Chapter 4 –

"I don't understand, Cedric." Sofia was getting upset, it was the third time she'd tried this spell and she had yet to get it right. "I keep watching you do it, I say the right words, I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" She looked like she was about to cry as she flopped down on the stool.

"Don't get discouraged. Here. Stand back up. Let's try again." He stood directly behind her. "Okay, now hold the wand out just like this…" And he put his arms around her and directed her how to hold it. Now say the words but say them with more conviction and confidence and I will help guide the wand movements." She did as told and soon the spell began and the room was bathed in beautiful aurora lights of blue, purple and pink.

"Wow, Cedric… It's so beautiful." He still hadn't let go and had his arms wrapped around her, his body pressed against hers. Sofia leaned back into him, her head against his chest. Neither wanted to break the moment and so they stayed that way silently for a while watching the aurora lights swirl around his workshop.

Reluctantly Cedric withdrew his arms from around Sofia and backed away to create some space. "Well, let's clean this spell up and then put things away for the day shall we?" He said, running his hand through his hair nervously. He didn't want the moment to end but he didn't want to take things too far either, he was supposed to be her mentor. He wasn't supposed to be seducing her, he admonished himself!

Before they could begin cleaning up, there was a knock at the door and Baileywick came in. "Wow, this is spectacular you guys!" He exclaimed.

"Sofia did it, she is quite the sorcerer's apprentice." Cedric stated proudly looking towards Sofia with a smile.

"Well, Cedric helped me; he isn't called 'Cedric the Sensational' for nothing." She said smiling back at him.

Chuckling a bit to himself, Cedric addressed Baileywick. "So, can I help you with anything, Baileywick?" He was just thankful he had stepped away from Sofia before they were interrupted.

"Yes, King Roland requested your presence in the throne room when you get a chance regarding an upcoming event." He informed Cedric.

"Okay, I will be there as soon as we clean up this spell." After Baileywick left, Cedric slumped into his stool. Sofia walked over to him.

Taking his hand into her own, she asked him, "Are you still nervous around my dad?"

"Yes, and I still mess up my spells because of my own insecurities, too." He pouted.

"Well I will be there beside you, okay. Now let's clean this up and go find out what he needs." She pulled him up and asked him what to do.

Before leaving his lair, Sofia turned and looked up into Cedric's eyes and stated sincerely, "Cedric, I will be beside you the whole time, you have no reason to be nervous, you are the best royal sorcerer. You've taught me so much. I believe in you. And I know my family does, too even if they aren't very good at always showing it." She took his hand into her own and they made their way towards the throne room. He felt better with her presence beside him and her hand in his. It was comforting. Before entering, they let go of each other's hands and he said quietly, "Thank you, Princess Sofia."

They pushed the heavy door open and entered the room. King Roland was sitting in his throne with Queen Miranda on one side and Princess Amber on the other. Cedric and Sofia approached them, stopping a few feet away.

"Cedric, thank you for coming so quickly." King Roland began.

"You're welcome, your majesty." Cedric stated, nervously, looking down.

"Hello Sofia, are your magic lessons going well?" Her dad asked.

"Yes, today I made the aurora lights. They were so beautiful!" She began excitedly.

"That sounds wonderful, dear. Maybe you can show us later?" Her mother inquired.

"I'd love to!" She exclaimed, practically jumping up and down clapping her hands. Cedric almost began laughing at how excited she looked to show off her new spell. Her happiness did manage to calm his nerves some.

"So Cedric, I requested you here to discuss an event for a few weeks from now. A rather important event..." He said looking towards Sofia

"Yes, sir. How can I help?" He asked, looking up. Sofia also looked up, beginning to feel dread.

"You see, Sofia's birthday is in a few weeks and it is an important birthday. We want to make sure to have a big celebration and I want you to put on a grand show. Not just for her birthday however, but since it's her first party since returning back to Enchancia since being gone for five years; we also want to celebrate her return home." The King explained.

"But daddy, I wanted to invite Cedric as my friend, not have him be there working as a member of the staff!" Sofia shouted, getting upset at her father.

"You don't need to raise your voice, sweetheart. I understand he is your friend and he is welcome to attend the party as such but we need him to do the magic show as he is our royal sorcerer. Please understand, Sofia." He tried to explain kindly.

"No, I will not understand. I don't want him to have to work when he is supposed to be a guest as my friend. We can do one party without a magic show. It's not a big deal." She looked at Cedric with sad eyes and back at the ground.

"Princess Sofia, it's alright. I will attend your party and also do the magic show for your family and the other guests. I don't mind." Cedric told Sofia soothingly.

"Then it's settled. Cedric will be a guest at the party and do a magic show. You can even work it out with him yourself what you want him to do for the show, Sofia." Her father suggested optimistically, thinking this idea might make her less upset over the idea.

