Authors note: As I am sure you are aware…I like to usually end things with a cliffhanger. Rapunzel showing up to the wedding, hard to say how many of you were caught off guard or not by it. We are still inching towards the finale of this story and this one is sure to get you on your toes or staring at the computer figuring why I did what I did. There is a show for which the ending of this chapter will become clear to everyone reading this, but, I will not spoil it but rather you see for yourself.

CH.14: Explosive touch

Varian was in a pretty sticky situation right now and whether he wanted to or not he couldn't voice his discontent with this pairing. Cassandra stood there ready to tie her future to his man…this lying sack of scum. Varian balled his fingers to make a fist and thought of just bringing this guy down…however that would cost him and he didn't think he could afford to lose his voice as well. There'd be a lot of blood lost but at the same time if he did it right he could avoid dying. He was still blind though and given his familiarity with the room itself he'd be stumbling around looking for a purchase and there was no telling how many men he had here.

Anthony was poison…and after learning the truth of this whole affair it boiled his blood. Varian listened to the words…waited abated breath and all for those vows that would tie the two together. No one thought better of his situation…and why not, they didn't hold any opinion of him. He was someone who belonged to a place that was built on peace and art and culture and it was everything they stood against. Varian didn't wish to see that taken away.

Suddenly a familiar voice flits up from the back of him and he feels shame run through him. Rapunzel, here, but how? Why? There was no way word would have reached her about the wedding…given Eugene's fate. Just thinking of Eugene brought a hollow sharp pain to his body.

"Princess Rapunzel…what are you doing here?" The Baron inquires as he stands at attention. Varian could hear a slight edge to his voice and knew that having the daughter of his sworn enemy on such sacred ground was making things tense.

"Well…funny story, turns out I was missing my best friend and then of course my boyfriend winds up without a trace so it got me worrying something had gone wrong. So I set out with Maximus and I find myself following a trail that leads to the edge of a cliff. So now I am really starting to think something is amiss…and…if not for Maximus and his amazing scent and hearing I would have not heard someone calling out for help, and, well, let him speak for himself."

Varian was curious who she was talking about and then new footsteps could be heard and teeth chattering a bit. Varian's heart raced as he wanted to turn and see him…even if that worked against him he wanted to know that he wasn't being duped, then again why would Rapunzel do that now?

"F-Fell off…c-cliff…very m-much alive still…" Varian did not doubt for a second then who it was. Eugene…he was alive. How had he survived that fall…it was beyond him but now he could breathe a sigh of relief.

"See, after a bit of thawing my boyfriend off he told me a story and then after telling him he is in serious trouble I came here. Now, thankfully the part about objections still stands in marriages so at least that is what our two places have in common. Cassandra…while I wish for you to be happy, I also want you to realize that some love is not worth it. Trust me; there are plenty of guys out there, guys who aren't willing to use you to get what they want."

Varian figured that Rapunzel had heard quite a lot or something of the sort. Still he was glad she was here and that Eugene was safe. Still…that left a pretty big sizeable disadvantage on their end as most of the Keep was here and well…their numbers were least impressive. He did hope that Cassandra would see to reason…listen to Rapunzel. He had already failed on his end.

"Rapunzel…I…" Cassandra seemed at a loss and Anthony no doubt stood there maybe frowning, or, maybe death glare…either two seemed to fit him.

However what escaped him was this long building laugh that built up and encompassed the entire room. "Oh this is fresh…and here I thought things would go without a hitch, somehow I am pleasantly pleased at the turn of events. And here I was thinking we would have to wait to spill the blood of Corona's royalty-."

"Y-You shall not l-lay a hand on her!" Eugene still had the chatter going on with his teeth but he knew that Eugene had it in him to defend Rapunzel.

"Thank you Eugene, but, you are in no condition for that, not now at least. I want you to help some of the women and children out of here…even if the Baron and his family seem bent on marching off to war…these people are not soldiers. I'll be fine, trust me." Rapunzel moved forward and Varian seized his chance.

"I'm not one to count out either." Varian used the distraction as he elbows Alex sending a gruff surprised response from his muscled body. Sure he got a slight cut along the throat but he couldn't wait for him to go through with the full slit now.

"Hey…come back here blindy!" Alex chases after him but he hears him yell out in surprise. Varian would have to wait and hear about what happened but right now his thoughts went to another.

"Cassandra!" Varian heard chaos break out as weapons were drawn and fighting ensued. Varian wished he could be more help but given he was still blind all he could do was anticipate movement and hope to not get knocked down.

"Come with me Cassandra…we may not be wed but I will not lose you this easily. Follow us if you can freak." Anthony chortles as he drags Cassandra off.

"Go get her kid…blondie and I will hold them off here." Eugene calls out to him. Varian just looks in his direction and nods his head as he hurdles off not knowing what he will come across.

"You know you really are something aren't you?" Cassandra notes as she is dragged off like some damsel in distress. She could take care of herself fine and all, no need to be rescued by anyone. She had already done enough to Varian…and now…here he was coming to her aide.

"Yes, I know, devishly handsome and soon to be Baron of this entire Keep and possibly Corona as well. Face it…without me you'd still be back there looking after a Princess not even worth the trouble. I mean seriously, how much did she even thank you for helping her out? You could have so much here…if you would just accept fate-."

