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The Tower
Caesar shivered, pulling his threadbare cloak tighter around his shoulders. He titled his head back to examine the top of the tower. "Why in the world is there a tower in the middle of the forest." He peered around in the rapidly fading sunlight, "I don't see any castle ruins…" Shrugging he began making his way slowly around the base of the tower, trailing a hand along the rough stone in search of an entrance.
Two full circles later he stopped, shoulders slumping. "Makes no sense, there's gotta be a door somewhere…damn it." Back against stone, he sagged to the ground, elbows propped on his knees, chin propped on one hand. "Damn it," he repeated, "Is one night of not sleeping on the cold ground too much to ask?" Dejectedly he tugged at bits of mostly-dead grass.
A biting wind cut through the open field, and Caesar hunched down deeper into his cloak. Sighing, he rose to his feet and glared at the impassive stone tower. "Like it would kill you to OPEN UP you stupid tower." Resentfully he kicked it, then turned away.
The sound of stone scraping against stone made him pause, and he turned back around - starting when he realized some of the wall had moved. Approaching the tower slowly, he pressed his fingers into the small crack that had revealed itself and pulled hard. The section of wall opened slowly, reluctantly, until the opening was just wide enough that he could slip through.
His steps were loud as he climbed up the steep, winding stairs. Dust flew up with every motion, set to spinning in the small breeze created by his swirling cloak. Caesar sneezed hard, twice, as he continued his upward trek. The echo of his steps prevented him from hearing when his entry way slid shut and vanished completely.
At last reaching the top, Caesar paused in surprise. The top landing was clean and dust free, a torch burned cheerfully beside a door made from honey-colored oak. Clearly the tower wasn't as abandoned as he'd first thought. He bit his lip, hesitating. Glanced down at his left hand, carefully wrapped in bandages. Squaring his shoulders, he knocked loudly on the oak door.
Nothing. Another series of sharp raps, and still no one answered. Biting his lip again, Caesar gripped the heavy iron ring and pulled - the door swung open and he stepped cautiously inside.
A swish of cloth was his only warning, and was immediately followed by a flash of pain in his head. Then his world went black.
"I'm so sorry," a melodious, soothing voice spoke up.
Caesar just barely managed to avoid gaping. "Who are you?"
The woman was stunning. Tall and slender, her skin was flawless, her features stunning. But her hair was what really caught the eye - the color of the few gold coins in his pouch, and it coiled in a long, long braid on the floor. She smiled at him, hazel eyes soft. "I'm so sorry for hitting you. I was afraid you were an intruder. Duc said I should clobber anyone who came through the door. But…you don't seem dangerous…you're not, are you?"
"No…" Caesar started to shake his head, then thought better of it. "No, I'm not dangerous." He clenched his bandaged hand into a tight fist. "I'm just a traveler. I wanted to get out of the cold for one night, that's all. I knocked but no one answered so…"
"I suppose you might be lying…but you seem honest." The princess beamed, and Caesar suddenly realized she wasn't that old, despite her regal manner and appearance. "My mother says I have good instincts about people. What's your name?"
"Ah," he blinked. "Caesar."
"Nice to meet you, Caesar. My name is Rapunzel."
He gaped. "What! You can't…you mean as in Princess Rapunzel?"
She nodded, still smiling. "That's right."
"But…" chagrined as he realized to whom he was speaking, Caesar scrambled awkwardly to kowtow on the bed. "I'm so sorry for intruding, your highness."
Rapunzel frowned, "Now, now. None of that. I hate formality. Please stop."
Not looking up, Caesar gulped and gripped the tangled bed sheets. He tensed as a soft hand gently grasped his chin and forced him to look up. "Please?" The princess asked softly, suddenly looking very much like the lonely sixteen-year-old girl she was. "I'm so tired of this." She waved her arm around the luxuriously appointed chamber. "I couldn't bear it if you treated me so formally. I just want someone to talk to. If you turn out to be a bad guy," she shrugged. "I guess Duc can yell at me for being stupid."
"I wouldn't hurt you, princess. I really am just a traveler." Caesar replied quietly.
"Then you will call me Rapunzel. Not princess."
"Very well…Rapunzel." Caesar bit his lower lip. "Ah…"
The princess tilted her head, looking at him. "What is it?"
"Why are you here?"
She laughed, a tinkling, warming sound. "Because my father is an idiot. Are you hungry?"
"Um…sure."
That laugh again. "Then come eat. I've plenty of food and Duc will be bringing more when he visits next week."
Caesar squelched any more questions, climbing from the soft bed and following her to a small table set near the window. He sat quietly, uncomfortable as she set a plate of fruit and cheese before him and filled a porcelain cup with fragrant tea. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd seen such fine food, never mind when he last ate such things. Slowly he picked up a slice of apple, eating slowly and quietly as she began speaking again.
"I have no idea what you know about our kingdom and the neighboring one, but lately we've been…at odds?" she said delicately.
Eager that he knew something, Caesar nodded. "Yes. There have been several skirmishes lately. The border cities are a mess."
Rapunzel nibbled at a piece of cheese and beamed at him. "Exactly. Well, apparently there have been several attempts on the palace - namely in my section of the palace." She sighed softly, sipping her tea. "I'm quite the bargaining chip, apparently. So my father has secreted me here until things calm down."
"I see." He frowned, "So he just locked you in here? But…what about the door I came through? It doesn't seem very safe."
Her brows furrowed as the princess replied. "Actually, I'm really surprised you found the entrance. Duc was particularly proud of how he hid it." She grimaced, "He's also ridiculously proud of the spell he placed on the doors - you can come in, but you can't get out."
"Can't…" Caesar choked on his tea. "You mean I can't leave?"
"I'm afraid not," Rapunzel said reluctantly. She rushed to reassure him, "But don't worry. Duc will be here in about a week and a half, I'm sure he'll let you out then."
Caesar finished his tea and carefully set the fragile-seeming cup down. He mumbled an awkward thank you when she refilled it, then quickly moved on. "Who is this Duc you keep mentioning? If you don't mind my asking, I mean."
"Duc is the court wizard." Her voice was a mixture of frustration and affection. "Kinda moody, but I think all wizard's are like that. You get used to it after awhile."
"I see," Caesar said.
Rapunzel didn't seem to notice. "Are you still hungry?"
"What? Oh, no. Thank you, prin - I mean Rapunzel. For the food." He ducked his head, "It's most kind of you." He resisted the urge to fidget, glaringly aware of his dirty clothes and the fact that he'd been traveling through the woods for nearly a week straight.
But the princess only gave him another one of her amazing smiles and giggled. "Please, I should be thanking you for the company. All I ever get are the occasional letter and of course Duc's grumpy company every two weeks."
