To Rapunzel, the Kalmeirian Forest seemed a greater obstacle than the tower. The curving claws of its plethora of branches tore at her face, arms, and clothes. Frequently, her long loops of braided hair would become ensnared, forcing her to halt and extract herself from the branches before she could move forward again, slowing her progress to a near crawl. After the fifth time of being caught by the hair, Rapunzel had had enough. She unpinned her braids and wrapped them firmly around her waist and arms until she appeared to be encased in golden armor.

Pushing through the forest, she intentionally broke branches and twigs along her path to mark her way, but when she looked back, Rapunzel was unable to find anything damaged. No broken pieces littered the forest floor, and no snapped branches hung limp from tree trunks. She stared hard in the moonlight, but couldn't find a single trace of her passing. Testing an idea, she broke a nearby branch and watched as the limb turned to a pale green mist for a moment; when the mist solidified, the branch was restored with no sign of damage.

"Of course," Rapunzel grumbled. "The forest would be enchanted."

She tried dragging the toe of her shoe in the rich soil, but a similar magical reset occurred and made her efforts useless. Realizing no way existed for her to accurately mark a trail, she tried to maintain a strait a path as possible, deciding the tower would be easy enough to spot if she got close enough when returning, and continued on her way.

Because of her slow and painstaking progress, Rapunzel was beginning to wonder if she'd even reach the edge of the forest before morning when she stepped around a large tree and abruptly found herself in the open. She glanced to her left and right and noticed the trees ended in a perfectly straight line as if grown into a natural wall as far as she could see in either direction. Pushing the observation out of her mind in favor of thoughts of quickening her pace, her gaze passed over the green fields and a white stone bridge spanning a gurgling river. In the distance beyond the river, she saw a wall of similar white stone with buildings and towers rising above it and topped with brown and gray rooftops. Lanterns hung from the wall and buildings, providing spots of flicking orange light that tinted the color of the stones nearest them.

Having never seen a city, only the lone tower she'd lived in her entire life, she was stunned. Her eyes widened in startled awe. When her thought process returned enough for her to realize she'd get a better view close up, she took off running toward the city.

Rapunzel was breathless when she reached the outer wall, and she paused beneath its pristine height. The wall itself wasn't like the cut stone of her tower that maintained a texture despite its overall smoothness. The stone wall before her was flawless. She ran her fingers across the glittering white material, radiant even in the dim light from the lanterns and moon, and she couldn't find a single flaw. It was like touching the surface of a sword polished to a mirror finish.

Having rested enough to start moving again, albeit slower than she would've preferred, Rapunzel walked around the wall to find one of the many gates used for entrance.

The ring of metal as a sword was drawn forth from its sheath was her only warning before a thunderous voice bellowed, "Who goes there?"

Rapunzel halted in her tracks, ideas of a panicked flight back to the woods and the safety of the tower filling her mind.

"What is a maid doing out here at night?" the armored warrior questioned as he approached.

She remained motionless and felt rooted in place, even though her heart was racing at full speed, eyes locked upon the sword held ready in the guard's metal-clad fist.

"Alone?" another guard questioned. Sealed in plate armor over a layer of more flexible chainmail identical to the first guard, the second soldier held a halberd. The weapon possessed an axe head at the end of a long shaft while also having the point of a spear; two weapons in one. "Without arms or guards? Why would anyone be so reckless?"

"Speak up, woman!" snapped the first guard, his voice seemingly more booming as it echoed inside his closed helmet. "Are you deaf or mute?"

The second guard took down a lantern from a hook and approached her, but as the light struck upon her golden hair, he halted as if having run into a wall. The first guard took a step back while breathing the sentence, "It cannot be."

Both of the soldiers knelt before her, laying their weapons upon the ground as if they were an offering to her.

"Forgive us, Highness," the first guard said. "We did not know it was you. The King and Queen have been looking for you many a year. We must take you them at once."

The guards rose and moved toward her in a single motion, metal gauntlets closing around her upper arms. She was half dragged, half carried into the city at a brisk pace, her feet barely touching the ground. She was hurried past a bakery, a store brimming with leather bound books, a metal shop selling everything from door handles to armored shields, but before she could get more than a glance at them, Rapunzel had been rushed past them and further up the cobblestone streets. Twice, they ascended a set of stairs built into the roadway to reach another level of the terraced city. The few people she did see all bowed quickly when they saw her.

Reaching the final level of the city, the guards were swiftly admitted to the main gates of the palace when the sentries beheld who was being brought in. The ten foot tall gates of gleaming gold were pushed open, and the guards carried her in without having to slow their pace. A runner raced ahead of them to bring word to the Royal Court, so by the time Rapunzel was brought into the throne room, the entire palace was aware of her arrival.

"Rapunzel," a deep voice echoed among the towering pillars of the throne room. "It has been so long. Is it really you?"

Her eyes ignored the vibrant colors of the banners hanging on the walls, the many soldiers in polished armor standing at the ready, and the numerous nobles and officials filling the marble tiled space, focusing instead on the two people standing at the front of the room. The man on her left was tall and broad shouldered, his obvious muscle showing through the draping of the silk robes he currently wore. A beard of gold covered the lower half of his face and nearly concealed his mouth from view, while a crown of sparkling silver sat upon his head.

The woman at his side lacked his obvious muscle, but what she lacked in bulk, she made up for in quiet serenity. Her slender arms had a fluid grace as she moved to shoo away the Court and give them space to properly greet the new arrival without interference. The woman's hair was a familiar blonde, braided and looped many times behind her. Rapunzel's eyes went wide at the sight of her.

"My dearest daughter," the Queen greeted with a wide smile and outstretched arms.

The guards released her, nearly dropping her to the blue carpet covering the white marble tiles of the floor. Rapunzel stumbled slightly but was able to regain her balance without falling. From the books she'd read, she knew about proper etiquette in meeting royalty, so she curtsied as best as she could.

"Your Majesty," she offered in greeting.

"There is no need to be so formal," the King told her with an amused smile emerging from his beard.

The Queen left her position on the dais, descended the steps to where Rapunzel was and wrapped her arms around her.

"We thought you lost to us," the Queen bemoaned. "You were but an infant, less than a few days old, when you were stolen from us. We despaired at the thought of ever seeing you again. But, now that you have returned, we may yet be able to proceed."

"Proceed with what?" Rapunzel asked in bewilderment.

"With the sacrifice, of course," the King explained casually. "Infant blood is the most pure, therefore the most potent, but you don't seem too worse for wear. Royal blood has a potency of its own, so you may still be enough to complete the ritual, even if we were delayed in its evocation."

Rapunzel tried to push away from the Queen, but what she'd thought was a loving embrace now felt like unyielding chains, and the Queen held her immobile.

"You won't escape us this time," the Queen stated sweetly, a coldness in her eyes and voice that sent a shiver through Rapunzel's entire being.

"Bring her to the ritual chamber," the King commanded.

The guards seized her once more and dragged her away.