Chapter 22: Appeasement
The Amulet was the answer, and it had been hanging right there around her neck the whole time. Excitement overwhelmed her at the prospect. She would take charge of her fate, and she practically screamed, "I am in control!" While lunging forward and wrapping Cedric's head in the tightest of hugs.
"I very much doubt it!" came from the muffled man as he fell backward onto the stone floor again. She pulled away from him with the most gigantic smile plastered on her face, and that goofy grin made fleeting appearances.
"It's going to be okay Mr. Cedric."
"Well I sincerely hope so. Now let me see if I can find the recipe for that potion Amalthea gave you. It seems to have helped quite a bit, and I for one appreciate the return of 'smiling Sofia' as I've got enough gloom for the both of us."
He finally found the appropriate recipe, and spent the rest of the morning trying to concoct the brew. Every hour on the hour Cedric loomed and made sure Sofia took two drops of Amalthea's potion, and it seemed as if the cares of the world had melted away. Delightful banter filled the workshop, for now the princess had a plan to solve this quagmire, and it made her feel… powerful.
And confident. And determined to see it through, and since she couldn't remember when she actually felt… happy. She was helping Cedric just like old times, before the tournament and the war broke out. Fetching ingredients, and counting out shavings, just like the dutiful apprentice she'd wanted to be. A smile crept back onto the sorcerer's lips, and he started sashaying around the tower as he worked. At one point Cedric was mashing some leaves together and swaying side to side. She walked up alongside him and mimicked the movements, bursting out in giggles. He turned to stare at her, but she just smiled and spun, letting a drop of lizard gizzard extract fall in. He shot her a sarcastic look, grabbed the vial, bumped her away from the cauldron with his hip and let another droplet fall into the brew.
She bumped him back using her hip. It knocked him rather far to the side, "That's unequivocally unfair Sofia. I've not the skeletal frame to stand up to your beautiful curves."
"Mr. Cedric stop! You're so silly!"
The gigantic goofy grin flashed again, fading as quickly as it had appeared to a more introspective look. He reached forward, stroking her cheek. "And I'm truly grateful you're back to being my Sofia. Now I've got to get this right to keep you that way."
He bent down over an old potions book his father had written and seemed a bit lost in it. It was rather cute how wrapped up he got in his work.
She found herself staring at the way the ends of bangs brushed against his forehead. Lost in an alternate reality where he wasn't in love with King Rolland, and therefore how his life might have been different, her eyes finally trailed down. She was caught, as he'd spied her in the corner of his eye, and that devilish grin had once again made a fleeting appearance. Sudden embarrassment gripped her, and she glanced down at the book. Pushing his hands along the desk, he lurched forward ever so slightly, and grumbled to himself as if having an internal argument.
"What was that Mr. Cedric? I couldn't hear actual words in all that grumpy."
She inched closer to him and hovered there, her chin just above his shoulder. He smelled of herbs in the potion brewing on the countertop. Turning to face her, his head flopped side to side as if listening alternatively between the forces of good and evil perched upon his shoulders. Finally he reached some sort of internal conclusion. "Oh what's the use of staying away!"
He stepped in closer, invading her personal space and breathing lightly on her eyelashes. "Tell me, how can one survive the valleys without the peaks?"
Confused, the princess tilted her head slightly, "What does that mean Mr.—"
Long thin fingers swooped in, lightly touching her neckline in an effort to wrap around the back of her head. It sent a little chill up her arms and down her spine, but then the fingertips danced lightly along her skin. A tiny, "Tee hee" escaped her, and there was excitement in his eyes as she pulled away coyly. The potion sat there bubbling away on the countertop as he paused to look at her. "So, you're… ticklish? Have you always been, or is this new from the potion?"
Sofia nervously reached up to graze her own fingers over where he'd touched her skin. "Uh, I'm not sure. Nobody really tries to tickle me. Not since I was really little."
He rolled his eyes, then narrowed his gaze as if she was a gazelle caught in a lion's sights. "Well then, my apprentice, we will have to determine the extent of this phenomenon." He looked as if the king had dropped his crown in the sorcerer's lap, anticipation practically dripping from the sorcerer as he inched closer, "I suppose the only way to know is a physical examination."
"I guess so.. wait, you're not going to— Tee heee! AAHHH! "He was tickling her mercilessly about her sides. "Mr. Cedric, he he he, what are you doing! You never…. What in the… He he hee, what's wrong with… he he hee… aagghh!" She took a few playful steps back. The justification he proffered seemed weak at best, but if he was truly concerned it was best just to go with it. Silliness ensued, as his smile had returned in the shape of a fully encompassing devilish grin that refused to fade. He took a few more steps toward her, fingers curling in anticipation.
"I haven't tested out everywhere yet dearest, just stay still." She shook her head in a playful manner and recoiled ever so slightly.
"I can tickle you too Mr. Cedric, watch out!" came out between the giggles.
His head bobbed to either side as he considered the ramifications, "I suppose I'll have to risk it. After all, we're studying your nerurological responses while taking this potion. Incredibly important research. Yes, that's how I'd classify it. Now hold still." Promptly he launched forward. She was up against the wall by the window giggling till her sides hurt. In an effort to protect her side her leg had come up, and her skirt along with it. It only seemed to increase his motivation, and mercilessly his fingers roamed trying to find all the sensitive spots. The response resulted in Sofia gyrating strangely to protect various areas from a tickle assault, as if she was dancing oddly against the wall. Finally she reached out and flitted her fingers along his neck, and the sorcerer recoiled, snickering loudly.
He was ticklish!
It was over. She attacked and he crumpled into a ball, writhing with laughter on the ground as she tickled him about the neck and sides. He was way more ticklish than she was.
"Sofia, aha ha ha... Sofia I'm not the study subject! ha haaaa….Finnegans! I didn't take the potion!… hee hee heee… I surrender, I SURRENDER!" Relenting, Sofia slid back a bit so he could recoup. He finally sat up, a huge smile on his face. The devilish grin melted away, and a look of genuine affection grew in its place. He slowly leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the girl's midsection, drawing her nearer.
"You truly are better, aren't you sweetheart?"
The nickname was new, but he'd been consumed with worry so the dropping of formalities probably meant nothing. How could it mean something? "I told you I'm fine now, Aunt Tilly helped me."
"It was the potion, but never fear! Potion or no, the special place you hold in my heart will never waver."
"Awww, Mr. Cedric you're being so sweet!" He'd wrapped his hands into her hair, tugging ever so slightly. It wasn't painful, so much as strange. Accompanied by the odd lip-licking he was doing it was somewhat confusing. "Are you hungry Mr. Cedric?"
A bright red hue rose on his face, "I s-s-suppose y-y-you could say that, p-p-princess."
As if clandestine there was a loud knocking on the door. Blood drained from the sorcerer faster than his hand retracted from her hair as he shot to his feet. A few errant strands went along for the ride, and the princess let loose a tiny cry of pain.
Instant regret washed over Cedric as he saw that a couple of her hair strands were still stuck to his glove, and then the door opened.
Baileywick swooped in and reached out a hand, "Princess are you alright?!"
She smiled at the steward and extended her hand, "Oh yes I'm fine. Mr. Cedric and I were just testing out the effects from the potion Amalthea gave me."
Relieved, Baileywick smiled, "Is everything okay now Sofia? I heard about this morning's incident and I'm so sorry I didn't recognize what was happening yesterday when I saw you in the hallway."
"It's okay Baileywick." That preturnatural sense the steward had was peering into her soul. "I worked it out, inside myself."
