The shadows were only deterred by the flames of a large pit encirling 
a clearing that was made of a cold, rock floor.  The fire continued to 
flicker back and forth but only lapped at the darkness that was almost as overpowering as the figure in the middle of it all.  Nothing much else could be seen, save for him and his followers that moaned in awe as he stood tall and proud before them.  His smooth, muscular body was covered by taunt red skin and his yellow eyes gleamed with evil that terrified most mortals with paralyzing fear.  The only thing that dare cover him was a large cloak that flowed behind his back and dark shadows that began to cover his waist and loins.  There was no mistaking him, he was the devil.
        His followers surrounded him and kneeled together in a circle to proclaim their submission.  Each one of them was a naked woman who 
moaned in awe of the evil power radiating from the demon.  Their bodies were all different, some of them slender and some of them plump, but they all dared to move closer as he extended his arms to greet them.  With every word he spoke, their eyes glistened as the power of his voice adumbrated their independent thoughts to his pronouncement.
        "She has been conceived."  He announced, "Already I sense her soul being bound with flesh.  It is the flesh that will mold her into a beautiful form, and it is her essence that will seek to destroy me.   Yet I will possess her, that is my destiny."
        The witches continued to moan as the flames of the pit began to rise higher.  The warmth so powerful, it teased their skin to shudder with a heat few would dare to experience.  Already associated with him, the evil in their hearts only led them to think of desire and power, but there were benefits of dealing with the devil besides the secrets of dark magic, and he made this apparent as he continued to explain his plan.
        "I have given you water; water for food and water for life. All others must struggle to obtain it.  You are my chosen followers but now you must pay the price.  She will be born in six months, that much I know.  In half a year you must find every girl child and before she is blessed with womanhood you must lock her in a tower.  She shall be pure, untouched by no other man least you meet your own death.  In time I will discover which one is the watermaiden and will take her for my own.  To the one who finds her, I will give eternal life.  Now go my minions and find my future mate!"
        The command was given and the flames from the pit rose high to 
surround the witches.  The warmth was too much, even for them to bear 
but as it engulfed them they began to disappear until they found 
themselves alone in their respective houses.  Now it was time to seek 
out all unborn children to pursue eternal life.
 
 

