The Ties That Bind

by PrisonerOfTheMind

Trying to set right a horrible injustice Sofia unleashes a chain reaction of events, plunging kingdoms into war. Political intrigue and magical battles abound. Peasantry and nobility clash while the chaos spirals out of control. Sofia will have to make a choice, but can she live with its ramifications? Cedfia/Hugfia/HildyAxelLuci/AmberDesmond/BirkMirandaRolly STRONG T RATING

10. Chapter 10-Acrimony

Chapter 10: Acrimony

Someone had set her leg on fire.

Her first thought was of her wand, but that instrument lay as it should, upstairs on her dressing table. There were concerned cries from around the table. Amalthea was first to react and pointed her wand at Sofia.

Whoosh!

A large stream of water shot her directly, dousing the princess from chest to legs while putting out the flame. Sofia rolled a bit on the ground as she grasped at the limb. It must have been badly burned around her ankle to evoke this much agony. The pain was intense, forcing her to bite her lip and curl into a fetal position in a desperate attempt to manage the horrible sensations. Wincing, she realized that someone knelt beside her. Cedric was there; flailing wildly while a cacophonous sea of shouting swirled around her. She started clutching at his robe, pulling it toward her face to muffle the cries of agony. "It hurts… it HURTS… Help …Cedric help." He regained his senses and started chanting healing spells. The pain began to subside but the burn remained.

Someone yelled, "Take her upstairs!" Cedric reached down and hoisted her up as best her could and together they fled the dining room. Sofia could hear angry voices trailing off into the distance. The burned area was still throbbing. He spirited her up to her bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. Once there he peeled her shoe off, tossing it aside. As it rolled up toward her headboard he propped her leg on an oversized pillow. Sofia finally saw the injury, and it looked absolutely dreadful. Skin had peeled back and the whole of her upper ankle was a bloody mess.

"It'll be okay it'll be okay…" Cedric kept muttering it over and over again as healing magic shot out of his wand. The pain retreated even further as the numbing spell slowly took hold.

"Mr. Cedric, It doesn't hurt so bad anymore. You can stop now, I'm okay."

"IT'S NOT OKAY!" He bent over her leg and began wailing. "It's all their fault... the horrible little…. Not again, oh not again. why, WHY! Merlin's mushrooms..."

Sofia started shaking her head, "Oh no Mr. Cedric, the numbing spell is working great! Mr. Cedric please, PLEASE look at me, I'm okay." She kept waving and trying to get him to look up, but he was fixated on her ankle. He simply wouldn't look at her. He gripped the covers near her leg and let out a horrific cry, as if he'd been set on fire too. Suddenly he shot up as if to run away. The look in his eyes was as pained as earlier, and Sofia remembered his horrible reaction this afternoon. She clutched as his robe, preventing his escape, "No Mr. Cedric! Don't run away again! I'm sorry, I'M SORRY!" She pulled harder to draw him in close and hugged him tightly, "I'm sorry for what happened this afternoon Mr. Cedric. Please don't run away from me again."

She could feel him convulsing, "Oh no, Sofia no. I'm the one who should be.. Oh Sofia please… I'm so... so… medicine, yes medicine!" He pulled away and took off running out of her bedroom, blowing past Amber as he left.

"Oh Sofia! How badly were you hurt?" Amber ran over to her bed then screamed when she saw the injury. She bent over Sofia's burnt ankle, her hands hovering over the charred flesh. "I should cover it! Or maybe I shouldn't, oh! We need to call the doctor! Oh Sofia!"

"AMBER!" The panicked girl froze as Sofia tried to calm her with a steady voice. "Amber I'm going to be okay."

"Are you sure Sofia? Because that looks simply awful." Amber grimaced as she pointed to Sofia's wounded limb.

"Really I'll be fine. It doesn't hurt anymore, Mr. Cedric took most of the pain away."

"Okay. Wait…" Amber turned toward Sofia, perplexed. "You mean he cast something… right? while he was frantic like that."

"Yeah I guess so. He usually casts spells just fine around me. It's Dad who makes him nervous but maybe he forgot Dad was there." Sofia shrugged.

Amber nodded, "Maybe, but he'd never forget Dad was there." She turned back to Sofia's leg, and balled her hands into fists. "Ooooh THAT GIRL! I KNEW she was trouble. Talking to you like that."

Just then Cedric returned, juggling an armful of half-filled bottles with thin linens spilling over the sides, the ends drifting through the air behind him.

"What are you talking about Amber?"

"Are you kidding, that GIRL, that Cecelia. Isn't it obvious? She was staring at you and twisting in her seat the entire time. She MUST have been the one who did this." Cedric dropped a couple bottles and gulped.

Sofia stared down at her leg, "Do you really think she could do this to me, on purpose?"

"Oh I know she did Sofia. She was crying and screaming that she didn't do it, pleading with Daddy, but I know she did. So did Daddy and everyone else. He didn't have to kick her out though, her mother already did."

Sofia took it all in. The thought of Cecelia crying out that she was innocent and no one believing her struck a chord inside Sofia.

"Maybe she didn't do it." Amber spun, dumbstruck. "I mean, maybe she wasn't lying. She's never lied to me."

"Oh Sofia, you really are innocent and naïve, just like Daddy said earlier." The comment made Sofia scrunch her face in revulsion. There was another 'clank' and Amber spun to see Cedric in a desperate attempt to keep the bottles in his hands. He was hyperventilating while the girls conversed. "Cedric, please heal Sofia as best you can."

The sorcerer nodded and Amber was off.