A deeper understanding seemed to lie in the steward's eyes. "Excellent. I'd hate for you to meet the same fate as King Rolland the First. You're such a wonderful person Sofia, never forget that."
"I won't Baileywick."
They stood there smiling at each other, seemingly oblivious to the paranoid sorcerer now banked against the side of the potions table. Seemingly aggravated, the sorcerer unloaded, "Alright thank you for intruding once again but as you can see Sofia is FINE so long as I'm with her. Now if you don't mind my apprentice and I have better things to do than gawk at you."
"I was actually sent here to collect Sofia, if she's feeling better that is, and I do believe she's well enough to have lunch with the royal family."
The steward smiled down at the girl, and she returned the gesture. "That sounds great Baileywick."
Following the elder man out Cedric tagged along behind, very displeased to be outside the tower. Baileywick noted the sorcerer following them at the bottom of the steps. "Cedric you're not needed right now, I'll accompany Sofia to the dining hall."
"I'll be the one to decide if I'm needed or not, thank you very much." Cedric huffed angrily. "Besides, I know who's going to be there, and it could be unpleasant for her."
They continued walking, and Sofia leaned in to whisper to the robed man, "Who's going to be there Mr. Cedric?"
"That insufferable coward that passes for a prince, that's who."
"But, why would Hugo be at lunch with our family? Isn't he home in Maldonia with—"
"SOFIA!" It was Miranda. Around the far side of the table Amber was sobbing into her mother's chest. Her mom must have been told something, finally. The woman let Amber's head go and glided over to her youngest daughter. "Sofia dear, I'm so glad you're okay."
It felt so incredibly good. Much better than she'd ever imagined. Her mother holding onto her head made all the cares in the universe vanish. Finally the Queen pulled away, a look of existential relief that her whole family survived the ordeal. Miranda held her daughter about the shoulders, "You are okay, right Sofia? I heard awful things."
Over her mother's shoulder Sofia could see a tensely stern Rolland just waiting to intercede. This was orchestrated to minimize impact on Miranda, for her safety as well as the baby's. Looking downward, her mother was dressed in a loose flowing robe, not the usual corseted gowns. It was impossible to tell if she's started to show underneath all that fabric flowing around, but it was plausible.
"What… did you hear mom?"
Furrowed brows, but the queen answered, "That you were attacked by bad people, and that Desmond and Hildegard didn't survive." Quickly the queen spun, "Rolly, you said you told her!"
"I did dearest, now we all know what happened. There's no use in dwelling on it."
"But talking about it could help Rolly, just burying it only makes the problem worse." Her mother knew, on some higher level, that the whole truth hadn't come out. How the terrorists were motivated by the killing of slaves in Maldonia, how King Victor had said his son wasn't worth the release of the prisoners…
Hugo…
As if on cue the prince appeared at her side, distracting everyone, "Sofia!" He reached his arms around Sofia's shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace. She felt like drop-kicking the lowly worm.
Amber's momentary togetherness faltered, and she again broke down in a series of wails. Miranda flew to her elder daughter's side, wrapping the girl in that heavenly mother's embrace, and the Queen turned to her husband, "Rolly we can't do a formal lunch, not like this." He nodded, and truly no one had power over him like Miranda did. She turned to James, "Why don't we all talk about things together, somewhere comfortable like the reading room, and we can have food there if anyone is hungry."
James nodded much as his father did. She began guiding the weeping mass that was Amber out of the dining room, and called back to her youngest daughter.
"Sofia, would you like to come too? It'll be good for you dear."
That sounded nice, but then Hugo stepped in between them. "Please Queen Miranda, I need to speak with your daughter about what happened. Please."
His earnest tone resonated with the queen. She nodded and Sofia watched as the rest of her family retreated with Baileywick into the distance.
Hugo motioned for the princess to sit, and Cedric stood behind her chair, angrily gripping at the finials as the prince sat alongside her.
"What do you want Hugo?" Sofia angrily huffed.
"Could you eat something? You look mad so you must be hungry. See here, there's lots of fruits and stuff, no meat at all." He passed over a bowl of fruits that looked delightful as he forced a smile. She begrudgingly took some of the offerings and began to eat as the sorcerer growled.
Hugo eyed the sorcerer suspiciously, "Please give me some private time with Princess Sofia sorcerer."
Cedric's fingers curled even tighter around the chair, pushing all the blood from his bone-white knuckles. "I'll never give her to a spineless wretch like you. You're the very reason she was practically killed not two days ago, you… you… PRINCE you."
"You're right, I AM A PRINCE! You, SORCERER, are not! So I'm ordering you to let me talk to Sofia, ALONE."
Wand drawn, this was getting ugly. Contempt for the young man seated next to her boiled outward, and reached up, putting a well-placed hand on top of Cedric's, forcing him to lower the wand. She held onto his fingers as she smiled at the sorcerer, calming him, and slowly turned back to the prince. For his part Hugo was at first mystified, then angered by the affectionate display.
"Mr. Cedric saved my life Hugo. He has every right to be here, and he makes me feel safe."
"Oh." Was all the defeated prince could muster in response.
"What are you doing here anyway Hugo?"
"I couldn't go home. Not after what happened, so your Dad offered to take me in." No wonder Cedric had been keeping her hidden as much as possible. He knew Hugo was roaming the halls.
"Sofia I just have to tell you what happened. We kept silent, like you told us too, and it was working until that silver ball zoomed into the room and smacked me in the head."
"So you're saying it's my fault, aren't you Hugo?" Sofia said coldly.
"I ought to roast you for that!" Cedric fumed, but Sofia held his hand at bay.
"No! No you were right Sofia, it was working but then they called that blue-eyed dude in to see the spell, and he freaked when he saw the silver ball. Desmond was crying, and the guy just grabbed him, and… and…"
So it had happened right before James and Hugo's eyes. The mental image started to seem overwhelming, and Sofia had suspicions that Amalthea's potion was wearing off. The pain and distress in Hugo was obvious, and was starting to effect her.
"That's enough you little miscreant. Sofia doesn't need to hear this, it's much too disturbing far too soon for her."
"But I have to tell her I tried." Tears were in his eyes and he looked up at the sorcerer briefly, "Sofia I told them everything; how I was the Maldonian prince, how it was me they wanted, but then James thought I was trying to distract them and started saying he was from Maldonia too." Starting to breathe heavily, he looked so incredibly upset. "I tried Sofia, I tried. We never slept, James and I just kept trying to get free and save you. I was only thinking of you the whole time Sofia, and the entire night we could hear a girl screaming in the distance, and it killed me inside. Sofia I was so worried for you…"
A single tear rolled down the young man's cheek. Waves of sympathy washed over the princess, and without regard to the ramifications she let go of Cedric's hand, reached over and hugged Hugo about the head. A certain amount of machismo was keeping it all inside him, but he'd witnessed the worst humanity had to offer. In response the Maldonian prince let himself bury his eyes into her shoulder, but he refrained from hugging her back. Perhaps that was the only thing keeping Cedric from exploding. Sofia knew he was probably upset because he hated the prince with a passion, but the humanity within her had been triggered, for despite how obnoxious Hugo acted around her no one deserved those experiences.
"I'm okay Hugo. I was just alone in a dark cave for most of it."
"You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that Sofia. It was so awful. So…" Overwhelmed, Hugo couldn't continue and keep the emotion at bay.