"Still. I intruded and I'm hardly fit company for such a gracious princess." He lowered his head, staring at his bandaged hand.
"Enough of that. Now, you look like you've been traveling for quite some time."
Caesar grinned, "Like I said, I'm hardly fit company. I'm barely fit for a barn." Humor lit his eyes, and he smiled as the princess laughed.
"I was trying to be polite," she said with exaggerated formality, then broke into another grin. She pointed at a door behind her, "That's the bathing room, in there. Clean up and I'll bring you some fresh clothes."
"Um…granted my clothes could stand a cleaning but I really don't think I'm desperate enough to wear a dress…"
The princess laughed, and winked. "Just go bathe, Caesar."
Confused, he nevertheless obeyed.
Nearly a half hour later he stepped back into the main chamber, admiring the fine lawn of his shirt and butter-softness of his breeches. "Princess…Rapunzel…dare I ask how you came by such fine, masculine clothing?"
She winked at him, "Let's just say I wasn't a very decorous princess before I was locked away. Still wouldn't be, except there's no one here to shock with my indecent behavior." She tilted her head, examining him thoughtfully. His dark brown hair was still damp, and looked almost black in the firelight. His misty grey eyes too seemed darker than usual. His slender frame seemed less slight in the new clothes, but it was obvious he would never have more than a slender build. "Those clothes look as if they were made for you." Her smile was wry.
"Thank you for lending them to me. It's nice to be clean and respectable-looking again."
"Is your hand okay?" she was looking at his left hand, still wrapped in worn bandages.
He balled it into a fist, "It's fine." His voice was tight as he replied, staring into the fire.
Rapunzel frowned and slowly rose from where she was seated beside the fire. Reaching out she gently grasped his fisted hand, slapping his arm firmly when he tried to pull away. He stood in agonized silence while she unwound the dirty bandages.
The princess drew a sharp breath as the wrapping fell away. The royal crest, a simple trefoil, was branded into the palm of his hand. "You're a thief," she said calmly.
Unhappy, Caesar gave a firm shake of his head and stared back at her, mist-gray eyes serious. "No…I used to be. He started to look away, but steeled himself. "I used to be. But I was arrested when I was thirteen. I spent five years in prison - they only released me nine months ago."
"But the sentence for stealing is only one year."
"I was something of an exception, princess." He tried to tug his hand free.
She slapped his arm again, "But you're not a thief now?"
"No, princess." He stared at the trefoil. "I…it's hard, but I don't want to steal anymore." He attempted to smile, and failed. "I've been trying to make a new life, an honest one."
Tracing the brand lightly with her finger, she looked up at him and smiled warmly. "I believe you. I told you I've good instincts for people. Your eyes are honest. I will tell Duc to help you find work." She nodded firmly, dropping his hand and waving off his protests. "Don't worry, it's not for free. I want you to help me with something." Her expression could only be described as impish.
Caesar blinked, "Why do I suddenly get the feeling that you're locked up to save the world from you? Not save you from the world?"
Rapunzel threw her head back and laughed.
"He certainly sounds…" Caesar fumbled for a polite word. "Ardent."
The princess' tinkling laughter drifted through the chamber. "I told you he's devoted. But what do you think?"
Sighing heavily, Caesar added the last of the letters to the stack on the table. "He sounds honest, caring, and, erm…besotted with you. But it could simply be a very clever ruse, 'Zel."
Rapunzel's face was earnest. "No. We met twice, before all this stupid fighting began. I'm telling you, he's trustworthy. And once he comes for me, we can start to put an end to everything."
The former thief was still hesitant, "All right, then Prince Julian is legitimate. But that doesn't mean those around him are. If anything happens to you, 'Zel, a lot of people will suffer."
"But even more will suffer if we don't stop all this fighting before it gets out of hand. If Julian and I marry, everyone will at least have to stop and think a moment."
"I don't know anything about war or politics. I do know, however, that far too many things could go wrong with this venture. There's any number of possible traitors in this scheme."
"I don't care. Someday I'll be on the throne. A good ruler doesn't hide away in a stupid tower while her people are in trouble. I'm doing this no matter what."
Caesar sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "All right, all right. I hope this poor Julian is fully aware you're not a meek and mild princess."
Her impish expression replaced her stern one, "We met while I was pretending to be a boy, racing through the woods on my horse. My father hates when I do that. Says I should ride like a daughter, not a son."
Rolling his eyes, Caesar laughed. Eventually he turned serious again. "You should at least let me go with you."
"No," Rapunzel said firmly. "I need you here to keep Duc from tracking me down. I don't envy you the task of dealing with his anger for the seven days you'll need to. He's…temperamental, at the best of times."
"I've not wholly unfamiliar with wizards. I think I can manage one for a week's time."
The princess didn't look convinced. But she refrained from arguing, clapped her hands briskly and stood. "All right. Julian will be here tomorrow. First thing's first. We need to cut my hair."
Caesar paused in the process of finishing the last of his tea. "Cut your hair?" He eyed the long, coiling, twisting braid that pooled on the floor. "True, it would be a thousand times easier to move without that."
"That, and it's how I'm going to get out of here."
"I don't follow."
Rapunzel laughed, "Duc knows how much I hate living like this. So he made sure I had no way of getting out - nothing in here is long enough or strong enough to be made into rope. So," she stroked a section of her braid, "I've been growing my hair out, with a bit of help from a witch's oil he thinks is harmless enough. Duc just thinks I'm incredibly vain about it - or that I'm incredibly bored." Her eyes sparkled, "I do what I can to make sure he keeps thinking that. I think it's long enough now that if I cut it, and figure out how to fasten it to the wall or something, I can climb down it." She winked, "That's the reason I brought men's clothing with me."
"You really are trouble."
"Thank you."
Caesar sighed. "So besides cutting your hair, what do we need to do?"
"First," the princess sounded resigned. "We have to burn these." She tossed her letters into the fire, looking sad. She spun back around to face her dismayed companion. "No choice. My entire plan relies on no one knowing what we're up to until the deed is done." She flushed, "Completely done…so they can't force us to annul the marriage."
He managed not to laugh at her rare show of embarrassment.
She continued, "The key part is making sure Duc doesn't know what I'm up to. If he finds me, it's all over. Julian's own magicians can make sure he's unable to find me that way, but if he finds me by other means then all is lost." She made a face, "It's really aggravating that my greatest threat is my own royal magician. Bother it."
"Then wouldn't it be better if you hadn't told me you were planning on sneaking out?"
"No…because if something does go wrong," she gulped, "Then of course someone needs to know. That's why I'm grateful you appeared. The downside is that you have to keep the knowledge from him. Which I'm sure is going to be difficult." She winced, thinking of the wizard. "He's a lot like an over-protective brother. He's going to see red when he realizes I'm gone."
