in her mouth. "What?"

"Falling water from the sky," the old man said teasingly.

I looked down at Rapunzel and smiled, relieved that she was all right. I started to approach her for an embrace, but
something cold and wet fell onto her shoulder, diverting her attention. She reached over to brush it off, but more
of the drops started sprinkling her skin. "Here, let me help you," I said, bending to my knees and helping her to
stand. She grimaced with discomfort, probably feeling just as battered and bruised as I did. The old man, despite
his slightly hunched back and thin shoulders, also offered a hand to help steady her. She accepted it politely,
pulling.

"Thank you, sir," she said. "I hope you don't consider me rude for asking, but who are you, exactly?"

"Sometimes I am hardly remembering my own name nowadays," said the old man. "But it's Doran. Now, follow
me." With those words, we hurried through the rain and into the little cottage.

Chapter Eight:

"Thank you for taking us in," I told Doran, my hands wrapping around a steaming mug of tea. Rapunzel and I were
seated at the old wizard's table with warm blankets draped over our shoulders to help us recover from the cold
rain.

"You are welcome." He set a mug of tea in front of Rapunzel as well. She smiled gratefully, imitating me and
folding her hands around it to keep them warm.

"We are both very grateful," I said, including Rapunzel in my thanks. "I promise that we will not intrude for more
than a day." I did not want to unintentionally strain the old man's hospitality.

He shook his head. "You will be needin' to stay for longer than that," he stated matter-of-factly.

My eyebrows lifted in surprise. "I will?"

Doran nodded. "You must be learning to defend yourself, young witch. I will teach you battle magic."

"Battle magic?" I parroted, blushing when I realized that I was only repeating his words. I had plenty of my own.
"Why do I need to learn Battle magic?" I asked him, not oblivious to the worried look that flashed across
Rapunzel's face before she lifted her mug of tea to hide it.

"For fightin'." The obvious-sounding answer made me feel foolish. I knew why I needed to learn battle magic.
Remembering how easily Mogra had immobilized me was frightening and embarrassing. If she had not changed
her mind about killing us... I recalled her strange examination of Rapunzel, but pushed those thoughts aside. There
would be time to think it over later.

As though she was reading my thoughts, Rapunzel added, "She won't leave us alone. When she finds out that we
weren't stranded in the desert, she will come after us." My stomach flipped nervously. It was not a matter of if
Mogra found out, but when. There was no question that she would follow and confront us, if only to regain her
pride. It would be bad for her image if her enemies began escaping alive - even when those 'enemies' included her
own daughter.

"I think that learning some battle magic would be a good idea," I said cautiously. I was sure that Doran's teaching
would benefit me, but I had not been able to make many decisions for myself recently. The last two days had been
unpleasant to say the least, not counting the brief hours that Rapunzel and I had stolen in each other's arms. After
a year of waiting, everything seemed to be happening at once, and I felt like I was spiraling out of control. Even
though I did want to learn new ways to defend myself, I felt like I had not been given the option to refuse, only
adding to my helpless state of mind.

"You will stay for a while," said Doran, leaving no room for argument. "I will be teaching' you how to protect
yourself, Ailynn. Then, I am thinking that you should go and find your friend Cate." I was surprised that he knew
Cate, and took it for granted that I knew her as well. I shouldn't have been. He was a wizard after all, and although
I doubted that he could see into the future himself, Cate could. Perhaps she had told him that we would fall from
the sky in his back yard. That must have been an interesting conversation.

Rapunzel turned to give me a questioning look. "A member of the rebellion," I explained. "She saved my life." That
answer seemed to satisfy her for the moment and she faced forward again. It surprised me how little time we had
spent talking after my return. Most of it had been spent making love, sleeping, undoing Mogra's binding spell, and
riding on the wind. I resolved to tell Rapunzel more about my year of traveling later when there was time.

"If she is a friend of yours, then she is my friend as well," said Rapunzel.

"I would like to see her again, but we will go wherever you want to..."

Rapunzel shrugged. "A camp full of fighters and Ariada sounds like a safe place to be if Mogra decides to come
after us."

I turned to Rapunzel, studying her curiously as I realized something. "Wait, you know what the rebellion is?"
Trapped in the tower with no one but Mogra and a lustful nobleman's son to talk to, I was surprised that Rapunzel
understood what I was referring to. I had not heard of the rebellion until I left the lonely Forest and traveled out
into the neighboring villages.

A frown tugged at Rapunzel's lips. "Mogra told me. She was very excited about the new creations she made to
fight them. I suppose I was the only person she could tell."

"She is still experimenting with magic?" I asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"Yes. She enjoyed describing them to me."

"No more questions tonight. There is a mattress and blankets in the next room by the fire that you are welcome
to," said Doran, sounding weary. He got up from his chair, putting a hand to his lower back. I did not take the
abrupt departure personally. I knew that aging was hard on the body. He probably wanted to rest, especially after
using his energy to redirect Mogra's magical wind. "Sleep well, young witch," he added, looking at me. "I will be
teaching you tomorrow and you will be needin' your strength."

When we finally retired for the night, Rapunzel and I shared the mattress that Doran had left on the floor by the
fireplace. It was comfortable despite its small size. "It feels strange to be sleeping somewhere other than my bed,"
Rapunzel said quietly as we lay in each other's arms. "I can hardly believe that I am finally free."

"But you believe the part about riding on a great wind and landing in a magical clearing made by a funny old
wizard?"

Rapunzel sighed and shifted closer to me. In the dim light, I noticed that she was frowning and used my thumb to
smooth out the worry lines that creased her forehead. I felt guilty for teasing her. Staying in one room for that long
was unimaginable to me. I had spent a lot of time in the tower as well, but at least I was able to leave at night. "Are
you frightened?" I asked. "This is your first night away..." I hoped that Rapunzel had not grown afraid of the
outside world during the time she spent locked up.

Rapunzel shook her head. I could feel the movement against me. Her hair was long again and I reminded myself to
trim it for her tomorrow. "No. I am a little unsure of myself, but not afraid. I am glad to be out of that tower... but
mostly glad to be with you again." Her whispered words warmed my cheeks and made my heart beat faster. "I will
miss my drawings, though. I wish I could have brought them with me."

Remembering the drawings made my eyes widen in the dark. It pleased me to know that Rapunzel had missed me
enough to draw so many pictures. Coming from her, they did not seem threatening or invasive, even the erotic
ones. It had also boosted my confidence when I noticed that there were no drawings of Byron in the stack.

"Maybe they are still there," I said, trying to offer her some comfort. I doubted that Mogra would take the time to
destroy them. She did not go out of her way to cause destruction unless it benefitted her.

"I don't want to go back there. I never want to see that place again. I can make new drawings." A soft hand made
contact with my side, rubbing in a slow circle. I shivered at the touch. "My drawings of you will be even better now
that I have seen the real thing."

"You can draw anything you want," I said, kissing her forehead as my fingers traced a line along her hip. "I am sure
that your new drawings will be beautiful. You are beautiful."

"I want to draw everything... but you are my favorite subject." The fire had almost burned to ash and embers, and
so I was surprised when her lips found mine in the dark, but not unwilling. It soothed some of my hurt feelings to
know that Rapunzel wanted me enough to initiate contact.

Despite my better judgment, I let her leave a trail of kisses along my jaw and throat, making me sigh heavily
against one of the blankets. When her hand slid under my shirt to caress the bare skin of my stomach, I flinched
and pulled back. "Stop," I said, gripping her wrist. Even though it was dark, I could tell that Rapunzel was hurt. "We
are guests in Doran's house," I mumbled, offering a pathetic excuse.

Disappointed, Rapunzel shifted on the mattress and turned away so that her back was facing me. Now, I was the
one who was hurt, but since my rejection had caused her bad mood, I could not really complain. "I am sorry..." I
whispered.

Rapunzel reached behind her, taking one of my arms and draping it over her waist in an attempt at reconciliation. I
felt a little better as I pressed against her back, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Words began to build inside of me, but I did not know how to sort through all of them. I did want to make love
with Rapunzel again, but I was afraid, not of the act itself, but of exposing all of my heart to her. Seeing her with
Byron had nearly destroyed me and I was still emotionally sensitive. Beneath that ran a much deeper fear. I was
terrified that once she saw into the depths of my soul, Rapunzel would think me a coward. Even though she had
broken my heart, I was the one who did not feel worthy of her. Even though my quest had been successful, leaving
her alone and unprotected had been a mistake.

"I love you," I murmured against her hair, not wanting to fall asleep without telling her. Despite my secret fears, I
did love her very much. I wanted to stay with her for as long as she would let me. I hoped that would be forever,
but I worried that she would leave me if I let her get too close. What if she did not like what she found?

Rapunzel squeezed the hand that was draped over her stomach, our fingers tying together. "I love you, too," she
said. Both of us closed our eyes and tried to find a few fitful hours of sleep.

I woke screaming in the dark, my arms thrown out to all sides as I struggled with the blankets. "Ailynn! Ailynn!" I
ignored the voice calling out to me, trying to push away clinging hands. Instead, the hard grip tightened, holding
me down against a mattress. Breathing quickly, I pushed at the attacker's arms. When that failed, I went limp,
trying to get my bearings.

After a few moments, I remembered that I was safe in Doran's house with Rapunzel. For several terrifying minutes,
I had been back in Mogra's tower, watching as she held the knife against Rapunzel's throat. Crimson blood pressed
out from either side of the blade's edge, red wetness smeared over white skin and silver metal in a shining crimson
stain. The memory of it made me tremble.

Slowly, I became aware of soothing words and soft touches coming from beside me. Realizing that it was Rapunzel,
I relaxed and let her stroke my face and chest as she reassured herself that I was all right.

"Ailynn, dear heart, open your eyes..."

Realizing that my eyes were squeezed shut, I opened them. The fire had died in the hearth, and the room was
almost completely dark. Still, faint traces of starlight that seeped in through the windows illuminated Rapunzel just
enough for me to make out her silhouette. She was hovering over me, concern rolling off of her in waves even
though I could not see her expression. Her touch and her voice told me everything.

"Stay with me," I gasped, surprised by the desperate, breathy quality of my own words. I had not chosen to say
them. They had a helpless quality to them that embarrassed me. For some reason, I was still afraid that Rapunzel
would decide that she did not want to be with me after all and leave. She was free to do so now.

"Always."

That one word was all I needed to hear. My heartbeat slowed down, my breathing grew even and deep and I felt
myself drifting into a much more peaceful sleep. For now, I believed her. For now, she was here and she was mine.

Chapter Nine:

"No, concentrate harder!"

I groaned from my hunched over position, resting my hands on my knees and bending down to catch my breath.
For an old man, Doran had a surprising amount of focus and stamina. I was already exhausted, but he was ready to
continue practicing. Biting back a plea for mercy, I straightened my spine and prepared for another assault.

Today, I was supposed to be learning how to shield myself against magical attacks, but it was difficult. The
technique involved shape-magic, feeling out the threads of energy and pulling them together into a barrier. Ideally,
it would deflect any missiles coming towards me. However, it was difficult to react fast enough to Doran's attacks.
The task was made even more complicated by the Word of Power that Doran had taught me - Secutem, from the
ancient word for shield. Theoretically, if I spoke the word while performing the magical action, the two would
eventually become linked in my mind. Then, speaking or thinking the word would act as a trigger, helping me to
perform the spell faster.

It had started simply enough. The old wizard threw various objects at me, and I tried to create a barrier before
they could make contact. Gradually, the game grew more complicated as Doran substituted rocks and handfuls of
gravel with bolts of magical energy.

"I'm finding it difficult to close all of the holes," I admitted. While constructing a barrier was relatively simple, it
was difficult to cover my entire body with only a few seconds notice. In a real fight, I knew that I would not get that
much warning.

"Protect your chest and head first," said Doran. "They are the most important. Better to be losing a few fingers
than to fall over with a hole through your middle."

I scowled, pressing my lips together. I did not like the idea of leaving any part of me unprotected, but he was right.
It would be quicker and easier to block the center of my body instead of worrying so much about the extremities. I
was fast enough to dodge smaller missiles anyway.

It was difficult for me to abandon my perfectionism. My background in magical theory was useful, but putting what
I had read about in to practice with such urgency and speed was tiring.

"Again," said Doran.

This time, I gave the threads of magic surrounding me a solid tug, yanking them together in time to create an
admirable shield. As I pulled at the magical energy, I repeated the word - "Secutem!"

Unfortunately, Doran's bolt of energy was aimed at my legs this time and I fell backwards onto the ground. I found
myself staring up at the sky, rubbing my aching head with a dazed expression on my face. So much for that
attempt.

"Here," said Doran, offering me his hand. I took it, gratefully accepting his help. His old age and feeble appearance
certainly belied his power. Although he lacked youthful energy and quick reflexes, he more than made up for it
with his experience and skill. I was soundly defeated for at least the twentieth time that day. "Dinna worry," he
said, "that shield was a good one."

I groaned, giving my head a brief shake to try and clear away the blurriness at the edges of my vision. "A good
shield in the wrong place is not very helpful."

"You will learn." I was already learning a lot from Doran. I just wished that the lessons did not always involve
injuring myself.

By the time we were done, my muscles were shaking with exertion and my head was swimming. The harmless
looking old man had used wind to blow me off balance, lobbed balls of fire at me, and even hurled bolts of energy
directly at my chest. I had several scratches, bruises, and even a few burns along my upper arm.

"Better," he said, giving me a satisfied look. "I will be teaching you more tomorrow." Despite my exhaustion, I felt
the warm glow of pride in my chest. One day would not make a fighter out of a magical scholar, but I was
improving. I had managed to deflect a few of Doran's attacks near the end, although I was sure that I looked the
worse for wear.

"Ailynn, by the Maker, what happened to you?" Peering out at me from the front door, Rapunzel was staring at my
disheveled appearance with horror.

I flinched at the note of panic in Rapunzel's voice. "I'm fine," I insisted.

Doran laughed as he gently pushed her to one side and entered the house, leaving me to face my lover alone. "She
missed," was the only answer he gave.

Staring at the retreating form of the old man, Rapunzel glanced from him back to me, looking bewildered. "He did
that to you?" she asked doubtfully, gesturing at the burns on my shoulder and the streaks of dirt that covered my
face and clothes.

"Trust me," I muttered, "he is much more dangerous than he looks."

"It looks like I need to take care of you," she said, cupping my cheeks and pressing a kiss to a miraculously clean
patch of skin on my forehead. "Come inside and let me help you clean up."

Although I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I was more than willing to accept Rapunzel's assistance.
"Who am I to reject an offer of help from such a beautiful woman?" I teased, managing a tired smile.

Enjoying the warmth of Rapunzel's hand as it held mine, I allowed her to lead me inside and seat me at the table.
Doran had retreated to his bedroom and I suspected that he was eager to get some rest. "Stay here," she said,
pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. I closed my eyes, leaning my weight against the back of the wooden chair.
While not fancy, it was sturdy and well balanced. I sighed happily. It felt wonderful to sit down.

A few minutes later, Rapunzel returned with some hot water and a cloth, which she used to clean my face and the
burns on my arm. I relaxed, enjoying the pampering without protest. Once most of the dirt had been wiped from
my face, hands, and arms, she pressed the line of her body against my side. "Here, let me get you some new
clothes," she said, her hand resting on my shoulder.

As she shifted against me, I noticed something strange. The feel of Rapunzel's body against mine, even while
seated, was unfamiliar. Perhaps I had been too distracted to notice it before, but now that we were relatively safe,
it leapt to the forefront of my mind.

Curious, I stood up and pulled Rapunzel into my arms. She did not object, staring silently at my confused
expression as she wrapped her own arms around my waist. As she pressed close against me, I noticed it again.
Despite the newness of our physical relationship, we had shared a bed for years before that. I was intimately
familiar with how her body fit against mine. Her breasts were fuller, her lower abdomen swelling out into a soft,
womanly curve...

Suddenly, Mogra's strange inspection in the tower made sense. I shrugged out of Rapunzel's embrace, ignoring her
protests. I was too startled and angry to feel remorseful about hurting her feelings. She gave me a wounded look
and reached for me, but I backed away.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, pointing at her belly, which was only just starting to expand. Only a keen or
experienced eye would have noticed, but my mother had treated several women at various stages of pregnancy
while I was growing up. I knew what to look for. I felt like a fool for taking so long to notice. It was so obvious, now
that I was really looking...

Realizing what had caused my reaction, Rapunzel's expression screamed guilt and terror. When she did not offer
an explanation, I continued. "You lied to me. You hid this from me..."

"You have only been back for a little over two days," Rapunzel said. "Exactly when was I supposed to tell you? The
moment you came through my window?"

Reminding me of our unpleasant reunion was a mistake. This time, I was the one who gave her a wounded look.
Remembering her and Byron together cut me even deeper. "I can't... I don't..." I stuttered, upset and unsure of
myself.

"Just listen to me for one moment," said Rapunzel, her words coming all in a rush, "then you may be as angry as
you like. The Maker knows your feelings are justified." I nodded stiffly. I did not know what else to say anyway.

