It was 3 days before Sofias 23rd birthday. Everyone was busy prepairing for the princesses big day, after all its the day she can start courting potential husbands. Princess Amber was given the green light to plan the party. Princess Sofia never really liked planning these big parties that were expected at this kind of event. Though she had gotten accustomed to having them.

"What on earth am I going to get for her Wormy?" Cedric asked the raven perched in the corner of his workshop in somewhat of a panic.

"Master Cedric, I'm sure you could give her nothing more then a smile and she would love it" the raven scoffed. "He's clueless" the raven thought to himself as he rolled his eyes.

Cedric paced his workshop with his hand on his chin trying to think of something truly special he could gift his princess. Getting discouraged he slams his hands down on his work table, knocking over the little vials of potions and such. "Ah, merlin's mushrooms!" Cedric scrambled to clean up the mess he just made. With the flick of his wand the vials all stood up and floated back to their assigned places. The liquid that had spilled out of the vials was a little harder to clean up. He didn't want to mix them and have something else explode again. He walked to his bathroom to grab a towel when he returned to his workshop to clean up the mess, he found it was already clean. Confused Cedric looked around his workshop. "You can come out now Princess Sofia." finally realizing it was her that had snuck in and cleaned up after him like many times before. A few seconds pass and she still hasn't revealed herself to Cedric. "Princess Sofia?" Cedric began to question himself for a minute, she normally didn't take this long to show herself. A minute more passes and he hears giggling. Sofia no doubt. He then realizes that she isn't going to come out, "Revelio" he says with a flick of his wand. Sofia bursts out laughing. "Good Afternoon Princess Sofia, what can I do for you?" Cedric inquired.

"I was actually just coming up here to ask if you had anything planned for the rest of the day?" Sofia said nervously while looking down at her hands. Cedric could see how nervous she was asking him this question. He noticed her biting the corner of her lower lip and she was wringing of her hands. Sofia was even blushing a little. He didn't understand why, she had asked for his company many times before now, why was this different?

"No princess, I have no other plans for the day, why do you ask?" Cedric questioned. Looking at her with kind eyes, he stepped forward "Sofia?" he inquired a little concerned.

"Would you like to join me for a walk?" Sofia rushed the words out of her mouth before she chickened out of asking the question.

"I-I would love to Princess S-Sofia" Cedric stammered. "Great!" Sofia jumped up with a huge innocent smile on her face. She looked at Cedric, and her eyes looked just like the most beautiful sapphires that he had ever seen. His heart begun to race a little.

"Meet me by the rose bushes in one hour" she chirped. She basically hopped out of the door leaving it wide open. He could hear her footsteps as she went down the tower stairs. But suddenly they stopped. "DONT BE LATE!" She shouted back up to him.

"Okay Princess" was all Cedric could manage to say as he shut his workshop door.

"What is wrong with me?" Cedric asked himself. "She will never feel the same way about you as you do her?" "Why do I keep doing this to myself" He started to pace in his workshop. "Please just make it stop." "I can't take it anymore" He continued pacing and talking to himself in his tower before he slumped down in the corner of the room.

He pinched the bridge of his nose to try to stop himself from crying. He wasn't sure if it was out of frustration or pain from knowing that she will

never be with him. He has loved her for so long, he has even tried to give himself potions to make himself stop loving her. Nothing worked.

True love, is the explanation he was given. "True love is a magic that is more powerful than anything you can conjure or mix in a vile, I'm sorry Ceddykins. Maybe one day you can be with your true love." his mother's voice rang through his mind like a piercing hum. He sighed a loud audible sigh.

"Yeah right, she would never have me, even if was the last man on earth." he choked. He didn't have time to sit here and pity himself. So, he got up and brushed off his robes and got ready to meet Princess Sofia downstairs. "What could she have been so nervous about and was she blushing?" He wondered.

