She had been locked in that tower for longer than a person should remember, seen kingdoms pass by from her cursed window. She had lived for a century now, hating every day. Only the length of her hair betrayed her years, for the king had seen fit to put a long-life spell on himself and his most prized mistress before locking her away where no raiding party could obtain her. She hoped for his sake that he was killed in battle that day.

Most days nothing could be seen from her window. Only that old hag still visited, bringing food each day. Even she could not see the tower. When she called out, Rapunzel had to throw her hair out the window so she could even find the place. It had been enchanted well, too well, for the woods around it shifted each day. The king -- only he could see her prison.

Curiously, she'd look out the window whenever she heard signs of life. The times she'd tried to yell before only frightened people away. Her head suddenly appearing from an unseen window, seemingly floating in midair did not help for these woods were already rumored to be cursed because of their changing nature.

Then, one day, he came. How the mighty had fallen. He came on foot, scarred and poorly clothed, but his direction did not waver as she watched from above. He was approaching the tower, and he saw it clearly. Her mind was in a turmoil, struggling to fight back the desire to kill him on sight. All the years of torment, locked up with no escape or release came back with a crushing weight. To be freed, though, he had to release her.

Resignation came, and in the rest of the time it took him to arrive, she steeled herself to be as pleasing a mistress as the day he'd left for war. Her hair was already thrown down from the window when he neared. She spent the last moments looking away as he climbed in. She wiped a tear from her eye quickly when she saw his face in the mirror behind her. He looked so relieved, and the love she had forgotten was still inscribed in his every feature. He took her in his arms from behind, and she could not help but sink into the relief that shook him. Both lovers cried together for the years that they were apart, for the pain that kept them separate.

Neither heard the hag when she slipped in the window, up the hair that was still begging to be climbed. Only when he screamed in pain, fresh blood pouring from the fresh wound did they realize he was there. She turned in sudden horror, shock etched deeply into her face. The hag's eyes bored into hers as she said, "For years I was slave to you and this tower. You were not the only enchanted one. Now we are both free."


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