p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"strongspan style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #3f3f3f;"⇄/span/strongstronguChapter Three/u/strongstrongspan style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"⇄/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"emThe Handmaiden and the Princess/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Sitting by the far wall of his ill-lit cell, Varian wiped another silent tear from his cheek with his bound hands. He then clutched his knees closer to himself, whether it be in an attempt to comfort himself or fight against the chill in the air, he didn't know. It had been nearly an hour since the Captain left him a sniveling heap on the cold, grimy ground. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Every once in a while, Stan or Pete would glance back at him from their posts in front of his cell, presumably with concern. Through his teary eyes, Varian would muster up a glare and shoot it back at them. emAs if they cared./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"No one cared about him. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"No one was going to save him./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The only hope he clung to now was the idea of escape. Ruddiger should be back soon with the necessary materials needed to carry out an escape plan. He would get out. emHe had to./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He wanted to scream, to do anything to let out his frustration. But he just wept softly, hoping the other prisoners couldn't hear him. It was already bad enough that the two guards had seen him crying. Worse yet, the Captain of the Royal Guard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Varian scowled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"It didn't matter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The apprehension the Captain had established in the young alchemist had inspired more hatred. If the Captain wanted him to starve, emfine./em He didn't need rotting prison food anyway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He didn't care that the Captain hated him, and he certainly didn't care that the King, Queen, Princess, or all the moronic people of Corona despised him. He would keep fighting until his last breath was ripped from his body—but the hateful surge in his heart faltered at that very thought./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"It was nighttime by now, a crescent moon shining tepidly through the cell window. By tomorrow, days, or even weeks, he would know his fate, and although he already went through the possibility of execution in his mind, worry still gripped him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"They wouldn't. They just…couldn't. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He was only 14, yet a glint of fear still shot through him as he thought of what they did to traitors of the crown or even to people that committed lesser crimes; it was well known, at least to him, that Corona desperately needed judicial reform. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Admittedly, he hated the royal family, and he did commit some crimes he stands accused of, but he didn't want to die! He shook his head. emNo. /emHe shouldn't think of that right now. They'd probably just make him do indentured castle work the rest of his life or something else to keep him busy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Sighing, Varian tiredly rolled his head to the side, the welcomed coolness of the wall soothing his burning cheek, feverish and damp from tears. He stayed like that for a while, his eyes eventually drying as they glazed over with sleep, the cot miles away while he lulled off in and out for what seemed like an eternity. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"That is, until he heard the guards stir./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"His bright blue eyes shot open, bringing his startled gaze to the front of the cell where Stan and Pete moved aside to reveal a young woman standing tall, her shapely yet strong shadow looming over him through the bars. She had wavy locks of short onyx hair, her lush berry-stained lips were twisted into a snarl, nose crinkled in disgust, and her slate green eyes were like daggers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She was beautiful. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He scowled. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Well, at least he would still think of her as such if she hadn't turned her back on him when he thought she was a friend./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Hello, Cassi— "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emDon't even/em," she hissed, her glare hardening. "You lost the right to call me that a long time ago." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He rolled his eyes. "What a em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"bummer/em." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Varian was no stranger to sass, developing a taste for it when he'd first been betrayed by his so-called friends. From his dismal spot, he stood, leaning on the wall with a flippant cross of his chained arms. He winced slightly at the way the hand cuffs chafed his bruised wrists but hoped it went unnoticed as her icy gaze scanned him over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He bit his lip before a smirk lifted the corners of his mouth. "How are those ribs of yours?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""/span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Better—emno thanks to you./em" Her demeanor then seemed to lighten, almost in smugness. "How are those hand cuffs treating you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emAh/em, there it is. So. I see you're here to rub salt in my wounds then? To gloat?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Yes, emactually/em," she quipped coldly, "My dad told me that you're thinking about pleading innocent. span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Do you honestly /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"think /emspan style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"you even stand a chance?/spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Varian smirked further and she bristled at the sight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Yes, emactually,/em" he mimicked, a mask of confidence hiding his true thoughts. emNo, actually./em But he refused to look weak in front of her. Cassandra frowned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, give it a rest, Varian! em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"You are going to fail/em. I mean, what did you think was going to happen? What you did was stupid and dangerous. You have proven yourself to be worth emnothing/em but trouble." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, /span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Cassandraem. /emBeautifulem, stupid /emCassandraem."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"One of her sharp eyebrows raised in response./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I can't believe I ever wanted to impress emyou/em, emCassie/em." He said in earnest. "Honestly, you're just like everyone else, simple-minded. You can't see the bigger picture." He tapped his temple with a knowing smirk, his head cocked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Everyone is so worried about what I've done, but they have forgotten that the real threat is still out there. I don't think trying to do something about the rocks was stupid. Dangerous, emyes. /emBut stupid? emNo. /emAnd as far as I'm concerned, I'm the only one who actually cared to do anything about them. In a few weeks, the black rocks will reach the heart of this kingdom. And by then," he maintained, "I will be long gone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emWell/em," she seethed, "with the crimes you've committed, you might be gone even sooner than you think."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The air immediately went cold between them, and even Cassandra knew she crossed a line. Varian deflated slightly, obviously fearing the uncertainty of his situation. A pang of guilt flashed across the handmaiden's face before quickly being replaced by bitterness again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Y'know, speaking of which, it's too bad I'm going to miss your trial. I was looking forward to it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Miss it?" Recovering, he scoffed bluntly. "Where are you going to be? Does your stupid dad have some more handmaiden chores for you to do? It's just really too bad I won't be able to help you this time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She snarled at that comment, eliciting a devious grin from him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emNo. /emRapunzel has decided to follow the black rocks outside of Corona. Maybe we'll even find a way to get rid of the rocks, something you failed to do. Something you will emnever/em do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Now it was Varian's turn to snarl. Their eyes locked, his voice low as he spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""We shall see."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Their prolonged stare off was soon interrupted by another voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Cass?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"They both turned to see the Princess of Corona in the Prison corridor. Her golden hair reflected the blazing light of the torches, glowing marvelously. Varian sneered at it, slinking back into the shadows of his cell as her bright green gaze switched from Cassandra to him. The two guards present moved quickly to protect her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Princess Rapunzel! With all due respect, you are not safe here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""What? No, I came to talk with Varian. Please leave us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""But Princess—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Please/span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;". Just for a few minutes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""As you wish." Stan and Pete bowed before walking out of the immediate vicinity, not without sharing a few nervous glances back. Cassandra sighed as Rapunzel shuffled closer to the front of the cell next to her, holding her long, braided hair for security. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Raps, I know what you're gonna say to him, but he emwon't/em listen."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I know. But I must keep trying." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She smiled at her best friend reassuringly, before turning her gaze to the cell, searching for Varian in the darkness. Now closer, she could see him standing, his slender back to her, tensed. He did not want to face her. Varian felt shame briefly flood him, but it was short-lived as he thought of her broken promise, her awful betrayal. He had emtrusted /emher. And she acted like it was emnothing. /emHe huffed, anger enveloping him again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Unconsciously, Rapunzel bit her lip, contemplating on what to say to the young man, her lost friend, that had committed many wicked things. He was hurt, and Rapunzel knew that when people were hurt, they could say and do despicable things. She needed to make this right./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Varian," she started simply, "I know that you've heard this a thousand times from me, but I emneed/em you to understand how truly so-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Don't."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She gaped slightly at the bitter tone of his voice. She could hear Varian let out a frustrated sigh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Look./span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;" Why did you really come here, emprincess?"/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Before she could get a word out, he stepped out of the shadows, facing her and continuing forcefully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Did you need closure or something so you could finally forget about me for good before you left Corona?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""No, I/span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"—you know about me leaving?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Of course I do! As you can see," he threw an irritated gesture towards Cass who rolled her sharp eyes, "you're not the first person to come to my cell to shove my defeat in my face!