Nearly a month.
Nearly a month since her return and she and Clover still had nightmares about their ordeal.
But Sofia knew that she was getting stronger physically, slowly gaining her normal weight back.
Just not all the way.
After so much turmoil, she could finally visit Minimus.
Being told that he was alive by Amber and James had lifted her spirits up, letting some dread escape.
Dread over visiting Boswell in the dungeons. She didn't want to and neither did her parents nor siblings but Constable Miles insisted she had to.
He claimed that it would help her but she knew that it wouldn't.
That former magician ruined her life.
"You alright Sofia?" Roland asked.
"I okay Daddy," Sofia smiled. "Just excited to see Minimus. I missed him."
"He's missed you too."
"Really?"
"Really. I found him wondering around looking for you and decided to keep him with us so he can help with your healing," Roland explained.
"Thank you!" Sofia cheered.
Roland chuckled at her excitement as she hugged him before taking his hand.
Anything to make her happy after her ordeal.
When they reached Minimus' stable, Roland watched as Sofia slowly walked up to him, gently stroking his mane.
Minimus looked up in surprise, a slight smile on his face. "Sofia?"
"Yes it's me Minimus. I apologize for taking so long to see you," Sofia said, hugging him close.
"Don't apologize. Clover told me everything."
"Of course he would. Me and him are best friends. Before and after Mr. Boswell."
While Roland heard only neighs from Minimus, hearing Sofia giggle tugged at his heart.
Once she was finished with Boswell, he'd give her the bracelet he had made especially for her.
The same bracelet he intended to give her before her disappearance was currently in the jewel room just waiting for him to place around its owner's arm.
But for now Roland only wanted Sofia's happiness until he and Constable Miles had to take her to the dungeons.
...
Nearly a month ago, he'd be entraining crowds with his magic acts.
Now formerly known as the Amazing Boswell, he was currently in a dungeon and his reputation in shatters.
All because Princess Sofia of Enchancia had to use her mouth to squeal on him.
He should've drowned her in the nearest lake when he had his chance to.
"Boswell?"
One of the Enchancian guards came into his cell as the magician rolled his eyes.
"What do you want now? I'm already in hell because your youngest royal you're protecting couldn't keep her pretty little mouth shut," Boswell grumbled. "If I had it my way, I'd still be doing my acts."
"If you had it your way, we'd either have an emotionally traumatized little girl or a dead one!" The guard retorted.
"How did you know what I would've done to your littlest princess?"
"I just do you piece of work. Taking a child over her rabbit. Princess Sofia's 'pet' I might add."
Boswell couldn't help but smirk in response. "That rabbit had no collar or tags on him. If she had been seen and not heard like a good little girl, I would've left her alone."
"You're lucky King Roland didn't execute you the day Princess Sofia returned. Must've appreciated the damage she did to your face and arms!" The guard chuckled.
It was true. In between his anger towards him, Enchancia's king had been intrigued by the dry blood on Boswell's cheeks that his daughter had left behind with her fingernails.
The scratches had healed his third week but the blood and baby teeth bite marks still remained.
"Don't bother washing off the blood. Let Sofia's scars remain on him like his emotional trauma will remain with her until her dying breath."
The king's words from the first day Boswell found himself in the dungeons played in his head, irking the former magician.
"Be careful princess. He's a bit irritable this afternoon," Constable Miles' voice cautioned as Boswell turned to the little brat who was the reason for his misery.
She was hiding behind the king's leg, her frightened blues attempting to avoid eye contact.
Pathetic.
"Thank you Constable Miles," Sofia's voice squeaked.
She was shaking like a leaf in that green dress she wore. He liked the sound of that.
"You still fear me? Why am I not surprised?" Boswell smiled.
"I didn't ask to be here Mr. Boswell but since it's supposed to be part of my healing, I suppose I can waste my childhood, of what remains after your destruction of it, for a little while," Sofia grumbled.
"Look at you with your fancy vocabulary! I left you with the mental state of a young child!"
"I like to read sir."
"Of course you did," Boswell smirked. "I paid good money for those books."
"Money you could've used to feed me and get me clothes but you didn't. You had beaten, starved, and burned me. How do I move on from that?" Sofia frowned.
The magician rolled his eyes, not showing a hint of regret.
"How should I care? It's your own fault," Boswell taunted.
