At the same time that we learned about Mac Davis' death on September 29, we're also learning that singer Helen Reddy also passed away on September 29 at age 78.
As a missing scene from Aspenfire Stories and theblindwriter95's Save What Has Been Lost, I thought it would be nice if the family sang a song to Sofia as they took her home after she was rescued. Since the family knows that music makes everything better, and as a way to help her get used to being around him, James starts singing a song that he hopes will help Sofia after what happened. And it helps, since Sofia knows that family makes everything better too. Thanks to theblindwriter95 for helping with the story. Thanks also to Aspenfire Stories for letting me use ideas from their story. Clara is a character of theblindwriter95's, and is used with permission. Pete's Dragon is not mine, and on a more serious note, rest in peace Helen Reddy.
Amber and James knew their sister had been through a lot in almost two weeks with the former Amazing Boswell as James gently stroked Sofia's hair. Sofia refused to speak about the previous night's events, shaking her head if asked about it.
But that didn't stop the nightmare she had or the pain the burns brought her as Amber gently shushed her cries.
"You're safe now. We'll never let anything like that happen to you again, Sof," James promised.
"Really?" Sofia sniffled.
She looked hesitantly at James before turning away. Despite being told by Clara, one of Corinthia's female guards, that not all men or boys were like Boswell, she still felt queasy around the opposite sex.
"Everything's going to be all right, Sofia," Amber said as she hugged her. "You just take as long as you need to get used to being around boys again."
"You know I'd never hurt you, Sof," James agreed as he slowly moved away from her. He wanted to give her space, but he wanted to reassure her too. "Dad, Baileywick, Cedric, and Chef Andre are all good men, so you don't have to worry about them."
"Mister Cee-drick magician like Mister Boswell?" Sofia asked.
"No, Cedric's a sorcerer," Amber explained. "He uses his magic for good, and he helps people. You're his apprentice and you help him."
"No! Magician bad!" Sofia cried.
"Cedric's not bad, Sof," James assured her. "He really misses you and he wants to see you again."
"I wanna see him too, but he get scary mad?" Sofia asked softly.
"No. Of course not," Amber smiled reassuringly, squeezing her hand. "Everyone was worried sick about you."
"Mommy too?" Sofia wondered, fiddling with her amulet.
"Yes, Mommy too," Miranda assured her, coming into the room. "Cleo's mother gave me this cream to put on your burns. I'll put it on you when we get home."
"Clover too?" Sofia asked.
"I don't think Clover needs it, because he doesn't look like he's been burned," James said as he gently picked up Clover and examined him. "It's okay, Clover," he added, letting him sniff one of his hands while scratching his ears with the other one. "You were brilliant when you took care of Sof."
Clover sniffed proudly, and relaxed in James' gentle touch. However, Sofia heard him say, "You got that right. Nobody hurts MY princess!"
She giggled, putting a hand to her lips. Dressed in an old dress Cleo had, she made a refusal to wearing shoes, for she saw them as her feet being trapped.
That frustrated the servants, but Cleo's family was very sympathetic, not want to test her fragile mindset. Especially after finding her scared to death.
Sofia remembered her riding pants were being washed before she had gone to bed, frowning upon realizing that the sleeves of her riding jersey, ridden with holes from Boswell's cigars burning the fabric, would never be fixed.
"Don't worry about your jersey, Sof," James smiled when he saw her expression. "If you want, I'll take it up to Cedric and he can use his magic to fix it. There is good magic, you know, and Cedric does good magic."
"Mister Cee-drick does good magic!" Sofia smiled.
"That's right. Or I could fix it for you, Sofia," Miranda offered.
"Mommy fix it?" Sofia asked. "Please?"
"Of course I will," Miranda smiled.
Sofia smiled at the thought. Miranda and Cedric could fix it together if they wanted to. She wouldn't mind, taking Clover in her arms.
"You have a night-light waiting for you when you go to your room tonight Sofia," Amber smiled.
"No dark?" Sofia smiled.
"No carrots either!" James chuckled. "Dad's made sure of it."
Sofia smiled. After two weeks of eating nothing but carrots or whatever scraps of food she could find, she hoped she'd never see the orange vegetable again any time soon. She was also surprised that she hadn't turned orange from eating so many.
