2.
Sofia finally reached the dungeon, and luckily there was only one guard. He was sitting by the entrance looking very bored. She hit him with the sleeping powder and took the keys from his pocket. The guard slumped over and then fell out of the chair. She carefully stepped over him, and opened the large wooden door. The dungeon was dark and dirty, but also fairly small. It was just that one room behind the door, but she couldn't see Cedric. It was too dark. It was actually Wormwood that caught her attention first. He was hopping on the floor, cawing at a shadow.
"Oh Wormy, you shouldn't be here" Cedric reached down and smoothed the raven's feathers
"Cedric," Sofia said quietly. She had expected him to startle, but he didn't even look up. He must have read the note, and known that she was coming
"Princess Sofia, you should not be here either." He said it so formally that it made her chest tighten.
"Why?" She asked. Even though she knew now wasn't the time, but she also really wanted to know.
"Why did I want to steal your amulet?" he asked. She was grateful that he seemed to know what she meant.
"Yes."
"Because, I am no good." He lowered his head into his arms and didn't say another word. His hands were in shackles in front of him.
"Tell me why," She asked again, taking another small step closer. The invisibility potion was wearing off, she could almost see her hands.
He didn't say anything.
"Cedric," she pleaded, "Say something."
He remained silent, still not looking at her.
She was suddenly furious at him, and the words began to pour out of her before she could stop them. "If you won't tell me why, then I'll tell you why." She said, the invisibility potion sparkled and then died. "You wanted the power because you wanted to be respected. Your father, my father, they all put you down. They never recognized your accomplishments. I know how much that bothers you."
Cedric stood and went to her, scowling, "I am a villain, Princess Sofia. I can't even count the number of times I tried to trick you into handing that amulet over." In the dim lighting, he could pass for a villain. His eyes were narrowed, and for a moment Sofia glimpsed a real darkness there. She could admit that what her father had said was true. When she had met him, he had been so timid and easily thrown off that he hardly posed a threat. But over the years she had tried her best to inspire confidence in her friend, and in doing so had created a very dangerous man. But he was her dangerous man.
"I see the man hiding behind the villain you're pretending to be." She told him defiantly. If anything this realization just meant that he needed her now more than ever. "And I already handed over the amulet to you once, remember? You gave it back." She pointed out. The memory of his odd behavior struck her as an obvious internal struggle on his part, at least it did now. At the time she had only been happy that he had gotten the black stuff off of her amulet.
Cedric looked away, shoulders slumped.
"I forgive you, Cedric," she said. She reached out for his hands, and used the keys to unlock the shackles.
"What are you doing?" he asked. He looked up at her, absently rubbing his wrists.
"What does it look like?" Sofia countered. "here," she handed him a vial of invisibility potion. "We're leaving the kingdom. Do you want to stop at your workshop for anything?"
"We? I know you said you forgive me, but you shouldn't do this. I can't let you." He said.
"Try to stop me," she said. His lip twitched, which filled her with hope. She knew he was trying not to smile. "Now, come on. We don't have a lot of time."
Sofia and Cedric made their way back to his tower, walking cautiously. When they were safely in the empty workshop Cedric finally seemed to notice something missing. Sofia felt naked without the amulet, so the lack of its presence had been on the back of her mind ever since she had taken it off.
"What happened to your amulet?" He asked, concerned.
"I'm leaving it behind." She said carefully. This was probably the biggest test, even though she trusted him. She did trust him, didn't she?
"Why?" he asked, turning away to start gathering supplies.
"Because it'll show my parents that you weren't after my amulet," her throat seemed to swell so she swallowed before adding, "this time."
Cedric froze, but then continued adding magical ingredients to his pack. "I should go alone." He said.
"I told you I would make them approve of you, and this seems to be the only way. I can't make them listen to me. I'll just have to show them, we will have to show them." Her voice cracked. Doubt began to sneak its ugly tendrils into her mind, but she fought it.
"I don't want you to give up your family and amulet for me," he turned and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against him.
"I'll get them back when their doubt in you is gone." She pointed out.
"What if they never accept us? Are you really sure you want to leave all of this behind? And, after everything I've done." His words made her chest fell tight, but his touch made her head swim. She found herself blinking away tears.
"Yes, Cedric, I love you." She kissed him, and he kissed her back. She knew this is what she had to do. This way her parents might one day allow them to go back home. A tiny part of her whispered that it was also the only way to prevent Cedric from becoming the villain he was claiming to be.