Thank you for your reviews ! Indeed, Arianna will have a tough choice to make regarding Varian. But for now, he's too weak for explanations. We'll get there at some point, but time for some caring moments.
Enjoy !
Chapter 17
Arianna couldn't utter a word. It was like the ground had vanished beneath her feet. For a moment she could only stand there and look into the void, as the words sank in.
A knock on the door brought her out of her trance. Reacting fast, Remyus left her to open the door, and found Ethel waiting behind it, holding a tray.
"Ah, is it my snack at last ?" he said with a gentle scowl and a playful smile on his face as he saw his old friend.
"You legs are still good, old man" she replied on the same mischievous tone as she stepped inside. "Your Majesty", she curtsied before carrying on. "You can get it yourself and you know it. Now, since I'm pretty sure you've only fed the poor kid with potions and remedies so far, I made my very special soup. And that's just for him, don't you dare touch it, will you ?"
"Aw, what do I have to do to get the same favor ?" replied the old physician on a fake disappointed tone, as they both made it to the back room.
Arianna hadn't moved an inch and was standing in the middle of the main room, barely listening to their antics. She was still pondering about what it would mean for Varian to live without his memories when the door made a small squeaking noise as it was pushed open a little bit more. A shy face framed with a white mob cap emerged from behind it.
"Well", began the Queen, loudly enough to be heard, "looks like a little mouse has been following our dear Ethel ! Or… is it a little girl ?"
Said girl vanished for a moment behind the door, and then timidly reappeared, looking too ashamed to speak.
"Elora ! Come in, dear, don't be afraid", encouraged Arianna.
"Shhhh… um, I mean, shhh, Your Majesty. She'll hear you !"
"Who ?"
"My grandma. I… I know I shouldn't be here, she told me to stay in the kitchen , but… I couldn't help but overhear that the injuried Monsieur was awake, and I wanted to see how he was. But Grandma got angry at me when I asked to go along." Eyes down, she trailed off on her last words, with a mixture of disappointment and sadness. "I just wanted to help."
Arianna couldn't help but feel sorry for the little girl. She had, of course, figured out why Ethel would be so strict on her about coming to see Varian. He was the most dangerous criminal in all Corona, after all. And technically still a prisoner. But obviously, nobody had told her the truth.
Well, she thought, she's just like Varian. Still innocent and unaware of all this mess.
"Elora ? Come with me", she said, holding out her hand for the little scullery maid to grab it.
Elora hesitated for a second, then a big smile illuminated her face and she put her small hand into the Queen's with a squeak of delight.
"Come on, lad, you will rest later "urged Ethel as she was trying the boy to sit up, propped up by cushions . The shackle on Varian's wrist, that didn't allow him to move up much towards the bedhead, didn't make it easy though. "For now, we have to get something into your system. And trust me, my special soup is just what you need. Very smooth, no bits, to make it easy for you. And I will not take any faces, young man", she scolded gently.
Varian had indeed made a face, but was it because of the word "soup" or because of the excruciating pounding in his head as he was moved, he didn't care. His headache only seemed to get worse by the second. He was tired and just wanted to be left alone, but he couldn't have slept in this condition anyway.
"Mmm… my head" he mumbled weakly.
"Here," said Remyus, "let him have his potion first.", as if he needed to ask for Ethel's permission.
"All right,"Ethel relented, not even trying to conceal how she rolled her eyes, "potions first as ever, eh ? Sorry, lad, that old man will never change."
Stop talking, please. Stop making so much noise and just give me that potion if it can help. Please make it stop. Poor Varian was in no mood to listen to their bickering, and unable to speak out his thoughts. Even the ordinary light seemed blinding to him. He needed quiet and he needed darkness. Why would they not understand that ?
Coming closer, Arianna, with Elora in tow, saw his pain-stricken face. He was still wearing a large bandage around his head, and the sight tore her heart.
"Ethel, Remyus, maybe some quiet would be a good idea ?" she whispered, hoping they would follow her lead and put an end to this childishness. It worked, and they both fell silent, Ethel trying to keep Varian in a comfortable position by nearly sitting behind him, Remyus prying his mouth open with his free hand before pouring the painkiller in his mouth.
"Drink it all, boy. You'll feel better in a while", coaxed Remyus. "Now I know you want to sleep, but you need to try and eat something before that. Plus, believe me, you don't want to cross the old lady by not-"
"Remyus…" the Queen interfered, keeping her voice low, but steady enough to remind the old physician that he was too talkative again… as he always was whenever Ethel was around. It was cute, in a way, the way he would show off to get her attention, but Varian didn't need that. "Shouldn't you be writing your observations about Varian to keep track ?"
Too embarrassed to reply, Remyus decided it was best for him to be on his way. Arianna watched him leave, then came closer to Ethel, practically dragging a frightened Elora hidden behind her dress.
"Ethel, I must apologize, I know you will not like it, but I think you need a helper right now. And I have just the right person", she added as she lead Elora to stand in front of her.
Ethel's eyes went wide. Had the person in front of her not been the Queen, they would have known how shocked she was, and not in the nicest way ! But as a wise woman who has worked in the Palace all her life, she knew better.
"Your Majesty, but… the King said –"
"I know. And I'm taking full responsibility for this. I don't know why, but I am convinced that this little angel can help more than we think."
And she added "She'll be alright", but only mouthed these words while Elora was facing her Grandma.
"Grandma, please ?" asked Elora with big, hopeful eyes. "I really want to help him get better. You always say I bring joy everywhere I go. Well…. I think I found somebody who needs joy right now", and she turned her gaze on Varian with her last few words. Their eyes met, and Varian tried his best to focus. Elora was sure she saw a smile, feeble as it was, on his tense features.
Ethel kept silent for a few seconds, then her features softened and she replied : "Your smile can brighten up anything, sweetheart, it does."
Arianna was smiling too. She would have readily helped Ethel herself to say the truth, but she determinedly turned away, leaving the old maid and her granddaughter spoon feed an almost asleep Varian. She just managed a polite : "If you'll excuse me…", before she added, more to herself than for them :
"There is a key I must lay my hands on."
