Rapunzel (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James Page A

properly.”
    “How long will you be gone?”
    He looked away then. “I do not know, exactly. It could be years before I see you again.”
    She shook her head. “No. No! What about my coming-out ball? You promised me you would be there!”
    He glanced back and chuckled. Reaching up, he brushed a lock of her long hair out of her face. “Rapunzel, that is years away. You are only twelve, and I am merely thirteen. It will be fine.”
    “Will you be back once I turn sixteen, then? Do you give your word you will dance with me?”
    “I hope so.”
    Hope. He could only hope. Possibly four years without him? Without his laughter? His wisdom? His larks? What would she do without him?
    “You are crying. You cannot cry,” he said gently. “It is good for me to go away to school.”
    “No. I wish you to remain stupid and stubborn and all things horrid so that I may have you near me!”
    “Listen to yourself. You do not mean it!”
    She brushed at the tears. “You are correct. I cannot mean it. I wish you the best. I always have. I guess I should have realized they would send you away sooner or later. I just did not think about it.”
    “I wish I could stay, or take you with me. But I cannot.”
    They had been playmates and the best of friends since she was four and he nearly five. They had been inseparable and visited one another as much as possible. They had long wondered if there was some sort of understanding between the two royal families when it came to them, if they were betrothed to one another. But neither of them cared; there was no one else they would wish to be with anyway.
    “I have something for you,” he said. “Something to remember me by.”
    She did not want a token—she wanted him. But when he pulled out a pretty gold chain with a sapphire butterfly pendant, she gasped. “It is beautiful.”
    “Come here so I can put it around you.”
    She turned, scooted closer, and held up her long hair. She felt his hands secure the necklace in place.
    “Rapunzel?” he asked as she released the mass of curls.
    “Yes?”
    “We have often wondered if our parents planned for us to marry. And I know this is very sudden and soon . . .” His voice trailed off.
    She turned slowly toward him, her heart beginning to lighten and beat strangely within her. “What are you saying?”
    He gulped and closed his eyes. “Will you wait for me?”
    “Of course.”
    “Truly?” He peeked one eye open.
    “Yes, I will wait for you.”
    A huge burst of air released from him, and he smiled. “Good.”
    She grinned. “Good.”
    All at once, he leaned forward and kissed her swiftly upon the lips before jumping up. He dashed out of the little house and worked his way down the ladder.
    She touched her mouth, marveling at the tingly way her lips felt, before leaping to her own feet and leaning out the window.
    He was already to the ground when she called out.
    “Jonathan, don’t you dare forget me! You better come back—do you hear?”
    He looked up at her. “Even if you were a thousand miles away from here, I would still come back for you. I would find you. You have the Balligryn pendant, after all. And I cannot become king without it!”
    “Wait. What?” She held the necklace out. “This?”
    He grinned. “Do not ever lose it. My father would slay me.”
    And then he ran away, Rapunzel’s heart twisting and jolting and beating like it never had before.

ON HER SIXTEENTH BITHDAY, Rapunzel was out riding, racing the wind, on Bella, her favorite horse. Tomorrow was her coming-out ball—finally. She grinned as she loosened the reins and allowed the beast to run full tilt. Her long hair was wrapped multiple times around itself, the heavy mass lumping against her back, but she didn’t care—it was worth the headache to feel like she was flying.
    She knew this field well. It was an old friend of hers, and Bella was such a great sprinter. Rapunzel closed her eyes for a bit and just relished the perfectness of the day.