WARNING- This chapter contains magical fighting and brief "T" rated references to bodily harm.

Chapter 38: Choices

"I AM THE MYSTERY MAGE!"

As she belted out the comment Rolland turned. A bit perplexed at first, the confusion melted into pity as he began to shake his head. Undaunted by his lack of immediate acceptance, Sofia kept leveling hard truths. Eventually he couldn't write it all off, and the veracity of her statements would settle in. It just had too.

"Dad, I know things have been hard, but you have to believe me, I'm the one who set it all in motion but I had a good reason." A loud groan was all the response she got from Rolland, who began grinding his strong fingers into the bridge of his nose. "You see, the prisoners aren't really prisoners at all. They're SLAVES Dad, they were stolen from Friezenburg and shipped to Maldonia to labor in the mines."

At the mention of slaves Rolland yanked his head up out of his hand. "What? Just where are you getting all of this? You…" Suddenly stiff, Rolland gave several withering glances at the sorcerer wilting at Sofia's side, then straightened to look more imposing. Over to her he strode, looming in the space Cedric retreated from at the King's advance. "Cedric. I order you to tell me everything you've administered to her, immediately. Baileywick, write it all down."

Hastily the steward grabbed parchment and quill, as Cedric began to stammer. Forcefully Sofia grabbed at her stepfather's arms, turning the man from Cedric's attentions, "Please Dad LISTEN to me! Cedric had nothing to do with this, I'm the one who freed the slaves!"

"Sofia please STOP already. You're obviously hallucinating."

"I AM NOT ROLLAND! I'm perfectly LUCID!"

To that the king actually laughed out loud. "I'm not falling for that again, the last time I did I made agreements with king Victor, even though I don't trust him, just so you could be happily married and now I'm now stuck with those promises. Nope, I'm not listening Sofia."

Frantically she tugged at his sleeve, "But you HAVE to listen! The people of Friezenburg aren't your enemy, Victor is! He's been forcing the Friezenburgers to mine the poisonous Autunite because he doesn't care if they die! Can't you see Dad, they just want to be free!"

"Just stop this Sofia! Why in the world should I believe anything you say?"

"Because it's the TRUTH!"

"Do you even know what that is anymore? If what you're saying is true, why would you have randomly gone to some strange prison in another kingdom that just happened to contain slaves? Does that make any logical sense Sofia?!"

Rolland's hands were up in her face, shaking in an exasperated fashion. Realizing that the truth meant she had to tell it all, the secrets came tumbling out. "Because I read it in a magical floating book that needed me to give it a happy ending, that's why!"

The slight incredulous shaking of his head belied how poor of a delivery she gave the secret library, so she tried again. "What I mean to say is, I've been completing stories in a magical library for years, but this is the first time it hasn't worked out right away, and I know now why it didn't."

She took in a very deep breath to summon all the steadiness of courage this would require, Rolland still proving impervious to the truth. "Rolland, Dad. This time it was different, this time I wasn't thinking clearly because… the prisoner was my birth father, Birk, and I was so emotional that I didn't stop to think about the ramifications my actions."

Once again Rolland was rubbing his face with his hand, this time it was the temple getting massaged. "So let me get this straight Sofia. You've been running around, for YEARS, without anyone noticing, altering the course of nations, based on the guidance of some flying books in a magical library no one has ever seen or mentioned to me before, and these flying books told you that your dead father came back to life as a slave in Maldonia who was harvesting poison?"

A small smile rose up on Sofia's face, and cautiously she drew her hands up to her chest. He didn't look angry at all, far from it. Perhaps she was going to survive with her skin in tact. "Yes Dad! Now you need to sever all ties with Victor and Maldonia, then we need to help the resistance defeat King Aaron and liberate Friezenburg, and then once we do that we need to force Victor to surrender his kingdom so that all the remaining slaves will go free. I'm not quite sure how yet, but…"

"Oh that's all?" Rolland was laughing through the exchange, and the hopeful tenor she'd assumed faded away. "Why don't I just abdicate Sofia? Then you can plunge Enchancia into war and ruin in my stead? Amber and James have run off after all." He probably had no idea how close that option had come to being reality. Frowning, Sofia narrowed in on him.

"Amber shouldn't be in Leidleville, it's going to destroy her life, and James loves Ruby with all his heart and you should accept their love, but why am I bothering? You don't believe anything I'm saying, do you?"

"Well on those things I agree, but of course I don't believe you. you're very sick dear. Very ill indeed, but the question remains as to why. Baileywick, please escort her to her room until Amalthea arrives. I plan on seeking capable help for you Sofia."

Baileywick had started to maneuver himself in such a way that she was forced to take a step back toward the exit. "Wait, why is Amalthea coming here? Please tell me Dad!"

He gave a soft pat to her head. "I was informed you and him had returned this morning, and it needs to be done. Now go."

Side stepping away from the king, she moved toward the cowering sorcerer. "What needs to be done?"

Rolland grew solemn. "As you said, there are repercussions for certain actions that have been taken, and I need to ensure the loyalty of those who serve at my command. Baileywick, please—"

"I know what Amalthea was doing to Lucinda in the dungeon, and it isn't necessary Dad! Please you have to believe me! I'm the one you're after."

"Why should I believe you Sofia? Every time I do you change your story the next day. If poor Hugo knew just how much trouble you've brought him. I feel sorry for the poor young man, but he still insists on marrying you once the Mystery Mage is defeated and his kingdom is secure."

Frantically she glances about the room, trying desperately to think of a way to convince her stepfather she was, in fact, telling the truth. Her sights landed on one sorcerer, riddled with confliction at watching this unfold. "Cedric please, PLEASE tell him I'm telling the truth!"

Anguished looks came from him, and as if desperately searching for a solution he began shaking, his eyes darting between her and Rolland. To that, the king advanced on the position where Ceric stood again. "Now Cedric, I order you to stay here until Amalthea arrives."

"What? Why do you need Cedric to hear what she's got to say? Wait…" Sofia took another step back from Rolland, towards where Cedric stood. "Why do you want Amalthea to talk to him? Rolland, answer me."

"Sofia, you're very sick. I need you to go now."

Abruptly she turned to face the shaking sorcerer. "Please Cedric, you know the truth, tell him!"