       Her hair was dark black and brushed behind her face as she looked into the cracked mirror.  Seven years bad luck was a common superstition, but the witch only grinned which made her less than beautiful features twist into a sinister smile.  Her skin was dry and pale, as she felt little need to nourish it with crème or ancient spells given by her master.  She had better things to do with her time, and that was to pursue eternal life.
        As a woman of darkness she commonly called forth a few creatures of the night for information.  Owls were common ones, and often flew to her side to hoot about what children were to be born in the forthcoming months.  For two moons she did this and realized she had only four more to find the babe she sought.
        The thought made her sigh and moving from her mirror she glanced around at her modest surroundings.  Warped wood still held the floors intact, and supported the walls to hold a seven foot high ceiling made of thatched straw.  The bed she had was made of straw as well, and quilts made from patches of fur were enough to keep her warm.  Nothing in her bedroom was glamorous, but she preferred it that way.  Most of her time was spend learning the dark ways in ancient spell books that few mortals rarely dared to touch.
        But she had one thing that many did not.  Water was a rare resource and while a few springs still managed to flow, dying of thirst was not uncommon.  She couldn't help but laugh as she stepped into the main room of her cottage and heard a pot of hot water boiling tea above a fireplace.  Ah yes, the steam itself could be felt with every step she took toward the hearth.  As long as the devil had his minions he made sure they had their water.
        The well under her house was large enough to be pumped into a 
faucet in the main room.  From there she was able to gather water to draw baths and water crops outside.  Everything she needed she had, except immortality.
        "And I wonder what future the tea leaves will bring me."  She said as she inhaled the scent of the steam.  "Every night my owls come to me to tell me they do not know of another babe.  So I send them out again, and again.  At times I wonder if I have to do things on my own."
        She found herself musing on the subject but didn't think long for outside she heard a soft noise.  It was as if someone was rustling through the grass.  There wasn't much, save for a medium size garden in which she grew vegetables but she knew that garden was one of the most fertile ones in all the land.  Yet would someone come out all this way?  Her cottage was very far out in the forest and very unlikely that someone would discover it, but she wasn't a witch to take chances.
        Moving quickly, she walked to the doorway and grabbed a long 
wooden staff near the door.  After arriving outside, the garden looked 
the same as it always did.  Large cabbages radiated with green leaves 
and carrot tops sprouted from the ground to seek life from the light 
giving sun.  Yet something was very out of place here, there was a man who 
frantically reached for a large head of cabbage as if it was a piece 
of gold he longed to treasure.
        "Stop!"  the witch screamed and the man gasped and turned 
around.  He might have been handsome, save for his pale skin that was 
evidence of malnourishment.  It sagged slightly and as his hands 
trembled it was obvious there was little less than bones beneath his 
flesh.  He was starving, that much could be told from his appearance. 
 Already his leather vest and trousers barley hung to his scrawny form, and he couldn't fight the witch, especially with her staff in hand.
        "Ppplleasse."  He stuttered as he spoke, "I..my wife, we're 
starving."
        "And I'm about to remedy that situation, at least for one of 
you."  She said as she took a step closer.
        The man gasped and cowered before her.  In desperation he 
tried to explain, "We're having a child, she's going to die, we're all 
going to die.  Please find the decency in your heart to let us have 
some food from your garden, we're lucky that we have enough water to 
live!"
        Decency was something the witch was unfamiliar with but upon 
hearing the word 'child' she gained a new interest in the situation, 
"You're having a child you say?  How many more months will it be?"
        "Four." Was all he was able to reply with.  Gasping again, he 
awaited her words with apprehension.
        Yet apprehension had nothing to do with what she was feeling.  Joy actually rose in her expression until she gave the man a cross look, "For intruding on my land I should kill you, but I will make you a deal.  For the rest of your lives I will give you enough food and water to drink.  Famine has plagued the lands yet I will make sure you and your wife are exempt from it."
        "Thank you!"  the man exclaimed and fell to the ground to praise her.  Yet the witch wasn't finished.
        "And what I ask in return is that you give me your child as soon as it's born."
        "No!"  he said as he looked back up at her, "No oh please, if there is any mercy in your heart please no."
        "Yes."  She smirked as she watched the man beg, "Accept now or 
die and your wife and child will die as well, not having any food."
        He trembled before her but knew there was no other way out.  He had to accept her offer and replied, "I accept, but may God have mercy on your soul."
        She only laughed evilly to his request, "God can't have mercy on one who doesn't have a soul….and only seeks eternal life."
 
 

       For the witch, seven years was a long time, yet she could easily recall the day she took the babe from her parents.  The mother’s cries wailed so loudly she could be heard many many yards beyond their small hamlet.  Yet this did not phase the witch and didn’t phase her now as she looked at the child with a wicked smile.
      “Now read the ancient words.”  She said as the young girl looked into the musty spellbook.  She was indeed an entrancing one, her oval shaped blue eyes revealed curiosity as she focused intently on the pages.  Her skin was soft, as was common with most young girls, but already the curves of her chin and cheekbones were high enough to reveal strong and beautiful features that would later serve to entrance many men who would look at her.  The witch knew this but also knew that things were still not too late.  She already had a carpenter in a nearby village gather a team of workers who would build her a tower that was high enough to lock the girl away until the devil gave his approval.  They began working a few days ago, and would continue to work for years to come.
      “Yirtolo ermeekar zon.”  The ancient words rolled from the child’s pink lips.  For a moment nothing seemed to happen and then slowly but surely, her hair began to grow one inch longer, and then it stopped.
      “Excellent.”  The witch said as she stood up, “When you are nine your hair will be down past your back and as you continue to grow up it will grow faster.”  She walked closer to her and smiled wickedly at her.  She looked at her hair and couldn’t help but see its multicolored shades.  It seemed a dark golden color at first glance, but the more one looked at it, it was easy to see that shades of brown and red were also woven into the color scheme.  She couldn’t help but run a finger through it and around the child’s ear as she cooed, “And do you know how important you are Rapunzel?”
      “You taught me many things.”  The child spoke in an innocent voice, “You taught me that magic is real and taught me I am someone special, even though my parents left me.”
      “But there is even more than just that.”  The witch said as she took a step back, “You will not only know magic, but serve magic.  And through this you will be very powerful, and make me powerful.  Don’t you want to do that for someone who has given you water and food all your life?”
      “Yes.”  The child replied, her attention focused completely away from the spellbook and to her mentor.  Even though she was young, she realized how much of a valued resource water was, and was happy to have it and food.
      “Then your hair will continue to grow, and if it stops growing, remember the magic words and make it grow again.  There will be a time when you will have your own home all to yourself, and it will be beautiful and grand.  Already we have some people working on it.  Would you like to see what they have done now?”
      The child nodded and stepped away from the spellbook.  With a wrinkled hand, the witch took hers and they both walked out of the small cottage that they called home.

