Chapter 26- Infatuations
Sofia's first kiss had been stolen.
Before she could shove Hugo away the ice below fractured and exploded upward, flinging shards everywhere. This coincided with what sounded like the dying wail of a slain dragon echoing through the gardens from above. Instinctively Sofia threw her hands up to protect her face, but felt stings along her forearms and cheek. Once the blast subsided she reached out toward Hugo, rolling on the ground pathetically and screaming incoherently.
"Hugo! Are you okay? Hugo!"
Hugo finally stopped rolling and sat up on his knees, stunned. "Augh, I think so."
"Then How COULD you do that?! You SAID you wouldn't take advantage of me!"
Hugo was still reeling back and forth somewhat and looking around at the magical carnage, "I said I wouldn't kiss you with your eyes closed, what happened to the ice?"
"You SAID you wouldn't DISHONOR me! I was asking you a question HUGO, HOW COULD YOU KISS ME?!" Hugo had risen to his feet, and reached forward with concern for her well being. She shoved the man away and began ripping off the skates. Hugo fell to his backside with an unceremonious thud.
Sofia looked him over, completely at a loss to reconcile what had just happened. She'd never really given much thought to the circumstances surrounding her first kiss, having only recently being wrapped up in these sorts of emotions. But as she stood there, eyeing the man who'd done the deed she felt nothing like the warm and contented feeling this moment was supposed to produce. Instead she was left hollow, as if happiness had been sucked from her into a void. Hugo stared back at her, clearly regretting his actions and struggling to find the right thing to say to rectify the situation. But there was no cure for this, one couldn't go back in time and change this milestone.
Lifting one hand to her lips, Sofia covered the lower half of her face while tears welled in her eyes. Hugo struggled upright once more, slapping at the mud that now covered his backside. "Sofia please don't be upset! I really do love you, and I just wanted to show you how I felt."
As his words came tumbling out her head began to involuntarily sway back and forth, "No! You KNEW that I didn't want this! I told you that when Mr. Cedric stopped you the last time."
Hugo tried to apply pressure to his arm but winced, crying out in pain. His jacket sleeve began turning from azure to crimson along the length of the gash he'd sustained. Realizing it was a wound beyond her skills to heal she grimaced.
"Come on Hugo, let's get you some help for your arm. Mr. Cedric can heal it."
At the mention of the sorcerer Hugo's expression hardened, a hatred gripping the young man. Sofia looked down at her hands, and felt a certain loss that it wasn't Cedric with whom she'd shared her first kiss, despite knowing he'd never love her that way, she still wanted it to be him. Hugo stood tensely, balling his uninjured arm's hand into a fist.
"Are you really that naïve Sofia?"
"What are you suggesting Hugo?" Sofia was now set on the defensive.
"That the only people in this entire castle who could have cast a spell that destroyed the ice were you and that sorcerer, and I know you didn't do it." Hugo gestured all around him at the shattered surroundings.
"Mr. Cedric PROTECTS me, he'd never hurt anyone!"
"You really think he's 'protective' of you!" Sofia nodded but was cut off before she could defend Cedric. "I bet he's up there somewhere, watching us and jealous of the great time we were having."
"We were NOT having a great time. I was worried about the war and you took advantage of me!"
"I did not! It was all so perfect, just like a kiss should be but that sorcerer couldn't handle it, and look! I'm bleeding!" Hugo gestured down to his arm, now dripping with blood. But Cedric never hurt anyone, in all those years of hunting her amulet not once was someone hurt.
"You don't know who made it explode any more than I do! And Mr. Cedric NEVER hurts people, EVER."
"Are you serious? I KNOW that when you were burned Amalthea, Edith, AND Cecelia didn't do it. Now tell me Sofia, who else could have started the fire that burned your leg, huh? Who ELSE had a wand at that dinner!?"
Sofia's mouth fell open. It never occurred to her that Cedric might have been the one who burned her. Unsure words drifted out of her, "That's… not possible."
"Of course it is! That guy is dangerous."
Sofia's eyes narrowed, but what could she say? She didn't know who had burned her, and Cedric had leveled lots of emotional devastation as of late. "It just wasn't him okay! He NEVER actually hurts people, NEVER."
As if on cue she saw the outline of a raven in the moonlight circling overhead.
Cedric was watching her, from somewhere. But where? And if he was watching this… Sofia turned away from Hugo, unwilling to acknowledge that the stinging of her arms and Hugo's persistent bleeding might have been caused by her beloved sorcerer. A smug smile spread across the prince's face, and he took a step closer, extending both of his arms outward to wrap her in an embrace. "Come on beautiful, you've got to realize that I'm the one who's perfect for you. We could be so happy together if you'd just let me into your heart."
She shook her head. "Hugo let me make this perfectly clear. I'm NOT interested in you that way. My being close to Mr. Cedric doesn't change that."
Hugo cringed when she said it, and grit his teeth. "Oh man, he's really got you snowed." There was a disarming sincerity in his eyes. "That guy's obsessed with you Sofia. Can't you see it? He's constantly watching you, touching you, pushing other people away, and you're letting him do it. You're enabling him to be this way."
"You're being ridiculous Hugo. You're just mad because he's my best friend and you're aren't."
"He's NOT your best friend Sofia, he can't be!"
"Why! Why is it SO HARD for everyone to accept that Mr. Cedric is perfect for me!" As soon as she said it she clamped down. Hugo's eyes went wide, and mouth dropped open.
"I KNEW it! That letch has gotten to you, hasn't he!"
Hugo took another step closer, pressing her further, "Has he been touching you?! What did he do to you Sofia!"
Her breathing intensified while Sofia grasped desperately for control of the conversation. There was absolutely no upside to revealing the way she felt about Cedric to Hugo. "That kind of accusation doesn't deserve a response, and I can't let you spread rumors about Mr. Cedric anymore." That gave Hugo pause, but Sofia wasn't done yet. "I understand why you can't go home Hugo, but I want you to leave me alone from now on."
"But Sofia, wait—"
"NO Hugo. Accusing Mr. Cedric of violence and manipulating me is the final straw. Please leave me alone."
With that she turned and headed back toward the castle, trying desperately not to break out crying over the whole ordeal. Her first kiss was now a memory, never to be repeated. It served her right, she'd let her guard down around Hugo, knowing he'd tried it once before. The closer to her room she got the more upset she became. She was ascending the final staircase when her mother's soft voice rang out from above. "Oh Sofia! I thought you were outside with Hugo."
Looking up from her emotional distress Miranda was there, along with Baileywick and another visitor behind them. Instantly Miranda was wracked with worry, "Sofia dear, what's the matter?"
Wiping away a tear she saw none other than Cecelia's long slender frame poking out from behind the worried woman. When the girl saw Sofia upset she also seemed worried. "It's nothing Mom, I just want to be alone, okay?"
"Oh I see." Miranda took a few steps toward her daughter, arms outstretched. "What happened with Hugo?"
Upset but unable to accurately convey all the turmoil she was experiencing Sofia stood there. There was a tiny gasp from above, as Cecelia tensed up. Noticing her daughter's gaze, Miranda turned to see the young sorceress, "I believe you two have met before. Cecelia is here to make sure Hugo's spells went right. Apparently he's not very good at magic."
Sofia's gaze dropped to the floor, and she pulled away from her mother trying to flee toward her room, "Wait Sofia!"
It halted the princess as she ascended the stairs, having pulled level with Cecelia a step below the banister. The girl was just staring at Sofia with trembling lips and shaking hands. "Sofia did you think about our discussion earlier?" She turned back toward her mother, "Did you try letting love grow?"
Miranda was smiling gently at her, with an otherworldly amount of kindness. Sofia's eyes darted around the room, trying to find what to say. Finally her eyes fell to the floor as a quiet, "He kissed me." Came drifting out.
