Chapter 2. Fair warning, this is fairly dark. There's a discussion of execution and some very painful parental corporal punishment, although it will be addressed in the next chapter. I think you'll be able to intuit why it happened. As a clue, the lyric refers to Varian and Quirian.

Believe Me, I Know, I've Sunk Pretty Low, But Whatever I've Done You Deserve-Alan Menken

Ready As I'll Ever Be

The next morning, Varian woke up shaking and alone. All night, he had dreamed of nooses and sharp axes and angry crowds and his father either encased in amber or leading the mob. They were graphic and horrific and he wasn't surprised to see his pillow soaked with sweat.

There was an intention in the pillow in the chair next to him that said his father had sat there but was already gone by the time he woke up. Obviously, his father didn't even want to see him.

At least there was food. Rudigger had left half of it for him, but Varian wasn't very hungry. He just stared out the barred windows. Would he ever be allowed outside again? Would he spend the rest of his life locked away and seeing the world behind bars? He yearned to escape but didn't dare give the guards a reason to kill him.

What did dying feel like? Scientifically, he had no idea. That scared him, that he might learn first-hand. Would he be reunited with his mother? Would he go to the underworld? Would it just be eternal nothingness?

Would he be executed? He would have to be weighted to break his neck, otherwise, he'd slowly strangle. He could feel his shirt closing off his air. Maybe they wanted him to die painfully? Traitors in other countries were drawn and quartered and he didn't even want to think about that. Perhaps he'd only be beheaded? But he didn't want to die!

Rudigger sensed his human's terror and jumped into his lap for pets and affection. Varian cuddled him close. "If you don't see me again, Dad will take care of you. I want you to not be sad and know I'm okay," he lied, trying to comfort the only being who loved him now. "I just won't be able to visit you. It's not because I don't want to, but because I can't. I love you, boy. I really do. I'm sorry for experimenting with you. I'm sorry for failing you."

Ruddiger didn't seem convinced and whinnied nervously. Varian had no idea how to comfort him. "I'm sorry, " he kept repeating. He had wanted to kill the royal family. He had wanted to destroy Corona. Who was he?

Finally, there was a click at the door. Dad was standing there, along with two guards. He was carrying a large thin bundle under his arm. "The king will see us now," he said gravely. "Ruddiger stays here."

The worried raccoon chirped and jumped onto the window sill as if to ask if he should climb aboard his human. Varian shook his head. "You can finish my breakfast," he said, hoping it wasn't his last meal. He was ready as he was going to be to face his fate. Ready as he would ever be.

The guards came in and unshackled Varian from the wall. They manacled him, hand and foot. Varian burned with shame, seeing the look of blankness on his father's face. He followed, feeling the hatred on every servant and courtier's face. He was a traitor. He deserved nothing less.

Instead of the main throne room, they were taken to a small antechamber. King Frederic and Queen Arianna were waiting there. Both father and son fell to their knees, Varian a bit more clumsily as the shackles impeded his movement.

King Frederic looked at Varian with pure hatred before focusing on Dad. "My old friend, please rise. I am grateful to see you alive and well," he said. "Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you that the only reason your son has been treated so gently despite his great crimes is the pleas of my family and my deep devotion to you. It is my wish to publicly put him on trial for treason."

Varian gulped, remaining on his knees with his head bowed. He wanted to speak in his defense, but his throat was so dry. He would be executed. Princess Rapunzel had promised she would help, but her promises were not worth much and he didn't deserve her mercy.

Dad's voice was scarily steady. "Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words. My bias is clear but consider the logic. A public trial would be a mistake, and reveal that Corona was brought to its knees by a mere child."

"A brilliant child," King Frederic reminded. It wasn't a compliment. "His deeds are shameful, but he inherited his father and mother's genius and the damage was just brilliantly bad."

"No one will think about that. They will think how a youth with no inexperience has shown Corona to be dangerously exposed. If you put my son on trial, you will publicly reveal how weak the kingdom is. If a little boy throwing a tantrum can bring the kingdom to shaking, what would an army do? Our enemies will be at the border within the weak," Dad said gruffly.