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Rapunzel winced, but that didn't stop Varian./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""It was always about you, wasn't it, Rapunzel?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He moved closer to the bars, clutching them with his bare, gloveless hands, the chains around them clinking intensely. Sorrow clutched her heart at the sight of him, her eyes sweeping over his young face that was tired, sunken, and seething with anger. She briefly wondered if they had even fed him during the time he's been imprisoned before he continued, his tone mocking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, hi! I'm Rapunzel! And I'm friends with everybody except for the person I promised to help when they needed it the most!"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She flinched, taking a small step back from the bars. Cass moved to defend her, but Rapunzel sent her a look to stand down. She risked a glance at him again, and he sneered at her before retreating into the shadows, his blue eyes closing as he huffed while sitting on the worn prison cot barely visible to her in the corner of his small cell./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The silence between them was deafening for a moment until Rapunzel continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Varian, you emknow /emI couldn't help you during the storm-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Yeah? /span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Well, what about after the storm, huh?" He seethed furiously, "Neither of you even bothered to check on me or my dad! Some friends you were!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"At that, both Rapunzel and Cass grimaced. Putting her head down in shame, Rapunzel knew he was right, tears forming in her eyes. Her handmaiden, however, knew better. Rapunzel didn't force him to do anything; it wasn't their fault. Cassandra moved, her hand holding Rapunzel's shoulder comfortingly, shooting a glare at the young alchemist. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Come on, Raps. Let's go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Listen," the princess continued firmly almost ignoring Cass, voice tight as if almost in distress, "I will help you in every way I can, I'm emnot/em giving up on you, Varian."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, please." He snarked, rolling his eyes, "you say that now but you don't mean it, another one of your stupid empty promises! Forget about me like you did when I needed you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Rapunzel said nothing else as she turned to leave, a tear rolling down her cheek. Cassandra lingered a moment as the two guards returned to their places./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I hope you've realized fully what you've done, and emI hope you rot./em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"To her surprise, the teen let out an eerie, careless laugh, before throwing his own cold glare at her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""You best leave now, emhandmaiden/em. Your dear princess is upset."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"If looks could kill, Varian would be dead, his body cut up into a million pieces and thrown into the nearby sea. Cassandra itched for the sword at her hip, but Varian stood his ground. He knew Cassandra despised being only seen as a handmaiden, her obviously weaker role. To her, she was so much more, but to him, she was now nothing more than an enemy to hurt. Relenting, Cassandra swiftly followed after the princess without another word./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He grinned to himself, satisfied. It felt good to make Cassandra sneer at his comments, for Rapunzel to cry at his reasonings. Just as he had been hurt, he wanted them to hurt. Something made him confused, though. Almost as if deep down, he felt bad…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"It doesn't matter though; after all that had happened, they didn't matter to him now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Tiredly, he moved to his cot, relaxing on it as best he could. Ruddiger should be back any moment. He'd stay awake for his loyal pet, and before daybreak, an escape plan would be completely conjured. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px;"⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Raps! Hey, wait!" Cass called as she caught up to the golden-haired princess who was now softly sobbing into her hands. Once they were out of the Prison corridors, Rapunzel lifted her head, letting her feelings out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I jus-I just don't know what to do anymore with him! I've tried, Cassandra!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I know, Raps. You need to understand that none of this is your fault. You didn't make him steal the flower, kidnap your mom, or anything! Okay? That was all him." Cass took one of Rapunzel's hands, trying to make her see. "He is a criminal now. You can't reach him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The princess nodded. "I know…maybe him being hereem is/em for the best. My dad said he will do what he can to get him help. Maybe then, Varian will be okay again."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Cassandra released her hand. "Maybe. Now, let's go find Eugene, I know he'll cheer you up."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Rapunzel sorrowful expression vanished with a soft smile as they walked down the hall together, "He does do that, doesn't he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Hope was inspired at the thought of Varian's possible future redemption yet worry still gripped Rapunzel's heart, squeezing it tight and not letting it go./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"span style="text-decoration: underline;"A/N:/span/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"strongHey! /strong/spanstrongYour eyes do not deceive you! I am indeed updating this story after over 3 years! /strongspanstrongI have not updated this story on here since 10/25/19, today is 2/12/23 /strong/spanstrong(that's crazy)/strongstrong! I have about 4-5 other chapters written out, but I get frustrated with the editing process, so they've been collecting digital dust for a while. Anyways, please tell me what you think about this chapter! FYI I also cross-post this on AO3 now if that is more your cup of tea. But yeah, thanks for reading!