Author's Note: DISCLAIMER: This chapter is the darkest moment in the story. I've consulted with my magnificent beta, and we both felt this was still worthy of a STRONG T rating because nothing actually happens to Sofia. However if you feel differently please PM me and we can discuss.

Chapter 18: Fear

The coach landed along rocky bluffs, revealing the majesty of Desmond's castle. Set upon an outcropping it stood as a magnificent pillar of ancient stones above the seascape below. The salty sea air nipped at the princess's face as they disembarked and crossed the grand causeway to this castle. Below the distinct call of sea lions and cacophonous chirping of seagulls intermixed with the crashing of waves, and lent serenity to the atmosphere. It wasn't hard to tell why Desmond and his entire family preferred a quiet evening along the shore to the stresses of high society. Nevertheless, Amber in her characteristic fashion had beseeched the man to hold a gathering, and so it was.

Beyond the jagged outcroppings lining the sea Leidelville was a land of meadows. Rolling farmland dotted the countryside up to the northern mountains that bordered Friezenburg. Sofia looked off into the distance toward those forsaken hills with a heavy heart, the battle of yesterday still weighing heavily on her thoughts.

While merriment ensued inside Sofia lingered on a balcony overlooking the waves, taking in the gentle sea air and trying to let the calmness of nature soothe her troubled heart. At least the tears had stopped, and Desmond had been gracious enough not to point out the obvious redness in her eyes and clammy cheeks. Desmond's castle had been constructed in eras past, inhabited by his family for over a dozen generations. The rock and mortar betrayed its age, but Sofia found great beauty in it. She climbed atop the balconies edge and sat there, dangling her legs over the edge and taking in the breeze. The crashes of waves upon the shore seemed almost inviting, as if the sweetest fate would be for the waves to simply carry her away, along with the suffering of Friezenburg's people, her conflictions over informing her mother about Birk, and the agony within her own heart at crushing Cedric's feelings. To let all the misery just float away with her upon the tides, that seemed the best of all possible outcomes.

No more spells. No more laughter. No more adventures in search of rare ingredients. He'd ended their friendship.

'I don't need you'

The feeling of loss overwhelmed her. The look upon his face of disappointment, pain and rage etched inside her psyche alongside the image of the fallen peasant in Friezenburg, haunting her soul.

It was best not to burden her siblings with tales of woe. She could hear intermittent laughter from Amber echoing through the stone halls and the faint reverberations of music and general gaiety from within. They were here to socialize but Sofia wanted to simply disappear and leave behind all the pain and suffering she'd inadvertently inflicted. The wind was soft and the sea air smelled sweet. It truly did help to calm her nerves. A sudden grating laughter came from within the castle. Hildegard had come. More music, more laughing, more celebrations of nothing. It seemed discordant with reality, that people could be so happy in times when others were out there dying.

"Sofia! What are you doing on that railing?! You could fall!"

Amber had intruded on her silent reflections. "Oh Amber don't worry, I'm fine."

"Princess's don't sit like that Sofia." She rolled her eyes and the golden girl backed off. "Anyway I've got a surprise for you! It's sure to take your mind off things."

She looked away from the water toward her anxious sister and noticed a familiar haircut popping out from behind the golden girl's tall thin frame. "Look I had Desmond invite Hugo just like I said I would, isn't that just perfect!"

Hugo stepped out from behind the grinning princess. "Why thank you Princess Amber. Hello Sofia, it feels like forever since I last laid eyes on the most beautiful princess in creation. No offense Amber." The svelte girl shrugged and walked back inside.

"I saw you yesterday Hugo."

"I know, but every minute I'm apart from you feels like an eternity."

Sofia groaned, and turned to stare at the tide once more. For his part the prince took a minute to regroup, then approached to stand next to the girl dangling off the edge of the balcony. "Sofia, I just wanted you to know that I missed you, that's all. I'm sorry it was a bit overwhelming."

She turned to look upon the prince, and he wore a sincere demeanor. She gave him a slight smile, and the prince moved to take her hand in his. "Amber told me about your… incident… earlier today." Exasperated, Sofia's head reared back. How could Amber go blabbing? She'd promised not to tell anyone about it.

"I don't know what Amber told you Hugo, but it's probably not the reason I'm upset."

"She told me that you weren't receptive of my affections because you'd created some fantasy about that freaky old sorcerer in your mind, but now it's over." He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, "It is over, right my beautiful Sofia? You finally realized that spell caster is no good, didn't you?"

A little explosion went off in the back of the girl's mind. Oooh Amber... so NOT okay. "What are you implying Hugo?"

He looked a bit off-put. "Just that, I'm glad you're heart is in the right place now, and not pining for that perverted old man."

"Mr. Cedric is NOT perverted!" She'd retracted her hand and planted it on the stone railing. "He's a wonderful, magical, marvelous human being who has complex emotions. Never say that about Mr. Cedric again!"

"Okay Sofia! I didn't mean it offensively."

"How could it be anything BUT offensive Hugo?!"

Hugo stared down at the sea and grit his teeth, "So, it really was true. You've had a crush on that old weirdo and that's why you never reciprocated my feelings."

"No that's not… UGH Hugo". Sofia was grabbing at the air in front of her. The prince seemed truly upset, and the last thing Sofia wanted to do was cause any more pain. Friezenburg, Cedric, hurting Hugo just because seemed a horrible addition to the heap, even if she had no romantic inclinations toward the man. A very long deep breath, and the princess tried again.

"Look Hugo, I don't have a crush on Mr. Cedric. We were really good friends, the best of friends, but it doesn't matter anymore. I did something that hurt his feelings, and he doesn't want to be… friends… with me anymore." As the words came out she winced. Friends nevermore…

Strong arms had wrapped themselves around her head, "Hugo stop, I don't need you to do that."

"But I want to Sofia, you're such a wonderful, beautiful, gentle soul, and you're hurting." He pulled away ever so slightly to look into her eyes, "and I'm really glad that what Amber told me wasn't true, because I've got some ideas now that I really think you'll find wonderful."

He was trying, in his egotistical self-absorbed way, to be comforting. It was nice on some level to have someone sympathize with her, even if his intentions were misplaced.

"Sofia, you really like magic, don't you?"

"Yeah, it was my favorite subject at Royal Prep."

