Hi everybody! First off, I want say thank you all for such kind things to say about the story and about my writing, it means a lot!

The next few chapters, including this one, I wrote long ago because I had this idea and needed to get it out of my head. I worry though that because I've gotten to the part that I was waiting for, I may hit a wall for ideas in the near future. I would really love to hear any thoughts that you guys have on where this could go!

Lastly, I have to warn you about some descriptions of vomit and blood in this chapter.

(If it is an issue for anyone, I would be happy to write you a censored version and send it to you personally, just let me know!)

Enjoy!

Varian stood in the center of his cell, peering down the corridor to where he could see the outline of a familiar figure pacing toward him. A broad shouldered man… the Captain? No… that wasn't it, there was no Guards helmet…

Soon, the figure was close enough that the shadows obscuring his face dispersed, revealing the man's identity. Varian inhaled a sharp breath. He quickly approached the barred door in front of him, and gripped the bars. "Dad!" Varian breathed.

Quiran was now just on the opposite side of the bars. He reached a hand through and wrapped it around Varian's slim wrist. "Hi Son." He said, a small smile coming to his face. Varian noticed his dad's sad eyes.

"Dad, I'm so glad you're okay! How are you alive? They… they said… no, nevermind. I'm- I'm just so glad you're here!" Varian exclaimed.

A thought struck Varian suddenly, and he looked to his father. "Dad… I'm so sorry, for, well, for everything. I never wanted you to get hurt! I was trying to find a way to stop the rocks. I only wanted you to be proud of me…" Varian said, hurriedly, as his excited expression fell to one of deep regret.

Quiran exhaled a long breath and looked down. He rubbed his thumb over Varian's wrist soothingly. "Oh Son… How could I ever be proud of the things you've done?" He looked up at his boy with sad eyes, ashamed of the monster he'd created.

Varian's breath hitched and he felt a stab in his chest. "Dad… no… Dad please, I'm so sorry! I just… I messed up… and- and then, I really needed you back! I know I hurt people, but- but I was just so desperate! I only wanted you back! I wanted to make things right! I wanted to do good! I'm so sorry Dad! I'm so sorry!" Varian sobbed, breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry too, Son." Quiran said, looking at his boy with truly sad eyes. He squeezed Varian's hand in comfort, and Quiran turned his head to face a figure behind him.

Varian only noticed then that the Captain of the Guard was standing a few feet back.

"I've heard enough, Captain. Take him to the Gallows." Quiran let go of Varian's hand and stepped aside with his head hung low, to allow the Captain to open up the door.

In the few seconds of jiggling the key in the lock, Varian rushed as close to her father as his chain would allow. "Dad! No! Please Dad, I don't want to die! I don't! I won't hurt anyone ever again, please, Dad, I swear! Help me!" Varian pleaded, tears streaming profusely. The door swung open with a high squeak, and the steel toed boots approached him, with an eerie slowness. "No! Nononono! Wait! Please, please don't! Dad!" Varian tried to scream, but he couldn't bring his throat to do so. He struggled to make his voice corporate until the Captain was before him, looking down darkly at him. The man clapped a heavy hand down on his shoulder, and…

Varian sat bolt upright on his cot, his face was sticky and itchy from tears. His heart raced, and he couldn't catch his breath. Just a dream. It was only a dream. He was in his bed, alone in his cell, and according to his little window, it was still dark outside. But he couldn't catch his breath. Why can't he breath? Varian gasped and moaned. He tried to picture his father speaking his soothing words, telling him to breath, but it brought him back to the nightmare. Varian sobbed, and then he gasped in a breath of dusty dungeon air.

Varian kicked his blanket to the foot of the cot, and he swiped away the pillow. Once everything was away, he lied flat on the uncomfortable mattress, closed his eyes, and took five long and slow breaths. After that, he curled and uncurled his trembling fingers as well as his chilled toes, coming back into his body. Varian was no stranger to panic attacks.