Muffled whimpers came from the sorcerer, whose head began to jerk strangely. He looked to be having some sort of internal argument as Rolland stepped even closer to the girl. "Well Cedric, I suppose this is your chance. Cast a spell on her to calm her down so she can be escorted by Baileywick to her room without incident, and don't do anything funny, I know a little magic from school so I'll know if it's not a calming spell."

Cedric tensed, gripping the wand in his hand tightly. He was able to look up from the floor, directly at Sofia, silently protesting such an act by shaking his head. Rolland blistered, looming ever larger. "Cedric, are you going to obey my command or not?"

His head dropped to the ground, bangs obscuring his face. "I… c-c-can't cast it. I p-p-promised."

"I thought as much."

Rolland lunged forward at the sorcerer, but Sofia turned and flung her arms out wide to block his path. "What are you doing Rolland?! You asked him to do something awful and he's standing by me! Why can't you see that?! Why do you always see the worst in him?!"

"Sofia, he can't cast it because it would interfere with the other enchantments. Now stand aside."

"NO."

More than whimpers started to come from Cedric's lips. Odd gyrations, clenched hands, and more sputtering. Rolland was still advancing slowly, and Sofia took a step back toward the Cedric's direction, her arms still extended. Cedric didn't yet realize the peril he was in, as she looked over her shoulder at him. "Please Cedric, just tell him that I'm telling the truth now. I know in my heart the truth is the right thing to do." To that he looked up from the carpet, and there within his eyes was all the confliction a lifetime of lies and deception bore.

"The t-t-t-truth."

"Please." She gave the sorcerer a small smile of encouragement.

A heavy hand was set on her shoulder, forcing her to snap her head back around at Rolland. "Sofia I am your father, and I know what's best for you." A little louder Rolland declared, "Cedric, I'm so incredibly disappointed in you. Baileywick, please escort my daughter out."

"But please Dad, Cedric knows the truth, he's just intimidated. Let him speak." She tried desperately to coax the words out of him, desperately gesturing toward Cedric, but they simply wouldn't come and the sorcerer's shaking increased as he stared at the floor.

"Oh I'm sure he does. I'm sure he knows exactly what's been going on, just look at him." The menacing tone underlying Rolland's statement set Sofia on edge.

"What do you mean? Cedric didn't do anything, it was me! Please Dad, the only thing Cedric has done in this war follow your orders into a battle that almost killed him!"

The hand on Sofia's shoulder tightened as Rolland glanced toward the doors. "Ugh, where is Amalthea! Baileywick, get her out of here before this turns ugly."

Sofia had to retreat from Rolland's advance further, and now her backside was brushing against Cedric's robes. "NO! I'll never forgive you if you set Amalthea on interrogating him!"

Cedric stopped shaking, perhaps even breathing. He quickly shot a frantic look toward Sofia, then back at Rolland before realizing the implications of that statement. All the indecision melted away, replaced by a brief moment of confusion, and then acceptance. With that a look of pure hatred passed over his face. The faintest, wicked smile crept upon him, and seeing this darkness grip the sorcerer Rolland stopped advancing. Baileywick gasped as the light was sucked from their corner of the room, moderated by pulses of energy from the wand Cedric gripped tightly.

A slow, blood-curdling laugh flowed from the sorcerer's lips, followed by closed eyes, resigning himself to some decision. "Cedric? Please I know you're upset but it will all be okay if you just tell him the truth."

Through the small chuckles that came straight from the grave he breathed, "Which truth love? I'm quite certain he'll have me hanged for any number of truths I would tell."

With that he lunged forward, pressing his chest to her back and wrapping one arm around her shoulders, the other had extending his wand, now pointed squarely at the King's chest. A bit of magic dribbled from its end as Cedric cried out, "You mean to separate us forcibly. To take her away to a place I cannot find her and I cannot protect her, against her wishes! I'll not let you! Never again will you win, you YOU PRINCE you."

All those times he'd referred to Hugo in that manner came flooding back. The venom behind the words had their origins in Rolland's youth, not Sofia's supposed suitors. Baileywick gasped and took a step back as Rolland growled, assuming a somewhat primal defensive stance. "Cedric stop!" Sofia cried out, "Please you don't need to do this! He can be reasoned with, I know it."

"I KNEW it, all this time YOU were the traitor, weren't you Cedric? You were at all the meetings, you heard all the information, YOU LET THEM INTO OUR CASTLE." A deep possession had come over Rolland, who had affixed all the conspiracies squarely onto Cedric's darkening shoulders.

"No DAD! Please Cedric didn't know any of it, it was ME, ME!"

Rolland seethed, "Whatever spell you've cast on her you can stop it now sorcerer, I see your true colors. All those years you always gave off the worst possible vibes, and here you are, manipulating my daughter like some puppet. Was it to cover your stinking trail? What were you really after? To thwart my rule? That's why she's been disrupting everything, isn't it?! It was all to destroy me, to get your revenge for rejecting you all those years ago?"

"No!" Cedric spat, still gripping Sofia tight, "If it weren't for YOU my life would have been happy, but NO, I've been forced to live in your shadow and do your bidding by the cruelest of fates, my feats of magic always bolstering your stunted leadership skills, and while you lap up the fruits of my efforts I've languished in cruel anonymity. NOT THIS TIME ROLLAND. I've seen what you do to the fates of young maidens, and I'll never leave her to your decisions. I'll save her from you!" Cedric started inching toward the door, pulling Sofia along with him.

"How dare you! You're the worthless wretch, using my daughter like a shield!" Rolland growled.

"I'd NEVER, the very insinuation, I'm going to save her from you!"

Decades of animosity were pouring out of both men as the situation deteriorated rapidly. The past intermingling with the present, it was up to Sofia to try and stop this. Slowly she reached her hands up and set them gently on Cedric's arm, now pinned to her chest, caressing it lengthwise to calm the man down. "Cedric listen to me. I promise he won't hurt me. Deep down he's a good man."

She could feel his bangs streak across the back of her head in protest. "No he's not Sofia! I may not be a good man either, but I pale to his crimes against humanity." The budding anger Rolland displayed was now tinged with confusion, but quickly the king extended his arms as if waiting for a moment to strike and steal Cedric's wand. For his part the sorcerer shook the end of the white aspen branch menacingly at the King, a bit of magic dribbling onto the floor below.