"Ugh!" She exclaimed and stomped out of the room.

"Sofia! Wait up for me! We have so much to plan!" Amber yelled and followed after her.

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If he was being completely honest with himself, Cedric was disappointed he had to work Sofia's party as well but he was not surprised as he did all major events whether he liked to or not since he was the royal sorcerer. He wished he could have gone to comfort Sofia but Amber had followed after her so he left them alone. He would talk to her later and work things out.

Meanwhile, Amber was still following after Sofia. Sofia entered her room and slammed her door shut. Amber wasn't deterred though and opened it right up and went in after her. "Sofia, we need to start planning your party. You said you'd be ready in a few days and that was a week ago." Amber sat on her bed and pulled out a pad and pen. "I've already begun writing some ideas I have down, would you like to hear them?"

"Sure." Was the only response she got from Sofia, who had her face in the pillows of her bed.

"Great. Well, I was thinking since you really love to dance we could begin the party with music and dancing of course and have some light refreshments off to the side…" She began to talk and Sofia again toned her out. She really didn't care at this point. It felt obvious to her that her family wouldn't listen to her about what she wanted anyway.

When Amber finished talking Sofia said dryly, "That all sounds really great Amber, you know, you're so good at planning parties, how about I just put you in charge of this. You can be my official party planner."

"Really? Do you truly mean that? That would mean the world to me! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you so much! I will run everything by you once a week and then the day before the party of course just to make sure it's all okay by you." Amber said as she got up and started towards the door bouncing excitedly.

"I'm sure it will all turn out wonderful, Amber. You have a great eye for party planning. I trust you. I just don't have it in me to plan these types of things." Sofia said sadly, still thinking about Cedric.

"Okay, well I have so much to do to prepare for the party. I better go get started." And she took off out the door.

Sofia lay back down on her bed staring at her ceiling. She had only been home a week yet her feelings had grown for Cedric from a little crush to major lust. Feeling his arms around her and his body pressed against her back today was exhilarating and gave her butterflies in her belly. She wondered if Cedric was feeling the same way. It was such a special moment to her the way they stood there together enjoying the beautiful lights shimmering around the room with her head leaned against his chest. It had to be ruined by reminding them he was a member of their staff and she was royalty and they could never be more than mentor/apprentice. A tear slowly slid down her face. It was unfair to her that such divides existed. Sofia slowly sat up and wiped her face clean and splashed herself with cold water before heading back towards Cedric. She needed to talk with him. He always made her feel better when she was upset.

Approaching his door she knocked tentatively. She wasn't sure if he wanted to see her anymore today. Maybe he would be angry with her. His door opened and he ushered her inside, "Come in, come in." He shut the door behind them.

"How are you feeling, Princess?" He asked her, looking Sofia in the eyes knowing just hours ago she was quite upset.

"Honestly, I'm not very happy at the moment. I don't want you to have to work to entertain me. I'd rather you be there to as my guest to talk to me, dance with me, be a part of the festivities and not work. You are not a member of the staff to me. I don't you to think of yourself as that with me either. I don't want that so blatantly displayed before us I guess." Tears began to slide down her face and Cedric came forward. He embraced her in his arms and wiped a tear away with his thumb.

"Oh my darling, how about we find a way around this little predicament that will satisfy all parties." He said while kissing her forehead and holding her tightly to him.

"How could we do that?" Sofia asked, sniffling into his neck, taking comfort in his closeness and affection.

"Hmmm… let me think for a moment." He put his chin on the top of her head and began to think of a way to do a magic show that would satisfy the king yet not upset Sofia so he wouldn't have to work and could just be a guest at her party. Then he got an idea.

"What if," he said looking into her eyes, "We did a magic show together? You could show off all the things you've learned and I could help out with anything you're not quite comfortable with yet on your own."

"That's a wonderful idea, Cedric! But let's keep it a surprise, okay?" She suggested mischievously. She reached up and kissed his cheek, "Thank you, you always cheer me up when I'm feeling down."

"You have to promise me something though, Mr. Ceeeedric…" Sofia said mischievously beginning to pull him into a dance.

"It's Cedric, you pest!" He growled, trying to hold in his laughter, letting Sofia drag him into a dance. He put one hand on her hip and held one of hers in his own while one of Sofia's hands was on his shoulders, slowly sliding behind his neck pulling him closer to her.

Princess Sofia leaned forward and whispered seductively, her lips lightly touching his ear, "You must promise, we'll share the first dance at the party." They continued to dance around the room, their bodies pressed together tightly.

Cedric whispered back, gently grazing her ear, sending shivers down her back. "I wouldn't share it with anyone else, my darling." She turned to look up at him, their lips were only inches away. He couldn't resist anymore. He bent forward and pressed his lips against hers. It was pure magic.