When his mind finally recovered, he felt his body react with a sweeping wave of nausea. Varian swung himself out of bed quickly, ignoring the complimentary dizzy spell that always came with standing up. He crouched by his cot and pulled out the ugly chamber pot beneath it, just in time to empty the bile in his stomach in it.

Luckily, there wasn't much in his stomach to throw up, and when it was certainly empty, Varain trudged back to his cot, defeated. He scooped up his pillow off the floor on his way, and plopped himself down. He curled around the flat pillow, and allowed himself to sob, using the pillow to muffle his pained cries.

Varian cried himself to sleep, not realizing until the exhaustion had already taken over him. The next time he woke up, it was much the same. He sat up with a jolt after feeling the Captain's touch. This time though, the Captain really did stand before him. The Captain showed rare startle as Varian's transition from sleep to on guard was so instant. Varian harshly shoved the man's hand away with a mumbled "Get off!"

The Captain nearly bit back, or shoved the kid, or something else, anything to show the boy his place, but he didn't. Not once he took a good look at Varian.

His young face was wide eyed and searching around the room. The tear tracks, swollen cheeks, and red rimmed, fearful eyes, all gave away something Varian was not saying. The kid looked terrible. No physically worse than the day before, but he looked… shaken. The Captain exhaled, softening. "You okay, kid?" He asked, tentatively, as if talking with a skittish cat.

Varian didn't respond, only turned his head away and sniffed, before rubbing the back of his hand across his cheek discreetly. The rest of his 'escort', on the other side of the door, plus the sliver of bright sunlight peeking into the room all provided enough clues for Varian to know that it was time to go back to the courtroom and receive his sentence. Varian felt again the familiar stab to the heart, and churn of the stomach, that was anxiety. That dream had felt so real… maybe it was. Varian couldn't prove whether or not it had been a dream…

Frustrated by Varian's ignorance, the Captain felt the urge to shake his head, wondering why he even bothered with this kid. He is a bad person, and that's all there is to say. 14 or 40, a bad person is a bad person, and a bad person can't be fixed. At least, that's what the Captain kept trying to convince himself of, with the image of Cassandra injured by Varian's hand as his proof.

Somehow, though, the man knew that he couldn't see this kid like that. Not completely at least. Still, the Captain forcibly brought Varian to his feet by hauling him up by the arm. Varian whimpered, but otherwise complied, frozen. "We can't be late." the man said, working with the chains and shackles that would soon bind Varian.

The boy dissociated as his mobility was chained to the minimum, during his walk through the dungeons, and then the lower, less glamorous parts of the castle. The almost painful grip that Pete and Stan had on his biceps felt like nothing more than a slight pressure. He disregarded the near blinding headache, the ache of his unhealed ribs, the low grumble in his stomach, everything.

It was peaceful, to not feel.

What finally pulled him back into his mind was the bright sun streaming in a grand window in the palace corridor. He had seen these windows yesterday too, but it had been raining, and not on the right angle to the sun to stream through like this. Varian's heart ached as he realized how much he missed the sun. It only took a moment for Varian to orient himself, he recognized what was out the window as the courtyard. He had gone to the science expo there each year since he was very young. Always spectating, eventually competing. He had gone to many other events there as well. One year he and his father were lucky enough to get a space to release their lanterns for the lost Princess from that courtyard. Varian thought bitterly for a moment about the lanterns, wishing they hadn't worked. He shook that from his thoughts, as even though he and Rapunzel ended off badly… very badly... if they hadn't met, he'd have missed out on some great friends.

Varian's train of thought came to a halt when he realized that the front doors of the palace, although not in sight, were nearby. Varian didn't consider the layers of Guards inside and outside of those doors, or how his ankles were chained together, leaving him just enough space for a pace, or how his arms were bound tightly to his chest, leaving him as helpless as an infant, should a fight arise. He also didn't think of Ruddiger, and how he'd be leaving without him. He only thought of his dream, and how scary the notion of being led to the gallows was. Varian did not want to think about how scared he was OF the gallows… the walk there was all his phycee would allow him. No, he wasn't thinking rationally, he was acting off of fear and self preservation. But, if the dream was real... if he was headed toward his own execution… What's the harm now?