      Within seeing distance, a clearing was being built behind their home.  The density of the forest provided much wood to build almost anything, and the trees above the ground gave complacency to anyone who enjoyed the beauty of nature and the birds who sang out to their future mates.  The child giggled a little as the birds continued their melody, but the witch paid no attention to the serenity of the moment and called out to the workers beyond, “Remember I want this done right!”  she scoffed, “I have given you years to create the perfect tower and will pay you well with all the water you can drink.”
      The closer they walked, the easier it was to discern the team hard at work.  Four men held heavy axes and chopped at the trees feverently.  They were dressed as almost any peasant would be in this time.  Plain clothes woven in brown and gray fabric revealed their status   as the lower class never had much desire or need for fancy attire.  At the same time, their facial features were nondescript for the most part.  If anything, their oval shaped faces and dark eyes were all quite similar as they paused to look at the witch.  Finally one of them in particular looked at her and announced, “We are working hard milady.  There is no doubt that we seek water, and will pay in our labor for it as will the rest of my kinsmen here.”
      He emphasized the word ‘kinsmen’ as if to stress the bond they shared.  In fact, with the similarities of their appearance one could easily deduce a family bond.  But there was a real surprise when a young voice called out, “Daddy!”
      The same man who spoke to the witch turned to his left and smiled a bit, “Hello son.”  Then disapproval began to cross his expression, “I thought I told you to stay away from the trees we are cutting.”
      The boy grinned impishly and took a step forward, “Wanted to watch.” He said with a smile.  Mischief flashed within his blue eyes as he made himself known to the group.  Like all children, his skin was soft leaving few wrinkles around his pink lips while the smile held its place.  Dressed in the same colored clothes as his father, he was still able to make more of an impression when he looked toward the witch and Rapunzel.  Grinning more as he saw the girl, he brushed back a few stray brown hairs back from his eyes to reveal more mirth within his expression.  The scene was all too adorable and prompted the father to ask, “Why not let them play together milady?  It would be good to let them entertain themselves while we all attend to our duties.”
      “My daughter is betrothed!”  the witch snapped in defense, “I cannot have her consort with another man!”
       A few of the workers were able to stifle their laughs but couldn’t help but look away at what she said.  The boy’s father kept his composure and said, “Milady, she is surely no older than eight and my son is nine.  If she is betrothed, I assure you my son would do nothing to violate her or the agreement set aside.  But they are children, and need to be children.”
      “Mother?”  the child couldn’t help but intrude with her question before asking permission, “What is betrothed?”
      “It means you cannot be with another man!”  she snapped back at her daughter.  But her daughter only laughed and took a step closer to the boy, “He’s not a man, he’s a boy.”   She continued to giggle but didn’t expect the boy to run forward and extending his hand, touched her on the shoulder, “Tag!”  he squealed, “You’re it!”
      “I’m it?”  Rapunzel asked, obviously confused, “I don’t understand.”
      The boy smiled again even though it was strange to him that she didn’t understand.  However Rapunzel never saw children her own age often and awaited his response.  He giggled and jumped up and down, “You’re it!  You’re it!  Now you have to catch me!”  and with that the boy ran off before anyone expected him to.  Seeing him run away, she quickly got the gist of the game and laughing in return, she followed him into the dense woods and tried to keep him in her sights.  He moved quickly though and Rapunzel wasn’t used to playing, but in moments she disappeared  into the forest after her new found companion.
      The scene hardly went unnoticed though and the witch shrieked out to the workers.  “Find her and bring her back!  Go now and I better see my daughter before sunset!”
      After she yelled her orders she spun around and headed back to her cottage.  At the same time, heavy axes hit the soft ground and the men walked into the forest to look for the children lost within the maze of trees.

