Rapunzel gasped as she stared at the shadowed figure of Mother Gothel.
“Hello, dear,” Mother Gothel said.
“What ... what are you doing here?” Rapunzel said, fumbling for words. “I mean, how did you find me?”
Mother Gothel walked up to Rapunzel and gave her a hug. “Oh, it was easy, really,” she said. “I just listened for the sound of complete and utter betrayal and followed that.”
Rapunzel tried to find a way to explain. She couldn’t help feeling guilty.
“We’re going home, Rapunzel,” Mother Gothel commanded. “Now.”
“You don’t understand,” Rapunzel said. “I’ve been on this incredible journey, and I’ve seen and learned so much! I even met someone.”
“Yes. The wanted thief.” Mother Gothel frowned with disgust.
“No, Mother, wait! I think he likes me.”
“Likes you?” Mother Gothel said, scowling at Rapunzel. It was ridiculous for Rapunzel to think that this ruffian could be fond of her, the unworldly child! “This is why you should never have left!” Mother Gothel scoffed. “This whole romance that you’ve invented just proves that you’re too na?ve to be here. Why would he like you, really?”
Mother Gothel was mocking her, trying to unravel the trust she had put in Flynn.
Rapunzel had heard Mother Gothel’s scornful dismissals before. She had even accepted them. But she no longer believed them the way she used to. Mother Gothel had lied to her throughout her life. Rapunzel knew Flynn liked her. She knew she had made friends in the outside world. But at the same time, her doubts remained, tickling the back of her mind. Maybe — maybe Flynn was just trying to be honorable, to keep up his side of their deal.
“Come, come,” Mother Gothel said. “You know that I’m right.” She tossed the crown to Rapunzel. She challenged Rapunzel to give it to Flynn and find out what he really wanted.
Rapunzel began to wonder: If she gave the crown to Flynn, would he stop being nice to her? Would he leave her alone and run away with his prized crown?
“No,” Rapunzel said firmly.
The firelight flashed across Mother Gothel’s face as it filled with rage. Rapunzel was doubting her own mother.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Show him this.” Mother Gothel gestured toward the crown. “Then see how much he likes you!”
“I will!” Rapunzel said defiantly. But seeing her mother move to leave, Rapunzel called out, “Mother, wait!”
Mother Gothel simply turned her back and disappeared into the dark forest.
Rapunzel sat in silence. Minutes ticked by, and Flynn returned.
Flynn began talking to her lightheartedly, but Rapunzel hardly heard a word.
“Hey, you okay?” Flynn asked, returning from the woods.
Rapunzel turned around. “Sorry, yes,” she told him. “I was just, uh, lost in thought, I guess.”
Flynn began to tend the fire. “So, I have a question,” he said, still intrigued by Rapunzel and her amazing gifts. “Will your hair work if you sing about anything? Like, I don’t know, if you sang a song about cupcakes?”
Rapunzel didn’t answer him. She just stared up at a knot in the tree where she’d hidden the crown and the satchel. She had believed in Mother Gothel her entire life. But now that she knew Flynn, she felt lost. It was impossible to believe in them both.
Meanwhile, the Stabbington brothers were hiding in the woods with Mother Gothel. They wanted to grab Flynn, the crown, and the girl with the golden hair right then and there. But Mother Gothel held them back. “Patience, boys,” she whispered. “Trust me, it’s all going exactly to plan.”
樂佩盯著高瑟媽媽的黑影,喘著氣。
“你好,親愛的。”高瑟媽媽說。
“你……你在這兒做什么?”樂佩笨口拙舌地現(xiàn)找詞語,“我是說,你是怎么找到我的?”
高瑟媽媽朝樂佩走去,抱住了她。“哦,很簡單,真的,”她說,“我只是聽著那徹底背叛的聲音,跟著來了?!?
樂佩想要解釋。但是她無法擺脫愧疚感。
“我們回家,樂佩,”高瑟媽媽命令道,“現(xiàn)在就走?!?
