Chapter Seventeen
"As you know Buttercups, one of our own is still recovering from an unfortunate circumstance. Are there any suggestions to help her?"
A week had passed since the girls night as Ruby looked up from her notes and at her mother.
Sofia hadn't been in the Buttercups in weeks due to the attack, and as she and Jade found out from Amber, Sofia had trouble with walking longer distances due to her legs. There was no way she could do a meeting with that obstacle.
Ruby raised her hand and with a nod from her mother, she stood up and straightened her dress.
"Why don't we have a meeting at the castle?" Ruby suggested. "And do an activity Sofia can do without trouble?"
Meg smiled, nodding in approval. "That's a great idea Ruby."
"It has been awhile since Meg and I have seen Sofia," Peg agreed.
"Do you agree Jade?" Mrs. Hanshaw asked.
Jade stood up, twirling a lock of hair.
"I do. I just don't want to do any activity that'll frighten her or leave Sofia exhausted," She admitted.
"Now that I think we all can agree with."
"How much time do we have to come up with an activity?" Peg wondered.
"Not too soon right?" Meg hoped.
Mrs. Hanshaw chuckled. "Don't worry Buttercups, you only need a few days to plan something." Hearing the girls, Ruby included, sigh in relief, she smiled. "Now I believe we have our star stones ready for Princess Amber's surprise?"
"Yes!" The girls chorused.
"Like King Roland requested, we keep it a secret," Ruby smiled. "Amber's been working harder than all of them when it comes to Sofia."
"She's often seen helping Sofia if needed," Jade added as she got out her star stones.
Mrs. Hanshaw nodded warmly, beckoning the girls to get started before their meeting was to end.
They did so without protest as Meg took out a homemade tiara from her backpack.
While they worked, Mrs. Hanshaw patted her daughter affectionately on the head and hid a grin.
Ruby's suggestion was a good idea for after everything one of her Buttercups went through, the scout leader knew she would be needing some cheering up.
…
Sofia looked through the stack of mail Baileywick had set down on the dining hall table lazily. Her practice was done for the day, and though she knew it was wrong, she couldn't help it but look through the stack.
Bill, bill, a document for Roland, another document for him, and a letter addressed to her.
She paused, wondering whether or not to open it.
If it was one of other princes, she feared what it said.
Twirling one of her regrown curls to assure herself that the letter was probably nothing, Sofia took a deep breath and ripped it open.
"'Dear Princess Sofia, I'm Prince Samuel of…'" Sofia paused, rubbing the back of her neck. "I can't even pronounce his kingdom."
"Sofia? Baileywick told me you'd be here," Miranda smiled. Her smile widened as she spotted the documents. "Your dad was just complaining about these documents last night."
"What's so important about them?"
"Well one's from Tangu but it's something you wouldn't understand and the other's from Redwell. King Peter's just making sure Enchancia's in alliance with his kingdom considering everything."
Sofia paled. "I wish we weren't."
"I know how you feel," Miranda sympathized, kissing her cheek. "But an alliance is like your physical therapy. It's important to have. Otherwise where would we be?"
Sofía looked down for a moment before looking up again. "We'd have no trade for the goods we have and if Enchancia had a war, we'd have no allies to back us up."
"Exactly. I know it's been hard for you but the king and queen of Redwell are certainly better than their son and I'm sure you'd trust them if you can."
"Okay. I was reading the beginning of Samuel's letter, it came today, and I don't think he feels sorry. Just not in a Maxwell sorta way."
"Seems like he had some trouble expressing it," Miranda reasoned, skimming the letter. "But he's felt disgusted by Maxwell's recent actions."
"'I might an only child,'" Sofia read aloud. "'But I would never break a kid's self esteem.' " She placed the letter down. "How can he have a heart and Maxwell doesn't?"
"Depends on how his attitude around girls are," Roland commented, kissing Miranda on the cheek. He looked at Sofia and smiled. "Been looking through the mail huh?"
"Dad! What else can I do?! I did great in practice but I still have some trouble with distance."
"That's all right Sofia. We don't want you to rush with healing."
Sofia frowned, kicking her legs. "But I just wanted to be healed all the way."
"And you will. In time," Roland assured. "But not right away."
Sofia nodded softly, holding back a sigh. She looked at Samuel's letter in the hopes it wouldn't make her feel worse.
