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His daughter is happy – truly happy – and really, in the end, that is all that matters.
As the king watches Eugene spin Rapunzel around the dance floor in their first dance as a married couple, he realizes that it has always been Eugene who has been able to make her feel that way. But now the king knows that the feeling is mutual; Eugene Fitzherbert is the man he is because of Rapunzel’s love for him.
Rapunzel, his beautiful daughter, glances away from Eugene’s adoring smile and sees him standing off to the side. She lifts her hand from her husband’s shoulder and gestures for him to fetch her mother (who seems to be dictating a portrait of the dancing couple to the royal artist) and join them. The king shrugs off her kind gesture, laughing softly at her playful pout and the devious twinkle in her eyes; he doesn’t doubt that, before this night is over, she’ll have her way, but this time is for her and Eugene. Today is their celebration.
The song slows, quiets and fades out completely. Eugene spins Rapunzel to a gentle halt with expert skill – for a man who loathes dancing, he had certainly applied himself fully to the subject – and the onlookers (wedding guests, guards, and servers) applaud. The music starts up again – a more lively and sociable tune this time – as Eugene tucks Rapunzel’s hand into the crook of his elbow. They begin to slowly circle the room, thanking their guests personally for joining in the celebrations today.
The king can only shake his head in wonderment as they speak with a rather large band of disreputable-looking ruffians and then with what appears to be – but can’t possibly be! – an entire crew of pirates. The king would have been slightly alarmed at the company, but he notices the new captain of the guard –Maximus —watch the exchange without concern. A big man with a full beard and a brightly polished monocle pulls Eugene aside for a word. When Eugene shoots his wife a questioning glance, she waves him off good-naturedly.
It doesn’t take her long to set herself a new course and the king watches as she approaches him, glowing with happiness. She has never looked more lovely. He offers his open arms to her and she gladly accepts his embrace.
She sighs happily. "I still can’t believe it. After so long, Eugene and I are married." He can somehow feel her smile against the velvet of his vest.
"It has been a long time in coming," he agrees.
"I know." From the tone of her voice, he can tell that she had felt each and every intervening day acutely.
"But you never gave up on him." Truly, she is a wonder.
"Of course not. I love him. And I know he loves me. And now he’s ready – we both are – for what comes next."
The king marvels. When had his daughter grown so wise?
She pulls away from him and nods in Eugene’s direction. "And to think, he was scared to ask me to marry him!"
"Perhaps," he says wisely, "he was afraid he wasn’t good enough for you."
Rapunzel looks appalled at the thought. "But, Daddy, he always has been."
He looks at the man who is now his son-in-law. After everything he had done – after rescuing the king and his wife (although he disagrees with the idea of dressing his daughter like a man and putting her on a ship filled with men… especially ones that look like that mangy crew!), he knows she is right. "He is. And now you will finally get what every princess wants."
She cocks her head to the side questioningly. "What’s that?"
"A happily ever after." He drops a kiss on her forehead before noticing the larger-than-life dragon waving to Rapunzel. The hulking beast had flown to Corona earlier in the day, along with the King and Queen of Trist, to watch the ceremony. Prince Banale is noticably absent. He hasn't had a chance to ask the monarchs what happened to their son after they departed from Trist, but he trusts the fact that he will not be causing any trouble in the near future. "It seems as though your friend is looking for you."
Rapunzel gives him a quick peck on the cheek before crossing the courtyard. A wedding day ball in a courtyard. Yes, this is a celebration as unconventional as the man and woman whom it honors.
It doesn’t take long for a familiar shadow to approach him. He looks up at Eugene who is admiring his daughter openly. "She is a beautiful bride," the king notes.
The young man nods. "Yes, she is, your Majesty." His Adam’s apple bobs. The king can relate to the tangle of emotions. He had looked at his own wife in just that way on the day of their wedding, many years ago.
"Mister Fitzherbert," the king begins, and then he lays a hand on the young man’s shoulder. "Eugene."
"Yes, your Majesty?"
The king smiles. "Son, I think it's time you started using my given name. 　Long past time."
Eugene grins back. "It would be an honor."
"There will be no standing on ceremony in this family," the king gently scolds him, giving his shoulder a firm but affectionate jostling. "Only love."
