A/N: Here's a short little chapter. I'm sorry, I know it's not much, but I'm gradually getting to the good stuff. And this was one has some nice hints of what's to come.

Hope you Enjoy!

"V, For This Very Moment"

She wandered the field, it was silent and empty. It was cold. She felt a sense of foreboding in the air.
What could be wrong? Where could her Beloved be? She had wandered for what seemed like an eternity, calling his name, but receiving no answer. Surely, he would not have deserted her? She saw a blackbird perched in the branches of the tree, some might say it was a portent of doom. She felt unsettled as it began to sing. It was an eerie sound, but the words the bird trilled became clear to her:
"Is thy lover false? Is thy lover true? Doubt no more, for this very moment, all will be revealed to you."
She came closer to the tree and saw two figures entwined, one cradled the other. She couldn't make out who they were, she thought she recognized them, but she couldn't see their faces. Why couldn't see their faces?! She felt so detached from herself, she felt desperation in the air, she thought she could hear what sounded like weeping and she saw something black as it shone against something stark white and then she felt herself falling away into nothing.

Sofia awoke with a gasp. That had been very frightening. Not quite a nightmare, but it left her with a feeling of dread. In the last few days following her late night visit with Cedric, she had taken to making a brew of Mugwort and lavender to help increase the lucidness of her dreams. The effect wasn't exactly what she had expected. She had spent each dream wandering in the long grass of the field, searching for him, calling the Sorcerer's name but he was nowhere to be found, no matter how much she willed him to be. There was nothing at all, although, in the distance she sometimes thought she spied a flock of wild birds. When she awoke she was filled with an aching emptiness she couldn't explain. She didn't like it, but that didn't stop her from still trying to find him in her dreams each night.

In her waking hours things weren't exactly much better. She tried her best to help Amber in the little details for the rapidly approaching ball, but found her mind and her heart weren't exactly into it. She often claimed that she was feeling ill or that she needed to study for her lessons, Amber would huff and pout, but that was about it. Sofia felt incredibly guilty about neglecting her sister, but she couldn't help it. It wasn't easy to help someone so in love plan their own happiness when your own heart felt that it was fit to burst with the strange combination of longingness and sorrow.

Her lessons with Cedric had proceeded as normal, but to her displeasure she found him to be distant, and this was very confusing to her after that night in the tower where he had kissed her head and treated her so affectionately. Perhaps, he didn't even realize was treating her a bit coldly, but he was. Even there normal dynamic and banter seemed to be tossed aside in favor of something stiff and awkward. Had she done something wrong? It really should be no surprise she longed for the solace of her dreams. Well, now the dream had changed, but not how she wanted. What could that have meant? She was afraid to find out.

She dressed in her Apprentices robes as she had done the last few days and sat gazing out her window when Amber came flouncing into her room

"Sofia! Oh, there you are!"
"Hi, Amber."
She looked at Sofia and wrinkled her nose "Are you wearing your robes again? Honestly, Sofia you're a Princess, show some self respect!"
Sofia smiled wanly at the golden hair girl.
"I know Amber, I'm sorry. It just makes things easier."
Amber rolled her eyes."Well, luckily for you, your sister knows when to stage an intervention!"
She made her way into Sofia's closet and pulled out a dress of heavy black brocade sprinkled with a pattern of leaves and roses and some petticoats and threw them at the darker haired girls feet.
"Now, I'm going to call Violet and have her help you get dressed. And for goodness sakes, Sofia, put on a Tiara! You haven't worn one in ages!"
"Amber, I really don't feel up to-"
"I don't care, Sofia! You promised to help me with all of this and the last week, you've barely been around!"
"I know and I'm sorry."
Amber sighed. "I'll forgive you, but you need to help me today. After Breakfast I need to talk with Chef Andre about the cake and then Hildegard and Clio are coming for a Tea and Luncheon and then Madame Colette is going to start fitting you for your gown for the ball."
"Amber, that all sounds… lovely, but I have my lessons with Mr. Cedric at 4 O'Clock and he's always so cross when I'm late."
"This is non-negotiable, Sofia! But, If you must go to your silly lessons and end up running late, I'll send Baileywick to tell Cedric and you can blame it on me, alright? Have we got a deal?"
She was slightly offended at the "Silly lessons" remark, but decided to ignore it.
"Alright Amber, It's a Deal."
Amber smiled triumphantly.

"Good! Oh Sofia, today's going to be so exciting!" She embraced her sister and then spun her around! The golden girls exuberance was contagious and Sofia couldn't help but smile herself.

"There!" cried Amber "That's the smile I know! Much better! You've been so mopey lately and I don't know why. I blame Cedric."
Sofia felt her heart speed up "What?! Why would you say that?!" she said panicked, but then quickly laughed lest Amber catch on.

"Well, you're around him so much anymore and it's like his moodiness is rubbing off on you. Are you sure he hasn't cursed you or something?"
Sofia laughed again. "Don't be silly, Amber, he's my friend, he wouldn't do that."
"Well, maybe not on purpose, but this is Cedric after all.

Sofia frowned. She didn't like to hear people insult him,even if they weren't being malicious.

She simply replied "Mr. Cedric is a great Sorcerer! He knows what he's doing."
"If you say so, Sofia. I'll see you at Breakfast!" And as Amber exited, Violet entered and Sofia resigned herself to the days activities.

Maybe he was rubbing off on her. She smiled slightly, well, misery loves company and she decided that no matter how late things went she would go to see him. After all, if he was the cause of her misery, the least he could do was keep her company.