For some reason, this chapter took me ages to get done, but I really enjoyed writing it, the situation is pretty intense now. I'll let you see for yourself !
Thanks to all, new and "older" readers, who are kind enough to let me know how you enjoy the adventure on your end. Sorry I won't do callouts this time (but all your messages are in my heart), I want you to get this chapter asap !
And there it is.
CHAPTER 66
Phil awoke to the sound of heels coming his way, and he picked himself up from the floor as quickly as possible. His back and neck were aching, due to his half-lying, half-sitting position of his body since he fell asleep against the bars. The sun had begun to rise, and he squinted his eyes to try and discern Varian's form in the cell opposite of his. But before his vision could adjust to the contrast between the dark cell and the beams of light that were wanly shining through the window, three figures stopped in front of Varian's cell.
Phil was barely able to recognize the Queen. Only the rustling and the shimmering of her attire still showed that the person with their back to him was highly ranked, but hair and fabric looked like their owner was either a beggar or had fought with a bear on their way. Behind her, the Captain was standing with his shoulders slightly hunched with fatigue. Last came Hans, who ignored Phil just as much as the other two. On the stone floor, Ruddiger was zigzagging, dodging their feet to get as close as his human friend as possible (as much as the metal gate allowed him).
A gasp of horror escaped Arianna's lips and Phil's relief to see her here was already over. Although he couldn't see Varian right now, he knew it was a pitiful sight.
When Hans mentioned he had to restrain Varian, Arianna expected to find him with his hands shackled in front of him, but at least he would be sitting, resting or sleeping on the cot. Instead of that, the skinny boy was on his knees, unmoving against the wall, arms spread wide and head down. His mop of hair was overall messy, hanging in thin clusters around his face, some locks oddly stuck against his cheeks. On the top of his head, the lenses of his goggles were glistening in the growing light, a huge contrast with everything else in the cell.
Her hands shaking even more than before, Arianna fumbled with the lock as she tried to steady her nerves. She shook and twisted and turned the key in the hole frantically, finally managing to open the metal gate. Despite all the rattle, the teen didn't make a single move. In fact, nothing showed he had registered their presence. Even the raccoon felt something was off, and came in slowly, his ears pinned back with worry.
"Varian…", she uttered under her breath as she darted towards the broken form.
No response.
"Varian ? Varian, it's me, Arianna. Look at me, Varian, what happened ?"
She knelt down.
"Varian, I'm so sorry. You have every right to be mad, but please, for your own sake, talk to me."
She ducked her head to try and meet his eyes from underneath his bangs. For all she knew, he might as well be asleep, but she kept talking anyway.
"We're going to set this right, Varian. I just need you to…"
She trailed off. It seemed that her blood had frozen in her veins when she saw Varian's face in the dim light of dawn.
His mouth was slightly open, and she could hear him breathe in and out with difficulty and much faster than he normally would.
His face was ghostly pale, save for his upper cheeks that held a bright pink colour.
And his eyes… far from being closed, which at least proved he was awake and conscious, were wide open, bulging almost. Reddened by sleep deprivation, underlined by dark bags, they were just glazing over, as if the body they were attached to was empty.
Arianna shuddered, shocked beyond words by the dull expression on his young face. Tentatively, she reached out to him with one hand, gently cupping his cheek.
"Varian ? Honey ? Can you hear m-"
She flinched when her hand made contact with his skin. He was burning up.
She didn't have time to dwell on it though, as Varian unexpectedly reacted to her touch. The boy jolted and gave a raw scream, arching his back violently and digging his knees in the floor. The back of his head collided with the wall and he clenched his teeth in pain, eyes squeezed shut. Arianna was taken aback for a couple of seconds, mentally scolding herself for scaring him. Varian was definitely not himself.
"Shhh, Varian, it's all right, no one's gonna hurt you", Arianna spoke softly, as if she was talking to a very young child who had a nightmare. Her voice was shaking a bit, and she could barely conceal the nameless fear she was feeling right now, the fear that he had lost his mind overnight, that she had lost him completely. She turned around to the men behind her and asked in a low voice :
"Captain ? Unlock his cuffs, please. He's sick and should be taken to Remyus right away."
The Captain nodded and stepped forward as gently as he could.
"No sudden moves and don't touch him directly", the Queen advised, her eyes locked on Varian.
In the doorway, Hans narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Fine. Let them free the brat for now.
The iron key was inserted into the cuffs' lock, releasing one arm after the other. The alchemist's frame faltered and collapsed, a flash of pain across his features as he brought his sore arms in front of himself with a hiss. Arianna stretched out her arms and slightly moved her upper body forward to show she was there to welcome him in her embrace and comfort him. This time she would let him be the one to decide for physical contact.
But Varian decided otherwise.
Arianna had expected him to break down, fling himself into her arms and let his tears fall.
She hadn't expected him to scramble backwards, press his back to the wall when he hit the corner behind the cot, feet still scrabbling for grip on the uneven floor to get away from them as far as possible. The dullness in his eyes was now replaced by a harsh, unreadable expression on his face, and Arianna gulped for air. Every inch of her body wanted to go to him, but she fought back the urge.
"Obviously, he's not going to cooperate."