He let out a great gasp when the door shut behind the elder princess and spread his many bottles along the ground beside Sofia's bed. "Cedric…" His hands were jotting around, shaking as they went. Sofia looked closer and he'd been sweating profusely. She reasoned it was from the run up his tower steps, Cedric never was in very good shape. The sorcerer was still in a state of panic. Sofia took a deep breath and sat up a little that she might reach forward toward him. A gentle hand run through his hair seemed to steady his convulsions. "Mr. Cedric calm down."

A creaking sound came from the wall beside her bed. Clover had flopped out from the small opening and was making his way to his little stairs next to where Cedric was still hyperventilating. "Hey Sofia what's—Why is Cedric here and… what in the world happened to your leg girl?!"

Sofia took her hand off Cedric's head and reached over to stroke her furry companion. "I got burned Clover, but don't worry, Cedric can heal it."

"Consider me worried."

"Clover." Cedric was just staring at the forest of bottles on the floor before him. He needed assistance, and Sofia had years of experience in this exact role. "Mr. Cedric, shouldn't you wrap the burn in a mixture of whompus root juice and vex vine paste?"

Clover rolled his eyes, "The guys not even looking at the bottles Sofia. Yoohoo!" Clover had now mounted the bed and was wiggling a foot in front of Cedric's face, but he was out of his senses and seemed not to notice.

"CEDRIC." The sorcerer snapped back into reality and stared at her. "Maybe you should try whompus root and vex vine Mr. Cedric? I know you can do it." She smiled at him for encouragement.

"Oh yes… yes… vex vine…" He started to nod furiously and gathered up one of the spools of linen. Dabbing on the two liquids he moved the wrap over to her ankle and stared at it for a minute, having another nervous breakdown complete with shaking.

"Sofia what's with Cedric today? It's like he's gone bananas." Clover was patting the sorcerer's forehead with his front paw to little reaction, then the sorcerer started to sniffle. "See? Normal Cedric would have let loose with snide comments after a bunny fist bump."

Sofia shook her head at the fluffy hare. "Mr. Cedric is just upset that I got hurt. I would be upset too if someone hurt Mr. Cedric like this."

Cedric started to mumble as he gently lifted her ankle and wrapped the linen around her leg, covering the burn. "She was right. Who am I kidding, pretending that I'm worthy..."

"Mr. Cedric you're amazing, and my leg feels better already."

Once he finished wrapping her wound he sat back on his knees and held his head in his hands, muffling some sobs.

Clover looked over at him, "Sofia this is WAY off the scale for him. He NEVER cries. Something must have happened, OH! Was he the one who lit you on fire?"

Sofia was incensed, "How could you suggest that Clover! Mr. Cedric would never light me on fire!"

Cedric pulled his hands away from his face and stared at her leg, then turned to face her. Real tears streaked his cheeks.

"Oh Sofia. Please don't-"

Just then there was a knock at the door. Before Sofia could answer the door opened and in came Rolland. "Sofia, Amber told me that it's a bad burn." He walked over and saw it wrapped, with Cedric planted on her floor not two feet away. The sorcerer looked with horror up at the man. Rolland returned Cedric's stare with disdain. "Cedric, you were at the end of the table with them, did you see what happened?"

Mouth agape, Cedric flapped his lips but no words came out. "I…I…I…I…"

Rolland looked down at the man with condescension, "I assumed as much, but I wanted to be sure. Too busy fighting with Edith to protect my daughter."

Cedric melted into a human puddle on the floor, the energy sapped from his body. He needed rescuing, "Look Dad, Mr. Cedric is healing my wound with whompus root, and after a few changes it should be good as new! I know because he taught me all about it last year."

She gestured down to the linen-wrappings and he nodded. "Very well. Cedric, how long will it take to heal?"

He managed to muster out a, "M-m-mo-morn-morn-ing" whilst crumpled over.

Rolland shifted his stance, as he tended to do when making royal proclamations, "Then you're not to move from this spot until she's healed. Fetch her anything she requires, I don't want her injury getting worse. Do you understand?"

The sorcerer nodded and Rolland turned to leave. "Wait Dad!"

Rolland paused, then walked back toward his injured daughter. "Sofia, did you see who did this too you?" Cedric looked to be turning blue from lack of oxygen as he held his breath, but Sofia just stared back at the towering king before her, "No Dad, I didn't. But I need to talk to you about the people in Friezenburg."

Rolland raised a hand up as if to silence her continuance, "Sofia before you begin I want you to know that I've thought about what you said before my meeting," He lowered the hand and relaxed, "and I agree Sofia. Each man is entitled to a fair sentencing, and should get a re-evaluation of their crimes. I've decided to ask King Victor if I can visit in the morning and review the records to make sure all of their punishments are equitable and in line with the various kingdom's respective laws. It will take a long time, but I will review each case."

It was perfect! Rolland could discover for himself the horrors these kings had been hiding, and the 'terrorists' wouldn't need to be exposed. Lucinda would be safe. Her Papa and everyone else would be redeemed. It was so incredibly perfect! Sofia cried out with joy, "Oh thank you Dad, Thank you so much!", but then the nagging thoughts of words over dinner like 'troops' and 'riot suppression' came to the forefront of Sofia's thoughts. "But Dad, King Aaron was going to send troops into a village, he said so at dinner. Can't you stop him?"

"Now Sofia that's different. Rioting villagers is a threat to the sovereignty of—"

"BUT DAD! People could DIE!"