Deeper she stroked the fabric of his robe between her fingers, massaging the arm underneath. "Cedric I'm okay, please you have to stop this. Before someone gets hurt."

Cedric's extended hand and wand shook harder, magic flipping across the ground, "If only he wasn't your father Sofia, if only…"

"But he is, and you told me you wanted to live your life without hurting others, so please Cedric, lower your wand so we can all talk it over, with the truth as our guide."

"But he's a monster! The ridicule, the callous abandonment of the things he uses and abuses, decades under his subjugation have taught me well the man only hears what he wishes, never the truth of it all."

"I hear plenty Cedric. I hear you mumble and mock me from the sidelines, I hear the rumors about you, and right now I wish I had listened. If only I'd defied our father's and chosen your sister over you, but I intend to rectify that shortly. Now let my daughter go and I'll show you mercy."

At the mention of his sister the entirety of Cedric's body convulsed. No matter what Sofia said from this point out, the relationship between them was fundamentally broken, the physical manifestation of it in Cedric's wince of pain. "I'll never let her go, she's mine, and despite the doubts she may profess I know it to be true."

"You just can't stop, can you? GUARDS! GUARDS!" Rolland shouted, Cedric cringing as the door flung open and several uniformed men approached.

"Cedric STOP this! Just tell him the truth!" Sofia cried out.

"Confound it all, FINE! I'll tell the truth, the whole of it!" The man cried, "You, Rolland, have always disgusted me! You stole the first woman I ever loved and wrought ruin upon her, and now decades later you would steal away my very redemption and banish me to exile or worse simply for protecting her! To the very last I'll despise you!"

There is was, a confirmation of Sofia's nagging fear. Anne truly was the love of his life. Cedric's head was squarely on Sofia's shoulder as he'd been backed up to the bookcase lining Rolland's study. The King actually stopped advancing at the sorcerer's declaration, as did the guards approaching from the doorway. Baileywick fell back a step, catching his breath. "Wait, you were in love with me, weren't you? If not me then who were the letters for and-" Realization dawned on Rolland a second before Baileywick, and the steward let out another gasp.

More venom was spat at the king. "Always the chosen one, the revered, but did you ever earn the respect? The adoration? NO! A few blessings of inheritance and the world is supposed to cower at your feet, well I'll not have it! For years I've stood alongside this mockery, but I'll not stand by any longer. Sofia needs me to stand up to you and defend against all the things you would demand of her, and I'll do it! This time I'll be the savior my princess needs! You and your mighty armies may search in vain throughout all your days, you're never going to locate us!"

Rolland's brows furrowed as the magical ripples that had begun emanating from Cedric's wand coalesced as ribbons of energy. The pale man's breathing became deep as low murmurs bordering on a spell began to take shape, Cedric falling into a trance-like state.

"LET MY DAUGHTER GO CEDRIC."

Sofia dug her hands into the arm pinning her to his chest, grabbing up the purple fabric. This wasn't about her at all, was it? Cedric didn't want to support her and tell the truth, he wanted to run away with Anne, his princess, and was going to do it by force. Slowly she began to speak with a conviction she'd forgotten she possessed.

"I'm not going anywhere."

The magic dissipated as Cedric came back from the brink.

The hurt welling within her began to spill out, "You couldn't just tell him the truth, could you? Anne really is more important to you than I am, isn't she? Even still, even though she's been dead for years. I'll never compare, will I?"

Her words broke Cedric's concentration further, loosening his grip. Anger swelled to fever pitch within her, that she'd let herself fall do desperately for someone who saw her as a conciliation prize fracturing her emotional resolve. A second later she forcibly retracted from his distracted grasp, spinning to face him, "The dress, the swing, those flowers, and that bow. I'm second to her in your heart, aren't I?" overwhelmed, Cedric's look of horror and arm extended toward her did little to stop the tears, "AREN'T I!" was shouted at the man.

She saw the arm she'd tossed away snap back to his neck, clutching desperately at the star she'd given him. Languishing under the weight of her accusation, he shook his head to contradict the insinuation, "Oh Sofia, that isn't true, you were always so much more. I only wished to hurt him with weapons of words instead of wands, truly I love you with all that is in me. My-" but his resistance was over.

Rolland had body checked him against the bookcase, the wand knocked from his hand. "Quick, Baileywick grab the wand! Guards, secure my daughter!" Rolland shouted. Cedric's wand had rolled toward Sofia, and instinctually she lunged for it, but was caught by that stout guard about the waist.

"NO! No let me go!" Baileywick hesitated before picking up the wand from the ground, looking mournfully at the princess. Cedric was still pressed mercilessly into the bookcase, gasping noises escaping him.

"I see you now, you're a small man who wanted things he couldn't have. Your father, mine, everyone told me it was in my head, but it wasn't, was it? All those years ago, you were after my wife as well as my crown, weren't you? You sick wretch, I'll have you beheaded as a warning to anyone who messes with my family, or better yet, I'll hand you over to Maldonia so they can do it for me, as a show of good faith to undo some of the damage you've caused."

"Sir!" Baileywick had lunged forward, putting a hand on Rolland's shoulder, "Please your Majesty, Cedric hasn't admitted to being the informant, just that he was, surprisingly, in love. Please sir, you're not thinking clearly and haven't been for a long while, he needs a trial, at the very least."

"I expected this from him, but not from you. How could you defend him Baileywick?! Look what he's done to Sofia. It's NOT love, he's just trying to save his own skin."

Sofia struggled against the guard holding her, "Please Dad STOP! Don't hurt him! Even if he loves her more than me I still-"

"Sofia you don't love him, he's put you under a spell." Cedric was struggling valiantly against the far superior physical creature Rolland was, but failing to make traction as Rolland breathed fire directly in Cedric's face. "You think you're going to wiggle free and POOF out of here, don't you?! What did those peasants offer you? Power, fame, money, a path to my crown? You couldn't have Anne but you still wanted my life, didn't you? And Sofia found you out, didn't she? That's why you've been messing with her mind, isn't it? Manipulating my innocent little girl to take me down, and when even now you're forcing her to take the fall for you. Miranda thought I was crazy, but it's true, isn't it!" Rolland made the most disgusted face a man is capable of before continuing, "Ugh, when I think of all the time I let you spend with her alone, did you touch her? You did, didn't you?! You've been defiling my innocent little Sofia right here in my own home, haven't you?"