Something snapped inside Sofia upon hearing those words.
All her fear vanished, being replaced by anger as she jumped at him.
"You did this to me!" Sofia screamed.
The guards did nothing as Boswell felt her pathetically attack him.
She was becoming overwhelmed by her anger, to the point of nearing tears.
"Your majesty should we do something?" A guard asked. "If we don't get her away from him, Boswell could seriously hurt her."
The king shook his head. "Let Sofia grieve. If anything happens to Boswell, we hadn't cared before and we sure as hell won't now."
Sofia growled at Boswell, holding up her hand in the hopes of scratching him with her fingernails.
She couldn't do much to him, being much smaller than he was, but she wanted to do something.
"You don't control me no more Mr. Boswell!" Sofia yelled. "You took me because of Clover! You left me alone for hours during your acts! You thought it was okay to beat and burn me!"
She couldn't fathom why he had done it. There wasn't a reason. All she knew was fury.
Fury to the point of tears as she screamed, scratching Boswell to the best of her ability.
She was beginning to become tired from trying to scratch him so much, but she didn't want to stop.
Boswell was held back by the guards when he attempted to pick her up and slam her against the brick wall of his cell.
Sofia, meanwhile, was held back by the queen who had witnessed her daughter's outburst in complete shock in order to avoid her getting hurt.
They were knackered.
Sofia was emotionally knackered from attempting to harm her former tormentor while Boswell was knackered from dealing with her.
As the queen carried her daughter away, the king glared at him.
He was livid.
"Thanks a lot for traumatizing my daughter. Again!" Roland, Boswell heard the queen name before her departure, growled.
"You should be thanking me your majesty," Boswell smirked.
"I'll be thankful when you're in hell Boswell. I paid you to entertain my children. I should've thought better."
"That we agree on. Now go to your little girl. She's going to need Daddy's comfort right now."
"Thanks for the suggestion!" Roland sneered. "Guards! If you excuse me, I'm going to visit my daughter. Leave Boswell now and slip him his usual tray this evening."
The guards nodded as Boswell heard his cell door slam shut.
…
Sofia didn't care.
She didn't care as she kicked off her shoes and slipped out of the green dress that Desmond had given her in his care package.
She didn't care about the importance of being proper now that she was just in her undershirt and bloomers.
She only cared about herself and Clover.
"So how was visiting the monster?" Clover chuckled.
"Lousy," Sofia replied. "He didn't care and you were right about that."
"Robin would agree with you if she was here."
"Too bad she's looking for worms with Mia at the moment. With all the carrots and scraps that wagon provided, I'm glad I didn't have to eat any insects."
Clover chuckled. His kid had a sense of humor despite everything.
Even if her lacking proper clothing was new to him, he knew it came after she furiously washed her hands in the hope of getting Boswell's sweat and foul odor off of her.
He could tell from the moment Miranda had lead her into the room, calming her down with a lullaby she'd known since infancy that visiting Boswell had affected Sofia in a way that he never knew to be possible.
And yet it didn't set back her recovery.
Clover was grateful for that.
"Let's be thankful for that," The rabbit said after a moment of silence. "But Sof, you shouldn't let Boswell get to you like that."
"I know but sometimes I think he's right. Just like with Hildegard's belief that I was stupid for being kidnapped," Sofia sighed. "No doubt she's told some of the older princesses at Royal Prep about me."
"Who I bet don't care about what she thinks. As far as I'm concerned Sof, everyone's sympathetic towards you."
"Like the villagers. I found some dolls from them yesterday as part of a vigil they must've had for me while we were with that monster."
"And they didn't leave anything for me?!" Clover gasped.
"Silly Clover! They probably didn't know!" Sofia giggled.
She smiled as he hopped onto her lap, stroking his fur.
That always calmed him down no matter how the other was feeling.
"Come in!" Sofia called, hearing a knock on the door. Her smile widened, seeing her father walk into the room. "Hi Daddy!"
"I see you're feeling better but you know that your attire isn't proper," Roland smirked playfully, sitting beside her.
"I know. I just got so hot after seeing Mr. Boswell that I had to take my dress off."
"I understand. I'm just sorry he provoked you like he did."
Sofia shook her head. "I been holding all my negative emotions towards him in for some time now that I needed to explode."
"You want me to shoot him out of a canon for you?" Roland teased.
