Well, well... I never intended to be away for so long, I'm not even sure any readers will still be around XD XD. I spent time at my parents' house during the holidays, but there was a lot to be done in their house and I needed to use all the time I could get. And also, that trial is definitely a challenge for me. The situation with Varian is actually so complex when you dive into it! You didn't make this easy TTS!

Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy my take on the trial! Leave me a little comment to let me know! :)

CHAPTER 102

The King, the Queen, the guards, the crowd – even Nigel, still standing in the tiny rostrum – were utterly quiet as Varian's dam broke. For several long minutes, the only sounds that could be heard in the huge court room, with its ridiculously high ceiling, were the boy's incontrollable sobs. In the audience, a few people here and there were sniffling or had taken out their handkerchiefs. Ethel was one of them. Remyus' eyes were bright with tears, and Elora was weeping silently. Next to Varian, Alden was desperately trying to keep his composure and hold his position as a guard, but he knew he had to keep an eye on Phil. The young man next to him was not even trying to hide the tears on his face, clearly torn between his duty and his heart, and, to tell the truth, he was boiling inside.

Two seconds before Phil went into "screw this whole court thing" mode and run to Varian, a voice arose, and words cut through the sobs and the muffled cries. The tone was both soft and firm, and there was no mistake that it wanted to comfort as much as it demanded an answer.

"Why are you saying you don't deserve compassion or forgiveness?"

That was unmistakably the Queen.'s voice. Varian's sobs came to an abrupt halt as he gasped sharply. His whole body went stiff and refused to let another breath in or out for a moment. His reddened eyes darted wildly from one side to another, and he looked completely lost. How could he explain what was so blatantly obvious to him, especially after listing his crimes out loud?

He had to force himself to lift his gaze and meet Arianna's eyes. Suddenly, he felt as intimidated as if he was meeting the Queen for the first time. Only a look of genuine concern over her features silently coaxed Varian to stutter an answer.

"B-but… I-I'm… I mean…. It only m-makes sense…you know that's not all…" If only he could take one of his potions, turn himself into a mouse and disappear into a small hole. "I…" It felt like his heart was being torn in two in his chest, words hurting more than any blade could. "I may have killed my own father. I…" Varian bent his head, its weight too heavy for his frail shoulders. "I… I messed up big time… ", he added, curling up onto himself, his voice cracking. "Oh, how I wish this never happened…"

"Oh, Varian…"

Arianna leaned forward, steeling herself to stand up despite her weakened state.

"…And yet…."

Arianna froze, caught by surprise as she didn't expect Varian to carry on. His head was still bowed and she couldn't see his eyes.

"Arianna… Your Highness…. you… you came for me... And you supported me, comforted me… and cared for me even though I fought you and everyone else with everything I had at first. I was seeing everyone as my enemy. I had convinced myself for so long that only my anger would take me to the end of the tunnel."

Slowly, Varian's hunched shoulders squared back, his back straightened and, in one soft, smooth movement, his head was held high.

"You were able to see past my hatred and my need for revenge. With you, I was able to let the walls around my heart come down. And it has been so hard, because, behind them, I had to see my anger for what it really was. It was fear, indescribable fear, and immense pain. I couldn't have faced it without you, because you proved me over and over that you would be there no matter what. You fought my hatred with your love and showed me another way."

A that point, Varian couldn't help but think of his fate, his "future", if he could call it like that. Sentenced to death or to life imprisonment, that was still unsure. He had lost everything he had and had given up all hope for better days, but there was one thing he could treasure in his heart, no matter how much time he had left or the conditions he would have to endure if he lived. His lips pulled into a sad smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"For all you gave me, you and…" Tears tracks still on his cheeks, Varian started to spin on his heels, as he enumerated the names that were dear to his heart, "Remyus… Ethel…Elora… Alden…. Phil… you gave me your love and care too. And for that… I will be forever grateful."

Arianna's eyes were wet with tears. At that moment, Varian, as exhausted and frail as he looked, was the most beautiful sight in the world. He was now able to open up and fully accept other people's help and love. She knew that deep down, he was still having a hard time to accept himself, and not to hate himself. But there he was, standing tall and ready to take responsibility for his actions, for better or worse, with honesty and courage. And he did it without anger, without resentment or bitterness. Her Varian had definitely grown up and matured, and she couldn't be prouder.

Without a word, Phil walked over to stand close to Varian. He was clearly shaken, and didn't trust himself to speak, so he showed his respect with one nod that was more eloquent than any speech. Their eyes locked, and fresh tears sprang from the teen's eyes. Alden followed suit and came to stand next to Phil.