     “Stop!”  a child’s voice called out into the distance as the boy kept running, “I can’t see you stop!”
     “Can’t see me can’t touch me.”  A loud voice cried out, “And you’re still it!”
      Rapunzel kept running to where she heard the voice and behind her, the rustling of leaves and branches were also heard, evidence that the workers were trying to track them down.  While she continued to run, the forest grew more dense and her companion was nowhere to be found.  Feeling alone, she also began to feel terrified and stopped moving.  Anxiety rose and in fear she called out, “Not funny!  Where are you?”
      It was then she heard another rustling sound to her right.  It couldn’t of been the trackers, they were still coming but from another direction.  She didn’t head that way but moved to the right where she heard a familiar voice say, “I’m here.  Hurry into the bushes here and let’s hide from them.”
 Sure enough to her right was a small set of shrubbery within a series of tall trees.  Curiosity replaced her fear and she began to move some of the branches to where a small hovel held her new companion.  The hole was big enough for the both of them, but surrounded by leaves and branches to conceal them from the trackers, at least for now.
      “Come inside!”  the little boy told her, “They can’t find us here, I hide here all the time when they work.”
      Rapunzel giggled and quickly stepped into the hovel.  She moved slower than the little boy as her hair got caught by the branches but after a few tugs, the locks of her hair passed by the leaves and she was safe inside the hole.  “You sneak.”  She chided, “You are going to get us in trouble.”
      “We’re already in trouble.”  He smirked, “But we can hide..for now.”
      “Who are you?”  she asked, “Where do you come from?”
      “My father works for your mother.”  He said, “I come from the Northfolk’s village where we need water.  Father said if he worked hard, we would have water.  I’m Dreygo and nine years old.  I also know everyone here.  How come I haven’t seen you?”
      “My mother doesn’t want me to see others…especially boys.” She replied, looking at the youth curiously.  She had never seen anyone near her age, and wanted to know everything about him.
      “Boys?”  he giggled, “You make it sound like we’re bad or something.”
      That comment couldn’t help but make her blush a little, “I don’t know, I’ve never seen a boy before.”
      He only laughed more at that comment and reached forward to touch her arm, “Boys have germs!”  he smiled, “You never seen boys before, now you have boy germs.”
      Rapunzel leapt back as much as she could.  The term of ‘boys’ and ‘boy germs’ was something completely foreign to her.  “Stay away!”  she yelled, obviously fearful, “Don’t touch me again!”
      Dreygo’s reaction began to reveal compassion as he paused to take another look at her.  “You’re really scared?”  he asked, “You really haven’t seen boys before?” It was unusual for a child to act such a way, but he did.  Despite his age, he patiently for her answer. 
      “No.”  she said, “My mother never lets me see anyone…ever.”  She said as she took a deep breath and began to calm down a little.  Maybe the ‘boy germs’ weren’t as bad as he made them out to be.
      “I won’t hurt you.”  He replied, his eyes focusing on hers, “But if you want, meet me here in this spot when the moon is full.”  He said, “If you don’t know when that will be..ask your mother.”
      ‘The moon is full’ she thought to herself.  She wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, but her mother would know.  If nothing else, he was beginning to show intelligence and a vibrancy that she never found in anyone else.  “I’ll find out.”  She said but wasn’t able to say much  else as the rustling sounds of the trackers were nearby.
      “Time to give up.”  He said with a giggle and quickly stepped out of the hovel to make himself known to his father and the others.  Rapunzel was soon to follow.