"I knew that this might happen when I made the choice to be with Byron. It was a calculated risk. I hate that I have
hurt you, Ailynn. I never meant for that to happen. This doesn't change how I feel about you, but I won't blame you
if it changes how you feel about me. I was going to tell you once I figured out the best way..."

Both of us knew that there was no best way. I did not think that Rapunzel had deliberately hidden her pregnancy
from me. The pain in her voice was genuine. "When I... realized that I was expecting... I pretended that the child
was yours." This last sentence was spoken in a quiet whisper that broke my heart all over again.

So many emotions were storming inside of me that I could scarcely rein them in. Carefully, I reached out to press
my hand against Rapunzel's stomach, acknowledging the life within her. Part of me was amazed that this miracle
was happening inside of my lover. A larger part of me felt betrayed.

I had to leave. Anywhere would be better than standing here, frozen, while Rapunzel stared at me with that
broken look of sadness. "I'm going back outside," I said stiffly, removing my hand.

She flinched at the rejection, but did not try and stop me. "If you need me..."

"I will find you," I mumbled, wanting to tell her that I loved her, but too confused to let the words out. They were
true, though. They would always be true.

Turning away from her, I wandered out of the front door, only glancing over my shoulder once. Rapunzel was
crying quietly, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking. Even though I hated myself for it later, I left her
there without turning back to offer comfort.

Outside, the weather was sunny and cheerful, an irritating contrast to my dark and gray mood. I sat by the brook,
trailing a finger loosely in the water to disturb its glassy surface.

Despite how angry I was, the last thing that Rapunzel had revealed echoed in my ears. 'I pretended that the child
was yours...' She really did love me in spite of how much pain she had caused me. She loved me enough to want
children with me. If only the child were mine, I thought sadly. Now, if I stayed with her, it would be impossible to
erase the memory of Byron from our lives.

Staring down into the water, I caught a glimpse of my own heartbroken expression. It reminded me of Rapunzel's. I
splashed the image away with my hand. In addition to being angry with my lover, I was angry with myself. I had
already abandoned my lover once. Could I survive another separation?

Children had never been a part of the future with Rapunzel that I had dreamed about. My own mother was
certainly not the best role model to follow. With some surprise, I realized that I was already considering the best
way to raise the child. I did not remember choosing to act as a second parent. Perhaps that meant that there was
no decision to make.

I sighed. Being with Rapunzel meant accepting her child. Perhaps this was my punishment for abandoning her
when she needed my protection. Immediately, I felt guilty for viewing the unborn child as a punishment. None of
this was its fault.

I wanted someone to blame. It was a complicated situation. As much as I wanted to put all of the blame on
Rapunzel's shoulders and hold her responsible, I could not bring myself to think of her that way. She had made a
choice - a choice that hurt me deeply - and I needed to accept that if I wanted to stay with her.

A feeling of helplessness crashed over me. I felt like I was drowning, gasping for breath beneath the surface of a
great ocean. Once again, I wondered if Rapunzel would have been better off without me - if I would have been
better off without her. But we had both waited too long to throw away what we had now. I owed it to her and
myself to try for an 'us'.

Everywhere I turned, things were happening to me that I could not control. I just wanted some quiet, peaceful
time with Rapunzel so that we could get to know each other again. I had not asked to fall in love with her. I had not
asked for my mother to lock her in a tower like a madwoman. I had not asked for my lover to betray me, however
understandable her motives were, and I had certainly not asked to be roped into raising a child. Instead of living
my life, my life was living all on its own and dragging me along for the ride. The only other option I had was leaving
Rapunzel and just thinking about it made my heart ache twice as much. It was not really an option at all.

Chapter Ten:

I did not speak to Rapunzel for the rest of the day. Respecting my space, she did not try to talk, only giving me
longing glances whenever I passed close to her. We ate in silence, but I forced myself to share the table with her,
not wanting the rift between us to expand. Rapunzel seemed grateful for the small concession.

The wall between us crashed down when I climbed into bed with her that evening. I had thought about taking a
blanket and settling on the floor somewhere, or even going outside, but images of Rapunzel sleeping alone, curled
into a tight ball and wrapping her arms around herself, haunted me.

She was cautious when I joined her on the mattress. She did not move to touch me, unsure if I would allow it, but
she did give me a warm smile to let me know that she wanted me to stay. I was the one that finally made contact,
curling an arm over her hip and pulling her against my side. I felt her muscles tighten briefly before she melted into
me. Our bodies fit together, two halves reunited. Even the curve of her belly matched the shape of my side. The
physical reminder of her pregnancy made me flinch and Rapunzel froze, worried that she had done something
wrong.

Propping myself on one elbow, I touched Rapunzel's shoulder, urging her to look up at me. Behind the fear, the
sadness, and the loneliness in her expression, I saw love. Despite everything, she still loved me and I still loved her.
I was not ready to forgive her, not yet, but I could not let the distance between us continue to grow, either.

Bending my head, I caught her lips in a forceful kiss. She whimpered at the sudden contact, understanding and
accepting what I was asking for. There was no slow burn, no torturous anticipation, only need. She did not make
me wait, helping me to remove her clothes as quickly as possible. Perhaps later I would regret rushing to possess
her, but in that moment, I was too far gone to care.

Although she was not corseted (neither of us had been as children), the laces on her dress were difficult to
untangle. I wondered why she was still wearing it until I remembered that neither of us had brought a change of
clothes. Growling in frustration, I ripped the laces with a swift tug, ignoring her startled gasp. A small, gentle hand
reached up to stroke my cheek, but as soon as it made contact, the timid fingertips vanished. There was
uncertainty in Rapunzel's eyes. She did not know if it was all right to touch me.

Craving more of my lover's skin, I slipped the loosened fabric of the ruined dress from her shoulders, pushing it
down to reveal her breasts. I shivered as the tips hardened into small pebbles, loving that she responded to me so
quickly. Dizzy with want, I nipped at a soft place just over her cheekbone, leaving a mark beneath her eye. Her
breathing sped up, but she did not try to stop me. Pleased that I had marked her in such a visible location, I stroked
her there with the pad of my thumb, enjoying the way she trembled for me.

I left more red marks along her jaw line, down her neck, and across her collarbone, trying to burn my presence into
her skin with teeth and lips and tongue. I wanted everyone who saw her to know that she was mine. When my
mouth finally reached her breasts, she forgot her caution and wrapped her arms around me, hands stroking over
my back in gentle circles.

Too impatient to wait any longer, I pushed the dress down further, dragging it over her hips and leaving it tangled
around her knees. My hand crept lower, pausing briefly at her stomach, exploring its unfamiliar shape. Rapunzel's
lips parted, preparing to speak, but I silenced her with a kiss. Whatever she wanted to say, I was not in the mood
to listen. The only talking that I wanted to do was with our bodies.

So beautiful, I thought as my hands wandered... smooth legs, pale skin, flared hips, soft golden down... My
thoughts were disjointed. Even though I was the one touching Rapunzel, I selfishly remained focused on my own
desires. I crave...I want... I need...

I slid inside of her, taking her with no preparation. She gasped and adjusted the angle of her hips, pressing down. I
was caught for a moment before her muscles accepted my touch and released, still gripping and pulling at my
fingers. "Mine," I breathed against her cheek. Exactly what I wanted.

"Yours," she agreed. She did not hide the tiny gasps that she made with every thrust of my hand.

My chest could have been gaping open, the way her touch saw into my heart. Rapunzel's mouth latched on to my
neck, suckling the skin hard enough to leave a dark purple bruise. I allowed the contact, taking pleasure in it, but

kept my focus on the hand working steadily between my lover's thighs, cradling her like a treasured possession.
She shuddered in my arms, but I only held her tighter.

The first time, I had taken Rapunzel in anger. Now, I took her in desperation, not bothering to hide or suppress the
storm of emotions between us. I needed her. I craved her like water and air. Not just physically, although my body
screamed for her, but spiritually. I needed her to need me. I felt a strange mixture of satisfaction and sadness
when her body seized up, muscles locking tight as she whispered my name.

She fell into my arms and sobbed. Suddenly unsure of myself, all I could do was hold her until the storm of tears
passed. "I understand if you want to leave, but please... please don't..." I rocked her gently, murmuring love-words
in her ear that neither of us would remember later, holding her tight against my chest. My heart's wounds began
to heal. Rapunzel still loved me, still wanted me. She loved me enough to set me free, but I would never leave. "I
am so sorry..."

"Shh. Not now. Later. Just... later."

"Ailynn, do you trust me?" she asked, gazing directly into my eyes. I tried to look away, but her hand cupped my
cheek, holding me in place. The touch of her palm burned and I felt myself blush.

"I love you," I said, my voice cracking as the words caught in my dry throat. My heartbeat sounded unnaturally
loud in my ears. I was terrified.

"I know you love me, but do you trust me?"

Did I trust Rapunzel? Could I trust her not to hurt me again? Was I ready to give her all of my heart, to take that
leap of faith? She had the potential to cause me so much pain.

"I-I suppose that love and trust... are the same thing..." I stuttered.

My lover shook her head, blonde strands of hair catching the firelight. Her hair had been trimmed today, but it was
already to her shoulder blades again. "Please, Ailynn. Tell me you trust me, or at least tell me how to help you. I
hate seeing you in so much pain."

"I'm not in pain," I lied.

"Then why won't you let me make love to you? Why do you look at me with sadness in your eyes?" I could not
answer her questions. "I have promised over and over again that I only love you, only want you. What else can I do
to convince you?"

I stared down at my hands, which were folded in my lap. Rapunzel's hand drifted down from my cheek, resting on
my shoulder, still warm against my skin. "I... - I just..." I could not finish the sentence, feeling foolish. After
everything I had done to be with Rapunzel, was I going to deny myself pleasure because of my fears? Yes, Rapunzel
might hurt me again... but the broken bond between us hurt more. I wanted to repair it.

I dissolved in her arms, letting our bodies come back together. She was slow and patient with me, covering my face
with light butterfly kisses that flared like firesparks against my skin. As her gentle palms explored the strip of flesh
between my pants and shirt, I reached out to touch her as well, curling my fingers in long, luxurious golden hair.

I cried out when the contact stopped, a soft, wordless protest. "No, it's my turn to make love to you. I have been
very patient," she said, removing my hands.

I stiffened, unsure of myself. Rapunzel held her breath, waiting to see if her touch was welcome. I sighed, forcing
my body to go limp and stretching my arms above my head. If Rapunzel wanted to be with me despite everything,
how could I say no? Swallowing down the nervous knot in my throat, I whispered, "I trust you." The warm smile
that curved Rapunzel's lips was my reward.

Reverently, lovingly, Rapunzel helped me out of my shirt, pulling it over my head and past my outstretched arms.
Straightening my mussed hair, I noticed Rapunzel staring at my breasts, lips parted and eyes hungry. I shivered
under the intense, heated gaze. "Shhh, Ailynn," Rapunzel silenced me, her mouth placing a line of quick kisses
along my shoulder. "Let me make love to you. You are so beautiful." For the first time, I believed those words. I
was beautiful in my beloved's eyes.

Rapunzel's fingers traced curious patterns against my sides, her hands stroking up from my hips and caressing my
ribs. I sighed, letting my eyes drift shut as she palmed my breasts, cupping them with one smooth motion, gentle
but decisive. With my eyes closed, the low, satisfied groan that escaped her throat seemed loud in my ears. I was a
little embarrassed when Rapunzel trapped the hardened tips of my breasts between her fingers, coaxing more soft
sounds of pleasure from me.

I tugged at my pants, pulling them off and leaving the rest of my clothes on the floor in a heap. Half-lidded brown
eyes traveled up the line of my body, starting at my ankles and tracing over my legs and stomach, lingering on my
breasts, which were still covered by Rapunzel's hands, and finally stopping at my face. I trembled. Those eyes felt
like two small circles of flame crawling over my skin.

Sometimes I forgot just how beautiful my lover was and how much power she had over me. It took me several
moments to catch my breath and still the rapid beating of my heart. Rapunzel seemed amused at my loss of
control, but was content to wait for me instead of simply claiming what she wanted.

The first touch was cautious, her hand barely brushing a naked hip. The second touch was comforting, a soft
trailing of her fingers down the side of my arm. Our lips brushed as she settled comfortably between my legs. How
did she always know just what I wanted? For a moment, I allowed myself to be overwhelmed by the warmth and
sweetness of Rapunzel's kiss.

The kiss was not enough. I wanted another, and another. Our mouths fought, struggling for control, but I knew
that I would let Rapunzel win this time. My teeth scraped her lower lip and she gasped against my mouth as her
hands wandered down my back, pulling me impossibly close.

I closed my eyes as she trailed kisses down my throat and across my chest and stomach. A startled gasp spilled
from my lips as she took the sensitive tip of a breast in her mouth, making me tremble fiercely. Rapunzel opened
her eyes and the familiar shade of brown made my lips curl in a smile. Familiar. Some people feared becoming too
familiar with a lover, knowing them too well and growing bored, but I could never have enough of this. This love,
this connection.

Taking pity on me, she eased one of my legs over her shoulder, her left hand trailing up and down my thigh in one
long, comforting stroke. She started behind my knees with warm kisses that made me shiver above her. Slowly,
achingly, she ran the tip of her tongue in a teasing line along my inner thigh. "Please..."

Now that she had me pleading for her touch instead of just enduring it, Rapunzel was satisfied. My back arched
and I smiled as she buried herself in the soft wetness between my thighs. I stiffened at the first touch of her
mouth, letting all of my muscles relax as I surrendered. My head fell back, leaving my throat exposed and my hair
tossed over the pillow.

"You taste... mmm... - wonderful..." she murmured, sliding her tongue inside of me and finding a sensitive spot,
one that made my breath hitch and my stomach muscles jump. A curious hand crawled over my torso, returning to
my breast.

Only when I was ready did she kiss upwards and lash at the straining, sensitive bundle above, pleased by my very
vocal reaction. My fingers slid into her hair, gripping tightly as she took me in her mouth.

One last stroke and I was lost to another world, head falling back again as waves of bliss broke over me. My hips
lifted to follow her mouth, my hand tangling deeper in her hair and pulling her tighter against me. This, I thought
to myself before her movements began again, was all I needed for the rest of my life.

Part Three:

Recorded by Lady Eleanor Baxstresse, taken from the verbal accounts of Ailynn, the Witch's daughter

Chapter One:

Despite our frantic reconnection the night before, a heavy numbness settled over me by morning. My heart no
longer ached with every breath, but Rapunzel and I had only taken the first steps towards repairing our broken
bond. I woke before she did; trying to untangle myself from her arms and legs without disturbing her. Rapunzel
just held on tighter, unwilling to let me go.

I settled back down beside her and buried my face in sweet-smelling golden hair. The scent of soap clung to it and I
wondered when had she possibly gotten the chance to bathe. The texture of the blonde locks was smoother than
velvet against my cheek, almost as soft as a liquid. I could not resist nuzzling closer to her.

"Good morning, my love," Rapunzel murmured sleepily, trailing her fingers along my back as she stretched her
arms. She did not want to release me. Perhaps she was afraid that I would run away again. Rapunzel had broken
my heart, but my nasty habit of bolting for the door whenever difficulties arose between us worsened the damage.

"Arim Dei," I said, unable to keep a yawn from my voice.

Rapunzel pressed a kiss to the point of my chin. "Ailynn... so it wasn't another dream. You really are here with
me..." I was pleased that Rapunzel dreamed of waking beside me, but I was also wounded by her skepticism.

"Don't sound so surprised," I mumbled, hurt.

"I didn't mean it that way." Rapunzel sounded upset and I felt guilty for speaking sharply with her first thing in the
morning.

"I'm sorry..." we said at the same time, interrupting each other. Both of us smiled a little. Soft lips moved against
my neck and her breath tickled my shoulder. My friend Cate's advice floated up from the back of my mind. Nothing
can guarantee happiness, Ailynn, even a soul mate. You must seek it within yourself.

"I know I have no right to place demands on you," I said, starting slowly, "but I want to know where we stand."

I gave her a few moments to consider her answer, too cautious to press her. "That is up to you, I think." Although
she spoke the words clearly and stared directly into my eyes, I sensed her nervous energy. All traces of sleepiness
were gone. "I am so tired of fear, Ailynn... I have been fighting it off ever since you left me." Her comment forced
me to suppress a thick surge of guilt that threatened to squeeze my breath away.

"Ever since I can remember, you have been there for me. Then, all of a sudden, you were gone. I was locked in a
tower with no way out. At first, Mother Gothel was my only visitor. I thought she would go mad and kill me. I was
afraid something would happen to her and I would be left alone to rot in that tower. I feared what would happen
when she found out that I was carrying a child. Most of all, I feared that you really were dead and that I had lost
you forever. I did not know what fear was until then. I had been afraid before, but fright is temporary. Fear is
permanent."

Unable to bear it any more, I clung to my lover's naked form, praying that I could banish some of her fears and her
pain. "You need something stable in your life. Something that you can hold on to when everything else seems to be
spiraling out of control..." I tucked my head over the soft swell of her shoulder, feeling her heartbeat against my
chest. "I want to be what you need." That was true, but I did not know if I was up to the task. I could only try.

