Introducing some OC's here.
Chapter 5: Discussing Varian
As Nigel walked through the corridors, the other direction of where the guards had taken the prisoner, he let out an insulted humph. He spotted a slice of triangle shaped ham, and went a wide circle around it, frowning in disgust.
"That little imbecile..." he muttered. "He should have remained in the dungeon. He's not that young, he doesn't deserve to be petted like a guest. His Majesty defends him like-like... Like that Fitsherbert! And those... group of muscle bullies with bid noses and helmets and sweat all over that... that..." The royal advisor let out a cry of frustration as he passed the main doors and entered the sunlight. Then, he drew his breath and let out a heavy sigh. "Is Corona to be surrendered in the hands of the criminals? What is it becoming?"
He looked up at the sky, pondering in deep thoughts when the sound of horses trotting caught his attention. When looking towards the gate, he spotted a carriage and two riders in formal attire behind it.
"My word, who can that be? We're not expecting anyone?" he mumbled and begun walking down the stairs. "Unless his Majesty has forgotten!"
The driver stopped the wagon and climbed down to open the door, and a tall elegantly dressed gentleman climbed out, with a long face with an even longer and rather huge nose, black and gray striped hair that was coamed back, small, narrow black eyes squinting in the sudden sunlight. A short, straight mustache over a huge bottom lip and a carefully shaped goatee straightened the impression of his long face. His clothes were of the fashion with large striped puffed shoulders reaching he elbow, and tight sleeves on the rest of the arm, and a dark plumb colored waistcoat and puffed pants. The buckles of his shoes were blinking in the sun, along with the golden medallion hanging loosely around his neck. He practically reeked of authority, and he looked like he was used to it.
Nigel immediately recognized him, and his face brightened up in a relieved smile. "Duke Walponce Douteux! What a delightful sight for the eyes. You are welcome like a light breeze in a warm summer day." Nigel said as he walked down the stairs to greet him. "But what a surprise! We did not expect you until next month?"
"Nigel, my dear friend." the Duke's strict face broke up in a modest smile as he lifted his head. "I know I wasn't expected so early, but I felt I couldn't wait any longer."
"Well, in my opinion, Your Grace arrives just in time." Nigel said as he reached the ground level. "I only wish our situation were of another kind." Nigel noticed the two riders, both red haired and with a wide difference in age, had stepped down from their horses. While the younger one went to assist the other travelers in the carriage, the eldest of them went to greet Nigel and the Duke with a warm smile. Nigel smiled just as welcoming as he approached.
"Dear Prince Lars! It has been too long. You're looking very well."
"Thank you, Nigel. May I say the same?" the Prince said and took Nigel's hand in his and gave it a good shake.
"Oh, your Grace is too kind." Nigel choked a laugh and smiled back. "How is your son doing? I believe he must have grown a bit by now."
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Prince Lars said and turned to the wagon. "Daniel? Come now, we're here."
The younger red haired rider were about to help a lovely looking lady out of the wagon, but she made a cry when she was pushed aside as a young boy skipped out beside her and would have made her fall out hadn't the young rider been so quick to catch her. The boy ran to his father, who immediately gave him an angry face.
"Daniel! What have I said about being careful, and nice to your cousin?"
"She was so slow." the boy complained.
Nigel hurried to cover for the embarrassing incidence and bent down to the young boy. "Young Prince Daniel! My, I must say you have grown. Tell me, how old are you now?"
"Not as old as you, fish face." the boy said, staring directly at him with mischievous, brown eyes. The boy had the same red hair as his father, and freckles all over his face. And when he spoke, he exposed a pair of rather huge front teeth with a gap between them. Nigel were for a moment whipped of the branch as the boy's appearance and attitude gave him similarities to someone else that he preferred not to think about now.
He both looks and sound like the traitor! He could have been his younger brother. Oh dear, that is the last thing we need now.
