CH.11: Reunited

Varian had no idea really if this girl was going to take him to Kelvin Keep or not. Still what choice did he have? Also he had that arrow lodged in him still. It was still hard to make out the road ahead of him and he stumbles along but the girl manages to keep him from falling over. "So, do you have a name?"

"Keep moving." She ushers him along and he nods his head. She wasn't much for talking, so, that left it up to him.

"I'm kind of anxious about meeting with Cassandra. The last time we saw, well, last time she saw me my whole blindness kind of got out and she didn't want anything to do with me. I feel bad I never told her upfront about it…wish I could take it back-."

"Some things in life you can't take back…so…man up. If you want Cassandra to love you then you need to own this blindness. Show her that it doesn't take away from who you are." She kept pushing him and he could hear the birds and knew they were closer.

"Are you trying to help me or set me up for complete and utter defeat?" He looks back at her but she is just a blur to him though he can almost make out her eye roll.

"I cannot promise that you will see her. Cassandra is set to wed and no doubt she will be ushered about being prepped for it. Kelvin Keep has a long tradition of weddings before battles and as such the sooner it is done the sooner we ride out."

"War with Corona…I still can't believe it. Corona has only known peace and for Kelvin Keep to do what is planning to do…it will destroy everything that Corona has built all these years. Art, history, music…you'd take it all away-."

"It is what it is brave Varian…yes, I said you are brave…for whom else but a blind Alchemist would go and seek out a girl who wants nothing to do with him. Tell me something; even should she reject you do you still plan on stopping the wedding?"

Varian had this same discussion with Eugene…whatever happened to him. Honestly it paled him and stopped his heart thinking what that man did to him. This girl clearly had the same thought though she wouldn't vocalize on it or tell him there was remorse. Eugene and him were part of Corona and as such they were enemies. Given Eugene was who he was this would deeply impact Rapunzel and given she was next in line to rule this would surely bring war upon Kelvin Keep.

"If she rejects my help and affection…I will still stop the wedding. Cassandra should be free to choose when she marries and to whom…rather than be forced into it or placed a deadline. Marriage is meant to be when you choose…and something tells me even if she loves Anthony she would no doubt wish to marry later on when the engagement runs its course."

The girl says nothing again and he is stopped by her hand on his shoulder. There is pain and he wonders why she does this but then hears the sound of hooves approaching.

"Jenna who is this?" Varian hears her name for the first time but she seems to care little as this was unavoidable.

"This is my prisoner. I found him wondering the pass. I shot him with my arrow but he needs his wound looked after being placed in the hold. I will take him there myself. Inform Cassandra it will be her decision his fate." Varian wonders on this and the guy on the horse no doubt considers this request.

"Normally such a decision is to be placed on the male, not the female as is custom-." The male appears to stop and he imagines Jenna had something to do with that.

"I am his sister…and as such I feel Cassandra should be the one to decide. Do you have a problem with that?" Jenna seems to wait and Varian is trying to process the fact she is related to Anthony.

"Very well…no disrespect, proceed then to the medical wing." The man moves aside and Jenna pushes him on and he almost careens over if not for her hand on his shoulder.

Varian had nearly blacked a few times from the pain so when he came to he found himself lying on his back in a bed of some kind. His surrounding was dark but he could hear voices.

"-This cannot be Jenna…if anyone were to find out there would surely be repercussions for the both of us. "

"I know, but, isn't it worth the risk? I just do not feel like keeping it in will do anymore." Varian hates eavesdropping but even with his blindness his ears seemed attune to voices and even whispers appeared loud.

"I really wish things were different, truly, but right now is not the time. The one you call Varian should be well…and…I also feel your mark was a bit off, still, this side of you…I like it. I have to go." He hears some kisses before the person leaves.

"How much of that did you hear?" He can hear her approach and as his body moves up a bit he realizes she is pressing down on his wound.

"Um…nothing really…ok perhaps a bit. Who was that?" He settled back down as she released his wound.

"A friend…that is all you need to know. So feeling any better?" Varian moves his shoulder a bit noting the absence of the arrow.

"It is feeling much better now, thanks. So…I'm the person guy you 'intentionally' missed huh?" He imagines he is smirking by the way his facial muscles work.

"Keep it up and you may find yourself with another arrow in you. Given who my parents are, especially my mother shooting to kill is kind of expected. I've done things I am not proud of…that I must live with. During the contest…those who would come across my brother…they were…"

"No, no no…you aren't telling me that-?" Varian had not made it to the final round but he recalled it involved horseback, archery, and combat with the blade. The contests were meant to test a person on all three along with using their smarts to outwit their opponent. To kill…it broke a cardinal rule not to mention went against tradition.