Miranda was worried above all, and ascended the stairs to her daughter at a rapid pace. "Sofia what else happened? Are you okay?" The woman reached up toward Sofia's cheek worried, as if she was going to cradle her daughter's head in her arms, but Sofia pulled away. "I just really want to be alone right now. Please, I'm so confused."
She spun to escape and caught sight of Cecelia. One look at the girl and the misery Sofia's statement evoked was enough to confirm her suspicions. Poor Cecelia was in love with Hugo the Charlatan. Miranda said something, but empathy for the witch overwhelmed her. Sofia delivered an emphatic, "Hugo's arm is hurt. You can heal him, skate with him, whatever you want." The witch seemed unsure how to respond as Sofia turned and bolted up the steps and straight into her room. Today had started out so wonderful with Cedric dancing his fingers along her hip, and was thoroughly, unequivocally ruined.
It had been entirely her fault. The spat with Cedric gave Hugo the opportunity, and he fully utilized it by playing on her emotional state. The more she thought about it, the more anger and frustration boiled out. Cedric might not have been an innocent in all of this, but Hugo really was the charlatan Cedric made him out to be.
Sofia sat for a long while on her bed sobbing and upset, feeling so very broken inside. The little phoenix was still there and curled up on her lap for comfort. The woe was interrupted by a rapping on her window. Wormwood had made another appearance. Her phoenix turned away, burying her little beak into Sofia's lap. Lovingly she brushed her hand along the bird. "Ah don't be mad at Wormwood. Why are you mad at him anyway?"
Her bird gave a series of soft chirps and Sofia sighed. "It really would be easier if you could speak. Then I could tell you all about what happened tonight with Hugo, and how Mr. Cedric and I can't seem to understand each other."
Sofia glanced to the other side of her bed, and upon it were Cedric's two notes, the latter one still pulsating beautifully with magic. "If you can reconcile with Wormwood maybe there's a chance for me and Mr. Cedric to stop fighting. You don't have any reason to fight with him after all, it's not like he's Mr. Cedric."
Sofia stood and unlatched the window. The raven came swooping in, landing on bed alongside Cedric's notes. The bird shook some residual snowflakes off, he'd flown through Hugo's magical snow.
"What are you doing here Wormwood?"
"You don't really have to ask do you princess?" He hopped over her covers toward the phoenix, but the bird turned away, and Wormwood puffed up in haughty indignation. He turned back to Sofia, "Fine. Cedric ordered me here to keep an eye on you, like always."
"Keep an eye on me?"
The raven cawed annoyed, "Yes, to make sure that prince fellow doesn't spend the night in your bedchambers, or worse."
So Cedric was still trying to protect her, despite pushing him away. "Oh." Sofia turned to stare at the note on her bed. It seemed to be staring at her, burning into her psyche and begging to be read. She brushed back the tears and took the first one in her hand. Today had been truly horrible, what was one more misery on the pile?
She cringed as the parchment unfurled, and true to form it was filled with an angry tirade. He must have written it hastily after being banished from her room.
...
That display was simply to torment me, wasn't it? I can't believe you'd be laughing with HIM after leveling such charges against me, and in your bed no less. Is it truly your intention to rip me apart, piece by piece?
What do you honestly expect? Especially after your father made it PERFECTLY CLEAR I was to stop 'distracting' you. Would you have me stand upon the rooftops and shout it to the world? This isn't Agrabah, or Stefan's kingdom, or even Friezenburg, for which you seem to have developed such an affinity, where unattached women of your age are already considered spinsters. It's ENCHANCIA, and anything less than your being eighteen is decidedly frowned upon.
Why can't you realize that my advanced age, your decidedly elevated social standing, and even our differing dispositions would make others unaccepting? Despite the truth we share it's the PERCEPTION that matters. You must know what people would assume of me, but still you torment my soul. I should have expected as much, misery comes from the broken guise of happiness.
...
Once read the parchment imploded, leaving behind a little puff of fibers the only proof it ever existed. Beyond the lack of an apology, which seemed so trivial now, were waves of anger and confliction. He was none too pleased about Hugo in her room, but beyond that he was embarrassed to acknowledge her friendship for a litany of reasons. That whole bit about her father chiding Cedric for being close to her triggered realizations. Cedric would have been going directly against Rolland's commands if he'd been fully honest about their close friendship to the other sorcerers. Their relationship would seem odd to anyone outside looking in. She had even struggled with the ways to define it.
Sofia gripped the sides of her head with regret, but then the pulsating second note was sitting there a ways off, just begging to be read. She pulled on the corner, the parchment unfurling with beautiful waves of light that bounced off the walls.
Sweetheart this war is destroying my last grip on sanity,
It seems my life is an unending string of calamities,
I'll be the one to apologize if it brings lasting peace,
Because this war is destroying me by inches.
Only you can put an end to my horrible suffering,
I'll march straight up to the king and I will tell him everything,
Push all of the fears away and find the strength to be what you need,
I just need to know that you will stand beside me.
Please you must know that I'm filled with regret and feel horribly,
And that I'd do anything you want to find myself redeemed,
I now know you've been let down but if you only knew my dreams,
What I would do to keep you near me forever.
Upon reading the note it smoldered into a pile of ash. It was everything she could have ever wanted from him. All the empathy in the world rained down upon her, and she bolted from her room up to his workshop. He'd assumed she'd read these and still spent the afternoon with Hugo in full view of his tower, leaving him alone to stew. Resolved to stay no matter what she bounded up his tower steps and found the door unlocked.
She burst inside, but he wasn't there. Bounding across the workshop she flung the red curtains back and there, sitting along his bed with one knee curled up to his chest sat Cedric, barely illuminated by the moonlight. Drawing the curtain back revealed all of the gold stars she'd won him at the Hexley Hall tournament clutched in his hands. He turned to face her, pasty. Presumably he'd been crying.
Time moved in slow motion as she ran toward him, wrapping her arms around his head and knocking him backward onto the bed. Gold stars went flying, and he began flailing underneath her, trying to get free.
After a bit she felt his chest jumping strangely, and realized she was probably suffocating him. "Sorry." She slid back a tiny bit and he gasped for air, then after recovering he looked up, staring at her. She could feel his breath catching in his throat but overwhelmed she soldiered on. "I'm so incredibly sorry Mr. Cedric!" She buried her head into his shoulder, convulsing.
He didn't lift his arms up to hug her, or move, or acknowledge her repeated apologies. The only movements he made were halted breaths. She crawled forward, stretching her body lengthwise over his and whispered into his ear. "Please forgive me Mr. Cedric, you were right, I wasn't thinking about you, or how people might treat you, I wasn't thinking about your feelings. I'm so incredibly sorry."
She felt his whole face move as he sniffled. "Do you expect me to just forget the events of today then?"
She gripped onto his head tighter, as if trying to crawl inside him, "Yes, No, I don't know. I wish I could forget today. I hate fighting with you."
"And what sparked this change of heart dearest? Was he a sloppy kisser?" Cedric was oozing cynicism, but she couldn't let it deter her. As he said it he turned his face and shoulders away. But he didn't get up and leave, instead his arm reached around her center, gripping her tight.
"No, I—wait, how do you know Hugo kissed me?" She felt his whole torso recoil as he drew his legs up as if preparing for a body blow. "Mr. Cedric, were you watching us ice skate?" His breathing intensified but he didn't answer. An outright lie would assuredly follow, one she didn't need him to say. "You made the ice explode, didn't you?"
He winced. She took a long deep breath, and nuzzled herself into his neck. "I wish you would have just come out to the gardens. I'd rather have skated with you." He started whimpering, "I wish that I would have come in to your workshop after dinner and shut the door so Hugo couldn't follow me." He started convulsing again, "and I wish I'd never said what I said in my room earlier, or in Friezenburg. I'm so sorry Mr. Cedric. You mean more to me than any of those things."