Hugo nodded, "Yeah, it was. You always figured out the spells before everyone else, even Desmond. You're amazing Sofia."

"Well it wasn't all me, I had the world's… best… sorcery… teach..." The temporary distraction wore off, and her head slumped down toward the sea, her sentence incomplete.

Hugo tightened his grip on her, "It's going to be just fine Sofia, I've got a plan that I think you'll really like, but it'll have to be later." Sofia looked up at him, and the prince seemed giddy with excitement. Oh man, exciting Hugo was the opposite of her intentions, but at least he wasn't angry with her or miserable because of her. Like Cedric was.

Cedric, he'd be all alone now… oh how that thought cut open wounds deep inside.

Hugo smiled widely and gestured with his chin toward the doorway, "Come on lovely, let's go inside and see what Desmond and the others are up to. For now that'll take your mind off things, okay beautiful?"

She sniffled, "Okay." Hugo was right, sitting out there pinning for Cedric's friendship wasn't going to fix anything, it only made her feel disconnected and alone.

She followed Hugo inside. The prince wrapped his arm around the small of her waist, showering her in compliments relating to the blue and white lace ensemble Amber had dressed her in. Sofia feigned a pleasant acceptance of his words to keep him happy and as they turned a corner they came upon a most uncomfortable argument. Axel had accompanied his younger brother to the party, and was having a heated discussion with his fiancé.

"How can you stand there and ignore what's happening with your people Hildegard?!"

"It's easy. My father is taking care of the trouble makers, and that's all that matters. What am I supposed to do about it?"

Axel flung his arms up, "I can't BELIEVE you. How can you say that? WHY are your people revolting Hildegard? WHY are they breaking prisoners out of our jails? Our fathers are hiding some pretty big secrets, doesn't that BOTHER you? Don't you care what happens to your people?"

"Why should I care what happens to peasants? They're not important, they're just peasants. You shouldn't care about them either Axel. They don't mean anything. Now come on, let's go back to the party." She'd snapped her fan closed and taken a step back toward the festivities. Axel was a rather composed man typically, with impeccable manners, but Sofia thought he might actually growl he looked so angry. Hugo cringed and pulled Sofia back a step, as if to pretend they hadn't walked in on this horrible lover's quarrel. It enraged Sofia to hear the princess talk about the people suffering in Friezenburg this way, but it was typical Hildegard. To some royals all lives were not created equal.

Axel halted, took a deep breath and stood tall. "I can no longer associate with someone who would turn a blind eye to the suffering of their people. King Rolland is going to hear about the deaths, and the things your father is doing to his subjects."

Flames practically shot from Hildegard's eyes, "And just what does that mean? So what if Amber's father knows. He won't interfere with the way my father runs his kingdom." Hildegard's words rang true in Sofia's mind. Rolland had said the exact same thing to her several days ago. Hildegard took an angry step forward and tossed a condescending hand wave at Axel. "Besides, your father is just as culpable as mine for any bloodshed, do you want word getting out that your dad ordered prisoners to be executed?"

Sofia gasped and covered her mouth to muffle the sound. Axel tried to maintain a calm tone, but there was rage seething underneath. "I won't stand idly behind him while he does these things, and I won't stand by your side either as you condone them."

Hildegard stopped her angry posturing and slumped backward. "What are you saying Axel?"

The man reached up to straighten his collar. "I believe our engagement was a deal arranged between our parents to preserve peace. That peace is gone, and our engagement with it. I take my leave of you now your Highness."

He turned and walked down the hallway, away from Hildegard, who had begun to tear up. "Wait, Axel you don't mean it, you're just angry, AXEL!" He paused briefly, turning to glance over his shoulder.

"I simply cannot marry you. Good day princess." Then continued walking away. Hildegard went from desperation to indignation as fast as Cedric's potions could explode. "FINE! Be that way, I never really liked you either! I'll marry someone much nobler from a more prominent kingdom! Just wait, you'll see!"

Axel had faded from view, leaving the upset girl in the hallway. As Hildegard floundered about she caught sight of Sofia and Hugo standing there. Sofia summoned every ounce of compassion she had left, because even though she'd thought her subjects weren't worthy of protection or living happy lives Hildegard was still a person with redeeming qualities, and despite her words she did actually care for Axel, deeply. Sofia extended her arms, and the raven haired princess broke down crying in them.

Hugo let Sofia go and stood there raking a hand through his hair awkwardly. "Aw man, this is so uncomfortable."

"Then go Hugo. I'll stay here with Hildegard."

"But wait, that's not what I, oh alright Sofia." The prince walked off toward the party and Sofia was left alone with the sobbing girl.

"I just… don't understand why he's been so distant lately." Hildegard wallowed all over Sofia's shoulder. She didn't really want the answer, did she?

"Hildegard he's a compassionate guy. He sympathizes with the people who are suffering."

"Compassionate!" The girl had extracted herself from Sofia's arms. "How could you possibly say he's compassionate! Didn't you see the way he treated me just now! I'm the one who's suffering! Not the peasants!"

Concilliatory, Sofia tried to assuage the girl's suffering and reconcile the tension. "Wait Hildegard, I understand your upset but he actually cares about your people and just expected you to care also. If you'd just take a minute to think about how people are suffering I'm sure-"

"Hilde! Oh no what happened?!" Amber had come running up. Hugo had wasted no time in relaying the argument in the hallway to her. The livid princess of Friezenburg turned to Amber and unloaded, "Amber your SISTER! She had the gall to suggest Axel leaving was my fault! That Axel isn't being completely ridiculous!"

Amber was stroking the girl's head. "I'm sure Sofia didn't mean it like that."

"Of course she did! No matter how many lessons you give someone in the end she's just a lowly peasant after all!"

Ouch.

Sofia simply stood there, dumbstruck. Amber pulled away from the girl. "Look, I know you're upset right now Hilde, but don't insult my sister alright? Come on, let's go." She pulled on Hildegard's arm and turned, but glanced backward at Sofia and mouthed 'sorry' before disappearing with the girl down the hallway.

Sofia leaned up against the stone wall and found her legs giving way. Collapsing onto the ground below she felt the world caving in around her. She wasn't really a part of this glittering world of parties and denial, was she? Did she even want to be anymore?

Head upon her knees, she didn't notice the approaching royal until he'd plopped down on the ground beside her, leaning up against the same wall.