"Silly Daddy! That's something that James would do!"
"You're right about that. That is something James would do."
"Are you mad that I went, as James puts it, boom goes the cannon during my visit to the dungeons?" Sofia asked quietly.
Roland shook his head, taking her in his arms. "You deserved to grieve. You've been strong for nearly a month now, only letting free your true emotions around the people you love while concealing yourself around others. You're still a little girl filled with torrents of trauma just not to where you were nearly a month ago."
"Like me and the male staff?"
"That's right. You and the male staff. You were petrified of them, thinking that they'd hurt you like Boswell did and it's okay if you still flinch around them. Everyone from the guards to Chef Andre understand that you're a different person from who you were before your kidnapping and they've come to accept that."
"Like you and Baileywick and Mr. Ceedric?" Sofia smiled.
"Exactly," Roland agreed. "Can you close your eyes for me for just a little bit? I have a surprise for you."
Sofia obeyed, gasping as she felt something slide into her arm. Upon opening them, she immediately noticed the sun and moon charms.
"'To Sofia. Everyday you brighten our lives no matter what. We love you. Amber, James, and Dad.'" Sofia read aloud, feeling tears glistening in her eyes. "You made this for me?"
"Yes. I was planning to give it to you before your disappearance but that never came to be," Roland sighed.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
"You're very welcome."
"Do I have to promise never to take it off like my amulet?" Sofia wondered.
"No. You can take it off whenever you like," Roland smiled. "It's special like the amulet yes but you don't need to wear it every day."
"What about special occasions? Like my birthday?"
"You're not turning nine until a few days after Boswell's execution but I can't see the harm of you wearing your bracelet on that day."
Sofia thanked him with a hug just as a dam of tears escaped from her eyes.
And for once, she wasn't scolded by the opposite sex for crying.
…
Royal Prep seemed to brighten the moment Sofia stepped out of the coach.
Behind her, James smiled while Amber scanned the school grounds, praying that Hildegard wouldn't be in her sister's view.
"Princess Sofia! Welcome back dear!"
Amber breathed a sigh of relief hearing Flora's voice.
"Thank you Miss Flora," Sofia smiled.
"Your parents informed us of your situation three weeks before your arrival so we alternated your schedule," Flora explained. "They requested that you didn't have sorcery for a little while."
"It's only temporary dear," Fauna assured, seeing Sofia disappointed. "Just until you're able to handle it."
"We wouldn't want you disrupting the rest of the class due to trauma that we know isn't your fault," Merryweather added.
"I understand," Sofia muttered. "Can I at least make one request?"
Flora smiled warmly at the princess. "Of course dear."
"Would it be okay if I still had the same lunch time with Amber and James? Being in crowds by myself makes me uncomfortable."
"Of course Sofia," Fauna smiled.
"How could we turn down a request like that?" Merryweather agreed.
Sofia beamed, following the fairies inside with Amber and James behind them before the siblings went their separate ways.
"Shouldn't you be with my ex best friend?" Hildegard asked as the Enchancian princess stepped into the art classroom.
"This is only temporary. Be thankful for that Hildegard," Sofia spat, sitting down next to Clio.
"Have an attitude don't we?"
"I don't want to be tested during my first day back so I think it'd be best if we avoided each other as much as possible."
Hildegard could only huff in agreement.
"I tried to tell her not to mess with you," Clio apologized. "I apologize for the inconvenience."
Sofia gave the Corinthia princess a genuine smile. "Don't apologize for her behavior Clio. She's just witchy since everything that happened."
It was true she missed the twins' bantering but transferring classes gave her a feeling she hadn't felt in a while.
Peace and quiet.
Lunch she wished had been the same way but what was a cafeteria without noise?
At least Amber's waving hand had her crack a smile.
"So how have your new classes gone?" She asked.
Sofia blushed. "Art was okay but etiquette with Hugo was great! He even kissed my hand during a demonstration!"
"Ew!" James gagged.
Sofia giggled at her brother's reaction. She would've done the same thing if it was him and a girl.
"After recess, you and I have dance class Sofia," Amber smiled. "And from what I heard, we're supposed to waltz."
"But I already learned from you!" Sofia pouted.
"I know bur Miss Flora asked some of the older boys and girls from Majestic Hall to accompany us."
"Majestic Hall?"
"It's for the older princes and princesses. From what I heard, it's even harder than it is now," James grumbled.
