My Name is Rapunzel

by K. C. Hilton

Edwin raised his rifle and pointed it at Gretta.

  I squealed.

  Edwin shot a comforting gaze my way. “You can trust me. I'll help you.”

  Gretta gasped and covered her heart. But could he actually kill her with that gun? After all this time, is that all it would take? If I’d known…

  The dragon roared overhead and swooped down with a fiery blaze. He filled the air between Edwin and Gretta with flames. Why did he protect her from Edwin? So many questions, so few answers.

  Lightning shook the sky and struck the earth, sending shocks like an earthquake through the castle grounds. The dragon roared again and lifted his massive head until the moon framed it. The gunshot rang out. Gretta screamed.

  It felt like slow motion, yet it happened so fast. Where was everyone? I pressed my hands over my ears to block out the ringing. I could finally move. I scrunched my eyes closed to keep from seeing what I didn't want to see.

  I slumped to the ground. My legs no longer able to keep me upright. A man screamed. The dragon roared. The world went dark.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Henry

  She couldn’t be dead. That was impossible. She must be protected. I swooped over to John. Must be careful not to scare him. I needed him on my side…on Rapunzel’s side.

  I got low to the ground in the space between John and the castle, as low as I could go to show my humble intentions. I meant him no harm. I just needed his help. I looked into his eyes with as gentle a face as a dragon could conjure. I tipped my head toward Rapunzel and then looked back at John.

  Please, help me. Help us. If only dragons could speak.

  John searched, then cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted into the wind. “Where's the witch?”

  I soared up into the sky and scanned the area. She lay just beyond the tree line, crumpled in a heap. I clapped my wings and roared. John rushed to her side. He knelt down and leaned his face close to her ear. “You're going to die, Gretta. You will face your maker, if you have one. Do a good deed before you leave this Earth. Free Rapunzel. Free Henry.”

  John swiped tears that fell from his eyes.

  Of course, he loved her. How had I forgotten such a thing? What he asked the witch was pure sacrifice for himself. He loved Rapunzel enough to give her to me. But what was in it for him?

  The witch raised her face and cackled. “You want me to free Henry?” she asked John, her sneer cold and cruel.

  Oh, no. She was up to no good. No! Don't do it. I tried to shout, but it came out a roar.

  John looked up at me and nodded. “Yes, Gretta, that's what I want.”

  “Even though he will be with her?” The witch pointed her crooked finger at Rapunzel.

  “Yes, even though he will be with her, I want him freed. She loves him, and I love her.”

  “Oh, the tragedy. The heartache.” The witch looked at the moon and cackled. “As you wish.”

  “No!” I screamed, but it came out a roar.

  The witch raised her arm and pointed at me. She recited gibberish I never have understood, and then lifted her arms to the sky. Lightning cracked and thunder rolled as clouds hid them from the moon. The wind stirred around them.

  My body convulsed as my spirit was pulled from within. Like I was being pulled inside out. I heard a scream. That would be John. He had no idea what he'd asked of the witch, but I knew. If only I could have warned him. Knowing John, though, if he loved her like he said, he would have made the sacrifice willingly.

  The wind stilled and then the moon shined more brightly than it had before. The witch was gone.

  I searched the area for John. Where was he? Gone. Had she killed him? Taken him with her?

  I raised my hands and felt my face. It was me. I was whole. I rushed to Rapunzel’s side and shook her.

  Oh, please be alive. “Rapunzel! Rapunzel!”

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  “Rapunzel! Rapunzel!” I heard a man's voice yell.

  I forced opened my eyes to find myself wrapped in a man's arms, my head on his chest. I knew that smell. I knew it well. I opened one eye and gazed up at the face of the man that held me. It couldn’t be.

  It was! Henry! It was Henry's arms that held me tight.

  What had just happened? I lifted my head from his chest and smiled. I parted my lips to speak, but Henry silenced me with the feathery touch of a finger.

  “Rapunzel, you're alive, and we’re together.” Henry whispered into my ear and squeezed me tighter. “I love you so much.” He looked into my eyes.

  In the distance I heard the dragon's roar. How was this possible? Henry was here, a man, holding me. I soaked up the sight of his eyes looking at me. Endless questions threatened to pelt my consciousness, but I kept them at bay just a little longer, lest they rob me of the joy of the moment of the resurrection of my love.

  Henry tightened his grip, as though afraid I’d slip through his grasp.

  Was there danger? Where was the dragon? I’d heard him roar, though Henry sat beside me. I jumped to my feet and spun in a full circle, searching the distance. My eyes found a crumpled form at the other end of the clearing. Gretta. I took one step toward her, then stopped. “Is she?”

  “Dead.” A voice offered from the tree line.

  I gasped and peered through the glare of the moon at the shadowy form leaning against a tree. I knew that face. Edwin. “What are you doing here?”

  He stepped out from the shadows. “Your boy, Luke?”

  What about my son? I searched Edwin’s eyes for a clue, then turned to Henry, unable to hide the accusation. “What’s he talking about?”

