[AN: Not lemons, not limes but certainly some citrus below. Nothing too sour.]
Cedric was just about to touch her face, bring her closer to him, kiss her back and deeply but just when he let out the tiniest moan of pleasure she let go quickly. She looked horrified, touching her mouth, then both her cheeks.
"Oh god why did I do that?! I'm sorry...Ugh I'm so stupid!"
She turned away from him and tried to escape the area, what she had done, and him. She didn't even realize she had kissed him at all until it was done and now, she was embarrassed by her hasty actions brought on by a plethora of emotions. She knew she had ruined everything and running away would not fix anything, it never did, but that's all she could think of doing at the moment. It would make things awkward between them forever and she wished she had not done it but it was done and now she thought things would be worse off than she could have imagined. She barely got one foot step away when she felt him grasp her wrist, tightly but as gentle as could be. She dare not turn to him, to ask why he was forcing her there, to ask why he grabbed her so. She could not face him.
"Sofia look at me."
"No I can't. I feel like a total fool. I shouldn't have done that! I've messed up everything."
"The last thing you are is a fool. You are one of the brightest people I have ever known. Now come back here, please."
She shook her head no and he sighed deeply. "I've destroyed our friendship."
"My dear you couldn't destroy it with the world's most powerful weapon. Now please look at me."
Begrudgingly she turned towards him and stepped back to where she was. Her head was down but she was looking his way, just at his chest not at his face. He noticed the tiny tears touching her cheeks and wiped them off with his thumbs then lifted her face up. "No don't cry. I can't stand it when you cry especially because of me. You've done nothing wrong, I swear."
"Yes I have. You'll never look at me the same way and things will be strange between us all the time. I'm stupid for doing that. I can't believe I did that!"
"Sofia...why did you do it?"
"I..." She pressed her lips thinly together and looked to the side. "Because I...because you are who you are and I love all that you are. I love you... I have been wanting to confess my deepest secret for so long and now I have to just spill it out like this with no decorum what so ever. I love you so much it hurts and I've had to suffer with it, knowing a lot of people might not approve, hearing people tell me it's wrong, and now instead of just telling you the way I want I've done...this. What's wrong with me, acting like that? I must be crazy...please...don't think anything of it anymore. I want you to forget what I've done and what I said."
"Why would I want to forget the most beautiful words that I've ever heard in my entire life?"
Sofia looked directly at him this time, surprised by what he had said. He smiled warmly at her and his eyes were soft, full of love and admiration for her. His hands stroked over her cheeks and tucked her hair behind her ear. His thumb stroked over her lips, first top then bottom. He was gazing at them longingly, inching closer. She stepped back just a touch, breath hitching. "Wha...what are you d-d-doing?"
"I'm going to kiss you back, if you don't mind."
She turned scarlet and her eyes widened. Her heart felt like it might explode in her chest it was going so fast. "But w...why...?"
"Because, my little pet, I love you just the same way. Now if I may, I've been desiring this for far too long."
He leaned in, closing the space between them with their lips firmly pressed against each other. She let out a surprised, muffled moan but it turned into a delighted one fast. Her eyes closed and she wrapped her arms around him, linking them at the back of his neck. Cedric placed one hand at her hip and one on the back of her head, pulling her in for a deeper kiss than she had ever imagined. She had never kissed anyone before, she was an unpracticed woman in all fields of romance, but as usual of him he was teaching her, silently, as he kissed her in ways that made her soul quiver. He was feverish with his kisses, only separating briefly to take a little breath before going back to them. He wished he didn't need air, all he truly needed was her. All of her. His beautiful, wonderful Sofia who was his for real now.
What he had said was true, though it was the first time he had ever admitted it out loud. Since she became fourteen, he had secretly wanted her, loved her, desired her and at first it sickened him. He had been around her, helped raise her since she was a child, he knew her as that little girl who enchanted him with her smile but now, she had done so with much more and in a different way. No longer was he revolted by anything pertaining to his feelings, not with the way he felt right now in her arms. It felt like she belonged here with him. Sofia must have been attracted to magic so much for a reason and that brought her to him. He felt every step taken had gotten them here, it was meant to be this way, it had to be because it felt so right, he felt so at home with her. Always had, always will. He knew Sofia was young, she didn't know much, yet she was always adult even as a child, full of rhyme and reason, but now she knew more mature things.