"Accept it…accept what exactly? This life is not meant for me. I know a girl holds out for something that will sweep her off her feet…but…the suddenness of everything makes me realize how much I am missing out. I should have been more guarded with my heart…not acting foolishly as I did-."

"Are you quite done? Look, if it is all the same I'd rather avoid telling you this, but, seeing as how we are being honest…I was going to kill you once we were married." He stops and lets go of her hand as he looks out a window that drops off below into some hay.

"W-Wait…kill me…you have got to be joking me." Cassandra held her chest as she tried to stop the room from spinning. Her heart was doing so many flips…and…she wanted to throw up.

"I wish, however, killing you now would be too messy so instead we shall escape from here and lay low a bit so your friends give up the search. Now far as the blind one, well, he will have to be killed as I can't afford his stumbling after us."

Cassandra furrows a brow and looking around she picks up a sword. "His name is Varian, and, unlike you he has a heart." Cassandra lets out a yell as she charges at him.

Varian was on his way…slowly. However on his way he came across some familiar things…things that could lead to a pretty big explosion if done correctly. How did he know this? Well…heh…by feel. Now of course given he was blind he wasn't quite sure he got the right ingredients but any explosion would work…least he hoped it would.

The clang of steel could be heard close by and he knew that it had to be Cassandra. A ringing headache though slowed him down and he rested up against the wall. He had strained his eyes a bit much when he should have rested. Footsteps neared him and he jumped a bit till the hand settled on his shoulder.

"Need a hand?" It was Jenna. He couldn't' be happier for her even if he was not blind. She was a welcome relief in this time.

"Yep…can you set these up around this area? I am unsure if I applied the right ingredients but any little spark should set them off. I have no idea in the long run how much time there will be so best get to safety."

"Right…and…good luck with Cassandra. If we should somehow survive this I'd like you to meet someone special to me, but, first to work." Jenna sets off and Varian just smiles. He doesn't have the energy to tease her and setting his own ingredients in place he hurries up the steps moving with them as they turn about.

He hears the clang of steel on steel and knows a fight is happening. Cassandra is clearly fighting someone far more superior in weaponry then her. He can tell his by how often her footsteps retreat from the other occupant, none other than Anthony himself.

"Your form is slacking…where is the warrior I fell for anyway? C'mon, you are an emotional wreck." Anthony charged her and she seemed to falter even more. Varian wondered what had transpired and hearing her sniff as she tries to defend herself he realizes the truth. Anthony had told the most despicable thing imaginable…and on her wedding day too.

"Hey…leave her be!" Varian moves forward hoping his plan goes down well. He hears hesitation in Anthony's movements and hopes he has delayed it long enough.

"I have heard of the blind leading the blind, but, the blind foolishly heading into a conflict he cannot predict let alone back out of…that is something else. Pretend you did not hear anything and maybe you can still walk away from this." Anthony was speaking to him but if he had to guess his body was half turned.

"Varian, please, get out of here while you can!" Cassandra pleaded but Varian could not leave her.

"I can't do that…not when the girl I love is in this state of crisis. I maybe just an Alchemist but I am so much more…if you let me that is. So what if I am blind, has that stopped me once in my journey? I'm not asking for a lifetime commitment, but, I am asking for a chance to prove my worth."

"Oh how sweet…you know what I think of those words?" Varian had no idea but suddenly Cassandra's screams echo in his brain and he can only imagine what he has done to her. All restraint lost itself in him as he threw himself forward. Anthony anticipates this and swats him aside along the head and he hits the ground. The impact jars him and he feels blood trickle down his head.

"V-Varian…no…please…" Varian can hear the ingredients starting to bubble and knows that it is working. Pushing himself up he shakes his head and rises to his feet.

"You know, in the world of Alchemy there is plenty of room for failure, but, even failure is an opportunity for success the next time. In your time Anthony…would you say any of the success you had was from playing fair?" Varian grins.

"What is with that grin? What are you planning, oh wait, I don't care." Anthony advances and Varian side steps the attack and races to Cassandra.

"Cassandra, I, well I do not know what will happen next but I wish for you to be safe. Get up; throw yourself out the window to safety. I could not live with myself if we both go, if you go before me." He then leaves her as he faces Anthony.

Cassandra had no idea what went down between the two of them but his words reached her. She rose up holding onto the wound that had happened when Anthony had thrust his sword inside her. She tried to stop the bleeding as she stumbled along to where he had stared. A bale of hay lay below and she swung her leg over as she looks over at the two.

Varian had no sword but he was side stepping and making Anthony resort to using his own fists against him. Varian took each blow but he would not stop grinning. What was it did he know? She suddenly realized how hot the room had gotten. A deep rumble came up through the floorboards and that is when Varian turned to her.

"Varian?" She reached out to him…to pull him with her, but he just stared at her…and as she screamed his name she saw in that moment his clear eyes had gained their color back. A sadness built in her and as she fell out the window she saw a plume of heat escape the window and then everything went dark.

Authors note: The final chapter is coming up. There is a reason for this extra lengthy chapter. Had planned it out better in my head but took me a bit to get this up. Hope I managed a good job in carrying this all out.