Elora wiggled her way out of the audience, dragging her grandmother Ethel behind her. Remyus chuckled at the sight and came to stand around Varian with the others.

Arianna finally rose and carefully went down the couple of steps, closing the symbolical distance between the Royals and Varian.

It was only then that the boy realized he was standing in the middle of the huge Sun painted on the floor, and that, apart from Nigel behind him, he was surrounded by the friends he had made here in the castle, each of them standing on one of the Sun's beams. Six friends, of all ages and status, all of them very different and yet caring souls. Six of them on the seven-ray Sun…

Varian directed his glassy eyes beyond the empty, last ray. It was like he was outside of his body, and he was watching the trial of a raven-haired boy. And across that boy, a large, bearded man was sitting on his throne, his face stern and unreadable.

The King closed his eyes and was very still for long moments, leaving Varian in agony. Eventually, he stood up and cleared his throat, in his signature king-like demeanor.

"We were initially supposed to judge Nigel, but now we are here… we have a certain number of issues to address with you, Varian Quirinson, so let's get it over with."

Varian shrank. The King's words and tone did nothing to ease his apprehension.

"I remember a time when you chose anger indeed. It is hard for me to forget the day you took my wife and endangered the Princess' life. You put the whole kingdom in danger, and I was living my worst nightmare."

How was it possible to feel scared and surprised at the same time? Varian certainly was. Was the King really admitting how afraid he had been?

"And I was honestly expecting you to lash out today like you did that day." Frederic couldn't help a small chuckle, and Varian had no clue what to make of it.

"But… I have listened to you and I have heard how much the events have affected you, from your point of view. During this trial, you also took accountability for your choices, instead of blaming others. Yet you… you could have. You have been thrown out of the castle the day of the storm after asking for help, and… and when nobody came, I can understand that you felt alone and abandoned."

Varian wanted to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat. He didn't believe in magic, but he was afraid to break the spell.

"Later on, when I sent my guards to retrieve the scroll from your place, I never once wanted to think of the consequences on you. After all, all this drove you to build a whole army of autamot… autonta… aut…"

"Automaton.", Varian corrected automatically before he realized it.

"Yes. Hmm. Indeed. Thank you. But now, I'm starting to understand that you were cornered and felt that you had no other choice, that your actions are, if not acceptable, understandable, at least."

Varian was speechless as King Frederic closed the distance between them, until he stood on the last ray of the Sun, and when he was within arms' reach, he whispered for Varian and the people around only to hear:

"Varian… There had been a line of events that took its toll on you, and many of those events stemmed from my own, bad decisions. I sincerely apologize for the pain I have caused you, and for everything I should have seen and done sooner. I can only hope for one thing… that, one day, when you are ready, you can forgive me."

Not leaving the dumbfounded boy time to reply, as he didn't want to press him to do so, Frederic straightened up and spoke to the crowd, his voice booming through the courtroom again.

"I, Frederic of Corona, declare that Varian Quirinson of Old Corona, is officially and completely pardoned for all his past crimes."

"What?", Varian blurted out in disbelief.

"What?", Nigel also gasped, rather scandalized.

Ignoring Nigel, Frederic went on. "And let it be known that from this day on, Varian is under royal protection."

A murmur went through the audience. Not everyone agreed, which was expected, but after Varian's painful heart-to-heart with them, there was mostly joy and relief in the reactions.

The King's eyes went back to the trembling boy, whose jaw was working up and down, but no sound was coming out, as if he was unable to process that piece of information in his state.

"Varian", Frederic repeated slowly and softly, "you are free."

That was simply too much for Varian to take. He felt… good and warm on the inside and… he had no words, nor did he know what to do with these feelings. He collapsed to his knees and cried, physically and emotionally spent. The seven rays were complete and Varian could do nothing else than welcome each beam of light into his heart.

Do you remember? The story started with this:

« Tragedy is not the conflict between good and evil ; it is the conflict between good and good », Georg Wilhelm, Freidrich Hegel

I am not excusing Frederic's actions, not any more than Varian's. Frederic's wrongdoings should have been addressed in the show, and Varian paid too high of a price for his deeds in my opinion... so this is my vision of it. I like the idea of Fred owning his mistakes. After all, he had his wife to show him the way...

No one in this story wanted to be evil. No one really wanted other people to get hurt. Yet it happened. We're all humans. And good people make mistakes. The important thing is to try and fix them (even if it takes time, Fred...)