Chapter Ten: Soon to be alliance

Their surviving princess had to grieve alone. The villagers knew this as they bowed and curtsied before the little princess who was followed by their once queen, duchess, and the crown princess from Avalor.

Losing their beloved king and queen had been a shock. Not more so the prince and princess whom they had looked to since their births.

Then when Sofia came to the castle, they looked to her as well. But they didn't know that she had ran away after witnessing the deaths of her family.

Except for the young captain who hung his hat out of respect, the image of the blood squattered and crying little girl forever haunting him.

He couldn't take his eyes off Sofia who whispered mutters of missing her family with a small sneeze escaping her lips.

Had it been a more somber occasion, the captain would've thought of it as adorable but it only left him with concern.

It had to be the childhood common cold. Nothing more. It shouldn't matter to the young captain.

Yet it left him concerned anyway.

"Have you seen the princess?" The captain asked a fellow villager.

"Hold on Sam. She's in mourning," a baker replied. "She's only a child. She don't need you bothering her."

"It'll be just for a moment."

"I know you've not been well since a week ago but let the girl be!"

"Look I have kids of my own too. I just need to talk to the princess. It won't take long. I promise," Sam reasoned as one of the royal guards had overheard, sighing softly.

"Alright but don't take long," one of the guards said, taking him by the hand. "She's rather restless."

"I won't take long. You have my word."

"Good to hear. Now come along."

…

"Elena, can't I stay with you? Please? I don't want to stay here!" Sofia pleaded, tugging on Elena's dress.

"I know you want to come with me Sofia" but I want you to get better first. Tilly and Grand Mum will keep me updated on you. Alright?" Elena said, gently taking off her hand.

"But you will take care of Clover won't you?"

"Por supuesto."

"Gracias Elena," Sofia sniffed, rubbing her nose. "I just want to go with you."

"I know you do," Elena shushed, taking her in her arms. "I'll inform the family that I'll be staying with you for a couple days."

"So you're not going home?"

"Why would I leave when you need me now? And you'll be better in a few days with me here. Maybe we can have an us day before we go home."

"Can we?!" Sofia squealed excitedly. "Please?"

"Once you're better!" Elena beckoned. "I'll help you out of your mourning clothes."

"But we're only here for the funeral. I didn't bring anything with me."

"Then you'll just have to borrow Amber's clothes."

"But they're a little big on me," Sofia frowned. "A-And I don't think she'll like it if I took them."

"I know," Elena sympathized, taking her hand. "But maybe we can ask your sorcerer to have them be your size and maybe grow along with you. Does he know about the attack?"

"He knows about it. But Mr. Cedric doesn't know about you know. What the attacker did to me."

"I understand. But you don't want to tell him?"

Sofia shook her head, leaving Elena somewhat confused.

"No Sofia?" Elena asked gently, patting her back.

"No."

"Well come on. I'll get it figured out. You rest."

"But Elena!" Sofia protested with a frown.

"I'll come back. I promise," Elena assured before bumping into Sam. "I'm sorry who are you?"

"I'm Sam, the sailor who took the princess to your kingdom of Avalor. I'm a father myself and would like to speak with Princess Sofia. If it's alright with you crown princess?" Sam requested as Elena nodded.

"Mr. Sam!" Sofia sighed in relief at his presence. "How have you been?"

"Decent. You?"

"Sick. And hurting."

"Sofia, I know you miss your family," Sam said, sitting beside her on her bed.

"How can you tell?" Sofia wondered, almost embarrassed.

"I'm a father myself."

"Oh. I'm sorry for keeping you away Mr. Sam."

"It's not your fault," Sam assured, stroking her hair.

Sofia almost flinched at his touch but remembered that Sam was the sailor who had calm her down and wiped away her tears as he took her to Avalor.

"Now princess I know this'll be hard for you but time will heal," Sam continued as Sofia had tears in her eyes.

"I miss them so much," Sofia croaked.

"It's okay to miss them but they would like to see you happy. What was the last thing all of you did together?"