"Don't worry, Sofia, you're not orange, since I've heard about that happening sometimes too," Amber giggled. "But your eyesight will be really good now!"
"That silly! I not orange!" Sofia giggled.
"That's right! You're not orange!" Miranda chuckled. "But we love you."
"We always will," Amber smiled.
"Enough talk. Dad's waiting for us," James smiled. He held out his hand towards Sofia. "Sof, Dad's not going to hurt you."
"I know, but…I broken," Sofia frowned, brushing her feet against the carpet.
"That's only what Boswell wants you to think," Amber murmured as she took Sofia's other hand. "You're one of the strongest people I know, and nothing anyone says could ever break you."
"You never have to think about him again, Sof," James agreed. "He's going to be out of your life forever."
"That's right," Miranda agreed, "Boswell's going to be executed for what he's done. He'll never be able to hurt you, or anyone else, ever again."
"Never?" Sofia smiled.
"Never," Amber repeated. "Boswell's in trouble with all four kingdoms, including ours and Cleo's. You testifying on your behalf, according to Mother and Daddy, will also help."
Sofia blinked, rubbing her eyes upon seeing the sun. "What tes-ti-fy?"
Amber looked worried now. "Well, Sofia, testify means that you have to tell people what happened to you when you were kidnapped..."
"No!" Sofia wailed. "I don't wanna talk to Mr. Boswell!"
"You won't be talking to him," Amber assured her, "You're telling the people about what he did. They only know that you were kidnapped. They don't know what happened while you were gone, so you'll have to tell them what happened."
"Okay," Sofia sniffed, rubbing her nose. "I bring Clover?"
"I don't know if they'll allow pets, but for you, I think they'll make an exception so he can comfort you as you testify," Amber smiled.
Sofia nodded, hiding behind Miranda upon seeing Roland in the carriage.
"It's all right, Sofia," Roland smiled, "I'm not going to hurt you."
Sofia peeked out at Roland. He really did look nice, but she stayed close to Miranda and Amber. "Daddy?" she asked hesitantly.
"That's right, Sofia, Daddy's here," Roland assured her, "I just want to know how you're doing."
"I okay. I wanna go home. Sleep in own bed," Sofia confessed.
"That's where you're going. Nowhere else for a while," Roland promised, his voice gentle in the hopes she could trust him.
He could see Sofia look hesitantly towards him, wondering if he could be trusted. Roland didn't blame her. After two weeks of horror under a magician's hands, he knew she would have trust issues.
As they made their way back to the castle, Sofia thought she heard a soft sound. She looked around and as she felt Miranda stroking her hair, she saw James take her hand. She tried to pull away, but she was drawn to the song he was humming to himself. "Pretty!" she smiled.
"That is a pretty song," Miranda smiled.
"Violet sang that to me and James once," Amber agreed. "Right, Daddy?"
"Oh, yes," Roland smiled. "In fact, I think that's the first lullaby she sang to you two when you were born."
"Why James hum song?" Sofía asked.
"You looked a little tense, so I thought it would make you feel better," James smiled
"Music better," Sofia agreed. She fiddled with her amulet uneasily. "I think."
"That's right, Sof, music makes everything better," James smiled.
"You sing song?" Sofia asked.
"Of course I will," James smiled.
"So will I," Amber agreed.
"We all will," Roland agreed.
Sofia nodded, smiling at her family. After two weeks, she was thrilled to see them again, but felt conflicted on whether or not they loved her after everything she went through with Boswell.
She waited for James to begin, and for the first time since seeing him again, didn't turn away in fear.
James smiled and nodded. "It's okay, Sof, just lean back against Mom and listen to the song."
"Okay," Sofia smiled.
James reached out to her and sang softly, I'll be your candle on the water
My love for you will always burn
I know you're lost and drifting
But the clouds are lifting
Don't give up you have somewhere to turn
Sofia leaned back in Miranda's arms. "Pretty!"
"It is pretty," Miranda smiled.
"It's perfect for you, Sofia," Amber added.
Sofia nodded happily, turning towards her. "It perfect…but..."
"But what?" Roland asked.
"Yesterday night, Mr. Boswell say you not love me no more," Sofia sighed.