Regardless it was hard to keep the facts in his head because of how much he craved her, a burning blaze that had been locked away for an exceedingly long time. He had denied it so much but now he would not deny himself anything anymore. Sofia gasped as she felt him lick her lip gingerly. She wasn't sure what to do about that, she had learned a lot of things from April but even she left out some things. She wanted Sofia to experience things on her own. Sofia just went with the flow of things and slowly she felt better about what she was doing. It was not the most graceful thing she could do and she thought she might be doing it wrong but if so, he didn't say anything. His lips pressed hard against her cheek then peppered her ear causing her to giggle. She felt him smile against it then nip at it, like a playful pup. When she heard his accented voice whisper in her ear, she felt this funny heated sensation she was slowly getting used to when around him.
"I love you Sofia. You're my precious princess and I'm never letting you go."
"That's good because I'm not letting you go either, my sensational sorcerer."
"You're so beautiful, it's really not fair you know. You could make any man fall to his knees," He admitted, caressing her neck then kissing it. She shivered with intense pleasure. "My lovely lavender lady."
"You're quite poetic, Mr. Cedric. I had no idea."
"My sweet you can call me Cedric from now on. I think we're intimate enough with each other to drop formalities."
She blushed and curled her finger in her hair. "Okay...Cedric." He sighed lovingly. "What's your last name?"
"All these years and you don't know? I know both of yours."
She shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry."
"It's Wrenne."
"Oh like the bird!" She exclaimed happily, smiling in an adorable way. He stroked her cheek then rubbed his nose onto hers causing a little laugh.
"Yes, like the bird. In fact in the old language it means the king of birds, it's my mother's last name not my father's."
"You mean they have different last names even though they are married?"
"No she just wanted me to have her last name, thought it was more dignified than Sherrard, not that it means anything bad it just sounds feminine. Did you know they almost named me Cerdic? Thankfully they moved the r and the d."
Sofia tapped her chin in deep thought, wondering what it would be like if he was named that instead but decided it just didn't suit him. She liked his last name, it was simple but meaningful like him and his gifts. She wondered what her name meant, if it was something she would like. She was broken out of her deep thoughts by him kissing her again, but softer, sweeter, gentler than before. When he let go, she looked up at him through her eyelashes shyly.
"I guess...we are together then now...I ought to get used to thinking of your last name being mine one day."
"You love me so much you would marry me?"
She nodded firmly. "Without a single doubt. You are the one for me...if you would have me."
"If I would have you? Only an insane man would not want you. If you would have me, if you feel I'm right for you, then I'd be honored to call you my wife. I honestly never thought I'd have one, especially one who looks as gorgeous as you."
"You're a very handsome man, Cedric. That you are not wed already is confusing to me but I'm glad you aren't."
He held her tightly to him, pressing himself to her body. "Yes and I'm certainly glad you aren't either. Now I get to have you all to myself." She received more kisses from him, hearing him hum happily while he did so. "You have such addictive lips," He confessed.
"Oh my...thank you...um well...I would love to stay in your arms forever but it is getting late. We should probably go to bed."
"I agree," He complied, holding out his hand to her. She placed her hand in it thinking he was going to kiss it but he didn't. He started walking toward the stairs with his hand holding tight to hers. She didn't pull away, she only blushed brighter realizing he was taking her upstairs to his room. He wanted her to sleep next to him. It was one of her many dreams that would be realized, something she had fantasized even since girlhood. She went up the stairs with him, heart beating so rapidly it's all she heard. He opened the top door for her and gestured inside with a sweeping bow, gallant as always. Sofia went inside, unafraid but still shaking a little.
As soon as she got inside, she gasped softly viewing this place for the first time ever. It was a wonderful, charming, quaint little room, perfectly simplistic and humble. She loved it so much. She moved over to his bed and felt the quilt on top of it then sat down, feeling the downy softness of the type of bed she preferred. It was much better than her big overly plush bed in her room. She looked all around her seeing his many personal volumes on the bookshelf, his hooks where he hung his robe and overcoat, and on his wall the golden star scroll she gave him. There were many artifacts from the past lying on top of his dressers and she smiled at each one, pleased to see he had kept every little thing she ever gave him even back when he was so stubborn. He closed the door and locked it, out of habit and just in case.