"Sofia, PLEASE." He tensed up again and flung both hands up to silence her. "Look Sofia, I can't interfere with the internal policies of another kingdom. I'm not the sovereign there. The criminals are different, because there are multiple kingdoms involved and the laws vary between the two, but rioting villagers destroying homes and lives need to be stopped, immediately."

"But Dad I'm sure the villagers are just upset about the people being taken, if you'd only go and talk to them I'm sure—"

"SOFIA." Rolland had lost any semblance of sympathy. "Let me make this clear. I'm NOT going to challenge the way King Aaron runs his kingdom, just like I appreciate that other rulers don't interfere with the way I run my kingdom. Understand?"

Sofia retracted her hands and tried to muffle sobs. It conjured memories of the walk with her Papa and Uncle through Friezenburg,

"Not every kingdom is Enchancia... not every ruler is king Rolland."

He gestured down and patted the side of her head, "Alright, I can see that you're tired and need some time to think. I need to go address King Victor about this whole new mess from dinner, to plan for tomorrow, and-" The corner of Rolland's lip turned down in disapproval, "And Sofia you should really think about what you say to others. I know you mean well, but it's better not to offend everyone. Bad things happen when people are offended." His eyes trailed down to her leg. Sofia felt like a deflated balloon at the comment, the air escaping from where her mouth had fallen open. In the next instance Rolland was gone.

In his wake Cedric was left wallowing on the floor by the end of her bed. Now that dinner was over and there seemed no hope of reprieve for the villagers to be found from King Rolland something had to be done. She needed to get to Friezenburg to alert her Papa about the impending troops marching on Antiweill, but how was she to do it with an injured leg?

Cedric muttered a bit in a mocking tone, "fetch her anything she wants", then let out an exasperated sigh, "as if I needed him to tell me that." He looked back at her blistered leg and crumpled back into his robe. Every so often another sniffle emitted from the rumpled pile of sorcerer. It broke Sofia's heart to hear him so upset. "Mr. Cedric, isn't there anything I can say to make you feel better?"

"I still think 'chuckles' over there did it." Clover had reappeared from his hiding place after Rolland's abrupt exit. Sofia waved off the rabbit's comment, "No way Clover. There was a girl at dinner tonight who was acting suspicious and we had some words. In fact, now that I think of it I also fought with…"

Sofia looked down at the pile of Cedric on her bedroom floor and suddenly a thought came to her. Sofia had also been verbally sparing with that strange 'Edith' woman that knew Cedric so well, and it was obvious Sofia was Cedric's dear friend. Maybe it wasn't Cecelia after all.

"Mr. Cedric, why didn't you tell me about your, well about 'Edith'?" He stopped sniffling and looked up at her. "She doesn't seem like a happy person, at least not now." Finally the frown upon his face began to subside.

"I… I sincerely hope she's not. I hope she gets every horrible thing she deserves, and I'll be just the sorcerer to do it."

That was it. Edith must have been the one who set Sofia on fire, the princess was sure of it. "Mr. Cedric, what happened between you two?" That tiny hint of relief in his countenance faded and again he was mired in frowns. "I'm sorry Mr. Cedric, if it's too personal to share with me I understand."

"No, nothing's too personal anymore Sofia." He crawled up to where her head was and set his arms folded over on the covers, still kneeling on the floor. "She… She's not a very good person. She did an evil thing."

"But Mr. Cedric everyone deserves a second chance…. I know a certain wizard who needed one too after a specific thievery incident."

"SOFIA!"

He crumpled over and planted his face into his crossed arms.

"Okay I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it Mr. Cedric. I just noticed how upset you were when you two were fighting and I mean, if it still hurts you must have really loved her."

One eyeball was looking at her through his bangs again, "I suppose, when I was very young and stupid, but honestly Sofia that's a strange word to apply to it."

"It's not a strange word Mr. Cedric. It's a beautiful word."

He reached out and began stroking her hand, "I suppose it is a rather pleasant one when used in certain contexts, but I don't see you spouting it about the castle as you skip merrily along with Princess Amber or Prince James."

"Why would I tell Amber or James that I love them all the time? That's weird Mr. Cedric."

"Well then why in Merlin's name would I describe Edith that way?"

"Wait, wasn't she your girlfriend?"

Cedric's eyes bulged out and his head flung back, "My g-g-girl-, whoever told that rubbish!"

"Well I just…" Sofia had really stepped in it now. She felt embarrassment well up and heat rise in her cheeks. "Well Hugo said it but it made sense." At the mention of the young prince's name Cedric grit his teeth. "And well, Dad and Amber knew her and she talked about Wormwood and she must have known your Mom too since she called you 'Ceddykins' and-"

"Sofia please stop before you induce vomiting." Sofia held her tongue. "Oh Sofia, Sofia…" His expression softened and had actually started to reveal a smile. He reached up and softly stroked her cheek with his fingers. "Silly, anxious girl. You needn't fret about her any longer sweet Sofia, Edith is my sister."

"Your SISTER! No way, we've been friends for YEARS and you never mentioned having a sister!"

"Now that's not exactly true. I have mentioned her on occasion, but come to think of it I may have been muttering it at the time. You may have noticed by the tenor of our discussion we're not exactly 'close'."

Sofia reached up and took his hand away from stroking her cheek. "Tell me what happened Mr. Cedric."

"She wanted my job Sofia, and father wouldn't let her have it. He said it was because the son should inherit the position, tradition and all that. But still she was older and thought she was more skilled, so she wasn't exactly thrilled about it. She fought with our father for the job, and… well Rolland doesn't know this but she tried to kill father, and me too."

