A/N: So here's the latest chapter. I'm happy with some of it. I hope you all like it.
There may be a hiatus after this. I leave in 2 weeks for a 5 week holiday, so I'm not 100% sure I'll have a computer to write it on, but I suppose I have a notebook to write thoughts down in and possible inspiration will come my way in September, so… keep a look out for updates. Thanks again for the support and for reading and reviewing. 3

Sofia stopped sweeping and stared at Cedric. That was strange.

"The matter?" she echoed.

"Yes! You're quiet. Too quiet for you!" Sofia was tempted to laugh, until she saw the expression on the Sorcerer's face was serious.
"I think the real question should be: is there something the matter with you, Mr. Cedric? Aren't you always complaining I'm not quiet enough?! I thought you'd enjoy the silence."
"Ohhh, go ahead and mock me, Sofia! You have your tells, and usually you'd be humming some happy little tune as you swept, but no, you're withdrawn and as quiet as a church mouse. That means you're upset, so just tell me why and get it out of the way, because I really can't handle you crying again! I had to wait hours for my good robe to dry yesterday after you made it your personal handkerchief!"

She blinked and swallowed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cedric, I-" now was her chance. "just ask him!" Some inner voice shouted.
"I have a headache." Oh mushrooms, why was she so afraid?! Cedric's expression softened and he sighed.
"Why didn't you just tell me that to begin with?" he asked a little more gently. "I can fix that in an instant. You should know, you've helped me brew that particular potion." She shrugged in response.

"Alright, what's the pain like and how long have you had it?"
"It's just… sort of a sharp pain on the side of my head. I've had it since I woke up.

"Didn't you sleep well?"
"Eventually. Did you?"

"I never sleep well." he muttered. "But, I'm not the one we're discussing! Did you drink that Sleeping draught I gave you?" The question was pointed as was the look he gave her.
They stared into each other eyes for several moments.
"Yes." she replied. It wasn't a lie, she had. Just not right away, but he hadn't asked that.
He looked away from her. "Right. Well, you may have taken too much. That can be a side effect. Here, drink this, it'll help with the headache."
"Thank you." she swallowed the bitter liquid and grimaced.
"Alright, is that it then?"

"Yes…. No."
"What's the matter?"
"Are you angry with me?!" the words fell out of her mouth before she could think of something else to say. An echo of her dream. She looked at Cedric his eyes were wide and his mouth slightly agape.. he turned away before he spoke again.

"Sh-should I be?" maybe he didn't remember after all, but she wasn't sure.. "I mean, you haven't suggested another outlandish party trick to Princess Amber have you? Because to be completely honest, I don't know if I've completely forgiven you for that nonsense with the doves." his normal sarcastic tone had returned. She might as well, play along.
"I told you I would take care of it. And If it's that much of a burden, then don't worry, I'll make sure you don't have to perform the next time we have an engagement party."
"N-next time? Are you planning on getting engaged after all?" his voice had gone slightly high pitched. Did that bother him? Could he possibly be jealous? She smirked.
"No, but I don't have to. I think Dad is already making the plans for me."

"Typical Roland." he muttered.
"What was that, Mr. Cedric?"
"Nothing, Princess. I'm surprised, little romantic that you are, you aren't just dying to meet the handsome suitors your father has picked out for you!" he sounded bitter.

She had a wicked thought to act as though she did, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Mr. Cedric, I've told you before, I don't have any interest in any of that. I don't want to be courted. At least not by anyone my father has in mind." she murmured.
Cedric smirked. "You're a clever girl, Sofia. Love and romance and all that nonsense is simply a distraction. The sooner you learn that, the better."
Sofia's heart sank.

"Surely, you don't mean that Mr. Cedric?"
"I most certainly do!"
"Haven't you ever felt that "nonsense" for someone?"

"No."

