Nearly two years ago
Sofia looked up, tears staining her cheeks.
"Is there somewhere I can go away for a few weeks?"
Roland thought for a moment. "Your aunt and uncle or Grand Mum would let you come visit for as long as you need."
Sofia shook her head. "No. Outside of Cantare Valley."
Roland sighed. "I don't know, Sofia. I can see if there is somewhere you can go but I can't promise you anything."
Sofia sighed in defeat. She broke away from her dad and walked off, shoulders slumped and head hanging low. Roland watched as his daughter walked away. He hated seeing her look so broken.
Quickly, he resolved that he would find somewhere for her to go. If that's what she wanted, then he would find somewhere, anywhere where she could take however much time she needed to be ready to return to Cantata Hall.
Another feeling quickly came to him. One that doused his fiery resolve to help her find a literal escape from Cantare Valley.
He couldn't protect her if she went away. He already felt like a failure because he wasn't there at a time she needed protection. What if she found herself in trouble the moment he allowed her to leave? How would he protect her then? How would he live with himself if he failed his precious daughter once more?
Suddenly, he didn't like the idea of allowing Sofia to leave.
I'm sorry, Sofia. I don't know if I can allow you to leave like you want.
oOo
Amber was silently rereading the short note that Sofia had left. It had been a few hours since she had found the note and she was starting to worry a bit. She hadn't revealed that Sofia was out but she knew it wouldn't be long before someone noticed.
Sofia, where are you? What's taking so long?
So engrossed in her thoughts was Amber, that she didn't notice Roland and Miranda step through the bedroom door.
"Amber, where's Sofia?"
Amber jumped at Miranda's gentle voice. Without thinking how suspicious it would seem, Amber quickly shoved the note under one of the pillows. Roland raised an eyebrow.
"Sofia needed some time outside before settling down for the night. She was a little anxious about her new friends at Hexley Hall and how they are doing, especially with Lord Hexley's injuries."
"What's with that paper?" Roland asked.
Amber blanched. She realized her mistake in quickly hiding it.
"It's nothing," Amber insisted, nervousness coloring her words.
Roland looked even more suspicious. And now that she thought about it, Amber realized her dad had had some degree of suspicion ever since he interrupted her conversation with Sofia in the nursery the day before.
"Amber, tell the truth," Roland said sternly. "What's going on?"
"It's just the note that Sofia left when she decided to go out. Happy now?"
Roland held his hand out. "So why didn't you say that at first? Let me see it."
Amber made no movement. Roland's expression of suspicion intensified and he immediately moved to grab the note himself. Amber tried to stop him but he was faster. Roland looked over the words, confusion evident on his face.
"'You're not wrong. I don't want to go back to Cantata Hall...I feel so torn…?' Amber, what is going on?"
"Besides the fact that you're extremely blind to Sofia's feelings and I'm not?" Amber gave her father a stern look. "Let's start with the obvious. Sofia doesn't want to go back to Cantare Valley. The very thought of that has given her huge anxiety. And as things stand, Sofia is starting to question some things that I still can't believe she convinced herself of. That's why she went out: to sort through her confusing feelings. I doubt she'll be back soon. For all I know, she may decide to just return to Hexley Hall, the very place that has become home to her."
Miranda seemed instantly concerned. "What happened? Did you two talk earlier?"
Amber nodded. "Many of the things that we spoke of, I shouldn't say without her permission. I will say this: we have had absolutely no clue how miserable she truly has been. And I think we should have better emphasized that what happened two years ago shouldn't hold her back from what she wants."
Miranda blanched. Roland looked stunned as well. Hearing what Amber had just said, they couldn't help but worry even more.
"Sofia hasn't really believed that she can't have what she wants just because of another person's actions, has she?" Miranda asked nervously.