His remaining hand found it's way up into her hair. "I s… I s-s-suppose you aren't the only one to blame for, today. To that I am… what I mean to say is I…"
"You don't have to say it. I just read your notes and I understand."
"What do you mean 'just'? Wormy delivered them hours ago, before you went filly frolicking."
"Well I was hurt, and upset, and I guess I was afraid of what you'd written. They could have said that you didn't want to be around me, at all."
Realization struck him. "Oh Sofia." He turned back around to face her grunting and squirming as he did it, quite a feat considering she was still covering most of his body with her own and was decidedly not a light person. "I just wanted you to stop being angry with me, and to keep you away from that pilfering prince."
"I know that now, and I'm so sorry for the way things went today. If I could take it all back I would."
Soft lips were pressed onto her cheek. "Sweetheart I… wait what ever is the matter with your skin?"
"Huh?" Cedric had sat up abruptly, pushing her upright with his arm and licking his lips while growing upset. "What are you talking about?"
"It's BLOOD! You're bleeding!" A little awkward roll and he was out from under her, pulling her frantically toward the workshop and light. Once out he turned to inspect her, growing frantic as Sofia steadied her gaze on him and prayed to observe regret.
"The shattered ice cut me."
His eyes bulged out in horror and arms went haywire, knocking things over as he muttering frantically, "I can fix it, I can fix it, oh where did my wand get to?" Zooming in on the wand case she'd made him years ago he lunged forward. Clumsy fingers banged into it and knocked the case to the table below. The lock snapped open and his family wand came tumbling out and across the table. Several attempts were made to grab it while he whimpered. Sofia put an end to it by reaching out and grabbing the wand as it rolled off the table. She reached out the other hand and set it against Cedric's chest, calming down the man. Slowly he clasped his fingers around her hand and his wand, gently extracting the thing, the obvious shame of hurting her actually made the princess feel better, in that he was remorseful. But then, his reaction was very similar to the way he'd had an emotional breakdown after she'd been burned. Could he have been the one who burned her after all?
He gave her the dearest quick hug, then set about mending the minor cuts to her cheek and forearms. The creaking of beams in the tower roof was the only sound for minutes as white healing light streamed from his wand, wrapping her in its healing aura.
"It's okay, I know you didn't mean to hurt us Mr. Cedric."
An eyebrow went up, "Us?"
"Well yeah. Hugo was hurt worse than I was, and it was you who made the ice explode, wasn't it?" The menacing grunt the sorcerer emitted could curl the hair on a porcupine.
"I'll not do it Sofia. I'll not use my magic to heal whatever scrapes that prince has. He's unworthy of the attentions of a royal sorcerer."
"But you hurt him, and you never hurt anyone. You want to make it right, don't you?" There was no doubt in Sofia's mind that Cecelia would heal the prince, but she needed to know Cedric would do the right thing, and make the right choice. He just had too.
Cedric turned and face planted into the nearest table. "I do try to live in such a way that I minimize hurting people, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Regardless, why should I waste my magic on him, of all people? That he should disappear from this kingdom and our lives forevermore would be my fondest wish."
His evasiveness caused her pause. "I wouldn't mind that either, but still he was hurt." Distress rose, manifesting in a desperate longing that Cedric would step up and redeem himself. Instead, Cedric avoided the guilt by staring out the window, and seemed to intentionally turn the conversation to the faint sounds of laughing drifting up from the gardens below.
He stepped away, toward the window, and spoke with derision. "It seems that prince doesn't need my help after all." Sofia followed him over and he turned abruptly, placing a hand in front of her face. "Dearest, it would delight me to no end to have you witness what is on display down there, but even so, I fear for your feelings."
"What?" Sofia batted his hand away and leaned out the window. Off in the distance she could discern the outline of a male and female dancing along freshly conjured ice. Cecelia had fixed the spells, and was probably relishing this opportunity to be wrapped in Hugo's arms.
"Good."
It startled the sorcerer, and he eyed her incredulously."Do you expect me to believe that? After what I saw today, all of my suspicions were realized."
She stepped closer, wrapping arms around his reluctant frame and turned up to face him. "What suspicions? Mr. Cedric I really don't like Hugo at all anymore, even as a friend."
He gave a soft, condescending chuckle, and whispered to her softly. "I watched your lips tell a different tale."
"It's the truth! I told him not to kiss me but he didn't listen."
Wary stares were tossed her way, but they finally relented. "Then, you're not going to marry that weasel and fly away to Maldonia, leaving me to wallow in lonely misery for the rest of my miserable existence?"
"No, of course not." He set his head against hers and tightened the hug around her. "You are so special to me Mr. Cedric, you know that right?" There were actual hints of a smile on the small fraction of his face she could see. "Even if I'm a lot younger than you, and of a different social class, and all those things you said in the letter, I still—"
Smile faded, he was growing ever more nervous, as his hands began to rub themselves along her arms and his breathing became erratic once more. She wanted to tell him how she truly felt, but was worried about upsetting the delicate balance they'd struck. "You have to know what matters to me most is the person, not any of those things society sees us as. I lo… care for you as a person, beyond the labels of young and old, princess and sorcerer. You're you, you know what I mean?"
He was nodding, causing him to rub his forehead along the top of her head. "Indeed I do, but then you see it is the label my dear, the labels mean everything to some people."
"Not to me."
"Yes I do realize that is part of your unyielding charm, but I also know for certain that your father will care about the labels, especially with regards to you. The man knows no limits to his hypocrisy." She tried to interject but Cedric seemed determined to say his piece, "and I know you give little credit to Rolland's opinion as of late, and for that I am thankful if not a bit delighted, but in all honesty there are few who would approve any sort of relationship between a man of my years and a woman of yours."
"You're not that much older than me Mr. Cedric."
"I should think by now you know I'm a lot older than you Sofia."
Exasperated, Sofia could take no more of the mammoth in the room. "Mr. Cedric why does this matter so much to you? How old are you anyway?"
He froze. "Ah well then that's, well that's not something I plan on… Please it's better if we leave that be."
"But why? Can't you just tell me?" He laughed nervously. "Are you older than Baileywick?"
"SOFIA."
"Well, are you?"
"POSEIDON'S PUMPKINS girl NO, I'm not older than Baileywick. The man is ancient, I'm pretty sure he manifested into being when the castle was built."
"Then, are you older than Rolland?"
To that Cedric gulped strangely. "Where are you going with this Sofia?"
"You ARE older than Rolland, aren't you?"
"Merlin's Mushrooms. No Sofia, I'm younger than the king. Why is the specific number so important to you all of a sudden?"
"It's not important to me at all, but it's obviously important to you. Maybe if you actually tell me how old you are I can finally put your fears about it to rest. As long as it's ambiguous you'll keep thinking about it."
"I'd prefer we left it at I'm older than you, lest the depths of my depravity be quantified."
"I already said I don't care how old you are." She huffed at his intractability, then regrouped. "What about Mom?"
"Alright Sofia, let this torture end! I'm 21 years older than you. There, I said it. Now you can hate me forevermore."
He turned from her and planted his face into the stone wall, whimpering loudly, evidently seriously concerned about this.
"Why would I hate you Mr. Cedric? I could never hate you."
Tilting ever so slightly to see her reaction he muttered, "Because I'm unworthy of your company. I'm much too old."
"Aww Mr. Cedric, don't be like that. You're still the best, no matter how old you are! And you mean so much to me."
"Really Sofia, you don't mind?"
"Why should I mind? You're a person, just like me. Well not just like me, you're a man, a… um, handsome man," Her voice became unsteady as he extracted his head out of the wall and turned to face her, a tiny red welt on his forehead. She felt compelled to lean forward, and granted the softest little kiss to the injured spot. Pulling back, Cedric was blushing heavily. Oops, she'd stopped mid-sentence. Where was she going with this? "Oh and I'm a woman, but still I think you're amazing, even if you've got a bit of a vindictive streak sometimes."
