Magda had told me that before, countless of times, but I had trouble believing it. After all, if I’d been a man, my father would have told me so. Then again, I had long ago felt that something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t confirm my suspicions one way or another. Even the way my body had responded to Medwin…Was that something that would happen to a woman or a man?
I felt so stupid at not understanding something so basic about myself. By rights, I should have been able to grasp the answer just by comparing my own body with that of other people, but for some reason, my mind couldn’t process it.
“I…I don’t really know.” I bit my lower lip and wiped my suddenly sweaty palms against the material of my robes. Embarrassed at my own foolishness, I blurted out, “My father always told me I was a girl. He kept me alone in a tower, and I haven’t really been around other people so much. That’s why I’m worried that he’ll come after me and maybe hurt you. You’ve just had a spell cast over you, and you haven’t even allowed yourself to recover. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
For a few moments, the prince just looked at me, and then, he suddenly pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly. “It’s all right, Rapunzel,” he whispered in my ear. “Nothing’s going to happen to me, or to you. I’ll protect you.”
And in that moment, as he held me close, I could truly believe that.
Chapter Two:
In Which the Prince Makes Plans to Woo the Maiden
Arthuria had survived and held its own against its neighbors Morganna and Merlinia for one very simple reason. We were warriors, renowned for our physical prowess and strong physique. Or at least, we were supposed to be. The occasional oddball did appear, although it had never happened in the royal family. Until me.
Even if I was the middle son, I’d always been the bookworm. Oh, I’d received plenty of training in all weapons disciplines, and in that respect, the sword master had found in me both a challenge and a more than willing pupil. I could hold my own in hand-to-hand combat, although not against my brothers.
True enough, my strengths lay in other fields. I’d always been good with numbers, castle management, politics, and organization. I’d been the responsible one, and more than once, I’d kept our tutors and our parents from getting too frustrated with my brothers. Perhaps it was for that reason that my family had never really pushed me into any further physical training. My role had already been decided. I was to be Leonard’s advisor in all domestic and foreign matters, just like Kirril was supposed to become the leader of our armies.
But Kirril was gone now, having found an unexpected romance in a Merlinian dragon, out of all things. And now, it was my turn to fall for a Merlinian.
Perhaps it wasn’t so surprising in my case. I’d always been fascinated by magic, which could be one of the reasons why I’d made such an easy target for Anelah. However, my current obsession was very different from that blasted witch. Indeed, Rapunzel had me well and utterly enchanted, but through entirely different means. His shyness was charming and endearing and stirred a protectiveness inside me that I’d never felt before. I wanted to become stronger for him, to be worthy of the leap of faith he’d taken when he’d come into Camelot for me. I wanted to get to know him better, in every possible way.
It wasn’t easy. Rapunzel’s Merlinian friends lingered in Camelot after my failed wedding, making it hard for me and my beautiful love to be alone. I couldn’t begrudge them that, and in a way, it was better that way, because they made it easier for Rapunzel to relax and get accustomed to Camelot. Still, a selfish part of me would have liked to have Rapunzel all to myself.
Fortunately, Rapunzel’s friends encouraged our budding relationship, so we still got plenty of time together. In fact, the morning after my aborted nuptials, they helped me plan for an outing with Rapunzel.
Sadly, the same way I wasn’t brilliant at swordplay, I had absolutely no experience with romance. I’d never been particularly interested in it, and while I’d my own fair share of bed mates, they didn’t qualify as real relationships.
This was why, at daybreak, I found myself sneaking into the stables. It should have been a little silly, but I needed advice, even if it did come from an animal.
I found Magda in her stall, the same one she’d always had when she had belonged to Kirril. She neighed at me when she saw me approach. “I had a feeling you’d show up.”
Magda had always fascinated me. She originated from Morganna and, as such, she had some magic of her own. For quite a while, I’d been secretly jealous of Kirril for owning her, but now, I couldn’t be happier it had turned out that way, because otherwise, I might not have met Rapunzel.
