The Golden Stairway

fairy tales can come true...

The Golden Stairway by rcallaci 

Based on Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm,

and the Netflix series, “Sandman”

Prompt Chosen: Secrets We Keep

 

I’m at my breaking point. I’ve been wandering this damn forest, lost, hungry, alone, and blind to what’s happening for two years. I’ve almost lost hope of being reunited with my true love, Rapunzel. The thought of leaving this forest to go to my kingdom without my golden-haired beauty, Rapunzel, by my side is unthinkable. I’d let death take me instead.

I

t's happened; I finally lost my mind. I hear babies wailing in this god forsaken forest. As I thankfully approach death, I relive the events that led me to my coming inglorious demise. It was the most vivid fever dream I ever had.

On my way home from a diplomatic mission in Neverland, being foolhardy, I decided to take a shortcut through the notorious forbidden forest. The home of the Witch Queen. It would cut weeks off my trip, so the danger to me was worth it. As I was halfway through, I heard the most divine sound, a song that sent chills throughout my body. I was transfixed. I directed my horse to gallop to where the sound emanated from. I came upon a tower with no doors and only one window, twenty yards high. Looking out that window was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I tried every which way to climb it to no avail.  I hid from her in the trees, and every day for a week, I listened to her sing. I was about to reluctantly leave and return to my kingdom when the Witch Queen approached the tower.

The Witch Queen, Gothel, was no old witchy hag but a stunningly beautiful black-haired sorceress. Both women were of opposite beauty; one was an ethereal golden-haired angel, while the other was a forbidden beauty of the dark, demonic kind. I was ready to bolt when I heard the Witch Queen call out to the girl. In a sing-song voice, she said,

“Rapunzel! Rapunzel!

Let down your hair

That I may climb thy golden stair!”

To my amazement, the young woman called Rapunzel fastens her hair to a hook and lets it fall 20 yards to the ground. I then saw the witch climb up her hair and into the window.

I waited till the witch climbed down and left. I then repeated the witch’s words, and Rapunzel, thinking it was the witch, let her hair down. After her initial surprise (well, she screamed a little) of seeing someone other than the witch, it was like Cupid smashed his arrows into both our hearts. We fell madly in love with one another. For weeks, we talked and made love under the moonlit night. These were the happiest days of our lives.

She told me that the Witch Queen was her adopted mother and locked her away in this tower when she turned twelve. She said the world was too cruel and ugly for someone as pure and sensitive as her. The witch supplied her with all the creature comforts except for other people, other than herself. She visited the tower only during the day. Their talks were cordial but absent of a mother's love.  

We both planned her escape. I would supply her with a few strands of silk each night that I got from caterpillars that produced silk. They were a gift from Neverland's Fairy Queen. Once they got enough to make a ladder to climb down, Rapunzel would finally be free from the Witch Queen's clutches.

But as luck would have it, that was not to be. When Gothel visited the next day, Rapunzel innocently asked why all of her clothes were too tight around her waist. The witch touched her belly and went into a rage. The Witch Queen levitated Rapunzel and herself to the ground, cut her hair, and threw her into the wilderness to fend for herself. 

Gothel went back into the tower and waited for me to call out to Rapunzel. When I did, she threw Rapunzel’s cut hair down. I climbed up, and when I entered the room, instead of seeing Rapunzel, I saw the Witch Queen. She was terrifying to behold as she raged at me; I panicked and jumped out the window and fell into a patch of thorned roses she conjured up. The thorns pierced my eyes. They blinded me, and I ran into the woods as a blind man stumbling around in the wastelands until now. My journeys are at an end as I lie dying in the mud. Farewell, world, I will miss you.

As I close my eyes to the endless sleep, the babies’ cries get louder.  Teardrops fell into my eyes, and miraculously, and by the grace of God, my sight was restored. The face I saw was that of my beloved and tear-stained Rapunzel. We both wept as we held each other tight. Beside me were two babies in a basket. Rapunzel said they were our baby twins. I laughed and cried with joy and happiness. She sang me a healing song, where I fell into a peaceful sleep. A few days later, I woke up refreshed and healed from all my wounds. Rapunzel and my babies were there to greet me. Life can get no better than this.

After a few weeks of utter bliss, I told Rapunzel I needed to resume my duties as a Prince of the Realm and explain my long absence.  I needed to return to my Kingdom and report on my diplomatic mission in Neverland and the criminal acts perpetrated by the Witch Queen, Gothel. Rapunzel looked crestfallen by my announcement. She assumed I meant leaving her and the twins behind. I was stunned by her assumption. I told her she and our children are the loves of my life, and wherever I go, she and the children will always follow along beside me.  Rapunzel laughed and started packing.

