Author's Note: Not sure if anyone's noticed, but there is a theme to the chapter names... ;) Also, thanks Mrshortman for making me totally second guess this chapter. :P I was tempted to rewrite the whole story to keep Cedric in the past longer, if it wouldn't have required scrapping an upcoming chapter that is my favourite one out of the whole story so far. The split-screen chapters will continue even after the timelines merge, mostly because Cedric's 'from the past' perspective is fun, but also since he remembers things and Sofia doesn't, so some of it has to be told by him to make any sense.
Margaret skimmed over the permission slip Sofia presented her with, pausing every few seconds to frown up at her daughter.
"Really, Sofia... Let me call you out on Friday. You can't participate in Track and Field day, you just got over being sick." Her mother insisted, trying to hand the paper back. Truthfully, Sofia wasn't over being sick at all, if anything she was getting worse. She'd simply grown so tired of everyone treating her like she was a delicate flower, apt to wither away at a moment's notice, that she was now making it a point to hide her symptoms.
"Please, mom. It's a really big deal, and if I don't participate, my whole class will hate me for it." Sofia begged, though she also wanted to join in so she could return to her normal life.
"If you feel anything less than 100%..." Her mother sighed, fetching a pen from the cup on her desk and scribbling her signature on the dotted line.
"I know, I know. I'll go straight to the infirmary, I promise." She snatched the form off of the table, dashing out the side door to avoid being late again.
...
"Ugh, I hate biology!" Grace complained, tossing her backpack to the floor beneath their lab table as she joined Sofia. The bell rang and the teacher called the classroom to order, effectively preventing further discussion on the matter. Sofia paid close attention, fascinated with the information on genetics being presented.
"Which brings us to today's lab. You are going to take samples and determine your blood type." Sofia let out a barely audible squeak, earning an annoyed groan from the girl beside her.
"I don't know how you can get so excited about this." She whined, pricking her finger for the required sample.
"Are you kidding? It's so amazing, finding out all about our DNA, what makes us who we are, how our family plays a part in shaping that." She let out a wistful sigh, squeezing her finger to produce a drop of blood.
"I think it's gross." Grace muttered under her breath as the teacher made his rounds, inspecting the pupils' work.
"Sofia... You have a very rare blood type." Mr Michaels mused, retrieving her slide to take a closer look. "The rarest, in fact. When you're older, you should consider donating. I've heard they have trouble getting enough in times of crisis." Sofia and Grace quickly exchanged glances.
"I'll keep it in mind." Sofia smiled up at the teacher before he continued past them.
"Psst..." Grace nudged her friend, leaning in to whisper without being heard by anyone else. "You know, Mr Michaels is kind of a hottie..." Sofia furrowed her eyebrows, sneaking a peek at the man in question. He was attractive, sure, but she still didn't really feel anything out of the ordinary while looking at him. Besides, he was an adult, and it wouldn't be appropriate to think of him in that way.
"Just give it up." She urged Grace, returning to her work.
"Girl, you are going to die a virgin." The blonde teased, making Sofia blush.
...
Cedric reappeared within the walls of Merlin's workshop and began to search the building for the aging sorcerer. He found him in the library, resting on a large sofa, and though he was loathe to disturb him, he once again found himself in need of the man's help.
"Merlin..." He shook his friend awake, ignoring the stream of confused rambling that erupted as a result.
"Cedric, I didn't expect you back so soon." Merlin mumbled groggily, shifting to a sitting position and offering the spot beside him.
"Clearly. Though honestly, neither did I." Cedric replied, dropping onto the cushion. "Something's come up, and I need you to take me forward earlier than expected."
Merlin fiddled with the end of his long beard, struggling to tell his friend something, though what that was, Cedric hadn't the slightest clue, and was too spent to worry about it.
"I can't take you back to the exact time where I dropped her off, but I'll get you as close as I can." Merlin explained, spreading his hands helplessly. "But there are some issues we really should discuss before we go."
"I keep telling you, there isn't time." Cedric urged, springing back to his feet. "The guards are probably storming my tower as we speak. Three guesses which places they'll check next. Just... Just get me to Sofia, and we can figure out the rest later." Merlin inspected him hesitantly, and Cedric had to wonder if he understood how dire the situation really was.
"Alright, but at least listen to this one thin-" Loud shouting and pounding filled the fortress as the guards rammed the door and spilled into the lower level. Cedric gave what he hoped was his best 'I told you so' look as Merlin gave up on any sort of discussion and instead brought out his wand, enveloping the pair of sorcerers in the same blue glow as the night before.
...
"Where is she?" Cedric demanded as soon as he adjusted to being solid matter again, struggling to his feet despite the protests of his wobbling legs.
"I suspect she'll be in school about now." Merlin answered, turning in a slow circle to get his bearings. "A couple of blocks that way." Not waiting for the older sorcerer to say anything else, Cedric dashed off in the indicated direction, the only thing on his mind getting to Sofia and confirming her safety. Everything else could be figured out later, once he'd seen with his own two eyes that she was fine.
A fence prohibited him from entering the school yard, and Cedric groaned in irritation, kicking the chain link obstacle with an uttered curse. Why are the pupils locked up? This looks more like a workhouse than a school. He pondered the large red brick structure, complete with iron grates on every window, that loomed behind the rusted metal fence, recalling how often he'd simply waltzed into Sofia's schools over the years, and how much more elegant those places had been.
From somewhere in the building's core, a series of chimes rang, and shortly after, a rambunctious crowd of pupils came spilling out of a set of black double doors, the boys in charcoal dress slacks and the girls in what appeared to be kilts, but everyone in the same hunter green shirts.
Finding Sofia in the crowd required little effort, considering how familiar he was with the sight of her. As he looked her over, he nearly gasped at the expanse of milky thigh visible between the pleats of her short tartan skirt and the wide white band of socks that covered her knees. I've seen far more of her than that. He tried to remind himself, but it was of little use. That had been an intimate, private affair, occurring in the dim glow of moonlight and torch flame, this was outside in broad daylight, surrounded by other people.
With no recollection of him, Sofia might very well confuse him for a lecher, and Cedric definitely didn't want that, so he tore his eyes away for her, leaving the school building behind to wander the neighborhood while trying to decide what to do next. Obviously, restoring her memories was a high priority, but that would have to wait until he could somehow be certain that she wouldn't try to return to their own time and accept the fate that had been thrust upon her in an effort to save her kingdom, an act that would be every bit as stupid as it was brave.
In the meantime, what he required was a good excuse to stay near Sofia so he could make sure nothing went wrong.