"Making the poor ex-thief the sacrifice?" Caesar asked with a smile.
"Well…I wish you wouldn't put it that way but yes. I was going to just leave, but I knew that if I did, it wouldn't take him long to find me. But if you're here to mislead him…I stand that much more of a chance."
Caesar stood, and covered her clasped hands with his own. "Princess…you've been kinder to me than anyone else I've ever known. I'm nothing but a lowly ex-thief who - albeit unintentionally - invaded your privacy here. I would gladly do anything you ask."
Rapunzel withdrew her hands and embraced him. "I ask only that you consider me a friend, Caesar. Under normal circumstances we would never have met; meeting you has made a year of imprisonment worth it." She pulled away, "I promise that as soon as I am able, I will come back and free you. If you've managed to survive Duc's wrath, I'll award you a knighthood for valor."
Caesar managed a weak laugh.
Turning brisk again the princess set about preparing for her escape.
Chest heavy with trepidation, Caesar watched the princess climb down the tower by way of her own hair. Her head was shorn of its beautiful locks, giving her a playful, boyish appearance. He frowned at the men gathered below.
He felt only somewhat lighter as she landed safely below. As what was clearly the prince rushed forward to embrace Rapunzel, the majority of the weight lifted from his chest. If no one else below was trustworthy, Prince Julian was. The adoration between the two royals was blatant - something like that couldn't be faked. Caesar ruthlessly shoved away a pang of envy.
Instead he focused on the braid, unfastening it from the wall they'd affixed it to and watching as it fell to the ground with a faint thump. He smiled faintly as Rapunzel cringed when the men set fire to it.
She looked up, and he knew her impish smile was on her face. He waved farewell, watching as the group mounted their horses and vanished off into the dark forest.
He waited until they were gone completely, then turned back to examine the room that he suddenly had all to himself. How he'd gotten into this situation, he couldn't figure out. The trefoil on his palm caught his eye, and he smiled softly.
I believe you. I told you I've good instincts for people. Your eyes are honest
Tracing the trefoil with his finger, his eyes darkened with determination.
Caesar's vision was less than stable as he found himself roughly torn from his warm bed, impaired by sleep and the dizzying speed at which he was yanked out of said slumber. He looked blearily at the man holding him up against cold stone. The voice struck him, deep and strong - and filled with rage.
"Where the hell is the princess, miscreant?"
Reality returned with a resounding crash, along with his vision. His first coherent thought was that he was going to kill the princess when he next saw her.
His impression up until that moment had been vaguely of some wizened old man, devoted to king and princess and duty and not much else. He was all too familiar with the type. Rapunzel had mentioned she regarded him as an overprotective brother. That should have made him stop and think.
Because the man currently holding him more than a few inches above the ground was anything but old and wizened. Hell, he probably wasn't even that close to thirty. His hair was the color of dark amber, pulled tightly back in a tail and secured at the nape of his neck. Anger filled his otherwise handsome face, the features sharp and stern; he definitely looked like he belonged in a royal court. Caesar wasn't sure if the man's unexpected age - and attractiveness - made his job more or less difficult.
Probably more.
His promise to Rapunzel surfaced, and he clenched his left hand into a tight fist. Relaxing it, he shot his arms to break the man's grip, dropping to his knees with a pained grunt and rolling way. He stood with arms out, panting softly, braced for whatever the wizard did next.
Duc did nothing, folding his arms and regarding him with barely contained rage. The green jewel embedded in his forehead gleamed in the firelight, bringing out the pond-green of his eyes. His black ensemble fit his mood all too well. Caesar was briefly distracted - all the wizards he knew preferred heavy robes. But this man was dressed as simply as he was - breeches, shirt, and what looked to Caesar like a very heavy, very warm cloak.
"Where is she? If you don't tell me now, I'll be all too happy to employ unkind methods of persuasion."
The rage in his voice and eyes stole Caesar's breath. Not because he was scared - though he was definitely more than a little nervous - but because he could all too easily read the worry and fear behind it. He felt another pang of envy that the princess had so many people that cared so dearly for her. It must be nice. Of course he knew Rapunzel cared for him…but it wasn't like this…never like this. He suppressed the familiar longing and concentrated on the task at hand. It seemed the best thing to do was to keep him thinking that he'd done something with her.
He smiled, almost cheerfully. "She's not here."
"If she was, I wouldn't be asking where she is!" Duc snarled. "What did you do with her?"
"Why should I tell you?" He tensed as the wizard stalked toward him, darting away when the man reached for him.
Duc grunted, displeased, and muttered a quick word. Pain shot through Caesar's head, and he stumbled forward into the wizard. Duc latched onto his shoulders and shoved him into another wall. Slowed by pain, Caesar didn't struggle.
Until the wizard grabbed his left wrist, and examined the brand on his palm with a sneer. "It figures that a miserable thief would be the one to break through my spell. So thief, what did you do?" He seemed to almost choke on his next words, "Kill her and try to make off with the bounty? Only to realize there was one spell you couldn't break?"
Steeling himself, Caesar glared. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He choked off a cry of pain as the wizard threw him to the floor. Dizzily he wondered if Rapunzel had known her 'brother' would react with such hostility. He supposed not; as wise as she probably thought she was…a sister seldom knew everything about her brother.
He couldn't choke off a cry as more pain shot through his head. Attempting and failing to glare at the man looming over him, his last thought was that this definitely was a rotten way to wake up.
When he woke later, sunlight was pouring through the lone window. He rose unsteadily from the cool stone floor, uncertain for a moment if his legs would support him.
"I hope you're a bit more willing to cooperate now." A deep, cold voice spoke up behind him.
Caesar froze, then slowly turned. He suppressed a groan, disappointed that he hadn't been dreaming like he'd nearly convinced himself. "Cooperate?" he asked blankly.
Duc's expression darkened, and he set his glass down with a sharp bang on the small wooden table. He'd discarded his cloak but looked no less ominous without it. "If you think you're amusing, you are painfully mistaken."
"Painfully is right. What did you do to me before?" He hadn't been familiar with that particular trick.
"Something that I will gladly do again if you don't stop dodging my questions and tell me where the princess is."
Caesar considered moving to sit in the chair opposite the wizard, looked at his face, and decided to stay where he was. He was stupid, not suicidal. "Would if I could. You should keep a better eye on her, you know. She's definitely not your average princess." He barely managed to dodge the teapot lobbed at his head, and too late realized it was a distraction. "You seem to have a thing for shoving people into walls. Could you try something else? My back is really staring to -" he was cut off by a brutal backhand. "All right, never mind. Sorry I asked."
