Chapter 39: Decisions
"Cedric, NO!"
They tumbled through the air like snowballs down a hillside. Sofia struggled against the forces of momentum, barely able to keep them latched to the horse until Minimus collided with the ground. Still, she kept Cedric close, softening the blow to him as both their bodies came to rest on the side of a sloping grass-covered hill, partially shaded by Enchancian trees. Terror gripped her as his eyes rolled back into his head. He was in desperate need of healing, but where to start? Every healing spell she knew was chanted frantically. Several cuts and bruises began to fade, but it wasn't enough. He'd slipped out of consciousness and was barely breathing.
Behind her the thud of landing bodies sounded. Amalthea had Westin's arm draped over her neck and was supporting his much larger frame. She staggered forward, gently setting him down alongside Cedric in the grass under the trees.
"PLEASE, you've got to help save Cedric!" Sofia implored.
"I've got my own problems." Amalthea retorted, her hands efficiently yet gently tearing the singed fabric from Westin's sides. A soft stream came from the woman's wand, water mixed with magical healing essence in an attempt to soothe the angry burn to Westin's jaw. It only served to make her cousin cry out in pain.
Frantic, Sofia shoved her hand forward, "PLEASE Amalthea, Cedric's got broken ribs and he's coughing up blood!" The elder witch swatted her hand away, clearly annoyed at the distraction. Distraught, Sofia's hands curled up to her face, "I don't know the spells that heal broken bones, and if you don't help him he may die. Please Amalthea, you have to help him."
"I don't have to do anything, and besides, he isn't my priority." With that, Amalthea turned her back to Cedric's suffering, hovering above her son and wracking her brain for a solution to Westin's burns.
"But—" Desperate, Sofia glanced around frantically, the clatter of bottles in the bag about her shoulder providing her the answer. That bag, which contained Cedric's healing ointments and bandages, was the key to Cedric' salvation. She could easily begin treatment for Westin's wounds, for a fair exchange.
"Trade with me."
Amalthea pivoted briefly, perplexed. "Excuse me?"
Sofia flung her leg out toward Amalthea, gesturing to her ankle wildly, the faintest of pink spots the only remembrance of the severe burn Edith had bestowed. "Cedric's ointments healed my burn, and they can heal Westin too, so trade with me and we can save them both!"
"You little extortionist."
"Please Amalthea, I know you can't do it or you'd have helped to heal Edith."
The woman's face spasmed angrily. "Give me those bottles!" Amalthea lunged, clawing at Sofia's bag beyond her clasped, begging hands.
Westin groaned, setting his hand solidly on his mother's thigh, effectively derailing Amalthea's train of thought.
"Mom, please help him. Please." He strained hard to look mournfully over at Cedric, the pain tugging hard on what Sofia could only assume was Amalthea's near absent emotions. "I love him Mom, please save him."
Confused, the elder witch flung an accusatory finger at Cedric, then straight at Sofia. "But he, and she, they… Wait, how can you love him?"
A low groan came from Westin, as he tried to lurch toward Cedric through the grass, each blade sticking to the burned skin on his shoulders. It must have been excruciating. Amalthea stayed Westin's advance.
"Oooh, alright fine. Just wait there, son." Lovingly she flattened some stray stands of hair on Westin's head, then scooted toward where Cedric lay dying in the grass. "Which ribs are broken?"
"These two! I felt them squish when I picked him up. Rolland smacked his head really hard as well."
Amalthea nodded, then looked up at Sofia, clearly annoyed at how close the girl was hovering. "Well, get going." Sofia nodded, kissed Cedric's hand softly before setting it in the grass and attending Westin. Hands flew across her cousin as the burns were numbed, relaxing the strain and silencing the cries of pain from the young man. Then, bandages doused in ointments were wrapped expertly around his upper arms and chest. The burn was quite serious, but he'd survive, assuredly.
SNAP.
The sound made both Sofia and her cousin pivot their heads around. To Sofia's horror Cedric's whole body involuntarily convulsed as more blood seeped from the side of his mouth. Frantic, Sofia abandoned Westin's bandages, and began dabbing clean Cedric's face, all while Amalthea scowled. "Not good. The bones aren't healed, but they're in the right spot now. The real problem is his lungs. I think they're punctured."