      “That’s enough Dreygo.”  His father said as he made himself known, “I don’t want to see you run off like that again.”
      The young child looked to the ground as a sign of regret then looked back up at his guardian, “I’m..sorry.”
      The older man sighed and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder, “We’ll talk about this later, but now we need to get back to work.”  His voice then turned more stern, “And I expect you to stay put while we continue our job for today, do you understand?”
      “He better.”  A loud voice hissed followed by the sound of squashed leaves and shifting branches.  The witch soon made herself visible and sneered at the crowd when they took note of her, “My daughter will not be corrupted by that boy!”
      “Mother.”  Rapunzel interjected as she made herself known.  Upon hearing her voice, everyone looked directly at her, “I followed.”  She said.
      The witch stomped over to her child and roughly took her hand.  “You will not follow again!”  she snapped and began to walk away with her.  But before she continued through the forest, she threw the boy and his father a stern glance, “Before you leave come to my home and we will discuss this matter more.”
      The evening greeted the witch well as she put a lid on her iron pot and watched Rapunzel walk to the bedroom.  They both ate a peaceful dinner, though the woman couldn’t keep the thoughts of the boy and his father far from her mind.  “He won’t get in the way.”  She muttered and noting Rapunzel as being far away, she began to pull out her spellbooks and flipped through the pages.
      “Spells of hope, spells of prophecy….ah here it is!”  she almost exclaimed as her finger hit the page she was looking for.  She smiled and almost called out the name of the spell, until a loud knock at the door was heard.
      “Stay in your room.”  The witch called out to Rapunzel, “And don’t come out.”  Feeling that she would obey the command, she went to open the door and sure enough the boy and his father were standing in the entrance.
      “May we come in milady?”  the man humbly asked.
      “No.”  she said, “But I know how your son can pay for his crime.”
      He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at what she said and calmly placed a hand on his child’s shoulder, “He is sorry and he will be reprimanded, you don’t have to worry about that.  Children will be children, but they must be shown the right way to behave.”
       “Oh he will be shown the right way.”  She smirked, “Your son will now work for me as well.” 
       “Milady.”  He spoke with a tone of confusion, “He is just a boy.”
       “And he will work hard, or else your family will not have water to drink.  I will be expecting it tommorow.  Show him how to begin mixing the mortar for the bricks tommorow, that should be a good way to start."
      The man sighed and looked at his employer, “I will watch out for my son’s welfare, keep that in mind.”
      “But of course.”  She said as she began to close the door.  Those were her final words to end the conversation and she thought to her self, “And I’ll watch out for him too, believe me.”
 
 

     “Yirtolo ermeekar zon.”  Rapunzel said, “I did say the words right didn’t I?”
     As if on cue, her hair grew one extra inch.  The witch smiled and took a fine toothed comb and brushed through it, “Yes my child, it’s growing just like it should.”
     “So teach me the other spell Mother, and that will certainly make me feel all grown up!”
     Even the witch couldn’t deny the beauty of her smile.  Three years had passed now and already she was growing more beautiful with each passing day.  Her face began to shed some of its childlike façade and stretch into a flawless countenance, yet still retain its youthful features.  Her lips once pink, began to turn more red and her eyes grew with curiousity to explore and learn more about her world.  This desire to learn sometimes frightened the witch, but she tried to use it to her advantage.  One way she did this was to offer to teach her some of the things she knew, if she would do as she was told.
     And though she was evil, the witch knew much about magic, herbalism, and the world around her.  She knew how to create spells to change things, and felt one in particular couldn’t hurt.  “It is almost time,”  she said as she stood up to look Rapunzel directly in the face, “But you must remember your vow.”
     “Yes Mother.”  She said and spoke as if in a trance, “I am vowed to reserve myself for the strongest man who will give me a new life with power when he chooses me, until then I will do as I am told.”
     “Perfect.”  She said and reached for a wooden staff that leaned against the wall nearby, “Have you heard of the spells of changing?”
     “No.”  her interest grew as the weapon was grabbed, “Tell me more.”
     “The spells of changing can change anything.  One of the most basic ones would be to change the unliving to the living, or vice versa.  In this case,”  she smirked as she held the staff in both her hands, “We’re going to change this stick to a snake.”
     “A snake?”  she asked bewildered.
     “Yes my daughter, a snake.  Most people are afraid of snakes so they will probably avoid you when you perform the spell, but for now listen to me and repeat after me.”  She cleared her throat and pronounced, “Zirtolo.”
     The girl focused on what was said and repeated, “Zirtolo.”
     “Querano.”
     “Querano.”
     “Yirt.”
     “Yirt.” And before her eyes, the staff in the woman’s hand transformed into a long snake, its pink tongue flickering out of its mouth.  Rapnuzel looked upon the creature in awe and almost reached out to touch it, but before she could the witch said, “Triy, Onareuq, Olotriz.”  And the snake transformed back into the stick.
     “More more!”  Rapunzel shouted, “I want to learn more.  Please say the words again."” 
     The woman only shook her head, “No…not yet, there is still much you need to learn, and if you will learn more in time as you continue to obey me.”
     “Yes Mother.”  Rapunzel said with a soft sigh.  She then peered out the window and saw that dusk was beginning to fall, “Mother?”  she asked, “Tonight if a full moon isn’t it?”
     “Why yes.”  The witch said a little puzzled, “You often ask that around this time of the month and often act a little different as well.”  Her puzzled look then turned to suspicion, “And why is that?”
      Rapunzel held one little secret from her guardian and in an effort to keep the secret she replied, “No reason Mother, no reason at all.  I just, like the moon.”  She then slowly looked away and out into the window to hide a small smile crossing her face.
 