While it wasn't all positive, at least he had the mindset not to blame her for the attack.
Unlike Maxwell and possibly the other princes if she were to ever get a letter from them.
Sofia ran a hand through her hair. Even with the potion, it was now growing back slowly much to her dismay.
But she smiled upon hearing Amber and James' footsteps.
"No running in the dining hall you two!" Roland scolded.
"Sorry Daddy," Amber smiled sweetly. "But we were wondering if Sofia could go out to the village."
"Before or after you three finish your schoolwork?"
"After Dad," James assured.
"All right," Miranda smiled, musing James' hair. "But no long distances and be back before dark."
She and Roland had left the room as Amber took out a folder of work for Sofia from her bag.
James noticed Sofia frowning as he squeezed her hand. While it was small, her workload were some subjects she did mediocre on.
"Don't worry Sof; You've gotten better this month," James muttered, brushing a lock of hair from her face.
Sofia gave him a grumble in reply.
...
Wearing her coat, as requested personally by Baileywick, Sofia stood on the castle steps before James helped her along.
She hadn't been to the village in weeks, feeling a small chill but she smiled to herself.
Finally she wasn't restricted to just the castle.
When you've seen it every day for twenty four hours, it got tiring and dull.
Amber noticed her smile and couldn't help but do the same.
Her little sister's happiness was all she cared about.
"Lucinda can't wait to see you," Amber smiled. Noticing Sofia's confusion, she patted her shoulder. "Things happen to get to witches faster than it would us."
"Did she threaten to hex Maxwell?" Sofia giggled.
"Something like that," James smirked.
Helping Sofia into the coach, he noticed Trèfle sticking out from her coat pocket.
If Sofia needed him for as long as she needed, the twins didn't mind.
James patted the toy's head affectionately as Amber followed behind him and Sofia.
Upon sitting down next to Sofia, she beckoned the coachman to get going but not to make Sofia queasy.
"Of course Princess Amber," the coachman smiled warmly.
Weeks ago she would've hurried him. Now the older princess was more considerate.
Sofia's attack had devastated everyone in the castle staff but the coachman looked at a brighter side.
The youngest princess was getting better day by day. Taking the reins slowly, he looked towards the three children.
They were conversing about something but as the coachman turned back, he heard Sofia giggle.
To Sofia's luck, nothing about the village had changed as she was helped out by Amber.
"Be back in an hour," James whispered to the coachman. "I want my sisters and I home before dark."
"Look at that. Our brother giving orders," Amber smiled.
"Amber, he's only listening to what Mom told him," Sofia smiled warmly. She sniffed the air. "Everything smells the same. Nothing's changed."
"What? Did you expect it to?"
"Well no."
Amber smiled sympathetically, seeing Sofia out of sorts. "It's been weeks since your last visit so I understand why you thought everything had changed."
"I know," Sofia nodded. "It's just..." Her warm smile widened as she spotted a familiar little witch. "Lucinda!"
"Sofia!" Lucinda cried as she got off her broom. "I've missed you!"
"Everyone has," James smirked playfully.
"James, be nice," Amber mused. She smiled warmly at Lucinda. "Sofia's been so isolated lately but James and I thought she could come out and see you."
"I appreciate her company," Lucinda admitted. "Though if I ever see those boys that hurt her, I'll hex them!"
"Giving them tails? Changing their hair color?" Sofia suggested.
"Oh those were just pranks. I do some serious hexs if anyone hurts my friends."
"You'd do that for me?"
"It's the least I can do after you taught me to be a good witch," Lucinda reasoned. "But don't worry, I heard about Prince Felix so he won't get hexed."
"You were right. Witches do learn fast," Sofia whispered in Amber's ear.
"Aren't I always?" Amber grinned.
"They've been close lately," James explained, noticing Lucinda looking confused. "They're only apart when they need to be."
"Too bad I didn't hear about that," Lucinda grinned.
As they walked, or flew in Sofia's case with Lucinda on her broom, around the village, Sofia started to get nostalgic upon spotting her and Miranda's shoe shop.
"Let's stop here!" Sofia shouted as Lucinda landed on the road below.
"It's your and Mom's old shop," James realized. He looked through front window. "It's mostly empty. How come no one's come in and taken anything?"
"James, who would steal from a former shoemaker who's now our mother?" Amber ginned.
