Thank you readers for your enthusiasm! Varian's path to healing and redemption is going to be a long one, and this partial memory loss is only one step of the way. You'll see later why we're heading there at the moment, but shhh….
Oh and we're going deeper in Nigel's backstory. It wasn't exactly planned, but that part just got written by itself. Just like Varian, it is interesting to think of the reasons for their actions, consciously chosen or not.
Chapter 15
Arianna blinked a few times, trying to process Varian's words. She had expected some yelling, snarling, sassiness or sarcasm on his behalf, as she probably wasn't his favorite person at the moment. She hadn't expected a spontaneous, alchemy-obsessed Varian, with two wide open, although tired, childish eyes.
"I- I'm sorry, what ? she stuttered, unable to keep her usual composure. "Varian, the science expo… that was…."
Months ago. That was the truth. It took place before the assault on Varian's house, before the sunflower theft, before the snow storm. Before everything.
"Oh no, was it today ?" The anxious boy's eyes were darting to and fro, showing how panicked he started to be."Did I miss it ? Wh- what happened ? Did I blow up something again ?"
Varian was getting to his full-speed speech, which was something he always did when he was either passionate or stressed about something. "Oh, does my Dad know already ?" He cringed at the thought.
Arianna was at a loss. How could she tell the boy he had a four or five months gap in his memory ? She couldn't sum them up just like that. Especially not these ones.
She took a deep breath to calm down, forcing herself to gather her thoughts. Keep calm, Arianna, there must be a way. He just woke up from a several days coma. It was to be expected he would be confused.
"Varian", she began with the most reassuring voice she could produce, "like I said, you are hurt. You must calm down. Breathe, think, and tell me : what is the last thing you remember ?"
The tired teenager did as he was told, his brain still foggy. He remembered the days before the expo, working for endless hours on his machine to make this new element from sand. The one he would name after…
Cassandra.
Rapunzel.
The Queen.
It hit him only now, the person in front of him was no less than the Queen herself ! He kind of knew, but he had pushed that thought at the back on his mind, still trying to catch up with his concerns about the expo. A second wave of panic flooded through him. The words tumbled out of his mouth as he tried to sit up once again to show the respect due to royalty.
"Oh, You-Your Highn – Ow". Varian had barely moved his weak body when the now familiar waves of pain mercilessly reminded him of his current health condition.
"Varian, you mustn't move. And you know what ? No more talking either. I will get Remyus now", said the Queen, turning her heels without letting Varian a chance to reply. To say the truth, she was more than relieved to have the opportunity to bring that nonsensical discussion to an end. She turned around before going out the door, though, but this time, she wanted to have a word with her four-legged assistant :
"I'm counting on you to keep an eye on him, of course."
Ruddiger, obviously understanding every word, went immediately to squat by Varian's side. Said boy was just watching the Queen leave, lying there, gaping, eyes wide, not fully getting what just happened.
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Nigel had always been a nervous person.
But now, he was constantly biting his nails, no matter how much he didn't want to show it. Maybe a pair of gloves would help ?
No, what would help would be to make sure his little secret would not be betrayed. He had threatened the Stabbington brothers to convince them to keep their mouths shut (well, at least, for the one who talks) and it had worked so far. Same for the prisoners who might have been close enough to hear the fighting noises and the boy's cries. These people didn't have a lot of privileges, to say the least – eatable meals, blankets, to name a few – and it was easy to persuade them to abide by his will to keep them.
But what if some people changed their minds ? It didn't take a genius to imagine that if someone gave out some useful information to the King, that person might be rewarded with more privileges, or probation, maybe even freedom. Worse, Nigel had of course heard that the boy was being taken care of in the court physician's chambers, and that the Queen would not leave his side.
Some dark feelings were lurking in the shadows. Not doubt, not guilt, to say the truth. He had what had to be done to such a brat. Show him what he would get for betraying the Crown. Teach him a lesson so he learns. The law couldn't be broken.
No, Nigel was worried for his own future. He knew he had carried out justice out of his own decision, and that the King would never forgive that. The ever loyal counsellor never did such a thing before, and thinking back, it never came to his mind. But this arrogant, insolent child…
Ironically, painfully, that child reminded him of another child, long ago. He had said rude things about the Royal family, out of challenge or defiance, something like that. He had reached an age when he really had enough of hearing his Dad rehashing the same things over and over. He was an intimidating tall man who wouldn't speak much, except to praise the King and the Queen in every possible way. But who never had a kind word for his own son. On the contrary, everything his boy tried never seemed enough to get a look of pride, a smile or a reaction whatsoever. The kid should have gotten used to it. He never did.
So one day, when he needed his father to response more than ever – in any way- the boy lashed out against the Royal Family, even if it meant making up stories and going too far.
He earned a huge slap that sent him tumbling down a few feet away in the dust. And a mark that stayed for three days.
Nigel knew that boy too well. It was long ago, but he remembered how scared and desperate he had been. And yet, years later, after his father died, he did the only logical thing in his mind : protect and serve the Royal Family, because if he had learned one thing during those painful years, it was that any action against the Crown was terribly wrong.