"You're going to be sorry you're alive if you don't stop smarting off and tell me what's going on."
"If my lousy excuse of a life hasn't made me sorry I'm among the living, you haven't got a chance. Try a different threat."
Duc slammed him into the wall again, "If I didn’t need you alive, you'd be dead right now. I may yet decide I don't need you."
"I'm going to say you need me alive. But I might be biased."
The wizard narrowed his eyes and dragged the ex-thief close. His voice was low but full of threat. "I can do a great deal worse than what I did to your head earlier, and I don't need magic to do it."
Caesar went cold, mist eyes turning the color of a storm cloud. He glared, "I suppose I should have expected that. Don't know why I didn't. But I managed to avoid the advances of prisoners and guards alike for five years; I'm not going to let you succeed where they failed."
He paused in shock as the wizard's eyes flared with surprise; but they narrowed again before he could react.
Grunting in pain as he was thrown to the floor again, he opted to remain there as the wizard loomed over him.
"That is not what I meant. I may be willing to resort to violence, but I wouldn't stoop to something so crass as that. The only men I take are eager ones. Maybe you were appealing in prison, thief, but I have better taste than ex-convicts. Especially when I suspect them of harming and possibly killing the princess."
Caesar didn't let his relief show. Though he was seriously going to have a discussion with the princess on the precise definition of the word 'temperamental.' Assuming he ever saw her again, of course. He wasn't even through day one yet. Day seven seemed suddenly very far away. In an attempt to distract him, he focused on his own rage. "I am NOT a thief!"
"Once a thief, always a thief. Isn't that how the saying goes?" Duc smirked realizing head hit a nerve.
Grunting Caesar climbed to his feet, wincing at the pain lancing down his back. "Lousy saying. I haven't stolen a thing from the moment they stuck me with this." He held out his left hand.
Duc glanced derisively at the brand, "Thieves are often good liars. And I personally could not care less. My only interest is in the location of the princess. Which I'll discover with or without you."
"I'm pretty sure you'll need me."
"So you say. But my willingness to believe you lessens by the second."
"That's bad for you. Not so bad for me."
"Oh, no. I assure you, that's very bad for you." The terse conversation seemed to have the unexpected effect of cooling the wizard's temper.
Caesar went with it. He'd been wanting to say these things to someone anyway. "Why bad for me? Death can't be any worse than my existence has been. And while I'd rather keep trying to make some sort of life for myself, I was always up for an adventure."
That seemed to make the wizard pause. Caesar grinned and continued, "Seriously. I don't get why you think killing me is any great threat. You said it yourself. I'm a…let's see…miscreant, miserable thief, and an ex-convict. I resent the first and second. The third is true though."
"You're an idiot, a fool, and perilously close to that adventure you just mentioned."
"Foolhardy, perhaps. But I find that often helps in my situation."
"Thieving, you mean?" Duc stalked toward him.
Caesar resisted an urge to take several steps backwards. "No, trying to build a new life. When nobody wants to so much as look at you, sometimes foolhardy is the only way to go. Course that doesn't usually work either, I guess…"
"I can see that you're moved by neither violence nor common sense." Duc grabbed his hair and yanked his head up, "Perhaps there are other ways to make you talk. I'm sure you'd falter speaking with the king. How would you like that? To tell his Majesty that you killed his only child?"
He glared at the wizard, "I'll have you know I didn't kill her. Sheesh. I'm ex-thief, not an ex-murderer. Give me some damn credit, if you please. And you can't take me to the king."
"Oh? Do tell me why I can't."
Caesar mimicked his condescending tone. "How would you like to tell the king that your spells failed to protect his only child from a lowly former convict?"
Duc opened his mouth, and then slammed it shut hard enough his teeth clicked. "Fine. Then I think a few days of starvation will dull that sharp tongue of yours." He shoved the shorter man to the floor, ignoring his muted cry of pain. He cut his arm through the air, muttering several short, sharp syllables. In the blink of an eye, the lavish furniture and decoration in the room was gone. All that remained were the remains of the fire and Caesar's few meager belongings. "Enjoy your stay in the tower, thief."
His cloak appeared at the snap of his fingers, and flared as he swung it up and around his shoulders. "I recommend you not try to escape via the window - you'll find your landing severely unpleasant." He vanished.
Frowning, Caesar picked himself up off the floor with a loud groan. "I'm going to kill her, princess or not. I swear it." He sighed, "I wish I could believe she did this to me on purpose."
Sticking his head out the window and looking down, Caesar blanched. "He wasn't kidding. That'd hurt." The base of the tower was completely encircled by thick, thorny bushes. Even at a distance he could see the thorns, sharp and begging for a chance to hurt something - or someone.
Hastily he pulled his head back inside and stared morosely at the empty room. "Not that the view in here is much better." Lowering himself to the floor he fumbled in his pack for the worn cloak he hadn't bothered with since the princess clobbered him. Wrapping it around his shoulders, he dragged himself and his old knapsack to the remains of the fire. Some wood remained and this he used to build it back up.
Outside dusk was rapidly falling. Curling up with his bag for a pillow, he whistled tunelessly and closed his eyes to attempt to plan for the next confrontation. "I hope we're doing the right thing, 'Zel…"
"So, thief. Have you reconsidered?"
"No." Caesar was staring gloomily at the ashes that were all that remained of the fire. "But I did want to tell you that your hospitality leaves much to be desired. Rapunzel was a much better hostess."
Duc seethed, "Your attitude leaves much to be desired. I came here with a generous offer, hoping you'd see reason. I see you're as imbecilic as before."
Finally looking up, Caesar asked. "What generous offer is that? I don't get generosity very often."
The wizard smirked. "I was going to offer to remove that mark from your hand. Wipe your record clean. Give you a chance at that honest life your profess to be seeking."
"Oh," Caesar's look of interest faded. He turned back to the fire, poking glumly at the ashes.
"You're displeased?"
"Yes, I am. What makes you think I want the mark removed?"
Duc was irate and disgusted, "Why wouldn't you?"
Caesar stared at the trefoil. "It's true I hate it. A little bit more every time I look at it…but erasing it won't change the fact that I was a thief. Or that I spent five years locked away in some pretty miserable places. But whenever I see it, I'm reminded why I want so badly to leave that life behind. Why I want to try honesty this time…how much I hated stealing, and those horrid prisons. I've spent months trying to be someone worthwhile, to leave my past behind.
He sighed, "But leaving it behind doesn't mean forgetting it. The minute I do that I'll fall right back into it. And the only way to build an honest life is to do it by myself, not by way of some royal favor. So I'm sorry, I cannot accept your offer." He looked up at the wizard.