"You look as if you've found something fantastical."
"Oh it is! Your room is like a hidden treasure to me, a secret haven I have long wished to visit and your bed it's so warm and wonderful. It's just the perfect size."
"Yes it's just the right size for two," He stated, coming closer to her face and pecking her on the lips. "I'm happy you find it comfortable. It would be terrible if it wasn't, since you're going to sleep here."
She felt the covers once more then stopped. "Wait I just...I don't have any sleep wear."
"Oh that is a problem, isn't it?" He claimed, his voice riddled with unmistakable sarcasm but also something else she wasn't sure of. He sounded smoother, almost cunning but not evil. Perhaps she could describe it as being sinisterly sweet, but not at all threatening. "I suppose I could magic you up something to wear."
Her eyes sparkled as they always did whenever magic was about to be performed. She shifted a little in the bed like she was getting ready for a grand performance then sat up expectantly. He beamed at her, in love with her enthusiastic attitude towards seeing him do anything related to spell work. He moved his wand and cast the spell, spewing out a fine little light lilac tinted dress, just a bit sheer with a ribbon around the midsection. She ran her hands over it, petting it almost like it was a furry friend of hers, entranced by the fabric and how it felt. It was almost silver and silky to the touch. She held it up before her eyes and noted the thinness, it was vaguely translucent. Sofia wasn't offended by his choice for her in fact she liked to try to wear different things and this was far more adult than her pajamas with the long sleeves she had to roll up. It made her feel like a true woman somehow.
"I love it but um...where am I going to change?"
He raised an eyebrow and scanned her over. "You can do it right here if you want."
She never blushed so hard in her life, she even squeaked at his suggestion, grasping tightly to her new clothing. Sofia took the deepest breath in and though she was shaking she told herself she could do this. She felt comfortable around him and he was her future husband after all. Her Cedric, her truest love. She rose from the bed, placing her night dress down carefully like it was made of glass, and started to reach behind herself to unbutton the dress. Cedric's eyes widened and he immediately put his hands on hers, grabbing them away quickly.
"Dear I was only teasing!"
"Oh...but I don't mind. Really."
Now it was his turn to blush at her boldness especially after she turned around and moved her hair out of the way. "Only it would be much easier if you helped me with the corset. I still can't figure them out."
He gulped at her suggestion, fingers shaking and twitching just a bit. "A...are you sure about this...? I mean we aren't even married..."
"Why does that matter?"
"Sofia I'm surprised at you! You mean to tell me you don't know a woman is supposed to...you know save that kind of thing for her husband?"
"You are going to be that one day. I have always wanted to be with you and now I am. I am yours, that includes my body. Are you afraid, Cedric?"
"...Afraid...?...No...well...yes. Very much yes. I fear a lot of things Sofia. I don't want to hurt you or come off like you have to do this. I can wait, I've waited this long. Don't mistake me...I am very tempted by you...but, my love...it's just...I'm so...different than your fairy tale men in...many ways."
She turned back to him and placed her hands on his cheeks, looking at him seriously. "If I wanted that kind of man, I could have picked any of the hundreds in any castle but I didn't want them. I wanted you who is more noble than any royal and has more valor than any knight, even Sir Arthur. Please, Cedric, don't be afraid to love me... in all ways."
"Sofia...you don't know what you ask of me... I seem to be an insatiable person when it comes to you. Not to mention-"
She put her finger on his lips, silencing him. Sofia reached back behind herself and began to unbutton her buttons, looking at him in the eyes then turned around to him with her corset sitting there awaiting him. "You...won't take no for an answer...will you?"
She ignored him, standing there silently, humming to herself. He sighed and placed his fingers on the laces and his forehead on her back. "You don't understand what you're getting yourself into...sometimes I can still be a dark sorcerer."
"I'm good at handling dark forces. Now please, your princess bides you untie her...my Lord Cedric."