"Whoa, that's horrible Mr. Cedric. I'm so sorry. I couldn't imagine having someone like that in my family."

"Indeed princess, she's not exactly welcome 'round the dinner table in my parent's home. Still, my father hopes she'll finally see the light and 'do the right thing', someday. Ooh how his optimism bothers me to no end."

"Cecelia didn't burn me, did she Mr. Cedric?"

Suddenly Cedric's face was nestled against Sofia's shoulder and a tiny, "no" squeaked out of him. Sofia nodded. "I understand. Thank you for telling me Mr. Cedric. I know it was hard."

He turned inward and whispered softly to her, "Oh Sofia, can you ever forgive me?"

She nodded. Interceding in that fight earlier was more than enough to elicit this kind of reaction from someone so unstable. Cedric must have felt responsible for her injury, hence the crying and frantic attitude.

"Shouldn't you tell Rolland about her? Maybe if you talk to him he'll listen."

Cedric pulled his head back to stare at her, "Indeed, has Rolland ever listened when I spoke? That soul crusher has never stopped to consider other's feelings, mine in particular."

"But Mr. Cedric, what if she keeps hurting people?"

Cedric let out a defeated sigh. "I suppose that's her job now Sofia. She told me over dinner that she'd been hired by King Victor to murder a mystery mage who's been flying around Friezenburg freeing criminals. Sounds right up her alley actually."

Oh no, this emotionally unstable and purportedly gifted witch was gunning for Sofia. Not good.

"Mr. Cedric I'm… afraid."

There was a knock at the door, and Cedric practically leapt backward from the bed. Whoever it was didn't barge in, and a couple seconds later there was yet another knock, more forceful than the first. Cedric looked over at her, "I suppose I should go answer it, being the one with two functional legs at the moment." Sofia nodded and the sorcerer rose to answer it, "Yeeeesss."

"I want to talk to Sofia and see if she's okay." Sofia couldn't see who was standing outside, but it was unmistakably Hugo's voice.

"Of all the impertinence! To think that you'd have the gall to try and waltz into a princesses bedchambers! Oh the impropriety, the audacity! I should melt you to the ground where you stand!" Cedric was fuming mad and had planted himself in the doorway, shaking his wand at the boy.

"Hey now, I just wanted to see if my beautiful princess was okay. Who are you to talk to me that way? YOU shouldn't be in her room either!"

Cedric scoffed, "She's not YOUR beautiful princess, and for your information I've orders from the King himself to stay right here all night and tend the princess's wound. I suppose you want to talk her burns into healing?" Oh no. Cedric planned on being there all night, just like Rolland ordered. How was she ever going to get to Friezenburg injured and with a minder watching her all night?

"No, but I could stay with her too! She needs to be comforted after something like that!" The tone in Hugo's voice was escalating too. Now the possibility of two minders keeping each other awake and fighting all night loomed on the horizon.

"I'm alright Hugo. Just let Mr. Cedric heal me, okay?"

His head poked out from over Cedric's shoulder, "Are you sure Sofia? I was so worried about you. Cecelia's usually so nice, I'm sure she didn't mean it."

"Alright you've said your piece you… you… PRINCE, now you and your filthy little imaginings need to get away from my Sofia!" and with that he slammed the door on Hugo's face.

Cedric started pacing the length of her room, muttering curses about Hugo. "Mr. Cedric calm down, he just wanted to make sure I was okay."

"But he's not respectful Sofia, always whispering in your ear and touching you. It drives me mad the way he treats you and no one seems to care." He stopped and turned to the poor girl stranded on the bed. "Well I care, and you are not his. I'm not going to let him treat you this way, not any longer."

"Mr. Cedric that's sweet but he doesn't mean any harm by it. Now I'm feeling much better, and well... there's something I need to do."

"Do, what could you possibly need to do with a burn like that? No Sofia, you're not doing anything but lay there until I've healed you proper."

"But Mr. Cedric-"

"Nonsense Sofia. I'm going to stay right here with you until it's good as new, and I'd have done it without Rolland ordering me around." Cedric reached out to squeeze her hand. It was a sweet gesture, but defeated the slim possibility of convincing him to let her go to Friezenburg, with or without his company. She let out a sigh and was lost in thought, barely noticing that he'd leaned in close to her, "Don't worry Sofia. I'll have you fixed up by morning like the king expects. A new application every hour should do the trick."

An hour was not enough time to fly to Friezenburg, not by any stretch of the imagination. "Uh, that's okay Mr. Cedric, I won't tell Dad and… you need your rest. You should go get some sleep, I'll be fine."

He bent his head in closer still, that he might almost touch his forehead to hers. "I wouldn't dream of leaving you like this."

The sorcerer stubbornly planted himself in a seated position on the floor by the end of her bed. As the clock in the hall chimed midnight he undertook the next bandage change. She saw him nodding off, but he'd rouse himself each time.

He was extremely tired; she just needed to encourage him to give in to the temptation. "Mr. Cedric, the floor looks, um... hard. Do you want a pillow? I've got plenty."

"No Sofia, I might doze off if I've pillows to lay on, and your leg would take longer to heal."

Foiled.

"Mr. Cedric, you look cold, do you want a blanket to keep warm? It's kind of chilly tonight." She gave him a quick smile. Surely a nice warm blanket could aide him in drifting off to sleep. Instead he looked down at her dress, then sprung up from the floor, "Merlin's beard I've forgotten to cover you. Oh mushrooms..." He walked to the opposite side of the large plush bed and lifted up the end of the blanket, tossing it over her but leaving the injured leg exposed, then walked back and sat next to her head. "There we are, comfy? Unless of course you need to..." Cedric turned a distinct shade of crimson and covered his face with his hands.