Cedric stopped struggling, and began staring at Sofia, a deep longing in his eyes. The act infuriated Rolland, "What are you doing to her, is that the spell?! STOP that and tell me what spells you've got on her so I can set your sister on healing her."

"Please Dad, he never touched me, I'll swear it on the birr that binds magic to our world, please stop hurting him, he can't breathe!"

Slowly Cedric managed small, halted words. "That I would… drink the.. draught of death…for you… my beloved… Sofia."

Despite being pinned to the bookcase, dangling over a foot off the floor and turning slightly purple from Rolland's assault, a look of pure tranquility passed over Cedric's face. "Y-y-you are the most important. Y-y-you always were. I'm s-s-sorry I couldn't… be a better man… for you… my love." Looks of adoration and that goofy grin tinged with pain passed over him before his eyes closed softly.

"It's t-t-true, I'm the one you're after, the t-t-t-traitor."

Oh no. Not that. Anything but that. Even though she was hurting from his statements the lies had to stop. Sofia began screaming, "NO! Don't do this, Cedric! You trained all your life to be the Royal Sorcerer, this is what you wanted, your life's calling, don't DO THIS!"

Ignoring her pleas, Cedric continued with Rolland listening intently, "I did it to h-h-hurt you, and make myself powerful, and revered, to t-t-take from you … because I hate… every fiber… of your being, just please d-d-don't hurt her. Never… hurt her. It's not her fault. Not her… fault." Cedric went limp once he said it, and Rolland shoved him hard into the books, several of which on higher shelves began tumbling toward the floor from the force of it.

"Then SET HER FREE from the spells Cedric. Set her free." Again the king shoved him mercilessly, banging Cedric's head hard into the wooden shelf.

The blood had drained from his extremities, but that strange, goofy grin was still scrawled on his face. "My everything. My Sofia." He managed another breath before his eyes rolled into the back of his head, "She… was never… truly mine, but I… was hers." Now Sofia could see this lie for what it truly was, the ultimate loving act of self-sacrifice to save her, and immediate regret at having pulled away from and yelling at him took hold. The thing she'd been so jealous of Anne over, his love, it had belonged to her all along, but so wrapped up in the connections between the past and present he was just miserable at showing it.

The steward turned away, unable to look upon Rolland as the King's arm drew back, launching forward into Cedric's chest. The sorcerer's whole body curled over, collapsing into a pile on the floor.

"There Baileywick, the confession you were looking for."

"NO STOP, please if you have to hurt someone hurt me instead, aaaaahhhh." Sofia lunged toward the sorcerer who'd crumpled to the ground, to little effect. She was swept off her feet by the constable, and no amount of thrashing could free her from his grasp. "Take her to her chambers, I'll send for Edith to counteract whatever enchantments he's put on her once Cedric is dealt with. Baileywick, bring me rope to bind his hands so he can't escape with a spell."

"Extract your… anger on… me… for the war.. for Anne's death… but spare… her… my Sofia."

"Stop that you sick… wait, did you say Anne's death?" Rolland was looming over Cedric's body, the poor sorcerer on the ground, as a jolt of energy shot through the king. He came down hard, both knees driving the man's full weight into Cedric's chest to pin him to the ground. "You, you…. You could have saved Anne, is that it?!"

A horrible wet gasp came from the sorcerer, "You couldn't just… eat your own supper… could you…"

"My supper, I… YOU WRETCH! IT WASN'T FOOD POISONING!" Rolland lost his sanity, gripping Cedric's hair in his hands and shoving his head into the stone floor with a loud crack. Rolland began incoherently yelling as Baileywick tried to restrain him lest he hurt himself. As the steward did so Cedric managed to cock his head upward, to set his gaze upon her once more. A deranged smile was on his face, as if he was happy at the outcome. As if being thrashed about by Rolland was somehow penance for the sins of the past.

In shock from the violence Rolland was displaying, a stunted "Cedric" crossed her lips. Rolland ripped free of the steward's restraint, letting the full weight of his torso come crashing down on Cedric's head. She screamed a frantic, "NOOOO!" as the doors to Rolland's chamber closed behind the Constable. The entire way to her chambers she screamed for freedom, but the employ of her station meant little to the man, who'd been given a direct order from the king. She was restrained on a stool pulled to the center of her room, the Constable's strong hands holding her rigidly in place as if she might self-harm should he let go. Tears streaming down her face, there had to be a way out of this.

To make Rolland believe her.

To save Cedric from his own deranged interpretation of heroism. He'd come clean about the past, but at what cost? At this rate he wasn't going to survive long enough for Amalthea to come and take him away.

She thrashed with all her might, reiterating the truth to the constable, but he was steeled against her.

Her sights fell to the bed adjacent her. The covers were a bit disheveled, and Sofia realized she hadn't returned to this place since her ordeal in the amulet. The mess of sheets was where Cedric had lain, curled up in devotion around whom he thought was Sofia. No maid had come to reorganize it, and there, staring at her empty bed, Amalthea's words from the prison cave came echoing back through her mind.

'Just wait until it's your lover you sing the funeral lamentations for each night while pining for their warmth in your bed, and then remember this conversation little mage. Mark my words, it will be YOUR fault they die.'

Waves of adrenaline coursed through her veins, and with each beat of her heart she felt the sting, as if each time Rolland laid his hurt bare upon Cedric's body it was resounded off her soul. Her reflection in the mirror revealed his star pin in her hair. There upon her desk were the piles of spell books he'd brought, and along the windowsill the magical ointments for healing the injury to her leg. Scattered on the far side of the room were his school texts she'd taken as study material for the Hexley Hall tournament. Even her closet, with gowns tossed haphazardly on the ground, was filled with his aura, memories of when he'd helped her choose a gown for the harvest festival filling her mind. His essence permeated every corner of this room, just has he had wound its way slowly into her soul, penetrating every inch of her until one inescapable conclusion had to be drawn.

