"I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to speak with me King Henrik," Roland smiled, shaking his hand.

The king of Freezenberg nodded in agreement. "No need to thank me Roland. It's the least I can do." He smiled warmly at Sofia who clung to Roland's pants leg. "And how are you doing Sofia?"

"Good," Sofia smiled shyly. "But I staying with Daddy and you can't separate me from him."

"She's been clingy since we finished her tutoring session an hour ago," Roland explained. "Miranda believes it's separation anxiety after what she went through."

"And it's only been a week since her return?" Henrik assumed.

"It has," Roland admitted, taking Sofia in his arms. "Sofia can color while we discuss Hildegard's behavior."

"Hildegard's a bitch," Sofia mumbled.

Henrik was taken aback by the vulgar language she used but heartbreakingly knew that she was only repeating what she learned from a certain magician.

But as he watched her sit down in the child size table that been brought into the study when they arrived, he couldn't help but smile softly while Sofia noticed the sheets of paper and crayons in front of her.

Roland knelt down to his youngest daughter's level and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you're not going to like our discussion by any means so I asked Baileywick to bring you paper and crayons."

"You also asked for wine for you and King Henrik and apple juice for me," Sofia added.

"Yes I did but they won't be here for a little while. Baileywick's trying to enforce the male staff to be more understanding of your trauma."

"Why should they sacrifice their time for something I did? I bad girl."

"No. Absolutely not. You have not and will never be a bad girl," Roland shushed. "And we're doing this to help you, not guilt you."

Sofia nodded softly, beginning to color while Roland and Henrik sat at the table beside her.

"Your son James was rather resentful about Hildegard's behavior in his letter to me," The Freezenberg king began. "While formal, he expressed his feelings about everything with the maturity of a nine year old boy."

"I'm sure he was justified as James is rather dedicated when it comes to his writing," Roland mused.

"Well if you call 'Ridiculing my little sister while berating her over a circumstance that wasn't in her control to where Sofia almost felt provoked to do something she shouldn't' as dedication then I see what you mean," Henrik continued. "I agreed with him. My Hildy's been groaning about this since the day your youngest daughter disappeared. My oldest daughter Astrid volunteered to help in between going to school despite not even knowing Sofia well enough!"

"You can tell Astrid that Sofia's now safe and sound," Roland assured. "I'm only worried for when Sofia has to go back to RPA. Miranda and I only got her tutoring to help her catch up with what she's lost."

"I understand but don't you think she isn't mentally and emotionally ready to go back just yet? Especially considering her phobias of carrots and the dark. While I don't tolerate Hildegard's behavior by any means, the older princes and princesses from Majestic Hall would have a field day if they knew about them."

"You mean they'll use those phobias to manipulate her?"

"Or worse. Especially by some of the princes," Henrik muttered. "She wouldn't be able to object to the opposite sex as easily like she used to."

Sofia looked up from her drawing of a butterfly. "Manipulate?" She frowned, hugging herself. "I thought there would be no more people like Mr. Boswell."

"There will be," Henrik assured. "Not all people will be like him."

"You said older princes would. I heard you."

"That's because some of them wouldn't understand."

"But James, Hugo, and Desmond would?" Sofia smiled.

"They would," Roland assured.

Sofia's smile widened, going back to her drawing.

"How are you and Miranda handling Sofia's recovery?" Henrik asked.

"We're taking it slowly as we don't want to overwhelm her," Roland answered. "It may have been only two weeks with him but she still struggles with the pain of being kidnapped."

Henrik nodded sympathetically. When he first got word about Sofia's kidnapping, he had been worried as though one of his daughters were in her place.

While his kingdom wasn't in close ties with Enchancia, he still wanted to bring Sofia home.

No matter the cost.

Despite Hildegard's complaints about her lack of attention from him, as king Henrik knew that his people, his family, and the families of his allies came first.

Including Enchancia's youngest royal.

"Excuse me King Henrik?"

Sofia's voice shook him from his thoughts as Henrik smiled softly at her.

"Yes Princess Sofia?" He asked.

"Is Hildegard a bad girl for being cruel to me?" Sofia asked softly. "You're her daddy so you decide if she's bad."

"Yes she is a bad girl and she'll be punished by having her traveling privileges taken away for awhile unless it's for school."

Privileges.