After Sofia left Mr. Cedrics room, she went downstairs to the kitchen. She grabbed a picnic basket and some apples, bananas and a few strawberries. She went over to the head chef in the kitchen and tapped on his shoulder. "Ah, Yes Princess Sofia, what can I do for you?" The chef chuckled as he had seemed to startle Sofia with how quickly he turned around "Jumpy today are we?" he questioned with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Just a little, I was wondering if you could help me make something?" Sofia muttered quietly. "I can make you anything princess" he said not quite understanding her question. "No...no, I want to make it but I don't know how. I was wondering if you could help me so I don't mess it up?" She explained.

"O-Oh okay, what was it you were wanting to make?" He replied interested in why the princess would want to make something herself when he could simply do it for her.

"Banoffee Pie, I'm taking a dear friend on a walk later this afternoon and it's his favorite!" She said with a special twinkle in her eyes.

Smiling, knowing all too well that look in her eye, he said "Absolutely Princess, I can help you"

"Thank you!" She shouted in excitement.

Cedric has been standing at the rose bushes for about 15 minutes now and still no sign of Princess Sofia. "Where could that insufferable women be?" He mumbled to himself.

A few more minutes pass and he started to get nervous. Was this a trick? Was she hurt? Did she forget? But his intrusive thoughts were interrupted by a distant,

"Mr. Cedric!" Sofia came busting out of the castle's front doors. Then everything kind of happened in slow motion, as she was trying to hurry down the steps to meet up with Cedric she tripped and one of her feet slipped out from underneath her and she fell onto the hard marble steps. As she fell her picnic basket was thrown into the air. She hit the back of her head when she finally came crashing down.

Cedric hurried to help her to her feet. "A-are you okay?" Cedric asked in a panic.

Sofia was a little out of breath, she took a moment to catalogue herself and her injuries. She had a few spots that would bruise and a bump on her head but she was okay. "Yes, I'm alright." She said as she looked up at Cedric holding out a hand for her to grab a hold of. She gratefully took his hand. The feeling of his touch made her blush. She tried to duck her head so he wouldn't notice. It was futile. He most definitely noticed.

"Is she...blushing again?!" He questioned to himself.

Sofia stood up and brushed off her dress, which now made Cedric notice that it was a dress he had never seen her in before. It was crimson red with white applique along the corset. The red skirt fell from her hips and formed a more sensual appearance then he was used to seeing. He hadn't really taken the time to really notice how beautiful and grown up she had become. He actually tried to avoid the topic completely. Just at this moment he couldn't help it. Snapping himself out of the trance he had been in, Cedric groaned "What happened to 1 hour and don't be late?".

"Hey! It will be worth it. Just wait and see." She smirked.

After Sofia gathered her picnic basket they headed off into the trails behind the castle. It seemed like they were walking forever when Sofia took Cedrics hand and lead them off trail. "W-where are we going Princess?" Cedric Stuttered.

Smiling back at Cedric, "Just wait and see." She teased.

"What is this women doing?" Cedric wondered to himself. They were weaving in and out between trees and bushes and finally came to an opening in the dense forest they had previously been in.

As they stood there at the entrance to this meadow Cedric was in awe. He looked around astonished at the beauty that was all around him. The grass was as green as emeralds and it danced in the breeze almost rhythmically. There was a pond in the middle of all of this, the water glistened under the sunlight like diamonds. In the middle of this pond was a magnificent tree in its center. It looked almost ancient Sofia started to lead him toward the pond. As he got closer to the magical looking tree he noticed there was something different about this tree.

"The leaves change color!" He gasped. Sofia was examining every expression Cedric made. He finally noticed that she was watching him, "What?" he scoffed.

"I'm really glad you like it, I haven't shown anyone else this place. Its where I go to relax and get away from the busyness of the castle." Sofia said.

It was in that moment that Cedric noticed that they were still holding hands, not wanting her to let go he ignored it. "You haven't shown anyone else this magical place?" Cedric questioned "Even Princess Amber?".

"Yes, even Amber" she chucked as she smiled. Sofia started to lead him over to the pond, he noticed there was a boat. They both climbed in the boat and it started to row on its own to the tree in the center of the island. As they got even closer Cedric could really see how enormous this tree really was. The truck had what looked like a door carved into it.