"You can fix that, right Mom? You've just got to know how." Westin was able to sit upright now, pulling the remaining bandaged taunt across his chest.
"I, don't. I'm sorry son, I-"
The words became garbled as Westin pleaded with Amalthea, while Sofia realized her Cedric was fading away, the life draining out of him right here on this hillside, and without the right spell she was powerless to aide him. She took his hand in her own and held tightly, bringing it to her chest and curling around it, to steady her own shaking or to keep him from descending into the great beyond, she didn't know. Those typically pale fingers were so very cold, almost lifeless.
"Please no. Not like this. You can't leave me like this, we finally understand each other." He wasn't responding. Abject fear gripped her and she clung tighter to him, bending at the waist to hover over his injured frame. "Oh no, please no. Don't leave me."
A hand was on her back, rubbing slightly. Westin had managed to slide over, and gently wiped a tear streaking from her eyes. "Why! Why did I ever think I could save the world, I can't even save Cedric! I'm no savior that the Freizenburgers think I am, I'm not even a real sorceress!"
"Stop beating yourself up Sofia, there's nothing we can do." Westin took her about the shoulders, holding her as tightly as she was clasped to Cedric's arm.
"No!" She pulled away, reeling slightly from side to side. "I should have put him first instead of my own safety! I should have told him the truth sooner. Oh, if only I'd pushed harder to learn healing spells instead of all those derby races and dance lessons. I'm sure Cedric knows the spell that would save him and would have taught me, he knows everything, but I was so consumed by being accepted by everybody and being good at everything I didn't focus on the things that really mattered."
She broke down sobbing, clawing desperately at his fingers, as if she could will energy back into them. Amalthea shoved her upright to get her attention.
"What did you just say?!" The sorceress had Sofia squarely in her sights.
Sniffling, Sofia reiterated, "That, I'm sure he knows the right spell. He knows a spell for everything."
A somewhat misplaced smile crossed Amalthea's lips, and she began rummaging through her pocket. Several vials of similar size to the one she'd produced after the balcony incident were held up toward the light, each inspected by a slight tap and swirl.
"Aha. Here we are. It's this one."
"What is it?" Westin inquired as he too squinted at the vial glistening in the sun.
"A little bit of strength elixir. What? Do you really think I'd walk into a war without some preparation? I wasn't about to get caught drowsy again by that little mage."
"But how will it help him? He needs healing magic. Doesn't he?" Westin, afraid to overstep his bounds, had his hand hovering over Cedric's hair, almost caressing it.
"Look son, I'm a fighter, I don't specialize in healing spells and I didn't go through the formal training he did. But, this should provide enough stamina to rouse him so that Cedric can tell us what spell will heal his lungs."
"Then hurry Mom!" Westin cried, now up on his knees and with arms shaking above Cedric's head.
Sofia shifted to gently cradle Cedric's bruised head in her lap, that the elixir might be coaxed down his throat. Painstakingly his mouth was opened, as much blood as possible wiped away. Amalthea roughly thrust the vial in his mouth, the entire contents rushing down. Praying that he regained consciousness, tears were streaming out her eyes and landing in Cedric's hair when the sorcerer let out a gasp, followed by a very faint groan.
Overjoyed to hear the semblance of life from him, her hands began to stroke his cheeks softly. "Cedric, can you hear me?" He only winced. It was the most joyous movement she could ever remember. She bent down ever closer, merely inches from him and whispered, "Cedric, we think you're left lung is punctured and you're bleeding badly. You've got to tell me the right spell. You know every magical spell there is, please help us heal you."
With a gasp he drew in a pained breath, his brows furrowing, trying desperately to formulate a response. He was still struggling hard to suck in air. More coughing, and pain were on display, but finally "Pul…" escaped his lips.
"Yes, YES! Come on, you can do it! Please I can't loose you!"
Teeth were grit, and one more agonizing breath was drawn in, before, "Pul…moro in… inflari."