"It's pretty messed up, isn't it Sof?"

Seemingly unable to cry as all the tears had already been shed she extracted her head from her up drawn knees. "James, I just can't seem to make people happy anymore."

His head dropped to the side, "Why would you need to make people happy Sof? You should make yourself happy, not other people."

Sofia shrugged, "I guess I've always tried to make everyone happy. It's the way I've always used to belong."

"Yeah but you don't have too. You're my sister, no matter what."

"Aw, thanks James."

The prince leaned in a bit closer, "So are you gonna tell me why you were so upset in the coach?"

The princess sank her head into her knees once more. "It's Mr. Cedric. I thought, well Amber told me he was gay."

"Oh man."

"Wait, you knew!?"

"Well yeah Amber told me that a while back, but I couldn't care less about her gossip."

"I guess so, but I really needed I asked him about it and—"

"Aw, Sofia!"

"What?"

"Why does it matter if he's gay or not? I thought you of all people wouldn't care how he defines himself. He might not even know what to call himself, you know? Not everybody fits inside the box."

"But I… I just…" James had an exceedingly relevant point. Did the labels really matter? By trying to define him she'd hurt his feelings, deeply. Sofia let out a tiny cry and an arm was wrapped around her. "You're right. You're totally, completely right James. I'd be his friend no matter what, but I just feel so bad. He was yelling at me, and he doesn't want to be my friend anymore, and even worse, I feel deep down that I deserve it."

"Come on Sof! This is Cedric we're talking about. You're his only friend and he's an emotional guy. It'll blow over, like it always does."

Sofia's stomach groaned and James rolled his eyes. "Geeze, when was the last time you ate? You barely touched breakfast." Everything had been so upended lately the princess had no idea. Her brother sprang to his feet and helped her up, "Come on. Desmond had a brilliant vegetable soufflé made. Let's go try it."

"Okay."

James informed her that Clio was unable to attend due to her performance schedule, and Zandar had accompanied princess Maya to Caldoun's Fire falls under some royal obligation, along with Khalid and Vivian. They entered the grand hall to observe maids packaging the feast into baskets, all overseen by one golden princess of Enchancia. "What's going on now Amber?" James inquired.

"Well, why have a luncheon right here in Desmond's castle like we always do? I'm thinking we should go somewhere new and exciting to take our mind off things."

However Desmond wasn't so enthusiastic, "I still don't know Amber. We should probably just stay here." The girl turned and pouted, and he instantly melted into a puddle. It was official; Desmond was smitten with Sofia's sister. "Alright dearest, whatever you'd like."

James slid over next to Desmond and bunched his hands up, making a mockingly dreamy expression an batting his eyelashes, "Oh dearest, let me crumple to your will."

"Enough James! I'm thinking we can travel by coach to the Magnificent Meadow in the north? A feast in the most beautiful meadow in your kingdom sounds divine."

Feast packed, the band of royals journeyed across the bridge to Desmond's grand coach. Hildegard kept eying Sofia menacingly, and Hugo vacillated between appropriate distance and personal invasion while continuing to compliment her dress and stare a bit too long at her topside that was bulging out a bit. Amber clung to Desmond, and James tagged along behind.

As they came upon the coaches Sofia was struck by the visage of Desmond's coachman. A middle-aged man, he had entrancing blue eyes and silvery-brown hair, but more striking was the silver owl perched upon his shoulder. It was quite odd for a coachman to tote their pets along while in service to their kings. No one else seemed to notice or care, they were busy gossiping about mutual acquaintances while Desmond blushed at the offering of Amber's arm. Sofia stared at the servant and his bird for perhaps a bit too long, and caught the coachman's eyes in her gaze. He went pale as if he'd seen a ghost, and as they boarded he continued to keep a watchful eye on her movements. She began to grow uncomfortable, and it must have been apparent, for the man turned away. But in the corner of his eye she still felt caught within his sights.

Unnerved by the coachman, Sofia dwelt on trying to put words to the unsettling feeling this man produced as the coach sailed northward when James shouted, "Brilliant!"

It broke the princess's concentration and she turned to gaze upon the astounding view before them. It was truly breathtaking. The meadow was small and bordered on three sides by dense trees, but the vista out toward the sea was marvelous. Giant waves crashed into the white bluffs of a bay, punctuated by rocks jutting up from the surf. Lunch began and everyone was having a jovial time, the tension of the castle seemingly forgotten. Sofia even forgot her troubles temporarily, as James was running around making hollering noises like a monkey. In between some laughter Sofia looked over toward the coach. The driver was still there, staring intensely at her, but his owl was gone, and suddenly she recognized that expression. It was the same one Cedric had displayed during the battle at Rudiwan, as if they'd seen the shadow of a ghost upon her.

But wait, where did the bird go? Sofia leaned over to Desmond, who being neutral in all things had taken the available seat next to Sofia, away from Hildegard. "Desmond, how long have you known your coachman?"

The prince looked up from his salad, "Oh I don't really know Sofia. We get new coachman all the time."

"Oh, okay. It's just, he keeps looking at me.

"He's probably trying to figure out how you're staying strapped into that dress." Hildegard chuckled at her comment, but it was extremely hurtful. Sofia slumped over a bit to try and hide some of her body and Hugo grew defensive.

"Nonsense! You look amazing in that dress Sofia, Hildegard's just jealous of your beauty."

Hildegard scoffed as Sofia tucked her hair behind her ear insecurely.

"I just meant the coachman doesn't look too happy, does he?"

"So now even the servants need special treatment Sofia?" Hildegard had put down her finger sandwich and was glaring at the Enchancian princess. "What is it with you lately? Who cares if he's happy, he's paid well for his services, and should be grateful." After the inflammatory statement she bit into a peach as if to mark the comment with emphasis.

"Alright that's enough! Don't talk to my Sofia that way!" Hugo had leapt to his feet, "She's got the world's biggest heart, she'd even forgive someone like you for being mean to her! But that doesn't mean I will."

"Of all the nerve, who do you think you ARE talking to me like that Hugo!"

"I'm a prince of Maldonia, and when Sofia and I get married then she'll be a princess of Maldonia, something you're never going to be!"

OUCH.

