Woman in the Ivy Tower

By Courtney Shockey

A tale told so many centruries ago depicted a young blonde in a tower waiting for her savior to rescue her. But what if the stories were wrong? What if the tower was a prison... and there was no damsel in distress?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Courtney Shockey
• Release date: Sep 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393962175

Courtney Shockey

Hi! My name is Courtney and I'm a wife and mother of 2. From Houston, Texas and work a full time job as a Lab Coordinator in an industrial setting. I write in many genres and hope to have a little something for everyone. Check back often so you don't miss out! Thank you for your support! :)

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WOMAN IN THE IVY TOWER

By Courtney Shockey

COPYRIGHT © 2020 Courtney Shockey

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced to a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner of the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, singers, actors, lyrics, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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You give me the encouragement, support, and hard truths needed to continue on this journey.

Thank you for all that you do. <3

Friends: I LOVE EVERY ONE OF YOU! You each play a part in this big picture and if I didn’t have you by my side, my hair would be gone by now. Ariana, April, Mom, Jordan, Grumpy, Memaw, Gabby, and Marisa; I can send you anything at any time and you will give me straightforward opinions no matter what. My amazing team and mentors in so many ways. <3

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To the readers: Thank you for spending your precious time on my books.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and please let me know what you think!

The story of Rapunzel has been told through the centuries. You’ve probably heard some version of the original,

but it doesn’t come close to the true origins. Romance has taken over the world, and morphs stories into fantasies.

Sometimes, even warnings or tales of woe are twisted into fairytales.

This is story is not.

In a castle nestled in the side of a mountain, a woman with long light brown hair slept on a bed of lush pillows. Her smooth, bare skin never touched rock or stone or wood. She drank the sweetest wine and purest water from the falls. She demanded the freshest fruits at her table and seasoned meats whenever she craved their juices. Luxury began and ended with her.

Her long arms lifted over her head as she stretched her limbs. A soft yawn fell from her lips, followed by a hum. Hands ran up her torso and arms, helping her up from the cushions. Her feet landed on a plush runner leading to the washroom. She followed the path into the room, and around to the inground bath. Two servants helped her into the steaming water and carried her to the middle of the bath, careful to keep her head above the water line.

They carefully washed her body as two others washed her hair. When they finished, she was walked to the other side and lifted from the water into warm linens to be hand dried with care. Lotions and oils were worked into her skin as the four bath servants dried her long locks. Once her hair was dried, brushed, and braided, she continued into the next room to be dressed in a silk saree.

She emerged from the clothing room into the hallway, following the runner on bare feet down the stairs and through the grand entryway. Her dining table was covered in her favorite fruits, cheese, and bread, the smell of it all making her stomach rumble. At the head of the table, her chair awaited. Fur lined the back, while the cushion resembled the many in her chamber with silk