Her gaze went up to the sorceress adjacent. "Do you know it?" A negative shake of her head was met in response. Steeled, Sofia gripped her wand tight, the other hand clinging to his and bent over farther, hovering an inch above his lips. "It'll be okay Cedric, you have to hang on." A small whimper came from the man as she chanted the spell. It didn't manifest appropriately. Pronunciation was everything, and he probably hadn't said it quite right in this state. In and out the breaths were drawn, the steady feeling of his pulse fading away. A deep resolve took hold, and with a level hand her wand was raised above his chest. A sudden, decisive flick, and "Pulmoro Inflari" was confidently delivered. Pale blue ribbons of light seeped downward through his stained robes, filling him with its healing aura. Minutes passed, each breath eased slightly. Amalthea began pacing, alternating between checking the skies and fussing over Westin.
Minimus began to whinny as Sofia gazed down into Cedric's eyes, finally opened. The faintest of upturned smiles was lurking there. He was struggling to talk, but only garbled wet gasps came out. "Don't try to speak, it'll be okay. I'll protect you from Rolland." He blinked and scowled, as slow broken syllables trailed out. "Kn- kn…"
Was there something else? The uneasy tranquility was broken along with the spell.
"What is it now?" Amalthea growled. "His lungs are working and bones are back in the right spot, so we need to get out of here."
"He said something, but what?" Frantic, Sofia gently ran her hands lengthwise over his torso checking for anything out of place. "Knife? Noose? Knights? Did a knight knife you?! Aaghh!"
Amalthea spit, "What is it man, what?!"
"Insufferable.." Cedric managed to grumble. "Knee, girl. Knee."
Oh. His leg still jutted out at an unnatural angle, and must be unimaginably painful. "Oops. Sorry." A quick flick of the wand, and the tense appendage went numb.
Immediate relief washed over his face. "I'll be… be…." Drifted shakily from his lips as he tried to turn his head into her. She bent closer once more to hear his words, and "This time I'll be… a better me. I swear it." The tension immediately subsided, and Sofia began stroking his hair, relief that he was okay enough to even think about such things washing over her. With that he nuzzled his face into the fold of her skirt, fading off once more, the smile more pronounced.
Again Minimus whinnied, stomping frantically. Amalthea turned her attention to the skies but Sofia was more concerned with soothing the broken sorcerer across her lap. For his part Westin was looking over at Cedric, still visibly concerned. "Cousin, what did he mean by 'a better me'?" meekly drifted out of the young man.
Before Sofia could respond Amalthea stomped angrily. "Cousin? You are NOT her cousin. You're my son. My wonderful, beautiful, handsome son who I lost all those years ago." Although Westin didn't respond, he was visibly upset by her tone. Realizing this, Amalthea softened, the ice that pumped through her veins melted by the feelings of this young man. "You're the spitting image of your father. " Tears started collecting in Amalthea's eyes, as she dropped to her knees alongside him, taking the man's head into her arms and pressing it to her chest as if he was still a small boy. "I'm so, so sorry you had to grow up alone, but I swear I'll never leave you again." The young man was visibly uncomfortable by the display, and Sofia was immediately grateful that Birk had given her time and space to adjust to this new reality, rather than smothering her as if she were still a child.
"Amalthea, Westin wasn't alone. He was adopted by my uncle, that makes him my cousin."
Amalthea's head flung back up, her nose scrunched up at the comment. "Well all that's in the past now. I've finally found you and there's no way I'm letting you go."
"You can't just dictate who he cares about!" Sofia admonished, but Minimus broke up the heated exchange by barreling his muzzle into Sofia's shoulder. "What is it?" Quickly she realized he'd been trying to get her attention for quite some time.
"Sofia, I'm not the only flying horse in Enchancia and I CAN HEAR THEM CHASING US!"
They were being pursued, and if Rolland was coming for Cedric his life was still in danger. Worry sprang up, and Sofia drew Cedric in closer while scanning the sky. Amalthea grimaced, "You can't tell me how to interact with my son. He's my child and-"
"SHHH! They're after us."
Everyone went silent, and lo, in the distance they could hear the snap of reigns and whinnies of flying horses in pursuit.
"More like him." Amalthea whispered, gesturing at Cedric.