And was taken completely aback by the look that flitted briefly over the wizard's face. But in the next moment it was gone, and Duc's faced settled into the anger with which Caesar was already familiar. "Fine, have it your way thief. Another two days of starvation and cold should convince you talk. And if not," his expression was one of unpleasant promise. "Then we'll move along to harsher methods." He vanished.
Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, Caesar reached into his pack for the last of his jerky. "I'm a poor, jobless, homeless ex-convict. Cold and starving are normal for me. Stupid nobles; just because they can't take a bit of discomfort doesn't mean we're all that weak." He pulled his cloak more tightly around his shoulders, "How he became a court wizard is beyond me. I figured he'd be doing more than starving the information out of me. Seriously, what was she so worried about? He's as dense as a rock."
Alternately humming and whistling as he ate what was left of his limited stores, Caesar permitted himself a few daydreams of life after everything was over. Not that he really expected anyone to come for him, or knight him…maybe the princess had meant it, but experience had long ago proven that she was the only one. And that she was likely to be outvoted.
He forced away doubts and worries. Either he'd done the right thing, or the wrong thing. There was nothing he could about it now except keep his promise. Just a few more days and he could tell the angry wizard everything…and then be put to death. Aiding and abetting a runaway princess, knowingly sending her into possible danger…and thwarting the efforts of her would-be rescuers…miscreants didn't get rewarded for that. They got hanged.
Night fell and his thoughts gave over gradually to dreams. Not the usual ones of a small farm or simple shop, or drinking at a tavern with friends. Not even the nightmares of his five years of imprisonment.
He dreamed of eyes the color of a mossy pond made bright by the sun, that for one moment had softened in a face he'd only ever seen angry or annoyed. A face that for an instant had filled with grudging but genuine respect. That for one moment had seemed to see him, and not the thief he once had been.
He jumped at the sound of the last thing he expected to hear.
The heavy oak door was opening, to admit what turned out to be a court official. Complete with elaborate robes and requisite sneer. He had obviously never suffered from starvation. It looked like he wouldn't for a good long while. Caesar thought in passing that his hair and beard looked as if they'd been lifted from a black sheep. "Who are you?"
"I am Gerard, felon. Not," he sniffed contemptuously, "that it's any of your concern."
Caesar quirked a brow, "Felon? That's a new one. I think I liked miscreant better. What happened to the wizard?"
"He's…busy." The man grimaced in displeasure, "And clearly he's gone soft if you feel free to act with such a glaring lack of respect."
Two more men entered behind Gerard, soldiers. Caesar rose to his feet, tensed for…whatever was coming. "Well if you think you're going to be the one to teach me respect, you're mistaken."
"Oh, I think you might find you're the one who's mistaken. Unlike that fool wizard, I know how to handle matters such as these." He snapped his fingers.
The two soldiers surged forward at a speed Caesar had not been expecting. Several painful blows later, they each had one arm and he was in too much to move. "That was uncalled for," he protested without much heat.
"Where is the princess?"
"Sorry, I can't tell you that."
"You'll regret it if you don't."
Caesar shook his head, despite the dizziness the motion caused. "I can assure you that the only thing I would ever regret is telling you where she is."
"Fine. It's your decision." The mysterious Gerard turned away with a dismissive sneer, "Throw him out the window."
He tried to struggle free of the soldiers, but their earlier beating had taken what was left of his strength. A sharp pain at the back of his head was all the farewell he received before he was shoved out. He was distantly grateful that the blow to his skull dulled most of the pain of the sharp thorns as he landed amidst them with a strangled cry.
Then all went dark.
Owls were hooting when he next woke, moaning in pain as he ran his hands over the hundreds of scratches and tears over his body. Somehow he'd tumbled free of the vicious bushes. He blinked, trying to clear his vision.
And kept blinking. Wiping blood from his hands he then used them to rub his eyes, shaking his head and quelling a sudden desire to start screaming when his efforts proved futile. He settled for crying, the sound of it an eerie sort of hoarse keening.
He was blind.
Eventually, exhaustion and fear pulled him back into oblivion.
Caesar woke to the smell of something sweet. Lavender, his sleep-fogged mind realized.
The next thing to register was the softness. He was surrounded by it. Cautiously stretching his fingers out, he ran them over fine linen…a blanket of the softest wool…and he'd swear he was wearing silk.
He opened his eyes, only to remember with painful suddenness the fall into the thorns and the blindness it had caused. He bit down hard on his lip to stifle the urge to cry out.
Slowly he reached up a hand to examine his eyes, and encountered instead soft cloth. His eyes had been bandaged.
Which brought forcefully home the realization that he wasn't in the forest, at the foot of the tower. And that raised all sorts of questions.
But the questions scattered as a warm finger traced his bottom lip, sore from the press of his teeth. Caesar let out a soft gasp. "Who…what's going on?"
There was no reply to his trembling query, but a cool glass was pressed to his lips and Caesar abruptly realized he as thirsty. He carefully swallowed all the sips offered him, and tried again. "What's going on?"
"Silly, you're with me."
"Zel! You're all right!" He stretched out an arm, desperate to reassure himself that she was indeed alive and well.
Rapunzel laughed shakily, and embraced him. Lavender and softness enveloped him, soothing some of his fears. "Of course I'm all right. You should be worried about yourself, idiot."
Caesar touched the bandages around his eyes, and frowned. "What happened?" he said at last.
The princess sighed, her voice turning somber. "Gerard was my father's advisor, alongside Duc. He turned out to be a traitor." She paused for a moment, unhappy, and then continued. "Duc figured out rather quickly what I was up to. Not because you failed," she added hastily, "You were splendid. He was tipped off by an informer, and went off to find me."
"But he had suspicions of his own, and didn't tell anyone what he knew." She frowned unseen at Caesar, "However, he did ask Gerard to send someone out to bring you here…only Gerard figured out that you knew where I was. He thought to find out from you and get to me first. But you kept your promise and didn't tell." She reached out to brush a strand of hair from his brow. "Thank you, Caesar. If I'd known…"
Caesar managed a smile, catching the hand at his forehead. "I'm sorry I didn't do better, 'Zel. It sounds like your plan didn't work…"
"No, it worked beautifully! Julian's father turned out to be behind all the threats, the one for whom Gerard was really working. He was killed trying to escape, when Duc went after him after all the duplicity was revealed. But Julian and I are married, with my father's blessing." She laughed, "Even Duc couldn't find fault with him, though he tried."
Her voice turned sad again, "So really you're the only one who's suffered in this entire thing. I-I'm so sorry, Caesar. I declared you my friend and this is how I treat you…"
Caesar trailed a path up her arm to her face, using his thumb to brush away her tears. "Aw, 'Zel…don't do that. I told you - you're the only who's ever believed in me. And you did it without question, without hesitation…and after I just strolled on into your room. No one's ever done that for me. I didn't much like that fall at the end, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
"You're sweet, Caesar. The way you talk, it's a mystery you ever had to steal anything."
