Chapter Text
The cart squeak on its wheels, breaking the silence of the woods. A horse-drawn cart in a single road line walk through as leaves fall on the tree and landed on the cart. Varian strir the horses, staring far in the end while Judy laid her head on his shoulder looking so tired. The forest is quiet, all but the sound of the cart wheels squeaking, like a graveyard on a quiet night. He looked at her.
"You okay babe? He asked with concerned. She just look up at him and nodded before laying her head back in it place. He just nodded at her before looking back at the road, stirring the horses.
It has already been a long journey for them and they need a rest. But if they rest now, they will die and dying is not what he has in mind, not when Judy need him more than ever. He sighed in stress and frustration. He thought back of the years they have been together, relying on each other and being together, and all the crimes they did together as well. And the thought of what his father would say of this, he doesn't feel like he would be proud, and he feels like it is all his fault, and his fault for dragging Judy in this. She doesn't deserve it, she should have been a musician like she dreamed of, singing her voice to the world, but he dragged her into his world.
He look at Judy, still laying her head on his shoulder and not even moving a muscle. Her eyes were on the road, breath slowly inhaling in and out. He wonders what if Judy thinking about. Maybe about her family who has seen her as nothing but a disappointment to them? About how she risk her own life for him? Or could it be that she have regret ever being loyal to him for some silly fantasy she thought of living in? He hated seeing her like this.
"Hey babe." He said in a soft voice.
Judy look up at him, not moving her head, just moving her eyes. She stared at him. "Yeah babe?" She responded to him, voice a little quiet through the lonely woods and the sound of the squeaking wheels.
Varian place an arm around her shoulder, pulling her a little close making her head touch his. "You know that..I love you, right?" He ask her, a little concern in his tone. Of course he knew the answer, she loves him. And that love she has for him never fade away, for all she did for him.
Judy look at him, eyebrow frown down and a frown on her face. "Of course, why else would you say that?"
"It's just..I would feel so awful if something happens to you." He admitted.
Judy just rolled her eyes, away doubtful he been. She lay her head back on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his torso. "Baby, I rather die to save you than die for no reason. You're my light."
"As you are mine." He let out a soft smile. He laid his head on top of hers, he looked at her with loving eyes. He breathes in and out, moving along with hers. "I love you Judy."
"I love you too Varian..."
9 years earlier
Judy sat by the bonfire, watching the flame go up and warming her and her swan Odette. She stared with a blank expression, watching the crackly fire roar and let out a speck of flame.
It has been a seven week trip for her and her family, from Corona to here. She thought back on her times in Corona. With Rapunzel, she can see the carefree smile on her face. Eugene, the man who is almost like a second father to her, she can remember the times he introduces her to Lance, his old friend. Cassandra, the person who always look after her when she's away from her overprotective family. And the last person she always think of, Varian.
She thinks back on the days she spends time with him. He always stay by her side, impressing her with his talent for alchemy, being her close friend and the times they have strange adventures together. At the first time they meet, she thought he was a weird kid who seems lost, but turns out to be a sweet boy. She smiles at the thought of when she first see him perform his alchemy work, how it amazed her, thrill her to her bones and put a smile on her face.
She think of the last time she saw him, when she and her family. have to leave for their journey. She frowned in a sad way, she hates leaving him, just when she found someone to call her own. But she must stay with her family, it's their motto since the beginning. Oh how she wish she can turn back time to see him one more time.
Odette look up to Judy, frowning to see her owner look so sad. She scoot closer, nuzzling her feathers against Judy's pants. She let out a quack, and that caught Judy's attention.
She look down to look at Odette. "I'm fine Odette." She unsure to her. "I'm fine." She stares back at the fire.
The sound of horses galloping through the woods is heard, with the rider guiding it through. The rider turns out to be a royal guard of Corona, he seems to be holding a written sheet of paper. He looks through each tree, looking for something in the open.
Judy sighed, till she hear the horse sound of a neigh. She look up and see the guard riding on his steed. She stands up, putting Odette on her head. The guard jumped off, holding the paper as he walked to her.
"Miss Judy Pot?" He asks her with a narrow look.
She let out nodded at him.
The guard stopped before her, stand up straight. "I've been given a task to deliver this to you all the way from Corona." He handed her the paper, the paper is brown. Ink in it is black and look like it is signed by the queen.
Judy grab the letter, hold it in both hands and read it. As she read it, her face turned into a confused look, then sadness and then to shock. She places a hand over her mouth while still reading. She felt her stomach getting sick as she continued reading, eyes feel up with tears, one fell from her face and onto the paper.