"Don't - don't make promises that you can't keep. I'm not strong enough to lose you again."

"I don't think so," I said. Rapunzel had already proven that she could be strong without my help. She had survived
Mogra's imprisonment and even the news of my death without giving up on her dreams of freedom. Carefully, not
wanting to startle her, I reached a hand between our bodies and let it rest on her stomach. It was probably my
imagination, but it already felt larger to me. "Can you feel him moving yet?" I asked, wanting to let her know that I
did not hate the child for driving a wedge between us.

"Not yet." Reassured, she clasped her hand over mine, letting our fingers weave together. "How do you know it
will be a boy?"

I was still frightened - terrified, really - of dealing with the unexpected child, but determined not to show it.
Rapunzel did not need to know about my doubts. She probably had enough of her own. Although many girls her
age were already married and bearing their husbands children, she still seemed so young... I reminded myself that
Rapunzel was a woman now, not the little girl that I looked after so many years ago. She had already proven that
by making love to me.

"I don't know," I stammered nervously. "I just didn't want to call him an 'it'."

"Do you want a son?" Her use of the word 'son' made me uncomfortable, but I did not tell her so. I forced myself
to resent the situation instead of Rapunzel or the unborn child. None of this was the baby's fault and I needed to
put Rapunzel's choices behind me. "I am not sure," I said instead. "I have never thought about children much
before. I... I just want to be with you and I want you to be happy..."

"As long as you are with me, I will be happy."

"I will be happy after you two are findin' some clothes to wear," came a voice from the other side of the room.
Doran had exited his bedroom and was holding his hand over his eyes.

Rapunzel squeaked in surprise and pulled the blanket up to her chin, blushing redder than a spring rose. I forced
my own blush down and swallowed to ease the dryness in my throat. "Um... our clothes are... torn. We don't have
others to wear," I said, proud of myself for getting the words out despite the embarrassing situation.

"I will be fetchin' some for you, but you must take care of lunch," he offered as a compromise. Both of us quickly
agreed, and Doran retreated back into his bedroom to find us something to wear.

"Lunch?" Rapunzel said, staring guiltily at her hands. "We slept that late?"

"I don't know what time it is," I confessed, unable to resist trailing my fingers over her flushed cheeks. They
wandered over her lips and she nipped at them playfully, catching my index finger between her teeth. The feel of a
soft, warm tongue immediately made me forget about Doran's interruption.

Before we could be caught again, Rapunzel let my finger go. "It could have been worse," she said. "The blanket
covered us and we were only talking. I am glad to be out of that dress." She kicked the crumpled fabric away from
the mattress with a bare foot, letting it slide several inches across the floor. "It was growing tight around my belly."

"Have you thought of a name?" I asked, stroking her stomach a second time. She let her eyes drift shut, purring in
the back of her throat, and pushing in to the touch. My feelings of heartbreak and betrayal would not disappear
overnight, but the knowledge that a child was growing inside of my lover was also a little exciting. I was conflicted,
but unwavering in my decision to hide my doubts. I would deal with my insecurities on my own. There was no need
to worry Rapunzel.

"No, not yet," she said without opening her eyes.

"Maybe I... I could..." Before I could finish offering to help her choose a name, something large and soft landed on
my face. Swatting away the fabric that covered my eyes, I realized that Doran had thrown a tunic and leggings on
top of my head. "Thank you," I called out, shoving my arms through the sleeves and pulling it over my head.
Rapunzel had also been given clothing to wear, although I noticed that Doran had not dumped them on top of her
head.

"Stop frowning," said Rapunzel. "I would rather see you smile." Even tangled in the large shirt, I could not deny my
lover such a simple request.

When we were awake and dressed, the hours flew by. After cooking (I had to light the fire with magic), eating, and
washing the dishes (Doran showed me how to draw water from the air around me, but I needed to use some of his
soap), we started cleaning the house. I was not permitted to use a ladder to clear away the cobwebs. After several
unsuccessful attempts at summoning a small gust of air, I only succeeded in showering our heads with dust.
Learning control of the elements was much more difficult than it seemed, and they would clearly not be mastered
in a day.

Later, Doran took me back outside and I spent a rather unpleasant hour dodging more flying objects. Rapunzel
took unnatural delight in watching me try and protect myself from fire missiles, and I swore my hair was singed at
the edges. When I pouted, she laughed at my doleful expression and told me to keep practicing. I did not have
time to offer a rejoinder because Doran threw a pinecone at my head without magic, causing me to cry out, more
startled than hurt. Both of them took the opportunity to laugh at me.

By the time the old wizard was finished with me, I was exhausted. Rapunzel, on the other hand, seemed cheerful
and alert. After sitting in a tower for six years with few ways to occupy her time, she found the work and the
change of scenery refreshing. I suspected that her secret had also weighed on her.

After dinner (which I was also responsible for preparing), when I finally had a moment to myself, I slipped outside.
It was colder than I was used to and I wrapped my arms around my shoulders, trying to conserve heat. The sun was
beginning to sink behind the gently sloping hills, leaving behind orange streaks in the purples and blues of the night
sky. The stars were still hidden, but the moon, surrounded by a pale gray ring, had already risen.

Lowering my gaze from the sky, I enjoyed the noise of the restless little brook that ran past the cottage. Other
nighttime sounds were already coming from the trees, and so I was not too disturbed when I heard something
rustling in the undergrowth behind Doran's house. I turned my head towards the noise, but saw nothing unusual.

Just as I was about to head back inside, a flash of bright color caught the corner of my eye. I turned to look again.
This time, two hovering, ghostly lights shone out at me from somewhere in the foliage. Surprised, I took a step
back as the twin lights winked out. Keeping very still and quiet, I watched for them again.

Heartbeats later, the lights returned. This time, I realized what they were - a pair of large, shining yellow eyes. They
were close enough for me to recognize the reflective coating. They were almost like an owl's eyes, or maybe a
cat's, but far too large. The back of my neck prickled as the glowing eyes closed again, vanishing in the shadowy
undergrowth. Swallowing nervously, I made a quick decision. With a firm tug on the door's handle, I hurried back
inside.

Beside the warm, glowing fire in the kitchen, I felt slightly foolish for running away. The eyes probably belonged to
some animal, perhaps a large dog... "Ailynn, are you all right? Your cheeks are flushed." I jumped, flinching at the
touch of Rapunzel's hand on my shoulder. When she realized that she had startled me, I tried to reassure her with
a smile.

"I am fine. I saw something outside..." Before I could describe the ghostly, burning lights, Rapunzel's mouth fell
open in shock, her eyes widening as she pointed at something over my shoulder. Turning around, I almost fell off
of my stool in surprise. Pressed against the windowpane was a leering, distorted face, peeling brown skin stretched
tight over its skull. Behind curled black lips were two rows of pointed gray fangs. Set in the middle of its head were
two shining, wicked yellow eyes.

Chapter Two:

"Stay still," came a low, reassuring voice from the direction of the bedroom. Doran was standing in the doorway,
staring at the eerie face in the window. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the creature was gone, swallowed
by the darkness outside.

"W-what was that?" Rapunzel asked, working moisture into her dry lips and glancing around the room with a
frightened expression on her face. I did the same, half expecting to see monsters hiding in every corner.

"A Kerak," I said. Thankfully, I had never met one up close, but the sight of those skulking, twisted creatures, even
from a distance was not easily forgotten. They had prowled in the darkness while the Queen's army ransacked and
burned towns, picking off the villagers as they tried to escape into the night. They hated fire and usually went in
ahead of the black-armored mercenaries, accompanied by the large, hulking Shadowkin. In addition to destroying
the village buildings, carrying fire helped the army to control the unnatural beasts.

"Ailynn," Doran ordered, "bring candles, seven of them. Go now."

I hurried around the room, scooping one candle from the center of the table and heading back in to Doran's
bedroom to search for more. I tried to remember what I knew about the Kerak. They were made from dust, clay,
and the ashes of a dead person's heart. They did not like sunlight. They did not like fire. Perhaps that was why
Doran wanted the candles.

I rummaged through a few drawers and the noise resulted in a gasp and low, murmuring voices from the main
room. After what felt like an hour, but was probably only three minutes, I had found seven white, stumpy candles
of various sizes. They were homemade, nothing fancy, but they would do. I carried them back into the room and
gave the armful to Doran, who was waiting in front of the fireplace. Rapunzel stared nervously at the windows,
watching to make sure that the ghastly face did not return.

After lighting the candles, Doran turned his back to the fireplace and arranged them in a semicircle, placing a
barrier between the three of us and the rest of the room. The scent of magic was unmistakable and I wondered if

he had done something to prepare the candles for spellwork beforehand. I did not have time to ask, because the
dancing, teardrop-shaped flames flared a bright, blazing blue for a brief second, stretching up higher than natural
in seven small pillars of flame. My eyes grew very large and I forgot my questions. The taste of mint bit the
underside of my tongue.

Looking at me in awe, Rapunzel was the first to speak. "What was that?"

"A barrier," I said. I had come across passages in Mogra's library that discussed spells of protection, but I had never
read about this particular enchantment before. Its simplicity surprised me and I suspected that it was very old. As a
student of magic, I was fascinated beneath the layer of fear that seeped into our throats like a cold mist.

"Seven candles." Both of us turned to look at Doran. He stared directly into my eyes. "Seven is a powerful number,
Ailynn." Like the number three, the number seven had some mystical properties, which was why it was
incorporated into magical activities so often.

Before I could ask more about the spell, the simple wooden door shuddered on its hinges. Outside, something was
pounding against it with a good deal of force. Rapunzel flinched and my breath caught. I was confident that a
powerful wizard like Doran could handle a single Kerak without too much trouble, but what if there were more
outside? What if Mogra had sent them? She might even be close behind, biding her time...

With a sharp crack, the door began to splinter, buckling against its frame. I winced, looking at Doran for advice.
"They are afraid of fire," he reminded me. "Use that, like when you were cooking our meal." Theoretically, I knew
that I could conjure fire and balls of light, but doing so in the face of an enemy was entirely different than
practicing in relative safety.

Another low groan came from the wood, followed by a heavy thud. This time, splintering and scratching sounds
accompanied it. I pictured the Kerak using its scythe-like claws to tear into the flesh of the door. I was sure that it
could shatter the glass of the window with less difficulty, but Kerak were not intelligent, only cunning. Our scent
was probably stronger near the doorway.

Finally, a crack appeared in the center of the door, followed by slivers of pulp as the dead creature tore through
the wood with its caws. Once it had broken through, the rest did not take long. Weakened, the door fell apart in
the middle, leaving a jagged-edged hole.

It was almost graceful, the way that the Kerak twisted its thin, bony shoulders through the hole. Like a cat, once its
ugly gray head was through the opening, the rest of its body slithered through. I felt rather than saw Rapunzel
shiver beside me as she caught a glimpse of the thing's long, sharp claws in the moving light of the fire.

As it finished forcing its way through the door, the Kerak noticed the blazing fireplace and the half-circle of white
candles. Hissing its displeasure, it started to back away, black lips peeling over the roots of its gray teeth. Now that
it was not prowling in the darkness, its eyes had lost their yellow, translucent night-glow. Instead, they were black
and shone wickedly like a small beetle.

Clinging to the shadows, it loped back and forth in an agitated line, trying to decide whether the flesh of three
humans was worth braving the candles and the fireplace. Finally, the thing made its decision. The lean muscles in
its twisted legs rippled, launching it forward in a surprising leap that made me lift my hands to shield my face. Its
thin, outstretched arms stopped, halted in the air above us by some kind of invisible barrier. Howling in frustration,
the mud-creature pulled back its curved claws, rolling its shoulder and preparing for another swipe. It, too, was
blocked by the row of candles.

I felt sparks crawling beneath the strips of flesh in my arms as the candles flared high again, glowing with a
blinding, brilliant blue light. The Kerak stumbled back with a high, gurgling scream of pain.

Not wasting any more time, Doran waited until the creature was clearly disoriented and raised his hand, sending
the blue columns of flame surging towards the Kerak. It howled in agony as the fire crawled over its body,
consuming its limbs and scattering dust and flakes of white ash across the floor.

With a low flicker, the candles went out. I glanced at Doran, feeling like I should thank him but unsure what to say.
Instead, a long pause hung between the three of us as we stared at the pile of dust and ash in the middle of the
floor.

Doran broke the silence first. "Rapunzel, find clothes, food, water, and packs. Ailynn, you will collect the herbs.
Take some for treating cuts and puncture wounds, and anything an expecting woman is needin'. If there are more
of the Queen's creatures here, we should be leaving now, tonight."

Rapunzel was the first to cross the line of unlit candles. Making a wide circle around the mess on the floor, she
walked briskly into the bedroom to rummage for whatever we needed. I did not like the idea of traveling again so
soon, but I liked the thought of staying here and waiting for more Kerak, and perhaps Shadowkin, even less.

Since I was already in the kitchen, I began opening cupboards, unsure where Doran kept his herbs and plants. I
certainly did not want to check outside and take any from the garden. After moving around several mugs and
sorting through cooking spices, I found some of what I was looking for. Cramproot and Flaxseed oil would act as
muscle relaxants or sedatives if any of us were injured or Rapunzel had problems with the growing child.

Once I found the herbs, it was not difficult to locate materials for cleaning and dressing wounds. Doran's
cupboards were well organized, despite the almost haphazard appearance of the rest of the house. I had no idea
where we were going or how long the journey would take, but I wanted to be prepared for anything. Finished
gathering what I needed, I went into the bedroom to help Rapunzel.

"I have no idea why he has clothes that fit us," she said when she heard me come in behind her. Somehow, she
knew that it was me without turning around. "Is he a seer like your friend?"

"Cate is a shaman," I corrected automatically. Rapunzel sighed, but she was used to my intellectual attitude about
magical words. "And no, I very much doubt it. Doran is a wizard."

"Well, I'm grateful anyway. Here, put whatever you found in this pack." She handed it to me, and I found places for
the bottles of oil and pouches of dried plants in protected places amidst the layers of cloth. Unlike me, Rapunzel
seemed to have no fear of leaving Doran's cottage. Perhaps it was because she had not seen very much of the
world. She had always wanted to travel. I decided not to ruin her good mood by reminding her of the possible
danger. One of us might as well enjoy themselves a little.

It did not take us long to pack. Between the three of us, we assembled all of the necessities quickly - food, water,
clothes, medicine, and a few other things. But before we left, Doran gave me three strange objects to carry in my
bag. "Here, Ailynn," he said, calling me over while Rapunzel tried to find room in her pack for even more traveling
biscuits. I could not explain why Doran had enough long-lasting types of food for three people so readily available.
Perhaps Rapunzel was right. I could not help wondering if he had known that we were going somewhere in
advance.

"Yes?"

He held out his hand, swollen and arthritic at the knuckles. Gripped in his fingers was a little black comb. I took it,
surprised at the cool texture. It felt a little like ivory, but somehow I knew that it was made of something different.
Even though I could not feel magic coming from it, I also suspected that the object was enchanted. Why else would
the old wizard be giving me a comb?

"Dinna use it unless you need it," he said, confirming my suspicions. If you are in danger, throw it over your
shoulder and you will be protected." I could not help the curious expression that came over my face, but he did not
seem to blame me for my skepticism. Who ever heard of a comb being used for magical protection? Swords or
other weapons, certainly. Rings and pendants were also common. But a comb? The idea seemed a little silly.
Nevertheless, I knew that it was bad luck to refuse a gift, especially an enchanted one, and I put it in my pack.

"Thank you," I told him. Oh well, at least Rapunzel's hair would not become too unmanageable now that we had a
comb.

"Take this, too." I looked up from the pack, which I had been about to close, and was surprised to see Doran
holding out a second comb. This one was brown, and it was clearly made of smooth wood. It looked and felt just as
unremarkable as the first. I studied it and put it in the pack with the first.

"Do I throw that one behind me, too?" I asked jokingly, but he only nodded. I thought that it seemed a waste to
discard such a nice thing, but promised to obey Doran's instructions. At the very least, I could use it to tame
Rapunzel's mane of long, wild blonde hair. Reminding myself that I needed to trim the untamed locks as soon as I
got the chance, I started to close my pack, which was getting very full, but Doran stopped me.

"This is the last thing," he said, drawing a blue scarf from his pack and giving it to me. This time, I chewed on the
corner of my mouth to prevent a laugh. A scarf? I had never heard of enchanted beauty accessories before, and
this was bordering on the ridiculous. Still, a magical object was a magical object, and I would be a fool to refuse it. I
knew enough fairy stories to take what was offered and keep my smart mouth closed.

It was a plain looking thing, as scarves went, but well made. For some reason, I suspected that it was very old.
Since there was no longer very much room in my pack, I wrapped it around my neck instead. "Where did you get
this, Doran?" I caressed the threads. "Are you an Enchanter as well as a Wizard?"

"No. This is an old gift. Now, you are needin' it more than me."

"Thank you," I said again. Even though it was a very strange gift, I meant it. Although my mother was now an
insane and deadly shaper that probably wanted to kill me, she had raised me with enough manners to thank
someone for a gift.

"Dinna use this one until the last possible moment, unless you are seeing no other way out," he told me. "It is a last
resort."