"Daniel?!" his father grabbed a hold on his shoulder, forcing him to look at him. "One more prank from you, and you will go to bed without supper. Do you understand?" He rose and gave Nigel an apologizing look, apparently he must have mistaken the disturbed look on Nigel's face. "I hope you will forgive him. He's... tired after such a long journey."
"Don't bother excusing him, uncle. He's been a nightmare all the way!"
They turned to face the rest of the company, first to the lady. Even though she was a lovely sight, her face expressed frustration.
"Princess Annabelle. A delightful view as always!" Nigel said and took the hand she reached out and kissed it politely. "I am so glad you came along to please us with your presence, a privilege we seldom get." He turned to face the other, young red haired man, He had bright green eyes and a rather friendly appearance. "And I have the pleasure of meeting..."
"Jonas is my name, and the pleasure is all mine." the young red haired man did like the elder, took Nigel's hand in a good grip and gave it a solid shake and smiled warmly.
"Nigel, this is my brother." Prince Lars said, and chuckled lightly. "One of them, that is."
"Prince Jonas, what a pleasure. That was... I took the liberty of learning the name of all of you. Now, let me see..." Nigel started counting on his fingers while he looked up in the sky. "Caleb, Franz, our very own Lars here..." he gave a nod towards the present, and kept counting. "Then it was Jurgen... Asger, Storm... No, was it the other way around? Oh dear, it's been forever. I once knew this by line..."
While Lars looked a little bothered by Nigel's mentioning of his brother's line, Jonas broke into a laugh. "Save yourself the trouble, my friend. You won't find me among the sprawling dandies of Southern Isles!"
This comment made Lars turn to his younger brother with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "Sprawling dandies? What do you mean with that?"
"Oh, I wasn't thinking of you, dear brother." Jonas gave him an excusing look, along with a teasing smile. "After all, you are more from Corona now than from our homeland."
"Hah! Bless me." Prince Lars chuckled. "I'll tell you one thing, little brother..." he gave him a small shoot with his finger on his brother's nose as they passed eachother. "If some is a sprawling dandy here, it's you!"
Jonas chuckled as he gave his nose a slight rub before he tried to reach for his brother's ear. "Now, just because you're older..."
The Duke decided all of a sudden that there had been enough talk and cleared his throat, causing the two brothers to stop their playful argument and straighten up. "Well, shall we, Nigel? I am eager to see my cousin." Then he turned to his horseman. "Leave my luggage be. This will only take an hour or so." he turned back to Nigel. "And on our way, maybe you will give me a short update about our situation here in Corona?"
"Let us move to the garden then, where the King and Queen are at the moment." Nigel said and put himself near the Duke as they begun walking. "I must tell you..."
Behind them, Lars held his son's hand in his to prevent him from running off. And behind them again, Jonas and Annabelle came, she holding his arm as they walked, speaking in between themselves. "That little... I can't believe father let him get away with that!"
"Hush beloved. Remember why we're here." Jonas said as he stroke his free hand above hers, making her look up at him, and her frustrated face broke into a smile and a blush.
"Oh, I suppose you're right."
As they went through the castle door, they only had eyes for each other.
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"Give him an execution?" the King gasped and widened his eyes. "But I promised Rapunzel..."
"Sire!" the Captain said determinant. "I'm not saying we shall actually go through with it. I'm only saying at if he got to believe that he actually were to be executed, maybe he would realize once and for all that his very life actually is in your Majesty's hands."
"Oh, I don't know... It sounds a bit... for all we know, there's a chance he would actually loose his mind completely if we scare him too much." He turned towards his wife. " Arianna? What do you think?"
Arianna sat quiet for a long time. Her thoughts were tumbling in her mind. The Captain's word were indeed true. Varian didn't seem to understand what kind of situation he really was in, and he didn't seem to see how severe his crimes really were. He was too blind of anger and grief that everything else were unimportant. But in order for him to recover and make up for himself he would have to face the consequences of his actions. And how could he do that if he kept blaming them for his misery?