He yanked her laces free fast, impulsed by the name she had used, the name he had so longed to hear since he was in his youth and to hear it from her, the woman he loved more than anything, it did something to him. She felt his kisses sear her skin, his touches made her shiver, and the look in his eyes went to her core. If he was darkness then he was like the night time, beautiful and haunting yet captivating and she was his morning, fresh and sweet, warm and bright. The moon and the sun, wrapped around each other in a sea of clouds and stars, swirling blissfully in their heaven where time didn't exist. Only love. Only the two of them.
When Cedric awoke the next day, he was greeted by the dawns light bleeding in through his curtains, shining on every surface. He was a little groggy but overall felt this overwhelming sense of peace. He knew the reason why, he was now looking at the reason why. Wrapped around his midsection with her arm on his chest was the sleeping form of Sofia, body draped in silvers and pastel purples. She slumbered with rosy cheeks, a content, pleased smile on her resting face. Every breath out of her tickled him a little but he didn't care. He ran his fingers tentatively through her copper locks continuously, admiring her as she snuggled closer to him. He couldn't believe what he did, what they did the night prior.
It broke all conventions, it was extremely taboo, unheard of, even illegal sometimes, but right now he could care less. All that mattered was this feeling he had right now with her in his arms. It was pure bliss. He kissed her forehead and nuzzled into her, holding her there. Sofia started rousing awake, wiggling around some. Then her eyelids slowly opened, two blue spheres looking right into his own brown ones. She smiled at him lazily then reached his lips, sealing them with a kiss. He pressed firmly against them, his hand around her hips while the other dove into her hair. "Good morning to you too," He whispered to her playfully. She cuddled him more, wrapping her legs around him tightly, giggling all the way.
"Oh I love you sooooooo much!"
"I guess I must have don't something good for that reaction."
"You could say that..." She blushingly affirmed, flicking invisible dust off of his night shirt.
"Is that so? And what is it exactly that I did?" He leaned in close to her face with a devious smirk. She turned away from him, sucking in her lower lip. He nosed her cheek and neck, chuckling at her. "So shy, aren't you, my nymphet? Even after last night?"
She mumbled nonsense under her breath until he pulled her to him to lock lips with her. After this she just laid there with him, sighing and enjoying each other's company. It was tranquil as could be, passing the time simply sitting there or talking away about anything that came to mind. Their hands intertwined as well as their souls. She too could not believe what they had done. Just like everything about him it was magical, more than she could have even fathomed. She had been told as much as possible but nothing could prepare her for it and though there were tiny pricks of pain it was mostly phenomenal, breath taking, and made her feel as if she was lit on fire yet when it was done, she felt this cooling calming feeling. Truly, he was sensational.
"As much as I love this I should get back to my own room."
"Must you? Can't you just stay here all day?"
"I wish I could but I almost never miss breakfast with my family and Violet or Suzette will be by to wake me up...or Baileywick. Either way they'd be alarmed not to see me unless I left a note otherwise."
"Then go leave a note and come back here."
"Cedric... come on now."
"Hmph." He grabbed her and clung tightly to her, pouting. "I'm not letting you go just yet. You're my captive now."
She laughed at him. "Oh no what ever will I do? Now my family will not see me ever again but you know where the first place they'd start looking for me is?"
"Why do you have to be so damned smart? Alright fine...go on leave me...all alone."
She got up from the bed slowly, sore but no worse for wear. Sofia kissed him then got dressed. "I'll come back to you as soon as I can, I promise." She was finally all dressed then headed towards his bedroom door, looking over at him. He was on her side of the bed, burying his face in a pillow looking miserable. She really wished she could stay longer but there were things she just had to do. She explained that to him and he understood well enough, he would just miss her so very much, to a high degree.
"I'll be here when you return, darling."
"And I can't wait to come back to you."
He watched her trailing figure and when he heard his front door close, he let out a loud long sigh. He already wanted her back. Sofia snuck into her room before anyone else got there and changed into a proper dress as she could not go down to eat in the same clothes from last night. As soon as the dress was on her body and the shoes slipped onto her feet, she heard a knocking. It was exactly as she said, one of the staff had come to get her and within no time she was at breakfast with her family. She sat in her chair, unable to stop smiling at nothing and now and then she would look deep in thought then her cheeks would light up. She was humming with delight as she ate and the first to notice all this was her mother who missed nothing.