"I promise," I said, hoping that the time to use the gifts would never come even though I was very curious. If I was
lucky, I would never find out what hidden powers of protection they carried.

Chapter Three:

We left as soon as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the soft, blurred edges of the hilltops. Since the Queen's
creatures liked to travel at night, we did not run in to any other Kerak, Shadowkin, enchanted Wyr, or mercenaries,
but the lone scout that we had already encountered kept us glancing over our shoulders for most of the next day.
My mood was sullen and fearful, but Rapunzel seemed content to travel on foot despite her condition. I tried to
convince myself that the exercise was good for her, but my protective instincts rebelled at her forced exertion.

With Mogra and her beasts looking for us, I felt almost claustrophobic even though we were outdoors. The gradual
shifting of the landscape that took place as the day wore on did not help. The hills became steeper, and dirt was
slowly replaced by reddish-brown rock. The horizon was also changing and I could see the clear silhouette of
mountains in the distance. They were not the familiar shape of the Rengast, but the jagged edges of Catyr Bane, a
set of canyons and cliffsides that stood between western Amendyr and Liarre territory.

"Are we leaving the Kingdom?" I asked Doran several candlemarks after stopping for lunch. Between the three of
us, the old wizard tired the fastest. To my surprise, Rapunzel seemed fit and almost cheerful. The exercise suited
her, and I had already noticed a subtle darkening of her complexion, the result of several hours in the sun.

"Aye," he said, gesturing west in the general direction that we were heading. "We are going to the city of Ardu on
the border. It is not their capital, but the Liarre Council is meeting there." Mogra's library was home to several
books on history and geography, so I had some general knowledge of the city and its surroundings, but I certainly
could not have found the way without Doran's help.

"The Liarre Council?" I asked, thinking back to something that Cate had told me during my brief stay in the rebel
camp. It amazed me when I remembered that only a week had passed. So much had happened since then.

"Chairwoman Maresth is their leader. She has been calling all of the Council members to cast their vote and
decide."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. This information sounded strangely familiar. "Decide what?"

"Whether to help the rebellion." The rest of my conversation with Cate came back to me. She and Larna were
hoping to act as emissaries on Jett Bahari's behalf. My dark mood lightened a little when I realized that there
would be welcoming faces at the other end of our journey.

"Of course they will help the Rebellion," Rapunzel said, sounding more confident than I felt. "The Liarre are
sensible creatures. If the Queen has all of Amendyr under her thumb, what will stop her from crossing their border
and expanding?"

I shrugged my shoulders, not having an answer for her. The terrain was becoming more uneven, although it had
not yet started to slope upwards. That would probably change in the next few days. Thinking about the next few
days prompted another question. "How long will we be traveling?"

"Two weeks," said Doran, "if we are travelin' steadily."

I was so surprised that I stopped walking altogether. "Two weeks?" I repeated incredulously. No geography map
buried in the dusty pages of a book had prepared me for the reality of traveling across such a large area. "We can't
walk for two straight weeks!" I did not mention that Doran, powerful wizard though he was, remained a slave to
his aging body, and with Rapunzel expecting a child. "Couldn't we fly? You controlled Mogra's great wind to bring
us here."

Doran kept walking, forcing me to take several hopping steps in order to catch up. Rapunzel followed him,
although she glanced at me curiously over one shoulder. "Mogra would be sensing the magic... as well as other
things..." He chose not to elaborate. I did not mind. I had no desire to be reminded of what those other things
might be. "Without magic is the safest way." He glanced at Rapunzel meaningfully when she was not looking, and
then caught my eye. Suddenly, walking did not seem to be such a bad idea. I did not want to put any magical stress
on Rapunzel's body, even if the chances of harm to her or the child were remote.

"At least the country will be less open once we reach Catyr Bane," I muttered, trying to find something good in the
situation.

"Wyverns live there." Doran's reminder ruined any positive thoughts I tried to have. Wyverns were the smaller,
less-intelligent cousins of the extinct dragons, and although they were only capable of the most rudimentary
human speech, they were cunning and dangerous. They were also known to eat human flesh when they could find
it. "Another reason not to use a great wind."

"I don't mind," Rapunzel said, trying to reassure me. Somehow, she knew exactly why I was worrying even though
she was walking ahead of me and could not see my facial expressions. "Everything will be fine."

I sighed. It was going to be a very long and frustrating journey, especially since we could only carry a few light
packs between us. We would need to ration carefully if we wanted our food, water, and supplies to last us two
weeks.

The days smeared together into a fog of constant panic and weariness. Although the feelings of being pursued
never eased, the landscape around us was shifting quickly. Most of my traveling had been done in the heart of the
country, through the small villages and farms that dotted the flat plains beyond The Forest. The cliffs and ridges of
Catyr Bane were completely foreign to me.

While these new surroundings made me feel uneasy, they delighted Rapunzel. She always took the time to point
out interesting colors that swirled in the sheets of rock sprouting from the ground, memorizing landmarks and
their proportions in order to draw them later. My mood was still tired and fearful, but I did enjoy seeing her happy.

While the landscape changed, Rapunzel's body also changed. I had seen and treated pregnant women before, but
the swift, dramatic transformation of my lover's figure was astonishing, wondrous, and a little frightening. Her
stomach had a noticeable swell now as the child grew and shifted forward inside of her, and I was amazed that I
had not noticed the second I saw her. Of course, she had been entertaining unwelcome company at the time, and
then my mother tried to kill both of us. I excused myself for my lack of observation.

Even so, Rapunzel's pregnancy seemed to be progressing much more rapidly than I expected, and I had difficulty
determining how far along she was. Despite my doubts and questions, Rapunzel was thrilled. Perhaps some of her
happiness was a result of the changes she was experiencing, but I knew that most of it had to do with me. My
being with her. Having such a large influence over another person was a large responsibility. It frightened me
almost as much as the unborn child and the thought of my mother pursuing us.

Doran remained quiet and introspective, and since he chose not to dampen Rapunzel's optimistic attitude, I
followed his silent example. At first, I thought that my lover had no idea how much danger we might be in. She
soon corrected my mistake.

"What are you doing?" I asked, sitting down beside her as she rolled out her thin sleeping pallet. I caught a glimpse
of something at her hip, a flash of silver, and realized that she was staring down at a knife. "What on earth are you
doing with that?" Automatically, I reached out to remove the sharp object, but Rapunzel caught my hand.

"You and Doran have magic to protect you," she reminded me. Although her voice remained steady and calm, I
could tell that she was annoyed. "What do I have? A knife is not much, but it is better than nothing."

"You could cut yourself," I insisted, immediately feeling defensive.

"I am not a child anymore, Ailynn. You taught me how to hold a knife properly when I was barely able to walk. I am
no great healer, but I know how to chop plants. " Patting the handle of the knife to reassure herself that it was still
secured to her waist. "Using it to fight can't be too much different."

It was, but I did not tell her so. I was no knife-fighting expert by any means, but even though the thought made me
uncomfortable, I wanted Rapunzel to be safe. I reached out to take the knife again, and something in my
expression stopped the protest that was forming on her lips. She allowed me to draw it and I examined the blade.
It was simple, as knives went, but I supposed that it did not matter what kind of knife you had as long as you drew
the first blood.

"This is an average knife hold," I said, showing Rapunzel the grip even though she already knew it. "You can use it
for quick forward jabs at the stomach or other vulnerable areas. And this," she waited patiently as I adjusted the
knife until the tip was facing down, edge up, "this is a dagger hold. Use it for downward swipes at the face and
chest." I handed the knife back to my lover, and she copied the grip perfectly.

"If you are in a knife fight with another armed human, especially a man, do not focus entirely on his weapon. A
good fighter will try to punch or kick you while you are staring at his blade. Then, he will take your weapon when
you drop it. Do not try that yourself. Neither of us has enough upper body strength to stun someone with a punch,
but you could try substituting a quick knee to the groin."

Rapunzel nodded, listening intently, and I was struck by the sudden realization that she really was grown up. She
understood the perilous situation that we were in, traveling into Wyvern territory with a Witch and various
monsters pursuing us. She was not blind or naïve and I could not help admiring the unwavering optimism that she
displayed in spite of the looming danger.

"A human will probably underestimate you. He might not expect a young woman to fight back. If you move first,
you might be able to injure his eyes or another vulnerable place. If you are facing a Kerak or some other beast... do
not turn your back on them. Find something to protect your flank." There was not much more to be said. Even
armed with a knife, it was doubtful that Rapunzel would be able to defend herself against a Wyr or a Kerak.
Privately, I swore to myself that no human or beast would get close enough to harm her in any way.

Putting the knife away, Rapunzel sat down on the sleeping pallet, using her bag to support the weight of her head.
When she looked up at me and smiled, I knew that I was forgiven and lowered myself to the ground beside her.

"Ailynn, will you tell me a story?" she asked, and for a moment, I was reminded of a hundred other times when she
had posed this same question. I knew that she was asking me because I needed the distraction, not her, and I was
touched.

Resting a hand on her side and slowly curving it over her stomach, I said, "yes. I will tell both of you a story. Which
one do you want to hear?"

"I want to hear the story of Reagan and Saweya."

For a moment, I wondered if I should be offended. My memories of that particular story were entwined with
memories of Byron, and I wanted to think about him as little as possible. However, the protagonist of the story was
a dragon that protected her princess against all-comers, defeating knights and princes in order to defend her love. I
decided to take Rapunzel's request as subtle reassurance, even a compliment.

Taking a deep breath, I began speaking. "Reagan's tongue flicked next to the frightened youth's ruddy cheek, her
gleaming teeth reflecting the bright noon sun. Her scales shifted, not even scratched by the boy's blade, enchanted

though it was. His weapon long-since discarded, the youth lay, defenseless and trembling, at the mighty dragon's
feet..."

Rapunzel closed her eyes, listening to the story, and I imagined that she was picturing it in her head.

"Never one to kill needlessly, Reagan lifted her proud head and roared once, sending great showers of rock
tumbling down the sides of the nearest mountains with the power of it. 'Run,' she said to the boy, 'run or I will
feast upon your pathetic carcass and leave your bones to bleach in the sun...'"

Chapter Four:

Afternoon crept into evening as the sun sank below the horizon line. The shadows lengthened from beneath the
base of the cliffs, leaving black streaks over the ground. I began to feel tired after hours of trekking over the
uneven terrain. It had been two weeks to the day since we left Doran's house, and being in a constant state of
alertness was exhausting. I concentrated, making sure that my steps did not slow down. Journeying on foot
drained more of our energy with each day, and Rapunzel and Doran were both beginning to show signs of
weariness.

"We should find somewhere to stop for the night," I said, looking forward to a mouthful of food and a few hours of
sleep.

Doran stopped, scanning the narrow passageway we had been following between the largest cliffs. "I am not seein'
any cover," he said regretfully. "I dinna think we should stop here. It is too exposed..."

As if his words were a signal, a loud scraping sound came from somewhere above us. Our heads whipped up as we
tried to spot the source of the noise. "What was that?" I whispered, keeping my voice soft.

"I dinna-"

A large black shadow appeared before us, expanding around our feet in a matter of seconds as it grew larger.
"KEELUM! Kir-rak - Kir-rak!" A hot, tearing pain burst across my back as something tore through flesh, hooking in to
my shirt. I screamed, and somewhere behind me, Doran's voice shouted a Word of Power that I had never heard
before.

The biting scent of magic filled the air, and the thing on top of me fell to one side. I dragged myself to my feet,
staring down at an enormous, scaly mass. It writhed and thrashed over the ground like a giant snake. Instantly, I
knew what it was: a Wyvern. Despite being injured, my first instinct was to step in front of Rapunzel. I wanted to
put as much distance as possible between her and the beast. She might have argued, but something in her,
perhaps the knowledge that she was carrying a child, stopped her from protesting. She took several steps
backwards until she was pressed against the vertical wall of the canyon, arms curling over her stomach as she
watched the Wyvern with wide brown eyes.

"KEELUM!" it clicked again, its side fins puffing out from its neck in anger. It was over three times my size, and I
stepped back rapidly, trying to remember what Doran had taught me about battle magic as warm, sticky blood
seeped through the back of my shirt. To my surprise, the first memory that flashed into my mind was of the great
wind that Mogra had used to lift Rapunzel and me into the sky.

Thinking only about getting the Wyvern as far away from Rapunzel as possible, I jerked the threads of magic that
surrounded us and used them to push a wave of air towards the creature. The Wyvern weighed almost nothing,
and I was surprised when the sharp gust pushed it back several feet. Its claws scrabbled against the dust in the
road, trying to find purchase. Lifting its snout, it let out a series of sharp whistles and clicks.

Before I knew it, we were surrounded. Three more Wyverns crawled out from crevices on the cliff's face, their
blotchy hide matching the brown colors of the mountain stone. Bracing myself and holding my ground, I waited for
them to charge.

Surprisingly, they did not attack, only clicking and hissing their displeasure and puffing out their neck fins to seem
large and threatening. "Keelum! Kriii! Kir-rak!" they croaked, clacking and whistling at each other. Their tails lashed
like a hunting cat's as they tried to decide what to do.

The Wyvern that I had blown backwards had managed to find its balance and was hobbling about, waving its wings
at us and clacking its beak. The other Wyverns decided to join it, launching off of the vertical cliff face and landing
on the ground beside their wounded companion. All four of them stretched out their wings and fins, sucking air
into their chests and trying to look as large as possible.

"Stay still," Doran whispered, slowly edging towards me without taking his eyes off of the Wyverns. I did not move
until he reached me. The tear in my back stung horribly. "They will be trying to scare us away first. Protect your
back and stay in front of Rapunzel." Together, we turned our backs to the stone wall making up the narrow
passageway's other side. Instinct urged us to protect our flank.

The Wyverns look puzzled that we were still in their territory and not running or attacking them. They jabbered
and clicked at each other with wild sounds that almost seemed like a language. For all I knew, they really could talk
to each other.

I noticed that the light around me was fading and felt a small lift of hope. Wyverns were daytime hunters, and
although their eyes were excellent during the day, they were very nearsighted and unable to function at night. If
we waited them out, perhaps they would leave once darkness settled and they could no longer see us.

Finally deciding that threats and intimidation were not going to work, the Wyverns decided to charge. They were
quick - there was only the briefest moment of silence and the tightening of muscle before they were on us. With
quick gusts of air, and glowing balls of energy from Doran, we tried to push the beasts away from us. They were
light and easy to hit, but they were quick, and their sharp claws were made for tearing through flesh. After a
minute we had made no progress, and I sported another shallow cut on my arm. The four Wyverns darted back
and forth, not interested in a quick killing blow. They wanted to tire us out. I began to worry that their strategy
might work.

As the last of the sunlight disappeared, a loud shout echoed through the canyon pathway, startling the four
Wyverns. Before they could take flight, arrows sprouted out of their hides and they squealed with pain. One
managed to lift off the ground, but the other three collapsed in the canyon, dead.

Movement drew my eyes to our left. Standing in front of us was a creature out of legend. The sight nearly took my
breath away. The half-man, half-horse was an Equiarre, tall, proud, and infinitely more wild and beautiful than any
depiction I had seen in a book or on a tapestry. His chest was bare, and his lower horse's body was a dappled gray.
His face was - but was not - human. The angles were wrong and his features stretched out, not ugly, but noticeably
different. A beautiful bow was held loosely in his left hand and there was a quiver of arrows on his back.

"Well met, Doran," he said. "It looks like Rachari was right and we found you just in time."

"Well met, Hassa," said Doran, stepping forward and clasping hands with the large creature. They obviously knew
each other, and I could not help but wonder how they had met before.

For the first time, I noticed the other creatures standing around the Equiarre. One of them looked vaguely
reptilian, with fangs, scales, and a long, winding tail. Another had the black, bulbous body of a gigantic spider. The

eye tattoos on her cheeks stood out even in the dim light. They were the Liarre, magical experiments gone awry
that had flourished into their own race after the death of their creator, Lir the Shaper. They were human and
animal and something entirely different, and although some of them were wary of humans, they were usually a
peaceful race.

"Thank you," I said, my voice an octave lower and very tired. Now that the burst of energy brought on by fear was
beginning to wear off, the pain in my shoulder was much worse. Seeing my legs shake, Rapunzel grabbed my arm
and supported me as my knees buckled slightly.

Turning his attention from Doran to me, the large Equiarre gave me a thorough but unthreatening examination.
"Hello, young witch," he said, offering his very large hand for me to clasp. I did so weakly, still trying to regain my
balance. He noticed, and did not grip very hard, although I could sense the strength in his thick fingers. "I believe I
have met some friends of yours."

"Cate and Larna?"

Hassa nodded. "They arrived safely at Ardu four days ago."

"Four days?" I asked, surprised by how quickly they had traveled. The past week and a half had been so full of
change that I had scarcely been able to process it.

"Wyr travel faster than Humani." Fighting back another wave of nausea, I did not bother asking about the
unfamiliar term. "I did not have an opportunity to meet with them for long. The one with the glowing red mane
asked me to come here. Her instincts were right."