"Anthony is held to a certain level above others…given who his parents are winning is everything and at all costs. Anthony has never really won…either through clumsiness or getting out of control where myself or the other guy you met have to clean up the mess. Kelvin Keep is different from Corona as we are expected to do the opposite of Corona. In some ways Corona has always been soft, too soft by our measures and standards and if you do not wish to be punished…you do what is expected of you."

"Hasn't anyone ever said no? Jenna this is wrong and…wait…I thought Anthony didn't have any sisters?" He looks at her.

"Oh he does…though he doesn't really talk of them much. Given we are female we are not entitled to the role of Baron as it has always been that of the male in the long line of leaders for Kelvin Keep. Far as no, well, only one has done so, that of my younger brother Eric. Suffice to say his punishment was so severe…he can no longer say no."

Varian didn't even want to further question on that subject. Kelvin Keep, the more he learned of it the more he didn't want to be there. To take another life…it must leave a stale feeling on the soul. Varian hears someone approaching and he hears Jenna get up and the two converse before she leaves the room.

"Varian…what are you doing here? Anthony said you left…but…you are here?" Varian felt a warmth flood his body as she walks over. Cassandra, she was alright, least for now.

"Yeah…well…Anthony sort of lied about that, sorry. I was beaten and dragged out to the snow where I was left to die. I only survived by Eugene's arrival and we then set off for Kelvin Keep…well…least I managed, as for him-."

He then felt her hand connect with his face as he felt the slap. "That is for lying to me about being blind. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She was hurt and he did not blame her for that. Also slapping a blind guy, yeah, he wasn't going to touch that as he was already in trouble with her and he didn't wish to make things worse.

"Look Cassandra, had I told you I was blind you would never fight me. Eugene had taken time to train me, to hone my blindness and use it to my advantage. I did not wish for you to take it easy on me, I want you to fight me at your full strength. I am in awe of your talent and your beauty and the way you handle yourself where you do not have to lower yourself to a guy ever. You are awesome Cassandra and when we fought even blind I could feel your determination."

Cassandra walks off a bit and he sits up as he places his hands in his lap. "Why are you here again?"

"Oh, right, I imagine Jenna didn't tell you. Look, Anthony is bad news…if you go ahead with marrying him you will only be oppressing yourself, adhering to his will and dominion and he plans on waging war on Corona. You need to see that this person whom you have fallen for…he is going to ruin everything."

Cassandra sighs as she runs a hand through her hair. Well…least he figured she was as he had seen when she was stressed or facing a dilemma. "Varian, I do appreciate you coming forward with this to me, and, I am hoping that I can maybe persuade Anthony to stop things. His parents have shown me the full might of Kelvin Keep and if I am being honest…I am still moving ahead with the wedding."

Varian felt his jaw drop as he tried to make sense of this. True he had some idea of an outcome from his being here and his words, but, that was not one of them.

"Look Varian…some part of me still loves Anthony and if I can somehow reach him, get him to see that war is not the answer…things can be different. I still feel Anthony can be reached, that, in my time knowing him there is a part of him that still resonates good-."

"Cassandra…you are the blind one here, not me. Anthony killed during the contest…he is next in line to be Baron. If there was any part of him to be reached…don't you think it would have surfaced already?"

Varian hears her walk over to him before he feels her lips press down on his forehead before she pulls back. "Anthony is not perfect…this whole situation is not perfect Varian. If you know what is good you will leave. My decision is for you to be spared…and…for you to be set free. This is goodbye."

"No, you can't be serious…Cassandra!" Varian yells out but she is already leaving. He grips his sheets and he rushes after her but falls out of the bed. Boots are heard as he draws his head up and he is hauled to his feet.

"I've just had word with Anthony, and do you know what his word is? It is everything here and the word of some low life Corona even if she is to wed the future Baron…it means nothing. Sorry you came all this way for nothing…to have your heart torn out, oh wait, you didn't even tell her did you? Such a shame, c'mon boys we got ourselves a hanging to do, but first…Anthony himself will want a word with you." The man from the bridge chortles and Varian then is led out.

Authors note: Varian is in quite a pickle now. And I imagine you all were not expecting such a reunion to take place or how it would play out. Next chapter Varian and Anthony have a few words and Cassandra struggles with her decision.