"Somehow, I'm not entirely surprised that she came to believe that way. If she hadn't, I doubt Dad could have said or done anything to convince her to return with us to Cantare Valley. I know she doesn't want to return there. She wants to stay in Mystica Prata, where she's begun to actually feel happy again. More to the point, she wants to stay at Hexley Hall where she feels comfortable, safe, and even more happy. It was foul play on your part to not let her know that Lady Hexley was offering to let her continue to stay there, Dad. You got so caught up in what you want for her and what you think is best that you aren't paying attention to what she really needs. No wonder she left without telling you. She needed to get your attention. Does she have it now, Dad? Are you actually going to do right by her now?"
"I have wanted to do right by her," Roland replied defensively. "It certainly isn't easy if I don't know what she needs because she won't tell me."
"'Won't tell you'?" Amber scoffed. "Need I remind you of one night shortly after she physically healed when she was crying in your arms and begging for a literal escape out of Cantare Valley? Need I remind you that she desperately wanted to get away from Cantata Hall and its memories and you did nothing to help her? No wonder she stopped trying to tell you what she wants and needs. She felt like you weren't going to help her. You isolated her at a time when she needed you most. You. Her father. The man who should have been her biggest supporter during the darkest time of her life. Maybe if you had helped her escape two years ago, she wouldn't be the miserable mess that she is now."
Roland said nothing. Amber took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Miranda looked between the two. She gauged their expressions. After a moment, she made up her mind.
"When we see Sofia again, whatever she needs to do in order to heal, I'm helping to do it. Even if by doing so, I go against you, Roland."
Roland blanched as he looked at his wife.
"I failed her too by not doing whatever I could to help her. Admittedly, a situation like this is one no parent is ever ready to handle. But you and I could have done so much more to try to help her. What little Amber has told us about her conversation with Sofia scares me. And I know you had your fears about letting Sofia leave two years ago which was why you never did. But there were things we could have done to alleviate those fears. But no, we did nothing. It's no wonder Sofia's made this huge statement. We weren't listening to her and she needed to get our attention."
Roland gritted his teeth before leaving the room. Both women stayed put.
"I'm glad I have someone on our side," Amber said softly. "Sofia is going to need all the support she can get if she does have to go against Dad."
Miranda sighed and wrapped an arm around her blonde daughter.
"I'm...worried," Amber continued. "Whatever happens tonight, it's going to have a huge impact on the rest of her life. If she does end up back at Cantata Hall right now, despite not being ready to return there, I'm afraid she'll wither away. What if we lose her forever?"
"I'm not going to let that happen," Miranda answered softly. "I meant it when I told your father I'd go against him if necessary."
Amber gave the slightest smile. "I just hope she doesn't get herself lost, considering her current emotional state."
oOo
Sofia sighed as Minimus gently trotted forward.
"I don't suppose you have the answers, do you, Minimus?" Sofia asked.
Her response was a snort. Sofia shrugged.
"Everything has changed so much," Sofia continued. "It's...unnerving. I used to be so certain of my path. Unhappy about it but at least I knew. Now, I can't help but question everything I was so certain of. More than ever, I know I want to be back at Hexley Hall. But does he even want me there? I'm not certain I could stay there if he didn't. Sometimes, Minimus, I wish I were you. Your life is so simple. You don't have to worry about society and its rules and opinions. All you have to worry about is getting fed and watered, exercised, and brushed down."
Again, Minimus snorted. Sofia halted him and then patted his neck.
"It's nice to talk to you. I never have to worry about what you think of me."
Something caught Minimus' attention and he gave a nervous whiny. Sofia's nerves shot up. It had been a long time since Minimus had spooked. Suddenly, she was worried about him bolting and possibly her being thrown. If that happened, she was a ways away from help.
Something, a small woodland creature it seemed, scurried across the pathway, right in front of the light horse. Minimus, much to Sofia's dismay, reared up. How she managed to stay on, she wasn't entirely certain but in a moment, that was the least of her worries. He was starting to kick and jerk. Sofia tightened her grip on him. With him kicking like this, she did not want to end up on the ground near him.
"Whoa," Sofia said. "Easy Minimus."
Next thing Sofia knew, Minimus was bolting with her on him. And she couldn't get him to settle down.