Rapunzel immediately noticed when my body began to shudder and moved her steadying hand from my arm to
my back. When it came away sticky and red with blood, she gasped. "Ailynn, you're still bleeding..."

Since the edges of my vision were growing fuzzy, I allowed her to help me sit down near the edge of the canyon.
"Dry dressing for the wound," I said, leaning my head back against the vertical sheet of rock. "If there's infection,
then we can see about a poultice..."

For all of my experience with treating wounds, I was a very poor patient. Reluctantly, I allowed my lover to clean
the wound, but it hurt, and I complained and fussed under her gentle hands. It was fresh and bled freely, and after
she had bandaged it, we fully removed my ruined shirt. While I instructed Rapunzel, the other Liarre, who I could
not help staring at, began to build a makeshift camp. There were sleeping pallets to be rolled out, small fire pits to
be dug, and bags to be carried. They had been temporarily left behind while the warriors reached for their arrows.

"Ailynn, what is... she...?" Rapunzel asked softly as she helped me pull a new shirt over my head. Discreetly, so that
no one would see, she pointed at the huge, spider-like woman with eye tattoos on her cheeks. Her large, hairy bulk
was surprisingly quick and coordinated, and I wondered if she was able to scale the canyon walls.

"That is an Arachniarre. I have told you the story of Lir's creations before." Rapunzel knew almost as much of the
history of Amendyr as I did. Like me, she enjoyed reading, although she preferred fairytales.

"I knew that," she mumbled, slightly embarrassed. "I suppose I didn't expect them to be so... large? When I think
of Liarre, I picture Equiarre or Feliarre... not giant spiders," she whispered, not wanting any of the nearby creatures
to overhear.

"I suppose Arachniarre are too frightening for Serian and Amendyrri children's stories," I mumbled, wincing as I
shifted my shoulder. There was no heat in the skin surrounding the wound, and I was hopeful that it would not

become infected. Once it began to close, I would see about dressing it with herbs, but even novice healers knew
never to press a poultice over an open wound.

"Frightening is right," said the Arachniarre, who was a good distance away. She approached us on eight thick, hairy
legs with a bend in the middle, and she built up a surprising amount of speed. Rapunzel's eyes grew large, but to
her credit, she did not look fearful otherwise. "There are many stories about the Arachniarre, little mother," she
said. "But your mate is right; we make most humans... uncomfortable." She grinned, revealing a black tongue and
an impressive pair of needle-like fangs. They were probably poisonous, and I wondered if a spider bite that large
would be fatal.

Rapunzel's surprise changed to embarrassment at being overheard. "I find you rather impressive, actually," she
said, and although she was trying to placate the giant spider, I could tell that she was being truthful.

"Really?" The Arachniarre's large mouth curled around the words in a curious accent, one that I had never heard
before. I supposed it was carried over from the Liarre's own language. "My name is Jinale. Hassa and I were sent
here to find you. The shamaness and her Tuathe will be glad to hear that we were successful. We have been asked
to bring you home to them."

"We were on our way," I protested, imagining Cate's accusatory tone.

Jinale's intimidating smile remained. "But now you will travel faster."

I swallowed nervously, not entirely sure what that would entail. Liarre were notorious for being offended when
humans asked to ride on their backs, but if it was their suggestion...

Beside me, Rapunzel looked equally uncomfortable. I hoped that, for her sake, one of the other Liarre agreed to
carry her. For some reason, I did not think that either of us would enjoy mounting a giant spider for the next few
days.

"You would allow us to ride you?" I asked, surprised by the offer despite my hidden discomfort. "That is an honor
and a privilege. We would be incredibly grateful." The majestic Liarre were not always fond of humans, especially
those that possessed superior attitudes and treated them like lesser beasts.

"Humani are too slow," said the spider, but her facial expression - what I could read of the strange planes and
angles, anyway - seemed friendly and not menacing. "We will carry you and the young mother-to-be. For now, we
will set up camp. It is growing dark and the Wyvern will retreat to their nests on Catyr Bane." Chapter Five:

"What are you doing?" I asked Rapunzel, who was staring at Hassa with a curious expression. He was standing
beyond the fire pit, discussing something with Doran in a low voice. The shadows moved over Rapunzel's face,
bringing the points of her cheeks forward and casting the sides of her face into shadow. She turned to look at me,
taking another bite of her travel biscuit.

"Studying his proportions," she said. "The Liarre are fascinating creatures. There is no paper here, but I want to
remember what they look like so that I can draw them later."

I smiled, remembering some of the other drawings that Rapunzel shared with me in the tower. The ones of us in
intimate positions were my favorites, but all of her artwork was beautiful. If I ever wrote a book about magical
theory, I thought to myself, I would get Rapunzel to illustrate it. All of the best books included pictures. "Are you
sad about losing your drawings?" I asked, stroking her cheek. Even in the wavering firelight, I could see the healthy,
pink color of her skin.

"Yes," she admitted, "but I would trade them all for the real thing." She closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss me. I
did not reject her. It was a chaste meeting of lips, since we were in the presence of strangers, but as her mouth
lingered against mine for several moments, I felt another piece of my heart begin to mend.

"I feel like I know you and am still learning you at the same time," I confessed.

It was impossible for me to understand why I felt so close to Rapunzel sometimes, but oceans away from her at
other times. Part of her was the same sweet, gentle child I had grown up with, but once in a while, I would look at
her and see a stranger.

"I feel the same way." My lover's words surprised me. Was it possible that she understood my feelings? Maybe we
could navigate the unfamiliar, treacherous landscape of knowing each other again together. "You changed while
you were gone. Both of us did. I'm not sure if we became older and wiser, or you saw more of the world..."

"I saw more of the world than I wanted to."

"And I still want to see it." Hesitantly, she added, "with you."

I sighed. "I did not enjoy traveling. I was too focused on what I had left behind to notice the people and the places I
saw. When I did notice, it was because something very bad was happening." Rapunzel did not speak, waiting for
me to elaborate.

"I saw three villages burn," I told her. "Twice, I was almost... there were children screaming. Men and women were
cut down. First the Shadowkin came in, crushing buildings and people. Then the Kerak. They butchered every living
thing." Rapunzel seemed upset, but managed to distance herself from what I was describing. I supposed that after
thinking me dead for several months, hearing about my near-escapes was not quite as traumatizing.

"I have a confession to make," she said, reaching out for my hand. I allowed her to take it, steeling myself for
whatever she was going to tell me. I felt my throat close off and my heartbeat pause, but my thoughts were racing.
What if she wanted to leave me? I had no idea what I would do... she had become a permanent fixture in my life
again so quickly, easily reclaiming my heart. She could choose to break it just as easily.

I did not voice any of these fears. Instead, I waited for her to keep speaking. She did not let go of my hand. "I have
not been totally honest with you. I need to tell you why I - why I associated with Byron." I flinched. Even now, the
name stung like a slap.

"Do you love him?"

"No. I was using him."

"He was using you," I said angrily, although I was not sure whether I was angry with Byron or Rapunzel. "He took
advantage of you."

Rapunzel interrupted me. "I never thought you were dead, Ailynn. I went months without hearing anything from
you, but I couldn't bring myself to believe that Mogra was telling the truth. That is the reason I entered into an
arrangement with him. I wanted to find a way to leave the tower so that I could look for you."

"Why?" I asked, trying to hide the shake in my voice. The color drained from my face. I had no idea whether this
confession made things better or worse. Rapunzel had shared a bed with Byron even while believing I was alive.
But she had not lost faith in me. She had wanted to find me. "Why didn't you tell me this?"

Rapunzel chewed on the corner of her mouth. "Because I knew you would feel responsible. You have always taken
responsibility for everything that has ever happened to me. You blamed yourself when Mogra locked me away. I
didn't want my attempts to escape and find you to weigh on you as well. It was my choice, not anything that you
did."

Despite what she was saying, I recognized the bitter taste of guilt as it rose to burn the back of my throat like a foul
smoke. "If I hadn't left..." I started to say.

"You did what you needed to do in order to save me. I know it must hurt that I shared myself with someone else
even though I believed you were alive, but I had no way of knowing where you were or if you were safe... If you
were in danger, I wanted to be there to help. I... I just had to find a way to leave the tower and find you. He was
riding through the woods with his hunting hounds, and I thought..."

"If he killed Mogra, you would be free and you could look for me." I gave her a weak smile. "You read too many
fairy stories."

"Well, the prince or nobleman's son always kills the evil witch."

My emotions hung somewhere between hurt, guilty, and warm with the knowledge that she had not just forgotten
about me when I left. She had not taken Byron as a replacement because she thought I was never coming back.
She had been trying to escape and come to me. As unlikely as it seemed, this conversation was starting to repair
the damage between us. We shared a long, silent pause, and when I reached out to touch her hand, she knew that
I was beginning to forgive her.

"I think that Doran is going to leave us now that we are with the Liarre," she said, changing the subject after
receiving my silent permission in the form of a nod.

"How do you know?" I asked, but I had sensed the same thing. Even now, he was gesturing back and forth from us
to the rest of the Liarre camp as he talked with Hassa. He was very powerful, but his body was old and he belonged
at home, not traipsing about in the wilderness where Wyverns or Mogra's pets could find us.

Rapunzel shrugged. "I... wondered if you wanted to go back with him. Or wanted me to go back with him..."

My forehead tightened as I lowered my eyebrows. "What do you mean? I am the whole reason we are making this
journey... why would I go back?"

"You have not finished your training with Doran. I am the one Mogra wants. If you are not with me..."

"She will probably seek me out anyway. I escaped with her greatest treasure. She cannot afford to let me remain
alive. It would be a blight to her reputation; to her pride if nothing else. Do you... do you not want to stay with
me?"

Fingers caressed the line of my arm through the fabric of my shirt. "Of course I do. But do you want to stay with
me? I want you to be with me, but you need to choose what is best for you, not what is best for me, especially now
that you know I have lied to you... I was trying to protect you, but it was wrong. I still don't know what you think of
me for being with him while I still believed you were alive."

"What is best for you is best for me," I said, deeply hurt and unsure if Rapunzel was just trying to find another way
to get rid of me. The guilt in her eyes convinced me otherwise. "You believed in me. That's all that matters."

"None of this is fair to you, Ailynn. You have spent your entire life watching over me. Even though you left me, it
was to find a way to save me. You came back. Now, I cannot help but wonder if your life would be better without
me in it. I want you to stay, but maybe it is time for you to start putting yourself first. It would be selfish of me to
keep you here if you needed to go."

"I want to stay."

"For me or for you?"

"For both of us. If you are unhappy, I am unhappy. Your joy is my joy. I know it is the same for you."

"Please believe that I love you and want you to be happy," she said, almost pleading. "I want that more than
anything else... even if it means you need to leave."

"I am not going anywhere." Perhaps the saying about letting someone go if you truly love them is overused, but it
has the ring of truth, I thought. Rapunzel's offer was sincere. I felt another layer of the trust that we were slowly
rebuilding slide and lock back into place. We were slowly rebuilding.

"Then please stay. I know I am being selfish, but I don't care."

I was suddenly taken by how beautiful my lover was in the fading light. Her skin was surprisingly clear, with a
sensual glow that stole my breath. I had read that pregnant women could look and feel more attractive, but had
never noticed the phenomenon before.

"You're beautiful," I breathed softly, stroking a line through the center of Rapunzel's palm. The touch made her
shiver, but she was smiling at me.

"I am glad you see me that way, Ailynn. I know... this..." she gestured at her stomach, "has been hard for you. You
are a Saint."

My voice became a low purr that I had no idea I was capable of producing. "Only Serians believe in the Saints, and
my thoughts of you are far from chaste at the moment." I purposely ignored the fact that I was attracted to my
lover while she carried someone else's child. It was too much for me to process emotionally. Her pregnancy was
becoming more and more obvious with each passing day. In fact, she was already much larger than I had expected
at this stage.

Slowly, my touch trailed to the soft skin of her inner wrist. A flush rose in her cheeks and she looked around at the
Liarre just a few yards away. Although they were talking amongst themselves and eating some of the food they
had brought, the reminder of their presence distracted me from my train of thought. "I wish we were alone," I
whispered, pulling aside her hair to place a kiss behind her ear. The brush of my lips against her skin made her
shiver. "But maybe... it's a good thing that we need to wait. The first times were... not planned. And..."

"You want to touch me just because you love me, not because you want to reassure yourself that I still belong to
you. I understand."

"Am I crazy for wanting to touch you?"

Rapunzel's blush grew deeper. "Maybe, but I don't mind."

For a moment, I was too frightened to keep touching her, not because of the audience we might have, but because
I was afraid of my own desires. Sometimes when I looked at her, so many feelings of love and want and
possessiveness swirled inside of me that I was worried that I could not control them.

Although my mother had no sexual desire for Rapunzel as far as I knew, sometimes I wondered if our feelings were
the same. I did not think Mogra loved Rapunzel as I did, but what if the emotions I thought to be love were only a
disguise for the twisted evil that had corrupted my mother? If it had grown in her, could it grow in me as well?
Perhaps she had loved Rapunzel too, once. The thought made me sick to my stomach.

"I need... a little time," I told Rapunzel. I desperately wanted to be alone, but I knew that it was not safe to leave
camp and I also did not want to hurt her feelings. She sensed that something was wrong, but seemed grateful that
I had accepted her confession.

"Do you want me to hold you?" she asked, hoping that physical touch would help heal the wounds between us.

And even though I had my doubts, that offer was too tempting to refuse.

Chapter Six:

It was still dark when a soft nudge to my shoulder jolted me out of a deep slumber. Doran's familiar, wrinkled face
peered down at me, a colorless silhouette against the slowly lightening fuzzy gray skyline.

"You're leaving," I said, a statement instead of a question.

He nodded. "You are not needin' me anymore, young witch. I am to be goin' back home." My face must have
shown concern, because he added, "I will be callin' the wind to carry me this time." Although I was relieved that he
would not be traveling on foot by himself, I remembered the great wind that had brought Rapunzel and me to his
cottage and could not help but be relieved that I did not have to repeat the experience.

"I will miss you," I said, sitting up and rubbing my eyes to see him more clearly in the early morning darkness.

"Cate and Larna will be takin' good care of you. Do you still have the combs and the scarf that I gave you?" I had
forgotten about the scarf, which was still buried somewhere in my pack, but I had used both of the combs to keep
Rapunzel's long hair in some semblance of order. Perhaps it was their magic that had stopped her hair from
growing several feet each day.

"I still have them."

He smiled at me. "Good. Keep them close and keep them safe. And you are rememberin' the trigger word that I
taught you to shield yourself?"

"Yes." But I hoped that I would not have to use it. My limited practice with Doran had been discouraging to say the
least.

"Magic always comes when we call on it for protection," he said, reading my doubts. "You can do great things to
save the ones you love."

"Will I see you again?"

Doran nodded. "I think so." And when he gave me his blessing, touching both of my cheeks and speaking a Mark of
protection against his forehead, I felt the keen edge of loss. For some reason, this man spoke to me. He had only
been my teacher for a short time, but he had already saved our lives more than once. Maybe it was because he
had loved my mother once, long ago, and had been another witness to her tragic descent into madness and
apathy.

"Farewell, Acha," he said, and I smiled because he had called me his student. Perhaps that had been his intention.
And when he left, it was not with any great fanfare or a violent burst of magic. He simply walked east, the outline
of his figure becoming smaller and smaller as it approached the horizon line, which was beginning to brim over
with sunlight. It was all very surreal, and I wondered if I was caught somewhere between dreams until the warm
body next to mine stirred.

"He is gone, isn't he?" Rapunzel murmured, rubbing a soft patch of skin above the waist of my leggings. I nodded,
realized that her eyes were still closed, and voiced my thoughts instead.

"You were right," I said sadly.

"I am sure he will be fine." I nodded, but I was still concerned. Mogra's threat still loomed over all of us, and by
protecting us from her, the old wizard had made himself a target.

"Would you like to know a secret?" I whispered.

My lover opened her eyes. They were beautiful, and for a moment, I was overwhelmed with the sudden desire to
kiss her. "What is it?" she asked softly.

"I wished that he was my father. Doran told me that he loved my mother once, before..." Before greed twisted her
heart.

"Did you ask him?"

I shook my head. "No. I don't think he is. I believe he would have told me." I hoped that he would have told me. He
had treated me kindly and called me his student, but there was no reason to believe that we were related in any
way, even if he had known my mother in their past.

From what I knew of Mogra, she might have decided to have a daughter for practical reasons, to continue her line
of work and carry on her bloodline. In that case, I could imagine her finding a strong, healthy, intelligent man and
purposely trying to conceive with him, hoping that some of his good physical characteristics would be passed down
to me. I looked so much like Mogra that I had never really wondered who my father was before. I could not
remember asking her, and since I did not see other children interact with their fathers often, isolated as I was in
the Forest, I had never felt his absence in my life. Now, I felt that emptiness keenly and with regret.

"Do you ever wish to find out about your parents?" I asked cautiously, almost afraid of the answer.

