AN: Thank you for the reviews so far! I love reading all your input! I hope to hear more!

It was mentioned that it isn't explicitly stated how long Cedric has had Sofia held captive and I wanted it to be that way (mostly because I couldn't decide exactly how long) but rest assured, Sofia is in her early-mid twenties.

Guys, I think this story is gonna run a little longer and a whole lot darker than I expected... so strap in and please enjoy!

A week had gone by, or maybe it had been two. It was hard to keep count when one was locked in a cell without any windows. Outside the door to her prison stood two guards but she never saw their faces. None of the guards were allowed near her cell after one particular man had gotten a little too handsy with her during his solo watch. There was still a stain from his blood on the wall where Cedric had unleashed his rage upon the guard. It served as a constant reminder of the consequences that awaited those who dare lay a finger on her.

She could hear the footsteps on the stairs. Someone was coming her way and it wasn't a servant of the castle. She knew this footfall better than she cared to admit. He was coming back.

There was a turn of the key in the lock and the door creaked open and then closed once more. More distinct footfall before he came into view.

"Back so soon?" She said, raising her eyes to his face. But he didn't respond and he didn't pace back and forth in front of her cell refusing eye contact like he always did. He entered the cell immediately and moved to sit directly across from her. His gaze burrowed into hers with an intensity she'd never seen matched before and it caught her off guard. "Cedric-"

"I don't want things to be like this." He said at a volume one had to strain to hear. "You don't belong in this cell."

"You're the one who put me here." She said, leaning closer to stare hard at him.

"And I want nothing more than to take you out of here." Cedric said, looking at the woman with every ounce of his sincerity. "But I can't do that without a little guarantee."

She could feel her face contorting involuntarily into a sneer. It was a look she'd never imagined would be so commonplace on her features but somehow he managed to make it happen time and time again. "You insult me. I already gave you my answer."

"It was my hope that you would reconsider." He replied, doing his best to keep his voice steady. "This is about more than just legitimacy to the throne, Sofia. It's about your freedom. Surely you want more than these cell bars."

"Oh yes. I want more. Much more." Sofia retorted. "But not at the cost of my dignity. Not so you can parade me around as your pretty little wife, complacent and submissive to your every desire. And believe me, Cedric, I'm well aware of exactly what it is you desire."

Cedric averted his gaze from the young woman. They both knew her meaning; his unspoken want of her. It must have been painfully obvious, though he tried his best to mask it. He cleared his throat and looked back at her. "I wouldn't have you do anything unsavory. All I ask is that you rule beside me as my queen."

"You know, when I was younger I always worried that I might end up trapped in some loveless marriage because of my status as a princess." Sofia said, now finding it harder and harder to look at Cedric's face. "I never once thought it would be with you."

"It wouldn't be loveless on my end." Cedric said softly. "I care a great deal about you, Sofia. I think you know that."

"That's why I'm here." She said with a snort. "Shackled to the floor of this cell."

Cedric sighed and shook his head at Sofia's words. "It was better than the alternative."

Sofia scoffed and scowled at the sorcerer. "At least I would be with my family."

"You wouldn't know them." Cedric replied. "And they wouldn't know you."

"It would still be better than this hell on earth where I'm forced to interact with you." Sofia muttered.

Cedric watched the young woman quietly for a moment. She was doing her best to hide that her face was filled with pain but he could see it underneath all the animosity she projected at him. A thought crossed his mind, a risky idea, but if he was lucky it might pay off. She would see him as sympathetic and less of a monster. He stood slowly and reached out a hand to his captive princess. "Would you like to see them?"

Sofia tensed, her eyes growing wide. "Wh-what?"

"I'll take you to see your family." Cedric said with a small smile. "But you must promise to behave."

She looked up at him in disbelief. In all the years she'd been his prisoner he'd never once offered to let her leave the cell. Now he was giving her the chance to do so, and to see her family at that. "Take me."

Cedric produced his wand and knelt to unlock the shackles at Sofia's feet. He noticed with instant regret that the metal of the fetters had worn at her skin over the years leaving the flesh there looking gnarled and painful. He grimaced at the sight but there was no magic spell in his repertoire that he could use to remove the scarring. He turned his eyes away from the unpleasant sight and stood, reaching down to help her up.

