Chapter 11
James paced in his cell. He didn't know what time it was but he couldn't sleep, the anxiety of the hearing was overwhelming. There were so many things that could go wrong. No matter how hard he tried to be positive he couldn't escape the irritating voices in his head
"James?" Sofia's small voice snapped him out of his thoughts
"Sofia, what are you doing here?" his voice full of panic If Silas found her down here there was no telling what he would do
"I asked Silas if I could visit you, I snuck you some food" she offered handing him a slice of cheese, bread and some salted meat He took it graciously
"This brings back memories" James grinned taking a bite of the meat Sofia's face fell
"I wish I could remember what you do..." she whispered softly
"So you believe me?" he almost choked swallowing
"I want to. None of this makes sense...I don't know who Embry's father is, Silas knows nothing about me and doesn't seem to want to. Why am I even marrying him if not for some kind of a spell? He told me he is going to force the villagers to mine gold in the mountains and I'm not upset...I should be, right?"
"It's ok, I'm going to fix everything. Cedric and I have a plan. Don't worry" He took her hand in his through the bars
"What sort of plan?" she persisted and James had a horrible feeling that this was a trap
"I can't say much, he might be able to hear me. Just trust that after this is all done you will understand and we will be together again" Sofia pulled her hand back slowly and nodded sadly
"I'm sorry, he sent me here for information. You need to be careful tomorrow" she whispered and turned to run Cedric appeared in the hallway blocking her exit. He grabbed her shoulders and covered her mouth so she couldn't scream
"What are you doing?!" James called out in panic
"Quiet, my king" Cedric put up his free hand gently "Your majesty, If you scream the guards will come, I need to talk to you" he explained and let go of her Sofia backed up against the wall; her big eyes full of fear
"Why did you call me 'your majesty'? What do you want?" She demanded cautiously
"You are the queen, wife of king James who is in that cell" Cedric pointed towards James without looking at him "You need to believe that nothing you know is real, you have been put under a strong forgetful spell but I can reverse it with your help"
"I-I'm so confused...I want to believe something is wrong but I feel so certain it's not" She put her head in her hands
"That's good, a start at least. Maybe it's enough for me to help you" Cedric smiled weakly at Sofia and she just stared at him helplessly "tenere" he waved his wand over her head and a light yellow mist circled her head
James stared patiently as the mist circled around her faster and faster until it dissipated. Sofia blinked as though collecting her thoughts and her eyes fell on James
"James!" she ran to the bars and grabbed his hands "I remember everything, my love! I'm so sorry!" James kissed her hands and sighed heavily
"Don't be. It wasn't really you" He looked into her now warm, loving eyes and kissed her lips through the bars.
Cedric cleared his throat and Sofia ran to him engulfing the tall wizard in a tight hug which he reciprocated by patting her on the back
"Thank you, Cedric. Does this mean I'm free of Silas?" she let go of him and rejoined her husband
"Unfortunately the need spell is still active. Zandar will have to reverse that, which is what we are planning on for tomorrow. We are going to put an end to them both"
"Should we be talking about the plan here? Can't Silas hear us?" James asked worried that their plan would be thwarted
"No worries, I sealed the dungeon" he shrugged "Sofia, you are going to need to pretend you still don't remember James for everything to go as planned"
"Just until the hearing? I can do that, I will go to my room. Silas won't bother me" "OK, I need to get back. I have the spells ready. God it's good to have my wand back" he smiled and vanished in smoke once again
"James, I can't believe he made me forget you and was trying to marry me" she shuddered "Silas is more of a monster than we thought. He plans to enslave the entire kingdom and make a 'New Tangu'"
"Yeah, he was boasting about it yesterday. As soon as Zandar reverses his spell on the kingdom at the hearing Cedric is going to contain him so he can't use his powers to reinstate it. You and everyone else will be free of the need spell and we will take back our kingdom"
"You want to stay here and rule?" Sofia gasped shocked
"I owe it to my father's people. Maybe one day they will be our people but I am confident we will be safe here with Cedric's banishment spell and his help in the future. I want to be a good king like father was"
"If you are ready then I will stand behind you. Always. I love you." Sofia promised wholeheartedly
"I love you too, Sofia. You need to go to bed, we can't have Silas getting suspicious" Sofia nodded, kissed him again and rushed back out to the castle.
James fell into a restless sleep thinking again of everything that could go wrong. If Cedric somehow couldn't make it to the hearing or if Silas found out Sofia's spell had been broken. He needed Silas trusting and arrogant for him to allow Zandar to undo the spell. Finally darkness washed over his dreaming and before he knew it, it was time.
"Jamie, boy! Today's the big day!" Silas's booming voice sang James groaned as Silas opened the cell door and slowly walked out "We need to get ready, boy! Let's go talk to Madame whats-her-name to get our clothes" he instructed
James mechanically did as he was told, He remembered where the tailor's room was and his head snapped towards Silas as they entered. In the middle of the room was a mannequin dressed in his father's royal dress
"What is the meaning of this?" James roared at the old woman who was snickering
"Those are for me, boy. Is that a problem?" he asked faking innocence
"Um, yes. it is. I will not let you wear my father's clothes!"
James was on the verge of tearing Silas's throat out but he needed to remain calm. he started chanting 'stick to the plan' in head and took a deep breath
"Try and stop me" Silas hissed and began changing The tailor woman brought James an armful of clothes and threw them at him. James inspected them and found they were what prisoners wore to a hanging. His face went white and he stared at Silas
"Trying to tell me something?' James tried his best to laugh but his throat was dry
"Long live the king" Silas stared at himself in the mirror