Her heart had soared as he laughed while they tickled each other in his tower, she'd died a little inside when he'd purposefully made a mockery of himself in front of Hugo and her family after Hildegard's funeral. There was no denying it any longer.

What is it to love another, if not to feel their joy and misery as poignantly as your own? Despite his moral failings, she loved him with all that was in her.

There was some small part of her that sympathized with the agony Rolland must be feeling, but as the seconds dragged on the reality of what had transpired became clearer. Each instant that passed brought Cedric closer to death. He was only in Rolland's study because of her, and her encouragement of his revealing the truth of Anne's passing on the steps mere minutes earlier must have sunk in. He had quite literally followed her with loving devotion to his ultimate doom.

All the pieces of fate began to align themselves. Everything she was and would be was suddenly weighed against his life, and it all came up thoroughly short. Being a princess, trying to skirt the moral high ground. It all meant nothing if the man she loved paid the ultimate price for her choices.

And so the decision was made.

"I never wanted to be a princess anyway."

She stopped thrashing against the constable, but his grip never waivered.

There had to be a better angle, a way to turn the tides and actually prove to Rolland she spoke the truth. There, at the end of her bed the answer lay. That green dress she'd sported throughout her tenure as 'the mystery mage' sat at its end. Rolland had seen her in action while saving Lucinda, so he'd know she spoke the truth if she wore it and confronted him outright. All she needed to complete the reveal was her wand to conjure the disguise, and there it lay upon her desk. If only she could get her hands upon it, the tides of fate would surely turn.

It was time to show everyone what the mystery mage was capable of.

"Constable Miles, please with all that is in me, can you let me go? I'm in my own room now."

"No princess, your father ordered you to be guarded, and guarded you shall be." Sofia peered around his massive girth and saw a guard stationed outside her door.

She needed an accomplice to get free. Luckily she was in-league with one of the guards, but would he be able to help her? She hadn't seen Westin upon being dragged from Rolland's study and he was understandably distraught at the passing of his father.

"Constable, sir. I would feel more comfortable if Westin guarded me. I trust him, and I don't know who that man is."

Miles glanced over at the door, and nodded, "he's another of the new recruits. You there, go and fetch Westin. He should be near the King's study."

"Yes sir."

Excruciating minutes passed. Each tick of the clock's hand a reminder that Cedric was in mortal peril. After what seemed an age the sound of uneven footsteps was heard coming through the halls. "Sir, I've found him but he's in a hard way."

"Oh, what's this then?" uttered a frowning Constable, after Westin shuffled in. He managed a glance at Sofia, which quickly turned to confusion as her present confinement. Miles was staring at the young man and demanding an answer for the young man's emotional state, and behind him Sofia was flinging her entire head toward the desk and the wand atop it.

Perplexed, her cousin's head fell to the side as he managed vague lies about why he was upset. But now that the choice was made there was no time for delays. Interrupting the distraught man, Sofia implored rather abruptly, "Westin, can you bring me my hairbrush?"

A small scowl broke out on his face at her assumed callousness considering the man had just lost his adopted father, but he looked around the room for it, "It's on the desk Westin. Please bring it to me as the Constable will not release me."

"Wait, why won't he release you?" her cousin asked sheepishly.

"The princess is shouting all sorts of nonsense and is not in her right mind right now son."

"But, uh, my hair's a mess and these things are important to a princess! Please Westin, won't you bring me what's on my desk?"

Westin took several steps toward the desk, then froze, eyes growing wide. A strained, "PLEASE Westin, won't you bring me what I NEED?"

He shot her a quick glance, and the meaning was clear. After a deep exhale the man picked up both the hairbrush and wand, concealing the magical instrument under the much larger accessory and walked it over to the princess.

"Here you go, your Highness."

To that, she gave a faint smile. "It's just Sofia from now on Wes."

Confused, the constable eyed her strangely, which proved enough of a distraction to let Westin slip the hairbrush and wand into her hand.

She was 'Sofia the Helpless' no longer.

BOOM. The constable was knocked backward several feet. He rolled to a stop but wasn't hurt, immediately springing to his feet and shouting for the guard who'd escorted Westin in. But there was no stopping her now. One flick of the wrist and Constable Miles was out cold, snoozing face down on her rug. The other guard had yelped but he too was blanketed in sleep, and collapsed at her entranceway. The door flung closed and magically sealed, she immediately began tearing off layers.

"Wait, Sofia maybe I should go, the last time you changed in front of me Cedric flipped out and—"

Half undressed, Sofia stopped and gripped Westin's shoulders tightly, the magnitude of the situation lost on him. "Wes, listen to me closely. I confessed everything to Rolland but he doesn't believe me, and Cedric took it upon himself to shoulder the blame and finally come clean about some bad things he did in the past. He's in serious danger."

There was a rapping upon her window, and another flick of the wand opened the panes, letting her phoenix in. Upon her a black mass was being transported, and hurriedly it was set upon the bed beside her.

"Wormwood."

He was listless, but showing no physical injuries. "I'm in, such dire pain. Cedric… where is he?"

She set a soft hand on the raven's crest, "It's over Wormwood. Rolland knows about Anne's fate, and Cedric's tried to take the blame for this war too."

"That is it… then. As Cedric goes, so shall I."

Sofia paused at the statement to see Wormwood running his hackles along the side of her phoenix in an intimate display, perhaps a last goodbye.

"I know you're connected to him, like she's connected to me, but the only way to heal you is to save Cedric, so please hang on."

The raven simply nodded, the phoenix running her wing over him for comfort.

"We will save you both."

The soft singsong coming from the phoenix caught her by surprise, as it did Wormwood. "You can TALK!"

The vermillion bird nodded softly, turning her gaze to Sofia, "You were finally ready to listen to the purest part of yourself."

"What's going on Sofia? Are you talking to the birds?"

"U-huh, and we've got some magical fighting to do. Either Rolland is going kill Cedric himself or ship him to Maldonia so they can do it. We've got to free him and confront Rolland before Amalthea arrives, and then we've got to finish liberating the people of Friezenburg. You're in, right?" Her cousin nodded heartily, he'd never wanted to be in Enchancia and the obvious sting of not being there to protect his father was writ on his face. "Good. Do you have a wand?"

"Uh yeah! I do. Lucinda gave me one of her spares."