'Dear Miss Judy Pot, this is Arianna, Queen of Corona. I'm afraid I have horrible news, it's about Varian. Our kingdom and Old Corona was being threatened by theses black rocks, it already tooken Old Corona to ruines, but Varian and Quirin stay behind. After was a horrible snow storm, my husband Frederic and I were stuck during. My daughter, Rapunzel was in charge of making sure or kingdom are safely stable. It wasn't till Varian came, asking her for help. Quirin is encased by Varian's ember, but unfortunately he was denied, for 'attacking' Rapunzel. Please don't be angry at Rapunzel for this, she is needed in the kingdom and they need her more, I know how deeply close you and Varian are. Sadly, after the storm is gone, Rapunzel and Varian both broke into our royal vault and try to take our prize possession, the Sundrop Flower. Varian took the flower away and escape before any of our guards can. Frederic knew of these rocks, and he couldn't stop them. And, I am so sorry to tell you that, Varian almost harmed our people, kidnapped me and done dangerous task. He almost killed me and Cassandra, try to harm my daughter to free Quirin with no unveil. He is now in custody in the dungeon, for his safety and for our kingdoms as well, while Rapunzel and her friends are out of Corona and following the rocks in hope to solve this threat. Please know that he will be alright and that he said 'Hello' to you. Take care sweetie. With great apology, Queen Arianna.'
She looked up at the guard, her face is in a terrified expression with tears in her eyes. "Is..Is this..a mistake?" She asked him, not wanting to believe what he says next.
"I wish it was Miss Pot." He answer her. "But on the king words, it is true." He shows a pitiful look on his face.
He feels sorry for her, now knowing the truth of this. He can tell that she is very close with him. And that's why the queen asks him to deliver the letter to her, so she would know about him, about what he has done and where he is.
Judy drop the letter and let it fell on the ground lightly. Both her hands are covering her mouth as tears fell from her eyes and slid on her cheeks. She felt her own world breaking down, all is torn apart and nothing but ashes and pieces. How can this happen to him? All because of a small mistake? And now he is in prison for the crime that just keep growing and growing like pest on greed. She feels like it's her fault for not being there when it happened, if only she tell her parents to let her stay in Corona for a few more weeks, to be there during that terrible snowstorm.
She dashed away to turn back and run to the cart. She pulled out a bag, and stuff in her spare clothes, a water canteen, some food for herself and Odette and bring a blanket as well. When she was sure she has all she needs, she ran back to the guard.
She grabbed him by the arm, staring at him with worried eyes. "Take me to Corona, now." She demands.
The guard look concern of this. He grabbed her arm and push it down. "Miss Pot, I don't think it's wise to-"
"Take me now!!" She shouted, her voice is cracking and tears roll out of her eyes. "He needs me right now! I can't let it go past me! Take me now please!!" She is begging to her core, when all her life she never begged. But with him on the cells, she feels the need to be there for him right now.
He look crossed between his duties and answering the plead of a young girl, and can't seem to choose which. With his eyes closed and inhale in and out, he opens them and helped Judy get on the straddle and hop in. She held onto him. The guard motion his horse to head back to Corona.
~*~
Five weeks, five long weeks with little rest and little time to make it to Corona. Judy keep telling the guard with her to pick up the paste or Varian could be in serious trouble than she thought, the guard think it was because she's in stress cause of her only best friend in trouble and feel the need to be there. He guess it's the one thing the queen ordered him to deliver that letter, because she's the only person Varian can really trust, the only one left with his father in that ember prison. She's the only one Varian can turn to in his time of need, and the last person that have contest with him for the past months.
The view of Corona is seen by the two, Judy held on to the guard in a panic manner, the guard order his horse to run to the castle as fast as it could. As fast to Corona for Judy's sanity.
They rode across the kingdom, pasting the citizens as they go on to their daily lifestyle. Judy see a path of black rocks around Corona. The letter did say that the black rocks are becoming a threat more than Varian, and that Rapunzel with her friends are on a journey to discover the mystery behind these rocks. But for how long will it take to solve this and get Quirin out of that ember prison? Judy feel her body shake with fear, sadness and worry for Varian.
The horse stopped in front of the castle. The guard jumped off of the stadle, then he help Judy off as well too. Judy then dash off and enter the castle, running past the guards who are chasing her. But Judy can't stop to explain, she needs to find the king and get to the bottom of this.
She sees the king on his throne, sitting next is his wife, the queen. As their adviser, Niguel was it? Yes, that was it. The one who ordered the guards to remove him during the snowstorm. Niguel tell of the plans to patch the damage that Varian cause and the destinations of the rocks. That can wait she thought to herself, Varian is more important than a few damages.