Sofia shot back, "They're after ALL of us. He thinks Westin betrayed him and Enchancia, which, he kind of did, considering he came to be a spy and well, I'm pretty sure Victor isn't too happy you turned on Maldonia either."
Eyes narrowed, but Amalthea couldn't refute it, and turned to her son. "We'd better get to somewhere safer, quick."
"No time, no time! Oh I wish I'd have stayed at Royal Prep!" Cried Minimus. His superior animal hearing but lack of practical skills on full display, the horse ran headlong toward the nearest tree and stuck his head in the hollowed knot, imitating an ostrich.
"Oh Minimus." Sofia shook her head, but her companion had provided an answer. With another flick of her wand the branches above grew to extend outwards, tangling with the interspersed trees to provide an excellent canopy of cover, just as they had for the cabins in Friezenburg's woods.
Just in time, as voices began sounding overhead to the steady beat of wings. "SOFIA! Please come back! I know you're confused, but we can talk this over! I won't let them hurt you!" It was Hugo. More, "Sofia's" came and went, the sound of hoof beats against the top of the trees fading into the distance while the fugitives huddled below.
Once it was over Amalthea stared at Sofia quizzically, "What made you think of making the tree grow?"
A smile rose up on Sofia's face. "Well, it's the same spell I used to disguise the resistance from aerial detection. Hiding a few people is easier than an entire underground operation after all."
The sorceress's mouth dropped open. "That's why they couldn't find the rebels in the woods. You little…"
The sound of more whinnies silenced the women. Overhead, more strained shouting could be heard. This time, it was Rolland. "Sofia, please, where are you dear?! I'm your father, it's my job to protect you! I'll never let anyone harm you so please, come back to me!"
Sudden pangs of regret washed over her. If she'd just summoned the courage to tell him the truth at the outset, maybe it all could have been avoided. A large part of her wanted to pull back the canopy hiding them, wrap Rolland in a hug and apologize until she could no longer breathe, but Cedric was still curled up in her lap, the injuries inflicted by Rolland a poignantly reminder of why she couldn't. She had to get Cedric to safety first, away from Rolland. The only place beyond Rolland's reach was Friezenburg, and so to Birk they must travel. Wing beats faded off into the distance once more. Amalthea was fussing with Westin's bandages, which was being tolerated by the young man, though not appreciated.
"Come on, let's go before another scout comes 'round." Amalthea had risen, reaching out a hand to help her son up. He simply stared at her.
"Where do you think I'm going with you?"
"South. As far away from Victor and this war as possible. We'll start our lives over where no one knows who we are."
Westin began shaking his head forcefully. "No, we can't. I have a life, and responsibilities. I'm part of the resistance, and I won't rest until Freizenburg is free."
Watching this play out, the true power Westin had over Amalthea, all the pieces began to align themselves in Sofia's mind. The big break she'd been looking for, it was right here in front of her the entire time. Amalthea was the nexus of this war, having started the precursor over a decade prior, and knew everything about Victor, his strategy, and importantly the location of his troops and all the mines in Maldonia. Everything they needed to win Friezenburg's freedom was locked inside Amalthea's head.
Amalthea tried in vain to protest, and Sofia saw her opportunity to give the story it's happy ending. "Amalthea, Westin is of Friezenburg. He grew up in the mines and my uncle took him in. He's been a part of my family for years. He's as instrumental to the resistance as Birk, and would never turn his back on people still suffering. Isn't that right Wes?"
The young man nodded. At the mention of the mines sadness washed over the elder witch. Slowly she turned away, unable to look at Sofia or her son. Westin looked over as Sofia gestured him toward his mother, trying to silently convey the plan.
Amalthea's words started to halt in her throat. "I… I thought you were dead. I never imagined they'd take someone as young as you into the mines, and, now that I think of it, why didn't I see you there? I've been to every mine to collect the Autunite for destruction."
"Uncle Birk said he dealt with you, well the Maldonian Royal Sorceress." Westin looked away uncomfortably as Amalthea connected the dots.
A few loose tears fell from her eyes to hear such venom from the son she sought for so long. "I know you're mad, but I never stopped looking for you baby."
