Cassandra couldn't be prouder of Varian than she is right now. His invention was instrumental in saving the day! It would have been nice to know that they had what they needed all along... but still. She hopes this event helps to raise his self esteem a bit.
But of course, who is she to be criticizing his self esteem issues?
"Hey, Varian?" She says, gazing up at him.
"Yeah?"
She smiles as she fiddles with the end of his hair. "I'm proud of you."
His eyes light up slightly, but not quite as much as when he is genuinely flattered. "Thanks, Cassie. That... That means a lot to me."
"It better," she teases. "I mean it. You were amazing today."
"We were amazing today," he corrects.
"Alright, yes," she says. "We make a pretty good team, huh?"
"Yep," he agrees. But he seems distracted. Why is he still standing here, anyway? Doesn't he want to go check on his dad?
"Um... Should we maybe get going?" She says.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah! Of course."
She can tell he is trying to act upbeat, but something is bothering him. "Okay, what's wrong?"
"What? Nothing. I'm fine." His smile is sweet, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"No, your body language is telling me otherwise," she says. "You're acting like a kicked puppy, not someone who's about to be reunited with his dad."
Varian chuckles as he takes her hand in his. "Alright, fine... since you seem to know me so well." He sighs, growing serious. "It's just... it's all over, you know? Our journey, our mission, whatever you wanna call it. We're done."
"Yeah, so?" Cassandra says, unsure where this is going. "That's a good thing."
"But now what?" Varian asks, his tone growing deeper with concern. "I have a life to get back to in Corona. I can't just abandon it. And you... you left Corona to find your place in the world. Your destiny. So... where does that leave... us?"
"Wait, that's what you're worried about?" At first she can't believe that this is even a question to him! But when she thinks about what she has put him through these past few months, how indecisive she has seemed, she can see how he might be uneasy about exactly where her heart will lead her. It's best to put any of his anxiety to rest right now.
"Varian, I want you to listen closely." She steps in front of him and grabs his tense shoulders firmly, making certain he is looking directly into her eyes. "I love you. That is not something I take lightly. I may have questioned my place in the world before, but now? Now, you are my place. You are my destiny. You're... you're my home."
Home. The feeling that has eluded her for so long. She is now absolutely certain that she feels it with Varian. As long as she is with him, she knows she is where she belongs.
She can tell that her reassurance has stirred Varian's emotions, for his eyes are glistening with tears. Her hands still on his shoulders, she can feel him relax as he heaves a sigh of relief. Swept up in the moment, he grabs her face and pulls her into a long, deep kiss. Due to the affirmation of her statement, the promise of their future, she feels as if it is the best kiss they have ever shared. As she lowers her arms to wrap them around his waist and pull him closer, her body flush against his, she never wants to let him go. Ever.
A few minutes later, Varian and Cassandra are strolling through the streets of the Dark Kingdom. Not only did the Angst raise the dome, but it also restored everything it had destroyed... Everything King Edmund built.
"Looks like the Angst really wasn't what it seemed, just like King Edmund's note said," Cassandra points out.
"And Kaspar's message in the Vardaros mine," Varian says.
Cassandra smirks as she ponders their travels. "We've really had quite the adventure, haven't we?"
Varian nods. "And something tells me, we have plenty more adventures to look forward to." He chuckles nervously as he adds, "Like the one now, for instance."
"What do you mean?" She asks, raising a curious eyebrow.
"I mean, we're about to find my dad," Varian says. "And, you know, a lot has changed since he was last free..." He gestures between the two of them.
Cassandra feels as if all the blood has drained from her body. The thought of telling Quirin about hers and Varian's newfound relationship hadn't occurred to her. Why hadn't it occurred to her?!
"Oh, um..." Small beads of sweat pool up on her forehead. "Varian, do we really have to tell him about us now? He's probably trying to reorient himself. Let's... let's hold off on that, okay?"
This is a conversation she is certainly not prepared for. How would it even go? Hey Quirin, remember me? I'm the one who kidnapped your son, mindtrapped you and your fellow Brotherhood members, and tried to take over the kingdom. Ha! Good times! So anyway, I'm dating your son now. She can practically envision his horrified reaction.
Varian takes in her pale face and wide eyes. "Okay, we'll—" He starts to say. But a voice from up ahead causes him to freeze.
"Varian?"
"Dad!" Varian shouts. He rushes into his father's arms, which are still much larger than his own. Despite her concerns, Cassandra can't help but smile at the scene before her.
"I'm happy to see you, son," Quirin says. "Although, I must admit that I'm not sure what happened."
"Don't worry, I'll tell you everything," Varian says. "And trust me, there is a lot to tell..."
Quirin grins, but his smile fades once he notices Cassandra standing back, watching them. "What is she doing here?"
Cassandra gulps, but steps forward. "Hello again. It's... It's good to see you." She holds her hand out to him, and for a moment she believes he won't take it. But finally, he shakes it reluctantly.
"Dad, Cass played a significant role in helping free you and the others from that dome," Varian says.
Quirin's brow furrows. "You sure she didn't play a role in causing the dome?"
Mixed emotions stir within Cassandra. Anger, regret, shame. She wraps her arms around herself protectively, and averts her eyes.
"Dad!" Varian scolds, shifting in front of Cassandra protectively.
"I'm sorry son, but you know how I feel about the things she's done."
"Don't be that way. You've forgiven me for the things I did."
"That's different."
"Is it, though?"
Cassandra glances up long enough to notice that Varian's face is red with anger. She has seen him take up for her before, but she never believed he would stand between her and his own father like this. She knows from past experience that he looks up to Quirin more than anyone else.
"Varian, I know she was important to you before, but—"
"'Was?' No, Dad, she is important to me. More important than you know. In fact, I love her!"
Cassandra gasps. Did he just...? Yep, he really told his father. Here we go... She thinks.
Quirin stares with his mouth agape, as Varian interlaces his fingers with Cassandra's. "Sorry, but I couldn't let him keep talking about you like that..." Varian whispers to her.
Facing Quirin again, Varian confidently stands taller. "Dad, I would appreciate it if you apologize to my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend...?" Quirin repeats. He sighs heavily, and shakes his head.
Varian stares at his father expectantly. "Dad?" He insists, after a long pause.
For a moment it seems as if Quirin will totally ignore Varian's request. In fact, Cassandra believes he may even turn from them and walk away. But to her surprise, Quirin steps forward. "I do apologize for what I said. I may not be thrilled about this situation... In fact, it's rather difficult for me to process. But... I only want my son to be happy. So I will try to see past the mistakes you made. For him."
"I... I appreciate that," Cassandra says. "But you don't need to apologize. You have every right to feel the way you do. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I regret the horrible things I did in the past, and I wish I could take them all back. They have been a source of great pain for me over the last few years, but... but Varian helped me see that I can learn from them, rather than let them drag me down. He has helped me more than anyone ever could, and I am extremely grateful to him." She smiles softly at Varian, and then continues, "I want you to know that I genuinely and deeply care for your son. I... I love him."
Quirin actually manages a small smile. "I'm glad to hear that."
Varian hugs his dad again, and pulls Cassandra in close. Cass can tell that Quirin is still unsure about this relationship of theirs, but she has faith that he will eventually come around. She can see that he is a good man, and it is evident how much he loves his son. She only hopes that, in time, she can prove to Quirin that she has truly changed for the better.