“I was that obvious, huh?” I asked as I offered her a carrot.
She munched happily on the treat, then nodded in a distinctively equine manner. “Well, I did notice that you were smitten with him ever since you two first met, and you aren’t exactly known for your romantic side, so I just drew the natural conclusion from there.”
It was a little frustrating that a mare—no matter how magical she was—could read me so well. However, if she could help, I couldn’t care less. “Magda, you know Rapunzel better than anyone here. Can you tell me about him? What does he like? What does he hate? What can I do to make him more comfortable with me?”
“Well, what you need to understand is that Rapunzel is a complex person. He’s painfully shy, but at the same time, he wants to know the world. He’s afraid of strangers, but he’s a naturally warm and friendly person. In a way, he’s like a flower that didn’t receive enough light or water and is struggling to survive.”
I understood what she meant all too well. When Rapunzel had told me about the way he’d grown up, I’d been both gobsmacked and furious. Clenching my jaw, I recalled how upset Rapunzel had been the day before just at the idea that his father might come after me.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed back that anger and focused on the conversation. “Yes, I noticed that. I was thinking of taking him out for a ride in the forests outside Camelot.”
If Magda had been human, she’d have likely arched a brow. As it was, she just stared at me. “A ride?” she repeated, her voice filled with innuendo.
“Not like that!” I exclaimed with a groan. I had to admit that the thought had crossed my mind, but I knew better than to treat Rapunzel like that. “Gods, Magda, you’re going to be the death of me.”
Magda snorted. “It’s not like you don’t want to do it. Men are just animals, after all. But be very careful, Prince Medwin. Rapunzel still doesn’t understand himself, let alone his sexuality. You’re going to have to be extremely patient in that regard.”
“I know,” I answered, “but for Rapunzel, I’m willing to wait as long as it takes. In any case, I was thinking of getting him a present. Would it be too soon? What should I get?”
Before Magda could reply, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned, only to see my mother enter the stables. Naturally, her presence surprised me. True enough, she enjoyed riding as much as any other Arthurian woman, but she never came here so early in the morning.
“You’re certainly very dedicated,” she commented without preamble.
So this was how it would be like. I couldn’t say it shocked me, because, in the end, my parents’ unease was more than justified.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” I said with a bow. “And yes, I suppose I am.”
My mother sighed as she walked to my side. “Are you sure about this, Medwin? Just yesterday, you were planning to marry someone else. And this person, this Rapunzel, also has magic. How do you know he didn’t cast a spell on you, too?”
My parents had first met Rapunzel the same day I had, under somewhat unfortunate circumstances. At the time, they’d been close to starting a war with Merlinia on account of Kirril’s relationship with Dineiro. I had expected that episode to somewhat taint their perspective, but it really had nothing to do with Rapunzel, and I refused to allow it to stand in my way.
“I appreci
ate your concern, Mother,” I answered, “but truly, there is no reason for it. Rapunzel is very different from Anelah, and believe me, at this point, I’d be able to tell if I was under a spell or not.”
“Would you?” My mother gripped my shoulder. “I don’t think magic works that way, Medwin. After all, you couldn’t tell before.”
“Perhaps you’re right, but I snapped out of it because of Rapunzel,” I shot back.
“Tell me this, then. I gather that you’re planning on courting Rapunzel. If he were to say yes to you today, would you marry him?”
The inquiry took me off guard. It was a trick question if I’d ever heard one. But even with that knowledge, I couldn’t deny what I felt was so true and real. “Of course,” I replied without missing a beat. “I suppose…I suppose love has its own brand of magic.”
My mother released an exasperated sound. “Medwin…”
I lifted my hands before she could start to rant at me. “In any case, it’s a moot point. I have no intention of jumping into things, because Rapunzel isn’t ready for it. We’ll take it slow, and then you’ll see that I’m right.”
