Chapter One
As morning broke, Sofia awoke from her slumber, full of excited joy. There was only one more day to go before the family attended the annual Derby she got of bed and donned her gown, she realised she felt strange. Her stomach felt a little queasy, there was a dull ache in her head,and despite the brisk fall air, she felt strangely warm.
Trying to put these feelings aside, Sofia joined her family for breakfast. However, she wasn't feeling very hungry.
"Is there something wrong, Sofia?" Miranda asked. "You've barely touched your food."
"I'm fine, mom." Sofia replied. "I'm just... not very hungry this morning."
After breakfast, Sofia made her way (Slightly unsteadily) to the royal carriage, which took the siblings to Royal Prep. During the journey, James noticed something was wrong.
"You okay, Sof?" James asked Sofia.
"Oh, I'm fine." Sofia replied quickly.
"Are you sure?" Amber chipped in. "You look a little... peaky."
"Breakfast didn't agree with me today, that's all." Sofia replied, throwing in an overly cheery smile.
Sofia had hoped that school work would help take her mind off her illness. But it didn't. Gradually, she felt worse. She also felt tired; So tired, in fact, that she fell asleep during sorcery class. When Merryweather called her name, she woke with a start, elicting snorts of laughter from her classmates, and worried looks from James and Amber. Sofia could tell that Merryweather did't look too happy.
"Yes. miss Merryweather?" She asked tentatively.
"Okay now, Sofia please have your Wand ready." Merryweather told her. "We are about to do one last magical spell before the tea party test tomorrow morning. I must remind everyone that you all must be here. There can be no retaking the test, as it is all part of your final Grade. Do you understand?"
"Yes Miss Merryweather. Sofia replied.
Shortly afterwards, the class went to lunch. Sofia barely touched her food, still too tired to do much.
"Sofia, would you like me to come to your Castle after school?" Vivian asked. We can study for the test together."
Sofia did not reply, as she had fallen asleep again.
"Sofia, wake up please" Vivian gently shook Sofia.
"Oh, sorry about that, Vivian." Sofia yawned. "What were you saying"
"Sofia are you feeling alright?" Vivian asked warily. "You've barely been listening to me. What's wrong"?
"It nothing Vivian." Sofia said, trying to shrug off her tiredness. "I'm just a little tired from Baileywick's do over party, that's all."
Vivian was starting to worry about her friend. This wasn't Like the Sofia who had help her overcome her fear of speaking in public.
On their return home Amber told Sofia "Hildegard, Cleo and I will be decorating for our study tea party today. You're welcome to join us."
"That's alright." Sofia shook her wearily.
"Suit yourself." Amber shrugged.
"Me and the Kitchen staff are going to do some Cooking. "James piped up. "Wanna help, Sof?"
James saw Sofia face go a little pale again.
"Are you okay?" He asked?
Sofia once again denied anything was wrong with her to her siblings, and went to the library to read (But mostly to avoid their accusing stares). Before she knew it, Baileywick entered the library, informing her that it was time for dinner.
"Princess Sofia, it's time for dinner." He said curtly.
"Coming, Baileywick." Sofia said softly.
As the two walked to the dining room, Baileywick noticed Sofia was a little slow and unsteady on her feet.
"Are you feeling okay, Princess Sofia?" He asked, his voice full of concern.
"I'm fine, Baileywick." Sofia gave a false smile. "Just fine..."
Baileywick was far from convinced.
Soon, they entered the dining room, and Sofia took her place among her family. As usual, Baileywick stood next to Roland, in case the king needed anything.
Sofia had only gotten down a little of her food whenAmber saw her drop fork abruptly as her face turned pale. for the third time that Day
"Sofia, are you all right?" Amber asked worriedly.
"Yes, Amber, I'm fine. Really..." Sofia reassured her.
Sofia thought she saw Nigel, Baileywick's brother, enter the room.
"Hi Nigel." She waved her hand in greeting.
"Sofia, sweetheart, Nigel is isn't here."
"Oh." Sofia said bashfully. "I just thought I saw Nigel is all. Um, Mom and dad, may I be excused, please?"
"Sure, Sofia." Roland replied. "But are you feeling all right?"
Sure Dad." Sofia replied. "I'm alright, really".
The King couldn't quite keep the frown off his face. He knew something was wrong with Sofia. She was far too pale and she had only ate a little of her dinner. He considered telling her to stay so he could take a look at her. But he had already told her she could go, and he was nothing if not a man of his word.
He gave a soft, underlying-worried smile and nodded, watching her return the grin noticeably less brightly than usual and get off her chair carefully. Before she could start down the hall, Roland called, "Sofia, wait!" Exchanging an anxious glance with his wife and catching his twins doing the same to his left, he looked over his shoulder at Baileywick. The butler, having been an equally-concerned spectator, caught his gaze and snapped to attention. The King, flashing a small and knowing smile at his surrogate-Father figure, requested quietly, "Baileywick, I'd like you to escort Sofia to her room. Make sure she gets there without any problems and that she's ready for bed when you leave."
A tiny, relieved grin came to the servant's face, as though he'd been waiting to hear that since Sofia had been served her food. With a hurried yet respectful bow and a "Right away, Your Majesty!" he walked over to Sofia, put a gentle hand on her back, and led her down the hall.
Almost immediately, Baileywick knew something was wrong. Sofia wasn't the most graceful royal to walk those marble halls, but she definitely had more coordination and balance than she was showing right now.
"Sofia?" Baileywick called, gasping lightly as he quickly steered the little princess out of the Royal Waiter's path.
The child looked up at him obliviously, and the butler had to bite his lip from gasping even louder at her clearly fever-clouded eyes.
"What's wrong, Baileywick?" She asked.
His gaze was altogether sympathetic. "Sofia, didn't you see the Royal Waiter heading straight for you?"
Sofia's face was confused, even more so when she looked back the way they came to see the Waiter join her family in the dining room.
"No..." She said, almost delirious.
The butler, taking mental note of the two new symptoms, merely splayed a hand across her back again and urged her gently forward. "Well, no harm done. The castle chef's hard-cooked food is still intact, and there's not a hair out of place on your beautiful little head." That remark earned him an almost-Sofia smile, and it was very nearly enough for him. "In my eyes, that's all that matters. Now, let's try to make it to your room without any more close calls, shall we?"
Unfortunately, that hope was unfulfilled, as Sofia didn't appear to notice anyone or anything in her path, leaving Baileywick to redirect her thrice more before they finally made it to her room.
Once the two were safely inside with the doors securely closed and blocking out all sound from the outside, Sofia crawled up onto her bed slowly and with considerable difficulty, flopping back against the pillows with a soft, exhausted sigh. Baileywick rang the bell for one of the maids to help the girl into her nightgown, then tucked the girl into bed, making sure she was as comfortable as possible.
Standing by her bedside, he couldn't help but smile lovingly, if worriedly, in sending her off to dreamland.
"Goodnight, Sofia." He said softly.
The youngest princess of Enchancia smiled up at him gratefully and took a few of his big fingers in her tiny hand. "Night, Baileywick."
Squeezing her hand strongly yet carefully, Bailywick laid it delicately at her side. He then made his way across the floor, giving her one last warm smile in before closing the doors as quietly as possible.
But Baileywick didn't leave right away. It might not have been best for propriety's sake, but one of his greatest duties as castle steward was caring for the royal children, and now that included Sofia. He would look after her as fiercely as he did Amber and James - and if that meant a little eavesdropping outside her bedroom doors, well...so be it. Inside, Sofia rolled on her side and sighed, sad blue eyes fixed on her bed-sheets. Almost inaudible hops sounded across the marble floor, and Clover hopped up onto the bed seconds later. The little girl's bright blue eyes lit up at the sight, and she shot up in bed so quickly that she made herself dizzy. But she couldn't quite bring herself to care because, finally, her best friend was here.
"CLOVER!" she exclaimed excitedly, pulling the gray rabbit into one of her famous bunny-exclusive hugs. Then, just as suddenly as the burst of energy came, it left, and Sofia fell back against the pillows weakly, dropping Clover and breathing a little heavily from the exertion and dizziness.
The rabbit, becoming concerned, inched up to her side, large eyes anxiously scanning her lithe frame.
"Sofia, what's wrong?" He asked. getting down on his tummy and shimmying closer to her, nosing his way under her arm until it was draped over him.
Sofia stroked his fur absently, but bit her lip,unsure if she could say anything. It's unnerving, really, to think that she'd be too afraid to tell her best friend when something was wrong, especially when Clover reflected that just yesterday the little girl had been running around the castle with her siblings and her closest human friend, Vivian.
"Come on, kid! Talk to me!" Clover insisted. "Don't leave me hangin'!"
She cracked a smile at that and hugged him close again, though far gentler this time.