"Mr. Cedric…"
He sighed and ran a gloved hand through his hair "Maybe once many years ago, but I was young and foolish then."
"What about now?" she asked quietly.
Cedric looked at her intently for a moment or two, but she couldn't read the emotion his eyes held.
"I'd feel old and foolish now." he retorted dryly.

"Who was it?"
"Who was what?"
"The person you felt those things for when you were 'young and foolish'?"
Cedric paused and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"She was… just a girl, with large eyes and flaxen hair. But that was long ago and she's gone now." he said in a far away voice.

"What was her name?" Cedric abruptly turned away from her.
"Why does it matter?! As I said it was long ago. I don't see how any of this is your business anyway!" he snapped.

"Now you've done it." squawked Wormwood from his perch.

She looked at the bird curiously.

"He doesn't like talking about that. It's best if you change the subject." was the ravens annoyed reply. She would have pressed for more, but couldn't with the Sorcerer in the room.

So, she had hit a nerve. Something unpleasant burned within her as well. Jealousy, maybe? Obviously, this lost love of his didn't pose a threat any longer, but the fact that he had once loved another, bothered her. It was an irrational feeling, but she couldn't help it. He stood near his book case, his back to her and his shoulders slumped. Seeing how dejected he was, she tried to forget her own feelings and went to comfort him.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cedric." she said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I didn't mean to upset you." he surprised her by reaching up and placing his gloved hand over hers and squeezing it lightly.
"Don't worry about it, Princess." There was silence between them, but he continued to hold her hand. Sofia took a deep breath and summoned her courage.
"Mr. Cedric… I think we need to talk."

"About what?"

"Dreams." Cedric quickly retracted his hand and walked back to his work table.
"What about them?!" he said brusquely.

Sofia sighed, she should have known that would be the response, she quickly tried to cover her tracks.
"Well, not so much dreams, themselves, but I've been reading that book you loaned me and I wanted to ask about Astral Projection."
"Why?" he demanded, quirking a brow.
"Because it's interesting to me. I've been reading the section on it, but I wondered if you've ever attempted it and succeeded?" The change in subject seemed to relax the sorcerer.
"Yes, I've astral traveled. It's... not to my tastes. Much easier to just use a transport spell and get all of me where I need to go at once. Some prefer it, but generally as a way to travel the astral plane. I never ventured there, I stayed on the material one. The astral plane is for the more enlightened I suppose "

"Do you think I could learn to do it?" Cedric studied her and smirked.
"You learn everything rather quickly, so I have no doubt, but I don't think it's the best idea."
"Why?"
"It can be… dangerous."
"Dangerous how? Can you get lost?"

"Dangerous in the sense that something could happen to your corporeal form if you're away from it for too long. As for getting lost, it's not supposed to happen. There is a silver cord that is connects your astral form to your physical one. It will lead you back. They say we astral project in our dreams every night. It's the same concept." he pursed his lips for a moment and furrowed his brow in thought.

"So, as long as you stay tethered to that silver cord, you'll be fine. The only way one could get lost is by some external force."

"Could you show me how to do it?" she asked eagerly

"I don't think so."
"Please, Mr. Cedric?

"Not now. Sofia. Perhaps, another time. Although, I still don't think it's a good idea."

"Well, I want to try it." he looked uneasy for a moment, but then he shrugged.

"Do as you wish, Princess." But don't say I didn't warn you."

"You never let me have any fun." she teased.

"Sorcery is not always about having fun. There are things you're not ready for. I'd hate for anything to happen to you. You should listen to me. I know what I'm talking about."

"Do you?"
"Of course I do!"
"I really don't think anything all that awful is going to happen if I don't listen to you. You're not always right about everything!"
"Well, you didn't listen to me when I told you to drink that potion as soon as you went to sleep last night and you saw what happened with that!" he snapped before his eyes grew wide at the realization of what he'd said.

"What did you just say?"
"Nothing!" shrieked the Sorcerer an evident blush spreading across his face.

Well, she had her answer.
"How did you know about last night?"
"I… didn't."

"Mr. Cedric, are you dreaming about me ?
"I- I- Don't be ridiculous!"