Westin managed to stand, Amalthea reaching out to steady him, but he politely refused the gesture. The pain at the minor rejection was evident on the older woman's face, and reluctantly she recoiled. Words unspoken, the tension building in Westin was apparent. Wind rustled through the trees, Cedric was snoozing, cradled in Sofia's lap, but these two were locked, staring at each other.
"I grew up hating the 'Royal Sorceress of Maldonia'. You were the reason we could never escape. You were the reason we all suffered. How can it be you, Mom? How could you do those things?!"
"Son, I did it to save people. As many as possible. For every man in the mines twenty were sparred that fate and left at home, with full bellies from Maldonian crops." Her answer didn't seem to sway Westin, and desperately Amalthea clawed at the air between them, longing to wrap him in an embrace. "But I'd have never done it if I knew you were alive, and suffering. Believe me, I would have moved the stars above to save you."
Sofia saw her chance, and went for it. "Can't you see that Amalthea? Every man in those mines is someone's son, husband, or father. All those men are being mourned by their families, too."
The realization sunk in. Westin began staring at Sofia, as if to read her, and a gentle nudge toward the woman reflecting inward coaxed her cousin to narrow the great gap between him and his mother.
"If I can't serve the cause in Enchancia anymore, I'm going back to Friezenburg, and I'm going to fight."
Horrified, Amalthea looked up, pawing at her son, "But you could die. It's not worth it."
"I am a son of Friezenburg, and I won't rest until we are all free." Amalthea was shaking as if this was all a bad dream, but the moment had come.
"You can protect him Amalthea, if you come with us."
Amalthea froze, clearly torn. "I've already told you, I tried that and failed. It will never work."
"We can win Mom, especially if you help us." Westin finally caught on to Sofia's train of thought, and begrudgingly stepped closer, taking the woman's hand in her own.
"For all the things I've done, they must hate me as much as you did, maybe even more. Friezenburg will never accept me back. It can never be my home again."
"I'll talk to my Papa, and tell him your reasons why. He's a really reasonable guy, and you can help us win this war." The optimism in Sofia's voice was simultaneously grating and placating to the older witch.
"Oh, I see. You think my information might be enough to buy my forgiveness. I'm not so sure." She hung there, waiting for Westin to offer the same sort of full-throated defense, but he didn't. Instead, Sofia delved deeper. She had to convince this woman to switch sides.
"Please, Amalthea. I was listening to you, in the caves when you said we were the same." Slowly the woman turned, sniffling back the emotion at holding her son's hand in her own. "I know that during the last war you tried to fight the injustice all by yourself, and failed. But, I was trying to do the same thing. I assumed it was my responsibility alone to finish the story, and didn't want any of my friends hurt. I wouldn't let Cedric know what was happening, I tried to stop Lucinda from joining the resistance, I tried to live two lives but ended up hurting everyone I cared about. Now I realize that we aren't islands, that it's okay to not be all things to all people. We have to rely on each other, and if you stand united with us against Victor, on the side of righteousness, we will prevail. Then, Friezenburg will finally be free."
A long minute was spent in silence as Amalthea mulled over the words, their truth echoing in her expressions. Finally she spoke, "It doesn't matter how foolish this is, does it? You're going to go back and fight in the war, no matter what I say."
Westin nodded, "My Dad just died. I need to go and pay my respects, and then I need help my uncle to finish what we started."
Amalthea's reached out, and Westin timidly let her take his other hand. Facing him, she stared up into his eyes, smiling. "My boy, my precious little man. You're so grown up now, but I'm your mother. I'll never let you be alone again."
Westin finally smiled, drawing the woman's head into his broad chest. She clung to him, decades of anguish at his loss washing off of her in great waves. It was a new beginning, for all of them, and for the war at hand.
Urgency dictated they flee. The skies were unfriendly, and so they traveled Westin's route, through the many forests and up, into the forbidden mountains. It was grueling, but it was safer, as the roads went unpatrolled. Amalthea conjured a cart for the wounded, which, with a bit of coaxing and the promise of a bushel of apples, Minimus agreed to pull. Her sorceress robe covered his wings, and they looked every part the traveling band of refugees.