"Alright let's go. I'm done trying to play both sides of this conflict. If Rolland won't listen to the truth, then I'll show him the truth and make him accept it."

With that she grabbed the green dress, pulling it over her shoulders. After that, the robe Cedric had conjured her for the Hexley Hall tournament. This was the identity she wanted, and the tiara she'd felt obliged to wear for the last ten years was picked up from the desk and set at the end of the bed. "I'm sorry I couldn't be what you wanted Mom. I tried."

At the last moment she grabbed the shoulder bag full of Cedric's potions, then turned to her phoenix, "Can you let Minimus know what's happening? This is probably going to get even uglier and we need his help to get out of here fast."

"On it."

The bird flew off out the window, and Sofia took a last glance around her room.

With that they were dashing through the corridors. Westin was gifted in magic, but lacked the training Sofia had undergone. He ran behind her as Sofia dodged through corridors.

"HALT!" several guards were approaching fast from a side corridor.

"Frizzato!" A gigantic sheet of ice now blocked their path, and the duo continued onward. Two more guards were felled by the sleeping spell outside Rolland's study. With a loud blast she knocked the doors open, blowing them back on their hinges. "Rolland, let him GO! I—"

The room was empty, a small blood stain on the floor near the bookcase the only indication of where Cedric had fallen.

"No."

Up alongside her a second later, Westin was looking around as Sofia reiterated, "No. We can't be too late."

"Where? Where would they have gone?"

"There's only two options." Sofia stated stoically. "Either they took him to the dungeon, or Amalthea already came and they took him to Maldonia."

"I'll check the dungeon." Wes offered, to which Sofia nodded.

"Be careful." And with that her cousin was gone.

Only a few guards stood between her and the courtyard, of which she made short work. With a quick blast the main doors flew open, and the scene set before her would forever haunt her memory.

Nearest her, still upon the foyer stood Rolland, the look of deep disappointment and hatred upon him as he massaged the knuckles of his hand. Those hands looked to have been busy assaulting her poor sorcerer in her absence. Alongside him stood Cedric's sister, smiling triumphantly up at the King, Cedric's family wand clutched in her hands. Everything Edith wanted was finally hers, at Cedric's expense.

Hugo's family carriage was stationed at the very center of the courtyard, flanked by many dozens of Maldonian guards. No less than Amalthea, Cecelia, Hugo and King Victor were all in attendance.

But the most disturbing thing was Cedric, bloodied and beaten within an inch of his life, laying tied up upon the cobblestones before the coach. One of his legs was stuck out at an unnatural angle.

Amalthea had a hand up to halt some guards from loading him into the carriage, wand at the ready. As soon as Sofia emerged from the palace the witch set her sights on the girl.

There were no less than three hostile witches and a garrison of troops against her, not to mention when the guards inside the palace got wind of what had stormed through earlier they would come rushing to stop her as well, and she had nothing besides her wand and the truth.

But there was no longer confliction in her heart. One of Cedric's eyes had swollen shut, but the other was locked squarely on her, almost begging for her to turn and run.

There was no possible way she'd leave him alone and broken, facing certain death. Even though this was a fight she had no possible way of winning, she'd go down alongside him before giving up.

An angry spark ripped from her wand, as she assumed a fighter's stance.

"NO ONE IS TAKING MY CEDRIC ANYWHERE."

All those assembled stilled at the command. The sorcerer on the stone pavement below shook his head as best he could to protest, to no avail. Amalthea's eyes narrowed as Edith grew tense, and began angling Cedric's wand at her, but Rolland knocked the sorceress's hands away.

"Everyone please calm down, we've been over this. My daughter is very sick and it's all his fault." Was spouted as he gestured at poor Cedric in a heap on the ground. "Sofia, you need to give me the wand so they can help you dear."

"I'm not sick, and I'm not delusional. I wanted to be everything to everyone, I wanted to fit in wherever I went and be friends with everyone I ever met, but it doesn't work that way. No one can be all things to all people. I finally understand that I can't always sacrifice myself and try to be more than I am, because it hurts more than just me when I do it. It hurts those I care about. I know this now, because I…"

"I…"

"I don't need to be accepted by royal society or the magical community to be happy, I just need the love of those I care about, and who care about me. For so long I was worried about hurting you, and hurting mom, and living up to everyone's expectations of me, but I…"

"I…"

"I…"

"I LOVE CEDRIC, and he loves me. He lied to protect me."

Hugo went pale as Rolland growled. Sofia pointed her wand at the carriage as Cecelia chuckled triumphantly with a smile on her face, "I'll stop her and make you proud mother!" and with that cocky declaration drew her wand, making sure to fluff her hair in Hugo's direction. Cedric was bleeding out while this nonsense ensued, and quickly Sofia stomped and flicked her instrument straight at the girl, flinging her through the air several yards. The young sorceress rolled to a stop on the other side of the courtyard, unconscious. Hugo let out a cry and ran after where Cecelia had fallen.

A smile rose on Amalthea's face, ignoring her daughter's plight and Rolland's words. "So, you DID rig the tournament at Hexley Hall and let my daughter defeat you. Let's hear WHY, it's what we've all been waiting out here for."

It was over.

With a special flourish Sofia conjured the tell-tale disguise, brushing back the robe's folds to reveal the green dress. As she did so Rolland's arms and jaw dropped. "Because Amalthea, Royal Sorcerer of Maldonia, I am the mystery mage. The one who would right this travesty of justice."

A wicked grin of triumph spread across Amalthea's face. If the declaration wasn't enough, that last bit was the exact same thing Sofia had said to her at the end of their first battle, on the shores of the Maldonian prison island.

It was time to engage. Sofia launched a burning spell at Amalthea, but she already seemed to know it was coming and conjured a protective bubble. The burning embers swirled around her trying to break in, providing an albeit temporary distraction. Edith started screaming, "SHE IS THE CURSED MYSTERY MAGE WHO BURNED ME! I'LL KILL HER!" Cedric was trying with all his might to break free and somehow aid her, the only result further injury to his wounds.

Edith took a step forward to hurl a spell, but was thwarted by Rolland blocking the path. In the corner of her eye Sofia saw Amalthea breaking free and dove to the side.

BOOM.