  Henry’s eyes clouded for a moment, then he nodded toward Edwin. “He’ll tell you his part of the story and then I will tell you mine.”

  I nodded at the shopkeeper. “Please, go on.”

  “He visited my father, long ago, a bit more than a hundred years. He brought my father some potion that lasted years. It healed me and my sister from the ravages of polio. He left a letter with my father about you. He was the last Cavanaugh and worried about who would care for you, if something happened to him. John overheard Pepper and I talking about you and the letter in the shop and must have pieced some things together.”

  “But you’re not young.” I shook my head. It made no sense. Although he did look a bit younger than he had. “And I saw you in a wheelchair just weeks ago.” Finally some answers to the questions I couldn’t ask before.

  “A few years back we were nearing the end of our supply, so Father and I were saving it only for my sister. The longer I went without the potion, the sicker I got as the effects of my disease returned to my body.”

  I nodded. That must have been when I stopped allowing Gretta access to my hairbrush. She'd run low on potion. “Why you, though? Gretta was never known for her charity.”

  Edwin shrugged. “Is it really so hard to imagine? Gretta brought us some because she wanted my Father—she loved him in some strange way—but it was too late for him. He…well, we can talk about that another day.”

  The pieces began to fit together like a puzzle.

  Henry squeezed my hand. He deserved my attention, but I wasn’t done with Edwin just yet. “Your sister? Is she alive? Where is she?”

  Edwin’s eyes sparkled and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

  Rustling leaves and crackling twigs came from behind the clearing in which they stood. My grip tightened on Henry’s hand.

  “I’m his sister.” Pepper stepped from among the bushes, a wavering smile spread across her face. “I’ve been looking out for you for years. We all have.” She peered intently into my eyes as though waiting for a verdict.

  Was I hearing things? Seeing things? I searched Henry’s face. Give me a sign. Something to tell me if I’ve lost my mind. “What are you saying?” My voice cracked and my hands shook.

  “What Pepper says is true.” Henry smiled. “She’s been a good friend to you. Watching. Protecting.”

  I stared at Pepper’s smiling face. So m
y hair had kept her young all these years, and I didn’t know it? Should I be angry? I didn’t even know how I felt. “But how—? What about the people?”

  Pepper shrugged. “Life’s too short to worry about that kind of thing. I just took it one day at a time as I lived mine.” Her eyes held sympathy for me, who had let fear control my comings and goings, who had let anger consume me. I embraced her with a hug just as a sister would.

  I returned my gaze to Henry, my brain like a yo-yo. “Where's John?”

  Henry encircled my body with his arms and whispered in my ear. “Your friend is not dead. Look up.”

  I slowly lifted my gaze to the tops of the trees. What was I looking for? Where was John?

  A dragon circled above the tree line in the night sky, his tail a silhouette against the moon. He swooped, and dived through the air, his roars almost like laughter.

  “Is that…?” My breath caught.

  “John is the dragon now.” Henry smiled as he watched John’s aerial theatrics. Having been a dragon himself, he could see that John’s curse was more of a blessing. I remembered our conversation in the bookstore—John had wished to be a dragon in my story, and now he was.

  “How did this happen?” And why?

  Henry shook his head. “He wished it upon himself.”

  The dragon—John—swooped from the sky and let out a happy roar.

  “I told you Rapunzel would have her hero one day.” Edwin smiled.

  “That you did, sir. That you did.” I reached around his ailing body and squeezed. “Thank you, Edwin. I'll never forget what you did for me. For us.” I looked at Henry.

  “You're welcome. Now you get to live your happy ending.” Edwin shook Henry's hand, then he and Pepper said their goodbyes.

  “But…” I shook my head. “Luke?”

  Henry lowered his gaze and gripped my hands. “Yes. It’s true, my love. It was the fire from my mouth that killed your son. I cannot change that. I would give my life if I could bring him back to you.”

  The tears coursed down my cheeks and dripped from my jaw. “How can I—?”

  “How can you forgive me?” Henry stared at the dirt. “Maybe you cannot. Perhaps that’s asking too much of any mother.”

  I smiled softly and cupped his chin, forcing his eyes to mine. “No. How can I help you get over the regret? Henry, my love, I know you’d never have hurt Luke intentionally. You were only trying to protect us—even him. I hold no bitterness toward you for a mistake you made as a dragon. I only wish you could have known him as I did.”

  “I did know him. And I loved him.” Henry let out a shuddering breath as though releasing his guilt then leaned forward and planted a delicate kiss on the tip of my nose. “I know I've asked before, but I wanted to do this properly. Once and for all, if you don't mind.” He gripped my hand as he dropped down on one knee.

  This day was here. Again. Could he hear my heart beating?

  Henry smiled and lifted my left hand to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss on the top, then turned it over and kissed my palm.

  Shivers raced through my body and tiny bumps covered my skin.

  “Rapunzel, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making me the happiest man on this earth?” He gazed into my eyes.

  “Yes! Of course, yes!” I yanked Henry to his feet and drew him close.

  Henry pulled back until our eyes met. Before I could utter another word, he kissed me for the third time in over two hundred years. I closed my eyes and the sounds of the forest disappeared as my heart took flight.

