Just like I promised, I'm back. Hope you'll all ready. This chapter will reveal something that Alice is hiding from her brother, but I won't say anymore. Please enjoy.
Chapter 42-Guilt and love:
Alice was brushing her hair, all ready for sleep, as she heard the door to the room opened. She turned around and smiled at Varian as he came in. He still had some smudges left on his face, but he looked less like a raccoon now. Alice couldn't stop herself from giggling again at the image of her brother as a raccoon.
"It's a shame really, you made a really cute raccoon ,"Alice commented, placing the brush down and tossing her raven locks over her shoulders.
Varian didn't respond and merely flopped down on the bed, clearly mentally and physically tired. Alice laughed as she pulled Varian closer to her chest, his head resting underneath her chin. Alice couldn't help but think about how offend they found themselves in this situation these days. So much was happening and not alot of it was for the better. However, that didn't matter now, what mattered was being there for her brother.
"Hey it's going to be okay ,"she whispered, smiling as she played with his hair.
"I know…..,"Varian said, releasing a yawn.
"Just get some rest, Vary, things will be better in the morning ,"Alice told him.
Varian didn't respond, already asleep in his sister's embrace. Alice merely pulled him closer, running her fingers along his forehead in a calming manner. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Alice looked up and saw Queen Arianna entering. She smiled and placed a finger to her lips, looking down at her little brother. The queen got the message and came closer so they could talk.
"How is he ?"she asked in a quiet voice.
"Exhausted, and after everything that happened today, I'm sure anyone would be ,"Alice said and Queen Arianna nodded, before giving Varian a sympathetic look.
"It's almost hard to believe he looks so much like the person who kidnapped me so long ago ,"Queen Arianna said.
Alice stiffened at this. She was, technically, the one who kidnapped the queen while disguised as her brother. Alice's smile wavered as she turned her attention towards the queen. She knew this conversation wasn't going to be pleasant, but she needed to know.
"Do you…..have your memories back ?"Alice asked, unsure of what else to say.
"Yes I do, and so does Fredrick, we remember the truth of that night ,"Queen Arianna told her.
"Your majesty…...I'm sorry for what happened…...I didn't mean too….,"Alice started, before the queen placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Rapunzel told us what happened in the Dark Kingdom and what you told her. We know you had no control over what happened. I have to say, though, that you are an extremely brave young woman, to sacrifice her own free will for her brother's safety ,"Queen Arianna told her. Alice smiled at her brother, watching him sleep peacefully.
"I would do anything to protect him, to protect anyone, but I've always had a soft spot for him ,"Alice said.
"You were practically the woman who raised him, it makes sense you'd feel so protective over him ,"Queen Arianna said.
"Yeah, I just hope he knows how much I love him, and how far I'd go for him ,"Alice said.
"Given that you raced all the way here from Old Corona in the middle of the night, just to make sure he was okay, I'm pretty sure he knows how much you love him ,"Queen Arianna said.
"I just hate how he works himself so hard to make up for what happened. I can't help but wonder when will enough be enough ,"Alice said, giving her unconscious brother a sad smile.
"Yes, I've seen a lot of people guilt-tripping him into doing tasks for them. I've already put a stop to it for the most part, but I don't understand why he feels the way he does, he didn't do anything wrong ,"Queen Arianna said.
"I know the reason why. Your majesty, can you keep a secret ?"Alice asked, looking over at the queen.
"Yes, what's going through that brilliant mind of his ?"Queen Arianna asked.
"Varian believes that if I hadn't shown up, he would have done everything that Aurora did. The cookies, the stealing of the flower, kidnapping you, everything. What I've haven't told him is that there was a future where I didn't show up at all, that I was able to take back control and keep Ballora away from him. He would have done everything that I did, in fact, Ballora got the ideas to use the flower, the truth serum, and everything else, from that alternate future. So he's technically right. He could have done terrible things, in fact, he would have been the one responsible for helping the Soporian's takeover of Corona if Aurora didn't show up when she did ,"Alice said, sadly.
"That just makes me feel even more guilty about all this ,"Queen Arianna said sadly.
"Why do you feel guilty, everything turned out alright ,"Alice told her.
"Yes, but maybe he wouldn't have gone through such torture at Aurora's hands, maybe you wouldn't have had to hurt him, if only Corona stepped in earlier. If we went to him and your father in their time of need, maybe none of this would have happened ,"Queen Arianna said sadly.
"Your majesty, while I agree there are moments that I wouldn't want to go through again, and wouldn't wish on anyone else, I will admit that I feel as though things worked out for the best. Rapunzel learned more about herself and has grown up into a brilliant young woman, Eugene finally learned of his past and found his family, my dad is free from the amber and has become a great influence for Varian, he himself has grown up and become wiser because of what happened, and me…...I'm free from Ballora's grasp, I have my family, my own life again, and I have my brother, and one day, we'll have Ballora and Cassandra back. I know they'll come around. So, while I admit it took a while, everything worked out and our current problem with Cassandra will as well. We just need to give it more time ,"Alice explained.
Queen Arianna smiled at her and watched the dozing alchemist for a few seconds before she continued. Alice briefly wondered what was going through the other woman's mind, but before she could ask the queen spoke up again.
"You truly are wise beyond your years, , and I agree, things will work out. However, with our memories finally returned, I cannot deny that the scars are still there from what happened ,"she told her.
"I know, I'm still haunted by what I did too. However, I find it best to learn from those scars and move forward. I've especially been trying to convince Varian of that fact. He shouldn't have to worry about all these grown-up things. He should be free to be young and have fun, but the shame and guilt over what happened, and what might have happened, are still holding him prisoner ,"Alice said, sadly.
"One day, he'll forgive himself and let go of this ,"Queen Arianna assured her.
"I hope you're right, your majesty. I really do. In the meantime though, I will be there with him, every step of the way ,"Alice said as Varian twitched slightly in his sleep, Alice carefully lifted the blankets on the bed and pulled them over him, before planting a kiss on his forehead.
"I'm sure he wouldn't have it any other way. You're a good sister Alice, you really are ,"Queen Arianna told her, heading out of the room, smiling at the two siblings.
Alice looked down at Varian as the queen left, and she couldn't help the smile that came to her face as she marveled at how cute he looked.
"Aww, you look like a baby raccoon snuggled in a blanket ,"Alice cooed, brushing his bangs out of his face.
Alice's eyes slowly closed as she got under the blankets herself, pulling Varian closer, and moments later, she was fast asleep.
Well that was fun, I hope you all enjoyed it too. I will be returning to my chapter a week schedule next Saturday so I'll see you all then. And remember to stay happy, stay safe and have a great day.
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