Your attention please everyone, tentpole chapter ! And a trigger warning for (mild?) violence/agression (on a fourteen-year-old, who else ?)
This chapter was really tricky to put together because I needed some events to overlap and several characters to act at the same time…I did it and I'm happy with the result. I've worked so hard on this one and I hope you will like it !
Please R&R !
Chapter 23
Time seemed to have stopped on the happiest place on Earth. The harp strings were singing under Arianna's slender fingers as she sat under the chestnut tree, Varian lying next to her and letting the music penetrate his body and soul to the core. The sun was shining through the leaves and a soothing breeze ruffled their hair from time to time. No wonder that after a while, Varian started to rub his sleepy eyes and gave a yawn.
Without saying a word, the Queen put down her instrument. It was naptime after all, and she knew a certain alchemist who needed it. She stood up to get the wheelchair straight away because Varian seemed ready to fall asleep right then and there. At least she was happy that he ate quite well and that a nice rosy color was now adorning his freckled cheeks. And most of all, she had to admit that she probably enjoyed that moment just as much as he did.
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Meanwhile, tension thick as fog filled the air in the throne room. The official crown sitting on his head, the King had made his decision.
"Now, Sire ?" came Nigel's quivering voice, although he tried his best to keep it steady.
"Yes. Go and get him now. As of today, Varian is going back to prison, memory loss or not." The King's words sounded final, leaving no room for argument or questions.
The lanky man bowed respectfully, and made his way out of the huge throne room. When he turned away from the King, he could barely conceal his excitement, the thin moustache lopsided into a half grin on his face. This was perfect. The sooner the alchemist would be back behind bars, the better.
"And if I have to be the one to tell him the truth about his past," the King added as Nigel was crossing the threshold, his back still turned to the King, "so be it."
More concerned by Arianna's reaction to come than by anything else, Fredric didn't notice how his advisor stiffened at his words and how his face had gone pale in an instant.
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Varian didn't make it to his bedroom – not awake, that is. Being out in the fresh air after such a long time indoors literally knocked him out and he fell asleep on the way back from the garden, the smooth motion of the wheelchair lulling him into sleep.
Arianna didn't try to keep him awake even when she saw his head hanging down, eyelids closed and mouth slightly open. She knew that he had to take all the rest he could get now. Tomorrow, she would have to fill in the blanks in his memory and he would need all his strength.
The mere thought of that moment made the Queen shiver from head to toe.
When she reached Remyus' chambers, she called out to the physician softly. The old man picked up Varian's small frame like it weighed nothing and went to lay him down on his bed. Varian barely stirred, exhaustion clearly winning the battle. Although Arianna could have sworn that the sigh that escaped his lips as his head was gently settled onto the pillow sounded like a word. No, a name.
"Dad…"
Arianna's heart dropped and tears started to swell in her eyes. If only she could protect him forever.
She didn't get time to dwell on these feelings, as heavy footsteps could be heard in the distance. Coming closer. Several people. Guards, she guessed from the metallic clanking.
The Captain of the Guards appeared in the doorway. His injuries were almost healed, and he had insisted to get back to work as soon as his physical condition allowed him. He was flanked by three soldiers, one of them holding shackles in his hands. And with them, a fifth person, whom they didn't hear coming. His large heels didn't make so much noise.
"Captain ? Nigel ?" Arianna blurted out, bewildered as she ran to them. "What is going on ?"
"Your Majesty, we have come to arrest the boy and take him to the throne room. King's orders", said the Captain, albeit reluctantly. He still felt hatred for what the boy did, but he also knew about his current condition – injuries, memory loss and all. Nigel's expression was unreadable.
The Queen clenched her fists. At least she was grateful that Varian was asleep and couldn't hear their conversation. She just couldn't believe that this was happening. Features tense, hands shaking, she was turning white with a rage she could hardly contain.
"This is not what we agreed upon, the King and I", she enunciated slowly between clenched teeth, glaring at them. "Now, listen. The boy is asleep now, and you are certainly not going to wake him up. I will take this up with the King right now."
"As you wish, Your Majesty", came Nigel's smooth reply, bowing in respect.
But the Queen was already gone.
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Elora had just grabbed a book from the library again, straight after she completed her lunch duties. She was skipping down the hallway, a smile on her face.
She knew it would be too early for Varian to be awake – she had gotten used to his nap routine – but at least, she could drop the book in his room and come back when she has a little bit of free time later in the afternoon.
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Arianna arrived moments later in front of the big gates of the throne room. Angrier than anybody had ever seen her, she made no effort to keep her usual Queen-like demeanour. For years, when Rapunzel was missing, she did feel angry at times, more than words could tell. But she had always managed to keep it a secret for everyone – including Fredric – because she had a strong sense of duty and believed that a Queen had to keep her self-control, no matter what.