"You were probably hearing Hildegard." He nodded against her shoulder, and Cedric could endure no longer. There was tugging at her hair, and she looked up to see a very angry sorcerer, eyes twitching and wand in hand convulsing in a very irritated fashion. An unspoken 'what are you doing touching him?' was written on his face.
"Mr. Cedric he's been through something awful. Everyone deserves empathy."
The sorcerer growled audibly at the comment, then shifted his stance and became worried, "Wait what time is it? Odin's icicles it's past noon! You need to take the potion. Now Sofia."
But her attentions were on Hugo, whose voice had dropped and was practically whimpering and she ignored the sorcerer's warning, "I wasn't even worth a few prisoners."
"Oh Hugo."
The prince had extracted his head out of Sofia's shoulder, and was uncomfortably close to her face. She shirked away a bit as he spoke, "I can't believe my father would just throw me away like that." The sincerity in his voice melted away the last of Sofia's defenses, and she stopped retreating.
Sympathy was writ across her face as he continued, "I guess I am just a spare. Axel's the only one needed. I'm… disposable."
Overwhelmed by empathy and she reached up with one hand to stroke his face. "Oh Hugo, don't talk like that. No one is worthless, and this is all my fault. Everything." Loosing her composure Sofia began to whimper and Cedric began frantic motions to end this exchange. His hand gestures went unheeded, as Sofia locked on Hugo's self-deprecating eyes. He seemed to have had an epiphany in the caves. Maybe he wouldn't be the egotistical self-centered prince she'd come to know. Maybe he really had tried to sacrifice himself to save Desmond. She leaned in closer with sympathy and compassion when Hugo suddenly closed his eyes and flung himself forward.
Caught off guard, Sofia had no way to stop the romantic overture. Everything moved in slow motion as Hugo's puckered lips were on fast approach. In her peripheral vision she saw a gloved hand snake between the two seated royals. Hugo missed the intended landing spot on Sofia's lips by only a fraction of a second, instead planting a kiss solidly on Cedric's open palm. The force of Hugo's forward momentum was met with Cedric flinging his hand outward to stop the exchange, and it created a decidedly loud smacking sound. Hugo's head bounced off the sorcerer's palm, and both objects went flying in opposite directions, Hugo backward into his chair and Cedric into Sofia's seat.
After a second of stunned silence Cedric practically hissed as Hugo jumped to his feet. "How DARE you sorcerer!"
"How dare YOU try and kiss my Sofia, you CHARLATAN!" The sorcerer had taken up a defensive posture in front of the seated Sofia, reaching one arm behind himself as if to protect her and the other with his wand at the ready pointed at Hugo.
Sofia sat there stunned as Cedric pummeled the prince with an angry tirade. "Of all the horrendous things you've tried this is by far the worst, you wretched prince you! This is assault, plain and simple."
"That's IT! I'm telling her father about how strangely protective you are around her! She's not your girlfriend you weirdo, and she doesn't even like you!"
"You disgusting little maggot, how dare you speak as if you know how she feels! A self-absorbed being such as yourself can't possibly imagine the depths of others hatred toward you, can you! She's nice to everyone, and there's nothing special about you! You're just another narcissistic prince!"
Sofia finally snapped out of it and saw Cedric had his wand raised while Hugo had balled his fists. Realizing this was quickly getting out of hand the princess stood and shouted, "STOP!" She reached an arm around Cedric's midsection and peered around the opposite side to obtain a clear view of Hugo.
"Thank you Mr. Cedric." Came out of her softly.
It was all that needed to be said. Conveying both the unwanted nature of what had happened and choosing the sorcerer's actions over the prince's, Hugo slumped backward into the chair and Cedric stood a little straighter.
A minute passed in awkward silence before the princess spoke again. She'd let her guard down, and Hugo had tried to take advantage. If Cedric wouldn't have been there her first 'real' kiss would have been sacrificed to that young man she despised so. Even so, he was hurting. His life had been forfeited by his father, and the pain of it was evident in his eyes. Cedric slowly turned to face her, twisting about her arm, it caused her to loose the grip, the appendage falling by the wayside.
"Are you alright Sofia?" She nodded. "I think your emotions are getting the better of you. Come, let's get you another few drops of the potion."
"Okay."
He was probably right. She'd thought she had it all under control, but waves of guilt and empathy had washed over her, exposing her and leaving her vulnerable. The last thing Sofia wanted now was to feel vulnerable.
Never again.
As they left Sofia turned to Hugo. "I am really sorry Hugo, your father's actions were unforgivable. But just because I empathized with you doesn't mean I wanted you to be physical with me."
"I thought you did though, honestly. You were hugging me, and smiling. I'm… I'm sorry Sofia."
His words clung to her like spider webs as Cedric pushed her toward his workshop and Amalthea's potion. She expected rapprochement, or some sort of lecturing, but received nothing of the sort. The sorcerer went straight for the vial on the potion counter, and insisted she take the two drops.
The vial was already half empty. The sympathetic pain she'd felt for Hugo started to melt away, and now she was sure. Aunt Tilly had helped her to conquer her fear of Donovan and the caves, but the underlying guilt of starting this war was still there, and the lingering misery at the downstream off-target effects of freeing the prisoners was still affecting her mind. She looked anxiously at the half empty vial, and there were soft thin fingers set upon her own. Looking up, Cedric wore an expression of concern. He'd been thinking the same thing. "I promise you Sofia I'll brew it right, and keep you better."
She nodded, but then the concerns started to melt away. He began working on the second portion of the potion, and she spent a bit fetching some ingredients as he read them off.
"Whompus root."
"Check"
"Extract of marigold."
"Uh… here it is!"
"Willow's weed."
Sofia scanned over the solutions, but it was an unfamiliar ingredient. "I don't see it Mr. Cedric."
Absentmindedly he gestured to the far cabinet set a ways up the stairs on the upper level. The ingredients he almost never used were kept high up there. She never even bothered to clean up there, as the extra storage unit had rusted shut with disuse. She began to ascend the stairs when the sorcerer yelped.
Startled, Sofia turned to see Cedric coming straight at her. "Sofia don't!"
"Why? I'm collecting the ingredients."
"I know, it's just… just…" He was frightened within an inch of his life for some reason, his eyes darting around strangely. "I'd juuuuust rather have you stir the potion. That's it!"
He was lying. Why, Sofia couldn't be sure. Whatever it was, he felt compelled to keep her downstairs. Considering he'd just saved her from Hugo, something that wouldn't have been necessary had she been listening to his warnings she decided to heed the advice. "O…kay" escaped her, and the relived sorcerer slunk by, stopping on the stair above and blocking her ascension. He gave a nervous little chuckle, then started wiggling his head toward the cauldron bubbling on the countertop. She slowly stepped to it, and began stirring the brew.
Practically flying up the stairs he flung open the old cabinet, grabbed the Willow's weed, and was back in an instant, dropping the leaves into the brew.
He took the spatula from her, and she just stood there, boring her eyes into him as if to force the truth out of him.
"Mr. Cedric, what's up there?"
"NOTHING!" He shouted, then started hyperventilating and looking about frantically.
"Mr. Cedric?"
"Uh… Uh… shouldn't you be reading something? Yes, YES! Apprentices should be studying, and study you shall!" He stopped stirring and started rummaging about haphazardly through his volumes of spell books.
A book to read… "Oh! I can try to read the book on stones I gave you!" She bounded into his bedroom and sure enough, there it sat. Utilization of the Amulet of Avalor's true power lay within its pages. Sofia sat upon her anointed stool for the next handful of hours while the sorcerer relaxed back into his potion making.