"Sometimes I wonder about them." I remembered when Rapunzel had first asked about her parents, all those
years ago. Mogra had lied to her then. It was entirely possible that, if I had asked the same question about my
father, she would have lied to me as well. Perhaps I had known this deep inside, even as a growing child, and that
was why I had never bothered. "But you were enough for me. You took care of me. Mother, father, sister, and
lover."

I smiled weakly. "In some ways, I thought of you as a sister, but not in others. It is hard to explain, and as a child, I
had no frame of reference for it. You were just Mine, and I had to watch over you." I took some comfort in the fact

that even though I had considered Rapunzel mine, I had never discounted her feelings or overlooked her humanity.
I just hoped that my feelings were different than Mogra's delusions of ownership.

"If Doran was your father, do you know what that means?"

I opened my eyes a little wider. "No, what?"

"It means your father caught you naked in bed with me and threw clothes on top of your head." I groaned softly,
trying not to disturb the rest of our little campsite.

...

Fairytales never tell you the boring parts of going on an adventure. The heroes always seem to skip right to the
exciting events in the story. They do not have to worry about rationing food and their feet are never sore from
walking. They can travel from one place to another in the blink of an eye.

Of course, we were not in a fairy tale. Along with everything else came the mundane - traveling, packing and re-
packing, sleeping on the ground in temperatures that were either too hot or too cold depending on the location
and the time of day. It was not pleasant, but I had already been wandering the plains for a year before this, and I
was used to sleeping in the open. Joining up with the party of Liarre warriors made our progress much faster
because we were allowed to ride. This surprised me, because all of the literature I had read clearly stated that the
Liarre hated being viewed as beasts of burden, and having a human mount them was seen as insulting and
demeaning.

Knowing this, I made sure to thank Hassa profusely when he offered to carry me. Not only was he going against his
people's customs, but he was also sparing my leg muscles the work of walking, and the least I could do was show
my gratitude. The other Liarre accepted the decision to let us ride without too much protest, although I heard one
or two of the Caniarre, dog-men with wicked looking teeth and bulging, chorded muscles under sleek fur,
complaining under their breath.

Rapunzel was also polite and, fortunately for me, had no objections to riding on Jinale. Although the Arachniarre
seemed very likable, she looked fearsome with her large, bulbous body, black tongue, and blue eye-tattoos. The
sight of her made me understand why the Liarre were so revered in Amendyrri legends. She looked like something
out of a tapestry scene or a painting.

My lover's fearlessness surprised me, particularly since her pregnancy was becoming more and more pronounced
every day. I questioned her, but I was unable to pin down the exact date of conception any closer than fourteen or
fifteen weeks. However, she seemed unusually far along for that amount of time. When she mentioned to me that
she could feel the baby moving inside of her, I was even more surprised.

"Quickening already?" I asked, mostly speaking to myself. I silently asked for permission to touch her stomach,
which she granted wordlessly. The curve of her belly was tight and beginning to stretch and harden. It was
blatantly obvious to anyone looking at her that she was carrying a child now, even though the shirt she wore was
loose around her hips.

"Is something wrong?" she said, sounding concerned.

"No, nothing serious..." I pressed my lips together. I thought I could feel the position of a head, and once or twice I
imagined that I could feel the soft bumps and taps of the baby's limbs moving underneath her muscles. "Hmm. Are
you sure you might not be farther along than you think? Fifteen weeks is early for me to feel quickening on the
outside, especially since this is your first child."

Rapunzel shrugged. "Fifteen weeks ago is the closest I can place it," she said. "There were not that many...
opportunities that might have resulted in this." Despite her awkward wording, I was a little relieved. It still hurt
that Rapunzel had shared her body with someone else, even though I was starting to forgive her, and it helped to
know that it had only happened a few times. Still, I wrinkled my nose and frowned with distaste.

The baby kicked again.

"Stop making that face. You are upsetting him."

"Him?" I asked. "How do you know it will be a him?"

"You call the baby a him all the time, Ailynn. I was just copying you."

"I like the idea of a boy," I admitted cautiously. I did not need to add that my own relationship with my mother had
turned out very badly, and I did not have faith that I would be a good example for a girl to follow. I purposely did
not use the word 'daughter' in my mind because I still had some doubts. It would take time.

As it turned out, Rapunzel's pregnancy turned out to be a point in our favor with the Liarre. I was surprised to learn
that some of them did not have favorable opinions of human beings, which was understandable considering some
of the things our race had tried to do to their people. However, it seemed that even the most belligerent Caniarre
or fearsome Arachniarre smiled when they saw my lover and the new life growing inside of her.

"Humani babies are very tiny," Jinale commented as Rapunzel rode on her back. "Liarre children are much larger,
even inside of their mothers."

"Do you have any children?" Rapunzel asked.

"No, but Hassa does."

"My mate and I have two daughters," he said proudly. I could feel his voice vibrate through the core of his body
beneath where I was sitting.

I wondered if I would ever be able to speak about Rapunzel's children with such pride in my voice. I already felt
more affection for the unborn lives than I had anticipated, but could I accept them as my own despite how they
were conceived? I had no part in making them, but perhaps I could shape their young minds as they began to learn
and grow. That thought was strangely appealing, but also very frightening, and made me think of my own
experiences as a child.

"Do you worry that they take on your bad qualities as well as the good qualities you try to teach them?" I asked
Hassa, curious to hear his opinion as a parent.

The Liarre considered his answer. "Yes," he said after a moment's thought. "Foals learn by example. They copy
what they see."

"What if the example they were set is a poor one?"

He seemed to sense the serious nature of the question, because he continued to ponder it for several beats of
silence. "Then they must be their own example," he said. "Some will never know anything else, but the stronger
ones are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of their parents."

Glancing over my shoulder, I watched Rapunzel riding on Jinale's curved body, golden hair falling well past her
waist and draping over the spider's side. Even without an example, Rapunzel had not become a selfish, power-
hungry creature like Mogra. I gasped as sudden realization dawned. I had been her example. I was the one who
taught her, played with her, cared for her. Perhaps that had saved her - saved both of us. There was no way to
know for sure.

Secretly, I was not convinced that I had escaped Mogra's grip. I shared her blood. I was possessive of what I
considered to be mine. Knowing that Byron had tried to steal her made my eyes mist over with a red fog of anger
and jealousy. Had my mother passed her curse on to me? Would I always struggle with my greed and selfishness,
allowing it to shape my destiny?

Suddenly, a few of the Liarre beside us froze, their bodies stiffening. A Feliarre nearby crouched down, hackles
rising as his ears pricked up to listen. I stiffened too, but for a different reason. A dark shadow was hanging over
our heads. As one, the party of ten looked up at the sky. Tiny black dots were circling above us, watching and
waiting.

"Are those Wyvern?" I asked. Hassa did not respond, but he reached for the bow strapped across his back.

Jinale did the same, reaching to pull an arrow from the quiver that she carried with her. "Get off of my back," she
told Rapunzel, "and climb up with Ailynn. He is faster than the rest of us." She left the rest of the message
unspoken, but it was clear enough. If the Wyvern decided to attack us, she wanted Rapunzel and me to run. My
lover obeyed instructions, climbing down from Jinale's back. I offered her my hand and helped her up in front of
me. Hassa did not react to the extra weight, but continued watching the open landscape to our back right. His eyes
were positioned closer to the sides of his head than mine or Rapunzel's and his field of vision was much wider.

"Look behind you," he said, and both of us turned. A giant black cloud was rolling towards us from between the
walls of the canyons we had left over a day before, crawling over the flat northern plains that we were now
crossing. A low, ominous rumbling came with it, echoing through the open air that stretched between us like
thunder.

It was moving fast, impossibly fast, covering the ground that we had already traveled at an alarming speed.
"Whatever is in that cloud is enchanted," I told them. There were creatures now, Kerak and enormous Shadowkin,
close enough for us to see their dark forms hulking and crouched against the black, smoky body of the cloud. The
Kerak moved swiftly like feral cats, coming at us in waves as the Shadowkin lumbered on giant, trunk-like legs.

The Liarre all drew their bows, even Hassa, and Rapunzel had to lean back into my chest to avoid his elbow as his
muscular arm reached back, drawing an arrow to the point and releasing it into the rapidly darkening air. I saw the
reflective coating that covered his eyes, relieved that he could see in the darkness better than me, because the
cloud was stretching up to the sky now and blocking out the sunlight.

The strong, violent trembling of magic was growing stronger, and I recognized its bitter smell as it curled in my
nose, burning like smoke. "The witch is coming," I told Hassa. "I can feel her."

To my surprise, the large Shadowkin were falling in great numbers even though they were still a great distance
away. I saw one of them topple over as soon as one of Jinale's arrows grazed its flesh, and I was shocked until I
noticed her sucking on the tip of her next arrow. My earlier suspicions were right and her fangs were obviously
filled with poison. Although the arrows were wounding the Kerak, it did not stop them. They continued forward in
starts and jerks even with the shafts of the arrows sticking out of their bodies. Thirty yards, twenty...

Fire, I thought, they need fire.

"Light your arrows," I shouted, feeling the familiar rush of power as I tugged on the threads of magic surrounding
me, rubbing them together and snapping them in a release of energy until my hands were surrounded in balls of
flame. Holding out both of my arms, I allowed Hassa to dip one of his arrows in the magical flames until it took
hold. This time, when he let his arrow fly, it hit the closest Kerak in the center of its thin chest. The creature
howled as it burst into flame, slowly disintegrating into a pile of white ash.

Although Jinale continued using her poisoned, barbed arrows to shoot the giant black and green dogs bearing
down on us, the other Liarre had noticed what Hassa was doing and began using the fire as well. The first wave of
Kerak fell, and for a moment, there was nothing but the cloud and the tiny black dots circling overhead. But then
another wave came. And another.

"We are running out of arrows," Hassa said, lighting one of his last shafts in the emergency fire pit that one of the
Caniarre had dug. The Liarre had filled it with anything they could spare, rags and anything wooden that they did
not need to keep. Many of the things in my traveling pack had been emptied into it - I only carried the medicine I
had brought with me, strips for binding wounds, and Doran's three gifts. Now the Liarre had plenty of fire, but
soon they would only be left with short-ranged weapons.

"If the witch comes out of that cloud, you need to run with the Humani," said Jinale around the tip of an arrow. I
noticed that it was her last one.

"I told Rachari I would protect your flank," the Equiarre protested. The giant spider's eyes narrowed.

"You told Cate you would bring her friends to Ardu safely. You are faster than any of us. We will try to buy you
some time."

"But... " The rest of Hassa's argument was interrupted by a loud, high-pitched wail. A massive black Shadowkin,
larger than any of the other dogs, exploded out of the cloud's dark, foul smoke, its heavy paw steps making the
ground tremble. On its back was a woman, unnaturally tall, wrapped in black robes and crowned by a ring of green
fire. She was like two figures pressed over top of each other. Somehow, I could make out the details of her face in
the patches of light that flashed from the fire-arrows, but perhaps my imagination filled in what I could not see
from a distance. Her face was old and young at the same time, constantly shifting and changing like a warped
reflection in a pool.

"Run!" Jinale shouted, and Hassa had no time to reason with her. Instead, he turned around and began running,
leaving the party of Liarre behind.

Chapter Seven:

We bent low over Hassa's straining back, not daring to look over our shoulders. We knew that Mogra was only
yards behind. The gray shadows of the flying Wyverns hovered over us like monstrous birds, swallowing us up as
we hurtled over the plains. The Equiarre's hooves drummed faster over the uneven ground, the heavy walls of his
body heaving with deep, quick breaths. Rapunzel's arms looped around my waist and she pulled closer to me, her
long golden hair whipping against our faces.

There was no time. Doran had warned me not to use his three gifts until the need was greatest, but if Mogra
caught us, she would kill us. We had already escaped death once. She would not make the same mistake again.

Reaching blindly into my pocket, I grabbed the bristles of the first comb, not caring that it pricked the pads of my
fingers and scratched my palm. Finally looking back, I stared in horror at the giant Shadowkin that chased us,
glowing fire dripping from its jaws. Mogra was perched behind its neck, black robes flying behind her like the

tattered wings of a raven. Once again, she was like two images pressed together into one, a strange mix of old and
young, ugly and beautiful as she hurtled towards us on the back of the huge demon.

Not daring to wait a second longer, I let the first comb fall from my trembling hand. There was a loud crack, a low,
deep rumble, and the ground began to shake beneath us. Mogra looked startled and the circling Wyverns
screeched in terror, flying higher in the sky and momentarily abandoning the chase. Behind us, the ground split
open as huge, thorny trees sprung from deep inside of the earth; reaching up, up, up into the sky. Like the sharp
spikes of the little black comb, the thorny trees stretched out in an endless straight line, blocking Mogra's path and
halting the giant dog in its tracks.

"Was... was that..." Rapunzel gasped beside my ear, her words almost lost in the wind. Hassa continued running,
too focused on getting away to waste his breath, although his pounding heart and wide eyes told me that he was
equally amazed.

"The comb," I said, almost shouting even though Rapunzel's face was right beside mine.

"Magic." Powerful magic. I could feel the burn of it crawling over my skin like sparks, the cool bite of it on my
tongue. Wherever that magical object had come from, it was obviously very strong and had probably taken more
than one enchanter to create.

Behind us, the rumbling and shaking had ceased, but Mogra's frustrated screams carried through the giant thorn-
trees and over the empty stretch of the plains. Trying to calm my racing heart, I risked a second glance back over
my shoulder. There was another wave of sharp, hot magic and a huge gust of air almost knocked the three of us to
the ground. Miraculously, Hassa managed to keep his balance, throwing his arms out to either side and jerking
forward. Rapunzel and I were almost thrown from his back, but somehow we managed to remain astride.

A fierce, howling wind was blowing apart the trees, creating a pathway through the thorns. With several swipes of
its giant paws, the Shadowkin barreled through the enchanted barrier, howling its frustration as burning green
ichor oozed from the gashes on its chest. Her hair flying behind her, Mogra urged the beast forward again. We had
slowed her, but not stopped her.

The Equiarre were faster than the birds, built for running and speed, but I could tell that Hassa was beginning to
tire. Carrying two fully-grown women on his back, one with child, sapped his strength. "If you have... any more
ideas... or magic..." he panted as Mogra began to regain the ground she had lost, wasting precious breath, "use it
now!"

Shoving my hand back into my pocket, I reached for the brown comb. It was thicker than the first one and made of
sanded wood. It felt warm against my fingers as I turned around and hurled it directly in Mogra's path.

This time, the earth did not shudder and quake, but the ground beneath us began to change, growing slick and
moist beneath Hassa's hooves. He adjusted his gait to stay on top of the thick, soggy mud that was quickly
spreading over the ground, relieved when the soft earth became hard again. Directly behind us was a large, sticky
brown pool of swamp water and mud. It blossomed out like a puddle of rain, growing larger every second until it
was a river of thick sludge.

"Will she cross?" Rapunzel shouted, her words covered by Mogra's frustrated shrieking and the howling of the
demon dog.

I hoped not, but my instincts told me that a swamp would not be enough to stop such a powerful sorceress. We
were running out of options, and unless we came up with a way to stop Mogra permanently or allowed the rest of

the Liarre party to find us, we were as good as dead. I wanted to tell Rapunzel that I loved her, but I shook the
thought away. It was inappropriate. Right now, we needed to survive. But... "I love you," I told her anyway.

I looked into her eyes and for a single moment, the sounds around us faded away. Reality intruded when Hassa
said, "she's through!"

My neck jerked sideways as I threw my head over my shoulder, horrified to see that Mogra's Shadowkin had
picked its way through the swamp. He was drawing closer, his superior size and whatever enchantments Mogra
was using on him lending their advantage. They were going to catch us.

"Last chance..." I mouthed the words with dry lips, sending up a prayer to any god or spirit that would listen.
Reluctantly, I unwound the blue scarf from around my neck, letting it fly behind me as I waited for the perfect
moment. The wind almost tore it from my hand, but my cold, stiff fingers held on tight, refusing to let go. I hoped
that Doran's last enchanted gift would be enough...

When Mogra was so close that I could see the pits of her eyes, savoring her victory, I dropped the scarf.

One second. Two. Three.

With a huge, rumbling explosion, the earth began to shake again, pieces of rock jutting up from the ground and
pushing us forward, down. We fell forwards, pushed by an enormous wave of rock and grass and earth. The
ground rippled, shuddered, and then fell open into a wide, gaping pit.

The three of us clung to each other, but the mass of stone and roots and dirt pushed forward, almost collapsing on
top of us. If Rapunzel was crushed...

"Secutem!" This time, when I shouted the Word of Power, a shield of magical energy curled around us in a tight
ball, weaving together like a rope net hardened by seawater. Magic burned my skin like an open flame, blazing in
my muscles and screaming along all of my nerve endings. The magical threads pulled tighter and tighter, stopping
the raining shower of dirt from collapsing on top of us as we rolled forwards, carried by the momentum of the
avalanche. Then, silence.

...

One star shone down on me, its cold, pale light washing over my face in ghostly, gray-white sheets. I shivered,
wrapping my arms tightly around myself to keep warm. The dim velvet sky became a shimmering black lake and I
could see my features reflected in the endless pool of darkness.