"I want to what, Mr. Cedric?"

"I... um... er... Do you need to... um... remove your...g-g-garments?" He was looking down toward her leg from behind his fingers, and Sofia noticed a bit of her burnt dress sticking out.

Sofia gasped, then the memory of this mornings 'incident' came flooding back. He must have assumed she always slept that way. "OH NO! I'm fine, I'm just fine like this."

She curled the blanket up around her neck and Cedric turned to stare off into the distance, "Ah... yes well, as you wish Princess."

It was nice and warm under the covers. "Thank you for the blankets Mr. Cedric."

He turned back around and gestured for her to lay her head down upon on her pillow. She yawned, but then caught herself. If she nodded off all hope was lost for the villagers of Antiwiell.

"It's no trouble Sofia, but do try and get some rest. I fear you'll be up most of the night as I change the bandages, but I'll try my best to be gentle about it." He brushed a couple of her brown locks back and took the tiara from her head, setting it gently on the nightstand next to her wand. Then he came to sit beside her once more.

From underneath the blanket she peered out at him sitting there next to her. He seemed to be wrestling with something inside, and kept looking out the window.

"Are you worried about Wormwood Mr. Cedric?"

"Wormy? No he's fine. He might be a little put out that he's taking care of your little phoenix tonight, but I'm sure some extra bird seed is all the fellow will need."

"Oh, then what's the matter?"

He didn't answer at first. Instead he stood and walked to her window, staring out at the moonlit night. "It's nothing Sofia. I've… been through this before and it's better if I just accept some things."

"What things Mr. Cedric?"

"It's just…" He turned his head slightly toward her, "you'd never try to make a fool of me, would you Sofia?" his voice was straining from the weight of the comment.

Sofia was aghast, "Mr. Cedric! We've been friends for years. Why would you think that?"

"You're right, of course… of course. How silly of me, you are made of goodness after all." He settled back down with his head touching the side of her pillow, staring down toward her leg.

It was maddening. How could she get this sorcerer to fall asleep! Warm milk? "Mr. Cedric, can you get me some warm milk from the kitchen?" He nodded and hopped up immediately, "Oh! And don't forget some for yourself, too."

"I don't particularly like the stuff, never have, but I'll be back before you can say 'Hooveratis Aboo!' thrice." In another moment he was out the door. Grumbling, she took the opportunity to try and stand on her injured leg. Pain shot through her and she settled back down onto the mattress. That needed addressing too. He returned in but a few minutes with a steaming glass of milk. Eagerly he handed her the cup, now she'd have to drink it and not pass out. She gulped it and handed him back the glass. "Thanks Mr. Cedric."

"Yes yes, is there anything else you'd like me to fetch you?"

"If you could bring me my wand that would be great."

"And just why would you be needing that when you've got yourself the Royal Sorcerer of Enchancia right here!" He waved his wand a bit in a showy fashion.

"Well, could you teach me the numbing spell? That way if my leg hurts I won't have to bother you."

"Oh it's not a bother at all Sofia, watch this." A tiny little smile crept forth and, "Cruscutis Pigra!"

The whole of her leg felt numb, but at least she could potentially hobble about on it now.

"Thanks Mr. Cedric." He nodded and stuffed his wand up his sleeve.

"Yes yes, now I think it's time a certain princess nodded off, hmmm." A raised eyebrow and a chiding finger were aimed squarely at her, then he turned to extinguish the candles illuminating the room. He was getting impatient, this wasn't good. She needed a better plan.

She patted Clover's head and bid him goodnight, and the reluctant bunny finally hopped away. "Mr. Cedric, I'm still not tired. What did your Mom do when you had trouble falling asleep?"

He softened and came to sit beside her head once more. "Well actually, Mummy used to sing me a lullaby, but don't make me sing Sofia, I sound like a tone-deaf warbler in heat when I do it."

Perfect.

She reached out and starting stroked his hair like her Papa used to do when tucking Sofia in as a small child. He laid his head down on the mattress again. "No Mr. Cedric I won't make you sing."

She started to hum. Ever so quietly so as to not be noticed at first, then building in strength until words came. The song her Papa always sang would be perfect, he was sure to fall asleep.

"I've met the one who sets alight,

. . . the fires of my hearts delight."

"They sing in verses to the skies,

. . . and starlight reflects in their eyes."

"I'll give my heart to this dear one,

. . . Our love will be forever sung."

"Into the sunset we will dance,

. . . If only they will take this chance."

She looked down to see if he had fallen asleep, and unfortunately it had quite the opposite effect. He was gazing up at her, his mouth slightly askew. It was strange, but for a moment Sofia could almost see starlight from the window reflecting in his eyes.

"Sofia."

Before she could respond he'd grasped the hand nearest him and wrapped his arms around it, curling over on top of the clasped limb.

She sat there trying to think of another way. There had to be something that could make this stubborn sorcerer fall into unconsciousness. She lay there for several minutes trying desperately to come up with an answer but then gentle snores were heard rising from her side.

Silence was the only thing he'd needed.

Sofia waited till he was sound asleep before slowly extracting her hand and quietly getting up. It was a very odd experience to try and walk on a numbed leg, but the inner machinations seemed to still respond to her commands. Hobbling over to the dresser she retrieved her wand. She turned to him and whispered, "I'm sorry Mr. Cedric." And cast a sleeping spell on him. He'd be out till morning. A quick grab for her mended cloak to counter the chilly autumn air and she was gone.