"Let me stop you right there," Roland said firmly. He saw Sofia tense up and cringe away from him. He reached out and took her hand as he started comforting her. "Don't worry. I'm not mad at you, but I am furious with Boswell. He was only trying to say things that make you upset, and he wanted to have power over you. We all love you very much. We've never stopped loving you. We sent those lanterns out of love. And I see all four of them in here with us."
"You brought them?" Sofia smiled.
"Of course we did," Roland smiled. "We know how special they are to you, and how much they mean to you. The fact that you kept them all with you means that there are people who love you and would do anything for you."
"You love me! I good girl!" Sofia smiled.
"That's right," Roland smiled. "You're a very good girl, and we love you very much."
"But I broken princess," Sofia frowned.
"Did Boswell say that?" Amber asked.
Sofia turned away from them, feeling the sun on her face. Tears welled up in her eyes from the painful memories Boswell brought her.
"Let me at him," James grumbled, "I know we're going to hang him, but I want to shoot him out of a cannon first!"
"But that would ruin a perfectly good cannon, wouldn't it?" Roland smirked.
Sofia giggled at the idea, but she cuddled closer to Miranda, who took her in her arms.
"You never have to think about Boswell again, Sofia," Miranda murmured. "Everything that monster told you was a lie."
"Lie?" Sofia gasped
"Yes. He lied to you. Every word he said to bring you down was a lie. None of them are true," Amber smiled, stroking Sofia's hair. "You fought him with all the strength you had last night."
"And won," James added. He gave Sofia a playful smirk. "Who knew you had it in you to bite and scratch him?"
"I did good?" Sofia asked.
"You did brilliantly," James smiled as he reached for her hand.
"I brill-ant!" Sofia giggled, clapping her hands. "I good girl!"
"You certainly are," Roland chuckled, gently squeezing her hand and smiling when she didn't shy away from him.
Sofia was slowly getting used to him and James, having Roland take her in his arms when she reached out for him. She felt so lightweight, making Roland furious over how skinny his youngest was.
Sofia stared at him, stroking his face and giggling at the touch. Being preoccupied by her innocence, it took time for Roland to notice the heartbreak in her voice when she asked about Royal Prep.
"Amber and James told everyone at school, and they were upset when they heard about what happened to you," Roland started, "James even told me that Hugo, Desmond, and Cleo told everyone about what they saw, and everyone was determined to find you."
"I talked to Cleo, and she, Hugo, Desmond, James, and I are going to get together to plan a special party for you when you come back to Royal Prep," Amber added.
"Hu-go and Dez-mond nice?" Sofia asked. She was feeling better around Roland and James, but she still wasn't sure about any other man or boy at the moment.
"They're very nice," Amber smiled. "They want to help you too. If you want, we could invite them over so you can thank them in person."
"Okay," Sofia smiled. "But I gone a long time. Royal Prep might be hard."
"Mom and Dad were just talking about that last night," James recalled.
"What they say?" Sofia wondered.
"They're going to keep you home for a while, just so you can recover from what happened, but they're also going to bring in tutors to help you get caught up with all the lessons you missed," Amber explained.
"You teach me too?" Sofia asked.
"Well, we can be your partners for dance lessons," Amber reasoned, "And we'll help you on the weekends."
"Tutors be nice?" Sofia asked.
"Of course they will," James assured her, "Mom and Dad told us that they'd even stay with you when the tutors come, just so you have someone you know with you."
"Yay!" Sofia giggled.
"We're glad you like the idea," Miranda smiled. "That way you can recover in your own pace." She gave Sofia's hand a gentle squeeze. "And yes, you can be in the castle library for as long as you like."
"How you know what I gonna ask?" Sofia beamed.
"One of your favorite places, along with Cedric's workshop, is the castle library," Miranda smiled. "You'd be in there for a long time, looking at all the books, taking a few of them to your room and reading them. Of course, I can't fault you for that, since I do that myself!"
"I like books!" Sofia smiled. She looked up at Miranda. "You read me story, please?"
"I'd love to," Miranda smiled.
"I'll even let you read some stories I wrote," James added. "I didn't write about what happened to you, but you said you liked the stories I did write."
"I did," Sofia remembered. "But..."
"You don't want to go back to them right away?" Amber sympathized. Seeing her nod, she hugged her close. "Sofia, take your time. You're still shaken up by what happened."
"We don't blame you, sweetheart," Roland added. "We're still shaken up after last night."
