Disclaimer: Nope, just checked still don't own Sofia the First. Damn...Anyway on with the story.
Amber was tired; she had been up with her son on and off throughout the night. Not that she was complaining it was no different than if she had been up all night charting stars as she still loved doing. Amber had decided that she wasn't going to get a wet nurse for her son. Yes, it would mean more work for her but, in her mind, it was worth it. Her son deserved everything she could give him. It was for that reason she asked Lucinda if she knew a spell to help her breasts produce the milk her son needed. The navy hair woman quickly cast it while explaining she had found the incantation in her family's Grimoire, just because her family was wicked doesn't mean that they are evil; besides, they had to have a few spells to help themselves. Lucinda had stayed to help the young mother adapt to feeding her son, seeing how Jade had gone back to the village to let their parents know they were at the palace. It was after everyone settled that Sofia came in and asked if Lucinda could go up to Cedric's tower with her.
'After all, we have just started courting, and it would be proper for us to be alone together. Also the night I was taken he was doing a ritual of some sort, and I was hoping you wouldn't be averse to learning about it with me?' The chestnut haired princess asked while biting her bottom lip, nervous that her friend might say no. Sofia had nothing to worry about as Lucinda nodded and stood to leave with her.
'OH, Sofia before you go, would you mind if I planned a ball for to announce your courting and because I know Cedric doesn't like a lot of pressure I'll also use it to present Brendis to everyone,' Amber inquired from her chair as she burped Brendis. Once done, Amber stood and grabbed the enchanted bag, which was bigger on the inside, which Lucinda had created for her. 'Do you mind if I come with you two? There are a few things I would like to ask Cedric myself, and I feel more comfortable asking you for help with Brendis over one of the maids.' Sofia, still limping slightly, took Brendis from Amber and Lucinda took the bag with one hand and wrapped her other arm around Amber waist pulling her with them as they made their way up to Cedric tower workshop.
'You know, Sofia, maybe I could help him with the ritual if he wishes to try again. I happened to catch a glimpse of the magical runes on his chest and to be honest; they looked like magic blockers, which, as far as I know, typically aren't put on willingly.' Lucinda explained while thinking back.
Amber's mind was running a mile a minute trying to work out the ball, she knew she wanted a baby blue, but that would clash with the red she desired to use for Sofia and Cedric. Then she thought about using shades of purple, seeing as the two lovebirds tended to wear that colour anyway. It could work, but she would defiantly need the opinion of the two of them first.
Cedric stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for them. He knew that Sofia's ankle would still be hurting and Cedric didn't want her climbing the stairs without help on both sides. Cedric also heard Lucinda's comments and silently cursed himself for being an idiot and not covering them up quicker; however, it was her magical knowledge that Cedric currently wanted to take advantage of, He wouldn't ask Sofia to help as he wasn't sure that the ritual wouldn't hurt her. Cedric couldn't take his eyes off of Sofia as the three ladies rounded the corner. She looked gorgeous holding their nephew in her arms as she walked. He had to fight his natural reaction to thinking about how she would look carrying his child and the making of the said child.
Sofia handed Brendis to Cedric and braced herself on the wall of the stairway to start heading up to the workshop. Cedric shook his head at Sofia tenacity and shifted the baby to hold him with one arm while using the other to help Sofia up the stairs. His mind entirely focused on the two of them he had forgotten about Amber and Lucinda followed behind. Thankfully he had taken care of Castilla more often than he would have liked at the time, so Cedric knew how to balance holding a baby while doing other things.
Lucinda and Amber shared a smile at the image the three made; Cedric, the doting father, Sofia, the loving mother, and both still madly in love with each other. The rest of the walk was silent as everyone was caught up in their thoughts and Brendis was fast asleep. At the top of the stairs Cedric guided Sofia through the open door, Cedric had left it open intentionally as there was only one way up to his tower, and into his favourite chair. As he was conjuring a footstool for Sofia and a bassinet for Brendis Wormwood decided to speak up.
'Don't tell me you two already have a child together.' Wormwood jokingly lamented as he flew over to look at the new addition, then just because he could, 'this child looks nothing like you, Cedric, are you sure it's yours?' Which caused two things to happen, One Cedric proceeded to swat away his familiar, and two caused both Sofia and Lucinda burst out laughing. When Sofia was able to get her laughter controlled she explained to Wormwood that no the baby wasn't Cedric's, 'Ha, I knew it!' But he wasn't Sofia's either. In fact, the Brendis was Amber's adopted son.
Amber swayed slightly, suddenly feeling light-headed, and both Cedric and Lucinda reacted; Cedric, by conjuring a lounging couch beside the bassinet and Lucinda, by steadying the princess. Cedric recognized the symptoms right away, as he did it to himself more often than not, and sent Wormwood to ask the maids to bring up some food and drinks for the four of them.
The scullery maids, whom by this point were desensitized to the fact that Wormwood could talk, gave him a basket full of fruits and breakfast pastries to take up to the tower. Also, they told him that they would bring up more once it was ready. Wormwood still preening at the attention the maids gave flew back up to the tower with his basket full of goodies. Once Cedric was satisfied that no-one was going to faint on him, he started his explanation.
'It was a relatively straightforward ritual, designed to remove magical blocks on a person's magic,' explained Cedric as he rolled the rug so that they could see the ritual circle. 'It was supposed to remove all of them, but for some reason, it didn't work.' Cedric's brows knit together he was still trying to figure out what had gone wrong with the ritual.
'Well, from what I can tell, the only thing you were missing was another magic user doing the ritual with you,' Lucinda put her two coins in, as she walked the circumference. 'I will help you during the next full moon to complete the ritual.'
'If you are sure then I welcome the assistance, while usually I would be opposed to a witch helping me. I have a strong feeling that I'm going to need to have every ounce of my magic in the coming months.' Cedric acquiesced while putting his shirt back on, this time making sure he had all the buttons done up correctly. He was worried about how his courtship with a princess of the realm would go over with the other royals and nobles. Although Cedric had the approval of the Enchancian Royal Family, he knew that not every kingdom was like Enchancia.
'Oh Cedric before I forget, Amber would like to throw us a ball to announce both our courtship and Brendis,' Sofia remembered while she hugged Cedric. Sofia Relished the feeling of his long arms wrapped around her. Cedric arched an eyebrow as he looked at the princess who stole his heart.
'It won't be that big, mostly just the nobles from Enchancia and our friends from neighbouring kingdoms,' Amber interjected while shifting so she could feed Brendis. Cedric merely nodded too entrapped by Sofia's blue eyes. Cedric slowly raised his hand and brushed a stray lock of hair from Sofia's face before he cupped the back of her head and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Cedric forgot about the others as he pulled his lover closer to feel every inch of Sofia's body against his. They became lost in the feel of the other's body, and when it stopped being just a kiss, Amber let out a small cough.
'Sorry, I don't know what came over us,' Sofia said as she blushed, still in Cedric's arms. Cedric looked at the woman in his arms and wondered how such a perfect creature could love someone like him. In the corner of his mind he registered Amber talking about party invites but to be completely honest, he couldn't care less. The princess mentioned something about sending invites out by the end of the week.