For those who were wondering what the potion would do to Varian, well, check it out !

I have done some research about poisons beforehand and have found one that has been used since the middle ages, many of its symptoms identical to those that I had in mind. Strange how reality sometimes connects with fiction !

Warning : that's another tension-filled chapter…

Reviews : thank you for your enthusiasm, both on fanfiction and tumblr ! and sorry, not sorry, but I may have a few more cliffhangers to spare… :)

Chapter 24

Still healing ribs and arm sent jolts of pain as Varian painfully rolled on his side and doubled over, overwhelmed by an agonizing coughing fit. He coughed and dry-heaved repeatedly, his body out of control as it tried to fight the poison.

A shocked Nigel stumbled backwards, his shoes breaking the shattered glass further with a screeching sound. He had no way to be sure the boy had ingested enough of the liquid in the vial before it was broken. When Fredric had announced his intention to tell the truth to the boy before sending him back to his cell, Nigel had started to panic. That could have been the trigger that would bring his memories back, and the lanky man couldn't let that happen. He had been sweating under his crimson coat all the way as he walked along with the guards to Remyus' chambers. And trying hard to figure out a plan.

Only when he reached the physician's main room and saw the many bottles and vials stored on shelves did he get an idea. What it a good one ? Nigel's racing mind couldn't include that question in the bigger picture. Having the kid cared for by the Queen for three days had been excruciating enough for the royal advisor, and he had barely slept for fear of being found out. All that he knew was that he had to prevent the interview between the King and the teen.

Even if it came down to murder.

So after the Queen left, he persuaded the Captain of the Guard that it would make more sense to take Remyus to the King so the physician could give his opinion about the boy's physical and mental state. He also suggested that they should take the raccoon away while the kid was still asleep. That clever move bought Nigel enough time to find the deadliest poison in Remyus' stock so he could silence the young criminal forever.

But now, the vial was shattered. Someone would probably come because of the noise of broken glass. Overcome by panic, Nigel didn't notice the trembling little girl who was already standing there. Eyes wide, she was petrified as the sound of Varian's labored breathing and coughing filled her ears.

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"What is the meaning of this ?" roared the King. His face showed anger and severity, but inside he was truly afraid. Afraid that things were going astray, afraid that something terrible happened, but he couldn't bring himself to believe it.

"Varian", the Queen repeated, louder this time, anxiety clear in her voice. Gazing into the void like a ghost, she started to lean forward and took a couple of unsure steps before breaking into a run.

The Captain went immediately after her, followed by his small squad, Remyus and the King. The guard next to the cage couldn't ignore the raccoon's cries and frantic attempts at getting out any more, and unlocked it to let the animal go. Ruddiger dashed out of the room, much faster than anybody would have expected from the chubby raccoon. He quickly overtook all those two-legged humans.

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Nigel watched as the teen struggled to catch his breath, half-kneeling, half-lying, his back turned towards him. No clear thinking went through the advisor's brain. He just knew he had no choice but finish the job.

He reached out and tightened his hands around the boy's throat from behind.

Varian agonized as no more air could enter his already burning lungs. He couldn't make a sound any more, and his vision was getting dark.

Unexpectedly, it was the sudden silence that snapped Elora out of her daze. The sounds that terrified her were gone, and her eyes took over. Varian, her friend Varian, was being strangled to death right in front of her.

She didn't think twice and ran to pull the aggressor away. Nigel, although slim, was a full-grown man with adrenaline rushing through his veins, and she was just a little girl whose arms and legs still felt like noodles after the shock she just experienced. She screamed and cried and begged the man to let go, pulling his arm with all her might, tears streaming down her face. When it became too much, Nigel released one of his hands to jolt the girl back with one arm, sending her sprawling on the floor. And with unshakable persistence, resumed his position and made his steel grip on Varian even stronger.

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Ruddiger never slowed down and soon made it to his friend. His instincts kicking in, the small animal immediately jumped on the felon, biting him sharply in the shoulder. At last, with a cry of pain, Nigel let go of Varian.

The teen gave out a raw gasp as he sucked air into his lungs again. It was both painful and a blessing. The rapid breathings that followed were excruciating, but his wildly beating heart was screaming for oxygen.

Arianna rushed to his side in alarm, protecting him with her body from Nigel.

"You..." she snarled. "Get away from him !" Not knowing what to do exactly, she instinctively put one hand on Varian's shoulder, the other on his back, rubbing circles gently and coaxing him to calm down with a voice she could hardly keep steady. Varian took a couple of painful breaths, but then his whole frame tensed and he swatted her with his good arm to make her let go of his shoulder.

"NO ! NO ! Don't touch me ! Leave me alone !" he screamed between pants, his voice hoarse and raw. As he whipped around, she could see that his lips were turning blue, his eyes bulging, dark bags contrasting with his sudden pallor. The boy tried to move away from the Queen, only to fall off his bed.

Arianna backed up in shock. What was she supposed to do ?

The guards and the King arrived in tow, but it was Fredric who reacted first.

"Guards ! Seize Nigel ! And get the little girl out of here, now !"

The Captain and two guards pinned Nigel's arms behind his back, locked the shackles that were meant for Varian earlier and took him away. Nigel tried to squirm his way out, but soon he had to give in, a scowl never leaving his face. The last guard picked up Elora and took her out of the room, ignoring her protests and her tears.

"No ! Let me go ! Varian ! No, no, please, wait ! Varian !"

Old Remyus came last, out of breath and looking for Varian, still helpless on the floor on the far side of the bed. He saw his patient's face and then looked down at his feet, his eyes searching for something in particular among the broken shards.