 

        The moonlight in the forest was Rapunzel's main guide as she 
stepped on a path quite familiar to her.  As always, she waited until 
her mother fell deeply asleep and snuck out to meet her friend in 
their secret place.  It was the same place Dreygo showed her years 
ago, and she had no problem finding it again.
        The path she walked upon finally led to the hidden hovel and 
she pushed some of the branches aside.  She giggled slightly upon 
finding her companion and quickly jumped into the space where he 
waited for her.
        "I'm here again."  She smiled, "Once every month just like I 
told you."
        The little boy grinned with a slight twinkle in his eyes, "I 
know."  He said, "It's too bad they won't let us play together at all. 
 All I do is work  mixing the mortar for the bricks.  That's all I'm 
allowed to do now during the days.  I don't even have that many 
friends because of my job!  I'm the only kid who works."
        "But it can't be that bad silly."  She said, "After all you 
are able to have water and you still see me."
        "Yeah but you know we'd both get in trouble if anyone found 
out."
        "I know."  She said, "But it's worth it."
        "Yeah."  He grinned, "It's worth it.  You're the only friend I 
have Rapunzel, the only one I could trust anyway."
        "I couldn't meet anyone else if I tried."  She smiled back at 
her friend, "My mother, never lets me do anything."
        "I don't understand your mother.  I wouldn't work so hard if 
there wasn't such a need for water, but even my father understands I 
need to talk to other people. If I never did I'd never care for 
anyone or anything."  He chuckled as a random thought entered his 
mind, "People are fun to watch!  People play games, people have 
family, and people get married.  Your mother would never let you do 
any of those things."
        "My mother lets me learn spells."  She said in an attempt to 
challenge what he said, "And I think she wants me to marry someone 
someday.  I'm supposed to wait until he chooses me though."
        "And you aren't supposed to choose him?"  the boy said with a 
bit of anger in his voice, "That doesn't sound very fair."
        She sighed softly and said, "Maybe…maybe not, I don't know 
anything about marriage, but I know I'll be well taken care of."
        "Maybe."  He chided in return, "But maybe not, you may end up 
being miserable and I don't think she'd be concerned about that."
        She began to feel a bit of anger toward Dreygo and how he 
spoke about her guardian, but that anger started to become 
overshadowed by sorrow.  She looked away from him and to the ground. 
What if he was right?  Rapunzel never had much contact with the other 
villages, but sometimes she saw Dreygo and his father share things and 
hug one another.  The witch never hugged Rapunzel or showed that she 
cared for her much.  The more she thought about this the more upset 
she became.
        "Hey."  The boy said as he sensed his companion's sorrow, "I 
didn't mean to do anything to make you feel bad.  I'm sorry."
        "It's not your fault."  She said, "I..just see how your father 
cares for you and I don't see anyone who cares for me."
        He moved closer to her, his arm extended, "I care..I may not 
be much, but I care."
        Rapunzel chocked back a sob and leaned against her friend.  He 
slowly moved forward so she could rest against his chest as he started 
to drape an arm around her, "We're just kids ya know, at least that's 
what the adults say.  But we need to grow up quick and I don't want to 
see you hurt.  Make me a promise?"
        "Anything."  She said as she began to feel comfort in the half 
hug he gave her.
        "Never marry unless you are in love with your bethrothed."
        "But what if I never get to know what love is?"  she asked, 
shivering slightly under his embrace.
        "You will."  He said, "I promise you, you will.  You are too 
special to let love pass you by."
        "I…I promise then." She said and slowly pulled away from her 
friend, "But I guess I need to get back now."
        Rapunzel slowly stood up and moved past the branches to exit 
the hovel.  The night was still clear under the moonlight and taking a 
deep breath, she continued on the familiar path home.  Yet this 
journey was unlike all others for this time someone was watching her 
in the forest.  Someone who would do well to guard her well being, but 
had plans for her young friend.
 