"Yesterday night? Why?" Sofia asked quietly.
"We heard about what happened during your last night with Boswell," Roland admitted. "We wanted to come get you immediately, but Amber was sick, and we were taking care of her."
"Baileywick could have stayed with me while you went to get Sofia, Daddy," Amber murmured. "Finding Sofia was so much more important than me getting sick."
"We know, but we thought that Sofia would like to see all of us together when we came to take her home," Roland smiled.
"She did," James smiled. "Sof was so excited to see us that she had to be held back!"
"In her defense, she hadn't seen us in so long. How could Sofia not be excited?" Miranda smiled.
"But it's Boswell's fault she's scared of the dark," Amber grumbled. "I can just hear Hildegard making fun of her now."
"You not friends with Hil-de-gard no more?" Sofia asked. "I sorry, Amber."
"Sofia, that's not your fault," Amber assured her. "I don't want to be friends with people who are going to be mean to you or make light of what happened to you."
"Really?" Sofia smiled.
"Yes. Hildegard wouldn't stop complaining while you were gone," Amber grumbled. "But I'll deal with her when you come back to Royal Prep, as the last thing I want is you upset over something that wasn't your fault."
"Okay, but let's not think about Hildegard right now," James advised, "Sof's back with us where she belongs, and I think we should do something special for her."
"Yes," Roland agreed, "We should spend the day together with her."
"That's a wonderful idea, Rollie," Miranda smiled.
"Just like when James and I had nightmares and you helped us feel better," Amber agreed, "You said we'd make the schedule for the day, and we'd spend the day together."
"And whatever Sof chooses to do, we'll do," James smiled.
"What I do?" Sofia asked.
"Well we can help you get reacquainted with the castle," Amber suggested. "Then you can take a nap and with how you reacted to seeing a butterfly this morning, we'll go visit the butterfly garden."
"Butterflies!" Sofia smiled.
"That's right," Miranda smiled. "We'll take you around the castle and show you all your favorite spots again. And don't worry," she added, seeing Sofia look nervous. "We'll all stay with you."
"Come with me to see Mister Cee-drick?" Sofia asked.
"Of course we will," Roland smiled. "Cedric really wants to see you again."
"Mister Cee-drick goes good magic!" Sofia smiled.
"Yes he does. Cedric really tried to find you with a 'locate spell', but Boswell kept moving the wagon," James recalled, stroking her hair. "He got so frustrated that he quit yesterday."
"But I found," Sofia smiled. "He be happy."
"Yes he will," Amber agreed. "But we don't know how you'll feel around his magic after everything Boswell put you through."
"Mister Cee-drick does good magic?" Sofia pleaded.
"If you want him to, you can ask him if he can show you a few simple tricks," Roland agreed.
"Let's ask him to start with the sparkle spell," James smiled. "He's done that one ever since Amber and I were little, and we've always loved it!"
Amber smiled. "That's right. He even used it once or twice to calm us down while we were looking for you."
Roland and Miranda smiled. They'd seen Cedric shoot sparkles in Amber and James' rooms before they went to bed, and Roland had told Miranda that the sparkles had a wonderful calming effect, so they were able to rest easier.
"Sparkle spell?" Sofia pleaded.
"When we get back to the castle, sweetheart," Miranda grinned.
"Hopefully we can get slippers on you so your feet aren't cold," Amber smirked. She laughed, seeing Sofia pout. "Don't start with that. You're not Princess Rapunzel."
"And don't worry, you can take your slippers off once we get in the castle," Roland smiled. "I know, you feel like your feet would be trapped, but we want you to be warm and comfortable while you're getting used to being in the castle again."
"You can take them off for a while when we go around the castle," Miranda agreed. "Just let us know when you want to do that, and we'll wait until you put them back on before we continue."
Sofia thought about that for a while. "Okay! My feet be warm but they're not prisoners!"
"Glad you're starting to understand that, Sofia," Amber smiled, taking her hand. "I'm not saying that you don't know any better, but Boswell traumatized you to where you're not yourself right now."
"That bad thing?" Sofia frowned. "I bad girl?"
"No, you're a very good girl," Miranda smiled as she pulled her into a hug, "The only person who's bad is Boswell for everything he's put you through. You didn't ask him to traumatize you, did you? No, you didn't. You didn't ask him to do anything to you."