James felt his cheek flush as he opened the door for the girls.
"It's just how Mom and I had left it!" Sofia grinned, running to the stairs. "Come on! I want to show you our old bedroom!"
"You had to share a room?" Amber scoffed.
"Did you forget the time Dad wished to be a baker and we all shared a room for a few minutes?" James grinned.
"All I remember are the chickens thank you very much."
With a defeated sigh, she followed Sofia up to her and Miranda's room so she could be make sure she was okay.
Amber stopped suddenly in her tracks, seeing Sofia lost in thought before falling to the floor.
"Sorry! Didn't mean it!" Lucinda smiled, helping her to her feet.
"Is Sof all right?" James asked.
"She looks conflicted," Amber muttered. "Notice that battered hat she's looking at?"
"Must've belong to her birth dad. Mom said once he was a sailor."
"No wonder Mom's always cautious about Sofia swimming alone."
"That would make sense," James agreed, gently walking over to Sofia and tapped her shoulder. "Sof?"
"James!" Sofia jumped, turning to his direction. "I must've gotten distracted."
James smiled sympathetically, taking her by the hand as they heard Amber cooing over old chalk marks Miranda had left on the corner of the room.
"Was this how Mom would measure your growth Sofia?" Amber giggled. "It's so cute!"
Sofia blushed, laughing nervously. "Yes she did. I just can't believe you found it."
"It wasn't hard," Lucinda smiled innocently. "This room's mostly empty."
"Mom and Sof did take a lot with them when they came to the castle," James remembered.
"Why don't we leave this room?" Amber suggested. She nudged Lucinda. "Besides I believe Lucinda said she had a surprise."
"Surprise?" Sofia asked. "I'm sorry. I wasn't informed of one."
"For a good reason Sofia," Lucinda assured, watching as she led everyone out of the bedroom. "Just a few steps and we'll get to it."
"But how far? I can't walk far distances."
"Amber and James told me that it couldn't so I had to improvise."
"Nothing we couldn't handle," Amber smiled, helping Sofia down the stairs.
Once they were out of the shoe shop, Sofia looked around, wondering what the little witch's surprise for her could be.
They stopped at a corner where various children from the village appeared from their hiding places. A few of the children carried a banner with "Horary you're all better Sofia" written on it.
Sofia kicked a pebble, becoming somewhat embarrassed by what she was seeing.
Not exactly what she had in mind with a surprise.
How did Lucinda have the time to plan all this?
"It took a few weeks," Lucinda explained as if she could read her friend's thoughts.
"We made sure you were better first before we started planning," James added with a smile.
"So you mean to tell me that when you were home late, it wasn't school related?" Sofia gasped. Seeing her brother and sister nod, she hugged them. "Amber, James, you're spoiling me too much!"
"After everything you went through how couldn't we?" Amber smirked.
"I'm afraid we don't have much in gifts," a girl villager, who once had purple hair because of Lucinda before she turned good, explained. "But that doesn't matter? Right?"
"No. It doesn't!" Sofia giggled.
The boys of the village kept their distance which Sofia appreciated as Amber gently nudged her to go forward.
Sofia wasn't normally shy at parties but she didn't feel like she deserved all the attention she was getting.
Amber was more known in being the center of attention.
All she did was get serenely attacked by boys just for minding her own business.
Amber noticed Sofia looking at her feet, excusing themselves for a moment.
"What's the matter?" Amber asked softly. When Sofia didn't look up, she gently stroked her hair. "I know all this attention is new to you but it won't last forever. It's just because we care about you."
"I know. It's just so overwhelming," Sofia croaked, hugging herself. "You'd be enjoying all the attention if what happened to me had happened to you."
"Exactly I wouldn't."
"I'm sorry but wait what?"
Amber laughed, noticing Sofia's baffled expression. "I know it's a shock but why would I care about surprises just because I got attacked to the point of death?!" Sofia looked up, an amused smile beginning to form on her lips. "I'd care more about you and James driving yourselves ragged just to make sure I'm okay."
"That's what I've been thinking too," Sofia confessed. "You two, Mom and Dad, Mr. Cedric, and well everyone have been helping me out through this and while I appreciate it very much, I do worry for all of you at times."
"Well if it makes you feel better, you're not a burden in my side Sofia."
The sisters giggled before going back to Lucinda's surprise to enjoy it before the sun went down.