"Throwing a tantrum? He put half the guard out of commission with a single attack." King Frederic looked furious. "Perhaps you see your son as a baby, but he's a powerful alchemist!"

Queen Arianna took his hand. "Qurian is right. Even if he's biased, the weakness in our defenses was made very clear and we would be revealing it to the world."

"Then I can sentence him right here, privately." The king looked murderous. Varian trembled in terror. Could he at least say goodbye to Ruddiger?

Dad didn't waver. "Before you do, there are also other factors. The boy was chased from his own home, alone and afraid."

"Are you blaming this on my actions?" King Frederic snapped.

Of course not. It was an oversight. I know the king and queen had more important matters and truly did the best they could. Rumors and lies had been spread about Varian that he was a danger. He had to run away. He was homeless, orphaned, scared, and without support."

King Frederic's jaw tightened. "Those rumors were a definite hindrance." Varian was shocked. He had never realized how well his father argued, for a village headman. He was starting to feel some hope.

"Of course, they were just common gossip. Your Majesty didn't intend to make him feel abandoned. Still, I hope you can show mercy to understand a scared little orphan who was desperate and saw no other way, no different than a kitten clawing in distress."

So, that was all he was? A pathetic little kitten? Well, it was better than a traitor.

"A kitten who can build terrifying machines of death," Frederic reminded, but his face had colored slightly. "His neglect was a failure in the duty to my old friend. I should have found him and taken him into the palace. For that, I apologize."

"We should apologize. We did abandon him, and he was only trying to rescue his father,' Queen Arianna reminded. "And because he figured out Rapunzel's hair could save him, he did manage to accomplish his goal. His methods were wrong, but we would do the same for our family. Your daughter and your queen and your dear friend ask for mercy. Surely, that is enough."

"My apology and the circumstances don't make up for what Varian did. Still, I won't refuse all of you. So what do you suggest?" King Frederic demanded. "Since you are asking for mercy, you should at least suggest a proper punishment."

"Treat Varian as he is. A silly lonely little child, mentally gifted but undisciplined and out of control, spoiled by an indulgent father who gave him too much freedom because he had no wife to help him. Varian was angry and broken over me being encased in amber. He was chased from his home and forced to be hungry and alone in the woods. We rewrite the story. The king regrets not being able to find the boy to hand him over to proper guardians. Sadly, it meant he was running wild and afraid. There was no kidnapping. Out of desperation, Varian tricked the Queen into coming to his home, and the Queen came willingly became she pitied him. Ruddiger accidentally got into the alchemy and mutated. He was trying to find the princess to help him. Everyone only thought the queen was a hostage. You and Princess Rapunzel nobly went to help the Queen and Varian. The Princess freed me, Varian is deeply apologetic and will be treated as the naughty little boy he is. The king will grant him mercy and put him under house arrest to learn manners and be disciplined properly by a father who promises to make him see sense."

King Frederic seemed even more brooding. "If anything happens again…" The threat was dark and cruel.

"I know. Please, sire. Save face for the kingdom and give me the chance to fix this. As your friend, I beg you," Quirin pleaded. "He'll be kept under watch and he will learn his lesson. He will pay dearly for his crimes, you have my word. And in the proper path, think of what good he could do for the kingdom."

"We will not execute a child." Queen Arianna seemed very resolute. "If we lock him up in the dungeons, we will be admitting our weakness. And as Quirian proved, we bear some fault as well. This is the best way. Please?"

King Frederic was quiet for a long moment but finally nodded. "Agreed."

Varian let out a breath he didn't know he'd be holding. "Thank you, your majesty. I swear, I'll spend the rest of my life making up for what I did," he managed to say.

"Don't think this show of mercy is a sign of weakness," Dad said, yanking Varian up by the ear. His father had never been so rough with him. "I took the liberty of visiting the kitchens before coming here." The package was unwrapped. It wasn't a frying pan. It was a rattan cane used for hanging herbs. Varian gulped, knowing it wasn't going to be used to dry the next day's mint. His eyes were wide and pleading. His father had spanked him a few times but had never punished him so cruelly before. "Now, you can atone and properly beg for forgiveness. Then you can come out and beg the court publicly for their forgiveness."