When Varian halted suddenly, the guards all instantly thought this was going to be the same as yesterday. He'd be nervous, but then a quick talk and he'd comply. But today, when the sudden stop made Pete and Stan's grip on his arms falter, Varian took the opportunity. He spun around and ran on a diagonal, so not to crash into Phillip, who was behind him. He made it farther than he had really expected deep down. But alas, Philip caught up quickly and tripped Varian from the chain between his feet. Unable to brace himself in the chains, he crashed forward face first.

He felt the hot liquid before he felt the pain, as his nose erupted with blood. Immediately after he hit the ground, he felt someone's knee on his back and a hand on his head, pinning him firmly to the scratchy carpet of the palace corridor. Varian's breath had been knocked from his lungs, and his ribs screamed at him. He finally registered the pain in his face, and when he heaved in some air again, he could not hold back an agonized cry. If only he could dissociate again, but Varian had no control over when it happened. Now, for the second time since he was arrested, the first time being the night Ruddiger had been taken away, Varian didn't care if the guards saw him as weak. He sobbed. As much as he wanted the pressure off, he didn't fight the person holding him down. He just lied there limply, accepting his helplessness.

Even when he did feel the pressure on him alleviate, Varian remained limp, his tears mixing with blood and puddling on the floor.

Varian groaned through his sobs when he felt large hands try turning him over. Varian squeezed his eyes shut and curled into a ball on his side, not allowing them to roll him over any further, or to, god forbid, stand him back up and march him into court ready-or-not.

He went from limp, to very tense. Laying there with his knees near his chest, and his forehead near his knees. He could still feel a hand on his arm, but it wasn't rough, only cautious. He heard the deep voices of the guards. They were probably speaking to him, but he wasn't listening.

"Kid? Varian? Varian! Answer me!" Boomed the Captain, slightly shaking him with the hand already placed near Varian's shoulder. Next, Pete sank down near the boy. "Hey buddy, it's ok! Are you hurt anywhere other than your face?" still no reply. Phillip tried next, not crouching down, but just nudging his back with the toe of his boot. "Come on, kid. We don't have time for this." he said with a roll of his eyes. Stan glared at Phillip.

The Captain spoke again, this time not directed to Varian. "Okay... okay. Phillip, Stan, close off this corridor. Pete, go tell Nigel we've been delayed, and come back with some ice and a cloth." the Captain ordered.

With curt nods all around, the men dispersed.

The Captain sighed, and sunk down, sitting next to Varian and leaning against the wall, but dutifully never removing his hand from the prisoner. "You're all kinds of messed up, aren't you, kid?" The Captain said, much more to himself than to Varian, and solemnly rather than bitter or harsh. He gave Varian's arm a supportive squeeze. Varian just sobbed again.

"Come on Varian. Are you hurt? Are you crying because you're hurt? If you're hurt just say so! I can help you." the Captain pleaded.

Varian opened his eyes, just a little. His face, though now covered in blood, relaxed. "I'm really scared." He whispered, in a high pitched voice. The Captain felt a pang in his chest. "What are you scared of? Us? Me?" the Captain continued. Varian shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut again. "The… the Royal family? Are you scared of them?" Varian didn't say anything now but he opened his eyes again. Ignoring the question, he said "I'm really sorry." Another flow of tears followed.

The Captain sighed. "We know you are, Varian. And you did good saying so yesterday." The man assured him.

Varian shook his head. "No. I'm sorry for Cassandra." he said, his voice squeaky and choked. Varian met the older man's eyes.