My mother didn’t look convinced, but finally nodded. “I see I can’t persuade you to give up on this. Nevertheless, it is a relief for me that you don’t plan on rushing. Taking that into account, why are you asking for advice from a mare? I’m your mother. Ask me. Or if you’re uncomfortable with that, ask your father or your brothers.”
“Well, I came to Magda because she knows Rapunzel best. I want this to work, Mother. I want to make Rapunzel feel at home.”
To my surprise, my mother smiled. “Then, my dear boy, don’t take shortcuts. Get him a gift from the heart. It might not work out from the very beginning, but part of the beauty of love is getting over those little awkward moments, when you’re not quite sure what the other person is thinking, but when you desperately want to know. I’m sure that your chosen one will understand.”
It was a relief that for us, same-sex unions weren’t a problem. I’d heard from Kirril that he’d traveled through magic to a place where people looked down on such relationships. As it was, I only had to worry about the fact that I was an Arthurian and Rapunzel a Merlinian. That obstacle would be easy to surpass. Not.
But all of that was irrelevant, really, because I had no intentions of ever letting go of Rapunzel. Grateful for my mother’s advice, I said, “Thank you, Mother. I will.”
After bowing to her, I pet Magda’s head and whispered a thank-you to her, too. As I left the stables, I already started to formulate a plan. After all, plans were my strong point. I would handle this the same way I did my work on the finances of the kingdom. Systematically.
Rapunzel had trouble with his gender identity, and that was an obstacle in our relationship. He considered certain things correct, and in that respect, I needed to treat him like I would a princess. At the same time, though, I had to make sure I got him accustomed to his true self.
As I walked back toward the palace, I mused over the present I intended to give him. I wanted to shower him with flowers and with jewelry, but would that really be a gift from the heart? What did Rapunzel truly crave? We might not have spent too much time together, but I could tell Rapunzel wasn’t a person to swoon that much over expensive gems.
On the other hand, I remembered the way my beautiful love’s eyes had lit up when he’d seen the books in my room. A book. Rapunzel craved and needed knowledge, and I was the perfect person to give him that.
With renewed enthusiasm, I headed toward my quarters once again and started to browse the shelves. I selected two items. One was a Morgannian romantic ballad about two people in love, one hailing from Arthuria and the other from Morganna. The work was very old, but had been quite famous for tackling a subject that few people would have dared to approach. Sadly, Arthurian poets didn’t create the sort of art that would convey my feelings for Rapunzel, but this would do perfectly. I’d acquired it long before I even met Anelah from a merchant of rare volumes. For whatever reason, it had called out to me, even if I didn’t regularly buy poetry. Now, I knew why.
The second book was an encyclopedia of Arthuria. It had been the first ever book I’d received as a gift from my father, when I’d been only five. I had spent hours on end reading it, avidly taking in the information. Even now, when I got melancholic, I would browse through the well-worn pages. It was a tome I loved, and I wanted Rapunzel to have it.
More ideas for other presents came to me as I rummaged through my personal library, but I decided to take it slow. It wouldn’t do to overwhelm my beautiful love from the very first day.
I wrapped the two books in a length of silk and left my room. It was early still, but by now, the castle was bustling with activity. I realized I wasn’t sure if Rapunzel was inclined to sleep in or wake up at dawn. There were so many things I didn’t know about him, and I craved to learn them all.
Fortunately for me, the solution to my problem came when I ran into my older brother Leonard. He gave me one single look and said, “If you’re looking for Rapunzel, he’s in the gardens.”
I didn’t ask how he knew that. Leonard had his own personal network of spies, one which I myself made regular use of. It was a testament to the true extent of my distraction that I hadn’t called upon them when I’d first woken up.
“Thank you, brother,” I told him. After a small moment of hesitation, I asked, “Do you require something of me?”