"We'll be there one day James. Enjoy the easiness while it lasts," Amber smirked.
James rolled his eyes, turning back to his lunch while Sofia tried to be hopeful about the situation.
The older princes would be gentle, having the maturity not to hurt her except on accident.
She prayed that she wouldn't have sore feet afterwards.
...
Prince Colin of Oxford was the first to volunteer in regards to waltzing with Sofia.
His brown eyes, almost reminding her of Hugo's, were warm the moment the two approached each other.
Sofia could hear the snickers and murmurs from the other older princes about "the damaged princess" before Colin gave them a glare.
He reminded her of Flynn Rider or now known as Eugene Fitzherbert. Only Colin was younger, had no signs of a goatee on his chin, and lacked a criminal history.
"Do you want to lead?" Sofia asked.
"Why not? It's more proper for the prince to lead then the princess," Colin smiled, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I'll try not to hurt you or step on your feet." He laughed nervously. "I'm a bit of a klutz."
"I don't care if you are. You volunteered to be my partner the moment my name was called."
"It was the proper thing to do even if the others avoided you like the plague."
"And I know why. I heard them call me the damaged princess," Sofia sighed. "Maybe they're right."
"Sofia, that isn't true. What happened wasn't your fault to begin with," Colin muttered as he lead her around the room. "You're a strong little girl for what you've gone through."
"Really?"
Before Colin could say anything, another prince had bumped into his partner.
"Oh I'm sorry. Here, let me help you up," Desmond smiled.
"Thank you Desmond. For now and the care package," Sofia muttered softly. "That wasn't necessary."
"Well my mom thought of the idea. After me, she and my dad couldn't have anymore children so when you returned, she went on a little shopping spree and spoiled you."
"Were the books I got on butterflies, princesses, and healing from trauma her idea as well?"
"No. They were mine," Desmond blushed.
"Well I better get to dancing," Sofia smiled as Colin gently grabbed her arm. "Thank you Desmond!"
Desmond gave her a nod before going back to his partner while Sofia blushed, feeling Colin put his hands on her shoulders once more.
Disappointment was prone to Sofia the moment dance class ended.
Colin had to go back to his remaining classes in Majestic Hall while Sofia had to follow Amber to her remaining classes.
"You like him don't you?" Amber teased.
"Colin? Amber, he treated me with decency," Sofia smiled.
"I know. My feet are sore from Prince Nicholas stepping on them. Colin told you that he was a klutz but you're just fine!"
"He was careful not to hurt me, knowing that I already was. "
Amber nodded, stifling her laughter. "You were blushing as you danced with him."
"I was not!" Sofia pouted.
"You weren't what?" James asked.
Sofia gave Amber a look, praying she wouldn't say anything to make their brother's protection of her exacerbate.
Glaring at their fellow classmates that morning had been enough for her.
"Nothing," Amber lied.
"It was just sisterly talk. No boys allowed," Sofia added.
James stared at his sisters before taking his seat, not noticing Sofia give his twin a thankful wink.
As she sat in her own seat, she tried to concentrate before seeing a note on her desk.*
See me after class. We have a lot to discuss.- Hugo.
Sofia glanced at him, giving Hugo a timid smile. It was obvious what he wanted to discuss.
What happened back at the wagon.
She was ready for that.
Yet once class was dismissed, Sofia excused herself before venturing to the corner where Hugo was waiting.
"Hugo why did you want to talk in private?" She wondered.
Hugo sighed, taking her hand. "On behalf of my father, I'd like to apologize for him and I leaving you in the wagon that day. As it turned out, Boswell lied to the both of us."
"Why am I not surprised? Mr. Boswell lied to me a lot more for two weeks."
"I'm sorry."
Sofia shook her head. "No. I sorry. I should've whispered my pleads instead of saying them with in his earshot. He hurt me and now I broken. You must think I embarrassment or stupid."
"No. Never," Hugo assured. "And it's I'm, not I."
"I is a struggle for me right now until further notice."
"Do you still have nightmares?"
"Almost every night," Sofia admitted. She slumped her shoulders. "Do you?"
Hugo blushed, turning away. "Not since you came home. Your dream message assured me that you were safe."
It was Sofia's turn to blush, not recalling his dream.
She could only recall sleeping in a warm bed the night she'd been rescued for the first time in two weeks and that was it.