Limping to the stables was tricky with numb extremities, but Sofia managed to go unnoticed due to the late hour. Mounting Minimus posed a whole new series of challenges, and reminded her of the first time she ever rode a horse. After scaling a hay bail she was able to sit on the saddle, and they were off. Here she was again, flying into danger in the middle of the night. Luckily the leg wasn't necessary to steer Minimus. She made it to the cottage and hesitantly undid the latch. The door creaked open and slowly she began to hobble inside when the torsos of several frightened men sprung up from the floor. She yelled "Papa!" and they seemed to calm down. A figure in the back of the cabin moved closer to her.

"Sofia sweet pea, what are you doing back here?"

A lamp had now been lit, and Sal was sitting up in the corner near the light source. The figure before her was her father. "Oh Papa! King Aaron and King Victor came to have dinner." Birk shook his head from side to side, "Sofia I don't want you putting yourself in danger like this. Unless it's something really important I need you to stay safe sweet pea."

"But Papa there is rioting in a small village, one named Antiwiell." At the mention of the villages name a couple more men on the other side of the cabin jumped up.

"My wife!"

"My daughters!"

Sofia nodded. "Yes."

Birk hunched over in thought, "The message of what happened must be spreading."

Sofia grabbed his hand, "Yes and Papa! King Aaron is going to send troops to stop the rioting! Oh Papa I'm so worried!"

Birk looked down at her, deadly serious. "Sofia dear, do you know if those sorceresses are going to be there as well?"

"No Papa, they're not. King Victor didn't want to send them." Sofia shifted her stance, causing her to hobble slightly.

"Sofia your leg! What happened?"

"It's okay I'm fine. I had an accident but I'm okay."

Birk started shaking his head and pursed his lips together. "Okay Sofia listen good. You are going to go straight home to Enchancia, understand?"

"But Papa—"

"NO."

He released a deep sigh, "Sofia you are injured, and you shouldn't fight while you are hurt. Additionally, there will be no mages there. We can handle this, and we will handle this, right brothers?"

Every man in the hut was awake at this point. A chorus of "Ay!" echoed throughout the small space.

Sofia buried her face into his chest, "But Papa what if you're hurt? I could never live with myself if something happened to you and I was just sitting somewhere safe drinking tea and giggling."

He stood tall and put a hand on her shoulder, "Sofia listen to me. I was dead. We all were. Now we have a purpose in life again. We will protect our families and our brothers from this menace. There will be no more stolen sons of Friezenburg. We are united, we are the people of Friezenburg, and we can win this."

A man in the back of the cabin started to sing,

"We were dead to one and all.."

Another from the opposite side chimed in,

"Now united we shan't fall."

Sal chimed in for good measure,

"We shall make those demons pay."

"The people shall win the day!"

More men started to rise, and continued chanting the abbreviated words her father had just spoken,

We were dead to one and all,

. . . Now united we shan't fall,

We shall make those demons pay,

. . . The people shall win the day!

The tenor of the chanting rung a sour note inside her. The men sounded resentful at the repetition of Sal's words. Sofia tugged on her Papa's sleeve, "Papa, you're not going to hurt the soldiers, are you?"

"We'll do our best. The soldiers are sons of Friezenburg too. We'll spread the message of what happened, what's been happening. Everyone knows one of 'the lost.' It should be fine sweet pea. Don't worry." Birk looked up, his gaze trailing off into the distance, past the open door and out to the meadow beyond.

"Papa, are you okay?"

Men were still chanting in the background, "Yes, everyone does know someone 'lost', and when they find out why… and who will lead…" he'd started smiling, and almost looked excited.

"Papa!" Sofia shook his arm to break his trance.

Birk snapped back to reality and bent over slightly to be eye level with the frightened girl, "I need you to go home sweet pea, back to Enchancia. If you stay my only thoughts will be of your safety, and bad things happen when men are distracted."

Sofia dropped her head low and acquiesced. "Okay Papa, if I hear anything else I will come back to this hut and tell you."

He nodded, and Sofia hugged him for dear life. This man, this great man was willing to lay down his life for the families of his comrades. Even after his future had been stolen. It's almost like he was incapable of being bitter.

"I love you Papa."

"I love you too Sofia. Now be safe and go."

Birk helped to hoist her onto Minimus and waved goodbye as she ascended into the night sky. Sofia wondered if she'd made the right choices. She had saved him from prison, but he may end up dying a few days later in what was turning into a bloody civil war.

She got back home before the sun rose for a change and snuck her way back into bed. Cedric was still lying up against the mattress, fast asleep. She took her shoes off and placed them neatly by the bed, and tried to resume the exact position she'd had the night before. There and back again without being noticed.

…

She awoke in the morning to the feeling of Cedric tugging at her leg. It had started to ache once more; the numbing spell must have worn off. He was changing her bandages but had a horrible scowl on his face.

"Good morning Mr. Cedric."

He didn't respond, and his bandage technique left a lot to be desired.

"Good morning."

"I heard you Princess."

"Well nice people say 'Good morning' back."

His ministrations halted, and then he looked at her with a fury she had never known he could possess. "Nice people don't sneak off in the middle of the night when they're injured, do they Princess!"

No way! He'd been asleep. How could he have known? He must have realized she was perplexed and a sly grin broke out on his face. "You think me a simpleton, don't you? The royal FOOL, is that it? That you can go scurrying about and your dalliances would go unnoticed. Well you might want to think about where you leave your belongings next time."