……

As we approached the outskirts of my kingdom, Germonia, something was truly amiss. Many of the trees in my beloved Black Forest looked twisted and sickly. The air felt dank, and the sky above was grey.  The forest was absent of sound, no bird shrills, insects crawling, or wolves howling.  It was like walking through a crypt. When we arrived at the entrance of the castle, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Massive vines with thorns the size of your fingers wrapped all around the castle and its battlements. The gates slowly opened, tearing and ripping apart a few vines along the way. When we entered the castle square, our jaws dropped. All the soldiers and townsfolk were turned into stone and clay. I screamed, 

“What deviltry is this. Show yourself, Demon, reverse this wicked spell, or God’s curse will fall upon you.” 

The only thing we heard in reply was laughter.

As we entered the palace, the laughter grew louder. Three shrouded attendants escorted us to the dining hall. At the head of the table sat the Witch Queen, also known as Mother Gothel.  She commanded us to be seated.  I must admit I was terrified, but Rapunzel seemed more conflicted than scared. The Witch turned towards me and said, 

“Did you not think I would punish you for stealing my child and taking away her innocence. All your family, friends, and subjects are nothing but stone and clay.” 

I wept upon hearing this and begged her to put things back the way it was.

Gothel then looked towards Rapunzel and said, “It seems you are made of harder stuff than I realized. I have missed you, my daughter, now mother to two of my grandchildren. Please eat while I tell you secrets I’ve kept so that events would bring us to this very room. Now is the time for both of you to know the truth. How you react to this truth will determine the outcome of what lies ahead.”

The Witch Queen's eyes twinkled with mirth as she said,

“Rapunzel, you’re not my adopted child, but you came out of my womb. The story about the couple who lived next door to me was a fabrication. No husband stole the weed called rapunzel from my garden, nor did I demand his firstborn child instead of killing him. Do you think I would take someone's seconds to raise as my own? The man I chose to make a child with was a King, a Halfling, whose father was a fairy from Neverland. My dear Prince, when you were five, it was said that your father was waylaid by brigands while on a hunt. When the ransom was paid, he returned a month later. Not true, I bewitched him and he became under my thrall. He was my puppet to do with as I will, and I chose to have a baby by him. It seems we’re all related one way or another.”

“This can’t be true; it’s against the laws of God. Hellfire will reign down upon us.” 

I looked upon Rapunzel and the twins, and all I could see was corruption and sin.  She came to comfort me, but I pushed her away. I fell on my knees and begged God for forgiveness, but his forgiveness I feared would never come.

Rapunzel was shocked at my reaction. As tears filled her eyes, she said-- What does it matter who gave birth to us. I thought our love was true, and our children are the result of that love. How can you call that corrupt and sinful? Is your God that hateful that he would deny us and our children his forgiveness and love? If not, he is not worthy of your devotion.

I couldn’t look at her or the children without disgust. They were abominations that lured me to sin. I was the plaything of the devil and needed to repent. I went to strike The Witch Queen with my sword, but Rapunzel struck me down before I could strike. She spat on me and said, 

“My eyes have been opened to what you truly are. You’re a sanctimonious, venal man who loves an invisible, hateful God who may or may not exist rather than flesh and bone. You are a vindictive and hateful man, so how could you have ever truly loved me when you have only hate in your heart?” 

She fell into her mother's arms and wept as the shrouded men dragged me away to the dungeons to wither away and die. I’m waiting for God’s light to lift me to heaven, but only darkness surrounds me. I fear that Rapunzel was right, the god I worshipped doesn’t exist. What have I done!

……

 

Once upon a time, far, far away, there was this Evil Queen who locked her daughter in a tower---that sounds much better, Mother, calling you the Evil Queen rather than Mother Gothel, the Witch Queen. It’s more sinister sounding. This time, I hope a Prince Charming comes to rescue my sister Rapunzel rather than that religious zealot. He fooled her and me as well. I thought it was true love, but you knew better and let the story play out. But it broke her heart, and we need to put her back together. This time, I want a happily ever after ending.  I gave your grandchildren separate stories. Ella and Brier Rose are going to love it.

My dear Morpheus, this time I need you to get your sister Delirium’s alter ego, Rapunzel, on track. She was always a delightful child, and now your dream has made her Delirious. I guess it was my fault as well. I was enjoying playing the Witch Queen and got a little carried away. I don’t know how you ever persuaded me into letting Delirium star in one of your Fairy Tale dreams with me, Mother Night, playing a supporting role. So be it. Make sure this is a happy-ever-after ending this time, or I will throw you into the Sun and watch you cook for a while...

Once upon a Time in a land far, far away…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

let it rip