Hildegard screamed, James laughed, Desmond recoiled and Amber tried desperately to salvage the afternoon. Sofia was stunned into silence. WHEN we marry? Didn't she get a choice in any of this? Amidst the general chaos around her she caught sight of the coachman in the distance, again intensely staring at her from afar. What the…

"Sofia, tell her how you feel about what she says!" Huh? Sofia was pulled back into the fray, Hugo yelling at her to join in the mêlée.

"Hugo I… don't want to get involved in any of this."

"But Sofia she insulted you!"

"She's not the only one." It drifted cooly out of Sofia. She'd had enough and the prince's shoulders dropped.

"See Hugo? There's no point in defending her behavior. She acts like she'd rather be a peasant still." Amber gasped, but Hildegard leaned in, obvious pain in her eyes. "Isn't that right Sofia, that's why you sided with Axel against me isn't it? I thought we were friends, you should always take my side!"

Before Hugo could mount another volley Sofia stood abruptly.

Sofia was livid, the floodgates had opened, "How can you say these things Hildegard? You are supposed to be one of their leaders, don't care if your people starve and live in destitution? Where is your compassion, your humanity? Don't you care for the suffering of others? Yes I thought we were friends and yes, I feel bad for you that Axel hurt your feelings, but I can't condone your behaviors just because of that!"

Hugo extended his arms as if to calm the girl, but Sofia wasn't done yet. "And you! Who says we're getting married! I can't believe you'd just assume that because you're a prince I'd marry you. When you're just being yourself you are a good friend but I can't stand when you're trying to impress me. You don't seem to really care about the suffering of people either, and I'm sick of you treating me like your possession."

Sofia stomped off toward the cliff and sat down in the tall grass, dangling her legs over the edge. What was the point of being around Hildegard and Hugo if they showed no compassion for others? If they thought themselves superior in essence above everyone else? People were dying to save their loved ones and he was fantasizing about wedding bells while she reveled in belittling others. It was so shameful. Sofia eventually stopped fuming and looked around. There was a very thin trail of rocks leading down to the shoreline and there looked to be a cave underneath them where the sea had hollowed out the rocky bluff. Eventually Amber strolled over to where Sofia sat and deliberately sat next to her in the grass. Because this was a wild meadow, the tall reeds reached up to their shoulders. It reminded Sofia of when she would play in the grain fields as a young child, long ago and far away, when the world seemed simpler. Amber's hair even matched the color of the dried grass blades, and it was somewhat peaceful as the waves crashed against the shore.

Amber finally spoke. "You know Sofia, Hilde's just hurting right now. She didn't really mean it."

"I know she's upset, but I think she did Amber." Sofia stared off at the beautiful crashing waves below. "I think that Axel couldn't stand how she treats those less fortunate and in her mind he left her for them, and she sees me as one of the peasants. That's why she's so mad at me."

"Hilde doesn't think you're a peasant from Friezenburg Sofia."

"I think she does. After all, I look just like them." Sofia gestured to her brown hair, blue eyes, and oversized bosom trying it's best to stay stuffed inside the corset. "I am one of them."

"Oh Sofia, you are one of us, you just have a different perspective on life than the rest of us. Our circumstances were different to start, and she's never felt so humbled as she does right now. It's not an easy thing to be knocked from the pedestal you've lived your whole life on. Her whole future is in question."

Sofia took in Amber's words. They were remarkably sage. Below the condescension Hildegard's world was crumbling. Her kingdom was in upheaval and now the future she'd planned seemed all but lost. "Thanks Amber, I didn't think about it like that. I'm sorry I got angry."

Amber smiled. Suddenly Hildegard let out a blood-curdling scream. Sofia stood up fast to see what was happening over the tall grass and saw the scene unfolding. There were over a dozen strong men grabbing the princes, and now they'd seen Sofia. Amber began to rise but Sofia pressed on the top of her head to keep her seated.

"Amber duck down now."

"What's happening Sofia."

One of the men began to run at Sofia. "There are men, oh no they've beaten up James. Amber they haven't seen you. Run down these stones and hide in the cave below. Do it now Amber, NOW!"

"Sofia!" Amber tried to rise, unable to process what Sofia was telling her, but now was not the time for explanations. The man was almost halfway to where Sofia was standing. She shoved her sister's head forward, making sure to keep her below grass level and she fell down the first few steps. Sofia looked straight at the man. "RUN AMBER, RUN." Sofia took off running straight at the man. Amber would need some extra time to get away in that poofy dress and those heeled shoes. She ran full bore and reached into her pocket to draw her wand.

NO.

Her wand had been stolen, and Cedric was back in Echancia, along with the guards, the knights and King Rolland. A few halted steps as she tried to wrap her mind around the reality that she had absolutely no weapons to defeat the man coming after her. But she had to try and slow him down, that way Amber had a chance to get to safety.

She flung herself at the man. Punching, kicking and screaming, but he easily overpowered her. The boys had been subdued too, and were now tied up on the ground. Hildegard had ropes around her wrists and was screaming incoherently. Overhead the owl flew, and finally landed on the coachman's arm. He smiled, clearly happy with the outcome.

"Good work boys."

The dozen or so men laughed loudly. James was horribly upset. "Just who do you think you are doing this? When our fathers find out—"

"As if we care Maldonian Prince."

They didn't know who everyone was, just that they were all royals and one of them was from Maldonia. The man who'd grabbed Sofia tossed her into the coach rather forcefully, and the coachman stood angrily. "Not that one. She is special. Bind her hands, but no one hurts her, understood?"

There was a series of 'Ay' from the haggard men, and again the eyes of the coachman were affixed onto the princess.

Suddenly Hildegard shouted, "Who do you think you people ARE! I'll have you know my father is the King of Friezenburg!"

Sofia screamed, "NO!" to try and mask the words from being heard, but it was too late. The coachman spun and reached down, yanking Hildegard up to his face. He was strong, and the girl levitated inches off the ground.

"So you're one of the princesses of Friezenburg?" The girl finally realized her error, and started hyperventilating.

"Perfect."

He tossed her as if she was a towel into the coach, landing hard upon the wooden floor. One of the ruffians tapped on the coachman's shoulder, "We should get going, right sir?"

The blue-eyed man looked out over the grasses. "There was another woman. A blonde, did anyone see her?"