Despite that, talking to him and realizing that he'd been lied to that day gave her a peace of mind.
To where she started to cry.
"Sof? You okay?"
Sofia and Hugo turned, seeing James looking concerned for her.
"She's fine. Just a little upset," Hugo explained.
James rolled his eyes. "I've known Sof's emotions longer than you have." He turned to Sofia, taking her hand. "Did Hugo say anything to hurt you? Because I swear to Enchancia if he did—"
"No. He didn't," Sofia interrupted, pushing his hand away. "Can you please stop thinking that every time I get upset it has something to do with your sex James?! I fragile yes but I not a damn porcelain doll! We were having a private discussion and I was at peace till you showed up! Why can't you just leave me alone?! You're worse than Daddy and Mr. Ceedric!"
"I'm only trying to protect you."
"So is everyone else just not to the extent that you are."
"I do what I do because I'm your brother. When Dad asked Amber and I to help you when you first arrived, I kept to my word," James grumbled.
"James, that was less than a year ago," Sofia scoffed.
"I know you're annoyed with me and what you went through has changed your innocence, however you're my little sister Sof and I never want to lose you again. Those two weeks were hard enough."
Hugo nodded in agreement. "He isn't kidding."
"Hugo please. It's not proper to intrude on a personal conversation," James smirked.
Hugo stepped back as Sofia felt herself speechless, never expecting her brother to reveal such personal information.
"So when you kept my riding hat, it was because you missed me?" She asked softly.
James nodded somberly. "I was so scared of losing you Sof." Tears came to his eyes as he flung himself at a surprised Sofia. "If you hadn't come back when you did, Dad would've been forced to confirm you as deceased."
"Why? I don't understand."
"Dad's council didn't have much faith in you being found. I overheard them say once 'It'd be a miracle if Princess Sofia's found alive your majesty. Who knows what Boswell has done to her by now' which I wish I could finish but Baileywick escorted me to my room for eavesdropping, proclaiming that it wasn't proper princely behavior but sympathized with wanting to find you."
Sofia felt tears in her eyes, feeling James stroke her hair. In the corner of her tear filled eyes, she noticed that Hugo was gone.
Maybe to give us privacy like James requested.
It was a simple thought but she didn't care.
"You went through all that because of my actions." Sofia felt her voice croak. "My stupidity. My outspokenness. They're the reasons why you all suffered from the consequences of my kidnapping."
"Sof what have we all told you?" James asked.
"That it wasn't my fault?"
"Exactly. I know you're feeling guilty but may I remind you that what happened was the fault of a monster and not my little sister's. Everyone else has."
"But you weren't there when Mr. Boswell said that it was my fault for everything that happened," Sofia sniffed. "Mommy and Daddy were."
"Sof, I don't care what he says. You don't need to cry because of him. You don't need to ruin your pretty face over a monster," James smiled. His smile widened, hearing her giggle. "You're going to be as pretty as Mom one day when we're all grown up and you know what?"
"What?"
"Boswell will be long gone."
James wiped away what tears remained in her eyes, taking Sofia by the hand.
They were a minute late to class had he checked the clock.
But being on time wasn't on his mind. His little sister was.
It wasn't his first time being tardy but James was sure that Merryweather would make an exception just this one.
He was being "civil" as Flora put it during etiquette to Sofia. He cared about her feelings and listened without interrupting.
Had his twin been there, she would've fainted from shock.
…
Sofia laid her back on the floor of the observatory, gazing at the stars that were twinkling in the night sky.
It reminded her of her sleepless nights in the wagon where she'd often watch the stars twinkle until she felt her eyes droop.
Clover, knackered from their after school playtime, was asleep in his basket so she took her slippers with the rabbit heads on them to the observatory for company.
Their beady little eyes were motionless as she talked about her first day back at Royal Prep but their painted on smiles were as if they agreed with her, having Sofia smile.
"Princess Sofia?"
Sofia jumped, hearing Baileywick's voice before giggling and rolled onto her stomach.
"I got preoccupied with the stars so I didn't hear you come in," She smiled.
"I noticed!" Baileywick chuckled softly. He cleared his throat before kneeling down beside her. "I'll tell your mother you're here."
"Why? What I do?"
"You didn't do anything. She just wants to talk to you. Alone."
"I keep my bunnies while we talk," Sofia requested.