Cedric got out of the boat first, he held out a hand for Princess Sofia. She looked at his outstretched hand, swallowed nervously and accepted the help. Every time Sofia touched Mr. Cedric the butterflies in her stomach would lose control, sometimes she would even get dizzy. So, she had to be careful, as to not lose her nerve and fall into the pond.

She liked the way he was always looking out for her. He always was there to protect her. "Well, were here, Lets go inside." Sofia huffed as she started walking to the tree. Trying to remain as calm as possible she didn't notice that she was about to trip over the tree's roots, but Cedric did. He ran over quickly to catch her as she fell. Sofia let out a little squeak as she fell into Cedrics arms. They both just kind of paused there for a moment. Looking into each others eyes. Cedric couldn't help but to notice this special shine in Sofia's eyes as she stared back at him and not to mention the fact that she was blushing again.

"A-are you okay Princess?" Cedric breathed as he helped her to her feet.

"Yes, I don't know what has gotten into me today. Thank the gods your here to save me." Sofia laughed as she winked at the sorcerer and began walking again. That caught him a little off guard and made his heart start to race even more then it had already been.

"Better stay closer to her...for safety of course." He thought to himself. Grinning he started to jog to catch up with Princess Sofia.

"Don't trip, don't trip." Sofia was mumbling under her breath to herself as she was walking to up to the tree's door. She grabbed her wand waved it above her head and recited "Passagio Aperta!".

Cedric jumped a little as there was a thunderous bang coming from the inside of the tree as the door started to open. Sofia grabbed Cedrics hand once more and lead him inside.

"Lucerna Lumen" Sofia announced once the tree door shut behind them, closing them in the complete dark. One by one candles began to light on their own, brightening up the magnificent room they were in. "This is my hideaway..." She explained.

"This place... I-it's beautiful." Cedric stated as he was still examining the workings of the wood, the carvings that were on the walls, the furniture that matched the scenery outside just perfectly, the way the candle light made Sofia's skin have this sensual glow. He wished he could reach out and touch her and feel her soft skin under his fingertips. He wished he could take her hand, pull her close and kiss her. He shook his head as to stop himself from fantasizing further.

"Thank you Mr. Cedric, that means a lot coming from you." She blushed as she admitted this.

"Why?" Cedric inquired confused on why his opinion matters in the slightest to her.

Looking around the room, Sofia raised her hands to gesture him to look around. "Everything here, I made all of this with the magic that you taught me." She muttered as she bit her lip.

"Y-you did?!" Cedric said surprised that she had learned so much from the bumbling sorcerer.

She just nodded and gestured him to come over to a table that had already been set. "She had planned this" Cedric thought to himself.

She put down the picnic basket on the floor next to the table and preceded to take the fruit she packed out and set it on the table. She took out a bottle of wine and popped the cork as to let it breathe. She then took out the Banoffee Pie that was wrapped in a cloth and carefully set it on the table. Cedric could smell the pie, but he couldn't quite place the familiar smell. "That sure smells delicious" he noted to himself. They sat down together.

"I remembered when the chef made Banoffee Pie for dessert one day and you were quite upset you were not able to get any because it was your favorite. So, I made some for you." She gleamed as she said this to Cedric.

"D-did you say you made this Princess Sofia" Cedric asked wide eyed.

Sofia nervously shifted in her chair, "Yes, I asked the chef to help me make it and no I actually made it." She said while swirling her wine glass to try to distract her from the fact that she was so nervous for what she had brought him here for.

Cedric and Sofia both got pieces of the pie and proceeded to eat in silence until Cedric said "It's really delicious you know". Sofia's face lit up as she smiled back at him, being relieved that he liked the pie. After all she burnt herself twice and about cut her finger off making it. Cooking wasn't as easy as she had remembered.

Once they were done with their slices of pie Sofia took toward a winding staircase with her wine glass in hand. Standing at the bottom step she looked back and noticed Cedric still hadn't moved from his seat. He was just sitting there, staring at her.

"Would you like to join me Mr. Cedric?" Sofia inquired.