"Well we were thinking of plans for a vacation that never got to be. Amber and James tried to tickle my suggestion out of me. Before the attack, I would've hated it but now I miss it."

Sam nodded in understanding, tucking her in before spotting Amber's unicorn.

"Maybe you can tell the unicorn what the idea was. Sleep tight Princess Sofia. Goodnight," Sam smiled, kissing her forehead.

"How is she?" Elena asked, carrying what was once Amber's gowns now made into Sofia's size over her shoulder.

"Missing her family but that's normal. As for her sickness, it's just a childhood cold. She'll need rest for a day or two."

"I'll make sure she'll get it. I promised her an us day."

"Good idea," Sam smiled, bowing to her. "Have a good rest of your day Crown Princess."

"You too," Elena grinned, stepping into Sofia's room.

She sighed in relief at the sleeping little girl before putting up Sofia's new gowns.

Tilly had been sympathetic as did Baileywick when Elena had told them of Sofia not wanting to mess with her fallen sister's clothes.

But they understood that it was a chance of Sofia being closer to Amber even if she couldn't be with her physically.

"Goodnight Sofia," Elena said, kissing her cheek. "We'll have our day together once you're better."

…

Two days had passed since the funeral and Sofia's cold as Elena sighed at the young prince before her.

Prince Anthony of Stoneybrook was nothing but a spoiled, good for nothing brat with raven hair and lackluster brown eyes who rolled his eyes at Sofia's presence.

"When Mom and Father asked me to play, I never thought I would be playing with an orphan," Anthony retorted with a scoff. He stared at Elena in surprise. "And you're taking care of her?"

"I've been made her legal guardian by her aunt until she's ready to be queen," Elena explained, holding back the urge to smack the child in the face.

"Elena please! I can handle him myself!" Sofia yelled with a sniff.

"You look like you've lost a fight with a ghost!" Anthony laughed.

"I've been sick."

"So? Why would I care about a girl that's got no parents anyway?"

"You're wrong Anthony! Sure my mother, father, and siblings are gone but at least I'm not a spoiled brat like you and sure I'm be a princess but a princess can do anything boys can! Even sports!" Sofia gloated before looking at Elena's disappointed glance. "But I try not to brag about it often."

"A princess that can do boy sports? Give me a break!" Anthony scoffed, crossing his arms. "Not even your siblings bragged about their accomplishments."

"They didn't. But at least they treated others with respect!"

"That's enough you two," Elena said, taking Sofia for a moment.

"When did he come in?!" Sofia grumbled with crossed arms.

"Just a few hours before you came downstairs."

"I want him out!"

"Sofia, you'll be queen in ten years, you're gonna have to get used to him," Elena explained, seeing her pout. "But when you're queen, you can decide if you want to have an alliance with Prince Anthony."

"What if I don't want one with him?" Sofia asked, hugging Amber's unicorn close.

"Sofia please! Just try to make the most of it. Now let me see the unicorn. You can have it back after it's been washed."

"Okay. I know it's been covered in my sick germs."

"Oh no! Now you're giving them to me!" Elena teased mockingly.

"Elena!" Sofia pouted, glaring at Anthony.

"I'll leave you two be."

"Great. Now I'm stuck with a rotten prince for an hour."

She grumbled, staring at the younger prince with boredom.

He had to be what? Ten? Nine?

She didn't care. She just wanted him gone.

"Great! I'm stuck with a sick princess. Just what I needed," Anthony grumbled. "Not to mention an orphan one. How did everyone die?"

"That's none of your concern," Sofia frowned, wishing she hadn't given Elena Amber's unicorn.

"Ha! You don't even remember it! That's why you won't tell."

"No. It's personal. And it still hurts to talk about it."

"Okay," Anthony smiled, grabbing her hand. "But I just want a moment with you."

"What kind of moment?" Sofia wondered, biting her lip.

"Just a moment of hide and seek. Unless you're chicken!"

