Quick thanks because it's soooo late ! As you may have noticed, I've named the chapters, I think it's nicer and easier now that the story is getting quite long !

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Chapter 34

When Ethel and Elora came back inside the castle with Varian and Ruddiger cuddling each other on the wheelchair, Remyus was already in his chambers. The old physician was still resting when his patient went outside, and was beside himself, worried sick that the boy may have escaped again.

"Are you trying to be the death of me, Ethel ?", he exclaimed, choosing to argue with his old friend rather than with his patient. "How could you take him for a walk without referring to me first ?"

"Please don't be angry with her, Sir", Varian quickly interfered. "This is all…" The words died on his tongue.

This is all my fault.

"Calm down, old man, he's still in one piece after all". Varian bowed his head as Ethel took over, hiding his eyes underneath his long bangs. His arms hugged Ruddiger tighter.

Unaware of Varian's tense reaction, Remyus sighed and gave Ethel a scowl. He opened his mouth to argue further, but was interrupted by a rumbling noise coming from Varian's stomach.

"Oh, Varian, are you hungry ? " Elora inquired, worry on her face. With Varian sitting in the wheelchair, their eyes were on the same level. The boy forced himself to look at the little girl, blushing.

"Starving", he admitted with an awkward smile, remembering that he threw up the little amount of soup he had taken earlier in the bushes. He had so-to-speak nothing in his system, and he could feel his strength ebbing as the emotional rollercoaster took its toll on him. If anything, the dark bags under his eyes were an obvious evidence.

Remyus, back to his professional physician self, took the wheelchair and pushed it to the back room.

"All right, Varian, let's heat up something to eat for you and I will examine you in the meantime. Elora, why don't you and your Grandmother go and get some fruits for our raccoon friend here ?" (he made sure to emphasize the word "Grandmother" just to tease Ethel a little bit more).

"Sure !" answered Elora, her good mood and her desire to help her friend radiating in her voice. "I'll be right back, Ruddiger ! And keep an eye on Varian for me please !". And with that, she dashed off before Varian had time to protest at her last words. Ethel shrugged at Remyus with a pout and left with the dignity of a Queen.

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Making Ruddiger get off Varian proved harder than Remyus would have ever imagined. It was like the little animal was glued to the boy. No coaxing, no scolding and no luring away with food could convince the raccoon to leave his friend.

As he was desperately trying to get a good look at his patient, Remyus noticed the yellowish stain at the bottom of Varian's sleeve and immediately guessed where it came from.

"Varian, your stomach wasn't able to keep your last meal down, am I right ?"

Embarrassed, Varian's eyes darted around as the boy struggled to make up a fib.

"Varian…." Remyus' calm voice was reassuring, "you are not in trouble. I'm only trying to find out if this was caused by residual poison… or any other reason."

"Um…I… I…" Varian didn't know where to start. He didn't vomit on purpose, he was just too upset when Ruddiger was nowhere to be found. But for some reason, that was hard to admit for him.

"Any more stomach pains ?"

"No"

"Nausea ?"

"Except that one time, no more."

"Are you feeling feeble, dizzy ?"

"Only when I'm standing."

"I think it's safe to say that you beat up the poison, which is a very good thing. But your stomach has been through a lot. We'll try some broth to start accustoming your body to be fed again. Now, let's have you sit on the bed while I'm checking your ribs."

Within moments, Varian was sitting on the edge on the bed, shirtless, Ruddiger snuggling against his legs. The teen was patting his head absentmindedly.

"Are you… are you going to tell the Queen ?" he ventured. About me throwing up, I mean. N- not that I care she would sweat, but, she would… she would sweat, maybe ?"

Remyus pondered Varian's words before saying softly :

"She really cares about you, you know that ? Are you afraid she would be mad at you ?"

"No !" he protested wildly, "no, of course not. It's none of my concern if she worries… but… well, there is no need to make her worry, right ?"

Remyus smiled and didn't comment further on the teenager's conflicted feelings as he was prodding his sides to check how his ribs were healing.

"No, Varian. Of course not."

There was a new sensation to Varian, and it made him almost unaware of the lingering pain in his still tender upper body. He didn't really want to face the Queen – or any member of the royal family – for the reasons everybody knew, but he was also hoping for her figure to appear on the threshold, craving it actually, even if he didn't want to admit it to himself. He shook his head. This didn't make any sense. What do you expect, you fool ? he thought. Haven't you learned anything ?