…
There was a soft hand stroking her hair. Sofia lifted her head off the potions table and the page she'd been reading came along for the ride. "Silly girl, you've gotten stuck to the page again."
"What?"
She'd fallen asleep while reading. In truth it was horribly dense material. She'd managed to glean some minor spells, a power plucking potion or the like that required some crushed blue stones amongst other things, but nothing reality shattering yet. How he'd managed to memorize the text was an enigma wrapped in a riddle, somewhat like the sorcerer himself.
"Well what do you think? I dare say it looks about right, don't you?" Cedric was smiling over the brew, a bit of confident pride in his stance. Sofia pulled Amalthea's vial from her pocket and held it above the cauldron for comparison.
They didn't look exactly the same. But he seemed so happy, perhaps she shouldn't say anything. She turned and a stern finger was chiding her, "Take the two drops and then dole out the critique."
Drops taken, he bent over at the waist, "Alright, NOW I'll entertain whatever that look meant."
He knew she thought something was off. "I just…"
"Out with it Sofia. You'd better spill whatever it is that's bothering you before you run out of what's in that vial." He tapped his foot impatiently and crossed his arms waiting for a response.
"Mr Cedric you're so amazing."
"Indeed. Is that all? Surely you didn't make that face intending to tell me I'm, how do you say it, 'ah-mazing'."
His impression was cute, and she giggled, eliciting a smile from the sorcerer. "Well, it's just that I think Amalthea's is more white than this, don't you?" She was holding up the vial and he inched closer to inspect it.
"Yes, I do believe so. But what could it be?" Chin resting on his upturned hand he'd begun stroking his cheek. "It can't be the horntail, that's very fresh. But perhaps… oh confounded all, where is that Willow's weed?" He'd begun fumbling through the jars still sitting on the countertop.
"Do you mean this one?" Sofia lifted up the Erlenmeyer-shaped flask.
"Yes, that's the one. Don't tell me it's expired and you didn't check the label."
"Um… no. How could I check if it's expired when you wouldn't let me fetch it from the cabinet."
The sorcerer gulped, "Now see here, that's entirely beside the point. You should have been checking these things Sofia."
"That's silly Mr. Cedric. You told me to read a spell book instead." She couldn't help but laugh at him. Accepting responsibility for something going wrong was not his strongest suit, even when the evidence was thoroughly stacked against him.
"I… I… Ugh, I suppose you're right. Merlin's mushrooms."
Sofia giggled heartily, and it did a good deal to lift his spirits considering the entire day was a waste. Or was it?
"Maybe we should just get some new Willow's weed from the apothecary in Dunwitty. They sell it there, don't they Mr. Cedric?"
"I suppose they do, but I'd rather not leave you alone to go fetch it. Ever." He had grabbed up the oddly squat jar that contained the offending weed and flipped it over to inspect the blank ceramic bottom for a possible expiration date as she leaned in.
"Well, if you don't want to leave me alone we can go together."
His head shot up, "No, no that won't be necessary. The potency might just have decreased with time, that's all. I can add more, yes that's what I'll try."
"Mr. Cedric I don't think you should—"
He'd dumped the rest of the foul smelling weeds into the brew. A gigantic puff of white smoke went up, covering them both in a thin layer of soot.
A moment to let it sink in passed, and she looked at the man, comically covered from the neck up in white ash like he was impersonating a ghost and burst out laughing. For a moment he looked hurt, but she launched forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and hung there, chuckling at it all.
"You're so fun Mr. Cedric! If you could only see your face!"
"My face! You've any idea what your face looks like!" Grinning wildly, the princess shook her head back and forth, a bit of ash falling on his robe as she did it.
He reached for the nearest bit of cloth, and hovered there with it for a second. She let go of his neck and stood still, closing her eyes and letting her arms fall to her sides.
She felt the cloth about her face. The dry fabric drifted across her cheek. It was made of something incredibly soft, perhaps even silk. After a series of disgruntled noises the cloth action stopped. "Am I clean now Mr. Cedric?" She opened her eyes to see him standing there staring unhappily at her face. "Unfortunately I seem to be smearing it. Now you look like an oil painting of a ghost."
"Oh Mr. Cedric." She laughed a bit more and rolled her eyes. "Just get the towel damp."
The idea struck him with force, and his eyes flew open. Muttering, "such a clever lass" he dabbed warm water onto the fabric, and positioned himself in front of her. "Hold still Princess." Was all he uttered, and as she closed her eyes she could see his drooping as well.
Slowly, methodically he cleaned the soot from her. The slightly warm and damp cloth dragged along her skin. It felt relaxing as he worked in small circles and long, slow strokes. After a bit his alternate hand found its way behind her. She could feel that he'd stepped closer, his torso brushing up against her, and there were multiple pressure points along her skin. His thumb and fingers no doubt. At one point she could feel his breath on her, and not a moment later something soft and warm made its way onto her lips, hovering there for but a moment. It had to be the fabric, right? Maybe his finger had slipped? Just as quickly as it happened it was gone, and immediately he jumped backward.
Blinking her eyes open, Sofia saw him standing there, the soot on his face disturbed near his mouth. He must have licked his lips again while cleaning her. She smiled and reached for the fabric in his hand while he stood there nervously.
"It's your turn Mr. Cedric."
His hands bunched up near his heart and he closed his eyes. "Do be gentle dearest." A contented grin was ironed onto him as she cleaned the various crevices and all that nasal real estate.
"Okay, all done."
"Really, so soon? I was rather enjoying it." He was still standing there, slightly bent over and happy beyond reason.
"Well I'm sure something else will explode soon. We can do it again then." She smiled at him, and he took it in jest.
"Indeed. Now is the potion right?" They both peered over, and it had gone black.
Pulling back, they glanced at each other before Sofia awkwardly uttered, "Oops."
He started laughing heartily and flopped back onto his stool. "Alright I give up. It'll have to be rebrewed, with fresh Willow's weed this time."
Nothing was served by sitting here lamenting it, so the princess wrapped her arms around his elbow, pulling him toward the door. He planted his feet.
"What? What's the matter Mr. Cedric? We've got to go get more, don't we?"
"Yes, I suppose we do, it's just…"
"What?"
"Well you've been a little unstable lately and I'm just not so sure you're up for a journey right now, and I'm loathe to leave you alone again, ever. Perhaps, given the circumstances, we can send Baileywick to fetch some."
"Oh don't be silly Mr. Cedric, I've been to the village hundreds of times. I grew up there after all, it's not scary or far to go."
"Indeed, but you know there's been quite a lot of placating you on my part, and I always seem to regret it."
"Ugh." The princess rolled her eyes, "Come ON Mr. Cedric. You said 'I've got to get this right' after all."
"I suppose I did say that, and it is only Dunwitty." One suspicious eyeball with raised brow was peering at her. "I reserve the right to use this if you go strange on me or disobey like earlier with that charlatan, understood?" He was holding up his wand.
"Come ON Mr. Cedric!" She pulled him to the door and her phoenix began chirping loudly on the table, hopping a little too close to the edge when she started to fall. Wormwood sprung into action and swooped down, the crimson colored phoenix landing on his back. It sent the two birds plopping to the ground, Wormwood taking the brunt of the impact. The phoenix hopped up and nuzzled Wormwood's side, and Cedric panicked, "WORMY! Say something? Well you can't really speak but oh! Please Wormy, flap or do something!"