Their wands lit the way. Every so often Sofia would glance back at Cedric snoozing in the cart, just to be sure, to reassure herself he was going to be okay. Westin took the opportunity to curl around the sorcerer, not touching him but nevertheless, it was proximity of desire. That would need addressing, but Sofia was unsure how to broach the topic. Instead, she seemed locked in a bitter silence with Amalthea. The woman was walking alongside her through the night, clearly reflective on a life spent in misery.
They'd been trudging up a mountainside when the sun broke. A few shillings spent at a loose collection of cottages one would generously label a village, and breakfast was had watching the sun rise over a golden valley below. "That's the northern tip of Leidleville." Amalthea pointed out, beyond the valley and toward the silver of sea in the distance. Memories flooded back of that fateful day in the clearing when everything changed, and Sofia rose to check on Cedric rather than linger on the memories. It was enough to get conversations started, though. As Cedric had announced all those nights ago, the hourly bandage changes were enough to heal by morning, and life had returned to Westin. Sofia spent the remainder of the journey listening to Amalthea tell Westin everything that had transpired in the nearly two decades since they'd parted. Westin wanted to know all about his half-sister, but Amalthea barely gave the girl mention. When Amalthea's tale traveled all the way back to the beginning, long ago, her voice halted. The pain of remembrance too much for even this frigid woman to reminisce on.
"Do you remember what happened?" Timidly Amalthea asked the young man, now upright in the cart and listening intently to Amalthea's story of woe, sympathy growing for her choices in them both.
"Not really. It was so long ago. I just remember lots of running, screaming, and this really weird bush."
Amalthea nodded, taking it in. "You see, we lived near a beautiful stream that ran along the forbidden mountains. My husband knew not to go fishing alone, but he did anyway. One day, he took longer than expected, and we were due to travel in to the capital for rations, so I took you to go look for him, that we could all go together."
The ground had become icy, the path hard to traverse. A sure sign they'd passed into Friezenburg's borders. Amalthea stared down at her feet, ostensibly to assure her footing, but more likely swept up in recollection of unpleasant things. A minute passed before she had the courage to continue. "There were signs of a struggle on the riverside, and tracks in the snow."
A flick of her wand, and a rather large boulder was rolled away to make way for the cart. "Now I know that the trackers were getting lazy with it. They weren't supposed to leave signs behind, but back then, all I knew was that my love was in danger. I ran after them, you ran behind me, and then, I saw them. They'd tied your father up like game to be harvested, and were carting him into the mountains. I told you to wait in a bush until I rescued him, but…"
Unable to continue, Amalthea stopped on the trail, hands drawing up to her face in a vain attempt to stop the emotions from tumbling forth. Westin rose from the cart and walked forward, resting his newly healed arms around her shoulders to comfort the woman. "I tried so hard, but in the struggle they killed him, and caught me instead. I wanted to cry out to you, tell you to run home, but then they'd have known you were there, and would have caught you too."
Tearfully she turned to look up at Westin. "I guess they caught you anyway. I'm so sorry. I failed you both."
He raised a hand, to still her apologies. "I understand now, and I would have done the same thing." It was touching, to see a mother and son reconnect like this, if very chilly in the cold air of Friezenburg's morning. After a few minutes Westin broke the silence. "Actually, they didn't catch me then. I stayed in the bush for what seemed like forever, but then I was hungry. The next thing I remember was I was sleeping in someone's barn. Then, it gets fuzzy again. I think the war had started, and I remember buildings being on fire and people screaming. After that, I remember being locked in a cage like an animal and being very sick, and then it's just the mines." After a slight, odd chuckle he pulled away from Amalthea. " That's probably a few years of memories. It's so weird how memory works. I only seem to remember the frightening or painful stuff from when I was little. Maybe that's why I didn't talk much. I don't like to dwell on the bad stuff."
Together they descended through the eastern mountain slopes, down into the valleys of Friezenburg. Tiredness gripped the weary travelers, but there was nothing for it. Salvation was almost at hand, but one misstep and they could walk into an occupied territory.
Finally the little village of Birk's ancestry came into view, and many tensions relaxed. Sofia and Westin were greeted with ovations, arms flung wide and many smothering embraces. But not Amalthea, she lingered behind the cart, somewhat fearful of the peasant's reaction. "What in the world are you doing here Sofia?"