"In a cheerful mood today?"
"Yes! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the sky is so blue and the air smells so fragrant. Ahh, isn't it all so beautiful?"
"It is a wonderful day, isn't it?" Her father agreed, barely paying attention as he was going over some scrolls while he ate. He did not notice how Sofia was acting for though she was always chipper something was different. Amber noticed it though.
"Sofia you seem so...I don't know. You're just glowing today. You must have had a wonderful birthday then."
"I certainly did and I want to thank you all for making it possible. Wow this food is outstanding, isn't it? Everything tastes so much sweeter."
"I'll be sure to thank the chef for you," Roland replied, only just barely taking his eyes off the paper to look at his daughter. Amber was right, Sofia had this different appearance to her, something about her was radiant more so than usual, her cheeks looked like two red apples and her eyes shone with a newness to the world. She kept sighing and humming, seemingly tickled pink. He was not bothered by it, Sofia was always very cheerful and could become excited about the tiniest thing. To her, all the world was wondrous, a big playground, a massive adventure to be had and explorations abound. He loved that about her, her sense of wonder that never faded even as she was a full lady. She so reminded him of his sister, it was downright uncanny. The two were cut from the same cloth despite sharing no blood.
"Sofia's right this food is great!" James tried to say but it was muffled thanks to the usual stuffed mouth.
"Swallow before speaking, James," His mother told him with some authority but sincerely gentle.
"Sorry! It's just I'm so hungry!"
"When aren't you?" Amber remarked sassily, rolling her eyes but keeping a friendly albeit teasing smile.
"Hey!"
Sofia laughed, but her laughter was even a bit different, it sounded lighter and airier, louder and clearer. She seemed to be the happiest woman on the whole planet and no one was really certain why nor did they care to know. As long as she smiled everyone else smiled too. After breakfast she decided to clean up her room thoroughly, then from there she had some duties to perform as a protector. This time she had to stop some creatures called fieries from setting a forest ablaze. They belonged on a fire island where they could be on fire to their hearts content but not anywhere else. They were a rowdy bunch, lanky and bird-like, always wanting to play a game but as much as Sofia loved games, she did not want to see anything get burned in the process. She was able to wrangle them and get them back to the isle of fire where was given a performance, complete with music. She came back from that with a little soot on her face and some burn marks on her cape but nothing serious. It could have been a lot worse.
She washed off her face then started walking to her room to go find something to mend her cape. The whole while, the whole day actually, she was singing and whistling. It put the whole place in an upbeat sort of mood and soon Baileywick was whistling too and he found it made the work go quicker. She saw the maids whistling while dusting off the high lamps and polishing the mirrors. Everyone was jovial around here until something broke in the main hall. It made a loud crashing sound alerting Sofia to the noise. In fear of someone being hurt she ran to it quickly. Her cape could wait. She found what had made the noise, a mirror had broken and the person who was affixing it was sitting there on the ground, having fallen off his ladder. His knee looked cut and though blood did cause Sofia to have a traumatic flashback she would not let that stop her from helping. She went to his aid, procuring a bandage for him and placing it on the wound.
"Ah thank you princess! I don't know what happened. One second I was hanging up the mirror and the next second my ladder was all wobbly and boom- down we both crashed. The king's going to be cross with me for sure, that was a gift."
"Don't worry about that, right now we can be thankful that you aren't badly hurt."
Running down the hallway was the king himself causing the servant to bow before him, nervous and sweating. He assessed the damage and saw the bandage on his knee with Sofia there too. He helped the man up, dusting him off. "No need for all that now. It was an accident, these things happen."
"You are most merciful, your highness. Believe me I did not intend for this. It was like something knocked me over. Perhaps a gust of wind or something."
"Yes perhaps. As far as the mirror goes, it's not unfixable. I'll ask Cedric if he has some type of spell that can put this back together again. Until then you should go take a little rest. Maybe you're more tired than you think?"
"Yes that could be it. Worked so hard last night with the party, not that I didn't like it or nothin' but maybe I am a bit tired. Thank you, your highness, I'll go rest right away."
