Hi, all ! Here are a few shout-outs for once :
ASaladofDicklessProportions, ah ah, yes, we could totally use a Hans-extermination Patrol ! You might want so save it for later though...
Car45, you exactly nailed it. Varian needs people to "show the way" : Arianna for the love, Phil for the forgiveness… so hopefully it will all come into place at some point in his mind and heart.
Megan Guess, I'm not sure I understand your question, but if that helps, Varian wasn't in condition to take the antidote willingly and time was running out.
Without further ado...
Chapter 46
Panic can do more to your brain than one could imagine. It can make you freeze on the spot, lose it completely or act much faster than usual.
Phil's mind probably fell in the latter category that day, as the young guard's free hand was able to grasp the bottom of the shaft in the nick of time with a strength that surprised him. Alden felt the sudden weight on his grip and the blade of the halberd tipped up violently, meeting his upper arm. Fighting the natural reaction to let go, Alden secured both hands around the shaft that was swinging according to Varian's dangling frame, tied to Phil by the shackles.
After the initial shock subsided for the three of them, Phil tried to pull up Varian for him to reach the cornice with his free hand, careful to keep enough strength in his other hand so it would not slide down. Without prompting, Varian tried to lift his gloved hand, but he was still to low. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his arm, Alden used his both hands to haul up the shaft, closing the distance between him and his younger colleague. Varian felt with relief that he was lifted up until he was finally able to relieve the guards from his weight. It wasn't much in itself, but it could make the difference between life and death.
After too many agonizing seconds, Alden and Phil clasped their hand on each other's wrist. The older guard braced himself to summon the last of his strength on his good arm to hoist Phil until he could step on the cornice.
The rest happened very quickly : Varian was pulled up and literally thrown back inside. Acting on instinct, the teen turned around to help Alden with Phil. The three of them rolled on the cushions of the window seat and tumbled unceremoniously in a heap on the floor.
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"Your Majesty !"
Arianna turned around to face Stan, waiting for him to speak. Elora stopped as well, letting Ruddiger scurry down the hallway towards the royal library.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Your Highness, but the King has requested your presence."
"Now ?" she inquired, slightly annoyed at the upcoming royal duty she would have to fulfil.
"Indeed. The dressmaker has arrived with your gown for the Moon Festival and is ready for your fitting. Since you and His Majesty the King are leaving tomorrow, he will need all the time he can get, should alterations be needed."
Arianna let out a deep sigh.
"Very well. I'm coming with you," she replied reluctantly.
"But Your Majesty," Elora interjected, "What about Varian ? You wanted to see him."
The Queen knelt down so her eyes were at Elora's level.
"Will you be a gem and tell him for me it's lunchtime soon? I'm afraid I won't be able to join him because of the fitting, but we need to keep his schedule as regular as possible. It is important that he has time to rest and maybe take a map in the early afternoon, especially today."
"What do you mean ? What's happening today ?"
Arianna's lips curled into a mysterious smile.
"Today, he's getting out of his shell. I hope he will at least. And…." Her smile fading, she paused, lost in her thoughts for a minute. "He will need his strength."
Elora searched the Queen's face for an explanation, but before she could ask for details, Arianna rose to her feet.
"Off you go now. It would be rude of me to keep the dressmaker waiting."
She turned on her heels and followed Stan down the hallway, leaving a very confused handmaiden standing there, dozens of questions in her head.
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For a while, ragged breathings were the only sounds that could be heard in the library. Varian, Phil and Alden were in shock and relieved at the same time. They had shared the same uncontrollable fear that everything could be said and done in an instant, and yet there they were, safe and sound.
Well, almost.
Varian was actually quite pale and still trembling from the terror he had felt deep inside. But his mind was also racing, trying to come into terms with the fact he nearly dragged Phil down with him, and that the man could have died because of his foolishness.
"That's it, I'm definitely asking for a raise !". The forced laugh brought Varian out of his thoughts. Phil was trying to joke about the whole thing, but the tension could be heard in his voice. If he had to tell the truth, Phil was actually torn between being casual about it or completely lashing out at Varian for nearly throwing everything away. The chance he was given. The possibility of redemption and maybe a new start. His very life.
"Well, you may be fired before you get the chance,", Alden replied as he got to his feet, leaning on his halberd for support, "because we have a problem here. Your keys are down there, who knows where, and mine won't work on those shackles. What now, genius?"
Phil stood up as well, and Varian did the same when he felt a tug on his shackles, although his legs were wobbly.
"Hey, sorry if I didn't think that far !", Phil shot back. "At least, we're all in one – Alden ! You're bleeding, pal !" the young guard exclaimed as he could see scarlet blood seeping through his friend's sleeve.
Alden looked down at his arm, trying to stay calm. Still, he clutched his injury with his good hand and hissed between gritted teeth.
"I'll be fine. It didn't cut too deeply. I think."
"We have to fix that too and fast ! If the Queen finds out all that happ-"
Phil's words died on his tongue as he felt he was pulled down by the wrist. Looking down, he saw Varian's unconscious form sprawled on the carpet. The boy's left arm was still raised because of the short chain, but the rest of his body was unnaturally limp. He had always been squeamish around blood, and the sight of Alden's wound, especially after that near-death experience, had been too much for him.