The raven flopped to the side. "This is all YOUR fault. Creating that beautiful thing with no forethought at all. Ugh…"
Sofia started giggling as Cedric stroked the long-suffering bird's head. "This is not funny Sofia! Wormy could have been seriously hurt."
She took on a mock serious tone. "Oh yes Mr. Cedric. I was so worried too. He fell almost three feet!"
The sorcerer craned his head, "Are you… mocking me? That's unequivocally my role in this relationship Sofia."
"Oh no." She couldn't help but giggle, and the confused man stared at her strangely. "Wormwood's just as cranky as ever, so he'll be fine."
"Nevertheless, I think maybe we'd better stay here. In my tower." Cedric had stood cradling his raven in his arm and stroking it with the other. "I mean, for Wormwood. Yes that's the reason."
Sofia knew him well enough to know he was trying to wiggle out of walking to the village, but she wasn't having it. Sending Baileywick to do something so mundane as ingredient pickups was sure to incite the king's ire, as the steward was wrapped up in the family business of helping Amber and James recover, as well as managing all the meetings around Rolland's part of the war while keeping Miranda in the dark about it.
"Well then, let's bring him!"
"I beg your pardon dearest?"
"Let's bring Wormwood, and my phoenix too." She reached down and scooped up the little bird. Cedric groaned, but she'd already won this battle before it began. Just like old times, and the thought of that brought a joyous smile to her face.
After making sure that she had the vial from Amalthea Cedric finally acquiesced, and insisted she wear her sorcerer's robe to combat the chilled autumn weather. With that they headed off toward the village together. Strangely Cedric guided her out the back door to his workshop and through the gardens, as if scared to enter the main halls of the palace with her. Perhaps he didn't want to get into trouble taking her out so soon after the incident earlier, so she didn't protest. The autumn leaves drifted by their feet as they walked, and the clouds made their lazy way across a partially sunny sky. Everything was peaceful, and the company was excellent. So much better than the last trip to Dunwitty she'd endured with Hugo and all those weird phenomenon.
As they walked Wormwood clung to Cedric's shoulder, the phoenix to Sofia's. Every so often her bird would knead at her robe, and Wormwood would get exceedingly worked up. "Be careful princess, she'll fall again."
At one point the raven hoped off Cedric's shoulder and fluttered his wings in Sofia's face while trying to negotiate landing alongside her phoenix. All the feathers flapping created chaos, forcing the princess to duck away from the approaching raven.
"Now see here Wormy, Sofia doesn't need a feather lashing!"
"Princess please tell him to mind his own awkward business!" Wormwood huffed.
"Alright, that's it." Sofia turned to the sorcerer, arms crossed. The raven swooped back, landing on Cedric's shoulder. "Wormwood what is the matter with you?"
The raven turned to Cedric, who backpedaled, "You're the one in trouble, don't drag me into it." Muttered the sorcerer.
"But it's YOUR fault!" Crowed the raven.
"Just what did he do Wormwood?" Sofia had enough of this strange possessive behavior Wormwood had been displaying.
"He's the one who created her, and she can't fly. He must have messed up the spell."
The bird was flapping wildly, and Cedric began batting at the bird's wings. "Enough Wormy! Sofia what's the matter with him!"
They looked like an old couple bickering, and it made Sofia snicker. The sorcerer and his familiar stopped warring on the little hill overlooking Dunwitty, and Sofia took the phoenix in her hand. "Mr. Cedric Wormwood is concerned because my phoenix hasn't flown yet."
"Oh. Is that all? Why he should care is beyond me."
Wormwood huffed, sticking his beak into the air as he always did when fighting with Cedric. Sofia rolled her eyes at the two. Her bird was cooing contentedly in her hands, and she lifted the soft, beautiful creature to her lips.
"Do you want to fly?"
Excitedly the phoenix flapped her wings. A big smile crept up on the princess, and she turned, taking a big breath. Wormwood started squawking loudly, "Wait, what do you think you're doing with her?"
Closing her eyes Sofia spoke with determination, channeling her aunt's words of wisdom from earlier. "Sometimes you need to confront the problem head on. You ready?"
The bird chirped excitedly and Sofia flung the bird into the air. Wormwood went frantic and took off but after a few failed wing flips the phoenix finally found a rhythm, flapping happily about and flying haphazardly along the hillside. Delighted squeals came from the princess as Wormwood swooped by, and Cedric leaned in, extracting a hug as they watched the two birds dancing together in the sky. At one point the phoenix nearly crashed into a tree. At the last second the raven swooped in, deflecting the crimson bird back into the open. For his trouble he ended up side swiped by a low-hanging branch, but overall it was the happiest she could ever remember Wormwood being.
Willow's weed purchased, they started to head back through town and ascended the small hill. There was music coming from the village, and Sofia turned back to see a wedding party. Not an extravagant affair like a royal wedding, but full of the pomp and circumstance she knew and expected from Enchancian weddings. Sofia stood there and sighed when an extremely pointy chin was set along her shoulder. Cedric had approached her from behind.
"Upset you weren't invited to another of those ghastly formal affairs?"
"Huh?" Sofia turned her head, her nose brushing along his cheek. Secrets aside, it felt so nice to be so close to him.
"The wedding. Are they friends of yours? You are friends with almost everyone."
"Well, I don't recognize them."
"If that's the case what's with all the sighing? Don't tell me you're im… im… im-im-imagining your own wed… wed.." He'd gone oddly stiff and he was nervous for some reason.
"No, I wasn't thinking about that, just about how happy they're going to be. That's all."
"As if all marriages are happy ones" he shot back sarcastically.
"Well they should be. Otherwise why get married?"
"You should ask Rolland. He knows all about loveless marriages." As soon as he said it he froze, retracting his hand from her waist.
It felt like he'd punched her, and words tumbled out. "Mom and Dad love each other."
He looked away, toward the grass in the distance blowing in the autumn breeze. "I know they do dearest. That wasn't what I meant."
Oh no, he was in pain again. Rolland getting married must have been dreadful for him.
"I'm sorry Mr. Cedric." She reached forward and pulled him into a hug. He seemed to melt into her, and for a moment she felt complete.
"You don't like weddings now, do you Mr. Cedric?"
"I suppose they evoke rather unpleasant memories for me." He'd wrapped her up in a tight embrace. "I'd always envisioned weddings as happy things, but the day your father married was the worst day of my life, or so I thought at the time."
She rubbed her head along his neckline, desperate to make him feel better, and a small smile crept up on the sorcerer's face. "I suppose they do have their advantages. A necessary evil if one wants to participate in… certain activities."
"What activities?"
He was breathing rapidly, and bent her over ever so slightly by pressing harder into her topside. "I-i-i-intttttti, intim- i-intimate activ, activ... Ooooh, Merln's mushrooms." He was trying to whisper it into her ear, but was pretty nervous.
Oh. Those activities. She went crimson imagining something like that and pulled her face away slightly. Cedric was blushing too, still wrapped around her.
He coughed awkwardly, "I s-s-suppose children happen too, in most situations."
He'd asked her about it before, weeks ago when she'd been burned, but she hadn't asked his opinion on the topic. "How do you feel about children Mr. Cedric?"
Somewhat nervous, the sorcerer bounced a bit while answering, "W-well I n-never actually thought I'd be in a p-p-position to have any." A nervous glance to her, and she caught the meaning. Two men can't have a baby. At least one woman needs to be involved.
"Oh."
"Yes, and you know I'm not particularly good with children."
"But you were so good to me when I was little Mr. Cedric!"