"Oh Sofia…" He grabbed her up into his arms, shifting her about the floor of the tower overwhelmingly delighted, "Sweetheart do you truly mean it?" She smiled and nodded.
"Of course I do. Your mind, your heart, your soul, those are what I…" She felt suddenly self-conscious, and knew she must be blushing heavily. He didn't seem to mind though and a long, soft finger began traipsing along her temple down to her lips. "That's what really matters, at least to me."
"I suppose it truly is." There was a softness to him she rarely saw. His eyes began to close, and hers did in kind. They'd come to an understanding. A warm, kind, and soft moment of understanding where the sleeves of his robe had wrapped themselves over her shoulders. She was hopelessly lost in loving him, wasn't she?
There was a sudden burst of laughter from outside. It caught both Sofia and Cedric's attention and they turned to see the silhouette of Cecelia bent forward begging to be kissed, while Hugo just skated off toward the castle. The girl stayed in that position, until Hugo was gone, then collapsed on the ice with her hands to her face.
Sofia bit her lip as Cecelia had been jilted. "Poor girl."
Cedric was hovering there, staring at her as his arms loosened their grip on her and fell to his sides. "Poor… you honestly wanted that charlatan to kiss her? How many women must the man embrace in one evening? He sickens me." Narrowed eyes in anger stared off toward the castle where Hugo had retreated. "I hate cheating, in all its forms."
They turned away from the window, Sofia reaching for Cedric's hands. "I just wanted Cecelia to be happy. She seems so unhappy, always wanting approval from her mother and never getting it. It would be nice for her if someone loved her."
Cedric exhaled through the nose emphatically. "I suppose you've no romantic inclinations toward that prince at all."
"Nope."
"Well then I can sympathize to some extent with her. The approval I sought from my father at her age never came, and love would have done wonders to soften the blow." The reminiscent look he wore changed to kindness as he turned to gaze upon Sofia, "But I suppose it took you to provide resolution to that particular problem, didn't it sweetheart?"
She smiled up at him, remembering the several instances she'd helped his relationship with his father.
Cedric sighed, "I suppose as long as that prince keeps his hands off my Sofia it's not my place to stick my nose into other's business, but nevertheless I've the burning desire to turn him into a hop toad. I'm very good at conjuring toads after all, even if they do have flippers when I'm upset."
"Mr. Cedric."
"Or maybe I could turn him into a piglet? We could have Chef Andre roast him with imported pineapples for the Villager's ball the day after tomorrow, and there's more than a few apples ripe for the picking in the orchard to stuff him with."
The image of Hugo roasting on a spit made her smile widely.
"You know Sofia we're not limited to annoying animals. I could turn him into a rock, or even a doormat. Oh! A doormat sounds positively divine, then I could stomp on him without making you upset."
Sofia burst out in giggles as Cedric kept on stroking her hands.
"Oh Mr. Cedric stop! I'm supposed to feel sad for Cecelia, not be laughing."
"But you're beautiful when you laugh Sofia, and as this afternoon demonstrated I'm horribly inept at pacifying you when you're upset."
She looked up at him, filled with love and for once not reproaching herself for it. Maybe fleshing out the mental roadblocks he had also helped to resolve her inner turmoil. He seemed to be reigning down a bit of contentedness, then looked sideways to his bedchambers and gripped her hands.
He walked her slowly into his room and pulled the curtains closed behind them, then gently encouraged her to sit on the bed, and there he stood before her, biting his lip. "Mr. Cedric, are you-"
A long thin finger was pressed to her lips, silencing her. He withdrew the hand, slowly closed his eyes and began undressing. A whole flurry of emotions swept through her as she watched this display happening so close she could reach out and touch him if she had a dash more courage and wasn't worried he'd recoil. The robe, his gloves, the bow, the vest, the shirt, his shoes, socks, all tossed into a pile at the end of his bed. The only thing left was his pants. Sofia couldn't help but notice he must be cold and leaned over, trying to grab the robe from the pile. He stopped her and stood there, almost naked before her. She erupted in tingles, with no idea what was happening but all the same loathe to disrupt the moment. He ran his hands along her arms and back till he came to the hem of the conjured jacket she wore, then gently lifted it over and off her head.
Oh man, he was undressing her. Articles of clothing kept coming off, dirty socks, the blouse, even her undergarments. It made her burn with shyness and more than a little trepidation, causing her to cover her feminine attributes with her arms. He paused at her skating jumper as his fingers began nervously twitching. "Do y-y-y-you pre, prefer to s… sl-ssssssleep with them?" he barely managed to squeak out. She never slept in pants, and would give all the treasures a princess could bestow if he would but continue despite her unexpected shyness. Unsure of exactly what to do she kept looking at him in disbelief this was happening until he pulled away.
"No!" She reached out and grabbed the nearest arm, halting his retreat and exposing part of her topside. She could have sworn he looked flush, but he didn't reach out to touch her skin in any sort of way, instead he stood there eyeing her every move. It must have been a trick of the moonlight. "No I… don't sleep in pants."
A wicked little grin sprouted. "Then I s-s-suppose I can return the f-f-favor you lent me when I was ill." A gentle push on her stomach made her fall backward onto his bed, and she couldn't believe this was happening. He was undoing the latch on her pants while she stared up at the ceiling, nervous energy rocking her core as he slid the garment off. She was praying with all her might that he wasn't gay, and this was exactly what it seemed it would be. That they were going be physical with each other. That he might want to actually….
PART 2:
Once her pants were off there was silence. Waiting there, mostly naked and staring up at his ceiling she felt a soft cloth drape over her stomach. With that he flopped over onto the bed, wrapping himself in purple folds.
Sofia looked down, and the fabric was the robe he'd conjured for her. Cedric curled up alongside her, snuggling into the blankets and wrapping them both in the smell of magic. He meant to fall asleep intertwined with her.
The excitement of the moment faded away, and she sat up kicking herself at her stupidity of actually thinking he was going to romantically advance on her while he watched her put the robe on. The small tiara she'd worn all evening was conspicuously still on her head, caught in tousled curls from the clothing removal. Extracting it, she leaned over him and placed it on the table, her hand trailing over the book on magical stones. It was open to a page about three quarters of the way through. She pushed her disappointment aside and focused on the more important task at hand, saving everyone and stopping the war. Axel taking over Maldonia didn't seem like a viable option, so the old plan seemed the better route to travel.
"Mr. Cedric, you said that you memorized this book, right?"
"Yes indeed I have. You bequeathed it, and when I read it I remind myself that you do indeed care."
"Oh Mr. Cedric I care, I care so much. Don't forget it, okay?" She wrapped her arms around his head, hugging tightly.
"I do try Sofia, but I find the task exceedingly difficult when some of your more errant behaviors surface."
She spent a long few minutes winding her hands through his hair while the man just laid there growing that goofy grin once more. He finally seemed happy, and in this induced state would be more wiling to share magical knowledge. "Mr. Cedric, when we were in the carriage, it sounded like there was a spell in that book to use my Amulet."
"Yes indeed there is a specific potion of note, about three pages from the back." He snuggled into her neck, "but I suppose that option has run its course." Hugging him tightly she stared at the book. The answer was right there, in its pages.
A few fingers began stroking her star pin. "It's still in your hair."
"Uh huh, why do you keep saying that? I never take it out, it… reminds me of you."
He looked down to the non-existent space between their bodies. "I see."
"Hey, maybe that's what you need, something like my hair clip to remind you how much I… care." Sofia reached out and grabbed one of the errant gold stars that had been flung when she attacked him with hugs earlier. She looped the fabric over his neck and positioned the star along his collarbone. Looking back up at him the sorcerer was positively beaming.
"You've… marked me."
"What? I just thought maybe you wouldn't worry so much if you always have this with you."
