Chapter Text
Varian ran through the snow into his house. Panting heavily, he closed the door. “Dad, Dad! The princess refused to help but I--” He stopped, staring in horror at the amber overtaking his lab, his dad entrapped in the process. “...Dad?” he choked out.
He ran towards the amber. “Oh no. oh no no no no NO NO!” He pounded against the amber repeatedly. “DAD! DAD! NO NO NO!” he sobbed.
After a few minutes, he wiped away his tears. “Don’t… Don’t worry Dad. I’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise. I will… I will make you proud. I’ll get the answers and set you free, don’t you worry. Whatever it might take, I’ll keep finding a way. I swear, right now, that no matter what comes of me! Anybody who stands or has stood in my path, they are going to pay!” He knelt to the ground once more. “They will pay.”
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The fire that had fueled his veins seemingly moments ago burnt out. Varian didn’t know how long he had lied there, motionless against the amber. It comforted him, in an oddly twisted way. Nothing but the wind blowing outside the house and Rudiger’s soft chitters could be heard. It was peaceful. So… peaceful. This… this wasn’t fair! How could… How could everything be so peaceful! His father, his Dad, trapped in that horrible amber, and everything around him had the gall to act like everything is fine! Just as his world was torn apart!
He screamed in rage and frustration as he pounded against the amber, a small part of him hoping that he could break it, before curling back into himself in defeat. His hands trembled at the brunt force he applied to them. His mind replayed the events at the palace; the trek, entering the castle, pleading to Rapunzel “Please you have to help me! The rocks, they’re encasing my Dad!”, how she just stood there as he was literally dragged out of the castle and thrown in the snow, finding his Dad—
A sorry mix between a sob and a laugh climbed out of his throat. What… What difference would it have made if Rapunzel had gone with him? If anything, bringing the princess would have slowed him down. He would have never made it in time anyway. A terrible realization crept into his brain the longer he thought about it. Rapunzel… she said that the kingdom was in a state of emergency. She never said she wouldn’t help him, it was more like she couldn’t help him. Not at that moment.
He thought about Rapunzel’s face as he was dragged away by the guards. Rapunzel didn’t look resigned or pitying for Varian’s situation, she stood there quite literally in shock. How could this be Rapunzel’s fault? Bile rose in his throat, it wasn’t Rapunzel’s fault at all, it was his. Rapunzel didn’t disobey his father’s command, that was him. She didn’t perform alchemy behind his Dad’s back, he did. She didn’t trap his Dad in the amber, it was him.
It was all his fault. The guilt and realization crushed him. If he had just listened! If he had stayed away from the rocks like he was supposed to then none of this could have happened! Varian’s breathing quickened as his mind drew more and more conclusions. Just because the amber was a result of toying with the black rocks didn’t mean Rapunzel had any connection to it, the chances of her being able to help were slim! Oh so slim, but the chance was still there.
Varian pulled off his glove and bit down hard, an action he did when things got too overwhelming for him. Rapunzel couldn’t come right then, but what about after the storm? She promised she would help him, just because she couldn’t come right then who’s to stop her from coming after? What if she came and there was nothing she could do? Would she abandon him altogether? Would she tell him it’s his problem, go fix it? He couldn’t! He needed help! He was just a—
Varian slowly put his glove back on and stared at the unforgiving amber. A heavy silence weighed down on his shoulders. He was just a kid. His Dad had been right all along, just as he always was. Varian was fourteen, he couldn’t do what a man in his twenties could do. He couldn’t do what his Dad could do. His Dad knew if he was ready for some information or not, but did it make it right? Was keeping it a secret from everyone, not just him, right? If it helped his village, why not tell them? Unless what he knew couldn’t help them at all.
Well, now he really couldn’t help them. Rudiger stroked his cheek, chasing away the last bit of tears from his face, but Varian hardly noticed. Had he just doomed his kingdom, his home, to destruction? Surely his father wouldn’t leave the kingdom hanging like that, right? Staring intently at the amber, Varian’s eyes took in every single detail of his Dad, searching and scanning for answers or some kind of sign. Varian stopped, a piece of paper clutched tightly in his Dad’s hand.
Filled with new purpose, Varian rushed to what was left of his workbench. He needed to break the amber, just because the rocks were unbreakable didn’t make the amber so! He needed to free his Dad, or at least break away enough if it that he could grab that scroll! Rudiger scurried behind him, chattering with excited energy. He would start small, with a pickaxe or a hammer. If that didn’t work, he’d scale it up, surely one of them has to work.
And Rapunzel! She could be coming at any moment! Either the next five minutes or (he’d hope not) five weeks, but she’ll be here. She promised. Rapunzel doesn’t break her promises. It might be a while but Varian can handle himself for that long surely. He had Rudiger to remind him to eat, just as he had before in the past. He’ll be fine!
At least he thinks.
Grabbing the first tool on the table, a saw, he attacked the amber with great enthusiasm. Trying to saw away the stubborn pieces of orange rock. The saw dulled after a few minutes of trying. “Ok, so the saw didn’t work. That’s fine! We can work with this. We have plenty of materials to choose from!” He tossed the dull saw away and picked up Ruddiger. “Time is of the essence Ruddy, out of everything, something has to give, either to tools or stones or alchemy...”
Varian trailed off from his sentence, placing Rudiger on the workbench he sat down and thought. Did he really want to try alchemy again? What if that made things worse? Worse? Things couldn’t get worse. He thought bitterly. If only Rapunzel didn’t... Varian shook the thoughts away. He couldn’t use Rapunzel as a scapegoat. If he was ever going to prove to his Dad that he could trust him to do anything, he had to own up to his mistakes. After all, what is alchemy but a series of mistakes until you get the desired results?
Taking one of his hammers off the wall, he smacked it against the amber with renewed vigor. After the third hit, the hammer broke apart, the amber still perfectly intact. Varian glared at the broken hammer in his hands. He sighed tiredly, looking over to his workbench to see Rudiger fast asleep. His own eyelids threatened to close before Varian smacked himself in the face. “No! Don’t fall asleep, Dad’s depending on you... and I’m talking to myself.” Varian’s knees buckled under his weight and he landed on the amber. Maybe he was more tired than he thought.
Two voices roared in his head, one desperately begging for him to stay awake, the other calmly informing him he’d do a better job if he had some rest. If you’re tired, then you’re more likely to make some mistakes. A voice sounding a lot like Dad echoed in his mind. You’ll work more efficiently once you’ve had some rest. Rest… rest sounded really good right now if he was honest. But Dad could be dying! He needed to…
Varian never got to complete his thought, for his hand slipped on the amber and his head came crashing down.