"I wish, princess…or should I call you queen now?"
She swatted his arm, "You will call me Rapunzel. Or Zel. I like that name."
"Whatever you want, Highness."
Standing, she bent to kiss his cheek. "I want you to get some more rest, and when you wake up Duc should be back. Then he can check your eyes."
"Ah…all right." Confused by the nervousness that fluttered in his stomach at the mention of the wizard, Caesar burrowed into the nest of blankets and fell rapidly asleep.
He woke with a yawn, confused briefly before he remembered his blindness. It was going to take getting used to.
"You're awake!" Rapunzel chirped. "Stay right there. I'll go get Duc."
"Where does she think I'd go?" Caesar yawned again, and waited anxiously for the princess to return with the wizard. He still couldn't figure out why thinking of Duc made him nervous.
The door swung open, followed immediately by the swishing of fabric and the muffled thump of boots on carpet. He heard Rapunzel take her seat, and jumped slightly as he felt a weight settle right beside him on the bed.
Strong, warm fingers slowly unwrapped the bandages and brushed away errant strands of hair. Gently those same fingers tilted his chin up, light and careful as the wizard examined his eyes.
He immediately recognized the firm, deep voice. The tone however, was completely foreign. Always before he'd heard anger, annoyance, avid dislike…but the voice speaking now was calm and warm. It brought immediately to mind pond-green eyes, softened for a single moment as they stared down at him.
Caesar pulled away, tangling his hands in the blankets as Duc continued speaking, "It's just as I thought, Rapunzel. He'll be fine. I'm certain it's only temporary. I've seen this sort of thing before." He buried his fingers in Caesar's hair, feeling for the knot at the back of his head that still was not entirely healed. The spot where the soldiers had hit him, the very same place where only days before that Rapunzel had smacked him.
The princess was impatient, "So when will his vision come back?"
"When it wants to," Duc said shortly. He rose, his weight lifting from the bed.
"Where are you going?" Rapunzel asked.
Duc didn't bother to stop as he replied. "I've checked his eyes, and left you fresh bandages. I've got other things to do now." The door closed sharply behind him.
"Hmph." Rapunzel muttered as she sat on the edge of the bed and tenderly began to rewrap his eyes. "Duc's been in a foul temper ever since he realized Gerard was the traitor. He gets so - so - so childish when he's proven wrong. Honestly," she sniffed, "You'd think it was the end of the world, the way he acts." She touched her fingers to Caesar's hand, a laugh in her voice. "I think he's trying to figure out how to apologize to you."
"Apologize to me?" Caesar asked, genuinely confused.
"Yes. As he should. He had no business treating you as roughly as he did. If I have anything to say about it, he's going to be in trouble for a very long time."
Caesar smiled, "Princess, you're the one being silly. Think about it. How would you react if you appeared in a place where your brother or sister was supposed to be safe, and instead found a man branded as a thief? Wouldn't you be upset beyond all reason? You should be flattered, princess, that he was so distraught at your absence. That he cares so much for you…"
"Distraught? More like offended," she said with a soft chuckle. "But I am duly reprimanded. Still, I think it far more remarkable that you who barely knew me, gave up so much for me." She touched his bandages.
"It's not permanent, so really I came out with nothing more than a few bruises, some scratches and a new respect for heights. I'm fine."
She ruffled his hair, "Would you like some food? Maybe some soup?"
"I could hardly refuse that."
Rapunzel withdrew to see to it.
"Doing all right?" Rapunzel tightened her grip on his arm.
"I'm fine." Caesar bit down hard on his lip, steps slow and stiff as he walked along what seemed a wide, open hallway toward her private gardens. He lightly touched his bandaged eyes, then dropped his hand and balled it into a fist. Thankfully he could hear no others, to see him if he tripped and fell. It wasn't much consolation.
He released a soft sigh as they reached the garden, breathing in the smell of green and flowers, enjoying the sound of what was probably a fountain. Carefully Rapunzel led him along a stone path, guiding him to a small bench.
"Here we are," she said brightly. "Is this a suitable change from your horrid bed?"
"I didn't say it was horrid!"
She laughed, "You implied it. Honestly, I have nothing but admiration for you. I would have gone mad after just one day. You've spent almost five. I'm impressed."
"I guess I was rather more lazy than I should have been."
Smacking his arm soundly, she glared at him. "Shush."
"Yes, princess."
"Hmph. So what would you like to do? Shall I read you a story?" She wrinkled her nose, "Actually, you probably don't want me doing that. My old nurse is a wonderful storyteller; I could have her come out here. Perhaps some music? Song?"
Caesar smiled, "I’m fine, 'Zel. It's nice just to be outside."
The princess nodded, and began to talk about the flowers and plants that filled her small garden. She paused in a description of a nearby rosebush, calling to her husband who had come in search of her. "I…I'm busy right now, Julian."
"No, you're not. Stop being silly, 'Zel."
"But…I can't just leave you here."
"I'm quite capable of sitting here without assistance. Simply send someone in an hour or so to check on me. If I want to go back to my room, they can help me. Get going, I keep telling you that you don't have to dance attendance on me."
"Well…if you're certain you'll be okay."
"I'll be fine." Caesar said firmly, smiling when she kissed his cheek.
It faded as he listened to the newlyweds, their affection painfully obvious to his ears. He shoved his envy and loneliness away as the voices faded, sitting quietly for a moment.
Hesitating briefly, he eventually scooted to the left edge of the bench and stretched out his arm. Sure enough, his fingers brushed against the soft petals of what the princess had said were red roses. Slowly he stood, and stepped closer to better examine them. He could not grow used to doing everything without sight; all that kept him from going insane was the knowledge that it wouldn't last forever.
Distracted by his thoughts, he let his fingers wander too low and then abruptly yanked them back with a sharp curse. He pressed his finger to his lips, and hunched his shoulder as unpleasant memories filled his mind.
Memories of the sharp thorns that had raked and scored his body as he fell among them; even now he could feel out all the scars those thorns had left, could see them rushing up at him eager to harm. Shuddering he stumbled away from the unseen rosebush.
Two large hands landed heavily on his shoulders, halting his movement. "You shouldn't be out here alone."
The too-familiar voice made Caesar freeze. He struggled to find his voice, "I'm fine."
"You're as pale as a ghost," Duc returned flatly. "And you're not familiar enough yet with the lay of the castle to walk out here by yourself."
"Well I won't become familiar if I'm not given a chance to learn the lay. Anyway, you said yourself I'd be fine eventually."