The royals all looked at each other. Thankfully no one said anything. A skinnier man who was nervously fidgeting chimed in, "We got the Maldonian prince and even some bonuses. Let's just go okay!"

The coachman nodded, and a couple of the ruffians jumped into the carriage alongside them as they took off.

Desmond was having a full-scale panic attack and had been reduced to a hyperventilating mess alongside the sobbing Hildegard. James was trying to struggle free, as was Sofia, and Hugo went catatonic. It was understandable, as these men were after him. James quickly found a sword pointed at his chest by the few bandits that had jumped into the coach. One of them was vocal about his displeasure at their attempts to get free. "Don't be wiggling your Highness. I think we'd all be happier if there were five royals alive at the end of this flight, and I expect the little lass doesn't want you to watch your impaling either." He looked right at Sofia as it was spoken, and the princess halted her attempts to escape. Her brother's life was at stake. All their lives were.

The adrenaline and confusion gave way to regret, for if Sofia hadn't come to Desmond's party then Hugo wouldn't have either, and they would have never been abducted. There was nothing to do but wait out the flight. These guys seemed professional and focused, but maybe they would talk.
"Hey! You there, bandit-guy."

The coachman turned and looked her over with his eyes. It felt almost violating to be observed like that. Sofia pursed her lips and tried to look as menacing as possible. "Yeah you, why are you doing this? We haven't done anything to you."

The ruffians started laughing. Sofia was many things, none of them could be described as 'menacing'. "You don't really expect that to work, do you Princess?"

Rats.

They finally landed and were carried like sacks of potatoes into a series of caves dug into the side of a mountain. They had traveled north into Friezenburg, but this was not any of the locations Sal had indicated on the map. About a hundred yards into the cave and through several bifurcations all but Sofia were finally tossed onto the dirt floor of a small cavern. This space had been carved from the cave walls, and there was only one way in or out, which was barred. Bandits entered the room as well, holding torches. One approached the royals strewn along the muddy cave floor and felt all over their bodies, searching each pocket for anything that could be used as a weapon. Nothing was turned up in the search, and Sofia stood there helpless as Hildegard cried. They had truly been naive to travel so near Friezenburg's borders without any sort of protection. Sofia had been too upset from all the fighting to really think critically about the situation earlier. The man who had inspected them left, and into the room entered the coachman. He took up a position opposite where Sofia stood and paused to survey the captured royals, the torchlight illuminating pieces of his stern face.

"Which one of you is Prince Hugo?"

Sofia knew instantly this was going to be very bad. "NO! No one answer, they may kill Hugo!"

All three of the princes clamped their mouths shut and Hildegard continued sobbing. The man took a step closer to Sofia. "You are brazen too. I'd thought as much."

The man bent down so his face was level with Sofia and he hovered there, but inches from her. Her eyes trailed down to a knife he had tucked into his belt. His gaze followed her own and he chuckled. "And just what would you do with that little beauty? I can't imagine a pretty royal like you would know how to use one of those."

Whoever this was, he wasn't one of the prisoners she had freed a couple weeks ago. She scowled at him as he continued to speak. "Well now, Princes. You have a decision to make. This beautiful young maiden seems to care about what happens to you, but I wonder. Do you all care what happens to her?"

James opened his mouth to let loose but Sofia stopped him. "NO! NOBODY SAY ANYTHING!"

"But Sofia—"

"NO!"

James bit his lip. The man looked a bit triumphant. "So, your name is Sofia. That wouldn't be Princess Sofia of Enchancia would it? That's a very rich land. I think your king has been helping the monster who rules Friezenburg, isn't that right beautiful princess?" Sofia didn't move a muscle, she just continued to scowl at him. The man turned to his companions who were holding up the torches above Hildegard.

"You two, why don't you show your appreciation for the atrocities that one's family has wrought upon our kin." He pointed at the shaking princess of Friezenburg as he spoke.

They dragged Hildegard out of the darkened cave, kicking and sobbing. Sofia could stand it no longer, and lunged forward screaming, "No! Don't hurt her, PLEASE she hasn't done anything, Hildegard!"

With one arm the coachman grabbed her middle, halting her advance. She braced to be flung backward, as he'd tossed Hildegard into the coach, but instead the man drew her near. He smelled of sweat, dry grasses and misery.

"I've made a decision." He turned to face the remaining men along the wall. "This is even better than we'd planned. Now we can blackmail King Victor into freeing the prisoners in Maldonia AND we can force King Aaron to abdicate the throne. If they don't comply we'll send their children back in pieces."

The coachman bent down to Sofia's face. "Two birds, one stone, and one very beautiful parting gift." He reached down and wrapped his fingers around Sofia's amulet, and in one swift motion tugged the beloved jewel free.

"No! Not my Amulet, please you don't know what you're doing! You've got to stop this! PLEASE!"

"ENOUGH." His hand was on the knife and his followers had taken a step forward. "Once we know which one is Hugo set the others free."

The ruffians nodded and the coachman tightened his grip on Sofia's waist, pulling her from the cavern.

James and Hugo tried to stand and knock him over with their bodies, but it was no use. For their trouble a torch-bearer kicked them to the ground and the ruffians took turns kicking each of them in the stomach.

Sofia couldn't stand to watch, "NO! Please stop! they're just trying to protect me. PLEASE STOP! Oh why, WHY!"

As Sofia was pulled out of the cell James called out to her, "NO! Don't take her! Sofia! Sofia I'm sorry! Sofia!"… His voice trailed off as she was led through several more twists and turns of caverns. They finally entered a larger expanse that had a small sliver of natural light streaking through the roof. The cave had connected with the surface, however the opening was fifty feet overhead and half a foot wide. It was only enough to illuminate the room, not to plan an escape attempt. Hildegard was there, lying face down on the mud and breathing heavily. She was covered in the filth she'd been dragged through. Fear had gripped the girl, as facing one's own mortality tends to do. The coachman released Sofia and turned to sit on a broken-off stalagmite as his owl swooped by to perch on a nearby ledge.

Fear.

The man before her seemed the very visage of fear. No longer was the cloaked menace occupying this corner of her thoughts, instead a very real face had occupied its place. What does the face of evil actually look like? No darkened lines or sinister scars. This man looked as if he could have walked out of her family's village in Friezenburg. The same eyes, the same hair, but there was no mistaking it. He was the very essence of evil. Sofia found herself shaking, and no matter how hard she tried to focus the shaking refused to ebb.

