*Just a friendly disclaimer. I don't own any rights to Sofia the First. Sofia the First and the characters herein is/are the property of Disney and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 3

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

"I believe the Princess asked you to let her go..." It was a familiar voice; a wave of relief washed over her. She looked down to see Cedric's wand prodding into Hugo's neck. "NOW!" Cedric growled pushing his wand into the Prince's neck harder. Hugo slowly let go of Sofia's wrists and unwound himself from her. She let her arms fall to her chest and rubbed her wrists, not able to take her eyes off of Cedric. "Now step away from her, Prince." Hissed the sorcerer.

Hugo did as he was told; Cedric circled the prince to place himself between Sofia and her assaulter, his wand leveled at Hugo's chest. Hugo's eyes turned wide with rage.

"How dare you Sorcerer!" He seethed at Cedric. "Do you know who I am? How dare you point that thing at me!" He shouted taking a step towards the sorcerer.

Sofia grasped the back of Cedric's robes and nuzzled her head into his back. "Oh Cedric!" She cried.

"One step closer and I'll turn you into the worm you really are, Prince." Cedric snarled, flicking his wand for emphasis.

The moment was so intense they didn't notice the crowd of Royals approaching them.

Hugo glared at Cedric. "You wouldn't dare Sorcerer."

"Here, here! What's your sorcerer doing Roland? Drop your wand Sorcerer!" King Garrick yelled as the crowd neared.

"Cedric! What is going on? What are you doing? Lower your wand this instant." Roland demanded.

Sofia glanced up at the sound of her father's voice. Cedric, who normally melted into a nervous puddle at the sight of the king, held his ground.

"I will not." He answered unwaveringly, moving his free arm back as if to protect Sofia.

"What insolence!" Garrick shouted. "Roland do something!"

Roland pursed his lips "Guards!"

"I want this man hanged Father!" Hugo spat.

"Cedric! Lower your-"

"No, your Majesty." Cedric interjected cutting Roland off.

The guards were approaching them. Garrick made his way over towards his son. "Enchancia will pay for this Roland." He growled as he stalked by King Roland and Queen Miranda. "Get the sorcerer men!"

"NO! Stop!" Sofia screamed wrapping her arms around Cedric's waist.

"...So...Sofia?" Miranda muttered. No one had seen her, her dress had blended in with the sorcerers robes in the darkness. Sofia raised her head up from Cedric's back. "Please stop, Cedric didn't do anything wrong!" She cried.

"Sofia, what's going on, get away from him!" Roland demanded.

"He's gone and put her under a spell don't listen to her!" Hugo shouted.

"No! Cedric was protecting me. Dad, please listen!" She started sobbing into Cedric's robes again. Cedric lowered his wand slightly and placed his other hand on her fingers as they wrapped around his waist.

"Don't listen to her!" Hugo yelled again.

"Be quiet you! Look what you've done." Cedric snarled at the Prince, nodding down to Sofia.

"Sofia... Honey, what's going on..." Miranda pleaded. Sofia just shook her head and sobbed.

"That Prince over there forced himself on her, that's what!" Cedric yelled shaking his wand at Hugo.

"How dare y-"

"Be quiet Hugo!" Miranda yelled; all the men stood there shocked at the Queen's outburst. She took a few timid steps towards Cedric. "Cedric, please..."

"It's just as I said. HE was ATTACKING her."

"Oh, please. Roland stop this senseless babble. Get your wizard under control." Garrick retorted.

"Cedric, please lower your wand... for Sofia... She needs me." Queen Miranda implored the wizard, tears welling up in her eyes. Cedric held the Queen's gaze for a moment longer, and sighed.

"Yes, your right your Majesty." He uttered lowering his wand trying to turn to Sofia.

"Seize him!" Garrick yelled.

"Yield! I am your king and you listen to me!" Roland declared stepping in front of the guards.

"Sofia..." Miranda whispered nearing them.

"Mom..." Sofia sobbed. Miranda looked up to Cedric. He tried to ease himself out of Sofia's grasp, but she only held on tighter.

"Princess... It's okay now... you can let go..." He whispered to her. Sofia looked up at him and slowly released him from her grasp.

"Sofia honey what happened?" Miranda asked hugging her daughter. Roland approached and grabbed Cedric by the arm. Sofia had calmed down, she took in a deep breath.

"I..."

"Sofia is what Cedric said true?" Roland pressed.

"I was... I was getting some fresh air when... when Hugo came up... He pinned me against the tree..." Tears streamed down her face. "I tried to get him to let me go... he touched me, kissed me... If it wasn't for Cedric...I..." She shook her head and wiped the tears from her face. Roland's face grew hard, he let go of Cedric and turned to Hugo.

"Get him out of my Kingdom." He demanded, stalking over to King Garrick. "This will be discussed later... In the meantime, get him out of my sight."

"What, you're going to take the word of a lowly sorcerer over me?" Hugo yelled stepping forward. Garrick placed his arm in front of his son.

"Roland, surely you jest..."

"I'm perfectly serious."

"You can't think my son would - "

"Sofia has never lied to me before! Now remove him from my sight or I'll have my guards do it for you."

Garrick huffed and took Hugo by the arm "Go to the carriage while I fetch your brother."

"But Father -"

"Now!" Garrick yelled at his son. Hugo glared over at Cedric one last time and stalked towards the courtyard. Garrick stalked off in the other direction to find Axel. Roland turned to his family.

"Everyone disperse, back to the party." He ordered, walking the short distance to his wife and daughter.

"I'm okay Mom. Really... I just... I'm okay thanks to Cedric..." Sofia told her mother, looking over to the sorcerer.

"Yes, Cedric, thank you for protecting her." Miranda told him.

"Yes, you have our thanks... I understand why you wouldn't stand down... It shows a great deal how you've changed over the years Cedric. You're a good man." Roland stated patting Cedric on the shoulder. Cedric just nodded never taking his eyes off Sofia.

"I'm okay guys, you should return to the party before everyone wonders what's going on." Sofia told her parents.

"But Sofia..."

"It's okay Dad. I've calmed down, I'm fine." She said smiling at him. "I'm not hurt, no need to ruin everyone else's night... we can talk more about this tomorrow..."

"She's right Rolly... If Sofia says she's okay, I trust her."

He pursed his lips and sighed. "Alright... aren't you coming as well Sofia?"

"...No, I think I'll stay out here with Cedric for a bit, before going to bed." Roland glared a hole into Cedric, still suspicious of him, in light of the nights events.

"Come on Rolly. She's old enough to make her own decisions." The King nodded, dropping his gaze, and escorted his wife back to the ballroom; leaving Sofia and Cedric alone in the moonlight.