#mogadeer

“What does she see in him?” King Frederic asks one morning.

He, his wife, Queen Arianna, and their daughter, Rapunzel were all enjoying a good breakfast in the garden, but Rapunzel left rather early to go see that wild man she had decided to court, Hector.

He hears Arianna sigh. “Frederic, we’ve talked about this. She’s an adult, we need to respect her decisions.”

Frederic groans. “I know, but I just don’t understand why him!”

He really didn’t, no matter how much he tried to understand and respect her decision to be with Hector, he just couldn’t.

First of all, he believed this man was VERY much too old for his daughter. Sure, plenty of people dated, and even married, people much older than themselves, and normally, Frederic wouldn’t say anything, but this was his daughter, not some maiden from the village. 

Also, this man had tried to KILL her, and yet, she was willing to date this man. If he could, he would’ve had him executed for trying to hurt his daughter. But what upset him the most was that, not only did Rapunzel defend Hector, but that she had originally planned on not telling him about that. It was only by luck that he had over heard them and picked up that detail. When he learned about that, he wanted to just strike the savage man down right then and there, but Rapunzel had stopped. How could she do that. Why would she do that.

Finally, and obviously, in his opinion, was that Hector was just too unpleasant to be around. He was rude, uncouth, and seemed too apathetic for Frederic’s liking. Whenever he tries to make conversation with that man, Hector was not easy to talk to, Frederic had never met a man as blunt or poorly mannered as Hector.

He couldn’t think of any woman who would want a man like that, let alone someone like Rapunzel.

Arianna gave him a sympathetic smile. “Dear, I know this is difficult, but you have to accept that Rapunzel wants to be with Hector. We can’t force her not to be with someone she wants to, that’s not fair for her.”

Frederic sighs. “I know.”

“Dear, I understand that you don’t understand why Rapunzel chose him, but she has. She is a smart girl, she knows what she’s doing and she can take care of herself, we just need to trust her.” Arianna continues. “And you have to admit, that he has been good to her. She hasn’t said anything bad about him or that he’s hurt her in anyway since they’ve been together.”

Frederic groans. As much as hated to admit it, his wife as right about Hector not hurting Rapunzel. When he had first learned that he had tried to kill her, he started to suspect the worst when Rapunzel told him that she and Hector were together. But no, Rapunzel hadn’t said anything that indicated that he was hurting her. But that didn’t matter to Frederic, Rapunzel didn’t tell him a lot of things.

However, whenever he saw the pair together, he had to admit that he wasn’t mistreating her in any way he could see. In fact, he had to admit that he was treating her rather well. One night, he had seen the unusual pair in the garden together, looking at the stars, and he had to admit that the two of them did look very happy together, and although he couldn’t hear them, he could tell that Hector was being kind to her, based on what he could see, and how happy Rapunzel seemed.

He still hoped that Rapunzel would develop an interest in a more...respectable suitor, but for now, he suppose he could at least learn to tolerate Hector, for Rapunzel’s sake at least.

“You’re right.” Frederic sighed. “If Rapunzel is happy, then I will at least try to be happy for her. Even if Hector isn’t the kind of man I imagined her with.”

Arianna smiled at him. “That’s all I ask of you.” She said as she kissed her husband’s cheek. “Rapunzel will greatly appreciate that.”

After breakfast, Arianna decided to go to the library. There was nothing for her to do today, so she decided today would be a good opportunity to read a good book for a little while.

“Okay, so have you ever seen a spirit bear?” She heard Rapunzel’s voice ask. “I read that it looks like a polar bear, but it’s actually a subspecies of black bears.”

Then she heard Hector’s voice. “I actually saw one as I traveled to the Great Tree.”

Peaking into the library, she saw Rapunzel and Hector sitting close together on the floor, surrounded by several books. In Rapunzel’s hands was a book and she and Hector looked in it.

“I read that they are better at fishing than black bears.” Rapunzel adds with a smile. “Is that true?”