But the first image that occurred in her head was a rope, hanging there, ready for use. And Varian, being dragged towards it, absentminded and angry like usual. But then, he would eventually spot the rope, and shut up as he would notice that the distance between him and the rope would shorten. His blue eyes would widen, his mouth would open and all of a sudden she heard him cry out loud, scream in panic as he would realize the vital truth. She could almost hear his scream as he would eventually give in for the tears he had held back for too long.
"NOOOOO! No, no no no! Not yet! I'm not ready... I'm not ready, I was never ready! NOOOOOOO!"
She could see him try to fight in vain for his life as he would be led up to the rope, hanging loosely kicking wildly to get himself free, the courtyard filed with echoes of his loud sobbing and screaming.
She knew exactly what he would feel. Helpless. Desperate. Completely without control. Like that day in his lab, after he had poured the compound on the rocks beside her where she was chained. She recalled the feeling of helplessness that had overflowed her when she realized she was close to face the same fate as poor Quirin. How her life had passed before her eyes as she begged for a miracle.
Her miracle had come in form of Ruddiger, who had seen how far his master had gone and decided to help them despite his loyalty to Varian. And in a way he had been for Varian as well, as he refused to leave his side. Everytime she looked at Ruddiger, it was as if he was pleading her to forgive him for his acting, like he was trying to excuse his behavior and tell them he wasn't being himself. Any maybe he hadn't been? Today's showing had proven how distant he was from the world around him. Was it too late to save him? Maybe the only solution after all...
No! She couldn't... How could she even have such thoughts in her head? He was only a child, a child who were in desperate need of help, poorly ignored for too long. So why... How could she as a mother let this... What kind of a mother would...
"Arianna? What is the matter?"
Fredric's voice brought her back to reality, and she looked at him, all of a sudden finding herself shaking and breathing heavily and for some reason, covering her ears with her hands. Somehow, she had imagined his screams to be real and trying to shut them out. Taking a hold on herself, she drew her breath and stood up. "I... I believe this discussion should take place without me. I... I am not feeling well."
Fredric looked at her with worried eyes, but she choose to ignore it as she suddenly felt a strong need to get away from the situation. She walked past the Captain, but weren't able to face his concerned look. She walked with steady steps until she reached the door. Once inside, she begun running, as fast as she could, up their bedroom.
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In the other end of the castle, the two guards were still discussing loudly.
"Of all the things you have said to me ever... Has one ever been true?" Stan said furiously.
"I can't believe this, Stan!" Pete were just as frustrated, and lashed out his anger back at his friend. "I can't believe you're taking his word over mine! "
"But everything was true that day, it was proved. And saying things like that about my wife..."
"I wouldn't dream of saying anything about your wife. Martha's a wonderful woman!"
"Her name is Mary!"
They kept the arguing like this for a while, standing on the spot shouting at eachother's faces, while Varian pulled his goggles down his eyes before carefully wiping his greased gloved at his pants to clean them, pressing the chains towards his body to prevent them from rustling. Then he begun opening the little silver pot he had brought with him, grinning to himself.
But all of a sudden, Stan stopped. "Now wait a minute?!" He paused a moment and frowned right into Pete's face. "Exactly WHEN have you tasted my wife's cooking?"
"He hasn't!"
The two guards stopped arguing at when Varian suddenly spoke, and they both turned to look down at the prisoner; and immediately regretted they did as a cloud of brown powder were blown directly in their faces.
A note: You might have noticed that this is a crossover with Frozen? For those who has read the book A Frozen Heart, you will find some of Hans' elder brothers are introduced and named. Like in the book, Caleb is the eldest, and there are Lars, the third son. Franz and Jürgen were names given a pair of them in the television series Once Upon A Time, although I have no idea of where the two are in the line of brothers. Although in the original book, Lars was about to become a father, as his child is yet to be born. I have just speeded up things a little and given him an offspring. Of canon, my story. Lars belongs to Disney while the rest of the OC's are made my me, although I have taken the liberty of giving him an look of my own.