"I wanted your amulet dear. I'm not that fond of children in general, and the feeling is mutual. One look at this face elicits either ridicule or shame, neither of which children are particularly good at hiding."
Cedric was sadly gesturing to his face. Sofia's eyebrows dropped, his sadness seemed to be infectious, and she stood on her tiptoes, kissing the end of his nose.
"I think you're ah-mazing. You're the one who told me to be accepting of my body, remember Mr. Cedric? When we were stargazing, and you told me I was beautiful." He nodded. "Well then you should know how wonderful you are, and… I think you're handsome too."
He'd been a great friend to her in that low moment, and she wanted to return the favor. That must have been it, why else would she say that? It had fallen out of her quietly, and the words seem to float away with the breeze. The only thing left were their bodies standing there on the hillside with the wedding music drifting by.
He seemed happy, if still nervous. "T-t-thank you P-p-p-princess."
There was an eruption of clapping, and the two souls along the hillside looked out toward the wedding in the distance. The ceremony must have just ended.
"I'd like to get married one day."
"I'd expected as much Sofia."
"But, I don't think I'd want that kind of wedding."
She turned back to see an extremely confused Cedric looming over her, his bangs practically grazing against her head. She smiled and flicked his nose with her finger softly. "Just what are you planning you cunning girl." A sly grin had grown on the sorcerer's face.
"Nothing." She answered honestly. Indeed, one needed a boyfriend before planning a wedding. "It's just that, I want to get married in the Friezenburg way."
The sorcerer stiffened. "And just what way is that?" came out of him tersely.
She relaxed, and swayed side to side, taking the sorcerer along for the pleasant ride. "The woman's family approves, and the man sings a special song to her. That's it."
"Oh, so the man writes his own vows?"
"No Mr. Cedric. I mean that's really it. No flowers, no cake, no caterers, no long-winded ceremony. Nothing like that. Just a boy, a girl, their family and friends, and a song. That's it."
"Not even any magic? Here I thought you'd like me to perform a trick or two."
Sofia grinned widely, "Well of course I'd want your magic! That's not even up for discussion." He smiled, and stood there for a moment lost in thought. "Are you okay Mr. Cedric?"
"Yes yes, but you're sure that's it. Just a song, and maybe a spell or two." She nodded as he leaned in, angling his nose downward so that it grazed the side of her face. "What song is it dearest?"
"Oh that's the best part. The man writes the song for his beloved about all the reasons he loves her."
"Oh I see. A song of special significance." He suddenly grew excited and began squeezing her about the midsection. "Mr. Cedric what are you doing?"
"Oh nothing dearest. Nothing at all." He had that mischievous look again, something was definitely up. Not realizing they'd stopped her phoenix and Wormwood had flown ahead. Sofia's attention was caught by the raven cawing loudly in the distance. She turned as Cedric had swung in, landing a kiss on her cheek. She blushed, as he was getting a bit reckless with the kisses. Not only were they out where someone could see and misinterpret that as something sexual, but if she hadn't moved he might have accidentally kissed her on the lips.
"Mr. Cedric be careful. I don't want you getting in trouble."
His eyes went wide. "Oh yes, right you are princess."
They began to walk toward Wormwood's cries in the distance. "And Sofia…"
"Yes?"
"It doesn't matter to me how it's done. I'll be right there alongside you, no matter what type of ceremony you choose."
The thought of Cedric dressed up as a maid-of-honor in one of the lavender ensembles from the wedding happening below made her giggle hysterically. Seemingly horrified, Cedric reared back, eyebrows furrowed. "Merlin's beard! How was that amusing?!"
"I was just… te hee hee… imagining what Amber might dress you in, tee hee heee!"
"Oh NO! Sofia don't subject me to that girl's fashion sense! She'd have me in golden ruffles, I'm sure of it!"
She tried her best to not die of laughter while Cedric grew introspective. "I suppose this is all fantasy. Your family would never approve of my participation."
Poor Cedric. The laughing stopped and Sofia stroked his arm as they walked. Even though he was given leeway to perform at certain small gatherings, Rolland never entrusted Cedric with the important magical tasks. Even after all these years. "It doesn't matter to me what Rolland thinks, I'd never let Dad keep you away."
He looked genuinely touched. "Do you honestly mean it Sofia?"
"Uh-huh! You're my best friend Mr. Cedric! I wouldn't have it any other way."
He grabbed her up into a hug and lifted her off her feet, spinning her around, "Mr. Cedric, what are you… weee!"
Finally she was set back down. "I feel the same Sofia."
Smiles exchanged, Cedric seemed to be walking with a little extra bounce in his step. She started thinking about getting married, and who'd actually want to marry her besides Hugo when they walked around a tree, finally spotting Wormwood. The raven and the phoenix had taken refuge in a tree, where in the field two lovers decked out in racing gear embraced passionately. One was unmistakably Ruby. Her dark brown tresses were unique for a hundred miles.
The other was James.
Too shocked to speak Sofia stood there mouth agape until James separated his body and lips from her friend. A moment of pause, and he turned toward the castle. Ruby watched him go for a minute, then turned toward the village. Cedric pulled her behind the tree, and it finally began to sink in.
"James."
"And RUBY?!"
"WHAT JUST HAPPENED!" She'd turned to Cedric and the confused sorcerer shook his head.
"I've no idea."
Sofia practically ran in the direction James had departed, Cedric trying to keep up as best he could. "It's not possible! James is engaged!"
"To a princess he doesn't like." Cedric huffed, "It wouldn't be the first time a royal was unsatisfied with pre-arranged engagements."
That was true, Hildegard and Axel had been a horrible idea, but James? Her mind raced as she ran after her brother. The way he'd been so uncaring about Clio's performance in Corinthia, the way he'd been so quick to dismiss the possibility of Ruby liking him, like he didn't want to discuss it further, and Ruby! She'd had a crush on him since childhood. They shared a love of outdoor adventure, and racing. Oh man, how was it possible!
"What will Clio think!" Sofia shouted at Cedric.
"Don't you mean what will Rolland think? I daresay he's the one your brother is worried about."
Finally Sofia could see her brother in the distance. He was rejoining the path that lead from Dunwitty to the castle. She was just about to yell out to him, when he stopped and pulled from his satchel a green cloak.
Sofia froze.
There before her was the cloaked menace. But he wasn't really a menace, he was just her brother, disguised so that his trips to Dunwitty wouldn't be known.
TRIPS?!
How many illicit rendezvous had there been? Her head was spinning with facts as Cedric bumped into her from behind. "Agh! Why ever did you stop girl!"
All she could do was point, and instantly Cedric knew. "You mean he's actually real?" fell out of the sorcerer.
Disoriented, Sofia stood there upset and unloaded at the sorcerer, "What do you mean? Of course he's real! He wrecked… my… room."
Cedric pulled away as Sofia walked toward the castle hastily. "Why would James ransack my room? It doesn't make sense."
Cedric went silent, but stayed alongside her. "It doesn't make sense. He had no reason. None at all."
Faster she walked, with the sorcerer keeping pace and the birds flying above. "It must not have… been him."
Almost back to the castle, and she kept an extremely brisk pace. "Who destroyed my room? It had to be someone in the palace. Someone with something to gain by doing it. Someone who…"
"Sofia stop this."
"But Cedric I need to know."
"WHY! Why do you need to know!" He was walking fast too and gesturing wildly with his hands. "You know who the cloaked man is now and so you know you're safe at the castle. That's the end of it, PLEASE let that be the end of it."