Barely managing to sidestep the blast from Amalthea, the front staircase erupted, sending stone hurdling into the front façade of the castle and the advancing Maldonian troops. Roland was screaming, "How DARE you attack my daughter! Guards! Guards!"

Sofia darted to one side, then the other, avoiding curses Amalthea was launching as best as possible. There was no way to win this battle, but she just had to save Cedric, and that basic need her love for him produced drove her forward in equal parts determination and desperation. Edith had swerved around Rolland, spewing hate "I can't believe Cedric's little plaything is the one who burned me! I'll make you pay!"

Edith began to chant a dark curse when Rolland ran headlong into her, knocking Cedric's wand from her hands. "That's enough! I forbid you from attacking her!" he screamed. Her eyes began to glow red with hate, and Sofia feared for the King's life. She tried in vain to paralyze Edith but the sorceress dodged her, the spell ricocheting off the stones and deflecting into some troops trying to recover from the rain of building materials, the men landing like logs against the pavement while Edith scrambled towards the stolen family wand.

The commotion outside was matched by the sound of battling echoing down from the second story, as above them a window blew out from the inside. Westin must be encountering resistance as well and trying to haphazardly utilize the wand.

BOOM.

Another blow, but this time it connected. Sofia was hurled backward, sliding along the ground. "Get her wand" and "hold her there" was shouted loudly simultaneously with "STOP! Don't hurt her". Sharp pain in her neck betrayed Amalthea's knee set into her, pinning her to the ground. The wand was yanked from her hand, and stripped of all power, she stared helplessly at Cedric, who even though he was bound neck to knees and visibly broken was trying desperately to inch closer to her.

"Cedric."

Amalthea set her weight into Sofia's neck trying to silence the girl, and one last-ditch effort was made to reach out to Rolland. Staring at him she tried once more to appeal to the man who had raised her. "Do what you want to me, I deserve it but please let him go. He was only trying to protect me because he loves me! Please Amalthea, what would you give to go back in time and save your husband's life." The woman halted at Sofia's words. "Let him go, he was only trying to protect me."

"Don't you think I already figured that out?" Amalthea hissed quietly, "Why do you think I kept everyone here, waiting for you to show up? He was even better bait than the fake execution I set up to catch you. I knew you two were best friends and you'd break cover for him, but I never imagined you'd fallen in love."

She'd set a trap. That's why Amalthea was already on her way, and Rolland was in on it. She couldn't see Rolland, but a stern. "Amalthea, get those wretched enchantments off her already. I can't focus while she looks like that."

"With pleasure you highness."

Bracing for impact, energy swelled at the tip of Amalthea's wand, unleashing the blast.

"AAGGH!"

Amalthea went tumbling down what remained of the staircase, dropping Sofia's wand as strong arms were set around the girl, absorbing the blast. An explosion of magic radiated off their bodies, and those enchantments Sofia had conjured that made her look like Anne and her cousin look like Rolland melted away.

"What's the meaning of this defiance guardsman?!" shouted Rolland.

Cedric was inching ever closer, fighting the pain and oblivious to the danger, as always, while the young man helped Sofia up. Quickly the girl snatched up her wand as Westin declared to Rolland, "I am of Friezenburg, and we shall overcome the tyranny of the monarchies' rule!"

The king blistered, "TRAITOR! You were in on this too! I gave you awards and showered you with praise! I even trusted you with the lives of my family! Am I SURROUNDED by traitors!"

Edith launched a spell at Sofia, Westin attacked Edith to protect his cousin, and once more chaos erupted. Sofia used the distraction Westin provided and bolted toward where Cedric had managed though obvious pain to sit up. Knocking an errant guard out of the way, she slid to a stop mere inches from him. Cautiously she cupped her hands around the sides of his face, brushing back his disheveled bangs and crying a few stray tears at the wounds her stepfather had inflicted on him. Caught in a breath she leaned forward, catching his lips with hers as softly as possible to minimize the pain. He tasted of blood.

Even though the fighting raged on, in this moment the complete and utter relief that he was still alive took over. He too was lost to time and space, taking in her declaration earlier and the moment, the very taste of her upon his lips. This, despite the state he was in.

She managed to pull away and found his good eye had also closed. "Oh no, Cedric, please don't die on me."

"It would be… a happy death now. You're finally… mine." Softly drifted out.

"I always was, but are you really mine?"

"Always." He managed a broken smile, and there was the star she'd given him, hanging proudly around his neck. The yellow tie nowhere to be seen. He was hers now.

BOOM.

Amalthea was up, and on her heels. She'd launched a spell where Sofia kneeled, but disoriented had exploded the ground in front of them. Sofia clutched at Cedric's shoulders to protect him as dirt pelted them. In this state he couldn't stand another beating.

"MINIMUS!" Sofia was screaming as loudly as she could, and then let loose a piercing whistle for her trusted steed.

A blood curdling scream, and Westin fell to the ground, singed with smoke rising from him. Edith stood above him, waving her wand menacingly. The woman had electrocuted him.

The sound of his cries made Amalthea pivot to see what had knocked her over, and upon setting her sights on the young man froze.

"KILL THAT TRAITOR! I WILL HAVE ORDER! I WILL HAVE SAFETY HERE IN MY OWN HOME!" Rolland screamed, pointing at Westin. Edith smiled, and began to conjure the final blow. Amalthea had completely lost herself, gazing at the young man, and began screaming, "WAIT! WAIT who IS HE?!"

"He's from Friezenburg! That means he's your enemy!" Returned Edith, and began the curse.

"Wait! STOP!" Edith would not stop, unable to satiate her thirst for vengeance for the burns she'd received on Sofia she'd adopted Westin as the surrogate. One great moment of confliction, and the tides of battle turned. Amalthea lunged forward, taking the injured Westin's head into her hands. Edith started barking orders to move, as did Rolland, all while Sofia was undoing Cedric's bindings and crying out for Minimus. Guards were piled everywhere from the debris of fighting, while Cecelia had regained consciousness and was hobbling back to the battle with Hugo as her crutch. Amalthea bent down and began whispering softly to Westin, too quiet to hear in the chaos, while caressing his injured head. The dust settled, and the strained sound of Westin's voice was heard by all.

"Mom?"