Hans' voice tore the thick air like a sword. He moved his hand to his belt and retrieved the device he had gotten from the armoury earlier.
"I knew these would come in handy. There you go, Captain. It's your job after all", he said casually, as if he was passing the salt during lunchtime.
Arianna twisted her neck to look. Between him and the Captain, two handcuffs were dangling under long chains that were connected to another, larger circular piece of iron which Hans was still holding in his hand. Her eyes went wide. A collar.
Was the Captain about to grab it and use it on Varian ? She didn't wait to find out. She rose to her feet, turning around at the same time and lunged at Hans with a grunt and so much strength and rage that she forced him back until he bumped into the bars next to the gate. The chains in Hans' hand rattled angrily.
"What is wrong with you ?", she growled, not understanding herself how she wasn't yelling with fury right now. Maybe a small, reasonable part of her brain didn't want to scare Varian any further. Whatever the reason, her voice was even more menacing that way. "How can you think I would ever allow this ?"
Briefly dumbfounded by his Queen's reaction, the Captain decided it was time to calm things down.
"Guard, I believe you are currently assigned to the stables. Back to work. I will have a discussion with you later today." He spoke quietly yet firmly to make sure he would be obeyed by Hans, but he couldn't do the same for the Queen. When she didn't move an inch, expect for her flaring nostrils that betrayed how much it cost her to control herself, he laid his gloved hand on her arm, pushing it down gently.
"Your Majesty ?" he said with a softer tone. "The kid needs to be examined. You can let go now."
Arianna's eyes darted for a bit until they focused again. She slid her hands off Hans' suit of armour and she took a step backward. She cast one last glare at the man before turning back to Varian. Hans steadied himself, saluted the Captain and left without a word.
Arianna barely heard Hans' footsteps fading away. Varian was huddled up against the wall, shaking uncontrollably and pressing his hands over his ears. No wonder.
Guilt and sadness on her face, the Queen lifted her right hand and grabbed firmly the top of her left floor-length sleeve. It was the one that had been the least damaged by the branches in the woods.
*riiiiip*
The Captain froze as he watched her tear her dress. Not that the beautiful gown wasn't ruined already, but still…
Arianna walked to Varian's trembling frame gently, knelt and spread that makeshift blanket around his shoulders. Remembering how being bundled up had calmed the boy before, she held it around him until he crossed his arms over his chest and grabbed each end in his own hands, letting the weight of his arms tighten lightly the fabric around him. His breathing slowed down and his eyes softened a little, the feeling of containment grounding him back to reality.
Ruddiger came closer, slowly, shyly. He crooned, as if asking for permission to go to him. When he was within Varian's reach, he held out his front paw and laid it on the boy's leg and crooned again.
Varian gave a start, though not as violent as before and looked at the raccoon with hazy eyes. Inch by inch, he lowered one hand to pet him, studying the furry animal as if seeing him for the first time. Then, silently, he encouraged Ruddiger to curl up on his lap by pulling him closer. He let out a shaggy exhale as he hugged the raccoon, a wave of reassuring memories washing over his body and mind.
"Come on, Varian", Arianna spoke softly. "Let's go to Remyus now. Can you walk ?"
Varian didn't nod but started to get to his feet. He felt dizzy and faint, but he didn't reach out for support. Ruddiger climbed on his shoulders, his favorite spot, to allow the boy to hang on to the wall as he clumsily stood up.
The Captain cleared his throat, torn between feeling sorry for him and his duty. He also still felt resentment towards Varian for nearly killing his daughter, and as weak and defeated he looked right now, the older man couldn't just dismiss the feeling altogether. So he chose to keep the captain-of-the-guards mask on, and lead the teenage boy towards the staircase.
Arianna was the last one to leave the damp cell.
"Captain ?"
Said man and the Queen looked over to at last see Phil in the cell across the corridor. Varian, once again, didn't move and kept his eyes cast down, his hands still clutched onto the velvet sleeve wrapped around his upper half.
"What are you doing in there ?", the Captain inquired.
"Hans", Phil replied dryly. "We had a… divergence of opinions."
"Looks like a lot of things happened while we were gone", the Captain stated as he fumbled his keys, looking for his master key.
Arianna remained silent as the gate was opened, but spoke up when Phil stepped out.
"Actually, Captain, could you take Varian upstairs ? I will join you in a minute. I would like a word with Phil first."
The Captain bowed and motioned the boy to follow him. Varian's eyes were still hollow, as if he wasn't really there. He started walking like he was one of his automatons.
"Your Majes-", Phil started only to be cut off by both scolding eyes and harsh voice.
"When were you going to tell me about what happened in the library ?"
Phil opened his mouth, closed it again, struggled to find his words. He just spent the night in a cell because he tried to stand up for Varian and stop Hans' madness, he wasn't sure why he had to account for that matter right now.
"Apparently, Varian almost killed himself that day. What do you have to say for yourself ?" she demanded.
Phil looked away. Guilt and fear were overwhelming him. After a moment of silence, the Queen spoke again.
"Go home. You are dismissed until further notice."
Her lower lip was trembling, so she made it short. She turned on her heels, leaving the young guard shocked, on the verge of tears and heartbroken.