The steward stared at the white bunny slippers. While he blessed the royal family of Mezbez for their generosity, if he ever had to witness his youngest charge talk to them, he'd write a letter to them personally requesting no further bunny slippers in the future.
"Of course you can keep your slippers," Baileywick said at last. "You'll need them to keep your feet warm. We wouldn't want a cold on our hands now do we?"
Sofia nodded,
While she waited for Miranda, she couldn't help but wonder if their conversation had something to do with her.
It usually did nowadays.
When she heard Miranda's footsteps, a smile formed on her face.
"Baileywick told me you were here," Miranda smiled, stifling a laugh upon seeing her daughter on her stomach.
"Hi Mommy! What did you want to talk about?" Sofia asked.
"Oh nothing. Just a conversation with your father that I had today."
"Am I a bad girl?"
"No. Absolutely not," Miranda assured, taking her in her arms. "Sofia, if it's alright with you, we were thinking of having your ninth birthday be a small family affair."
"Because you just got me back?" Sofia realized.
"Exactly. So what do you think?"
"It's a good idea. No crowds. Clover hates them."
"Why's that?" Miranda wondered.
"He had to perform in front of them every day," Sofia sighed. "I was lucky that he wasn't tired at night."
Miranda stroked her hair, giving her an affectionate smile.
"Mommy, I sorry for how I acted on Saturday. I didn't mean to," Sofia muttered.
"There's absolutely nothing you need to feel sorry for," Miranda shushed. "I almost did the same thing when you went to bed that night."
"You did?"
"Yes. I had a few words to say to him that weren't meant for little ears to hear. As a mom, it angers me that he took advantage of you when you only wanted to save your friend."
Sofia nodded, climbing off her lap. "You do anything for me."
"I always have," Miranda smiled. "From the day you were born, you were the person I'd do anything for. No matter what happened to us in the future."
Her memory was hazy due to Boswell's trauma being the main focus currently but Sofia could recall the times Miranda had stood her ground when it came to her.
Especially when two older girls from the village school had referred to her as a bastard daughter. Naturally they didn't know that a then five year old Sofia had recently lost her father in a sailing accident yet those words had hurt the kindergartner.
She'd never seen her mother that heated until that day, thinking that it wouldn't happen again.
Then Boswell came into the picture and now at eight, Sofia finally understood.
Her mother would fight for her until her dying breath.
With that realization, Sofia started to cry, burying her face in Miranda's chest.
Gentle shushes came to her ear, having her look up with a tear stained face.
"I sorry. I didn't mean to make everyone worried for me," Sofia sniffed. "Especially not you Mommy."
"Oh sweetheart. I worry because I love you. You're my little girl and I'd do anything for you." Miranda held her daughter close, kissing her forehead. "I see your hair's getting longer. Pretty soon Violet will have to put it up every morning so it's out of your face."
"But Amber's got long hair and hers is always down."
"Amber doesn't have bangs. You do."
Sofia pouted, crossing her arms. The only hairstyle she knew how to do was a ponytail from watching Miranda do it every morning during their life in the village.
Then something came to her. Something long and rope shaped.
"Can Violet do braids?" Sofia asked.
"This isn't because Princess Rapunzel had one is it?" Miranda chuckled.
"No. I just want one."
"We'll have to see Sofia."
Sofia nodded, knowing better than to object. Being with Boswell had taught her that.
Miranda saw the conflicted look on her daughter's face, taking her in her arms.
Stifling a chuckle from hearing her fuss over them leaving her bunny slippers behind, Miranda gathered them before watching Sofia pet one of the slippers, pretending it was Clover.
Since the burns on her arms had healed, Miranda no longer had to worry about hurting her daughter.
It'd been by accident but hearing Sofia's cries broke her heart.
Sofia putting cream on her arms twice a day without protest made the healing effortless.
Miranda stroked Sofia's hair, stepping into her room before seeing Clover sniff her and paw at her dress.
Miranda chuckled, bending down to pet him. "Clover careful. Your best friend's asleep in my arms."
The rabbit hopped to the side, allowing Miranda to tuck in his sleeping best friend.
Sofia dropped one of her bunny slippers in the process, having Clover sniff at the object.
It wasn't a human male so he could trust it.
When her daughter was tucked in and had her doll, Miranda stepped back, watching as Clover hopped onto the end of the bed.
