A/N: So here's another ridiculous chapter. It's really bad Im sorry. I'm Getting frustrated with this. I really do want to finish, but I feel awkward. Maybe I need a break? I probably will find a way to get it complete and even if I do start a break I have Started Chapter 9 the other day and will hopefully get it up soon too. Enjoy, I guess.

The day would prove to be rather long, and although it wasn't entirely unpleasant at first before long it became very irritating and very draining.

Sofia had decided after Amber's departure and before breakfast that morning, that she should probably try to act more like her usual self. After all, if Amber, who wasn't always the most perceptive at noticing when someone was feeling upset, had noticed her malaise in the midst of all her own blissful planning, then surely everyone else had noticed by now as well. So, she resolved to be her usual bubbly, smiling self. Even if her heart was heavy and her chest was tight. She had spent nearly ten years learning to play this part and she knew she could play it well. She had to.

She seemed to pull it off well at breakfast, she was the first to arrive and as Baileywick pulled out her chair for her,he looked her over and smiled saying: "Princess Sofia, may I say you're looking quite lovely today!" And you seem to be in much better spirits!"
"Oh, yes. I'm feeling much better Baileywick. Thank you." she replied with a smile. She really didn't like lying, but this wasn't one of those things she could speak freely about. She really hope this wasn't something her Amulet deemed worthy to curse her over. As the rest of the family entered they all seemed pleased that the youngest Princess appeared to have regained back some of her usual ebullience. Nearly everyone made comment on it and Amber shot her a knowing look as if to say: "I told you you'd been acting moody."

"That's very lovely, Sofia." said her mother gesturing to the circlet she wore about her brown curls. "Did you make it yourself?" The girl nodded. It consisted of white and lavender rosebuds and strings of pearls and it was one of her favorite possessions. She, in fact, favored it to any of her Tiaras. And while she didn't have nearly as many as Amber, she did own quite a few, but this simple wreath was worth more to her than any jeweled bauble in the land and of course it had to do with a certain resident Sorcerer.

It had been a gift for her twentieth Birthday. Well, the flowers had been. She had convinced the reluctant Sorcerer to come to the gardens with her saying that she would consider it her Birthday gift. He grudgingly agreed and they had been walking the grounds when they came to the rose bushes. She had admired some particularly lovely lavender rose blossoms , but had lamented that as beautiful as they were, she daren't pick them because they would die and she didn't want to kill them. Cedric, for his part seemed disinterested and hadn't said anything, and they'd continued on their walk.

The event had been relatively forgotten by her, till later that day when in the hours before her party she had been surprised by a rap on her chamber door and had answered it to see the royal Sorcerer standing there. He had unceremoniously handed her a bouquet of roses, six lavender and six white, and explained that he had enchanted them so they would stay in that preserved state, forever really, and now she could enjoy the sight of them without being upset that they would die. They had not been given with any declarations of affection. In fact, he had been rather flippant in his explanation of what the enchatment did and almost seemed annoyed at himself for the effort, but she was touched by the gesture and had of course thrown her arms around him thanking him profusely. He'd been dismissive, and stiffened at her touch but had awkwardly returned her embrace, saying: "It's nothing really."
She'd kept half in a vase on her vanity to admire and the other six she had entwined with pearls and made into the circlet so she that she could show everyone her beautiful gift whenever she wished and have it close by to her.
"I suppose it is lovely, in a quaint way." said Amber, breaking her reverie "But I'm picking out your tiara for the ball."
"Of course, Amber." she said, not wanting to argue and reveal the significance of the flowers. Amber's comment, however, had caused a stir of unhappiness in her that she tried desperately to suppress.

After breakfast she was obliged to accompany Amber, who was now joined by Baileywick and his ever present clipboard, to see Chef Andre about what the menu for the ball would consist of. After listening to what had been planned she agreed with everything Amber thought would be appropriate, not really being invested in the whole situation, although she did suggest they have a bit of variety. None of her intereset was really piqued until the following question was thrown at her: "What kind of cake do you think we should have, Sofia?" asked Amber. The brunette smiled sadly and replied, "Carrot." thinking of her dearly departed Clover. The response elicited an eyebrow raise out of her sister and a disapproving "Sofia, please. This is serious." Sofia felt the lump in her chest rising into her throat, but swallowed and responded. "Sorry, Amber it was just a little joke. Why not vanilla? It's simple and classic." Amber seemed more satisfied with this response and before their time there was ended a thirty layer vanilla cake with white and gold frosting (to match her dress, naturally) had been planned. Amber had actually wanted fifty layers, but Sofia had talked her down somewhat.

By the time Princess Clio and Princess Hildegard arrived for tea, Sofia felt spent,but forced the mask of excitement back on her face. She did enjoy seeing the two girls, although she never grew as close with them as she would have liked, they were always more Amber's friends, she did enjoy catching up. Hildegard had married Prince Zandar the preceding year and married life seemed to suit her. She almost seemed happier and comfortable in her own skin and she most definitely no longer felt the need to try to impress everyone as she had when she was younger.
Princess Clio was unmarried but was being courted by Prince Desmond. She had once been very enamoured with Prince Hugo and when he began courting Amber, Sofia had been worried that it would put a strain on the two girls friendship. Admittedly, things had been awkward at first, but the two had eventually made up and Clio was seemingly happy with Prince Desmond who seemed to care for her greatly, he often escorted her to the theatre, a favorite past time of The Corinthian Princess, and was very successful in bringing out her softer and kinder side. Something that suited her greatly and she was a very gracious young woman, after all, here she was agreeing to be a Bridesmaid for Amber's eventual wedding to the young man she'd once desired.