“你不明白,”樂佩說,“我已經(jīng)踏上了不可思議的旅程,我也看到了、學(xué)到了很多東西!我甚至遇到了一個(gè)人?!?
“是的,被通緝的盜賊?!备呱獘寢寘拹旱匕欀肌?
“不,媽媽,等等!我覺得他喜歡我?!?
“喜歡你?”高瑟媽媽沉下臉,對(duì)樂佩說道。真荒謬,樂佩竟然覺得這個(gè)惡棍喜歡她,真是不諳世故的孩子啊!“這就是為什么你不應(yīng)該出去!”高瑟媽媽嘲弄道,“所有的浪漫都只是你的臆想,只能證明你太天真,不該在這兒。他為什么會(huì)喜歡 你呢?”
高瑟媽媽譏笑她,試圖動(dòng)搖她對(duì)費(fèi)林的信任。
樂佩以前也聽過高瑟媽媽那些輕蔑、不屑一顧的話。她甚至接受了那些輕視。但是,她不再像過去那樣全部信以為真。高瑟媽媽這一輩子都在欺騙她。樂佩知道費(fèi)林喜歡她。她知道自己在外面的世界交到了朋友。但與此同時(shí),她仍心存疑慮,疑惑在她的腦海中揮之不去。說不定——說不定費(fèi)林只是顯得正直而已,只是做好他們的交易中他那方的事。
“來吧,來吧,”高瑟媽媽說,“你知道我說的對(duì)?!彼鸦使谌咏o樂佩。她要樂佩把它交給費(fèi)林,看看他究竟要什么。
樂佩開始疑惑,要是她把皇冠還給費(fèi)林,他會(huì)不會(huì)不再對(duì)她好了?他會(huì)不會(huì)拋下她一個(gè)人,帶著珍貴的皇冠跑掉?
“不?!睒放鍒?jiān)定地說。
篝火的火光閃過高瑟媽媽怒不可遏的臉。樂佩在懷疑自己的母親。
“不要說我沒有警告過你。給他看這個(gè),”高瑟媽媽指著皇冠,“看看他有多喜歡你!”
“我會(huì)的!”樂佩反抗道。但是看到母親真的離去時(shí),樂佩大聲叫喊著:“媽媽,等等!”
高瑟媽媽只是轉(zhuǎn)過身,然后消失在了幽暗的森林里。
樂佩默默地站著。時(shí)間一分一秒過去,費(fèi)林回來了。
費(fèi)林輕松愉快地跟她說話,但樂佩幾乎聽不進(jìn)去一個(gè)字。
“嘿,你沒事吧?”費(fèi)林從森林里回來后問道。
樂佩轉(zhuǎn)過身?!氨?,我沒事,”她說,“我只是,呃,在想事情,我想?!?
費(fèi)林開始給篝火添柴?!澳敲矗矣袀€(gè)問題,”他說,仍然對(duì)樂佩和她的驚人天賦好奇不已,“你隨便唱什么歌,你的頭發(fā)都會(huì)那樣嗎?比如,我不知道,你唱一首關(guān)于紙杯蛋糕的歌呢?”
樂佩沒有回答他。她只是盯著樹上的一個(gè)節(jié)疤,她把皇冠和包藏在了那兒。她這一生都很信任高瑟媽媽。但是現(xiàn)在,她認(rèn)識(shí)了費(fèi)林,她感到迷茫。不可能同時(shí)信任他們兩個(gè)。
這個(gè)時(shí)候,釘刺兄弟和高瑟媽媽正一起躲在樹林里。他們當(dāng)時(shí)就想抓住費(fèi)林,拿到皇冠,還有捉住那個(gè)金發(fā)女孩。但是高瑟媽媽阻止了他們?!澳托狞c(diǎn),小伙子們,”她低語道,“相信我,一切全在計(jì)劃內(nèi)。”
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