SOPHIE DIDN'T LIKE SLEEPING IN THE PALACE. IT SEEMED TOO . . . HUGE. TOO GRAND.
It made her feel tinier and less important than she already was. She brought this up to the king and queen at somepoint.
Alden Vacker, the king, hadn't really been too keen on how she next suggested that if they could just build her a small house near the castle, she could sleep much easier.
"Someone could try and take you," he warned. "This time of the year is not good. Nor, may any other time be. People wish to unseat me from my throne. There are spies and rebels in the woods."
Sophie had shuddered mentally at the thought and fingered her long light blue nightgown sleeves, especially the lace at the ends. "But King-"
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" he said tenderly, adising from his throne and coming down next to her. He took her hands inside of his. "You may not be a daughter of blood to me, but you are considered one of my own."
Sophie wanted to ask him why he wouldn't make it official and adopt her, then, but she bit the inside of her cheek to restrain herself from it.
Not the time.
"I will be alright. I know self-defense. I go down to the archery range in my freetime, king- I . . . I mean, Dad."
He shook his dark haired head. "No, my child. That would not be enough." He dropped her hands abruptly and started to walk away, signaling he would not give in to what she wanted.
Sophie's heart raced as she realized if she didn't do something, this was going to be the end of the conversation. "W-wait!"
He puased his long strides and turned around to face her again. "Yes?"
"Y-you . . . place a guard in front of the house," she suggested in a hurry.
His brown brows furrowed. "A guard?"
"Yes. Please," she begged. "I can't stand it in my room upstairs. It's too large. I want my own small space."
Alden slowly nodded. "If this house was made . . . which guard would you want?"
Sophie bit her lip, thinking hard.
There was Nax, a guard whom she'd met before. There was another named Raff. She knew a guard named Po. There was another named Oll.
A certain blonde night from the archery range with a cheeky smile came to her photographic mind. "Sir Sencen," she said, suddenly, surpeised she, herself had even mentioned him. "Can I have him as my guard? He's a good friend of mine. He'll protect me."
"You're sure of this?" Alden had asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Positive."
Alden had sighed. "I will get right on it. But you need to ask Sir Sencen if he wants to position himself at youd house everynight, understand?"
Sophie nodded in a flurry. "Yes."
"Then get to bed and converse with this knight in the morning."
And that was how her small house came to be. It was a small stone house, butted up against a forest in the pastures of the castle.
It was very small and only consisted of one room, but Sophie thought of it was cozy.
Her bed was in the corner, then her dresser was against a wall. She had a small kitchen-like area with two cupboards underneath a small cauldron. There was even a small heating oven for her to use for warmth or cooking.
Sometimes Sir Sencen would come inside her small living area and Sophie would direct him to a little corner where she had a easel, stool, some panits and a new canvas every time. She'd sit next to him and ask him to draw random things, for she was fascinated at how the knight could create such masterpieces. He had such a steady hand, for a knight.
"Can you draw a dragon?" she asked one time.
"I suppose I could try. Hey, why don't you help me?" he asked with a smile, handing her a paintbrush.
She blushed. "I can't . . ."
"Sure, you can. Want me to help you?"
Sophie took a second to ponder the idea and then gave a nervous, not-so-sure nod. He set down his paintbrush and took his hand over Sophie's also holding onto the paintbrush with two fingers. Sophie chewed on her lower lip in concentration as he talked her through the steps and dragged the paintbrush across the canvas. Soon enough, a green blue-eyed dragon lay on the canvas.
"It's beautiful," Sophie had breathed. "Thank you."
He smiled. "Likewise, Lady." With that, he had risen from the stool and walked ro the door. "You should get some rest, now, Lady."
"Alright," she agreed.
He gave a small bow, fist to his chest, for it was custom to do so. Then he left.
Tonight, Sophie paced aeound her little stone house, wishing she could see through the walls to peer at the stars. She wanted them to tire her so she could sleep peacefully.
Sophie jumped when the door opened. "I'm sorey, Lady, did I scare you?"
" Sophie, " she answered. "Keefe, you know that's my name. We're friends. We've been friends since we were litfle."
"But now we're grown," he countered, enterinf and closing the door behind him. "And soon you'll be wedded off to some duke."
Sophie fake gagged and stuck out her tongue. "Never. I'll marry you before I ever marry a duke." She said the name like it was a curse.
He winked. "I knew you loved me."
Sophie blushed. "Shut your mouth, Sencen."
"Likewise, Foster."
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Oh, so we're both using surnames, now?"
"Apparently, Lady."
"Sophie. Or, heck, I don't even care if you use Foster."
He chuckled. "Foster suits you. Has a nice ring to it."
"Yeah. If I want to sound like a single ancient elf."
"Don't make me envision you as ancient," he said with a fake cringe. Then he lit up and smirked. "And you definitely won't be single."
She snorted, be completely un-ladylike. "Mhmm. I'll be married and have two children."
"Really?"
"That was sarcasm."
He laughed lightly. "Well, what's on your mind tonight? You didn't drag me to the canvas right away, like you normally do."
Sophie shrugged. "There's a ball coming up. They're holding it to get a husband for Princess Biana."
"Princess Biana, huh? I don't see much of her. She doesn't like mud or dirt or archery or any of that stuff, does she?"
Sophie smiled. "No."
He laughed. "And yet you're her sister. Ironic. Say, where'd you get that head of blonde locks, anyway? The rest of your family's got brown heads." He pointed out, then laughed again. "I think I just noticed that."
Sophiw bit her lower lip, realizing she hadn't ever told him she wasn't related to one of the Vackers. He'd asked about her last name, once, and she'd told him she made it up.
He hadn't looked too convinced, but never pressed.
"I'll tell you another time," she said. Then she sighed. "Do you think they plan to marry me off at somepoint?"
The knight seemed taken aback. He blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck. Since when did he do that?
"I'm not sure. I really . . . I really hope not."
Sophie turned compeltely red. Did he just . .?
His eyes shot open suddenly. "I-I mean, not that I . . ! You just . . . I don't like you. I mean, I like you but not like that. Plus, even if I did like you, we wouldn't be able tp marry or even betogether or anything. It's law and . . . I just made this awkward," he said, noticing her red face.
"It's fine," she squeaked.
He cleared his throat and straightened the sword in his belt. "Anyways . . ."
"Do you think any of the maidens are cute?" Sophie asked.
He shrugged. "Umm, I mean, we're elves, sooo . . ."
Sophie nodded, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "Isn't it weird having people that expect you to have an offspring?"
Keefe bit his lip. "My parents don't really . . ."
Then Sophie knew there was something he had not told her. "Keefe?"
"Hmm?"
"We're friends," was all she said. "Nothing, not even marriage, could separate us, right?"
He nodded. "I'd like to think so, Lady."
She sighed at the formal name. "I have a plan I am not yet ready to tell you, Sir Sencen. I hope you will be there for me when I am ready."
The words worried him, but he nodded and bowed, ready to exit the stone house. "It shall be as you wish."
