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There will be no years of silence in the shadow of regret
I won't let it so betray me, though my soul got used to it
I will look at love as more than just an instrument of pain
And will give myself completely to the moving and the strange
She stops in the middle of the field, watching the golden afternoon sunlight stream in through the small meadow they’ve stopped in. There is something perfect about the moment between them, the light turning Rapunzel’s hair the perfect shade of gold, brilliant and gleaming, a braided halo framing her face and the crown of Corona glittering on top of her head. They were hiding from Rapunzel’s actual duties as Princess of Corona, choosing instead to take an afternoon ride out to Rapunzel’s favourite meadow in the woods just bordering the outskirts of Corona. Cassandra’s father would be no doubt furious with her for letting Rapunzel skivv off her responsibilities, but at this moment, Cassandra doesn’t care. Her chest is buoyant with something beautiful and bright, she’s truly happy for the first time since she can really remember.
Rapunzel flops onto the ground of clover and beckons to Cassandra to come join her. Cassandra rolls her eyes at the enthusiasm radiating from Rapunzel, but unsheaths her sword and joins her nevertheless. Endlessly grateful that as the Princess’s personal knight she’s spared from wearing anything too clunky or attention grabbing, she’s clad in her simple tunic and leggings, the crest of Corona emblazoned across her chest. She lies down in the clover next to Rapunzel, her hands laying dangerously close to the Princess’s, and she can feel her heart begin to thrum in her chest; from excitement or fear she can’t tell. She’s always had feelings for Rapunzel, but she isn’t quite sure when they blossomed from vague like to outright love. Love that shines through every moment that she spends with her. Rapunzel is her favourite person in the whole world, being with her is as easy as breathing. She never has to think about social customs, or whether she is saying the right thing, or what to do with her hands, she just exists with Rapunzel and that alone is enough. Things are almost perfect, but as good as they can possibly get considering the situation: Cassandra is a knight, Rapunzel’s sworn protector. Rapunzel is a Princess, the Lost Princess at that. She is beloved. She will marry a prince or princess from a neighboring realm, and move on with her life. She will be happy, and Cassandra will always be at her side. Yearning, loving, hoping. Waiting for those few moments in between when they can steal a second together. Because Cassandra has no doubt in her that Rapunzel loves her, no doubt that if they could be, their futures would be intertwined, linked forever. She has no doubt that in the seconds that will come, Rapunzel will lace her own small, soft hands within Cassandra’s calloused ones, tug her close, and press her lips against her own. She has no doubt that they will dally the afternoon in the warm sunlight, kissing and laughing, and pretending for a few minutes that they are just two girls. Two girls and nothing more. Two girls with the whole world at their feet.
Cassandra has been burned before, has fallen in love only to find that she was replaceable, forgettable, unlovable. She has been told countless times by partners that she would never truly be satisfied, never truly be happy, but they were wrong. They were wrong because here before her is her happiness. And she knows she shouldn’t tie up her happiness in the existence of another person but damn it all she will. She will and she will bask in the happiness and brilliance that is Rapunzel.
“What are you thinking about?” Rapunzel asks, curious. Her large green eyes widen and are delicately framed by her golden lashes. She reaches out a hand to stroke Cassandra’s cheek and a smile stretches across her lips.
“You,” Cassandra responds truthfully; Rapunzel’s smile widens, if that’s even possible.
Rapunzel props herself up on one arm and leans down across Cassandra’s torso, pressing her nose gently to Cassandra’s before kissing her softly. Rapunzel nips at Cassandra’s lips and in response Cassandra tumbles them over so that she is now the one hovering over Rapunzel. Rapunzel laughs like bells chiming through the forest, and giggles as Cassandra moves to kiss her cheek, her nose, the curve of her neck. She laughs and laughs as Cassandra murmurs sweet things to her and holds on to Cassandra’s shoulders with a fierceness that aches into Cassandra’s bones.
They are happy; they are brilliant; they are together.
They stay there for the afternoon, watching the trek of the sun across the sky and into the trees. Watch fireflies peek out into the warm evening, glittering across the clover and into the thicket of trees. They kiss and hold each other, happy and content to just be together. Happy to just exist in the moment together without anything else, no pressures or burdens, no expectations or realities, just the two of them for this one afternoon. And somehow Cassandra knows she won't forget it. Won’t forget this blissful, perfect afternoon where all was right with the world and her lips were swollen from the kisses she received, the kisses she gave. Knows she won’t forget how happy she feels, the miracle of Rapunzel’s laugh, and the lightness of the moment. She won’t forget this, she won’t forget them . The light has entirely left their little corner of the world and Cassandra knows it’s far past the time they should have returned. Knows they will have been missed, that there will be questions, possibly discipline. A thorough lecture that’s for sure. But Cassandra wouldn’t have traded it for the world. She wouldn’t change a second of it.
“Hey, Raps?” Cassandra says as they tack the horses back up to go, to return to the real world, to return to being loyal knight and dutiful princess. She takes a deep breath.
Rapunzel looks up.
“I love you.”
The smile on her face is everything.