I hope you'll like this chapter as much as I loved writing it ! *rubs hands with a satisfactory smile* And thank you all for your messages ! you guys are amazing !

CHAPTER 93

Phil arrived just in time to meet Varian as he walked up the hall, pushing the Queen on the wheelchair in front of him, Alden in tow. He could tell that the boy obviously had a breakdown earlier, seeing how his pale face contrasted with his unfocused eyes and the dark bags under them. Remorse hit him even harder, making its way up his spine like a cold draught. Varian didn't seem to acknowledge his presence until Arianna did.

"Phil, I'm glad to see you back. Will you please follow us to the garden ?", she asked politely.

Phil gave the expected, academic answer, "Yes, Your Majesty, of course". With all his heart, he wanted to ask Varian how he was but couldn't bring himself to do it. Said boy just kept walking, unfazed by the conversation in front of him. Behind them, Alden nudged Phil to follow up with a tilt of his head.

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Going outside to find Ruddiger was the perfect excuse for the Queen to get Varian enjoy some fresh air. She really hoped it would help him clear his head. And if she were to be honest, she could use some time with trees and sunlight too. They both had been sick for several days after all, and they really needed the change of scene.

The wheelchair wouldn't do well on the grass though, and Arianna had to be content with staying on the pathway by the fountain. She had always liked the soothing sound of water tumbling down. Varian was already scanning the garden, hoping to spot his four-legged friend. There was no wind and not a sound could be heard, except for a few birds singing a tune of their own.

"Gon on," Arianna encouraged him. "Go find him."

Varian looked over his shoulder and his lips stretched into what was somewhat a smile. It was a tired and timid one, but a smile nonetheless. Without a word (nor a glance to Alden and Phil, to the latter's dismay), he broke into a run towards the bushes and the walnut trees which he knew Ruddiger was particularly fond of. The two guards started to go after him.

"Leave him", the Queen ordered in a gentle, yet firm voice. "Let him go by himself, please", she added less urgently once they froze, confused. "We can keep an eye on him from here and he needs to realize he can walk around without someone on his heels all the time and still be safe."

She said that with her queen-like, confident voice, but her concerned gaze was locked on the boy. Varian had been uncharacteristically quiet since he stopped crying, and from the outside, it was easy to assume that he had recovered from the stress and anxiety. Arianna wasn't a pessimistic person by nature, but she had the unyielding feeling that it might only be a facade, a way for Varian to put some distance between him and the trauma. She hoped she was wrong and kept her eyes open in case something backfired.

A few moments passed, and Varian subconsciously let the scents of nature fill him. The raccoon was nowhere to be found though. Varian knew him well, and suspected that he was still after the squirrel, probably hiding somewhere until the rodent left its hideout. With a sigh of defeat, he looked around him. The castle garden was entirely fenced either by a high wall or the castle itself. Varian had never been fooled by its beauty and to him, the place had always been just another part of the prison he was kept in, nice as it was (admittedly much better than a dark and cold cell, but a prison nonetheless). But this time, it gave him a sensation of safety he was grateful for.

Without a warning, it hit him : there was no one beside him, he was by himself around bushes where anyone could hide the way Ruddiger would. Unbidden, a thin layer of sweat coated his temples and he started to hyperventilate. He couldn't think straight, he couldn't register anything else as his wrecked brain was solely focused of the jeopardy he was in. Shaking, he dashed toward the Queen, his legs never slowing down.

When he arrived by the fountain, though, he stopped dead in his tracks. Phil and Alden were standing to a respectful distance from the Queen. She had a very serious expression etched on her face, and for some reason, the sight made Varian feel a cold chill in the pit of his stomach. That, or the silhouette near her, which he recognized instantly, even though he was facing away from him : the King.

"Wh- what's going on ?", he stammered, catching their attention. The royal couple turned to him in perfect unison, but none of them smiled to him. Arianna worked the wheels of her chair to face him.

"Varian…"

"Hold on, my Dear", the King stepped in front of her. "I should be the one to tell him."

"Tell me what ?" Varian pressed, unable to bear the excruciating stress of anticipation.

Frederic took a deep breath and did his best to speak with a calm, deep voice. He and Varian had never seen eye to eye, but the man was more than willing to try and soften the blow that was to come.

"The Captain has just reported to me that they have searched everywhere, like I requested, but Hans seems to have simply vanished. Therefore, the man hunt is officially over."

Whatever words the King said next, Varian didn't hear them. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, his vision blurred and his hands clenched into fists. His steel-blue eyes were lost in some empty space in front of him while under his feet, the ground itself was no longer as sturdy as it should have been. He shook his head repeatedly while his mouth formed silent no's.

"Varian…" Arianna reached out to him, "You'll be okay, you're safe here…"

But the boy kept shaking his head, tears springing to his eyes as he refused to look at either of them.

"No…. no…. it can't…. I can't…" The arm he recently scratched so badly was suddenly burning, this time as if demanding attention, and for a split second, Varian was very tempted to give in, as the turmoil of his emotions was unbearable. But another, stronger instinct took over. His expression changed into one of sheer determination. He was scared beyond words, but he couldn't just roll over and die. "I'm outta here!", he mumbled, more to himself than to the small crowd around him.

Like they belonged to somebody else, his legs started moving and he bolted towards the back door of the castle in long, hurried strides.

"Varian !", Arianna called out again, abruptly standing up… and falling down as the wheelchair didn't cooperate and made her lose her balance. She landed painfully on her hands and knees, panic seizing her when she realized she was in no condition to go after him.

Further down the path, Phil and Alden who had witnessed the scene ran over to Varian to stop him. They knew the boy well enough to know that he was sliding out of control, again. Not that they blamed him, though.

Yet the King was faster than them.

Varian didn't register at once what was happening, as he felt himself being swiftly swept from the ground. He felt lightheaded for an instant, before realizing that his skinny frame was pinned against a large torso, locked in place by two strong arms.

Under any other circumstances, Varian would have relished the physical contact that somehow reminded him of his father. Although, as far as he could remember, he had never been held that close to him… nor as firmly. No, instead of that, his brain, still in "flight" mode, raised the alarm.

"NO !" the teen roared as he thrashed and tried to wriggle his way out, "DON'T TOUCH ME ! LET ME GO !"

"Stop it, Varian – Hargh ! Enough already !" the voice of the King boomed in his ears.

This only made Varian fight harder. He was no match to a fully grown man, but his erratic and frantic movements were more powerful than anyone would have given him credit for. Moreover, there was no reasoning him. Even if he wasn't screaming at the top of his lungs, Varian's mind was too busy panicking to listen to anything or anyone.

Frederic tightened his grip, determined not to let Varian a chance to escape, but he had never faced a situation like this before. Usually, people simply bowed and said "Yes, Your Majesty", and he certainly didn't have to hold them against their will. This child was yelling and kicking in his arms, and Frederic wasn't sure he could keep on for much longer. It was even hard to think of the best way to handle the boy in his state.

In an attempt to find a solution, any solution, a miracle, even, Frederic looked around. And an idea came. Securing Varian as much as possible in his arms, he strode over to the corner of the castle. Without slowing his pace, his large hands grabbed the wild teen and unceremoniously sent the flailing, yelping form flying in the air, and into the fountain.