Sofia summoned all her courage to try and overcome the fear. For some unknown reason the coachman seemed to take an immediate interest in her back at Desmond's castle. She needed to leverage that, if at all possible, and try desperately to barter for the lives of her friends and family. Everyone was counting on her.

"C-can you tell me who you are? And why are you doing this horrible thing?"

"A bit forward for a Princess, aren't you?" The man put down his cup on the floor and stared at her. "I would have expected you to faint or cry, like that one." He gestured to Hildegard.
"Are you going to a-answer my q-questions?"

The man chuckled again at her fearful stuttering. "I am Donovan, and everyone here has a loved one who's been 'lost' to Maldonia." Sofia took a deep breath to try calming her nerves once more. This guy had experienced true heartbreak, perhaps sympathy would soften him.

"I'm so s-sorry Donovan. There is no excuse for what King Aaron, or King Victor has done. But you've got to realize that this v-violence is not the answer."

"And what IS the answer princess?"

Sofia looked down at Hildegard, who was probably listening to this exchange but unable to speak out of terror. "I… I d-don't know anymore, but I do know this is wrong. Hildegard doesn't deserve this."

This 'Donovan' rolled his head along his shoulders, "I'll tell you the answer little nervous minx. We will overthrow those wicked rulers and take back our people, those that are still alive anyway." He stood and paced between where Sofia stood and Hildegard lay upon the ground. "Don't you see they've forced our hand. The mass disappearances, and now rumors of killings to cover their tracks in Maldonia. We had to act, we had to do this."

"No! You don't have to do this. Birk, and the resistance, they're trying to keep everyone alive! You could have joined them!"

Donovan's eyes went wide. "So you know things, LOTS of things. I'll give you that. But we aren't affiliated with Birk and the revolution. No, I want freedom for my family. So do all these men, and Maldonia is the answer, not defeating King Aaron in Friezenburg." He gestured at the several men lining the back of the cave wall, it was the people who had ambushed them in the meadow. Several of them nodded in agreement.

"Look, I know you're hurting, but there is hope. Birk and the others were in a Maldonian work camp, and now they're free. There's more too, but you have to let me go, and give me back my amulet."

"Oh, and why do I need to do that sweetheart? How could letting you go possibly result in freeing those trapped in Maldonia?"

He was dangling the Amulet in front of Sofia.

It was time to come clean. Her role in all this needed to be spoken, to save the others.

"Because I'm the mystery mage! I'm the one who freed the prisoners, I'm the one who's helping them survive this mess."

Hildegard screamed, "SOFIA!" but was silenced with a swift kick by one of the abductors. Sofia cringed at the sight. "P-please you have to let us go! I can't help all of your families if you hurt us, and I need that Amulet back. Please Donovan, I'm only trying to help!"

The man stood there, his eyes again looking her over. She tried to shift around the ropes binding her wrists as if somehow she shirk away from his penetrating gaze. "So you're the beautiful mystery mage?"

"No she's not!" It had come from a smaller man along the back of the cave wall. He was poorly illuminated, but stepped forward once he started speaking.

"Wait! Yes, I am!"

"No you're not, she had long blonde hair, and brown eyes."

She recognized him. "Yes I am and I know you! You're the man who fell in the mountain prison and was trampled. I used magic to disguise myself, just like I used magic to heal the wound to your head."

The man let out a small gasp, and Donovan nodded an acknowledgement. "You TRAITOR!" growled Hildegard, but there was nothing for it now. The secret was out and some sort of cloth was shoved into Hildegard's mouth, preventing further outbursts.

"I see." Was all Donovan uttered. The man stood there for another minute, lost in thought. Turning to the men standing above Hildegard, he finally spoke, "Why don't you all make her stay more comfortable." Their were a few horrifying snickers and Donovan grabbed Sofia by the waist. The convulsions refused to stop, and her abductor assuredly noticed them as he maintained the grip around her waist.

She shouted at the bandits as Donovan carried her away, hoping the man she'd healed would sympathize with her plight. "P-please you know I'm telling the truth, p-please tell Birk! Tell him what's going on here! Tell him 'S-Sofia's' been abducted! Please you have to help us like I helped you, P-PLEASE!"

Donovan dragged her deeper and deeper into the depths of darkness, the torch he held the only source of illumination. She stumbled quite a few times on the uneven ground, but his arm about her waist kept the princess upright. Suddenly he pivoted, taking Sofia alongside and finally released her. She was tied to a hook imbedded in the wall, and he turned to walk off.

"WAIT!" You can't leave me here, PLEASE!"

He turned back around to face her, the torch illuminating his stoic features. "Are you saying you want me to keep you company love?"

The tone in his voice, so haunting. "Ah, no." There was a long pause, and his blank expression never wavered. The glow of the torchlight caught the Amulet, reflecting on the cavewall. "But p-please, let me go so I can help you all, and please return my amulet."

The man scoffed and began to turn away. "WAIT! You don't understand, that stone is magical." That got him to stop. "Please you have to believe me, it grants powers to those who do good, but it curses those who do evil." The man held the amulet up in the torchlight between them. "Please Donovan, you stole it from me, so if you don't give it back and release us it's going to curse you. Please, I don't want you to get cursed."

He looked back over to where she stood, "So, you care about me? You've only just met me."

"I care about everyone Donovan, and I know that the kings of Maldonia and Friezenburg are corrupt. So please don't do this."

"I care about ending this horror too princess, but you offer no solutions. I'll send our demands to their fathers, and yours as well. Maybe your father can convince these monsters to relent, after all you are a prize worth protecting. Then we'll see who the heroes are, and who are the monsters."

With that he departed, taking the amulet and the torch with him. As he trialed off into the distance the last rays of torchlight disappeared, leaving Sofia to tremble with fear in complete and utter darkness.

...

Not a guard, not a sound, nothing but pitch blackness. For an hour she tried screaming for someone to hear her, to help. Nothing. Eventually her voice went hoarse. She tried leveraging her weight to pull free of the ropes, and desperately struggled in the dark to undo the bindings, but it was no use. Even with the aid of her eyes it seemed a hopeless cause. Eventually she collapsed onto the ground, as exhaustion and thirst began to conquer her spirit. She felt the sting of her skin breaking against the rope that bound her.

