Cedric's eyes flickered open and he shot up in bed, clutching his blankets to his chest and panting for breath. The room he was in was dimly lit by a few candles, their shadows flickering eerily against the wall. Otherwise, it was pitch black. Cedric thought for one heart wrenching moment that his dream was true, but then he saw his mother sleeping in a chair beside him, snoring loudly and murmuring in her sleep. He managed a smile and leaned his chin on his trembling hand, sighing softly. Cedric sniffed, a tear or two escaping from him before he could think to hold them back.

"GOODWIN, STOP EATING THE CAT!" Winifred suddenly shrieked, her eyes shooting open, scaring Cedric so badly he screamed, throwing his arms over his head and curling up in a ball, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking hard. Winifred immediately leaped up onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her terrified son. Cedric whimpered and buried his face in his mother's shoulder, muttering apologies and mentally cursing himself for waking up his mother.

"Oh, it's alright dear, don't be sorry," Winifred soothed, holding her boy close to her as he sniffled into her shoulder. Winifred searched desperately for Goodwin, but he had left the small castle infirmary long ago when his wife and son had slipped into a restless sleep. Cedric pulled away from his mother and rubbed his eyes vigorously, still apologizing under his breath and sighing softly to himself. Winifred looked at her exhausted son with sad eyes, putting a hand on his wrist and pulling it from his eyes. Cedric was about to snap at her to leave him alone when he was knocked down flat on his bed, two little arms wrapped around him.

"I'm so glad you're awake, Mr. Ceedric! Are you feeling better?" Sofia chirped, looking at the hurt sorcerer with her big, round, blue eyes that seemed to be shimmering with tears despite her tone. Cedric swallowed back the lump in his throat, putting a shaking hand on the back of Sofia's head and sighing dejectedly.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's Cedric," the sorcerer whispered. The little princess giggled and snuggled against the older man, making Cedric smile. Winifred smiled before quietly leaving the room so the two friends could talk alone, closing the door behind her. Sofia rested her head on Cedric's chest, frowning slightly as she heard how quiet and slow his heartbeat was. It scared her, but she was here to make Cedric happy again.

"I made something for you, Cedric," Sofia said softly, getting off the bed to pick up the card that had fallen to the floor when she tackle-hugged the sorcerer. Cedric's eyes softened as Sofia handed him the crudely made. On the front was a crayon drawing of Cedric and Sofia holding hands, standing in a grassy lot with flowers and a sunshine that had a smile. The words "GET WELL SOON" were written in all caps at the top in bright green crayon.

"Thank you, Sofia," Cedric said, his voice quivering and filled with sincerity as he wrapped his bandaged arms around the little princess and pulled her closer to him. Sofia snuggled up to his side, her eyes half closed as she allowed herself to relax and feel at peace since Cedric had first gotten into the infirmary. She looked at the blood spotted bandages on her friend's arms and frowned, her stomach churning and her mind reeling as she tried to understand why.

"Mr. Cedric?"

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you something?" Cedric looked down at the princess and nodded. Sofia bit her lip and sat up, still leaning against Cedric, but not completely snuggling against him. "Why did you try to die?" Sofia asked timidly, looking down at her hands in shame. She saw Cedric pale out of the corner of her eye and immediately regretted letting her curiosity get the best of her. She was about to tell the sorcerer that he didn't have to answer if it would make him sad again, but Cedric's tired smile directed her way made her relax, if only slightly.

"That's a hard question to answer, Sofia, and even if I did answer it, you still might not understand. Are you alright with that?" Cedric asked, secretly hoping the princess would refuse, but Sofia nodded eagerly, scooting closer to the sorcerer on his bed and looking up at him expectantly. Cedric gulped, his eyes flickering to his gloved hands. What had he gotten himself into...?