Siblings of Corona B1:Life In the Tower

Chapter 22

Arianna shifted the book in her hand as the doors burst open. She looked in their direction. A guard stood there panting, eyes wide. "Your majesties! It happened!"

"What happened?" Fredric raised a brow.

"The princess! Your daughter is outside! She has returned!"

Arianna and her husband looked at each other. For a moment, they forgot posture and their picture of form. They ran. They ran to the large doors that opened to the courtyard.

Rapunzel had been squeezing her hands with worry. Cassandra paced nervously. Eugene was holding Varian, who had set his arm around his neck to make it easier. Varian could have stood up himself, but it was painful to do anything and he wasn't used to feeling pain for so long. Rapunzel always jumped in and healed him seconds after it began. They all looked up when they saw both the king and queen.

The two stood there for a moment. It had been the queen who had first stepped towards her daughter. She slowly reached out her hand. For a moment, she hesitated before resting her hand gently on Rapunzel's cheek. The seventeen year old closed her eyes and sunk into it. Gothal had often touched her cheek, but it never felt real, so genuine, as this. This woman didn't know her and already was giving her love. She smiled.

The queen felt tears of joy enter her eyes as she smiled. There was no doubt. This was her daughter.

"I'm Rapunzel," the girl said at last. "This is Cassandra and Varian. They're my brother and sister. That's Eugene. He saved us so many times and he and I..." Rapunzel realized she didn't know what to call it. "We're together."

The king and queen stood side by side. They glanced at each other. Cassandra looked rough around the edges, definitely not the style to take orders, but Arianna could see past the cold, hazel eyes and saw the soft, legitimate love for her brother and sister. There was more to her than appearances.

The boy, on the other hand, almost made the queen gasp. He was bruised on both his cheeks in the shape of hand prints. There was another large bruise that was partly visible on the side of his head, but it was mainly covered by hair. He was holding his side and stomach where it obviously hurt the most. His one sleeve was ripped all the way from his wrist to his shoulder, showing two deep, dark bruises. This disturbed the queen, but what bothered her the most was his eyes. They were so big and round and blue, who couldn't fall in love with him in the moment? It was the look in his eyes that tugged on Arianna's heart. Fear. They were so full of fear and pain. Physical and heartache.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but they're my siblings and Eugene saved us, along with his partner, Lance. Can-"

"Of course." Arianna smiled at her daughter. "Our home is your home and Cassandra's and Varian's. If Lance and Eugene saved you and are the reason you returned, of course. They'll be pardoned." She knew about Eugene and Lance stealing the crown. She didn't actually memorize the outlaws, there were way too many. However, they partook in stealing the crown, only to bring back her child a day later.

She looked at her husband, he seemed to disagree for a moment, then he looked at them again and his face softened. It wasn't just Varian's bruises and cuts, but everyone's bedraggled looks. They had evidently been through a lot in the past twenty four hours. Fredric had a heart, a big heart, just like his wife. It was just shown in different ways than hers. Seeing the plea in his wife's eyes, he nodded with agreement.

"Thank you!" Rapunzel hugged both of them.

Arianna motioned for the others to join. Eugene set Varian down and limped over and joined. Cassandra had hesitated, but her insides were screaming with pain. Not the physical, but it hurt all the same. She accepted the offer. When Eugene didn't join, the queen held out her hand to him. He accepted, thinking that it was a hand shake, but she pulled him into the group hug.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Arianna, I know how you feel about all this. Trust me, I know they need help, but you can't just take in three teenagers like that." Fredric looked at his wife who was in her nightgown, brushing her hair.

"Fredric, we have all the resources to raise dozens of teenagers."

"Yes, that's not the point. You can't really raise teenagers. What if they turn out to be hostile? We could handle one but three?"

"Well, technically five if you count their friends. Is it so hard to pardon them? Fredric, they are only nineteen, they didn't have the parental guidance like we did and they weren't as fortunate as us. They were bound to make mistakes. They're kids too, but none of them are hostile. I could tell by their eyes."

"You can't make up for the years we lost Rapunzel with them."

"I know, but we know them just as much as we do our daughter. They need help, and not just any help, our help."

The king sighed. "Alright. You win. We'll adopt her two siblings. As for friends, they'll be pardoned, but they'll be kept an eye on here."

"Thank you, Freddy. I know this is a lot to sink in, but I know you'll love them in time."

"Of course."

~~~~~~~~~~

It had been two weeks since the princess returned with her friends and adoptive siblings. A party began and the kingdom rejoiced. Arianna and Fredric were happy and filled with joy. There was just one thing that bothered the queen. Varian. He didn't look at her, he trembled and shook every time in her presence, he always hid behind one of his sisters or Eugene. She never even heard him speak or even vocal a noise when he tripped over his own foot, landing unceremoniously on the ground.

She had wanted him to rest, but if his sisters or Eugene or Lance weren't in the room, he'd have a panic attack. He'd stop breathing and all, so he was allowed to follow the others to ease his fears. She wanted him to know that she was trustworthy, but she didn't know how to go about doing so.

At one point, she found herself standing by him in the throne room. Cassandra had dropped a bowl of oatmeal on her lap. Well, Eugene had 'accidentally' knocked it over on her lap, so she had to run and change. Rapunzel was getting a dress fitted and Eugene went to check on her. Who knew where Lance went.

Varian stiffened as he watched Eugene leave. He was alone with Arianna. She set a gentle hand on his shoulder, only for him to flinch. She took her hand back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

Varian looked down. She tried a different approach. "You know, your sisters told me all about what happened in that tower, with that... that... that woman. I understand that you may not trust me now, but I hope that one day you will. I want to help you, but you take all the time you need to heal. If that takes years, then let it take years. I just want you to know that I am always open for you."

He still didn't look up or say anything. Arianna sighed inwardly. She couldn't say she didn't try. She looked at the doors, hoping that Cassandra would return quickly for his sake.

"Maybe one day."

Arianna looked in surprise at Varian.

"Maybe I could trust you one day." he said. He made eye contact with her and slowly a small smile played on his lips.

That was enough for her.

The End

I loved making this story so much! I'll eventually get more to book 2 written so I can start posting. Thank you all so much for reading!