Be ready for some Varian angst in this part. And a cliffhanger. Am I mean ? To Varian, maybe, yes. I apologize in advance for all he is going to endure in this story…
I don't own Tangled or the characters.
Chapter 2
Varian never said a word on the way back. Nor did he soften his glare, his mind entirely set on one thing : "I will make you proud, Dad… if it's the last thing I ever do !". All his thinking was blocked out, anger being the only thing that kept him going. He just couldn't feel anything else, and he couldn't even acknowledge to himself that this was not normal. He couldn't see or hear the real world outside.
He couldn't even feel the gentle touch of Rudiger, who had managed to follow his friend before the cart was locked. The little raccoon has been trying his best to cheer up his human, but it was just like Rudiger wasn't there. No patting, no touching, no chittering seemed to reach the boy's mind.
Nobody spoke to Varian either, of course. The guards knew the orders. Not to mention they were all a bit shocked that they actually had been leading a dangerous attack onto a fourteen-year-old. And barely made it.
Varian's wrists were still shackled when they took him to a cell on the deepest level of the castle's dungeon. It was only after one of the guards opened the cell gate, waited for two other guards to drive the boy inside by the shoulders, that the heavy chains were removed. The guard who did so finally spoke :
"Food will be brought in a moment", he said, trying to keep his tone neutral, but it was not every day he had to lock up a kid like this one. He was a father too, and couldn't help but feel bad for the boy's fate.
"We will need your apron and these goggles too. You can't keep them in here."
No reaction from Varian. He just kept gazing at something invisible in mid-air, between him and the stone wall.
As gently as he could, the soldier grabbed the goggles, and undid the heavy leather apron. Without these items, the teenage boy suddenly looked even smaller and skinnier.
"What about that beast, Alden ?" asked another guard, making a face at the raccoon, who had followed the sad party in the dark corridors.
"He can keep his pet. King's orders"
They all left without another word, the last guard out locking the gate for good. The key and lock made an angry sound together, sharp and metallic, rough and unforgiving.
Varian didn't move an inch, and just stood there, his face still frowned and his whole body tense.
Rudiger tried some noises again, leaning against his human's legs, as if to tell him, "I'm here". But to no avail.
Then, moments later, as if the sound of the lock had to take twists and turns in the alchemist's brain to reach the right spot, Varian suddenly gasped, his head shooting up, his mouth wide open. His body, if possible, tensed even more. His eyes were unfocused. Rudiger backed up slightly, his ears down, not understanding what was going on.
Varian's whole body seemed to have frozen for a moment. He neither moved, nor spoke, nor even breathed. After a few, everlasting seconds, Rudiger could hear more gasping sounds, Varian taking shallow, painful breaths like he was choking, his eyes at the same time darting in one direction and then another very quickly.
So many things were happening in Varian's head at that moment that it was impossible for him to put any words on that. What was that sound ? Oh yeah, they locked me up…What ? How ? Why ? For how long ? What about Dad ? What about the rocks ? The King. The Queen. No, no ! Betrayal. Alone. Forever. Rapunzel. Rapunzel. Rapunzel…
Varian stood there for a while, helpless, while his body and his mind were trying to connect, but it was like they couldn't. His young brain, usually so bright, was totally unable to process all of this. He had been preparing his revenge for months, he had everything planned. But then, within a few hours, everything changed. All that was within his reach was gone. He had lost everything. His home. His Dad. His freedom. That was just too much for the already broken boy to handle. What did he have to steady himself ? What did he have to hold on to ?
Varian could have stayed there for hours and yet have been unable to describe the wall in front of him. His eyes were open but couldn't see. His body was in a cell but his mind wouldn't register it. It just knew one thing.
Panic. Fear. Anguish.
He couldn't breathe. Or at least he could draw short breaths, but they did nothing to help. He had the raw feeling to be underwater, that didn't make sense ! His lungs were on fire, his throat wouldn't let the air in. His legs were shaking – no, his whole frame was shaking uncontrollably. Thinking is impossible. What will I… ?
SNAP !
Varian was suddenly jerked out of his trance, feeling a sharp pain on his arm. Waking up like after a nightmare, he was gradually able to take his surroundings in. Walls. Stone walls. Dull and grey. One small window high up, with bars. A bed – if you could call it so – on the side. And lower, on the hard cold floor, a very nervous and scared Rudiger.
Rudiger ! At least he is here ! But what did he eat to have his front teeth coloured in red ?
Varian look at his arm and saw blood. He exhaled heavily as he slowly understood what just happened, trembling like every time he caught sight of blood, but also from shock and exhaustion.
Rudiger had bit his arm to bring him back. Back to reality.
The reality started to set back in slowly in Varian's mind. At least he wasn't ruled by his violent emotions only. But that didn't make things less painful.
Legs weak, the alchemist let his body fall down on the floor and took Rudiger in his arms. The little animal was a bit on his guard first, not recognizing his human's usual demeanour, but then cuddled up in his arms, grateful to be reunited with him again. Varian didn't say a word, as silent tears started to roll down his cheeks, in a seemingly endless river of sorrow.
When the guard came back later with a tray of food, he was surprised to find the boy still in the middle of the cell where they left him, only keeling on the floor, curled up on himself (and on his raccoon, if he could trust the striped tail he could see sticking out the boy's lap), his shoulders shaking, but not a sound coming from this miserable, broken form.
Meanwhile, on the highest floor of the dungeon, Phil the guard was bored. He was a well-intentioned young man, still new to his tasks around the castle. But nothing seemed more boring to him than keeping watch at that moment. And the dungeons were not the nicest place in the castle.
Lost in his thoughts, he couldn't help but be startled when he heard the voice of someone whom presence he wasn't aware of.
"Take me to the boy. King's orders."
Willing not to let his carelessness show, the young man didn't even try to argue. Would he have asked questions, under other circumstances, seeing that person was wearing a heavy black hooded coat ? Would he have not shown the way to the young alchemist's cell ?