Sofia looked hurt. "Am I that unpleasant?"
He looked upset "No! Heavens, no! I didn't mean-" he cut himself off.

"Am I hurting you?" she asked in a pained voice.

"No! I-I- you never- Sofia, I- you should go…"

"We're sharing dreams aren't we? Why?"

He wasn't looking at her

"Mr. Cedric. We need to talk about this!"
He refused to speak and just shook his head. He was in a panic, he started to usher her along, pushing her from his worktable to the door.
"Well, as much as I enjoyed our time together, Princess, I really think it's time you ought to be going, I've got so much work to do and it's getting late and you really ought to go…" this was all said and done very quickly, leaving a stunned Sofia little time to react or resist. He had succeeded in pushing her to the threshold of the door, when she somehow finally managed to turn and stop him from escorting her from the room completely.
"Please, Mr. Cedric! Don't shut me out! Please talk to me!" she looked beseechingly into his eyes and placed a hand over his heart and whispered:"Let me in here. I know I've been here. Let me into your heart. Please?" At her touch he froze, She could feel his heart pounding wildly beneath her hand and noticed that he was breathing deeply. He stared at her, his eyes wide and stunned. He was entranced. Spellbound.

Now that he was no longer trying to push her out of the room, Sofia took the opportunity to move closer to him, placing her free hand on his cheek. He tensed up for a moment and closed his eyes, blinking several times, a look of confusion on his face, it was as if he was fighting something. She continued to look up at him ardently and gave him a small and inviting smile. Upon seeing that he seemed to calm down. He stood a moment longer and then his face softened, his defenses were down and he had resigned to himself to his fate at the hands of the Princess. Soon enough his eyes became half lidded , "Sofia…" he murmured tenderly as he reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. The Princess was becoming dizzy and lightheaded herself.
"Yes?" was her whispered reply. He didn't speak he only looked at her until,as if compelled by some unseen force, he began to lean down, and she knew he wanted to kiss her. Truth be told, she hoped he would. He was closing the distance between them, but then stopped and hesitated.

Sofia didn't.

She grabbed at the yellow bowtie he wore about his neck and pulled him down so that his face was level to her own. She closed her eyes and then in the next instant felt as his lips brushed over hers ever so lightly and lingered there for just a fraction of a moment, before he pulled away from her. He shook his head a few times and swallowed hard, the fervid look that had been in his eyes was suddenly replaced by one of shock and mortification. He turned scarlet. He pushed himself away from her

"I'm s-sorry… I- I don't know why I did that...T-t-that was a mistake!" he stammered. Sofia, who had been filled with pure ecstasy felt her heart drop..
"But I thought you-"
"N-no. You need to leave. Now!" he said louder, though he didn't sound angry so much as terrified.

"But, Mr. Cedric we need to tal-" He shook his head.
"No, no no you need to go. Please! That- that meant nothing. I wasn't myself. Pretend it didn't happen, alright?!" he cried out. Although, the conflicted way he looked at her made her think perhaps, he didn't really mean all that he was saying. Before she could utter another word, she found herself out of his workshop with the door shut in her face, leaving the poor Princess confused and hurt and disappointed. She could feel a knot forming in her chest and tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She stayed there for a few minutes knocking on the door and imploring him to come out, but her entreaties seemingly fell on deaf ears.

What was going on? He'd admitted to dreaming about her. Not just dreaming about her, but that they had shared a dream. Many dreams. As reticent as he tried to be there was no denying that. And he had kissed her, as fleeting as it had been. Sofia touched her lips, she could still feel the warmth from his on them. He must feel something for her, even if he quickly sent her away. She dared herself to think that there was a very good chance he loved her too,but he made everything so confusing. She needed answers and he was unwilling to give her any. Fine. Then she would find out what secrets he was hiding herself, one way or another. She wasn't sure how, but she refused to give up, even if the answers weren't what she wanted. she needed a little peace of mind.