"We've come with information that can help win the war."
"Then, you're going to stay and help us fight?" Nelly looked to Westin, then back at Amalthea, smiling with courage. The villagers erupted in praise and song. Unfortunately, Birk and Lucinda were a ways off, near the western sea. Word was sent of their arrival, hope and excitement spreading through the crouds as the messenger departed. A sense of fulfillment swelled inside Sofia, that the decision which had seemed so hard, to choose between the ties that bound her to her old life and the suffering of these people, was really very simple. Helping them was the right thing to do all along.
There was a commotion at the cart. Westin had met with resistance in trying to lift Cedric out. Quickly Sofia ran around, and witnessed Cedric lamely trying to bat Westin's strong hands away. "What's going on?"
"I was trying to help him inside, but he won't let me touch him, even when he needs my help." Dejected, Westin backed away as Sofia kneeled alongside Cedric, calming him.
"Sorry Wes, he doesn't really like other's to invade his personal space. You should stay with your Mom, I'll take him in, okay?"
"But… Oh, alright."
She managed to sit him upright, but with a broken leg and ribs still in need of healing it was a slow process to get the sorcerer inside. Immediately they were directed to the room nearest the entrance by Sofia's aunt, overjoyed to see her again.
"It's not too much trouble, is it?" She asked of the stark room while angling Cedric toward the only bed. Her aunt Nelly only laughed, her rotund frame giggling as she did so.
"We are family Sofia. Our house is yours, and in all honesty I think Birk will be overjoyed you've chosen him. I'll bring some food, but you should rest after a long night of traveling." Sofia turned her attention to the broken man before her. He wasn't speaking, but getting carried in this state had worn him out.
"Don't worry. This is my family's home. Well, my Friezenburg family's home. We'll be okay."
"St…" The word was broken by a wince of pain as she set him carefully on the edge of the bed, helping him lay slowly down. Before she could pull away he caught her sleeve. "Stay."
"I want to, but I need to take care of Minimus, and I need to talk to Westin, about, well you. I've been avoiding it because it'll hurt his feelings, but I think he's already upset." He only looked away, toward the unfinished wooden wall alongside the bed, clearly unhappy with her decision to once again put other's first.
Sighing with indecision, Sofia gently took off his shoes, gingerly lifting his feet into the bed. Nelly reappeared with some awful-looking porridge, and laughed as Cedric turned his nose up at the offering. The man started whimpered, clinging once more to her arm and squinting a sort of disapproval. Sofia became aware that her aunt was hovering over her shoulder, "You can go now dear, I'll look after him while you sleep. After all, I've taken care of my fair share of broken men over the last few weeks."
"I…" Cedric clung to her sleeve tighter, silently begging her not to leave his side. After the trauma of yesterday, she resolved not to abandon him in this strange place. It was time to put him first and depend on others. "I'd better stay with him. Would you mind unhitching my horse and giving him some apples? He earned it."
"He sure did. Alright, let me know if you need anything further." With that her aunt departed, Cedric relaxing back into the pillow.
"You'll… stay?"
"Sure, you took care of me, now let me take care of you, okay?"
Finally a smile was on his face, "My Sofia."
Softly she stroked his hair, managing to coax a few bits of porridge into him. "You must… speak with the Chef… Sofia."
Giggling, she nodded, "okay." It set him at ease, and smiling down at him was overcome with how happy she was that he'd survived. He was almost smiling too, despite being in pain. Another numbing spell on his leg, and enchantment on a few bandages were recast.
"My Sofia" drifted out once more in deep appreciation for the relief, inviting her closer. This time when their lips met it was simple sweetness. Once, then twice more, each one filled with relief and the small glimmer of a hopeful happiness they could share, having emerged from the darkness together with all secrets lay bare.
"Sleep well, love."
Off they drifted into slumber, Sofia seated alongside his bed with her head resting on his pillow, her hand absentmindedly stroking his hair. With Amalthea now willing to aide them in the war, and Sofia committed to stay and fight until Friezenburg was free, the future seemed almost hopeful.