Sofia refused the man's help, preferring instead to struggle on her own. Years of imprisonment hadn't afforded her much strength but she'd be damned before she'd lean on him for support. After a few attempts at pushing herself off the ground she managed to stand on trembling legs. Her ankles had become accustomed to the constant support of the shackles and it felt strange to move around without them. Even still, it was liberating to be free of them.

"I'll have to obstruct your vision until we get there, you understand." Cedric said. "Would you prefer a physical blindfold or an enchantment?"

Sofia felt a shudder run through her at the idea of the caecus enchantment. The last time she had been blinded with it, it had been at Cedric's hands. She couldn't reverse it no matter how hard she tried. It was terrifying for the short amount of time he'd left her in that state. She could only hear the chaos going on around her but she hadn't been able to see the bloodshed. Perhaps it had been for the best after all, though the thought still petrified her. "Blindfold me if you must."

Cedric used his wand to conjure a strip of fabric. He moved to stand behind the young woman, hands steady as he placed the fabric over her eyes. Once he was certain her sight was blocked he moved to the front of her and took her hands gently. She jerked back from him but seemed to realize that she would be reliant on him to lead her. He took her hands securely in his own once more and pulled her along.

Sofia stepped forward, hesitant to allow Cedric to guide her anywhere. She didn't trust him, though she didn't think he was deceiving her either. After all, one doesn't set a trap for a caged mouse. He seemed to take care with her as they started up the stairs and out of the prison. A deep breath of air told her she was no longer in the sub levels of the castle. It had been so long since she had inhaled air that didn't smell like the dank, dark underground of a troll cave, it was almost too much to handle on an emotional level.

He led her along much further, up another set of stairs and then down two more until they came to a place far worse than her own little slice of hell. Though she couldn't see she still had use of all her other senses. The first thing she noticed outside of the putrid smell was the wretched sound of indistinguishable groans. The air in the room felt stagnant and thick and made her flesh crawl with the sensation of filth. She covered her nose with her hands and attempted to breathe through her mouth but she could even taste the foul atmosphere.

That was when she felt Cedric remove the blindfold from her face. Her eyes adjusted to the new level of light. There was a solitary flame burning above the exit, though it didn't feel like there was enough oxygen in the room for it to survive. When her vision cleared she was caught off guard by the appearance of a face that looked strikingly familiar, though it had changed over the many years since she had seen it last.

A gasp fell from her mouth as she stumbled forward to grasp the face through the bars of the cell. "James! Oh James!" She looked over his face in despair. He appeared sickly pale with dark circles around his hollow, lifeless eyes. There were remnants of his last meal plastered down the front of him. There didn't seem to be any recognition on his features that he knew who she was, or even that she was touching him. "What's wrong with him?"

"The spell I used... it didn't work quite as intended." Cedric said quietly. "I merely meant to remove their memories. Instead it removed everything."

Sofia looked past James to see the forms of her mother, father and sister shambling about in the cell. They too seemed to be in a state of stupor; entirely unaware of their surroundings or her presence. Tears rushed to her eyes and a lump grew in her throat to the point that she thought she might choke. "This is awful. C-can you reverse it?"

"The spell was something of my own creation. As of yet there is no way to counter it." Cedric answered, watching in discomfort as the princess pawed at her brother's face sorrowfully. "They are completely incapable of caring for themselves in this state. They only eat when food is provided."

"Who is in charge of caring for them?" Sofia croaked out, brushing her fingers through her brother's dirty, knotted hair.

"There is no one I can trust." Cedric replied. "They need care beyond what I can provide."

"I will care for them." Sofia said immediately, turning to face Cedric. "Please. Please let me care for them."

Cedric let out an uncomfortable sigh and looked away from the princess. "You know I can't allow you to-"

"I'll accept your proposal." Sofia said, forcing her gaze to meet Cedric's despite every bit of her wanting to look away. "Let me care for them and I'll give you what you want. I'll be your queen."

Cedric's breath caught in his throat but the moment of excitement was fleeting. "Sofia, you understand everything that entails, don't you?"

"Yes." Sofia said, lowering her head. "You win. But if I can help them, even if it means nothing to them... then I'm yours. Do we have a deal?"

Cedric stared down at the princess in silent thought. It was an intriguing deal to consider. On one hand, she would give herself willing over to him, allowing him to lay claim to the throne from a legal standpoint. On the other hand, she was a determined young woman and giving her access to her family could prove hazardous if she chose to make any rash decisions. But the expression on her face was one of such woe and he was so very weak for her. He couldn't deny her. "Very well. It's a deal."