That uncomfortable suspicion rose up in her again. He was too dismissive, too sure she wasn't in any more danger.
What was in that potion cabinet?
She went silent, striding faster and faster to the back entrance to his tower. All that fear she'd experienced. Had he really caused it all? Accusing him without proof was useless, he'd simply lie. She was a woman on a mission, and was heading straight for his tower, upper level. One old potions cabinet, and she was almost sure what was hiding within it.
Steel eyed, the sorcerer was jogging next to her to catch up as Sofia made her way through the often-unoccupied apple orchard just outside Cedric's tower. "Sofia wait. Please wait. I need to explain something."
She halted and turned to him, angry but clinging desperately to the hope she was wrong somehow. "What! What do I desperately need to know."
"Well, it's just, j-j-just that I… well…"
"SOFIA!" The distraught princess turned and saw Lucinda. She was under a tree in the apple orchard, and beside her stood Westin. Upon seeing the sorcerer and princess Westin straightened, sticking out his chest a bit as the witch bounded over and wrapped the girl in a hug. "Oh Sofia I was so worried about you. I—" The witch recoiled as she saw the extremely upset sorcerer standing alongside her. "I wanted to talk to you."
A harsh glance at the sorcerer, "No problem Lucinda." And with that Sofia stomped off toward the apple tree, leaving a slightly crushed Cedric standing near the base of the tower and out of earshot.
"Oh Sofia are you okay? Westin told me what happened this morning!"
"I'm fine" Sofia grunted.
"Whoa, you do know we tried to rescue you right? I wouldn't leave you there." A sympathetic Lucinda responded.
"I know, I know, I've just got something important to do. I'm sorry." Sofia looked back at Cedric, who was still staring at her. In truth his gaze hadn't left her since the incident early this morning and now it was dusk.
"As do we." Westin responded. Before Sofia could ask her cousin had stepped forward, "You'll be okay if I leave you here with Cedric, right Sofia?"
"I'm not sure, yet… but wait! Where are you going?" Lucinda and Westin looked at each other with concern. "Tell me."
"It's just that, well you aren't feeling well and with everything that happened to you…"
"Spill it Lucinda. I've had enough secrets for one day." The princess turned back to Cedric, who looked happy to have her attentions, but realizing she was still angry slumped his shoulders.
"Okay, well Westin's job while he's here is to get intelligence we can use in the war, and he.."
"All those reports I run between the king, the constable and the knights had the location of a prison in Maldonia, and some rather cryptic language about needing to be 'cleansed' of disruptive elements."
Sofia's mouth flew open, and Lucinda nodded. "Yep. If we don't save them tonight they'll all be dead by morning."
"But you're not coming" Westin chimed in.
"Who says I'm not. I won't let fear rule me." Sofia retorted.
"You're not well enough, and Birk wanted to make sure you were safe above all else." Westin put a hand on her shoulder to console the girl. It was sure to anger Cedric, but at this point Sofia didn't mind. "Just like my Dad sent me here to be safely away from the war. But we have to save these people."
Sofia nodded, but Lucinda was having none of it. "It's okay Sofia. You can sit this one out. Westin found out that Amalthea and Edith are in Friezenburg protecting the palace while King Aaron grieves. There's no way they could come to stop us in time."
"I'm NOT going to leave people to die. If I live with courage, pluck and dedication I can do anything!"
Suddenly Lucinda started tugging on her sleeve. "Sorcerer on approach. Hush!"
Cedric had lost the internal struggle, and was wandering his way over. She gave him a menacing look, but he didn't stop.
She leaned over and wrapped Westin in a hug about his midsection. She knew it would anger Cedric, but maybe that was the point. He'd hurt her, frightened her, manipulated her, everything imaginable. But she just couldn't prove it yet. Lucinda and Westin stared at each other, horribly confused about what was happening as Cedric froze in place watching her hug the uncomfortable young man. Frustration mounted, and he drew his wand, "BLIZZARDO!" he screamed, and the entire apple orchard froze into an ice forest.
Westin stood there, mesmerized by the display of sorcery as "He's so amazing" left him. Lucinda drew her wand and took up a defensive posture. Finally Westin stopped taking in the frozen trees and bent down, whispering into Sofia's ear, "I think he's upset Sofia, you'd better talk to him."
She shook her head, and Cedric turned crimson. "Come away from him this instant Princess!"
"You'd better go." Westin calmly stated. "Here sir, please don't be angry with me." He reached down and extracted one of Sofia's arms, handing it over to the sorcerer. As he did so Cedric brushed past his arm, and the man smiled.
Cedric's fury instantly melted, and as he took Sofia's arm he kept his eyes on the young man looking away nervously.
Sofia ripped her arm away from Cedric, and headed back toward the tower. This needed to end. She knew where the proof was.
Cedric hurried after her, leaving Lucinda and Westin in the frozen orchard, "So, your witch friend was worried for your well being I take it? Sofia? Sofia?"
The door was flung open and she was going up the steps. "Sofia wait, PLEASE wait. You do know him from the village after all, don't you?"
Up into the workshop she walked, and straight to the staircase that lead up to the loft. Suddenly she was stuck to the stair.
"Unstick me NOW Cedric!"
"But…"
"NOW!"
He refused, so she slipped off her shoes. Without turning or hesitation she went straight for the potions cabinet and flung the door open.
There on the top shelf was her wand.
She'd been so stupid. It was so colossally stupid of her to trust him. Deep down she knew he was conflicted, and maybe even a little dangerous. Reaching forward, she wrapped her fingers around the wand. A rage she hadn't felt in a long time bubbled forth, and lightning erupted from the magical stick, bolting through the workshop and out the window. Cedric just stood there, staring at the floor as she marched down to where he stood.
"Why is MY WAND in your potions cabinet Mr. Cedric?" He didn't answer, and her fury grew. "You knew I'd find my wand. You KNEW I'd find you out, didn't you?!" He just stood there as a statue taking her fury. "You KNEW how scared I was after my room was ransacked, and you said NOTHING! How could you frighten me like that!"
"That's NOT true! I told you the demons were inside the walls! The walls are ME Sofia, the demons within ME are very busy sometimes. You KNOW that!"
"But how could you violate my trust like this, I… I… trusted you!"
"Did you now! Did you REALLY trust me princess! Is that why you've been running from me?! Is that why you've been sneaking away in the night!"
Anger consumed her, "You tried to make me a VICTIM! To make me hurt and afraid inside, how COULD you!"
A fury of his own had grown, "You, DON'T pretend like you're innocent in all of this. I had to take it to keep you from all your late night shenanigans, and I'd do it again!"
"WHAT! How could you SAY THAT! You'd hurt my feelings and make me fear for my LIFE! I can't… I can't be near you right now."
"HOLD IT!" He'd reached out and grabbed her arm. "I meant what I said, I'm never going to let you out of my sight again."
She jerked free of his grip. "Sofia WAIT!" She'd bolted out the workshop door into the castle. He was hot on her heels. "Sofia if you'd just listen to me, please stop and LISTEN."
"No! You've been lying to me!"
"So have you! Wandering off with any handsome man who happens by into Merlin knows what danger, and now you're happy to be hugging this Rolland imposter right in front of me, again!"
She was at her room and flung the door open. Clover was there, "Hey Sofia I… WHOA what's happening?" Cedric and the argument had followed her in.
"No, no get out of my room Mr. Cedric!"
"I won't! Not until you've calmed down!"