 

        "Stay inside your room today Rapunzel, I don't want you 
outside at all."  The witch gave her command as she began to head out 
the door, "I want to see how well the workers are doing and don't want 
you anywhere near them."
        "Yes mother."  She said as she moved to the bedroom.  She 
sighed a bit and reached for a book to read.  Nothing much else 
entertained her inside their home except for books and some sketches 
she began to do.  It was only a few months ago when she started to 
sketch the moon that she felt she had a talent for it.  Perhaps it 
was meeting her friend who gave her inspiration, but those meetings 
were going to be few and far between.
        The witch slammed the door behind her and began to walk toward 
the clearing where the tower was being built.  "I saw you."  She 
muttered beneath her breath, "I saw you try to corrupt my daughter, so 
I will change things for you."  The clearing was only a few more feet 
away and she recalled Dreygo and how he changed through the years. 
Though only twelve she could tell he was already becoming a handsome and 
charming young man who would no doubt attract many girls to his fine 
looks.  His hair was turning a lighter color, like a cross between 
chestnut and gold and his face was already reshaping itself to define 
handsome masculine features that he would be blessed with.  The witch 
felt it time to alter his destiny.
        The clearing finally came into view and not to much surprise a 
lot of work on the tower had already been done.  A set of bricks near 
the top still needed to be laid for the foundation and as always, 
Dreygo was obediently mixing the cemet to mold the bricks together. 
The tub was large and consisted of a thick liquid substance that would 
serve its purpose in being a good mold.
        "It's time for things to change."  She said as she watched the 
mixing continue.  "Tirkono, Hirlena, da girt Zirkon.  Quertolo mirx 
Shaneat." A series of ancient words rolled from her lips as she looked 
at the boy.  She memorized the spell years ago and finally got the 
pronunciation correct and focused the words against him.  Knowing she 
said them correct and in confidence, she smiled and said, "Spell of 
destiny…make your change."
        The boy had no idea what misfortune was about to befall him 
and in less than a second the mortar he was mixing was beginning to 
hiss with an unnatural heat.  It all happened so fast he didn't notice 
he slipped forward and fell into the tub, evidence that the curse was 
working.
        The witch smiled as she heard a blood curdling scream from the 
young boy as he reeled back, his entire face and arms blistered from 
the mortar.  His father ran to his side in concern and yelled to the 
others for help as his flesh began to boil with no relief.  "I don't 
care where we have to go to get help…just go!"  his father screamed 
out the command.  His kinsmen scuffled off in different directions, 
some of them heading toward their village and not to much surprise, 
some of them heading toward the witch's house.
        It was then two of them ran into the woman herself and she 
quickly made herself known to the group, "Your son is hurt?"  she 
asked, trying to play the role of being innocent.  She slowly took a 
few steps forward and looked the boy over, "I can help, but that is 
serious damage.  Whatever happens, his face will be scared for life."
        "Do what you must."  He said, "Just help us."
        She smirked as he pleaded with her, "Seems like you owe me yet 
another favor.  In return for this I demand you finish the tower in 
three days.  There will be no excuses."
        The boy's screams began to settle down to a whimper, but that 
still did not relieve his father much, "Yes,"  he said, "Anything 
please."
        The witch turned from the two to head toward some shrubbery on 
the outskirts of the clearing.  She surveyed a few of the plants 
there and seeing some of the fruits that were known to cure burns, she 
pulled a few purple berries from some branches and returned to the 
two.  Muttering, "Tirkon zirlout" the berries grew bigger and she 
began to rub them on the boy's arms and face.  Not only did they 
increase in size, but in medicinal properties as well.
        "I know some magic."  She smirked as the boys arms began to 
blister less, "But this won't heal him completely.  All that doesn't 
matter now though as you and your family have almost finished your job and will never see me or my daughter after three days." 
        The boy continued to whimper as she continued to apply the 
juice of the berries to his skin.  She finally came to his face where 
she applied the juice as well, letting it soak in and stop the 
blistering, but not stopping the scars that would mark the young man 
forever.