Cold Sweat

A muffled scream escaped Varian's lips as he was jolted out of his nightmare. He looked around to see who had woken him up and saw Ruddiger crouched next to him looking with worried eyes.

"Sorry buddy." He whispered and stroked the raccoons fur. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Ruddiger squeaked and jumped into the boy's lap.

Varian took in a shuddering breath. He needed to get out. He slipped out of his bed and climbed out the window, not even bothering to put on his shoes.

Ruddiger followed him. The raccoon scampered around his heels, wondering why his master was up at this ungodly hour of the morning.

Varian wandered down the road, not really paying attention to where he was going. Soon enough he found himself on the outskirts of Corona. The city was asleep unlike him.

He found himself standing underneath Rapunzel's balcony.

Maybe she can help me. He thought then he remembered that it was still three in the morning. He wanted to walk away. To go back home but he couldn't. He couldn't get the sight of his father being encased in the rock and couldn't stop feeling the beating intenseness of the snow swirling around him. He couldn't be in his house without having the nightmares. He took a deep breath trying to remind himself that it was all just a dream. None of that had been real. But it was. Those things actually happened. Those things actually happened and he could never forget. No matter how hard he tried.

His breath caught in his throat as he started to hyperventilate. He felt the pounding intenseness of anxiety start to form in the pits of his stomach as he curled up against the stone of the castle and let go.

A few hours later


"I don't know how long he's been out here, princess. We just found him like this." Pete said as he led Rapunzel to the the boy's still body

Rapunzel knelt down next to Varian. "We need to get him inside."


Varian woke to voices and a hand gently running through his hair. He blinked his eyes open, eveything was blurry at first. He only caught outlines of people but he knew that he was safe.

"I think he's waking up." That voice was definitely Lance for sure and that's when Varian realized he was inside the castle.

"Hey, Varian." Rapunzel's voice was gentle and soft like she was trying to coax a scared kitten out of a corner. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"Sorry." He mumbled and fully sat up.

"Sorry for what? What happened?"

"I was wandering again last night." He bit his lip. "It helps."

Eugene and Lance exchanged nervous glances. "Helps with what?"

"The nightmares." He whispered as he curled in on himself.

Rapunzel put a hand on his cheek and turned his head towards her. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Varian's eyes pricked with tears. "Because it wouldn't have helped. Talking never helps. It just makes it worse."

Rapunzel suddenly hugged him tightly. This boy, her friend, her little brother, was suffering and she couldn't do anything to help him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't help but I'm here for you. I will always be here for you."

"Thank you." He whispered.

His face was buried in her hair and she felt warm tears spilling onto her shoulder.

She let him cry for as long as he needed too and eventually he fell asleep against her.

The princess let him sleep. He must've been exhausted after eveything he went through. She laid his head on her lap and ran her hands through his hair to keep him calm.

Eugene sat next to her. He was admittedly worried about the little guy. Over time he came to see Varian as family. He enjoyed being a brother figure to him and he knew that Rapunzel saw him as a little brother too.

"I'm worried about him, Eugene." Rapunzel said. "I don't know what I can do to help him, but I want to help him so badly."

Eugene put a hand on her shoulder. "I know. I'm worried about him too but I don't think that we can do anything for him except to just be there."

Rapunzel nodded. She knew he was right. They couldn't do anything. She couldn't do anything and it was eating her alive. Her baby brother had been suffering from nightmares, insomnia and anxiety attacks for months and she couldn't do anything about it.


A few hours later Rapunzel was starting to doze off when she heard Varian let out a strangled cry. Immediately she was awake. He twitched and squirmed in his sleep but didn't wake.

She brushed some hair out of his face but wasn't sure what else she should do. Should she wake him up? No, that might make things worse. But she couldn't just let him suffer through the nightmare.

"Cass." The betrayers name left his lips no louder than a whisper. "Cass, no. Stop."

Rapunzel couldn't imagine what he was dreaming about but it couldn't be good.

"Wait... NO!" He shot up from his nightmare, his whole body shaking.

"Varian?" She put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here."

He turned to her, tears in his eyes. "Rapunzel?" He hugged her tightly as if to make sure she was real. "You're okay."

She cradled the back of his head. She had no idea what was wrong but she couldn't ask questions. "Yeah. I'm here. I'm okay."

She pulled him back a little. "Varian, what were you dreaming about? You said... you said Cass' name."

He looked away. "She was... she was here. Here, in the castle and she was hurting you. I tried to get her to stop but I couldn't move. Then, the whole room lit on fire and she stood there, laughing."

Rapunzel pulled him back into the hug. "It's okay. I'm okay. Cassandra isn't here. You're safe."