Sofia froze immediately upon hearing the word. It alone reminded her of Boswell.

Privileges were his way of controlling her.

"Easy sweetheart. You're here safe and loved. Boswell's in the dungeon and can't hurt you anymore," Roland comforted, seeing her start to cry.

"I safe," Sofia sniffed. "Mr. Boswell's in jail and can't hurt me no more."

"That's right. You're going to be surrounded by love now and forever."

" I didn't mean to set her off like that Roland," Henrik apologized. "That wasn't what I intended to—"

Roland shook his head, holding up a hand before he could continue. "You didn't know. Sofia's trauma is still new to all of us. Sometimes we don't know how she's feeling until she expresses it."

In an instant, Sofia's tears came to a halt as she returned to her coloring.

When she had given her apple juice from Baileywick, she glanced up at Henrik.

She felt remorseful about him not knowing what she went through.

He wasn't around her every day like her parents and the castle staff were.

Sofia glanced at her drawings before picking up the one of a snowman she drew.

Maybe it'd cheer Henrik up.

Henrik took the drawing, smiling softly. "You're not afraid of me?"

The young princess shook her head. "Mommy and Daddy say that not all men are bad. Though men scare me, you don't cause you tried to help me."

"That's right Sofia he did," Roland smiled.

It was only a snowman drawing made by his daughter but he almost teared up.

Sofia trusting other men that weren't himself, Baileywick, and Cedric was a process.

A process that he was thrilled to witness.

…

In the kingdom of Mezbez, Desmond sighed as he thought about Sofia.

She pleaded with him to get help and he wasn't fast enough which was ironic.

Ironic because when it came to anything he personally feared, he immediately ran from them.

A princess who he considered to be braver than him had needed him in her time of need and he couldn't provide it.

Boswell moving the wagon just as he'd gotten there with the guards didn't help make Desmond feel less guilty.

He could still remember the look of defeat in her eyes as if she gave up hope after his botched rescue attempt.

That ate up at Desmond like if a cate had dragged, ate, and spit him back up.

"Desmond?"

Desmond looked up from the book he been reading, casting a small smile as his father Maxim came in the room.

"I know she's home now but how's Sofia doing?" Desmond asked.

Maxim mused his son's hair affectionately. "Traumatized but slowly getting better. Your mother and I were just thinking of making her a care package." He took Desmond's hand and squeezed it. "We thought of toys and dresses but we wanted to consult with you when it comes to books."

"I don't know Dad. I barely know her and the last time we interacted, it didn't go well."

"What happened wasn't your fault Des. That so called man was a coward, not wanting to face the consequences for his actions."

"At least King Roland's going to have him executed but I'm not one for public speaking. I don't want to testify in front of a crowd," Desmond sighed.

"Then we'll come up with an arrangement for you," Maxim assured. "Your mother and I only want what's best for you."

The young prince smiled a real smile for the first time in weeks. "Thank you Dad."

When he and Maxim came to the sitting room, Desmond's smile widened, watching his mother Darcy already at work with the care package.

She smiled, putting down a dress and approached her son, affectionately messing up his hair.

"What do you think Desize? It's not too much is it?" Darcy grinned.

Desmond surveyed the care package, spotting dresses, shoes, dolls, and a flying horse plush.

All basic necessities to cheer up a traumatized little girl.

"No Mom. She'll love it," Desmond smiled.

"She will honey," Maxim agreed, kissing his wife's cheek.

Darcy blushed, playfully nudging him. "Maxim, you were the one who suggested we make her feel better."

"And you were the one to suggest the care package."

"Miranda was kind enough to give me her daughter's dress size in her recent letter. Sofia needs to be a kid again, not a victim."

"Amber and James told me recently that she loves butterflies," Desmond acknowledged. "All Sofia's been doing is reading since her return whenever she gets the chance to."

"Not just butterflies sweetheart. She's borrowed Princess Amber's copy of Princess Rapunzel's story and according to their mother, hasn't given it back yet," Darcy grinned."

"Well then why don't we go shopping tomorrow for them?" Maxim suggested. "I figured we'd let Des contribute to her care package. Even if he barely knows her."

Desmond smiled softly in agreement. He may not have been able to help Sofia when she needed him but now he could help with her healing.

…

It had been awhile since Sofia had been inside the trolls' cave.