Sofia sat with the three girls listening to them gush about their respective Princes and felt a pang somewhere between discomfort and what might have been envy.. She was content to listen and smile until Clio innocently asked: "Is there anyone special in your life, Sofia?" Oh no. Well, obviously she couldn't answer truthfully about that. So she played dumb. "All my friends and family are special." she said with a sweet smile. The three Princesses looked at her skeptically.
"Sofia, that's not what she meant and you know it." said Hildegard with a bit of a laugh.

"Oh, you mean like a suitor? Oh, no there's really no one. I'm far too focused on my Sorcery lessons to think about that right now." she said hoping that answer would suffice. Of course it didn't.
"What about the man of your dreams, Sofia?" Amber asked smirking slightly.
"What? There's no…" Oh dear, she remembered that she had told Amber about her first dream, well not the particulars, but clearly the blonde had remembered that it had been about a man.
"That… that was just a dream, Amber." she hoped the heat she felt in her chest wasn't rising to her face.

"Who was it about?" asked Hildegard.
She then tried to explain it really wasn't about anyone, but that didn't satisfy her friends and she was forced to describe the whole dream as vaguely as she could to her captivated audience.
"Maybe it's a premonition dream!" exclaimed Clio. "Maybe you'll meet him soon! Perhaps, at Amber's ball?"
Amber hadn't looked very convinced during her story and Sofia was certain that her sister may have figured out that she was in love with someone, but she thankfully hadn't said anything more.
"Oh, that's true! Daddy has invited several other royals and dignitaries! I'm sure you'll see him there." Sofia felt her stomach churn and her chest tighten. "I have no doubt." was the brunette's cryptic answer. She was glad when the conversation shifted from her "Love life" to the type of dress Amber would wear.

By the time the fitting for her gown rolled around it was nearly Three O'clock and Sofia knew she wasn't going to make it to her lessons on time. If she'd had the choice she would have insisted on wearing one of her older gowns, but clearly Madame Collette had made the time for her and it she daren't snub the woman.
As she stood there in her petticoats and chemise and was poked and prodded, Sofia wished she could be anywhere else. Preferably Cedric's workshop. "I see you 'ave grown a bit plump, Princess." the dressmaker announced. "No matter, I 'ave the perfect cut of gown for you. The remark though it hadn't been said with any sort of malice,stung the girl. It was one of her few insecurities, and she generally tried to ignore it, but it only added to the hurt she was feeling insids. She listened while The royal dressmaker explained how the dress would be styled, it sounded attractive enough. "Now, what color would you like?"the woman asked. "Black." Sofia said without thinking. Surprising herself with her answer.
"Black?!" echoed Amber and Madame Collette in horrified unison.
"Well, black and white. "

"That's not exactly the best color for a wedding, Sofia!" cried Amber.
"But, it's not your wedding, Amber. Besides, just think how lovely the contrast would be to your white and gold. It's simple and all eyes would instantly go to you instead. And I really don't want to be noticed." she said glancing down at her ample form.
The dressmaker seemed struck with inspiration, "Yes! Yes! That is c'est magnifique!" I 'ave the perfect material in mind!" the woman was off promising to return in a moment.

Sofia looked at the clock. It was a quarter to Four.

"Amber, I'm going to be late!" Sofia cried anxiously.

"Well, you can't very well leave now. I'll send Baileywick to tell Cedric you're currently unavailable. It'll give him time to work on the decorations for my party anyway. Do you know what he has planned?"
"Oh, well you know, it'll rain hearts and rose petals I think. I really don't know much beyond that. I've just been helping him gather ingredients for those potions. Have you asked for anything special?"
"No. I can't really think of anything." The blonde admitted somewhat embarrassed

"What would you do?" The inquiry was suprising to Sofia, but she was getting annoyed and really didn't want to further this conversation.

"I'd have birds." she said flatly.
"Birds?"
"Yes. I'd have them fly about the room. Blackbirds and doves landing in the shape of a heart." she really tried to think of the most ridiculous thing she could, and clearly Amber wouldn't go for something like that.
"Sofia, that's just silly… How many?"
Sofia shot Amber a strange look. "Four and twenty." She deadpanned. Desperately glancing at the clock again. "Amber, would you please fetch Baileywick and ask him to tell Cedric that I'll be late. I really don't want to have to read ten chapters on the healing properties of Yarrow!"
"What? Oh, yes of course, Sofia!" Amber walked off deep in thought.
"Four and twenty? No, that's not nearly enough…" Sofia thought she heard her sister mutter to herself.
Madame Collette had returned with armfuls of silk and lace. Sofia braced herself to be poked and prodded once again.
She was wrong, this was unpleasant. Would the day never cease?