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"emThe Handmaiden and the Princess/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Sitting by the far wall of his ill-lit cell, Varian wiped another silent tear from his cheek with his bound hands. He then clutched his knees closer to himself, whether it be in an attempt to comfort himself or fight against the chill in the air, he didn't know. It had been nearly an hour since the Captain left him a sniveling heap on the cold, grimy ground. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Every once in a while, Stan or Pete would glance back at him from their posts in front of his cell, presumably with concern. Through his teary eyes, Varian would muster up a glare and shoot it back at them. emAs if they cared./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"No one cared about him. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"No one was going to save him./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The only hope he clung to now was the idea of escape. Ruddiger should be back soon with the necessary materials needed to carry out an escape plan. He would get out. emHe had to./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He wanted to scream, to do anything to let out his frustration. But he just wept softly, hoping the other prisoners couldn't hear him. It was already bad enough that the two guards had seen him crying. Worse yet, the Captain of the Royal Guard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Varian scowled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"It didn't matter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The apprehension the Captain had established in the young alchemist had inspired more hatred. If the Captain wanted him to starve, emfine./em He didn't need rotting prison food anyway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He didn't care that the Captain hated him, and he certainly didn't care that the King, Queen, Princess, or all the moronic people of Corona despised him. He would keep fighting until his last breath was ripped from his body—but the hateful surge in his heart faltered at that very thought./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"It was nighttime by now, a crescent moon shining tepidly through the cell window. By tomorrow, days, or even weeks, he would know his fate, and although he already went through the possibility of execution in his mind, worry still gripped him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"They wouldn't. They just…couldn't. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He was only 14, yet a glint of fear still shot through him as he thought of what they did to traitors of the crown or even to people that committed lesser crimes; it was well known, at least to him, that Corona desperately needed judicial reform. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Admittedly, he hated the royal family, and he did commit some crimes he stands accused of, but he didn't want to die! He shook his head. emNo. /emHe shouldn't think of that right now. They'd probably just make him do indentured castle work the rest of his life or something else to keep him busy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Sighing, Varian tiredly rolled his head to the side, the welcomed coolness of the wall soothing his burning cheek, feverish and damp from tears. He stayed like that for a while, his eyes eventually drying as they glazed over with sleep, the cot miles away while he lulled off in and out for what seemed like an eternity. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"That is, until he heard the guards stir./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"His bright blue eyes shot open, bringing his startled gaze to the front of the cell where Stan and Pete moved aside to reveal a young woman standing tall, her shapely yet strong shadow looming over him through the bars. She had wavy locks of short onyx hair, her lush berry-stained lips were twisted into a snarl, nose crinkled in disgust, and her slate green eyes were like daggers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She was beautiful. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He scowled. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Well, at least he would still think of her as such if she hadn't turned her back on him when he thought she was a friend./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Hello, Cassi— "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emDon't even/em," she hissed, her glare hardening. "You lost the right to call me that a long time ago." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He rolled his eyes. "What a em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"bummer/em." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Varian was no stranger to sass, developing a taste for it when he'd first been betrayed by his so-called friends. From his dismal spot, he stood, leaning on the wall with a flippant cross of his chained arms. He winced slightly at the way the hand cuffs chafed his bruised wrists but hoped it went unnoticed as her icy gaze scanned him over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He bit his lip before a smirk lifted the corners of his mouth. "How are those ribs of yours?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""/span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Better—emno thanks to you./em" Her demeanor then seemed to lighten, almost in smugness. "How are those hand cuffs treating you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emAh/em, there it is. So. I see you're here to rub salt in my wounds then? To gloat?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Yes, emactually/em," she quipped coldly, "My dad told me that you're thinking about pleading innocent. span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Do you honestly /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"think /emspan style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"you even stand a chance?/spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Varian smirked further and she bristled at the sight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Yes, emactually,/em" he mimicked, a mask of confidence hiding his true thoughts. emNo, actually./em But he refused to look weak in front of her. Cassandra frowned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, give it a rest, Varian! em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"You are going to fail/em. I mean, what did you think was going to happen? What you did was stupid and dangerous. You have proven yourself to be worth emnothing/em but trouble." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, /span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Cassandraem. /emBeautifulem, stupid /emCassandraem."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"One of her sharp eyebrows raised in response./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I can't believe I ever wanted to impress emyou/em, emCassie/em." He said in earnest. "Honestly, you're just like everyone else, simple-minded. You can't see the bigger picture." He tapped his temple with a knowing smirk, his head cocked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Everyone is so worried about what I've done, but they have forgotten that the real threat is still out there. I don't think trying to do something about the rocks was stupid. Dangerous, emyes. /emBut stupid? emNo. /emAnd as far as I'm concerned, I'm the only one who actually cared to do anything about them. In a few weeks, the black rocks will reach the heart of this kingdom. And by then," he maintained, "I will be long gone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emWell/em," she seethed, "with the crimes you've committed, you might be gone even sooner than you think."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The air immediately went cold between them, and even Cassandra knew she crossed a line. Varian deflated slightly, obviously fearing the uncertainty of his situation. A pang of guilt flashed across the handmaiden's face before quickly being replaced by bitterness again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Y'know, speaking of which, it's too bad I'm going to miss your trial. I was looking forward to it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Miss it?" Recovering, he scoffed bluntly. "Where are you going to be? Does your stupid dad have some more handmaiden chores for you to do? It's just really too bad I won't be able to help you this time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She snarled at that comment, eliciting a devious grin from him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""emNo. /emRapunzel has decided to follow the black rocks outside of Corona. Maybe we'll even find a way to get rid of the rocks, something you failed to do. Something you will emnever/em do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Now it was Varian's turn to snarl. Their eyes locked, his voice low as he spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""We shall see."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Their prolonged stare off was soon interrupted by another voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Cass?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"They both turned to see the Princess of Corona in the Prison corridor. Her golden hair reflected the blazing light of the torches, glowing marvelously. Varian sneered at it, slinking back into the shadows of his cell as her bright green gaze switched from Cassandra to him. The two guards present moved quickly to protect her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Princess Rapunzel! With all due respect, you are not safe here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""What? No, I came to talk with Varian. Please leave us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""But Princess—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Please/span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;". Just for a few minutes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""As you wish." Stan and Pete bowed before walking out of the immediate vicinity, not without sharing a few nervous glances back. Cassandra sighed as Rapunzel shuffled closer to the front of the cell next to her, holding her long, braided hair for security. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Raps, I know what you're gonna say to him, but he emwon't/em listen."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I know. But I must keep trying." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She smiled at her best friend reassuringly, before turning her gaze to the cell, searching for Varian in the darkness. Now closer, she could see him standing, his slender back to her, tensed. He did not want to face her. Varian felt shame briefly flood him, but it was short-lived as he thought of her broken promise, her awful betrayal. He had emtrusted /emher. And she acted like it was emnothing. /emHe huffed, anger enveloping him again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Unconsciously, Rapunzel bit her lip, contemplating on what to say to the young man, her lost friend, that had committed many wicked things. He was hurt, and Rapunzel knew that when people were hurt, they could say and do despicable things. She needed to make this right./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Varian," she started simply, "I know that you've heard this a thousand times from me, but I emneed/em you to understand how truly so-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Don't."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She gaped slightly at the bitter tone of his voice. She could hear Varian let out a frustrated sigh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Look./span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;" Why did you really come here, emprincess?"/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Before she could get a word out, he stepped out of the shadows, facing her and continuing forcefully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Did you need closure or something so you could finally forget about me for good before you left Corona?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""No, I/span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"—you know about me leaving?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Of course I do! As you can see," he threw an irritated gesture towards Cass who rolled her sharp eyes, "you're not the first person to come to my cell to shove my defeat in my face!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Rapunzel winced, but that didn't stop Varian./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""It was always about you, wasn't it, Rapunzel?