Sofia glanced around the room frantically.

Her shoes.

He'd taken one off and it had rolled by her headboard. Now the shoes sat, as they should, placed neatly next to her dresser.

Her wand.

Cedric had set her tiara right next to it last night, but she'd returned her wand to the wrong side of it this morning. She'd been caught. In fact, he'd caught her every time she'd whisked herself off to Friezenburg. There was nothing to do now but apologize and come clean.

"I'm sorry Mr. Cedric."

He was practically foaming with rage. "WHY! Just tell me why Sofia. Who is this special someone that you need to go sneaking off in the middle of the night to go see? How could this person be SO special that you'd lie to me, to ME, CONSTANTLY. I thought you… liked me. All the things you've done, are you just mocking me?!"

"But I DO like you Mr. Cedric. You're the best. It's just…He's my Papa."

Cedric looked at her as if she'd eaten a toad in front of him. "What does that even mean Sofia? you know I'm not privy to whatever your school chums are calling it these days."

"What are you talking about Mr. Cedric! I'm telling you that I found my real Papa. He's in Friezenburg and-"

"You've been gallivanting off to FRIEZENBURG! With all this nonsense breaking out? I should tell your father about this! Then he'll lock you up in this castle and this 'Papa' of yours won't be able to steal you away from me!"

"Mr. Cedric please, PLEASE don't tell king Rolland! I had to go! I had to do this! He needed me and I can't just abandon him! I'm all he has!"

Cedric practically shot fire from his eyes, but then he took a step back and a deep breath. He started laughing to himself a bit, it was quite unnerving. "Oh I see how it is. Distracting me, that's your game. Isn't it princess? Think worry will overturn reason, do you?"

Sofia was distraught. "Please Mr. Cedric, it's the truth!"

He belted out full-blown laughter in her face as he shook his head in disbelief, "And I suppose the Royal Palace of Maldonia wasn't on your itinerary last night either, was it?"

"Of course not. Why would I go there?"

"You just can't stop lying, can you Princess."

"I'm not joking and I'm not lying Mr. Cedric. Why don't you believe me?!"

The strange laughing stopped and his hair practically stood on ends. "Why should I believe anything you say! Last night you swore you weren't making a fool of me, and yet off again you went. I should stick you to this very floor!" He started pointing emphatically at the marble below where he stood.

"I wasn't making a fool of you and I'm not LYING!"

"Perhaps you should have been wearing pants last night Princess, then at least it what happened would have been fitting!" Suddenly the fury evaporated and he started mumbling, "oh Sofia I…um.. I…didn't mean…

What the? Did he just say… Pants… on fire…. Sofia's eyes went wide. The memory of schoolchildren rumbling through a play yard on a bright spring day came rushing forward, complete with giggles.

Liar liar pants on fire!

He was intimating that she was lying and DESERVED this injury?

"How could you even SAY that Mr. Cedric!" What DO you believe!"

His resolved steeled again, complete with clenched fists. "I believe that nothing coming out of your beautiful mouth is the truth! It never is with you women! Liars, the lot of you!"

"FINE" Sofia loudly proclaimed. "If you don't believe me then I have nothing more to say to you. Good day!" Sofia really couldn't go anywhere faster than Cedric could in her injured state, so she crossed her arms indignantly and let out a giant huff, pointing her face away from the furious sorcerer.

"FINE. I'll be back in a hour to change the infernal bandage." He shot up off his knees, rage writ across his countenance.

"Don't bother! I'll be fine without it!" shouted the girl as the sorcerer stomped off toward his tower. Sofia wouldn't really be fine without his help, but she was so angry she didn't care at the moment. After a fashion a maid appeared with breakfast, and Sofia grabbed the rolls. She winced through the pain as she hobbled out of bed and down into the gardens. There she sat along the vegetable rows, fuming angry. She was biting a roll furiously when there was a sudden dampness on her leg. Tears had been rolling down her face and collecting below. A bit of dirt shifted next to her, and Clover revealed himself; nibbling on some carrots.

"Hey, what's the matter Sofia, and what are you doing out here? And shouldn't your ankle be healed by now?"

She couldn't stop the sniffles, and buried her eyes into her crossed arms.

"It's still hurting Clover, but I had a fight with Cedric and I'm so angry."

"But I thought you were supposed to be better by morning?" The worried bunny put a paw on her thigh.

"It's not Cedric's fault." Sofia sobbed, "I left last night for Friezenburg so he couldn't heal me."

"I'm sorry it hurts so much Sofia." Clover nuzzled up against her dress to administer comfort. A quick scratch behind his ears and the bunny wasn't as upset.

"It's not the leg Clover. Cedric caught me once I came back to the castle. Now he's fuming mad that I flew off last night. I told him I went to see my Papa in Friezenburg, but he didn't believe me. I'm so angry, and hurt, and…and… upset. I've never told him a bold faced lie before. He doesn't trust me at all."

Clover looked mystified. "Hey Sofia, you can't let that guy get to you, okay?" Clover was always trying to help, but this time it hurt too much. Full sobs fell out of Sofia, and she sat there in the dirt with a half-eaten roll in her hand crying her eyes out.

Clover curled up on her lap and Sofia passed the early hours of the day in tears. Truth be told she was crying about more than the fight with Cedric, for it was now morning and her father may be fighting for his life alongside her uncle, her cousin, and many others in some forsaken village in Friezenburg. The worry consumed her. Time ticked by and it began to rain.