He ran his fingers over the star, and seemed to be emotionally bonding with it. So much the better, if he was able to let her wander out of his sight without loosing composure. He wiggled one of his legs in between hers, smiling as if he'd won that Hexley Hall tournament himself. "You've made me so happy."
There were several minutes of contented hugging before he spoke once more. "Please never leave me Sofia." Was uttered as he gripped her tight, his weight on her side.
"Don't worry Mr. Cedric, I'm not going anywhere. You're my sorcerer." Sofia was left staring up at the ceiling and reflecting on the day's events while Cedric sighed periodically. It had taken all her effort and several hours to patch things up with Cedric, and she wondered how her copy was faring. Surely she had managed to save the day and her Papa in Friezenburg, but then why hadn't her copy returned? It had been hours. It kept her up, and the thought that maybe her copy had failed began to take hold. It had taken too long, much too long. Scarlett should have been back before the ice skating incident. Restless, she began to contemplate going to Friezenburg herself to track down her copy and make sure everyone was okay. She seemed to have reached a stalemate with Cedric, as he seemed unwilling to fall asleep first. Contest unspoken, worry for Friezenburg was tabled till the next day, and she let sleep consume her once more.
…
The morning came all too soon, and Sofia awoke to the dull ache of a bony elbow jutting into her side and with a distinct feeling of intoxication once more. Realizing that she'd spent the entire evening intertwined with Cedric set the warmest sensations coursing through her extremities. She tried to slowly shift her weight around and relieve the pressure the elbow was placing on her side, but the effort made her muscles ache. Lactic acid built from the ice escapade the night prior had combined with the stillness of the night to produce sore limbs.
A loud groan of discomfort and Cedric woke with a start. Settling back into her she felt his leg rise up alongside hers as that goofy grin streaked across his face once more. She tried to stretch out her neck to nestle into his shoulder, but her muscles again complained heavily, causing her to voice their displeasure.
"Uuugghhh."
An eyebrow went up, slightly annoyed at having been woken in such a way. "Sofia whatever is the matter? You sound as if you've been rolling boulders uphill all night, when I'm quite certain you were in fact dozing happily beside me." He shifted as he said it, causing her to roll a bit to the side.
"Uuuggh, please stop moving Mr. Cedric. I'm so sore."
"But whatever from? You weren't sore before when I…It's not like we… we… wwwww…. weeee were… were…up… all nnnight… OOOHH!" He'd started to hyperventilate once more and caught her eyes in his. Those beautiful chestnut orbs rolled back into his head and he flung forward, landing a soft kiss on the ridge of her cheekbone where the cut had been the night prior.
It made her smile contentedly, to know he was concerned for her and that peace had been restored to their relationship. Thinking back, she had felt overworked when skating with Hugo. It had been a very long time since she'd used that particular muscle set. "I think I'm sore from the skating Mr. Cedric." The goofy grin evaporated, replaced by squinting and pursed lips. Not wanting to dwell on the unfortunate events of the night prior she lifted the arm that had been around his neck and shoulders all night, setting her fingers along his sloping jaw line. It softened his mood considerably.
"I suppose it's punishment for the lapses of judgment you displayed, and one should never dwell upon the 'why', as long as it shant be repeated, now should we?" She gave a faint nod. Dwelling on that kiss with Hugo was the last thing she wanted to do while wrapped in Cedric's arms. He dropped his head down low, that his bangs danced along her forehead while his lower half tightened along her side. It felt sinfully delightful, relaxing and nerve-wracking all at once. "Now tell me what I c-c-can do to help with this p-p-predicament you find yourself in."
"Do you know a spell that can make my muscles relax?" That incredulous eyebrow went up again, and Sofia rolled her eyes, "You know, like a massage. Can you enchant something to massage me? Or maybe brew a muscle relaxant potion? That would be so incredibly sweet."
She actually heard the air escaping from his lungs as his mouth dropped open. That wasn't his normal thinking face, but perhaps the early hour was dulling his typical enthusiastic response to magical requests. A thick gulp, and the man began shaking ever so slightly. Then his eyes began darting down to the blankets they both shared.
"Mr. Cedric, are you alright? Do you know a spell?"
"I s-s-suppose I could… could… assist. Y-y-y-yes, indeed I could try. It's not really s-s-s-sso complicated, after all." His nose trailed along her neck as long, thin arms wrapped tighter around her. Pressure on her shoulders caused her to turn over slowly, her bottom half guided over by his pelvis. When the rolling motion finally stopped she was lying face down into his pillow, the lower half of Cedric's body on top of her thighs. That she might die happy with this one memory briefly crossed her mind, but then she felt him shaking. He'd lifted his knees up to distribute his weight to either side of her hips, and was breathing heavily.
She tried to ask what he was doing, but the pillow muted the question. She turned her head slightly to reiterate but froze as long nimble fingers slowly brushed her brown wavy locks to the side, collecting the loose ringlets slowly and methodically on the pillow. It didn't matter why he was doing it anymore, the sensation of his hands drawing along her skin was enough to send the princess's heart racing. The last of the loose locks was collected, and a certain sadness crossed her mind, regret that she didn't have more curls for him to manage. The thought was only brief, as a strange gulping and lip smacking sound came from the sorcerer, and then two pointed thumbs were set gently into the soft tissue of her neck, at first only grazing the fuzz along her neckline, then as time went on slowly his fingers began to dance in earnest along her skin.
"Aaaaahhhhhh." A groan of pleasure escaped her before she could suppress it, for the touch of his hands along her shoulders felt as though divine grace was kneading the ache of her muscles away.
"Enjoying ourselves are we?" Was whispered in her ear. As his hands were working themselves in circles along her neck down toward her shoulders, eliciting further grunts of enthusiasm.
"Uh huuuuh, ooooh."
A soft chuckle came from Cedric, and with each stroke his hands began to trail a little farther down. Soon they were catching along the collar of her robe, and he'd begun running his thumbs as far as could be reached under the soft fabric, drawing a large arch across her back. How she wished the fabric would simply disappear, that his hands might roam freely across the rest of her aching muscles, and whatever else he might find reason to touch.
She felt his weight shift, and once again soft lips were dancing along her ear, "To hear you go on like that is more than a little encouraging sweetheart. It seems we've discovered a hidden talent of mine, haven't we?"
"Huuuuh? Oooooh…" was all Sofia could groan, reason and sanity long since departed.
Again a soft chuckle came from the man, "You're drooling dearest."
She snapped her lips shut, and indeed outstretching her chin revealed a cold damp spot where her mouth had just been. She felt embarrassment rise up and manifest as heat flushing her face as Cedric sat back and continued the slow euphoric torture that was this massage.
"It's just sooo good."
A happy little grunt escaped him, and his hands kept working their magic along her skin. She really shouldn't have, but it felt so good, and a massage was something that friends did for each other anyway. She'd rubbed Ruby's back after tough races, and she'd rubbed James's back after a jousting session. Ruby and James had even… wait. That was different, assuredly, now that she knew. Anyway, if she got a little more pleasure out of this than he expected to bequeath it really wasn't a big deal, right? Cedric was the one in control, and Sofia convinced herself that he would stop once he was uncomfortable. Letting the longing dictate her responses, she shifted her shoulders downward, allowing the robe to slide backward with his movements. His whole hands started to participate, and the robes hem kept trailing downward from his ministrations. Multiple fingers became involved, and the rhythmic movement of his hands up and down her skin began inducing the strangest fuzzy feeling inside the princess. Warm, and assuredly delightful, each time his hands came within striking distance of the small of her back a wave of tingles stretched along her stomach, trailing up her spine and down her legs.