The Captain was taken aback for a moment. "Oh um, thank you, Varian. For saying that." Varian sobbed another small sob. "I just want to tell her that, and Rapunzel too. I want to tell them myself, before… you know…" the boy cried.

The Captain was confused. "Before what?" he said. Varian hid his face as he sobbed again. Varian muttered and mumbled, barely audibly, until the Captain was hit with realization. "Oh. oh! Varian, no. That's not, no!" The Captain rambled, caught off guard by the idea that Varian thinks… no! He is 14, that would be cruel, inhuman!

Varian turned his head just a little, trying to read the Captain's expression. He looked baffled by the notion, and Varian didn't understand why. "I know what I'm charged with. If they could execute me twice they would. Eugene nearly was, just for stealing an artifact! I did that, and stole the actual Queen! And more..." Varian said, exasperated.

"Varian, that was Ryder's 17th offense. And that is just in Corona! He was a well known criminal. Every village, town and kingdom for miles had a warrant out for him. At the time, he needed to be stopped and he'd proven several times that no jail could hold him. Not to mention, he was 10 years older then, than you are now. His crimes were motivated by greed, yours were… well, you had extenuating circumstances. Corona hasn't sentenced an execution since Ryder, and after the situation with him, the grounds have changed for it. I don't know what has been decided on, but I am confident that it's not that." The Captain explained, leaving out the possibility of it occurring when Varian gets older, as the Captain had overheard King Fredric mention. But then he rethought it again. No, the Queen would not allow that. She couldn't. Could she?

"Really…?" Varian whispered, tears still flowing, but now seemingly from relief instead of fear.

"Really. And no matter what happens, you'll be well informed, and I'll be by your side. You don't have to be afraid. Not like this. Nobody can function like this." said the Captain. The man felt a stab of guilt. Really, he didn't know what the outcome would be for Varian, and he had no say in the matter. He should not be making promises.

Varian huffed what sounded like the ghost of a laugh. "Yeah… tell me about it." he said, attempting to smile a little.

The Captain reached out to Varian's bound hands and pulled the boy up to a sitting position, leaning him against the wall next to himself, and Varian let him. "Just relax a minute. Pete is coming back with something for your nose." the Captain said while bringing himself to his feet. It was in his nature to be one step ahead of any threat, and Varian was still a threat.

The boy just nodded, and attempted to wipe away the blood that was still dripping from his increasingly purple nose, using his bound hands.

Pete made his reentrance a moment later, with a dry cloth, a wet cloth, and some ice in a small sack. He approached at a light jog, his eyes shining with concern. Varian looked away, suddenly feeling ashamed and embarrassed. Pete crouched in front of him, who instinctively curled his knees further into his chest at the close contact.

Pete reached out with the wet cloth, stopping a few inches from Varian's face. "Uhhh, may I?" said the awkward man, politely. Varian met his eyes for a quick moment, before nodding.

Pete then wiped around Varian's nose, causing the boy to flinch and wince. Then his mouth and chin, cleaning up the streaks and smears of red. When he finished, he switched the wet cloth out for the dry one and held it steady, under Varian's nostrils in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Pete looked up at the Captain, who was towering over them both. "Um, Sir, I think his nose might be broken…"

The Captain heaved a long sigh. "I figured as much as well." He said, nodding his head and looking at Varian, as if searching for something.

Varian looked between the two men, waiting for someone to say something but nobody did for several moments.

Finally, though, the Captain broke off the silence. "Once the bleeding stops, we will head in." He looked down at Varian, who met his eyes shyly, feeling awkward with Pete still holding a cloth to his nose. "You can ice it while you're in there." He assured him. Varian couldn't nod so he just blinked, beginning to feel panicked again.

Varian repeated to himself some facts in his mind. He always found he worked better with facts.

- He faced the crowds of people yesterday and it had been fine.

- The Captain says they aren't going to kill him.

- The Captain is trustworthy.

Wait, no. Not that last one, that's not a fact… just a feeling.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts!