A Discussion Between Cousins
Summary: A companion story to Our Time Once Again. In only a few hours since her savior's arrival because of unfortunate conditions, a stressed Elena talks to Estéban as they wonder where Sofia's future may hold.
Note: Thank you to storyteller362 for the help.
"Esteban, we have to take Sofia in," said Elena softly as she looked at her cousin with a hard look. He had a contemplative look on his face as he looked to be thinking long and hard about it.
"Okay," he said after a minute. "I agree we should take her in."
"Because I really think that- Wait. You said you agree?"
"Yes, because I see your point."
"See my point?" Elena asked, looking skeptical at her cousin. "Just minutes ago you were scolding her for running down the hall!"
She was right about that, noting the expression on his face. The only reason she had came into his room and not get sleep like a frightened Sofia had wanted her to was being able to discuss with him about her.
Elena felt her heart tugging as she thought of the hapless little girl who was safe and warm in one of the guest bedrooms asleep.
"Listen, I do think that she needs some stability and not just running around. Let her mourn and then get her on some kind of path?" Estéban said as he tried to explain. "Like teach her something here for when she does become queen of Enchancia one day."
"We could get her a glimpse into our meetings," Elena suggested, leaving Estéban surprised. "But only on the weekends. Like Isabel she does have school."
"Royal Prep was it not? The school she attended with her sister and brother?"
"Yes it was. I know it's going to be difficult for her to go back there. Sofia's so scared right now and I just don't want her to feel as if we're pushing her further into the fear."
"Do you think we should have to get some lessons from the royal academy?" he asked knowing that they had a school like Royal Prep in Avalor. The only thing was that the school was for older students.
"Honestly cousin, I'm not sure," Elena sighed, sitting down on his bed. "As if I didn't have enough on my plate trying to be the ruler I know Mami and Papi would have wanted me to be. Now I have to worry about Sofia. I don't even know if King Roland has any remaining relatives to rule in her absence until she's twenty."
"I believe so," he said. "I was reading up on Enchanica the other night and I found that King Roland has a sister. She was originally supposed to be queen."
"But wanted to travel. I wish we could've gotten to meet his sister in better circumstances. Not at his funeral next week."
Estéban could see it in her eyes that the last few hours had left his cousin stressed. A little girl who had risked everything just to free Elena from the amulet only to just become orphaned by an attack on her kingdom.
"Elena I think everything will turn out okay," he said unsure what to do next. "Let's figure out what to do together."
"Good idea cousin," Elena yawned, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to check on her and if she's still asleep, I'll go to bed."
"Alright, want me to write to her aunt?" he asked before she went to bed.
"Of course. Buenas noches cousin."
"Buenas noches Elena."
Elena smiled, closing the door to his room before making her way to Sofia's, opening the door with an crack.
Seeing her asleep with a smile on her lips, the crown princess sighed in relief before closing the door.
If she and Estéban were to play their cards right and get her to where she was ready to succeed as queen of Enchancia when it was time, Sofia would have a better future than what Elena had thought of hours before.