Chapter One

A Lie

Sofia sat glumly in her window seat. The clear glass allowed her to look out at the lake where Hugo and she had practiced ice dancing all those years ago, though it was not frozen now since it was early autumn, when the leaves were just beginning to change color. Sofia's light blue nightgown fell over her pale skin and her brown hair was a mess of tangles and knots. Something was troubling her that much was clear.

Her husband, Hugo, moaned and turned over in their bed, a ways away from the window seat where Sofia was. His hand reached out, searching for his wife, but he only found rumpled blankets. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Hugo sat up and glanced around the room. It was rather large, with sets of doors leading to two separate walk-in-closets and many shelves holding Hugo's medals and trophies from tournaments and Sofia's trophies from her flying derby days as a child lined the walls. Marble columns were along the wall, holding up the white ceiling while ornate oak doors separated the room from the rest of the castle.

Hugo's dark eyes spotted his wife in the window seat and he got up, slowly walking over to her. They'd been married for nearly five years and his heart still beat faster whenever he saw her.

"Dear, what's wrong?" Hugo asked, taking a seat next to her. "I thought you liked to sleep in."

"I couldn't sleep," Sofia replied, her voice and blue eyes sad. "I just keep thinking of the letter we received from Ruby yesterday."

"Are you worried about her?" Hugo wondered. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

"I know she will. After all, this is her third pregnancy," Sofia sighed. "What I'm worried about is us. We've been married for five years and we still haven't had a child."

"Things happen when they're meant to," Hugo assured her. "You just need to have faith."

"You realize we're the only one of our friends who don't have a child yet?" Sofia exclaimed. "Amber and her husband, Sir Jason, have a son named Henry. Vivian's pregnant with her and Desmond's child. Jin and Khalid both have children with their wives and Zandar and Hildegard have their daughter, Nubia."

"Sofia, love, please calm down," Hugo said. "I promise you we will have a child. How could we not when you were meant to be a wonderful mother."

"I know. I'm just worried," Sofia admitted.

"Don't be," Hugo told her and pulled her to her feet. "Now, we have a lot to do today. After all, the King and Queen are always busy. Let's go to breakfast."

"Only if there's pancakes."

"How could there not be?"

And the young couple laughed as they went to their wardrobes to get dressed for their busy day.

"And you're completely sure?" Sofia asked the doctor. He was an old man with silver hair and deep wrinkles. Nancy, Sofia's personal maid with hair like gold and eyes as green as grass, stood next to the doctor. The three of them were in Sofia's room, the young woman lying down on her bed, propped up by pillows of many hues, as the doctor examined her.

"Yes, your majesty, I am sure," the doctor assured Sofia. She grinned, her happiness making her skin glow.

"I must find Hugo!" she declared and leapt off the edge of her bed. She raced out of her room, barely remembering to grab a dark violet robe to hide her sheer underclothes.

Then Sofia, barefoot and breathless, ran into the throne room. It was a large circular room with a round ceiling painted with stars. The two thrones of the King and Queen sat on a raised dais in the middle of the room, facing the large oak doors that the public entered through. Many copies of the Amalgamate flag hung on the wall. Hugo sat atop the golden throne with ice blue cushions, dealing with a small group of peasants. Everyone fell silent when she entered and stared at her. Sofia blushed, realizing her foolishness.

"Um, I wish to speak to my husband," Sofia declared, trying to sound like a ruler. Hugo, his expression confused, got off his throne and quickly walked over to her, pushing her out of the throne room and closing the door behind him.

"Sofia, what's wrong?" he asked. "I was in the middle of discussing the epidemic with some farmers."

"I'm sorry but I have something to tell and it can't wait," Sofia told him, giggling slightly, her smile wide.

"What?"

"I'm pregnant."

Silence. Hugo's eyes widened slightly and his hands slowly rose, his fingertips brushing Sofia's stomach.

"You're pregnant?" he repeated. She nodded, happy tears welling up her eyes. "We're going to be parents?" Sofia nodded again, her tears falling down her glowing cheeks. "That's amazing!"

And Hugo grabbed Sofia and swung her around in a circle, high up in the air. When Sofia's bare feet hit the cool marble he pressed his lips on hers, his own eyes damp with happiness.

"You're going to be a wonderful mother," Hugo whispered into her lips.

"And you will be a fantastic father," Sofia replied instantly.

"I love you."

And Sofia never got to say it back since Hugo's lips were on hers again.

"You're doing well, your majesty," the doctor told Sofia nine months later.

She was lying in her bed clutching her swollen stomach as she went into labor. Hugo was kneeling at her side, holding her hand, barely breathing. Nancy dabbed Sofia's forehead with a damp cloth, trying to keep her Queen cool, while the doctor sat at the end of the bed, helping things along.