"Sofia, go inside girl, it's raining."

Sofia just shook her head and continued to stare off at the vegetables. "He's out there Clover, Papa is out there fighting injustice and I'm sitting here with a burnt ankle. I just feel so, useless." More tears came out of the princess.

Clover was trying to hide under her arm from the rain, but it wasn't working. "Clover, go ahead and burrow, I'll be fine. In fact, I'd like a little alone time if that's okay."

He cocked his head sideways, but relented to her wishes and scurried toward the nearest bush. Too upset to reason she sat, rain falling in sheets about her head and sides, penetrating down to the bone and obscuring her tears.

She was thoroughly soaked by the time she felt arms reach under her, lifting her by the back and legs. It was Cedric. He jostled her a bit as he carried her to the gazebo in silence and sat her upon the bench. He reached deep inside his vest, pulling out dry linens and the necessary bottles, then proceeded to change her bandage.

"Wait Mr. Cedric! You're wet!"

He stopped undoing her old bandage and smiled at her gently. The raw emotions of earlier lay just below the surface, but he was projecting an aura of tranquility. After the brief pause he resumed rewrapping her leg, without drying off first.

"Mr. Cedric."

He didn't answer.

Once he was done he stood up and sat next to her. They were dripping wet in the gazebo, sitting next to each other in silence. Sofia couldn't take it anymore. She hated fighting with people, especially Cedric. She plunged her head into his shoulder and tried her best not to sob anymore. He reached up and stroked her wet hair, pausing a bit to run his index finger over the silver star clip she was still wearing in her hair.

"I hate fighting with you Mr. Cedric."

"I know. I'm… sorry Sofia."

Apologies of the Cedric variety were elusive creatures, and only uttered on the most solemn of occasions. He hugged her softly and did a lot of good in service of stopping the tears. A Cedric-initiated hug was an even rarer sight to witness than an apology, and spoke to his sincerity.

"You really do like the clip I gave you?"

"Of course I do Mr. Cedric." Drifted softly from her lips.

"Good. And the phoenix, what did you decide to name her?" She looked up at him while still wrapped in his embrace, and he was smiling gently while drips of water fell from his nose onto her chin. He was as thoroughly soaked as she was, and even his bangs were dripping. He must be trying to put the fight behind them and move on. She really wanted to do the same.

"Oh. I hadn't really decided yet. Is 'Phoenix' an okay name?"

"It's a bit unori- never mind. If it's what you'd like to call her it's a wonderful name. We shoooould get her to your room though, sooner rather than later. It doesn't take a magical amulet to know that Wormwood isn't too pleased with the little workshop intruder." Half a chuckle escaped him as his contented face hovered just above her own, eyes closed and arms still wrapped tight around her. "Just like I used to be, I suppose."

"What little intruder? Do you mean… me Mr. Cedric?"

"Well yes, but that was a long time ago. A very long time indeed. If I could but see the future Sofia, I'd wouldn't have spent all those wasted years scheming to get your amulet."

She looked out over the gardens and smelled the rain. It felt so clean and refreshing, like all the sins of the past could just wash away. "Thanks Mr. Cedric."

A delighted smile crept out of her. He returned the gesture, and she reached around to hug him back. Fighting with Cedric had been awful, hopefully that was never repeated again. He'd been terribly upset too, it was written all over his face. Angry words that should never have been spoken. That they might wash away with the rain. The pattering of raindrops on bushes continued and for one contented moment at least their friendship was just as it should be. They passed a long while in silence, listening to the rain fall upon the gravel and bushes around them in relative wet tranquility.

"Mr. Cedric, are there boy and girl phoenix?"

"Why yes, I believe there are. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering if my phoenix had a mother at one point, or if you made her from a stone."

"Ahem." Cedric opened his eyes and cleared his throat; a magical lesson was sure to follow. "Your phoenix was made with the highest quality magical stone that, once imbued with spells and the proper potions, provided by the Royal Sorcerer of Enchancia mind you, formed that little creature you were so delighted by. However in nature there are male and female phoenixes, and yes they raise young together, and before you ask yes, they mate for life. For life Sofia, for life. If only humans did the same."

She looked up at him, and he'd changed from his normal pedagogic tone to the strangest introspective expression.

"I wasn't going to ask that, but I was wondering about the baby phoenix. Do you think I should find it a mommy phoenix, at least until it gets older? I don't know if I can take care of her properly."

"Honestly Sofia, you would make a fine mother for the bird. I wouldn't have given her to you if I didn't think so."

"Aww. Thanks Mr. Cedric."

He started to fidget strangely, and began looking around the grounds as if to see if there were other souls present, but who would be wandering through a sudden rainstorm?

"Do you want…" He just trailed off and didn't finish.

"I'm sorry Mr. Cedric, do I want what?"

He bit his lip again before continuing. "Do you want to be one someday? I mean a mother, well a human mother… that is a mother to a child… what I mean is a human child…. oh mushrooms…"

His head sank low as he trailed off. Sofia was astounded he'd ask her something like that. This was a pretty personal question coming from Cedric, but considering she had just been talking about mothering it was right on par with Cedric's usual level of social awkwardness. "Well, I hadn't really considered it, there's so many other things to think about first." There was a war breaking out, a schism in her family, the looming question of how her mother would react to the news, everything swirling around inside her.

"Yes, yes I suppose. But then, maybe someday you'd consider it?"

"I guess so. I'd need a husband before I think about kids, that's for sure." Cedric gulped strangely and gripped her tighter.

"Um, Sofia…"

"Yes?"