A/N: I picture this story as based within a plot that the evil league of magic users has been laying to take over the Kingdoms for YEEEARS ever since the whole Medusa stone thing didn't work out. Cedric threw himself into the middle of it and held back his change of heart for years upon years, doing what he had to in order to for him and Enchancia to survive and thrive until finally he was 'caught,' even though being caught wasn't a surprise for him. Sofia, who was starting to love him, is infuriated and betrayed and hurt and ready to accept punishment as her father sees fit.

I can actually see this tying into the drabble "Favorite" in some way, shape or form. Maybe one day.

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Journal
twenty one years old

Sofia had the journal. It was done. Cedric had given it to her, begging her to read it - the last favor he would ever ask of her. She had taken it and left and Cedric held no certainty that he would see her again.

It's what he would deserve.

Years of deception and manipulation and sacrifice to protect Enchancia. To protect her. It was all documented in that thrice-damned book. Sofia could take it to her father and Cedric would be strung up within the hour with no trial and no sympathy. Selfishly, he hoped that she would be able to read between the lines. He wanted to live. He wanted...He wanted things that he had forbidden himself in service of the greater good. And look where that had led him.

It didn't matter. Cedric had long ago thrown away the idea of living. His time here in the cells was just a formality to a conclusion he had come to nearly three years prior. The contents of the journal were always going to lead him here. Beaten, bloodied, and locked away where no one would ever know what he had given, and what he had lost, to protect the Kingdom.

It was the next chapter that held his life in its balance. For the first time since the plot began, Cedric didn't know what was coming next. It was a relief, in a way. Knowing is a burden. At least, knowing is a burden after you develop a conscious.

Time passed. Cedric let himself pass out from the pain for a while. When he woke, it was to the whisper of bare feet on stone floors.

"Why?" Sofia's voice softly broke the silence with less of a question and more of a demand for an answer. Cedric turned his head to face her, staring up at her from where he lay on his belly on the ground.

"Why what?" His voice was rougher than he knew it to be; dry and graveley.

"Why me?" She crouched down, balancing herself with a hand wrapped around one of the rungs of his cage.

Cedric closed his eyes, thanking the known and unknown gods silently that Sofia was clever and careful and kind.

"You are the only person to make me feel like just being me was enough." He reached his hand out to touch hers. She didn't flinch away. He looked up at her and there was caution in her face, but somewhere behind that, there was hope, too. "Because you didn't deserve what was coming. Because someone had to fall to keep you protected and," his drawn face stretched out into a wry smile, "I didn't have very far to fall."

Sofia fell forward to her knees and took his hand in both of hers.

"You've done terrible things. Terrible things for the right reasons, but terrible nonetheless."

Cedric looked at her unblinkingly. "I would do them again if the result was the same."

She held tightly to his hand and refused to break his gaze.

"We'll have to run. Far and away."

"As long as you're safe."

Sofia reached into her sleeve and withdrew Cedric's family wand with a look of mingled deviousness and resolve as she held the wand out to him.

"I'm always safe with you."