So that's a smaller chapter, but I hope you'll enjoy. A little bit of angst and some reprieve time.

Thanks again, angie and alejg for your everlasting support. Alejg, a picture would be great if you can make the time ! And thank you, readers, for whom I am happy to write this story (and maybe it's the only way to get it out of my head ! XD)

Chapter 9

Out of the window, the sky was slowly fading into sweet shades of darker blue, purple and pink. Arianna used to love sunsets, but after Rapunzel's kidnapping, each nightfall, beautiful as it was, only reminded her that another day had passed without her knowing where her precious baby girl was, what she had been doing during the day, or if she was even alive. So Arianna ended up avoiding sunsets. Evenings only brought questions, doubts and anguish.

Nights were worse. A full moon shone when she was taken. A moon that didn't shine on its own, but received the light from the sun, somewhere far away. But for the King and the Queen, it was their own little ray of sunshine that was suddenly out of reach and no longer shining on them.

Arianna woke up, remembering these memories that obviously decided to come back and taunt her, a year after they were reunited. Why did she have that dream just now ?

It took her a few seconds to understand why she was not lying on her bed, but more or less sitting uncomfortably on a chair. She remembered.

Varian. It wasn't a nightmare, which she had hoped for a split second. It was real. He was lying there, pale, limp and unresponding, as Remyus and Ethel were still working on him together. Not many words passed between them and obviously, they needed none. They knew what they had to do. Arianna was grateful for that, and a bit ashamed to have been so useless, having fallen asleep with the raccoon on her lap.

Said raccoon was snoring softly, apparently quite happy to sleep on a silk dress. With extreme caution and gentleness, the Queen scooped the plump animal in her arms, stood up and, turning around, laid him on the chair. Ruddiger hardly seemed to be bothered.

Coming closer, Arianna could see that many bandages had been needed. There seemed to be more cloth than skin to be seen on the boy's frame. His right arm was secured along a splint by his side. With some ribs broken, Remyus decided not to fold it on the boy's upper body. On both wrists, more bandages were tied, and Arianna remembered painfully the awful sight of his scratched and bleeding skin caused by the shackles he had on when she found him. The person who put them on him had been mean enough to tie them under the cuffs of his gauntlets to cause more damage.

Arianna was sure the King had given orders to remove them when he was taken to prison. Obviously, something went wrong – or did he change his mind ? Varian did have the reputation to be dangerous from the start, and his recent actions were not helping people to think any different of him.

Now the boy's hands were bare, the gloves having been removed. The Queen could make out that the skin was looking different on the back of his left hand. It wasn't smooth and regular, but standing out like a slightly puffy circle. A scar ? A burn mark ? It looked old and long-time healed anyway.

"How is he ?" she ventured under her breath.

Remyus looked up and gave a small curt nod at the Queen, politely acknowledging her presence.

"We are nearly done with the bandages. His temperature is slowly coming back to normal, thanks to your fire, your Majesty, and that's a good sign. Yet…"

"Yet ?"

"Well, we have to hope that he will wake up, despite the head trauma. He needs water and food in his system to heal. Ethel, will you bring the blankets over there ? Your Majesty, there is some fresh water in that bowl. Could you please dip this cloth and moisturize his lips ? That's all we can do for now, but it can help to get moisture in his mouth."

"I will", replied Arianna, taking the stool Ethel showed her to sit at Varian's bedside. As she was closer, she was shocked by the sight of his dry, cracked, almost colourless lips. She swallowed hard and started to do as Remyus said.

Two blankets were spread on the bed by Ethel, who frowned slightly at the unconscious boy. She silently hoped that for the time being he would get warmer. The light was fading, so Remyus went to his main room to get a candle. It was a very untidy room, with shelves all over the walls, chock-full with books or ingredients or potions and other random items. The table only seemed to be there for some extra mess to sit there. It was a wonder Remyus could find anything in there, but obviously, he knew his way around.

He gave a startled jolt as he heard someone knock on the door. With a worried glance to the back room, he went to open the door.

He tried to keep his best composure as he found himself face to face with the King. It wasn't usual for him to come in Remyus' chambers, but it still felt awkward.

"Remyus, I'm sorry to bother you, but is the Queen here by chance ? I have been looking all over for her."

"I am here" came a clear loud voice before Remyus could say a word. Her tone was different from earlier. Not worried, not compassionate, not sweet. It was the voice of somebody who meant business.

Arianna quickly glanced at Ethel, and the old maid knew instantly what was expected of her. She took the Queen's place next to Varian's bedhead.

In a few long strides, the Queen arrived at the door and took her husband out in the hallway, under the eyes of a dumbfounded physician.

She closed the door loudly behind them, and Remyus took that for a "You go and take care of your patient, I've got this." There was no arguing.

And although he wasn't sure of what was going on, he was really grateful not to be in the King's shoes at that moment.