He saw it. The piece of broken glass that still had the label on it. Remyus read it and his heart skipped a beat.

"Devil's Helmet… " he whispered.

"What ?" asked the King.

"It's the Queen of Poisons, Sire. It's made out of aconite roots, and it has many healing purposes when used in very small doses or in ointment. But if used otherwise…. It's a violent poison that could kill the kid within the hour."

Fredric remained silent as the words sank in. He looked at Arianna who was still standing there, frozen, and at Varian who was desperately trying to keep the biggest distance between him and everyone else, backing up against the wall and looking more like a frightened rabbit than the cold-blooded criminal the King remembered. Screeching loudly on the bed, Varian's raccoon was trying to get his friend's attention, but to no avail.

"Is there anything we can do, Remyus ?" he inquired.

"There might be a chance, but we don't have much time. Get the boy to lie down. It will prevent the poison from spreading too fast in his system. And pour some of the hot water that is in the hearth into that bowl. I'll be back." And with that, he hurried off towards his main room.

Get the boy to lie down ? Easier said than done. The teen was in shock, and didn't seem likely to listen. Fredric turned to the one who could handle the boy best in his opinion.

"Arianna !" Fredric called, urge clear in his voice. "Can you…". He trailed off. His wife was just standing there, wide-eyes, and not making a single move apart from her trembling.

"Arianna !" he called again, facing her and and holding her arms, forcing her to make eye contact. "Arianna, listen ! Did you hear Remyus ? We have to do something ! Do you think you can manage with the boy ?"

"… He's dying… he's dying…" was all the Queen could say.

"Darling…" Fredric tried to keep his voice gentle, but he was also panicking inside. "You have to do this. Do you remember when you told me that he needed you ? Well, you were right, he does need you, and he needs you right now more than ever. Now, you are going to go next to him, talk to him and get him back on the bed, all right ?"

Arianna finally met her husband's eyes, her mind slowly processing his words.

"Fredric… I… I can't lose him too" she stammered with a desperate look in her eyes.

"Arianna, we will do as Remyus says and try everything in our power to save him. We are going to make it, Arianna. Together."

Arianna nodded and went closer to the teen. Putting down his coat and his crown quickly, Fredric went to the fireplace for the water, his gaze never leaving his wife.

"Varian ?" she ventured in a soft voice, "Varian, honey, I know you are scared. We are not going to hurt you. Varian, please. You need to lie down."

"Don't you dare touch me" the boy snapped, anger flashing in his eyes through his shaggy raven hair.

The sight sent a shiver down Arianna's spine. She know that look, those furrowed eyebrows and those menacing bared teeth. She had seen all of them in the boy who was ready to take revenge on Corona and the royal family a few days ago.

Deep inside, Varian was feeling overwhelmed by a gigantic wave of emotion. When he saw Nigel bending over him, it was like hundreds of images were forced into his head, and he couldn't process them all. Worst of all, with these pictures came uncomfortable feelings. Sorrow. Betrayal. Loneliness. Anger. Bitterness. Hate.

Some pictures were bigger than the others, blurry but they were there. Those rocks again. Spiky black rocks sprouting up from the ground. The dull grey bricks of a prison cell. And yellow amber, tall as a mountain, and inside, he swore he saw…

"Varian, I'm sorry" came Arianna's voice again. "This should never have happened. Please listen –"

"No, no, you listen, Your Majesty", and his tone sounded forlorn and hurt. "You said you would answer my questions, am I right ? Then tell me, tell me now, is my father encased in amber as we speak ?" he cried, his voice breaking, ignoring the burning sensation in his mouth due to the poison starting to take effect.

Arianna gasped, all words dying in her throat. She honestly thought that the boy was in shock after being assaulted. But now she knew the true reason why he wouldn't let her near.

He remembered.

Fredric understood at once too, but he knew they were running out of time, and the boy's life was more important than his bitterness… and more important than his own resentment for having his royal pride hurt by a fourteen-year-old back in the lab.

"Varian ! Listen, lad. You just have been poisoned. How much did you drink ?" he stepped in.

Varian shifted his gaze to meet the King's eyes defiantly, but he kept his mouth shut, lips tight and eyebrows frowned. He tried his best to look steady and determined, even though he started to experience a tingling sensation of ants crawling all over his body, while his mouth and tongue were now getting numb.

Just then, Remyus came back with a bottle containing some powder in one hand, and a funnel in the other. He couldn't help but overhear their argument. So he locked the door behind him, making sure that the boy wouldn't get a chance to escape. When he was close to King Fredric, he whispered :

"Sire, there is no time to reason with him if we want to save his life. I'll mix this powdered mustard with hot water. I need you to get him on the bed now, by force if necessary."

Fredric nodded and decided to rely on the element of surprise to catch the weak boy.

"Follow my lead, Arianna", he simply said in his wife's ear as he passed by her. Then, to Varian's horror, he lunged forward, cornering the boy between the wall and the bed and seized him gently but firmly by the waist between his large, strong arms, pinning his good arm on his side. Varian thrashed and kicked and yelled, but Fredric stood his ground and settled him down on the bed.

"Fredric, what are you doing ?" Arianna blurted in outrage.

"Your Majesty, he is doing the right thing", interfered Remyus as he finished stirring the strange mixture. "Now look, this is an emetic that will make him vomit, and hopefully bring most of the poison out of his body ", he explained. "He has to take it, no matter what. That's why you will have to pinch his nose as soon as this is in place", he added, lifting up the funnel for the Queen to see.

Arianna's eyes went wide in realization of what was coming next.