Until now.
Now nothing mattered more than making a point to her dear husband were their responsibilities lay. Where humanity lay. She didn't care anymore if she was being unladylike. At least, he had to let her talk to Varian first, not arrest him out of the blue and tell him the whole story bluntly and coldly when he still didn't remember the first thing about the past events.
"Fredric", she called out loud from the doorway.
Said King was slouched in his chair, his shoulders heavy like stones with worry. He straightened as he heard her voice – and her harsh tone.
Within seconds, the huge room was filled with their angry voices.
"How could you ?", Arianna started. "You agreed to let me handle this."
"Arianna, I know you are upset, but I am not taking any chances any more. Varian is dangerous !"
"He is not the person he was back there. Not right now anyway. And even if he still remembered, he deserves a second chance. Everybody does ! He can't go through this on his own ! Someone has to be there for him !"
"And how could it be you, Arianna ? boomed Fredric's deep voice. "Look at you! You are getting far too attached to him. He almost killed you, and you're treating him like he was your son !"
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Varian felt somebody shift him in his sleep.
Are they settling me down on the bed ? he thought absentmindedly in his half-sleep. Varian could feel his head and shoulders only were lifted, so no, he was probably in bed already. Oh, I get it, he thought as he felt something cold and hard pressing on his lower lip, Remyus is trying to make me swallow one of his potions again. Really ? Did the old man have to wake me up for this ?
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"Why can't you see the child behind the criminal, Fredric ? shouted back Arianna. "He may have pursued awful actions, and I'm not saying I'm not feeling hurt about that, but please, just stop and think about what he went through. He lost everything he had. His home, his father. He had no one, and we failed him too. No wonder he lost his way."
"Uh, Your Majesties. I beg your pardon" came the Captain's unsteady voice. He wasn't sure whether he was interrupting the Royal Rulers of the Kingdom, or a married couple having an argument. Both possibilities made him feel very uncomfortable.
"What ?" King and Queen shouted in unison.
Arianna whipped around and Fredric's eyes left her to take a look at the small party that just came in. The Captain and the three guards the King had just sent to arrest Varian had brought in Remyus.
And on the floor, in a cage, a very agitated raccoon was squealing with all its might, going in circles in the cage as it desperately tried to find its way out.
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A moldy smell made Varian's nose wrinkle. A liquid was being poured into his mouth, and the taste was even worse as he swallowed it. No, that was too much, Varian decided. Gotta wake up and let the physician know a thing or two about his home-made concoctions.
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"Captain ?" asked Fredric, confused. "Why did you bring Remyus and this animal here ? You were supposed to bring…"
Arianna did not hear the end of that sentence. All her warmth drained from her body. She was barely aware of the Captain's reply : "Nigel sent us here."
So they all had left Varian's room. All of them, except...
Realization hit her like a punch in her stomach.
"Varian" she breathed out in a terrified whisper.
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Varian's eyelids seemed to weigh a ton, the need for sleep very strong and appealing. But something was not right. The grip behind his head was nowhere close to the gentleness of Remyus' expert hands, nor the Queen's.
Through his half-opened eyelids, Varian couldn't make out the wrinkly face he expected.
His blurry vision barely allowed him to see an elongated face with a thin black moustache and dark eyebrows tied into a frown. A tense, twiggy body was leaning down on him, one hand behind his head as the other tilted a small vial in order to get more of that foul-smelling potion down his throat.
Varian froze, stunned and defenseless on his bed, his right arm still in a sling. His icy blue eyes, wide open now, locked with Nigel's brown ones.
He knew those eyes. He knew they were dangerous, a threat, a menace. He met the man earlier in the hallway, but this time, there was more than that. His whole body started to shake with uncontrollable fear as the lanky figure suddenly seemed to be surrounded by unfriendly, cold, hard rocks.
Rocks as dark as the night and pointy as needles.
A transparent yellow rock that held a large frame encased inside.
Grey bulky rocks – stones rather, hard and cold as ice.
Varian's breathing started to hitch, and he coughed against the liquid at the back of his throat. In a sudden reflex of survival, with all the strength he could muster, the limp boy tensed and spat out part of the horrible thing out of his mouth and right into his aggressor's eye.
Nigel screamed, letting the boy fall back on the bed unceremoniously. His hands dropped the vial as they reached his face and a sound of breaking glass resonated in the chambers. It was followed by a dull thud, as little Elora who just came in dropped the book she was holding under her arm, all strength leaving her body.