Thankfully the crystals that lighted it made her less weary about stepping inside.

"There she is!"

Sofia jumped at the sound of Teeny's giggling as the little troll hugged her legs.

"You're here! You're here!" Teeny cheered.

"Please don't do that again. You scared me." Sofia consoled herself by taking deep breaths. When finished, she smiled as an older troll approached her. "Gnarlie! It's been too long!"

"It has," Gnarlie smiled. "Sorry about Teeny Sofia. She just got a little excited."

"You okay? Did you escape from that wagon King Roland talked about?" Teeny asked.

Sofia nodded before tilting her head in bafflement. "You knew?"

"King Roland told Chief Knuckles who told us," Gnarlie explained. "We offered to help but your father politely declined, saying that he appreciated it but for us to wait for news of your return."

"Two weeks was too long!" Teeny whined.

Sofia couldn't help but giggle. She had to agree but as her smile faded, she felt a gentle touch.

"Teeny's too young to understand what you actually went through so we had to improvise but it doesn't change how determined you are and were," Gnarlie smiled.

"I wouldn't exactly say determined," Sofia blushed, putting a lock of hair behind her ear. "I was desperate to get out of there for the first week then I slowly broke during the second week. Everything Mr. Boswell did damaged me and I don't know how to fix myself."

"Sofia, Chief Knuckles said it takes time for anyone to heal from trauma."

"He's not the only one. Mommy has, Daddy has, and even Amber and James have! I just want to be myself again. Myself before all this."

Hugs weren't a cure by any means but she smiled as Sofia felt Teeny against her legs.

It felt just like a warm hug.

After she said her goodbyes and left the cave once an hour had passed, Sofia noticed the sun setting and sprinted towards the castle just like she did during her time in the wagon.

Only to bump into Cedric on her way inside.

Sofia fell face first into the concrete and started to cry.

"My dear what's the matter? Why were you rushing?" Cedric asked.

"I promised Daddy I come back before sunset but I didn't and now I bad girl," Sofia hiccuped. "H-H-He'll t-take d-dinner a-away b-because I-I b-been b-bad!"

I hope that talentless amateur rots in hell when Roland executes him. Damn bastard, Cedric thought to himself as he picked up a sniffling Sofia.

"You won't be in trouble princess. Roland will understand," Cedric assured, stroking her hair. "You've been brainwashed and you're not thinking correctly but it's not your fault."

"Not my fault?" Sofia sniffed.

"Absolutely not my dear." The sorcerer noticed her dress was stained with blood, holding her close. "I can heal your knee when we get to my workshop."

"You can heal me too right?"

Cedric shook his head wistfully. He could only heal injuries and sickness, not people themselves.

Sofia frowned. She thought his magic would erase her trauma and allow herself to be normal again.

When they stepped into his workshop, she sat down on her stool as Cedric gently rolled up her dress towards her knee and began to clean it.

"Why aren't you using magic Mr. Ceedric?" Sofia wondered.

Cedric wiped off the blood with a wet rag, giving her a gentle smile. "I want to gave your healing a boost."

"I don't feel like I a boost. I feel angry, sad, and frustrated."

"About that magician?"

The princess nodded. "I hate him. I wish he was dead." She sighed, hugging herself. "He damaged me and I can never be fixed."

Cedric shook his head, putting down the rag and began to bandage her knee. "You can and will be fixed my dear. It will just take time."

"Time Mr. Ceedric?"

"Yes. You'll take time to heal just like your scraped knee."

Sofia smiled at his analogy. She was like her scraped knee.

It hurt but she knew she would get better.

"You know princess now that you've returned, I've felt angry and sad about what happened too," Cedric confessed.

"Mr. Boswell brainwashed you too?" Sofia giggled.

"Merlin's mushrooms child! That amateur did no such thing!"

"Oh."

"But he's made me upset with what he's done to you," Cedric explained. "How could someone say that they entertain children and then hurt them?"

Sofia nodded in agreement. "You're better than him Mr. Ceedric." She tried to stand up before sitting back down. "I wanna stay here for dinner. Please?"

"We have to consider your parents first my dear."

Sofia nodded in defeat. She could just imagine Roland worrying over her.

Like he always did since her return.

Cedric noticed her frown and took her in his arms, carrying her out of his workshop.

...