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He moved closer to the bars, clutching them with his bare, gloveless hands, the chains around them clinking intensely. Sorrow clutched her heart at the sight of him, her eyes sweeping over his young face that was tired, sunken, and seething with anger. She briefly wondered if they had even fed him during the time he's been imprisoned before he continued, his tone mocking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, hi! I'm Rapunzel! And I'm friends with everybody except for the person I promised to help when they needed it the most!"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"She flinched, taking a small step back from the bars. Cass moved to defend her, but Rapunzel sent her a look to stand down. She risked a glance at him again, and he sneered at her before retreating into the shadows, his blue eyes closing as he huffed while sitting on the worn prison cot barely visible to her in the corner of his small cell./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The silence between them was deafening for a moment until Rapunzel continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Varian, you emknow /emI couldn't help you during the storm-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Yeah? /span/emspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Well, what about after the storm, huh?" He seethed furiously, "Neither of you even bothered to check on me or my dad! Some friends you were!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"At that, both Rapunzel and Cass grimaced. Putting her head down in shame, Rapunzel knew he was right, tears forming in her eyes. Her handmaiden, however, knew better. Rapunzel didn't force him to do anything; it wasn't their fault. Cassandra moved, her hand holding Rapunzel's shoulder comfortingly, shooting a glare at the young alchemist. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Come on, Raps. Let's go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Listen," the princess continued firmly almost ignoring Cass, voice tight as if almost in distress, "I will help you in every way I can, I'm emnot/em giving up on you, Varian."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Oh, please." He snarked, rolling his eyes, "you say that now but you don't mean it, another one of your stupid empty promises! Forget about me like you did when I needed you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Rapunzel said nothing else as she turned to leave, a tear rolling down her cheek. Cassandra lingered a moment as the two guards returned to their places./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I hope you've realized fully what you've done, and emI hope you rot./em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"To her surprise, the teen let out an eerie, careless laugh, before throwing his own cold glare at her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""You best leave now, emhandmaiden/em. Your dear princess is upset."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"If looks could kill, Varian would be dead, his body cut up into a million pieces and thrown into the nearby sea. Cassandra itched for the sword at her hip, but Varian stood his ground. He knew Cassandra despised being only seen as a handmaiden, her obviously weaker role. To her, she was so much more, but to him, she was now nothing more than an enemy to hurt. Relenting, Cassandra swiftly followed after the princess without another word./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"He grinned to himself, satisfied. It felt good to make Cassandra sneer at his comments, for Rapunzel to cry at his reasonings. Just as he had been hurt, he wanted them to hurt. Something made him confused, though. Almost as if deep down, he felt bad…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"It doesn't matter though; after all that had happened, they didn't matter to him now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Tiredly, he moved to his cot, relaxing on it as best he could. Ruddiger should be back any moment. He'd stay awake for his loyal pet, and before daybreak, an escape plan would be completely conjured. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px;"⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""Raps! Hey, wait!" Cass called as she caught up to the golden-haired princess who was now softly sobbing into her hands. Once they were out of the Prison corridors, Rapunzel lifted her head, letting her feelings out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I jus-I just don't know what to do anymore with him! I've tried, Cassandra!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;""I know, Raps. You need to understand that none of this is your fault. You didn't make him steal the flower, kidnap your mom, or anything! Okay? That was all him." Cass took one of Rapunzel's hands, trying to make her see. "He is a criminal now. You can't reach him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"The princess nodded. "I know…maybe him being hereem is/em for the best. My dad said he will do what he can to get him help. Maybe then, Varian will be okay again."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Cassandra released her hand. "Maybe. Now, let's go find Eugene, I know he'll cheer you up."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Rapunzel sorrowful expression vanished with a soft smile as they walked down the hall together, "He does do that, doesn't he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"Hope was inspired at the thought of Varian's possible future redemption yet worry still gripped Rapunzel's heart, squeezing it tight and not letting it go./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"span style="text-decoration: underline;"A/N:/span/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"strongHey! /strong/spanstrongYour eyes do not deceive you! I am indeed updating this story after over 3 years! /strongspanstrongI have not updated this story on here since 10/25/19, today is 2/12/23 /strong/spanstrong(that's crazy)/strongstrong! I have about 4-5 other chapters written out, but I get frustrated with the editing process, so they've been collecting digital dust for a while. Anyways, please tell me what you think about this chapter! FYI I also cross-post this on AO3 now if that is more your cup of tea. But yeah, thanks for reading!/strong/p