Family Can Come As If By Magic

Chapter 26

Madeline started wake up the next morning, groaning when she felt a dull ache on her right side, but when she opened eyes, her parents Baileywick and Uncle Cedric were quickly around her asking how she was feeling and if she was in any pain.

"I am okay, my side aches a little but I feel better then I did yesterday." Madeline explained as she yawned a bit.

"You were really lucky Madeline it could have a lot more serious and dangerous, but I want this to be a lesson to you and to all of us, that hiding or denying that you are ill or injured in anyway is a good way to end up dead." Cedric lectures mildly.

Madeline nods and then said what every child asked when they are in a hospital, "When can I go home?"

Lorelei gently smiles at her daughter saying, "Not for a 2 days my dear, are you hungry?"

Madeline nods and soon they had a nurse bring her simple meal of pancakes with maple syrup and orange juice, after eating her breakfast, Baileywick brought a deck of cards and soon they were playing a few rounds of Go Fish until the doctor came in to check on her stitches and pain level, happy to see that she was eating and drinking and he was happy to say that she kept it up then she could go home tomorrow, much to Madeline 's delight.

The next day went by pretty much the same as yesterday and soon later that afternoon Madeline was told that she can go home, much to the delight and relief of her family, after the doctor gave them instructions on how to care for Madeline 's stitches until they dissolve and to give her pain relief as needed and to help her sit up and stand up carefully so she doesn't rip her stitches, and she has to stay home for at least 2 weeks and after then she needs to have a follow up visit with her GP before returning to school and back to her regular everyday activities.

Once they all got home, Madeline was put straight to bed to rest and watch TV, until dinner, at some point James and Amber came to visit with her and they were amazed by the scar and the little misadventure that she had.

"Boy Maddie you sure know how to have an night time adve -ouch what was that for?!" James exclaims when Amber slaps him on the back of the head.

"Because you are missing the point brother dear, our little sister would have died if it wasn't for Uncle Cedric's quick thinking." Amber states which had James looking sheepish, while Madeline was snickering at them for a bit, before becoming serious once more.

"Well at least I learned to not hide anything serious like this again, it could have been much worse, I own Uncle Cedric my life, but look on the bright side, at least I get out of school for two weeks." Madeline said her serious expression replaced by a cheeky smile which had Amber rolling her eyes, while James gave Madeline a fist bump.

Looking around she frowns when she notices that one person was missing from the group.

"Where's Sofia?" She asked looking to

Cedric sighs, "Sofia hasn't been feeling well these past few days, while she wishes she could be here, she can't right now." he explains not wanting to reveal anything about Sofia's mute state for fear of embarrassing his child already frail emotional and mental state.

Madeline frowns, not liking the answer, silently determined to see her magical cousin when she is able to move more freely, but for now she puts that in the back of her mind as she challenges James to a game of chess.

The next 2 weeks were both boring and tiresome for Madeline as she lays in bed that evening after eating dinner and finishing up any school assignments she had brought home to her, by her parents so she wouldn't fall behind in classes, she hated to say it but she was almost looking forward to going back to school, almost, but she did miss her friends and but she especially missed Sofia, who hadn't visited her at all and whenever she asked any of the adults or her siblings about it, they come up with a quick excuse and quickly change the subject, much to Madeline's annoyance.

With determination, she carefully gets out of bed, the pain to her side still ached, but she pushes through it as she leaves her room and walks quietly down the hall towards Sofia's room, she knocks but receives no reply, frustrated she opens the door, only to find the room empty, growling she quickly makes her way towards the sorcerer's tower, but instead of going the many stairs, she takes a different route, a secret tunnel that was apparently build into the tower in cause of a fire or invasion, when Madeline found it, it appeared to had been forgotten over the centuries, as she makes her way up the tunnel and towards a door that apparently leads to a secret hatch in Sofia's closet, she quietly opens it and slips inside, careful to slide the closet door open, she looks around the semi darken room, spotting her cousin laying asleep in her bed.

Pouting Madeline reaches over and roughly shakes the slumbering girl, whispering harshly in Sofia's ear.

"Sofia, wake up!"

Sofia finally sleepily opens her eyes as she looks up at the annoyed face of her young cousin.

Yawning, the older girl forced herself to sit up a bit despite her body feeling tired.

"Mads, what are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be resting?" Sofia asked her speech slurred with sleep as she tried to stay awake.

Madeline just scoffs and said, "How can I rest, knowing that my own cousin doesn't care enough to visit me, do you not love me anymore?"

Sofia saw how hurt she was and pulls the covers back in a silent permission for the youngest princess to snuggle up with her, which Madeline did.

"First thing, Mads, I am sorry, when I heard about your illness and surgery, believe me I wanted to visit you so badly, but something happened during one of my therapy sessions and I couldn't move my body or even speak, it was like it took all my energy to just move to go to the toilet or even eat, believe me when I say that I wanted to see you, but my body wouldn't let me, I felt so much guilt and shame that I was afraid to face you, I was afraid that you would never want to speak to me again, I know it sounds silly now."

Madeline sit up a bit and looks her straight in the eye as she said, "It's not silly at all, it sounds like whatever happen still affects you, I was just hurt because whenever I would ask for or about you, I wouldn't get a straight answer and I thought that maybe I did something that warrant your avoidance, but I see now that we both just assumed the worst, but I am just relived to know that we cleared the air."

Sofia opens her mouth as if to speak but lets out a jaw cracking and said, "I glad we cleared that up, good night Mads."

Madeline smiles and snuggles even closer to the now sleeping girl, saying, "Good night, Sofia." before fall asleep as well.

When Cedric came to check on Sofia the next morning, he wasn't as surprised to find Madeline there as he should have been, but seeing how much the young royal had asked for her, only to get vague answers in return, calmly he closes the door and goes to inform Roland and Lorelei about Madeline's whereabouts so they didn't worry.

The first to wake up was Sofia, who at first confused by how much warmer and heavier her right side, until she remembers her late night visitor.

"Mads, hey it time to wake up." Sofia said reaching out to gently shake the sleep girl awake.

Grumbling the young Heiress sat up and let's out a jaw cracking yawn before mumbling something before removing the covers and heading for Sofia's bathroom, while said girl watched this bemused.

When she came out, still sleepy eyed and yawning, Sofia just snorts and quickly uses the facilities herself before take Madeline's hand and heading down to kitchen, where her Dad was making goldenberry pancakes, eggs in a basket and cut up grapefruit, with pitcher of fresh milk.

"Morning Girls, I trust you both slept well and before you say anything, Yes I knew about Madeline being here, no I am not mad and I did inform your parents that you were with us, Princess, now sit down and tuck in." Cedric said all this as he set the large stack of pancakes down on the table.

Breakfast was eaten with a gusto, Madeline complimented Cedric on his cooking, which the man just waves off and smiles when he hears Sofia talking again.