Jerrod went away, scratching the back of his head and mumbling sorrowfully about what he had done despite the fact that all was fine. It took very little time for King Roland to find Cedric and ask him to fix the mirror in the hallway then he retired to his study to continue his work. When Cedric got there Sofia was still standing amongst the broken glass, looking with concentration at the ladder. Something wasn't right here but she couldn't think of what. He said he didn't even know what happened and that it felt like he was pushed. What could it be? This was not as it appeared.
"You know a broken mirror is seven years bad luck, they say," Cedric commented from behind her ear causing her to stand upright. She felt a light kiss to the back of her neck causing her to look around and make sure no one saw.
She did not want to keep this relationship a secret or anything but she didn't want to get caught without telling everyone. She just had to find the right time and she wanted him to come with her. She knew that sometimes he still feared her father and might be daunted by the task but their love was worth fighting for and it was true. If for some reason he denied them then she would deny her right to her crown and become something a little less. She felt that would work but her father might be angry she disobeyed him. She wondered what would happen then...if they would truly even be free to love each other. She felt in her heart that they would be so she did not fear a thing. Sofia turned to Cedric with a little smile on her face.
"Is that true or just a myth?"
"It might hold a grain of truth. I do hope you weren't hurt when this dropped, my dearest."
"I wasn't around when it did and thankfully no one was hurt badly. Still...it doesn't seem right... it feels like something is off."
"What do you mean, love?"
"Jerrod is a very careful person, I know him well, and he has hung up many mirrors, bigger than this and on his own. He's very steady and never drops a thing, that's why we trust him with these tasks. He told me it felt like he was knocked over...What do you think?"
"Hmmm...seems like there might have been foul play. Well not to worry, as the royal sorcerer I shall do my part in finding out whatever this mystery is and taking care of it but first I'm going to fix this."
"Great! Thank you! I heard it was a gift so dad will be pleased to see it back to its normal state."
Cedric raised his wand and pointed at the shards, making them float, then they fused together, seamlessly without a crack, and joined back with the frame. The mirror was now hanging on the wall good as new as if nothing had happened. He looked it over to make sure all was alright, fixed his bow tie in the mirror and grinned at his work.
"Wonderful as always, Cedric. You impress me every time."
"Oh do I? And do you think that perhaps you could reward me for my efforts, pet?"
"Ummm...what would you like...?" Sofia asked, a little confused. Cedric never asked for payment at least not from her. He did get paid but from her father and even then, he never asked or asked for more. He always took whatever he was given so this was strange but she went with it. He bent before her, a wily smirk on his face.
"Well I'm not much for sweets but I could use some sugar."
"Hmm?" She blinked at him then opened her eyes a bit wider, realizing what he meant. Her cheeks went a little pink and she touched one. "Oh...!" She looked around herself again then raised her lips to his giving him a soft kiss, not too long though.
"Mmm very sweet. I think that should be sufficient payment for my wizardry."
"Am I to be expected to um...pay you every time you cast a spell?"
"Of course, a sorcerer of my caliber deserves to be rewarded for his work. Is this not so?"
"I think now I will find more reasons to enjoy your sorcery," Sofia replied with a flirty wink and a giggle.
"You mischievous sprite, you."
She swayed side to side timidly, hands behind her back and nibbling the corner of her lip. "You really ought not do that around me, sweetness. I'm liable to do something...untoward."
"Huh...what did I do?"
"You bit your lip...it...drives me crazy in the best way. It's like some sort of secret power of yours."
"Hmm...I see. Well I have a lot of powers, some given, some earned, but I make sure to use every single one."
"Why you saucy minx! I would have never taken you for the seductive type. You never fail to surprise me, you know. Really though, with that attitude you should leave my presence. I meant what I said before."
Sofia giggled again, still blushing at what he called her and what he thought of her. She was almost certain she understood him but she didn't think herself that type either, with him she just liked to mess around in a frisky sort of way. He was the same, it was how he naturally was anyways but it was hard to be like that with others. With her things were easy and always fun. Never a dull moment with Sofia. She kissed his mouth then quickly scampered away, skipping and whistling gleefully. His Sofia really was something special and he hoped to be surprised by her, loved by her, prized by her, amazed by her, and teased by her all his life.