If only she hadn't come to the party, then Hugo would never have come and these horrible men wouldn't have abducted them all.

These men. It was almost understandable. They were devoid of options, driven to desperation. Hildegard had mentioned that King Victor was offing prisoners. It was no wonder these men had been driven to extreme measures. WAIT. What was she thinking? Kidnapping, it was too horrible to reason around. There had to be another way, didn't there? Oh why couldn't she think of a solution? Some way to set everything right. There had to be a way. If only the trembling would stop! Then maybe she could think clearly.

Who was she kidding? Everything was her fault. She'd started it all by barging into Maldonia. If only she'd waited for Cedric that night, if only she'd waited and told Rolland BEFORE freeing the prisoners.

There was no spell to travel back in time. The hurt, the pain she'd caused everyone. She'd meant to set it right, but now everything was collapsing around her, and some of her friends might very well pay the ultimate price for her stupidity.

Her friends. If only she had run back to her room instead of running to Minimus. Her room…

How could a cloaked man make it through the palace without being noticed? Sofia was able to do it because she knew everyone's routine and even then had been caught on occasion, but an unfamiliar cloaked man? And she'd seen them in the morning, but her room was violated during dinner. They must have been hiding the entire day in the castle, somehow, somewhere. Was it feasible?

No way. Especially when Baileywick had been put on alert the first time. It must have been… someone who belonged at the palace. Someone who could simply take the cloak off and pass unnoticed in plain sight. Who could that be? And why would they want to be anonymous? And if they already knew she was involved in the war… why would they trash her room searching for clues like Cedric suggested. If they already knew, why go looking for things? Unless they needed to know WHY she was helping with the war. But who would care why?

They must be worried for her. Only her family and friends would care, and she was friends with very few people who could possibly do something like that when they were upset.

WAIT. Cedric had thrashed his workshop when she'd run off several nights ago.

Did he… could he possibly have torn apart her room? Sofia thought back to that awkward, uncomforting conversation they'd had in her room.

'Searching for answers, searching for clues. Simply searching.'

It didn't make sense… did it? Her wand had gone missing, as well as her bag. Did he… take her belongings? Another remembrance flashed inside her mind of the conversation they'd had in his tower that evening.

"I suppose you aren't the only one who's guilty of this particular crime Princess."

She'd thought he was referring to the amulet incident, but what if he was the one who stole her things?

No, it couldn't have been Cedric. The cloaked man was entering the castle in the morning, but Cedric was already in the castle. If anything he'd have been leaving the castle, on his way to Rudiwan. It couldn't have been him.

Cedric. How had she screwed up so badly with him? They'd gone from snuggles in his bed to screaming in less than an hour.

Snuggles in his room. It seemed so comforting to dwell on it. So much better than thinking about what could happen if her Dad wasn't able to convince King Aaron to give up the throne or King Victor to free the slaves they both seemed dead set not to acknowledge.

Would King Aaron give up the throne? Sofia thought about all the atrocious moves Aaron had made since she released the prisoners. He was a desperate man trying to cling to power, and had gone to Victor, a man he hated, for help. Whole villages had disappeared.

However Aaron did seem to care deeply about his daughter, and was worn to the bone. Maybe he would abdicate, but Victor…. He'd never free the slaves. That's what Donovan really wanted, and that's why he was after Hugo specifically.

Heads were going to roll.

Hugo would be killed, and possibly others, maybe even herself since Rolland was now supposed to act. The thought of Donovan's knife against her neck terrified her. Death could be coming at any moment, cloaked as footsteps down the hall. If only she hadn't confronted Cedric, if only she had run to her room and not her sister, if only… If only she had told Cedric everything from the start. Then he wouldn't have been so angry with her.

Or he may have been more furious that she'd ever known.

Sofia convinced herself it was all her fault. She hadn't told Cedric or her family what was going on. How could she? Her father had threatened to kill her, or who she was pretending to be. But now she was going to die anyway, at the hands of mentally disturbed abductors. Was there any hope? Would anyone come to save her? How could this rope be so resilient to everything Sofia tried to free herself?

….

After hours of mental torture there were footsteps approaching. Donovan appeared from around the corner. His eyes were cold, his expression stern and he held a torch in one hand. Sofia felt true terror as he gazed longingly at her. He stepped into the hollowed out cavern she'd been occupying and set the torch far away from her reach upon the ground. Legs swept under, he sat upon the damp, uneven rocks a foot from where she stood. There were gestures for her to sit as well, and slowly she did so. They sat there, in silence.

Slowly he produced a loaf of bread and a cup of gruel. It looked awful. She hadn't eaten all day, and it was probably night time by now. The princess brought her tied hands to her face and grimaced. "T-Thank you for the o-offer, but I can't eat like this."

A sarcastic look, and Donovan finally spoke, "Do you really think I'm going to untie you sweetheart?"

"No, but it was worth a-asking."

The man started laughing. "You really are too much little beauty. Here." He broke off a piece of the bread and stuck it in her face. It was humiliating, but she hadn't eaten for hours, and felt the pangs of hunger. He forced it in her mouth, and it was just as awful as it looked. They sat there in silence for some time while he fed her, all the while observing her reactions. She moved farther away from his leering and tried summoning her courage to stop the convulsions once more. It seemed more effective this time, as he was showing her kindness maybe he wasn't so scary after all.

"Why are you doing this?"

Donovan leaned up against the cave wall, "You're probably hungry, it's past nightfall."

"No, I mean why are you hurting them but feeding me? Why do you keep looking at me?"

He stared off at the opposite wall, "I told you someone special disappeared." Sofia nodded, "Well, she was my sweetheart."

Uncomfortable silence permeated the dank space. "We grew up together. When I came of age I started asking for her hand, and she rejected me outright. For months I tried everything I could think of, but she just kept on refusing me." The man sat a little straighter, energy coming into his voice, "But then, one day I realized she'd never love me, so I decided to go to sea and forget the pain of rejection, and cancelled all of my affairs. I was set to leave in the morning, but then I woke in the middle of the night and do you know what happened?"

He turned to look at Sofia, who was trying to discretely wiggle free of her bindings now that there was light illuminating them. "Uh, you went to sea?"

"No, she was there, in my bed!" He chuckled softly, obviously reminiscing on the memory. "It was the best moment of my life."