"There you are Sofia. Where have you been?" Roland smiled.

"With Mr. Ceedric. He helped my knee," Sofia answered, burying her head in the sorcerer's chest.

"I apologize for having you worry your majesty but she was scared to death, thinking that you'd punish her for not being back at the castle before sunset," Cedric explained.

Roland was horrified by his explanation, watching as his youngest daughter faced him with frightened eyes.

"Listen to me Sofia. Does it look like I'm angry?" Roland asked softly.

Sofia shook her head. "You're worried about me because I scared."

"That's right but you don't need to be scared. I love you. I always have."

Sofia squirmed out of Cedric's arms and despite her bandaged knee, sprinted into Roland's arms.

Amber and James gave each other a smile as they saw the scene before them.

Their little sister had been told that she was loved by everyone since her return but was starting to believe it herself, burying her face into Roland's chest.

Cedric's heart melted at the scene which had him come to a decision that evening.

Years of planning and scheming and plotting were thrown out the window but he didn't care.

Yearning for the amulet wasn't an importance anymore.

Sofia had already been betrayed once by a person who did magic, despite her not actually knowing about him wanting to take over the kingdom in the first place, and Cedric was sure as hell that he didn't want to be the second person to ravage her trust.

If Wormwood gave him some annoyed squawks when given the news, the sorcerer wouldn't care.

His apprentice's healing was all that mattered now.

...

Just the two of them.

Sofia liked it that way as Clover hopped into her lap. Seeing the gold sparkles that Cedric recently provided glowing on her bedroom door had her smile before she turned to the rabbit.

"Clover I was thinking about all we went through together and I thought that maybe after Mr. Boswell's executed, we could have that Clover and Sofia day that you wanted before..." Sofia blinked back tears, feeling her friend put a paw on her chest. "Before you ran away."

Clover's eyes widened at the idea. "That's sweet of you to offer kid but me running away lead to this."

"You're as much as a victim of Mr. Boswell's cruelty as I am Clover. You may be dead to the world when your head hits your pillow but sometimes I wake up and see you pawing the air, crying out for me."

"If you hadn't alerted that guard, you wouldn't be here Sof. Boswell snapped that day."

"I thought I heard him say drown but I was hurting too much to understand," Sofia frowned.

"He did," Clover confirmed. He nuzzled her close, seeing her expression change to terror. "You saved yourself kid."

"I cared so much about us that I had to find help. Even it was on accident."

"Accident or not, you're now loved by your family, healing, and slowly moving forward."

"But I still a victim," Sofia reminded him. "That's all anyone will see me as. They won't see me as Sofia the First but as Sofia the Victim."

"Princess Sofia that it not true!" Clover scolded. "Do I think you're a victim?"

"No because we went through it together."

"That's right. How about your parents and siblings?"

"No. Daddy sometimes does out of sympath—that word James said means to feel really sorry for someone," Sofia admitted.

"Sympathy," Clover corrected. He stood up on his hind legs, placing his paws on her shoulders. "Do we care about what humans think about you kid? No we don't! You're a strong little girl for everything that piece of trash put you through and I'll be damned if your strength is demolished by some two legged people with no fur!"

Sofia giggled, putting a hand to her lips. Clover had been encouraging before but now she really needed it in order to heal.

He needed it too.

The rabbit smiled, hearing his friend giggle. She hadn't giggled like that since the day he ran away.

Clover's ears flopped at the thought and Robin's words that she said while Sofia was with Roland that morning finally got to him.

"What were you thinking Clover? You let an innocent eight year old girl get captured by some bastard of a magician for almost two weeks and she comes back broken!" Robin snapped. "If your idiocy of running away was bad enough, you had to get Sofia involved! But we can't get mad at her because she's innocent and sometimes doesn't know better!"

"I didn't ask you to follow me Sof," Clover muttered, "if I knew what would have happened I would've kept you safe better. I'm lucky I was able to help you while we were trapped."

"I know and I appreciate it," Sofia smiled, taking him in her arms. "Without you, I wouldn't have lasted a day with Mr. Boswell. I would've obeyed him more easily."

"Thanks kid."

"You're welcome Clover."

They laid there, Sofia on her back and Clover in her lap, staring at the ceiling until Sofia heard chirping belonging to two familiar birds.

"Mia! Robin!" Sofia giggled.

