Cassandra heard a knock at the door.
"Come in!"

"Hey Cass!" She saw Rapunzel standing at the doorway.

"Hi Raps," Cassandra smiled. "Come in!"

"Actually, it's us!" Rapunzel moved away from the doorway and Casandra saw Eugene and Varian come in.

"Oh, hi" Cassandra said while Varian closed the door.

"We wanted to talk to you about something." Rapunzel nervously smiled.

"Yeah?"

"The point is--" Rapunzel hesitated.

"Raps, is everything OK?" Cassandra's brow furrowed.

"Yeah, it's - it's just, we, uh--" She stammered. Something was definitely wrong.

"We want to know who Steve and Anne are." Varian filled in.

"Well they are my friends." Cass casually said.

"Well well, who knew that the Ice lady could make friends?" Eugene sneered.

"What's that suppose to mean, Fitzherbert?" Cassandra snapped.

"Everyone, calm down! Just take a deep breath, ok?" Rapunzel said, taking a deep breath and then turning to Cass, said, "We just want to know more so that, you know, we can hang about with them!" She nervously smiled.

"I already told you Raps,they are my friends and they have my trust. I owe my life to them." Cass said, visibly annoyed.

Rapunzel sensed it. "Yeah, yeah, we totally get it! Right guys?" Rapunzel turned to Eugene and Varian who were standing behind her. She gave them the 'just-go-with-the-flow' look.

"Fine." Eugene sighed while Varian just rolled his eyes. He didn't look pleased.

While they turned to go, Cass called out to Rapunzel,"Raps, can we talk?" She looked at Eugene and Varian, "Alone?"

"Sure!" Rapunzel let out a nervous chuckle and looked at them, motioning them to go.

"Sure Sunshine, we'll leave you two alone." Eugene said, and both of them went out of the room.

Cass closed the door and turned to Rapunzel, "Now, what's the matter, Raps?"

"What?" She let out another nervous chuckle.

"You clearly don't seem like yourself. You are doubting those who I trust. Are you OK? Is something bothering you? If it's Fitzherbert I--"

"Cass, Cass, calm down! I am OK! I and Eugene completely trust you and your friends!" Rapunzel reassured. "It's just--" She stopped.

"What is it, Raps?"

"Its Varian." She sighed. "He doesn't like them. He's a bit sceptical about them."

"But why?" Cassandra said, trying to piece together what she had been told just now.

"Maybe it's because--" Before Rapunzel could finish, she was cut off by Nigel's voice in the hallway.

"Your Highness, sorry for the interruption, but your presence is required."

"Oh! I forgot! I had some duties to attend to! See you later, Cass" Rapunzel hugged her.

"Bye Raps." Cass hugged her back.

Little did Rapunzel notice the anger in her friend's voice.

Varian was playing with Ruddiger in the garden peacefully until he heard Cassandra's voice behind him.

"Varian!"

He turned to find himself gazing into Cassandra's sharp and angry hazel - green eyes.

"What is up with you?" Her voice was marked full of anger.

"What do you mean?" He asked, confused.

"Why are you so sceptical about Steve and Anne?"

"Oh, you mean YOUR FRIENDS who show up out of no-where for our help and reside in the castle?" He remarked, sarcastically.

Cassandra glared into the firm blue eyes that didn't even flinch a bit. "They are my friends. I trust them." She said, firmly.

"Well I don't trust them! For me, THEY ARE JUST TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE OUR ADVANTAGE!"

That last sentence made her stop in her tracks. Did he still she her as a threat? Was he still afraid of her? She felt a surge of anger and sadness in her for the respective reasons.
Without giving a second thought, she blurted out, "Well, at least they trust me and care about me!"

"You think I don't care, Cassie?" He said, sounding visibly hurt which Cassandra didn't seem to notice.

"When did you?"

Varian was taken aback. Since he had known her, he cared for her. And now, for the sake of two suspicious people, she forgot that he cared?
"Fine, if you say so." And he stormed out.