Sofia had finally gotten one of the knots turned around to face her hands. "I'm sorry Donovan, but that doesn't explain why you're always staring at me."

Oh no. He moved uncomfortably close, hovering just above her seated frame, his breath upon her eyelashes. "You look just like she did, why you're the spitting image of her. When she disappeared she was carrying our child, so I lost two loves that day." A menacing scowl broke out across his face and he sat back. Sofia had never felt such relief as the restoration of her personal space.

He turned to stare at her again. "Come now, what do you think happens to the women who are 'lost' princess? You don't actually think they're sent into the mines, do you?"

Sofia started to hyperventilate as he looked her over. She'd never considered that there were people besides those in prison languishing in Maldonia. Oh no, what did happen to them?

Donovan broke out in convulsive laughter. "My love was stolen, my life taken along with her in the night. The only hope I cling to is if Victor loves his son, otherwise there's no hope."

"Don't say that! There's still hope. Release us and I'll do anything, everything to help you find your wife."

He just sat there, staring off into space.

"Julianne."

"Yes, I'll find your Julianne, I'll set her free, I'll—"

The man rose to his feet abruptly, and reached out to stroke Sofia's cheek. "Good night Princess. May the morning bring a mass release and abdication, or else." She pulled away and practically hissed at his hands, but he was gone in an instant.

Again Sofia was left in crippling darkness. She hadn't managed to get the ropes off, and fruitless effort produced no meaningful progress on loosening the bindings. She sat there, the dampness of the dark permeating her as her limbs grew numb from the cold and the dirty rocks pressed into her skin. No sleep would be found in this wretched place, and the hours till tomorrow and the day of reckoning ticked by in fearful silence.

Even if in the highly unlikely scenario Aaron abdicated and Victor released all those captured from Friezeburg, would that be enough? These abductors seemed vicious, and their vendetta might require blood penance for their years of suffering.

In the depths of the darkness there was no measure of time, but then footsteps and the faint flicker of torchlight once again illuminated the walls.

Sofia sat up to see Donovan standing there, breathing heavily with one hand behind his back, his owl swooping to land behind him along the wall. He wedged the torch high up in a crack in the wall and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small silver ball. It was identical to the one she'd seen on Cedric's potions table when she'd cleaned it up a few days prior.

"I should have realized the royals from other kingdoms have sorcerers that could devise clever ways to find us." He dropped the ball and it rolled on the ground toward her.

What the?

It was identical to the glowing silver ball she'd followed out of Maldonia when trying to rescue the mountain prisoners. Was it… The Findatus magicalus spell! Cedric must have used it to find them, to find her! A great hope sprang up in Sofia, for if Cedric had cast the spell it meant Rolland and his knights would storm the cavern any minute and save the day. It also meant she was the thing Cedric desired to find the most, so maybe their friendship could be saved.

Donovan saw her excited expression and snickered as the most horrible sneer that ever crossed a human's lips emerged, and reached into his pocket, drawing from it the Amulet of Avalor. It was glowing with a violet fire Sofia had never seen. Donovan had been assuredly cursed.

"Donovan think! You've been cursed by the amulet, please give it back and let us go! Things will get better, I promise! I can go out to them and explain why you did this, how unhappy you all are because your family's were taken, PLEASE I can help!" He stood there, the most horrible, menacing laugh she'd ever heard emitted from the man, his eyes burrowing into her soul. "Please, please LISTEN to ME! You can be the HERO Donovan, but you have to let us go, you have to be the bigger person and do the right thing!"

He never broke the deranged laughter, and slowly he swung the hand hidden behind his back around. Sofia screamed as she saw the long sword he'd been hiding.

It was dripping with blood.

The sight of it was too much to take. Who's blood…. who'd been killed… anyone but james… oh no or Desmond… or oh by the stars above what was she thinking? it was probably Hugo but how could she not feel the same anguish for him as for the others?!

"NO! NO! Oh no… nooooooooo!"

Sofia could hear the strain in her own voice, even though she tried to mask how spent and terrified she really was, the involuntary convulsions had only intensified.

"It seems time was sped up due to some magical interference, and now it's run out beautiful. King Victor was unwilling to take our deal, and if he didn't love his son enough then really who's to blame? I couldn't let them win, not again. They'll only succeed in destroying these caves with their explosions, killing us all."

He jammed the sword into the side of the cave, and turned to face her. "There is no escape anymore. I'll die for my crimes, as will my men, we are all going to die."

"No, no we don't have to die! Please let me talk to them, please!"

He dropped to one knee before her and touched her skirt. "What is one more crime, my beautiful Julianne."

No. Oh Merlin No.

"Wait Donovan, don't do this. Think about your wife, your child, you don't really want to do this! How can you ever look them in the eyes again? They will be freed someday. I'm a sorceress! Please, I can help."

He chuckled, "It's all over, and you're too beautiful to waste. Just like my Julianne. I want to die with her, with you."

"Wait stop, what are you doing? I'M NOT YOUR WIFE! STOP!"

He reached out and touched her hair. "Just like my Julianne." He maneuvered his body over her and she struggled to get away. One of her feet slipped while trying to wiggle free and ended up kicking him in the groin. He stumbled back a couple feet and kneeled there, collecting his breath while the princess covered in mud before him trembled in fear.

Sofia let out a massive scream. "HELP! PLEASE SOMEONE! ANYONE!"

"There's no one who can hear you sweetheart. It's just you and me."

He reached out and grabbed the sword from its place imbedded in the rock and crawled forward, pushing her down into the dirt with the sword against her neck, blood dripping from the sword onto her skin as the amulet wrapped up in his hand glowed its menacing violet shade.

"No more struggles dearest. We'll be together forever, crushed in this cave. My Julianne."

He'd starting tugging at her corset and bent over to kiss her neck below the sword.

NO. NO!

Anything but that. In the distance she could hear what sounded like the dull echoes of an explosion. Salvation or being crushed by collapsing cave walls was imminent.

She whimpered and tried to think of something, anything to make this stop.

"My Julianne."

Oh Merlin NO. HELP! Cedric please HURRY!

...

Author's (second) NOTE: AAGGHHHH! Will she be saved? And if so, who's going to save her? The answer to these will be in the next chapter, out on August 30th, in honor of Lilactime's birthday.