"I not ask him to take Clover?" Sofia asked.
"That's right," James agreed as he scratched Clover's ears. "Boswell took him, and you were trying to get your bunny friend back."
"But I fail," Sofia recalled. "Mr. Boswell take me."
"Only because he was angry that you were standing up for yourself and Clover." Amber stroked Sofia's hair, lifting her chin to face her. "Boswell's going to have a hard time lying his way out of what he did with you, Hugo, Desmond, and Clio testifying."
"You stay with me when I tes-ti-fy?" Sofia asked.
"We'll all be right there with you," Amber promised. "You've got so many people who are going to stand beside you through all of this. We're all here for you."
"You here for me! You love me! I good girl!" Sofia cheered.
"Why wouldn't we?" James smiled. He saw tears in her eyes, wiping them away. "Sof?"
"I sorry. It just Mr. Boswell say mean things to me yesterday night," Sofia hiccupped.
"How mean?" Miranda asked gently, rubbing her back.
"Scary mean," Sofia sniffled. "He burn me and say bad things."
"I say we skip the trial and execute him right now!" Amber whispered.
"Now, Amber, as tempting an idea as that is, you know that's not how it works," Roland smirked.
"But Sofia's scared enough without us still talking about this," Amber sighed.
"Amber, sweetheart, Sofia's not the only one he affected. Your friends have been affected by him too," Miranda reminded her, pulling her close.
"Enough sad feelings. We're almost to the castle," Roland smiled, stroking Sofia's hair.
"James finish pretty song?" Sofia smiled.
"No problem," James smiled.
He took her hand and continued, I'll be your candle on the water
'Till ev'ry wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let this candle guide you
Soon you'll see a golden stream of light
Seeing Amber smile as she listened to him, he motioned her to join him.
Amber smiled and joined in, A cold and friendless tide has found you
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down
I'll paint a ray of hope around you
Circling in the air
Lighted by a prayer
"And Sofia, how would you like us all together for your first night back in the castle?" Amber suggested.
"A family camp-out is a wonderful idea," Roland smiled.
"Clover come too?" Sofia asked.
"Of course," Miranda smiled, reaching out and scratching Clover behind the ears. "He's part of the family too!"
Sofia giggled as Clover hopped into her lap, nuzzling against her while Amber and James smiled at the interaction.
It was what they needed to witness after everything their sister had gone through.
"If Clover's part of the family now, he'll probably need his own chair to sit in when we have meals," James smirked
"Works for me!" Clover grinned.
"No, I think we can feed him in Sofia's room," Roland smirked, scratching Clover behind the ears. "After all, he deserves a nice long rest too, after all his help taking care of her."
"Clover get feast?" Sofia giggled.
"Why not? It's not every day that he gets rewarded for keeping you safe," Amber smiled. "Before you were kidnapped, I used to complain about him, but now I see Clover's more than just a pet to you, he's your best friend."
"That's right," Clover grinned up at Sofia. "I told you I'd stay by your side no matter what, Sof."
Sofia smiled. "Thank you, Clover!"
"You're welcome, kid," Clover smiled.
The family only heard sniffs, but smiled as Sofia giggled in response. They wanted nothing more than her happiness.
At the same time, James was finishing the song, I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on you'll make it
Here's my hand so take it
Look for me reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go...
"Thank you for the pretty song," Sofia smiled.
"Any time, Sof," James smiled. "Just let me know if you want me to sing anything for you."
As Miranda helped her out of the carriage, Sofia clung close to her upon seeing the castle. She wasn't ready to face any of the male staff, even if Baileywick and Cedric were nice.
"It's all right, Sofia, we'll take it slowly around the staff unless you say otherwise," Miranda assured her. "They've agreed to give you space, but they know to take it easy around you for now."
"Okay," Sofia agreed. She looked up at her. "Stay with me if they come to me?"
"Of course," Miranda smiled.
"We don't want you too overwhelmed, Sof," James smiled.
"Wouldn't be good for your first night back," Amber added.
"James sing pretty song again?" Sofia pleaded.
"Yes I will, and it'll be a good lullaby for you when we get you in your own bed," James smiled.
"Music makes it all better!" Sofia smiled.
"It certainly does, Sofia," Miranda smiled, "Music, and family, makes everything better."