Duc curled a hand around his upper arm, half guiding, half dragging him over to the bench and pressing him down onto it. "Eventually could mean anything from a few days to a few years."
The made Caesar choke, "A few years?" His hands fisted in his lap, and he bit down hard on his lip.
He felt the wizard sit down beside him, tensed as his warm hands shifted him so he was facing the wizard. Strong but gentle fingers began to remove the bandages around his eyes. "I went to your room to check on you, only to find you'd run off. I'm going to hazard a guess and say that Rapunzel was your accomplice?"
"I was the one that insisted on leaving."
He had the impression Duc was shaking his head. "Still trying to keep her mischief secret?"
"What?" Caesar frowned, but was briefly distracted by the feel of warm air on his eyes. He opened them, unsurprised but upset all the same that his vision remained dark.
Just barely, he managed to repress the shiver that tried to surface as Duc examined his eyes. He scrambled to remember what they'd been discussing. "I'm not trying to keep anything secret. It really was my idea."
"I wasn't serious in my accusations; you needn't get upset." Duc sounded…annoyed, but also vaguely hurt.
Caesar blinked, realizing the man had been trying to tease him. He wasn't quite sure what to say to that.
Which was just as well, because in the next instant his thoughts scattered. Duc had checked his eyes only twice before, and on both occasions he had been brusque and quick to finish. This time…he didn't stop at his eyes. Caesar sat frozen as fingers trailed softly over his face, gently tracing each of the scars left by the thorns.
He couldn't quite repress the shiver that resulted when Duc's thumb brush across the wound that traced from just to the left of his nose and cut down into his upper lip. "What…" he asked shakily.
The hands withdrew, leaving him suddenly feeling cold. Duc's level voice broke the odd moment. "You should have told me."
"What?" Caesar attempted to put his mind back in order. "I promised not to. She didn't want you stopping her; I swore you wouldn't."
"You're both children. You think her father and I hadn't considered what could be gained by such a marriage? We fully intended to arrange the marriage ourselves. After we located the group threatening the princess' life."
Caesar wished more than ever for his sight. "I did the best I could, under the circumstances. I would do the exact same thing, if I had the chance to do it over."
Duc was silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was gruff. "I wanted to say I'm sorry."
"For what?" Caesar asked, when he recovered from shock. He jumped at the press of warm fingers to his face, traced his scars.
"For these." Duc lingered again at the one at his mouth before pulling away again. "Rapunzel certainly knew how to play me. She knew damn good and well I'd be furious with myself for the failure of my spell. I was incensed over it. Which you seemed fully aware of."
Caesar frowned, "But Rapunzel said you figured it out. Did I slip up at some point?"
"Not exactly…" hesitation laced Duc's voice. "It was that last day we talked…when I offered to remove your brand," Caesar didn't see him start to reach out for his hand, freeze and pull back. "The way you spoke…I realized rather suddenly that there was no way you could have done anything to her. And then everything fell into place. I only left you there until I could figure things out for certain, in case I was wrong."
Then he did reach out and brush his fingers across the brand on Caesar's left palm, trailing his hand up to trace the scars lacing his arm. "If I'd gone for you myself," he touched his eyes. "This wouldn't have happened." Thumbed the scar at his lip again.
Caesar jerked his head away, furious with himself for enjoying the soft touches. "I survived, that's all that matters. I don't see why it makes any difference to you whether a thief lives or not."
"Don't you mean ex-thief?"
He tried for bitter but instead his came out sounding more defeated, "Once a thief, always a thief, isn't that what you said? You seemed pretty set to believe the worst of me."
"I tend to think the worst of anyone when I think they've harmed someone important to me. It was nothing personal. And I think our last meeting in the tower succeeded in putting me in my place."
That didn't make any sense to Caesar. "What do you mean?"
Duc held his branded hand in one of his own, "I mean I know sincerity when I hear it. Like I said, that's when I realized if anything you probably helped Rapunzel." He grimaced, "I really should have figured that out sooner. My own temper is going to be the death of me."
He tightened his grip on Caesar's hand, "Beyond that, I'm twenty-six. I'm all too familiar with making bad choices and serious mistakes. I've made more than my share of both. When you said you were finished with your old life, I believed you." Amusement laced his voice, an emotion Caesar hadn't yet heard from him. "If you made a mistake at all, it was in telling me why you didn't want your brand removed."
Unable to formulate a reply, Caesar bit his lip and remained silent
Duc broke the silence, "I don't think you'll ever have to worry about acceptance. Rapunzel is working diligently at turning you into a national hero. At my expense; I'll be lucky if I don't wind up a laughing stock by the time she's done."
"I don't want to be a hero. That's not the way I want to get my acceptance. She was kind to me; she believed in me for no good reason. All I wanted was to try and repay that. I still don't think I have."
"She'd disagree. I disagree."
Caesar only frowned.
In silence Duc regarded him. Sighing he switched topics, "So what do you want? I doubt you'll be permitted to leave until you can see again, but after that you have only to ask."
Shrugging and biting his lip, Caesar let his shoulder slump. His voice, when he spoke, was all but faint. "I don't know. I spent five years in prison because even though I was a child, I was the best thief in the guild. Probably would still be quite skilled, if I hadn't gotten carried away."
"Carried away?"
Caesar smiled bitterly, sadly. "Yes. I tried to steal something out of my league. Something I should never have tried for." He shrugged, "I'm well acquainted with the pitfalls of arrogance."
Duc snorted, "I don't think Rapunzel could have found a better accomplice if she tried."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that."
"So what did you try to steal?"
"What does it matter?"
The wizard huffed impatiently, "I was just curious as to what could possibly be out of reach for such a skilled thief."
Caesar bit his lip, considering. "A gem," he said at last. "There was a wizard in the city I used to live in. The guild hated him, loathed him. He always made our lives so difficult; he thought we were lower than dirt. One day after he'd been particularly nasty, I'd finally had enough. I thought I'd teach him a lesson; take what mattered most to him and at the same time render him incapable of harming us."
"Please don't tell me you tried to do what I think you did."
Laughing faintly, Caesar nodded. "Oh, yes. Thirteen and stupid, that was me. I nearly succeeded, too. I should have taken time to learn more about them." Almost unconsciously he reached out and up, finger landing on Duc's left cheek. He trailed them upwards, until he could caress the dark green stone set in the middle of the wizard's forehead. "I didn't know removing it would hurt him like that. It scared me to death, the way he started screaming." A trace of that old fear crept into his voice.
He dropped his hand, "Anyway, his screams woke up the household and I was too terrified to try and runaway. The wizard tried to have me sentenced as an attempted killer…but the judge actually heard me out and merely had me branded for thieving."