Suddenly, my eyes and the sweep of my cheek rippled, changing and reforming as another face. Before I could look
away, I saw my mother staring back down at me, swallowing the faint light of the star in the black pits of her eyes.

I touched my cheek. So did she. My lips parted. So did hers.

"Ailynn, my daughter." I heard the hiss of her voice in the whispering wind.

"I want nothing to do with you," I told her, trying to sound braver than I felt. I had no idea whether I was navigating
through a dream or some other reality, but I was afraid.

"You are disgusted with me, but the same darkness lives in you."

I turned my back on her face, unwilling to look. Seeing my face merged with hers was too much to bear. "I am not
you," I protested, but my voice was weaker this time. Whether this was real or imagined did not matter. It had cut
to the bone of my deepest, most secret fears.

Mogra did not listen. "Oh, but you are, blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh."

"I am of your flesh, but I will keep my soul."

The voice hissed seductively in my ear, snakes' tongues in the night wind. "You stole my treasured girl, my princess.
She will corrupt you and poison your heart with jealousy."

"No," I shouted, whirling around, but our merged face was gone. There was only the wide, empty ocean of grass
rippling around my ankles. She had disappeared, slipping away as silently as a specter.

Then her shadow seared itself to mine, creeping over me from behind and swallowing me whole like a storm cloud
swallowed the moon. "But you have already felt the burn of jealousy. You have touched its twisting coils. We are
the same, you and I."

I choked on my own breath. Was it true? Was I tightening my hold on Rapunzel out of jealousy? I watched the first
layer of sky as I peeled back to reveal not just one, but a sea of stars. The pinpoints stretched out in the shape of a
great dragon, wings open, guarding its golden horde.

But when I closed my eyes and pictured my Tuathe's face, I saw her smiling at me. There was love and trust in her
eyes and it made the soft stone in my heart weep and melt. Icy fear was washed away in a warm current of love.

"I am not you. I will never be you."

"You cannot change what you are. You are a Witch's daughter."

I stood firm before the sky-dragon and my mother's voice, a proud and determined tilt to my chin. "My name is
Ailynn Gothel, and I am whoever I choose to be. I walk my own path."

The stars scattered like refracting droplets of light on the water. There was a great rush and roar of noise as new
space opened before me in the empty place the stars had left. Looking down, I saw Mogra's figure pinned beneath
a slab of rock, looking smaller and frailer than I could ever remember seeing her. She stared up at me, her face
young again, but tired looking. There were lines around her mouth and dark smudges beneath her eyes.

"Ailynn... help me."

For a moment, my hand twitched, arm extending. Part of me wanted to free her, even after everything she had
done to hurt us, but what if it was a trick? Part of me realized that I was not completely in control of my own body,
but I could not seem to resist. Still undecided, I reached toward her, but as our hands brushed, I felt the crackling
of magic and jerked my arm back.

"Ailynn..." I felt her presence inside of me, probing at my mind, trying to twist my will. The current between us
sparked, leaving me with a piercing headache. That was when I understood exactly what Mogra was trying to do.
Her body was still trapped beneath a pile of rock, broken, but if she could possess me, she would have a new,
young body to use instead.

I stumbled backwards, hands thrown up to protect my face, horrified. The more distance I could put between us,
the safer I would be. I tried to reinforce the walls around my mind, refusing to let her in.

"Come back!" she shrieked, the image of the twisted old hag flashing before my eyes. "You are my daughter! You
belong to me!"

I felt my eyes sting with tears because my mother was truly lost. It was not the first time I had realized this, but the
full truth of it crashed down around my head. "I am a person, not a pet or a body for you to use. Neither is
Rapunzel. My soul belongs to me."

"Selfish girl. You would not even help your own mother?" I was not sure whether I could only hear the words in my
head or if they were spoken aloud, because her lips were not moving.

"You are not a mother to me anymore."

My head exploded with pain, red and white streaks of agony painting themselves across my consciousness. It was
unbearable - a hissing, glowing poker behind my eyes. I screamed, falling to my knees and cradling my head in my
hands. I heard a voice mumbling and realized it was mine - "No... no... Maker, please let it stop... no... - please,,,:..."

My stomach heaved, threatening to empty itself on the ground where I was holding myself up with one elbow.
"Let. Me. In." The words pounded against my skull like a heavy fist on a door. I clapped my hands over my ears.
"No! Secutem!" The shield-mark lit my throat on fire, almost making me choke, but I spat it out between clenched
teeth. Immediately, the pain receded and Mogra howled with rage.

I staggered upright and ran, sending rocks and roots and earth flying beneath my feet. I did not look back even
though her screams echoed in my ears. I ran until my legs gave out and I sank to the ground, crying so heavily that
the tears blinded me. But at least I was alone. I had escaped. The foreign presence in my mind was gone. In fact,
my thoughts were blissfully silent.

Chapter Eight:

I was the first to open my eyes. I groaned, wincing as I felt a familiar pain in my right shoulder. I wondered if the
wound had reopened, but then I decided that it did not matter. Carefully, I opened my eyes, immediately
remembering to look for Rapunzel. She was lying on her side, still and unmoving. I crawled over to her, ignoring
the tears in my pants at the knee, my heart still pounding wildly from fear. "Rapunzel! Open your eyes, Tuathe...
please..."

She cried out, but her eyes remained shut. Instantly, I put my hand to her belly, trying to feel the unborn child
moving within her. "Please... Please be alive... Please..." I whispered that word over and over again... please,
please, please... until I lost it somewhere inside of my mouth and forgot what it meant. I felt movement in
Rapunzel's abdomen, but it was not the light, twitching bumps of quickening. It was a long, shuddering pull from
somewhere deep inside of her.

"

Oh no... no, no, no... not even sixteen weeks yet... too soon, too soon..." I scrambled to my feet, running towards
my abandoned traveling pack, which was lying several yards away. Tearing open the largest pocket, I began digging
through the supplies, tossing out food and clothing in order to find the herbs I was looking for. Valerian root,
Crampbark, Flaxseed Oil...

As I ran back to Rapunzel, I noticed the change in the landscape for the first time. I gasped, taking a step backwards
and staring. Instead of a giant pit of mud and stone, a huge, glittering lake stretched out as far as I could see. It was
the same shade of blue as the magical scarf. We were sitting at its edge among piles of displaced rock, covered in
dust and dirt. Mogra was nowhere to be seen. Hopefully, the avalanche had crushed her and the Shadowkin or
thrown them into the lake. I never wanted to see them again.

The feel of the oil jars and the herbs in my hand reminded me of Rapunzel, and I hurried back to her. Perhaps she
sensed my shadow over her, because her eyes twitched behind close lids as I knelt by her side.

"Is she alive?" A deep, hoarse voice asked from somewhere to our left.

"For now, Hassa. I have to stop the child from coming early or dying..." I crushed the Valerian root, letting the oils
seep out and mix with the flesh of the plant. "Get me water from the lake. Hurry..."

Once the sedative was mixed with water, I poured it between Rapunzel's lips, flinching when she began to cough
and sputter. Finally, I coaxed some of it down her throat, grateful that Valerian did not need to be placed in boiling
water. The Crampbark had already been dried and distilled into a liquid, and it was easy to paint the drops over her
lips.

Soon, there was nothing left to do but try and relax Rapunzel while we watched her. She drifted in and out of
consciousness and did not speak. "You saved us, young witch," Hassa said, placing a very large hand on my
shoulder. "I think that you will save them, too."

"We cannot move her," I said, not able to respond to his feelings of confidence in me. "I know this is a bad place to
stay, and Mogra might find a way..."

Hassa shook his head. "She will not come after us now. If she is still alive, she will wait. You surprised her today,
and she will need more of her creatures to help her next time." I prayed that the Equiarre's judgment was sound.

We watched over her for several hours, although I urged Hassa to rest. If anything else decided to threaten us, he
was the only one in any condition to protect us. Her condition was mostly unchanging, but it did not worsen either,
which was a good sign.

Tenderly, I stroked Rapunzel's hair, careful not to put pressure on the ugly, puffy line of a cut on the back of her
head. All of us were covered in bruises, scrapes, and gashes, and I had dressed and cleaned the worst of them,
using up the last of my medical supplies for open wounds. I hoped that none of the injuries became infected,
because I hardly had enough herbs left to make a poultice, and certainly not enough linen to dress them. We had
resorted to washing and binding some of our wounds with scraps of our clothes.

Rapunzel remained still and did not regain complete consciousness, but Hassa's larger body and quicker healing
rate had served him well during the avalanche. "It is still early in her pregnancy," I told him. "Not even sixteen
weeks. There was only a little blood, and there are no more large contractions. I am hopeful." I stroked Rapunzel's
hand, forcing myself to believe my own words.

Even though he had only known Rapunzel for a short time, the Equiarre was hovering over her like a concerned
parent. "She is not at sixteen weeks yet? I thought that Humani females carried for nine months. How is she so
large already?"

I had my suspicions, and since Rapunzel stable for the moment, I decided to give her another examination. "I think
she is carrying twins," I said as I ran my hands over her stomach, which was far more pronounced now than it had
been even a few days ago. "It is unusually early for me or her to feel quickening, especially with a first pregnancy.

She is very large, and..." Using my fingers, I tried to confirm the position of one of the tiny bodies. "Yes, I think
there are two."

Twins. Even more joy or even more pain. Moving sluggishly beneath my hands, Rapunzel shifted, trying to become
more comfortable. She did not wake up. The sedatives and muscle relaxants were working. I put the soft part of
my traveling pack beneath her head, trying to make her more comfortable. I had done everything I could for her,
and only time would show how well she would recover. I checked every candlemark to make sure that the babies
were alive, afraid that their little hearts would stop beating. I knew that Rapunzel would never forgive herself if we
lost them.

"I love your mother very much, you know," I told them during the long night watch, stroking my hand over the
swell of my lover's belly. Small twitches and bumps underneath my hand reassured me that, for now, the children
were still moving. It almost felt like they were listening to me, responding to my voice, but perhaps that was
wishful thinking. I convinced myself that if the babies were still alive and well, Rapunzel would be, too.

My chest was sore and tight with the tears that I had been too terrified to shed, and they broke in my voice. "You
were not conceived in love, but I promise that you will be born into it. You will be my princes, and I will give you
anything you want." For some reason, the familiar words sent gooseflesh crawling over my skin. I wanted to take
them back. "I will give you my love, my protection, and my knowledge, but I will not be like my mother."

Surprisingly, I believed in what I said. I would never be my mother. Her shadow had hung over me for too long
already. Until I let go of her, let go of my fears, Rapunzel would still be touched by her darkness. Treasuring
Rapunzel and her children did not make me a monster. I loved her like nothing else on the earth, but I would not
let greed blind me to her humanity. I would not repeat Mogra's mistakes.

As I caressed the soft curve of her cheek, gray from the loss of blood, my lover's eyes fluttered open. Immediately,
her right hand reached for mine, holding it tight against her face as her other hand curled protectively over her
stomach. The strained lines of her face smoothed over as she felt the babies move inside of her. "He is all right?"
she asked, her voice cracking.

"They," I corrected her, lacing my fingers with hers. "They are alive. There are two heartbeats."

"Two?" Although her brown eyes were still clouded with pain and weariness, they widened with understanding. I
released her hand and rubbed her forehead, checking to make sure that her skin did not feel warm. She had lost a
lot of blood and there was still the risk that she would run a fever. "Two," I repeated. "We have two children. That
is why you are growing so quickly." It was also why I could feel her quickening so early in her pregnancy. There was
less empty space to absorb the small taps and kicks.

For a moment, Rapunzel looked frightened, as though she was wondering how she could possibly handle giving
birth to and raising two children at once, but her eyes locked with mine and I felt her draw her reassurance from
me. It felt wonderful to be there for my Tuathe, especially since I had not been able to offer her strength or
comfort before. The scars of guilt inside of me began to fade.

"I love you," I told her, letting my fingertips drift over her lips so that she could kiss them. Her eyes closed and the
corners of her mouth turned up in a small smile despite the pain that I knew she was feeling. "Sleep."

My lover obeyed and began to drift back into a healing sleep, although I was pleased that she had shown some
alertness. I sighed and sat back on my heels, observing her as best I could in the dark. Our children had settled
back down and I felt no more movement under my hand, but I suspected that they were following their mother's
example and resting for a while.

Our children.

My body instantly locked, muscles seizing and cutting off my breath as that thought echoed in my head. It was the
first time that I had referred to the babies as 'ours'. Even though it was only in my mind, it was a monumental step.
The idea of being responsible for two infants still terrified me, and I felt a flash of sympathy. Rapunzel must have
been so frightened when she first suspected that she might be pregnant. I had not been there to support her, the
children's father was absent, and she was still imprisoned in Mogra's tower.

Only now, when I was threatened with losing the most important people in my life, did I understand just how
much they meant to me. "My sons," I said, mouthing the words in quiet disbelief.

"And how do you know they will be sons? Do you have the Sight?" came a voice from behind my shoulder. I
concealed my startled reaction to Hassa's appearance, willing my heart to beat more slowly. The Liarre could
approach as silently as ghosts, even the large Equiarre. His body did not seem built for stealth at all, and I was
impressed.

"No," I said, "I am only guessing. But I am a Witch's Daughter." I could say that now without humiliation or shame.
My mother was a part of me, and her knowledge made me the Ariada that I was, but she did not dictate my
actions. Mogra could not control me anymore.

Chapter Nine:

It took us three more days to reach Liarre territory. It was slow going because we did not want to do anything to
upset Rapunzel's recovery, but she was conscious and aware of her surroundings when we crossed the border.
Instead of a thin line, the border was actually a stretch of high brush, not something I had expected in the dry,
warmer western climate with its bare canyon faces and rocky outcroppings. The brush was high enough to touch
my upper arms at the elbow, but Hassa stood well above it.

I realized that we were not alone after only a few minutes. Soft rustling sounds, almost like sighs, came from the
field around us. At first, I thought that some small animal must be scurrying for cover, but the sounds continued
and became much larger. Not being able to see our silent, spectral watchers was unsettling and I looked at Hassa
for reassurance.

"We are seen only when we want to be seen, and heard only when we want to be heard," he said, not waiting for
me to ask my questions aloud. "The border guards are letting you know that they are here."

I glanced over my shoulder, squinting as I tried to discern any difference in color or texture that might give one of
the hiding sentinels away, but I could not see anything. It was difficult to imagine a creature as large as Hassa
hiding himself in the brush, but perhaps some of the other races like the Feliarre were more adept at camouflage.

As the brush started to fade into knee-high weeds and grass, we began to climb over a low, rolling hill. "Over the
crown of the hill is the valley of Ardu," he said, gesturing with his hand, but even with the warning, the sight that
stretched out before us when I reached the top of the hill took my breath away. Rapunzel let out an equally
impressed gasp of surprise.

Like a network of threads, several dirt paths led down the side of the hill and into a sharp dip in the landscape.
Nestled in the valley, perhaps valley was not the right word to describe it, because the climb down looked very
steep, was some of the most stunning architecture I had ever seen. Instead of stairways, the outer walls of the
taller buildings were surrounded by spiraling ramps that led up to the roofs. To our right was a large, angular
structure that reminded me of an hourglass. A large, ancient-looking stone wall that rose and fell with the
landscape surrounded the entire city.

Beside me, Rapunzel was taking everything in, just as awed as I seemed to be. Her hand reached out to grab mine,
and I knew that she was itching to draw what she had just seen. Instead, she stared with wide eyes, trying to soak
in as many details as possible.

A gentle touch on my shoulder drew me from my breathless study of the city. "You will have more chances to see
Ardu from a distance," said Hassa. "The young mother needs rest and food, and your friends are waiting. I am sure
that they are anxious to greet you." Overlooking Rapunzel's needs made me feel slightly guilty, but I did not worry
too much when I saw the pleased expression on her face. She already looked much better than she had a few days
ago, and her color was healthier.

"Come on," I said, squeezing the hand that was still twined with mine. The warmth was comforting, reminding me
that she was alive and safe. "I want to see it up close."

The walk down the steep hillside was easier than I expected, but I was surprised when we did not follow any of the
larger, wider roads. Instead, we traveled down a narrow, winding footpath that took us out of our way several
times. Sensing my curiosity, Hassa answered my unspoken question. "These are dangerous times. Many of the
main roads have been blocked off or defended with traps."

The closer we got to the city itself, the wider and more well-used the road appeared to become. "This place is
amazing," Rapunzel whispered as a large pair of wood and iron gates rose high above us. The wall was also growing
taller as we drew closer, and I was impressed by how well defended the Liarre were. I was not sure whether this
was because Ardu was directly on the border, or if the cities in the heart of their country were also well defended.

There was movement on top of the gate, and soon the pair of doors began to swing open, their weight shifting
with a loud, reluctant groan. The three of us walked into the city together, past several groups of curious onlookers
that watched and whispered in a language I did not understand, although most of them were too polite to point.

"Some of them have never seen a human before," Hassa explained. "The Liarre have as many myths and legends
about your race as you do about ours."

"What about Cate and Larna? I thought you said they were here?"

"They are Wyr. They might look like you sometimes, but it is not the same. They will want to see you. I can show
you the place where they are staying..."