"Just a few more moments," the doctor assured her.

"You're doing great," Hugo whispered. Sofia gave him a small smile before she continued pushing, screaming as she did so.

Moments later the doctor placed a newborn infant in a basket. Sofia was panting and Nancy was frantically dabbing away her sweat while Hugo smiled at her, proud of his wife.

"It's a girl," the doctor announced.

Tears fell from Sofia's eyes. She would've loved her child no matter what but she's secretly been hoping for a daughter so she may pass on the Amulet of Avalor that was safely stored in Amalgamate's jewel room.

"Doctor, what's wrong?" Nancy suddenly asked. She had heard something in the doctor's voice that the royals hadn't. But then Hugo noticed something.

"Why isn't she crying?" he wondered, suddenly fearful. The doctor turned back around, eyes lowered.

"Because she never took a breath," the doctor admitted. Sofia gasped, her hand over her mouth. "She was still-born. It's very common among villagers."

"And I was a villager. It's my fault," Sofia cried, tears falling from her eyes. Hugo wrapped his arms around her.

"No, dear, it isn't," Hugo murmured into her light brown hair. "It wasn't your fault."

"Let me see her," Sofia demanded. "Please just let me hold my daughter once."

The doctor nodded and picked up the child, handing it to the Queen. Sofia brought the baby against her chest and continued to cry. The child was stiff, like she was made from wood. Her eyes were closed and fuzzy black hair grew from her head. But her skin was cold and her heart wasn't beating. Sofia cried, wept for the child she never got to raise and know. She cried for her lost dreams of being a mother and passing on the amulet.

"The people will not be happy," Hugo sighed, his own tears falling down his cheeks. "With the epidemic getting worse every day they really needed a moral boost."

Agonized silence sounded as the parents that never were wept for their daughter who never took a breath. The doctor slowly and silently cleaned up his things. Nancy also shed a few tears, knowing that her Queen had wanted a child more than anything. But than an idea struck the woman.

"Your majesties, I hope I'm not being too insensitive, but I think I may have an idea," she told them, pushing her blond hair behind her small ears. "There are many orphanages in the kingdom. I know it cannot make up for your loss but I could go to the nearest one and take an infant female. One that is close to being a newborn."

"That way the people will think our daughter's alive," Hugo realized.

"You mean, lie to our people?" Sofia asked. Hugo and Nancy lowered their eyes, not proud of the plan.

"Our people are dying of sickness. They need a bit of hope. I know villagers who have been planning parties since we announced your pregnancy. The despair the news of our daughter's death would bring…." Hugo drifted off. "And you would still be a mother. We could give an orphan a home. A better life."

"And if you raised her, your majesty, she would be your daughter," Nancy assured her.

Sofia bit her lip as she thought. Her eyes drifted down to the cold child in her arms, the child she had been planning for. Why not give all she had planned and hoped for to another? Why not give a child destined for despair, starvation, and disease a chance at a better life? And there would be time for her have her own children.

"Alright," Sofia agreed. "Nancy, you may go to the closest orphanage and get us a daughter."

"But tell no one who it is for. And neither of you," Hugo pointed at Nancy and the doctor, "will tell anyone about this."

"Of course, your majesty," the doctor replied and bowed low. Nancy nodded, then the two of them left the room. Hugo took the stiff baby from his wife's arm and placed it the basket, covering it with a soft blanket. Then he turned back to Sofia who was silently crying.

"I know this isn't ideal," Hugo told her. "But she'll be our daughter. I promise."

Nancy returned while the moon was high in the sky. All of Sofia's doubts disappeared when she saw the child. She had black fuzzy hair and hazel eyes, glistening with joy. Her tiny hands kept waving around and she smiled when she saw her new parents. Sofia and Hugo vowed to give her everything she could ever need or want, completely in love with their daughter.

"Good citizens of Amalgamate!" Hugo called to the mass below him. "I would like to introduce you to the Queen and mine's daughter!"

The people cheered, waving flags and throwing confetti. Alfred, the old royal sorcerer with stars on his cloak, made rose petals fall from the sky.

"Please join us in welcoming Princess Matilda II!" Sofia declared, lifting her daughter up for all to see. It had been her idea to name her daughter after her aunt, hoping the young girl would have her mentor's whimsical spirit.

The people clapped and the baby began to cry, upset by all the noise. Sofia cradled the baby, her daughter, to her chest and kissed her head. Hugo placed his arm on his wife's shoulder, smiling down at her and his daughter. And the people celebrated as they looked up at the happy family, not knowing it was built on a lie.