Like Sofia, he had a distrust in men. It wasn't as serve like her daughter's but Miranda knew that if he started growling, it was best to slowly step back before Clover could be provoked to do something he shouldn't.
Baileywick, Cedric, James, and Roland were the only males he trusted and Miranda didn't blame him.
"Clover only growls when he believes I'm being threatened Mom. It's in his nature."
Sofia had told her that months before her kidnapping and Miranda was starting to believe it, having witnessed it first hand.
While it was true that he wasn't a guard dog or was meant to be an animal of emotional support, Sofia believed that he was.
Miranda couldn't say no to her belief after he'd helped Sofia through two weeks of horrors.
They were going through their doses of trauma together.
Closing the door to Sofia's room and seeing the golden sparkles, Miranda let some tears release themselves from her eyes at the thought.
"Mother?"
Miranda jumped at the sound of her oldest daughter's voice.
"Amber! Don't do that!" She scolded.
"Sorry Mother. May I speak with you for a moment?" Amber asked.
"Of course. What is it?"
"It's about Sofia. I know she's getting better but when will she get to her old self again?"
"She never will sweetheart," Miranda admitted. "Sofia will still have her innocence but her trust is forever shattered. What Boswell did to her takes years to heal."
"She'll never get married?" Amber gasped.
"No. Not like that. Sofia won't able to trust anyone with magic like she used to."
"But she's fine around Cedric."
"It took her time to fully trust him again," Miranda reminded her. "She had to realize that he wouldn't hurt her."
Amber nodded. It only took Sofia twenty four hours into her rescue to trust the sorcerer again.
That wouldn't work with anyone else if she came across them in the future.
"Sofia's strong for her age isn't she?" Amber asked after a moment.
"She is," Miranda agreed. "Everything she went through made her strong."
"But she has her moments with breaking down Mother. Sofia's been having an attitude with Hildegard lately."
"Is that so?"
Amber laughed. "She's always grouchy around her. After everything Hildy's said, I don't blame her."
Can't blame her for that!" Miranda chuckled.
After what they went through worrying about Sofia every night, it felt good to laugh.
While Amber worried over her sister's mental health, she recalled their mother's worry over if she had to bury her child.
To Miranda's relief, Sofia had been found alive while Amber's worry about her mental health unfortunately came to light.
At first.
Now Sofia was thriving which surprised pretty much everyone.
Especially Amber who believed that she would never recover.
She once believed that her sister's trauma would set her back to where she'd never return to her beamish personality.
Sofia still had her nightmares and struggled with the concept of no longer being in the wagon but it wasn't as frequent as when she first returned home.
Amber was grateful for that, feeling Miranda's fingertips against her eye.
Was she crying? She hadn't noticed.
"I'm amazed by her progress too," Miranda smiled. "She still has ways to go but isn't the scared little girl who feared that we wouldn't love her anymore after her ordeal."
"Daddy fired one of the cooks her first night home after she had a panic attack over carrots," Amber recalled. "He and Chef Andre weren't pleased with him or her being 'inappropriately inconsiderate' of what Sofia went through."
"How do you know that?"
"Daddy's voice echoed through the kitchen walls."
Miranda was surprised by that information, chuckling softly. "Your father has a soft spot when it comes to you kids. Especially Sofia. The only reason why he didn't execute Boswell the next day is due to him wanting her to heal. Her, Hugo, and Desmond."
"You knew?" Amber gasped. "What about Clio? Does Daddy want her to heal too?"
"Yes and yes."
Amber nodded, noticing the gold on Sofia's door turning red before stepping inside.
As Miranda followed behind her, she could hear her sister's whimpers while Sofia had her arms up in an attempt to shield herself.
"No! Please no! Mr. Boswell please! I'm sorry for getting the guard!" Sofia sobbed. She reached out towards Amber who was complexed in what was happening. "Put that hairpin down! It's my only connection to the outside world and without it, I'll break down! Don't crush it! No. No. NO!"
So that's how he shattered you. Taking away your only ability to be free. Oh Sofia. That hairpin must've meant a lot to you, Amber thought morosely, watching her sister see her and Miranda through watery eyes.
Sofia was blabbering, unable to speak but it didn't matter to Miranda who took her in her arms.