Uncontrollably her body had begun to react in certain ways she was sure Cedric would find off-putting, but he didn't seem to notice or stop. In fact, she wondered if he'd ever touched another person this way, having no extremely close friends before. The thought made her feel special, even if it was completely aromantic from his perspective. The small of her back arched upward each time his hands dug into the grooves of her hipbones, and slowly the vertical routes he'd been travelling began to shift to her sides. Pressured touch along her ribs was too much to take, as electricity shot through her lower extremities. Once the tidal wave was over she immediately she tensed up, for how could he not realize what was happening to her? He was on top of her legs now after all. Suddenly his hands dug into her, gripping at the sides of her hips. His knees gripped tightly onto the side of her thighs as his weight lifted off of her and the strangest guttural string of vowels came out of him. Instant mortification gripped her. Had he realized she was enjoying this on a completely different level? Had she made him uncomfortable? Oh no! Maybe his hands had cramped?! That groan had almost sounded like a pained response.
She tried to roll over and face him, but his weight was still on her thighs. The resultant twisting of her neck was less than effective.
"Mr. Cedric are you—" He flung himself forward, wrapping her in his arms and burying his face into the side of her neck.
"Sofia."
He didn't seem to realize the extent her body had reacted physically to this endeavor, and for that she was thankful. He collapsed onto her and was breathing heavily, legs intertwined with hers. In that moment it didn't matter if he could ever love her in return, their relationship as it was right now was enough to satisfy this longing deep inside her. This had been the most intimate experience she'd ever shared with another person, it was both exhilarating and fraught with more than a little confliction that she'd fallen so desperately in love with a man of alternate persuasion. But at least he was a gay man who gave phenomenal massages.
His heavy breathing continued for some time. He had never been one for exercise, and probably over exerted himself with all that wondrous rubbing. Closing her eyes, she felt compelled to be close to him, to wrap herself in him as much as he'd let her. Her hand found its way up to his hair, and she began running her fingers through it, pausing at his bangs to wrap the grey strands around and through her digits, then slowly and with the slightest pressure letting the strands trail along as she pulled out of his hair. As she did it happy sighs came out of him. Finally his breathing steadied.
"I think you're the one with magic fingers Mr. Cedric."
"Perhaps. However I'm quite certain the pleasure has always been mine."
The sentiment was sweet; that he didn't mind enduring whatever pain he'd experienced if it meant she was feeling better, but then, he really hadn't realized the physical and emotional reaction he'd produced in her, had he? Cedric was grinning and stroking his nose along her chin, then paused to hover just above her face. She felt lost in his eyes, so enraptured by him that she'd completely lost her senses as to why she shouldn't expose her heart in this way when there was a loud click and the sound of the tower door opening. Cedric went from contented to terrified in an instant. There were a few steps, and then a pregnant pause while Cedric breathed heavily onto her ear.
"Hello?" came from a man's voice beyond the curtains.
Cedric furrowed his brows. "Odd, it isn't Baileywick." Whispered the nervous sorcerer.
Sofia smiled, "Silly, it's only Westin."
A hand was flung over her mouth, silencing the girl as the footsteps halted. "What do you mean 'it's only Westin'? What in Merlin's name is a palace guard doing here at this hour?" Cedric began to hyperventilate. "Oh NO, they've found out me out, he's come to lob my head off, oh, oh, Prospero's pickles."
She couldn't help but shake her head. "Oh Mr. Cedric, don't be silly." Although, what was Westin doing there so early in the morning? He came to see Cedric, no doubt, but then why? There was only one reason why he'd come, and waves of jealousy washed over Sofia. The beginning of the end of her exclusive hold on Cedric's attentions was nigh.
Cedric eyed her expression change warily, but then a footstep was heard coming toward the Cedric's bedchamber. The sorcerer sprang backward off of her, and in one swooping motion the many soft blankets of his bed were tossed over her head. The princess barely caught sight of Cedric tightening his robe around his torso and raking his fingers through his hair as he bolted out beyond the curtains and into the workshop to confront this intruder.
"And just who do you think you are intruding uninvited into my chambers, and this early in the morning no less! Out with you this instant, OUT!"
"But I, wait I brought these for you."
There was an uncomfortable silence, and finally Cedric spoke. "Are those, triple berry turnovers?"
"Uh-huh, I heard you might like them from one of the maids who noticed some always mysteriously disappear so I thought I'd bring you some in case it was true." Westin's voice trailed off as he said it. Sofia couldn't stand it and stood, tossing on her clothes from the night prior and tiptoeing up to the curtains. Cautiously she eyed the scene unfolding in Cedric's workshop. Her cousin stood nervously in the center of the room, hands outstretched with a plate of berry filled goodness while Cedric stood with arms crossed, guarding the entrance to his bedchambers with his body. "Very well then you've delivered them, now off with you."
Dejected, Westin's shoulders dropped and he motioned to set the plate on the table, but then straightened. "I was just, thinking, that maybe you'd like to have breakfast? It's my day off and I…" He looked around a bit, then refocused on Cedric as the sorcerer began tapping his foot impatiently. "I sort of… wanted to spend it with you. If you'd let me. If I could? Maybe?"
Cedric sneered "Wouldn't you know it, I am a very busy royal sorcerer and haven't the time to entertain random palace vagabonds who find themselves with hours to spare."
"I won't be a burden!" Westin exclaimed, "I can even help you if you'd like, well I can try, I'm really fond of magic."
"Sounds absolutely dreadful." Cedric deadpanned. "No, I'm quite sure the position of apprentice to the royal sorcerer has already been filled, but I'll be happy to not give you a reference should I hear of another opening."
It pulled on Sofia's heartstrings. Westin was putting himself fully out there without reservation, and Cedric's acerbic retorts were dashing her cousins' hopes. Deep down she wanted Cedric to push him away, but then the thought made her feel ugly inside, she had promised to help Westin after all.
"Wait, Mr. Cedric stop." She stepped out from behind the curtains, and Cedric spasmed. Westin seemed happy to see her, but then curiously peered over her head to see where she'd come from. The princess gave a quick little laugh, reaching out for the turnovers.
"Mmm, these are the good ones, right Mr. Cedric?" She delicately lifted one and passed it toward Cedric, who looked to be having an aneurysm, complete with twitching eyes and vacant expression. She stepped forward and shoved a turnover into his mouth. Westin was just staring at dangling out of the sorcerer. He'd forgotten to chew.
The younger occupants of the tower gave each other sideways glances, then looked back at Cedric, Westin bursting out laughing. Sofia couldn't help it and giggled in kind. Cedric finally came to his senses and ripped the pastry out of his mouth. "SOFIA! May I have a word with you." Cedric jerked his head toward his bedchamber as if to shoo her out the workshop for a proper scolding in private. Ooh, not good. Angry sorcerer.
She turned away to avoid the torrent that was sure to follow and caught sight of Westin staring at Cedric's exposed chest and blushing profusely, inducing a sudden panic in her. "Maybe you should get dressed first Mr. Cedric."
The man eyed the turnover for but an instant, tossed the pastry in his mouth and gripped his robe closed in embarrassment before running back behind the curtain.
Westin chuckled once more, "He's so fascinating Sofia, I certainly don't know anyone like him."
"Uh yeah, that's Mr. Cedric. My…" She didn't know how to finish that sentence, and instead stared awkwardly at the floor.
Westin relaxed and eased into Cedric's chair and whispered. "So what are you doing here this early cousin?"
"I was, uh, you know, I came to see Mr. Cedric." Which was sort of true, only she'd come last night.
There was a loud clang, and the sound of books falling that came from beyond the curtains, and Sofia couldn't help but giggle as a muffled, "Merlin's mushrooms." Emanated from beyond.
"What are you doing here Wes?"
"Well I wanted to spend my day with him, really get to know him and see if…" Westin leaned over, whispering to her, "To see if there's a spark between us, you know?" With that her cousin smiled softly. Oh man, Sofia hated herself right now for wishing Westin would leave Cedric alone. Instead she summoned her courage and smiled back. Westin's brows furrowed, "What's with the grimace?"
"Oh sorry, I guess I'm… hungry." With that she stuffed another pastry in, swallowing thickly, then gave a short. "Eh."
