Rapunzel (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James Page A

such worry, such . . .”
    “Shh,” she said. “Let us speak of good things right now, please.”
    He paused a moment and then began to whisper, “One-two-three, one-two-three . . .”
    She grinned as she began to feel him sway back and forth, her body moving with his. Then before she knew it, with his hands still holding the chains out, they began to move. Slowly and perfectly, they danced around the little space.
    “One-two-three, one-two-three . . .”
    Her hands clutched his shoulders as he increased the rhythm a bit. Circling faster, she could hear the scrape of the chains around them and the soft, numbered chant of the waltz, but beyond that, it was as if her ears became muffled. All at once, it seemed as if they were dancing about in a glorious ballroom, music gently guiding their steps along. She could feel it, hear it, almost experience the warm glow from the chandeliers above them.
    And then the song came. The simple waltzing melody began to tickle her ears as her charming Prince Jonathan began to sing. It was a sweet hum that grew to actual words the longer they danced.
     
    Every once in a while,
    The world produces a
    Love like ours.
    Every once in a while,
    The hearts of the young lift
    To the stars.
    You can hear their prayers,
    As they’ve lost their fears.
    Their world spins round in hopes
    Of a brighter future
    Where the angel wing floats
    Amid the sky of carefree
    Cries into the autumnless
    Wint’ry slopes.
     
    Every once in a while
    The world produces a
    Love like ours.
    Every once in a while,
    The hearts of the young lift
    To the stars.
    And my dear, your el’gance
    Knows no bounds
    Upon the graceful swirls
    Of love’s crown.
    You are my beating heart,
    You are my endless bliss.
    Oh, to twirl amidst the
    Love like this
    Is to experience joy’s
    First real kiss.
     
    Every once in a while
    The world produces a
    Love like ours.
    Every once in a while,
    The hearts of the young lift
    To the stars.
     
    As his lovely words grew softer, he stepped back and grinned, her gaze searching his face for a long moment as he stilled their movements. Then she stood upon tiptoe and kissed him. He dropped the chains and instantly wrapped his arms around her, and she allowed all her emotions into this kiss, her happy heart, her glorious memories, and her joy at seeing him again. He truly was the sweetest man she had ever known.
    And he could sing!
    She could hear him sing a thousand evenings such as this and never grow tired of that voice. “I love you,” she whispered against his mouth. “I love you so very much.”
    “And I have always loved you.”
    He loosened his grip upon her just a bit and she felt as his hand followed the golden necklace to the front of her shoulder. He gently tugged upon the chain and pulled out the Balligryn pendant from beneath her gown. “You still have it!”
    “You seem amazed that I do.”
    “Aye, I am amazed. I am relieved and all things marveled that such a pendant has not been lost in all the hustle and awkwardness of the years and then imprisoned as you have been.”
    “Lady Vactryne never cared of any of my clothing or jewels. At least, she never mentioned them. But before then . . .” She touched his strong stubbly jaw with her palm, bringing his eyes back to hers. “Dearest, out of all the things to lose, the item that kept you closest to my heart would not be one of them. Not only is it what finally snapped me from my darkest thoughts, saving my life, but it is my future with you. It is our promise together. I would always have taken it seriously.” Then, in a flurry of activity, she began to remove it. “Here, though. Now you are back. Keep it safe that bit longer for me. I do not know what will happen when we attempt to escape, so please tuck it away somewhere and I promise to wear it forever more afterwards.”
    He seemed shocked. “But Rapunzel, do you not want to wear it?”
    “Of course I do,” she said as she finally unlatched the delicate rope from