Liberty: a Rapunzel story

By Sonya Writes

Locked up in a tower together, princess Rapunzel and her nanny Gisele Gothel grow their hair long with the hope that one day they'll be able to escape.
This novella is approximately 80 pages long.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sonya Writes
• Release date: Oct 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310899546

Book preview

Liberty

a Rapunzel story

By Sonya Writes

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2014 Sonya Writes

Published by Sonya Writes at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Book description:

When the king’s brother Prince Garrick decides to execute his family and take over the throne, a curse prevents Princess Rapunzel from being harmed. Since he cannot hurt her, his only other option is to pretend she is dead and hide her away to never be seen. So he locks her in a tower with her nanny, Gisele. Together they grow their hair, looking forward to the day their braids will be long enough that they can escape…

~

once upon a time…

The land was ruled by a corrupt king and his queen. They were hated by all, but still the people celebrated when their child was born. Long ago it had been told that their child would break the cycle of despair which her family before her had brought upon the land.

The princess Rapunzel was a beauty to behold with golden hair and sapphire eyes, and she was a beacon of hope to everyone who believed the prophecy was true. With little else to hope for, most of the people believed. Rapunzel would one day save the kingdom and rule benevolently, unlike her predecessors.

When Rapunzel was three months of age, the king and queen held a banquet in her honor. The people of the land came to present their gifts for the young princess, in part because they desired to but primarily because the king required it. He laughed a hearty laugh whenever an unsuitable gift was presented and then sent that unfortunate individual to the dungeons for a day.

As the banquet neared an end, a robed woman with a dark hood over her face stood in the back of the room. Her voice traveled throughout the room as she declared that she too had a gift for the young princess.

Step forward to deliver your gift, the king commanded.

No sir, she said. For my gift is a curse.

A hush came over the crowd. The king raised his hands to call on his royal guards, but the woman continued before he gave his order.

My gift is a curse, she repeated, Not against the young princess but against any who should attempt to cause her harm. Whosoever tries to hurt Rapunzel in any way shall have the same pains and discomforts inflicted upon his body and soul.

The crowd roared up in shouts of praise for her proclamation. Their belief in the prophecy was all the hope they had, and knowing that Rapunzel was now protected meant a great deal to all of them. As the crowd made their noise, the woman quietly disappeared from the room.

~

Madame Gothel returned home to find her daughter Gisele outside in their sunflower field. The silly girl was never in bed when she was supposed to be. It was late at night; the full moon lit up the sky and cast a bluish glow on their many rows of sunflowers. Madame Gothel called Gisele inside for a chat.

What is it, mother? Gisele was a cheerful young girl of fifteen with long black hair which she loved to braid. She skipped into the kitchen and began to pour her mother a cup of tea.

Gisele dear, I have a request for you, Madame Gothel began. The queen will not long wish to care for the princess herself. She is too selfish a woman to continue tending her child. I want you to go to the palace first thing tomorrow and offer your services as a nanny to Rapunzel.

The topic threw Gisele off. She’d expected reprimanding for being out so late. Instead her mother was suggesting something huge. A nanny? she said. But mother, I’ve never been a nanny to anyone. I have no experience with children!

Nonsense, Gisele. You have plenty of experience. After all, what more experience could you need than the fact that you’ve been a child yourself? And your brother, Lucien? He is only six and you watch over him well. You have all the experience you need.

Yes, but mother, what do I know about caring for an infant?

Trust me, Gisele. It will come naturally to you, she said. She took a sip of her tea. You know the prophecy, Gisele. Rapunzel is the child who will return peace to this land; she must be protected. I want you to be the one protecting her. There’s no better way for me to be sure of her safety.

Gisele hung her head. Yes, mother, she said. But why should the queen wish to hire me? I’m afraid she will laugh me out of the palace. And what will I do about school?

"I’ll see to it that you’re able to take your schoolwork with you to the palace. You can work on it during Her Highness’s naps and any other downtime you happen to come across. As for the queen, Her Majesty will have a dream