"Y-yes Princess Sofia, of course." Cedric stammered. As he got up from the table he ended up hip bumping the table. "Posidian's pumpkins! That smarted..." he grumbled as he grabbed his hip and moved out of the tables way.

"Please... just call me Sofia." She nearly begged before they headed up the staircase.

They walked a long way up this winding stairway until they came to a door. Sofia reached out and opened it, it showed a balcony on the other side. It was outfitted with two chairs and a side table placed in the middle of them. They stepped out onto the balcony and Cedrics jaw nearly dropped.

It was such a beautiful view. From up on that balcony they could see the whole meadow. They sat down in the chairs and started to watch the sunset over the trees.

"Mr. Cedric? Can I ask you something?" Sofia inquired in a hushed tone.

"A-anything Princess" Cedrics heart and mind began to race. "What are they doing in such a romantic location?" "Why did she bring him here" "Was this her way of telling him she found someone?" "I can't lose her..." all those thoughts rushed through Cedrics mind making him deaf to the fact that Sofia was actually speaking to him.

"Cedric... are you listening to me?" Sofia barked getting a little frustrated. Noticing that he wasn't listening to what she was trying to tell him she stood up and stood in front of Cedric.

This shocking display of dominance made him stand up embarrassed, he knew that she knew he wasn't paying attention to her.

They just stood there for a moment looking into each other's eyes. Sofia was trying to work up the courage to do what she had stood up for. She stomped her foot in a huff and just went for it.

She leaned in and kissed Cedric with one of her hands on his face and one on his waist.

In complete shock Cedric backed up, away from Sofia's kiss. "W-what are y-you doing?" Cedric stuttered out of breath.

"I have been trying to work up the courage to tell you how I feel for years and you weren't listening, so I thought I would just show you instead" She said with tears welling up in her eyes, as she was feeling rejected. "I'm sorry if I had come on to you unwanted. It won't happen again."

Sofia went to turn around to go back inside as Cedric grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her close. He looked into her eyes and saw how sincere she was and how blind he had been. He held her even closer and leaned down and kissed her passionately.

He eased up a little bit to notice her lips were a parted, allowing him to slide his tongue onto hers. This is everything he has every wanted. He felt Sofia back him against the balcony railing. Cedric moved his hands around her corseted waist to the back and untied it, throwing it to the floor.

They released their kiss long enough for Cedric to ask "Are you sure?".

He looked at her and noticed her blouse that was under her corset was slightly see through. He could see the outline of her breasts and the light pink tint of her areolas. This caused him to get excited.

"I have dreamt of this moment as long as I can remember." Sofia cried.

Cedric was so surprised at this answer that he just grabbed her and brought her into his embrace once more. Only this time with too much force, as the momentum of Sofia coming to him had sent both of them off the balcony and hurdling to the ground below.

When all of a sudden, they were caught by something, something with feathers. Cedric looked up and saw a magnificent griffin had some to their rescue. He had glimmering gold feathers and a beak black as night. The griffin carefully put them both on the ground.

"Thank you Deo." Sofia bowed.

"You're welcome Princess, please be more careful next time." Deo said eyeing Cedric. "Who's the man with you?" he demanded defensively.

"That is Cedric. The man I had told you about." Sofia explained.

As Sofia was saying her good-byes to Deo, Cedric couldn't help but to think to himself "She had told him about me, ME?" "What did she say?" "What does she think of me really?" "Could she actually love...me?"

Deo flew off and Sofia could tell that Cedric was in his own head again. Staring at him wondering was he was thinking so intensely about. She walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. That brought him back to the moment.

"Welcome back" Sofia giggled.

Cedric nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "S-sorry" he murmured as he bit his lip.

Sofia walked to underneath the balcony pointed her wand up to it and sighed "Retrevo". Her corset came floating down back to her. She put back on her corset with no issue, she never really liked people helping her dress. She walked back over to Cedric, caressed his face with her hand, looks deeply into his eyes with longing as she leads him to a clear patch on the island.

They sit down, hand in hand, watching the fire flies light up the meadow with their song and dance. They both sighed and at the same time just whispered "I love you..."