And so it is.
***** The End *****
As the king watches Eugene spin Rapunzel around the dance floor in their first dance as a married couple, he realizes that it has always been Eugene who has been able to make her feel that way. But now the king knows that the feeling is mutual; Eugene Fitzherbert is the man he is because of Rapunzel’s love for him.
Rapunzel, his beautiful daughter, glances away from Eugene’s adoring smile and sees him standing off to the side. She lifts her hand from her husband’s shoulder and gestures for him to fetch her mother (who seems to be dictating a portrait of the dancing couple to the royal artist) and join them. The king shrugs off her kind gesture, laughing softly at her playful pout and the devious twinkle in her eyes; he doesn’t doubt that, before this night is over, she’ll have her way, but this time is for her and Eugene. Today is their celebration.
The song slows, quiets and fades out completely. Eugene spins Rapunzel to a gentle halt with expert skill – for a man who loathes dancing, he had certainly applied himself fully to the subject – and the onlookers (wedding guests, guards, and servers) applaud. The music starts up again – a more lively and sociable tune this time – as Eugene tucks Rapunzel’s hand into the crook of his elbow. They begin to slowly circle the room, thanking their guests personally for joining in the celebrations today.
The king can only shake his head in wonderment as they speak with a rather large band of disreputable-looking ruffians and then with what appears to be – but can’t possibly be! – an entire crew of pirates. The king would have been slightly alarmed at the company, but he notices the new captain of the guard –Maximus —watch the exchange without concern. A big man with a full beard and a brightly polished monocle pulls Eugene aside for a word. When Eugene shoots his wife a questioning glance, she waves him off good-naturedly.
It doesn’t take her long to set herself a new course and the king watches as she approaches him, glowing with happiness. She has never looked more lovely. He offers his open arms to her and she gladly accepts his embrace.
She sighs happily. "I still can’t believe it. After so long, Eugene and I are married." He can somehow feel her smile against the velvet of his vest.
"It has been a long time in coming," he agrees.
"I know." From the tone of her voice, he can tell that she had felt each and every intervening day acutely.
"But you never gave up on him." Truly, she is a wonder.
"Of course not. I love him. And I know he loves me. And now he’s ready – we both are – for what comes next."
The king marvels. When had his daughter grown so wise?
She pulls away from him and nods in Eugene’s direction. "And to think, he was scared to ask me to marry him!"
"Perhaps," he says wisely, "he was afraid he wasn’t good enough for you."
Rapunzel looks appalled at the thought. "But, Daddy, he always has been."
He looks at the man who is now his son-in-law. After everything he had done – after rescuing the king and his wife (although he disagrees with the idea of dressing his daughter like a man and putting her on a ship filled with men… especially ones that look like that mangy crew!), he knows she is right. "He is. And now you will finally get what every princess wants."
She cocks her head to the side questioningly. "What’s that?"
"A happily ever after." He drops a kiss on her forehead before noticing the larger-than-life dragon waving to Rapunzel. The hulking beast had flown to Corona earlier in the day, along with the King and Queen of Trist, to watch the ceremony. Prince Banale is noticably absent. He hasn't had a chance to ask the monarchs what happened to their son after they departed from Trist, but he trusts the fact that he will not be causing any trouble in the near future. "It seems as though your friend is looking for you."
Rapunzel gives him a quick peck on the cheek before crossing the courtyard. A wedding day ball in a courtyard. Yes, this is a celebration as unconventional as the man and woman whom it honors.
It doesn’t take long for a familiar shadow to approach him. He looks up at Eugene who is admiring his daughter openly. "She is a beautiful bride," the king notes.
The young man nods. "Yes, she is, your Majesty." His Adam’s apple bobs. The king can relate to the tangle of emotions. He had looked at his own wife in just that way on the day of their wedding, many years ago.
"Mister Fitzherbert," the king begins, and then he lays a hand on the young man’s shoulder. "Eugene."
"Yes, your Majesty?"
The king smiles. "Son, I think it's time you started using my given name. 　Long past time."
Eugene grins back. "It would be an honor."
"There will be no standing on ceremony in this family," the king gently scolds him, giving his shoulder a firm but affectionate jostling. "Only love."
And so it is.
***** The End *****
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