Thanks for the encouraging reviews ! XD One more Arianna/Fredric chapter today before… well you'll see !
Chapter 11
Remyus and Ethel gave a start when the door of the back room where they were attending to Varian was flung open. They couldn't help but notice the solemn expression on the Queen's face, as she entered, her husband in tow, her slender hand still holding his.
There was a very audible gasp coming from the King's mouth when he saw the one lying in bed. The young alchemist, who had been a real threat the day before was obviously no longer in prison, but right here in the court physician's chambers. But that wasn't what the King saw.
What he saw and made his stomach churn was that this wasn't the sassy boy with hatred plastered on his face. This was just a child, an unconscious child with way, way too many injuries on his body and face. His breathing was so shallow that it could be barely seen if one didn't take a close look. With one black eye, a swollen cheek and a bandage around his head, Varian was barely recognizable.
For a long moment, nobody uttered a single word. Ruddiger got up from the chair to jump onto the bed and curl up again the teenager. Remyus let him do so this time, Varian's injuries having all been covered, but also with the hope that the little animal would help them humans to get distracted from the awkward moment.
At last, Fredric found his voice again :
"What happened ?", he but whispered.
"We are not sure, darling", replied Arianna with an equally soft tone, holding his arm. "I…well, he was found like this in his cell. He was very weak. He still is. Remyus says he has to wake up before we are sure he will make it."
She could suddenly feel Fredric's arm tensing. His hands were clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. He broke away from Arianna's gentle hold with a frustrated groan, making his way out with heavy footsteps.
Fredric had never been the one to know how to communicate his feelings spontaneously and Arianna was used to it. She had learned how to take clues from his body language, his own personal triggers she knew about, or a couple of words he might let out without thinking. But this time was different. It all happened too fast and it seemed like her husband had locked himself up in an invisible shell.
She ran after him.
She managed to catch up down the corridor.
"Darling, wait ! Where are you going ?" she panted when she finally grabbed his arm to make him stop.
"To find out how somebody can beat up a prisoner who was in a locked cell without me knowing it", he roared, his face red with anger. While this was indeed something they had to do, Arianna was bewildered by her husband's violent reaction. Fredric saw that on her face and sighed, casting his eyes down.
"I'm failing everyone, Arianna."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes. Yes it is. Look where these black rocks are taking us. My friend Quirin is trapped because I ignored them. And I ignored them because I know I'm responsible for that."
"You're not responsible for the amber. Varian used a chemical comp…"
"But there would be no amber if there had been no rocks ! And I promised Rapunzel I would get Varian help. Help, Arianna, do you understand ? Now he's between life and death ! He may have committed treason, but he's also my friend's son ! And this happened literally under my feet. That boy was under my watch, and look what happened !"
Arianna's eyes went wide, realization dawning on her.
She raised her hand to his face, cupping his cheek and inviting him to lean into it. That was something she had done so many times when they were missing their daughter and that she tried to keep the flickering light of hope in his heart alive.
"She's going to be ok", she whispered. "Our daughter may be away on her journey, but what happened here has nothing to do with her." She knew that deep inside, Fredric was struggling with the idea that her daughter was out of his reach, out of his protection. If he couldn't protect the child under his roof, how could he be sure that his own child was going to be safe ?
Frederic laid his hand on hers, pressing it gently against his cheek.
"Thank you… I know you're right. But I won't breathe easily again until she's home, you know me. And as for the boy… what happened is still not acceptable. I must find out who did this and why. I will start with the guards. Nigel will assist me. Are you coming ?"
Arianna pursued her lips. She wanted the truth as much as he did, she wanted to help her husband too, but she was also afraid to leave Varian. This sounded stupid, she knew, especially with Remyus and Ethel at his side, but she couldn't bear the thought to be away when his fate was still so unsure.
She actually was the first person to find Varian after he had been beaten up, even if Fredric didn't know that… yet. She wasn't sure how he would react. She knew his over-protectiveness often took the best of him. So she chose.
"I should go back to Remyus."
That was a bad move.
"What are you saying ? You are not seriously thinking of going back there, are you ?"
Arianna's eyes widened. "What do you mean ? Why couldn't I ?" she asked in disbelief.
"Because Varian is still a traitor to the Crown, and a clever one", countered the King with his mighty voice. "He will get back at you as soon as he gets the chance. We have seen enough of his tricks to know he mustn't be underestimated. I don't want you near him again, am I clear ?"
Talk about over-protectiveness. But to this extent ? Really ?
"Did you take a good look at him ?", huffed the Queen. " You said so yourself, he's between life and death ! How can you even imagine that he's going to be a threat right now ?"
"I am the law and, injured or not, the boy is still a prisoner". The King's voice resonated in the huge corridor. "I will send guards for Remyus' protection and the criminal is to be chained up to the bed at all times. I will take no. more. risks", he bellowed to Arianna's face to make sure he would be heard.
Arianna felt silent for a few seconds. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. A normal response for any broken heart. But they gave her the strength she needed.
"You are not thinking clearly, Fredric. Do you know that the boy has been alone for months until now ? Do you realize that if we had brought our help sooner, maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't have come to this ?" He has been denied our support for far too long. He's not just broken on the outside, Fredric. He is broken inside, shattered even, I know it. Yes, he did horrible things yesterday, and he will have to answer for those. But for the moment, he needs medical attention, he needs care, he needs love. He needs me."
Without letting her husband and King a chance to reply, she turned around and marched back to Remyus' chambers.