  Henry moved his lips beside my ear and whispered, “A happy life is having you as my wife. I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Shall we leave then? Together?” Henry asked, just as he had so long ago.

  I nodded and slid my hand into his. We finally had our happily ever after.

  As we walked through the forest, a clump of my hair snagged on some fallen branches and jerked me to a halt. I walked closer to the branches, then tugged and pulled. It was no use. My hair was too strong.

  “Let me help.” Henry bent down and pulled on the tangled hair. It snapped free.

  I gasped at the snarled hair wound through the twigs. My hair. The curse was broken.

  Henry leaned in, concern lining his face. “What's wrong?”

  “Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect.” Forever.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Fairy Tales are Real

  By John Jenkins

  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the seventh full moon article this year. I'm sure you're well aware of my last article and how this one is contradicting. This, my dear readers, will be the last article I write, for I am off to live my own fairy tale.

  Recently I've come to realize that some fairy tales are indeed real. Not only are they real, but also magical in every sense of the word.

  Fairy tales are not just fun stories told to children in grade school. They exist all around us. Love is the happy ending that will break any curse, and we can all find it.

  I've never met Little Red Riding Hood. Nor have I dealt with Rumpelstiltskin.

  But I have, however, met the real Rapunzel, seen a dragon, and gone up against a witch.

  I will never be the same, literally and figuratively, so I’m off to live my own fairy tale.

  Farewell my dear readers. May all your own fairy tales come true!

  Want a little more?

  Turn the page for…

  Discussion Questions

  Author's Notes

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Awards

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Do you have a book club? Here are some discussion questions to get the conversation started:

  What part of the novel was your favorite? Part One or Part Two and why?

  What part of the novel was your least favorite and why?

  If you were cursed to an eternal youth, what would you do? Would you hide from people to keep your secret?

  Would you choose a normal life or an eternal life? Why?

  If you had been Rapunzel would you have waited 250 years before opening your heart to another man?

  Do you think Gretta had love for Rapunzel or Luke?

  Why do you think Gretta allowed the dragon to live all those years, knowing the creature was Henry?

  Why do you think Gretta took it upon herself to update the castle with electricity and plumbing? What about the laptop?

  Did Gretta have a soft spot in her heart for Rapunzel?

  Why do you think Rapunzel’s father never told her she was related to Gretta? Was he ashamed or trying to protect her?

  When you realized Henry was the dragon, did it surprise you?

  Who do you think wrote the last article for the newspaper?

  AUTHOR’S NOTES

  After I decided on the name Paradise Valley, I searched online and found a Paradise Valley located in Arizona. Honestly, until that point, I didn’t know an actual Paradise Valley existed. However, my thoughts were of the snowcapped mountains in Colorado. But this was a work of fiction and I could have Paradise Valley anywhere I wanted. So, I pressed on.

  As the story developed, I needed to move Paradise Valley from Colorado to Europe, because Rapunzel mentioned meeting the Grimm brothers. It was around the year the Grimm brothers wrote the first Rapunzel story in 1812. However, the final version was written in 1857. Paradise Valley, in my mind, is located in Denmark or Sweden, which is close enough to Germany, where Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm lived. Skiing and snowcapped mountains are well known in that area.

  What I found most interesting was that the German word Rapunzel is defined as field salad, corn salad, or lamb's lettuce.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Chris, you understood my frantic late night writing sessions and kept me stocked up with lots of chocolate and Diet Coke. Angie, you talked with me all hours of the night and kept me laughing about everything from Mr. Darcy to those furr
y bats. Bunny, you encouraged me to keep writing and understood when I turned into a hermit and disappeared from social media for a while. Ashlee, thank you for demanding that I hurry up and finish writing my version of Rapunzel, just so you could read it.

  Special thanks goes to Nicole O’Dell and Lindsey Frantz for editing My Name is Rapunzel. Kelly McNair for bringing Rapunzel’s voice to life, with her outstanding audio performance.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois I spent my childhood playing street games with the neighborhood kids. When I wasn’t outside, I spent much of my time reading and getting lost in adventurous worlds and whirlwind courtships. At the age of seventeen, I moved to Kentucky and eventually began to raise a family of my own.

  I have always been entranced by stories of magical adventure, and though I have had to live in the practical world, running a family business as well as two of my own, I have discovered that writing is an entirely new, exciting adventure all on its own!

  We have a large family and our get-togethers are so much fun! We also have a mini dachshund, her name is “Roxy” she only weighs 10 pounds but is a huge part of our family. She’s so spoiled!

  In my spare time, I can be found updating my website, recording videos for YouTube and finding great books to read. Most days I crave Diet Coke, pizza and chocolate, in no particular order.

  AWARDS

  K.C. Hilton is the author of the Finkleton Series.

  THE MAGIC OF FINKLETON

  Readers Views Literary Awards - 2011

  Readers Favorite Five Stars – 2011

  Literary Gold Award - 2011

  Literary Classics Finalist – 2011

  Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval – 2011