When she did speak again, she tried to apologize and expressed herself being mortified by them seeing her relive her uttermost attempt to be tenacious despite her captor's treatment of her.
To anyone else, the hairpin was nothing more than an insignificant piece of trash but to Sofia, it had been her whole world.
It had been her key to escaping the wagon just to get some fresh air, wash her clothes, bathe, and allowed her family's lanterns to be found.
If it hadn't been given to her, the lanterns would still be hanging on the trees to this very day with the ink to each letter being smudged by rain water.
If it hadn't been given to her, Sofia knew she'd still be in the wagon shivering and hungry, crawling on the floor just to eat a plate of scraps so it would satisfy her hunger pain.
Boswell would be in control of her, making Sofia throw up on herself at the thought.
"We don't know how much of a significance that hairpin was to you, but Mother's going to get you cleaned up," Amber smiled.
"It meant everything to me!" Sofia hiccuped. "Just like how your tiaras mean everything to you!"
"How did you feel when Boswell crushed it?"
"Rage but he had me held against the wall so all I could do was bite and scratch him. I just didn't realize how much damage I did until he was arrested."
Despite their current situation, the sisters couldn't help but laugh.
When she first saw Boswell's dried bloody face and tiny bite marks on his arms, Amber was surprised with how vicious her sister had been.
It wasn't like her but she supposed that after being abused and lied to, Sofia had a right to be vicious towards Boswell.
"You don't need to be sorry for what happened earlier," Amber said once their laughter subsided. "It finally gives Mother and I an answer as to what happened during your final night with him."
Sofia blushed, feeling Miranda's hands gently pull down her soiled nightgown. "I happy you appreciate that. It's just embarrassing making a fool out of myself over a hairpin." She raised her arms, her eyes still focused on Amber's sympathetic browns. "I don't want the broken pieces stepped on when you go inside the wagon. If anything, they'll be close to my corner which I'll apologize now for the foul smell. That is if it didn't worsen since I left."
Miranda and Amber gave her a sympathetic glance, knowing exactly what the foul smell was.
They just didn't want to think about it.
With Sofia placed inside the tub, Amber stayed beside her while Miranda went to get her daughter a clean nightgown.
"Just think Sofia! Next month you'll be seeing your two weeks of horrors burned to the ground!" Amber grinned.
"You sure I didn't get switched on by mistake? Setting things ablaze is more of a James thing," Sofia smirked.
"No you haven't and while fire usually disgusts me, this time is different. It's personal to all of us and it's the start to your healing."
"It seems only yesterday that I was only in that wagon to rescue Clover and..."
"Don't think about that now," Amber shushed. "Let's get you cleaned up and back to bed. After all how can you be my pretty sister without any sleep?"
"You're silly!" Sofia giggled. "Me pretty? I was dirty when I was rescued!"
Amber laughed, earning a smile from Sofia in return.
Sofia fought her and Miranda about going back to bed until Amber offered to spend the night with her.
"Are you sure?" Miranda questioned.
Amber nodded, taking off her slippers. "I can't leave my sister at her most vulnerable."
Sofia blinked in surprise. "Amber thank you. I thought you wouldn't after seeing me like I was earlier. I thought it traumatized you."
Amber shook her head, helping her into bed. What she witnessed didn't traumatize her.
It had only alarmed her, breaking her heart.
Sofia's yawning interrupted her thoughts, having Amber notice the gap in her mouth.
If she squinted, she could see a barely noticeable adult tooth slowly growing in.
She'd forgotten about Sofia losing a tooth during her capacity.
"Amber... ...love you," Sofia mumbled sleepily.
"I love you too irmá pequena," Amber smiled.
"What's that?"
"Irmá pequena. It's little sister in Galic. Baileywick suggested that I study a language while we looked for you and I wanted to challenge myself."
"Is there anything else you know?" Sofia wondered.
"No. Only saúdos which means greetings but who knows? I might need it one day," Amber sighed, feeling her eyes droop. "Good night Sofia."
To her dismay, Sofia didn't answer, having fallen asleep.
Hearing her soft breathing gave Amber closure. While the trauma wouldn't fade, Sofia was thriving and she was starting to enjoy it.
She watched Sofia's left hand clutch her amulet; it's color giving off a soft glow.
Amber stared at the soft glow until she fell asleep, putting a hand near the amulet, careful not to touch it.
She never wanted to lose her little sister ever again.