"Never! I'll be the one counting!"

"And hope to never find you" she wanted to mutter under her breath but knew better.

Plus hide and seek was an innocent game.

"Okay. Let's make it more fun! Sofia you count. But win or lose, you have to drink this bottle I snuck away from my father. Unless you're a baby and are scared to try it."

"I'll try whatever it is you snuck away from your father," Sofia smiled uneasily. "What is it anyway?"

"Don't worry Sofia. You'll like it," Anthony assured.

But Sofia felt unsure. When Miranda and Roland were alive and had wine or any other substance, she nor her siblings were allowed to have it.

But she didn't want to have Anthony tease her, giving in as Sofia started to count to ten and began her hunt for the young prince.

She may not had been in the castle as much since everything that happened but Sofia still had everything memorized.

Even the throne room as she hugged herself, trying to keep the memories of the attack at bay.

She peeked around, spying her family's thrones as a tear slipped from her eye.

"Boo!"

Sofia placed a hand on her beating chest, jumping at the voice as Anthony stepped out from behind the curtain.

"That's not funny!" Sofia pouted. "I could've wet myself!"

"Oops. Are you alright?" Anthony asked, regretting what he had done.

"A little frightened but okay."

"I didn't mean to frighten you Sofia. I never meant it."

"I know. It's just... This place brings back a lot of memories," Sofia sighed. "And since I lost, I get the drink you snuck away?"

"You sure?" Anthony asked. "I can pretend the bet never happened."

"No. We'll be an alliance one day and this will be the start of it."

"Alliance? My dad never told me I would be an alliance with you one day."

"Well Elena told me I would have to get used to you," Sofia smiled softly.

"Well you sure you want the bottle?" Anthony asked again. "Because if you get sick again..."

"If I throw up, it'll be outside. I wouldn't want Violet to clean me up again."

"Okay Sofia."

The two of them went outside near the gardens as Anthony found the bottle he hid in one of the brushes.

Hesitate, Sofia took it before uncapping the lid and tried not to gag as the sour liquid went down her throat.

"Anthony is it this bad?" Sofia asked, trying to not gag.

"It was cold this morning," Anthony frowned.

"Anthony why did you wait so long?"

"Well you hated me."

"In my defense, you started it," Sofia muttered, turning green.

"What's going on here?!" Elena asked with hands on her hips. "Is that wine?"

"Wine? No Elena!" Sofia laughed nervously.

"Your face says otherwise."

"Well you said make an alliance with Anthony and that's what I did!"

"Yes but I must've left out the wine for too long. My apologies," Anthony apologized with a frown. "I didn't mean to get her sick."

"I know," Elena sighed. "Sofia, we're going for a walk. Anthony can think about what he did."

"But I'm fine now!" Sofia protested, frowning.

"I'm sorry Sofia but even if you were willing to drink it, he's still punished."

"Just because he snuck it away from his dad?"

"She wasn't supposed to know about that!" Anthony growled. "I thought we were an alliance Sofia!"

"Anthony, you didn't tell me not to," Sofia muttered, almost in tears.

"Well you can forget about our alliance you orphan! And you know what? When your parents were alive and greeted my parents they weren't tried. They weren't looking like they just got out of bed. And they especially didn't need to rely on someone else!"

Tears were forming in Sofia's eyes as she tried to hold them back.

To mention Miranda and Roland like that in front of her face.

"Well that's just fine you jerk! I won't make an alliance with you after all even if you beg! I never want to see you again!" Sofia screamed as she threw the nearly empty bottle of wine at the wall. "Now get out of my garden!"

Anthony tried not to blush at her anger. He had to admit that she was pretty when upset.

"I'll talk with you later," Elena growled, seeing tears down Sofia's cheeks. "She's been through enough!"

As they left, Anthony kicked a pebble in frustration. While he meant to make her cry though not tears of grief, he never expected her to snap at him.

Even worse? The crown princess of Avalor hated him as he hoped that she wouldn't lecture him too much on his behavior.