"We heard you were home!" Robin chirped. "Are you okay?"

"Not really but I getting better. You're not mad at me are you?"

Mia shook her head, gently putting a wing on her cheek. "Of course not. We were worried about you."

"We didn't find out until Rex told us," Robin added. "He's been wanting to jump on you but your brother's been pulling him back."

"He startled me my second day home. Well his barking did," Sofia admitted. "I've heard James scold Rex before but never like that."

"James' your brother Sof. He's protective over you," Clover smiled.

Their conversation was erupted when a knock came to her bedroom door as Sofia saw Mia and Robin scatter while Clover remained on her lap.

"Sorry Sof. Thought I'd come see you before bed," James smiled.

Sofia shook her head. "It's okay. I wasn't doing anything important."

"Then I need you to do something for me."

"What's that?"

"You'll see when you come to your mirror," James assured.

Sofia was baffled and almost flinched when seeing his outreached hand but took it as she followed her brother to her mirror.

"What do you see?" James asked.

Sofia frowned, staring at herself in her mirror. "A skinny broken girl with bruises and burns?"

"No beating yourself up like that. Try again."

"I don't know if I can James."

"That's okay. I can." James stepped beside her, brushing her bangs back from her face. "I see a fighter, a girl who went through so much, and someone who I call my little sister. Sure you look like you got run over by a carriage and burned with lit candles right now but those bruises and burns will go away. Your fighting spirit and determination? Never let that fade Sof."

Sofia blushed, tears running down her cheeks. "I will try James."

James wiped away her tears, squeezing her hand.

He sometimes wished that he could take her pain and have it for his own.

Sofia buried her head in his chest, feeling him stroke her hair.

Her hair that she didn't want trimmed nor cut until she was ready.

"If you're that desperate to be Princess Rapunzel then I'll allow it," James smirked playfully as he twirled one of her curls.

"You're silly!" Sofia giggled. "I growing it out until Mr. Boswell's gone!"

"Whatever you say Sof."

Sofia stuck out her tongue playfully, causing James to chuckle.

He gently patted her shoulder before taking her back to her bed.

She held out her hand, preventing him from leaving as he climbed onto her bed and sat beside her.

"What is it Sof?" James asked.

Sofia fiddled with her amulet, smiling a little as Clover nuzzled against her. "James I need your opinion on something."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Do you think that healing's like my knee? That it'll take time?"

"Of course it will Sof," James assured. "We just got you back and we're struggling to realize that."

Sofia was baffled by that statement. "Struggling? But I thought you, Amber, Mommy, and Daddy were happy to have me."

"We are it's just that we're struggling to move on. What happened to you was so sudden and that's not exactly something to immediately recover from."

"I know James. I understand. Sometimes I think I still in the wagon but I wake up to Baileywick or Violet instead of an overweight mad man."

"Boswell?" James chuckled.

Sofia nodded, no longer feeling tense. She felt at ease talking to someone who understood her.

Even if it was her own brother.

She yawned, rubbing her eyes. Sleeping at the appropriate time and not whenever she felt like it was a struggle for her.

"Long day?" James smiled.

"Not sleepy!" Sofia pouted.

"You're sleepy if you're yawning Sof."

Sofia crossed her arms in response, shaking her head.

Another yawn escaped from her lips, having James hold back a chuckle.

He helped her lay down and gave her doll as Sofia turned away from him.

"You're mean," She frowned.

"I'm not mean. You're tired," James smiled. He kissed her forehead. "I think I know what'll cheer you up."

"Butterfly?"

"Not exactly but how about a story?"

"A butterfly story! Please?" Sofia pleaded.

James chuckled, stroking her hair. "Okay but only one. You look like you can stay up for only one."

Sofia smiled. Despite feeling her eyes droop, she attempted to stay up through the entirety of James' story.

Only to lose that battle just as the butterfly story was halfway finished.

"I guess we'll have to finish it tomorrow night," James smiled, tucking her in. "Sweet dreams Sof."

He stepped out of the room, being mindful of the golden sparkles on his sister's bedroom door turning red if she had a nightmare.

Just not tonight after the butterfly story.

Tonight Sofia would only dream of butterflies, not her trauma.

He didn't know where her analogy of healing being like her scraped knee came from but James hoped that she kept it that way.