Hi ! No, Arianna hasn't lost her mind, but she's just like the next human, she has her weaknesses. She obviously doesn't manage her emotions so well in the heat of the moment, especially when her loved ones are in danger or distress (remember when she thought for a moment the Fred had ordered the beating at the beginning of the story?)

Sietha, thanks for your interest, and I'm okay with you translating into Russian. It's very nice to know that those characters and this story are loved all over the planet !

Keep sharing your reactions, it's the fuel that keeps me writing too ! XD

CHAPTER 67

Remyus was both exceedingly relieved and seriously concerned when Varian was brought back to his chambers by the Captain. The boy with dishevelled hair was whole, walking by himself (if a little wobbly) and didn't seem injured. He was clutching onto the velvet makeshift blanket around him as if for dear life, his loyal raccoon perched on his shoulders. But he was keeping his gaze down, and his eyes didn't hold the gleam they used to have and that the old man had come to be fond of.

The old physician had met that empty glance many times before, although not here in Corona. In his youth, he had been traveling far and wide to learn everything he could about medicine. In some realms, people were at war, and torture wasn't uncommon to get some information, or just out of revenge. The luckiest ones – those who weren't left to die from their injuries, which was rarely done out of mercy, but because they could be needed later for leverage – were examined and tended to by the local physician. As their apprentice, Remyus saw more than once the hollowness in the toughest men's eyes (when they hadn't been gouged out) after they had been forced to endure pain and terror for hours on end. And that was that hollowness he could see in the frail teenager's eyes right now.

They plainly looked like their owner had lost touch with reality, and that his body was just an empty shell. Even in his darkest times, when he was either desperate beyond words or angry at the whole world, Varian's eyes held that spark that made him who he was. Now… now Remyus wasn't sure that the boy he knew was still there.

"Thank you, Captain", the old man politely said, trying to conceal the concern in his voice. "Varian, come and sit on the bed, I'm going to examine you."

The boy meekly moved over to the familiar bed and, pulling himself up, sat on the edge without a word, his back hunched. Remyus's keen eye understood his body language. The usually reckless boy hadn't become reasonable or obedient overnight, he just didn't care.

The Captain, despite his own exhaustion, stood in the corner patiently to let the physician work. He wondered what was keeping the Queen away. She still hadn't caught up with them, and the boy's pace had been very slow.

It was hard to say if Varian was aware of his surroundings and even of the people next to him, but at least, he didn't falter at Remyus' touch. He let the physician do his job, even opening his mouth wide for a throat check-up or taking his shirt off to let him listen to his heartbeat. Throughout the whole process, he kept a hand on Ruddiger who was cuddling next to him and his gaze remained locked on some imaginary spot between him and the wall. As soon as the examination was over, he bundled himself up with the velvet sleeve again. Not a word passed his lips.

Remyus had remained silent too, a furrowed brow on his face when he felt Varian's warm skin and checked his bloodshot eyes. The teen's pulse was too fast, part of it clearly due to the fever, but the intense stress he endured for the whole night was still wracking his system, not allowing him to relax his tense body.

With a sigh, the old man finally straightened his back and walked to his main room before coming back swiftly with a small vial filled with a thick, white substance. He spoke to Varian directly :

"You have quite a high fever, Varian. It's too early to tell if it's just your body reacting or another disease coming up. You've got to drink lots of water and rest now. You haven't slept at all last night, have you ?"

Varian's frame trembled a bit at the memory and his brain took a few seconds to process that an answer was expected. He shook his head weakly.

"I see. Varian, I want you to drink this first", he explained, showing the vial. "It's white poppy syrup and I'll be honest with you, not the best thing you'll ever taste. But it will bring your fever down, help you relax and make you go to sleep."

When the last words sank in, Varian's breathing suddenly hitched and his eyes widened in fear. His chest constricted and he heaved, scrambling backwards and came to a sitting position on the bed with his legs crossed and his upper body curled up onto himself. His teeth clenched and he shook his head vehemently this time.

"Varian ? What's wrong ?" Remyus frowned in concern, not expecting that surge of desperate energy from his patient.

"He's scared he will be sent back to prison in his sleep, that's what, Remyus", came a feminine voice.

"Your Majesty," the Captain exclaimed. He hadn't heard her come in and felt stupid for letting himself be distracted. He barely concealed his surprise when he saw her watery eyes. Her cheeks were slightly red too, and dark bags stood up against her pale complexion. No doubt she was exhausted, as they all were, and that she wiped a few tears before she joined them.

"Y – Your Majesty, what happened to you ?", the physician stuttered at her sight.

"I know, Remyus, I'll be fine. I just made sure I didn't come across the dressmaker on my way here. The poor fellow couldn't bear the mess I made of his latest creation, could he ?". She tried to keep a light-hearted tone as she walked in, but the rough night and the mixed emotions she went through were starting to take their toll on her.

She laid her eyes on Varian, and noticed that he obviously still wasn't quite back into his own head.

"Varian ?", she spoke softly, sitting on the bed next to him. "You don't have to worry, sweetheart. It's all right, you can sleep now. No one is thinking of sending you back to the dungeon."

"Actually…"

Arianna whipped her head around at the Captain's embarrassed tone, mouth open with disbelief.

"I beg your pardon, Captain ?"

The man cleared his throat uneasily before continuing.

"Your Majesty, in the light of the elements that we have, it would be unwise not to keep the prisoner under lock and key until we know what happened. Remyus has examined him, let him give the boy his medicine, but after that, we have to…"

"Enough !" Arianna yelled, standing up abruptly, and Varian pushed himself further back against the headboard. "He's not going anywhere. Captain, he's not only sick, there has obviously been some… damage done to him. Mental damage. And is this your answer ?"

"Calm down, both of you," Remyus interrupted firmly. "Or go and argue somewhere else. The boy needs peace and quiet as part of the recovery process, especially after what he has been through."

"But I can't leave the prisoner unattended with you, Remyus, your life may be in jeopardy", the Captain argued.

"His. Name. is. Varian !", the Queen spelled out again, infuriated beyond words that the Captain would never call the teen by his name.

Click !

The three adults fell silent and turned their heads in unison at the unexpected clicking sound and their jaw dropped.

Varian had chosen another option.

The boy was kneeling on the floor, from where he had been able to reach under the bed and retrieve the handcuffs forgotten by Phil after the library incident. One cuff already shackled his wrist, and before any of them had time to blink, the kid had already secured the other part to his bed.

"Varian…", Arianna breathed.

Varian's eyes focused for the first time since they found him in his cell as he stood up. He looked at them with a mixture of defiance, determination and fear. No. No one would take him back there.

Then it all happened very fast. Not letting time for the dismayed queen, captain and physician to react, Varian tore his gaze from them to meet Ruddiger's. He held out his hand, showing the raccoon the small key for him to grab in his mouth and patted his backside gently two times. The loyal four-legged friend didn't need words –Varian was still unable to utter any – and jumped off the bed, dodging the boots and hands that tried to stop him on his way out. Varian watched him as the raccoon managed to leave the chambers and disappear into the hallway, quick as lightning.