I caught sight of two small, familiar figures that were clearly not Liarre and smiled. "No need, they are already
here."

As soon as red hair and pale, freckled skin came in to view, Rapunzel looked at me with a silent question. When I
nodded and smiled in answer, my lover grabbed my hand and started towards the two women. Calling out a
greeting, they hurried towards us at a surprisingly fast pace. Their movements gave them away instantly, marking
them as something more than human. They walked with the rolled, loping gait of wolves even though they were
on two legs, and I understood what Hassa meant when he said that they were not the same.

As soon as they reached us, Cate wrapped me in a tight embrace. "Arim Dei. Thank the Maker you arrived safely. I
was worried that something had happened to you."

"Several somethings happened," I admitted.

Cate's expression could only be described as chastising. "You seem to enjoy rushing headlong in to dangerous
situations." For a moment, I felt like a child being scolded for wandering too far. Even though Cate and I were
roughly the same age, she had adopted a motherly attitude towards me.

"I do not," I protested. "Mogra followed us." I noticed the slight flinch at my mother's name, but did not think
further of it. "The rest of our party..."

"Is probably fine," Hassa interrupted, sounding more confident than I felt. "Jinale will bring them back safely.
Without Mogra behind them, I am sure that they were able to escape the Kerak and the Shadowkin."

"Good." Cate released me and moved to hug Rapunzel, who was closer to her height. "I hope I haven't made you
uncomfortable, but I feel as though I already know you. My name is Cate."

My lover allowed the physical closeness and returned the hug. "Arim dei. I wanted to thank you for saving Ailynn's
life..." I blushed, embarrassed but pleased that she had referred to me as hers.

"We were lucky," Cate said modestly.

Larna stepped forward and clasped Rapunzel's hands warmly. She was not as comfortable with touch as her mate,
but she was still very friendly. "We are glad to have you here. Cate spent a long time looking for the spell to free
you."

My face paled and the bottom dropped from my stomach. "The book," I said, suddenly remembering. "I left it
with... your horse!" My worries instantly doubled. "I left your horse in the forest, and the book... Mogra
summoned a great wind and we..."

"The book does not matter, at least not to me. I do not think my friend Ellie's wife will be pleased to hear that it
was lost, but it is only an object."

"The horse..."

"Knows the way home. He will find his way to an offshoot of the rebel camp, although there is no way he will be
able to follow us here."

I felt guilty for forgetting both of the gifts Cate had given me, particularly the horse, since it was a living creature.
"At least there is food and water for him in the forest," I sighed, knowing that there was nothing I could do to fix
things now. It seemed a little silly to worry about a horse when there were still nine Liarre missing that had risked
their lives for us, but all of my emotions were jumbled from the excitement of the past several weeks.

Cate smiled. "Worse things could have happened. You arrived safely and I am sure that the others will, too." A little
cautiously, she added, "do you know what happened to Mogra?"

"Doran gave us three gifts when he left us with the Liarre," I told her. "There were two combs and a scarf. When
Mogra chased us, I threw them over my shoulder. The combs turned in to a giant row of spiked trees and a swamp,
and the scarf became a large lake..."

To anyone else, this would have sounded like ridiculous babbling, but perhaps Cate had Seen some of what had
happened or maybe Doran had shown her the gifts, because she only asked one question. "Mogra did not try to
cross?"

"She was riding a Shadowkin," Rapunzel interjected. "The split in the earth caused a landslide..."

"Which could have broken your neck," I reminded her sourly, casting a meaningful look at her bulging stomach.
Larna followed my gaze and smiled softly.

"I am after thinking there is more than one pup in there," she said.

Instinctively realizing that the Alpha wanted to touch her stomach but was far too polite to ask, Rapunzel took
Larna's hand and placed it over her belly. "Ailynn says we are having twins."

The use of the word 'we' did not disturb me this time. Instead, I felt a surge of warmth. Cate gave me a small,
approving nod. I was not sure how much she knew about the circumstances of Rapunzel's pregnancy, but surely
she did not need her Sight to realize that they were not mine. No, not of my blood, but they are still mine, I
corrected myself.

"That is unusual for humans," Larna said, smiling down at Rapunzel's stomach. "Have you felt quickening yet?"

"Yes."

Cate sighed. "You act like you have never seen human pregnancies before. You were a human for many more years
than you were a Wyr."

Larna removed her hands from Rapunzel's belly. "My father made me leave the house when my siblings were
born..." A shadow crossed her face as she mentioned her family, and I secretly wondered what had happened to
them. The brief expression of sadness was poignant enough to make me wrap a protective arm around Rapunzel's
shoulder. "I have seen more Wyr give birth than humans."

Her redheaded mate shuddered. "I like to pretend that Wyr only carry one at a time. The thought of three or four
at once is a little overwhelming."

Rapunzel laughed. "I wasn't even prepared for one, let alone two, and poor Ailynn was just dragged along without
anyone asking her opinion..."

"You did not need to," I protested, "it was my choice. Please don't think I am doing anything I don't want to." Even
though I had certainly had my share of doubts, that did not mean I was incapable of making my own decisions. I
was much more comfortable with the idea now. Really, the most frightening part of the situation had been its
suddenness - my helplessness. But now, I did not feel helpless. I was with Rapunzel because I loved her, not
because she had trapped or manipulated me.

When I noticed that the crowd of interested Liarre had begun to break apart, I nudged Cate's shoulder. "Do you
think there is somewhere that we could clean up and rest? Rapunzel looks pale." Although this was true and I
really did want my lover to rest now that we were safe behind the gates of Ardu, I wanted to wash and rest for my
own sake as well. It was just easier to use her as an excuse.

Cate saw through that immediately. "You look pale," she said. "Come with us. The building that Larna and I are
staying in has a few properly shaped beds that you and Rapunzel can use." Grateful for the offer, we followed her.

Chapter Ten:

A short time later, we were freshly washed and dressed in clean, loose shirts and leggings that fit us surprisingly
well, considering that they belonged to our hosts. Sensing our need for some privacy, Cate and Larna showed us to
our room and left us after a quick but polite goodbye, promising to come by later with food after we had rested.

Unsure of ourselves, we sat on opposite sides of the bed, which was human-sized and fitted with covers. The
headboard was made of several vertical strips of slatted wood, each decorated with carvings of plant life. I trailed
my fingers over a cluster of grapes, admiring the craftsmanship.

"I feel unsettled," I said instead of commenting on the room, bending down to take off my shoes. "We have spent
the last few weeks traveling, and now we are in a clean room with a warm bed... alone. Are we sure this is real?"

"We have spent the last few weeks in a constant state of panic," Rapunzel said, gripping my shoulder lightly. I
flinched, then relaxed at the gentle touch. "Enjoy the fact that we can stop running for a while."

I smiled and leaned back against a pillow, letting my eyes shut. "Maybe we should sleep." Even though we had
caught a few hours here and there, it had been a long time since I got a full night's rest in a real bed.

Rapunzel shifted beside me. I could feel her studying my face even with my eyes closed. I could guess what she
was thinking.

"Come here," I urged her without opening my eyes, spreading my arms so that she could rest her head on my
shoulder. She settled beside me, shifting until she found a comfortable position against the line of my side.

But for some reason, sleep would not take us. "I was afraid that you would not come up again from the darkness,"
I confessed. I opened my eyes, but stared up at the ceiling because it was too difficult to look at her. "I thought I
had lost you forever and - I realized I would never forgive myself if I failed to protect you again."

Rapunzel let out a small, frustrated sigh and pulled tighter against me. "Why is everything always your
responsibility or your fault? Shouldn't I take some responsibility for my own choices?"

I tried again. "I never would have forgiven myself if you were taken from me before we worked through our
problems."

"Ailynn, if this past year has proved anything, it is that love does not make us perfect. You have forgiven me for my
betrayal, but you haven't even begun to forgive yourself. Don't you think you deserve it?"

"But-"

"You did protect me. Look at me." She stroked the fingertips of her right hand down my cheek, leaving a red flush
behind as she turned my head towards her with a gentle push. "Feel me." She leaned forwards until her lips were
only a breath away from mine. "I'm here. Right here. And we're safe."

And then she kissed me. Our weariness evaporated.

We undressed each other with great care and tenderness, peeling away clothing to reveal strips of silken skin.
Gooseflesh rose on my arms as she touched me. My body knew and reacted to the ghosting, whisper-light caress
of her warm palms. Before, we walked the razor thin wire of need and desperation, the unspoken line of pleasure
in possessiveness, the need to take and claim driving out all of the softer emotions. This time, it was all gentleness
in slow, trusting kisses, each whisper and touch a sweet promise.

"Is this all right?" I asked as I kissed above the collar of her shirt, familiarizing myself with the salty taste of her skin.
"If you don't feel well enough yet..."

"More than all right," she assured me, tugging suggestively at the hem of my own shirt. We both needed this
connection, this affirmation, a solidification of our new bond. Placing her hand directly over my rapidly beating
heart, the line of her lips split in an affectionate smile. "Does my touch do that to you? Make your heart race?"

I returned the smile. "You know it does," I told her.

Insistent, but not over-eager, my lover helped me off with my shirt as my hand crept into the stiff confines of her
leggings, finding her wet and swollen for me already. I caught my bottom lip between my teeth, stifling a groan.

Almost straddling my hips now, she gazed down at me with half-lidded, lustful eyes. I only needed to straighten my
curled fingers the slightest bit to feel more of her. She moaned at the sudden, welcome fullness, which coaxed
another answering pulse from between my own legs.

"Oh," she sighed, tipping her head back. "I want - to feel..."

"More skin?"

She whimpered in protest when I removed my hand, but allowed me to ease her leggings the rest of the way down
her thighs. Tossing them aside, she pushed down her growing need to help me undress as well. Clinging to each
other in a lover's embrace, I felt as though I was holding a goddess in my arms. Wanting to feel her lips, I took her
mouth in a searching kiss. Rapunzel guided me, coaxing the fingers of my right hand to wind around the slats of the
headboard while my left combed through her hair. It was longer now, always continuing to grow, but somehow
beautiful in its wildness.

Her hands mapped the dips and plains of my torso, pausing to tease visibly excited breasts and nipples, testing
their weight and shape as her mouth trailed down from swollen lips to suckle at my chin.

I was awash in both old memories and new sensations. It all seemed like too much for my over-stimulated body to
bear. Somehow, I had expected this encounter to mirror the handful of times we had already shared, but it was
different. This time, she was meeting me on equal footing instead of letting me purge my anger in her. It was
better.

Shaking fingertips traced the familiar shape of my face, drawing random patterns over my cheeks and chin. They
touched the sensitive edges of my lips, following the curve and dipping just between until I was kissing them. My
eyes drifted shut and my breath hitched.

My body ached for her to move inside, to fill me, to claim me and offer reassurance and love. I wondered if I would
shake apart into a thousand pieces. Somehow, I knew that if I did shatter, Rapunzel would help piece me back
together. My lungs could not seem to take in enough air and my heart tried to pound its way out of my chest.
Every inch of my skin seared with a fierce, burning heat.

Gentle, hesitant fingers curled against soft velvet walls, coaxing another pulse of wetness from me and gliding
easily inside. She pushed deeper, filling me until it burned, straining the small, twitching muscles in her wrist. Our
foreheads met and I felt her warm breath against my cheek. Gooseflesh rose along my arms and thighs, but she
only smiled, her eyes full of wonder at touching me, feeling me, loving me.

A calm, soothing hand stroked up and down my side in a steady line as her fingers began to twist inside of me,
stretching me, easing out and then sinking deeper. I shivered, but did not make a sound, trying desperately to

absorb everything, remember everything. The rush of blood and heat between my legs had me blossoming open
against her hand, and I felt vulnerable and exposed.

My peak was a deep, shuddering thing, sharp and aching of pleasure. I felt myself spilling over, pouring in to her,
wanting us to be as close as possible. I clutched Rapunzel's shoulders, letting her kiss swallow my cries. As the
release crashed over me in waves of heat and color and sound, her hand tangled in my hair, curving around the
back of my neck, guiding our lips together. She kept kissing me as the hand between my legs stilled, unwilling to let
me pull away. I had no desire to.

"We are finally together, aren't we?" she whispered, and I knew what she meant. We had touched each other in
anger, in pain and desperation, but never softly, never slowly, simply because we were two people in love. It was
the same, and yet it was wholly different.

"I love you," I panted, surprised that I was able to speak at all.

"And I you."

I sighed happily, resting my arm over the swell of Rapunzel's stomach. She tried to remove her hand, but I gripped
her wrist softly, silently urging her to stay. I did not want to sever the intimate connection just yet. "They stir when
you touch me," she breathed, closing her eyes and kissing my cheek once, twice.

"When I touch your stomach or when I make love to you?" I asked sleepily.

"When you touch me. The last time you made love to me, they were not big enough for me to feel."

My eyes, which had been drifting shut, instantly snapped back open. She was right. I was tired, but surely I could
summon the energy for so sweet a prize. "Well," I said, letting my hand drift lower and kissing the point of her
chin, "we should do something about that."

"Ailynn, I need..." Rapunzel said in a strangled whisper, unable to complete her thought.

"You need...?" I prompted. Hearing that I was loved and wanted was a balm for all of my old hurts. Whenever I was
insecure, I would remember this moment, this woman, needing me. I must have some goodness in me if I
managed to capture the heart of someone so wonderful.

"I need you. Just you. I always have," she admitted shakily. My heart swelled with love. Kissing Rapunzel deeply, I
tried to help her out of her remaining clothes, tossing them to the side of the bed without tearing my mouth away
from hers. This time, there were no barriers in my way as I grazed excited, wet flesh with my fingertips, drawing
out every sensation that traveled up my arm and savoring it.

I spent precious moments exploring, learning, taking my time. There was no rush or anger, only the two of us. Her
hands reached for my shoulders, clutching desperately as I curled inside of her with one finger, then two, soft
warmth gripping them with a tight burn. The low gasps and cries of encouragement made my head spin and I felt
my own need rising again, but I ignored it. After all we had been through, she deserved this careful, loving
attention. We deserved this. Needed this.

"I love you," she said, breathing heavily as her pelvis began to rock, urging me to quicken my pace. I indulged her
and stopped teasing. Even though she was partially on her side, she draped one slender, warm leg over mine, one
of her free hands sliding down the curve of my side to cup my hip, drawing me closer.

But it was not enough. Untangling myself from her arms and legs, I explored her throat and shoulders, pausing to
tease the excited tips of her breasts to hardness with my mouth, kissing my way across her chest from one to the
other. She gasped and shuddered, so responsive under my tongue, and I ached to feel more of her.

I tried my best to pace myself, taking the time to appreciate the curve of her stomach, learn the flair of her hips,
stroke the twitching muscles in her thighs with my palms, but she was impatient. When she touched my cheek,
brushing the curtain of loose hair away from my face so that she could see me and begged with her eyes, it was
impossible to hold back.

Stealing one final glance at Rapunzel's flushed face, her kiss-swollen lips, I draped one of her legs over my shoulder
and lowered my head. I did not hesitate, pushing forward with an insistent tongue, wrapping my lips around her
and sucking hard. The taste, the heat, the soft sounds that spilled from her lips almost like prayers as her head
tipped back, it was soul shaking. I had the brief, impossible thought that this was all I would ever need.

I tried to delay it, to build her up with slow, rhythmic sweeps of my tongue, wanting her to enjoy this for as long as
possible, but Rapunzel could only hold back for so long. I felt a surge of love and pride as her muscles locked, trying
to arch off of the bed as I anchored her hips to the mattress. One hand fisted the sheets while the other wove into
my hair, holding me closer, tighter, as her entire body trembled.

Unwilling to stop, I rode the crest of the wave with her, curling my fingers and pushing up, seeking the place inside
of her that would send her shattering to pieces. That coaxed even more wetness from her and a sob broke in her
throat, as much of my name as she could form. When the deep, crushing spasms faded to small twitches, she
finally let go of my hair and collapsed backwards, the strain in her face softening.

Wanting to stay close to her, I moved up to leave another kiss on her stomach, but found myself pulled up to her
waiting lips instead. Catching my lower lip between her teeth, she tugged on it lightly before nuzzling just under
my chin. "I love you, Ailynn."

My face split in a smile. "I love you too, Tuathe."

"Will you tell me a story?"

I looked down into her soft brown eyes, disbelieving, but she seemed completely serious. "What? That wasn't
enough to entertain you, dear heart?"

She smiled back at me. "It was... very stimulating. But we would like a story to fall asleep to." It reminded me of
simpler times when I had lulled her to sleep with my voice. The memories were happy instead of bittersweet and I
welcomed them.

"We would?" I asked, reaching down to rub circles on her abdomen. I felt the flutter of a child's foot or fist tap
against my open hand.

"Yes, we would."

"Which story?"

"They haven't heard the story of Princess Kirste and the mermaid."

I dropped a lingering kiss on her forehead. "But you have."

"I want to hear it again."

"All right. The sight of the beautiful creature before her sucked Kirste's breath right out of her chest. Her light-
colored hair was long and swept to one side, and a filmy white sheet was draped over her shoulders..."

The End