Westin was getting a bit jumpy while Cedric took his time changing. Usually he was faster about these things, especially since he was already in a state of undress. "Cousin, can you maybe, um, help me a bit?" Westin whispered pleas into her ear, and Sofia sighed. She'd have to resign herself to this at some point. Cedric seemed wonderful when they were alone together, but it was never going to be. Wishing would only wound her heart further.
"I guess so. First off, you'll probably want to get out of his chair. He doesn't like it when people take his stuff."
"OH! Sorry." The young man shot up and patted it as if somehow that would undo his presence there.
Sofia giggled. "It's okay. How could you know? Anyway, he doesn't like that, or when he gets reprimanded, or rushed. Never rush him."
"Okay, so, um, I know what not to do. What does he like?"
Sofia smiled, "He likes compliments, and getting spells right, and praise, magical presents too, and overall I think he appreciates kindness the most." To that her cousin smiled, dropping her delighted musings by a few notches.
Cedric was still behind the curtains, and the delay had become worrisome. "Mr. Cedric, are you okay?" To that Cedric finally emerged from the curtains, lost in thought. With one hand he was stroking the golden star now hung ornamentally around his neck, with the other he clasped his ubiquitous yellow bow, and seemed to be lost in its folds, as if he'd forgotten how to tie it. Westin stood nervously at his entrance.
"Perhaps I shouldn't. But then—" Cedric looked up, albeit briefly, then back to the yellow ribbon. Westin shifted a bit catching the sorcerer's attention, before Cedric could bristle she caught him unawares, taking the yellow ribbon from his hand and affixing it to its proper place. She'd never known him to go a day without the fabric, as if it were a religious devotion. While she knew he was watching her intently she went about her business, "It's fine Mr. Cedric. If you're worried about the star I can still see it, and you can too, right?"
"I… suppose." Cedric drawled. Westin coughed, bringing them out of their confined conversation. It was time for Sofia to make good on her promise. "Well you see Mr. Cedric, Westin was wondering if you'd maybe teach him a couple magic spells? It would sure mean a lot." She feigned her best smile at the sorcerer while smoothing the ends of his tie against his chest.
He rolled his eyes and groaned vociferously. "Oh very well. You are a friend of Sofia's, and I suppose you did save her during that ghastly balcony incident. Come along."
They spent the morning practicing spells in Cedric's workshop, and Cedric begrudgingly lent Westin one of his many spare wands. The usual elation Sofia felt at watching Cedric perform magic was tempered heavily, as Westin was able to easily master any spell the sorcerer gave him. At one point Cedric grew suspicious and gave the young man a difficult spell, and that Westin did fail. A small lecture about 'the sorcerer's secret' followed, and it only took a few tries for Westin to get it right. After that Cedric seemed delighted to have a student who hung on his every word. Cedric always was an excellent teacher, and relished the compliments from appreciative students. She saw Cedric smiling widely with each spell performed correctly, and at one point patted the young man on the back. The reaction that gesture produced on Westin made Sofia's heart sink. Her cousin was so incredibly happy. She felt like weeping and sat back upon the windowsill, gazing out over the gardens to avoid watching Cedric fall in love with someone else. At one point there was laughter, and from the corner of her eye saw Westin, gazing longingly, perhaps lovingly, at her Cedric. But he wasn't really hers, was he…
Absentmindedly she reached out to the prominent maroon flowers and began stroking the leaves to distract herself from the raging jealousy. Cedric yelped loudly and came rushing toward her, as a stunned Westin looked on.
"SOFIA! NEVER touch these!"
She retracted her hand and started at him, completely lost. "Why Mr. Cedric? They're just flowers. I wasn't going to hurt them, really."
"They are NOT just any flower you can pick as you twiddle away the day, honestly Sofia what sort of a royal sorcerer would keep flowers without purpose?"
"I just thought, well they're pretty, and maybe you wanted to make your workshop, colorful? Decorative? I'm sorry."
He groaned and levitated a beaker of water over to her, coaxing her to wash her hands.
"Are they poisonous or something?" Westin had come over and was eyeing Cedric spend an exceptional amount of time cleaning Sofia's hand.
At the question Cedric tensed, and began to chuckle nervously, "N-n-never you mind what they're for. It's my business and thoroughly none of yours. Now come away from the window Sofia." Westin turned away, obviously saddened by the reprimand, slowly slouching onto her apprentice stool. Cedric turned and went to sit in his chair beside him. "Now let's see, you were attempting the "Rohim Flora" spell, weren't you? Sofia come hither, it's one of your favorites."
She nodded, and stepped away from the window. Westin raised the wand and BAM! Small rose petals were floating down from the ceiling. The smiles exchanged between the sorcerer and her cousin were too much to take, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. Westin had taken her chair, and her spot in Cedric's life. It was all too apparent they adored each other.
She looked away, hoping no one had noticed, but a very worried sorcerer was at her side in an instant with a hand set upon her shoulder. "Sofia whatever is the matter? You typically enjoy this spell."
"I'm okay." She looked past his worried face to her cousin. "Just a little overwhelmed."
"I didn't mean to scold you de-, uh, princess, please don't self destruct."
Westin was up and worried too, "You okay cou—So—Princess Sofia?" The men glanced at each other nervously, and Westin sighed, "Thank you for the lesson Mr. Cedric, it was wonderful and I—"
Cedric brushed him aside, "That's enough lessons for the morning. The princess needs my attentions so off with you." Her cousin nodded, mouthed a 'thank you' at her and quietly left the tower, glancing back a few more times at Cedric. Sofia felt like retching, and that very reaction made the self-loathing magnify.
"Sofia whatever is the matter with you? Do you need more potion?" Tears were welling in her eyes but how could she tell him of the bereft emptiness she felt at the thought of loosing his exclusive friendship, her vaunted place in his life?
Wormwood broke the uncomfortable silence, landing on the table beside her, crowing loudly. "You've really done it this time."
"Not now Wormy, Sofia's upset." The explosive crowing that raven made felt as though eardrums would shatter.
"He doesn't even appreciate my concern. Pitiful."
"Alright alright, what's he saying Sofia?" Cedric had turned to acknowledge the passionately angry bird.
"You've gone and made another COPY, just who are you trying to deceive this time?" Wormwood crowed menacingly.
Sofia brushed aside a tear and realized what Wormwood was saying. "She's back!"
"Indeed, heavily injured and in your room bemoaning existence." Squawked the raven.
Cedric turned, "Who?! Who's back Sofia?"
"I…I'm sorry."
His eyes went wide, and a long, "NOOO…." Came out as he reached for her, but down the stairs she bolted, knocking into Westin at the bottom of the steps.
"Ouch!" Once he stopped rubbing his side he saw the look of panic on her face. "Oh NO! Sofia snap out of it!"
"No it's not that! There was a battle yesterday, and my copy is hurt!"
She took off running toward her room, Westin hesitating for only an instant before running behind her. There was a clattering down the steps, which meant Cedric was but a few steps behind them. She ran as fast as her short legs could carry her, Westin easily keeping pace. She caught fleeting glances of Cedric some distance behind them as they rounded corners, until she came upon her room and flung the door open, pulling Westin inside, a look of horror was glimpsed from the sorcerer as the door shut behind her.
"Wait, I think Cedric was following us."
"He… Can't."
"Sofia wait!" But she turned and ran to her bed. They had precious little time. There her copy was, sitting on Sofia's bed and cradling her arm. Strangely there was no blood, instead a black miasma seeped from her while Sofia's phoenix postured menacingly and chirped angrily at the injured girl. The grisly sight repelled Westin. "A… broken copy."
"I'm Scarlett!" the copy hissed, while groaning in pain.
"What happened? Tell me Scarlett!" Sofia resisted the urge to shake the girl, instead calmly reaching for her wand the copy had dropped on the bed beside her.