Hector chuckles. “I didn’t really stop to see it go fishing, Sunshine, but I guess I can believe that.”

Arianna finds herself smiling as she looked at the pair. She had admit, when she first met Hector, she wasn’t too sure about him when Rapunzel said that the two were dating.

Hector didn’t seem like the person Rapunzel would be with. She could tell that this Hector was a loner, and Rapunzel was a very outgoing young woman. Hector seemed quite grumpy, contrasting her daughter’s cheerfulness. And while Rapunzel tried to be polite to everyone, and would try hard to get people to like her, Arianna could tell that Hector couldn’t care less if people liked him, he didn’t seem to like people either. Arianna didn’t think the pair would get along.

But then again, as she thought back on her and Frederic, she remembered that they were quite opposite from each other as well, and they managed to fall in love. If it could happen to her and Frederic, than there was a chance it could happen for Rapunzel and Hector as well. So while she was hesitant, she accepted Rapunzel choice.

As she saw the pair together, she felt her anxieties about the pair slowly fade. Hector may not be the most pleasant person she’s ever met, but she saw how good he was treating her daughter. One time, Rapunzel had been a particularly sad mood, to the point where the poor girl was in tears and isolated herself to her room.

Arianna was about to go to her and do everything she could do as a mother to take care of her daughter and cheer her up. But when she reached Rapunzel’s room, she saw Hector was there with her, holding her as Rapunzel cried into his chest, whispering comforting things to her. It actually amazed Arianna how well Hector was able to help Rapunzel feel better.

And as time passed, Arianna could see the two grow closer and closer, she knew it was only a matter of time before the two were officially in love, or maybe they already were, she wouldn’t be surprised.

And despite what her husband said, Hector really wasn’t all that bad, he could be a gentleman when he wanted to be. He just didn’t seemed to like Frederic that much.

Not wanting to disturb the pair, Arianna decided to go for a walk. It would be good to get out of the castle and get some fresh air.

“You ever wonder what he sees in her?” Adira asks Quirin.

“I’m sorry?” Quirin asks. He hadn’t really been paying attention. He had been in the middle of harvesting some pumpkins. Adira had come to visit him and see how he and Varian were doing. Adira had offered to help, but Quirin had told her that it wasn’t necessary, since Hector and Rapunzel were there and Quirin claimed that the pair were more than enough.

“I’m talking about Hector and Rapunzel.” Adira stated, pointing at the pair, who were in the middle of getting of weeds that were growing in the field, near the vegetables. “You can’t say you aren’t curious about how the two got together.”

When Adira had gotten news that Hector had gotten together with Rapunzel, who was also the Sundrop, the very thing that Hector claimed to be a myth and had tried to destroy at one point. Adira had thought it was some kind of joke.

But no, when she came to Corona to see her brother, she realized that it was not a joke at all. It was true. Hector really was dating the Princess.

"What do you mean?” Quirin asks. “Is something wrong?”

“Of course not.” Adira rolls her eyes. “I have nothing against the Princess, she’s a good girl. But do you really imagine someone like her being with someone like Hector? Because I can’t. No matter how often I see those two, I still can’t believe it.”

She meant it when she had nothing against Rapunzel. She liked the Princess, found her to be a girl full of surprises. And it wasn’t that she wasn’t happy that Hector found someone to be happy with, she really was, even if her teasing suggested other wise.

It was just that she never imagine Hector with anyone. At all. He never showed interest in romance, even before leaving the Dark Kingdom, his number one priority had always been his duty to King Edmund within the Brotherhood. People who weren’t her, Quirin or their King, Hector showed no interest, no matter how good-looking that person was. It was just who Hector was and she had always been fine with that, she was never realized interested in romance either.

Then there was the Princess, who Adira actually saw as everything Hector didn’t like in people. She was cheerful, optimistic, outgoing, and tries to see the good in everyone. She was practically Hector’s opposite. Sure, she was a beautiful girl, but Hector wasn’t the type to be pulled to a person based on looks alone. How did someone as pessimistic and grumpy as Hector become interested in someone like Rapunzel?