Queen Arianna looked sad. "Is this really needed?" she said. "I think the situation has been solved."

Dad didn't take the offer of mercy. "I believe it is, your Majesty. My son must learn his lesson and the kingdom must see that only childish mischief happened, not treason. We need people to see chastised little boy, not a dangerous criminal."

King Frederic smiled cruelly. "I for one think it's entirely appropriate. Let justice be done."

Dad moved his hand to the scruff of the neck and led him back over to a high table He guided him to be bent over it. It was so high, Varian was forced on his toes. Without the use of his hands, he was awkward.

Varian was a lamb willingly going to the slaughter. He steeled himself, reminding himself he deserved this. He deserved far worse.

Crack.

He hissed as the thin rod whipped deeply into his backside. The cut was a shocking blast of blistering pain.

Crack

Despite never using anything but his hand on Varian before, Dad was clearly experienced. He laid down another very painful welt across Varian's sit spots for maximum agony. Sitting ever again would be a nightmare. Tears were freely running down his face.

Crack.

"Please, Dad, no more," he begged. He had resolved to be stoic because he knew he deserved this and to prove but he felt like he had sat down on one of his fire experiments.

Dad put a hand on the small of Varian's back. "You earned this. Take it like a man. If not, you know what happens,"

Varian did indeed. Failing to comply with a punishment meant getting the belt across his hands, something which was maddeningly painful. It had only happened once and once was enough. He had accidentally turned the village's water supply a harmless shade of red, and when his father had come to his room to administer his punishment, Varian had used a sleeping gas on his dad, hoping he would forget after a good nap. Quirian had not forgotten and Varian still felt nervous around the stream, sleeping gas, and red dye. He forced himself to stay in position, head down, legs straight, and not move to get this humiliation and pain over with.

"I deserve this," he kept reminding himself. He deserved so much worse. He couldn't hide how much he was sobbing.

Crack.

"That's enough," Queen Arianna said, an angel of mercy even after all he had done to her. "He's just a child."

"Your Majesty, he must learn his lesson," Dad said.

"Quirian is right. A child never did badly for a good spanking," King Frederic said, although a note of pity had gotten into his voice. "I got a few myself when I misbehaved. It will teach the boy right from wrong. He'll have a sore backside and a wiser heart."

Crack.

"Quirian, enough!" Queen Arianna said. 'The poor child has learned his lesson."

"My queen is right. You'll keep him on the straight and narrow." The king didn't even sound hateful anymore. He sounded pitying as well. "I imagine you'll be keeping that cane close."

"Yes, your majesty. It will hang on the door," Dad said, his voice still ice. "Thank you for sparing him. He will spend the rest of his life fulfilling that vow."

"Six blazing strikes in total and Varian was truly sobbing in pain as he stood up.

"This isn't the end of the discussion. Now, apologize and thank the King and Queen for their mercy!

Varian shakily got to his knees, falling flat without the use of his hands. "I beg your pardon, your majesty. I am ashamed of my actions and promise I'll be your most loyal servant," he managed to stammer out. "Thank you for your kind mercy, which is much more than I deserve." His tears blurred his vision.

Queen Arianna sighed. "Don't be too hard on him." she pleaded. "He's just a little boy."

"He was yanked to his feet by the ear. "Of course," Dad said. "By your majesty's leave."

"Both bowed, the gesture making Varian's welts even more sore as they walked out of the room. A crowd was waiting. People were smiling sadistically at him, seeing a little boy who had gotten his just desserts. "I'm sorry," he hiccuped. He wasn't even a traitor. He was a pathetic little boy.

"Serves the brat right," a few whispered. "He'll learn a new tune now."

"Varian was then walked stiffly back to his room, his Dad holding his ear the entire time. He was alive, but so very broken.

So, yes, Quirian was harsh on him, but I imagine you understand why. Besides, six of the best was given to teenagers in English boarding schools. Rattan canes hurt, but Varian's life wasn't in danger. I'll have chapter 3 up this week.