My Name is Rapunzel(41)

So the dragon didn't like Gretta, and Gretta couldn't beat him.

Gretta had no more authority over the dragon than I did. He wasn't her dragon to dominate. I’d been foolish to think otherwise. Who on earth could manage such a large beast? That was interesting information. I'd file that away until I could best use it to my advantage.

The dragon circled the air, looking at me each time he flew past my window. Was he watching me? I'd always thought the creature belonged to Gretta, and so had my parents. And, until now, I'd believed he hadn’t followed her to Paradise Valley. But in that moment, I wasn't so sure.

He must have come for me.

But why?

Gretta cowered on the dirt ground, under the dragon's arrogant gaze, and used her feet to shuffle herself backwards, inching toward the castle.

The dragon moved closer to her and continued to shoot his fiery orbs at her feet as she scuttled away.

If I wasn't witnessing a massive, deadly dragon shooting fireballs at a witch, I might have giggled.





CHAPTER NINETEEN




Mr. Jenkins, let me tell you, those early years at the castle trickled by. It felt as though I was walking through a dream from which I could never awaken. At least that’s how it felt during the most important parts of it anyway.

I found solace working in the garden day after day. Sometimes my thoughts found their way back to the past, to what had once been, or almost been, but I did my best to keep them in check. It would do me no good to go into another depression. It had happened before, and each time I knew I would be fine in a few days. I just needed time. I kept to myself during those years and avoided a battle with Gretta for quite some time. She kept her distance from me except for a morning visit to my tower to bring me warm water. It was an intrusion I could live with.

But then it happened…

Someone was in my garden. I stared out the window. Who was that bent over, working in my garden? Her red curls bounced from beneath her shawl. She had a slight frame and an almost fragile looking manner about her. Her porcelain skin was translucent. I couldn't see them from the window, but I could imagine the freckles I would find if I got closer.

I had to know. I jogged to my bedroom door and ran down the stairs. I got to the garden door as quickly as I could. What if she wasn't even real? Maybe she was an angel—if there actually was such a thing. I reached out and gripped the latch. I didn’t want to give away my presence, so it wouldn't do to alert her to my arrival. What if she scurried away, and I never discovered who she was?

I gingerly pushed the door open. Please don’t squeak. Thankfully, it opened without a noise. I placed one foot over the threshold, and then the other. Eventually she’d hear me, but the closer I got to her before that happened, the better.

I tiptoed around the cobblestones so as to avoid unnecessary noise. I passed through the section of ornamental grasses and moved around the pond toward the fish.

There she was. Her back was to me as she crouched down and did away with a few more weeds that must have cropped up overnight. I watched for a moment to make sure she got down to the root. Apparently, I needn’t have worried. She knew what she was doing. My guest had gardened before, that was for sure. She smoothed her skirt as she stood and surveyed her work. Mouth turned up in a slight smile she gave a nod. I guessed she was satisfied.

I cleared my throat.

The girl threw her hands up and gasped in surprise. She placed her hand over her heart and fanned her face with her other hand. “You scared me. I don't know that I've been this startled in…” She shook her head. “I have no idea how long.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. But…” I looked around the garden and raised a hand in question. “What are you doing here? It isn't every day that I find a stranger doing work in my garden.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You mean?” Her eyes widened in surprise. Her cheeks immediately took on a rosy glow as the blush grew from her dress and up her neck. “You mean no one told you about me?” To her credit, she looked horrified at her intrusion.

“No, but I’m sure it’s okay. Are you…Did Tom hire you to be his assistant? Or his housekeeper?”

She laughed and flipped her red curls over her shoulder. “No. More like his wife.”

“What? Really?” I squealed. “Tom is getting married?” I jumped up and down before I could stop myself. “That's wonderful. Tom is such a wonderful man. I have always wondered why he didn't marry. When's the wedding?” Would they do it there on the grounds? That would surely be a challenge, but Tom would know what to do.

She shook her head. “No, no wedding. We're already married. Three days ago to be exact.”