"That's why you were imprisoned for five years rather than one. And why you quit stealing."
Caesar nodded, stifling a yawn.
Before he could protest, the wizard had pulled him to his feet. "As I said, you shouldn't be wandering around yet."
"I'm fine."
"No one who takes a tumble out a high tower and into a mess of thorny bushes, after several days of starvation and a severe beating, is ever fine. It's no wonder you and Rapunzel get along. You're both too damn stubborn for your own good."
Caesar refrained from comment.
Back in his room, Duc propelled him back into his bed. Caesar gave a long-suffering sigh. "I really am fine."
"Don't want to hear it. The very last thing I need is another reason for the princess to flay me alive. She's already done that twice now." He tugged the blankets up around him, ignoring his continued protests. "Rest. Your vision can't heal until the rest of your body is well." He smirked as the protests died, and left the room in silence.
Caesar sat still on the chair between the window and bed as Duc unwound his bandages. He sighed softly as they fell away, slowly opening his eyes.
He cried out in pain, pressing his palms to his eyes.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Firmly the wizard pulled his hands from his eyes, angling his head up to examine them.
"The light…it hurts. A lot."
Duc drew a sharp breath.
Caesar barely noticed, his own words suddenly hitting him. He blinked furiously, shaking his head and willing the painful spots of light to fade into something coherent. He tried to rub them, but Duc still held his hands.
Gradually the dizzying light faded into blurriness, as if he were looking through glass blurred by rain. Slowly it faded into a real picture, blurry only at the edges and even that was rapidly fading.
The first thing he saw was Duc, smiling. He couldn't comprehend it.
"You can see?" the wizard asked, though he clearly knew the answer.
"Y-yes." Caesar. He forced himself to look away from the wizard and the strange expression in his green eyes. Instead he examined the room he'd been staying in for the past few weeks. It was far too grand for him, the red and gold in which it was appointed all but shouting that it was a royal chamber.
Gentle fingers brought his head back around to face the wizard. Caesar again lost his ability to speak as those fingers examined his eyes as they always had, and then began to trace the slightly faded scars scattered across his face. The touches were more disconcerting than ever. "Why…" he faltered, and fell silent.
Duc paused, withdrawing his hands. "Why what? Am I bothering you?"
"No…I just…your eyes…" he frowned, upset, when Duc only looked at him in confusion. He bit down hard on his lower lip, "I don't understand the way you're looking at me. In the tower your eyes were so hard, except…except for that one moment. But now…now I don't understand at all."
He was dazzled by another smile, this one soft and warm. Duc again reached out to touch his face, his thumb stroking the small scar at his lip. Caesar found it hard to breath. "I'm relieved you can see again, for one thing."
"Oh."
"But mostly what you're seeing is my realizing that you've stolen something quite important from me."
Confusion and hurt flickered across Caesar's face. "What? How? I haven't stolen anything, you know I haven't!"
Duc shifted closer, ducking his head. "You most certainly have."
"No…" Feeling completely lost, Caesar began to pull away. He froze when Duc pressed his lips to the scar at his lip. Breath catching, he remained frozen as the wizard's mouth shifted to cover Caesar's own, nibbling softly at his lower lip until his mouth parted with a soft gasp. Pressing closer, Duc coaxed him into the kiss and gradually, shyly, Caesar began to return it.
Eventually Duc pulled back, pressing another soft kiss to the scar. "Yes, you did."
Bewildered, Caesar could only manage a soft "Oh" before he dropped his head to stare at his hands. He didn't protest when Duc wrapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him close. With a soundless sigh he let his head fall to rest against the wizard's chest, still somewhat disoriented from being able to see again, and overwhelmed by what Duc had said and done.
He was spared having to formulate something to say when the door swung open. Duc whispered in his ear, laughter in his voice. "Keep your eyes closed."
Rapunzel was eyeing them, "Duc, what are you doing to him now?"
"Examining his eyes."
"It looks like something else to me." She crossed her arms, "I thought I warned you the other day to back off until he could see again."
"I did."
A beat. "What?"
Smiling, Caesar opened his eyes. "Good to see you again, 'Zel."
He was all but tackled to the floor when Rapunzel flew across the room to embrace him, shrieking in sheer delight.
Duc winced, "Of course now we can't hear her…actually I can't see how that's a bad thing." He sat unfazed as the princess glared at him. "Do you mind letting go of your precious hero? Before you wind up injuring him?"
"Hmph. A tad possessive, are we?"
It was Duc's turn to glare, "Why don't I go attack your husband and we'll how you feel?"
Rapunzel just laughed, "You're cute when you're smitten, Duc."
"Don't you have royal duties to attend to?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact. I was actually coming to see if Caesar felt up to a knighting ceremony tomorrow evening."
"A what!" Caesar looked frantically at them both. "I'm not a knight."
"Not until tomorrow, anyway."
He shook his vehemently, "No, 'Zel. It's ridiculous. I'm just…" he bit his lip. "I'm just a former thief, an ex-convict. I can't be a knight." He looked at Duc, "I shouldn't even be here."
Rapunzel and Duc both glared at him. Duc spoke first, "Yes, you should. Even if you haven't been able to realize it, you did a great deal to help your princess. Perhaps it was foolish…but in the end you helped us solve a number of problems. And anyway, if Rapunzel wants you knighted, you're going to get knighted."
Caesar frowned. "I don't fit in here."
"Neither does Duc. Actually a lot of the palace thinks you should be knighted just for managing to tame him."
Duc's face was furious as he stared at her.
The princess ignored him. "Anyway, if you keep refusing I'll just lock you both in the tower until you decide to see reason."
"Why both of us?"
"Because Duc would be impossible to live with, if I took you away."
"Princess. With all due respect, go find somewhere else to be."
Rapunzel was silent a moment, and then nodded. She gave her friend another gleeful hug and left to go spread word of his recovery.
An awkward silence fell. Biting his lips, Caesar at last spoke. "I really don't belong here."
Duc cupped the side of his head and pulled him closer. "You said you wanted to make an honest life, right?"
"Yes…" Caesar said shakily, uncertain about pretty much everything at that moment.
"You already have one here. You've been kept from it here in your room, but you're the talk of the palace. From your sordid past to your heroic, foolhardy efforts to help the princess. And I have no doubt we can find a place for you. I think Rapunzel already has a few ideas."
Duc stroked a flushed cheek, "Besides…I know we started off poorly, but I'd like to think that by now it would count for something if I asked you stay."
Caesar's breath faltered, and he nodded. He smiled tremulously, "It would count for everything."
"Good," Duc smiled, relieved. "Because I really didn't want to find out if she'd actually lock us in that damnable tower."