"I mean it, leave me alone!" She'd pushed him away as Clover hopped near. On the verge of tears she couldn't keep it together, and bolted into her closet, her rabbit following close behind. The door slammed shut behind her, and she collapsed, burying her face into her knees as the bunny put a conciliatory paw on her while Cedric frantically pounded on the door.
"I'll never leave you alone, and you PROMISED to stay with me every night! You PROMISED not to run from me! I thought your promises meant something Sofia! Or do they only count when they're meant to vex me!" His voice was raised substantially to travel through the door without a thought as to who might be listening in the halls, but she kept the door shut.
"Hey, what's going on Sofia?"
"Oh Clover, Cedric's the one who destroyed my room and took my wand. He violated my trust, and lied to me when I was afraid, and… and…"
"Whoa, a bunny takes a couple naps and everything falls apart." Clover hopped to the other side of the sobbing girl.
"Are you sure Sofia?"
She nodded, "Yes, I found my missing wand in his potions cabinet and without it I couldn't protect my friends. Hildegard and Desmond died Clover. They died because I didn't have my wand. Because he took it." More sobbing happened, and there was a thud accompanied by the door moving slightly. Clover looked under the door jam.
"Well he's not going anywhere anytime soon, and my sensitive ears are picking up some crying sounds. I think he's really upset too."
"He… should be."
A muffled, "Sofia take your potion, everything will seem better when you take it. PLEASE." Came through the door. He must have practically shouted it.
She drew the vial from her hands, and eyed it suspiciously. It had been altering her moods, making her happy when it wasn't warranted. She should feel pain, and empathy, and sorrow for the suffering of her friends, and she should feel anger that he'd deceived her. She screamed back, "NO!" through the door, and muffled whimpers drifted through the door.
There was silence as Sofia caught a hold of her emotions. She began channeling Aunt Tilly, and tried her best to take charge of the situation. To act instead of react.
"Did you finally figure out Cedric's not the nicest guy? Took you long enough."
"Clover…"
"No really Sofia, the way you're always forgiving him and showering the guy with kindness, there's only so much of that anyone deserves, and I think Mr. Sourpuss has had more than his fair share."
Catching her breath the princess sat there, taking it in while there was intermittent pounding on the door.
"I'm not being fair to him."
"Excuse me, the guy robbed you, and from what it sounds like he also let you stew in it for a while."
"I know. Mr. Cedric's not the nicest guy out there, but I know deep down he never meant for anyone to get hurt."
"You sure about that princess? Because the guy's a bit dubious."
"Yes I'm sure." Sofia collected herself further, some clarity coming through. "I mean, all those times he tried to take my amulet and not once did anyone get hurt."
Clover grumbled, "I guess you're right, but still you shouldn't just forgive him."
"Maybe not, but what am I going to do? He's camped outside my door."
"And bunkering down for the long haul too. I can hear him on the other side of the door still."
Lost in the darkness and silence, Sofia realized she was in a dark room without being afraid. After all, there was nothing to fear in the castle any longer. There was no danger lurking behind every corner, unless one counted Cedric among the dangerous.
Was he dangerous?
"I… have to forgive him."
"No, you don't." The rabbit retorted.
"Yes, I do. I've been lying to him, and sneaking out. It's driving him insane, and I can't do that anymore. I drove him to do it."
The bunny sighed. "If you say so."
Sofia listed to the side, "But if I stay I won't be able to help Lucinda and Westin. I feel so torn."
Torn indeed. Stuck between trying to do the morally righteous thing and save the forsaken souls in Maldonia with a sense of duty to fulfill her promises to Cedric and support her family, she felt her heart splayed in two.
"What's happening to Lucinda? And who is Westin?" The bunny's head flopped to the side, and a half smile returned to the princess.
"Oh Clover. Long story short there's another prison that needs liberating, or everyone there might die."
"Whoa." Clover regrouped, and hopped onto Sofia's lap. "Then the choice is obvious, isn't it? Cedric the emotional can wait when lives are at stake."
She shook her head "I promised not to run off without him."
"Then take him with you? You can let the prison guards put him out of his misery."
"Oh Clover that's not funny. There's been so many close calls lately when he's tried to fight, and I just can't risk his safety." She stared off at the back of her closet. "I can't risk loosing him." Something in the pile of dresses caught her eye, and she began to stand as Clover eyed her suspiciously.
"What do you mean 'loose him'? Sofia do you 'have him' in some way you're not telling me? Sofia? Sofia?"
Walking to the back of her closet she spotted the bag containing her dress and maps in Friezenburg. He must not have realized what was inside the bag, perhaps he'd not had time to inspect it before he had to flee the scene of the crime. Clover hopped forward as another string of pounding on her door began. "Sofia! PLEASE come out! I'm never going to leave you here alone!" was coming from the other side of the door.
"What are you gonna do?" Inquired the concerned rabbit.
"I'm going to take charge of this whole situation by helping the prisoners in Maldonia and I'm going to save Mr. Cedric from himself. He deserves it."
"That's nice. Wait, how are you gonna be in two places at once?" She stood confidently, and took a deep breath as the bunny recoiled. "Oh no, don't you start doing what I think you're doing. There should only be ONE Sofia. Didn't we learn this lesson? Your copy locked me in a CAGE at one point!"
"But Clover I'm so much better at magic now, and I need to stay with him all night like I promised AND take charge of this Maldonian evacuation. I can't just let people die."
"Oh man, this is gonna be bad."
Clover ducked as Sofia reassured him. "It's going to be fine Clover. I'll see how she handles Mr. Cedric right now, and if she's a perfect copy she'll feel the way I feel and want to reconcile with him."
"I guess, Sofia the Worst would just make him suffer more."
"Exactly."
Wand raised, the words "Doppler Duplicato" were spoken, and Sofia the Second sprang forth, the only noticeable difference being the scarlet red dress she was wearing.
"Ouch! You know that hurts, don't you? Hello again Sofia."
Confused, the princess exchanged worried glances with her rabbit. "You… remember me?"
"Well yeah. I remember being an awful little girl who was painfully melted away by Mr. Cedric's spell. Why?"
"I guess I wasn't expecting that, but I need your help."
"I know."
"How?"
"I AM you, remember? I know who your family is, what's going on with the war, and why you needed to be in two places at once."
"Oh."
Clover sat up from his hiding place, "She IS a better copy this time Sofia, but I still don't trust her."
"Oh Clover, it'll be okay." The copy stated.
Sofia eyed the girl wearily. Noticing the princess eyeing her, the doppelganger bent down at the knees, stroking Clover in just the right way to get his back leg thumping.
"Oh yeah, that's the spot." The copy giggled.
"Just keep Mr. Cedric unaware that I'm going to Maldonia, okay?"
"I've got this." Spouted her copy, and opened the door while Sofia crouched behind some dresses.
She could hear the door click shut, and Cedric began to spill words everywhere, "Sofia I know you're upset but—"
There was silence.
After a minute Clover sat back from the door. "She off'ed him."
"What? No. They're probably just talking."
Sofia let the door open ever so slightly, and got a glimpse of her copy smiling up at the sorcerer, whose anger, hurt and frustration had melted away. She was holding his hands in between them, and slowly led him from the room.
"See Clover, it'll be okay."
"Yeah, one can hope."
Sofia glanced down at her faithful furry companion. "But maybe… you'd better follow her."
"On it."
With that the rabbit departed, and Sofia was off to the apple orchard with her satchel, catching her comrades in arms to go actively help the people of Maldonia. She had a plan, and it had begun.