Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sofia the first or associated products. However, I do own a computer and an active imagination. That said, this chapter mentions attempted rape.
Queen Miranda walked into King Roland's study, slightly unsure as to how to approach the subject Sofia and Cedric's pending romance with him. After much thought, she figured the direct approach was probably best.
'Roland there is something I need to talk to you about,' Miranda stated as she glided into the room, unknowing interrupting him as he was talking.
'My Queen, you came at a perfect time, I was just thinking of having Bailywick send for you,' Roland responded, then looked over to his guest. A man that looked to be in his forties with grey hair and had the circumference of a wagon wheel, 'King Achim of Barvin, here, wants to court Sofia isn't that great?' The fat man stood, and Miranda realised how short he was, not that the actively judged anyone on their looks alone was something she did but she just couldn't see her baby girl with someone like him.
'Your majesty, I hope that you will agree to this courting as I currently have no children and any that I would father with your daughter would be the heirs to my kingdom; quite the step up from her humble beginnings as a peasant,' Miranda could not believe what she just heard.
'Excuse me, do you honestly think that I would allow you to court my Daughter after insinuating that she is nothing more than something to be bartered? Yes, we were peasants before my Marriage to King Roland; however, that does not mean I do not love him. Also, I will never let my daughter, Princess Sofia, to be married off to someone who doesn't even know her, and do not tell me you do, for this is the first time I have ever seen you in my ten years of being the queen of this kingdom. Furthermore, you are old enough to be her father, so my answer is a resounding no,' looking over at Roland with a fire in her eyes. 'Husband I need to talk to you in private in my study,' Miranda turned and started to leave when she noticed that he wasn't following, 'NOW,' she demanded in a voice that told him if he did not listen he would be sleeping in his study for the next month.
On the way she was fuming at the thought of her beautiful young daughter with a man that only saw what he could gain from being with her. Once safely behind the closed doors of her study, she turned to the source of her anger.
'What the hell was that? Are you fucking bartering off our children like cattle?' Roland's eyes went to the size of saucers at when he heard her swear, 'Don't you fucking give me that look. What did you honestly expect me to do when you told me that degusting pig of a King wanted to marry our youngest daughter. He acted like it was an honour for Sofia to even be in the running because we were peasants. Shit Roland, I want all three of them to be able to marry for love like we were. Did you even stop the think that maybe, just fucking maybe; she was already in love with someone. Someone, who in my opinion would be much better suited to her. Hmm? What was that? No, I didn't think so. From now on there will be no more going behind my back to find a husband for Sofia or Amber, or a wife for James. You will come to me, and I will talk to them like the grown adults they are. Now leave I don't want to see you for the rest of the day.' Just as King Roland reached the door, he heard Miranda speak up once again, 'Oh right, in my anger I nearly forgot. That someone I mentioned is our royal sorcerer Cedric, you had better give him the benefit of the doubt or I WILL leave with the both of them, and you will NEVER find us.'
Closing the door behind him, Roland heard an argument going on down the hallway toward his office, he turned a corner and saw Sofia in, what appeared to him, the comforting embrace of Cedric. Roland stood watching them for a few minutes he noticed Cedric's hands never fell below what was proper and that there was a gentle light in his eyes as he whispered to Sofia. It was then he realised that King Achim was on the floor with a bloody nose.
"What is going on here?' Roland's voice demanded an answer the foreign king tried to explain that he was just talking with the princess when this barbarian came and punched him, somehow Roland found that hard to believe as Cedric was much more likely to hex someone.
'The only reason you are still able to talk is that I forgot to bring my wand with me. You weren't just speaking to the princess you had her pinned to the wall as you ran your degusting sausage fingers all over her. Talking about how it was just a matter of time before King Roland sanctioned a marriage between the two of you so it shouldn't be a problem if you sampled the goods beforehand. The last time I caught someone doing that let's just say the ended up with a new pair of earrings, the people that live and work in this castle are under MY protection from pigs like you.' Roland froze as his mind centred on one phrase, 'the last time' meaning this type of thing had happened before, and Cedric had stopped it. If looks could kill King Achim would be dead a million times over with the look that Roland gave him, with a voice as cold as forever frost Roland told the thing on the floor to get up and never set foot in HIS castle again.
As if sensing the direction the conversation was about to take Cedric asked if King Roland knew where Queen Miranda was, as Sofia was in need of her mother.
'Miranda is in her study, Cedric. Once you have told her what just happened I would like to talk to you in my office; there are a few things I wish to discuss with you in regards of what has happened today and information my wife has recently shared with me.' Not for the first time he wished he had a better relationship with his Sorcerer if only Cedric were comfortable enough to come to him before all this had to happen to his daughter.
A half an hour later Cedric came to Roland's study; he was a little nervous but reasonably confident that if he didn't talk to the king now, he would never work up the courage again. As he went in, he noticed that King Roland had taken off his outer jacket; as well as, most of the trappings that marked him as King and stood by the picture window just looking out of it. Jumping slightly at the sound of the door closing Roland turned and saw that Cedric was standing there. Wanting to quickly get past the misjudgements that had stunted their relationship Roland walked over and hugged a stunned Cedric, who's shock only grew when he heard the King start the whisper thank-yous into his shoulder. Pulling back, Roland realised that he must have scared the poor man, he told him to sit in a chair.
Cedric became even more confused when the king sat down in the chair beside him instead of the one behind the desk as was usual.
'Cedric, I know we aren't close enough for this to be normal but in light of recent events I feel it is prudent that we try to be closer, if only for Sofia's sake.' Roland put his elbows on his knees and looked at his hands, at that moment Cedric, saw another man, not a king, which helped his nerves and allowed him to speak.
'Roland, if I ever and I mean ever catch anyone doing that to Sofia again we would be gone in the wind before you would even know what was going on. I love your daughter more than I should, but I find myself unable to stop. I would like your blessing to court her and hopefully marry her.' Cedric managed to get that out with more confidence than he felt. After Roland gave his blessing, Cedric went to leave but stopped when Roland asked him one more question.
'You said 'the last time something like this happened' which leads me to believe that it has happened more than once. Can you tell me how many or how often this has happened to my servants because I do not doubt that if it were one of my children, you would have killed the perpetrator.' Cedric sighed and told Roland it happened more often than he would like to admit and the last time it had been a knight trying to force himself onto a young squire.
'It is also part of the reason I wanted to take over the kingdom, to make the punishment of such an act reflect the crime. I never want anyone to feel the deep-seated shame I do every time I look in the mirror. Sofia, bless her soul, makes me feel better about it without realising she does. Now if you will excuse me I wish to ask Sofia if she will allow me to court her.' Cedric left feeling better than he had in a long time, strange, that it was admitting to the king that he loved Sofia, not in quite so many words though.
I apologise to those that were offended by Miranda's swearing I tried to edit them out, but it just didn't feel right, anyway Hope you enjoyed it, please review I want to know what everyone thinks about the story thus far.