Then she is grabbed by a few guards as they held her down.
"Let me go! Let me go!!" She cries out. Her yell cause the attention of the three. They see her trying to break out of the guards grasp. "Let me go!" She cry out again.
"Judy?" King Frederic is surprised to see her, and. surprise that she came all the way here. He watched her struggle against the guards. "Release her, she's not a threat."
The guards release her. Judy run to the throne, and fell on the floor. Queen Arianna stand up from her throne and kneel before her, helping her up. Judy got up, dusted herself up and walk to Frederic with a pissed off face.
She stands before him. "You let Varian suffer while you are more concerned for your own safety?! And you knew of these rocks and didn't do anything about it!?! HOW COULD YOU!!!?" She was shouting her voice up as new tears fell on her face. She didn't care if she's in a public area, all she cares about is Varian alone. Let them hear her have a breakdown, let them hear her pain of heartbreak and angst, they deserve it.
King Frederic stare down and Judy as he sees the tears falling from her eyes. He let out a tired sigh. He figured this would happen, after all the two trusts each other more than they trust anyone. Varian is alway sees as Judy's best friend, one Judy can tell her secret to and can rely on when trouble comes to her. Same as Varian to Judy, the two are inseparable. He walked down the stairs of his throne and stand before Judy, who glare at him through teary eyes.
Fredric look down on the floor, then stare at Judy. "Follow me please my dear." He told her. He turned around and walked to the other side of the door.
Judy turn to Arianna, who nodded at her to follow him. Judy wiped the tears off her eyes and go after Frederic.
~*~
The two enter inside the battle room. Judy look around, she hasn't been to this area since she last visited the kingdom. She spotted the model of the kingdom on a table, with the end being Old Corona. She really miss going there, where she and Varian would go and find new ways to improve his alchemy skill, they talk all about their life and enjoy their time together. But now it is a farm of the black rocks, and Quirin is stuck in that cursed ember. She stopped at the end as Frederic walk to the other side.
Frederic face her. "It is true about what my wife have written, about Varian." He admitted to her, who is listening to him. "And please understand that as a king, I must do all I can to save my people, even if it means him too. I never meant for it to happen, even when I know about those rocks, I couldn't do anything to stop them." He finished.
Judy stare at him, disbelief in her. All the time Frederic spent, he let it happened just like that. She frowned, feeling a more heavy weight pushing her down.
"As for Varian, he is going to be sent on a trial for the crime he did." Frederic inform at her. "Whatever you want to believe he only did this cause he has to or not, he needs to pay for his crime." He stared down at her. He walked to her and place a hand on her shoulder like the father he is. "I need you to understand this." He said.
Judy look at him, trying to not let his gaze broke her. Her lips form a very thin line of this. Sure Varian did bad things in his anger and betrayal, but Rapunzel didn't go to him when he needed her and Judy feel bad that she wasn't there for him. Judy gridded her teeth and stare at him. "Trial for all the wrong he did?" She questioned him. "He is only a kid like me, and he is being punished?!"
"There is nothing I can do to change it." Frederic told her. "Even if I could, the law won't allow me to prove his innocence."
Judy inhale in and out. She looked at him with a hard look. "Then I will testify for him." She said.
Frederic blinked. "You'll what?" He sound surprised. "I already told you, he is going to go to trial. I don't think anything you can say or do can change the court's mind." He told her. He refuses to believe Judy's choice due to grief and her reckless behavior.
"Well at least let me see him." Judy said. "Let me see him before he gets sent to the trial."
"No, absolutely not." Frederic shook his head of this. "I'm sorry but he is too dangerous to be seen without watchful eyes. I can't allow you to get close to him."
But Judy glare daggers at him, she will not leave until she know Varian is alright. She feels the strong need to acknowledge of how Varian will handle being stuck in the dungeon cell. "I made my mind." She argued with a dark voice. "Let me see my Vary."
Frederic face pull a snarl. "I said no-"
"NOW!!!!' Judy interrupted him. She sounds so determined and desperate to give up.
Frederic back away when he saw the look on her face, it has a dark presents along with the sight of looking. She really wants to see Varian even if it gets her into trouble. He tries to come up with an excuse to get Judy to change her mind, but he can see that tying to testify against her won't change her, she's so stubborn and never think of what her action can do to herself. So it will be better to give her her request or else they will get into another argument.
He let out a sigh, he had no choice now. Inhaling in and letting it out, he stares at her. "Then follow me please." He ordered her, walking out with Judy following him.