Quirin just shrugged. “I’ve come to learn that there are some things that you shouldn’t bother questioning. They’re together and they seem rather happy. That’s all we really need to understand.”

“I suppose so.” Adira agreed. “I probably won’t ever understand how. But you’re right, they do look happy.”

Quirin was right. Adira would probably never understand how those two got together or how they managed to fall in love. But it happened, she suppose that’s all that she needed to know. And they were happy together and it looked that wouldn’t change anytime soon. And if she was honest, she kind of hoped it never changed, Hector deserved to be happy after everything he went through and maybe the Princess was who he needed.

Not that she’ll ever tell Hector that. Teasing him wouldn’t be as fun if she did.

“Will you be staying for lunch?” Quirin asks.

Adira shakes her head. “I have somewhere else to be. But tell Varian I said hi.” Before Adira leaves, she gives a quick glance at the couple, who were still working, and gave them a quick smile. She really did hope those two would be happy together for a very long time

“Alright, I thinks that’s good for now.” Quirin tells Rapunzel and Hector. “Do you two want to stay for lunch?”

“That sounds wonderful.” Rapunzel says with a smile. “Thanks, Quirin.”

Hector just shrugs. “I guess I could eat.” He says, blankly.

Quirin rolls his eyes as he heads to his home to prepare food. “Can you two go to Varian’s lab and let him know I’m making lunch.”

The pair nod and go to Varian’s lab. Quirin saw Rapunzel take Hector’s hand and lead him. Quirin felt himself smile as he looked at them before going into the kitchen and start preparing lunch.

When he first learned of Hector getting together with the Princess, he heard it from a villager, so he didn’t take it seriously, it just figured it was just a rumor. But when Hector had told him himself, Quirin admit he was still skeptical, but when the Princess herself told him, Quirin couldn’t deny that. Hector really was dating the Princess of Corona

He was surprised. But how couldn’t he surprised? He loved Hector, he was his brother, but he was never really good with people. And he never showed interested in anything involving romance or even platonic. Outside the Brotherhood, Hector didn’t like people and would avoid them whenever he could. So, how was he supposed to believe that Hector, of all people, would be in a romantic relationship with the Princess of Corona.

He had to admit, he didn’t know Princess Rapunzel that well, he only knew her through Varian, who spends more time with her than Quirin does. But from what he knew of her, he could easily say that he wasn’t the kind of woman he imagined Hector would be with. She actually seemed like the kind of person Hector would try to avoid as much as possible.

The Princess wasn’t bad, she was actually very kind. It was just that he knew her optimism, her desire to help everyone she could, her energetic nature, would be annoying to Hector, at least it did years ago back in the Dark Kingdom. So he couldn’t understand why or even how Hector would come to like her at all.

But the more he saw the pair together, the more Hector talked to him about her, the more Quirin was starting see why Hector liked her so much. She understand him, in a way he doubted anyone else ever could. They both knew what it was liked to be isolated from others by forces outside of their control. They both knew the fear that came from being thrust into a completely new environment and not given much time to get used to it before having to deal with much more than they could handle. They new the pain of being separated or losing people they cared for greatly.

And Quirin could also see what a good influence the Princess was to Hector. She helped him adjust to life in Corona, she helped him get better with talking to strangers, and she was able to help him relax a bit, to recover from paranoia and fears he’s developed over the years alone. He know those wouldn’t completely go away, but with the Princess at Hector’s side, Quirin knew that Hector would be okay.

“Hey, Dad.” He heard Varian said. Looking at the entrance, he saw Varian, Hector and Rapunzel.

“Hello, Son.” Quirin said, smiling at the trio. “Food’s just about ready. You three can go sit at the table.” He watched as they took their seats, with of course, Rapunzel and Hector sitting next to each other.