The girl was practically hysterical. "What happened?! I'll tell you what happened, we were outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and thoroughly beaten, that's what happened! How could you send me into that war zone!"
Sofia shook the rapprochement away. "Birk! What happened to Papa, to Lucinda, to Axel! Are they okay?!"
Westin grew serious as the copy shook her head. "Birk and Lucinda were captured. Axel's gone after them, and he lent me his flying horse to come back here and get you."
Westin planted a hand on the bed, "Get Sofia? Or get me?"
"You." Scarlett motioned her head at Sofia, then narrowed her eyes. "I'm just a copy, after all."
Sofia was reeling, and would have toppled to the floor if not for Westin guiding her descent toward the bed. She ended up sitting next to the wounded girl, gripping at her head. This was entirely her fault. She should have gone to the battle after all.
"Sofia we've got to go, NOW."
Her gaze met her cousins, and determination to save everyone gripped her. Clutching her wand she turned to the copy, "Is there anything else you can tell me? Anything at all?" The girl simply looked at her wound.
Sofia groaned and pointed the wand at the girl. Immediately Scarlett flung her good hand up, "No WAIT! I also know that Birk and Lucinda were being taken with some other prisoners to a place called Mazida, where they're to be publicly executed. I tried to rescue them with Axel, that's how I got this." She motioned to her heavily injured arm.
"Got it."
With that Sofia began to flick her wand. "NO! Please don't do it! It hurts Sofia!"
"But I have too. I can't leave you here, like this."
"Nooooo…" Westin grimaced as her copy melted away. "Wow, that looked a little, gruesome."
"It's okay. She's only a spell." Sofia looked toward the door, unable to shake the pain Cedric must have felt at being shut out of this conversation. "Anyway, we need to get to Friezenburg, do you know where Mazida is?"
"Sort of. I haven't lived in Friezenburg for very long after all."
Westin began introspectively pacing her floor while Sofia grabbed her bag of Friezeburg freedom fighter paraphernalia and began undressing. Westin was already wearing something he could fight in, but ice skating jumpers were not appropriate gear for fighting magical battles. Articles of clothing went flying while she rummaged through the bag. "There could be other prisoners. We might have to save lots of people."
The green dress was extracted, "Yeah, do you still have Mr. Cedric's wand?"
"Uh actually I do. I forgot to give it back and was going up his tower to return it when you side swipped me. You said he doesn't like it when people take his stuff."
"He won't remember after what just happened in the hallway, and you can return it after you use it to fight."
He looked down at it a bit timidly, "Sofia, I'm not sure I can fight with this, after all I just started-"
BOOM
A massive blast of swirling of energy broke open Sofia's outer door. The wooden panels swung open violently and Cedric entered, a deranged expression on his face. Stomping briskly into the receiving room with his wand drawn he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Sofia standing near her bed with her clothes tossed on the ground. All she was wearing was the amulet and her bloomers, while Westin stood behind her, staring in disbelief at Cedric. Sofia had been too distracted with thoughts of war and death to realize how naked she was, but Westin wasn't Hugo, so why did Cedric look as if he was ready to tear her room apart brick by brick?
Sofia panicked, for if Cedric stopped glaring at Westin and realized she was putting on that particular outfit he might recognize her from the battle at Radiwan. Cedric hissed like a serpent, "I knew something wasn't right, the crying and evasiveness." Cedric's wand was pulsating with ominous magic. "No simple friend from the village, is he Sofia?"
Westin's mouth gaped open, "Wait Cedric, I know you want to protect her and…"
"Silence YOU!" His wand pointed squarely at the young man, seething with something akin to rage. "Was it all to MOCK me, even THIS!" He pointed emphatically at the prominently displayed star around his neck.
"No, Mr. Cedric STOP! Remember I care, it's because I care that I can't-"
"ENOUGH!" Cedric began chanting an intricate curse. In a desperate attempt to protect Westin Sofia lunged for her wand, grabbing it and launching a spell at the inner doors to her bedchamber. They sprang shut, sealing magically with Cedric behind them.
Sofia stood there shaking while tears began to fall from her face. Hopefully with a spell locking them the doors would remain shut, but Cedric had just tried to curse Westin. WHY? He wasn't Hugo, and actually seemed to like the man.
"Sofia we should tell Cedric what's going on, he seems really upset and I can't stand to see him like this. He could help us! He's an amazing sorcerer, just like you said."
"No! No we can't tell him I'm going to go fly off into battle. You saw him at Radiwan, he almost died! If he came he'd be killed." Westin acknowledged the point and acquiesced.
"You're trying to protect him like our dad's were protecting us by sending us to Enchancia, aren't you?"
It was true.
She couldn't bare the thought of his broken body strewn along a barren field in Friezenburg, and quiet tears of agony escaped. "Okay Sofia, I get it. We should just go." Sofia nodded and turned to the green dress once more when there was a loud knock on the inner door.
"Sofia, SOFIA! What's going on?" It was Miranda. Sofia collected herself and shoved Westin into her closet before she answered the door. "Oh hi Mom."
"Whatever in the world is happening in here Sofia? Your door, and floor! And why are you naked?" Sofia looked around, there was no trace of Cedric, save for the minor destruction her entryway had suffered.
"I, had a magical mishap."
Miranda eyed her suspiciously. "Sofia, were you practicing magic unsupervised?" The princess took in a deep breath but Miranda was quicker, stomping her foot a bit on the ground. "Oh Rolly. This is because of Prince Hugo, isn't it?"
She looked to the side. "Um..."
Miranda gave her daughter an incredulous look, "I see. Well for now I'm going to apologize on behalf of your father Sofia, but until I can straighten him out can you please keep the magic to a minimum?" She nodded, and Miranda smiled. "Alright hurry up and get dressed dear, everyone is waiting in the coach and we need to be supportive, for Amber. After all, she is your sister and she needs your strength Sofia."
Sofia looked down at her mostly naked frame, barely covering her chest with her arms. What a mess she'd become. "Of course Mom."
Miranda was practically glowing, "Wonderful. Come along quickly, okay?"
Once Miranda was gone the door was shut and Westin released from the closet. "Well let's go!"
"But they expect me for Desmond's funeral, and I can't just go, my family is waiting for me."
Torn between duties to her royal family and Friezenburg's suffering she chanted "Doppler Duplicato" once more. Her copy materialized from the smoke streaming off her body, as Westin stood in amazement while Sofia dawned the infamous green dress.
"Whoa. That is one neat spell."
Scarlett shrieked, then stood there, shaking. "THAT HURTS!"
"But your arm is healed." Sofia pointed out. Indeed, the deep void of miasma had disappeared. Menacingly Scarlett stared back at Sofia.
"So you need me to go to Leidleville, huh?" Sofia nodded, "Anything else? Master." Caught off guard by the venom, Sofia reared back. Scarlett noticed how the comment made a negative impact and shifted retorts instantly. "What I meant was, you never told me what happened to you last night, so if I'm going to be your stand-in you'd better give me the details."
"Oh that. I went flying with Hugo and later ice dancing, made amends with Mr. Cedric, and this morning we practiced magic with Westin, but just now Mr. Cedric saw me changing -"
"I know that part Sofia. We were joined then, remember?"
Westin was jumping in anticipation, and tugged on Sofia's arm once more. Scarlett smiled and began assembling the black dress Cedric had conjured upon herself. As Sofia was being pushed out the door her copy cynically called back to the nervous princess. "Don't worry about me Sofia, I can handle a funeral and Cedric. You need to worry about yourself, wouldn't want you getting hurt or killed in Friezenburg, now would we?"
Scarlett's words echoed off the halls as Westin tossed the cloak over her head and they ducked through corridors to avoid detection. She was off again to Friezenburg, danger, and quite possibly death. Despite the reservations she had about leaving her copy to her own devices she had to do this. Lucinda, her Papa and untold other's fates were dangling off the precipice of doom.