Chapter 12
Darkness.
Emptiness.
Varian didn't really know he was in that place until some colours showed up. One at the start, then another one, and another. They kept coming, painting up that darkness that surrounded him. Where was he ? He had no idea. The dark place was not unfriendly, it was peaceful and quiet, and didn't seem so dull until the colours came. Varian could have stayed there forever and be happy with it.
But the colours kept calling him. They unfolded like a coloured rainbow , of fireworks maybe. There were so beautiful that he wanted to see them closer.
See them ? But the place was so dark. Actually, the darkness started to feel cold. And how could he even see something in this pitch-black place ? The colours were not blinding, as they would have been had they been made of light. If anything, the darkness itself gave him the feeling to be blind.
So where did these colours come from ? No, wait… he couldn't see them. He could feel them. How could you feel a colour ? This didn't make any sense in his usually logical mind and that puzzled him beyond words. He could feel them, maybe taste them or touch them. He knew they were there even if he was completely unable to tell which one of his senses allowed him to do so.
He tried to reach out for the ever-changing colours. He tried to step forward, but realized he was suspended in mid-air. He felt he could hover and maybe move towards the direction he wanted, as if in a dream.
All this was weird, even for a dream. But he could bring himself to care, as long as he could get closer to the comforting colours.
As he could see more and more of them, and less of the darkness, he had never felt lighter and happier. Nothing else existed.
Suddenly, something came. Sharp, ruthless, unforgiving. His whole world was now filled with only one thing. Pain. Unimaginable pain that pierced his heart, destroying the peaceful feelings. No. No. Please no. It hurts. Please make it stop.
He could feel hands around him, but there was no one to be seen. He could feel a soft pressure against his lower lip, but he couldn't swap the thing away. He could feel coolness down his throat and seeping into his body, but he couldn't tell what it was. He didn't know he needed it, but he instantly knew he needed it. In spite of the pain, he had to stay and have more. He swallowed once more, and inexplicably and utterly exhausted by the effort, fell back into the darkness.
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Arianna put down the cup with a look on her face that couldn't decide between relief and worry. She couldn't help but brush his bangs away in an affectionate, almost motherly gesture.
Remyus carefully laid back the boy's upper body onto the bed, keeping one hand on the back on his head for support as long as it was possible.
It wasn't much, but Varian had stirred a little, while Arianna was playing a soft tune on her harp. And they had managed to get a couple of sips of water into his system. That was something, at least.
Was he awake, ever so briefly ? Could he hear them, as they were coaxing him to drink ? He hadn't opened his eyes, and the only motion that told them there was still life in that thin body was that he instinctively swallowed the water he was given. It seemed to last only a few seconds before he went completely limp again. But it was still worth taking this as a good sign. Varian had moved. His face showed pain on his features for a moment. Pain means you're alive, after all.
So when Remyus had noticed the boy's eyebrows furrowing, he quickly had seated behind his head, carefully lifting his shoulders off the mattress, calling the Queen softly at the same time. She had gasped, understanding at once and had put down her instrument – not as carefully as she usually did. She had taken the cup on the bedstead and, watching Varian's slightest reaction closely, had brought the cup to his lips to have him to drink a few drops of the water his body needed so much.
Had Varian heard the soft melody she was playing ? When Arianna asked for her harp to be brought to Remyus' chambers, she knew that there was little to no chance that he could hear her at all. But she still wanted to play for him. Keep a light up in the darkness where he was lost. So she had taken the heart-shaped instrument on her lap, holding it in her arms like a babe and played. And hoped.
And Varian had stirred.
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Yessss, Varian is starting to come around ! In his coma, his sensations are blurred, and on the edge of wakening, he can feel, rather than hears, the music that was played. At least, that's how I wanted to tell this part of Varian's journey.
I am a harp lover and player as well, and I think no other instrument could suit Arianna better. I also had a similar experience, playing the harp for someone in a "half" coma. I have no words for such an experience, and I think it's a nice way to help Varian come back to the world of the living.