"I think I'm getting sick. Clover." Sofia admitted. "I felt funny when I woke up this morning, but at school I felt like I was just getting worse and worse, and now-"
Just then, a wicked cough started up, and though Sofia tried to keep her mouth covered, Clover wriggled in her grip - "Hey, hey! We don't need the both of us hacking our brains out! Lord knows I need mine!" - and scurried to the foot of the bed. When she finally got her breath back, she sniffed and blew her nose with the stash of tissues she had hidden beneath her bed.
"See?" Sofia said, her nose stuffed up.
"But your Derby Race is tomorrow!" The bunny protested vehemently.
"That isn't all, Clover." Sofia told him. "I have a Tea Party test tomorrow Morning, and I hope I don't fall asleep like I did in sorcery class. Miss Merryweather wasn't at all happy about that, but I couldn't help it, Clover. I felt tired but I Can't really remember the magical spell we did'?
"Do your parents know you're not feeling well?" Clover asked.
"Not yet." Sofia sighed. "I hope I didn't forget togive them the note Merryweather asked me to have them sign and take back to her tomorrow Morning"
Sofia heard her bedroom door open.
"See you later, Sofia." Clover whispered, as the bunny want out through the hole that no one but the Animals know about.
It was then that Baileywick decided to make his move. Throwing the sliding doors open, then shut, he made his way over to the eight-year-old in the canopy bed. She was staring at him with horror on her face, mouth hanging open slightly, and she hoped that Baileywich hadn't heard about the note that Merryweather sent home with her.
The butler, arms folded over his chest as he cocked his head forward, eyed her with parent-like authority. Sofia half-expected his foot to start tapping. When he spoke, it was soft, understanding, and feather-brush gentle, though the words themselves weren't what Sofia wanted to hear. "Sofia, I think you give the note to your Mother and Father now. Your family was very worried after you excused yourself tonight."
Instantly, Sofia rose up to beg him to reconsider. "No, Baileywick! if dad saw the Note he would be mad and hit me like my real dad did!"
Sofia, I've been with this family for a long time and not once have I seen King Roland hit Amber or Jamie. Baileywick, shocked that Sofia would even consider such a thing.
"Okay, Baileywick." Sofia sighed, admitting defeat. "Can you hand me my backpack please?"
Spying Sofia's backpack on the windwset, Baileywick picked it up and brought to Sofia. After rummaging around for a moment, Sofia found the ote.
Sofia had bad Memories of her first father. His name was Alex, and he had a mean streak with his little girl when her Mother wasn't Home.
"Baileywick, why do you think I took the blame for James when he broke the window?" Sofia asked. "I wanted him to go to the Golden Wing Circus, and not be punished!"
The freshly stoked fire of hers only seemed to send her into another coughing fit instead. Baileywick, jumping to action, poured her some water from the pitcher on her nightstand and coaxed her into sipping a little to calm her agitated throat and fraying nerves. He took the cup from her when she was done and sat down on the bed before her.
"Sofia, I told you before that was a very nice thing to do." Baileywick reminded her. "But I know if the King had asked you not to play ball in the castle you wouldn't but James on the otherhand would, remember?"
"Thank you, Baileywick." Sofia smiled. "You're kind of like the Grandpa I never had."
"Why, thank you, Sofia." Baileywick smiled, touched. "Do you want you parents to come up here"
"Yes please, Baileywick." Sofia mumbled.
Baileywick could tell that Sofia was getting worse. He tenderly pressed his hand to her forehead. He frowned. Most definitely a fever.
Dropping his hand, he took one last glance at those big baby blue eyes of hers before getting up and walking over to the bell. He didn't like this any more than she did, but in the end, her health superseded any test or competition.
The instant he rang it, a young maid named Marie came running.
"You rang, miss?" She addressed Sofia.
"Marie, please inform the king and queen that they need to come up to Sofia's bedroom." Baileywick said curtly.
Marie made her way down to the dining hall as fast as she could. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she then opened the door.
"Pardon me, your majesties." She bowed lightly. "Baileywick requests your presence in Princess Sofia's room."
The king and queen shared a knowing look. They'd assumed there was something was wrong with Sofia, and now it seemed their suspicions had been confirmed.
"Thank you, Marie." Roland nodded.
The maid backed out of the room, while Roland and Miranda stood up.
"James, Amber, since you're finished with dessert, go to your rooms, and use the time until bedtime to do your homework." Roland told his offspring. "Your Mother and I will be in shortly to say goodnight."
"Sure, Dad." James said casually.
Amber daintily spotted her mouth with her napkin before answering regally, "Of course, Father."
As their parents left, Amber and James looked at each other worriedly.
"I knew something was wrong with Sofia." Amber declared. "Why else would she decline to join me and my friends in studying for our test tomorrow?"
"I hope she'll be okay." James said.
"Me too." Amber agreed, looking in the direction of Sofia's room.
Meanwhile, Roland and Miranda entered Sofia's bedroom. Baileywick was standing beside the bed with a serious look on his face, and Sofia, who was surely paler than she'd been at dinner, was lying down.
Roland took the silence as his cue to speak. "Would one of you like to tell us what this is all about?" he asked.
Baileywick merely turned to the young princess in answer, wearing an expectant, sorry expression. "Sofia?" he prompted gently.
Sighing, Sofia began to explain.
"I felt a little sick when I woke up this morning, and it just got worse. At school I sort of fall a sleep in sorcery class. Miss Merryweather wasn't at all happy about that, she send a note home with me."
Sofia handed the note to her mother and farther. As they read it, their expressions went from concerned to disappointed.
"I know." Sofia sighed. "I'm in trouble."
But Sofia wasn't about to back down. She rushed to inform them, "But the Derby Race is tomorrow! You'll still let me go, right? Please, Mom? Dad?"
Baileywick firmly cleared his throat. "Your Majesties, allow me the liberty of being honest with you. During the time that I escorted Princess Sofia to bed, I found she couldn't walk straight without assistance, and her eyes were so clouded with a fever that she would have crashed into several of the castle staff if I hadn't been keeping her out of harm's way. When we reached our destination, she could barely get into her bed, and when I felt her head to confirm my suspicions, she was already burning up."
Miranda came over to sit on the bed beside her daughter. "Sofia, how bad is it?"
The eight-year-old responded, "It's not bad, Mom! I just have a little headache!" She caught Baileywick's warning look and conceded, "Okay, and a stomachache, too..."
Roland joined Miranda at Sofia's side.
"Sofia, you should have told us you weren't feeling well." He declared, sharing a brief but significant look with his wife. "We think it would be best if you didn't attend school tomorrow,"
"But the Derby!" Sofia protested. "Minimus and I have been practising for weeks, and-"
"Sofia," Miranda interrupted, "Your Father is right. Now, let me feel your head." She pressed her palm to her daughter's forehead. It was definitely much warmer than it should have been. Frowning, she turned to the steward. "Baileywick, would you mind fetching a thermometer? I want to get a reading, just to be sure."
Baileywick smiled faintly and bowed. "At once, your Ladyship."
After Baileywick left the Room, Rolond stepped forward.
"Sofia, your Mother and I are very Disappointed in you Roland said I am sorry Sofia but you aren't participating in the race. I'm sorry."
To Sofia, Roland sounded as if he was yelling at her.
"Dad, yo're making my Head hurt more." She groaned.
"I wasn't shouting at all, sweetheart." Roland told her.
"You weren't?" Sofia tilted her head in disbelief.
Meanwhile, while on his way out of the room, Baileywick ran into none other than Princess Amber.
"You do realize it's past your bedtime, young lady?" He said curtly.
As usual, the blonde went straight to the point. "What's wrong with Sofia?"
The castle steward exhaled tiredly through his nose and told her truthfully, "We're not quite sure at the moment. It looks like it might just be a fever, but I'm on my way to fetch a thermometer to try to rule out any other possibilities." He carefully spun her around and gave her a careful, teasing, yet all-too-serious push toward it. "Now, please go to bed, Your Highness."
Amber tossed a begging look over her shoulder, complete with puppy-dog pout, but Baileywick had grown immune to that brand of manipulative charm long ago. His no-nonsense expression only grew more intense, and she sighed, walking somberly toward her room. Knowing her tricks, he waited until she was inside her room with both doors completely closed before taking off down the hall again.
But Amber was sneakier than even Baileywick had considered. When she could no longer hear his footsteps, she opened the door a crack to make sure the coast was truly clear, then rushed a few doors down to the bathroom. She grabbed a small washcloth and then backtracked another two doors until she came to Sofia's room and slipped inside.
"Mom? Dad? Is Sofia going to be all right?" She asked worriedly.
"Didn't we tell you to do your homework, young lady?" Roland said firmly.
"I know, but I had to find out how Sofia was doing." Amber sighed. "How is she?"
"We'll find out when Baileywick returns with a thermometer." Miranda told her.
"Thanks for coming to check on me, Amber." Sofia smiled weakly.
"It's what sisters do." Amber smiled back.