"Believe me, I know I sank pretty low. All that I've done... No one deserved. And... I am extremely sorry for everything I have done."
Silence met Varian's apology, but he didn't dare look up from the floor. He didn't move a muscle from his kneeling position. He was far too ashamed of his past actions towards and against these people standing in front of him. In fact, it was a miracle that he had even been allowed into the castle at all.
"I've made tons of mistakes, and... I've lost your trust," he continued, "but... Is there any chance you can forgive me?"
Rapunzel descended the stairs to stand before Varian. The young man only looked up when she put a gentle hand on his shoulder. She smiled warmly at him, and he awkwardly returned the smile.
"Stand up, Varian," she urged, "stand up so I can hug you."
He chuckled, standing up to hug the princess.
"Welcome back, Varian."
It had been years- four, to be exact- since anybody had last seen Varian. Sure, every so often, someone would supposedly catch a glimpse of the young alchemist, but he often kept to himself. He had run away one month prior to his fifteenth birthday, when he had been arrested but caused a diversion in order to free himself.
That was when King Frederic decided to declare him an outlaw, a danger to society.
He spent all those years in solitude- well, give or take Ruddiger the raccoon, who, for whatever reason, never left his side- fending for himself and trying to forget his past.
Of course, no matter how hard he tried, the past was inescapable.
"So... What did I miss?" Varian asked, "I've seen an occasional headline here and there, but they don't tell enough."
Rapunzel smiled at him again, and he was painfully aware that she was the only one who had smiled since he had entered the room. King Frederic, Queen Arianna, and Eugene kept their distance, while Cassandra and her father stood closer to him, ready for anything.
"Well... Old Corona..."
Varian gulped back. "I- I know. I saw it on my way here. But..."
Cassandra looked uncertain about his presence- unless having a hand on the hilt of your sword meant otherwise- but her gaze softened a little. Varian understood immediately: his father was gone.
He had known it would happen eventually, but it still caught him pretty off-guard. He choked back a sob as Rapunzel pulled him in for another hug.
"I'm so sorry, Varian," she whispered, stroking his hair, "I'm so sorry..."
"How's the poor kid supposed to move on with you constantly apologizing, Blondie?" Eugene blurted out from the back of the room.
"Oh... sorry."
Varian cracked a small smile. "So... What else did I miss?"
That night, Varian was put in a guest room as "temporary housing." He hated feeling like a pity case, but, at the same time, determined it was better than what he deserved: the jail cell.
Besides, how could he say no to the princess of Corona? Especially after all he'd done, she was still kind to him...
He sighed deeply, starting to close the door when a voice suddenly came out of nowhere.
"Wait! Varian!"
He looked around before spotting the voice's source: Cassandra.
"Hey, Cassie- erm, Cassandra."
He figured he'd lost the privilege of calling her "Cassie" when he... Well, you know.
"What- what do you want?"
The young woman slipped a thin scroll into his hand. "We- we were able to free your father for a moment before he- well, you know. He gave this to me and told me to give it to you."
Varian immediately choked up a little at the mention of his father- and this paper in his hands... His father's last direct words to him.
"I- I..." he tried, "thanks."
Cass just nodded and left him.
Varian sighed deeply, pulling the paper out of his pocket. He had tried so hard to avoid it, to avoid what it symbolized: his last link to his father.
But now... His curiousity got the better of him.
He unrolled it and read:
"Son-
I know this is hard for you, seeing me so helpless and probably feeling the same way yourself... But have faith that it will all turn out fine, one way or another.
Trust your friends, Varian, and try not to do anything rash. Know that there is more to the story- so much more than you could ever possibly know or understand. Don't go searching for this knowledge, son, for it will find you in due time.
As for now, though, there is a chest in a hidden alcove in our 'parlor,' near the family portrait. The chest bears the mark of a circle with three slashes through the side, and it holds answers that should hopefully satiate you for the time being.
I love you very much, my boy, and you will never know how proud I am of you.
-Father."
It took all of Varian's willpower not to burst out sobbing.
The words were all very important, but... "I love you very much, my boy, and you will never know how proud I am of you."
All of his life, he had worked to make his father proud, to make his father love him. Nothing good ever came from his attempts, and Quirin seemed to be less impressed and proud of his son with each try that Varian made.
But here, he was admitting-
It was too much for Varian to take.
Ruddiger the raccoon bounded over to the young man, nuzzling his arm. Varian smiled, petting his friend. Ruddy sure knew how to make a person feel better about themselves.
He went to reread the note.
"'Try not to do anything rash,'" he murmured, chuckling, "I guess it's too late for that, huh, buddy? But..."
He scanned it again. "There are answers, Ruddy. Answers out there for me. Answers that Dad wanted me to find. They're all out there, in Old Corona."
"What's out there, in Old Corona?"
The voice probably should've scared the crap out of Varian, but, surprisingly, it didn't.
"Answers, Cassandra. There are answers waiting for me out there, in Old Corona."
"We'll send a few people out in order to retrieve the answers for you, then."
Okay, that was like a sucker-punch to the gut. "The answers are waiting for me. They're for me to find, Cassandra."
He had never imagined it would come to the day when he practically spat out Cassandra's name, almost like he imagined Eugene doing, but here he was, throwing it out like a curse word.
"Well, we can't trust you anywhere on your own," Cass reminded him, "after all you've done, you're going to need someone out there with you."
Varian scowled and she laughed like it should be obvious.
"Varian! I'm talking about me. I'll come with you to find these answers. Okay?"
He considered. "And... Why should I take you up on this offer?"
"Because I'm the most lenient of anyone who would be allowed to accompany you. Do you want my father? Or Stan? Pete? Harry?"
"Fine. You bring a point."
She grinned. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
"Excuse me- what?"
"Come on, let's go!"