Phil sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand.
"I think I know now why Her Majesty has had those bags under her eyes lately. There is no catching a break with this kid."
Angry chittering interrupted their discussion. With a few hops, Ruddiger reached his young friend, sniffing Varian's body to try and identify what was wrong with his boy. Unable to find the cause, he turned to Phil and started scolding the guard in his raccoon language.
"Hey, hey ! Knock it off, furball ! It's not what it looks like, okay ?" Phil defended himself. "I didn't lay a finger on him. He just fainted, I swear."
"If the raccoon is here, Elora can't be far," Alden pointed out. Realization hit Phil and he looked around him frantically, thinking fast.
"Close the window, Alden ! I'll take the kid. I have an idea : Elora's fairytale book is still here. Let's rearrange the cushions, quickly."
The guards had barely finished their setup when Elora entered. Alden was standing by the window, leaning casually on his halberd, his wounded arm away from her view. Phil was sitting comfortably on the window seat, a book on his lap and a seemingly asleep Varian slouched against his side, head resting on his shoulder. He was holding the boy close to him so the shackles and the chain would disappear between them.
"Oh… Wow", Elora exclaimed. "You guys have gotten pretty close. Is… is Varian sleeping already ?". She took a few steps forward and bumped into Ruddiger who, strangely enough, wasn't cuddled next to his boy.
"Oh, yeah, yeah," Phil replied, his voice hushed, "we've been reading the book you picked earlier and then… well I guess the lad was more tired than he was letting on."
"You've been reading that book ?" she asked, her lashes fluttering in disbelief. "You and Varian ?"
Taken aback by Elora's reaction, Phil pursed his lips and cast a glance at Alden. Looking back over the handmaiden, he simply nodded with a sheepish smile.
"Actually, Elora," -this time it was Alden who interfered – "I need you for a special mission. You see, I've leant out of the window and my keys fell. They are attached to a big golden ring. Since I am assigned to Varian's supervision, I can't go and get them myself. Could you please find them for me ?"
Elora automatically looked at Alden's belt, then glanced up at him but said nothing. Did he really think he could fool her when his own keys were hanging from his belt for everyone to see ?
She could feel something was up, but picking up on the urge in Alden's voice, she decided to play along for the time being.
"Just so you know, Her Majesty would like Varian to have his lunch soon. She will come and see him later," she added over her shoulder before leaving.
"Oh, um, all right then.", replied Alden. "Let's all meet up in Remyus' chambers, shall we ? And, Elora…"
"Yes ?"
"Thank you," he added with a smile.
Elora smiled back at them, casting a last glance to Varian's slack form and left.
Phil carefully waited for a little while and then picked up the unconscious boy in his arms, his free arm supporting his upper body. His right hand, the one tied to Varian, found its way under his knees. The boy's face was completely out of sight, hidden by long dark and blue bangs and buried in the guard's chest.
With a concerned look on his features, he stood up and met his colleague's eyes to check he would be able to walk despite his wound. They exchanged a nod and quietly made their way to the physician's place, Ruddiger on their heels.
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How invisible could be golden keys in green bushes, Elora kept asking herself, cursing the time she was wasting. She had checked multiple times she was under the right window and was looking everywhere, lifting branches and leaves and getting scratches on her hands in the process.
"Looking for something ?"
There was a sneer in that voice that sent a shiver up the girl's spine. Whipping around, she met green, squinting eyes and recognized Hans, who was holding up said ring of keys in his gloved hand.
She had heard of his attitude toward Varian and didn't like it, just the way she didn't like the peculiar quirk on his face right now.
But he was the one holding the precious keys.
"Oh, Monsieur Hans. Thank you very much for finding them," she went to grab them as she forced herself to be polite.
But the keys suddenly shot up out of her reach.
"Ah, ah, I'm not sure I should give them to you. They are the property of the Royal Guards, therefore I guess I should hand them over to the Captain." Hans was enjoying himself, rubbing his chin in mocked reflection. "Or… mmh… to the Queen, perhaps ?"
"I was sent by one of the Royal Guards, so you can trust me. I will make sure the owner gets them back." She did her best to stand her ground, small as she felt next to the sly, tall man.
"Oh I'm sure you will, but will you tell them how it came that they landed in the bushes ? That's not very responsible of a Royal Guard, don't you think ? I'm sure they will be curious to hear how it happened."
Elora didn't know what to say. She suspected that Alden's story was a fib, but she had no idea what happened exactly. But she couldn't draw Hans' attention on that fact. She had to get the keys.
"I though you were assigned to the stables now," she pointed out. "You probably have a job to do. Besides, you have so much mud on your boots, I'm sure the Queen will appreciate if you don't spoil the nice carpets inside the castle."
Hans' smug look turned into a frown.
"I, on the other hand," she continued, her confidence kicking back, "work inside the castle walls. I will take that, thank you very much."
Hans gritted his teeth and laid the keys in her open hand. He didn't say a word, and Elora didn't wait up for a reply anyway. She turned her heels and ran back to the castle, more determined than ever to have a talk with Phil and Alden.
