Snippet #2090943

Rapunzel listened, her brows knotting, as Airna spoke of receiving word from Prince Dayerin. She remembered the young prince when he was a lad and she had brought the twins to play with him and his sister while she visited with Briarose. As a boy, he had been big for his age and a bit of a trouble maker. She didn’t worry about him, so much as she worried about Briar. Rapunzel imagined the same thing happening to her... losing her husband, her children, and having to marry the Emperor. It made her feel deep and dark despair.

Nanji’s kiss on her forehead brought her back to the present.

"What do ye be cravin' Mama? I'll askd te chef ta make ya whatever ye want?"

Rapunzel could not help but smile at her son, so fun-loving he was. And come to think of it, she actually did have a craving for something. “Ye know wat I would like? A nice plate of greens... big, juicy leaves, an’ if ye can, get te kind tat has a blush o’ red on ta edges? Ye know ta kind, yah? Wi’t a bit of oil and vinegar sprinkled on top? Tank ye, dear.” She brought his head closer to her and planted a kiss on his nose.

As she sat and waited for the greens, she noticed an incoming pixie message. She immediately thought of her husband, and clucked her tongue. He had already sent her a message the night before, what could it be this time? The little creature flew into her outstretched palm, and its glowing changed from green to purple as it stood in her hand, meaning it had reached its recipient. But she did not recognize this pixie.

“You must be the Queen of Towerlot,” the pixie spoke in an airy voice. Rapunzel nodded. “Aye, wat be ya message?”

“Lufgaw of Effledus wants to know what security measures your kingdom will take against the empire,” the pixie recited. “That is all.”

Rapunzel’s eyes widened at the pixie. King Lufgaw was the last person she was expecting to send her a message. She had never met him in person, though she was friends with his wife. Queen Sereya was the one who greeted the human visitors if ever they were allowed into Effledus. And Rapunzel had a few months ago, given that it was necessary to negotiate with Effledus to end a border dispute.

“Towerlot has a small army tat has assembled, as well as a force of mounted warriors. We also have bands of our finest archers posted at our many towers. Our castle and capitol is walled, and fortified wit catapults at ta ready,” Rapunzel told the fairy. “But ta most of our defense is underground. We have a network of tunnels to transport water and supplies in case of seige, and it runs t’rough the kingdom. Do ya have any more to suggest, King Lufgaw?”

With that said, the pixie turned green again with a full message. But she did not leave immediately, and looked at Rapunzel expectantly. She seemed tired, grumpy, always flying back and forth with these messages. “Might I have a bite of food for the long journey?”