“Actually, I do,” Leonard replied. My heart fell, since I’d been looking forward to setting my plan into motion, but I couldn’t refuse him. After all, I realized all too well that Anelah’s actions could very well affect the tenuous truce between Arthuria and Morganna. I’d been directly involved in the entire matter, so I couldn’t wiggle free of it for the purpose of romancing my beautiful love.
Just as I resigned myself to this, Leonard elaborated on his previous words. “I require you to find Rapunzel and spend the day looking into his eyes—like you probably intended.”
He said the words with such a straight face, that for a few moments, they didn’t even process. When I managed to gather my composure, I inquired, “But don’t you need me to do some damage control in the issue with the witch?”
“Kirril will help me while he’s still here. I’m taking advantage of his temporary presence to learn from his knowledge of Merlinia.”
“I should be the one doing that,” I replied, arching a brow.
“And undoubtedly, you will, but in a different way. Besides, you needn’t worry about politics right now. You’ve gone through a very difficult episode, and you need to rest and recover.”
Truth be told, I didn’t feel any worse for the wear. I should have experienced some sort of backslash from the spell that had unraveled, but Rapunzel’s presence gave me a focus that made Anelah’s actions irrelevant. No wonder my mother was worried. Likely, she thought I was jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Normally, I would have refused such a generous offer from Leonard’s part, since I acknowledged and accepted my duties as an Arthurian prince. However, I could all too easily imagine the picture Leonard’s words had created in my head—Rapunzel and me sitting close to each other, his lovely blue eyes wide as I crossed the distance separating them and pressed my mouth to his.
Shaking myself, I said, “Thank you, brother. I appreciate this.”
Leonard just patted my shoulder. “There’s no need for you to thank me. The Great Father only knows how many times you got me and Kirril out of trouble. Now, go claim your love.”
The words sounded a little strange when coming from my stoic brother, but they also showed just how much trust he had in me. I wish I felt as sure as him that I would succeed. But I’d never been one to give up easily, or at all. I nodded at my brother, thanked him again, and pushed past him, heading toward the gardens.
Most of the decorations that had adorned the castle for my wedding had already been taken down. Some remained in place, likely because we
had so many guests. Not to mention that my parents were probably expecting a visit from the Morgannian sovereigns. It wouldn’t be right now, but it would certainly happen.
But I couldn’t worry about that, not when the anticipation of seeing Rapunzel filled me so utterly, and certainly not when I saw Rapunzel standing in the center of the garden, leaning over a rose bush and gently caressing the petals of one of the blooms. I had a vision of him doing the same thing to my dick, and quickly squashed it down.
He turned toward me as I approached, and I noticed he was wearing clothes similar to the ones I remembered from our meeting in Merlinia. I felt a pang of regret at the fact that a veil now covered his lovely face, but I made no comment. Instead, I said, “Good morning, Lord Stiltskin.”
As I spoke, I bowed and tentatively reached for his hand. I didn’t rush, allowing him the time to pull away if he so desired.
He didn’t, and I took advantage of the provided opportunity to kiss his hand. In spite of the veil, I noticed the charming blush that rose to his cheeks. My cock hardened as I imagined pulling off his clothes and investigating whether that blush advanced over his entire body. This was going to be far harder than I’d expected.
I cleared my throat and released his hand. “You look lovely today,” I continued honestly.
“Thank you, Prince Medwin,” he answered. “Please, call me Rapunzel. And how are you feeling?”
“I am well, thank you, but I have been instructed to rest today. I was hoping you would consent to be my companion through this tedious process.”
“I would love to,” Rapunzel said quickly. Then, he hesitated, as if he’d just remembered something. I realized he was probably worried about the two of us being alone, and proceeded with the first step of my plan A, the idea I’d come up with even before meeting with Magda.
“I was thinking that, after breakfast, I could show you around Camelot. Maybe, if you’d rather, we can visit the outskirts. You could ride Magda if you’d like.”
The Frog Prince's Hair-Raising Predicament Page 3