Tears grew in Amalthea's eyes as she bent down to nuzzle the young man.

Edith scowled, "Fine! I never liked you anyway and I've got orders from my king to off him!", launching her curse at both the Maldonian royal sorceress and the injured Westin. Amalthea was ready though, and deflected the blast back in much the same way as Sofia's amulet had, flinging Edith backward into the side of the palace. Amalthea screamed, "I never liked you either!"

Edith pulled herself from the rubble with unnatural strength driven by rage, and the fight descended into madness. Sofia took great care to undo Cedric's bindings without causing further injury to her poor sorcerer as Cecelia broke from Hugo's arm, walking strangely toward her mother. Hugo grabbed at the air as Cecelia walked farther into danger, but then turned to his declared fiancé. "Sofia, it's not true is it! You're not really the one trying to destroy my kingdom. It can't be true!"

There was no point in further pretending. All the detestation of him welled up. "Hugo, your father is corrupt and your people are suffering. YEARS! For years YOUR father had been stealing Friezenburg's people and forcing them into SLAVERY. The war was ALWAYS a ruse and your brother is NO TRAITOR. HE is the traitor, to all that is decent and good in this world!" With that she pointed squarely at King Victor, who had shied away from the battle and was protected by the remainder of the Maldonian soldiers. "You stole my FATHER, my birth father, along with countless others, and forced them into SLAVERY in the mines. YOU lied to everyone, saying that the missing had died."

"Roland was screaming angry, "SOFIA don't you see what you've DONE! How COULD you CHOOSE THAT MURDERER OVER YOUR FAMILY! And you've been off instigating a WAR! How many people have DIED Sofia, HOW MANY?" Edith's spell had worked, and he'd had finally accepted the truth.

Unphased by his accusations, a righteous indignation had swelled in her, "AND HOW MANY DIED IN THE MINES ROLLAND! Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not through the threat of force! Maldonia has been using their military might to subjugate and entire people, King Aaron has been complacent in it, and YOU Rolland have been helping these men to stamp out the people's free will of self determination."

Cedric coughed, and some blood came oozing out the corner of his mouth. His internal injuries were severe. Hugo muttered, "No, this can't be. Amalthea's spell didn't work and you're still under his curse!" To that, Sofia pointed her wand directly at Hugo. "Listen. I never loved you, we were JUST. FRIENDS. I don't care about marrying a prince, or ruling a kingdom, or any of the things a princess should do if it means sacrificing my soul, or his." She stroked Cedric's hair delicately, almost spitefully in front of Hugo, the prince reacting as if he'd been impaled. "The people of Friezenburg need me." She smiled down at her poor battered Cedric, "They need us."

As Hugo fell backward from the rejection Cecelia was stepping toward her mother and the magic ricocheting off the pavement, without regard to her own safety. "Mom, why are you doing this? You don't care about anyone this way, not even me. Why are you risking your life to defend him?! WHY MOM! WHY!"

Victor was on the outskirts of this shouting orders, but Cecelia wasn't in a state to respond, and was bound to get killed by the duel between Cedric's sister and her mother if this kept up.

Escape was of preeminent importance.

Again she whistled loudly for Minimus, but this time heard the neigh of her winged horse in the distance, She turned to Rolland, "I HAD to do what was RIGHT DAD! Just look at what supporting Victor has done to your kingdom. Yes, the poison is in Enchancia, YOU BROUGHT IT HERE by supporting these monsters. Think about what is RIGHT, not just STABILITY and your own SELFISH INTERESTS."

Roland was livid and stepped forward but then the balcony above him came crashing down. Edith had deflected a blow upward, to the detriment of all. A tidal wave of wooden beams and plaster rained down.

"DAD!" Sofia screamed. Amalthea conjured a protective bubble over Westin's body, and through the dust the faint glow of a magical shield was seen with two humans inside. One must have been Edith, the only other man in proximity was Rolland. He'd survived.

But the fighting needed to end before someone died. Another portion of the palace collapsed as Minimus came flying through the flying debris. Cedric cried out in pain as she touched his side. Where solid, bony ribs should be was squishy to the touch, but there was time to heal him later if they survived this. With equal parts haste and caution she foisted his broken body onto the horse. Victor began shouting at the guards to stop their escape, but it was pointless.

She grabbed the horse's reigns and took off into the night sky. A faint "SOFIA!" trailed off behind her.

The horrible scene below her faded away. The irony of her dramatic departure from royal life occurring in the exact place where she'd ascended the stairs to meet her new family and circumstances a decade prior was not lost on her. Cedric was in her arms riding sidesaddle, his head and torso draped on her shoulder as she kept him steady. He was still loosing blood, but he was alive, although they were still very much in danger. All it took Rolland pursuing with flying horses, a very probable outcome.

A glance back revealed that Amalthea was in pursuit, with the heavily burnt Westin in tow. She was using a sort of flotation bubble to fly after them, but her cousin too was alive. Whether she was a friend of foe would be determined later. For now, everyone had survived. As the silhouette of the castle faded from view the only things she had left were Minimus, her clothes, her wand, and her Cedric. Her thoughts trailed back to her mother, and the disappointment the woman was sure to feel over her actions, but this was the right thing to do. The people of Friezeburg needed her, Cedric needed her, and the battle for freedom and righteousness lay ahead.

"You… really do… l-l-l-love me? Even though… I'm less than worthy." Cooed the sorcerer, his weight supported on her shoulder.

"Of course I do. You're my best friend. I'd do anything to save you, and now I realize you'd do anything for me too. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure that out."

"You must know… I a-a-adore you Sofia. I never meant to… foist my insecurities… my past on you… to compare you… I've never had… a love to foster, to grow… never had a real… relationship. My beautiful… Sofia I'm truly… sorry I… hurt your.. heart."

His weight shifted as she nudged the top of his head with her chin. A soft kiss was set into the sensitive skin of her neck, but as he pulled away she felt moisture running down her neck, across her chest and down her cleavage.

It was blood.

Slowly his eyes started to roll into the back of his head, as he passed out of consciousness, falling backward over her arm and practically off the horse.

"Cedric, CEDRIC! You can't let go, understand? Please you've got to hold on a little longer till we get out of reach of Rolland. CEDRIC, NOOOOO!"