"Lie down, Varian, please. I'll take care of your legs, now."

"My legs ?" he asked with a frown. Without thinking, he glanced down. His eyes went wide and his face went white as he saw blood seeping from the multiple scratches that the thorns in the bushes inflicted on his lower legs. He hadn't noticed, nor felt them, until now.

Varian had always been squeamish around blood. No matter how many times he would hurt himself whenever an experiment would go astray (which was very often), he could never get used to it. The sudden sight of red lines on his legs caused him to waver and almost pass out. Remyus caught him just in time to lay him down onto the bed, just as Queen Arianna came in.

To say that the Queen was shocked was an understatement. Shocked by Varian's pale face, his eyes circled in dark blue, his skinny and bloody legs, and especially his ribs. Sure, the bruises were healing nicely and were almost gone. But the boy was so scrawny she could have counted each and every rib, and the sight sent pangs to her heart.

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When Elora came back, holding a huge basket full of fruits of all sorts, Remyus was bandaging the boy's legs, while Arianna was stroking his bangs and talking to him gently to keep him awake and encourage him to bear the stinging pain. Varian was still rather pale, but he stayed conscious. He didn't say a word to the Queen though, too weak but also too confused to do so.

Ruddiger couldn't resist anymore and decided to go pick a thing or two from the delicious display of food. Elora set the basket on the floor and watched Ruddiger browsing with delight. Glacing sideways, she noticed there was a book on the floor. She instantly recognized it as the one she brought back then, when Varian was attacked by Nigel. Nobody took the time or cared to put it away.

She picked up the heavy book and started to turn the pages.

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Later on, Varian was sitting in his bed, wearing a new, clean shirt. Remyus was giving him a last spoonful of broth, hoping that the boy would keep it down this time. Arianna was pouring warm milk in two cups and mixing it with some honey as Elora came to her side, tugging at her purple dress to get her attention.

"May I read a story for Varian, Your Majesty ?" she asked hopefully.

Arianna turned around. It didn't take a doctor to assess that said boy absolutely needed to rest after so much crying. But she also knew that his heart needed to heal as much as his body. And that the first thing to do was to make sure he felt safe. Suppported. Surrounded by people who cared for him.

"I think this is a very good idea, Elora. If it's all right with Remyus, and if Varian is up for it", she said as she handed one of the milk and honey drinks to a bewildered Elora (it was not every day that a humble maid was served by the Queen !) and the other one to Varian.

"Well, I am fine with it", advised Remyus, exchanging knowing looks with Arianna, "as long as Varian is lying in his bed".

"Unless you are feeling too tired, of course, Varian", the Queen added.

"Oh no, no, I- I'm fine" he stammered. Honestly, he felt so drained that all he wanted was to close his eyes and let sleep take him, but he also wouldn't allow himself to turn her down again.

The two children sipped the warm milk in silence, until Elora noticed Varian's left hand. The skin of the back of his hand was not soft and smooth like it should have been, but looked cracked and scarred.

"What happened to your hand ?" she asked him with innocent curiosity.

"Oh… That ? I'm don't really remember. Seems I burnt myself by accident when I was little, maybe four or five. It was shortly after my… my Mum was gone, because I remember crying for her and she wasn't there anymore."

"Oh, Varian, I'm sorry…"

"No, no, don't be, that was a long time ago", Varian declared with a not-so-genuine smile when he saw Elora's sad expression on her face. "It's all right now, see ?".

A short distance away, Remyus and Arianna looked at each other, the same realization dawning on them both at the same time.

If Varian burnt himself, he would probably have grabbed something with the palm of his hand, and it would have been that part that would have been burnt, not the back.

Looks like somebody else was responsible for this old injury. But who ? And why ?

Too tired to think about it anymore, Varian rested his head on the pillow. As on cue, Ruddiger swallowed one more bite and climbed on the bed to cuddle against him.

"And now, miss, I am ready for that story of yours", he said, giving her a wink.

Elora sat on the big chair next to Varian's bedhead and starting to read. She was barely reaching the bottom of the second page when Varian was already fast asleep, his features completely relaxed and his whole being more at peace than he had been in a long time.